Chapter 79: The Forbidden Crystal

“Well then, shall we get going?”

After finishing our information gathering in the archives, we decided to resume our exploration.

“Ugh, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

That said, it seemed Ramis-san was still reluctant to leave, his gaze still fixed on the books inside the archives. He’s truly a researcher through and through. Well, if he weren’t, he probably wouldn’t have jumped into dangerous ruins on his own initiative. With Risou-san dragging Ramis-san along, we left the archives.

“The archives had books on all sorts of monsters, but there was also a lot of material on chimeras. And considering the giant chimera we encountered in the courtyard, it’s probably correct to assume these ruins were a chimera research facility.”

“In that case, we might run into another chimera like that one.”

Hearing Ramis-san’s words, Foca-san stared in the direction of the courtyard with a slightly intense gaze. People from the Church are strict when it comes to chimeras. But chimera research is also useful for magical medicine, so not even Church officials can outright deny it.

“More importantly… listen up, Big Eater, protect that magic bag no matter what!”

Ramis-san suddenly said that to me. The reason was that my magic bag now held several books from these archives that were (in Ramis-san’s opinion) particularly valuable. Ramis-san’s magic bag was already stuffed full of materials from the giant chimera in the courtyard, so the books and documents found in the archives ended up in my magic bag for safekeeping. That’s why Ramis-san seemed incredibly worried about my magic bag.

“In the end, this was just an archive.”

Rodi-san muttered, looking at the hidden wall of the archives. Right after we exited the archives, a wall slid out from the side, hiding the door once again.

“True. It seemed to have many valuable books, but that’s just for our era. Back in its time, they were probably all commonplace books.”

Ah, I guess Risou-san and Rodi-san wouldn’t understand that part, not being researchers. The collection stored here wasn’t just that kind of book.

“No, it wasn’t just books. Alongside the books, there were numerous documents that appeared to be the results of some kind of research. That said, the research content was unfortunately outside my specialty. There was a lot of technical jargon I’d never heard of, so I couldn’t understand most of it. And I believe the wall mechanism was to prevent intruders from stealing these research results.”

Yeah, I think Ramis-san is right. Research results are usually kept in a data room, but they tend to get mixed up with materials brought in from outside. This room was probably originally just for hiding research results. But lazy researchers probably just brought their regular materials in, and it ended up like this. How do I know? Because that’s what we were like in my previous, previous life! I mean, isn’t it a pain to go back and forth between the data room and the archives?

Well, even so, this research facility’s defense measures are relatively mild. If it were the research institute I belonged to two lives ago, they wouldn’t have bothered with something as tedious as a hidden room; they would have gleefully used newly developed research results in the name of “intruder countermeasures.” Everyone said things like, “If it’s an intruder, it’s perfect for a combat-level experiment.” Huh? Of course, I just politely asked them to leave using gentle means.

◆

“Mu, there are many monsters ahead.”

As we resumed our exploration and walked on, Ramis-san stopped everyone. His detection magic must have picked up a monster response. Incidentally, I can use detection magic too, but because of the chimera in the courtyard, I was instructed to conserve my mana. It seems Ramis-san also specializes in large-scale magic, so he’s decided to focus on support for this exploration. It’s true, this isn’t just a building; it’s an underground space. Using magic that’s too powerful risks collapsing the caves and killing us all.

“There are multiple groups of monsters relatively close. If we fight one group, other nearby groups might attack as reinforcements.”

“Should we go around?”

“No, there’s a large mana signature further in. It’s a bit too concerning to ignore.”

Ramis-san replied to Risou-san’s suggestion.

“A large mana signature… does that mean it’s a magic item powering the ruins, or perhaps the master of the ruins?”

Ramis-san nodded at my words.

“That’s highly possible. The monsters deeper in are probably guardians protecting it.”

“Protecting something important, or else…”

“There’s an undead protecting an ancient civilization.”

