Since our departure for the Western Margravate is getting close, today we decided to buy the supplies we would need for the journey. Incidentally, Fina-san had gone out together with Silvia-san. The two of them had become really close.
“Alright, let’s go buy some sweets.”
“““Yaaay!”””
“Wait, wait, wait. Sweets come last.”
““““Ehhh—!””””
You guys… going straight for sweets right away is a bit much, don’t you think?
Even Ao looked at them with a slightly exasperated expression.
“We’ll start by buying proper food. We can’t have anyone skipping breakfast.”
“That would be terrible!”
“We need to buy lots of bread!”
“I’d starve!”
The moment I said that, everyone suddenly became very serious about breakfast.
Shiro and the others, who absolutely loved food, immediately rushed toward the bakery the moment they thought they might miss out on breakfast bread.
“Alright, everyone can pick five breads you like.”
“““Yey!”””
Even considering that we’d probably buy bread in towns we passed along the way, having about five days’ worth shouldn’t be a problem. We still had rice with us as well, so we could manage for a while—but it was better to be prepared in case something happened.
Of course, we bought vegetables too, not just bread. Since we still had plenty of orc meat on hand, we probably wouldn’t need to buy any meat for quite some time.
“Next, let’s buy some clothes. Fran and Horn have grown a bit, so it’s time to get them something new.”
““Yay!””
When we first took Fran and Horn in, they were both scrawny, but now their bodies had grown into proper, childlike proportions. Fran is still quite small, but Horn had gotten noticeably bigger.
We bought summer and autumn clothes for both of them, and even picked something for Shiro while we were at it.
“Just in case, let’s get some light jackets too. It can get chilly in the mornings and evenings.”
“Then I’ll choose those.”
Sue carefully picked out outfits for Fran and Horn. After all, they were girls, so they should look nice.
We already had a tent and the dome created with earth magic, so accommodations weren’t an issue. For now, it seemed like we had everything we needed.
“Alright then, this time, let’s finally get some sweets!”
“““Yehey!”””
Then, with their limiters completely off, the women went on a spree, buying sweets one after another.
And, just in case I ended up storing them if they were entrusted to me, they were meticulous enough to store everything in Ao’s item box.
Really, the women love their sweets.
With that, our shopping for the journey was finally complete.
“Apparently, a group was buying up an awful lot of sweets at the market. Do you happen to know anything about that, Shun?”
During dinner, the Margrave asked me this, and I found myself at a loss for words.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The cage was to be kept in the underground of the Great Tower. The small room, about five meters across, was dim and chilly. Next door lay the chamber of the Frost Orb and cold seeped through the walls and floor. My breath drifted in white clouds.
At the far end, a desk held the cage. Inside, a single mouse sat with its eyes closed. The room held only the three of us: Pauline-san, Safi, and myself.
Even Rata sensed that someone had arrived.
“…What is it you want?”
At last, the mouse opened its eyes. And a man’s voice came from its mouth.
Pauline-san stepped back a few paces, her eyes widening.
“This… this mouse… is speaking?”
I nodded and gestured toward the cage.
“This is Ratbone Rata, a monster. Safi set a trap—well, technically a mousetrap—inside the Flocia Temple, and he got caught there. We brought him here.”
I had sent a letter beforehand, but Pauline-san stood frozen, pinching a lock of her silver hair between her fingers.
Well… that was understandable.
After all, who would expect a monster that had tormented us so fiercely to be caught in a temple’s mousetrap? Even I hadn’t imagined it. When I last saw him, he had the sharp eyes of a sly merchant… and now he was a tiny mouse.
The gold coin trembled, and Solana’s voice echoed in my mind.
『 A strategist undone by his own schemes, Ratbone Rata.』
The goddess’s tone carried a hint of mischief. For efficiency, all the gods had returned to the gold coin and the horn, conserving their magic.
“You tried to stop Rion as he headed for the tower during Flocia’s final battle. Though defeated, you escaped and now aimed for the Odis Temple in Flocia. Using your transformation ability, you snuck in as a small creature, hoping to sow further chaos. But—”
“Kkik!”
The mouse clicked its tongue in annoyance.
Solana continued.
“What you didn’t expect, however, was that thanks to Rion’s sister, Luisia, the Frost Orb which Ymir should have destroyed, had already been restored. Because of that, you were right beneath the temple… directly under the seal’s cold aura, and you grew disoriented. And when you fled into the underground chamber… you walked straight into a trap.”
The mouse, Rata, rolled his golden eyes toward us.
“…To be caught in a trap this simple.”
He muttered, shaking his small body in self-mockery. Perhaps he even shrugged.
Pauline-san stepped forward, questioning.
“Even though I’d heard the report, I never imagined… this is the monster?”
The mouse’s fur was a dull gray, about the size of a cat. Its golden eyes were sharp and venomous.
Pauline-san planted her staff on the floor, steadying herself.
“Little one, Safi… is it truly safe to keep him in this cage? If I’m not wrong, he’s a troublesome monster, able to change his form at will, right?”
Safi pouted, her green hair bouncing as she crossed her arms.
“Of course it’s safe! Ever since we discovered what this mouse really is, it was—well, a huge ordeal! I used every bit of my skill and all the gods’ magic to make this cage so sturdy that even a hundred giants couldn’t break it! And as for his transformation ability? It’s sealed with divine magic and my runes!”
The dwarf blacksmith’s pride practically steamed from her. I remembered the nights on our journey, the ringing of hammer on metal deep into the night. I smiled at her with gratitude.
“Thank you. After all, this mousetrap was your creation to begin with. I’m sure it’s more than sturdy enough.”
“Y-yes, of course.”
Safi said, puffing out her chest.
Pauline-san blinked, eyes wide as she looked between Safi and me.
“Ah… I see.”
The princess murmured, as if coming to some realization.
…? I wasn’t sure what she meant.
Meanwhile, Rata opened and closed his tiny mouth in irritation. For such a small body, his oversized fangs were a little intimidating.
“So?”
His golden eyes glinted sharply. Rata continued.
“What do you want? I am the slave trader known as ‘The Merchant’ and I’d like to welcome you to my house. Though… it is a bit cramped. Still, the plain, rugged cage is not my responsibility.”
