I told her everything, from how the demoness separated us from the rest of the group without us realizing, to how she tricked
with her illusions, resulting in
killing her before I was killed myself.
No lies, no omissions. Just the plain hard truth.
I then told her about the hooded elf, who sohow managed restore us back from the brink of death.
"And that's how you and I are still alive. All thanks to her, no thanks to ."
I smiled grimly, followed by a sigh.
"I ssed up. Badly. When I saw your lifeless, headless body... I would've killed myself if she hadn't done it first. I don't think I can live after that big of a blunder."
Even though I only survived after that mont for a short ti, I would never forget that feeling for the rest of my life.
Despair, holessness, the tightness in my chest, the realization that I had done sothing terribly wrong..
It was just like when Alan and Renee died to protect . Only ten tis worse. For I did the deed myself.
The wand I held… was the weapon that killed her. The magic that bludgeoned her head into chunks of flesh… it was my spell.
There was no coming back from that.
…
Oh great. I can feel it—my eyes watering again. Quickly, I wiped it with my sleeve.
"I won't ask for forgiveness. I could only imagine the pain and dread you felt when you saw
aiming my wand at you. Your life, flashing before your eyes, done away by the man you love. Even if it's because of an illusion, there's no excuse. I could've accepted her demand. Instead, I had to satisfy my ego and fight her instead."
I averted my gaze away from her, looking down at my feet instead.
"I told you before, all those months ago, that you're always free to leave
whenever you want. I won't lie, I really enjoy your company these past months. It hasn't even been a full year yet it's like you've been by my side all this ti. And not just because I'm a pervert and you're a hot chick who lets
grope your breasts." I forced a chuckle. "With you by my side, my loneliness disappears into the wind."
I walked closer to her and placed my hands on top of hers, forcing a smile in the process.
"I'll give you half of our money. You should go to the south and—"
She threw her staff away and jumped right at , hugging
as tightly as she could.
"Stop! Don't say that! Don't you dare say that!
To my surprise, she was the one to break down in tears first.
"I'm so happy that you're safe, Milord! A Demon Lord… not even you can handle such an opponent! So please! Don't be so harsh on yourself!"
As usual, she pressed her breasts onto my face in the process. But, instead of having my usual lewd thoughts, I only felt warmth. Warmth and comfort.
"I don't care if I die as long as you survive! I owe you my life, ever since you saved
that day! I'll be with you until the end!"
I looked up and saw her smiling through her tears.
Tears of happiness. Just like when I saw her being saved.
…
I really am a bad judge of character.
Of course Felicia will refuse to leave.
Just like how Marina was not even mad with
for my failure to bring my parents back.
I've been projecting my own ugly insecurities onto them.
No wonder there's a saying that you can't love soone else before loving yourself.
"You idiot." I grinned. "That's my line. As your future husband, I've promised to protect you, even if it costs my own life."
She let out a small giggle, sniffling in the process. She then slowly leaned closer to , our lips closing together...
"Are you two finished?"
…
I glanced at the elf and saw that now she had an impatient frown on her face.
Well, thanks for ruining the mont.
"I'll use the Observatorium's ability of teleportation to bring your friend to you. In exchange, I want you to imdiately resu your exploration."
"Wait, you can do that?"
"It is within the capability of the Cradle. For now, it shall be the safest place for you to be at."
I let out a sigh of relief. Oh thank God I don't actually have to fight her again.
...Yeah, a month or two should be enough to make her leave. I have a feeling she's the type to easily get bored with things. Maybe she agreed to kill
because I'm now well-known as the strongest adventurer in Arborea.
Aahh, I want Myrilla to notice
but I get a Demon Lord instead. Really, what is up with my luck?
"How about Theo and Tama, Milord?" Felicia spoke. "We should contact them as well."
"You're right, we should. They can co into the dungeon as well."
"Hey, Miss Administrator." I smiled at the elf. "Can you teleport them in as well?"
Sighing, she replied, "Might as well."
"And one more thing."
I walked up and held her hands, giving her the largest grin I could muster.
"Thank you, Miss Xaela, for everything. I still don't know what you want with , but I promise, I'll reach the 600th floor like you want
too. It's the least I can do to repay you."
"You… rember my na?"
"Of course. It's the least I can do for my savior." Even though she ntioned it only once on our first eting a month ago, sohow it just stuck in my mind, even though I often referred to her as the Administrator instead.
...Oh? What's this? Her cheeks are reddening.
"I-it's only my duty to aid you, Unchained One." She averted her gaze.
Heh, that trope really is true. No matter how old a lady elf is, she'll remain as cute as she was in her youth.
Even if her chest is as flat as a washboard.
--------
We made it back to the Observatorium without incident. The Demon Lord must have thought we were really dead, which worked greatly to our advantage. And even if she realized it now, it would already be too late since we were now safe inside its walls.
Xaela instructed us to enter the teleporter imdiately before disappearing, promising that she'd bring Tira and the others once we were inside.
Well, let's just hope she isn't lying.
...Nah. That girl just isn't the type to lie.
I was quickly proven right. The mont we re-entered the fourth stratum, there they were—Theo, Tama, and Tira—all bewildered and confused by their teleportation.
