Chapter 75: Chains of the Dragon God and Desperate Gambit

The Dragon God’s shackles binding the Schnifelt family.

The penalty calculations from the shackles are based about 90% on changes in the perceptions of the continent’s people.

It’s a system where changes in perception due to an event caused by someone from the Schnifelt family are calculated, and afterward, an appropriate price is paid.

In short, as long as you’re confident in handling the aftermath, there are no particular restrictions on the actions themselves.

In ‘Reca Chronicles,’ this post-event price was called ‘heavenly punishment.’

Incessant lightning strikes.

Earth-shaking earthquakes.

Torrential rains laced with deadly poison.

Heavenly punishment usually visited Winter Dew Island in the form of natural disasters.

Beyond that, the family’s luck would plummet to extremes, leading to consecutive massive misfortunes, or hordes of monsters that only inhabit the south would suddenly appear in the snowfields—absurd events like that occurred.

“But if you engage in certain activities outside and leave not a single witness, the intensity of the heavenly punishment is greatly mitigated.”

“In other words, if you indiscriminately kill every witness you see, you can roam outside freely regardless of the shackles?”

I shook my head at Chesa’s question.

“It’s not as simple as just killing indiscriminately.”

As the term ‘mitigated’ suggests, killing all witnesses doesn’t reduce the curse’s price to zero.

Since 90% of the oath is based on the continent’s people’s perceptions, conversely, 10% is rooted in reality.

In short, without witnesses, the heavenly punishment’s intensity drops to 1/10 or less.

In that case, even for considerable actions, while you’d pay a painful price, it wouldn’t lead to death.

In that sense, the Sun Cathedral here is a flawless stage.

Using the filter adjustment function of the 『Flame Dragon Scale (S+)』, you can trap all the prey tightly in the barrier like a poison jar and massacre them.

Despite being an environment perfect for the Schnifelt to rampage, personally, I was convinced Iris couldn’t be here right now for a reason.

“A perfect crime isn’t that simple. Even without directly witnessing the rampage at the scene, if someone gains certainty through traces of the massacre that the Schnifelt family was involved, the ‘heavenly punishment’s’ intensity increases.”

In this world, there are rare spells or techniques that read residual thoughts, like the Nano Eater’s <Armchair>.

Even if you perfectly conceal your tracks, there’s a possibility the incident will surface someday.

The Schnifelt know this well, and thus, in the original history, Iris didn’t reveal herself even in far more important events than now.

If she, who inherited the rebel’s blood most densely, invoked heavenly punishment, disaster would surely befall Winter Dew Island where the Schnifelt family resides.

Circumstantially, the first time Iris took such a risk and moved is presumed to be the ‘World Altar’ destruction event in Part 2 of the original.

At that time, the Schnifelt family targeted the supreme elixir stored there, the 『Dragon God’s Remains (S)』.

Since the remains fully contained the Dragon God’s power, if a mage of Iris’s level consumed it, she could wield part of the authority to tamper with the oath’s contents.

In fact, after the World Altar raid, the Schnifelt family nearly escaped the heavenly punishment’s influence.

Conversely, unless it’s an event that can completely nullify the penalty like this, it’s hard for Iris to move personally.

Though her personality is bouncy, the possibility she acted unilaterally and came to the scene is almost nil.

Thus, her direct entry into the Sun Cathedral must have been permitted by the family elders.

In other words, there’s something important here that I don’t know about.

Something so important from the Schnifelt family’s perspective that they must obtain it even bearing heavenly punishment.

But scouring my mental timeline or setting book yields nothing that rings a bell.

It might be related to something more important than I imagine, like a two-digit MacGuffin.

Anyway, that’s secondary for now.

Surviving is what’s important.

The 『Secret Numbering Counter (S)』 Iris possesses fully reveals how many survivors remain inside the cathedral.

The moment the number displayed there becomes 2.

Any room for variables completely vanishes.

The two of us will start a terrifying game of hide-and-seek against Regenshauer and Iris, and at the end, only ruin awaits.

I removed one 『Accel Register (A+)』 and handed it to Chesa.

“This bracelet is a pair. And the two of us share mana through Firebird (S).

If one person waits at the barrier’s outskirts and activates 〈Padio Blink〉 after the filter changes, they can pull the other far away and escape outside.”

