Chapter 23: What’s My Rating

A dark sense of defeat hung over the residents of Elysium.

The prophecy they had treated as a joke.

The disaster they believed to be nothing more than a groundless story mercilessly toyed with them.

Even the slightest resistance failed, and most of their forces were destroyed.

It was worthy of being called a monster that would devour paradise.

Their power was overwhelmingly strong, and their appearance was also extremely bizarre.

The first subjugation party.

They were….

Someone by the ever-unfalling, roly-poly Giant Bunny.

Someone by the Pegasus that hit full throttle at a maximum speed of 235 km/h.

Someone by the 100 km/h centrifugal force…, the merry-go-round that threatened to separate their soul.

They were engulfed in a terrible sense of helplessness, defeat.

and an inexplicable sense of fear.

“At least everyone revived safely, that’s a relief.”

“…That’s true.”

“Wasn’t that thing some kind of altar that absorbs souls?”

At someone’s words, everyone simultaneously recalled the circular altar of vibrant colors.

That circular altar, rotating at a merciless speed.

looked to anyone like a forbidden device that ground up souls.

As if sharp blades were warning not to set foot nearby.

they were raised up and down, fiercely threatening.

“Honestly, I thought if we got caught and killed by that altar, we wouldn’t be able to revive.”

“Right. The monsters were even forcing us to go and sit there. I definitely thought it was a device to absorb souls.”

“……It’s definitely taking away something, even if not souls.”

People all looked at the village’s legendary Archmage, Ashtal.

The last survivor who lasted until the end at 100 km/h.

Magician Ashtal was still absent-minded, muttering weakly.

“…Round and round. Every time it turned. The barrier, the mental resistance spell, ha, haha………….”

“Hey, Ashtal. Snap out of it!”

His colleague shook his shoulder.

but Ashtal continued to stare into space, laughing as if he had lost his mind.

His eyes seemed to still be fixed on the circular altar, losing focus.

“Damn it, did his soul really get sucked in?”

“…Come to think of it, those horses that were running wild at that crazy speed. Didn’t they look exactly like the horses on that circular altar?”

At those words, everyone’s faces stiffened.

The residents of Elysium, one by one, seemed to realize something.

“…Could it be? Was it a device to create those horses?”

“Th, then….”

“Next time…. there might be even more of those horrible horses.”

Everyone trembled violently at the terrible reality.

Their thoughts were all the same.

‘We must eliminate that disaster as soon as possible.’

But…….

They couldn’t think of any way to defeat the disaster.

“…If only the heroes were here.”

“Most of them have left.”

“Even Hector, who lasted until the end, went to Valhalla a while ago.”

The village chief closed his eyes and recalled the names of the heroes who had come to Elysium.

Theseus, Gilgamesh, Orpheus, Sigurd, Hector, Minotaur….

And Achilles.

The whereabouts of the other heroes were somewhat known.

but Achilles’ whereabouts were unknown from the moment he came to Elysium.

Even when asked the Goddess, she only answered, ‘He is still in Elysium.’

No one had seen Achilles.

‘……Please. I wish Achilles would appear.’

Achilles.

A legendary hero and the strongest being who even defeated Hector.

If he appeared, this desperate situation might be overturned in an instant.

But…….

The village chief knew that he was just having vain hopes.

Unable to utter his wish, the village chief opened his unwilling mouth.

“First, Max, you go to the capital and inform the heroes of the Colosseum. It seems impossible for us alone.”

“Yes, I understand!”

The village chief looked at Brian, who, like Ashtal.

was dazed from being tormented by Pegasus.

“……And Brian, as soon as you recover, go to Orpheus.”

“…Wh, what? There… Besides, there’s no way Orpheus would come….”

“It might be different if you say it’s the Black Calamity.”

The village chief let out a deep sigh.

“All we can do now is try every possible means.”

“……Yes, I understand. I will do my best to persuade him.”

The village chief clasped his hands together as if grasping at the last hope.

But contrary to the village chief’s wishes, the darkness hanging over Elysium was getting thicker.

The place the man took us to was a house quite far from the village.

Unlike the old and shabby exterior, the inside of the house was surprisingly neat.

A warm fireplace was burning.

and all kinds of herbs were neatly hung on the wall.

“Come on in.”

The man opened the door and gestured.

I held Ria’s hand tightly and looked around the house.

Maybe it’s because of the cozy atmosphere.

For once, Ria, who is very shy, is lowering her guard.

Thanks to that, I also looked around the house a little more comfortably.

“Wow, it smells so good…. That one looks pretty. Can I take a closer look?”

“It’s my wife’s hobby. You need her permission, not mine.”

“…Ugh. Where is your wife, mister?”

Before the man could even speak, the back door opened.

A woman carrying a basket full of herbs came into the house.

She blinked, looking slightly surprised to see us.

“Honey, we have guests.”

“…Ah.”

The woman nodded and placed the basket on the table.

I approached the woman and bowed 90 degrees.

“Hello!”

“Oh, what a cute child. Hello?”

“Yes! Mister said he’d give me cookies, so I came!”

I glanced at Ria.

Ria nodded slightly and greeted.

“…Hello.”

“Hehe, yes. Welcome.”

The woman who greeted Ria with a smile looked at the man and tilted her head.

“Cookies?”

“Ah, the little lady in front of you healed my hand.”

“…Really?”

“Yes! Bad people hurt mister’s hand, so I healed it!”

The woman looked at the man’s hand in surprise.

“……It’s really healed cleanly.”

“Right? It’s amazing even to me.”

Well………

I don’t know about anything else, but I invested a lot in healing magic.

When I was rolling around on the battlefield.

I realized that protecting my colleagues couldn’t be done with just strength, so I started to hone my healing magic.

