It is less than half a day's walk to "Foggy Valley".
Since we can't use carriages on the mountain roads, we left the horses with a merchant.
While activating Rita's 'Presence Detection' and Cecil's 'Magic Detection' at certain distances, we proceeded while paying attention to see if there were any people, demons, or traps caused by magic.
The path is made by comparing Rafilia's memories and the guild's records. Both data are almost identical. On the contrary, Rafilia's memory is even more accurate.
What the newlyweds found was a route that entered from the beast path, and Rafilia's memory had a formal route that was forgotten. Thanks to that, they were able to go smoothly even on the unfamiliar mountain roads...
A huge iron fence was set up at the entrance to the 'Valley of the Mist'.
"...... to keep out adventurers who don't read the air,
It was a fence that looked like a hurry-up. It was about 3 meters high. In a manner, it has a door and is closed with a heavy-duty lock. The coat of arms engraved on the lock seems to be the royal family of this country.
According to Cecil "Magic Power Detection", there are no magic seals or traps. This is a physical one.
''Can't we break it with 'Delayed Combat (Delayed Arts)', Reggie?
I can do that, but it will be a pain in the ass.
Yeah.
"Shall I blow you away with my little demon wife's magic?
That's a bad idea. Unless you push it and it opens by accident.
"Oh, well, if it opened by accident, well, that's just the way it is.
'It can't be helped. I didn't put that much effort into it.
"So long.
Before I know it, I'm in a tiny human form and Leggy is laughing on my shoulder.
Leggy was also watching Raphilia's skills on my back yesterday.
'So, Raphilia, try pulling the lock.
Yes, sir. Master.
Just be gentle and don't break it, it's the royal family's property. If it opens, it's an accident.
It's a very simple thing. Hmmm. It's a big lock. It's not in my power to ...... "instrumental degradation" (d*mn it) ...... Hey, it's open, master.
There was a clatter and the lock opened.
I'm sorry, prince.
The Valley of the Mist is a liberated area, it's not forbidden to explore, so it's fine.
I didn't break the lock, I don't intend to vandalize it, I'm just going to find Rafilia's memories and a few golden items, and I'll leave the gate as it is, so I hope you'll miss it.
We walked through the fence.
In front of us was a rock face that towered high above us.
And there was a gap there, where two people could pass side by side. The other side of the gap was filled with thick fog. So this is the 'Foggy Valley' from here on.
I'm going to reconfirm the plan.
I unfolded the information Rafilia had prepared for me.
The Valley of the Mist has a narrow pathway that leads out of the valley. There are many branches in the middle of the passage, but the rest of it is completely blank. In other words, it's impossible to tell.
We'll take a direct line into the fog to see if Rafilia's memories react.
If we come across this thing called the Shadow of the Heavenly Dragon, that's all that matters, and if we don't, we'll explore at random and leave.
In short, my colleague at work (Rafilia) forgot something in a tricky place, so I'm going to go with her to get it.
That's the only purpose of this quest.
Rita and Aine will stay here. If anyone comes, just keep out of the way of the valley. If anything happens on our end, I will signal them with Cecil's magic or Rafilia's arrow. Then come into the 'Valley of the Mist'.
I understand, master.
Rita shakes my hand and bows.
The beast ears are flopping over. You look worried.
I'm fine. I've taken precautions against the fog.
The Mist of Deception disturbs your senses.
People other than yourself become demons and attack you. It's tricky to distinguish them from real demons, but that's the only problem.
"Rita, I need you to protect our backs.
...... If it's like being a newlywed, then I can do it.
'Just in case. I've got some 'old blood' advice for the white man.
I'm not so sure. I just want to see if there's a connection between the vision and Rafilia's memories.
............ Yeah.
rustling sound
I nudged her ear and Rita nodded, though reluctantly.
''Aine, also take care of Rita's support. Be careful of the consumption of energy and magic in 'Demon Clearing Lv 2'.
It's all clear.
Aine held up a mop of steel.
'Because realizing Nay-kun's 'stable life' is the first step in fulfilling Aine's dream.
"First step in your dream?
I'll tell you all about it later.
Okay. I'll see you later.
So, we leave Rita and Aine and start walking into the valley.
