Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Heading to the Demon Realm
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“Isn’t the lack of heat meaning there’s no pain at all?”
“Exactly. Without this light, I might’ve even forgotten I was using the secret technique. I’ve never experienced anything like this...”
“Good sign.”
Just as I’d told Ervehim, things were looking up.
No pain meant no side effects had kicked in yet.
‘Rahilla wielded her secret technique freely. This is the least it should do.’
Of course, it was still too early to let my guard down.
Nothing was certain until Ervehim successfully used it herself.
With that in mind, I urged her on.
“Go ahead and try it. Even if it fails, your arm won’t go numb like before.”
“...I hope so.”
Ervehim nodded and drew back the bowstring again.
Whoosh!
The light enveloping her arm transferred to her longbow and arrow.
Trrr!
The bow trembled intensely from the resistance.
That was due to her lack of proficiency with the technique.
‘No problem. We’re not testing for accuracy.’
As that thought crossed my mind.
“Hup!”
Pew-!
Ervehim released the string with a shout.
Shrieeek!
The arrow, infused with elven power, shot forward in a straight line.
It soon struck the tree dead ahead.
And then.
Kaboom-!
It pierced right through, continuing onward.
One tree, two trees, three, four...
The arrow showed no sign of losing power, shattering a total of five trees before finally stopping.
Analyzing Ervehim’s secret technique with the power of [Elixir of Penetration].
“It’s definitely stronger.”
The energy in the arrow was far more potent than before.
At that level of power, even a [Death Knight] might’ve dropped dead in one shot.
“Is your arm okay?”
I asked, turning my gaze to Ervehim.
But she was staring down at her right arm with an excited expression.
‘So that’s why she went quiet.’
She looked utterly shocked.
No wonder—it was hard to believe this result came from just tweaking one ancient rune.
Sure enough, Ervehim spoke in a trembling voice.
“I... I used the full secret technique.”
Thud!
She even collapsed to the ground.
“The technique I’d never once succeeded with... finally!”
‘She must really love it.’
Huff! Huff!
Panting heavily, Ervehim got back up and immediately nocked another arrow.
From her stance, she was going for it again.
“Hey, isn’t that pushing it too—”
Pew!
Before I could stop her, another arrow flew.
The result was the same.
Kaboom-!
Trees toppled like they’d been hit by cannon fire.
Only then did Ervehim burst into satisfied laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha! Now the elves will rule the skies!”
There seemed to be a hint of madness in her eyes... but whatever.
Anyway.
‘Success.’
Ervehim had reclaimed the lost power of the elves.
***
Before long, the sky had turned pitch black.
With Ervehim’s secret technique restored, I’d finished all my business, so I headed straight back to the temporary lodging she’d provided.
Creak!
Rumble! Rumb-rumble!
Opening the door carefully, I heard snoring.
The others were already asleep.
The only ones awake were me and Erebos.
“You’re finally back?”
“Oh, yeah. You’re still up? Were you waiting?”
“Hah, waiting? I don’t need sleep to begin with. I was just conserving energy since there wasn’t much to do.”
“Ah...”
That said, I’d seen him sleeping like a log plenty of times...
I swallowed my retort and got ready for bed.
As I slipped under the silk blanket, Erebos scampered over like he’d been waiting and perched by the window beside me.
“I’ll guard you safely until you fall asleep. Your life is my life.”
“...Guard against what?”
“Don’t let your guard down. Danger is always close by.”
“...Yeah.”
Ever since I’d given him that advice, he’d been oddly nicer.
Grateful, but almost burdensome.
‘Well, better than being enemies.’
Shaking off those thoughts, I tried to sleep, but my mind was too clear.
“Can’t sleep.”
“Got worries? If you want, spill them. I’ll listen.”
“Nah, it’s nothing that big.”
It wasn’t a huge deal, but I did have some concerns.
About our next destination.
“Wondering where to go next.”
After Kazandur and now Alvheim, we’d already cleared two regions.
