The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 187

Chapter 22: Resolution: The Prepared Scoundrel

A month before the confrontation with the Twilight Church Leader.

I visited Marybo Tavern to meet with Sloth.

The manager, always on the verge of tears because the tavern seemed to get destroyed every time I visited (I later learned her name was Olga), guided me with lightning speed this time when I said I was looking for Sloth.

Sloth was sprawled on the sofa in her room, nonchalantly smoking a water pipe, seemingly unconcerned about the imminent conflict between the Twilight Church and the Seven Stars.

I had to acknowledge her nerves of steel.

“What brings you here?”

“Sloth, at this point, I think it’s safe to say you’ve betrayed the Twilight Church.”

Having understood Sloth’s nature, I had realized long ago that she had no real loyalty to the Twilight Church.

She didn’t praise the Demon King Baal like other Twilight Church members, and above all, she was too detached and pragmatic to be truly active in a religious organization.

Sloth didn’t seem to have any intention of denying it, shrugging her shoulders as she blew smoke into the air.

“I’ve never been loyal in the first place.”

Sloth was that kind of woman.

She always predicted and calculated the future, choosing the option with the highest survival rate.

No loyalty or sentimentality could interfere with or be included in her calculations.

The back-alley girl became a disciple of the top-notch assassin Sebastian in this way, and after a long time, she became more skilled than him.

She even actively used her femininity, successfully marrying Sebastian and giving birth to their only daughter, Zion. As a result, she pushed Sebastian out without unnecessary bloodshed and completely took over the empire’s underworld.

After that, the entire process of joining hands with the Twilight Church to survive and becoming the Seven Cardinal Sins’ Sloth, was as natural as flowing water.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re completely on our side, does it?”

“That’s right too.”

In fact, if it hadn’t been for Sloth, I would have died as an enemy of the Twilight Church before I even had a chance to prove myself.

She had discovered my identity from the moment I caught Envy in the North and began to show my potential.

Looking back now, it would have been strange if the continent’s top information guild hadn’t noticed.

Yet, she didn’t reveal that I was a Druid to the leader.

Using her expressionless face as a mask, she cleverly hid information.

At first, I thought she was protecting me because if I was in danger, her daughter Zion would also be in danger.

In her conversation with Sebastian, she said that family promises must be kept and contracts must be fulfilled no matter what.

But now I know.

She didn’t care about family at all.

She simply overestimated my growth potential.

She judged that I would become one of the continent’s top experts in time, even though I was weak then.

It was a thought that only Sloth, who belonged to the Twilight Church but distrusted it, could have.

When the Twilight Church Leader directly issued an assassination order, Sloth, who came as the executioner, called Zion to test the waters instead of blindly wielding a sword.

After that, she sincerely tried to kill me, but she changed her mind after seeing that I had not only power but also intelligence and resourcefulness.

She agreed to my feigned death operation and even taught assassination techniques to her own daughter, Zion, who was my closest aide.

In the end, her choice was right.

During that time, I successively captured the Seven Cardinal Sins of Twilight, including Lust and Gluttony.

I rose to Sword Master and normalized the Bellanus Holy Nation and the Underwater City.

I uncovered the secrets of the Empire, dealt with Pride, defeated the Twilight Church Leader, and rose to become the continent’s hero.

Her prediction of victory based on her survival instincts was right on the mark.

Sloth even picked up the infant Pahel and raised him to adulthood.

It was odd for a woman with a screw loose to suddenly raise a child.

That Pahel grew up to become the Vice-Master of the Black Night and is now the Crown Prince of the Empire.

I don’t know how far ahead she sees, but she was the most intelligent executive among the Seven Cardinal Sins.

For the record, Zion pathologically hated her mother, Sloth.

On the other hand, I acknowledged her obsession with survival and her foresight in preparing for the future.

Looking only at the results.

With the Twilight Church destroyed, Sloth is the only surviving executive.

“I’ll tell you the current situation of the Twilight Church.”

At that time, she provided key internal information, saying to finish off the Twilight Church Leader.

The fact that only Wrath and the Twilight Church Leader remained after all the executives died. The fact that Wrath’s identity is a giant. The fact that the Twilight Church Leader’s base is an abandoned ruin located in the south-central part of the continent.

I got a lot of information from her, but the most important information was separate.

“The leader said it himself. The resurrection of the Demon King is less than a year away.”

“Really? That’s hard to believe.”

“I’m just conveying the leader’s words. Maybe it’s even less than a year.”

At that time, I still thought there was a year to spare.

It was a delusion born of my complacency.

From the moment I dealt with the Twilight Church Leader, my feet were already on fire.

[You have accepted the quest.]

[The resurrection of the Demon King Baal is 180 days away.]

[The countdown has begun.]

Among the phrases written in the system window, the one that caught my eye was, of course, the date.