Rafilia is in the lead. Cecil and Iris are behind them. I am at the very back.
The air in the valley is cool, and a thick fog surrounds us with every step we take.
I'm holding on to the cord to prevent the four of us from getting separated from each other.
But before I know it, my vision goes blank, and the cord I was holding onto goes somewhere else.
We easily lost sight of each other.
"So far, so good, so good.
The adventurers wouldn't be fighting each other if they could attack with a single string.
'Reggie, you're there, right?'
"Of course, my Lord.
'Don't let the body appear. Because the fog may react to human forms.
I understand.
Leggy is supposed to be treated as a weapon, so he's not affected by the fog.
I expected that if the fog is something that invites two people to fight each other, it wouldn't make them give up their weapons. Well, it looks like I was right.
So, I suppose.
If you want people to attack each other, you need a demon to appear first.
Then, to stir up a sense of urgency, a companion in the form of a monster would appear next... that's the theory in the game.
"Squeak, squeak!
They're here!
Out of the fog, a human-sized rabbit emerged. It's got a horn like a unicorn.
A Hornrabbit.
"Hornrabbit.
A large rabbit. A large rabbit. He had a sharp horn on his forehead.
It's not very aggressive, but the instantaneous force of its hind legs is strong, and it hurts if it gets a decent assault.
Its meat is soft and delicious.
Sometimes they are kept as pets of the nobility.''
''If it's Cecil and Rafilia, it's no problem, but it's tough for Iris to deal with this guy. Then activate 'Slave Summoning (Summoning Slave) LV 1'!
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!
I heard footsteps from behind me.
A figure came from the fog and crashed straight into my back.
Clinging to my back was a tiny lizard man with scales all over his body (Lizardman).
...... Does Iris look like a lizardman ......
The fact that it came in "Slave Summoning LV1" means that this is definitely Iris.
Slave Summoning (Sammoning Slave) Lv 1
You can draw any slave to your master.
The summoned slave knows the exact coordinates of its master and will come to Ichimoku no matter what. So, he can't leave his side for a while.
''Gee, gigi giga gaga. Gaga-gaga!
You're welcome.
disgusting
Even the texture of my back is changing. Even the sense of touch has become strange.
I told Iris that I would use the "slave summoning" beforehand, so she knows it's me by her side. She calmly takes my hand in hers. It's kind of terrifying, though.
All right, let's just cut this one off.
Iris, please.
I patted the Lizardman form Iris' right shoulder three times. Then twice on her left shoulder. Finally, once on my back.
That was the signal I had decided on before entering the valley.
''Ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga!
(If anyone is out there, listen up!) (We are adventurers from Ilgafa!
Iris starts shouting loudly.
It's an unintelligible sound, but the content should be just as we discussed.
'Guru-ruuu! Ruga Gogeki Gogu ────!
Shadow of the Dragon! (If you're there, please answer me!)
Giggles! Giggling, giggling, giggling, giggling!
(We have been guided by the memory of our people! If there is someone in there! (Please help her remember!
We moved on, calling out to them.
Based on the time we've been going, we should be at a fork in the road.
I'm not sure which one is the right one. But the fog is beginning to drift. It's guiding us.
The further we go, the lighter the fog gets.
And then a huge shadow appeared in front of us.
It was a dragon.
It had no wings. That's right. That's because a broken one is stuck in a nearby town.
A huge body, a long neck, and a horned head. With a horned head.
The fog hasn't cleared completely, that's all you can tell.
Through the white fog, only the dragon's shadow can be seen.
"My name is the Heavenly Dragon Blanchalka.
A voice came from behind the fog.
'I know that you are trustworthy to each other. I will reward you. Take this and walk away.
Collapse, and a small stone rolls under my feet.
It was a green gemstone.
So this was the gemstone that the rumored newlyweds had picked up.
''Gugga-ga-ga-ga-ga! GIGO! Uggh!
(This is not what we want.) Heavenly Dragon, are you really there!
''You can walk away from .........................''
The owner of the voice that didn't answer my call is responding to Iris' voice.
So did the flying dragon. That guy also responded to the voice of Iris, the dragon maiden.
That means that the people here are related to the dragon. But I don't feel the pressure like a sea dragon. At least, neither Cecil nor Rafilia.
