Chapter 79. First Visit to Afraksas (1)
The fight was over, and all the people who'd fled had returned.
The shamans of the Horakti tribe healed them as a gesture of apology.
And the humans readily forgave them, simply because they'd allied with Jeonghyeon.
They figured there had to be a good reason why all the buildings had been wiped out.
"Y-…… You're alright?"
Jeonghyeon himself didn't seem to care one bit.
Horakti poked his shoulder tentatively.
Jeonghyeon, slumped on the ground, stared blankly ahead like someone who'd truly lost their home.
"Jeonghu. Hit me once."
"Pardon? Okay."
Crack!
Jeonghu's fist slammed into his face.
Luckily, all the buffs seemed to have worn off—it just hurt like hell.
"Heh heh. Ow."
It still hurt.
Which meant this wasn't a dream. Damn it.
"You idiot! This is a good thing! After feeling the Demon King's power, don't mope around like a loser!"
Suddenly, Nus popped out, wrapped around Jeonghyeon's body, and stretched itself out to slap him across both cheeks.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
"You! Can't! Just! Act like this! Here!"
Nus scolded him in rhythm with the slaps, but when Jeonghyeon still didn't react, it got to the point.
"This is actually a good thing!"
"How? Like, busting our asses to make money just to burn it all?"
"No, you moron."
Nus unwound itself smoothly.
It looked somewhat serious, so Jeonghyeon glanced over.
"Our goal is to get beyond Afraksas anyway, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Then we remake this western district to look like Afraksas."
"……Why bother?"
Nus expanded its body dramatically.
Then it used mana to shape itself into a simulation map.
The map made from Nus's body showed a miniature version of the current western district.
Medieval-style Afraksas buildings rose amid the barren west, drawing crowds of people.
"If hunters can experience Afraksas ahead of time, that'll be a huge advantage."
And then Nus's body opened a massive dimensional gate.
"Plus, with Horakti's help, if lots of hunters start crossing to Afraksas……."
Humans streamed through the gate, and the western district began to expand.
"Then this place becomes humanity's key stronghold. And your power grows even more."
With that final image of a vast human army gathering in the west, Nus ended its body-based simulation.
"Ooh, applause."
"Whoa, awesome."
Everyone around—people and monsters alike—clapped like they'd witnessed a new spell.
"Umhahaha! The potential of this body is boundless…… Ahem, anyway, you idiot!"
Flattered despite itself, Nus cleared its throat a few times before getting serious again.
"Being a Demon King means leading a group—and power is what matters most."
He's right.
"Even if it's not your own minions."
Was Nus always this smart?
There was a reason wizards used ethereal slime motifs as symbols of intellect.
It was all spot on.
"……Yeah, when you put it that way."
Not everyone in the west had to be Jeonghyeon's minions. What he wanted was humanity's victory.
If humans grew stronger with his help, that was a win too.
"Definitely…… Later, when people flock here, nearby commerce booms, and we rake in the cash…… Wait, no."
"……That was way too mercenary just now."
"Ahem. Cough cough."
Jeonghyeon cleared his throat like Nus and quickly brainstormed.
He'd gained Horakti as an ally too.
No need to climb the Tower—he could send people straight to Afraksas.
Conversely, they could open gates from Afraksas to send appropriately leveled monsters.
Periodically toughening up humans that way.
A strategy of raising humans via controlled monster waves.
But this feels……
Way too similar to the Jo family's methods. Kinda weird.
Whatever. If it helped humanity, it was good.
"How about we use this chance to bring my tribe here and build together?"
Horakti showed interest in Nus's pitch.
"Sounds good. We could make it prosperous."
Hwang Dooman, who'd been watching, chimed in.
"Teaching humans or monsters—same deal. Leave it to me."
He seemed eager, maybe excited to tailor training by race.
"No, can't do that."
But Jeonghyeon's answer was a flat no.
"What? Aren't we allies? Still stingy about this turf?"
After multiple rejections, Horakti's beak twitched with faint irritation.
"Not that…… You need to stay in Afraksas."
"Why?"
"Hunter Association's here. They see monsters, they kill first, ask later."
Jeonghyeon brushed dirt off his legs and stood.
"What do you think they'd do if they saw you?"
"Ha! You think we couldn't take humans?"
"Humans are the race I protect. And you're fighting for yours, right?"
