Chapter 54 - How Can a Person of This World Be Named That?! (3)

I thought about it for a bit.

From Wasik's perspective, it might seem unfair.

He was just born with that name.

It would be bewildering to have someone suddenly appear and demand why they were from this world.

But from my perspective, I was quite desperate.

Three years had passed since I fell into this world.

Learning the language, learning to write, mastering skills, and making friends.

Yet the emptiness of missing home always gnawed at a corner of my heart.

Lady Seir and Leraje?

They're Devils.

Even if they can share my world, pure human empathy is impossible with them.

So it was only natural that I developed the desire to have someone to share a conversation with, from the most trivial reminiscing to the crucial task of finding a way home.

When I heard the name Wasik.

Even while rationally thinking it couldn't be, I denied even Lady Seir's advice because of such emotions.

We’re enemies?

That was true, but I didn't have any flowery thoughts about necessarily keeping him alive as a companion.

But if Wasik was truly my senior who fell into this world before me, he might know something I didn't.

If there were two, finding a third became easier.

There might even be a gathering of people like us.

Honestly, it was worth hoping.

How could someone with the name "Bong-sik" not be Korean?

This is unforgivable.

This is fraud.

"What nonsense..."

WHEEE—!

Further dialogue was pointless.

Wasik quickly activated his prepared magic against my mercilessly fired Magic Bullet.

CLASH!

A barrier that wouldn't break even against a maximally condensed Magic Bullet.

Though his eyebrow twitched, Wasik faced the incoming bullet with wide eyes.

Setting aside personality and name, Wasik being skilled was a pure fact.

Having easily blocked my full-power Magic Bullet, he launched his counterattack.

No incantation, no hand signs.

Only flowing mana announced the magic's manifestation.

Shadows?

Undulating shadows zigzagged like snakes, racing across the floor.

He’s not using elemental magic.

Shadow magic was often mistaken for elemental magic, but it wasn’t.

While there was elemental magic that controlled darkness, shadows were an entirely separate domain.

A class that used magic by utilizing the mysteries contained in specific symbols.

The domain of Conjurers, like Fiona, who used magic that implemented the mysteries inherent in mirrors.

What is he, a ninja?

Like illusion magic, it was magic rarely attempted since it was hard to exert physical force without high-level magical capability.

However, Wasik seemed to have already reached that level.

Swish—!

Wasik's extended shadow raised its head like a cobra.

Its tip split, forming a trident shape.

The shadow spear plunged down as if to pierce through me.

Should I use Blink?

Though safer, I judged it best to save it for now.

Wasik's defense is solid.

To break through that, we'd need either Rei's defense-piercing damage with Argentooth, or Leaf's penetrating Water Jet.

There was no need to reveal all my cards and reduce variables in Wasik's calculations.

I maximized physical enhancement and launched myself to dodge the shadow spear.

If I fire Magic Bullet to split his concentration, dodging the shadow spear should be possible.

Even in the worst case, I had Blink as my trump card.

"How foolish," Wasik's voice, filled with elation, echoed through the basement.

"Think there's only one?"

Wasik's shadows weren't singular.

The torches on both sides of the basement.

Two light sources split Wasik's shadow in two.

Wasik was a mage skilled enough to control each separately.

"That's my line."

If I got out, you should have assumed the other two escaped the trap too.

Pop—!

While two shadows targeted me, Rei charged.

Wasik turned his head toward the approaching Rei, unfazed.

He'd already deployed defensive magic.

His expression showed confidence in handling a few strikes from a Novice kid.

But that confidence crumbled immediately after.

Magic that broke magic.

The paradoxical magic breaking silver fangs spread, crushing Wasik's defensive magic like clay.

Wasik had two choices.

Either focus everything on somehow blocking Rei's attack.

Or prioritize capturing me, whether through mutual destruction or taking hostages.

Wasik chose the latter.

Smart.

Judging Rei's attacks to be unstoppable.

His instantaneous decision-making in choosing the more viable option was praiseworthy, but...

