Chapter 407

Chapter 407

(407) The Magician’s resolve

Translator: Tseirp

I saw the uninhabited island which was our destination .

It was a moderately sized island .

Before landing on the island, I let Flute return to My World for a change in environment . I thought that Carol would return as well but she wanted to accompany me so she tagged along .

After the small landing boat was lowered and everyone boarded it, Miri magically stowed the sailing ship .

Space-time Magic was convenient as it could store large objects, unlike the item bag .

Using the small landing boat, we landed on the island and she stored that too .

Driftwood and seaweed were washed ashore on the unmaintained sandy beach and creatures resembling wharf roaches could be seen peeking out of the cavities in the driftwood .

Wharf roaches made me feel squeamish .

“Miri, where are we headed to?”

“Into a cave further ahead . ”

Miri replied before entering the forest on the island and we followed suit .

“But why did you hide this island?”

“There are places in the world that are gathering spots for earth veins . On this island, there was a sealed Leviathan and the level of miasma was similar to or even denser than that island that was used as an experimental ground . There are no dungeons nearby so the miasma is left alone to gather as much as it wants . ”

“Why didn’t the Goddess-samas create a dungeon?”

Don’t they usually create a dungeon to circulate the miasma if it gets too strong?

Dungeons exist for that function after all .

“Because nobody lives here . Even if they make a dungeon, monsters will overflow from the dungeon over time . Even the man-made dungeon I created required a person to maintain it and it was a lot of work . ”

“Can’t they just leave it to an automata like Sheena No . 3?”

“You know, a lot of rare materials and 50,000 gold coins are needed to create just one automata . ”

“Eh?”

50,000 gold coins meaning 500 billion Japanese yen?

I turned around and looked at Sheena No . 3 .

“Why are you staring at Sheena No . 3 so passionately desu? Has master fallen for Sheena No . 3’s charm desu?”

Sheena No . 3 covered her cheeks with her hands in embarrassment .

This thing cost 500 billion yen …?

“Neete, how much does it cost to make a homunculus?”

“Hn? Homunculus were made by Tet-sama so that she could concentrate on her work . They don’t need money to be made . ”

“Ah, I see . ”

“However, she mentioned that it needs around 100 years to make . In order to form ego from magical power, patience as though dripping water onto a stone to bore a hole is needed to mutate the magical power . Furthermore, only one can be made at a time . ”

It takes such a long time!?

In that case, Pionia, Neete and Sheena No . 3 took 300 years when combined .

In Japan, 300 years ago would be the first half or middle of the Edo period?

It must have been when Shoguns were warring around .

So if she started then, she would finally form three people now .

At least if a town was built in this place, it would be possible to create a dungeon and have people manage it but there was no valuable resource here to cause the formation of a town so it would be difficult .

“But that miasma is perfect to conceal the jewel that is the source of my power . It is hidden in good condition within the miasma . ”

Miri commented and continued further into the depths of the forest .

Along the way, a small clearing appeared and there was a cave in front of us but it was apparently just a bat’s nest and we proceeded further .

Past beast trails and over small streams .

There, we saw a cave .

A natural cave with a dark interior, unlike a dungeon .

I was fine with my dark vision skill but I should use Light Magic for the others’ sake – – but just as I had that thought .

“I have a flashlight desu . ”

“I have it too . ”

Sheena No . 3 and Neete’s chests gave off strong lights .

“Why are your chests shining?!”

“That’s a given . It is a flashlight after all . A light from chest so it is natural?”

(TL: The joke is lost in translation . Basically, in Japanese the word for flashlight is ‘Pocket Light’ and ‘Pocket’ can also mean ‘Chest or Breast’ . )

If that was natural then a pocket watch would be a watch on the chest .

A chest watch would then just be an internal clock .

“I can emit light from my entire body too desu . ”

Sheena No . 3 said and her entire body started shining .

I felt that was better .

“Neete too, please shine with your entire body . ”

“I can but the fuel economy is terrible . Master, could you replenish my magical power later?”

“Sure, I’ll give you as much as you want . ”

I was mentally tired so I promised her without considering it .

I was finally able to relax with Haru and Carol yesterday night but now I accumulated mental fatigue from this meaningless banter .

We entered the cave while having those pointless conversations .

Perhaps because it was above a stream, the inside of the cave was a little damp and mushrooms were growing here and there . The mushrooms were red or purple so they were probably poisonous .