Rodi-san continued Risou-san’s thought. Undead. They are living corpses that occur when a dead person’s soul fails to separate from their body for some reason.

“Undead, huh… think it’s mindless? Or intelligent?”

“Intelligent” or “mindless” refers to the class of the undead. Mindless undead, just as the name implies, have no real intellect. They just wander around or attack any living thing they see on sight, trying to eat them. They are literally moving corpses, so they eventually rot and become zombies, and in the end, their flesh disappears, and they become skeletons. And when even their bones weather away, they finally become spectral beings called ghosts. Ghosts, as you’d expect, also have nothing you could call intellect and are troublesome beings possessed by their lingering obsessions from life, attacking humans indiscriminately. What’s more, ghosts have no physical body, so only energy-based magic, enchanted weapons, or holy magic work on them, which makes them even more of a pain.

On the other hand, intelligent undead are, literally, undead that have retained their intellect. Because they have intellect, communication is also possible. And perhaps because their connection to their body is so strong, their corpses never rot. For that reason, they’re called symbols of eternal youth since they maintain their appearance forever. In the past, research was even conducted to intentionally turn people into intelligent undead. Well, the Church officials got incredibly angry, though. And so, intelligent undead with strong undead instincts tend to crave blood; such undead are called vampires. Undead with weak instincts who do not crave blood are called liches. Therefore, among undead, liches, who are not dominated by instinct, are recognized as higher-ranking undead.

“If they’re mindless, the Saintess’s holy magic can likely wipe them out, but if it’s intelligent, we’re in trouble.”

It’s no wonder Risou-san would say that. In the adventures of the great swordsman Lygard, Lygard and his party were nearly wiped out by a lich using powerful magic lurking in ancient ruins.

“But if there might be an intelligent one, that’s all the more reason for us to investigate.”

“A preliminary investigation is our role, huh…”

Risou-san sighed at Rodi-san’s words. That’s right. Our objective is to investigate these ruins and find the cause of the mass monster outbreak. If a dangerous undead exists, it’s our job to subjugate it.

“Can’t be helped. If we find an intelligent one, let’s just pray it’s someone we can negotiate with.”

“Oh, the Lygard anecdote, is it?”

“Don’t joke about it.”

What Rodi-san mentioned was the outcome of that battle between Lygard and the lich. Lygard, judging he couldn’t defeat the overwhelmingly powerful lich, skillfully navigated the crisis through negotiation. He calmed the angry lich, offered items that pleased him as an apology, and succeeded in obtaining the knowledge he sought as a reward. And Lygard, who returned in triumph, earned a reputation not just as a capable fighter, but as a warrior who also had wits. From that story, the country’s knight orders also began to teach that it’s important for warriors to know how to maneuver to avoid unwinnable fights.

“Alright, we’ll scatter the monsters and investigate the power source. Reaching the destination is the goal. There’s no need to force ourselves to fight every enemy.”

“Well then, everyone, shall we go?”

Everyone nodded at Foca-san’s words.

◆

To find the source of the signature, we decided to force our way through the passage guarded by the swarm of monsters. To prevent the enemy from getting organized, we launched magic from a distance.

“Chase Lightning Lancer!”

“Freezing Lancer!”

As the swarm of lightning and ice spears I and Ramis-san unleashed vanished into the darkness, screams rose up from deep within.

“Next! Wind Arrow Rain!”

“Yes! Thunder Arrow Squall!”

We can’t see the enemy, so we don’t worry about landing perfect hits. The point here is to unilaterally inflict damage on the enemy from long range. Risou-san and Rodi-san will handle any enemies that survive and make it through. What came at us, bleeding, were not monsters but chimeras. They were smaller than the one in the courtyard, but their appearance was still a structure impossible for a natural creature.

“Hmph!”

“Sei!”

The injured chimeras’ movements were sluggish, and the two of them slaughtered them without difficulty. And within minutes, the chimeras stopped moving.

“The monster signatures in our direction of travel are gone. The signatures waiting in other locations show no sign of moving either.”