Pop—

Unfortunately, I'm a cheater.

CRASH!

Shadow spears from both sides crashed into where I'd been before Blinking away.

Such a pitiful sight, grasping at nothing.

"Such broken magic...!"

If it bothers you so much, use spatial magic yourself.

To Wasik despairing at his lose-lose decision, Rei delivered a merciless punch.

WHAM! BOOM! THUD!

Before he could fully express his indignant grievances toward me, Wasik's body flew through the air.

Hit the floor, then smashed into the wall.

She really put her all into that one.

"I said don't kill him."

"What? He won't die from this. His physical enhancement was pretty decent."

Physical enhancement increased durability too.

Rei had assessed even that in that brief moment.

This punch seemed to strain her a bit, as she rolled the shoulder she'd used to launch Wasik.

"But, that guy's moving?"

Rei pointed at Wasik crawling and squirming.

"Hmm, a tough one indeed."

For a mage to maintain consciousness after Rei's serious punch.

Even that Abyss Worshiper necromancer tried to avoid Rei's punches.

"I held back."

"Anyway. We need to catch him first."

Wasik, let's see how many shots you can take.

Let's start with five Magic Bullets loaded with Magic Exhaustion.

Faced with the barrel of my Magic Bullet, Wasik didn't deploy defensive magic.

"Kuheh, too late! The sacrifice has been made! Oh forgotten one! Oh fate that lost its way! Come to me here, now!"

Wasik was at the basement's end.

At the foot of what appeared to be an altar's stone bed.

Though it looked like a tomb, even if it really was one, we were in the Abyss.

Even a simple stone or dirt could hold unknown mysteries here.

In such a world, a place like this might naturally possess some power.

Wasik's cry caused tremors.

As the floor shook, Wasik's triumphant laughter spread across the floor.

"Hey! Roman!"

"I know."

Now’s not the time.

Were we the careless ones?

Abandoning the thought of keeping him alive, I condensed Magic Bullet with killing intent.

Rei too, once again wrapped in silver mana, kicked off the ground powerfully.

But before our attacks could end Wasik's life.

The tremors stopped.

"...Nothing happened?"

Appearance, mana, everything remained the same.

He shouted as if he were receiving divine possession.

Is this development unexpected even for Wasik?

His face was filled with bewilderment.

"The door's blocked."

Rei said, gripping Wasik's neck.

The recent tremors must have been from the passage being sealed.

Then, what Wasik did...

"You got scammed, dude," Rei spoke as if it wasn't worth getting worked up about.

Words that pierced everyone's hearts.

"Please get me out too..."

Leaf remained in the trap.

Looking like a zoo animal in its cage.

Using Undine to prevent fall damage was good, but Leaf had no means of getting out.

I immediately escaped with Blink.

Rei just kicked off the walls and climbed up with physical enhancement.

And Leaf stayed put.

We hadn't abandoned Leaf.

We naturally thought Leaf could get out too.

She hadn't asked for help, and seeing her skillfully create a water cushion with Undine, we thought she'd manage.

"...I'll get you out right now."

When I Blinked toward Leaf, who was making a tearful face with arms wide open, she immediately hugged me.

Being so close, I could hear her sniffling.

Is she that scared?

Better get her out quickly.

I used Blink, bringing Leaf out of the trap with me.

"Thank youuu..."

Though there were no tear tracks on Leaf's cheeks as she spoke nasally, her reddened eyes showed she'd been close to crying.

"Next time, just say it. Don't hide it."

"Yesss..."

I return to the basement with Leaf.

Under Rei's gaze, Wasik sat dejectedly with a soul-drained face, muttering, "It's over."

"What is?"

To Rei's question, Wasik answered with a laugh that could've been self-mockery or derision, "This room is a trap. Don't you get it? I was fooled... as you said, I got scammed. I'll die of thirst here. Haha, to think Jan Wasik would end in such a cell. The Gravediggers team leader position will weep."

"Gravediggers? You're with them?"