A fierce, almost intimidating presence radiated from him. I stepped forward, positioning myself in front of Safi and Pauline-san.
“I’ll ask again. Ymir said in Flocia, ‘From now on, it’s competition.’”
Rata remained silent.
“I think he’s planning to attack us soon. I want to know when and where he’ll strike.”
The mouse let out a mocking chuckle.
“You think I’d tell you?”
…Well, of course not.
After all, the real reason we brought Rata to this room was to show him to Pauline-san. The questions were just an afterthought.
During our journey from Flocia, we’d asked him the same questions over and over. According to Loki, it didn’t seem like Rata was hiding anything. It is most likely that he simply didn’t know.
For a monster, Ymir—their creator—was absolute. There was no discussion, no negotiation; only Ymir could know his own plans.
The mouse snorted.
“…Oh? A new divine presence, is it? If you’ve awakened Freyja, have you also learned of Odin’s betrayal?”
I forced myself to remain expressionless.
Rata erupted into laughter.
“Kkik! Just like a thousand years ago. You will fail, driven by distrust and greed.”
His voice carried so strongly that the guards peered through the doorway.
“Slaves… the very essence of them… I made a fortune! Watching them ripped from their families, screaming and crying… so weak, so foolish… it was glorious!”
Pauline-san’s grip on her rod tightened until her knuckles whitened, anger radiating from her.
Safi’s face had turned pale.
This monster—the so-called slave trader, their de facto manager—was before us.
I drew a steadying breath.
“Rata.”
The laughter stopped instantly.
“I’ve wanted to ask for some time. Why… why do monsters attack us? Ever since the age of myths?”
“You displease us. But… kuk… from the perspective of a titan like Ymir, this world itself was born of stolen creative power. If we don’t tear it apart, carve our anger into it, we are not satisfied. And those of us created by Ymir… we follow the same path…”
I recalled the scenes of the myth. Odin had taken Ymir’s heart—his power of creation—and begun to shape the world. For Ymir, it was vengeance. What had been taken should be reclaimed. Odin, too, had his reasons. If Ymir hadn’t been stopped, the gods themselves would have been destroyed. He was a terrifying creator who devoured his own creations.
The monster’s grin shifted, becoming wistful and self-mocking.
“…The primordial titan, huh.”
The mouse rose on his hind legs and stared at the ceiling.
“Rion, was it? My senses as a monster are… unusually unsettled.”
“…Huh?”
“A monster’s intuition. Soon, creatures will emerge from the dungeons. Not just in the Royal Capital… but from every dungeon across the land.”
The unexpected words left me momentarily stunned. Not just the capital, not just a single city… It will be a movement on a much larger scale?
From the gold coin, Solana’s voice rang out, demanding an explanation.
『Why the sudden confession? What’s your intention? 』
“The secret to being a shrewd merchant… is repaying debts. The debt for sparing my life will be settled this way… the rest is revenge.”
Rata narrowed his golden eyes.
“I never liked Ymir to begin with. The slave organization I built… it’s finished now. ‘To devour everything,’ they said—how fitting.”
And with that, Rata fell silent.
We left the underground chamber, and returning to the light above brought a small sense of relief.
Pauline-san broke the silence first.
“Through the Frost Orb, we should also contact the Odis temples across the land. Ymir’s offensive may have reached them sooner than expected.”We nodded to each other and moved quickly, aware that time was already against us.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Inside the sanctuary, the gods stood in a single line.
At the center stood Heimdall. He looked over all of us and smiled. Every movement he made seemed to say, “There’s no need to panic.” As if carried by that calm presence, the anxiety I felt about Ymir and Odin gradually eased and melted away.
“Let’s organize the flow of events.”
Heimdall started. He raised a finger and lightly waved it, then continued as he addressed those of us seated on the long bench.
“To confirm the situation accurately. As you know, I myself was wounded during the battle and was sealed inside a horn—much like how Solana was protected within a gold coin.”
Floating lightly in the air, Solana tilted her chin in a small nod.
“Indeed. A seal that lasts a thousand years is a burden even for a god. Even for a powerful deity, if they’re left deeply wounded and trapped within the ice of seal, it would risk complete disappearance.”
I absentmindedly ran my fingers along the horn. The awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, had once contained this very god. And the reason was the same as Solana’s.
Without hiding inside their own divine artifact, they wouldn’t have survived the long seal.
Mia-san brushed back her red hair and muttered,
“…So it’s kinda like a bear crawling into its den to hibernate for the winter?”
Felix-san, sitting beside her, looked startled by her sudden comparison. Solana wore a slightly exasperated expression as well.
Uh… the Gods wouldn’t get angry about that, right?
Heimdall burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! That’s a good way to put it! Yeah, it’s something like that. A seal is far too cold for beings like us. But if we dwell within a familiar divine artifact, it’s like hiding in a burrow, making things a little easier to endure!”
After saying that much, Heimdall narrowed his eyes.
He seemed like a broad-minded, easygoing god, but there was always a sharp, intellectual light in his cool gaze. It was like the stars in the night sky—cold, distant, and as if they could see through everything.
“…But in my case, there was another spell placed on me as well. Isn’t that right?”
Looking up at Heimdall, I nodded quietly.
“You mean the Seiðr magic.”
It was the kind of magic that the sibling gods Freyja and Freyr excelled at. Because it was a magic that manipulated the mind, it must have affected Heimdall powerfully—after all, his very consciousness had been housed inside the horn.
Now, the awakening horn Gjallarhorn in my hands felt more tangible than before. The gemstones embedded along its surface shone proudly.
And then I voiced out,
“Heimdall. To awaken you, we had to break the Seiðr magic placed upon you.”
After all, the reason we went to the Flocia in the first place was to undo that very Seiðr spell.
Heimdall smiled, as if praising a student who had done well.
“That brings me to a question. Why was I sealed so thoroughly in the first place?”
I tilted my head. Come to think of it… he was right.
“I can guess who did it. Either Freyja or Odin. Those two are the only gods capable of magic strong enough to seal me. But… well, most likely Odin.”
By now, Heimdall’s presence seemed to fill the entire temple.
The large god’s voice echoed through the high ceiling.
“I am the god of awakening. If nothing had been done, I would have eventually escaped the ice of the seal on my own. After all, I was protected within a divine artifact.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“Mm. After all, you’re the god of awakening.”
