In the deepest chamber of the “Wandering Dungeon,” the female vampire Lyra Nora began to speak.
“First, this star… or rather, it might be easier to say this world. This world itself was born according to the laws of nature. Everyone here, except for one, is an existence that was born naturally.”
“Except for one…?”
“Yes, the one over there.”
Lyra Nora pointed not at me, but at Geshura.
“Does that mean… the ‘Kin of Twilight’ is a race that was created later?”
“That’s right. In other words, there was someone in this world who could add various existences to nature later on. In your words, the concept of ‘God’ might be the closest. But it’s only close, not the thing itself. But let’s call it ‘God’ here.”
“…”
“The problem is that the existences that ‘God’ added later began to threaten the survival of those born naturally. Even ‘God’ did not want that. So, ‘God’ interfered with the workings of nature itself and tried to give power to those born naturally. The system for giving that power is the ‘Ancient Providence’.”
“Why call it the ‘Ancient Providence’ if it was made later?”
Dorozitte’s question was something I had also wondered about.
“Because ‘God’ added that ‘Providence’ by going back in time. It’s a system that was added later for this world, but chronologically, it is indeed the ‘Ancient Providence’.”
“So, it really is an existence with power like a ‘God’,” Dorozitte said with a sigh.
On the other hand, I wasn’t that surprised. Honestly, for me, it made more sense to say that there was a ‘God’ in this world.
“That’s right. And that ‘system for giving power to those born naturally’ is related to everything that you call ‘Adventurers’.”
“You mean the phenomenon of ‘Awakening’ and the Skills gained in Dungeons, right?”
“Exactly. And my existence is also one of the ‘Ancient Providence’. It is positioned as one of the higher systems for giving power to you ‘naturally born ones’.”
Hearing that, the members had various reactions. Larni, Karma, and Shizuna were tilting their heads, so they didn’t seem to understand well. Dorozitte, Sfenia, Mariane, and Geshura seemed to understand. Freinir, Sakurahime, and Marishielle were trying hard to understand.
And for me, Lyra Nora’s story made a lot of sense. The fact that the adventurer and dungeon systems felt somewhat game-like, and that they felt like they were prepared to help humans, could both be explained by this story.
“I see, I think I understand somewhat. But hearing that makes me want to ask even more questions. Like, what is that ‘God’ doing now?”
“Let’s leave that for another time. It seems that a very strong power is approaching this place. Shouldn’t you be in a hurry?”
Lyra Nora interrupted Dorozitte and stood up from her throne.
The “very strong power” she was talking about was undoubtedly the “Kin of Twilight.” If that was the case, then we certainly didn’t have time to listen to more stories.
I nodded and put strength into the hands holding “The Equalizer” and “Immovable Fortress Wall.”
“That’s right. Then, please give us a trial this time as well.”
“Fufu, a trial, you say? Yes, it is a trial from ‘God’ to see if you are worthy of having power. Please overcome it splendidly this time as well.”
Lyra Nora spread her hands and took a pose to summon Undead.
We moved away from Lyra Nora and formed a battle formation. Freinir and the other mages began Mental Concentration without being told.
“If there are 11 of you, then it’s okay to prepare this much, isn’t it?”
A black mist appeared in front of Lyra Nora, becoming so thick that it blocked our vision. And when that ink-like mist disappeared, 10 headless armored knights riding headless black horses appeared in a row. All of them had helmets on their left sides and red spears in their right hands.
“She summoned this many ‘Dullahan’ at once!? How terrifying!”
Marishielle, who was holding “Fate Whisperer,” had a smile on her face as she exclaimed in surprise. Dorozitte’s face twitched for a moment, but she quickly returned to her usual composed expression.
Of course, Freinir and the others were completely calm as usual. It felt like they had become quite used to fighting Dullahans.
Beyond the line of Dullahans, the female vampire Lyra Nora pointed her right hand towards us.
“Then, let’s begin. May you have a good battle.”
The black horses of the Dullahans lowered their bodies slightly. They were in a charging stance, but before that, the surroundings were enveloped in a pale veil of light.
The Dullahans, whose momentum was momentarily broken by Freinir’s “Divine Halo,” were attacked by the magic of Sfenia, Shizuna, Geshura, and Dorozitte, and the “Flying Blades” of Larni, Karma, and Marishielle all at once.
The attack hit two Dullahans on each side. Three of them returned to black mist, except for one that was barely alive.
“Hmph!”
The fact that the members left the six in front for me was a consideration for me.
The “Shockwave” I unleashed horizontally blew away the Dullahans who had just started charging, and even Lyra Nora behind them, along with her throne, was slammed into the back wall.
“Sir Soushi’s power is still strange! Perhaps you are gaining power beyond the upper limit that ‘God’ had anticipated.”
Lyra Nora, who had been hit by the “Shockwave,” seemed to have taken only minor damage.
Her beautiful limbs, kicking off the wall and coming towards us, were entwined with a crimson vortex like blood.
“Is it inconvenient for ‘God’ if I exceed the upper limit?”
“I wonder. ‘God’ has already left this world, so I don’t think there’s a problem.”
Crimson spears were fired one after another from the crimson vortex surrounding Lyra Nora.
It was her specialty projectile, the “Blood Lance,” but it was all nullified by my “Absorption” Skill and “Immovable Fortress Wall.” The power felt stronger than before, but my Skills had also been strengthened, so it was actually less of a burden to block than last time.
“You’re as tough as ever. Since ‘Blood Fang Piercing Mountain’ was broken, this time—”
“I won’t let you.”
Lyra Nora was about to unleash a new technique, but Geshura’s lightning magic burst forth, violently striking her body as she took her stance.
“‘Lava Cyclone’!”
A tornado containing lava erupted from Lyra Nora’s feet, stopping her movement. It seemed to be a magic that Sfenia had researched and created.
It was a slow-to-activate area magic, but this combination was effective. Most monsters would be finished with this, but—
“Both of those are magics I’ve never seen before. This might be the strongest party I’ve ever faced.”
Lyra Nora, wrapped in a crimson vortex, jumped out of the lava tornado.