Leaving the Viscount’s domain by the sea behind, our carriage rolled along the highway once more.
“Hmm… I heard the next territory is in the middle of harvesting summer vegetables.”
“““Summer vegetables?”””
“You know—eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers… and okra, too.”
“““Whoa!”””
The neighboring barony, just next door to the viscountcy, was known for its agriculture, and apparently it’s peak harvest season. Still, we wouldn’t arrive at the barony until tomorrow, so today we could take our time and enjoy the journey.
Along the way, another party of adventurers shared the carriage with us. Shiro and the others chatted happily with them. The fact that they were so relaxed suggested these adventurers were friendly people. The adventurers were a young man and woman, seemingly a little older than us. At one point, the female adventurer turned to Shiro and the others with a curious question.
“Hey, so you came from the Northern Margravate, right? I heard that the champion of the martial arts tournament was a slime… do you happen to know anything about that, Shiro-chan?”
That martial arts tournament was pretty famous. The prize money was substantial, and I guess it was the kind of stage adventurers might dream of reaching.
Now, how would Shiro and the others respond?
Somehow, I had a feeling they’d answer honestly.
“This Ao is the champion!”
“Eh—really? Oh… that’s definitely the medal given to the winner!”
As expected, the female adventurer’s eyes went wide at Shiro’s words. But Ao quickly pulled the commemorative medal from her item box and showed it, and just like that, the astonishment turned into understanding.
“Wow… amazing. So the champion of the martial arts tournament really is a slime.”
The male adventurer examined the medal closely as well, holding it up and turning it over in his hands. Then he turned to Ao with a proposal.
“If it’s alright… could we spar a little at the next stop over?”
“We’ve been adventuring for a while ourselves, but we’re curious on just how strong you are.”
“Oh, no problem. Ao says she’s totally fine with that.”
Ao is enthusiastically nodding that she’s totally fine with sparring, so we planned to have a match during the next rest stop along the road.
But when we arrived at the rest area, a sudden problem appeared.
“““Grrrrr!”””
“Ah! Wolves!”
A pack of wolves had appeared out of nowhere. They looked hungry, and it seemed we had wandered right into their territory at the worst possible time.
It was Ao who immediately began weaving magic.
“Ao, we’ll sell everything, so just aim for their heads.”
Ao seemed to understand perfectly, her tentacles waving with readiness.
Whoosh… thud-thud-thud!
With precise aim, Ao fired magical orbs made of earth magic straight at the wolves’ heads. Each shot struck true. Then, triumphant and unbothered, she strode toward the fallen wolves to begin the cleanup.
“Haha… that was insane. It was over in an instant.”
“Yeah… and even though it’s just a slime, the control over that magic is unbelievable.”
Even the adventuring duo looked thoroughly impressed, but honestly, this level of skill wasn’t beyond what Sue and I could manage.
Though for Fran and Horn, that might still be a little too advanced for them.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
“Daishi-san! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Satsuki-chan, who rushed forward, reached me in a small sprint. Once close, she began inspecting and lightly touching me, checking my physical and mental state.
I wasn’t injured at all.
Hmm? Isn’t she… a little too thorough?
Hey! That’s ticklish!
“I’m a little tired, but I’m fine! Wait, I just leveled up and I’m checking my stats—give me a moment.”
I gently pushed Satsuki-chan back and returned to examining my status screen.
I couldn’t help but be curious about the new skill I had just learned and the massive surge of Burial Power.
I hadn’t defeated the Nether Dragon King, but at least I earned experience. My level had gone up by two, and the new skill I’d learned was [Burial Fist].
Fist… wait. Is this—physical?
I better check the description.
【Burial Fist】: Delivers the hammer of heaven to the target with a burial strike.
Yep. Definitely physical.
Judging by the name and description, this skill probably scales with both Strength and Burial Power.
If that’s the case… well, then my path forward is obvious. I’ve always admired muscle, after all. My stat allocation plan practically wrote itself.
No time to waste—let’s get to the main event: distributing my stats.
Viewers’ various ideas on how to allocate stats are flying around in the comments section. Some even suggested I didn’t need Strength at all.
“I maxed Strength. It seems perfect for the new skill I just learned.”
I replied, explaining my stats and skills to the camera as usual.
Meanwhile, the comment section kept buzzing with opinions. My eyes were already starting to hurt, so I decided to take a short break from reading them.
“Looks like things have gotten even weirder again, huh, Daishi-san…”
“I wonder… what’s going to happen to me now…”
“Who knows…”
“Um, excuse me!”
As Satsuki-chan and I exchanged awkward smiles, Mina-san, the late-arriving member of the SS-class adventurer party, cut into our conversation.
She probably felt fine after Satsuki-chan healed her.
Mina-san looked energetic and unharmed.
“Oh, um… Mina-san, right?”
“Huh? How did you…? Oh! The viewers told you, didn’t they?”
“Sorry about that. My viewers seem to know everything. But what about your companions?”
“My brothers? Don’t worry—I healed them properly. They just exhausted themselves a bit too much, so they’re still resting over there.”
Mina-san lightly gestured behind her.
Sure enough, Slay and Jan—her brothers—were sleeping peacefully.
…Wait, they’re siblings?
Forming a party from the same bloodline and climbing to SS-class? That’s insane. Elite lineage for sure. A little enviable.
“Thank you so much for saving us back there! But…”
Mina-san’s gaze turned sharp, locking onto me directly as she spoke, even while offering thanks.
I couldn’t tell exactly how much of my fight she had witnessed, but I was certain she knew something unusual had happened. Her stare made that meaning clear.
I met her gaze in return.
And… wow. This Mina girl… she’s stunning. Different from Satsuki-chan’s type, she’s a more classic beauty. Her nose line is sharp and elegant, leaving a strong impression.
“I watched part of your fight. I’ve also heard the circumstances from Satsuki. There’s a lot I could say… but—”
Mina-san’s words carried weight, even in their subtlety.
No matter how beautiful she is, she’s a SS-class adventurer, and every syllable she spoke radiated power. I had no idea what she was about to say though.“For now, just one question: Ajiri Daishi… are you really human?”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The fiftieth floor of the Nether Class Dungeon had a high ceiling, but its depth was surprisingly shallow. About twenty meters ahead stood the imposing throne of the Nether Dragon King.
Above the wall behind it, a massive image appeared: an elderly man with flowing white hair and beard, his deeply chiseled, sharp features radiating authority.
“N-Nether King!”