“Exactly. Originally, the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, is a divine artifact that drives the gods into battle. When it sounds, it strengthens their power, and even minor wounds are fully healed. If the gods are sleeping within the ice, then its call becomes their revival—their awakening.”
“Well then, let’s assume all of you were Odin. If a god like that existed on the surface—and you didn’t know when he might awaken on his own—what would you think?”
We all looked at one another.
If he could awaken allied gods, that would be an incredible power. Normally, he’d be a powerful ally.
But from Odin’s perspective…
Heimdall’s eyes met mine. Encouraged by his gentle smile, I ended up answering on behalf of everyone.
“…A nuisance, maybe.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Heimdall nodded approvingly.
“That’s right. In the first place, Odin’s plan to redo creation exposes a weakness in the authority of the chief god. Even now, many gods would likely side with Odin…”
I was so surprised my voice rose involuntarily.
“Really!?”
Beside Heimdall, Loki gave a wry smile, while Thor lowered his eyes. Solana spoke with a look of regret.
“There were gods who saw humans as nothing more than pieces on a board. And even for those who did not… if asked which survival should be prioritized—the gods’ or humanity’s—”
Pauline-san let out a sigh and shook her head.
“You mean there are actually few gods who care enough about humans to wage a decisive battle against monsters solely to protect them—to stake their own existence on it?”
“…If they were to learn of Odin’s scheme, I believe there would be gods who would turn to his side.”
A heavy silence settled over the sanctuary.
Mother stared at the statues of the gods enshrined in the hall as if clinging to them for reassurance. The gods that the Kingdom of Asgard had worshipped for so long… to think some of them might have harbored such thoughts.
For Mother, it must have been a terrible shock all over again.
I was surprised too—and saddened by it.
Solana’s golden eyes suddenly gleamed.
“Of course, I’m not one of them.”
Thor, Uru, Loki, and Sigris all nodded in agreement.
Heimdall folded his arms as well.
“Neither am I. And that’s exactly why Odin feared the possibility of my awakening. If he intends to redo creation, I’d be a problem. For instance, if I gathered new followers and raised a rebellion against him… that’s probably the scenario he wanted to avoid most.”
It was the same conclusion I had reached—though I hadn’t thought it through as clearly as Heimdall had. Odin didn’t want his plans interfered with. And Heimdall, who could awaken the gods one after another, would be a major obstacle to him.
Heimdall clapped his hands once.
“The mood’s gotten a bit heavy. So next—just as I promised—let’s talk about something more hopeful.”
Heimdall spoke smoothly, his words flowing as naturally as water from a spring.
Now I understood why he had once been called a master strategist.
“Rion, in this era—where was the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn?”
I answered.
“My father found it. In the ruins of a dungeon hidden in the western wastelands.”
“I see. Odin probably couldn’t move the horn himself. Nearby, Ymir—whom I had been fighting—must have still been there. And the horn itself should originally have been sealed within thick ice.”
If that ice had melted… then it might have been because of the titan’s ashes.
Creatures like the ratbone monster, Rata—beings that could survive even with very little magical power, in other words relatively weak monsters—seemed to have become active before Ymir did. Rata must have built the slave trader network and then used the titan’s ashes to revive its companions and its master.
If we could ask the person himself, we might learn the details more clearly.
A thousand years had passed since the sealing.
Because of the titan’s ashes and the monsters’ own power, the enemy could no longer be completely contained. And if only the gods remained sealed, then the delay Odin had forced upon the final confrontation was finally reaching its limit.
Heimdall then asked,
“Odin should have been wary of the horn and of me. So why didn’t he take action even after humans obtained the horn?”
“Uh… well…”
Heimdall loved speaking in riddles.
He would give hints and try to make me think things through myself. In that sense, he really did feel a bit like a teacher.
I pressed a finger to my chin and tilted my head in thought.
“…Because he needed gods to awaken in order to oppose Ymir?”
“That’s part of it. Buying time was necessary. But Odin’s true objective is the redoing of creation. The moment you awakened Luisia and she gained the power of Creation, Odin should already have been able to act.”
The realization hit me.
Nearly two months ago, I had awakened Lu’s skill. That was when my little sister gained the ability to use Creation.
“Odin’s scheme is to capture the power of Creation this time in a way that ensures it cannot escape. That’s why he granted Luisia the skill, Miko. Freyja is already a part of her now and thus, she cannot escape. And Luisia’s skill has already awakened.”
Heimdall’s words were pressing a question upon us.
Then… why were we still safe?
At any moment, Odin could have come to reclaim Lu’s power. There was nothing stopping him.
“And that, is where the answer lies.”
He spoke with certainty.
“I believe it was outside Odin’s calculations that humans would recover the horn. To him, both me and the Gjallarhorn, were powerful pieces—but pieces he could not afford to use. In other words, expendable ones. Yet humans were the ones who discovered it.”
Heimdall narrowed his eyes, almost as if the thought dazzled him.
“Through their own spirit of adventure.”
I thought of my father.
He used to smile in that same way.
“The horn your father discovered was passed down to his son through one of his companions. Odin never devised such a plan. It wasn’t necessary for his true objective. And yet humans… through their own sense of adventure, obtained the key that could stand against both gods and the titan.”
I lowered my gaze to the horn in my hands.
Two months ago, in the capital, it had been given to me with such burning intent.
“Odin seems to respect the fact that you discovered it on your own. And perhaps… he hopes that you will accomplish what he abandoned, the defeat of Ymir.”
A shiver ran down the back of my neck.
Expecting victory… yet never abandoning his own original strategy.
Perhaps that explains the occasional messages, the hints, and even the action of giving Solana her gold coin. I glanced at the statue of Odis. Its stern gaze pointed toward the sky.
—Now, it’s up to you to try.
Perhaps that was what we were being told from the heavens above.
Then Thor let out a bellow.
“Quite the charitable way of thinking, Heimdall.”
His massive eyes fixed in a glare toward Heimdall.
Even the air seemed to crackle, as if thunderclouds had gathered behind Thor. The floor and walls trembled under the intensity of the two gods’ standoff.
Heimdall’s eyes sparkled, the faintest glimmer of amusement in their depths.
