There are already swordsmen gathered in the Minerva mountain range, but something’s odd. They all have vacant eyes, like they’re looking to the day after tomorrow.
“This is bad, Loyd. Please stop John.”
An adventurer I know comes running towards us.
I’m pretty sure his name is Bob, and he fights using an axe.
Next to him is a mage called Catherine, and if I remember correctly, the three of them are a party.
And it sounds like John started acting strangely after talking to Isolte.
“He started saying nonsense about enlightenment all of a sudden, and followed Miss Isolte.”
“We kept telling him this place is dangerous because of the fairy dragon, but he wouldn’t listen. Please stop John.”
I hear their anguished request, and vow to settle this.
“Let’s look for Mars and the others. That book is probably behind this.”
“I agree.”
Iris nods with a serious expression, and Lela reacts the same way.
We rush up the mountain, after I cast Grow on Iris and Lela.
“A-amazing Mister Loyd! My body is as light as a feather!”
“You really are great.”
They’re moved by how their bodies are strengthened by Grow. I’ve always cast it on myself, and never thought to cast it on others, but after the battle with White Rose, I learned that this works too.
On the way up the mountain, we encounter a monster called fairy, and I aim at its head with my Ice Cannon.
It dodges at first, but I predict its movements and fire again. This time it hits, and it disappears after a small cry.
“W-wow!”
“Fairies are said to be particularly agile monsters. It’s amazing how you took it down so easily, Master Loyd!”
Says Lela with her eyes shining.
I’m feeling good, so I tell them how to deal with agile monsters.
“You need to combo attacks against agile monsters. Don’t try to take them down with the first hit, use it to guide the enemy towards the final hit.”
“Yes yes, that’s very useful.”
Lela has been trying hard to learn ever since she became my pupil, and nods deeply.
I give them some moderate magic lectures as we go up, and we eventually see Mars’ back.
“Mars!”
Yells Lela, and Mars turns around. And sure enough, he has that book in his right hand.
“Lela? Are you here to defeat the fairy dragon too?”
“No, I’m here to burn that book.”
That’s way too direct. If you don’t hide what you’re after, he’ll get wary of you.
But Mars isn’t surprised, he’s actually grinning. We’re thrown off, because we’ve never seen that expression on his face.
“Kukuk, so you finally noticed.”
“M-Mars?”
“I’m not Mars. I’m a god who possessed this boy.”
The word god leaves all confused.
I take one step forward, and ask Mars (?) a question.
“Why did you possess Mars?”
“So rather than worship me, you look at me as though I was an evil spirit. Fine. I will do you the honor of answering your question. I have descended from the heavens to save this world.”
Heavens? What’s he on about?
He keeps going, as if he’s answering my question.
“There are four gods in this world, including me. Veda, Agnim, Catastrophe, and Ruin. These are the righteous gods who maintain order in the heavens.
But three of our archangel servants started a coup d’etat to take over heaven, and as result, all gods were sealed away besides me, leaving heaven a lawless land. This of course had an effect on this world.
This coup d’etat was the cause of the Area Zero curse that troubles you so much.”
W-what!?
The shocking tale that comes out of his mouth leaves us all frozen.
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