I looked at them with Plant Appraisal from Harvester and sure enough, they were poisonous mushrooms so I left them alone .

After advancing further, I felt a strong presence .

While proceeding carefully, we came across a huge dragon lying down .

In conditioned reflex, I tried to cast magic but Miri stopped me .

“Onii, it’s all right . This dragon is a race that only eats mushrooms . ”

“But there are broken swords and such on the ground . It seems to have been from a fight against this dragon …”

There were not only swords but also other objects that were clearly dropped by humans .

“That was in self-defense . It doesn’t wish to fight but it must protect itself if danger approaches . If I was in its shoes, I would fight too . ”

“Dragon scales, horns, bones, flesh, blood, and internal organs especially the heart are traded at exorbitant prices . This may have been the work of adventurers aiming to strike rich quick . ”

Carol explained .

I see . They probably chose this dragon because it was a peaceful dragon that only eats mushrooms .

The dragon probably found it troublesome .

“Oh right, we still have some mushrooms left . ”

We should still have the mushrooms that I collected in large quantities with Carol when I was traveling with Haru and Carol and camped out .

“Carol, could I take some? Maybe it would be happy to try mushrooms that can’t be found around here . ”

“Of course . ”

With Carol’s approval, I took out the mushrooms from my item bag .

Upon doing so, the dragon slowly opened its eyes and approached me .

“Here here, you want to eat this, right? Here, try it . ”

I said and tossed the mushrooms at the dragon . It opened its mouth to catch them and started chewing .

It seemed quite cute when it did that .

I see . This dragon was likely to be the guardian god of this island .

“How about you defeat this dragon after becoming a Demon Lord? Your level would shoot up at once . ”

“Definitely no!”

There was no way I could kill such a harmless dragon .

Miri replied with ‘what a waste . The wasteful ghost will come and haunt you . ’ But I can’t kill what I don’t wish to kill .

In that case, our goal was deeper in the case .

“There’s nothing at all . ”

“There isn’t even a cat desu . ”

Neete and Sheena No . 3 commented as their entire body glowed .

After reaching this deep, no mushrooms were growing .

“It is a dragon’s cave, even though the dragon is gentle . Beasts won’t be able to approach so easily . ”

Carol’s reasoning was sound .

If I wasn’t strong, I wouldn’t want to enter a dragon’s cave .

“Miri, so is the jewel located at the end of this cave?”

“Yes, probably near that wall . ”

Miri said and started feeling around the rock wall .

Was there a hidden button? I thought but it was just a normal blind spot on the rock wall and she took out a jewel from the gap in the wall .

“ … It feels strange to get our hands on it so normally . ”

I was prepared for at least a fight with a strong boss .

Well, it was good, I guess we can return from there .

“Miri and girls, hold onto me . ”

All members grabbed hold of me after I said that .

Haru and Carol were in my party so I could transfer without them grabbing me but it was okay .

“Home Return . ”

I cast the spell … but something unusual like accidentally transferring to Margaret-san’s place instead of returning to My World didn’t happen .

Or rather, nothing happened at all .

“The magic didn’t activate? In that case, Haru, please open the door to My World . ”

I couldn’t use my Hikikomori skills for certain reasons so I request Haru to do so .

“Understood . ”

Haru tried opening the door to My World but it didn’t work as well .

Neete’s Escape didn’t work either . Well, we were not in a dungeon so that was expected .

I tried casting Petite Fire but it didn’t activate either .

Did this cave have the ability to seal magic?

There was no other way than to walk out .

I started walking with that thought in mind but .

I sensed a presence .

I see, it seemed that the effects of my skills other than magic were still working .

But it was not the presence of a dragon .

“Be careful . ”

I cautioned everyone and climbed up the cave before encountering somebody I didn’t expect to see .

“Yo, hasn’t it been a long time?”

The man said and scratched his head like it was a hassle .

A bald man – – Hag, the magician who traveled with the Hero .

Why was he here?

“You look like you want to ask why I am here? Of course, it is to defeat you lot . Alle that bastard is still a Hero . If he met you guys, he would probably fight you all fair and square . But you guys are not only borrowing the power of four goddesses, one of you is a former Demon Lord . Besides, you have recovered two of the Demon Lord jewels . We won’t be able to beat you if you gather any more power . So I will crush you here . ”

“That’s a devilish strategy unthinkable for a Hero’s companion . ”

“Because you lot are sneakily conspiring . Even though we left a message telling you to stay in the Kingdom of Arundel, you came to such a place . Are you lot Amanojaku?” (TL: Amanojaku are demons capable of seeing into a person’s heart and provoking a person’s darkest desires . )

“We are making our preparations as well . Even heroes have to prepare to fight the Demon Lord, right?”

