Chapter 147

Shiver.

It trembled from the cold.

A barren, frozen planet at minus 273 degrees Celsius.

A giant dog crouched in a shadowed place where no light reached.

– How bitter. Now, I don’t even feel a sense of longing.

A time so long ago it was hard to count the centuries.

A dog abandoned by its master.

Shadow Shepherd.

The being recalled the days it had lived in the sunlit lands.

The brilliant moments when it roamed the universe following its master, Light.

The prime of a dog’s life.

– Grrrind!

The Shepherd ground its teeth.

It was furious.

Because it had loved its master.

Because its entire life had been devoted to its master, the sense of betrayal was that much greater.

– To feel longing for a master who used me up and abandoned me in such a barren land. Tsk, it’s absurd.

It would have been better if it had at least known the reason.

Because it had been dumped in a place like this without a single word.

It and its precious children, the Shadow Shepherds, were suffering.

They were slowly dying.

A land where no light reached.

What could one do in a place where the whole world was darkness, where one couldn’t see even with open eyes?

What happiness could one find?

As the years flowed by.

The newly born children didn’t know the world well.

They thought darkness was natural and didn’t know the meaning of ‘to see’.

– A sunlit land…….

That was why the Shepherd wanted to go to a sunlit land.

It wanted to go to a place where the sun shone.

It wanted to show the world to its children.

And deep down, it wanted to find the master who had abandoned it and demand to know why.

We Shepherds are the Shadow Clan.

Beings whose meaning can only be further highlighted when there is light.

And so, time flowed like running water.

Then, at that moment, an alien being appeared before its eyes.

[Tiring!]

[The Dungeon Maker has appeared.]

A strange one who announced her presence with an alarm window.

She spoke in a sweet voice.

“Please help me.”

“If enough Probability is secured, I will grant your wish.”

Ah.

The Shepherd unfurled its crouched body.

Its stiffened muscles loosened smoothly.

The opportunity it had wished to reach for so long.

– Grrrrr.

The Shadow Shepherd.

No, the Shadow Shepherd King roared.

– Grrrrr! Woof woof!

The ink-black dog bit down hard on the lifeline that had been lowered to it.

—

There was no need for me to move forward.

Sssst!

No, even before the sound of ‘sssst’ could be heard—

The Shadow Shepherd King had appeared before my eyes.

I hadn’t seen or heard its movement.

‘What in the…’

You’re telling me to fight something like that?

[The shadow of the abyss ensnares your movements.]

[Movement speed is reduced by 30%.]

It felt like something was pressing down on my body.

As if the pressure and gravity were higher than usual.

– Tsk tsk, you punk.

Yes, Elder.

– Didn’t I tell you? This is not a winnable game.

As expected.

The Elder is never wrong.

If the Elder said so, it had always been so.

‘But.’

I looked at the giant shadow that dominated my vision and said in my mind.

‘You know it too, Elder. That my choices have never been wrong either.’

With a hardened expression, I stared at the giant dog before me.

Yes, just as the Elder said.

This guy has something to say to me.

That’s why, like this—

It must have revealed itself without attacking immediately.

– You are…….

It was then that the Shadow Shepherd King opened its mouth.

But—

Its voice was clearly laced with bewilderment and doubt.

Why is that?

– You are strange. You are certainly different from the others who have challenged this trial so far.

Also, the hostility toward me.

The fighting spirit the other Shepherds had shown me was absent.

– Originally, this trial was meant to be undertaken in stages. That was the promise with the alien being. However, you are the first to recognize me. And I am very curious about that.

“……”

– How on earth were you able to see me?

How else.

I knew because the Elder next to me told me.

– That.

Whoosh!

I flicked my right hand, creating a spear.

“I can’t just tell you. It’s a trade secret.”

Even if the opponent had no hostility, my will to catch the Shadow Shepherd King remained unchanged.

Honestly, I was somewhat grateful for this situation.

At least I could buy some time to prepare.

– A trade secret…….

The Shadow Shepherd King muttered in a bitter voice.

A heavy gloom seeped from its presence.

‘Now…!’

My eyes shot open.

The guy came over and started talking.

It’s feeling bitter on its own, but there’s no need for me to play along.

Just as it has its circumstances, I have my goal.

The goal of finishing Theme 4 with a good score.

‘Here I go.’

Therefore, this was an opportunity for me.

An opportunity to take care of the final boss.

I took a step forward.

The Unrivaled Supreme Footwork I learned in Theme 3 unfolded.

At the same time, I thrust the spear containing the mysteries of the Ten Thousand Arts straight ahead.

However—

The spear only cut through empty air.

The Shadow Shepherd King’s massive body had slid left without a sound.

‘Hmm.’

I frowned.

– Tsk tsk. You think an attack like that will work?

The Elder shook his head beside me.

‘If it doesn’t work, I just have to keep doing it until it does. Besides.’

Ssk!

I pulled a scroll from my pocket.

‘I still have one trump card left.’

[Item: Wish-Granting Scroll]

[Grade: S]

[Type: Scroll]

[Description: Use it in a moment of crisis. The very thing you need most will appear.]

[Effect 1: In a moment of crisis. Ancient Magic will aid you.]

That’s right.

I can still borrow the power of ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS-rank) one more time.

