〈Chapter 497〉Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 29
Thump, thump.
The landmass that had been a moon gradually began to take form. Then, unfolding the same membranous wings on its back as Seongju, it landed upon the disc we had prepared.
“…Everyone, erect the barrier!”
At my command, the spirits swiftly constructed the barrier. Excluding my own magic power, six streams of magic power emanated from the central disc, precisely dividing the hemisphere into six parts and creating the battlefield.
“……This was unexpected.”
I could never have anticipated this from Seongju. My mouth went dry at what Seongju had done.
“Yuna, sorry for making you feel awkward.”
“No, not at all. I’m glad I can fight directly.”
“Don’t have your private conversations! Explain in a way we can understand!!”
Seok Harang, who had flipped to the opposite side of me, screamed. Even Kim Penril, who had noticed the identity of the opponent, was unsure, so it was normal that the other spirits couldn’t grasp what the enormous object before their eyes was.
“…To put it simply, he sacrificed himself.”
[Correct, you lowly beings!]
Seongju’s voice echoed. The fetus-shaped rock mass that had descended to the center of the battlefield spread a red membrane over its entire body and laughed maniacally.
[I tried to summon Him here from this land where He has deep ties! I intended to personally serve Him by His side! But you lowly insects wouldn’t leave me be! So now I shall personally bring Him here!]
“What nonsense is this?”
“…Simply put…”
I tapped my chest.
“It means calling an interdimensional deity into his own body… Originally, it was supposed to force Yuna to host the deity.”
Fortunately for Yuna, but this was the first time I’d seen such a case even after playing through the original countless times.
‘Has Seongju gone mad?’
Even if Seongju manages to have the interdimensional deity possess him, Seongju will definitely die. I couldn’t comprehend why someone as cautious as Seongju would do such an extreme thing.
[I’ve realized! Phoenix, to truly love, one must possess the resolve to sacrifice oneself!]
“…No way, not this.”
Surely he wouldn’t…
[You’ve taught me so much! Haha! Yes, it should have been this way from the start! Phoenix, thank you! Now Gnosis is unnecessary!]
■■■■■■■!!!
The fetus roared towards the universe. Something slowly began to seep out beneath the fetus, which had incorporated the moon’s landmass into its skin.
“Damn it.”
[Do you hear me, my god! Your humble servant calls to you here!!]
Seongju shouted towards the end of the universe.
[It is I who shall become Him!!!]
Seongju offered himself as a sacrifice to summon the interdimensional deity.
****
Monstrosity.
What else could describe this? Just looking at it was enough to wear down one’s spirit; it was grotesque enough to gnaw away at our minds.
…However, having already seen it several times, it was just “meh” to me. Though I felt a sense of revulsion akin to seeing a cockroach at my feet, familiarity made it just another thing.
■■■■■!!
…Still, it’s disgusting. We really don’t want to deal with it, but we have to fight despite not wanting to touch those wriggling legs. The producer must surely be a pervert who enjoys watching women recoil from creepy things.
‘Before the interdimensional deity, mobilize 99% heroines.’
As someone said, who would bring sweaty men into an eroge romance world? If such beings exist, they might be people who enjoy watching male characters share warm camaraderie, but I am not one of them.
“Eek…!”
“Do we really have to fight this thing…?”
All the spirits covered their mouths and glared at Seongju’s berserk form in the center. The stench of rotting flesh filled the air, and the characteristic sour smell of mucus made our noses numb.
“Phoenix, is this really the final enemy we have to face?”
“Yes.”
Kim Penril, tail bristling, asked about the enemy’s identity. Her claws were sharpened as if ready to strike immediately.
“Aah, everyone, snap out of it. The enemy is Seongju’s berserk form, or rather, the avatar of the interdimensional deity. Originally, this thing was supposed to possess Yuna’s body.”
“…”
Yuna’s expression wasn’t good. The avatar of the interdimensional deity, emitting purple slime, continued to grow while opening and closing the suckers on its legs.
“What should we call it… Or should we use a name thought up beforehand?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“That’s because it almost became you, right?”
“…Your attempt at humor to lighten the mood is appreciated, but even though I did consider becoming like this, it still feels strange.”
