Why hasn't the stage ended?
Is there still a monster I haven't found?
Could there still be an infected soldier?
I was contemplating whether to conduct another thorough investigation of the entire city when a report came in.
"My lord! A report from the observation team."
"Hmm?"
"They've detected a hidden airship south of Crossroad. It can't be seen with the naked eye, but its position has been confirmed."
Lucas, who reported this, looked slightly tense as he asked.
"What should we do? Should we shoot it down?"
I had a feeling.
I took Lucas and headed to the hangar.
"Launch La Mancha. We'll move directly to that location."
"Isn't that dangerous? Wouldn't it be safer to shoot it down and then investigate?"
"Even if there's a risk, we need to check it out directly. Escort me, Lucas."
"Yes, sir."
Thus, we flew to the designated point on the airship La Mancha.
The enemy airship was cloaked with a magical veil, hiding in the sky, but as we got closer, its shape became faintly visible to the naked eye. The state of the veil wasn't good to begin with.
"Have we tried to communicate?"
"Yes, but there's no response."
"Any sign of hostility?"
"None. It's just floating there."
Even as La Mancha approached to the point of being right in front of it, the mysterious airship remained still.
I called out to the magician I had brought along.
"Junior."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Can you dispel the veil?"
"Of course."
Junior lightly waved his staff, lifting the veil over the area, revealing...
An ancient, otherworldly red airship that looked to be centuries old.
"This airship..."
I murmured.
"It's a demon legion's dimensional transport ship."
"What? Then..."
"Yes. It's Cromwell's ship."
The dimensional transport ship that flew from Cromwell's homeland, carrying her legion to this world.
Despite its grand name, the ship was in poor condition. Built centuries ago, it was worn out, and its outer armor, as if scorched by fire, was crumbling.
"Bring La Mancha alongside. I'll go in and check it out myself."
After several attempts to communicate yielded no response, we decided to board the ship directly.
Torkel took the lead with his shield, followed by Lucas, myself in the center, then Junior, Dearmudin, and Evangeline at the rear. We boarded the enemy ship in that order.
"The hatch is open, Your Highness!"
The hatch leading inside the ship was wide open.
"I'll go in first."
Torkel cautiously checked the entrance and led the way, and we slowly followed.
The interior of the ship was in better condition than the exterior but still showed signs of extensive fire damage.
"They said Cromwell's legion was defeated by the Black Dragon Legion."
I murmured as I spotted traces of black flames—evidence of the Black Dragon Legion's attacks.
"This ship must have escaped during that battle. But all the crew died, and it drifted here following its commander."
We entered the deepest part of the bridge.
There were two main structures: a complex, intertwined magical engine... or something resembling it.
Junior and Dearmudin immediately marveled and approached the engine.
"Wow, I've never seen a magical core like this. It's not just a power source but inscribed with powerful and complex magic."
"It's not merely an engine to power the ship. It's an artifact with higher-dimensional magic. It's like..."
I interjected.
"...allowing it to travel to other worlds?"
"A bold imagination, Prince Ash! But it's plausible..."
In fact, I was likely correct. It was, after all, a dimensional transport ship of the demon legion. This engine seemed to be the core of that function.
"An unexpected find. Let's take it and study it."
I pondered for a moment.
A ship that can travel to other worlds...
'I need to meet Coco.'
Coco the Severer, a mage residing at the dungeon base camp.
As a master of spatial magic, she might help us utilize this equipment effectively.
Aside from the engine, there was another notable device.
"..."
I examined it quietly.
A large tank... containing a huge larva-like creature lying limp inside.
As we approached, the giant larva weakly lifted its body and stared at us.
Suspecting its identity, I spoke first.
"It seems to be the source of the zombification parasite."
"...!"
"So, this grotesque larva is the cause of the zombie outbreak, senior?"
"Strictly speaking, it's a bit different."
Combining the information from the setting book read by the old man and the real Ash's experiences, I formed an interpretation.
The red-skinned demons are a unique race among monsters, generally possessing high stats but no special abilities.
They resemble humans in many ways, including their use of equipment similar to humans.
Their one special ability is Sacrifice.
They can transfer abilities to someone by offering a sacrifice.
This ability manifests through the deliberate implantation of this parasite.
To gain the power to absorb another's life force by devouring or being devoured, demons implant this parasite from the fetal stage...
"Why did they do such a terrifying thing?"
Evangeline, puzzled by my explanation, asked.
"To continue. To become stronger."
They are drifters from another dimension.
No matter where they go, they remain outsiders.
To fully assimilate the knowledge and power passed down from their predecessors, they forcibly developed this ability to use 'sacrifice,' ensuring that adults who are devoured by children pass on everything to them.
To fully inherit the karma of the previous generation.
"This parasite might have been their banner."
Initially, it functioned as a banner to inherit the will and dreams of the predecessors.
But over time, it lost its original intent and began to be misused in other ways, judging by the appearance of their subordinate demons...
And in the end, this parasite was contaminated and altered by 'someone,' causing the zombie outbreak by infecting and reviving the dead.
'If a person's banner...'
