The Broken Possessors of the Infinite Regression Academy - Chapter 172



Chapter 172 – Masin – 3

“Am I locked up? Me?”

An ominous magic energy leaked out from under the guy’s feet. He grabbed Eternity again. I don’t know where he had the point of being angry, but he looked like he was going to rush at me at any moment.

“How dare you say something like that when you don’t even know me… … ? You don’t even know me properly… … !”

The sky directly above us had turned black. The nearby land had already died as much as it could have. It seemed right to say that the clone had limited its power to some extent.

I concentrated my strength on my left hand. If the magic spreads further, I plan to immediately take out the light spear no matter what the other side does. At the point where I refused the offer to hold hands, I have nothing to lose whether I fight that guy or not.

“I came here because I wanted to do this.”

The guy who had been talking until then closed his mouth. The magic that had been pouring out so violently that it seemed like it would swallow up the entire nearby space subsided in an instant.

Masin stood there for a long time in the middle of the already dead land. He observed without letting his guard down. It was as if he was regretting the actions he had just committed.

I couldn’t read his expression because of the shadows covering his face, but I just had a feeling it was going to be that way.

“… … You figure it out next time. Come or not.”

With a voice that sounded like gritting one’s teeth, the body disappeared in an instant. Only the sky that was gradually clearing and the earth that had already turned black and dead told of what had just happened.

“Yeah. Looks like you have something going for you too.”

He muttered towards the place where the drinker had left.

No answer came back.

“Anyone can see that it’s a trap.”

“Think of it as a trap.”

“I’m the same way.”

From noble mtl dot com

“Can’t you see what’s on your mind?”

The four voices harmonized. All of them were extremely negative about me personally going to find the drink.

I agree. It was so obvious that he was trying to lure me in. He only said things and didn’t do anything, so it wouldn’t have been surprising at all if he had set a trap.

“Is there a better way?”

“… … .”

But there was no other way. Those four were just supporting the front line until just a moment ago, and now they were finally given a break. It would only be a loss for us to continue to waste time.

“And, no matter how much I think about it, isn’t this a suspicious reaction? There’s definitely something going on. In the end, I have no choice but to go and find out for myself.”

No one objected to the comment that Masin seemed to have something. It was a reaction that seemed suspicious and that there was some kind of ominous secret.

“Did you get locked up by someone? Like a goddess.”

“That’s probably true. It means that he’s in a bad enough situation to react so violently just by being told he’s locked up.”

“… … Still, something still feels uneasy.”

Priscilla still looked uneasy.

“It’s a problem even if the demon is fine, and it’s also a problem if he ends up in the same situation as the goddess. If he’s fine, he lied and showed such strange reactions to deceive you, Mira, so I don’t know what he’ll do. If he ends up in the same situation as the goddess, then there might be a guy who made the divine being like that.”

“I did think about both cases.”

“Mira, we know your skills the best. That’s why we’re more worried. If the guy who made the goddess like that shows up, you’ll fight. Can you be sure that you’ll win in that fight? 100%?”

I couldn’t be 100% sure.

He is the guy who made the goddess, who was so powerful that she gave up on running away and was tied up helplessly, and he may have even made the demon god into the same situation as the goddess. He is definitely not a mediocre person.

“… … Look at that. You can’t answer. If you’re not sure, Mira, how can we not be worried?”

Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I just hide it because I know that if I show it, it’ll only make you more worried.

The events that have happened so far, although there have been many changes, are merely an extension of the characters and events that existed in the novel.

But the concept of a demon or goddess, and the woman who first absorbed the world I was possessed by, were far beyond the scope of the novel Laura had written. That meant I couldn’t prepare for it as perfectly as I had done before.

“It’s something that must be done. Not for the sake of this world, but to protect you.”

Of course, that was no reason to hesitate here.

In situations like this, you’ve been through this before, and you’ve done it hundreds and thousands of times before. You’re just repeating the same behavior over and over again. Just like you always did before.

And this time, it wasn’t about saving the world, or moving towards some other absurd goal. There was a more specific, more certain goal.

