Hero without Blood or Tear - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - One Crouching by the Grave (1)

Translator: Silver3gollem

Editor: Deus Ex Machina, Perditor

There was an uproar as I mentioned the Angel’s Heart . I explained calmly to Angela, who was having an adverse reaction .

“There are two ways to solve the curse . To find a new sacrifice for it to move onto or for the host to accept it . ”

“So the Angel’s Heart is of no use . ”

Angela probably planned to use the Angel’s Heart as a last resort . Still, it was no use to revive the Abbess if the curse wasn’t solved in the first place .

“Correct . Even if we use the Angel’s Heart, it’s impossible for the Abbess to accept that power . ”

The Abbess’ divine power and that husk’s power could only clash with each other .

“So I will transfer that curse onto me . ”

“You are saying that you will become the sacrifice?”

“I’m different than the Abbess . Since I don’t have any divine power, I can sacrifice the Angel’s Heart to accept that power . I will seal that darkness within my own body . ”

Angela told me I couldn’t do that .

“Why are you thinking about such a sacrifice . Do you understand what you are saying? That is a curse you will bear all your life… no even cursing your own soul as well . ”

It wasn’t wrong but it wasn’t right either . For some it was curse, and for some it was a blessing .

“I don’t plan on living with the curse all my life either . I’ve read the Canon of Seven Evils and have learned much about the darkness . I’m confident that I can find a way to remove the curse and seal that power away in the future . ”

“How can you be so confident that you will be able to?”

“Of course, the Order must help me as well . It’s not something that one man can accomplish by himself . If you can remember my sacrifice and help me, we can overcome it together . ”

“However, I cannot let an innocent bystander to become involved in this! Even if the Abbess’ life hangs in the balance . ”

For Angela, due to her upright personality, it was a difficult proposition to accept . So I emphasized the greater good .

“Please reconsider . The Abbess is the bulwark guarding the Empire’s south-west . If she falls, then people are sure to lose heart . ”

The south-west would become a mess . After the Iron Prince-Elector retreats, his uncle Friedrich only looked after himself . Since the Abbess passed away as well, it was only natural what would happen .

Many humans were massacred or sold away as slaves . If the Abbess survives, she could prevent such future from coming true .

“Still, I cannot agree to this, Valler!”

Walpurgis sternly opposed the idea .

“Lady Walpurgis, you know this decision isn’t just for the Abbess . You know this better than anyone . ”

I kept greater good as the justification, but I stood to benefit the most from this . Not only would I gain the avatar’s powers, but the Order would owe me one as well .

If I wanted the south-west of the Empire to remain stable, the Order’s help was necessary . I knew it was sly to pretend to be a victim when I gain everything I wanted and then some more .

Getting the avatar’s power and having the Order of Sisters of Walpurgis’ support wasn’t something I could shy away from . It was a once in a lifetime opportunity .

“I’m thankful for your concern for me, but please think of the common folks who will suffer . ”

Angela, who was standing like a rock just before, showed tears .

“Such a selfless and wise person… you are truly worthy of canonization . ”

It wasn’t just her . Other nuns in the room were also deeply saddened as well .

Urk .

When they were thinking about me with such pure thoughts, I felt guilty . I felt like a vampire exposed to sunlight . It wasn’t like I was scamming the Order . It was mutually beneficial trade for both of us .

They would have their Abbess back . I would gain that power and support of the Order . The south-west of the Empire would have its peace . And Pejamut would get a big middle finger to his plan .

Multiple birds with a single stone .

It was a win-win all around .

“Valler! Please, reconsider!”

But it seemed convincing Walpurgis was the challenge . She was genuinely concerned . I smiled to show that I was fine with it .

“When I become cursed, it would be hard finding someone to marry . I guess you just need to take responsibility and marry me, my lady . ”

“How can you joke in a situation like this! You!”

I tried to ease the situation, but she became genuinely upset . Others pretended to be in prayer to let us talk between ourselves .

“I’m sorry to make you worry . But I’m really thankful that you think so highly of me . ”

“You want me to take responsibility? Ha, very well! You can live with someone as ugly as I now! Sob . . ”

I didn’t know how to react at the way Walpurgis was barely holding back from crying . Who else in this world would care about me as much as her .

I hugged her lightly . Even though she was wearing her armour, she couldn’t feel warmer in my embrace .

“Didn’t you say you may be ugly, but you have one of the best figures in the Empire? I would become the happiest man in the world on the first night . ”

“Idiot! Other sisters can hear you!”

