I Became A Collaborative Character In The Game

Chapter 45 – Vulcan Ruins 2

—–CROW—–

[Master, I think it would be best to talk to the others.]

Brought back to his senses by Integra’s words, Luther looked around.

Arma Valentine was staring at the sealing formation with a tight-lipped expression, while Karen and Max, unfamiliar with magic, looked back and forth between Luther and Arma with bewildered faces.

What should they do now?

Luther came to a simple conclusion.

“Let’s go back.”

“What?”

Arma Valentine was the first to react to Luther’s words.

Unlike Luther, who already knew what would emerge from this land and when the seal would break, Arma Valentine had only just grasped the problem.

But Luther continued,

“There’s a limit to what we can ascertain here. Now that we know there’s a seal and that it’s about to break, it’s best to return and devise a countermeasure.”

It was a reasonable argument.

Karen and Max nodded in agreement.

But Arma frowned and looked back at the sealing formation.

“You’re not wrong.  But we need to investigate the sealing formation further.”

The sealing formation drawn on the pyramid was so complex that even copying it would be difficult.

As Arma said, it made sense to investigate further here.

[Max is nodding again.]

[He has no backbone.]

Why were you so obsessed with picking on Max?

And actually, Luther understood how Max felt.

Putting aside the fact that both he and Arma had made valid points, Max was practically a layman when it came to such matters.

Luther probably would have nodded too if he were in Max’s shoes.

‘Anyway.’

As always, Max wasn’t the important one.

Luther smiled at Arma, who was saying they needed more investigation, and raised his right arm.

“Integra?”

[Understood.]

There hadn’t been any specific instructions, but Luther and Integra were practically of one mind.

Integra replied cheerfully and projected a large holographic image into the air.

“The sealing formation?”

“Oh… oh my. It’s exactly the same!”

Karen and Max were startled by the identical sealing formation that appeared above them.

Arma, also surprised, widened her eyes and looked at Luther.

“How did you do this? Did you record the sealing formation and then project it? In such a short time? Without doing anything?”

She spoke a bit faster than usual, but considering her usual demeanor, it was clear how surprised and bewildered she was.

[This is the power of science.]

[It’s not inferior to fantasy or magic, you know?]

As Integra gloated triumphantly, Luther pointed at his eyes and said,

“I did do something. I saw it.”

He didn’t just remember what he saw.

Luther could reproduce anything he saw or heard through Integra.

“I never knew the Heavenly Armor had such power… no, perhaps it’s the power of an angel.”

Arma muttered, chuckling softly, then looked at Luther again.

“I understand what you mean. But I still think we need to investigate.  There might be other information we can glean from the ruins besides the sealing formation.”

It was a natural and reasonable argument from Arma’s perspective.

“So, you go back first. I’ll return after investigating a bit more.”

With that, Arma looked at the giant armor parked in front of the pyramid.  Karen, Max, and Luther nodded.

“Alright. Then we’ll head back first.”

“Yes, let’s meet again at Count Glasstone’s mansion.”

With that, Arma began examining the sealing formation in earnest.

[I’ll change the route to Venus City.]

[Considering Karen and Max are with us, if we push ourselves a bit, we should be able to reach Venus City before the gates close.]

Venus City was quite a distance from here.

But the matter was urgent, and if they paced themselves poorly, they might end up camping outside the city gates, so Luther nodded.

And that night, at Count Glasstone’s mansion.

After a forced march that made even the well-trained Max and Karen complain, they finally arrived at Count Glasstone’s mansion.  The person who greeted them was none other than Arma Valentine.

“You’re later than I expected.”

[Master, Karen is clenching her fists.]

[Max’s eyes are red.]

[Her lips are moving… I think she’s cursing.]

Luther was also a little annoyed.

They had walked their legs off, but Arma, who had simply flown in her armor, had arrived much earlier.

Moreover, unlike them, who were utterly exhausted, Arma looked perfectly composed.

‘Should I really start upgrading the drone?’

Until it was big enough to ride.

It didn’t need to be huge, just the size of a motorcycle would do.

[Master, if you truly desire flight, there are easier methods besides increasing the drone’s size.]

‘Oh, really?’

[Yes. But right now, we need to discuss the sealing formation with Count Glasstone, so let’s postpone the discussion about flight methods for now.]

Her giggling seemed deliberate, but she wasn’t wrong, so Luther refrained from pressing the issue and approached Arma.

“When did you arrive?”

“About an hour ago. I’ve already briefed Count Glasstone on the general situation.”

[Not bad.]

[It will save us time if he’s already been briefed.]