A familiar name.

Surely, when I first came to the Abyss, those who tried to backstab me had trained at Gravediggers...?

Are they some thieves' guild instead of an Explorers’ guide?

"Heh. Why? Finally, coming to your senses? If you fear retaliation..."

"What retaliation? We'll properly deal with them later. Taking in weird people for training and all."

"No, no. The Gravediggers?"

"So what? They're not one of the Five Great Guilds."

See? Their trash.

"Though not one of the Five Great Guilds, in terms of exploration activities—!"

"Enough."

I cut off Wasik's words.

"Just tell us everything you know about this place."

"...You saw it, didn’t you? I got scammed."

"I'll be the judge of that."

After my interrogation.

My guess that Wasik came here knowing this was a ruin was correct.

He saw writing about a flying altar in another ruin, judged it referred to a Floating Island, and found this place through solo research within his guild.

He believed the altar's nature was to grant some power in exchange for sacrifices.

He said he brought people as both trap test subjects and altar sacrifices along the way.

No reason to keep him alive, I guess?

What we learned proved he’s scum.

Not to mention he saw Blink, and I kinda want to keep that under wraps.

It’s not like I have a reason to spare someone who's already harmed many people.

Perhaps noticing my killing intent, Wasik frantically shouted, "W-wait! I-I'm very useful! Killing me means losing the last hope of getting out of here! S-save me. I'll find an escape route somehow! Do you think three inexperienced rookies like you can escape this place?"

"Of course."

Haven't you seen it already?

As I raised Axis, Wasik finally seemed to recall my Blink, letting out a sigh, "Spatial movement..."

Maybe I would have hesitated if I didn't have Axis.

But now, I could freely move within Axis’ coordinate range even without direct sight.

No matter how thick the walls were, they couldn't be beyond coordinate formation range.

In terms of escape, I was top-tier among Explorers.

"Should I finish him?"

Perhaps thinking I was hesitating, Rei stepped forward.

But that won't do.

Rather than borrowing Rei's hands for this, I'll just do it myself.

Regardless of my murder experience, having a 16-year-old girl kill someone felt wrong to me, even with my somewhat broken moral compass.

Though I was fine with having her hit people, still.

"I'll do it."

"W-wait! I'll do anything! L-look, though I was wrong, I was right about there being a ruin!"

"Hmm..."

"I'll find other ruins! I'll keep quiet about the spatial magic!"

"How can we trust you? Roman, don't be fooled."

I don't believe Wasik will keep his word either, but...

"You said you'd do anything?"

"O-of course! No, I mean, yes sir!"

Seeing a ray of hope, Wasik hastily replied, "Fine. Since you did find the ruin."

"Really letting him live? What about the Gravediggers? What if he rats us out?"

"That's right. Let's properly remove the source of trouble here!"

"He might not be useless."

"For ruin exploration, there are better organizations than Gravediggers..."

"That too, but. Can you find people?"

"People?"

Those who even Devil Sorcerers, specialists in finding people, couldn't track.

Since they were hidden behind the Abyss' veil that blocked even the sight of Devils, we could only search with our own eyes.

"The Abyss Worshipers. Can you find them?"

That name was both an object of fear and hatred.

Mad zealots who openly terrorize even the city's Grand Duchy.

At my question about making them enemies, Wasik's eyelids trembled.

However, what could be more frightening than death right before his eyes?

Wasik nodded.

"Good. I'll spare you."

A bastard who sacrificed innocents as offerings?

Jan Wasik is trash.

But as Franklin Roosevelt, the World War victor and unprecedented four-term Earth president, once said, “He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard.”           [TL Note: I mean, he died shortly after the start of his fourth term so personally, I wouldn’t call him a four-term President. He is still unprecedented as a three-term president, however]

"You know how to summon Devils?"

"What...?"

"I need to change your job to be useful."

Never thought I'd use the Devil summoning circle I learned from Mea like this.

"From now on, your name is Bong-sik."

And your class will be Devil Sorcerer.