Saat kami semakin dekat dengan gerbang portal, kluster cahaya itu mulai bergetar dengan ancaman. Seolah-olah memperingatkan kami untuk tidak mendekat, nanti akan ada konsekuensi yang serius. Dan memang benar, jika kami langsung meluncur melewatinya, kami hanya akan memantul kembali.
Saat itulah, kujemput kartu hitam yang diberikan oleh Kepala Sekolah kepadaku.
Kujatuhkan sesaat sebelum kami menyentuh portal. Kluster cahaya itu bergerak-gerak seperti cacing, lalu merekah dan mencelahkan lubang di ruang itu.
Pada sa yang sama, kujalakan timer tepat 2 menit.
‘…Ini batas akses passes Atalante.’
Biasanya, ini adalah konten akhir yang hanya diberikan kepada pemain yang mencapai status Eternal.
Kartu hitam itu seperti identifikasi yang diberikan kepada makhluk-makhluk tinggi. Tanpa ini, aku akan dikarantina segera setelah memasuki sisi lain portal.
Pengelolaannya sangat ketat.
‘…’
Dengan kata lain…
Netherworld itu tempat yang sangat gila di mana bahkan seorang Eternal seperti Atalante hanya diperbolehkan masuk selama 2 menit saja.
Kadang-kadang, tergantung rute yang diambil, seseorang mungkin harus masuk ke sana lagi saat skenario utama dan bukan hanya di DLC-nya.
‘…Tidak mungkin.’
Sungguh benar.
Tolong, jangan terjadi hal itu.
Aku juga harus berusaha keras untuk mencegahnya terjadi.
“Wah.”
Sebuah seruan kaguman keluar dari mulut Iliya begitu ia masuk ke dalam portal.
“Aku pikir akan langsung seperti neraka saat kita masuk, tapi ini…”
“Ya, aku ngerti maksudmu.”
Mungkin sekarang terlihat indah, tapi realitasnya justru menakutkan.
Berbagai benda berbentuk dan warna beragam tersebar di sana; seolah-olah berbagai filter ditumpulkan di atas landai dunia nyata.
Astral tubuh. Benda-benda kuno yang dilupakan. Roh.
Semuanya kuat dan sangat berbahaya.
“Jangan sentuh barang-barang di sana dengan sembarangan. Mereka berbahaya.”
Iliya tampak akan menyentuh kabut putih yang mengambang di dekatnya, tapi langsung menarikkannya kembali dengan cepat setelah mendengar perkataanku.
Jika sesuatu yang buruk terjadi, masih ada perlindungan dari perisai malaikat itu. Namun, lebih baik jauh dari sentuhan barang dari Netherworld.
“…Tapi, seberapa tinggi kami naik? Berapa jauh lagi kami harus naik?”
“Cuma sedikit lagi.”
Sebenarnya, jika hanya sekadar masuk dan keluar dari portal saja, ada item terbang yang lebih cocok dari Vision Warehouse dan bukanlah ini, sebuah katapult improvisasi semacam ini.
Tapi ada alasannya kenapa kujalin metode primitif seperti ini, dan itu untuk mendapatkan barang-barang yang ada di tingkat tertinggi Gregory Hall.
“…Datang ke tempat yang tinggi seperti ini remindsku zaman dulu.”
Iliya yang sedang terbang bebas bersamaku tiba-tiba berkata.
“Kamu familiar dengan pengalaman ini?”
“Saudaranya perilaku gila seperti Teach. Ia pernah menjatuhkanku dari puncak gunung tanpa peralatan sejak kecil. Dilihat dari sini, bukan kamu berdua mirip?”
“…”
“Ia selalu menyelamatkanku di akhirnya dan berkata ini adalah untuk melatih keberanianku.”
“…”
Tidak wonder kenapa ia masih tenang di saat-saat seperti ini.
“Orang itu memang benar-benar gila pada ketinggian.”
Iliya melanjutkan dengan senyum cerah di wajahnya.
