Hero's Coffin Chapter 105

Chapter 105

The Dium's fingers broke into short pieces and flew like shells. Moreover, it didn't stop at once but fired continuously, making Haren jump while wrapping his left arm around his abdomen. Ugh, despite being a physical damage character, it was using skills like magic.

Bang! Kwagwagwang! Kwang! Only after several thunderous sounds did the attack stop. The Dium seemed to have aimed to draw them all out, as it made a "Hooh-" sound while scanning the people.

While everyone faced the Dium solemnly, unfortunately he was collapsed behind Haren dry heaving. Having flown through the air while the aftereffects of crossing the black boundary hadn't subsided yet, he felt like he was dying.

Noi exclaimed in shock.

"F-four horns. Even during the Great Catastrophe, they said only two four-horns were discovered..."

Though he had thought it wasn't ordinary, was it nearly sub-boss level? Then with Dedium sealed now, wasn't this the boss monster? He had known the game difficulty was increasing exponentially, but was this really made to be cleared? Had the developers actually played this themselves?

By the way, until now Diums' bodies had grown larger with their number of horns, so why was the four-horned Dium smaller than even a one-horn? When it stood among the three-horned Diums, he had thought it looked relatively smaller because the comparison targets were so big, but the four-horned Dium really was human-sized. Almost the same size as Mela.

Moreover, while normal Diums had abnormally large hands and feet, even those parts of the four-horned Dium were similar to humans. Its horns were only palm-sized, it wore no helmet, and its pitch-black hair fell long to its waist.

[Ahaha, so 'that' hero really came here. How very pitiful.]

Of course, by game story rules, ones with such small builds were the most dangerous. And rather, its appearance similar to a human male brought an even more unpleasant sense of dissonance. With its colorless human form, eyes completely black including the whites, and four fingers wrapping its face looking like arthropod exoskeletons.

Still, his companions prepared for battle calmly.

"The hero is not one to receive your pity!"

"To treat the empire's citizens so brutally..."

Kalterik and Mela each showed angry reactions. Having witnessed the scene of corpses being thrown away just before seemed to prevent them from shrinking back even before the four-horned Dium.

Though the three-horned and two-horned Diums tried to rampage excitedly upon encountering the intruders, unexpectedly, the four-horned Dium stopped them. When it extended its arm, flap- its splendid robe fluttered.

[Hero of this land, it seems you too have something you want to say to me.]

The Dium's gaze went straight to Haren. Though he hadn't even drawn his holy sword yet, it seemed to know the hero well enough to recognize him just by appearance.

Haren stepped forward several paces. As if he really had wanted to talk with the Dium, he stood quietly facing it and opened his mouth calmly.

"Those corpses were, sacrifices, weren't they?"

He almost let out a sigh. He had heard such words before when he had shared Haren's nightmare. When Haren's father had forcibly led young Haren to an Encroachment Zone and bowed before Dedium declaring:

'I offer this child as a sacrifice. He has much holy power, so you will be satisfied.'

Perhaps Haren had guessed they were sacrifices upon seeing the corpses piled here, their bodies without a single wound. After all, they hadn't matched the information about missing persons collected while coming to the eastern Encroachment Zone.

"But Dedium hasn't even been released from the seal yet, so why? Could it be that traitors are offering sacrifices in advance for when Dedium revives later? Have you been surviving here by consuming those humans?"

Quite an urgent energy filled his rapid questions. Since it would be impossible for Diums who had difficulty operating outside Encroachment Zones to hunt this many people, there must be someone supplying them from outside. That is, this situation proved the existence of traitors. The other three companions also realized this point and turned pale.

However, even in this serious atmosphere, the Dium just lightly shrugged its shoulders.

[Hmm, 'traitor'. I see you call your father who had insight a traitor. Though he was a wise human who recognized the new world.]

"..."

[I have yet to see a human as clever as your father. Except for him, all those I have seen until now are just dull pigs and dogs...]

He was startled to hear such remarkably human expressions. Though Diums knew human society well even while hiding in Encroachment Zones, had they mastered the language too?

Haren's brow furrowed slightly. There was no way he would be pleased to hear the Dium praise his father, and moreover, that statement meant they had maintained continuous contact with humans. Haren asked as if testing:

"Then... why are these foolish ones who can't even recognize the true new world hiding and keeping you alive? When you are clearly catastrophes."

[Haha, ha! Hahahaha! Why are they keeping us alive, you ask? Hahaha! What an amusing thing to say.]

Suddenly the Dium burst into loud laughter. After holding its stomach and bending at the waist with great laughter, it lightly extended one foot. Just one step. Though it seemed to move only that much, in an instant the Dium stood before Haren.

"...!"

His companions were shocked and even Haren's face hardened. Though they had clearly been quite far apart, the Dium approached in a flash and Haren couldn't respond. As he gripped his sword handle, the Dium placed its hand on his arm.

As if stopping him from drawing his sword, gently yet firmly.

[Yes, hero of this land. Son like God's pathetic resistance. Because of your mother, our plans suffered great setbacks... So we had to hide our bodies in this narrow land and live. Yes, as you say, bowing our heads to those who keep us alive...]

"..."

[But you see. All living beings fall to 'desire'.]

The four-horned Dium, smaller in build than Haren, tilted its head up to look at him. Its long hair poured down like a black waterfall.

[And I know your desire too.]

The Dium's pitch-black eyes glinted ominously as it smiled with creased eyes.

[What would you do if I brought your mother back to life?]

"What are you saying? Mother clearly..."

[That human sacrificed herself sealing Dedium. But can you assert that sacrifice was death? Isn't it possible she's alive in a sealed state?]

The Dium brought its face very close to Haren so his expression couldn't be seen, but behind them Noi's shoulders trembled. Noi muttered "Could it be..." in a quivering voice.

[Your mother's name was... Evelyn, wasn't it? Yes, I will revive Evelyn and safely bring her before you. Then would you feel like cooperating with us? Think carefully. In this land Evelyn sacrificed herself to protect, there are pigs and dogs keeping us alive as if forgetting that noble will... Doesn't it make you angry?]

"..."

[So how about leaving far away to live with your mother instead?]

At some point, Haren had stopped speaking entirely. The Dium slowly moved its head as if looking him up and down, and whispered in a very pitying tone.

[I truly feel sorry for you. Isn't the god of this land pushing all responsibility onto you while pretending it's love? Our god is very merciful. So if you follow our will, we won't hold Evelyn accountable even later.]

It was an extremely gentle voice. As if truly moved to tears by all Haren's hardships, the Dium dabbed at its eye corners with its hand and proposed to him again. Sweet words were added that it would spare his subordinates too if he just accepted.

[So now take our hand...]

Swoosh! The Dium's hands flew off and rolled on the ground.

Not just one, but both sides were cut, and this happened in an instant as Haren drew his holy sword and swung. Though he had clearly seemed unable to draw his sword with his arm held by the Dium, it seemed he had just been listening to hear what kind of things it would say.

Haren spoke in a calm voice.

"Because Mother was someone who made such a choice even before my eyes."

The previous Holy Knight Commander had restored peace to this land by sealing Dedium, but on the other hand, it was also disappearing before her young son's eyes. Though it was to protect her child, the reason she didn't stop even while looking back at him with tear-filled eyes at the end was, that is...

"It's obvious why she learned that complex sealing technique in advance, so what do you think she would say if brought back to life? I have no desire to be scolded at this age."

Haren smiled while shrugging his shoulders. The Dium's offer to bring her back to life seemed to have failed to cause even a slight wavering in him from the start.

"You act like you've mastered desire, but your bluff is too much."