“That’s right. It’s more than hope.”
He looked directly at me, as if weighing my understanding.
“If Odin’s goal was simply to create a girl capable of wielding the power of Creation, then that goal has already been fulfilled. Yet, Odin has not made his move. Perhaps… he’s allowing himself to believe, just a little, that we can repel the monsters.”
I considered the possibility.
It was, admittedly, an optimistic view. Information about Odin’s plans was always scarce. Yet, he had not yet acted. No attempt had been made to seize Lu.
I raised my gaze to the statue of Odis in the chapel, the severe eyes unyielding as ever.
“…He still trusts us… a little?”
I whispered.
“That… and more.”
Heimdall’s voice carried a quiet certainty, stronger than any faith or hope I had ever felt.
“The adventurer seized the opportunity with their own hands. By discovering my horn on their journey. That is something even the gods themselves had almost forgotten, humans proved their resolve.”
The god stepped closer, the sunlight glinting off the sword etched upon their form.
“Do you have the will to fight?”
“Yes!”
I shouted, springing to my feet in haste.
The god raised a hand toward me, and I felt the same warmth and gentle reassurance as the first time I ever blew the horn.
“Good answer. A boy with a true heart.”
Skill『Alarm』 has been activated. Achievement unlocked. A new power has been granted.
I raised the horn, aglow with a radiant light, to eye level.
“This…”
Magic flowed from the god’s hand, wrapping around my body like a warm embrace. A voice echoed in my mind.
【 Master of the Horn】 ……Draws out the full power of the alarm horn, Gjallarhorn.
“The more magic you pour into it, the farther the horn’s call will reach. If you can muster an extraordinary amount of magic… you could awaken the gods from every dungeon.”
Heimdall made a knowing smile.
“In other words, the trump card to rally allies… it’s far from exhausted.”
Pauline-san, still seated, let her rod rest on the ground.
“…I agree. It may be optimistic thinking. But if we act on the belief that Odin expects us to triumph over Ymir, then… I think it’s far from a bad proposal.”
Pauline-san tilted her head to the ceiling.
“We need to keep watch over Luisia from the Heavens, where the Chief God resides. That said… our first priority is to repel Ymir when he strikes.”
I nodded. Even if it was an optimistic outlook, the work ahead didn’t change. If hope existed, all the better. First, we deal with Ymir.
“Ymir said in Flosia, ‘From now on, it’s competition.’ Soon enough, he’ll make a move.”
Pauline-san smiled, as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
“In that case, our focus must be defense. We reveal the truth of the old myths, and enlist the royals and nobles as our allies.”
For a thousand years, these secrets had been protected… now we would overturn them. It was frightening, yes, but to protect Lu… there was no choice. I squared my jaw in resolve.
“And we’ll also need information on how Ymir, who escaped from Flosia, plans to strike next…”
To defend properly, we had to anticipate her next move. Perhaps we’d have to commission the Adventurers’ Guild for reconnaissance.
Heimdall raised two fingers.
“Then the next steps are twofold: increase our allies… and gather more intelligence.”
At that moment, warriors burst into the room.
“Pauline-sama!”
“What is it?”
“Apologies for interrupting… about that mouse—”
Mia-san and I exchanged a glance, and simultaneously said, “Ah.”
Pauline-san tilted her head in confusion.
“…Huh? A… mouse?”
Her jade-green eyes went wide, blinking in disbelief.
From a corner, Safi puffed up proudly, index finger raised like a trophy.
“I caught it! And it’s not just any mouse… it’s a monster! One of Ymir’s lieutenants called Ratbone!”
Pauline-san stared blankly in shock, her tall hat tilting askew.
I scratched my head and spoke up.
“I’ll guide you! We captured one of Ymir’s top lieutenants, an executive in Flocia who knows him well.”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
It happened when we returned to the Margrave’s mansion after finishing our request for the day.
Today, Fina-san had come along with us and helped out at the hospital with treatments. Pearl had powered up after absorbing a large number of goblins the other day, so she’d been a huge help with the healing.
We were all talking about how great that was as we reached the mansion’s entrance—when we saw the Margrave standing there, letting out a weary sigh.
“Ah, Shun and the others. You came at a good time. Let’s talk in the reception room.”
“Something troublesome happened, didn’t it?”
“Yeah… you could say that. It’s turned into quite the nuisance.”
The Margrave gave a wry smile, clearly troubled by whatever had happened.
Sue and I followed him into the reception room.
“The matter I wanted to discuss is about that heir. It turns out his family in the royal capital was involved in dealings with a criminal organization, and they made quite a mess of things. The army will be searching their mansion. Naturally, the plan for his family to come and take him back has been cancelled.”
“Wow… yeah, that really does sound like a headache.”
“Like parent, like child, I guess.”
His family apparently didn’t even have that much money to begin with, so why would they get involved with the dark organization in the first place? If they were aiming for some kind of last-ditch comeback, it was a pretty sloppy one.
“So, since a criminal organization is involved, the army will be taking the heir into custody. Well, that won’t happen for over a month, so it’ll probably be after you all have already departed.”
“Considering how serious the case is, that seems unavoidable.”
“Still, if the army is coming here, I have to give them a proper reception. Sigh… just thinking about the expenses makes me want to sigh again.”
Welcoming the army from the royal capital and holding a reception for them would certainly cost a considerable amount of money.
For the Margrave’s household, it really was one misfortune after another.
“Still, at least this whole affair is finally being settled. That magician will most likely be taken away by the army as well.”
“It’s good that everything is being cleared up. This should finally put the Margrave household’s worries to rest.”
The expenses might be a headache, but aside from that, it was all good news. Now it just depended on how thoroughly the army handled things.
“Well then, that’s enough unpleasant talk for today. You all helped treat a lot of people today, so let’s have a good meal to celebrate.”
“That sounds nice. Fina was saying she was hungry on the way back.”
“Shiro and the others were saying they were hungry too.”
With that, the conversation came to an end, and we headed toward the dining hall.
Sure enough, when we got there, Fina-san and Shiro’s group were already waiting impatiently for the meal. The moment they saw us, they started complaining about how late we were.It looked like Silvia-san had been trying to calm everyone down. Honestly, she really deserved some appreciation for that.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
> Aren’t all the enemies glaring at the old man now?
