ACT 6: CHAPTER 36: GUARDIAN OF THE ABYSS

BGM: Chilling

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Wuwa 3.0 Gameplay Demo

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「Has Lucifer… Died?」

I muttered those words as I looked at Lucifer's head falling into the abyss.

「What do you think? This is my first time encountering such a high-level opponent. Demons are a tough bunch, so there's a chance he might still be alive. I never expected that demon to keep talking even after being reduced to just a severed head. We should have retrieved it and finished the job before losing sight of it.」

Lunaire lowered her gaze to the abyss spreading before us.

「… Uhm!」

「That being said, now that he's been reduced to just a severed head, even it won’t be able to do anything. He’ll simply continue to fall into a never-ending abyss.」

「… I see.」

I felt somewhat relieved, but at the same time, even for someone like that, it seemed a bit too cruel.

「However, 『You guys are nothing but puppets』… Is it? From the perspective of a higher being, there’s probably little difference between humans, dragons, and ancient demons.」

I heaved a sigh as I spat out those words.

Lucifer, the demon who was the very embodiment of pride, perhaps could not accept the fact that he was nothing more than a mere pawn of the higher beings.

That was why he sought to become the strongest being in Locklore and bring down the curtain on this world himself—to prove that he was different from the other inhabitants of Locklore, in the sense that he was no mere puppet on the stage.

I knew that while Luniman originally possessed a violent nature, he had been able to suppress it through his faith during his journey of training with Jonas.

What drove him to madness was the cruel truth that everything he had believed in was nothing more than a script written by the higher beings.

Luniman himself admitted that he merely wanted a philosophy that could justify his own violence. However, even if that was the case, had he not learned the truth of Locklore, he would never have committed the act of killing his master, Jonas.

In that sense, both Lucifer and Luniman could be considered victims of the higher beings.

Both of them were individuals who had plotted genocide, and in fact, they had committed similar incidents in the past, which ultimately led to their exile from Locklore.

I had not even the slightest intention of forgiving them, but even so, it didn’t mean that I felt no sympathy for them either.

Besides, it’s not like I had no connection to them at all.

Those who went on a rampage trying to gain their identity in a world controlled by higher beings—and me, who chose to wage war against the higher beings, dragging the entire Locklore into the conflict just to protect myself and Lunaire. 𝑅𝙖ΝốᛒЁS̩

For the people of Locklore who simply wish to live in peace, there might not be that much difference between them and me.

「A… A…」

At that moment, I suddenly heard a faint voice.

「… Uhm?」

When I turned my gaze toward the sound, I saw that the fragment of crystal that had served as my foothold was now floating in midair, with some grotesque lump of flesh resting atop it.

It could only be described as a truly grotesque lump of flesh.

It had four eyes, with short front and hind legs extending from its body.

Anyway, that strange four-eyed lump of flesh was gazing at us with an earnest expression, as if trying to appeal to us in some way.

「What a strange frog. Why is it in a place like this?」

Lunaire spoke quizzically.

Suddenly, I realized that the frog's face looked familiar.

「Are you by chance… Satan?」

I had just seen Luniman turn humans into rats in the Holy City of Rupelm.

If a human could turn into a rat, then it wouldn’t be surprising if a demon turned into a frog.

Lucifer might be the kind of guy who would do that.

Lunaire swiftly flew over and scooped up the four-eyed frog with her hands.

「He seems to be under some kind of curse. However, thanks to Lucifer, the scaffolding has been completely blown away. For now, let's return to the 99th underground floor and try to lift the curse.」

◆

We returned to the 99th floor.

There, Lunaire used white magic to dispel the curse. The frog instantly transformed into a giant, ten-meter-tall demon.

Satan returned to normal.

「Thank you… This Satan had resigned himself to my fate. I have no words to express my gratitude to you, Lunaire-sama and Kanata-sama!」

The six-armed great demon repeatedly bowed his head to Lunaire and me.

I wish he wouldn't act so humble while dressed like that.

My head went blank for a moment.

「Do you know him… Kanata?」

Lunaire asked with a curious look on her face.

「Yeah… He's the guardian of 《Cocytus》! Are you by chance forgetting about him?」

「I don't remember ever meeting him though.」

Lunaire muttered awkwardly.

「We met, you know!? D-Don't you remember!? We've met twice! Twice!」

Satan was protesting vehemently.

…Now that I think about it, Lunaire didn’t tell me about Satan even when I graduated as her disciple.

Lunaire may have already forgotten about Satan by that time.

「I mean, I met you just some time ago when you left 《Cocytus》, Lunaire-sama.」

「… Come to think of it, I think I fired a《Gravibomb》because monsters were blocking my path on the 100th underground floor. But surely, that couldn’t be you… Right?」

「That's me. I had to work really hard to dodge it, and because of that, I ended up diving down there and almost couldn’t make it back.」

Poor guy…

Satan cleared his throat with a cough.