Ades’s body, which had been dissipating into mist, returned to its original form before my eyes.
The Nether Dragon King, who was the first to notice the image of the Nether King, quickly descended to the ground and prostrated himself before the image on the wall.
I didn’t know how it had happened, but it seemed this “Nether King” had used some inhuman technique to restore Ades’s body. Though clearly only a projection, my skill combo had been rendered useless.
“So… you’ve been thoroughly beaten, haven’t you, Ades?”
“There is no excuse. I am ready to accept whatever punishment you see fit.”
“No, no. Your feat in repelling those SS-class experts with the strength to clear the Nether Domain was impressive. They were a group of explorers on par with the hero party that recently conquered the Divine Realm. Well done.”
“T-thank you for your generous words!”
The Nether Dragon King remained prostrated, bowing deeply.
Yeah… this old man is definitely Ades’s superior.
He even actually acknowledged his subordinate’s achievements—maybe he wasn’t such a bad boss after all.
“So… it was this one who ate my liver.”
“Yes. That shameless old man over there.”
Wait—how does this guy already know that?
Had Ades been filing daily reports or something?
No, hold on—hey, old man!
Don’t go treating me like I’m an old man too!
Do you want me to get flattened next, too?!
“Boy… what is your name?”
“Huh? If you want my name, you should introduce yourself first, old man.”
This guy was probably overwhelmingly stronger than me. My instincts screamed danger from deep within my body.
Yet… I didn’t feel particularly afraid. Not that I had an iron will, but bowing here wouldn’t necessarily earn me any special favor either. Might as well just stand my ground and speak boldly—what could go wrong there, right?
“Hahaha! You do not flinch in my presence! What an interesting young man!”
“Just introduce yourself already, old man.”
“I am the Nether King.”
“Huh? That’s your name?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been called the Nether King ever since I was born.”
I didn’t detect any hint of lying in his voice.
…Guess that’s just how things are in dungeons.
“I’m Daishi. Daishi Ajiri.”
“I see… an unfamiliar name, but a fine one.”
“So? What now? Do I have to fight you, old man?”
Honestly… I didn’t want to fight.
The outcome was as obvious as day. There is no way I could win. But what would happen next depended entirely on how this old man chose to proceed. At the moment, I lack the power to take control of the situation.
“No, no. That would be breaking the rules. If you wish to fight me, you must enter properly from the dungeon entrance and make your way down to the hundredth floor. Only then will I consider entertaining you, boy.”
The old man, the Nether King, grinned slyly as if to provoke me.
…No thanks.
Comments flooded in:
> Did he just say he is the Nether King?
> First time we’re hearing that.
> So the boss of the hundredth floor is the Nether King?
> He looks so weak.
> Unbelievable!
> He just instantly healed the dying Nether Dragon King, though.
> The hero party already dropped out at the seventy-eighth floor, so you can guess the rest.
> How did the hero party even get past Ades?
> Wait, they actually cleared the Divine Realm?
> That info hasn’t been officially released yet.
> Tomorrow’s newspaper is going to be packed with new info!
> This is going to be trending worldwide online.
By now, the viewer count had finally surpassed 100,000. Occasionally, comments in foreign languages appeared, leaving her slightly bewildered.
Could it be… this was becoming a worldwide sensation?!
“Don’t get cocky, Daishi. Defeating a hollowed-out Nether Dragon King is nothing. Right now, he hasn’t even reached a tenth of his true power.”
I see.
So he had already used almost all of his strength before facing me. There must have been a fierce battle in the Nether Domain.
Ades’s little rebellion? That was mostly their doing, too.
No wonder SS-class people were so impressive.
“Then…”
“You’re nothing more than a pitiful adventurer who happened to wander here on a whim, like some temporal rabbit. Return to your original dungeon when the time comes, and all will be well.”
“You’re not mad that I ate your liver?”
“Hahaha! Normally, anyone who eats my liver wouldn’t survive. They’d instantly explode into dust.”
“Wait… really?”
“Indeed. You appear to be a rather extraordinary adventurer. Perhaps one day you may surpass even the heroes themselves. Until that time, I suppose my liver shall remain in your care.”
Uh…This sounded like it was going to be troublesome.
I could just return it now…
…No, wait. If returning it means I’d be eaten in the process, then forget it.
I wasn’t aiming to become a famous adventurer anyway.
When I was first transported here, sure, I was a little excited. But honestly… I don’t have any real desire to conquer the Nether-Class Dungeon. I’m perfectly content just grabbing treasure from easy dungeons and selling it to make a living. That’s enough for me.
Ah, and of course… I’m counting on some streaming revenue too!
“Farewell, little monk. I look forward to the day you reach the hundredth floor of my Nether Dungeon before the hero party does.”
The image on the wall vanished, and both the Nether King and the Nether Dragon King departed from the scene.
Too bad… I’m not going to live up to the old man’s expectations. Once I clear that beginner dungeon, I just want to explore dungeons at my own pace and take it easy.
Still… since stat-raising is fun, I’ll gratefully hold onto the liver for now!
“Daishiii—saaan!!”
I turned around and heard Satsuki-chan’s voice coming from the opposite side of where the Nether King had disappeared.
I could see her running toward me, and it finally felt like this brutal mission was over.
I took a deep, satisfying breath and let my true feelings slip out.
“Ahhh!! I am so exhausted!!”
And, as usual, the familiar notification appeared before my eyes.
《 Daishi has leveled up. 》
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The auto-tracking camera hovered near me, capturing every second of my confrontation with Ades. The comment stream was scrolling too fast to read properly, but the reactions were clear—chaos, disbelief, and awe.
“Oi. Don’t put them in front of me where I can’t heal them. Over there… gently, got it?”
“Eh? I… understood…”
Ades extinguished the black flames from his hands and, still swaying slightly, began to move the two unconscious explorers toward where Satsuki-chan and I were hiding.
Placing them in front of me, someone without a healing skill, wouldn’t help anyone. With those absurdly long tails of his, he might as well reach over to them directly.
“T-there. Is this satisfactory?”
“Mm. Well done.”
The Nether Dragon King, begrudgingly obedient, had at least complied—for now. The tension remained, but the first step toward saving the others had been taken.
The Nether Dragon King didn’t ignore orders. As instructed, he carefully placed the two of them before Satsuki-chan and Mia-san, setting them down with deliberate slowness. Once the task was done, he neatly retracted his tail.
At least, it seemed he had withdrawn all murderous intent—for now, that was a relief.