Iris keeps screaming. The only voice that comes back is "Walk away".
Rafilia isn't responding either. She doesn't even seem to have regained her memory.
So, it's not a good idea after all. I got a piece of jewelry, so it's enough of a reward.
But since we're here, let's just check it out at the end.
Leggy. What's the Elderslime (・・・・・・・・) touching right now?
"It's just a rock wall. It's just a rock wall.
Reggie replied.
The Elder Slime, which was secretly preceded by 'Mucus Creature Control (Slime Bringer)', is now touching the dragon's shadow.
That's part of the plan.
Once they meet up with me, Rafilia will split the Elder Slime of the messenger. Reggie will take control of it and use it as a radar. It's for avoiding demons and mapping the Valley of the Mist.
Our senses are disoriented, so we can't see the exact path or what's going on around us. So we were using the Elder Slime's sense of touch to look for loopholes and hidden doors.
'This thing is not a dragon, it's just a dragon shape. "This is no dragon, just a dragon shaped rock!
Leggy said boringly at my back.
'Where did the voices come from?'
"Mater Mater Mater: ...... Hmm. The space between your feet seems to be a cave. That's where we start.
Is there fog in there?
"The slime's body feels no moisture. There appears to be no mist here. What do you think you're going to do?
'I'll just take a quick peek. If that's the entrance to a dungeon or something, I'll leave.
We continued on, and sure enough, there was a small cave between the dragon's legs.
The fog hadn't gotten this far. As soon as we entered the cave, the hallucination lifted and I could see Cecil, Iris, and Raphilia.
'...... Nagi-sama from earlier was cool too,'
Of course, I'm not as good as my brother, though.
That's obvious. There's nothing in the world that can beat a real master.
"'Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
It's nice to be good friends, but you need to be a little nervous.
"So, Rafilia. What do you remember?
'No ...... anything specific. But I have a feeling that I've been here before.
Raphilia crossed her arms over her large chest.
'Thanks, Reggie, too. Your skills have helped me a lot.
"You're lucky it wasn't a magical sword-dazzling fog.
A talking, moving, slime-manipulating magic sword is not exactly what we were expecting.
You know? 'Come on, Lord, promise me your reward.
'All right. Would you rather have a bath with me or go on errands with me?
"Those are your options? I want to see my Lord cuddle with a slave girl ...... No, I don't want to get rid of my bath and errands ............ no... ......... Ah! Isn't my master too good at using me lately!
That's because he's the master.
I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. The dragon shaped rocks and the cave were made by someone else.
"Iris," he said, "why don't you say hello. Let's say hello first. Now you can tell me what our attributes are.
Now that we know the other party is related to the dragon.
Since we've come all this way, let's go in at the last minute.
''Can you hear me? This is the Oldbloods and their master.
Iris's clear voice crackled through the cave.
'I have come here for my companions who have the same 'old blood' and have lost their memories. And I am speaking in a voice that speaks to the dragon. I have no intention of harming you or ruining this sacred place. If any of you are here, please answer this voice.
It's so quiet in the cave.
"Cecil, say the word.
Yes, ma'am. Nagi-sama. I will call your name in the old language. If you are there, please answer me, 'Tenryu Blanchalka'!
Cecil announced the name of the celestial dragon in the ancient language.
This is our last card to play.
We have one minute left. If there's no response, let's get out of here.
''Is it 'Old Blood'? You were summoned by the Tenryu-sama's residual thoughts to come here.
I heard a voice.
It was a muffled, half-mouthed voice.
"Good. Come here. I swear by the God of the Covenant that you will not be harmed. Come here.
Who are you?
I'm only a guardian.
I drew the magic sword. I've had Cecil ready for magic as well. Rafilia is ready with her bow.
Slowly, we advance. It's only a dozen or so meters from the end of the cave.
At the end of the tunnel, there's a small treasure chest and...
There was a dilapidated mummy of a flying dragon.
I never thought I would see the Old Blood again.
It was like a red light lit up behind the mummy's blank eyes - it was like a red light.
"Demon race. Sea dragon blood. And...ancient (eldar) elves. Longevity is a good thing.
Ancient Elves?
".................. My name?
Raphilia pointed at herself, still looking chipper as ever.