476 - The Abyss of Night and Darkness #2

Breathing grows heavy.

Hands and feet tremble.

Body temperature drops.

The mouth goes bone dry.

These are common fear responses. Physical reactions seen when a living creature reaches a certain level of stress.

Every single one of us was showing those reactions.

Dal-rang, dal-rang-.

It was bound to worsen as the sound of the bell drew closer from within that far-off, pitch-black darkness.

Each of them held a gleaming weapon in hand, but why did their weapons feel so unreliable?

"Unni, something is coming-. Something is coming! I think we should run! Everyone, hurry, let's get the hell out of here-!"

Even the brave Antiope was urging us to flee. That just shows how strong the pressure Antiope is feeling must be.

I understand.

Because I was feeling that same pressure directly with my own body.

Useuseu-.

The goosebumps rising from my toes to the top of my head made it feel as if my very cells were demanding I flee. However, my feet remained glued to this bizarre field, showing no intention of moving.

Dal-rang-.

And finally, the source of the bell revealed itself.

『I thought a thief had entered the field, and I wondered who it was. Now that I see, some interesting guests have arrived-.』

Goooo-.

It was a voice that was both gloomy and resonant, as if echoing from all directions. At the same time, a thin layer of ice began to form on my body with a jjeojeok- sound.

MnZBMElkRjFKc3ZCR0RiWklQRlA5WlZINzRaZThhUzZ1cnMyS01IbEgxWTlKaFlvb3hRTXg2WW9qZVhRNmwrYg

"P-Paranoi's body is freezing up-ssi...! Such a terrible chill-. A gloominess that ranks among the top even in the underworld...! There is only one being in the world like this-ssi...!"

『Do you know me, Nymph-?』

Seureureuk-.

Beyond the dark and murky mist, a black, dark dress emerged.

A woman of massive stature treading barefoot, sabak, sabak, upon this strange field.

Her build was three or four heads taller than me, such that I had to look way up at her.

Her long, flowing purple hair shimmered blackly, looking like the very curtain of darkness draped across the sky. The giant black wings sprouting from her back were truly proof of a transcendent being.

Paranoi prostrated himself flat before such an entity.

"I greet the primordial Great Mother, Lady Nox-nim-ssi...! I am Paranoi, the Nymph of the ditches-ssi...! I offer my apologies for trespassing into Lady Nox-nim's field like this-ssi...."

Paranoi's survival instinct is superior to anyone I know.

There must be a good reason for that fellow to prostrate himself like that.

Therefore, I can't criticize it as servile behavior. That is the action with the highest survival rate in the current situation.

It's the best posture.

So, is it effective?

『All of you. I trust you are prepared for the consequences of recklessly trespassing into my domain-.』

Nyx, the Mother of Night, looked down with eyes that sparkled like galaxies beneath her long, slender eyelashes. Her attitude was that of one for whom looking down was only natural.

Because she was so tall that 'slender' couldn't even begin to describe her, it literally felt as if a goddess had descended.

Well, she is an actual goddess.

"L-Lady Nox-nim-!"

Then Luna, who had been shivering, shouted.

"Wow-! It's the real Lady Nox-nim...! I, I actually met the real Lady Nox-nim...! Is this a dream or reality...! Is it a dream...!? What is this...!? Hassan, what on earth is this...! What, what should I even say!?"

"I don't know either."

"Even Hassan doesn't know...! This is truly life's great unknown...!"

While everyone else was shivering, Luna's trembling felt a bit different in nature. It seemed Luna's trembling was one of joy.

Seeing her babble whatever came to her mouth without filtering her thoughts, she must be incredibly excited.

Luna is, in fact, a shaman who serves Nyx, the Goddess of Superstition.

From Luna's perspective, she couldn't help but be happy since she was witnessing the god she had believed in her whole life right before her eyes.

"As expected, Lady Nox-nim looks exactly as I imagined...! She has huge wings like a black pheasant...! So cool...!"