“Um… are you… perhaps a relative of the Nether King?”
“The Nether King?”
Nether King… what was that? Was this his superior?
I’m not sure, but the thought of answering incorrectly here made my stomach twist. One wrong word, and he might attack without warning.
Better to bluff my way through…
No, wait. Come to think of it, before coming here…
“…I might’ve eaten him.”
“Huh??”
“The Nether King… I might’ve eaten him.”
“W-what did you just say!?”
“Well, there was something in a treasure chest labeled ‘Nether King’s raw liver’. I ate it.”
This was bad. I had just spoken the unvarnished truth. Come to think of it, I had never been good at lying.
“…I see. So that’s what happened.”
“Huh?”
“Just the other day, the Nether King lamented, ‘One of my organs has gone missing recently…’”
I had no idea how an organ could go missing, but apparently, the raw liver I had eaten was that very organ.
“You have incorporated a part of the Nether King into yourself, haven’t you?”
The expression of the Nether Dragon King shifted, and his aura changed. The malevolence that had waned when they first met was returning, regaining its original, ominous weight.
Wait—no, this is bad!
No, don’t flinch! Keep up the bluff!
“That’s… so what!? I-it’s fine, isn’t it!?”
My words betrayed my panic. My vocabulary failed her utterly.
“My eyes were deceived. Your aura… it matches the Nether King’s, and it unsettled me slightly.”
Ades’s dragon tail twitched again, moving in jagged, unpredictable patterns.
It’s definitely aimed at me. Right?
It had become painfully clear that words alone could not resolve this.
“I understand now. If you have absorbed a part of the Nether King, then by consuming you, the Nether King should restore the lost organ.”
…Ah. That made sense.
Wait—this was not the time to be rationalizing!
Ades’s two dragon tails writhed once more, aiming with terrifying precision.
One tail pointed at me… the other… was aimed at Satsuki-chan and the others!
“You, too, shall serve as the Nether King’s sacrifice, alongside that priestess over there…”
“Cremation!!”
“Guwaaaaahhh!!”
It worked.
My bluff had failed completely, so I struck first, igniting both of Ades’s tails with my Cremation skill. I had used it countless times before. Now, a mere thought was enough to trigger it.
Ades had looked momentarily enlightened, but don’t get the wrong idea, old man. I was just scared to see how you’d react because fighting would have been a pain.
The fact remains that you are a weakling in my eyes!
“My… my tail—AAAHHHHH!”
The Nether Dragon King’s anguished roar echoed across the fiftieth floor of the Nether Dungeon.
For now, both of Ades’s interfering dragon tails had been incinerated.
Perhaps because my Burial Power was maxed out, the tails had burned down to ash, scattering like smoke through the air.
“FOOLISH MORTAL!!!”
Ades shot upward toward the ceiling with terrifying vertical speed.
Simultaneously, he raised both hands, concentrating his magical energy. Black flames, far more malevolent than before, surged toward her with deadly intent.
“Black flames! Burn the unholy with the fires of hell! Purgatory Nether Dragon Fireball!”
“Retribution!”
“Ughhhhhh!!”
He shouted some over-the-top, dramatic spell name—but I simply reflected it back using my [Retribution] skill.
Even Ades own black flames had scorched him a little. But he is still alive.
Well… there was no way I could take him down this easily.
Alright then, time for round two!
Since he had “Nether” in his name, he might be some kind of undead-type… maybe this will work!
“Requiem!”
Without missing a beat, I raised my wooden staff and unleashed the next skill.
The dim cave, lit only by the flickering torchlight, is suddenly bathed in the brilliant radiance of Ascend, revealing solemn rows of carved statues and intricate reliefs. The temple seemed to regain its divine presence, the light gently illuminating every corner of the sacred space.
“I… I’m disappearing…!? Could it be… I… am losing…?”
Ah—this seemed to be working.
Ades’s massive form began to crumble, turning gradually into white dust.
I might actually have won.
Comments exploded in disbelief:
> Whoa… he is actually going to win?
> The Nether Dragon King is… vanishing…
> Unprecedented!
> ….This! The first and probably the last!
Even the spectators were dumbfounded.
I hadn’t really felt the thrill of battle—but if this ended it, I’d call it lucky.
“This… this can’t…be….. to this old human!?”
The death throes of the Nether Dragon King echoed out.
Seriously, he was the old man here!
What a rude fellow.
Go on, vanish into the light already.
“I cannot simply overlook this, you little brat!”
Suddenly, from somewhere I couldn’t quite place, a voice even older than Ades’s rang out.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Once everyone had used their life magic to clean up and change from swimsuits back into their regular clothes, it was finally time for the long-awaited seafood feast. We moved to a restaurant along the street, and as soon as everyone looked at the menu, their eyes lit up.
“Crab pasta! That looks absolutely delicious.”
“There’s seafood doria too.”
“And there are so many fish dishes as well!”
“Then let’s order a bunch of different things and share them all.”
“““Yes! That’s perfect!”””
Sue had given some helpful advice to Shiro and the others, who couldn’t decide on just one dish, so it seemed like the menu dilemma had been solved. Well, when the food looks this good, everyone wants to try a bit of everything.
“All right, here you go. Eat up and enjoy!”
“““It looks so good!”””
The proprietress brought dish after dish, each smelling even more delicious than the last, and Shiro and the others grew even more excited. The moment they took their first bites, their faces lit up with pure joy.
I dug in as well, and the seafood here had such rich, concentrated flavor that it was impossible not to savor every bite.
“Horn, here, you can have this.”
“Thanks! Then I’ll give some to Fran-chan too.”
“Okay, then Sue-oneechan, exchange your dish with me.”
“Sure, that’s fine.”
The girls happily swapped dishes with one another, savoring a bit of everything. The portions were generous enough that everyone soon felt full and satisfied.
“Shun-oniichan, can you cook fish dishes?”
“I can manage to some extent. But I probably can’t make anything that tastes like it came from a restaurant.”
“As long as it’s tasty, that’s all that matters!”
After finishing our lunch and stepping out of the restaurant, Shiro naturally asked me about fish dishes. The other girls were also looking at me expectantly. Looks like I’d have to show off my fish-cooking skills sooner rather than later.
Just like yesterday, we headed to the market to pick up more fish. The seafood here are so flavorful that even simple grilling would probably taste amazing. If I made it into a pasta dish or a paella, we could enjoy it along with a proper main course.
