[Permanent Plundering... successful!]
[You have acquired the Talent: ...]
[The mark of the Talent: ... vanishes from its previous owner's soul.]
[The proficiency of the Talent: Plunder dramatically increases!]
[Talent: Plunder (Growth) Proficiency: 80%]
The Apostle of the Unseen, with a gaping hole in his chest, now utterly powerless and somewhat still alive, looked into my eyes with a terrified expression before breathing his last.
However, his trembling mouth opened in his final moments, leaving riddles that would solve their own.
"Fragment... of the Bestower."
Thud!
His body finally fell, leaving my mind to momentarily contemplate his parting words.
If I had not read the original story of [Hero's Apocalypse]...
If I had not thoroughly browsed through the forums related to this very story...
If I had not read every author's notes and extra scenarios related to this world outside of what was originally written...
Then I would not have an inkling behind the Apostle of the Unseen's last words.
After all, as grueling as this journey would become in the near future, or even at this very moment, my first absolute goal—meaning it must be achieved even if the world turned itself upside down—was directly related to the 'Bestower.'
If there's one thing worth mentioning...
'What did he mean by fragment...?'
Lost in my thought for a second, my eyes subconsciously locked with the White Princess, who was standing on the other side of the Unseen God's Apostle's lifeless body, who pathetically perished despite having such a fraudulent power because of his one fatal weakness tied to the nature of the Unseen God.
Princess Yuridika stared at me, her mind was filled with tumultuous thoughts about what she had just witnessed—specifically the symbol that depicted [Plunder] itself.
In the end, all she could muster to say was...
"You are an enigma. It's something I find wondrous and fascinating."
"..."
"Nonetheless, I am eternally grateful."
She lightly lowered her head, unbefitting of an Imperial Princess. However, considering the Britanoia Empire was no more, and that she was the only remaining living proof of its existence, such a gesture was the least she could do.
It was then...
Crack~!
Woom!
Before I could respond, several greyish-white portals simultaneously manifested around the grand hall, ejecting numerous familiar people who seemed to have gone into their own world of illusions.
With the Apostle of the Unseen gone, every residue of his power gradually dissipated.
Kaya, seeing my presence, lunged forward in haste, and rubbed her hands across my face to ensure that I was real—or that she was still alive and that this was not merely an illusion cast by the zealous entity now lying in his own pool of crimson.
"B-brother... I-I thought..."
Kaya embraced me, something I had not expected considering the owner of this body's reputation. However, throughout the time I facilitated and, at the same time, spearheaded the Warbody Program, it seemed the years of built-up perception about being good-for-nothing naturally vanished.
Gently caressing her back, I asked, my voice carrying genuine concern, "What happened?"
It was then that she briefly explained the nightmare she went through, reliving the moments of the territorial war, specifically the scenario where Count Othenwald's general personally beheaded our mother and father.
The difference was that, knowing that it would happen, Kaya intensely persuaded her parents in that world. But the cycle continued over and over for countless times that it was a miracle itself that she had not gone insane all this time.
The same thing happened to the others—with the memories of the present, they relived their worst nightmares.
If there was one thing I could deduce from these circumstances, I certainly was the only one who had a different experience by witnessing the fragments of history of the Lunar Region, its stern ruler, and the death of the innocent.
Why me?
I couldn't understand.
Was it because of Princess Yuridika, a worshipper of the Moon Goddess, a deity who seemed asleep in the present era, who possessed the power to interfere with the Unseen God's Apostle's Authority?
Or was it simply because I was a transmigrator?
If that's not it, then perhaps it had something to do with Obscurach the Thirteenth's last words?
Releasing my embrace, Kaya gazed at the ethereal figure standing in front of the shattered throne and the lifeless body, the one veiled in a cloak.
"B-brother, I-Is that? What do we do?"
It's a concerning yet valid question—after everything that had happened, if her purpose was fulfilled, should Princess Yuridika be considered an enemy from this point onward?
No. That would immediately spell our doom.