“Hmm. Just as we discussed, it means they’ve been trained not to move from the territory they’re guarding. But well, that’s fortunate for us.”

“It’s an urgent request from the Guild, so having unlimited mana potions is handy. It’s nice to be able to rapid-fire magic without worrying about the consequences.”

“Thanks to that, I can conserve my mana as well.”

Said Foca-san, who didn’t have to use her healing magic. But she also looked a little disappointed not to have a turn.

“Then let’s move on.”

◆

We made it through the battle with the monsters, passed through the door beyond, and came out into a wide-open space.

“This place is…?”

And it wasn’t just wide; the ceiling was also incredibly high. I mean, our light magic couldn’t even reach the ceiling. It’s definitely many times higher than the ceilings in the rooms we’ve been in so far. I wonder why on earth they made the ceiling so high. However, there was something even more surprising in this room.

“This is… a chimera research facility?!”

Just as Ramis-san shouted, this room was packed with all kinds of equipment. Cylindrical crystals were connected to the equipment, and inside them slept monsters of shapes we’d never seen… no, chimeras.

“Gyuuuu…”

Fluffy, who had been following behind us, let out a growl at the sight of the chimeras. But that wasn’t the problem. The real problem was that this facility was operational. The crystal pillars where the chimeras slept were glowing faintly, and the equipment they were connected to was emitting a low hum and light. And if this facility was running, it meant the chimeras inside the crystal pillars were alive, too. If this many chimeras woke up and got outside, it would undoubtedly be a disaster.

“So this facility really was the cause of the mass monster outbreak?”

Risou-san scanned the surroundings, his guard raised. Our objective is to investigate the ruins, but the ultimate goal is, just as Risou-san said, to find the cause of the mass monster outbreak.

“Everyone, look at that!”

As we advanced deeper while warily scanning our surroundings, Foca-san drew our attention to something up ahead.

“That is…?”

What Foca-san was pointing at was a bundle of cloth spread on the floor.

“Is that… clothing? But why would clothes be… no, that’s?!”

Since our only light source was light magic, we didn’t notice what it was at first from a distance. But as we got closer to the clothes, we understood what it was.

“This is… an ancient’s… corpse?!”

There, a human corpse lay fallen. The body was cut diagonally across the back, which appeared to be the direct cause of death.

“No, that’s wrong. This isn’t just a corpse. It’s an undead.”

“What?!”

At Foca-san’s words, everyone went on high alert.

“Look, the corpse’s skin is too fresh. If it were an ancient’s corpse, it should have turned to bones or a mummy long ago!”

True, now that she mentions it. This corpse looked like a normal human, as if it had died just moments ago. But, if that’s the case, why is this undead lying here? The fact that this undead is cut means someone must have cut it, right? It was just when everyone was wondering that.

“No need to worry. That thing is already dead.”

“?!?!”

The moment the voice came from beyond the darkness, we reacted instantly, forming a defensive circle facing outward.

“Don’t be so guarded. And well done, humans, for making it this far.”

“Who’s there!”

As Risou-san shouted, clack, clack footsteps echoed from deeper inside the facility. The one who emerged from the darkness was a man with brown skin, silver hair, and bat wings. In other words… a Demon.

“A Demon?!”

The one who reacted instantly was Foca-san. People from the Church call the Demons who invaded this world “spawn of the evil god” and treat them as enemies. Although, for the people of this world, the Demons who suddenly attacked are enemies, whether they’re from the Church or not.

“A Demon?!”

“Seriously?!”

Risou-san and Rodi-san cried out in surprise, but Ramis-san didn’t lose his composure.

“Hmm. None of the ruins we’ve visited so far had records of the Demons being annihilated, so I had considered the possibility. But to think I’d see one in person.”

“Of course. As if we Demons would ever be destroyed by the likes of you.”