And just like that, we spent the day fully enjoying life in this seaside viscountcy. By the time we returned to the inn, everyone—having played so much in the sea—fell asleep almost immediately. Swimming and splashing around was more exhausting than it looked.Tomorrow, our journey would resume. I wondered what kind of land awaited us next.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
“I have little desire on soiling this ground with the impure blood of humans.”
Ades murmured those words in a voice even lower and heavier than his appearance suggested. Using its two dragon tails extending from its hips, it lifted the two unconscious explorers by their legs. The two men hung limply in midair, showing no sign of waking up.
It seemed they had completely passed out.
“A reward for breaching the Death Layer of the Nether Realm. At least I shall spare them suffering… reducing their bones to ash in a single instant.”
With that, Ades lined the two upside-down explorers before him, summoned black flames from both hands, and assumed a stance to deliver the finishing blow.
If things continued like this, there was no doubt—their lives would end here, in this very moment.
> Isn’t that girl collapsed over there the High Priestess Mina?
> Then the two guys must be Slay, the Great Swordsman and Jan, the Flash.
> The young hopes…
> Those SS-rank explorers chasing the Hero Party in both fame and skill…
> They don’t stream, so no one knew they’d even come to a place like this.
> They actually had the strength to reach a Nether-Class dungeon.
> Oh no, they’re about to get wrecked.
> Old man, do something!
> Even you won’t be able to handle this, though.
Yes. I have to help.
I can’t just stand by and watch.
“No. They’re doomed! There’s no way we can win!”
“But we can’t just leave them like this!”
The two were being tormented by the Nether Dragon King before the throne. The throne is about twenty meters ahead of the massive pillar behind which Satsuki-chan and I were hiding. It had been too dark to see before, but after they appeared, the light sources embedded in the walls gradually flickered on, illuminating everything.
I took a step forward, ready to dash out from behind the pillar to save them—but Satsuki grabbed my arm and held me back.
If things continue like this, those two are going to die!
“…I won’t… let you!”
The other explorer—not caught by Ades, the woman the viewers had called High Priestess Mina—staggered to her feet. She had been flung right in front of us, yet she didn’t seem to notice Satsuki-chan and me hiding behind the pillar.
“Hmph. It seems you are slightly different from the others, High Priestess. To maintain consciousness even after taking that much damage in that other dimension… impressive.”
“Eh? That girl… could it be…?”
Satsuki-chan murmured, as if she had realized something, watching Mina-san struggle to stand.
“All… Heal…”
As a High Priestess, Mina-san must have been preparing to activate her full-party healing skill. A faint green light briefly seemed to envelop her and the two male explorers, bathing them in a gentle glow.
But only for a single, fleeting moment.
“Hngh!”
“Kahhh!”
When Ades lightly lifted his left foot, Mina-san let out a groan of agony and collapsed back to the ground, her healing spell interrupted. From where I was, I couldn’t make out what kind of attack she had taken.
Wind pressure?
Some kind of shockwave, maybe.
“Do not waste your efforts on healing. Remain still and obedient. You may yet prove useful… I shall keep you alive a while longer.”
Ades spoke with utter calm, his composure unshaken.
He still hadn’t noticed our presence.
“Mina!”
“Ah… Satsuki… it’s… been… a while…”
“Quick, heal…”
“I… it’s fine… please… help… them…”
Satsuki-chan’s voice barely carried from behind the pillar, loud enough for Mina-san to hear, but not enough for Ades to detect.
Mina-san responded faintly, entrusting her hope to us, and then immediately passed out again.
Satsuki-chan’s friend? An acquaintance?
If that’s the case… there’s no way I can ignore her plea.
“Daishi-san!”
“Satsuki-chan, stay with Mina-san and make sure she’s safe!”
“You can’t! If you go out there, you’ll die for sure!”
Satsuki-chan’s eyes were glistening with tears. The grip on my arm tightened. So much was happening at once that she must’ve been a little overwhelmed.
“That girl… she’s your friend, right?”
“Friend… or rather… well, let’s say it’s a long-standing bond, I guess.”
“Well, a friend’s friend is also my friend. So that makes her my friend too, right?”
“Wait… are you saying you and I are friends?”
“Ah—I just assumed that on my own, I guess.”
“No, that’s not really—”
“But it’ll be fine! Didn’t I say I’d protect you, Satsuki-chan?”
“But—”
“Leave this to someone older and more experienced!”
I didn’t know why, exactly. All I knew was that my baseless confidence had skyrocketed. Maybe my senses were all out of whack.
But still… even looking at Ades, I felt ready. No, that’s not entirely true—I probably shouldn’t feel this way—but I resolved to throw myself into the fight.
“All right, I’m going!”
Seizing the moment when Satsuki-chan’s grip on me loosened even slightly, I shook off her hand and began walking steadily toward the Nether Dragon King.
“Very well… then I shall proceed with a grand incineration ceremony… hn?”
“Uh, excuse me… could you maybe let those people go?”
I stepped unarmed right up in front of Ades and made the request lightly.
“I had suspected a few scuttling vermin might have infiltrated. But you—where did you even spring from…!!?”
Ades froze, finally fully registering my presence.
“(What… what is this man!? How can such a fragile, human exude such a wave of despair!? This sensation… it’s almost like that person…)”
I had no idea what he was rambling about.
Seems like he did notice us the whole time—he was just pretending otherwise. And since he didn’t deny my words outright, yeah… he is definitely Ades.
“You… who exactly are you!?”
Even with black flames crackling in both hands, the Nether Dragon King began to retreat.
Huh? Is he… panicking?
Is he scared of me?
“I—who I am? I’m just a cleric.”
I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel an ounce of fear toward this old monster at all.
If anything…
Ah! I can’t believe I’m thinking this… but he looked like a complete weakling!
And in this moment, I realized how infuriating that made me feel.
How dare he talk to me as if we’re on the same level?
You’re being too arrogant, old man.
Ah! This damn old bastard is so irritating!!
“Enough! Get that filthy tail of yours out of the way and release those two! You worthless piece of trash! Want to end up as ash?!”
“Y-yes!! I-I’m sorry!!!”
The image of me suddenly transforming and hurling foul insults at the Nether Dragon King Ades, forcing him to apologize, was firmly imprinted in the minds of the more than 40,000 viewers.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Even in my dazed state, I could feel a faint sensation of someone shaking me gently.
“Daishi-san! Wake up!”
Gradually, my consciousness sharpened.
This voice… it’s Satsuki-chan’s.
“Hurry and wake up! You’re going to die!!”