Only 180 days left until resurrection, I can’t believe it even after seeing it.

“Are you sure the Demon King’s resurrection is only half a year away?”

Igdrasil nodded in affirmation.

“Unfortunately, that’s right.”

If it’s the World Tree that is involved in multiple parallel worlds, it must be certain.

How should I move in just half a year?

The first Druid Merlin was powerful, but the Demon King Baal is a being of a completely different dimension.

He was an existence that even the Ancient Dragon Kyle, whom I met in the North, could not defeat and only seal.

“I think I got the wrong quest.”

“To use Earth terms, what’s done is done.”

Rejection is impossible.

Now that things have come to this, I have to prepare as much as possible.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Let’s start with what we can do.

First, absorb the Golden Branch.

If I get this, I will finally have collected all seven Golden Branches.

I don’t know why I feel like a dragon will come out and grant my wish.

———————-

[Congratulations.]

[You have become a Mythic Druid.]

[Buff existing skills.]

[Acquire new skills.]

———————-

——————–

1. Wood Control

-Enhanced Bind (MAX)

-Wood Golem (MAX)

-Wood Storm (★★★★) -> Wood Meteor (MAX)

-Giant Wood (MAX)

2. Crystal Control

-Crystal Lance (MAX)

-Crystal Wall (MAX) -> Crystal Mountain (MAX)

-Crystal Golem (MAX)

-Crystal Storm (★★★★) -> Crystal Meteor (MAX)

-Giant Crystal (MAX)

3. Wind Control

-Instant Step (MAX)

-Haste (MAX)

4. Life Control

– Shared Vision (MAX)

– Taming (MAX)

– Memory Recall (MAX)

– World Tree Sacred Tree Summon (MAX) -> Igdrasil Summon (MAX)

——————–

Is it because it’s the last Golden Branch?

I was promoted from Legendary to Mythic, and all skills reached the maximum value, MAX.

It means that the skill output has reached its peak and there are no more steps to climb.

From now on, the key is how to combine and apply the skills I have.

I saw a few changed skills.

First, the bombing skill that changed from Spear to Rain, and from Rain to Storm, changed to Meteor.

Numerous meteorites falling from the sky.

I properly experienced the overwhelming destructive power of this skill in the battle with Merlin.

The defense skill that evolved from Shield to Wall was also upgraded to Mountain.

It doesn’t just block attacks, it takes out an entire mountain and overturns the terrain.

As expected, I know how annoying this skill is because Merlin used it during the battle.

Finally, the World Tree skill has changed.

Instead of the existing Sacred Tree, the main body of Igdrasil is summoned.

Therefore, regardless of the severity of the injury, the whole body is restored unless the neck is cut off.

In fact, this skill made the battle with the Twilight Church Leader a long one, so it was a cheat skill that had been proven several times.

Skill check is over.

Time to return to reality.

“I’ll see you again next time.”

“Come and find me if you need help.”

Spot!!

The abandoned ruins where I fought tediously for dozens of days welcomed me again.

Previously, there were still remnants of buildings, but all artificial products disappeared due to the battle with the Twilight Church Leader.

The only thing that stood out on the messed-up ground was a man.

An old man wearing a black robe and a bamboo hat.

The loose sleeves of the robe and the white beard sticking out from under the bamboo hat fluttered in the blowing wind.

A man whose very existence doesn’t fit in with the Arnia continent. But to me, he was more welcome than anyone else.

“Celestial Demon!!”

I shouted happily and ran towards the Celestial Demon.

The Celestial Demon also approached me.

What a touching reunion!

The time I spent with the Celestial Demon flowed like a panorama.

Now, the Celestial Demon and I will have a deep hug between master and disciple···

Tak!

Huh?

My hand waved in the air.

My waist felt empty.

“This is originally my sword. I’ll take it back.”

The Celestial Demon Sword was robbed.

“Excuse me? Then what about my sword?”

“Why should I care? You find it yourself.”

Ah, right.

He was originally bad-tempered.

People don’t change just because they came out of a sword.

Rather, it became more troublesome because he got a body.

“How can you do this! It’s the sword I used!”

“How long have you used this sword?”

“Still, I’ve used it for over 5 years.”

“I used it for 60 years.”

I have nothing to say.

I suddenly have to find a new sword.

Damn perverted old man.

I came back from the ruins.

The entire continent was in a festive mood at the news that the Twilight Church was over.

Humans always look for someone to praise for such good news.

In a situation where they even create non-existent heroes and put them in the spotlight, me and the Seven Stars who left to catch the Twilight Church Leader were a very delicious story.

Me and the Seven Stars appeared in all the songs of the bards who reside in the tavern under the title of The Last Hope.

Unlike the already famous Seven Stars, the enthusiasm for me, a new face who newly joined as Eight Star and was also young, was literally fanatical.