“…Aku bertanya di mana dan apa dia sekarang?”
Kerinduan jelas terdengar dalam tonenya.
“…”
Tapi…
Dulunya, seribu dua ratus belas tahun lalu, Insiden Malam Berdarah terjadi.
Insiden teroris yang dilakukan oleh Keturunan Api Besok, sekelompok penyembah setan yang mengikuti Setan Merah.
Keluarga Iliya dibunuh saat itu.
“…”
Jika ia dibiarkan sendirian, Iliya pasti tumbuh di sebuah rumah pertanian yang damai. Saudaranya yang menghilang mungkin memainkan peran penting dalam memicu ia mengambil peran calon pahlawan, meskipun ia tidak tertarik.
Saudara kandung Iliya adalah satu-satunya yang selamat dari Insiden Malam Berdarah, namun ia sepenuhnya menghilang. Tak ada jejak sama sekali dari keberadaannya.
Iliya tidak bisa tidak terus memegang harapannya bahwa jika ia terkenal cukup besar, saudaranya mungkin akan mengenakannya dan mencari kepadanya.
Biasanya seorang gadis pertani yang tak pernah memegang pedang seumur hidupnya, aku tidak bisa membayangkan seberapa keras ia harus berusaha untuk sampai ke titik ini.
“Oh, ada sesuatu di sana.”
Aku terisir karena Iliya tiba-tiba berseru dan menunjuk ke depan.
Di situ ada kabut putih yang paling menonjol, bahkan di tengah pemandangan berwarna-warni di sekitarnya.
Penampilannya sangat mirip dengan apa yang umum disebut roh.
Kabut putih yang jauh itu tidak terlihat biasa.
‘Roh Gregory Hall.’
Biasanya ia muncul sebagai Easter egg jauh setelah cerita utama berakhir.
Ia pernah manifes ke dalam dunia material menggunakan rute akses antar-dimensi.
“…”
Dan ada satu hal yang hanya diketahui oleh mereka yang melihatnya pada masa itu.
Ini adalah salah satu hal yang semakin lebih dini dapatnya, semakin rapuh dan terlukanya.
Pemain bahkan melakukan data-mining dengan semangat untuk menemukan lokasinya dan mendapatkannya secepat mungkin.
“Yosh.”
Kujemput kantong yang kubersiapkan sebelumnya.
Tentu saja, ini bukan sekedar kantong sembarangan.
[ Harga: 500 poin ]
[ Tingkat Barang: Sampah ]
[ Deskripsi: Dapat menyimpan barang apa saja selama sehari. ]
[ Sisa Poin: 1.000 poin ]
Kantong yang bisa menyimpan apa saja yang diperlakukan sebagai barang selama sehari.
Pertama-tama, roh dianggap sebagai barang. Mustahil untuk ditangkap dengan cara normal, namun dengan kantong ini menjadi kemungkinan terjadi.
Meskipun harga 500 poin terasa mahal, ini sepadan.
Untuk dua kantong yang tersisa, kujadikan satu untuk Iliya.
“Ini ambil.”
“Apa aku harus lakukan dengan ini?”
“Ambil sesuatu di sekitar sini ketika kamu melarikan diri. Apa saja boleh.”
“…Ya? Melarikan diri?”
Kujunjuk ke langit dengan sungguh-sungguh.
Iliya hanya mengerutkan kening.
“Apa salah, itu cuma langit biasa.”
Kujelaskan ke arah bintik besar yang bergerak di tengah langit.
“Lihat tidak?”
“Ya.”
“Itu adalah pupil.”
“…?”
Dengan kata itu, kujalakan ke tempat yang membingungkan dan langsung memeriksa jam tanganku.
Tersisa 1 menit.
“Aku akan bertahan dengan cara-cara ini.”
Meskipun aku bukan ilmuwan, sudah terbukti beberapa kali dalam dunia yang dibangun di atas sistem game ini.
Ini cukup aman.
“Apa sih maksudmu pupil itu?”
