Ankoku Kishi Monogatari ~Yuusha wo Taosu Tameni Maou ni Shoukansaremashita~-Chapter 179.2: Botis’ Poison

「I don't know. I just have a bad feeling that they’re planning something…」

The dwarves seemed deep in thought as I spoke.

Something was definitely off. I readied myself, prepared to transform into Dark Knight mode at any moment.

But the uncertainty gnawed at me—I had no idea what they were up to.

「Well, putting that aside, any suggestions on how we deal with the wolves sneaking around?」

Just as Arberon was about to seek opinions on the wolves, a commotion erupted outside the room.

「WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?!」

Heibos roared as a dwarf rushed in.

「WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY! THE GOLEMS HAVE STOPPED OBEYING AND ARE RUNNING RAMPANT!」

「WHAT?!」

Everyone in the room jumped to their feet and dashed outside to assess the situation. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Even the golems displayed on the projection had gone berserk.

「THIS IS BAD! IF THIS KEEPS UP, NOTHING WILL STOP THE WOLVES! WE NEED TO FIX THE GOLEMS NOW! CHECK THE GOLEM UNDERGROUND, TOO!」

Arberon bolted from the room, his face pale.

The golems, meant to be the ultimate defense, had suddenly turned against their own creators.

It was no wonder he was shaken.

「What's going on here!? Could someone in their ranks really control the golems?」

Heibos shook his head as more dwarves hurried out.

Then, another dwarf entered.

「WE’VE CAPTURED THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE GOLEMS GO BERSERK!」

Several dwarves dragged in a bound dwarf.

He was an odd sight—thin, with mechanical scissor-like arms replacing his real ones.

His nose was large, and his bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness.

「Long time no see, Our Great Father.」

The restrained dwarf bowed to Heibos.

「RIBESAL?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!」

「My apologies… but I had no choice. I can no longer craft anything with these arms. And since I can’t do the thing I love most, it’s only fitting that I destroy my own creations…」

Ribesal grinned eerily, madness flashing in his bloodshot eyes.

「So, you’re the one who made the golems malfunction?」

「Yes. I also snuck underground and tampered with the golems I built long ago, to release the Wicked Beast. Kishashashasha!」

Ribesal cackled, his laughter chilling.

「You were an exceptional golem craftsman… and a skilled gnome user at that.」

Heibos looked at him with sorrow in his eyes.

「Indeed, Our Great Father. You were always too brilliant for me. I wanted to become a craftsman greater than you…」

Ribesal’s gaze fell to his artificial arms, a helpless expression on his face.

「Take him to the dungeon.」

At Heibos’ command, the dwarves hauled Ribesal out of the room.

「Heibos-dono, surely he was deceived by those snakes. I can’t think of any other reason he would side with them.」

Arberon spoke up in defense of Ribesal.

Though he had once been a brilliant craftsman, losing his arms had driven him mad, leaving him vulnerable to the snakefolk’s influence.

「Having you here is a blessing, Dark Knight. Forgive me, but I need to handle this situation immediately.」

Heibos sighed heavily.

The wolves' raid, the golems going rogue, and now the release of the Wicked Beast…

「What should we do about the rampaging golems?!」

A new voice entered the conversation.

The newcomer was Rena.

Kouki was also there, and the elves were gathered behind him.

「Rena? Well, we've got an emergency. The seal on the Wicked Beast has just been released.」

「WA?!」

Rena couldn’t hide her shock at Heibos' words.

「It might take some time before the entire seal is broken. We're going underground to apply a new one. Will you come with us, Heibos?」

「YOU MUSTN'T, GREAT FATHER! THAT PLACE IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS!」

The dwarves pleaded with Heibos as soon as he announced his decision.

The place Heibos was planning to enter had once been the underground palace of the Goddess of Destruction, Nargol.

Only the strong could hope to survive there.

Because of this, the dwarves controlled the palace's defense remotely through their golems.

The monsters in that place would attack any living being they saw.

It was truly dangerous.

But Heibos, having made up his mind, would not be swayed.

「But we must stop the Wicked Beast here, and we must do it now.」

Perhaps Heibos felt responsible for the actions of his kin, Ribesal.

If the Wicked Beast was as deadly as it was believed to be, this was the best place to stop it.

「I'll go with you, Heibos-dono. This is why I came here in the first place.」

I turned toward Heibos.

「I’m sorry… I’ve dragged you into a mess that really has nothing to do with you…」

「It’s no problem. I don’t want to see this world destroyed either.」

I lightly shook my head as I spoke.

I had become part of this world.

This situation wasn’t something I could ignore.

I would fight anyone trying to destroy it.

「I understand. Let’s go together.」

Heibos then glanced at Rena.

「Understood, Heibos. I’ll handle things here. I’ll take care of the wolves and the golems in your absence.」

Rena nodded, clearly understanding Heibos' silent message.

There would be no reinforcements because of the barrier.

Rena's strength was crucial to stop the golems.

Heibos and I left the meeting room and headed toward the Underground Palace.

As I passed by Kouki, he spoke.

「Will you teach me swordsmanship again, Kuroki-sensei?」

Kouki looked up at me.

「Yeah, when we meet again. Until then, just keep practicing what I’ve taught you.」

I knelt down on one knee, brushing Kouki’s hair as I spoke.

I didn’t know if Kouki could become a strong swordsman, but his desire to grow stronger was clear.

I would do my best to help him.

I hoped he would be much stronger by the next time we met.

Smiling at him, I stood and continued toward the Underground Palace, where the Wicked Beast awaited.

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