Whether by choice or external influence, if altered and contaminated, and if that altered banner continues to be passed down.
Those inheriting it might also become no different from zombies.
They might turn into monsters wielding a distorted belief.
I touched the banner at my waist, [Light and Shadow].
What distinguishes humans from monsters?
Is it parasites?
Is it banners?
Does my banner truly represent the beliefs of those who passed it to me?
"Dearmudin."
I asked Dearmudin.
"Please burn this equipment. Cleanly."
"...Understood."
With a complex expression, Dearmudin stood before the equipment, gazing at the giant larva-like parasite.
He slowly reached out and cast a fire spell.
"..."
The parasite lay down at the bottom of the tank as if sensing its end.
Like a banner that had fulfilled its purpose, it sank powerlessly.
The last parasite burned, its smoke rising into the winter sky.
We salvaged the smoky enemy ship and returned to Crossroad.
***
[STAGE 45 - CLEAR!]
[STAGE MVP - Dearmudin (SSR)]
[Level Up Characters]
- Ash (EX) and 70 others
[Deceased Characters]
- None
[Injured Characters]
- McMillan (N) and 50 others
[Acquired Items]
- Demon Guard Captain's Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Flame Giant King's Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Bride Devourer's Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Decagon Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Wingless Cicada Lord's Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Vortex Magic Core (SSR): 1
- Hellhound Gatekeeper's Magic Core (SR): 5
- Others:
[Acquired Special Equipment]
- Demon Legion's Dimensional Transport Ship: 1
[Stage Clear Rewards Have Been Issued. Please Check Your Inventory.]
- SSR Grade Reward Box: 10
>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE
>> [Next STAGE: Final Act]
***
January 1st, 652 Imperial Year.
A new year's morning dawned.
Waking up at dawn, I sat blankly on my bed, gazing at the faintly brightening eastern sky.
'I woke up in this world...'
On the last day of February, 649.
The final battle of the tutorial was on the next day, March 1.
It's been 34 months already, and now it's my third New Year here.
"..."
What's left is two months.
The final five stages.
Not much time remains. The end is really close.
'Can I really...'
With no regrets, with no lingering attachment.
Can I achieve a satisfying ending?
Can I truly reach the 'True Ending'?
Lost in such thoughts...
Bang-!
The door burst open,
"Happy New Year, Your Highness!"
"Yay! New Year's Festival, New Year's Festival-!"
Reenacting the now-familiar New Year's morning scene, the main party's shield-bearer and mage jumped into the room cheerfully.
I couldn't help but laugh. This is already the third New Year's morning here, but these guys never change.
"Get up quickly and give us our New Year's money, New Year's money~!"
"Yay, New Year's money! Bonus! Incentive!"
Evangeline, holding a ladle, and Junior, holding a pot lid, cheerfully banged them together, then widened their eyes upon seeing me already awake.
"Huh? What, you're already awake, senior?"
"Oh my, it's true. Isn't it a tradition to see His Highness just waking up with swollen eyes and bed hair on the first day of the year?"
"When did that tradition start...?"
Mumbling, I got up. My New Year's reflection time was shattered by the kids' clamor for New Year's money.
"What about the others?"
"They're all in the dining hall! Waiting for you!"
"Getting up early and coming here made us hungry, Your Highness... Let's go and have some meatball stew..."
Yes. New Year's morning calls for a hot bowl of rice cake soup... I mean, meatball stew.
"Alright! Let's go and have a hearty bowl!"
"What about New Year's money, senior? New Year's money-!"
Sheesh, asking for New Year's money without even bowing. I must have turned the New Year's bonus into a proper name by joking about it before.
"Don't worry, it'll be given out. Don't be so impatient."
"Yay~"
"Awesome~"
Evangeline and Junior, walking ahead of me, joyfully clanged their ladle and pot lid together. The energy was off the charts from the morning. Is this the power of the New Year?
Entering the dining hall, Lucas and Damien greeted me.
"Good morning, my lord. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Your Highness!"
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work from the morning. May you both have a prosperous New Year too."
Sitting down at the prepared table, the person bringing out a large pot of stew on a tray was...
"Did you sleep well, Your Highness?"
Serenade.
Seeing her smile as bright as the early morning sunlight, I smiled back without realizing it. But simultaneously, I felt a faint void.
The figure of my aide and director, Aider, who always brought the meatball stew on the first day of the past two New Years, was no longer visible.
"..."
Pushing away thoughts of him, who disappeared after fulfilling his final role.
I beckoned Serenade.
"Good morning, Serenade! Happy New Year. Sit and eat with us."
***
After breakfast.
While each of us sipped warm tea, New Year's wine, or a mix of dried fruit and milk jam, chatting away...
"Today's the New Year's festival, right? What are your plans?"
I asked casually, and Lucas answered immediately.
"I have a date with Hecate."
Pffft-!
Everyone around us spewed what they were drinking.
"..."
Watching the spectacle of various drinks being sprayed around like New Year's fountains, I had a feeling.
With the New Year's festival, 'Love Blossoms on the Monster Front' would also reach its conclusions for each character.