The trapped ghosts and monsters trembled all over when they saw me. Thinking back to what Krius had said, their reaction made sense.
“Evien. Since you failed to fulfill your role, I’ll do it instead—so you should be thankful.”
Ella smiled, bringing her hand to her lips.
“You… all the things you showed me last time must have been lies, huh?”
“That’s your problem for not noticing. A ghost that wants to talk to an evil spirit? You know there’s no such ghost here.”
Ella pointed at the trembling ghosts with her hand. Meanwhile, I tried to make sense of the strange objects placed in front of her. Geometric patterns that looked like magic circles. Tools that seemed necessary for performing some ritual. It was clear she was plotting something bad.
But I had no idea what exactly she was planning or what her goal was, so I couldn’t just recklessly charge in. Moreover, my opponent wasn’t a survivor—it was a ghost. Recalling what had happened with Krius, there was no way to predict what kind of abilities Ella might have.
“Ella. So… do you want me to help you?”
“Who’s helping whom? You’re of no use to that One. The noble One has discarded you and chosen me instead. It’s truly an honor.”
As if it were something to be proud of, Ella couldn’t hide her excitement.
‘…She’s insane.’
“Oh, so you’re a chosen ghost, then?”
“Yeah. Maybe not in the past, but now I’ve inherited part of the One power—the ability to control ghosts and monsters.”
Maybe she has a surprisingly simple personality. Information flowed easily from Ella’s mouth.
“Wow. So that means you’ve become an even more powerful evil spirit than me?”
“Yeah. I’ve become so strong that you can’t even compare to me.”
Ella raised a finger and pointed at one of the trapped ghosts.
“Rosa. Just how much work have you dumped on me all this time?”
“I–I’m sorry, Ella….”
Rosa was a ghost maid, a colleague of Ella’s, whom I had seen before at the laundromat.
“How dare you speak my name so carelessly?”
“Ugh!”
With a single gesture from Ella, Rosa writhed in pain.
‘Is that the power she inherited from the Evil God?’
I poured on more fake praise to dig for more information.
“Impressive. How did you manage to become like that?”
Ella seemed pleased to hear my compliment, her expression full of pride.
“I prayed to him every single night. He recognized my devotion!”
She clasped her hands together and looked up at the sky, as if in worship.
‘She’s gone mad.’
“So, what great thing are you planning to do now?”
“I will dedicate it to the one who granted me this precious power.”
“…Dedicate it to what?”
“Everyone here.”
Tak—.
With a flick of her thumb and forefinger, the ghosts trapped in the room were released. She then picked up a glowing mirror from among the various tools scattered across the floor.
“That stupid pink-haired human found this for me—a mirror that traps souls… such a precious thing.”
If she had pink hair, that meant Lilith was the one who gave it to her.
“So you deceived Lilith just to get that?”
“Yes. As if those insignificant humans matter.”
Ella raised the mirror high, and it began to shine brilliantly. The monsters and ghosts, their eyes hollow and empty, were drawn toward the mirror.
“You’re going to trap their souls and offer them to him?”
“That’s right. You’re completely useless. I can handle everything myself. You got that?”
When I glanced into the mirror, the world before my eyes swirled slightly. If just a brief look did this to me, ordinary ghosts wouldn’t stand a chance.
“…Ella. Why are you doing this?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Ghosts, their pupils vacant, flew toward the mirror, and behind them, monsters slowly crawled forward. The scene was both bizarre and terrifying. Offering them to the Evil God… if her plan succeeds, what kind of horrific consequences will follow?
“….”
The time limit for the 〈Interaction〉skill was down to 20 seconds.
‘Damn it.’
There was no time to hesitate. In 20 seconds, I wouldn’t be able to touch the glass bottle. I leapt into the air and hurled the bottle I was holding at the mirror.
Clank!
“What do you think you’re doing!”
The mirror fell when the bottle hit it, but it looked like I had failed to break it. Ella sniffed the air, identifying the liquid that had spilled across the floor.
“Wait, you… were you working with the pink-haired one all along?”
“….”
I didn’t answer.
“You… are you insane?”
Ella frowned, then raised a mirror and aimed it directly at me.
“Ugh….”
The moment I saw the light, my mind began to blur.
‘Don’t tell me… am I going to be trapped in that mirror too?’
It felt like I was about to lose consciousness.
‘What have I even done since becoming an evil spirit?’
Aside from knowing how to use a few skills, I hadn’t been of any help in this world at all. How long was I going to keep letting myself be beaten down like this, completely powerless?
‘I don’t want to die, Basileon….’
Between my fading vision, the status window appeared.
! After a certain amount of time, <Soul Annihilation> will occur in the underground of the Dark Forest.
Through my blurred vision, the status window came into view.
! Would you like to request assistance via the <Map>?
<Yes / No>
I barely managed to move my finger and press ‘Yes.’
[Basileon Ravenwood]
[Evan Martinez]
[Lilith Garrett]
.
.
A list of people I could ask for help appeared. I chose Basileon’s name without hesitation.
! After a certain amount of time, <Soul Annihilation> will occur in the underground of the Dark Forest.
“Rapier… what about Adolf….”
“Stop talking. Stay still.”
When I muttered to myself, Ella brought the mirror even closer toward me.
‘I’m sure we came in together….’
Then—
Boom! A thunderous crash echoed from behind.
“Damn it….”
I couldn’t move my body, as if pinned down by sleep paralysis. Still, I knew at once that the voice belonged to Adolf.
“Everyone! Knock the mirror down!”
Clang!
Through my blurred vision, I saw weapons flying through the air.
Tuk—.
The mirror vanished from in front of me. Without the blinding light, my mind cleared.
“What the?”
“What were you planning to do with something that dangerous!”
Adolf scolded Ella sharply.
“Why do scraps keep crawling out from somewhere?”
Ella tried to pick up the fallen mirror, but with Adolf and the weapons in the way, it wasn’t easy.
“Everyone, come to your senses!”
Once the mirror’s light vanished, the ghosts and monsters froze, dazed.
“I… I’m not on the Evil God’s side.”
The moment I uttered the words Evil God, everyone except Adolf flinched in fear.
“Evil God or whatever… there’s no need to be scared because of that wretched bastard. Let’s get out of here together.”
“How dare you speak such blasphemy to him….”
When it became impossible to grab the mirror, Ella flew over and completely blocked the entrance with her body. Then she pulled another mirror from her pocket.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
“Attack that ghost!”
Swoosh—!
As Adolf shouted, the weapons flew straight at Ella.
“Using that on a ghost? Give it your best shot.”
If they had been ordinary weapons, they would have passed through Ella without any effect.
But Adolf’s weapons were coated with the holy water Lilith had given him.
Ssshhk!
Once again, the sizzling sound of flesh burning filled the air.
“Ugh…!”
Ella dropped to her knees. She tried to dodge Adolf’s weapons, but it looked as if her body wouldn’t obey her.
“The world doesn’t run the way you want it to, little ghost friend.”
“Shut up Shield. Evien Montrose, who would believe the words of an evil spirit? Soon, no one will be on your side. Know your place.”
After Ella finished speaking, the hot underground air suddenly turned cool, as if the atmosphere itself had shifted.
“I believe her.”
A low voice echoed, and a dark shadow appeared behind Ella.
Thud…
“No way!”
The shadow descending the stairs belonged to Basileon.
“What on earth is going on here?”
[Basileon Ravenwood]
◇ Affinity: 75%
◇ Anger: 89%
Basileon was absolutely furious.
‘Huh? Why did the affinity go up?’
“M‑My Lord…”
Ella’s face went pale in an instant.
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