Huh? Satsuki-chan sounds… really panicked.
Oh, that’s right!
My memories started coming back in sharp relief.
I had been in the [Unique House] of the Fourth Beginner Dungeon in West Tokyo, encountered the Space-Time Rabbit, thrown the darts… and then flung through the space-time vortex into another dungeon.
The Nether-class… floor fifty!
This is bad!!
I can’t just keep dozing off now!
“Daaaahh!”
To jolt my sluggish brain awake, I unconsciously triggered a habit I’d picked up back in my corporate days—shouting loudly while swinging my body upright.
“Ungh!”
“Hey, quiet down! We finally got somewhere with no one else here!”
Satsuki-chan instantly clamped her left hand over my mouth, while making a ‘shhh’ gesture with her right hand. Her face is too close… I felt a little flustered.
No, I don’t have time to be flustered.
> …Wha… a…ppened…?
> …ly… coming…
> …connected!
> I can see!
> Whoa! So this is Nether-Class Dungeon, floor fifty!
> Incredible… first time seeing it.
> Just as the stories said… what a malevolent-looking temple.
> But it also kinda looks like an ancient Greek temple.
> It’s so dark. I can’t see ahead.
> Is there a boss?
> Good thing we teleported behind that massive pillar.
I felt a twinge of anxiety, but it seemed the streaming camera had teleported along with us, which was a relief. The signal had been a little shaky, but the comment feed had recovered, and the equipment appeared to be working fine. From a few of the viewers’ comments, it looked like we had been lucky enough to land in a safe zone—so we weren’t suddenly thrown into a boss fight. That was a huge relief.
“Eh? Daishi-san, you’re streaming right now?”
“Ah… yeah. Everyone seems to be able to see it fine.”
“My feed isn’t connecting. I thought you needed a special ultra-rare antenna to connect in Super-Class dungeons and above…”
I leaned closer and whispered to Satsuki-chan, regaining a sense of caution.
Huh? Is my equipment special?
I’m only borrowing it from the guild, though. Did they accidentally give me the right one by mistake?
“Well, anyway. As you probably gathered from the viewers’ comments, we’re currently near the entrance of Nether-Class Dungeon, floor fifty, hiding behind one of the massive pillars.”
“Y-yeah…”
“It’s been about a minute since we teleported. I used my Detection skill to scan the area, and at least within a fifty-meter radius, there’s no sign of any enemies… for now.”
I’d always thought Satsuki-chan is amazing—she could pull off all sorts of little tricks. As an explorer, she must be really exceptional. And it seemed the target one-minute mark had already passed.
“By the way, Satsuki-chan… how were you able to move immediately after teleporting? You didn’t lose consciousness or anything?”
“Don’t underestimate me. I’m still an S-rank explorer, you know. I’ve had my fair share of teleport experiences.”
Oh. So with enough experience, you can handle even that without panicking huh.
> Satsuki-tan, you okay?
> Ah, I can see her just fine.
> This really does feel like Nether-Class.
> Don’t get so familiar with Satsuki-chan!
> Old man, get away from her!
> Leave that old man behind!
> Hope the old man gets taken out by Ades!
Huh… the low-quality comments suddenly started standing out more. Looks like fans of Satsuki-chan are flooding in at an incredible rate.
Well, that makes sense. They probably can’t watch on Satsuki-chan’s own channel, so they migrated to my stream to check on the situation.
Which means… my viewer count must have skyrocketed.
Let’s see… how many viewers do we have now…
“Eh? T-twenty thousand?!”
“Geez! Daishi-san! Don’t shout so loud!”
“S-sorry…”
I was completely stunned by how fast it had grown.
Even the increase just a moment ago had been abnormal, but this… this was on a whole different level. Twenty thousand concurrent viewers—this was the level of a top-tier streamer.
Not because of me, but Satsuki-chan’s sheer skill as a streamer hit me all at once. No wonder she boasts half a million subscribers.
“Let’s just stay put for now. We might even be able to clear the mission like this.”
“Yeah…”
“But we can’t know when or what might attack us. Daishi-san, make sure you’re ready to use [Return] at any time.”
“Ah… yeah.”
I don’t really know how to prepare [Return], but at least I can keep it in mind and stay aware.
“Alright, that’s enough talking. Let’s try to stay completely still and—”
It happened suddenly.
Without any warning, the space around us split open. The once-clean air immediately thickened with malevolence, making it hard to breathe. The darkness that had obscured my vision tore apart, and space itself warped.
“Ah…”
“Satsuki-chan!”
She must have used her detection skill and realized the full horror of what was coming.
The light in her eyes… it was gone!
Whatever she sensed was so terrifying, she couldn’t even cry out.
Something is coming!
“Gwaaaaaaah!”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Ughh!!!”
Three figures were violently hurled from the rift in space.
The source of the female scream landed right beside us. The two male voices came from slightly farther ahead, barely within sight, groaning as they hit the ground.
Another explorer party had been fighting in a separate pocket dimension, and somehow, they had now been thrown back into this place. The exact sequence of events was unclear, but they were suddenly here again.
“Hmph. Not bad at all. The last explorer party to escape my Death Layer, the Nether Realm, was the Hero’s group.”
From the rift in space, it slowly descended to the ground.
Despite its malevolence, the dark aura it radiated was oddly bright, allowing me to clearly make out its form. An abomination shaped like an elderly gentleman, its malevolence pushed beyond the limits of imagination.
Long, razor-sharp fangs extended from its mouth. A dragon’s tail—completely out of place—slithered along the ground with a sickening, undulating motion.
…No doubt about it.This is the Nether Dragon King—Ades.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Just before the spear of ice could pierce my body, it shattered into fragments.
What appeared in its place was my powerful beloved staff—the Holy Dragon Staff, Lindwurm—which had been torn away from me when I was cast into this subspace.
“Linliiiiiiiiiiiiiiin! You came to save me—thank youuuuuuuuu!!”
『Yes. I didn’t really have a choice.』
Didn’t have a choice, it says.
“Mm. I came to help.”
“I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared.”
“Master, I am relieved to see you unharmed.”
“But, what a strange space this is…”
And then I realized—Fana and the others were here too.
“How did you all get here?”
『I brought them.』
“…Huh?”
The voice that reached me through telepathy belonged to the very staff Maribel had wielded during the exhibition match.
『I am Jilnitra. As you can see, Maribel has been taken over by that staff called Ouroboros. I chased after her as best I could… and that’s when I encountered the staff over there.』
(…You can communicate as well?)
