New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Ancient Dark Castle (1)
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(POV switch – Jack)
A bridge of earth connects the southern gate of Azalea Castle to the labyrinth city. Not long ago, it was merely the main street of the city. Normally, it would be the path where adventurer parties cheerfully set off on their explorations, with the Adventurer Guild nearby. However, now it has transformed into a desolate path of fear and despair that leads to darkness. It has become a death bridge that mercilessly pushes incoming challengers into the depths of the abyss. And beyond that lies Azalea Castle, shrouded in dark magic. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the Ancient Dark Castle.
I stood facing that desolate path, waiting for the monster onslaught. Before me stretched a great bridge. Beside me was Gnome-sama, and perched on my shoulder was Salamander in her red lizard form. Behind me were countless adventurers.
It might be the first time since the Urban Fraternity that so many adventurers have gathered in one place. However, there was no festive atmosphere this time. Everyone was serious, holding their breath as they watched the castle gate.
Including myself, everyone was tense. What was about to come pouring in were the monsters that emerged from the 30th layer of the underground labyrinth. If a low-ranked adventurer party faced them head-on, there was a possibility they would die. Many adventurers likely felt they were facing formidable foes. But they did not try to flee. Some may have lost comrades. Or perhaps they had lost someone important…
For them, this was a battle of mourning.
As I waited with a tense expression for the enemy’s advance, the ground began to tremble. In response, the adventurers readied their swords, spears, axes, sickles, and even bows and staffs. Their finely honed weapons. What they wielded here was the culmination of their past labyrinth explorations. The labyrinth they had relied on for their livelihoods was now baring its fangs, attacking the city. It could also be called a “rebellion of the labyrinth”.
“It’s coming!” (??)
Someone shouted.
From the castle gate, the black clouds came rushing in. It looked like black smoke. But as I focused my eyes, I could see that each one was a dark monster. The Black Corpses, armored shells enveloped in black smoke-like magic. And similarly, the massive cockroaches, the Giant Guardians, surged in with overwhelming force. Those were the phantoms of the Azalea Kingdom’s forces. The grievances of the kingdom were now attacking the living as mindless weapons.
“Lost, you just think about ‘moving forward’! Don’t underestimate the adventurers with your strange sense of justice! Ignore me too, got it?!” (Gnome)
My weapon and tactical advisor, Gnome-sama, was brave.
Setting up the cannon of the magic-made weapon she had created in a hurry, she aimed it toward the black clouds. Wearing her blacksmith goggles, she peered through the cannon’s scope to take aim.
“Understood!” (Jack)
“I was happy to be able to tinker with your right arm!” (Gnome-sama)
Saying that, Gnome-sama kept her gaze fixed on the scope while thrusting her right thumb up toward me.
“No… I have a bad feeling about that, so could you please stop?” (Jack)
“That’s not it! I mean, when we get back, I’m going to modify you even more!” (Gnome)
That statement felt even more ominous.
The charging sound of the cylinder echoed. It was a slightly different sound than the Higasa Volga or railgun. The bubbling sound of boiling water resonated along with it. Gnome-sama gripped the handles extending from both sides of the cannon. Those handles reminded me of the handlebars of the earth-made motorcycle Arsenal Volga.
“Here we go! Brace yourselves, you guys!” (Gnome)
Gnome-sama shouted to the adventurers behind us. Responding to her call, the adventurers raised their weapons high and let out a war cry. Gnome-sama’s lively, young voice boosted the morale of the adventurers.
— Next, a dull thud echoed.
What was unleashed was an enormous “clump of mud”. It seemed weaker in penetrating power than the railgun, but its surface destructive power appeared high. Gnome-sama was originally a dwarf. She excelled in earth magic. For her, this was probably her specialty. The clump of mud crashed into the front line of the approaching monster horde, blowing it away and sending it tumbling into the canyon.
“Now! Everyone, follow the Speed Stars!” (??)
With someone’s shout, I and the adventurers all dashed forward.
Though the black horde had lost most of its combat power, its momentum had not faded. The adventurer army clashed with the black Azalea army. I threw the makeshift sword I had created at the armor of a Black Corpse, shot an anti-magic bullet from Insignia Arms at a Giant G, and used Alfred’s taught fist fighting skills to knock the monsters into the abyss.
As always, the anti-magic I created exploded the monsters. Back when I first arrived on this continent and knew nothing, I had exploded the Behemoth that appeared in the dwarf village of the Lucur Great Forest. The Behemoth was also cloaked in a similar black magic.
The anti-magic that coursed through my blood could nullify even such monsters, just like magic, in other words, make them nonexistent? Come to think of it, during the weakest days when I took the Liberta enlistment exam, I also managed to win against the Grizzly after a bloody battle. Did my blood weaken the Grizzly as well…?