Tepat ketika Iliya hendak bertanya, ia takhta matanya terbuka tiba-tiba.
Itu terjadi ketika ia melihat warna langit berubah sejenak sebelum kembali ke keadaan semula. Gejala ini disebabkan oleh sesuatu yang menutup dan membuka mata.
Dengan kata lain.
Apa yang kulihat sekarang ini hanyalah putih mata dari makhluk itu.
Dan pupil itu terlihat seperti bintik besar di langit.
Saat ini, Iliya baru sadar bahwa kami sedang dilihat.
“ Ini, ini kocak-!”
Dengan gemuruh ria, langit surut.
Khususnya, Netherworld Beast yang melacak kami menarikan kepalanya dan kini mendekat dengan mulut terbuka.
‘…Ini sebabnya Netherworld benar-benar seperti neraka.’
Ingatlah ini, ini hanyalah mob sampah di dunia ini.
Kreatur di dasar rantai makanan.
“Teach, ini, adu iblis!”
Iliya menariknya senjatanya sambil berkata.
Seluruh tubuhnya gemetar dan air mata mengumpul di matanya.
“Cepat, belilah di belakangku!”
“…Apa kamu yakin aman melalui jalur ini?”
“Kamu pernah menyelamatkanku! Kali ini, aku…!”
“…”
‘Aku mengerti perasaanmu. Dan demi itu, terima kasih banyak.’
Keberanian dan kekuatan mental untuk menghadapi bahaya tanpa mengetahui lawan yang dihadapi adalah sesuatu yang membanggakan. Layak untuk dipuji.
Tapi melawan makhluk itu dengan kekuatan kita sekarang itu lebih atau kurang seperti bunuh diri.
“Tenang, kami bukan datang untuk memerangi makhluk itu.”
Dengan demikian, kujelaskan tentang kantong yang kudiberikan tadi.
Saat ini, tubuh terbang kita hampir berhenti.
Yang tersisa hanyalah jatuh bebas ke bawah.
“Mulai sekarang, kumpulkan semua yang jatuh di sekitar kami.”
“Jatuh? Jatuh?”
“Itu.”
Kujelaskan ke arah butir-butir putih yang jatuh dari mulut makhluk itu.
“Ambil sebanyak mungkin. Bisa dipakai di banyak tempat.”
“Kamu benar-benar memiliki waktu untuk berpikir di saat seperti ini?!”
Tapi meskipun aku memberi instruksi, ia tetap protes sambil berteriak.
Iliya lebih khawatir dengan nyawanya dalam bahaya dan memang ia benar.
‘…Tapi, tetap diperlukan untuk mengumpulkan sebanyak mungkin.’
Untuk itu, kudapatkan dua kantong lagi dan menghabiskan 1.000 poin.
Jika kalkulasiku benar, kami tidak akan berada dalam situasi untuk mati.
‘Ah, iya.’
Bisakah kujalankan di sini?
[ Skill: Evil Ruler telah diaktifkan. ]
[ Perintah langsung ke target Iliya. ]
“Tenang, ini aman.”
Saat kujelaskan, gemetaran Iliya tiba-tiba berhenti.
“…Eh?”
Aku tidak bisa membayangkan sebelumnya ia begitu tenang. Bahkan dirinya juga terkejut dengan perubahan mendadak ini.
‘Efeknya lebih baik dari yang kuduga?’
Aku ragu karena istilah perintah agak ambigu, namun hanya dengan mengatakan “tenang,” ketakutan akan mati Iliya pun menghilang.
Aku tidak tahu pasti seberapa jauh bisa diterapkan, tapi yakin bahwa kekuatan meyakinkannya tidak biasa.
“Apakah kamu sudah tenang?”
“…Uh, ya, ya. Entah bagaimana. Jadi, apa lagi?”
“Lalu masukkan itu.”
Kujalankan kantongnya lagi.
“Ini penting, mengerti? Percaya deh kita aman.”
“…”
Iliya menatapku dengan mata yang tanya-tanya, tapi justru aku memeriksa jam tanganku.
