I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Warp Gate （5）

[What in the world is that…?]

Beatrice’s face hardened as she looked at Karon.

━ That’s Karon, the Necromancer.

He added that he had been sealed away but was recently released.

[Karon… I’ve heard of him. He’s an evil man who took many lives.]

You know him. Karon is like the Hitler of this world.

“Ka, Karon. That infidel…!”

Paya turned pale.

If this were Earth, it would be like Hitler resurrected as a demon, leading an army of Nazi zombies.

Oh, that’s a horrifying thought.

He checked the situation outside again.

A vast army of zombies stretched endlessly. Enough to fill the entire screen.

A terrifying thought crossed his mind.

He wondered if Karon had swallowed the entire north.

Could they possibly win against him with their current strength?

Honestly, he didn’t think they could even if the entire Tribal Federation came.

The zombies, who had been fiercely attacking the main gate, suddenly retreated.

What emerged from the gap… were five Paladins with red eyes.

“Th, those people… How could this be…!”

Noah covered her mouth.

She wasn’t the only one who held back a scream.

Karon, that son of a bitch…!

He finally managed to control other possessed individuals.

There’s no way we can live under the same sky as this bastard.

I have to kill him. I have to.

The swords of the five Paladins emitted light. The main gate was cut down with a swish!

“…”

Karon, who had been watching silently from behind, moved towards the main gate.

He wasn’t walking on his own two feet.

He was flying, using the horrifying figures he was wearing as wings. It was a disturbing sight even just watching through the projector.

…It’s not time to fight him yet. I need to get stronger.

For now, let’s escape through the Warp Gate.

[I am bound to this place, I cannot escape. I will buy you some time.]

Beatrice summoned a keyboard with magical characters engraved on it and began operating it.

It wasn’t a real keyboard, but a holographic slate that looked like one.

[Trbo, activate the warehouse defense system. Intercept everything that approaches.]

The wooden golem, Trbo, nodded and retreated.

“Then what about the other treasures…”

Harry looked around at the treasures they hadn’t chosen earlier.

Right. We decided to leave them behind because they were heavy or not immediately necessary, but they’re not worthless items.

It wouldn’t be good to let them fall into Karon’s hands.

━ Is there a way?

[Don’t worry. He won’t be able to take anything.]

Her expression was reassuring. She must have a method I don’t know about.

━ Alright. Let’s go.

He finished preparing to leave with the five party members.

[…This world may not be a perfect paradise, but I believe it’s worth protecting.]

Beatrice smiled faintly.

━ Archmage Beatrice, I will definitely end this apocalypse. Don’t worry and rest in peace.

That’s all I could say to her.

[I believe you. God of Wind and Rain.]

Despite her youthful appearance, he felt an inexplicable sense of determination from her.

[You can go back the way you came. Young friend, take this.]

The holographic girl handed Luna a device that looked like a small radio.

Beatrice also had one in her hand.

[It’s a sound transmitter used by the Imperial Family. You can communicate even when you’re far apart.]

It’s like a fantasy walkie-talkie.

[My magic book is encrypted to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. I will tell you all the decryption methods before you pass through the Warp Gate.]

“…Thank you.”

We left the grand hall with Luna, who was holding the transmitter.

[The place marked with an X is actually…]

We were running towards the Warp Gate, listening to Beatrice’s explanation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

We heard explosions, not just once, but three times.

The entire passage shook violently.

[…This is the end.]

He waited for the tremors to subside and was about to move again when…

“Are you the master of this base?”

A rough, heavy voice came from the transmitter.

It was Karon. He had reached the grand hall.

[My name is Beatrice, the Seven-Colored Mage.]

Her voice was resolute.

“So you’re a residual consciousness.”

[Ghost of the past, get out of here right now. Or you will face the wrath of the Archmage.]

“You dare speak so arrogantly without knowing your place. Do you know who I am?”

[I know all about the terrible things you’ve done.]

“Then you should know that your skills are no match for me.”

Karon was the greatest sorcerer of all time. He would naturally look down on an Archmage, even if it was just a residual consciousness.

“Do you know that the surface has been destroyed by beings called demons?”

[So what?]

“I am fighting against them for the salvation of the surface. Hand over everything you have and contribute to our victory.”

This bastard always says the same thing.

Give me your possessions so I can kill all the demons… And while you’re at it, give me your life too… Is he some kind of answering machine?

He’ll just take them by force or control you even if you say no, so why bother asking?