Come to think of it, Demons haven’t been seen so much in the modern age that they’ve become the stuff of legends. The Demons probably stood no chance against that monster called the “White Calamity” mentioned in the archives, so they likely fled back to their own world until the threat passed.

“However, the fact that you’ve made it this far means you defeated the watchdog in the courtyard… Even if it was a failure, you humans are quite capable.”

“Courtyard? A failure? …Don’t tell me, you’re the one who made that giant chimera?!”

At Risou-san’s words, the Demon grinned.

“That’s right. That chimera is one of the results produced by my research. An experiment to create a controllable White Calamity!”

An experiment to create a controllable White Calamity?! But that should have been the research the ancients were conducting in these ruins!

“I see… You stole the research that was being conducted at this institute, the research that a researcher continued even after becoming an undead!”

Now I understand why there was an undead’s corpse.

“Yes, that’s exactly right. I found this place while investigating the ruins of past humans. Even I was surprised to find an undead still conducting research. What’s more, this undead was only interested in its own research. Even though I, a Demon, had arrived, it welcomed me, saying it was its first guest in a long time. Foolish, isn’t it?”

Saying so, the Demon pointed at the undead collapsed on the floor.

“It was convenient, so I pretended to be interested in its research. Then the undead told me all sorts of things without me even asking. Once I’d extracted all the knowledge I could, it had no more use. I cut it down from behind and decided to take all its research. My, to think a mere human’s research would be useful to me. This undead must be proud.”

As the Demon spoke, his face wore a selfish smile that was nauseating. Stealing someone else’s achievements and treating them as his own… It reminds me of my previous, previous life and makes me sick.

“Does that mean you’re the cause of the mass monster outbreak too?!”

“Monsters? Ah, you mean the monsters I prepared as materials for the chimeras. Hmm. It seems the monsters that were rejected as materials and reused as chimera feed escaped.”

The Demon nodded, as if this disastrous news was trivial.

“You don’t seem to have a shred of remorse.”

“Hah. Why should I reflect on something just because a few mere humans were inconvenienced?”

The Demon returned Rodi-san’s sarcasm with a sneer.

“But rest assured. I no longer need feed. Why, you ask…?”

The Demon waved his arm, and lights flickered on in the facility.

“Because the ultimate chimera is already complete!”

“!”

And then we saw it. A colossal crystal towering behind the Demon. The sheer scale of that giant crystal immediately made us understand why the ceiling of this facility was so high. More than anything, we were transfixed by the massive form of the giant, white chimera sleeping inside the crystal. At the sight of the pure white chimera, its color uniform despite being stitched together from countless lives.

“Now! With your lives, I shall announce the beginning of the human world’s collapse…”

“SUNLIGHT SABER!!!”

The moment I confirmed the giant chimera’s form, I instantly unleashed my finishing blow at it. An instant decision. A holy blade of magic, housing the light of the sun, shot from my sword, stretching toward the ceiling, and I swung it down without hesitation. And in the next moment, the giant chimera, along with its crystal pillar, was sliced clean in two, collapsing to both sides with a ground-shaking tremor.

“……Huh?”

The voices of Risou-san’s group and the Demon overlapped. Despite being enemies, they all wore the exact same expression. As in, “What just happened?”

“Giant chimera subjugated. Now we just have to defeat the Demon and subjugate the monsters in the ruins, and the request will be complete.”

Victory in battle goes to the one who strikes first. If it’s an enemy of unknown capabilities, it’s best to defeat it before it can attack. That was the optimal solution for combat, learned from fighting as a hero in my past life.

“Y-Youuuuuuuu!!”

“What in the hell did you do, bratttttttttt!!”

Then, the Demon who snapped back to his senses and the undead who had been lying down got up, enraged. It’s too late to get angry now… wait.

“Eh?”

The undead that was supposed to be dead stood up, causing everyone’s gaze to snap to it. Even the Demon was staring at the undead.

“Ah, whoops.”

The undead scratched its head as if to say, “I messed up.”

……Um, what’s going on?