Luther agreed.

So, he told Karen and Max to rest and immediately went to meet Count Glasstone with Arma.

“This is the sealing formation in question.”

Light emitted from the drone filled Count Glasstone’s office.

Count Glasstone was genuinely surprised by the image of the sealing formation projected onto the floor. Lilia, her eyes wide, began examining it.

As a genius in enchantment, she seemed to have grasped the situation intuitively the moment she saw the sealing formation.

Meanwhile, Annerose, standing next to Arma, seemed more interested in the drone projecting the image than the sealing formation, glancing at Luther repeatedly.

[Like master, like student.]

[Arma is also looking this way.]

Luther knew.

Aside from this incident, he needed to build a friendly relationship with Annerose and Arma.  He seemed to have an idea of how to gain their favor.

[Favor, Master. Favor.]

[Not seduce.]

As Integra muttered softly, Luther addressed Count Glasstone, who was looking back and forth between the sealing formation, Arma, and Luther with a confused expression.

“As Arma Valentine has already explained, there isn’t much time left before the seal breaks. Considering the distance between the Vulcan Ruins and Venus City, we need a proper countermeasure.”

It was a perfectly reasonable statement, but Count Glasstone looked troubled.

It was practically impossible to devise a countermeasure without knowing what would emerge from the sealing formation.

‘Should I reveal that the Demon King will emerge, one way or another?’

But it wouldn’t be easy.

Even if he revealed he was an “angel,” he wouldn’t be able to convince Count Glasstone without a credible source for his information.

Just then,

“It’s likely the Demon King, Valakia, who will emerge.”

It was Arma Valentine who spoke.

She pointed at the base of the pyramid, which was projected along with the sealing formation.

“While I was alone, I investigated the pyramid and found several inscriptions.  Based on those inscriptions and ancient Lizardmen texts, I was able to identify the name.”

What was here was a doll controlled by Arma Valentine, not Arma Valentine herself.

In other words, if Arma Valentine’s main body was in a place with access to sufficient research and information—like the Imperial Library or her own research facility—she could reach such a conclusion.

“Demon King Vala…kia? Do you know what kind of monster that is?”

Arma frowned slightly at Count Glasstone’s question.

“Aside from it being a powerful demonic beast that attacked the ancient Lizardmen city… there isn’t much information left.  The ancient Lizardmen had a written language, but they revered the power of spoken words and focused more on oral tradition.  However, the fact that they left even a small record means it must be a very dangerous being.”

[Master, what are you going to do?]

Integra asked softly as she listened to Arma’s explanation.

She was asking whether he would reveal more information or just go along with Arma’s explanation.

“I know about the Demon King Valakia. Or rather, I think I know.”

At Luther’s words, everyone except Lilia, who was still staring at the sealing formation, naturally looked at him.

Arma asked again,

“You think you know?”

“Yes.  The Heavenly Armor contains records of the Celestial Realm, and I acquired new records while securing a fragment of the armor. I believe there’s information about the Demon King Valakia among those records.”

[Oh, that sounds quite convincing.]

Encouraged by Integra’s approval, Luther suddenly closed his eyes and shook his head as if quickly scanning through something.

“Demon King Valakia.”

“King of the Demonic Beasts.”

“A powerful undead demonic beast.”

“Born from the fusion of a divine beast raised in the Lizardmen’s temple city and the Demon King, summoned by forbidden magic.”

Luther stopped there and opened his eyes, breathing heavily as if he had exerted himself.

“Huu, that’s all for now.  But there might be more information if I look further.”

Count Glasstone, Arma, and Annerose nodded seriously at Luther’s words.

Everyone seemed to believe him.

[Your acting was a bit over the top, but well done.]

[I award you 1 shop point, Master.]

And 1 shop point from Integra.

He still didn’t know what the reward was for collecting shop points, but Integra had said it was “something really good,” so it must be something good.

But if he grinned now, he would ruin the serious atmosphere he had created, so he turned to Count Glasstone with a serious expression.

Count Glasstone’s previous bewilderment had been replaced by worry. He spoke in a low voice,

“If it’s recorded even in the Celestial Realm… it must be a truly dangerous demonic beast.”

There was a hint of fear in his voice.

[At this rate, he might suggest abandoning the city.]

[A little encouragement is needed.]

Luther, having had similar thoughts, looked at Arma.

He intended to emphasize that she, one of the world’s top ten superhumans, was with them.

Just then,

“I understand.”

Lilia suddenly spoke in a small voice.

Since everyone had been holding their breath, everyone in the room heard her.