『Child, these are not the wings of a black pheasant, but of a night raven.... No, that is not what is important right now. Anyway, the sin of trespassing into my territory is great-. However, I see a familiar face-.』

Seureureu-.

The Goddess of Night looked down at me with narrowed eyes.

At my age, the experience of being looked down upon by a woman was very unfamiliar, so it felt like returning to my childhood when there were many generous teachers.

『Zigres, you finally came. But, you came much sooner than expected. I thought it would take at least a few more years-.』

Seuseuk-.

At that, Paranoi lifted his head.

"...A-Amazing-ssi...! Our Hassan-nim was acquainted with the Goddess of Night, who is on par with the Earth Mother-ssi...! At this rate, I can't help but be loyal to Hassan-nim for the rest of my life-ssi...!"

Hippolyte, having caught her breath, also sheathed her sword at her waist and added a word.

"If it is Nyx, she is a pillar of the world to whom even other gods show respect-. Indeed, an overwhelming sense of power.... It would be rude to point a sword at her."

For Hippolyte, who had always spoken informally with high self-esteem to everyone, to purely humble herself. It seems Lady Nox-nim's majesty is spread among the people of the Gaia continent even more than I thought.

Seureuk-.

"Hmph...."

The bellicose Gloria also tucked her club into her belt and crossed her arms.

It was a terrifying atmosphere where a fight could break out at any moment, but I'm glad it seems to be resolving smoothly.

Well, I suppose that's only natural.

Since Lady Nox-nim is Luna's mother.

She wouldn't attack us while Luna is here.

Then Lady Nox-nim spoke.

『Though you are intruders, it has been a long time since anyone visited this quiet apple field. Before I punish you, I wish to invite you as guests. I shall invite you to the Mansion of Night. Follow me.』

Seuseuk-.

And then she vanished with a very fast stride befitting her great height.

In the end, we were left standing there. We just stared blankly at each other's faces. Friede, who had been on guard in a low stance for a long time, asked the group.

"What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what should we do-."

It was Antiope who answered.

"If we don't listen, we might be spread as fertilizer for this apple field. Fighting something like that is impossible. That is already a world unto itself."

These girls, who had even lunged at Moros, the God of Doom, refused to even harbor hostility toward Lady Nox-nim.

Well, unless one's head is quite far gone, no one would feel hostility toward the night sky.

"For now, let's all move together."

We eventually moved, following the traces Lady Nox-nim had left behind.

Following the path wasn't very difficult.

Because black feathers were dropped here and there as if to show us the way we had to go.

"Wonderful..., a goddess's, a goddess's feathers...! Shit...! If I make a fan with this..., no, if I make a headband with this...."

Luna was picking up those feathers one by one, wearing a happy smile and going hehehe-. But Hippolyte's reaction was quite calm.

"Making tools out of a goddess's feathers. Won't you be punished for such an impious act? You might fall into the abyss and become a holy crusader, Luna."

"I've been diligently offering sacrifices to Lady Nox-nim...! Since I was a fervent believer, she'll forgive this much...! You think so too, Hassan?"

At Luna's question, I fell into thought for a moment.

Since it's Luna, wouldn't she be forgiven?

"It'll be fine."

"Wow-! I knew Hassan would say that-!"

"But, Luna. Be careful not to stray from the path. If you're not careful-."

Instead of finishing my sentence, I scanned the surroundings.

This trail between the apple trees we were walking on. Except for that path, the surroundings were entirely covered in pitch-black darkness. The red glints of eyes flashing within it were very ominous.

Seureuk, deureureuk-.

Hearing the sound of claws scraping against something sharp, or growls as if in anger, it felt as if hungry beasts were definitely lurking nearby.

-Grrrrrrrrr-.

-Recei-ving-.

-Comman-ding-.

Of course, their identity wouldn't be something like hungry beasts. Honestly, I don't even have a clue what they are.

