Chapter 174 : Shortcut (3)
Shortcut (3)
A white bird flew into the ancient land where countless dragons had gathered.
It was a sight I had grown accustomed to, but a trace of puzzlement lingered in the eyes of the dragons. According to the original plan, it should have acted several days ago.
「Altair, you're late. How long must we wait here?」
The ancient dragon, Largios, asked the white bird that had flown to him.
'Hmm?'
Largios sensed an undisguised impatience radiating from Altair, who flapped its white wings.
It was quite rare for Altair to reveal such an emotion.
The reason became clear in Altair's following words.
「So that's it... The Saintess, is it.」
Saintess Grancesia Atell.
That name was also well-known to Largios.
Long ago, back when Altair came to him, there had been someone watching from afar—her.
'She certainly was a powerful being, but I never thought she could block the gate to the Heavenly Realm alone.'
Altair had sacrificed countless humans in order to open the gates to the Heavenly Realm.
Or rather, tried to open them.
But those gates had been blocked by a single human.
「Then should I move that Saintess away from the gate?」
He could not guarantee victory in a fight, but at the very least, he was confident he could clear the Saintess from the gate.
However, the white bird lightly shook its small head in refusal. Apparently, that was not the reason it had come today.
「I see, so someone else will handle it instead. Then what would you have me do?」
The white bird spoke.
Though the plan had deviated a bit, it told him to proceed with his task.
To invade the ground, purge them, and unite the world.
「Hmph. In the end, you're saying you want to enjoy the spoils later, then.」
Largios sneered, but the white bird's eyes narrowed softly in return.
It was as if to say: Once the world of the gods was invaded, this world would be insignificant.
Then why not proceed to invade the divine world immediately?
Largios wanted to ask, but he already knew why Altair had not done so.
'That one must surely desire the destruction of this world.'
Why would that one ever cooperate with Altair otherwise?
It was Altair who had first proposed such a deal.
Let me destroy this world and offer it to you, in exchange for letting me invade the world of the gods.
「Very well. We shall move first.」
He did not need the help of the gods to sweep aside the ground. Before the overwhelming might of dragons, any race on the ground would be powerless.
* * *
'Strange. It's about time for some news to reach me.'
Yonruck, a marquis of the demon realm and one of its most powerful beings, twisted his face in impatience.
According to the Demon King, those people had arrived in Gerbellia, which is ruled by the Shadow Clan, just a few days ago.
By now, news should have come from Gerbellia about those people having left the domain, but there was nothing.
'Could it be they slipped through the shadow barrier undetected?'
Impossible.
Melburn Gerbellia was considered weak in terms of combat among the previous hall lords of the Shadow Clan, but he was skilled in various techniques.
Especially his barriers— even I, a marquis, could not take them lightly.
He could not imagine a mere human passing through the barrier unnoticed.
"Si—Sir Marquis! News from Gerbellia has arrived!"
"Oh, it's finally here? When did those people leave the domain?"
"Well, it seems... The swordmaster's companions have already been captured, and the swordmaster fled into the Forest of Original Sin."
"... What?"
At his subordinate's words, yonruck leaned back in deep disappointment.
'I didn't think they'd break the barrier so easily, but to abandon all the companions and run away...'
His disappointment in the swordmaster was beyond words.
And the Forest of Original Sin lay between two nearby count's lands and Yonruck's own marquisate.
It was one of the largest forests in the demon realm, notorious as a forbidden and dangerous place.
'What rotten luck. Of all the places to run, it had to be the Forest of Original Sin.'
That forest was inhabited by powerful monsters; even most demonkin avoided it. In that sense, it wasn't a bad choice.
If that person could cross straight through the forest, they'd be able to reach near Pandemonium quickly.
'But that's meaningless to counts or demons of higher rank.'
No matter how forbidden the Forest of Original Sin was, to top-rank demonkin, it posed no threat.
"Prepare the soldiers. We're moving to the Forest of Original Sin at once."
"Yes, sir! But... should I inform the nearby counts as well?"
"Hm. Yes, it's probably best. I can handle it alone, but you never know."
If by the slightest chance he failed, he would lose face before the Demon King.
Besides, melburn Gerbellia had captured all the swordmaster's companions. It would not do for him alone to return empty-handed!
"I can't let Melburn steal all the credit."
After notifying the neighboring count's lands, yonruck led a considerable number of soldiers toward the Forest of Original Sin.
Numerous soldiers and top-rank demonkin encircled the forest, and the highest-ranking demonkin entered the Forest of Original Sin themselves to catch the swordmaster.
'The swordmaster's fate is as good as sealed.'
The demonkin thought the Demon King's expectations would never be met.
Yet, the swordmaster was nowhere to be found.
Even after several days passed.
* * *
'How easy.'
I spread various false rumors utilizing Melburn.
Several high-ranking demonkin desperately tried to pursue me, but fell for my misinformation and wasted their time in the wrong places.
'I noticed before, but demonkin really are straightforward.'
