Pick Me Up!

Chapter 266: Dethronement (1)

She walked out of the flames.

The hot air entering my breath felt like walking into a hazardous gas chamber.

She was holding back. If she had willed it, we would have been incinerated along with the Lucette.

“It’s been a while.”

Seris spread her left hand as she stepped forward.

The flames encasing her body dispersed, revealing a red sword.

The Flame Sword, Levatein. The greatest masterpiece among the Niflheimr I created.

“Since we met in Niflheimr, this is our first encounter again, isn’t it?”

The fiery glow that had surrounded her hair faded.

Her eyes returned to their usual green. A blonde, green-eyed female knight in silver armor, exactly as I had pictured her.

“Isn’t this reunion a bit sudden? It was a busy time.”

“The name of Makramda will no longer be heard on the second server.”

Seris descended to the deck of the Lucette.

At that moment, the waves of flame sweeping over the field dissipated. The heated atmosphere cooled instantly.

“Master, just focus on your original mission. Clear every floor and return to Earth. Until then, we’ll handle any nuisances that arise.”

She spoke without a hint of emotion.

Her chiseled, flawless features showed no movement, like a statue.

“And the first thing you say to me is that?”

“We’re not in the kind of relationship for tearful embraces, are we?”

It might have been a throwaway comment, but her face showed no hint of a smile.

“As the sub-master of Niflheimr and the leader of the first party, who has been with you for a long time, allow me to say something.”

Seris looked at me with a clear gaze.

“Close your eyes, cover your ears, and obediently return to Earth. Forget everything that happened here and live your old life. In the end, time will resolve it all.”

“….”

“Master, how many times are you going to be deceived? You don’t need to heed the honeyed words of the CEO or the nonsense of the director. From the beginning, you were forced into this place; it’s laughable that you even consider listening to them. All that talk of M?bius and the first server—just let it all go. It’s nonsense even a dog wouldn’t listen to.”

I stayed silent.

As she said, Seris and I didn’t have a relationship that warranted a tearful reunion.

In the distant past, we used to bicker endlessly. We disagreed on every little thing, causing endless headaches. Every time I tried to do something, she would raise complaints. If she hadn’t been the only natural-born four-star, I would’ve likely replaced her early on.

But that was back in the lower levels; as we climbed higher… things changed, I thought.

Was that just my misconception? I swallowed my bitterness and spoke.

“Seris.”

“Yes.”

“Is this why you came all the way here? To say such trivial things to me?”

I opened my mouth.

“What have you been doing all this time? I heard you were investigating something. Since I arrived here, in fact. You seem to know quite a bit that I don’t.”

“I know.”

Seris continued.

“I know, and that’s why I’m advising you.”

“….”

“Don’t be mistaken. You’re no longer the Loki of old. Here, you’re just another hero. You have no right to command me.”

“That much is true.”

“You’ve… grown weaker. The old you wasn’t this soft. You were thorough. Cold, decisive, efficient. You were perfect. That’s why we respected you as our master. But now…?”

Seris looked behind her.

Floating around us were the remains of the airship, burnt to cinders.

“Even after being deceived countless times, you still trust their words?”

“I never really trusted them.”

“If that’s true.”

Seris held out her hand to me.

“Hand over the Book of Reversal. You can reach seven stars without something like this. It’s just a pass to the first server. And yet, you hold onto it.”

“Seris, you’re too agitated.”

“I am extremely calm.”

“What happened…”

“Enough!”

Seris shouted, gritting her teeth.

She muttered quietly.

“There is no hope in this world.”

A hollow look crossed her face.

The face of someone who had abandoned all hope, someone in utter despair.

But that expression was fleeting, quickly replaced by a stony, expressionless mask.

In that moment, I realized where Seris had been staying all this time.

The first server.

“Master, hand over the Book of Reversal.”

“….”

“I won’t ask again.”

Whoosh.

A crimson flame ignited along Levatein’s blade.

“No need to resort to outright robbery, right?”

Seris glanced coldly to the side.

There, Velkist was leaning against the railing.

Given that Seris didn’t particularly care about secrecy, our conversation must have been overheard.

“I don’t know what relationship you have with him, but isn’t it about time you stop?”

“Exactly!”

Jenna leapt out from behind a pillar, puffing her cheeks in defiance.

“He doesn’t want to hand it over. That item is something he risked his life to protect. Just taking it for some vague reason is… inconsiderate.”

Seris’ eyes glowed red.

Before the two could be reduced to ashes, I threw the Book of Reversal her way.

“Take it. Don’t harm them.”

“Sure.”

Seris caught the Book of Reversal in her left hand and opened it.

“I will purify this worthless object.”

Whoosh!

The edges of the book began to burn.

Even treasures of unfathomable value have durability. The red flames quickly spread through the Book, consuming it entirely.

‘That…’

It was a keepsake left to me by El Cid.

It contained the hopes and dreams of the fallen Dorado.

I don’t know how he would react, seeing it destroyed like this.

“Why did you give it up so easily?”

“Yeah, why? If we join forces, who knows what might happen!”

“Don’t even think about fighting. Not if you want to live.”

It wasn’t just a matter of grade or level.

“Is it she that strong?”

Velkist caressed his sword.

Jenna kept glaring at Seris.

“But we might find a weak point…”

“There are no weak points.”

I asserted.

If anyone knew, it was me.

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