Walpurgis flinched as she didn’t expect me to say something like that and pushed me away . But others have already heard it all .

“Ke-hem . ”

One of the elders coughed loudly . She looked flustered despite being a fairly aged nun . Several others were fanning away with their hand .

“You!”

Walpurgis was hitting me in frustration . I simply smiled and clapped my hands .

Clap!

The atmosphere changed .

“Prioress Angela, please bring me the Angel’s Heart . I will save the Abbess . ”

“ . . . You will truly go through with this?”

I nodded in response . Angela acquiesced since this was the only way .

***

I started the ritual as soon as the Angel’s Heart arrived . Looking closely, the Abbess was in worse shape than I thought .

There was a large black hole in her stomach and ugly spider legs-like darkness sprouted out from there . But this was only a husk of a long dead avatar . If everyone followed the rules, there wouldn’t be much danger .

“Please remain silent . ”

I alerted everyone around me and breathed in deep to prepare myself . Then I read out the chants from the Canon of Seven Evils .

“One who harvests the dead stars . ”

“One who tirelessly tortures souls looking for their rest . ”

“The king of gravekeepers crouching by the grave . ”

The air changed as I chanted down verse after verse . Deep mist-like darkness settled and divine light started to fade away .

The temperature turned like chilly mid-winter and the cold dug into the very bones .

Gwwwoooooo

An unimaginable and incomprehensible supernatural being started approaching from incalculable distance away . Breathing became harder and dizziness started to overtake me . However, I bit my lips and endured .

Then, The One Crouching by the Grave talked to me through his dead avatar .

Who dares call out to me .

He only spoke, but there was a shock like a mace hitting my chest .

“Kugh . ”

How would a mere mortal reach out to me? My very existence is a closely guarded secret . This has been the second time in the eternity of existence that a mortal has called upon me .

It was not a good situation from the get go . I could feel The One Crouching by the Grave’s anger from the way he spoke . Was there a problem if I summoned him early in the game? Maybe he wanted to keep his existence hidden for a bit longer, but was angry because I summoned him .

If everything went as he planned, he would show up towards the second half of the game . Maybe I messed up his plan . I didn’t know the details, but this was definitely different from my experience . The ritual probably wouldn’t end as well as it did last time .

“I am Vallerstedt Valler . I called upon you because I desire the dead avatar’s power . ”

A scathing laughter ensued after I stated my intention .

What? Kuhahaha! Something like you! You dare want my power! The one who weave between the constellations to harvest stars’ death?

I instinctively knew the ritual would fail if it kept going like this . The One Crouching by the Grave would annihilate me himself right now if he could .

Only his consciousness has arrived here from a far away place, so he couldn’t exert physical power . However, it was possible for him to grab the summoner’s soul and punish it with eternal pain .

A mere worm is not worth my time . You will pay for not knowing your own position and calling upon power a being like you shouldn’t even name .

The One Crouching by the Grave extended his spider-like legs to grab my soul .

“Kyaaah!”

The nuns watching screamed . I was surprised as well at the fact his personality was violent and impatient . However, I stood my ground .

There was one rule that even divine beings couldn’t breach .

The player’s soul cannot be tampered with .

I wasn’t someone in this world, but a player . And players received several perks which bends this world’s rules .

One of them was that mind-altering magic didn’t work on players . It was because there would be an issue if there was something happening to the mind of the player in the real world . The soul being unable to be tampered with fell within same category .

What? I cannot grab your soul?

While trying to stomp me out like a bug, he couldn’t hide his surprise . His spider-like legs fell on me like a guillotine several times after as well .

Clang! Kaang!

But it bounced back with white sparks every time . Now the supernatural being was definitely taken aback .

You, what are you? It is unnatural that you know my name in the first place .

The One Crouching by the Grave started showing interest towards me .

A mortal cannot resist my powers . This fact stands like the fact that an iron ore is hard and there is no exception…

I had no intention to sate his curiosity . How would I even explain I’m a player in the first place .

“That’s not important . Hand over the husk’s power to me and disappear . That is why I summoned you here . ”

But the opponent was not so easy . He wasn’t co-operative either .

Silence! Confess how you have learned of my existence! Or I shall shred apart the soul of everyone here! I do not know why I cannot touch your soul, but they will not be so lucky!

The spider-like legs extended out in all direction and hovered above the nuns’ head . He was prepared to strike down and rip out their soul at any moment .

Now speak, unique yet foolish one .

Cold sweat ran down my back . I predicted as much, but he was an even more difficult opponent than I had thought .