"Master Hugo! You're here!"
Theo, being Theo, promptly rushed to
and gave
a big hug while all teary eyed.
"Y-you just disappeared! I… we were looking all over for you and Miss Felicia! And then Mother disappeared too! A-and then, all of a sudden, we're here!"
"Yeah, it's a long story." I patted his head. "Where do I even start? But before that." I pushed him gently off . "Tira, are you alright? Did she harm you in any way?"
"N-no, she didn't." She stuttered, looking away. "She just knocked
unconscious. When I ca to, I was back at the mansion, with Mr. Bartholoous right in front of . And he…"
She didn't need to say anything. I saw it—the large slap mark on her cheeks.
"There was another man there as well—a scary-looking one. He told
I was a murderous thief and my punishnt was to be a slave. And then, just before he could give
the brand, I was brought here."
I sighed in relief, thanking Xaela for her assist once more. Really, she was the hero in this ss. I was powerless to do anything.
"They found out, didn't he? On how we murdered the phony alchemist?"
"Yes." She nodded. "He thought I was the mastermind and you two did the act because of ."
"Hmph, that's not it. That's not why they wanted you." Felicia spoke. "That master of yours wanted your body. It's as simple as that. Do you know what that brand does?" She shook her head. "That brand robs you out of your free will. It's a dark magic forbidden in the Holy Continent."
"Wait, there's a spell like that?" I asked.
"Yes, unfortunately." Felicia smiled wryly. "To be precise, it's runic enchantnt augnted by dark mana. Demons created the branding rod used to brand the slaves then they would sell them to humans. If I am not mistaken, it's the specialization of the Nerthusia Race."
Nerthusia? Have I heard that word before?
…
Wait! That's Myrilla's race! She's a Nerthusia!
Felicia didn't know about it since I neglected to ntion it to her. She only knew she's a demoness, not a mind-reading slave-branding villain.
Well, I don't believe she's part of any of that. Other Nerthusians might be doing it—doesn't an she does as well. Father won't stand a woman who actively takes other people's free will like that.
Should I tell her now?
No, I'll tell her later. For now, we should just focus on the dungeon.
"Mother! I'm so happy you're safe!"
It was Tira's turn to be hugged by Theo next.
I let them talk it out for a bit—give the pair a mont of their own.
And, once they were finished, it was ti for us to go.
Onward! To the fifth stratum!
---------
----------
Marina
"Marina? Marina? Ooi, Earth to Marina?"
"...Hmm?"
"Geez, Marina. It's not like you to space out like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that… I have this sudden terrible feeling in my chest."
Snapping out of my reverie, I realized that Sophie had been calling my na for a good while. How embarrassing.
We were now in the middle of our inspection. We wished to see how much our crops had grown since I gave the seeds to the farrs a while back. And so, we were now surrounded by fields and fields of farmlands. However, instead of the usual wheat, it was instead filled with dicinal herbs—bushes and bushes of it.
My seed was growing terrifically well.
"Terrible feeling? You an, like sothing is amiss?"
"Yes, sothing like that."
"Hmm, don't tell —you forgot to wear panties?"
"W-what?! Where did that co from?"
"Joking! It's a joke! You're too uptight for your own good, Marina!"
As I saw the hobbit giggling and smiling, I couldn't help but feel a spark of annoyance inside . She doesn't know how it feels, worrying about your little brother who's now on the side of the world.
That terrible feeling… What if it's a premonition? What if sothing terrible has happened to him? With
here, I can't do anything to help him.
I've asked her to provide
with another Dream Orb but she refused my request. She said it was an ultra rare item that even she can't get easily. Her getting her hands on it was nothing short of a miracle.
Oh Hugo, you'll be alright, won't you?
"Miss Marina! Miss Marina!"
My thoughts were interrupted by an old mustached man running towards . Before I could say anything, he grabbed my left hand and shook it vigorously.
"Oh, Miss Marina! You were right! Your seeds really do work! Look at all these crops! I've never seen a yield as big as this! And you say your little friend there will buy them for one silver per bush? I'll be rich overnight!"
I rembered him. He was one of the naysayers who doubted
when I proposed my plan to the Farrs' Guild.
"I'm glad to hear that." I smiled. "As long as you grow them the way I instructed you to, then there should be no problem."
"Truly you are a blessing to our town, Miss! Aahh, what a fool I was to ever doubt you!"
His reaction was not the only one. Other farrs would thank
as well. Seeing their smiles… giving all those hours creating the seeds truly was worth it.
And this way, Grandfather can have more funds for his budget. This region can be developed further.
I suppose I could switch full-ti in developing my Grandmaster-level spell.
--------
After giving my report to Grandfather, I departed the city.
I felt bad leaving Erika on her own yet again but I had no choice. I had to develop my spell away from the city, or else I might risk destroying it in the first place.
I had studied Cecilia's book on leylines and I believed I could combine the knowledge I gained from it to create a Yggdrasil spell that could borrow power from the leylines itself.
Cecilia was right. That book really was valuable.