—
(POV switch – Shia)
On the western bridge of Azalea Castle. My ears perked up. The signal of battle from the south had arrived. Gnome-sama’s cylinder cannon was the signal to commence our operation.
“Shia Randall, let’s go!” (Sylphid)
“Yes!” (Shia)
Sylphid-sama and I were to circle around the castle walls from the western bridge and infiltrate through the north gate. After infiltrating, my role was to collect the Volga series under Sylphid-sama’s guidance by navigating the spaces between the pedestals.
“Alright! It’s been a while since our last adventure! I’m pumped!” (Taurus)
“Shut up, you fool. I’m here to guard Shia.” (Alba)
Taurus-san and Alba-san had joined my side this time to provide protection. With just an archer and a weakened spirit, we might find ourselves in a pinch if we encountered monsters even while infiltrating. Besides, while circling around the castle walls from the western bridge, we would be traversing the surrounding forest.
The forest was a remnant of the dungeon, teeming with Grizzlies and Giant Sarracenia. I was aware that relying solely on ranged attacks would put us at a disadvantage.
“If only Lost and Yustin were here, it would feel like the old party.” (Taurus)
“Those guys…” (Shia)
“Well, I thought those two would get into a huge fight. This is definitely on a grander scale, though.” (Taurus)
Despite the dire situation, Taurus-san was quipping nonchalantly.
It was probably to lighten the mood. His non-pretentiousness was one of his good qualities.
“Still, the replacement for Lost and Yustin is this…” (Taurus)
Taurus-san turned around.
There stood that young lady who always competed with me, glaring at us with an irritated expression. The luxurious noble dress, based on white and navy, seemed entirely unsuitable for infiltrating a castle. Rather than attacking the castle, she looked more like an invited young lady at a royal castle party. She looked cumbersome and gave off the impression of a tourist, which perhaps explained Mr. Taurus’s reaction.
“What? Do you have a problem with me?!” (Irene)
“N-no, not at all… But it’s just that it feels like there’s just another babysitter…” (Taurus)
In that moment, Taurus-san vanished from sight. Irene-san’s presence also disappeared. In the next instant, she appeared with killing intent, grabbing Taurus-san by the chest and slamming him to the ground.
“Ugh!” (Taurus)
“Humph… Did you understand a bit now?” (Irene)
“That was some incredible martial arts. It’s not that she’s fast, but I didn’t sense her presence…” (Taurus)
“It’s a direct lesson from Ojii-chan!” (Irene)
Looking down on Taurus-san, who was pinned down, Irene crossed her arms and tossed her remark aside.
I was a bit worried. While we were bickering like this, several Giant Sarracenia began crawling across the bridge toward us.
“Chant Start… Brandstifter (Arson Shooting)!” (Gina)
Then, I heard a familiar chant consisting of three phrases.
Along with that, a high-powered flame burned the man-eating plants to ashes. Just like Lizbeth, Gina, who had severed ties with the magic guild, was guarding this bridge. She seemed to be recovering from illness, but as the gatekeeper of the bridge, she was annihilating the monsters that crawled out with powerful magic. If she was not in top form, I could only imagine how terrifying she would be at full strength.
“Now, let’s head to the castle! Good luck to us!” (Sylphid)
Including Sylphid-sama, the five of us ran across the western bridge.
Yes, we are now in the midst of a serious battle. Lost has also steeled himself for a frontal assault, charging in from the south. So, we couldn’t afford to dawdle. While Lost is drawing the boss’ attention, we needed to quickly retrieve the Volga… the very thing that Otou-san and Okaa-san had tried to protect.
As we swiftly dispatched the monsters that appeared along the way, we rounded north and infiltrated through the north gate into the castle.
—
(POV switch – Jack)
Hearing the roars of the brave ones behind me, I slipped through that dark gate. Having received praise as a Speed Star, I had swiftly taken down the majority of the enemies. So far, the power balance felt even. To cut off the source of this army, we had to do something about the castle itself. Following Gnome-sama’s advice, I trusted the adventurers and moved forward. A chill that did not fit Azarigrad was blowing out from inside the castle.
“Such desperate last words being thrown around… Gnome is done for too.” (Salamander)
The red lizard perched on my shoulder echoed my thoughts exactly.
“From the moment we entered the castle, we are the ones in danger.” (Jack)
“…It can’t be helped. I have to provide ‘materials’ for you.” (Salamander)
Materials… The materials for the fake Volcanic Volga. That great sword was made of fire.
So to create it, I literally needed a spark. Thus, the plan was to use the flames emitted by the sage Salamander to create the fake Volcanic Volga.
