LTTH C46

Chapter 46

Though the society of Britain had collapsed, it yet remained here in vestiges. Perhaps the system had even foreseen such circumstances and established shops in this land to accommodate them.

‘If so, that would be truly chilling.’

There was no function within the system without reason. Like prophecy, the right function appeared at the right moment. That even this plight of Britain might have been accounted for by the system was not beyond belief.

“In any case, Peter was not the only one to survive where Hansol first appeared. Without Hansol’s sanctuary, many would never have returned here. On the surface, they may have perished on the battlefield, but more broadly, their deaths meant fewer hunters to slay monsters and earn points.”

Kassie’s voice, calm at first, grew firm and resolute as he pressed his words toward a conclusion.

“Consider that, and Hansol is, quite literally, their savior—the one who preserved their society itself.”

Hansol slowly turned his gaze away from Peter, who nodded fervently in agreement with Kassie’s words.

How could it be so? Among all the countless eyes meeting his, not one held even a trace of resentment. It was utterly different from the mingled kindness and hostility he had felt at the Mage Tower.

That contrast stirred within Hansol a strange mix of thrill and longing he could not entirely conceal, and he followed the two ahead. What could he do here? How much could he accomplish? He wished to help as much as possible—so that the way these people looked at him would never change.

For now, he would devote himself wholly to healing. He would ensure that not a single one among them fell to illness.

“Saint! Please wait a moment.”

Hansol’s steps, filled with new hope, halted as Peter suddenly raised an arm to block his path, urgently calling Kassie to a stop as well. His eyes fixed sharply upon one point.

“Kassie-nim. We should examine that place.”

“…Whatever it is, it does not look promising.”

Their gazes converged on a patch of ground unlike the rest, stained in a hue wholly different. It seemed like soil tainted black with the foul aura of monsters, and yet no monsters lingered in that area. If they had, it could not have been corrupted by their aura.

“Let me erase it first.”

With unshaken confidence, Kassie cast a blue light toward the mysterious black pool. Yet to their dismay, nothing changed. The darkness devoured Kassie’s magic as if it were a black hole.

‘No… could it be?’

The way it swallowed Kassie’s spell so easily was hauntingly familiar. Hansol forced himself to dismiss the dreadful suspicion as he stepped between them and reached out a hand toward the blackened ground.

He had not even intended to invoke a skill. Yet the white light that sank into the darkness soon dispelled it, restoring the earth to its natural state—something Kassie’s magic had failed to accomplish. It was precisely the result Hansol had prayed not to see.

“……!”

Under the stunned eyes of the two, Hansol purified an area roughly one pyeong wide. But as the black patches vanished, his expression only grew darker. It was not from lack of mana, nor from exertion.

It was the uncanny sense of déjà vu swelling within him.

“Hansol. How did you…?”

Was the question meant to ask how he knew what this was, or how he was able to erase it? Hansol did not know. Yet he had no leisure to answer.

When had this black corruption appeared? Surely not just now. Then the people nearby might already have trodden upon it.

‘Damn it all.’

In that fleeting moment, he pushed aside the unanswerable questions and bit his lip hard, casting purifications randomly over the people gathered. Perhaps it was needless. Perhaps it had only just formed. Let it be so, he prayed.

But when he had cast purification a little more than ten times—

You have purified a Sacrifice of Bertel.

“……!”

The system message appeared before his eyes, stamping confirmation upon his foreboding.

‘Damn.’

The same words he had seen when cleansing the Infected of America’s Dark Zone. Only this time, where a masked square had once been, the name ‘Bertel’ appeared. No doubt remained. The blackened ground was the same as that accursed Dark Zone. And—

‘Bertel again.’

That name was all too familiar. He had first heard it within a Korean gate. It was also the name etched upon the key that still occupied one slot of his inventory.

Could this place be connected to Bertel’s laboratory? Or had Bertel himself created this Dark Zone?

Countless questions arose, but whatever the answer, one truth was certain: Britain was no longer safe. His random purifications had cleansed the Infected. Then if the black ground had existed not today but yesterday—or the day before—?

“Damn it.”

The curse escaped unbidden at the thought of what that could mean.

A single Infected from the Dark Zone bore strength enough to annihilate a nation. In the 100574 Incident, which had claimed so many lives, the number of Infected had been but a handful. If everyone here had been tainted… this village would have been obliterated in an instant.

Britain—the Britain they stood in—was in peril.

“Peter! Can you tell how long that black ground has been there?”

“I… I cannot say.”

Of course. If they had known, they would never have left it unchecked. Its ominous presence alone was too dreadful to ignore.

“Then roughly how many people live here?”

“About… one thousand, I would say. Not counting hunters elsewhere.”

One thousand. That so few remained of all Britain’s millions left him momentarily speechless. Yet even that number was more than Hansol could manage.

For the Infected of the Dark Zone could not be healed with ordinary spells. They bore no wounds—the system itself seemed to treat them as cursed. Only purification, imbued with divine power, could restore them.

But Hansol did not possess the mana or level to purify so many. Not a thousand.

‘…O God.’

At most, fifty. And even that was a strained estimate. Those left uncleansed would see their lands slowly swallowed by the Dark Zone within days. The corruption would spread, ever widening. This was a race against time. Would Hansol’s purifications outpace the Dark Zone’s advance—or would the Infected engulf Britain first?

Hansol drew from his inventory a skill-enhancement stone. He had intended to use it later, after learning more skills, but there was no choice.

Would you like to use the enhancement stone on Purification?

Unlike before, the system now politely asked. Hansol gave his assent without delay. The stone in his hand shone brightly and vanished.

Purification Lv.1

Cleanses a designated target or area on a broad scale. Power scales with the caster’s divine strength.

The only difference was the word “broad.” He stifled the oath that rose to his lips, grinding his teeth as he spoke with effort.

“Kassie! Can you gather the people together? Every single one—none must be left out.”

“So suddenly?”

Kassie’s face hardened at Hansol’s grave tone. It was not beyond understanding. But there was no time for lengthy explanations. If the Dark Zone had been present here even a week, then Infected might already be spreading its corruption. There was no time.

“I cannot explain fully. But if we delay, this land—this Britain—will be lost.”

The Dark Zone, where nothing could live, would strip away every last hope from these people. From here, it would spread, staining Britain black.

“I beg you.”

With the future unfolding before his eyes, Hansol bowed his head, pouring his earnest plea into Kassie. Was it truly his burden to bear? He did not know. Yet he could not stand idle while lives before him lost their light.

“…Forgive me, Hansol. No—it is I who beg of you.”

After a moment’s silence, Kassie bent low, meeting Hansol’s eyes with unflinching sincerity.

“Please, help us.”