Light of Arad: The First to Walk - Chapter 54



Only Noblemtl

054

Jinseong had to bite his lower lip because he was listening to Direji’s voice.

‘Yeah… That’s it. It’s one of the points that made users excited in Dungeon & Fighter.’

Diregie has never done anything with will.

He just existed.

Even one cannot control the power of the pathogen by one’s own will and ability.

‘It’s the same that I fell into Northmire in the first place. Direji didn’t choose this place. He didn’t come here because he wanted to. He was originally in the Demon World.’

Direji, who had been living in the Demon World, was transferred there by Hilda without even knowing what was happening.

One day, I suddenly found myself stranded in Northmire.

Of course, this didn’t just happen in Northmire.

‘As far as I know, even in the Demon Realm, due to Direji’s influence, they were persecuted, if not persecuted, by the other apostles. They were driven to a corner… … and suffered things that were almost like humiliation, there must have been a setting.’

Even the apostles of the Demon World felt both aversion and a threat to the spread of Direji’s disease, and drove him out.

Even in that situation, Direji was just quietly kicked out and quietly crouched in a corner of the demon world.

‘From Dereji’s perspective, it’s absurd. I was just sitting in a corner, staring at the other people living in the same house… … and then I was suddenly kicked out – and even though I just wanted to stay quiet in the abandoned place, there were suddenly creatures swarming around, saying that my very existence was a nuisance and trying to kill me.’

In all of this, Direzier did nothing of his own.

That is, if we think about it rationally, there is no reason for him to be hated.

If I had to choose one, it would be because it is too strong.

The aura of the plague that spreads simply by his presence is unusually dangerous.

Should I die because of that innate reason?

I wonder how many people can accept that absurdity.

He is furious just from being transferred here by Hilda.

In the meantime, in Northmire, he encounters people who come to his place and point fingers at him, calling him a bad guy.

“I’m also really upset that I came here.”

Naturally, at this point, even Deregi had no choice but to boil over.

The evidence of this is the dark purple haze slowly rising from his back, growing stronger.

It wasn’t just because he looked like a dog that he spoke in a growling tone.

“What the heck is that….”

Michelle muttered.

Deregi answered straight away.

“What more is there to say? You just melt in the pain.”

Thud, thud, thud… … .

As he walked a few steps, his mouth gaped open.

“If I dye this whole land black, I might feel a little better.”

That was the signal.

The female demon sword user, who is currently a ‘character adventurer’, the 6th apostle, and the Direji of the Black Disease have finally started fighting.

* * *

Jinseong had to raise his arms without realizing it to block his breathing.

But the look in his eyes was fierce.

Jinseong was more serious than ever as he watched Direji scattering dangerous disease agents indiscriminately.

‘The patterns are different in the previous dungeons and the main scenario quests. The threats are the same though.’

What is the fighting style in Direji?

Relatively recently, when I was progressing through the main scenario quests while raising a sub-character, I had no time to check all of Diregie’s attack patterns before I could even begin to see them, so the one that remained clearly in my true memories was the ‘past Diregie’.

Of course, there was a reason why Jinseong observed and analyzed Direji’s attack patterns in this way.

‘Since the card hasn’t come out yet, in the end, the contamination… … After all, the only thing left is Deregie. If we think about Lotus, it’s definitely like that. That too, probably-.’

Because there may be a situation where Jinseong himself has to face Direji.

The silver lining is that not right now.

‘-When Derejiga is weakened… … I guess.’

The Apostle Lotus also began to show signs of contamination after being attacked by adventurers to some extent.

The behavior of the contaminated one, that is, tried to deviate from the flow of the main scenario quest of the game Dungeon & Fighter.

If we assume that those with the level of power of an Apostle are unable to activate the contamination at first, that is, when they are able to demonstrate their power in a clear mind, then it is possible that, like Lotus, Direji will also have to take enough damage for the contamination to be revealed.

‘If we look at it this way… … Contamination is a kind of parasite? Something that attaches itself to the host in advance and then activates in a certain situation, is that the concept? Hmm… … .’

He still couldn’t figure out the algorithm for how, in what way, and who the was polluting, but that wasn’t what was important to Jinseong right now.

The important thing is to deal with the pollution that is right in front of you and safely obtain the [card].

‘Then I’ll go find Nemer… or… no, Nemer might suddenly show up. When that time comes-.’

Hand over a contaminated card for purification.

and?

‘-Get the reward. Now that I know the scope of what I can do, I can get more reward, a reward that suits me better now.’

We can’t make a deal right away to send it back, but that’s just the story for now.

If we meet again after completing a few more missions, including the one right in front of us, we might be able to make a deal like that.

‘Nemer is clearly a transcendent being. But the fact that I’m interfering like this, huh? If we’re going to distort the balance! Seriously! Another transcendent being, the , might not stay still! Well, if we keep tying things up like this, we can do something about it.’

Jinseong had a faint smile on his lips, almost a dreamlike hope, but his eyes were not smiling.

The 6th Apostle, it is by no means possible to take lightly the current situation where you may have to deal directly with the Direzier of the Black Disease.

Rather, it should be seen that Jinseong is suppressing the fear that is about to rise in his head based on hope for the future.

“The wind of disease.”

Direjiga swung his forelegs and poured out his purple aura.