But is that really okay? The resurrection of Emped means the resurrection of Rhizomata Volga. Isn’t that exactly what they want?
I pressed forward through the dimly lit corridor lined with chandeliers, black armor, and candelabra. And a chill drifted through.
Was it that the monsters inside the castle had mostly dashed outside, or was it the case that the interior of Azalea was relatively peaceful with fewer enemies?
There were a few monsters present. Moreover, they were just black bats, aside from the Black Corpses and Giant G. They were weaklings.
As I confidently sped down the corridor, I noticed a silver-haired mage standing still. He was deeply hooded, and her head was bowed, so I couldn’t see his expression. However, like the first time I met him, he wasn’t holding a staff or anything.
“Yustin…” (Jack)
“…” (Yustin)
Yustin did not speak. That silence felt like it represented rejection. It seemed he had no intention of reconciling with me.
“Yustin, I didn’t try to kill your father.” (me)
“…” (Yustin)
“You realize it too, don’t you? What your father is trying to do―――” (Jack)
Just as I tried to calm Yustin, he raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. That motion was exactly the same as the one Anfan used to suppress the chaos during the finals of the Urban Fraternity. He, then, slowly began to speak.
“――― Übergang (Rebirth).” (Yustin)
That phrase was the same magic as when we were attacked in the forest. A repeat spell that caused Shia’s arrows to appear with a time delay. With that incantation, I felt a sinister presence behind me, accompanied by a clattering sound I had grown all too familiar with, the sound of armored march.
“……!?” (Jack)
When I turned around, a horde of Black Corpses had lined up behind me, crossbows aimed at me. Those monsters had suddenly appeared in a space that had been empty just moments ago. And there were far too many of them! More than the large army that crawled out from the southern castle gate.
“Yustin, is this your doing?!” (Jack)
But there was no time to assign blame. I decided to use time magic to swiftly hunt those monsters down. My heartbeat quickened. Along with that, the world slowed down, and everything appeared red. However…
” Schwerkraft (Press Down)!” (Yustin)
“Ugh…!” (Jack)
Yustin continued to cast spells. That incantation was the gravity magic that had exploited the weaknesses of Anfan, the one that had caught me off guard. My time manipulation didn’t control the world’s time. It only accelerated myself. Anfan had realized that.
I didn’t fully understand the principle, but it seemed that merely making me heavier with gravity magic could completely seal off that acceleration.
“New magic” is troublesome magic.
While I was preoccupied, the horde of Black Corpses unleashed their crossbows and charged at me with swords.
“Ugh―――, ahhh!!” (Jack)
I swatted away the bolts that were fired at me with a sword I had urgently created. My arms felt too heavy, and to an onlooker, my movements must have appeared sluggish. However, I couldn’t completely fend off all the bolts. Some grazed my shoulder and thigh, dealing weak but steady damage to my body.
Moreover, the melee attacks from the Black Corpses armed with swords were closing in on me. The marble sword I pulled from the floor was too strong for defense and shattered into pieces immediately.
―――A fragile sword.
“Lost, this isn’t looking good! Run!” (Gnome)
“Dammit… Yus…tin…” (Jack)
Even opening my jaw to speak was painful.
Yustin, who was hiding his expression just like when he appeared, was still looking down. I couldn’t read his emotions.
What is he thinking…? The great mage of justice… He must have seen the scene of the city. Is your sense of justice at that level…?
The attacking black knights seemed to be under that mage’s control. The reason there were so few monsters inside the castle was not that they had rushed outside. Yustin had trapped them within his magic and summoned them at will.
This magic could be described as a “summoning magic,” couldn’t it? A spell that allows one to summon again, across time, what has already been absorbed, be it arrows or monsters. I never expected Yustin to have learned such advanced magic without me noticing.
Reluctantly, I leaned forward and tried to escape. I moved slowly in the opposite direction of the Black Corpses, dragging myself past Yustin… That scene must have looked extremely clumsy. Yustin watched me leave slowly.
And he followed behind me as I fled. He apparently had no intention of taking my life.
“――― Schwerkraft (Press Down).” (Yustin)
The gravity magic stacked up.
My movements became slower and slower. My body was too heavy, and it was painful to move. But I had to escape… If I didn’t, the monsters would turn me into a pincushion.
For the first time in a while, I felt fear from magic. Until now, I had taken magic lightly because I could easily negate it and evade it with time control. But in this world that prioritizes magic, the refined techniques of mages could easily seal off even close-combat specialists.
It’s frustrating, but I am powerless. Basic five-element magic was just a child’s play. The exclusive techniques of Schwarzschild, gravity and teleportation, could become formidable enemies if turned against me.