Unfortunately, I had no memory of ever creating a staff like this in my previous life.
『It appears to be a magical staff created by Maribel-shi, modeled after Ouroboros. It seems she knew how to access this subspace, so the two of us worked together to break through its security and gain entry.』
(Modeled after Ouroboros, huh… I never thought anyone besides me could make something like that. Still, you saved me. Without Linlin here, I would’ve been done for—my short life cut off just like that. And I’ve still got plenty of big-breasted beauties left to enjoy.)
『…I think it would have been better if you had died.』
Gripping Lindwurm as it delivered that cutting remark, I felt my depleted magic power surge back into my body, steadily restoring me.
(Phew… this should be enough for me to keep fighting, at least…)
『To be honest, this is an extraordinarily powerful opponent.』
As I raised my beloved staff and braced myself for Ouroboros’s next attack, its head began to swallow its own body once more.
Moments later, it transformed—into a violet dragon.
“Uu…! The final of the seven colors… purple! So the most troublesome one has finally come out…!”
『Gnawing fangs, devouring cries—shattered voices rend and cleave, tearing through the darkness, biting, chewing, consuming all into ruin…』
The telepathic message made no sense whatsoever—but at the same time, the ice that had filled most of the subspace suddenly vanished. Then, around Maribel, several black spheres materialized, hovering in the air.
“Everyone, be careful! Don’t touch those—no matter what!”
No sooner had the words left my mouth, the black spheres shot toward us. As everyone scrambled to dodge, one of the spheres slammed straight into the earthen wall Anje had conjured.
Gshaa!
“W-what!? The dirt got crushed—it’s shrunk down like a stone!?”
“What just happened!?”
“…Implosion!”
“Mm… implosion…?”
“It’s a phenomenon where an object is subjected to overwhelming pressure from all directions and gets crushed in an instant.”
The violet Ouroboros enhanced gravity magic.
If even a part of your body touched one of those black spheres, that spot alone would be compressed into a lump of flesh in an instant.
『Crushing jaws creak and howl, devouring ruin, falling into the void, where even silent screams begin to tremble…』
“““—!?”””
Without warning, my entire body grew heavy—like it had been turned into lead.
“Mm… it’s so heavy…”
“This too… is that thing’s doing!?”
“I can barely even stand!”
It seemed that this time, it had increased the gravity of the entire subspace itself.
Even in this small, infant-like body, the sheer weight felt enough to crush me. And on top of that, those deadly black spheres came hurtling toward us at high speed—leaving us barely able to do anything but desperately dodge.
“It… hardly affects me.”
Amid it all, only Lill remained relatively unfazed, kicking off the ground and sprinting forward. As a Fenrir, her physical strength was on an entirely different level. Even under the intensified gravity, she launched herself at Maribel and Ouroboros with astonishing speed.
But Maribel effortlessly surpassed even that—gracefully evading Lill’s attack as if it were nothing.
“I can’t move well under this gravity… but magic is a different story! Radiant Arrow Barrage!”
The countless arrows of light I unleashed surged toward Maribel all at once. Earth magic would be heavily affected by gravity—but light was barely hindered at all.
Maribel and Ouroboros tried to escape with high-speed flight, but with the arrows imbued with a degree of homing capability, there was no way she could evade every single one.
The arrows of light tore into the multilayered barrier she had redeployed, grinding it down bit by bit.
“Once more! Radiant Arrow Barrage!”
At that moment, a fierce blast of compressed wind came roaring in—Fana’s magic.
Largely unaffected by gravity, it struck Maribel head-on, disrupting her flight—and the storm of light arrows closed in.
Even as this unfolded, Maribel retaliated with her black spheres, but Anje countered them by hurling masses of earth, neutralizing each one. Though the spheres triggered implosions upon impact, they seemed to vanish after a single use.
“…!”
At last, the multilayered barriers were completely shattered—and some of the arrows struck Maribel’s body directly.
“Good! Let’s finish this in one push!”
And then—it happened.
All at once, the crushing weight vanished. My body suddenly felt light—
—and the world flipped upside down.
“““What—!?”””
In the next instant, we were all falling—hurtling toward what had been the ceiling just moments ago—before being violently slammed against it.
“What just happened!?”
“Hmm, did up and down… switch places?”
Most likely, the direction of gravity had been reversed.
And then, immediately after, an overwhelming force yanked us sideways—sending us crashing straight into a wall.
“So it can change the direction of gravity at will…!”
From there, the pull of gravity shifted again and again in rapid succession, throwing us completely off balance. At this point, I couldn’t even tell which way was up or down anymore—let alone where Maribel was.
“Kuu… I can’t even run straight…”
Even Lill, who had been chasing after Maribel, was now unable to move properly, her footing ruined by the constantly shifting gravity.
『This is bad, Master. At this rate, the situation will only continue to worsen.』
(No… it should be soon.)
『And what do you mean by that?』
(There’s a major weakness to the magic amplification granted by Ouroboros. Do you really think a human body can keep up—burning through this level of magic and stamina, casting such powerful spells over and over?)
『…I see.』
At that moment—
The massive form of Maribel, who had been riding atop Ouroboros, suddenly swayed. For a brief moment she staggered—before being thrown from the staff and sent crashing down to the ground.“…Looks like she’s finally reached her limit. For a normal mage, that limit would have come much sooner. But thanks to it having taken control of someone as powerful as Maribel, it had taken far longer than expected.”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The next day, we all headed to the beach just as planned. Near the shore, there was a building that doubled as a changing room, so I went ahead to change first and waited on the sand for the others. The beach was crowded, people scattered along the shoreline, each enjoying the sea in their own way.
Hmm… I still couldn’t figure out why so many women wore such daring swimsuits.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Shun. But… why are you staring at all the women around us?”
“No, it’s not like that. I was just wondering why everyone is wearing revealing swimsuits.”
“Ah, that’s true. Even at the swimsuit section, most of them were pretty daring. Not that it matters to me—I don’t have much to show, so there’s no way I could pull something like that off.”
Yet, of course, Sue, who was pouting a little, was wearing a high-cut swimsuit herself. Not super high-cut, but certainly daring enough. I wanted to tell myself that this kind of swimsuit was just the trend in this world.
“Whoa… my legs feel weird. Like… tingling all over.”
“Feels strange, but kind of fun, right?”
Fran and Horn were at the water’s edge, experiencing the sensation of their first waves. That feeling of the sand slipping away under your feet… it’s weird the first time you feel it.