Tersisa 10 detik.
Gigi makhluk itu semakin dekat. Ia mendekat lebih cepat dari kami yang jatuh. Tapi karena itu, butir-butir putih pun jatuh lebih cepat.
“…Aku tidak tahu. Bagaimana seseorang bisa tenang di situasi begini?”
Dengan ekspresi separuh menyerah, Iliya akhirnya mengikuti dan membuka kantongnya untuk menangkap butir-butir putih yang jatuh.
Ini bersamaan dengan makhluk raksasa yang lebih besar dari gunung yang akan menelan kita.
9 detik.
“Jadi, apa rencana kami?! Kami hampir sampai!”
Katanya bisa juga berarti dua hal.
Di atas adalah mulut bukaan makhluk itu, di bawah adalah tanah keras.
Itu adalah kematian akibat dimakan atau kematian karena jatuh.
Tetap tidak ada rencana atau kata-kata.
“…Cukup… Amati kamu langkahmu.”
Tidak ada ruang untuk kesalahan di sini.
Sebagai tokoh utama, hidupnya berharga.
“Ya?!”
Satu detik tersisa.
Saat alarm di jam tanganku berbunyi, dunia yang tadi penuh warna seperti filter kembali ke keadaan semula. Izin masuk ke dunia ini kadaluarsa dan kami dipaksa dikeluarkan.
“Ehut… Cha.”
Saat bersamaan, kami mendarat dengan lembut di tanah.
Secara singkatnya, dengan menghabiskan batas waktu dan dipaksa keluar, koordinat kami
As we got closer to the portal, the light cluster started to vibrate menacingly.
It was as though warning us to stay back, otherwise, there would be severe repercussions. And it was indeed true, if we just tried to directly launch our way through, we would just bounce off.
So, at this time, I took out the black card that the Headmistress gave me.
I threw it as soon as we were about to get in contact with the portal. The light cluster wriggled in which tore a hole in the space itself.
At the same time, I set a timer of exactly 2 minutes.
‘…This is the limit of Atalante’s access pass.’
Originally, this was end-game content that was only given to players who had achieved the Eternal status.
The black card was something like an identification given to these high beings. Without this, I’d be quarantined once I entered the other side of the portal.
It was being strictly managed.
“…”
In other words…
The Netherworld was such a crazy place where even an Eternal like Atalante was only allowed entry for a mere two minutes.
Occasionally, depending on the route one took, one might have to enter this place again during the main scenario and not just in the DLC.
‘…Absolutely not.’
Really.
Please no.
God forbid the occurrence of that case.
I would also have to work my ass off to prevent that from happening.
“Wow.”
A surprised exclamation came out of Iliya’s mouth as soon as she entered the portal.
“I thought it would be straight hell as soon as we enter, but this…”
“Yeah, I get what you mean.”
Well, it might look pretty right now but the reality couldn’t be more terrifying.
Various objects of all shapes and colors were scattered throughout the place; as though various filters were overlayed on top of the terrain of the real world.
Astral bodies. Forgotten ancient objects. Spirits.
All of them were powerful and extremely dangerous.
“Try to not carelessly touch things. They are dangerous.”
Iliya was just about to touch a white haze that was floating nearby, but immediately snapped her hand back in a flurry after hearing my words.
If something bad did happen, there was still the angel’s protection. However, it was best not to come into contact with objects from the Netherworld as much as possible.
“…But how high did we go up? How much higher do we need to go?”
“Just a little more.”
In fact, if it were just simply entering and exiting the portal, there would have been a more suitable flying item from the Vision Warehouse and not this makeshift catapult.
But there was a reason why I used such a primitive method, and that was, to obtain the items that existed in Gregory Hall’s Highest Level.
“…Coming to such a high place reminds me of the old days.”
Iliya, who was on a free flight with me, suddenly muttered.
“You’re familiar with this experience?”
“My older brother is as crazy as Teach. He had thrown me from the top of the mountain without any equipment since I was little. Looking at it that way, aren’t you two the same?”