Jeonghyeon's eyes gleamed intensely.
The gaze of a ruler safeguarding his own. Horakti had the same look.
"So, let's flip it."
"……Flip?"
"We go to Afraksas."
Not bringing Afraksas to the west—but moving the west to Afraksas.
That was Jeonghyeon's relocation plan.
"Sorry to interrupt."
Philip, who'd been quiet, raised his hand politely.
"I've pieced it together from the talk……."
With pure, 100% curiosity, he asked Jeonghyeon.
"What exactly is Afraksas?"
Jeonghyeon gave a faint smile.
Guess it's time to tell them.
"Hey, Dooman, Jo Yoon."
"Yeah!"
"Huh?"
"Handle village management. And take good care of the Wakin sisters."
Jeonghyeon turned to Horakti waiting behind him.
"Can we go now?"
Seeing was believing.
Horakti nodded, understanding, and spread his golden-feathered wings.
"Anytime."
A staff-like sword, Guide of Spirits, extended from his hand, leaking iridescent purple light.
Rumble—!
"Guide of Spirits, heed my call."
Purple light seeped from Horakti's entire body, his wings fully dyed violet.
His subordinates' eyes glowed purple too.
Jeonghyeon, Philip, and Jeonghu included.
Flap!
With one mighty wingbeat from Horakti…….
No wind, no spell incantation—they vanished as if they'd never been there.
***
Familiar sky, air laced with faint mana.
Jeonghyeon had arrived in the long-awaited Afraksas.
"This is…… Afraksas?"
Philip stepped cautiously onto the grassland, looking around.
The unfamiliar mana made his breath catch.
"Hard to breathe."
Jeonghu's breathing grew slightly ragged too.
"You'll get used to it."
First time in this body, but the sensation was so familiar Jeonghyeon adapted instantly.
In a way, he'd been waiting for it.
"Finally here. Belladel Plains?"
Horakti tilted his head in surprise at Jeonghyeon's words.
"How'd you know?"
"In Afraksas, vast green plains without a monster in sight? Only Belladel Plains."
"……You know this dimension well?"
Jeonghyeon grinned at Horakti's reaction.
"Not my first time."
Jeonghyeon checked Philip and Jeonghu's loyalty levels.
Philip at level 9, Jeonghu at 7.
Should be enough.
If not, whatever. The path to Afraksas is open now.
Jeonghyeon took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
"Mind giving us some space? Or just move us alone."
He bowed to Horakti, lowering one hand palm-down.
Avoiding eye contact showed respect; the lowered hand, no hostility—tail-like beastkin gestures of utmost courtesy.
"……We'll go."
Horakti snapped his fingers.
A small mana orb flew to Jeonghyeon, sinking into his forehead.
"Power of the Guide of Spirits. Gather mana there anytime to call me."
With that, Horakti spread his wings again.
Flash—!
Purple light from the Guide of Spirits, and they vanished from Belladel Plains like smoke.
Left behind: Jeonghyeon's two loyal subordinates, Jeonghu and Philip.
"I have something to tell you."
"……What?"
Jeonghu swallowed dryly at the mood—first time like this—but Philip, seasoned by their time together, stayed calm.
"Whatever it is, we'll believe and follow."
Just showed his trust in Jeonghyeon.
Damn. Whoever raised him did a good job.
Jeonghyeon smirked faintly and began carefully.
"I…… regressed."
***
He skipped the details. Too much history would mess with their heads, and it'd change as they lived it anyway.
But his end? He told them precisely, in full.
"I ignored my comrades dying. Told myself it was for the greater good. By the time I reached the Demon King's Castle, I was alone."
"……."
Philip and Jeonghu just listened silently.
"But the castle was crawling with enemies. Exhausted by the time I faced the Demon King."
Jeonghyeon ground his teeth, reliving it.
"Malekith. That bastard—I couldn't even scratch him before I died."
"But…… how'd you come back?"
"……The Demon King wanted it. I was his plaything to the end."
"Why…… bring you back?"
"No idea. Maybe wants a real rematch. Or to crush me with hope."
"Or?"
Nus cut in suddenly.
"Huh?"
"The Malekith I knew never wasted a single move. Even discarding me—his favored servant—was all calculated."
Nus slithered toward the plains, then floated up.
"Maybe he really wants you to become the Demon King."