Chapter 406
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"Please open the box."
I confidently asked for the box to be opened.
-Murmur.
-Murmur.
A stir rose within the conference hall.
The chairman who had warned about the box cautiously asked me.
"I'll repeat, it's a very dangerous item. It might be better to think more carefully."
"I understand that it's a dangerous item. But in order for me to be recognized, I must unravel whatever is in that box, right?"
"……"
"For those who trusted and worked hard for me, I can't back down here."
I declared my firm resolution to the chairman.
"Hmm…… Alright. If that's what you want……."
The chairman gestured to the soldiers who had brought the box. Then, the soldiers unlocked the lock, grasping the handle on the top of the box from both sides.
-Screech, click!
As if it hadn't been opened for a long time, the lid of the box opened to both sides with the sound of metal scraping.
The soldiers who had pulled the handle all the way quickly retreated from the box.
I carefully approached the box.
Through the completely opened top of the box, the contents inside were revealed. Inside the box, a staff that seemed somewhat familiar was neatly placed.
‘Where did I see this… Ah!'
‘The staff that Ashmir used to carry around! That, that was… Munk's staff?'
If Munk's staff was depicted by two white snakes coiling around it, then what was inside the box was coiled by three golden snakes.
Another point is,
It felt more exceptional than Munk's staff. Even the brief moment I peeked into the box, an extraordinary atmosphere radiated.
The moment I tried to take another step to examine it more closely.
-Startle!
I stopped in my tracks with a jolt.
It wasn't my will that stopped me, but a reflex that sprung out instinctively feeling danger.
I maintained my distance from the box and looked closely at the staff again. Then, I was able to sense another aura aside from the extraordinary energy of the staff.
It was sticky and unpleasant…
And a familiar aura.
Without a doubt, it’s the sensation I felt from the rifts.
It was the energy of chaos.
The chairman, who was observing my reaction, spoke first.
"Did you feel any energy from the staff?"
"At first, I felt a very solemn and noble sensation. When I tried to take a closer look, a sinister energy surged. The same unpleasant energy that can be felt from a Rift."
"You saw it correctly."
The chairman nodded and added an explanation.
"The name of that staff is ‘Kodesh's Staff.' It is also known as the Staff of Archon."
"Kodesh's Staff… Is it similar to Munk's Staff?"
"Yes. If Munk's staff symbolizes the Surveillance Officer, then Kodesh's Staff can be said to symbolize the Archon."
"But this is the first time I've heard of the position called Archon?"
At my question, the chairman gave a bitter smile.
"That's inevitable. The Archon seat has been vacant for a long time."
"Ah……."
"Archon is the one who controls the three major groups: the Judges, the Executors, and the Surveillance Officers. It can be said to be the most honorable position given to an Angel."
"Why has such an important position been vacant until now?"
"Archon can only be recognized in the position through the unanimous approval of the Ekruas Council and the direct succession from the previous Archon. However, due to an unfortunate accident, the last Archon passed away, and the symbol, that staff, ended up in such a state. Because we couldn't restore Kodesh's staff to its original state, we had no choice but to leave the position of the Archon vacant."
After listening to the lengthy explanation, I looked at the staff with a more serious face.
"In other words………… In order to elect a new Archon. This staff needs to be restored to its original state?"
"That's right."
"Hmm…….?
“We have tried to restore Kodesh's staff to its original state for a long time, but our attempts have repeatedly failed. If you succeed in this task, you will not only prove your abilities but will also receive gratitude and respect from all Angels."
Gratitude and respect from all Angels.
If those high-nosed Angels are to treat me to that extent, does it mean that this task is indeed difficult?
In fact, I didn't want gratitude and respect that much. If this could result in a fruitful outcome for Ashmir, Urki, and Judge Arc, that would be enough.
I took another step towards the box.
-Whoooom!
As the distance narrowed, a disagreeable vibration resonated from the staff. It grew even more severe as I approached close enough to touch it.
The sinister energy influenced the audience's seats.
"Cough!"
"….."
"Those who cannot bear it should retreat from the conference hall!"
Ignoring the commotion around me, I tried to get as close as possible to the box.
However, the force emanating from the staff was so intense that it made it difficult even to breathe.
‘Whew……. It's not as easy as I thought.'
At that moment when I was struggling and unable to approach.
A deep voice echoed in my head.
-What are you doing now? And where is this place?
It was the voice of the Fox Spirit.
I spoke to him with a glad heart.
‘Good. Help me out!'
-What do you suddenly need help with?
‘See that big staff? I need to drive out the ominous energy from that staff. Help me get close to it.'
The Fox Spirit made a vain noise after examining the staff.
-Oh my! What is that ominous thing? It doesn't look ordinary at all!
‘That's why I'm asking for help. Quickly, do something.'
-Hmm? You need my help.
All of a sudden, the Fox Spirit's voice was filled with amusement.
-Just with words?
‘Oh no. This guy?'