However, my Yggdrasil's roots had yet to be able to reach that far deep into the earth. The issue was on the spell itself fundantally. It was not designed to be used this way. It was supposed to just be a support/defensive spell. If I forced it to stretch its roots, it would only die.
Of course the Magocracy will hide the strong spells they have from the public. All the spells I was taught—there were intentional limitations baked into them, preventing us students from developing them beyond a certain limit. This I only learned from Cecilia. For so odd reason, that woman seems to know a lot about the inner workings of the Magocracy.
To beco stronger, I must break free from that limit.
Once I can tap into that well of strength, I can create an unstoppable monstrosity worthy to be called a Grandmaster-level spell. Its branches could wipe a city clean with a single swipe and its wood would be harder than mithril. Even with a thousand fire spells, it shall never be defeated as it will also have an endless regeneration capability.
I do not know how strong Cecilia and the Griffin Knights are. But with this spell, I should be able to fend them off if they ever turn on .
Selendia Brine once destroyed a country with a single Grandmaster-level spell. I should be able to the sa.
I was now standing inside a pine forest, not too far away from the city.
It was the perfect place to train my magic.
"Grrrr…. Grrrr…"
Wolves… I am now surrounded by them.
I sighed. I have to clean up first, it seems.
-----------
A month had passed since then. Sumr had co in full force and the harvest of my crops had been going swimmingly.
Sophie had gone back to the south to deliver the goods along with her two entourages. I never really got a chance to talk for long with the two lizardn but I knew they were originally slaves Sophie purchased. And now, she employed them like proper employees, paying them a salary every month. They were no longer slaves. They were her assistants. So I had no problem with them.
However, this news I was hearing from Grandfather—I did have a problem with it.
"Absolutely not. Tell them to turn back and take another route."
"Please, my dear, you must understand. We can't just do that without incurring the wrath of the Duke Treble."
"So what? This is our territory, is it not? We have the right to decide who gets to pass or not."
"Yes, that's true, but what will you do if the Duke responds by banning all of our exports to his territory? That's within his authority. And to be honest, we need the trade more than he does."
Our argunt started by the news that an entire caravan of slaves would cross our territory from the north. I was asked by Grandfather to escort them to the south until they reached the territory of the Duke. It was his business. As the biggest slave trading region in the kingdom, he would import slaves from all over.
Of course, I could not let that pass. Not when I still rembered that day, when Erika was almost turned into a slave because of my negligence.
"...No, it doesn't matter. We can trade with Areria instead."
"But you have to pass through the Duke's territory to transport the goods there!"
"Not if you take the eastern route."
"Eastern route? You an through the Algernon Jungle? Have you forgotten how dangerous that place is? No sane rchants would take that route with all the monsters infesting it."
He was right. Ever since that kingdom mysteriously destroyed itself overnight around five hundred years ago, it had been a no man's land. There were no clear records on the how and why. So say it was destroyed by a foreign mage. Another story says it's a magic experint gone wrong.
In short, magic is to the bla.
I wouldn't bla their prejudice. Magic truly is capable of such a thing after all.
"What if I carve a path through the jungle? It can be the start for you claiming the region for your own, Grandfather. The land there is much more fertile than here."
"No no no, I'm too old for such an ambitious project. Not to ntion the capital won't like it if I make such a sudden move. Do you know just how many whispers there are about
supposedly planning a rebellion with you? Too many to count."
He took a deep sigh. "I appreciate you taking the initiative to improve this territory, Marina. Your project with the hobbit has been a great success and we shall have no problem repaying the debt we owed to the other noble houses. However, in this matter, I would like you to do as I asked of you. Nothing more. Nothing less."
I fell silent. We exchanged stares for what seed like an eternity, until I spoke.
"No. I am going to rescue those slaves. Whether you like it or not, Grandfather.
"If they try anything, I'll make minceat out of their soldiers. After all, I am the Verdant Witch of Death, am I not?"
I gave him a wry smile before leaving the room, ignoring his yelling for
to stay.
Don't worry, Grandfather. Your granddaughter is only getting stronger and stronger every day.
My Perfect Yggdrasil is nearing its final stage. Once it's finished…
I'll be as strong as Vera herself.
-----------
In the end, Marina did as she said she would.
She ca to the caravan and spoke with the rchants there. There were two of them, one lanky and the other pudgy—both middle-aged n. They were brothers and they had started their business ever since they were in their youth. They climbed their way up the ladder of wealth with their tricks. After striking it big by selling fake jewelry to unsuspecting wealthy ladies, they moved to a more legitimate business of selling slaves. And now, here they were, one of the most prominent slave traders in the Northern Duchies, with reach going all the way to the Holy Land across the sea.
They received Marina courteously, having been inford by their business partner that the local lord would send an elite mage to guard their cargo. However, their smiles soon disappeared once they heard her demand.
"Leave this land. And leave the slaves behind."
Marina might have been content to let them go if Duke Treble had not taunted her by "asking" her Grandfather to make her guard this caravan. In his letter, he actually opened by apologizing how he had misjudged her and how he now had learned the truth. He gave his empty sympathies on Erika's kidnapping while not-so-subtly saying how it was Marina's fault and how he hoped she would not repeat the sa "youth-infused rampage
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