—
Yustin’s attacks continued. However, rather than direct attacks, it seemed he was trying to drive me somewhere. Whenever I attempted to head down a different corridor, he would “repeat” summon a horde of monsters right in front of that corridor. Each time, I staggered and searched desperately for another route to escape.
Is he guiding me?
“……haah……haah………” (Jack)
My stamina was running out. I was extremely fatigued, and just as I was about to collapse onto the floor after walking a bit more, I realized I was standing in front of a certain door. It was a very large door. So big that I had to look up at it.
“Lost, this is… the Volcanic Volga’s―――” (Salamander)
“Huh…? What did you say…?” (Jack)
My fatigued mind was hardly functioning. Salamander was hiding on my shoulder, so she seemed carefree. As I followed Salamander’s gaze and looked at the door, suddenly that enormous door swung open.
――――BANG!
The wind pressure bursting out from inside the door made it impossible to open my eyes.
“Ugh…!” (Jack)
“Welcome, Lost-kun… Eröffnung (Open Up).” (Anfan)
With that devilish voice, I was sucked into the ground, falling into that hole.
A teleportation magic portal… The magic appeared on the ground, swallowed me, and the next moment, I was expelled into the pedestal room.
“Ugh!” (me)
I was hurled onto the hard stone floor, my body striking it. Combined with the Gravity Magic, my spirit was already in tatters.
“Geho… geho…!” (Jack)
I coughed and wheezed, exchanging air in my lungs.
Just that alone felt like it might help me regain some of my strength. I managed to get my body upright, slowly, with sluggish movements. Then, I scanned my surroundings. It seemed I had been forcibly thrown into the room behind that large door. In the center of the room was the statue of that sexy lizard woman I had battled fiercely with, and beneath it was the pedestal in question. The statue of the fire sage Salamander. In other words, this was the pedestal room for the Volcanic Volga.
“Thanks for guiding me, Yuu.” (Anfan)
Standing next to that large pedestal was Anfan Schwarzschild. An executive of the Magic Guild. And the mastermind behind this incident. He stood there with a resolute posture. His back was straight, and he wore an expressionless face. His dark blue, three-colored eyes glared at me.
“I’m glad you didn’t die.” (Anfan)
“Anfan… Schwarzschild…” (me)
In response to my irritated voice, Anfan wore a devilish smile.
Only his mouth twisted, while his eyes did not smile. That expression was neither a sneer nor anything else. It was the face of a devil who was convinced of his victory.
“If I don’t have the Volcanic Volga, I’ll have to cross the continent again to steal it. I don’t have the luxury for such leisurely pursuits.” (Anfan)
Crossing the continent to steal it…? Does that mean he intends to take it from Alfred?
“You know it’s with your allies in Soltaire, right? The real Volcanic Volga.” (Anfan)
Without a doubt. This guy knows Alfred’s whereabouts. Lindsay should be there, and the child who should have been safely born. And in this situation…
It was clear what Anfan intended. He was treating my allies far away as hostages. He was threatening me that if I didn’t unseal Volga here, he would attack their family.
“I won’t let that happen.” (Jack)
“Good mindset. Now, quickly unseal it here.” (Anfan)
An arrogant tyrant… His manner reminded me of my father. Why are there so many arrogant and selfish fathers out there? But if I don’t obey him here, it would cause trouble for Alfred and Lindsay. I absolutely cannot allow that to happen. Should I just obey Anfan and help with the resurrection of Rhizomata Volga…? If I comply here, my distant allies would be saved. Should I lend a hand to this villain for the sake of protecting my allies…?
“There’s no way I’d do that, you idiot!” (Jack)
No, there is no option like that. Alfred and Lindsay would resist with all their might in this situation. Don’t underestimate the ways of Liberta… It’s only the true spirit of Liberta that matters. I wouldn’t succumb to such power, and neither would Alfred or Lindsay look favorably on me for making such a choice.
—“Help the people of the city, Jack.” (Alfred)
Alfred would definitely say that. And above all, the people who have supported me over the last five years, Shia, Taurus, Alba-san, the sages, and everyone in the city are suffering right here and now.
“Do you even realize what you’re doing?! You’ve left many townspeople to die! I don’t know if it’s to fulfill the guild’s purpose or whatever, but you’ve trampled on the thoughts of so many people!” (Jack)
However, my insults seemed to appear as mere bravado to that middle-aged mage. Without changing his expression at all, the mage opened his mouth.
“Oh? And what of it?” (Anfan)
“…!!” (Jack)
Something inside me snapped.
This damn old man… If he doesn’t understand by words, then I will judge him right here!
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