The sheer unexpected range and power of 【Requiem】 had obliterated every undead monster in the monster house. And as a result, the surviving creatures’ expressions changed instantly.
“Mister!”
Satsuki-chan shouted.
It seemed that almost every remaining monster in the monster house had now set their sights squarely on me. Blaring snarls and growls echoed through the enclosed space, spreading discord like a storm.
“I don’t really know, but there’s a really strong enemy! I can’t come help you right now, so hang in there!”
Satsuki-chan’s gaze was locked on a monster that radiated an entirely different presence from the others. That had to be the boss of this monster house.
It looked like the monsters had split up their roles strategically.
> That thing Satsuki’s facing… isn’t that the Goblin King?
> A mid-boss from an advanced dungeon!
> Why is it here?
> Are we sure this is a beginner dungeon?
> Even for an S-rank, instant-kill would be impossible.
> This is seriously bad, isn’t it?
> The old man’s constantly in danger.
So basically, Satsuki-chan was tied up with the boss and couldn’t come help. That meant I had to handle the rest of the monsters on my own.
…Fine. Bring it on.
Since I’d already wiped out the undead skeletons with 【Requiem】, by my rough estimate, there were only about thirty monsters left to deal with. And just as I expected, 【Requiem】 didn’t affect the other goblins or slimes. But since my HP had been restored earlier, I could probably take a few hits without dying.
Still… even with my level increased, all my stats except Burial Power were too low to fight effectively in physical combat.
That meant I had no choice but to rely on skills.
Right now, 【Cremation】is the only effective option, but the raw power it had displayed earlier was insane. Against enemies this weak, it should be more than enough. I just had to dodge carefully and spam it efficiently.
【Cremation】seemed designed for single-target attacks, but if the monsters clustered close together, the flames might spread and take out multiple foes at once.
“Gushaaaaa!”
“Shaaa—!!”
“Gurruaaaah!”
“Sheeee—!!”
No way! Seriously?! They all came at me at once!
Front! Side! Above! Even behind me! It’s a full 360! How the hell are these guys coordinating that?!
My entire field of vision was completely filled with monsters.
Screw it! Let whatever happens, happen!
Focus on the enemies right in front!
Burn them down quick and push straight through!
“Cremation!”
I pictured the flames surging with maximum power, raised my staff, and unleashed the skill. I had planned to take out two or three at a time, carve a path back to the corridor near the entrance, and deal with the rest one by one in the narrow space.
Sure, I’d probably take some damage, but that seemed like the safest way to survive.
…But once again, things didn’t go according to plan.
> LOL wut
> Huh?
> NO WAY!!!
> What the-?!
> What the hell is happening?
> And you say this is only Skill Level 2?!
> Full-circle mass cremation lolol
It seemed like every single monster that had charged at me had been incinerated without exception. The charred remains of goblins were scattered carelessly across the floor.
“Grbububu…”
And…
Even the Goblin King that Satsuki-chan had been facing appeared to have taken some damage. A few meters ahead, I could see its back scorched blackened.
Wait—
I couldn’t see Satsuki-chan… I hope she’s okay.
She didn’t accidentally get caught in the flames, did she?!
“Got you!”
I heard her voice, still full of life.
Good—she’s fine.
“Haah!”
Seizing the brief moment while the Goblin King staggered, Satsuki-chan delivered a dazzling strike, cleaving the boss in two. The Goblin King disintegrated into dust, and it seemed that all remaining monsters in the room were eliminated.
“Mister!”
Satsuki-chan rushed over immediately.
Thankfully, the aftereffects of my skill hadn’t harmed her at all. The system apparently handled ally-and-enemy distinctions automatically.
“Honestly… even after seeing that footage, I couldn’t believe it… Who are you, really?”
“Eh… I-I’m just a beginner cleric…”
“That’s impossible!”
She raised her eyebrows and spoke a little louder, flat-out denying my explanation.
Uh… am I getting scolded?
She seems a little hot-tempered.
> You basically did it almost entirely alone
> Monster house handled with no problem
> Kinda gave me goosebumps
> The strongest cleric is born
> S-rank adventurers got nothing on this lol
The chat speed was skyrocketing. Before I knew it, the number of simultaneous viewers had reached 89.
The scream had come from deeper in the dungeon—the direction she had gone.
Before I knew it, I had already turned on my heel. I sprinted full speed in the opposite direction of the exit, charging straight into the depths of the dungeon.
> That’s dangerous, Mister!
> You shouldn’t go!
> If Satsuki’s screaming, something is seriously wrong!
> What the hell is going on in this dungeon?!
Like hell I could just ignore it!
There’s no way I could pretend I didn’t hear the scream of a beautiful girl who had just healed some random middle-aged guy like me. Something serious—something really bad—had to be happening deeper inside.
I have to hurry!
Bursting out of the domed chamber, I ran through the passage beyond it. My footsteps rang sharply against the stone floor as I sprinted forward, gasping for breath.
After several dozen meters, another exit came into view ahead—light spilling through the opening.
Satsuki-chan had to be somewhere past there.
Either way, there was only one option.
I had to go.
“Uooooooooh!!”
“Shaaaa!!”
“Whoa—! That was close!”
The moment I burst out of the corridor, I instantly recognized the space beyond. It was identical to the plaza where I had fought the slime and the orc earlier.
And at that exact moment—
I was attacked.
A skeletal monster suddenly slashed at me. My body lurched instinctively, my knees buckling as I stumbled forward, and by sheer luck the blade missed its mark.
But the relief lasted only a moment.
“Shaaa!!”
The skeletal monster was already moving in for a follow-up attack. Its sword rose high overhead, perfectly poised to split me in two.
“Shit! I can’t get up….!”
My knees were shaking so badly I couldn’t stand. I pushed my body too hard running all the way here with barely any stamina left. Now it simply refused to obey me.
Crap. This is bad. I’m done for.
“Haaah!!”
“—Bffu!”
The skeleton suddenly split vertically in two from the unexpected strike from behind it. Its two halves slid apart and collapsed to both sides. Standing there, having felled the monster in a single blow, was Satsuki-chan.
“Are you alright, Mister?”
“Th-thanks….”
“Seriously! Why did you come here?!”