“…After the filter changes?”

“Yeah. If I can touch the 『Flame Dragon Scale (S)』 Iris Schnifelt has for even 1 second, it’s fully possible to adjust the filter to reduce the influence area of 〈Prescribe Zone〉.”

In my possession is the 『Attribute Absorption Orb (A)』 prepared for the cathedral trip.

It stores the mana of Clara, the Priestess of the Sun.

Using the mana imbued here for the barrier adjustment function should have far higher priority than the outsider Iris’s command.

The 〈Sacred Cradle〉 is a far higher spell than 〈Prescribe Zone〉.

The moment I adjust to shrink the barrier’s size, the spatial distortion effect will vanish from the outskirts.

At that instant, send a signal through the Nano Eater, and after I escape from Iris, Chesa activates <Padio Blink> to escape outside the barrier together—that’s the plan.

Judging by movement lines, Iris and Regenshauer seem likely to exit only after killing everyone inside the cathedral.

Thus, Chesa at the barrier’s edge should be safe until all other believers are dead.

I told Chesa the entire plan.

“You’re planning to take the risk alone again?”

But the response from her was unexpected.

“I saw Iris Schnifelt with my own eyes too. It’s still unbelievable someone has such absurd mana. I don’t think you can snatch the cape from a mage like that alone…”

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely escape together.”

Chesa bit her lip.

But time was pressing, and after repeated persuasion, she had no choice but to head to the cathedral’s outskirts.

I deliberately showed a leisurely attitude toward Chesa, who looked back several times.

Should I say she’s full of worries…

It’s a valid concern.

I spoke confidently, but as she said, the possibility of ambushing Iris alone and seizing the Flame Dragon Scale is close to zero.

Then, don’t do it alone.

Fortunately, there are hundreds of temporary allies inside this cathedral.

I donned the 『Formless Robe (S-)』 and headed to the chapel.

Nearly fifty guardian knights were guarding there.

The knights’ expressions and auras were like steel.

To maintain composure despite sensing Iris’s massive mana or the barrier adjustment—truly elites.

I scour each knight’s character sheet thoroughly.

Suddenly, stats at the level I desired catch my eye.

<Ismael Urena>

[Level: 46/46]

[Description: Age 42, Guardian Knight Order Captain of the Sun Cathedral.]

Among the guardian knights, this person is overwhelmingly strong.

Having roughly grasped the cathedral side’s forces, I begin investigating the chapel’s surrounding environment.

Then, I feel a strange incongruity.

“The inside is quiet—did they deliberately not inform of the intruder’s presence to avoid panic? The other believers are about to be massacred without knowing… No, wait.”

Countless magic circles are laid around.

The priests’ deployment and atmosphere are also odd.

I realize what this means.

This… might be doable.

『Secret Numbering Counter (S)』

-Number of personnel to process for secrecy: 651

“Hmm…”

Iris walks the corridor gazing at the number floating on the hovering metal plate.

The place she’s heading now is the Sun Cathedral’s chapel.

Where most survivors are gathered.

The moment she steps into the chapel entrance hall.

“Die!”

Someone jumps down from above, aiming for Iris’s head.

A guardian knight in gleaming full armor.

Iris smirks and casually waves her hand toward the falling knight.

Suk!

The knight hit by the wind spell, 〈Air Cutter〉, spews blood fountains from limbs and dies.

Tadadak!

Immediately after, seven hidden knights charge toward her.

The calculation: since she’s a mage, pull into close combat where she has no countermeasures.

Iris’s level reaches 77, and in pure physical ability alone, she rivals average near-Twelve Heroes.

Kagak!

Hit by Iris’s punch, the sturdy full armor and knight’s body crush as a set.

Someone’s organs are pierced by mere nails, someone’s neck literally snaps from a playful gesture.

The reason she can display such martial prowess without magic is using 『Four Seasons Heart Method (A)』 to channel her whopping 42 [MP] value into physical enhancement.

“Heart method…?!”

One knight’s eyes dye with shock.

A mage using qi breathing?

Heart methods and mana cultivation can certainly be learned together.

But since their qi differ, alternating during battle is difficult.

That’s why magic swordsmen are rare—due to this mediocrity.

