Episode 48
SYSTEM: Main Quest — Rekindle the Fading Soul.
As soon as I arrived via teleportation, a system window popped up in front of me. The sudden quest startled me only for a moment, but I couldn’t understand what it meant.
“What kind of stupid quest is this…?”
I hated the quest from the description alone, but I pushed that aside. Right now, my priority was to get out of here.
A sky burning red without a single cloud. Dry, barren land where nothing could grow. Strange noises echoing from everywhere.
Just from the scenery, I immediately knew where I was.
“Devias?”
Or, as people call it—the resting place of the dead.
I had seen it in the game, but it was a place I rarely visited. It was usually part of an event.
“…Why am I fine?”
Devias is a place only the dead can enter. I’d heard that the living can’t even set foot on its land.
…Don’t tell me I died?
I placed a hand over my chest. My heart was beating fine. I could breathe normally. I was definitely alive.
“System. Try explaining in a way I can understand.”
SYSTEM: I cannot confirm anything. Player, are you perhaps dead?
“Don’t go around declaring people dead when they’re clearly alive.”
Even the system didn’t know the reason. Annoyed, I dismissed the window with a flick.
Maybe the system’s becoming stupid because I’m surrounded by idiots.
“That idiot… what was she thinking, sending me here blindly like this?”
At this moment, Famiel was probably struggling just to stay standing. She must’ve used a lot of power to send me to Devias.
And I could guess why she pushed herself.
— Steal Rheinfrid’s power.
“She said… his soul was sealed here, right?”
Devias was where the souls of undead were sealed. Rheinfrid’s soul would be no exception.
Destroying a sealed soul makes the undead vanish. That was the only way to steal his power.
“Let’s finish quickly and get back.”
I didn’t know why she suddenly wanted his power taken. But since I was already here, I planned to do my part and return.
Rian and Rheinfrid were probably fighting now. I had to hurry before Rian got seriously hurt.
“Which way was it again…?”
I retraced my memory from playing the game and continued forward. After a while, a building appeared that definitely hadn’t been there before.
A dark, dull temple—or castle. And standing guard at the entrance was a statue, at least three meters tall.
I stared at the statue and attempted to walk past into the entrance—
[Why does a living being walk here?]
A low, rough voice echoed by my ear. I instantly knew the statue was talking.
Its form—part human, part monster—gave off an unsettling feeling.
“That’s what I should be asking.”
[Leave. This is not a place you belong.]
“I didn’t choose to come here. I just need to handle something and leave, so don’t get in my way.”
While speaking, I realized what felt off.
There was no statue in this area when I played the game. Only a moving monster guarded the entrance.
As if reading my mind, cracks formed across the statue.
“You’re kidding me…”
I stepped back in disgust just as the stone shattered completely and a monster burst out.
Right. Now I remembered what it was.
The Guardian of Devias.
A sentinel that guarded the castle and blocked intruders.
“Leave. This is the resting place of the dead. The living do not belong here.”
“And I said, I’ll leave after I’m done.”
The only way into the castle was to kill the monster. Otherwise the door wouldn’t open.
I formed a sword of ice and stared at the monster. I remembered struggling with this thing the first time I fought it in the game.
…Will I be okay? This is my first real monster fight.
“If you wish to die, then I’ll grant it!”
The monster slammed its long spear into the ground. Cracks spread across the ground, and the sky turned pitch black.
I recognized that move. Because I’d died to it many, many times in the game.
A loud crack of thunder, then lightning struck where I stood.
“—!”
I barely dodged, but lightning kept targeting me relentlessly.
I moved without hesitation, closing the distance.
If my control was good, the strategy wasn’t difficult. First—keep moving to avoid the lightning.
And second—
“Got you.”
Attack from behind and destroy the core at its neck.
I leapt up and plunged my sword into the glowing red core.
“GRAAAHH!”
Just like in the game, the Guardian fell without much resistance.
While fixing my clothes, the dark sky slowly turned red again.
Creeeeak—
A chilling sound echoed as the tightly shut door finally opened.
Meaning: I was allowed to enter.
There were plenty of monsters inside too…
I remembered spending the whole event clearing them, plus the irritating traps everywhere.
Keeping my guard up, I stepped inside.
❖ ❖ ❖
Meanwhile, back where Rehel had vanished, tension filled the air.
“Speak. Where did you send Rehel?”
Rian pointed a sharp sword at Famiel’s throat. It looked like her head could be sliced off any second, yet she didn’t flinch.
“Rehel owed me something. She’s just repaying it. She won’t die, so relax.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“Right now, shouldn’t you worry about yourself more than about Rehel?”
Famiel looked up.
With a deafening crash, the ceiling shattered and daylight poured through the gaping hole.
Dust obscured the figure at first. When Rian lowered his sword and the dust settled, the silhouette became clear.
Long grey hair. Black, chilling eyes.
The Demon King of Envy — Rheinfrid.
…So that’s why she gave me the sword.
Rian remembered Rehel telling him to run. Only she would tell a hero to run.
“Famiel. What are you doing? Standing with a human hero.”
“That’s…”
She couldn’t answer. Her voice trembled, and she lowered her gaze.
No matter what she said, she would only hurt him.
Her silence only fueled his anger.
“So you betrayed me.”
“No! I never once—!”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear a traitor speak.”
His gaze was filled with disgust. Famiel bit her lip, clutching her clothes to steady her heart.
You knew this would happen. So why regret it now?
“Human. Where is Rehel? I sensed her presence here moments ago.”
“I want to know that too. This is all Famiel’s doing.”
At the mention of her name, Rheinfrid’s aura flared dangerously.
Rian tightened his grip. His instincts screamed of danger.
After hesitating, Famiel exhaled and spoke with resignation.
“I sent Rehel to Devias.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Rehel will break your soul’s seal. I asked her to.”
Breaking a sealed undead soul meant true death. Everyone knew that.
Devias… only the dead can enter. How did Rehel get in?
“Famiel!”
Rheinfrid roared in fury. The ground shook, debris falling everywhere.
He turned to leave—clearly intending to stop Rehel.
“Stop him! If he gets away, Rehel will be in danger!”
Because of that one sentence, Rian moved instinctively, blocking Rheinfrid’s path.
“Famiel. Is it true Rehel went to Devias?”
She nodded.
“Yes. If we let him go now, Rehel will get hurt. You don’t want that, do you?”
“Ha…”
Rian frowned and sighed.
He didn’t like doing what Famiel wanted. But he couldn’t just stand by when Rehel was involved.
So my job is to stall him. That’s it.
“You dare stand against me, human…?”
Rheinfrid’s power surged violently. Objects around them corroded. The air grew heavy.
Famiel looked around.
…This is bad.
They were in the heart of the empire. If humans interfered, chaos would erupt.
She spread her black wings, gathering magic.
The air around them stilled. Black feathers fluttered around the group.
“Famiel, stop. Your body can’t handle that level of magic anymore.”
“Even now, you worry for me. Thanks, Rhein.”
He understood what she was about to do. He tried to stop her, but she was resolute.
She closed her eyes and whispered a spell. When she opened them again, an unusual light shimmered in her black eyes.
“I’ll invite you… to the place that was once the paradise of angels.”
A strong wind swirled around them—
And they vanished.