“Well…. I heard you scream. Before I knew it, I was already running this way.”
“Ah… Sorry. That was probably my fault, wasn’t it?”
“N-no, not at all….”
“I just got a little startled. I never expected to run into a monster house in a place like this.”
A monster house?
> For real?
> So that’s why it’s crawling with monsters.
> No way…. this is insane.
> A monster house this early in the dungeon? That’s just cruel.
Even after saving me, Satsuki-chan hadn’t let her guard down.
She faced the monsters head-on. She’s standing between the monsters and my kneeling, wobbly self. Thankfully, the wall behind me meant I didn’t have to worry about a sneak attack from behind.
Still, true to the name, the room I had stumbled into was absolutely swarming with monsters—everywhere I looked, there were countless hostile forms.
“If I were alone, this wouldn’t be much of a problem…”
Satsuki-chan muttered. I heard it and I shakily rose to my feet.
Yeah, I get it. I can handle myself.
Could you not treat me like some kind of useless obstacle, please?
“You don’t have to worry about me. Just do whatever you need to do.”
“Just focus on protecting yourself. You already managed to take down an orc, so handling yourself should be fine, right?”
“P-Probably….”
“I’ll try to finish this as quickly as I can. If it looks like you’re about to die, just call out, okay?”
With that, Satsuki-chan honed her focus on the swarming mass of monsters—skeletons, slimes, goblins—easily numbering fifty or more.
At first glance, none of them looked particularly strong. Well, that is from the perspective of an S-rank adventurer of course. If I hadn’t shown up here, she probably would have cleared them all in no time and moved on to the next area.
> Try not to get surrounded.
> Just burn them all with [Cremation].
> Or maybe use [Requiem]?
> Oh, that might work on the skeletons.
> Yes, yes.
Thinking it’s someone else’s problem….
I’m still not used to combat, you know. This isn’t like a game stream.
Still… I can’t deny I’m curious about that [Requiem] skill.
Skeletons are, by all normal logic, undead-type creatures. If I combined it with [Cremation], I might actually be able to handle protecting myself.
I’m starting to feel a bit confident.
Alright! Let’s give this a shot!
“Okay, let’s go!”
With that shout, Satsuki-chan lunged at the enemies ahead. A sweeping strike wreathed in flames instantly obliterated three monsters in a single blow.
That’s [Fire Blade], huh? So cool!
Oops, this is not the time to get distracted. I have to activate my own skill.
“.….”
But how the hell am I supposed to imagine [Requiem]?
Chanting a sutra? Saying a prayer?
Nope. I have no idea at all.
Fine! It’s called purification, right? Then light—light it is!
I visualize the light. Picturing a gentle radiance pouring down from the heavens.
“Shaaaa!!”
Whoa! Here it comes! A skeleton!
Please let the light shine down! Banish this evil spirit!!!
Paaaahhhh!
“Eh?”
“Shwoah….”
With a sound like a trickle of water, the skeleton was bathed in soft light, dissipating into mist as it drifted upward toward the sky.
And not just that—
Shwoah…
Shwoah…
Shoo, shwoah…
The gentle glow of [Requiem] filled the dim monster house, and every single one of the twenty or so skeletons vanished in an instant, carried away into the light.
“No way….”
Satsuki-chan, already having struck down a few monsters with her own attacks, stared up at the ceiling, utterly speechless. The sudden burst of brightness and the complete disappearance of the skeletons left her frozen, unable to believe what she was witnessing.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
I checked the route to the Western Margravate at the Adventurer’s Guild. Until now, we’ve been able to travel by carriage, but it would be nice if we could also travel to the Western Margravate by the sea.
Thinking this, I asked the receptionist while completing the luggage transport completion procedures.
“There are several routes from the Northern Margravate to the Western Margravate. Most people choose the coastal route. Of course, horse-drawan carriage services are also available.”
I asked the Adventurer’s Guild receptionist and apparently, there really is a coastal route. I thought this was lucky, but Fran and Horn looked puzzled.
“Hey, hey, what’s the sea?”
“What’s it like?”
Oh, that’s right.
Fran and Horn don’t know what the sea is. They still don’t know a lot of things, so I’ll have to teach them little by little.
“The sea is like a lake with tons of water, but it’s really salty.”
“And you know what? There are tons of fish in the sea too, and they’re super delicious!”
““We want to go to the sea!””
Yep. For Fran and Horn, tasty food clearly took priority over mysterious things.
The moment Shiro mentioned that the sea also had fish, the two of them—together with Ao—got incredibly excited. Seeing reactions like that really reminded me that Fran and Horn were still just kids.
“It looks like traveling by horse-drawn carriage will take about twenty days again.”
“Yeah, about the same as usual. Let’s stock up on various supplies in case something happens along the way.”
We still had some time before departure, so we decided to slowly gather everything we might need.
Thinking about that, we headed back to the Margrave’s mansion.
“Welcome back, Sue-oneesama!”
“Ah—Fina, I’m home.”
As soon as we stepped into the entrance hall, Fina-san rushed over and hugged Sue as if she’d been waiting the whole time.
Sue sighed with a what-can-you-do expression and gently patted Fina on the head. Fina, meanwhile, looked completely satisfied.
“Sue-oneesama, let’s all take a bath together!”
“Yes, yes, I get it already—just don’t pull my arm like that.”
It seemed like Fina-san was trying to spend as much time with Sue as possible.
Thinking that, I watched the girls head off toward the baths.
Well then, I guess I’ll go freshen up in the bath attached to my room.With that thought, and realizing we wouldn’t be staying at the Margrave’s mansion much longer, I headed back to my room.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Amane-san activated her Appraisal skill and began checking my status.
“Your class is Cleric and… Eh? You’re a cleric!? And, your level is five…”
Just like how I used Clairvoyance, she worked through my status with her skill, reading out each line from top to bottom as she deciphered it.
Then, halfway through, she paused.
“Your magic power is… no, wait. Where’s your magic power? …What is Burial Power?”
It seemed that the stat called Burial Power was just as unusual as I thought. Come to think of it, the viewers had sounded confused about it earlier too.
> Yeah, that’s exactly where you’d get stuck lol
> What the heck is that stat?
> Even an S-rank hasn’t seen it before?