Yuna grumbled as she raised her staff high.
“I’m already embarrassed enough. Why does it have to be like this? Phoenix… Master. Will defeating this mean graduation?”
“Yes. If we win, you can drop out of college and go take the college entrance exam.”
“Let me stay enrolled and watch. When I take the exam later, please come cheer me on.”
“Kim Penril and I will visit with hot chocolate.”
“Count me in too.”
The two most closely related to the interdimensional deity—Kim Penril of the wind attribute and Yuna, the vessel of the interdimensional deity—were the first to regain composure. Conversations were indeed crucial to regaining focus.
“Executioner. Should we capture this thing and plant a flag on its head? And… After this battle, let’s go on a trip with Hikari and Nuri.”
“…Huh?!”
One person cleared. The sharp gaze of Baek Hee-a, who had been observing her surroundings, sharpened, and black magic power surged around her.
“Hwanryong. After this battle, you can rest forever. Xiao Lin, this is the strongest enemy in this world. Stronger than me.”
“…Excuse me.”
Perhaps due to the impending battle, Hwanryong stepped aside, letting Xiao Lin take the lead. As the violet smoke filled the battlefield, the silhouette of her transparent weapon became visible, but Xiao Lin tightened her grip on her crescent blade, tying her hair tightly.
“Yuha, this thing is basically an SSS-class monster. Each leg contains an SSS-class core, so make sure to grab them. Karna… Brahma?”
“Straaa! Hot.”
Karna, who had been spacing out, suddenly lifted Byajaya. To hide her embarrassment, she had already drawn her bowstring.
“Seok Harang A Cup.”
“B Cup! I’ve been alert the whole time, so why are you picking on me!!”
“Is it the flow?”
Apparently, Seok Harang had been alert. Since it was too far to confirm here, fortunately, Seok Harang was already fending off approaching enemies with her ice wings spread.
“Heh, seems like it’s based on sea creatures, huh? The water attribute spirits also seem to have regained their senses completely. So everyone’s ready?”
Excluding fire attribute, the six spirits were all prepared for battle. I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked up.
“…”
My hands started trembling. If I had taken them out any later, the fading tips of my fingers might have been noticed.
“Hem. Final briefing.”
I cleared my throat to draw attention. Hoping that at least my eyes and mouth would remain functional until the end, I raised my voice.
“The enemy is one. Combatants are six. Cook away in your positions. Every time you cut off a leg, a random SSS-class core drops, so try to sever them if you have spare time. Be careful of the terrarists spurting from the suckers.”
Detailed briefings weren’t necessary. They’re veterans among veterans who can adapt to the situation with just a few precautions. In fact, my words might interfere, but out of caution, I quickly recited the points to pay attention to.
“Originally, we had to split the head open to rescue Yuna, who was sacrificed inside, but that’s unnecessary now… Boil, steam, fry, or eat it raw as you wish.”
Gulp, gulp.
Memories of facing the tentacle toad resurfaced. The man who had swallowed the cube came to mind, transformed into a monstrous toad with terrifying tentacles, serving as a subordinate to the interdimensional deity.
■■■■■■■■!!
The berserk form shook off all the rock fragments stuck to its fetal skull-like head. Beneath, a smooth, purple head was fully revealed. On its crown, a monstrous creature resembling caterpillar fungus had extended its upper body and dramatically spread its arms.
“Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!”
Spittle dripped from his widely opened mouth, but he didn’t care, showing off himself even more. Spreading his bat-like membranous wings wider, he turned his eyes, which floated like brains, left and right to survey the battlefield.
“This stage is prepared for me! Behold the majesty of Him!”
“…Is the interdimensional deity an octopus?!”
At Seok Harang’s shout, Seongju’s laughter abruptly stopped. I regretted it instantly, but there was no denying it.
It was an octopus.
Just the size being 100 meters with eight massive legs ending in subdivided tentacles made it a super-large purple octopus. It was horrifying and bizarre enough to potentially sap one’s fighting spirit.
‘If you look at its deformed version, it’s kind of cute.’
There are various kinds of people in the world, and some proclaim ‘possible’ in various fields. And these people, despite witnessing the interdimensional deity’s part through the ultimate boss battle and declaring it possible, have committed the atrocity of transforming it into human form.
