I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 117: The Ascension Ritual (8)

Liberie, Sedes, Valtora.

Each major city we visited took time—sometimes a few days, other times a full week. Excluding our first stop in Ordo, every visit demanded a significant investment.

Of course, that time wasn’t wasted; it was time that had to be spent.

Still, I couldn’t deny that waiting was tedious.

‘...This might just be doable.’

With that thought, I headed to Justina as soon as Daeun finished speaking.

Fortunately, Justina was still in her office.

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of work she was doing, but before I could even ask, she beat me to it, asking why I had returned.

After taking turns explaining, Justina finally spoke.

“...If I understood correctly, you’re suggesting gathering the demons’ miasma to secure what’s necessary for the Ascension Rite?”

“Precisely.”

“I have much to say about that.”

Justina pressed her fingers against her temples, looking more exhausted than she had during the day.

If she had dark circles under her eyes, she might have been mistaken for Atisha.

“Did you truly think that would work?”

“...So it won’t?”

“It won’t.”

“Why? Isn’t it feasible?”

She let out a short sigh before replying.

“Yes, it’s a good idea in theory. But do you think gathering that much miasma is an easy task? It would take every single demon’s miasma in this area just to make it remotely possible.”

“Then why not just do that?”

“Listen until I’ve finished. Most of these people already struggle to keep themselves together. Do you think they’d be fine amid the sheer amount of miasma needed for such a feat?”

“They’d be fine if I absorbed it quickly enough.”

“They would not.”

...She was firm.

Her tone left no room for argument.

“Even if it worked as you say, there’s another issue. For us, miasma is both a curse and a lifeline. It’s what drives us toward death, yet it’s also what keeps us alive. Using up all of it would be like draining our very life force.”

“Hmm, I hadn’t considered that.”

“...Draining life force?”

“Think of it like draining every last drop of blood from your body.”

“Yikes.”

“Not to that extent.”

If miasma exhaustion is anything like mana exhaustion, then yes, it’s dangerous. Severe cases can result in permanent damage or even death.

But it’s rare to reach that level solely by willpower.

“Journey, could you hold your breath until you die?”

“D-Did I do something wrong? Why are you bringing up something so morbid...?”

“I’m explaining so you understand.”

“Oh... I see?”

I looked at her with a mix of exasperation and pity, and Daeun gave me a sheepish smile.

“No hands or tools?”

“Right. Just purely holding your breath.”

“Uh... I don’t think I could. My survival instincts would kick in, right?”

“Exactly.”

No matter how strong one’s willpower, it’s nearly impossible.

“It’s the same with mana. It’s a fundamental force of life, and even if you try to draw it out completely, doing so is no simple feat.”

This is why severe mana exhaustion is rare—unless you have an iron will or outside forces compel you.

“It’s still unhealthy, though.”

“It seems you understand, so I don’t need to explain further.”

With that, Justina closed a thick book with a decisive thud, signaling us to leave.

“If you’re done, it’s time for you to go. I must rest soon.”

“Wait. I’m not finished yet.”

“...What else?”

Her gaze sharpened as she looked at me.

“We don’t have to extract all of the miasma. If we only take half, they won’t risk complete exhaustion.”

“Were you listening at all? I told you that it would require the full amount, and even then, success is uncertain. Or do you not understand what ‘all’ means?”

“If we’re short, we can make up the difference elsewhere.”

“...Make up the difference?”

Where?

As she looked at me in disbelief, I raised my hand and pointed out the window.

The night had already fallen, and the dark, looming barrier was faintly illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the miasma.

“There’s something just perfect right there.”

“Are you referring to... the barrier?”

“If you mean that black wall, then yes.”

“That’s absolutely out of the question!”

Bam!

Justina slammed her desk, her expression filled with fervor.

“The barrier prevents miasma from escaping the central area and protects the interior from external threats. If you dismantle it and fail, a catastrophe will follow. Such a thing is unacceptable.”

Listening to her passionate refusal, I waited until her breath calmed before I spoke.

“So, do you plan to keep throwing people into the miasma as it accumulates, knowing they’ll die?”

“...!”

“It doesn’t look to me like you value life very highly. Your words and actions don’t quite match up, do they?”

“...They volunteered willingly.”

“Pretty way to phrase enabling them.”

“You came here wanting to undergo the Ascension Rite as well. By your logic, shouldn’t I also stop you from pursuing it?”

“As if.”

“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. Though I find your words offensive, I’ll overlook it this time. But the next—”

“Your premise is flawed from the start.”

When I cut her off, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Don’t equate me with them.”

They sought to offer their souls to the world, even in the face of failure. But I’m not like them.

“Because I’ll succeed.”

If I thought failure was an option, I wouldn’t have come here.

I still have things I want to do.

“Confidence can be a shortcut to ruin if taken too far.”

“Thanks for the concern, but it’s really unnecessary.”

I’ve never had excessive confidence.

I did what I could, and I did what I had to.

That’s how I’ve lived since I was young, and it hasn’t changed.

“I understand your concerns, but we can’t live within these walls forever, like animals trapped in a cage. If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. But that’s not how it has to be, right?”

They say one’s mind solidifies with age...

Perhaps that’s why persuading Justina, who’s surely lived for hundreds of years, wasn’t easy. Seeing her unwavering expression, I clicked my tongue in frustration.

“Edel said that if you complete the Ascension Rite, you won’t have to worry about your mission anymore. You’ll be free to live as you wish.”

“...!”

Justina’s eyes widened like saucers.

“You’re saying Edel said that...?”

“I wouldn’t lie about this.”

“You’re sure that’s what she said?”

“Yep. She even apologized for all the hardships.”

“Are you absolutely, absolutely certain she said that?”

“How many times do I have to say it? Yes.”

Justina asked me the same question repeatedly.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t annoyed by the repetition.

But I understood why she reacted this way, so I answered her patiently every time.

Yes, I’m that considerate.

Justina, who had been questioning me while standing, finally leaned back in her chair.

“I’ve never resented the mission Edel gave me, but... there were times when it felt overwhelming.”

When the power of purification weakened...

When I felt my body adapting to miasma...

When I resorted to the Ascension Rite as a last option...

Justina admitted there had been countless moments when the burden weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“So, do you feel relieved?”

“Isn’t it too early to ask that? I haven’t even succeeded in the Ascension Rite, let alone started preparing for it.”

Atisha muttered something about my insensitivity.

“Such a lack of empathy...”

“I grew up in an environment like that.”

“Oh, there it is... Kana’s ‘killer move’...!”

“...What killer move?”

Daeun, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, immediately started spouting nonsense the moment the tension lifted.

I gave her a quick jab in the side to shut her up, then waited for Justina’s response.

After a short pause, Justina shook her head.

“A life without a mission... I can’t quite grasp it.”

At this point, I wondered if Edel had cast some sort of hypnotic spell.

Just then, she spoke.

“But I’ll accept your suggestion. As you said, we can’t remain trapped within these walls forever.”

“An excellent choice.”

Justina, who seemed unshakeable, had finally been persuaded when I brought up Edel.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is frёeωebɳovel.com.

If I’d known this would work, I would have mentioned Edel right from the start.

All that extra talk was just a waste of time.