Thanks to that, I could heal most wounds with my eyes closed.

‘……Although I can’t do anything other than healing magic and shields.’

Just as a list of my magic, which was all destruction magic, was about to pass through my head.

the woman approached me, bowed her head, and thanked me.

“Thank you. I don’t think cookies will be enough for this…….”

“Ah, no! Cookies are enough! I really, really like cookies!”

“Really? Then, I’ll have to make them extra delicious.”

The woman smiled and moved towards the kitchen.

Watching her, I brainwashed myself.

I like sweets.

I’m crazy about cookies.

I…! I……!

“Senior, you don’t like sweets.”

“Shh, shhhh─!”

“…Ah, you don’t like sweets?”

“Mister, shh too!”

The man and Ria stared at me at the same time.

I waved my hands frantically and made an excuse.

“N, no! I really like cookies!”

“…Really?”

“Senior, your face is all red♡”

Ria giggled and poked my cheek.

I covered my face to hide my embarrassment and muttered.

“…..Ugh, sister…. No, sis…. Anyway, you can’t be upset……..”

“Hehe, that’s a very Senior-like reason”

The man looked at me with bewildered eyes.

It seems that the man thought I just followed him because I was tempted by the cookies.

But that’s not it! Really!

I’m a… person who likes protein more than sugar…!

“But why did you readily follow me when I said I would give you cookies?”

“…Because mister looked like you wanted to invite us!”

When I answered confidently.

the man paused for a moment and then chuckled.

“Haha, I see. Thank you for accepting the invitation. Sachan.”

“Yes!”

Soon, a sweet scent began to waft from the kitchen.

The woman brought a plate full of freshly baked cookies.

“Here, Eat a lot. They’re freshly baked cookies.” 

“…Wow—!”

I like sweets. I can’t get enough of them!

Brainwashing myself again, I picked up a cookie.

“…Huh?”

“What’s wrong, don’t you like it?”

“No, it’s so delicious!”

“Really? I’m glad you like it. It’s a grain cookie made with crops that Auntie grew herself.”

With sparkling eyes, I took another bite of the cookie.

The soft, sweet, and savory taste spread throughout my mouth.

Ria stared at me and burst out laughing.

“Senior, you’re eating really well?”

“It’s just…. because the cookies are so delicious!” 

I hurriedly made an excuse and picked up another cookie.

Munch munch munch―

The man and the woman smiled as they watched me.

“Eat slowly, Sachan. I’ll bake more for you.”

“Yes! Auntie is the best!”

Ria, who had been staring at me teasingly, also tasted the cookies and was busy eating them.

See, I told you the cookies are really delicious.

The man looked at us with a satisfied expression and carefully opened his mouth.

“Sachan, …Ria. Actually, I had something I wanted to tell you.”

“Is it okay to talk about it here?”

The man blinked for a moment at my question and let out a small laugh.

“So that’s why you followed me. Even though you don’t like sweets.”

“Because mister kept looking around.”

“Haha, Sachan has a surprisingly sharp side.”

How much experience have I accumulated in this area?

It would be strange if I didn’t notice this.

I shrugged my shoulders and took another bite of the cookie.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“I mentioned it roughly, but those people earlier are from hell.” 

“…..Hell?”

I, of course, and even Ria next to me, frowned slightly.

The man nodded.

“Because the afterlife is all connected, the boundary between heaven and hell is surprisingly loose.”

“…Eh, isn’t that bad?”

The man let out a small laugh and affirmed.

“This kind of thing has happened before. But most of them were resolved quickly. Because the Goddess or other gods quickly dealt with it”

“Then, won’t it end quickly this time too?”

“…This time is a little different.”

The man’s face hardened.

His eyes were much more serious than before.

“They’re coming in more persistently and frequently. And…”

“And?”

“…Souls are disappearing. It’s just a suspicion without evidence.”

At those words, I stopped with the cookie in my mouth.

Ria put down the cookie in her hand and asked with a hardened expression.

“…Souls are disappearing?”

“Yes. There are some missing people. The Goddess can’t find them either. It seems to be the work of hell….”

I sighed inwardly and put down the cookie.

‘What does it mean that even the Goddess can’t find them?’

Ria also frowned slightly.

I could see the strength in her hand.

“Fortunately, it’s only happening around this village, so most people have left.”

“…That’s why there were no people in the village.”

“Yes. The people who are still here are mostly those who have lingering attachments to this village or those who don’t have the means to leave.”

“Mister too?”

The man nodded with a smile.

“My wife has a garden that she takes care of. The plants that live there don’t grow well unless they’re near here.”

“Even so, it’s dangerous.”

“Sachan thinks so too? I say it’s okay, but this person….”

At the woman’s rebuke.

the man took the woman’s hand and lightly kissed the back of her hand.

“Because you worked so hard to cultivate it.”

“…Honey.”

I feel some kind of aura between the two people, but I don’t know what it is.

I’ll just eat cookies until it’s over.

“And it’s not as dangerous as Sachan thinks. Until now.”

“Even though you were attacked like that earlier!”

“That was, I was unexpectedly ambushed and couldn’t prepare. I’m helpless without my equipment”

“Ehhhh? A person shouldn’t rely only on equipment!”

“……That’s true.”

The man scratched his head with a bitter smile.

The woman burst into laughter as if it were funny.

“It’s not that he relies on equipment, it’s that he can’t do anything without equipment.”

“…Uhhh?”

“Haha, Uncle is a minstrel.”

The man held up the lyre that was in one corner of the living room and said.

“My name is Orpheus. I’m the best minstrel in Greece.”

When the man lightly plucked the strings of the lyre.

a pleasant melody filled the room.

I unconsciously listened, drawn in by the sound that made me concentrate.