I slightly irritated the Fox Spirit.
‘Hey! You know I'm in control, right? If you don't help me now, it's going to be hard for you later too.'
-Well…
‘You……………'
-You absolutely won't be able to bear it without my help.
The Fox Spirit counterattacked my pressure leisurely. Since I was in a dire situation at the moment, the sharp-witted Fox Spirit maintained a nonchalant attitude, thinking there was nothing to regret.
I reluctantly took a step back.
‘What do you want?'
-Even though I didn't like your arrogant attitude earlier, I'll let it slide this time due to my merciful heart.
‘Hurry up and say it! It's getting hard to hold on!'
-What I want is…… smack!
The Fox Spirit made a loud smacking sound, loud enough to echo in my head.
-Rice cakes! For a month, whenever I want, let me eat rice cakes.
‘Oh, no!'
-Why??
I clenched my eyes shut and shook my head.
At first glance, it may seem like not such a difficult request, but in reality, it was a very tough one.
The Fox Spirit gobbles up rice cakes as if it was a ghost who died from not being able to eat them.
And it is very picky, preferring only freshly made, piping hot rice cakes.
-Because they kept blabbering about rice cakes until late at night, I was almost obsessed with rice cakes for a while.
For a month, should I prepare rice cakes whenever the fox spirit wants?
The aura emanating from the staff felt even more suffocating.
‘A month is too long. 3 days. Make it 3 days.'
-Ah! 3 days is too short. Then how about a fortnight?
‘5 days!'
-Ten days!
‘One week! That's my final offer. I can't do more.'
-Ugh……
After much grumbling, the fox spirit eventually accepted my proposal.
-Fine. One week! But you have to prepare as much as I want, right?
‘Okay. I promise.'
-Hehe, what kind of rice cake should I ask for first? A glutinous rice cake? A honey rice cake?
‘Think about eating rice cakes later. Hurry up and do this first!'
-Okay. Wait a little—just a moment.
The fox spirit's energy flowed out and wrapped around me like protection. It was as if a small protective boundary had been created around me, significantly reducing the intense pressure.
-Is this enough? You handle that staff.
‘Thank you, fox spirit.'
-Hehe, let's finish this quickly and go eat some delicious rice cake.
I ignored the fox spirit's talk about rice cakes and approached the box.
The sinister aura emitted by the staff became even stronger, causing the surrounding space to seem distorted.
Trusting in the fox spirit's protection, I reached out to the staff.
"Huff?!"
"It's dangerous!"
Startled exclamations flew out of the mouths of the Angels watching me. I paid them no mind and took hold of the staff.
-Kyaaaak!
A scream loud enough to deafen me erupted from the staff. It seemed like it was trying to intimidate me.
Even though I grimaced, I didn't let go of the staff.
Then, a red aura began to ripple from the staff, and chains containing the power of chaos sprung out and attacked me.
-Shooosh!
-Oh?! It's dangerous!
Despite the worried shout of the fox spirit, I calmly dealt with the attack.
CLING CLANG!
Red chains sprang from my arms in an instant, skillfully countering the attack.
If it had been the previous me, I might have been shaking and panicking, but now, I had experienced and won such situations many times. Thanks to this, I was able to maintain my composure to a surprising degree.
I began to remove the chaotic energy contained within the staff one by one.
Like pulling out long-hidden parasites, I ruthlessly ripped out the red chains.
-Kyaaak! Kek!
The chaotic energy, feeling the threat to its existence, lashed out, but it couldn't avoid the skilled hands of an expert who had been hardened through numerous trials.
In the end, the chaotic energy that had been filling the staff quickly faded, and I was able to root it out faster than I thought.
‘Hmm. That should be enough, right?'
Just when I was carefully checking here and there,
Golden energy began to gush out of the staff.
"Ooh!"
"This light?!"
"Could it be… could it be?!"
Excited exclamations erupted from the Angels here and there. I ignored the commotion around me and examined the condition of the staff.
-Swish.
-Swish.
The three snakes entwined around the staff moved as if they were alive. And they turned their faces towards me and flicked their tongues.
I greeted them with an awkward smile.
"Ha. Hello? Are you okay now?"
…….Nod.
The three snakes seemed to understand my words and nodded their heads.
[Thank you, Human of another world.]
[It has been a really long time.]
[I'm sorry, but we need your help a bit more………….]
Before I could react to the unfamiliar voice echoing in my head, the three snakes quickly stretched out their bodies toward my wrist.
"Huh?"
-Woosh!
The staff spewed out brilliant golden energy and vanished in an instant. Instead, all that radiant energy fully seeped into my right wrist.
I stared blankly at the space where the staff had disappeared, then turned my gaze to my wrist.
There, a golden bracelet in the shape of three snakes coiling, something I had never seen before, was neatly filled in.
CH 398-407 (Subduing the Angels) $2CH 408-417 (Farm family, Assemble) $2CH 418-424 (The END) $2Prev I TOC I Next