Like the one I fooled at Eintban, most demonkin didn't think deeply.
It may sound harsh to say so, but they were simple and pure.
Sometimes, Rutia claimed she was a prodigy even among demonkin, and now, I could understand her words.
Rutia was indeed cunning.
No wonder she was taken in and raised by another demonkin as an orphan.
Maria, too, must have been born clever thanks to Rutia's blood and her father's.
"Well, it's easy for me to fool them, so I can't complain."
"Ugh. As a fellow demonkin, I'd like to make some excuse, but I just can't."
Rutia clicked her tongue, glancing at Melburn, who sat beside me, his face full of complex emotions.
"To think things would go so smoothly..."
We never expected we would arrive at Pandemonium so easily.
I thought at least one demonkin would grow suspicious midway, but not once through all seven gates toward Pandemonium were we questioned.
On the contrary, they praised Melburn's achievement and burned with enthusiasm, saying they'd catch the fleeing swordmaster themselves.
"Clay, where did the rumor that demonkin are cunning and wicked even come from?"
Mersaya also looked dumbfounded.
Despite being a dragon of rather simple character, she was nothing compared to the demonkin.
At this, melburn spoke up, somewhat awkwardly.
"The demon realm is originally a world of survival of the fittest. Unless you are strong, you cannot survive."
"So all the clever but weak ones were beaten to death?"
"There have been some who were both clever and strong..."
Surviving on wit alone in the demon realm was too harsh.
In this realm, there were overwhelming powerhouses for whom pure intellect alone was not enough.
"So what happened to the smart and strong ones?"
"They were beaten to death by even stronger demonkin... If you show off your intelligence, you quickly become a target."
"..."
I felt I'd gained a new understanding of the demon realm's bizarre ecosystem.
As if reading my thoughts, Rutia sighed and spoke quietly.
"That's why the current Demon King wanted to improve things."
"But is this something that can be changed?"
Those with strength have everything.
I couldn't imagine such a society ever changing easily.
"The reason demon realm became this way is due to its barren land and limited resources. In any society, one's gain is another's loss, but here it is far more severe."
Come to think of it, the Demon King's profile mentioned he would use any means necessary for the sake of the demon realm.
"I see, so the solution was to invade the surface world."
"Yes, even if it meant destroying the world, it was for the sake of the demon realm."
At Rutia's words, I felt a rising curiosity.
Why did Rutia abandon the demon realm and come to the surface?
Sensing my thought, she continued.
"I saw it in a dream. The image of my own daughter."
"... Maria?"
"Yes. I saw her smiling happily with Fabian. Though my daughter was never born, I wanted to meet her for real."
And she grew curious about the surface world she saw in those dreams.
It looked like such a happy world.
If reviving the demon realm meant destroying such a place, Rutia could not accept it.
"That's all. It's not like I'm all that smart, either."
I couldn't answer her words.
It was not that I didn't understand her heart.
How could I explain what kind of end awaited that happy Maria now... It was hard to say.
'The tenth calamity.'
Now, I knew who it was. Altair had told me too much.
I didn't know why he ended up that way.
But the fact that he did meant all the relationships he had built had been ruined.
"Sorry to interrupt, but it seems we're almost there."
As I was lost in thought, Sehenz tapped my shoulder.
"And looks like someone's come out to greet us."
Through the carriage window, I could see the giant city of Pandemonium, rising like a black tower.
True to its name as the demon realm's capital, its majestic form resembled the "Demon King's Castle" from fairy tales.
At the gate to Pandemonium, I saw two top-rank demonkin, surrounded by crowds of demonkin soldiers.
"Finally, I have something to do."
Despite the grim situation, Sehenz grinned wickedly.
It seemed he actually welcomed such trouble, given how little he had done since arriving in the demon realm.
"Are those the rare, clever demonkin?"
"They were bound to notice something eventually."
Rutia replied to my muttering.
She was already gripping two daggers she'd drawn from her belt.
"Well, it has been several days already."
Anyone would be a fool not to notice by now.
"Mersaya, you keep an eye on this guy and wait near Pandemonium."
"Huh?! Aren't I going in with you?"
"You don't want to go in there, right? Just wait outside in case something happens, like you always do."
"Understood!"
While we prepared for battle, Mersaya visibly brightened and restrained Melburn using Dragon Tongue.
"I'll make the first move."
"Okay!"
"Oh, but don't kill anyone."
Nothing beats Dragon Tongue for a surprise attack.
Mersaya immediately drew in magic power and slowly opened her mouth.
For some reason, her pupils seemed to glint gold.
「Shatter and blow away!」
The carriage we had been riding was instantly smashed, and the waiting ranks of demonkin were hit by a barrage of Dragon Tongue magic.
"Kuaaagh!"
Caught completely off guard, the demonkin were swept away—at exactly the level to just barely leave an ordinary demonkin alive.
"Huh?"
Even Mersaya seemed surprised at the power of her own Dragon Tongue.
'... Could Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art be affecting Dragon Tongue too?'
The explanation made little sense otherwise.