「… A-Anyway, thank you for defeating that bastard Lucifer and retrieving the staff. The surface was on the brink of being overrun by the monsters from 《Cocytus》.」

「Who in the world is that Lucifer?」

「He was a demon invited as an administrator during the creation of Locklore—my predecessor. However, he abused the authority given to him and attempted to bring about Locklore’s destruction. As a result, he was imprisoned in another dimension as a great sinner. To think someone would drag him out… What are the higher beings thinking…? Could they seriously be planning to abandon Locklore?」

Satan spoke with a disappointed look on his face.

It truly felt like a desperate, no-holds-barred move.

「The management of 《Cocytus》 is safe in your hands, right, Satan-san?」

Satan nodded vigorously when I asked that question.

「Yeah, thank you for retrieving the 《Black Cane of Apocalypse》. With this, I can reinforce the barrier once more and properly contain the monsters inside. However, as for the ones that have already escaped… There's nothing I can do about them…」

「I think the group that’s standing by outside can take care of that.」

Philia teamed up with Noble Mimic, and Pomera was assisted by Veranta.

As long as the supply of monsters was cut off, the problem should be resolved quickly.

「But… thanks to Lucifer destroying the floor of the 100th floor, we now have to slowly climb back up again. Originally, we should have been able to teleport directly outside from the altar in the depths.」

If we took the shortest possible route, it might take three days, just as it did on the way here.

Not knowing what Nyarlothep and company might be planning, spending another three days climbing out of 《Cocytus》 was something I wanted to avoid if possible.

「It's not a problem.」

Satan tapped the butt of his staff on the floor.

A magic circle spread out with the staff at its center, and a loud noise echoed from the lower floors.

「What's happening now…?」

「This 《Black Cane of Apocalypse》 is meant for managing 《Cocytus》. With this, the floor of the 100th underground level has been restored. If you head to the altar in the depths, you will be able to leave 《Cocytus》 immediately.」

Lunaire and I walked through the corridor of the 100th underground floor, seen off by Satan.

「With this, we may have finally settled things with the higher being, Kanata. I doubt they have any pieces in their hand stronger than a primordial-era demon. Surely, the others have also finished gathering their share of pieces. This time, the higher being should have no moves left to play. Now, it's just a matter of how they will respond…」

I shook my head.

「… There might be one last piece left.」

I recalled Luniman's last words.

『Curse upon Locklore! I pray that the other two will bring about the destruction of this world…!』

He had clearly stated, "the other two" as well.

Most likely, Nyarlothep had a final trump card, one that stands alongside Luniman and Lucifer.

Considering the previous two, this one was surely no decent person either.

Luniman and Lucifer had also been imprisoned in another dimension for thousands of years as punishment for the great sin of attempting to destroy Locklore.

The third one was surely a great sinner as well.

And the battle against that person will surely be my final confrontation with Nyarlothep.

However… Even if I were to win, I had no idea whether that would truly allow Locklore to escape from the clutches of the higher beings.

I took a slow, deep breath and then opened my eyes wide.

「Lunaire-san… We will definitely escape from Nyarlothep's clutches. I haven't forgotten our promise… After I've traveled around this world, you'll let me stay by your side! Once we outwit that bastard, you'll have no choice but to protect me!」

「K-Kanata!? I-I mean, it did kind of turn into a sort of exchange, but that's just a figure of speech… Uh…! A-Anyway, if someone like me stays with you, the Hades' impurity will ruin your life too. That's why…」

Lunaire's face turned bright red, flustered and panicked.

「Above all else, all I want is just to be with you, Lunaire-san!」

I firmly grasped Lunaire's hand and stood in front of her.

I thought that this was the moment, no, precisely because of this moment, I had to say it.

After all, from here on out, the future was shrouded in darkness.

No matter how hard we struggle, the higher beings hold an overwhelming advantage in this battle.

No matter how much we struggle, it might all be in vain, perhaps we are merely driving Locklore toward destruction.

That's why I had to say what I wanted to say, right now, without hesitation.

「Uh, um, well, but… I… I also want to be with you, Kanata, but…」

I stood still in front of Lunaire, simply waiting as she carefully searched for the right words.

「I…!」

「Am I by chance, the thirdwheel?」

Satan who followed us from behind spoke.

Lunaire flinched, her shoulders trembling as she straightened her back.

「K-Kanata, for now, let's hurry up and report to everyone! We don't even know what's happening outside!」

Lunaire slipped out of my hand and hurriedly walking ahead as if fleeing in a panic.

I heaved a sigh as I watched Lunaire's back.

「… Can you shut up for a minute a while ago, Satan-san?」

「S-Sorry, I just can't stand the overly sweet atmosphere…」

Satan scratched his head awkwardly.

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