As this expedition ended successfully, the criticisms that the rumors had been exaggerated or that I was a windbag disappeared altogether.

A position envied by all humans.

It would be normal to feel good.

I didn’t have the mind or the time to do that.

“The Demon King will be resurrected in half a year.”

Others would laugh and say it’s a lie, but it’s a statement from the hero who defeated the Twilight Church Leader.

The ripple I brought was enormous.

“Anyone who can hold a weapon, please gather at Black Castle. It’s a matter of human survival.”

The Seven Stars also received the news.

Their reactions were different.

The Paladin Johann went into seclusion to train, and the Knight Commander Hans carried out a massive military conscription.

Old Man Orneo locked himself in the lab, saying he had something to research, and Gazel returned the desert army to the seal.

Karina and Marquis Lloyd struggled at Black Castle to calm the deteriorating situation in the North as much as possible.

And Pilgrim Tom···is with me.

“You don’t have a weapon?”

“Yes, the blade broke when I fought the Twilight Church Leader.”

To be exact, it was confiscated by an old man who was just stupidly strong, but I was embarrassed to say it honestly, so I made up an excuse.

“This is a big problem. With the Demon King’s resurrection just around the corner, the most important hero doesn’t have a weapon···”

“I don’t think an ordinary sword will work in a situation where I’m going to face the Demon King, so I was wondering if you could help me since you have a wide range of knowledge.”

The reason I asked Tom was because I was wondering if there was a sword found in the Aslan Empire ruins.

Well, something like that.

A state-of-the-art lightsaber that would appear in a space movie, or a magic sword made of an unidentified mysterious metal.

Weapons that I felt like Tom would have.

I asked with some expectation, but the answer that came back was disappointing.

“Well, most of the weapons found in the ruins are ranged weapons. I think swords are better in this era.”

Should I ask Emperor Calon to give me a famous sword?

While I was worrying, Tom continued.

“There is a colleague among the pilgrims who specializes in restoring severely damaged artifacts. He’s a blacksmith, and his craftsmanship and skill are the best on the continent.”

Good news in the middle of listening.

My voice tone naturally went up.

“Can I see the works made by that blacksmith?”

“The revolver that Greed used before, and the gravity field generator that I gave you, are artifacts restored by that friend.”

“!!”

“In addition, the aura bullets that are secretly traded among the pilgrims are also his original inventions.”

I remember.

One of the reasons why the battle with Greed in Liang was difficult was because the quality of the artifacts he had was high compared to his skills.

The revolver I acquired after defeating Greed, and the aura bullets and gravity field generator that Tom gave as a reward, helped a lot in defeating strong bosses afterwards.

I gave it to Sloth in a deal for information, but its usefulness was certain.

All those artifacts were restored and invented by one person, so there is no doubt that his skills are the best.

“If you ask him to make a sword, he will make it with the best skill.”

“Can I ask him to make my sword?”

“That’s not difficult, but there’s one problem.”

“What’s the problem?”

“Even the best chef has limitations on the dishes he can make with rotten vegetables and meat.”

“In short, the material is the key.”

“That’s right. You can make a famous sword with ordinary iron, but will a sword made like that withstand the Demon King’s attack? I have doubts.”

Tom’s statement was reasonable.

No matter how good the craftsmanship is, if the material of the sword is poor, it becomes ambiguous.

Of course, if the opponent is moderately strong, that level of sword is enough, but my opponent is a being from another world whose combat power is unknown.

Unless it’s a myth-class material like Orichalcon [a legendary metal], which is famous as the hardest metal in the world, or Dragon Bone, which is difficult to cut even with an aura blade···

······Huh?

“I’ll try to ask anyway. A hero can’t be without a sword.”

“Wait a minute. I think I have a suitable material.”

I reached into the sub-space gourd [a magical item for storage].

The image of the Golden Mountain is projected in my head, and the numerous treasures contained within come to mind.

A chalice full of diamonds, a beautiful necklace emitting a fascinating light, gold coins flashing in various colors, a splendid dress that I don’t know what era it is from.

I passed all of them and went up to the top of the Golden Mountain.

Beyond that, I saw what I wanted.

Something that was so bulky that it was hidden behind the Golden Mountain.

The corpse of the Imoogi [a proto-dragon] I caught in the Underwater City.

The bones of a legendary phantom beast have an absurd strength in themselves.

‘It’s a little lacking···’

It’s a material that can’t be found anywhere in the world, but it was a little lacking in the current situation.

I went a little further back.

Then I saw the ‘real’ thing.

A being so huge that it made the incredibly long and large Imoogi bones look like a child’s.

The last trace he left.

Even though the soul has already gone to eternal rest and even the body has disappeared and only bones remain, I feel reverence.