Based on what I've observed, the White Princess had the potential to ascend to a demigod archmage, and with her vast knowledge, it could be said that she was also a scholar.
Moreover, she possessed two [Authorities] that, by personally hearing from her their applications, could wipe us out in the blink of an eye.
Kaya, as well as the others, hid behind me. The figure standing in front of us was majestic.
Her cascading long silver hair. Her gleaming purple eyes. Her fair skin was without blemish. Everything about her was heavenly.
Sometimes I wondered why such a word [heavenly] was the only thing I could muster to describe her existence. Was it due to her being a devout follower of the Moon Goddess?
"I am not an enemy. Just as I have said, I am eternally grateful for your help."
Her serene voice carried a hint of being genuine, though pleasing to the ears, it garnered confusion from everyone, since they had lately appeared just after the White Princess showed her gratitude earlier.
Looking at my back, as if their eyes would pierce my soul, I began to explain everything that happened.
I didn't leave a single detail except the White Princess' authorities, and how she could be considered a woman of ancient age.
"Huh... A-Apostle, you say?"
"What's that, Young Master?"
"Is it a devout follower of a church?"
Among them all, Yena, the double-agent spy, couldn't help but gulp in tension. Even if she had not seen one, and that it was rare for any other person to encounter an apostle throughout their lifetime, her composure was shaken at the mere fact that this labyrinth housed such an entity.
More so the truth of praying for thousands of years...
A follower of what could be said as a fallen deity in this era...
"B-But how is the White Princess..."
Just as Kaya was about to inquire further, I dismissed their complicated expressions and murmurs of doubt.
Staring at her for a moment, I asked, "What do you plan to do now?"
Alone in this world.
With everyone you once held dear washed by the sands of time.
Sometimes, longevity was truly a curse.
Receiving her gaze, I dreaded inwardly, 'Damn it. Is this expedition a failure? We couldn't just take every treasure in this place in her presence. Fighting was foolish either."
"What do you mean by that?"
Princess Yuridika asked, tilting her head to one side.
"..."
"You have to take me as your responsibility."
"...?"
I couldn't bear to look behind to see the gazes of those staring at my soul. Yet my senses were tingling to the extreme that I sensed suspicious glances.
'Seriously... This is the best outcome I could have asked for!'
Dismissing their stares, I smiled.
I gained an ally outside of the original story.
With such a thought lingering in my mind, I heard Princess Yuridika's voice... inside my head.
A telepathic communication...?
< "Even if I had not seen it all, and I could not for some reason, I couldn't help but take a peek at your memories. So please, take care of me." >
Chills run down my spine at her playful tone.
'What the hell is she talking about?'
Behind that thought, I opened my mouth for them to hear, "Then... if you want to accompany us, please guide us throughout your old home."
After that, we were guided to parts of this castle by the White Princess, who also cast magic to light the way.
Some time later, we arrived at the castle's spacious royal treasury...
"Wh-what the...?!"
"There are so many... Is this even real?!"
"Is that a sword...? W-we've hit the jackpot, Young Master!"
Various equipment, magical tomes, lost relics, and every other kind of ancient treasure were scattered on the ground.
'We're so damn rich!'
Soulshards aside, this would be a significant boost in the territory's firepower.
With my companions jumping on gold in excitement, Princess Yuridika's voice echoed in my head for the second time, which left me in deep contemplation,
< "You are a noble, right? What do you think about transporting the entire castle to your territory? Ah. You can casually respond—this is a two-way telepathy. >
< "Seriously... Just what don't you know about me at this point? I feel like my privacy has been extremely violated..." >
But her idea was something I couldn't help but entertain.
< "But is it even possible? And even if it is, how about setting up two-way portals from this place to my territory? You know... It's been a long time, I should tell you about the present world." >
Princess Yuridika let out a smile.
< "I will gladly listen with a cup of wine." >
While these two were silently talking, Kaya, standing by the side, could only inconspicuously look at them with a suspicious gaze.