“All right, all right, let’s put on some oil so we don’t get sunburned.”
““Oka~y””
“Then, why don’t I put some oil on Sue-oneechan?”
“Sure, I’ll leave it to you. And when you’re done, I’ll put some on you, Shiro-chan.”
After everyone had their turns applying oil on each other, it was finally time to start swimming.
The waves were gentle, and the sea shimmered a brilliant emerald green. I’d never been there before, but somehow it felt like the Okinawa seas from my previous life might have looked like this.
“We’re floating.”
“Floating!”
“That’s good to hear.”
Fran and Horn were riding on their float rings, drifting happily on the water’s surface. While Sue and I watched them, Shiro and Ao were racing toward a small island out in the distance.
“Mmm… the sunlight and the waves feel amazing.”
“Yeah… floating feels nice.”
But it always seems that the calmest seas are the ones that suddenly throw a big wave at you.
Splash!
“Wah! Spit! It’s salty!”
“A huge wave came out of nowhere!”
“Haha, waves aren’t predictable, you know. Sometimes a big one just shows up.”
I laughed as I spoke to Fran and Horn, who were grumbling atop their float rings. But next to me, Sue was in an even more… entertaining situation.
““Hahaha!””
“S-Sue! You’ve got seaweed on your head! Hahaha!”
“Don’t just laugh! Take it off me!”
A long strand of seaweed had draped itself over Sue’s golden hair, making her look absolutely ridiculous. I couldn’t help but laugh as I plucked it off her head, while Sue glared at me through tearful eyes. Only Sue could create such a perfectly chaotic, laugh-out-loud moment.
“Yahoo! I got a huge coconut! Why’s everyone laughing?”
“Sue… she did something amazing.”
“Ehh! Shiro wants to see what Sue-oneechan did!”
“No, Shiro-chan, you really don’t need to see this.”
Shiro and Ao, having just finished their swim, looked a little curious at the commotion, but there was no way anyone could recreate Sue’s hilarious moments.It turned out to be a surprisingly fun day at the beach. Everyone had a great time, and I am glad we all could enjoy it together.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
As soon as we were admitted into the castle, a guide was assigned to us.
We were quite a large group, so we moved through the royal palace in a long procession. At the front is Pauline-san—the Ninth Princess. We followed behind her (me, Mia-san, Felix-san, and then more than twenty members of the Raven Corps).
The castle, built upon the foundation of what had once been a great temple, was incredibly tall. We had to climb steep, endless flights of stairs. Perhaps the nobles and the king had lifts of their own.
At last, we entered a grand hall.
I knew I shouldn’t stare, but my eyes kept drifting from one sight to another. The polished floor faintly reflected our figures. The stark white light of magic-stone lamps scattered and shimmered across its surface. The walls were carved with the likeness of the god Odis, and above us stretched ceiling paintings praising that same chief deity.
—A fabricated mythology.
The thought surfaced unbidden, and my throat tightened.
The sound of our footsteps changed as we stepped onto a carpeted corridor. The gazes I felt from the sides were those of nobles sizing us up. It seemed we had gained some allies within the palace, but this was no place for carelessness.
Mia-san leaned closer and whispered,
“…Hey, don’t you think they’ll take our weapons? Normally, they would, right?”
Pauline-san answered without hesitation.
“It’s fine.”
She kept her gaze forward, not even shifting her eyes.
“It’s not impossible that there are nobles aligned with Ymir. The slave traders had that much influence within the kingdom.”
That was true. We had come in such numbers precisely because we had to be wary of an attack from the nobles.
Mia-san curled her lips slightly.
“Heh. Even with the king here, huh?”
“That is how strong the nobles’ power is. To the point that even the king’s orders are not always given the weight that it should have.”
At that moment, our guide came to a halt. After offering a deep, respectful bow, they opened a set of massive black doors. A great chamber lay beyond.
The first thing that came to mind was a boss floor in a dungeon. The high ceiling and the wide, pillar-sparse rectangular space felt strikingly similar. The differences were the wine-colored carpet covering the floor—and the central area, enclosed by a low barrier. Within that partition stood a desk. This was likely a council chamber, where those wishing to speak would step forward to that position.
Chairs were arranged around the enclosure. From where we stood, the seats closest to us were empty. The farther back it went, the more people filled them—and directly opposite us sat a man wearing a crown. His silver hair and green eyes bore a clear resemblance to Pauline-san.
From the gold coin, Solana’s voice spoke up—
『Rion…』
“Yeah.”
It was the king.
Broad-shouldered, draped in a thick, heavy-looking robe.
The mere thought of meeting his gaze felt almost irreverent—yet I had no idea what proper etiquette demanded. In the end, I simply relaxed my body and stood as straight as I could.
Then, from the horn, another voice spoke.
『That will do.』
It was Heimdall.
『As long as you do not lack respect, there is no such thing as ‘correct’ way to conduct yourself here. After all, you are about to overturn everything.』
Pauline-san stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty, it has been some time.”
The warriors followed suit, kneeling in unison.
Mia-san and I were completely late.
No one had explained anything to us!
Panicking, we hurriedly copied the others.
Then, the king spoke.
“Rise.”
Pauline-san stood, and at the king’s command. To ‘proceed’, she stepped forward to the center of the enclosure.
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. All eyes turned toward the princess. Her tall white headdress stood dignified and resolute.
“I will now speak of the truth behind the myths. Some of you may have already felt a sense of unease after the message delivered in the name of the god Odis.”
Her voice did not falter.
The man she had addressed as Your Majesty is also her father. And yet, her words rang out clearly, unwavering.
“The powerful monsters that were said to have been completely defeated in the myths—have appeared in both Alvis and Flocia. If the gods had truly triumphed, such beings should not exist.”
She paused.
“What this reveals is the deception of the myths. The gods did not seal the monsters within the labyrinth as a result of victory. They were on the verge of defeat—overwhelmingly so—and thus sealed the monsters away to delay their loss.”
A ripple of unrest ran through the nobles. The king remained impassive, his face is unreadable.
“And now, that seal has been weakened. It is being undone by a faction of the resurrected monsters. This is precisely what is occurring in Alvis and Flocia at this very moment.”
Pauline-san pressed on, her voice steady.
“This means that the battles interrupted by the ‘sealing’ have now resumed.”
A murmur swept through the chamber—confusion, disbelief, even veiled accusations. Words fell upon Pauline-san like a storm.
Dressed in the robes of the Odis temple and crowned with her tall headdress, Pauline-san stood there declaring a story that denied the very myths themselves.
