Chapter 48

＊＊＊R15 It Burns

The moment Hikaru saw the giant, he closed the window. He felt that it would be bad to keep watching.

At the same time, the mysterious light that had been illuminating the castle dimmed and returned to the original darkness. With "Magic Detection," the movements of the undead monsters could be seen, but after a while of frantic activity, they had now stopped moving.

In the room lit only by the magic lamp, Hikaru and Ravia sat down on simple chairs. Even after 600 years, the chairs were sturdy enough to support them.

"…Did you see that just now?"

"I saw it… What was that? A giant?"

"Didn't you read about giants in the adventure stories you read?"

"There are no stories about giants—oh, but they do appear in myths. They are the soldiers sent by the gods."

"Wow. Soldiers of the gods, huh."

Hikaru, who had started to speak, exchanged a glance with Ravia.

"…I know it might sound crazy, but could the reason this capital sank underground and the people turned into undead be…"

"…Because they angered the gods?"

"……"

"……"

Silence fell between them.

(The idea is absurd, but the fact that it can't be dismissed outright is terrifying. After all, there are gods in this world…)

In Hikaru's pocket was a guild card, which grants the favor of the gods.

"Let's put the giant aside for now and check the library."

The ground had stopped shaking since then. It seemed to have reacted to the light.

Hikaru started examining the parchment on the table. Since he couldn't hold hands with Ravia, he had her place her hand on the back of his neck. It seemed that "Group Concealment" wouldn't activate unless their skin was touching.

*Dynasty Year XXX, Month X, Day X—Summary of the Royal Council Meeting, 2 days after the underground transfer*

"Got a hit right away. It talks about the underground transfer."

Hikaru read it out loud for Ravia to understand.

*Discussion on countermeasures against the giants attacking the Holy Dynasty. The Emperor's intentions are unclear. The Minister of Military, along with the Right and Left Generals, suggest returning the Holy Capital to the surface and fighting the giants. The Minister of Finance states that the national treasury is strained due to repeated expansions of the Holy Capital and that the Holy Magic Supply Facility is not yet operational.

The Minister of Internal Affairs reports on the state of the Holy Capital's divine citizens. Most of the divine citizens deeply thank the Emperor for his holy decision. The supply of Holy Magic is intermittent but does not affect daily life.

The meeting was interrupted by a loud noise, as if the sky had split. According to the Minister of Magic, someone was trying to forcibly enter the Holy Capital. The barrier repelled them. The Knights of the Holy Order, under the direction of the Minister of Military, began to take action to guard.

After that, the loud noise sounded again, twice as loud as before.*

The document ended there.

"…Could this 'someone trying to enter' be the giant?"

"If so, a lot of things would make sense. The reason there were few knights and soldiers is that they had been dispatched to deal with the giants. And they were defeated by the giants."

"They sure do call themselves 'Holy' and 'Divine Citizens'…"

"Given that they had the technology to move the capital underground, they probably got carried away."

Since there is a mention of "returning the Holy Capital to the surface," it would be normal to assume that they moved the capital themselves.

(Still, it's incredible… magic can move an entire city. But that technology has been lost.)

"Why did the giant attack the capital? And what is this 'Holy Magic Supply'? I don't understand. And—why are all the people in the capital undead? Was it really the wrath of the gods?"

"I don't know. We might find out if we check all the documents—but—"

The ground shook again, and dust fell from the ceiling.

"That giant… I thought it had stopped, but it might have noticed us."

"Hikaru, wait. What is this?"

Ravia pointed to a scroll on the table. The title read:

"It says 'Genealogy of the Holy Dynasty.' What is it?"

"Why is something like this here? It was an emergency, right?"

"…Ravia, good catch."

When Hikaru unrolled the scroll, there was indeed a genealogy. Names of the royal family, marriage alliances, and those who had been removed from the royal line—.

(…What? I'm getting a magical reaction from this scroll. Is it important? And…)

The royal names are generally followed by "Gii-Poelnsia." However, there are cases where someone who had been removed from the royal line returned, or where a noble from another family was married into the royal line.

The full names of these nobles were clearly written.

The last king's father came from another noble family. And the name of that noble family was written all over the genealogy.

*Valbus Family*—.

It was hard to believe that this had nothing to do with the historian Gafarasti Nui Valbus.

"! Hikaru!"

A sound like a rumble echoed.

He opened the window slightly. The purple giant was slowly turning its body towards them.

"It's not in the mood for stretching."

"Is it coming this way?"

"Probably. Ravia, can you make a decision for me?"

"What?"

"Killing the king. —Ah, no, he's probably already dead."