The unknown being that had blocked the clash of those two mighty Breaths with spatial separation magic.

– Alien being! Wait…! Stop for just a moment!

The black dog’s voice trembled violently.

– Why on earth are you doing this to me! If you possess great power, great responsibility follows! Why do you torment the desperate and weak!

“……Weak?”

Who’s the weak one here.

Wasn’t I the weak one?

Feeling something was off, my movements halted.

That dog.

I think it’s under some huge misunderstanding.

– I have a reason to catch you. Only by catching you can I free my poor children from this hell. But!

The ink-black dog’s shadow flickered violently.

It trembled as if screaming with its whole being.

– You are too strong for that. You’re acting weak now, but did you think I wouldn’t notice?

The voice was filled with desperation.

– You are hiding something. There is definitely a tremendous being dormant inside your body. Like… similar to the one who was my master in the past… there are two such beings. I can feel it.

“Master?”

Don’t tell me.

Is it talking about the Essence of Fire and the Essence of Water contained in this weapon?

Seeing as it said two, I’m sure of it.

‘Then right now.’

Is it scared of those two kids who don’t even listen to me?

No way.

– Yes, the fact that you came all the way up here without even using that power. You must just be amusing yourself. Giving hope to me—no, to our race—only to snatch it away in an instant. Why are you doing this! Must you do this? Are the hearts of the strong all so wicked?

It was real?

“……”

But why?

Listening to it talk, I started to feel a little sorry for it.

‘Hmm.’

To make a comparison—

Right.

It had a similar smell to Sunny.

The child of the desert, abandoned by humans.

The dog, abandoned by a being called master.

They’re similar, aren’t they?

“This is not mockery.”

So I said.

“Nor do I have any ill will or grudge against you. I just have a clear objective to catch you, and I’ve run all this way for that purpose.”

– Is it because of that damn point system? That trial created by the being who provided this space?

“You know it well.”

– Hah, for a mere game…?

“It’s not a mere game. The more points I get, the more I gain. I can become stronger. The beings inside me that you mentioned were also obtained through those points.”

– ……Does that make sense?

“What’s there to make sense or not. It’s something I’ve already experienced.”

– I see. Hmmm, that thing called points. It seems to be a similar concept to the Probability I am trying to obtain now.

“Right.”

So don’t feel wronged.

It’s just that our goals are clashing.

– ……In that case, wait. May I make a proposal?

“A proposal?”

My ears perked up.

To be honest, I’m acting tough, but the only thing I can rely on is ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS-rank).

On my own, no matter how many times I thrust my spear, I can’t reach its body.

“What proposal? Tell me.”

– If your goal is to become even stronger than you are now… I can pass on my skill to you. I am one who has achieved the state of Silence. I will teach you the essence of my movements, honed over long ages.

“……”

The state of Silence…….

That’s quite tempting.

“In exchange for learning that, you want me to die? No, to be eliminated?”

– That is correct, alien being. It’s not as if your life is in danger even if you are eliminated.

Ah.

So that was the goal from the start.

Seeing me recognize it from afar and run toward it, it must have felt fear.

That’s why it stopped its subordinates from attacking and offered to negotiate.

“But.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t give up the points just to get one skill. I don’t know what value your skill holds, and I’m not doing this trial alone.”

Even now, my teammates are fighting far away.

Each of them is working hard to earn points for the team.

I couldn’t just take a benefit for myself without their consent.

– No, you punk. You crazy punk!

The Elder shouted with a look of horror.

I furrowed my brows.

‘What is it!’

– I’m telling you, that’s a monster you can’t catch anyway! It’s trying to give you everything, so why are you kicking it away! That thing is an absolute ruler who governs a world. There must be a reason why it governs a world! You must learn it!

The Elder pounded his chest as if frustrated.

‘…….’

– You punk. Do you know what the advantage of the Ten Thousand Arts is? It’s acknowledging that there is no end to learning and being able to absorb everything. While someone else is repeatedly digging into just one skill, our Ten Thousand Arts absorbs all the good stuff to create the ultimate skill. It finds the pinnacle much faster.

‘Do you rate that state of Silence so highly, Elder?’

– Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? That stealth ability is something even I can barely detect.

‘…….’

Is that so?

It did feel like a waste to use up ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS-rank) now.

Theme 5 and Theme 6 are still left.

Besides, even if I use ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS-rank), there’s no guarantee I can catch that thing.

If so, wouldn’t it be better to get what I can for sure?

Ssk.

As I put the scroll back into my pocket—

– Have you changed your mind?

The creature asked.

– Yes, you punk! Good thinking!

The Elder cheered as if it was the right thing to do.

However, I shook my head.

Elder.

It seems I’m a step above you when it comes to the art of negotiation.

“No.”

I smiled.

“I’m not satisfied with just one of your skills. I’m a bit greedy.”

– ……What?

“I’ll take the state of Silence, and let all the other Shepherds besides you be eliminated by me. Then I’ll accept. After all, you’ll be happy to have me eliminated. And I’ll be happy to get as many points as possible. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

They say you can get water even from a dry rag if you wring it.

If there’s more to squeeze out, shouldn’t I squeeze it?

“How about it, deal?”

It was the tyranny of the one in power.