“I told you I would send you home somehow. I have to keep my promise.”

Just that one thing is enough.

“… … You’re serious, Mira.”

Priscilla stepped back, looking like a drooping puppy. She seemed convinced that I couldn’t break my resolve. The other three were no different. The ending had long been decided.

“Are you going to go even if I tell you not to?”

Rosaria came closer, sighing deeply.

“huh.”

“Okay then. Do whatever you want. I can’t stop you anyway. Instead, make one promise and go.”

“Promise? What promise?”

“A promise to definitely return alive.”

The blazing red eyes turned towards me. All sorts of emotions were swirling around inside them.

“That doesn’t mean just coming back alive. I mean, come back as you are now, both physically and mentally, in perfect condition. Don’t even think of ridiculous things like, “I’ll solve this case by sacrificing my life,” or “I’ll sacrifice myself to save others.” If your life is in danger, just run away. No one will say anything to you. Do you understand?”

I think I said something similar once. I never thought I would be the one listening to something with that kind of nuance, rather than the one saying it.

He nodded. Rosaria frowned.

“Don’t just nod your head, answer with your voice.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

“… … .”

But even though I answered as she wanted, Rosaria still looked like she was dissatisfied with something.

“You look worried.”

“You seem to be worried? Me? Are you crazy? Mira, you’re just too absent-minded! No matter how much you have to do it! How can you be so calm when you go to a place that’s never been in a novel and you don’t even know what it is?! You’re going to see Masin right now! To Masin!”

Behind Rosaria, who was shouting, Priscilla, Laura, and Elisier nodded their heads repeatedly as if they were sympathizing.

“No! Someone worse than Mashin might come out! What? You seem worried? I really… … Hooo… … .”

Rosaria let out a long, long sigh and gestured.

“Come here, Mira.”

“why?”

“I’ll explain when you get there. Anyway, come.”

I got as close as I wanted. Then, I was suddenly grabbed by the collar. Rosaria, who grabbed my collar, turned on her heel and thrust her lips at me by surprise.

“town?!”

I raised my hand to block the approaching lips. It was a reflex action. Rosaria, who had been struggling with her nose buried in her palm instead of my lips, raised her voice again.

“Hey! What if I stop this! You’re still a human after doing that?!”

“Sorry. I just came in so suddenly and reflexively stopped. What is it?”

“I was just trying to stamp my seal, why! Since I got a kiss, I had to take responsibility for it, so I was trying to tell you to come back alive somehow!”

I couldn’t say out loud, “Is it really necessary to do that when I’m not going to die?” Because I wasn’t so tactless as to say something like that in this situation.

“What do you guys think?”

Rosaria, who had been grumbling, looked at the other three.

“I agree.”

“I agree.”

“Me too.”

The three agreed without a moment’s hesitation. Rosaria’s momentum grew even stronger.

“Okay. That’s fine. Don’t stop me now. And don’t rebel. Even if you rebel, you know it’s 4 to 1, right?”

The delicate jade pushed my chest. I was pushed away obediently and sat down on the sofa behind me. Rosaria, who was on my thigh, faced me and hugged me. The other three people on both sides and behind me narrowed the distance.

“Listen carefully, Mira. It’s okay if you can’t solve it. No, you don’t have to solve it. Just come back alive. If you do… … I’ll give you a reward. All of us together. How are you? Aren’t you excited? You have to come back healthy, even if it’s just to be excited.”

Judging from the expressions on the faces of the two people on either side, it seemed like there had been no agreement, but no one objected.

“… … If you want, I can wear a saint’s outfit instead of this. So-”

“I heard the news. They said you became a total wreck, and it really was.”

He sat on the chair right next to the bed. Geumseong was just leaning against the bed with the blanket only covering his lower abdomen, his eyes blank.

His right hand was holding the sword tightly.

Those who were taking care of the sword had strongly warned them not to touch that sword. The Royal Guard almost lost his head when he tried to take it away.