[Salvation of the surface? You, covered in all sorts of ominous things, talking about salvation. That’s a bad joke.]

“…There are traces of humans. Who are they? Paladins?”

We’ve been discovered. We need to move faster.

He urged the party members who were hesitant to run because of the tremors.

“What did those who came before you say? Did they say they would save the surface if you gave them treasures?”

[…]

“They either lied knowing the truth or are ignorant of the scale of the demon threat. Seven-Colored Mage, Beatrice…”

Karon chuckled.

“Only I can save the surface.”

His words were filled with conviction.

[Well, I don’t think so.]

As soon as Beatrice finished speaking, we heard a whooshing sound.

“Your resistance is futile.”

A few seconds later, another tremor shook the passage.

They must be engaged in a magical war.

Karon, with his subordinates, would have the upper hand.

━ Rake. Stop for a moment.

“Yes.”

I also had a means to strike back at Karon.

After finishing my preparations for a possible encounter, we moved again.

The explosions continued to echo as we made our way.

“Just a little longer!”

Harry was working on the magic circle in front of the Warp Gate.

[You monster, you won’t take anything! Not a single thing!]

A larger explosion than any before shook the passage.

The ceiling began to collapse.

“Holy Shield!”

The protective barrier Noah cast shielded our party members.

As for Tteunteuni, he wouldn’t even flinch if a few bricks fell on him.

Beatrice… Did she self-destruct?

He silently thanked her for her great help until the very end.

━ How long will it take?

“Five minutes, five minutes will do!”

That’s quite a long time. Karon might come here.

As he was mentally preparing himself…

“You… Who are you?”

It was Karon. Karon was holding the transmitter and speaking.

He survived the self-destruction? The transmitter must have been sturdy since it was used by the Imperial Family.

“Gasp…!”

Luna, who was holding the transmitter, gasped.

━ I’ll answer that.

Rake took the transmitter and placed it near Totem No. 3.

━ …Necromancer Karon.

I have to buy some time.

“You’re…that rat Loa from before.”

He recognizes me just from my voice? This guy is truly terrifying.

“Now I understand. You were what that mage was relying on. To believe in a god… How foolish.”

━ What do you want?

“Hm?”

He sounded a bit taken aback.

━ I asked what you truly desire.

This was a genuine question.

“…Are you saying you’re willing to listen to me? A Loa? Hahaha!”

Karon burst into laughter.

“Alright. There’s no reason I can’t tell you. What I desire is the end of myth.”

━ The end of myth?

What kind of chuunibyou crap is that?

“After losing my child, I spent countless days contemplating why such a tragedy had to occur.”

━ …

“How many times do you think this kind of destruction has been repeated? This time it was caused by those called demons, but the root cause lies elsewhere. I will eliminate that cause.”

━ Are you saying it’s all because of the gods?

He could hear him moving.

He realized I was buying time.

“That’s right. You are the beings who bring about tragedy, the inevitable absurdity. The world must be freed from the grasp of the gods.”

I agree with him to some extent.

After all, we, the possessed, are also being manipulated by that so-called goddess.

However.

━ Is that the reason you took the lives of countless people?

You’re in no position to say that, you monster.

“You’re quite human. To care about such trivial matters. Great change always comes with great sacrifice.”

His way of thinking is fundamentally different from ours.

I don’t believe this guy will bring about the end of myth.

It would just be the beginning of another tragedy.

━ My name is Malak.

“Malak. So you were quite a big shot.”

This bastard, he knows who I am but he’s not intimidated.

My plan to buy time by scaring him has failed.

━ I swear on my honor.

Totem No. 4 （candidate）, which I had set up on my way here, captured Karon in its field of vision.

━ I will kill you.

“Those were my words, Malak! I will end you with my own-”

When he got close to Totem No. 4, I activated the Totem of Chaos.

Karon, who was flying, stumbled and fell.

“Ugh! My, my eyes!”

As expected, this works. It’s worth the once-a-day penalty.

“We’re departing!”

Harry finally opened the Warp Gate.

I watched with satisfaction as he rolled around on the ground.

━ There’s no need to rush.

“Malak…!”

Karon, noticing me, glared at Totem No. 4.

Totem No. 4 couldn’t withstand my blessing and was crumbling.

It truly was a disposable totem.

━ I’ll come to you myself.

“Malaaaaak━!”

As I listened to Karon’s scream, I watched the party members’ bodies being enveloped in light.

This is sweet.

I feel like this happened before… Is it déjà vu?