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 .


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