Volume 1 Chapter 98 The Fallen
The recent attack revealed everything.
It's safe to assume that Io's story is true and that the key to the Inferno Pathway has already been taken by them.
However, there is one thing that is puzzling.
The reason they remained in Metis.
"If you have the key, why don't you go to the next location?"
"Because it's easier to take the keys that others have worked hard to collect. I heard a rumor that the Emerald Green Dungeon was conquered not long ago. That's why you all came here. It turned out to be the right decision."
Lyle, the warrior in the Dragon Scale Armor, said.
It seems that Balzark and the others had no intention of collecting the keys through legitimate means; their plan was to steal them from other adventurers.
Since there is no resonance phenomenon with the keys, it means that Balzark must have them.
Although I can't see him, he probably hasn't gone too far.
"Where is the [Inferno Key]?"
"Do you Level Cap 1 weaklings really think you can boss me around?"
"Alright, hold on a sec, Lyle."
Lyle stood up and readied his spear. However, Io stepped in between, blocking his way.
"If they were able to collect the keys, they must be pretty strong, right? Especially you, you're like a completely different person from when we last met. We won't attack anymore, so let us talk for a bit, just the two of us."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"You're supposed to be the leader, right? You have to agree to have a conversation. Or are you too scared to talk alone?"
Io placed her bow on the ground and slowly approached.
Fatina looked at them silently, as if seeking their opinions, then nodded and walked forward.
It's not like I'm the leader or anything, but it was too dangerous to send the two of them alone.
If they try something, it's more convenient for me if we're closer. If they're within range, I can almost certainly take them down with [Instant Death Magic].
Io came close to me, our bodies almost touching, and whispered in my ear.
"[Inferno Key] is held by Balzark up ahead. But if you try to defeat him, I'll have to kill you and the other person over there."
It was almost as I expected, but Io continued, saying,
"But if you give me the key, I'll let you join our group. I'll negotiate with Balzark for you."
"I refuse."
I answered without hesitation.
It's not even a choice to consider becoming allies with such dangerous people.
"Don't say that. Aren't we adventurers together?"
"You say that even though you're willing to kill adventurers without hesitation."
"Kill? Who?"
Io looked surprised when she heard the story.
It seemed like she had no recollection of it happening.
"Last night, three adventurers were killed at Metis' tavern. They were the people who were with you."
"Oh my. Those three are dead."
"What? Seriously? Well, it doesn't matter if they were alive anyway. It's even better this way."
Lyle also said it as if it were someone else's business, just like she did. The other man who seemed to be another companion had been silent the whole time, not moving a muscle.
"Why did you do it?"
"I said I didn't know. Even though I got a little taste of pain, would I really do something like that, which would immediately be discovered in the middle of town?"
"Yeah, right. Would there be evidence that we did it?"
There's no certainty. But the situation so far indicates that they are the culprits.
"More importantly, listen. We're gathering keys to change the world."
"Change the world?"
Suddenly encountered with a confusing conversation, Mel asked with a puzzled expression.
"You know, if we use these keys, the Level Cap will increase, right? Then, we could create a bunch of super strong people, couldn't we? We could easily defeat knights and such."
It was something Mel had been worried about for a while.
Currently, items that raise the Level Cap are legendary among adventurers, but if their existence became known, it wouldn't be surprising if people with ill intentions appeared.
"Gathering people who have become stronger with the power of the key to defeat the bad nobles. Isn't this exactly what a Hero (Eiyuu) is?"
"That's exactly right. Let's start by destroying this country too."
"W-What are you saying..."
Mel's face contorted in agony as if she were seeing a nightmare. The person who had been feared to put their plans into action had finally appeared.
In the first place, they never thought in the slightest that they would simply hand over the keys to the king.
"See? So, why don't you become a Hero (Eiyuu) with me?"
"You want me to team up with someone who treated people like trash?"
"Ah... Balzark hates weak people. I said bad things about you at that time, but the situation is different now, right?"
"I almost got killed by you just now, you know."
"But you survived in the end, so it's not a big deal. Besides, if you could die from that level, you wouldn't have made it this far."
Io continued to laugh cheerfully as she spoke.
"You know, I think this world should be beautiful once, you know?"
"Beautiful?"
"Yeah, because it's full of unfair things and it's not fun at all. Don't you think so too?"
An unfair world.
It's not like I have no idea what that feels like.
"Hey, you remember being laughed at by everyone in the guild, right? They called you the weakest human."
What I learned when I went out into the world is that this world is definitely not equal.
If you're an adventurer, your evaluation changes based on your Level Cap and skills. I saw someone like Gaston suffer because of his Level Cap. And there were others like Allen, whose abilities became too high and twisted.
It's the same for beastmen too.
Their situation of living in this world in a somewhat unnatural way is hard to describe as normal.
I wonder if there's a reason for that.
"Hey, will you become my friend too? Beastmen like us will definitely get along, right?"
Io turned her face towards Fatina and began speaking.
"You've also been criticized for being a 'beastmen,' right? You must wish you could change that from the root, don't you?"
"Yes, there are times when I do."
"Yeah, that's right."
"But there are also plenty of people I believe in and who help me."
Fatina responded clearly.
It seemed like an unexpected answer, and Io narrowed her eyes.
"Oh really? But don't you think we should ask other beastmen what they think? Besides, there seems to be a use for this key that we don't know yet."
──An unknown use.
Perhaps because the question appeared on my face, Io nodded in satisfaction while looking at me.
"Think about it. The king told us to 'gather three keys,' but why three?"
"Maybe it's because there are three keys in total."