“I don’t expect an answer anyway, so I’ll just say whatever I want. What on earth did the Demon King mean to you?”

He stared at the sight for a while before opening his mouth. The word Demon King made Geomseong flinch, but that was all.

“Let’s try to guess what kind of mindset you have. Since you were defeated so terribly by the Demon King, you must have felt that the Demon King must remain untouchable. If the Demon King dies or gets injured, your own evaluation will inevitably decline as you are overwhelmed by the Demon King. It’s ironic that the Demon King has to become more terrifying in order to maintain the reputation of a swordsman.”

“… … .”

“But, in my opinion, the position of Black Swordsman is too much for you.”

With a start, his body trembled again.

“It’s ridiculous that a person who is scared by such a thought is a swordsman. Why don’t you just live as a mid-level knight who is not worth much? If you did, at least you would have felt at ease.”

“… … .”

“You wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of testing someone you just met just because you thought they might turn out to be a murderer, and then you wouldn’t have gotten ruined before me.”

“… … .”

“Really, isn’t it just an ugly sight?”

-Shudder!

The body shook more than I had ever seen it before. I thought it might be waking up, but it seemed like I was mistaken. It soon became quiet again.

I finished what I wanted to say. I wasn’t going to sit down for long anyway. I got up from my chair. I looked down at Geomseong and then stretched my arm toward the sword in his hand.

The black swordsman rushed straight at me. Although his mind was gone, his skills didn’t seem to have rusted that much, and he was incredibly fast, but in the end, it was just the tantrum of a half-crippled human.

He twisted his body, grabbing the hand that was slashing down at his neck like a blade. Geomseong’s body spun around and lay down on the bed. Geomseong, whose arm was grabbed, twitched his legs.

He snatched the sword from his hand and held it in front of his eyes.

-Kwajijik!

As he breathed mana into his hand, the sword, unable to withstand the force, burst apart. His only remaining eye turned to the fragments falling down on his body. He let go of the arm he was holding.

“Is this all there was to it?”

“… … .”

“If you are angry and resentful, grab the Yong-a Sword and come at me. I will deal with you. Or, just stay like that for the rest of your life. In my opinion, you are not worthy of holding a sword.”

The eyes that were looking down at the fragments were fixed on me. Even as Geomseong collected the broken fragments with trembling hands, his eyes were focused on me. I ignored him and left the room.

This method may or may not work, but it’s better than not trying at all.

I also want to get some revenge on you for doing such a thing out of the blue from the first time we met.

‘……aria?’

As I was leaving the sword room and walking down the hallway, I saw Aria from afar.

It was disconcerting. Leona had clearly left the palace a long time ago. So how could Aria be left alone in the palace?

“Mr. Mira!”

Aria, who had been looking around and approaching me, started running as soon as our eyes met. Aria came right up to me and smiled brightly as usual.

“Aria, why are you here? Didn’t you go back with Leona? How could you go alone—”

“Miss Mira. I heard you’re going to the realm of the demon gods.”

Unexpected words came out of his mouth.

“You heard that? That? From whom?”

Was there anyone who could tell Aria that? Neither Priscilla, Rosaria, Laura, nor Elisier would trust Aria enough to share such a big secret?

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I can help you, Mira. Mira, you’re planning to go to Masin alone, right? Right? You’re planning to shoulder all the burdens by yourself, without anyone by your side. So, please let me go with you.”

Aria’s eyes held a very determined emotion as she spoke. Just as when she said that she believed in fate.

My head couldn’t keep up with the situation. There were more than a few things that raised questions.

“Aria, I appreciate your kind words, but you—”

“Remember what I said? I said we were destined.”

Aria cut me off again, but I had no time to accept that fact.

Because from that left hand, a golden light was burning just like Rosaria’s, no, maybe even more brilliant than Rosaria’s.

“Look. As soon as Mira said she was leaving on her own, I awakened my divine powers.”

In the golden glow that filled the hallway, Aria smiled with the utmost brightness and beauty.

“If this isn’t my destiny, then what is?”