I understand.

I figured it out.

“The Spirit’s Jewel.”

Lilia said softly again, then lifted her head and looked directly at Luther.

This wasn’t the usual soft, almost naive Lilia.

Her blue eyes seemed to glow.

“I think I know what they intended to do with the Spirit’s Jewel.”

She moved to the center of the sealing formation and pointed at the complex geometric shapes moving in sync, continuing her explanation.

“The sealing formation is definitely on the verge of breaking. But it won’t just break. It’s designed to cause a magical explosion when it’s destroyed.  Probably to inflict some damage on the sealed demonic beast.  The Spirit’s Jewel was clearly meant to be a catalyst to transfer that explosion—or rather, the energy used for the explosion—to the demonic beast.”

Lilia continued her explanation, but it was a series of words Luther couldn’t understand.

So, he asked Integra,

‘So, they were trying to strengthen the Demon King with the Spirit’s Jewel?’

[It seems so.]

[They intended to make the collapse of the sealing formation more natural, while converting the energy from the self-destruct mechanism into unholy energy to restore the Demon King, weakened from being sealed for so long.]

[The Spirit’s Jewel was likely the catalyst needed for this energy conversion process.]

‘I see.’

Luther finally understood why Hecatonchires had tried to obtain the Spirit’s Jewel and what they had done with it in the original story.

“Then Lilia, can we use the Spirit’s Jewel to amplify the explosion instead?”

Lilia’s eyes widened at Luther’s question, then she nodded immediately.

“It’s possible.  The Spirit’s Jewel’s role is primarily energy conversion. So, instead of amplifying the explosion, it would be more effective to convert the energy intended for the explosion into life force and infuse it into the demonic beast.”

Pouring life force into an undead creature.

It was a plan that appealed to him just by hearing it.

“Can you do it?”

“I can. No, I will.”

Lilia’s confident declaration was more reassuring than ever.

She usually seemed naive, but she truly was a genius, recognized even a hundred years later.

“But we’ll need other countermeasures as well.”

Luther agreed with Arma’s statement.

There was still much to prepare to completely stop the Demon King.

“Count Glasstone, I have an idea.”

The defensive plan he had devised on the way here.

It would require a considerable amount of manpower and funds, but he was certain the current Count Glasstone—who was looking at him with an expression of relief—would implement it.

“My plan is as follows.”

A fantasy he had entertained several times while playing the game.

It would be great if he could do this.

This would be a perfect way to get back at Hecatonchires.

[Master, that’s a wicked smile.]

[But you know I like it, right?]

Integra giggled and looked at Luther with a mischievous yet affectionate expression. Luther stroked the drone on his arm in response and continued his explanation.

* * *

The Demon King, Jenadu, tilted his head involuntarily at his subordinate’s report.

“What did you just say?”

“The humans… the humans are flocking to the Vulcan Ruins.”

Marion, a low-ranking dragonman hastily summoned to replace Balboa and Astra, bowed his head and reported.

It was a strange report, no matter how many times he heard it.

The seal of the Demon King Valakia was indeed hidden within the Vulcan Ruins.

But it was hidden so well that it hadn’t been discovered despite numerous studies and looting attempts.

And now humans were flocking to the sealed ruins?

‘Balboa? Or Astra?’

Had one of them leaked the information during battle?

It was a possibility.

Their loyalty to Hecatonchires was genuine, but information didn’t always require intent to be leaked.

A slip of the tongue, or perhaps the enemy’s manipulation.

Jenadu shifted his attention back to the current events.

‘Humans are gathering.’

They had realized something was hidden within the Vulcan Ruins.

‘But.’

So what?

The seal of the Demon King Valakia was destined to be broken.

It was happening because the sealing formation itself was too old, and there was no way to stop it.

It was a shame they couldn’t use the Spirit’s Jewel to restore the Demon King, but it wasn’t absolutely necessary.

The Demon King would awaken and use his power to cause the “phenomenon” Hecatonchires desired.

That would be enough.

Regaining his composure, Jenadu looked at the dragonman Marion with calm eyes.

Unlike Balboa and Astra, who were large and muscular, Marion was a thin, pale boy.

Jenadu asked again,

“How many humans are gathering?”

“Hundreds. A-And…”

Marion trailed off, his lips moving silently.

Was he hesitant because of Arma Valentine?

As Jenadu urged him with a look, Marion gulped and continued his report.

What the humans were currently doing at the Vulcan Ruins.

No, their outrageous actions.

Bewilderment flickered in Jenadu’s green eyes once more.

—–CROW—–