“…”
“He always saved me in the end, and said that this was to train my courage.”
“…”
No wonder she was still strangely calm even in such a situation.
“That idiot really loved heights.”
Iliya continued with a glowing smile on her face.
“…I wonder where and what is he doing now?”
The longing was clear in her tone.
“…”
But.
Twelve years ago, the Crimson Night Incident happened.
It was a terrorist incident caused by the Descendants of the Apocalypse, a group of devil worshipers who followed the Red Devil.
Iliya’s family was killed at that time.
“…”
If she was left alone, Iliya would have grown up in a peaceful farmhouse. Her missing brother probably played a significant role in her taking up the role of a Hero candidate, even though she had no interest in it.
Iliya’s brother was the only one who survived the Crimson Night Incident, but he went completely missing. There was not even a single trace of his whereabouts.
Iliya couldn’t help but constantly cling to the hope that if she became famous enough, he might recognize her and come find her.
Originally being a farmer’s daughter, she had never even held a sword in all her life. I couldn’t imagine how much she had to push herself to get to this point.
“Oh, there’s something there.”
I got pulled out of my thoughts when Iliya suddenly exclaimed and pointed in front.
It was a pure white smoke that was the most noticeable, even amidst the colorful surroundings.
Its appearance closely resembled that of what was generally called a spirit.
The faraway smoke didn’t look ordinary.
‘The Spirit of Gregory Hall.’
It originally appeared as an Easter egg long after the main story.
It manifested itself in the material world once using the inter-dimensional access route earlier.
“…”
And there was one thing that only those who saw it at that time knew.
This was one of the things that the earlier one got it, the more broken it would become.
Players were even data-mining like crazy to find its original location and get it as soon as possible.
“Yosh.”
I unfolded the sack I prepared beforehand.
Of course, it was not just some random sack.
[ Price: 500pts ]
[ Item Grade: Junk ]
[ Description: Can hold any item inside for one day. ]
[ Remaining Points: 1,000pts ]
A sack that was able to store anything that was treated as an item for a day.
First things first, the spirit was considered as an item. It was impossible to capture it by normal means, but with the sack, it became a possible event.
Although the 500pts price tag was steep, it was worth it.
As for the two remaining sacks, I gave one to Iliya.
“Here, hold this.”
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Grab something nearby when you run away. Anything is fine.”
“…Yes? Run away?”
I then silently pointed up.
To which Iliya only frowned.
“What’s wrong, isn’t that just the sky?”
I continued to point at a huge dot moving around at the center of the sky .
“Do you see that?”
“Yes.”
“That’s the pupil.”
“…Yes?”
And with that, I left the confused Iliya and checked the watch instead.
1 minute remaining.
‘I’ll manage somehow.’
Although I was no scientist, I had already proven my actions to be correct, in this world built on top of the game system several times.
This should be safe enough.
“What do you mean those are the pupils—”
Just as Iliya was about to ask such a question, she immediately shut her mouth.
That was because she saw the color of the sky change for a moment before immediately returning to its original state.
This phenomenon was caused by a being closing and opening its eyes.
To put it differently.
What looked like the sky right now was simply the white part of the being’s eyes.
And the pupil looked like a huge dot in said sky.
At this moment, Iliya finally realized that we were being watched.
“This is, this is crazy-!”
With a deafening roar, the sky receded.
Specifically, the Netherworld Beast that sensed us pulled its head back and was now approaching us with its jaws wide open.
‘…This is why the Netherworld is quite literally hell.’
Mind you, this was a trash mob of this world.
A creature at the bottom of the food chain.
“T-teach, this, damn it!”
Iliya drew her sword as she said so.
Her whole body was trembling and tears were welling up in her eyes.
“G-get behind me!”
“…Are you sure it’s safe to venture through that route?”
“You saved me before! This time, I’ll…!”
“…”
‘I see, I understand how you feel. And for that, thank you very much.’
