The Archmage’s Destruction Strategy - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#078. Confronting Justice

 

“Move aside.”

 

Ryusei’s voice was low as it boiled up like an active volcano.

 

He glanced sideways at the wall where his spear hung.

 

However, another clan member who had moved first was blocking the path between him and his spear.

 

And they were fully armed at that.

 

Ryusei realized the objective fact that it would be impossible to break through the defensive line of these elite clan members with his bare body without the help of artifacts.

 

He clenched his fists tightly and glared at his adjutant, Morishita Gengo, who was blocking the door.

 

“If you need command authority, wouldn’t it be faster to just kill me?”

 

“I have no such intention, Master. I don’t have the slightest thought of becoming the Clan Master.”

 

Gengo answered calmly but firmly.

 

“My purpose is simply to hold Master back until this situation calms down.”

 

“Why are you going this far? Supply problems? Or medical supply issues? Surely you’re not unaware that the current situation is an emergency? If that’s what you’re worried about, Father Michele will make reasonable concessions. That man also understands the urgency of the current situation.”

 

“It’s not for those reasons.”

 

Gengo’s eyes grew coldly distant.

 

“Let’s say Master goes out now and lets them inside. Our clan members will climb up on the fortress wall to become shields to block the monsters. Then who will guard the empty interior? Do you think they’ll volunteer to become meat shields in our place?”

 

“Are you displeased that clan members would sacrifice themselves before non-clan members?”

 

“No, I’m not inhuman enough to lock the camp gates in such an emergency situation for such reasons. If necessary, I’m even prepared to take the lead in protecting them.”

 

“Then why are you blocking me?”

 

“Because I want to prevent at least the situation of being stabbed in the back by fellow humans.”

 

Ryusei let out a hollow laugh at Gengo’s logic.

 

“Then I understand even less. This is an emergency situation and we are essential forces they can’t do without. If they stab us in the back, that choice would ultimately strangle themselves, so why would they make such a choice? Without any reason to do so?”

 

“You’re right. There certainly was no such reason.”

 

Gengo’s voice grew coldly distant.

 

“At least, not until yesterday.”

 

Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran down Ryusei’s spine.

 

In this extreme situation where survival was the top priority, something valuable enough that they would betray the Black Spear clan members, fellow human adventurers and comrades who should fight together against the monster army.

 

At this point in time, there was only one thing with such value.

 

Seeing Ryusei’s wavering pupils, Gengo spoke as if driving in the final nail.

 

“That thought is correct, Master. This morning, a ‘portal’ appeared in the middle of this base camp.”

 

“…!”

 

“Just 10 people. That damn hole that can evacuate only 10 adventurers to the surface.”

 

Ryusei fell silent.

 

The sudden attack of a monster army.

 

And the only escape route that appeared in the middle of the base camp on the same day.

 

Could all of that really be coincidence?

 

In Ryusei’s mind, it was all a clear crystallization of ‘malice’ thrown into the absolute moment of crisis when everyone should unite with one heart and fight for survival.

 

‘If all of that was a plan carried out with intention, whoever made this plan might be worse than a devil.’

 

As Ryusei’s thoughts deepened, the atmosphere among the outlaw camp adventurers confronting the Black Spear clan members was heading toward catastrophe beyond the breaking point.

 

“Open the door, you bastards!!”

 

“Do you want to watch us die!?”

 

The adventurers who had initially cried out pleadingly began to show venom in their eyes.

 

Behind them, a monster army that shook the earth was approaching, and in front, their trusted allies had locked the gates.

 

Like cornered rats biting cats, the outlaw camp adventurers began drawing their weapons with the momentum to climb the outer wall and break down the door immediately.

 

In response, the Black Spear clan members on the fortress wall all drew their bowstrings and loaded their magic.

 

Fratricidal conflict.

 

Before the monsters could even arrive, humans were about to kill each other and self-destruct.

 

In the midst of that chaotic cauldron, Father Michele’s mind was growing coldly calm.

 

‘Why?’

 

The Ryusei he knew was not someone who would stab others in the back like this.

 

Since he had some confidence in his ability to judge people, Michele was convinced that the current situation was not Ryusei’s will.

 

Then there must be another reason.

 

Father Michele speculated about the reason why the clan members would lock the gates even while refusing their master’s orders.

 

Fitting together like puzzle pieces all the unreasonable situations he had experienced in the dungeon so far and the numerous malices he had encountered.

 

The sudden gathering of monsters.

 

The teleportation stone to the upper layers that was conveniently deactivated as soon as a sufficient number of adventurers gathered on the 70th Floor.

 

The cruelly tempting survival limit that only 10 people per day could escape to the upper layers.

 

If I were a devil playing with humans, what move should I make in this situation to create the most dramatic catastrophe.

 

At that moment, one terrible hypothesis flashed through the priest’s mind.

 

‘…A portal might have been created inside the base camp.’

 

Thinking that way, it felt like all the puzzles fit together.

 

If, as he predicted, the unused tickets for 10 people were inside those fortress walls, the moment that fact became known, thousands of adventurers outside would become rioters trying to seize control of the portal.

 

The selfishness of “I don’t care if the rest die as long as I live,” or the noble spirit of sacrifice saying “Even if I die, I’ll make sure at least my comrades escape.”

 

Whatever heart the cause of that action came from, the result that heart would bring was the same.

 

The moment those doors opened, this place would form rivers with human blood, not monster blood.

 

“Stop!!”

 

Michele’s thunderous shout pierced through the battlefield noise and echoed.

 

The adventurers who were about to rush toward the fortress wall hesitated and looked back at the priest.