“Adventurers alone are not enough to fight. Yet, the people must be protected.”
Even the nobles raised their voices, reacting with a mix of outrage and incredulity.
“How dare you deny the myths!?”
“What proof do you have?!”
“Why should we nobles be the ones to protect commoners in the first place?!”
“Skilled we may be, but the ones who should die first are the peasants!”
Pauline-sam did not flinch. The verbal stones hurled at her seemed to shatter harmlessly against her resolve.
Solana spoke softly,
『She’s strong.』
“Yeah.”
『She must have faced countless battles in the temple while we were fighting, and emerged victorious in all of them.』
Pauline-san tapped her staff against the floor.
“Your Majesty. At this moment, many dugeons face the threat of releasing even more monsters. I ask that you command the soldiers across the kingdom, as well as the knights in the castle who possess combat skills, to join the fight.”
The king raised his right hand. The nobles’ voices fell silent instantly.
“…As king, I already know what you know.”
A ripple of astonishment swept through the nobles.
“But to make the nobles—those with real power—believe this truth, you’ll need proof.”
Pauline-san turned her gaze toward me.
“The proof is here. I will show the ancient gods who have awakened to resume the battles.”
She tapped her staff against the floor and smiled.
“I will open your eyes and let you see for yourselves.”
I placed my hands on the gold coin and the horn.
“Wake up!”
Light scattered in a dazzling cascade.
The gods sprang into the air. Solana, Thor, Uru, Loki, Sigris, and Heimdall. Some hovered above the floor, some stood firmly upon it, manifesting within the royal hall itself.
A voice trembled as it escaped.
“T-this…..G-Gods?”
Perhaps it was not doubt so much as astonishment—a reflexive gasp of confusion and wonder. But the gods themselves presented undeniable proof.
—Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Thor and Heimdall. The two massive deities laughed, a booming sound that seemed to pierce the ceiling and reach the very heavens. Several nobles collapsed to the floor in sheer shock. It was a laughter no human could ever produce—raw, overwhelming, shaking the very core of the heart and inspiring awe.
“I am Thor!”
Thor pointed to his chest with a gigantic thumb. Lightning crackled from Mjolnir, held tightly in his right hand.
“I am Loki.”
“I am Sigris, the Valkyrie.”
“I am Uru, the God of Hunting.”
“I am Heimdall.”
Solana hovered in the air, hand pressed to her chest.
“I am Solana, goddess of the sun.”
The nobles stood frozen, their minds reeling. First struck by the princess’s words, then disoriented by the king’s acknowledgment, and finally rendered speechless by the very appearance of the gods themselves.
Mia-san glanced at me.
“.…This whole sequence huh.”
“Yeah. The preparation Pauline-san mentioned, it was probably just to get the king’s agreement first.”
The corrupt nobles had stripped the royal capital of real power. Yet the king still retained some measure of authority—perhaps because so many nobles had abandoned the castle.
Pauline-san had already secured her advantage in advance.
Felix-san spoke softly beside me.
“Well, the trade-off seems to be the reestablishment of the king’s authority, I suppose. And it seems the plan to convince the nobles worked beautifully.”
Within the enclosure, Pauline-san raised her voice.
“If you protect the people here and now, it will be a tremendous achievement for you, the nobles who remain in the capital. Just as the chief god used the word ‘hero’ in his message, in a city where many nobles have departed, your influence will grow.”
I could understand, in a vague sense, what she was doing. She was dismantling the assumptions of the myths, making it clear that the kingdom could no longer operate as it had. And yet, she offered them an opportunity to earn glory through action.
—It had the feel of a negotiation, yes, but it was brilliant.
As if to drive the point home, Thor spoke.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Ooooh!”
A roar of excitement swept through the chamber. This time, it was exhilaration, not outrage. The gods’ encouragement had reached not only the nobles but even the soldiers guarding them.
Mia-san smacked her forehead with a sharp thwack.
“The utterly useless nobles fled the capital long ago. The ones left are at least willing to try to protect the city. In that sense… it might actually work out in our favor.”
I nodded, and felt my chest burn with the same heat.
“Un!”
Of course, not everyone was convinced. Some remained confused, others scowled. Yet many of the nobles—especially those who looked like warriors—were visibly stirred, caught up in the excitement.
The chamber swelled with energy.
Solana drifted down gently beside me.
“Rion”
Her voice, paired with her sharp gaze… I felt a sudden, tense awareness. Something unsettling was about to happen.
“.…Could it be…. monsters?”
Just as we were advancing, so were our enemies.
—Oooooooo!
A low, rolling roar traveled on the wind like distant thunder. One voice followed another, chaining endlessly. The royal castle sat at the city’s center, yet the cries of the monsters came from every direction—east, west, north, and south.
Solana grabbed my hand.
“Even here, I can feel Ymir’s magic seeping up from below. That monster is strengthening the command that loosens the seals—it is growing stronger by the moment.”
Led by the goddess, I slipped between the ranks of the warriors and stepped out onto the terrace of the chamber.
From up here, the buildings below seemed laughably small. Every bird flying past was beneath us. And under the open blue sky, the monstrous cries echoed. Black smoke spiraled upward from the direction of the Western Dungeon.
I realized that everyone in the chamber was looking at me. I drew the horn from my pouch. Its faint glow—left from the power Rue had infused yesterday—seemed to hum with readiness.
I turned to the goddess and asked.
“Other dungeons too? All across the world?”
“Most likely.”
I stood overlooking the royal capital, feeling the eyes of the chamber on my back.
Taking a deep breath, I blew into the awakening horn, the Gjalhorn, letting its sound ride on the wind.
【Master of the Horn】… fully unleashing the power of the awakening horn, Gjalhorn.
The tone spread across the capital—no, across the world.
Immense magic poured forth, and beneath the blue sky, bands of light danced like the aurora.
“Everyone—”
I called out, turning around. Pauline-san smiled at me.
The first battle—the war of words—was over. Now, the fight against the monsters unleashed upon the capital would begin.
“Gods, everyone, let’s go!”
Leaving Pauline-san and a few guards in the chamber, we gathered on the terrace. The power of the gods wrapped around us in light. Together with the dozens of warriors from the Raven Corps, we soared into the sky.
Below us stretched the city where I was born and raised.
A feeling of grandeur lit up my chest. Wrapped in light, flying above, everyone in the capital was surely pointing up at us.And so, the battle to protect the royal capital began.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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