Chapter 121.2
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Noah blinked in confusion as darkness enveloped Zone 2.
The traces of her companions who had been with her until recently had vanished without a trace.
"This is..."
She felt as though she had been cast into darkness alone.
But that wasn't the only disturbance. No matter how widely she opened her eyes and looked around, all she could see was darkness; a sight hardly different from when her eyes were closed, causing her to sigh.
"...It was the Abyss Corrosion after all."
Abyss Corrosion was one of the phenomena that occured when an Abyss Rift opened, and it had the effect of transforming the surrounding area into an environment similar to the Abyss.
There were two causes for the corrosion phenomenon —
First, when the mana accumulated inside the Abyss Rift was released outward, naturally causing the Corrosion.
'And the other is...'
The case where it occured artificially.
When the Abyss Worshippers performed their rituals — the ultimate goal of the worshippers was to make this world like the Abyss, after all.
'In that sense, this corrosion was likely caused by the latter.'
Noah recalled Dilia's words -
The fact that she had witnessed Deflyn in Zone 3 and that she had opened an Abyss Rift.
Combining all the information, she could draw the following conclusion—
「Deflyn Chernihiv is an Abyss Worshipper.」
Noah's gaze trembled with disquiet; it was understandable. In the original work, Deflyn Chernihiv was merely a famous named character known as an Archmage, without much significance.
'But she was an Abyss Worshipper?'
This was new information.
There was no mention of Deflyn being an Abyss Worshipper on the strategy forums for the [Arsene Continental War] either.
The truth she had believed from the original was being shaken to the core. Noah's gaze wavered as well.
Then, at that moment,
"Cough, cough!"
She let out a sudden cough tinged with blood.
Upon realizing this, she recalled one of the Abyss's characteristics:
'...The Abyss is like a pit of poison.'
Just being inside an area corroded by the Abyss causes mana and vitality to drain away — or rather, be devoured by the Abyss itself. In other words, prolonged presence here was akin to being poisoned to death. Thus, escaping as soon as possible was the top priority.
'But there is something to do first.'
Reuniting with her scattered companions.
Currently, due to the spatial distortion from the Abyss Corrosion, her party had become separated in different areas; the lack of any signs of them nearby was proof of this.
'So...'
First, she needed to regroup with her companions.
They likely wouldn't realize the need to escape from here.
Noah soon took out an amulet — to create a light source through a light-generating spell, dispelling the darkness.
However, the spell did not activate.
"Eh? What?"
As she uttered a confused voice,
A message suddenly appeared before her eyes - visible only to Noah.
Reading the message, Noah's eyes widened.
"Ah, right. That's how it was."
She belatedly recalled.
In the Abyss, flames or light couldn’t be created. This too was one of the Abyss's characteristics.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Beings that innately emanate light from their bodies do not lose that light in the Abyss — for example, spirits or mystical creatures.
'But...'
If none were present, it was useless.
Sighing, Noah frowned as she gazed into the pitch-black Abyss.
"Ugh, then what do I do?"
Unable to discern anything in the impenetrable darkness.
Attempting to find her companions without light in a place like this bordered on impossible. A dumbfounded expression on her face, Noah shuffled her feet restlessly.
"I wish someone would come find me..."
But it was a futile hope.
The other companions were likely in the same situation as Noah. Just as she sighed in frustration, just then —
"Noah."
"...!?"
Someone suddenly called her name; a voice heard without any forewarning. She couldn’t help but jump back in shock.
"Ah, ahh!"
And she ended up stumbling over her feet.
Just as she was about to fall backward —
Whoosh!
Someone caught her in their arms — sturdy, muscular arms like rocks.
As she realized this, she understood who had embraced her.
"U, Ulan? Is that you, Ulan?"
"Yeah, it's me."
A bland reply came back.
Noah breathed a sigh of relief. As she calmed her racing heart, Ulan asked curiously, "Why were you so surprised?"
"Well of course I'd be surprised! Anyone would be surprised if someone suddenly spoke to them in such a dark place like this!"
After retorting with a bewildered expression, Noah regained her composure. Then, she asked the question that had come to mind, "But how did you find me? I'm sure you can't see anything..."
"I used 'Search'."
"Huh? If it's 'Search'..."
"It's a technique that activates the spirit to expand the senses to the limit and then search for a desired target."
A detailed answer came back.
In contrast, Noah narrowed her eyes slightly.
It was understandable — as far as she knew, the ‘Search’ skill originally didn't belong to Ulan.
'Sven Issac.'
The sniper of the Heroes party.
A technique that Ulan had developed independently by applying Sven's search skill. It was also a technique that he only used in the latter half of the original work.
In other words, it was a technique that he should not be able to use at all right now, since he didn't even know Sven existed.
'As I thought, Ulan is...'
Noah's gaze sank deeply.
As conviction solidified in her azure eyes,
Ulan spoke up again, "More importantly, are you alright?"
"...Huh? What do you mean?"
"I smell blood."
Ah, she realized what he was talking about.
Probably from when she coughed up blood earlier. Noah waved her hand dismissively as she replied, "I'm fine. Just some blood mixed in when I coughed."
"Is that something you usually say is fine?"
"Ahahaha, for me it's an everyday occurrence."
It was the truth. As a penalty, Noah often coughed up blood-tinged phlegm normally as well.
After an awkward chuckle, she changed the subject, "Anyway, let's go find the others."
"Got it. Follow me."
Ulan immediately turned around.
Noah, on the other hand, was confused.
Understandably so — she couldn't use Search. So she called out urgently, "W,Wait a second! I can't see where you are at all right now... Eep!"
Noah let out a short yelp.
Her body had suddenly lifted off the ground.
"Is this better?"
Ulan's voice reached her ears, his breath palpable.
Realizing Ulan was carrying her, Noah flailed her arms in surprise, "P,Put me down!"
"Why?"
"Because it's embarrassing!"
"But you said you couldn't see ahead?"
"Y,Yeah but still, no need to carry me. Just hold my hand."
"Hmm, I see. Let's do that then," Ulan nodded.
He then set Noah down and took her hand, like he had with Dilia earlier.
And they set off again.
In the world engulfed in total darkness.
Solemn silence draped the area, only their footsteps audible. After walking for a while, a thought suddenly crossed Noah's mind.
'Come to think of it...'
It had been a long time since she was alone with just Ulan. When they left the grasslands for the academy, there were actually far more instances of just the two of them together. But not at all recently — especially after Ibella and Dilia joined, there hadn't been any chances to be alone with just Ulan.
'Then...'
This could be an opportunity.
No, it was definitely an opportunity.
A chance to talk with Ulan one-on-one. A topic she didn't want to discuss in front of the other warriors.
Realizing this, she spoke with a resolved expression, "Say, Ulan."
"...?"
"There's something I want to tell you."
Her azure eyes shone with seriousness; as if about to broach an important matter. And indeed, it was important — at least for Noah, a chance to address a long-lingering doubt.
"Actually, I heard it from Laurea."
"Heard what?"
"About your secret."
After answering, Noah took a deep breath.
While looking at Ulan, whose face was obscured in the darkness, imagining what expression he might be making.
"...Ulan."
In a heavy, grave voice, Noah asked with conviction, "You remember your past life, don't you?"
At the end of that question, Ulan stopped walking; followed by a silence enveloping the two of them — a silence far heavier than anything they had experienced before.
[Notification]
*Shortcut Skill #6 Activated
*Minor Spell: 【Dance of the Fireflies】
— The spell has been nullified.
— All skills that emit light cannot be used inside the Abyss.
END of CHAPTER
Translator’s Notes :-
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