Jinseong frowned and put more strength into the arm that was blocking his windpipe.

“Lady Louise, get behind my shield!”

“Ugh, you really aren’t giving me a chance to attack! Are you okay, Adventurer?!”

“The adventurer won’t have time to answer right now. I’ll find an opening to attack Deregi- somehow, even with my telekinesis…!”

Then Jinseong himself had to see things again that he had never been able to see before.

It’s not just users who are suffering from Deregi’s attacks.

It is natural that NPCs that came with users and adventurers will also become targets of attack.

‘I didn’t know because I could only see my character on the monitor… … Right, that’s right. But- at that point, the NPCs weren’t even visible to the user as APCs. So, lines like that just wouldn’t be output in the script. This isn’t contamination.’

It is not a contamination that the adventurers and their helpers stood together against Direji.

It just won’t be visible to the user on the monitor screen.

That is, that kind of conversation may appear in more situations than just now.

‘Then what’s important is me. What will become of me?’

Therefore, Jinseong’s thoughts had no choice but to deepen.

The only possibility left in the dungeon area where the contamination has begun to manifest: Northmire is Derege.

It should be considered as already confirmed that contamination has appeared in Direzi.

When the symptoms of contamination appeared like that, when the situation changed from the flow of the main scenario quest that Jinseong himself knew.

‘Can I come forward?’

What if fighting with NPCs in front of you is something that is not visible on the user’s monitor or something that ‘actually happened’?

Couldn’t Jinseong’s own intervention also be covered up in that way?

‘Because back in the Lotus days, there were definitely Aganzo and Ban next to the user character. If I had intervened then, I probably would have seen them. But now it’s different. Right now… …you’ll only be able to see your character and Direji on the monitor.’

Jinseong felt his heartbeat gradually speeding up.

You have to be prepared for that.

‘If Dereggie suddenly tries to kill Azalea, or if he tries to kill Louise. When the ‘contamination’ appears like that, I can intervene and disrupt Dereggie’s attack pattern like I did when I blocked Lotus’ attack, and quickly hide myself-.’

Wouldn’t it be the best outcome from Jinseong’s perspective if the user were to make the final blow?

As if Jinseong’s imagination was coming true, the female swordsman’s skill pierced through Direji’s body.

Deregi flinched and stepped back, saying:

“The poison here is still weak. It’s hard to muster my strength. But……”

Kwaaaaang──────!

Then he struck the ground and roared.

“The disease will never go away until it devours your world!”

It wasn’t just about raising my voice.

The energy of the delegation was also amplified as much as the volume.

“How on earth……”

“Ugh, this theory-. Even my shield can’t hold up!”

Louise and Azalea also stepped back, as if they could not stand Deregi’s outburst.

Michelle also came over to the two of them and muttered.

“He’s weak enough. But if we don’t find a way… it’s all over!”

When he heard Michelle’s words, Jinseong realized something.

This is the point at which the three NPCs become visible to the user again.

‘Systematically, it is a decision to kill Deregi. Now, the script will appear on the user’s monitor, and it will be visible… … Then-.’

What about pollution?

Does this mean that Jinseong himself has exhausted all the cases he has analyzed so far?

‘-There’s only one thing left. The crack… … . Since Diregie is an immortal body that doesn’t even know how to die, if a crack doesn’t form-.’

The moment Jinseong swallowed dry saliva and became tense, the space behind Direji began to split apart.

As if glass was cracking, a crack appeared in the space and a crack-! sound rang out.

“This is- Hilda, you b*tch…! This is what you were aiming for!”

Deregi looked back in a hurry and shouted.

It only took a moment for him to struggle to get away.

Deregi continued speaking as if he already knew.

“Kuuuuu, yes, if it’s a dimensional rift, it might tear me to pieces. I’ll remember this moment! I’ll survive and definitely kill you…!”

That was the last one.

Literally, each and every cell was split apart and Direji’s body began to be sucked into the cracks that had formed in the dimensional rift.

And Jinseong’s expression upon seeing that couldn’t help but harden.

‘… … That’s the ending I know. That’s the original flow.’

Because things were progressing according to the flow of the main scenario quest that Jinseong himself remembered.

Why did his expression darken even though things were going well?

If you think about it, it was a simple task.

“…Is it over?”

Louise muttered.

As she said, it was all over now, except for one incident.

Jinseong looked at the space where Direji had been sucked in with an earnest heart.

The space that had appeared like a crack in glass had soon returned to its original state.

‘… … No, you crazy guy, come out! Direji!’

That space must be broken once more.

In a final desperate attempt, Direzier must temporarily open the dimensional rift that has been sucking him in.

And you have to bring adventurers, that is, users, along.

‘User’s 1st awakening quest! That’s the 1st awakening story, so you have to go that far-.’

The reason why that hasn’t happened yet is.

The reason why the card has not yet appeared in the flow of the polluted quest.

Jinseong’s guess was correct.

The derelict is contaminated.

However, it was not a contamination that changed the target of Direjiga’s attack.

The dimensional rift won’t open again. If that’s the contamination.

‘I have to open the dimensional rift… me.’

Hooooooooo… …

Jinseong took a deep breath.

At that moment, all the restless thoughts that had been raging just a moment ago flew away.

All of Jinseong’s mental power was concentrated in one space, one goal.