I said as I slowly closed the distance .

It’s okay, the opponent is a magician .

In a place where magic can’t be used, he can’t compete with us .

“You lot are imagining that I would be weak because I can’t use magic, right? Have you considered that I was the one who made it such that magical power couldn’t be used in this cave? I alone am enough to crush you lot . ”

Hag said and took out a magic talisman .

Shit, even though magic can’t be used, he could still use magic talismans .

I was wary of the magic talisman that would fly toward us as I held my sword .

“You’re mistaken, Onii! He is not aiming for us!”

Miri said at the same time Hag threw the magic talisman .

The magic talisman Hag threw flew toward the cave ceiling .

Shit, does he intend to cause a cave-in and bury us alive!?

Just as I had that thought .

Three arrows flew, one of which struck the talisman Hag threw .

I used magic talismans as well so I knew that they would not have any effect once the part where the characters were drawn was torn .

“Who!”

Hag turned around and saw the elite Dark Elves including Rarael .

“We’ve been fighting for years, Hag . I knew that you wouldn’t miss this perfect timing . I didn’t imagine you would directly do it but thought it would not be strange if you at least sent some assassins . ” (Miri)

“To be safe, I deployed the Dark Elves in a separate squad and had them standby once we landed on the uninhabited island . ”

The island was mostly forest after all .

For them who live in a large forest, it was not difficult for them to hide their presence in the forest .

I didn’t use the Hikikomori skill because I already used it on the island so if Hag didn’t attack, the Dark Elves would withdraw using that door .

I didn’t expect them to come to our aid at such opportune timing though .

“As expected of someone who stayed on the Demon Lord throne for over a thousand years . But, I am not rendered worthless so easily – -”

Hag said and tried to use another magic talisman but froze .

“You’re probably working on a spell to transfer but you know that won’t work, right?”

“Miri, what’s happening?”

“Skill 『Demon Lord Barrier』 – you often see it in games, right?”

Miri explained while exuding intimidation .

“You can’t run from the Demon Lord . It is a skill that deprives the opponent of the energy to escape . ”

“You remembered that skill?”

“Yup, just recently . Hag, you may have wanted to trap us but I have plenty to ask you . You will be coming with us . You can forget about escaping . ”

“I see, the Demon Lord’s strength is weaker now but it is still powerful . ”

Hag commented and took something out of his sleeve before crushing it .

“Master, I sense an intense stench . ”

“Poison!? Do you plan to bring us down with you!?”

“No, some of you could probably detoxify an airborne poison . You may have the skill to extract information from a corpse . So I have decided to leave the stage . ”

“I told you it is impossible to leave . ”

“Yeah, you did . ”

Immediately after Hag said that .

A Dark Elf noticed it .

“Everyone attack! Protect Ichinojo-sama!”

Under Rarael’s command, the Dark Elves shot arrows toward the back .

Was it a new enemy!?

The gentle dragon from before appeared .

The dragon charged while ignoring the Dark Elf arrows .

No, that was wrong .

It was not attacking us . It was aiming straight for Hag .

That figure reminded me of Centaur running toward tomatoes .

Don’t tell me – –

“You – -”

“The conversation ends here . A big fish came after catching this scent – -”

Hag couldn’t continue his sentence .

He was completely swallowed by the dragon .

He probably had a strong-scented mushroom like matsutake mushroom or truffles . The dragon loved it and swallowed him with it .

“Why did he go that far – -”

“That was how serious Hag was . If he wanted to lock us in, he should have destroyed the entrance before meeting us . The reason he took the trouble to fight against us was that he wanted to show his resolve to me . Something along the lines of ‘The Hero and Demon Gods are trying to protect this world with this amount of resolve . Do you guys have the same resolve?’”

Miri said as she picked up the unused transfer talisman on the ground .

Isn’t that fighting on the premise that you expect yourself to lose?

If that was the case, if Miri allowed him to leave without using Demon Lord Barrier – – no, if his transfer talisman destination was this island, Hag would probably attack us to the bitter end .

In the end, this journey to become a Demon Lord has left us with lingering unpleasant feelings .