The courage and mental strength to put yourself in the face of danger without even knowing the opponent was amazing. Definitely deserving of a round of applause.
But fighting that thing with our current strength alone was more or less suicidal.
“Calm down, we are not here to fight that thing.”
Saying so, I reminded her of the sack I gave earlier.
At this moment, our soaring bodies were about to stop.
All that remained was a free fall downwards.
“From now on, gather everything that comes pouring down.”
“Pour, pour down?!”
“That thing.”
I pointed to the white lumps pouring out of the beast’s open mouth.
“Take as many as you can. It can be used in a lot of places.”
“Y-you really have the time to think about that right now?!”
But despite my instructions, she was screaming in protest.
Iliya was more concerned about our lives being in danger and she was definitely not wrong for feeling like that.
‘…Still, it was absolutely necessary for us to take as many as we can.’
To do so, I even bought two more sacks and spent 1,000 points.
If my calculations were correct, we wouldn’t be in a situation where we’d die.
‘Ah, that’s right.’
Could I use it here?
[ Skill: Evil Ruler has been activated. ]
[ Triggering command right over target Iliya. ]
“Relax, it’s fine.”
When I said that, Iliya’s trembling suddenly stopped.
“…Uh?”
I couldn’t imagine that before this calmness, she was just on the verge of tears.
Even she, herself, was shocked by such a sudden change.
‘The effect is better than I thought?’
I hesitated because the term command was a bit ambiguous, but just telling her to calm down, removed her fear of death.
I didn’t know just how far it could go specifically, but it was certain that its persuasion power was not ordinary.
“Have you calmed down?”
“…Uh, yes, yes. Somehow. So, uh? What is it again?”
“Then put that thing in.”
Then I tried giving her the sack again.
“It’s necessary, alright? Believe it or not, we are safe.”
“…”
Iliya looked at me with questioning eyes, but rather than answering, I checked my watch instead.
10 seconds remaining.
The beast’s jaws were getting closer and closer. It was coming at us faster than we were falling. But because of it, the white lumps were also falling quickly.
“…Ahh, I don’t know. Why can someone be calm in this situation?”
With a half-giving-up expression, Iliya finally followed my lead and opened her sack to catch the falling white lumps.
This and a humongous creature larger than a mountain coming to devour us was quite a strange sight to see.
9 seconds.
“So, what’s the plan!? We’re almost there!”
Her words had a double meaning.
Above was the gaping maw of the beast while below was the hard ground.
It was either death by vore or death by fall damage.
Still, there was nothing to plan or say.
“Just… Watch your step.”
There was no room for mistakes here.
As the main character, her life was precious.
“Yes?!”
One second left.
As the alarm on the watch went off, the world that had just been filled with various filter-like colors returned to its original state.
The entry permit that allowed us to enter the world had expired and thus we got forcibly expelled.
“Ehut… Cha.”
At the same time, we made a soft landing on the ground.
Basically, by spending the time limit and getting kicked out made it so that our coordinates were newly generated.
What did that mean exactly? In other words, in the current situation, the only force that would affect me and Iliya was the momentum from jumping from this two-story building.
Kung, kung.
A series of thuds rang out.
“…”
“…”
Iliya looked around with a dazed expression, before ignoring everything for now and checking the sack’s contents.
Item Grade: Epic
Description: Grants contact with the spirit of a legendary figure.
Type: Special Material
Description: A mysterious substance only secreted by Netherworld beings. Can maximize certain properties depending on the catalyst.
Right, so…
Gregory Hall’s Spirit would be used as a material for my exclusive equipment. While the Ectoplasm Blob would be used for the cannon I asked Percy to make for my use.
‘…Good.’
Although it was risky, this was a very good harvest.
“Teach.”
A shaking Iliya suddenly called out as I was lost in my thoughts.
“…No way, did you plan this all from the beginning?”
“Uh? What?”
“Going up to the Netherworld, getting unknown things, being chased by a monster, and a safe landing. Ahhh, I don’t know how it works. Anyway, did you know that this was going to happen?”
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