A robed illusion appears from the center of the torn fog. The eye sockets peeking out at the low-hanging hood are sharp. And the illusion has a unique, white beard. It’s a grandpa with a long and narrow goatee.
That robed grandpa is floating while setting a golden and indigo blue fog loose at his feet. I can’t see any eyeballs in the sockets, but…faint, beam-like light rays are being emitted from the sockets.
Judging from the shape of his lips, he seems to be some kind of dignitary.
『One who shelters bright light and at the same time deep darkness, I can smell a holy spear from you who devoured the heart of Ancient Dragon Baldok』
Holy spears have a scent? Well, I did certainly eat the Evil Dragon King’s heart. I’ve possessed for a long time now though…
『…You with the keen sense of smell, who might you be? I devoured the heart of the Evil Dragon King. And I was entrusted with the Holy Spear Arost by a certain elf』
In an instant, I activate . The crooked mana hand is clasping Arost. I manipulate it to show the spear to the robed illusion.
The second Kisara sees the glimmering of the cross-shaped spearhead of Arost, she yells, “Shuuya-sama, you possess a holy spear…”, and genuflects.
『Superb. This is certainly Arost! I’m a hermit called Kistrin』
『My name is Shuuya Kagarin』
Grandpa Kistrin, huh? The upper part of his face is hidden by the hood. Thus I can’t grasp his expression, but I still bow towards Kistrin.
He’s a senior. I’ve spent quite some time with my grandpa, so for this reason as well, I offer proper respect and use the 『Ra Kelada』 salutation for Kistrin who seems to be a being close to the god of light.
『…Hero Shuuya-dono who has inherited the will of Ygir Fortona who assisted the holy war, the human war of independence, I am well aware that it is a sudden request, but please hear me out』
『I don’t mind listening to it for the time being』
『…Would you be willing to grant the wish of the spirits here to return them to the sacred ground of Hardelende? I would like you to save their wandering souls…』
That’s his wish, but I’m not an obedient tool either. I’ll gladly show him respect, but…
『Does that mean you want me to head into a mysterious underground ruin located deep underground while clearing all obstacles on the way as I protect the spirits?』
『Indeed. Despite the existence of the golden path…it’ll also be a long journey riddled with many obstacles. And I believe that you’ll have to brave many dangers to recover the holy ground stolen by Humltrolls and Hardelende which was taken by Goddess Rolga’s forces』
Humltrolls? It looks like there exist all kinds of troll species. I wonder whether the trolls that kept roaring were those humltrolls or whatever. Though I haven’t heard any of those troll cries after I came back and defeated the semi-transparent orc…
Anyway, I feel sorry for the grandpa and the ghosts, but I’ll refuse here.
『…I must decline if it’s urgent』
『…Whuuaaat!?』
Kistrin removes his hood out of surprise over my reply. A divine light emanates from his azure, cross-shaped Demonic Eyes which are dwelling in his eye sockets. His eyebrows are thick, long, and narrow. His nose bridge is high and finely-chiseled. However, he’s still a grandpa with a peculiar hair crown as the hair on top is coiled up like a snake.
『…If I’m asked by my friend, I think I’d investigate, even if it might be hidden deep in the underground』
『For you to listen to your friend’s request while not paying any heed to my words…』
『I might reconsider if I’m directly asked by those pretty ghosts over there. But, I’m a busy man. So I’d postpone dealing with this either way』 I explain honestly.
It’s true that I’m busy. The revival of Cydale is only at its beginning. I have to renew the wall, including the main gate. I’m also planning to build a water wheel and repair the waterways.
Moreover, I need to report through blood messaging to Viine who’s in the middle of training in the Whirlpool Forest of Demonic Mist. I also have to ask Mysty about her progress in investigating Sol’s inheritance.
I want to talk about Kulbul Boxing with Rebecca who looks so charming in her Muntomi clothes. I’m pretty sure she’s going to plain to me about her clerk job at Betty-san’s tea shop.
I want to have a relaxed chat about juggling with Eva. She must be worried about Tanaka Confectionery, which looks like it’s going to bee a business rival, or her ingredient gathering for the restaurant.
Besides…
I must share the anti-Valmask war information about Hoffmann with Veronica. And I also want to meet my Master again.
There’s also Tsuan’s wish of wanting to see his wife who might live in the holy city or be dead for all we know. After arriving at the Great Desert Goldix, Kisara’s homeland, and moreover the Religious State Hesliphat, I’ll have to head to some hill, and ram Arost into the ground atop that hill.
It’s been a while since I was last in the Holy Kingdom, and I really wanna see that pink-haired princess again.
Furthermore, I have something that needs to be delivered to Hellrhone by using the Score of the Demon King and the Highcellcone Horn. Although I’m worried whether I’ll actually be able to perform the music. For better or worse, I’ve got the Lute of Justice which I can treat like a guitar, but…even when I asked Kazane about the score, she only told me, 『The score seems to be restricted to those who can play the music written on the score. I’ve also heard that you need specific instruments to play it』.
As I’m remembering all that,
『…The saint’s words…』
『H-How could this be…?』
The ghosts have started to…noisily chatter.
『N-No way…even though our honored ancestor has lamented…』
『…Even though he stared at our breasts』
『But, he said he’d reconsider if we asked him』
『…What an indecent man』
The beautiful ghost twins glare at me.
『The hymn was insufficient!』
『Extol…』
With those words, the ghosts begin to sing again.
