176th Episode
The twilight of night is approaching.
Barqan conducted a thorough check on each familiar summoned in the room Anna provided. He examined closely for any injuries sustained during the battles with the original Barqans.
Handling them as if they were cherished possessions, he meticulously completed the status checks on the last familiar.
None were severely injured. Those with minor wounds were healed with magic. Most familiars were in pristine condition.
Checking the time, it was still a bit away from midnight. Erica seemed to be preparing something in the room, while Anna was praying to various gods.
Perhaps because it was a time before Yggdrasil and the Goddess Church existed, it was believed that there were gods overseeing all things in the world.
As Barqan sensed Han’s power, he realized he was up on the roof. With the mana being extremely quiet, he assumed that Han was engaging in some form of meditation or discipline rather than training.
“A sword of good quality, I see.”
Barqan said as he stood on the roof.
Wondering what he was doing, he found Han polishing his blade with a cloth under the moonlight.
Han did not respond to Barqan’s comment. He simply continued to gently wipe the bluish blade with the cloth, applying some oil.
Barqan expressed his interest, saying he had never seen anyone oil their Judgment Weapon before. He was also curious about seeing an Eastern-style sword in a place flooded with Western swords.
Han slowly opened his mouth without glancing at him.
“It seems you’ve gathered all the gossip about this place.”
“Yeah. But it’s a bust. I found out that the information I was hoping for was nearly nonexistent.”
Barqan proposed that they would protect this place in exchange for any information they had about Urna.
Hearing this, Anna asked whether that was really okay, but Barqan scoffed, saying that even if they received something from this place, they couldn’t take it with them.
Unknown to Anna, they needed to ride this flow, which could be seen as a form of scenario, to clear the dungeon; thus, they too had to move.
“It’s eerily peaceful, as if monsters won’t be approaching anytime soon.”
Barqan shaped a chair out of shadows and sat down. He made a blatantly inviting gesture to engage in conversation.
Though he mentioned monsters, it was merely a spark for the conversation; his interests lay elsewhere.
Barqan inquired, “Are you curious about the Memory of the Past?”
“……”
Han tried not to react, but Barqan noticed his hesitating hand that was polishing the sword.
Barqan chuckled lightly.
“It’s a rather simple deduction. Considering the form of the past this dungeon shows and how you stumbled into this dungeon, it’s not hard to figure out.”
“It’s a foolish assumption. If you consider the past forms shown by this dungeon alongside the reason you rolled in here all by yourself, it should be easy to figure out.”
“……”
“However, judging by your reaction, it seems you still haven’t achieved a satisfactory result.”
Han must have faced his past self just like anyone else and moved forward. Yet, he didn’t go mad and somehow managed to escape. There was no change.
Bargan was aware of this point when he spoke.
“Though our races may differ, we’re allies now tasked with eradicating a common foe. It would be wise to understand each other to some degree. After all, there’s nothing more foolish than turning your back to a stranger.”
“……”
After hearing Bargan’s words, Han held up his polished sword and reflected it in the moonlight. The bright moonlight glinted off the smooth metal. As Han inspected for scratches, he spoke up.
With a dull voice, he revealed who he was.
“…I am a sinner.”
“A sinner?”
Is this the one who commits mass slaughter, Altife? That’s quite a statement.
Bargan wanted to say that but held back for now, feeling it necessary to listen to him further.
“Moreover, I’m a malicious one with no memory of my sins.”
He knows he’s a sinner but has no idea what crime he’s committed. Han continued while inspecting the opposite edge of the sword.
“Those who know me claim I’ve taken countless lives. They’ve told me I’ve slain children, their parents, and entire nations.”
“With that sword?”
“…It seems so.”
He slid the well-polished sword into its scabbard, which absorbed it with minimal friction.
Han gazed at the single bright moon hanging in the sky. It was unusually luminous.
“I lived no differently than a beast, yet I have no recollection of it… No, even beasts harm lives for their family or their own survival, but since I can’t even remember, I’m not fitting to be called a beast.”
“Memory… Is that the doing of Cardinal Gamigin?”
“……”
In that instant, a glint of hostility flashed in Han’s eyes as he glanced at Bargan.
Bargan shrugged, as if it was nothing important.
“The power of Cardinal Gamigin is well-known. He’s also referred to as ‘the devourer of memories.’ Because of that, even renowned magicians and esteemed swordsmen say they would rather face death than engage him in battle. It’s no surprise you haven’t heard of him.”
The Cardinal known to exist in the world among four beings.
One of them. Gamigin.
It was said that if you fought him, you would lose all your memories and die in a state of nothingness.
Without needing to look into the original story, Gamigin’s powers were already widely known as a source of fear.
Bargan pondered for a moment and asked, “Could it be you had a sword fight with him?”
Han calmly responded, brushing away any lingering hostility. “Yes.”
“You’re insane.”
Bargan let out an exasperated laugh.
No matter the reason, fighting Gamigin was foolish among foolish acts.
If he merely lost his past memories, that might be one thing, but the very essence of ‘experience’ itself would be obliterated. All the knowledge and memories he had accumulated until then could vanish.
To actually fight someone like that… It’s no wonder Han was called a madman.
Han seemed unconcerned about being insulted as he added, “I don’t know why I offered my sword to the Cardinal. I only became arrogant and forgot the weight of my sins. What a despicable person I am.”
“I forgot the weight of my sins. Truly a despicable creature.”
Vargan tapped his fingers on the chair, piecing together the information he knew with the unfolding plot.
He then glanced at Han, who had risen from his chair, and asked,
“If you’ve lived like a bird of prey, wouldn’t it be easier to continue that way? Why bother knowing the weight of sin?”