We could find out their identity if we shone a light, but none of us were foolish enough to want to see what they were.

Because sometimes it's best to leave unknown things covered by the curtain of night. It means that ignorance is bliss.

After walking for a long time like that, we arrived at a cliffside where deep, deep precipices could be seen all around.

Amidst the cliffs of unknown depth lurking in every direction, a mansion that looked to be at least three stories high stood in the center.

This was the abode of night located in the deepest part of Tartarus. I was slightly terrified because it was said to be a place even gods avoided.

"What, it's more decent than I thought."

It was a fairly ordinary building compared to what I'd heard.

But the building seen up close after passing through the garden, I had to admit, was far from ordinary.

What formed this mansion were not ordinary stones, wood, or plaster, but the giant bones of an unknown being.

Seureuk-.

Standing at the entrance of the mansion, I reached out toward the wall.

Jjeujeujeujeujeu-.

At the same time, I was startled by something like a massive pressure transmitted to my palm and ended up pulling my hand away.

"This, what is this, it's alive."

The mansion is alive.

That was the sensation I felt.

At that, a fairly elegant laughter, huhuhu-, was heard from inside the open door of the mansion.

『Of course it is alive. His body is immortal. He is not a being that can be killed even if one tries. Although he has now become my house, he tries to plot his resurrection whenever he gets the chance-.』

Come in-.

* * *

"Lady Nox-nim lives in the deepest and most treacherous part of Tartarus, and they say the moment Lady Nox-nim leaves the mansion and takes a walk, night arrives in the world-!"

Luna chattered away as she entered the mansion. As a follower of Nyx, her mouth seemed to itch with the desire to say what she knew.

At that, Friede added a word.

"A living mansion. It's like a giant internal organ. It's almost like being inside the belly of the World Serpent, Jormungandr. It's an unpleasant place-."

Friede didn't seem to like this place.

"To think I've entered the Mansion of Night. I wonder if I'm dreaming. The interior is brighter than I thought. Like broad daylight...."

Hippolyte trembled slightly as she looked around the mansion. As Hippolyte said, unlike the dreary domain of Tartarus, the interior of Nyx's mansion was very bright.

Isn't it because brilliant jewels are embedded here and there, emitting light?

Its inner walls were also luxurious treasures themselves, decorated with gold as well as carnelian, sardonyx, and sapphire.

"I've only heard stories about the wealth of the underworld. This is the first time I've actually seen it."

"Wow, cool. Unni, look at this-."

Hippolyte's eyes, which were scanning the interior of the mansion, finally turned to the tip of Antiope's finger. There, something trapped in what looked like a transparent glass wall was making ominous pajik, pajijik- sounds.

「Unfired Lightning.」

"It says unfired thunderbolt! Is this really real? If it's real, it's truly amazing...! A replica was something like 200 gold. If this is real, I think I could buy a whole castle...."

"Antiope, you'd better not think about stealing it."

"Am I crazy? I'm just saying. Wow, it's like a literal treasure vault."

Everyone was busy looking at the items decorated here and there. The fear they had felt from Nyx's massive intimidation just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

As expected, treasures and capitalism are damn great.

With those thoughts, we were soon able to arrive at the drawing room.

In the drawing room, teacups equal to the number of our party were already placed, perhaps prepared in advance by Nyx. Their contents were empty.

『If you drink something from the underworld, you will become bound to it. I have simply prepared the cups for the sake of the mood.』

We all sat on the plush sofas.

Then Friede asked.

"The reason for inviting us to such a mansion is?"

『The witch from another world seems to have a hasty temper. But it is a valid point. There is not much time left for the underworld-. There is no harm in being in a hurry.』

There is not much time left for the underworld.

I think I heard those words from Moros as well.

So I decided to ask his mother, Lady Nox-nim, about the story I hadn't heard from him.

"I, we came here with great resolve. I would like you to explain."