> It sounds kind of weird too
> Yeah… that’s gotta be a bug
“Did you defeat the orc with this [Cremation] skill…?”
Amane-san compared the orc’s scattered bones with the information in my status window, trying to piece together what had happened.
Considering the remains were nothing but charred fragments, that was probably the most reasonable conclusion.
Still, it made me think all over again.
Just what kind of standard were my stats based on, anyway?
One thing was certain—my abilities didn’t seem to follow the same rules as those of normal adventurers. The viewers kept joking that it was probably just some kind of bug, but… was it really something that simple?
Well, there wasn’t much point in overthinking it.
I think things will just happen as they’re meant to.
“This [Return] skill… could it be some kind of teleportation ability…? But more importantly—why don’t you have any healing skills…? You’re supposed to be a cleric after all…”
“…So it really is strange, huh?”
“It is strange.”
Hearing it said so bluntly made it sound like I was the strange one.
Didn’t feel great, honestly.
I’m just a perfectly ordinary middle-aged guy.
“Maybe you’re actually—no, that can’t be right. Your class definitely says Cleric… I even wondered for a moment if it might be a Unique Class, but…”
A Unique Class?
What’s that supposed to be?
> Oh, the ultra-rare class people say only five exist in the entire world.
> Does that even really exist? Never seen one.
> I’ve only ever heard rumors about it.
> I know about Hero and Demon Knight though
> Yeah, those two are SSS-rank classes
Heh~. So people like that actually exist in this world huh. I had no idea.
Still, I am a clearly a cleric.
Apparently this class is a bit uncommon among dungeon explorers, but it is still just a perfectly ordinary background job—basically a pretty normal NPC class.
“Does anyone know this stat? Burial Power?”
Amane-san turned toward the camera, directing the question to the countless viewers who were watching her stream.
With that many people tuned in, surely at least one of them should recognize it.
“…Yeah, it’s definitely a bug.”
Apparently not. Looks like no one had ever seen or even heard of it before.
“Oh, right! I can’t just stand around wasting time here!”
Amane-san suddenly snapped back to her senses, reacting to the flood of comments racing through the chat.
Now that I thought about it, she had seemed to be in a hurry earlier.
“Mister, that stat of yours is pretty strange. You should go consult the Guild Headquarters about it at least once!”
“Eh? Y-yeah… you’re probably right.”
“See you! Ah—if I don’t hurry, other explorers will get here!”
She gave my shoulder a quick pat, then dashed off at incredible speed, racing straight for the exit of the room where the orc had appeared.
> Maybe an emergency quest popped up.
> Probably one of those first-come, first-served ones.
> It’s pretty rare to see it in a beginner dungeon.
> The competition’s probably brutal. It’s just right that she hurry.
> I wonder what kind of quest it is.
> It’s an investigation quest. Apparently, something strange is happening in this dungeon right now.
> Oh, did you come over from Satsuki-chan’s channel?
> Yeah, I got curious about this Mister lol
> Maybe the orc on the first floor was because of that anomaly.
> Either way, Mister, you should probably leave the dungeon for now.
The viewers were getting pretty fired up all on their own.
Before I knew it, the number of simultaneous viewers had climbed to thirty-four.
Hmm…. So there are emergency quests like that, huh.
Dungeon exploration really feels like it’s borrowed the best parts from all kinds of games. Maybe it’s designed that way on purpose—making it easier for people to get used to it.
“Well… I guess I’ll stick to the plan and leave the dungeon for now.”
Even if my level had gone up and my HP had been restored, I am still, without a doubt, a beginner. Beating that orc earlier had been a complete fluke. If someone asked me to do the same thing again, I honestly couldn’t say whether I could pull it off.
To be honest, I was incredibly curious about Amane-san. But if I followed her, I’d probably just slow her down. Charging without a plan into a dungeon where something strange is already happening is just asking for trouble.
“Since I’m at it… maybe I should try that [Return] skill I learned earlier.”
From the description, it sounded like an escape-type ability.
It said that it will let me return to a designated location.
Hmm, I guess I’ll try imagining my house the same way I did when I activated my other skill. Hopefully that works.
《 No destination point has been set. Activation cancelled. 》
A warning chime sounded, and a glowing text appeared in midair.
So this skill needs some kind of setup first, huh?
Maybe it requires marking a location beforehand or something. Looks like I can’t just teleport somewhere by imagining it.
“Figures it wouldn’t be that convenient. Oh well… guess I’ll just walk back…”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Just as I turned towards the entrance to head back, a piercing scream came from deep within the dungeon.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
“I’m so sorry! I never imagined there’d be someone lying around in a place like this…”
Apparently, that’s how the girl who had nearly crashed into me interpreted the situation.
She lightly pressed her palms together and apologized with a wink.
Well, I hadn’t exactly been lying around, but still.
I twisted my body at the last second, so we didn’t collide. But if we had crashed head-on at that speed, I’d definitely be dead right now.
Why was she in such a hurry anyway?
The chat suddenly exploded with excitement.
> Huh? Isn’t that Amane Satsuki?
> Oh, you’re right! It’s Satsuki-chan!
> Why is she in a beginner dungeon?
> She was moving crazy fast.
> Maybe she’s streaming an RTA run?
> Surprise appearance of an S-rank explorer.
> Bro got discovered by a famous streamer.
…Huh?
It seemed the viewers were still watching.
From the flood of comments, I was able to piece together the identity of the girl who had just charged in.
So her name was Amane Satsuki. And she is an S-rank explorer.
Seriously? That’s incredible. She looked so young. Dungeon explorers really did live in a world of dreams.
“Oh! Mister, you’re hurt! That’s because of me… right? Actually—maybe not. But let me see.”
The girl grabbed my left arm and carefully examined the burn-like wound on it.
Then she softly spoke a single word.
“Heal.”
The recovery skill I had been desperately wishing for—she used it as easily as breathing. A gentle light wrapped around my arm, and in moments the pain vanished. The injuries on my hand and leg disappeared as well, as if they had never existed.
Is Amane-san a healer-type explorer too?
The chat immediately erupted again.
> Switch places with me, Mister!
> So jealous, this is unacceptable.
> Man, high-rank classes really are different.
> Satsuki-chan is so cute.