It wasn’t a question meant to defend him.
It was a question based on the basic traits of living beings.
Usually, people would be in turmoil over lightening the weight of their sins or forgetting them, but Han’s demeanor was anything but typical.
Han stepped toward the edge of the roof, each footfall producing a soft crunch of sand.
“What do you see when you look at me?”
Vargan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Then, grasping the true intention behind the words, he smirked.
“Do you desire flattery or honesty?”
“Better to have a bitter medicine.”
“You look like a monster trying to mimic a human.”
“That’s exactly it.”
For the first time, a small smile graced the corner of Han’s lips as he stood at the eaves, with just one step remaining.
“Do you know that?”
He jumped out.
Leaving behind a line stating he had known enough about Vargan.
—You appear as a person trying to mimic a monster.
“……”
Han disappeared, and Vargan remained seated in silence for a while.
He was sorting out information on Han, the dungeon, and the historical background that formed the basis of the story while clearing away other distracting thoughts.
Eventually, he stood and shifted the shadows back to their original form.
“Erica, eavesdropping is a bad habit.”
As the space distorted, Erica emerged. She had been listening in through Warp Magic.
Erica’s expression was filled with discontent.
Well, she was not exactly pleased about collaborating with Altife.
Especially since Han was the only bishop who could match the Archbishop and actually wield the Judgment Weapon and Liberation. It was unusual for her not to carry tension and dissatisfaction.
Anticipating her words, Vargan exhaled quietly and maintained a nonchalant expression.
“I understand what you’re worried about. But haven’t I said you needn’t worry? ‘Han’ and this dungeon will not bring you harm.”
“…Shall we get a little honest?”
“Get honest?”
“Tell me too.”
Erica stepped forward decisively, her gaze fixed straight ahead without evasion.
Vargan remained indifferent.
“What about?”
“That act of yours again? Fine. Then let me explain it myself.”
Erica closed the space between them.
“When it came to Francesca’s matter, I didn’t suspect it much. Knowing it’s a crime, knowing it goes against faith. But she was undoubtedly an exceptional talent. She helped you without a word.”
The movement through Warp Magic by Francesca—
It would have been impossible without Erica’s cooperation.
“Of course, I intend to pay for my sins. After you finish whatever it is you’re up to, I’ll go to the Church and confess my sins.”
“I know. That’s why you helped me. Truly, the pious Portlet family seems to relish hardship.”
“I’m not joking, so listen up, Schugenharz.”
Erica’s demeanor matched rage more than coldness.
She spoke.
“Of course, I don’t think you would. With that clever mind of yours, you must be devising plans I couldn’t even fathom. Yet, I can’t shake the suspicion. That conversation with Altife earlier was strange. Have you forgotten everything you learned at Academia? The deeper the conversation, the more it will poison you.”
“Since it’s your head, you must be planning a number I can’t even imagine. But I’m starting to have doubts. Was our recent conversation with Altife really that strange? Have you forgotten everything you learned at Academia? The deeper you converse with them, the more it will poison you.”
“…….”
“Could it be… this is such a ridiculous thought, but you… you don’t mean…?”
Erica suspects Vargan.
Frowning heavily, she continues to glare into his eyes.
“You don’t mean you’re trying to join the Goddess Church, do you?”
So that’s why you’re trying to get tangled up with the Goddess Church?
Vargan, who had briefly kept his mouth shut at Erica’s question, soon let out a laugh, as if he was about to hear something absurd, and denied it. He rather praised Erica for her sense of humor, calling it entertaining.
“Trading the glorious honor of Schugenhartz for the Goddess Church? A passing farmer would chuckle at that. Erica, since when did you start thinking so delightfully?”
“…….”
“I’m a bit hurt that your trust in me was that low. No, wait. Since we’ve agreed to assume a first meeting scenario, I should actually be praising you for doing well….”
Vargan openly wore a playful smile. Like treating the opponent like a child, as if deliberately trying to show a different side.
‘If he acts like this, Erica will definitely respond with irritation. She always has.’
So thought Vargan.
Meeting Erica’s gaze, the smile he had put on began to fade gradually.
“…There you go again.”
Erica didn’t snap at him for dismissing her.
Nor did she complain that he was toying with her with nonsense.
“You’re always like this… The important thing is you never tell anyone.”
Always alone… Thinking everything through and trying to solve it all by himself. What happened, why it happened, if it really had to happen. Not sharing anything.
In Erica’s eyes, a fleeting sadness was visible.
She wasn’t limited to just speaking about the current situation. She was looking at the present in light of the past.
“……”
Vargan didn’t provide an appropriate response. Erica had expected him to react this way.
He jokingly implied that she doubted his trust.
But the one who wasn’t truly receiving trust was herself.
That must be why he hadn’t mentioned anything about Laila either.
So Erica had decided to give up. She had abandoned her one-sided trust.
‘…This was something I already knew, so what’s the point of this now? Get a grip.’
Erica’s once drooping lips struggled to rise.
Mocking herself for wanting to cling to something she had already given up.
However.
“I’m sorry.”
Vargan uttered an unbelievable phrase.
The youngest son of the arrogant Schugenhartz.
The one who would never apologize, showed humility for once.
He didn’t shy away from her gaze, just like Erica a moment ago.
His emotions, usually so distant, now directly touched her.
Erica’s small lips trembled. She was so shocked that the tangled words in her head couldn’t find their way out.
But their little moment couldn’t stretch on any longer.
“C-Crisis! The monsters have suddenly picked up speed! They’ll arrive in this city in just a few minutes…!”
From below, Anna’s urgent voice rang out.