‘Mostly turning Yuna into a tentacle girl, but that doesn’t matter now.’
Fortunately, the yellow-robed interdimensional goddess Yuinah did not appear.
Fortunately, the fragmented interdimensional deity that went berserk, devouring everything with tentacles, represented by Yuinah, did not appear either.
Thankfully, the fragment of the interdimensional deity before our eyes was summoned by Seongju himself using his body as both offering and core.
In short, Seongju had become a colossal octopus.
“Nuclearian would be worse! SSS-class octopus! Still, be careful! Like Nuclearian, each leg has SS+ class monster specs, so that’s why each gives an SSS-class core!”
Measured by levels, each of the eight legs was level 99, and the octopus’s main body was level 100—a monstrous monster. This despite only receiving a small portion of the interdimensional deity; what chaos would ensue if the real thing showed up?
‘It’s fine. This situation is the best we can hope for.’
The key issue is whether we can eliminate Seongju in time.
We must kill Seongju before the interdimensional deity’s main body finds Earth.
We must kill Seongju before his heavy body falls to Earth. Already, the hemispherical battlefield was slowly descending towards Earth due to Seongju’s weight.
“Time remaining until Earth impact, 17 minutes!! Last order!”
I issued the final command I had been saving for this moment.
“Free roll—–!!”
Everything is entrusted to the spirits.
“, Start the attack—-!!”
I’ll just sit back and watch.
‘Did I let the kids come without stopping them for this?’
“Of course.”
I spent the remaining time conversing with Chang-yeom while observing the battlefield.
“There must be a lot of people watching besides me, right?”
Wheeeeee—!!
The main camera attached to Phoenix’s eye on the spaceship flashed.
* * *
“…….”
A man in a yellow raincoat swept the floor of the vacant main house while gazing at the sky. The gloomy clouds showed no signs of clearing.
The time was already 4:44:44 PM. For some reason, the ominous hour made the man feel uneasy.
Eeeeeeng—-
The dimensional alarm on the man’s magical gear began to sound. Glancing at the device, the man looked up.
Kiieeeek!!
Above the White Phoenix Isle, directly above the man, a dimensional gate opened. The man sighed heavily, gripping his straw broom tightly.
“Somewhat… Haah.”
“What’s with all the sighing?”
Kwa—ang!!
An irritable voice accompanied a giant figure punching the dimensional gate. The monster trying to peek in was driven back by terra.
“Long time no see, Jo Deokbae. What brings you here?”
“Well, since that guy will definitely come here when he returns, I’m securing my spot early.”
Flame Giant Jo Deokbae grinned while pointing towards the horizon. There lay a familiar sandy beach. The man removed his hood and bowed his head.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Tch. Don’t act all pitiful when you can block dimensional gates alone. Hmph.”
“…Hmph hph.”
The man chuckled softly and pushed the broom aside.
“‘Now,’ I am nothing but a powerless civilian. How could I possibly do anything?”
“Quit it, Mr. Know-it-all. I know exactly who you are. Anyway, go get me a grilled squid. Bring chili paste and mayonnaise separately.”
“And you’re ordering this knowing who I am?”
“Tch. Didn’t you take a job as the caretaker here?”
Jo Deokbae mocked, pointing at the main house owned by Phoenix.
“So go do your job. Mr. Ha Sun-tae.”
“……I was actually watching this show.”
Mr. Ha Sun-tae pointed at the holographic video on his magical gear. There, live footage of the battle taking place on the moon was being broadcast.
[Hikari TV] Uniting Hope! The Final Lunar Battle!
“Hey.”
Jo Deokbae grinned and pointed to the kitchen.
“Should I do it myself? Am I a Qinghua Sect official? Do you want to get fired, Mr. Ha Sun-tae? Hurry up!”
“…….”
Ha Sun-tae glared at Jo Deokbae for a long while before heading to the kitchen. Jo Deokbae chuckled and connected to Hikari TV via magical gear.
“Ah. Watching through the spaceship’s main camera, huh. Hmm, then I’ll record this-”
“…….”
Jo Deokbae had to wait quite a while until Ha Sun-tae brought the grilled squid.