Those who learned the Schnifelt family’s Snowfield Mana Fusion Heart Method (A) and 『Four Seasons Heart Method (A)』 can switch swiftly between mage and warrior states.

Just like Iris is doing now.

In short, she has no weaknesses.

At this rate, the knight order side has no chance.

The guardian knight captain, Ismael, steps forward.

“…Truly terrifying. It’s no wonder Sir Dubao fell.”

Seeing him, Iris’s eyes gleam.

Activating 『Rainbow Evil Eye (S)』, she can see the sum of stats excluding mind.

Thus, she instantly recognizes the knight before her as the strongest enemy here.

Ismael shouts.

“Priests!”

Immediately after, the priests hidden behind the knights raise their staves in unison.

Dozens of magic circles laid on the hall floor glow simultaneously, and the lights envelop Ismael in an instant.

“The ominous yin magic that shattered 〈Sacred Cradle〉 and that distinctive white hair… I’ve encountered information about you in top-secret documents. You and the swordsman underground are from the rebel family in the snowfields, right? I don’t know why you’re targeting us now, but.”

As he speaks, holy energy envelops Ismael’s body.

Grasping the source of that mystical phenomenon, Iris’s smile vanishes from her expression.

“…<Dragon Scale>?”

“You know it well.”

Dragon Scale is the highest enhancement yang magic usable by Dragon God followers.

Even Iris must be minimally wary.

“…Strange. To activate that spell, you need prayers from not just the priests but over 500 believers.”

“The entire chapel is lending their power.”

“I see.”

Iris glares beyond the tightly closed chapel door.

Only briefly—her mouth splits wide.

“Perfect timing.”

〈Third-Void〉

“I’ve always wanted to test my power against yang magic like <Dragon Scale>? 〈Sacred Cradle〉 was too loose as a wide-area barrier!”

Gathering elements with both hands, compressing and fusing them, she extends both hands to shoot 〈Third-Void〉.

Ismael, wrapped in light, also raises his sword with a stern expression.

Pat!

Right after the void shoots toward Ismael.

That moment Iris is caught in the recoil.

“…?!”

She furrows her brow, sensing a presence suddenly appearing mid-air.

It was Aiden, who released the ‘Insulation’ state.

The Flame Dragon Scale ending up in Iris’s hands instead of Regenshauer’s is fortunate in a way.

In pure strength, Iris is far superior, but she’s not a complete warrior with unified mind-body-spirit like the Thousand-Man Slayer.

So overwhelmingly strong, she’s never met an equal opponent since birth.

Thus, moments when her mental state laxes are bound to come, and I decided to strike at that instant.

The <Dragon Scale> prepared by the Sun Cathedral side is an impressive spell.

But Iris can shatter it sufficiently without void.

Yet, under the pretext of testing the spell’s power, she pulled out <Third-Void>.

The situation I desperately hoped for.

Aiming at Ismael and shooting the void sphere forward, Iris is caught in recoil that moment.

A clear opening.

I hurl myself while clad in the Formless Robe (S).

Considering the stat gap, ambushes or such won’t faze Iris at all.

But it doesn’t matter.

My goal isn’t to land an effective hit on Iris, but solely to get my hands on the cape she’s wearing.

‘If you hook the end of the wire, you can snatch an opponent’s possessions or weapons during an ambush.’

Estriel’s teaching flashes in my mind.

I draw a long strong wire from my bosom.

Aim at Iris and throw!

Suk!

The hook-shaped needle at the wire’s end, 「Form Needle (B+)」, embeds in the Flame Dragon Scale.

I pull the wire right away, and the Flame Dragon Scale slips off Iris’s body, landing in my hand in an instant.

An event unfolding about 1 second after releasing ‘Insulation.’

Iris is still in recoil.

Her murderous gaze fixes on me.

Reptilian vertically slit pupils.

Facing them chills my spine involuntarily.

But no time to freeze in fear.

I draw up lightning qi.

Zzzzt!

Immediately after, power supplies to the Machine God Tribe Respinel, disguised as a backpack.

“Respinel.”

「Listening.」

“Thruster mode!”

「Executing.」

Clack!

The red flow iron magical metal equipped on Respinel restructures into a flight-suitable form per my command.

Immediately after, the thruster-formed red flow iron spews steam,

Pwaaaaat!!

My body floating mid-air shoots out of the chapel in an instant.