Yeah… this girl is definitely popular. I could practically feel the aura of it coming off her.
She really is cute—far cuter than most idols seen on TV. Her face had a youthful softness to it, but the light in her eyes carried a sharp, dignified strength. It left a striking impression. And she is a S-rank explorer on top of that. No wonder she is such a popular streamer.
“T-thank you. You really saved me.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. When someone’s in trouble, we should help each other out.”
Her smile was critical hit. And polite, too. This girl is absolutely lethal to middle-aged men. I doubted there was a single person who could dislike her.
“…Eh? It’s fine, isn’t it? Think of it as fate bringing us together.”
She must have been responding to complaints from her own chat. After all, she was streaming live too.
Judging from the way her eyes flicked briefly toward the air in front of her, the comments on her side were probably flying by at an incredible speed.
> Looks like you’ve just made an enemy out of Amane-chan’s viewers.
> Jealous fans are popping up everywhere.
> Her fans are practically fanatical, you know.
> She’s got over half a million followers.
Half a million… that’s basically god-tier.
For a rookie old-timer like me, there’s no way I could ever be in her orbit. Just crossing paths with her? That alone was pure luck. Might as well try my luck a little further.
I probably won’t get another chance to see her, so maybe I’ll use a little Clairvoyance to check her stats as a keepsake.
I’ve always wondered… what exactly makes an S-rank adventurer so extraordinary?
Now was as good a time as any to find out.
Ah, and don’t go calling this “peeping” or anything.
I slumped in my seat, utterly drained. And it was all because that lump of fat had forcibly held me in place.
『Women’s chests are basically lumps of fat, so the feel would be the same, right?』
(That’s completely different! If that were true, then an old man’s belly would feel the same, aaaaahhh!)
After finishing Fana and Anje’s promotion exams, we left the Adventurers’ Guild Headquarters and boarded the Seno Grande Kai. We are now heading toward Vegaltia. We had to report their successful promotions directly to Arc.
Also… since the exam had been right before, we had left Colette and Zeta behind without attending to them properly.
Just then, the alarm blared through the airship.
Woong~ woong~ woong~ woong~
【Something is approaching from the rear at an incredible speed. Highly likely to be a hostile entity. 】
The ship’s onboard system reported.
At the same time, an emergency announcement echoed through the vessel.
I turned around to see what was coming.
“Is that… could it be… the lump of fat!?”
『It’s the Association President.』
Maribel was barreling toward us. Even though the airship was moving at a significant speed, she was overtaking it with ease.
“No way… is she trying to… pick me up again!?”
『Doesn’t look like it from the aura she gave off.』
Just as Lindwurm had said, something about the situation felt off.
Suddenly, towering pillars of fire erupted around Maribel.
Seven blazing columns shot forth, each one rushing toward them like the heads of a seven-headed dragon. The shield generated by the Seno Grande Kai bore the full force of the assault.
Booom!!
The shield held on but the impact sent the ship lurching violently.
“What… what is happening!?”
Rushing into the control room, flustered and wide-eyed, was Dana, who had been lost in her research back in the ship’s magical workshop.
“We don’t know either… but it seems someone we know is attacking us. Dana, you should stay in the shelter room. It’s too dangerous out here.”
Even as that exchange was happening, Maribel was preparing to unleash the same spell again.
“Here it comes again!”
“The shield… can it still hold on?”
【Defense shield was damaged by sixty percent in the previous attack. Barrier won’t withstand another hit. Initiating counterattack. Mana charged. Targeting confirmed. —Ready to fire.】
Immediately, a cannon of pure magical energy shot forward. It collided head-on with Maribel’s seven pillars of fire, and with a deafening roar, the forces canceled each other out.
The Seno Grande Kai fired a second magical cannon, but this time, Maribel dodged it, closing the distance with frightening speed.
Judging that a single, focused blast wouldn’t be enough, the next volley split into multiple streams of laser-like projectiles. They rained down from all directions, striking Maribel in several places.
“A barrier…”
Maribel, having blocked the previous volley with her barrier, now conjured twelve towering pillars of fire.
【Warning! Shield cannot withstand attack. All personnel, brace for impact.】
“Brace for impact?! How exactly are we supposed to do that—Aaaaaaaaaaah!?”
The fiery columns surged toward the Seno Grande Kai.
Boooooooom!!
【Critical damage to propulsion system. Flight impossible. Ship will crash.】
The vessel lost all thrust and plummeted toward the ground with terrifying speed.
We leapt from the ship just in time. Luckily, we were over a large lake, and a nearby island provided a safe landing spot.
The Seno Grande Kai slammed into the water with a tremendous splash, sending a towering wave spraying in every direction. The sudden deluge fell around us like a torrential rain, soaking everything in its path.
“Ah… I almost forgot about Dana. Well, she should be safe inside the shelter room. And since we’re over water, the fire should die out pretty quickly anyway.”
Then, Maribel descended toward us.
“Hm… no staff?”
“She’s riding some kind of ring instead.”
“That actually looks more stable.”
The moment I saw it, I was struck dumb.
“No way… the Rainbow Dragon Staff… Ouroboros…?”
I couldn’t help but speak the name aloud. The staff now blazed a furious red, like fire itself. Its dragon-shaped head bit its own tail, forming a perfect circular ring.
『…No mistake about it. Moreover, it seems the staff has been unsealed and is now controlling the woman’s mind.』
Lindwurm nodded gravely.
The Rainbow Dragon Staff, Ouroboros, was, like Lindwurm and Bahamut, a magical staff I had created in my previous life. But its power was far too dangerous, so it had been sealed under multiple layers of enchantments and stored as one of the most forbidden artifacts in existence.
But by Deophrastus’ hand, it had vanished from the Tower of the Great Sage along with the other forbidden artifacts. I had assumed it was still somewhere in the magical city, yet for some reason, it could not be found.
I had even asked Meltera to investigate, but… to think that the seal had been broken—and that it would come on its own.
『Kuhahahahaha! So you’ve been reincarnated after all, Aristoteleus! And what a delightfully cute form you’ve taken!!』
The grating voice echoed painfully inside my mind.『Just because you’ve become a fragile infant doesn’t mean I’ll show you mercy! You—who dared to put us in such a form—I’ll tear you to pieces!!”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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