Even though I feel bad for the ghosts, somehow, something is irking me about all this. In the first place, I’m not some hero or anything like that.
『Shuuya-dono! You can hear the screams of these souls, can’t you? Won’t you grant them their wish…?』
Hmm. Speaking of the underground world, there’s Amu of the Religious Organization Halfmalida and Independent Underground Volcano City Devil’s Mountain, but…down there I’d probably run into many other enemies besides Rolga or the Demonoid Empire.
It’s foreseeable that it’d be a very challenging trip. The ghosts’ wish, and Kistrin’s request…they might pinning their hopes on me as their hero, but…for me they’re elves who are no more than Quiche’s ancestors. I don’t feel any obligation towards them.
『…Kistrin-san, it’s impossible for now. It’s too suspicious as well』
Kistrin reacts by twitching with his eyebrows. I continue while glaring at that, 『…It smells fishy, or rather, I can strongly sense ulterior motives of the divine domain or light faction behind this. …I don’t have any intention to bee a simple sacrificial pawn for either. Besides, I’m also no hero or saint who’s reached enlightenment…where would you find a saint, who slaughters enemies without hesitation? Seeing how you’re well aware of that, you, who saw my power of light, might be trying to use the desires of these souls or ghosts to incite me into killing Underground Goddess Rolga by appealing to my conscience』
At that moment, Kistrin suddenly widens his Demonic Eyes as if they’re splitting open.
『…Fuhahaha, what a magnificent ability of deduction! You’re right, I’m using them. I’m not of a race that merely acts on a sense of justice after all…』
『Uh-oh, your tone has pletely changed all of a sudden』
『…Shuuya-dono, your intuition is correct. But, it’s likewise true that these souls are grieving』
『I know. But, I’m someone connected to the world of darkness, you know? Are you still going to ask for my help despite knowing that?』
Once again, I’m straight honest with him.
『…That’s the very proof of you embracing the light. Have you realized that you’re unconsciously dealing with me using a fair and square attitude? The ability to meet everyone, no matter what their affiliation, with an open and broad-minded approach is what you call the path of a ruler. I believe in that nature of yours, Shuuya-dono. That’s why I’m saying that you can take these ghosts all the way to the holy ground said to possess a flower garden of a thousand purple and ten thousand crimson flowers after following the path of light…』
Such a heavy responsibility…
The instant I decide to refuse Kistrin, the forest, which Rollo and the other two tigers are currently exploring, starts to stir.
A thick, green fog begins to overflow at the roots of the beech-like trees. The instant the birds sense the abnormal air, they all fly off at once in panic. The green fog, illuminated by the moonlight, is about to swallow the forest.
That ain’t no normal fog, I’m sure.
It’s the exact opposite of the fog created by the ghosts. I can immediately tell that it’s a suspicious fog, and its effect immediately shows, too.
Huge numbers of maggots and earthworms gush out, seemingly crawling across the trees’ bark. A moment later, a monster appears which widens its huge muzzle and eats the trees alongside the bugs. It’s very broad, like a fusion between a weasel and rat.
And then deer monsters and wolves also show up as clouds of dust billow up from the falling trees.
The wolves are werewolves. Maybe ancient wolfmen like Higlia? The wolfmen wield their claws that have turned into flamberges as they’re fighting the army of deer monsters. Just like Higlia, the wolfmen have transformed their claws into armor.
The deer monsters e in all kinds of sizes. Just like there are bipedal deer monsters with huge horns that have conspicuous, dream catcher-like ornaments…there are also gorilla-like deer monsters with four big arms that are crying just like gorillas.
The gorilla deer look strong.
In addition, I can also see deer monsters with deer heads, three legs, a chubby lower body, an upper body with thick fat at the chest, and two long, narrow arms. The heads of those three-legged deer are moving swiftly.
One of them transforms their darkish arms into cylinder shapes with lightning-speed-like movements that don’t suit its body build, and uses those to blow away a wolfman. The cylinder-shaped arms make it look a bit like a spear user, but there’s another deer monster with a spear-using head.
The forehead of the deer…is the same for all of them. The narrow and long chin widely cleaves open to the left and right. Countless tentacle hairs are growing out from the tear.
Also, the deer monster with the spear head holds a bamboo spear in its left hand. It’s made out of bamboo, but since it contains mana, I’m sure it’s pretty powerful. On top of that, it’s grasping a bone spear in its right hand.
I’m curious about that spear user, but…there’s another abnormal deer-type monster that draws my attention. It possesses a deer head, but its neck is that of a snake, and its torso and limbs resemble a lion.
That chimera deer kicks off a tree trunk with a piercing shriek, attacking a part of the wolfmen by utilizing the recoil from its kick.
Within those rampaging deer monsters…stands a monster with a tremendous amount of mana. It’s flanked by two huge wolves on either side.
Is that the boss leading the deer-like monster force?
Without much of a surprise, the boss also has deer antlers on its head. Its upper body resembles that of a human woman. But, the lower body is squid-like. Yep, the kind of squid swimming around in the ocean. An aquatic creature similar to a planarian with many tentacles, no kidding.
The tentacles extending from its lower body are connected to the chokers of its wolves. Is it keeping huge wolves by turning its squid tentacles into chokers?
A thick, green mana pours out of the wolves’ eyes. This Sea of trees has river branches all over the place, so is that boss-like being the lord of such a branch?
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