 

“We abandon entry into the base camp!”

 

“What? Father! Are you in your right mind?”

 

“They’re trying to use us as meat shields right now!”

 

“Why should we sacrifice ourselves for them instead?!”

 

“The dungeon’s control authority belongs to the raid clan! So the raid clan should take responsibility!!”

 

To the angry crowd’s outcry, Michele shook his head and spoke firmly.

 

“If you have the strength to fight Black Spear here and now, use that strength to defeat even one more monster for your comrades! I understand your feelings, but if civil war breaks out between humans, there will be even more sacrifices!”

 

Then he turned around and shouted toward the Guard Captain who was looking down at them from the fortress wall with a guilt-ridden expression.

 

“We understand your concerns! So we’ll stand at the vanguard! In return!”

 

Michele pointed to the wounded behind him, bleeding and groaning.

 

“Please accept at least the wounded we’ve brought now and the wounded who will occur in future battles! Even if they enter the camp, they won’t pose a threat to you!”

 

Michele’s request was reasonable.

 

If they accepted only the wounded inside the outer wall as he demanded, they wouldn’t have the strength to rebel to seize the portal inside the camp.

 

When the Guard Captain nodded after brief consideration, Michele moved the outlaw camp adventurers gathered at the main gate entrance away from the direction of the door.

 

To prevent them from taking advantage of the moment when the door opened to let in the wounded and rushing into the camp by surprise.

 

Some adventurers spat curses and fled into the darkness, while others still glared at the fortress wall.

 

But the majority who remained gripped their weapons properly.

 

One of the reasons they had been able to endure in this hell was because of that priest’s existence.

 

He had saved dying comrades and calmed adventurers fighting over the portal, sending the weakest and most desperate up first.

 

Saying that the strong must remain to protect the weak.

 

Of course, there were occasionally adventurers who ignored the priest’s requests and escaped to the upper layers after harming the adventurers guarding the portal, but ironically, because such selfish strong ones had all fled first, only relatively upright and responsible ‘real adventurers’ remained by the priest’s side now.

 

“From now on, we’ll reorganize our formation! Those confident in your abilities! Those who wish to save others even at the cost of your own lives, stand at the very front!”

 

Michele gripped his cross tightly and glared ahead.

 

The monster army that appeared through the dungeon’s characteristic dim darkness was far beyond what humans exhausted by hunger and fatigue could handle.

 

He knew.

 

The fact that he would die here today.

 

But so what?

 

“I’ll buy the time needed for reorganization.”

 

-Bang!-

 

The priest kicked off the ground and shot forward.

 

Brilliant light burst from the cross in his hand, and a translucent fortress wall with physical blocking power was drawn in the air.

 

-Kuaaaang!!-

 

The massive rhinoceros-type monster at the front rammed into the barrier of light.

 

“Kugh…!”

 

Crimson blood burst from Michele’s lips.

 

At the same time, his entire body’s muscles swelled abnormally as if his priest robes would tear apart.

 

Using divine authority to push the body beyond its limits—the unique combat technique of ‘battle priests’ belonging to Legio Apocalypsis.

 

Every time the monsters shrieked and struck the barrier with their claws and horns, Michele’s bones and muscles screamed as if they would burst, and their massive weight hammered his soul like a sledgehammer.

 

As the monster horde took each step forward to charge, the dungeon floor beneath the priest’s feet was carved deep like plowed earth.

 

He could block them.

 

His reason was shouting resolutely.

 

He could not block them.

 

His body was screaming desperately.

 

But Michele did not retreat. No, he could not retreat.

 

Even if reality trampled and crushed his flesh, his soul had to burn steadfastly until the final moment.

 

The world he had seen never ended beautifully like heroic tales in stories.

 

There were lives he couldn’t save even when arriving at miraculous timing, and countless cases where those saved yesterday died by a comrade’s blade today.

 

In a reality where humans who seemed like they would never die perished like extras, he who had boasted of protecting everyone was being helplessly pushed back like Extra A trampled instantly in a hero movie.

 

‘But what matters is not the result.’

 

What truly mattered was his present self throwing his body toward an unknowable future without fear.

 

This fleeting present he had created would become a small spark to ignite a moment of time when the lambs behind him could find courage.

 

“UOOOOOOOH!!”

 

And finally, just before his body burst from the crushing pressure, the adventurers’ counterattack began, emboldened by the ‘moment’ he had created.

 

From behind the priest who had collapsed to his knees, adventurers who had shaken off their fear charged out with fierce momentum.

 

“Protect the priest!!”

 

“Push forward!!”

 

The battle cries of those prepared to die shook the battlefield.

 

However, the heroes in the scene unfolding before the priest’s eyes looked completely different from the ‘heroes’ he had expected.

 

‘Those people are…?!’

 

An unbelievable sight entered Michele’s vision, blurred by blood.

 

Warriors brushing past him and throwing themselves at the monsters.

 

The emblems drawn on the cloaks they wore on their backs were not those of the outlaw camp that had been organizing formations until just now.

 

They were jet-black cloaks bearing the emblem of the ‘Black Spear’ clan, who had been coldly looking down at them from atop the fortress wall until moments ago.

 

-Crack!!-

 

And at their head.

 

There was a man piercing through the head of the largest monster with a single strike, roaring like a beast.

 

“This is our clan’s territory!!! Don’t let these arrogant outsiders act so insolently!!!”

 

The black cloak fluttered majestically like the arrival of a hero from a fairy tale, and finally, a smile of relief spread across Michele’s blood-stained lips.

 

Because the master of Osaka Dungeon, Kurosaki Ryusei, had returned.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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