Chapter 87

If only it didn’t have to be time-specific...

The "Vampire of Freila" event spans multiple eras, a long-term event.

In Era I, you meet Rosette, in Era II, Velter curses Rosette, and then in Era III, you finally find a clue to solving the case.

It’s a rumor about a powerful "Curse Breaker." If she can, she might be able to remove Rosette’s "Curse Mark," so the "protagonists" go in search of this Curse Breaker.

After much effort, when they find the Curse Breaker, she traces the curse back to its source using the substitute figure. Then, the location of the "source of the curse" is revealed by the curse magic.

That place is... the "Mansion of Roses."

It’s not a fairy tale about the bluebird of happiness, but after traveling around the world, the culprit turns out to be at the starting point, a twist in the story.

After hearing this information, when you talk to Rosette, you can hear her say, "I once saw Uncle heading towards the basement." Investigating the library of the mansion finally opens the dungeon that spreads beneath the "Mansion of Roses."

Of course, the diary I took out earlier is something that should only be found at this stage. Its contents are a record of Velter’s efforts to wish for the revival of the "Demon King."

The "Demon King" is a monster given power by an evil deity. Though it gained unparalleled power through the evil deity’s magic, its existence is inseparable from the evil deity and cannot exist without it.

So, when the "Fourth Demon King" was sealed, he entrusted the "Relics of the Demon King" to his subordinates and fell into a long sleep deep in the basement of the "Mansion of Roses." Velter’s diary also contains a copy of the "Demon King’s" last words.

---

Light, awaken... after

Stand before me...

Offer me... your heart

---

The writing is faded in parts due to the age, making it seem mysterious, but essentially, it’s a message saying, "After the 'Goddess of Salvation' awakens, if you offer me your heart, I will revive."

In other words, the "Demon King" had planned for his revival from the beginning, anticipating the time when the evil deity’s seal would begin to weaken, which is when the "Goddess of Salvation" would awaken. When Velter says "the time has come," it means this.

Naturally, as the "Hero of Light" tasked with protecting the world, it’s impossible to allow such a thing. Upon learning Velter’s goal, the "protagonists" confront Velter in the basement of the "Mansion of Roses"! The flow is to defeat Velter and prevent the "Demon King’s" revival...

But then, there’s another twist in the game, BleBle.

This scenario had one more hidden twist. At the very end, the dying Velter laughs maniacally and spews out a curse.

---

That "Curse Mark" was the result of releasing the spell stored in the "Relics of the Demon King," and the caster is not me.

---

In other words, to stop the curse on Rosette, you need to kill the true caster, the "Fourth Demon King," not me.

(No way...)

The game’s Velter’s face, looking satisfied as he disappears, overlaps with the Velter standing before me now.

The despair of the subsequent "Demon King" battle is still vivid in my memory, as if it happened yesterday. I never want to go through that again.

(I’m definitely stopping this here.)

I won’t let it go as it did in the game. If I can defeat Velter here, I should be able to stop the entire event.

I grip my sword tighter.

"Hey, old man."

Without a word from me, Rad and the others line up beside me, protecting Rosette. Seeing them, I feel a bit calmer.

---

Velter is a formidable opponent.

The basement of the "Mansion of Roses," which can only be entered after Era III, houses a boss in its deepest part, who is not weak.

However...

(There is a chance.)

Undead have powerful traits but also many weaknesses. The battle with Velter clearly demonstrates this, with a strong element of gimmick battles.

Especially, Velter, with the vampire’s high survival traits, has low durability in terms of data. If we can overwhelm him quickly, we should be able to deplete his HP with our current strength.

(And...)

I glance behind me.

Although it was a close call, I gave "her" "that" as a precaution.

It’s an item with a pun-like name, full of jokes, but its effect is real. If it works properly, there’s a good chance we can change the flow of the game’s events.

(Alright!)

I take a deep breath and exhale.

Because I can’t afford to fail, I need to stay calm. Without taking my eyes off Velter, I speak to the tense Rad and the others.

"Rad, Nuke, Prana, Mana. The opponent is strong, but we can win."

I load my resolve into my confident words, believing they will reach them.

"We’ve fought undead before, remember? The Elderlich who used instant death spells. If we stay calm and fight like we did then, we can definitely win."

"Ah..."

First, Nuke lets out an involuntary sound.

"Hehe. That’s the old man I know."

Rad, standing beside him, laughs heartily from the bottom of his heart. Just that makes it feel like everything is back to normal.

Without any tension, they ready their weapons and wait for the battle to begin. Then,

"Unpleasant."

With those words from Velter, the battle begins.

"How dare you compare me to a mere lich!"

Dark magic gathers in his outstretched hand. A ranged spell!

"---Scatter!"

In response to my immediate shout, we scatter in six directions. A moment later,

"Blood Bomb!"

A crimson spell from the vampire’s hand narrowly misses me, gouging the ground.

"Ugh!"

I run, using the blast to propel me. I swing my empty left hand for balance and close the distance to Velter.

"Damn insects!"

Two, three projectile spells fly towards me, but,

(I already know those attacks!)

I dodge them, reading their trajectories.

"Square Cross!"

While running, my right hand traces a complex path. I finally catch Velter’s body within the range of my sword,

"Over Arts Tri---"

"Don’t get ahead of yourself!"

Velter draws his weapon for the first time. With lightning speed, he wields a rapier.

"End it, human!"

His right rapier is firmly in the path of my strike, and in his left palm, an unprecedented amount of magic gathers. If I take the attack and then get hit by a spell at close range, I’m done for.

But,

"---Just a trick!"

I pull back my right hand and thrust my left, which I had shown to be empty. Out of it, a bag of white powder flies out.

---

A specialized anti-undead interference item, "Holy Ash."

---

The interference item that was effective against undead, as seen in the battle with the Elderlich, now targets Velter.

"Ugh, this is ridiculous! Such a... thing..."

Unlike the Elderlich, who had no resistance to status effects, Velter’s movement is only halted for a moment. But that was enough.

"Now, do it!"

I didn’t need to say it. What I wanted to do, and what I actually did, was conveyed through my pre-battle words. Taking advantage of Velter’s brief stiffness,

"---Crimson Overstrike!!"

Rad, wielding a sword enveloped in flames,

"---Flare Cannon!!"

Nuke, finally controlling his magic,

"---Mirage"

Prana, increasing her attack speed with clones, each deliver their strongest blows. And finally,

"---I’ll finish it! Judgment Ray!!"

The ultimate weapon against undead. Mana, the "Little Saint of Prayer," releases a massive light spell that pierces the vampire’s body!

"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH