Chapter 182
After that, I disarmed a few more traps and returned to my original position.
I was starting to feel tired, and it felt like I had done enough. The Extermination Squad's stalled progress had advanced by dozens of steps thanks to me alone.
Considering there were more traps ahead than I expected, those dozens of steps were quite significant.
As I returned to my original position, I saw some personnel looking at me as if I were a monster.
Well... I didn't underestimate him just because he's a man, but seeing it firsthand, I realized he's really tough. He's not famous for nothing. By the way, aren't you hurt...?
I responded appropriately to their words. All the wounds on my body had already healed.
The wounds weren't particularly deep, but I remembered having quite a few of them. I cautiously speculated that my Regenerative Ability seemed to have improved slightly. I just hadn't known because I hadn't been injured until now.
'Come to think of it, Chae-rin said that even Gaians level up by hunting Monsters, didn’t she?'
Perhaps my Physical Ability had increased without me realizing it. I had single-handedly taken down hundreds of Imps last time, and exterminated several Demons since then. It would be stranger if I hadn't grown.
Anyway, after that, the advance proceeded similarly to how I had done it. A few Powerful Individuals, including the Knight Commanders, stepped forward to clear the traps.
Of course, unlike me, they didn't have any special Regenerative Ability, but that didn't mean their Skill was lacking. At the very least, they could handle falling logs without getting injured.
Thanks to them, the Extermination Squad could advance at a decent pace even without me.
Just ignore the guys in front. They only know how to throw rocks anyway! Those women won't be able to approach easily because of the traps. So don't be scared and just hold your shields up!
When I saw that, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
'Wait... if I help, won’t that just put Livia at a disadvantage?'
The more active the People were, the sooner Lemegeton would confront the Extermination Squad. And that would increase her chances of being stabbed by spears and swords. Anyway, it wasn't a very welcome development for me, who participated in the Extermination to save a childhood friend from the Orphanage.
But did that mean I should just stand by and watch Demons revive? Should I quietly tolerate those fucking bastards who had sent my life halfway to hell? No, probably not that either. Amidst these conflicting thoughts, I smiled bitterly to myself.
*'...How contradictory.'*
I held an ambiguous position with both Lemegeton and the Knight Order. Come to think of it, I wasn't completely hostile to either, nor was I particularly close.
Even I thought I was indecisive, but... for now, I decided to continue acting that way. We were advancing anyway, and would soon encounter that Cult Order. Then, a conclusion would be reached one way or another.
And so, I silently followed the Extermination Squad.
* We exited the wide, dark cave surprisingly quickly. Although there were many traps and intense deterrent maneuvers, the cave itself wasn't very long. It seemed they focused on making the cave wide rather than deep during its creation/generation.
Anyway, as we exited the Cave, a new Space appeared. For a moment, the Extermination Squad, including me, couldn't help but be surprised.
“Whoa.”
“Wow, this is insane.”
The new Space that appeared before us was far, far larger than I had imagined. Even if the entire Extermination Squad, which was unusually large this time, entered, there would still be plenty of Space left.
Moreover, the ceiling was so incredibly high that it felt overwhelming. Considering the ceiling height, the chamber might be several times larger than Amon's Altar. As a result, exclamations of awe naturally flowed from people's mouths.
Wow...
It wasn't just an exclamation born of its size. While its size was impressive, what was truly more astonishing was its intricacy.
The Space before us looked more like a temple than an altar. It was a place for worshipping and praising something.
First, the walls were densely covered with statues of Demons. Surprisingly, some familiar ones were among them.
A white horse with horns on its head, its front hooves raised high... Amdusias. A man with a gloomy expression holding a book... Dantalion. And, a familiar-looking woman with deer antlers... Barbatos.
All those statues were looking up at the Three-Story Tower in the Center. They were as if worshipping someone higher than themselves. I suspected that Three-Story Tower might be the Altar. After all, I could see Lemegeton Mages on top of it.
What kind of being was sleeping there to warrant such sculptures? Who could it be that these demons were looking at the altar as if in praise?
Fortunately, these questions didn't last long, because I remembered the name Dantalion used to constantly shout when I met him before.
*'...Paimon.'*
Probably the master of that Altar. And the King they praised. It wasn't certain, but I was almost certain of my guess. Whatever it was, it wasn't good news.
The Extermination Squad seemed to sense it too and tried to charge immediately, but unfortunately, even that wasn't easy.
...They're here.
I stopped looking at the Altar and gazed forward. Numerous Lemegeton Followers were arrayed in front. As if to prove this was their last stand, there were more Lemegeton members than ever before.
But numbers alone weren't the important thing.
Honestly, we had more numbers here.
The problem was that all the Branch Leaders had come forward. Livia, 3rd Branch Leader. Isolde, 2nd Branch Leader. And...
Haha, well met.
A person I had seen once before, a middle-aged woman with dark green hair and a relaxed smile, stood opposite us.
A Powerful Individual I had only seen once, but who remained etched in my memory, was truly memorable.
It's a shame to meet like this, isn't it?
Drunken Sword Jurgen. The top Adventurer in the industry, and a Powerful Individual who, despite being an Adventurer who appeared out of nowhere, could even use Sword Qi—such a Person had suddenly appeared on Lemegeton's side.
Naturally, everyone here was bewildered. I had only seen her once before, but she was a considerable famous person to begin with. In such a chaotic situation, Jurgen calmly waved his hand.
It wasn't a greeting to anyone specific, but rather to the entire Extermination Squad. Soon, Jurgen opened her mouth and spoke.
Since we've met like this, let me reintroduce myself. I am 1st Branch Leader Jurgen. You...!
At those words, one of the Adventurers growled.
No, why are you there? A person who earned money and gained honor...! Surely you didn't abandon all that and join those cult bastards? Why, for heaven's sake? You've got the order wrong, my friend.
Even though everyone was glaring fiercely, Jurgen spoke as if amused.
“Why am I the 1st Branch Leader? Because my Skill is good? Well... that too, but it's mostly because I was the first to become a Branch Leader. I've known the Chairman here for a long time, and we're close friends.”
“What do you mean...? Even so, don't you regret losing your money and honor?”
“Haha, not at all. Why would I regret such things? I've already enjoyed everything there is to enjoy, and if I had truly wanted honor, I would have become a Knight Commander instead of an Adventurer. And...”
Jurgen continued.
I like the power of Demons. Isn't it amazing? Think back to when we met Amon last time. That one, bound to the Altar, repeatedly repelled the Extermination Squad that had gathered with all their might. If a mere Half-King can do that much, what about a fully Descended King? Indeed... isn't it ecstatic just to imagine?
Her eyes glazed over for a moment. Everyone seemed unable to empathize with her long speech. That was natural. Anyone could see she wasn't in her right mind.
Everyone stared at the opposite side with dumbfounded expressions.
Then Reilly said, pushing the People back.
Enough, stop talking and prepare for battle. They're trying to buy as much time as possible.
Indeed, his words were true. Even as she spoke, the Followers on the Altar were diligently pouring mana into it.
Realizing this was no time for leisurely conversation, the Extermination Squad Members raised their weapons.
The already tense atmosphere became even more brutal.
Think simply. Whatever that Person is, that Person is now an enemy, and if so, we just need to exterminate them. Everyone, root them out from this place! Waaah!
Immediately after, the People clashed.
*Clang!* Jurgen's Sword Qi flared from her sword, and 1st Knight Commander Eve stepped forward to block it. It was just two swords clashing, but it sounded like the air itself was tearing.
*Elsewhere, 2nd Branch Leader Isolde confronted 3rd Knight Commander Vivian.*
In yet another spot, 4th Knight Commander Reilly stood watching 3rd Branch Leader Livia. Livia, however, was trying to pick off only the nearby Adventurers instead of the Knights.
People mingled with People, and long weapons clashed. Hundreds of Personnel clashing in the Place adorned with statues of Demons were truly magnificent.
In such a situation, I also quietly raised my spear.
*'...Right.'*
I had to fight anyway. And so, I stepped into the Battlefield with a slightly annoyed stride.