The Emerald Green Key, Aquaflow Key, and Inferno Key are three treasures of the Cretia royal family.
Mel said so. It's said that if you gather all three, you can destroy them by throwing them into the flames at the altar, but there's no mention of what happens after that in the ancient documents.
It's important to know what happens after gathering them, so why isn't it described?
I hadn't thought about the reason for that.
It didn't concern my goal, so I didn't have much interest in it.
"Do you think it's really just that? At first, I thought maybe it's not very effective with just one, but maybe, something incredible happens when all three are gathered, don't you think?"
"Whatever your goal is, I can't let the keys be misused."
Straining to gather courage, Mel spoke up.
"Who are you? You don't seem like an adventurer or anything."
"I am the princess of Cretia. I am acting with Ark-san and others to stop my father and destroy the three keys. Will you please listen to my story?"
"Hahaha! Did you hear that? I never thought the princess herself would come."
"...You all came here on a request from my father. If you take the keys outside, it will surely bring chaos and cause many innocent people to be sacrificed. Please don't make the wrong choice."
"Sorry, but that's not possible. For the greater good, right? Well, either way, you're going to die here and now."
"Huh..."
Io said something really simple, and Mel froze with a shocked expression.
"I hate nobles so much that I've decided to kill them all if I get the chance. There are no exceptions."
"Please stop! Mel-san is not the kind of person you think she is!"
Fatina shouted loudly and stood in front of Mel, protecting her and readjusting her sword.
"It's not different. For these guys, the lives of commoners and adventurers are like pebbles. They don't care how much we suffer."
"...Why do you hate nobles so much? I thought our country treated its people well."
"I may not have been born in this country, but is that really true? Beastmen have a hard time living anywhere, and they all look the same. By the way, there was a beastmen village near Voltana. Isn't it strange to let them live in such a place?"
"Don't ask, Mel. Further discussion is a waste of time."
They were not originally someone who could be persuaded.
That's all.
"Hand over the key right now. If you resist, there will be no mercy."
"Well, if that's the case, then there's no other choice."
In the next moment Io spoke, a familiar object appeared right next to her face.
──A translucent board floating in mid-air.
And various characters written on it.
It looked very similar to what I possess, something that displays my abilities.
"'Oh, can you see this?'"
In an instant, I sensed the danger.
My body moved instinctively.
I could see Lyle running towards me right behind Io.
But I was faster.
"(Death)!!"
I unleashed Instant Death Magic towards Io.
At this distance, I won't miss.
With a thud sound, numerous black skulls overflowed from my left hand.
──But.
"You're not just an 'ordinary' person after all."
Io swiftly drew a short sword from her waist and slashed upwards.
(Death) dispersed like smoke on the spot, with no effect.
Time seemed to slow down as Io continued to smirk with ease.
It was the first time Io had used her full power against a human, but it was blocked. It didn't seem like a magic defense either.
Immediately, I swung the sword I held in my right hand and slashed her horizontally.
The blade was heading towards Io.
However, in that instant, my limbs suddenly lost strength.
I felt a clear discomfort in my body.
"Ggh!?"
Feeling the weight so heavy that my shoulder dislocated, I unintentionally let go of the sword.
As the sword fell to the ground, a heavy thud echoed.
──The sword that had been perfectly usable until now was too heavy to hold!
"(Death)!"
This time, the magic didn't even activate.
I can't understand what's happening.
"I'm sorry. I never thought you'd actually fight me fair and square. If your [Instant Death Magic] really does instantly kill the opponent without question, I don't know if I can win even if I fight seriously."
Io sneers.
Could this also be one of her abilities?
I was completely off guard.
I try to quickly distance myself, but... my strength doesn't respond as I want it to. I can't even jump like I could before, so I retreat instead.
"Ark-sama!"
Fatina and Mel come running towards me.
However, Fatina's movements lack the usual agility and seem somewhat awkward.
"I've been attacked. My body feels heavy."
"I don't know why, but I can't move as I want to..."
Mel seems to be unaffected, especially.
Is it that everyone is being affected by something?
As I looked around, I noticed a change.
——A man wearing a red cloak, who wasn't doing anything until just now, is holding up his hand towards me.
If it wasn't Io, he must do something.
Io was looking at me, still holding the dagger.
And she told me.
"In this world, strength is determined by level and skill── 'so what do you think would happen if you could nullify that'?"
I couldn't believe it.
The man in the coat has the power to erase all skills and levels.
"[Ability Nullification] is an ability that is useless against monsters and also affects us nearby. It's a troublesome skill, but it makes things fair when used against humans."
Lyle, who came right next to Io, stood there with a red spear resting on his shoulder. Even though he's wearing armor, he doesn't seem to feel its weight. It must be a special item, not just ordinary armor.
"Well, in that case, it's better to simply prepare."
Io is getting closer.
There are no usable weapons at hand.
When I look back, Fatina is struggling to hold a sword with unsteady steps.
Not only has her [Sword Saint] skill disappeared, but the Shadow Chimera's sword is too heavy for her to swing properly.
"I'll kill the Werewolf Tribe. That kid over there, if it's Kasim, he probably thinks it's easy to play around."
Lyle poised his spear and focused on Fatina.
This is bad.
No matter how hard I concentrate or move my fingers in the air, the Abilities List won't appear.
I shouldn't be feeling out of breath for no reason at all.
Even though the amulet should be working, my body feels hot.
My skills have been sealed, so I'm back to being as weak as when I first came to Voltana.
If this continues, I won't be able to resist at all; I'll just be killed.
"..."
The man in the red coat called Kasim, tied a simple one-handed ax to each side of his waist, and then he attacked.
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