Killing the undead king. That's what Hikaru meant.

Ravia's expression hardened.

"…I don't mind. If you say to do it, I will."

"Thanks. To be precise, I'll take care of the king, and I'll leave the rest of the Dead Nobles to you."

"Understood."

Hikaru rolled up the scroll and stuffed it into his bag. It was unclear why the genealogy was left there, but Gafarasti probably wanted it. It wouldn't hurt to take it, and they didn't have time to check anything else.

The two of them, holding hands, left the library.

The technology that detects humans and moves, and the lighting that can be used like "electricity," were things not seen in this world. There are "Magic Lamps," but they work almost the same as "flashlights" powered by "batteries." It's completely different from electricity supplied through outlets.

("Electric supply"… "Holy Magic supply," huh)

The floor shook.

The giant was moving. Hikaru and Ravia returned to the throne room.

"Killing the king… and then to the treasure room?"

"That's right. We can't deal with a giant like that. We have to run."

Hikaru believed that the giant was most likely the cause of the undead. He couldn't imagine the kings, who called themselves the "Holy Dynasty," committing mass suicide and turning themselves into undead.

A giant that could cause such widespread destruction. It must have had incredible power, perhaps even beyond human capabilities.

(Divine soldiers…)

Such a large opponent was Hikaru's nemesis. He didn't feel like he could defeat it.

"Ravia, we're here."

They stopped just before the throne room. The faint voices of the nobles still arguing could be heard.

Even with the giant appearing so close, they had stayed, expecting the military to handle it.

It might have been arrogance born from possessing advanced technology.

And before they realized it—some force had turned them all into undead.

"I'll take out the king alone. You stay here while you're casting. They'll probably notice our position the moment we let go, but you can hit them with magic, so it should be fine."

"O-Okay."

"Try to blow us both away. I'll be fine."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I promise. I'm the type who checks the bridge before crossing it."

The grip on his hand loosened.

"…You're a liar."

"I don't plan on dying, and I've calculated the risks. Your magic has a wide area of effect, so you can hide behind a wall here, right?"

"That's right."

"—No matter what magic you use, I'll be fine."

He remembered the intense fire magic from last time. Ravia looked anxious.

"I trust you on that."

Ravia smiled mischievously. Hikaru thought she seemed okay.

Then Ravia began to cast.

"‘Answer my call, spirits. What I desire is a conflagration that will burn all things, living beings, and even reason to ashes’—"

A magic circle appeared centered on Ravia. Since "Group Concealment" was still in effect, they hadn't noticed her yet.

Now—

Hikaru started running.

"‘Dance, spirits’"

At that moment, everyone in the hall turned to look at Ravia.

Hikaru cursed at their unexpectedly quick reaction.

But he had no intention of stopping now.

"‘Sing, spirits, with my magic as your sustenance’"

Hikaru, in "Stealth" mode, approached the undead king. He stabbed the "Strength Dagger" into the king's chest, and the king's body went limp.

In "Stealth" mode, the king couldn't detect Hikaru.

The feeling of his soul rank rising.

The Dead Nobles were heading towards Ravia, but they noticed the king had been killed.

They stopped, confused.

Hikaru quickly pulled the ring from the undead arm and ended the "Stealth" mode.

"Nice to meet you all. And—goodbye."

He said with a grin and immediately turned around.

"‘To reclaim the pure heavens and earth, burn them to ashes’"

The Dead Nobles rushed at Hikaru.

But Hikaru returned to Ravia much faster. He had raised his "Burst" to 2 for a reason.

A massive ball of fire was being generated above them from the magic circle.

"‘Blessing of the Conflagration’"

The magic circle shattered like glass, emitting light.

The giant serpent of fire devoured the Dead Nobles. A heat wave swept through as it landed.

Hikaru, holding the exhausted Ravia, evacuated to the corridor.

The throne room, now as bright as midday. The magnificent carvings of angels and demons on the ceiling, unseen for 600 years, were revealed in the light.

But it was short-lived. The fire that burned the Dead Nobles, including the king, subsided.

The smell of burning, carried by the heat wave, was not that of flesh. The bodies were charred.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes… I feel much better. Maybe it was a good idea to choose the 'Challenger of the Magic Principles' as my 'Occupation' as you suggested."

The power would be weaker, but the magic consumption would be reduced. "Flame Mage" was too strong.

"It feels like my soul rank has risen a lot."

The mass slaughter of the Dead Nobles. Well, they were already dead, so it wasn't really a slaughter.

"Right. But before we confirm—let's go. It's coming."

The ground was shaking closer and closer.

Hikaru gripped the ring he had taken from the king.