『Yes. That is why I have personally called you to my residence like this. I shall explain briefly, Zigres. The underworld is already at its limit.』

"At its limit?"

『Yes. Its limit. Let us consider this teacup as the underworld.』

Nyx tapped the bottom of the teacup with her finger, tok-. Then the elegant teacup had a hole poked through it as if it had been gouged out by something sharp.

『And if we consider the apple tea in this kettle as spirits-.』

Jjororeureureureu-.

The Goddess of Night began to pour the contents of the kettle into the teacup with the hole. Of course, since it was an action like pouring water into a bottomless pit, the apple tea could not stay in the cup and leaked out, merely wetting the table.

The table became damp, but Nyx didn't seem to care.

『Like this, if something comes in, it must leave by that much; that was originally the rule of the underworld. However, these days are different.』

Kwal, kwal, kwal-.

Lady Nox-nim's hand, which was pouring from the kettle, sharply increased the angle.

Then, water began to pool in the teacup that had been being poured into slowly, and finally, didn't it even start to overflow over the top of the teacup?

『And this is the current situation. The underworld is vast. But it is not infinite. The souls it can process have reached their limit, but in the mortal realm, souls are flooding in without end.』

Only then did I think I understood the significance of Lady Nox-nim pouring tea into the teacup with a hole. It means that the underworld, unable to process the flooding spirits, will become overloaded and overflow.

Just like a new game server that crashes because it can't withstand the sudden surge of users.

『I and Erebus are suppressing it, but that too will not last long. If this continues, everything will soon backflow. And an era of chaos where the surface and hell cannot be distinguished will open. That is also the aim of the Gigas.』

A shiver ran down the back of my neck at the name Gigas.

At the same time, everything around us trembled, bureureureu-.

The mansion itself shook.

Lady Nox-nim added more words.

『Zigres, Hassan. If it is you, you will be able to resolve the souls overflowing in the underworld. You are-.』

Gureureureureureureu-.

Just as Lady Nox-nim was about to finish her sentence, a great rumbling of the earth occurred. Because it was a sudden earthquake as if the world were being shaken, we had to grab onto anything we could see around us.

At that, Friede let out a scream, kyak-.

"W-Who told you to pinch my butt-! Hassan, do you want to die?"

"That wasn't me. I'm innocent."

"Actually, the culprit was this Paranoi-ssi...!"

Anyway, after that bout of earth rumbling-.

Lady Nox-nim spoke as she swept the broken and overflowing teacups off the table with her palm, seuk-.

『Typhon's resentment is growing stronger by the day. Originally, it was not to this extent.』

Heumchit-. Paranoi trembled.

"D-Do you mean Typhon...? By Typhon, do you mean the great beast of ruin, Typhon-ssi...!? Wasn't Typhon torn to shreds-ssi...?"

『That is right, little nymph. He was torn to shreds. Some of his fragments are on the surface, and many of his organs and bones are buried in the underworld, thus becoming my mansion and the land of Tartarus.』

"Then, does that mean this mansion is Typhon-ssi...!? It is very, very terrifying-ssi...! I, I, Paranoi, want to flee from here immediately-ssi...!"

Paranoi jumped like a squirrel that had seen a tiger. It was the same for everyone else, because the great beast Typhon was the very Demon King of power who was the source of all monsters.

A mansion made of a Demon King's body, and even that Demon King is still alive. This was a place more dangerous than a damn haunted house.

But Lady Nox-nim's answer was quite firm.

『There is nowhere to run. Typhon, the king of the Gigas, will soon be resurrected by the power of the overflowing spirits. And he will crawl up to the surface and commit great destruction. That is why, Zigres, your power is needed.』

"...My power?"

『Yes. You are a god capable of resolving the spirits wandering this yellow spring. A god burdened with a yoke, possessing infinite possibilities. Zigres, Hassan. Recall your divinity.』

"My divinity-."

『You are the dawn of a new era. Listen to the voice within.』