It was time to move on.
But nowhere immediately came to mind.
The silver lining was that our goal itself was clear.
Nothing had changed there.
‘Leveling up comes first.’
We’d made massive gains passing through Kazandur and Alvheim, but it still wasn’t enough compared to my magical prowess.
So the next spot needed to offer massive experience gains...
‘Vulcan Kingdom? Or Frey Kingdom?’
My mind was a jumble, chasing maximum efficiency.
Then Erebos spoke up.
“Hmm, strange. Your mouth says that’s the worry, but your face doesn’t match... Don’t tell me you already know the answer?”
“What? No, I really don’t.”
As I replied, Erebos’s darkness suddenly enveloped me without warning.
Swish!
Erebos smirked.
“Hmph, liar.”
“...”
[Lie Detection].
He’d used his ability.
“Tch, figured.”
Honestly, even I was conflicted.
Whether the place I had in mind was really the right call.
But getting caught by his power meant my heart was leaning that way.
And that made me even more uneasy.
“Sigh, it’s really not there...”
Even after his ability, I couldn’t commit.
Because it wasn’t a place I could approach lightly like the others.
One of us might even lose our life... it was that dangerous.
“Where the hell are you thinking of that’s got you like this?”
“...Demon Realm.”
“Demon Realm?”
“You think the next stop—the right one—is the Demon Realm?”
“Yeah.”
Erebos’s eyes widened, clearly not having expected that.
But not out of worry.
“Ha ha ha ha! The Demon Realm! Things are finally getting fun!”
He was laughing his ass off, thrilled by it.
‘...Not helpful at all?’
Just when I thought he was cool, he pulls this.
What’s so great about the Demon Realm?
Seeing my troubled expression as I lay there, Erebos finally stopped laughing and asked.
“Hmm, so what’s the big worry? If you think it’s the right call, there must be a reason.”
“There is... a reason.”
Truth be told, aside from the risks, nowhere leveled faster than the Demon Realm.
In simple terms, it matched my goal of powering up perfectly.
But those risks were the issue.
“Can’t risk getting dangerous.”
“Dangerous? Who said anything about danger? You’ve got more than enough skill to survive the Demon Realm.”
“...If it was just me, I wouldn’t worry.”
It wasn’t me.
It was my companions.
They didn’t have the strength to survive the Demon Realm yet.
Or more precisely...
‘They do, but it’s iffy.’
A bit more growth, and they’d be much safer.
In the Demon Realm, I couldn’t babysit them, so safety was crucial.
Just then.
Erebos tilted his head.
“Hm? I don’t get it at all. To me, not just you, but everyone else is plenty tough. No big dangers in the Demon Realm.”
“That’s the ‘what if.’ The what if.”
“Sure, if super bad luck hits and some powerhouse attacks, it could get dicey. But isn’t that overthinking it?”
“Overthinking? No, I’m being cautious.”
“Cautious? For whose sake?”
“...What?”
Erebos scowled and continued.
“Contractor, be honest. You’re not being cautious—you’re scared stiff. You can’t stomach seeing your precious comrades get hurt. You’re not mentally prepared!”
“...”
Not mentally prepared...
He might not be wrong.
I’d never thought it was okay for them to get hurt just because they were with me.
Then Erebos said lowly.
“I once commanded legions of subordinates. I know the best call a leader makes in this situation.”
“...And what’s that?”
“Simple. Figure out what your people want.”
“What they want?”
Erebos nodded firmly.
“Yeah, think about it. Would your comrades want to go to the Demon Realm, or somewhere safer?”
“...”
I did as Erebos said.
If I shared this dilemma with them, what would they choose?
Funny thing—the answer leaned hard one way.
“They’d pick the Demon Realm, obviously. They’re not the type to play it safe for growth.”
“Then it’s settled, right?”
“...But I can’t decide rashly. Who knows if they really think that. I’ll ask tomorrow.”
“No need, Contractor.”
“Huh?”
I looked at Erebos at his meaningful tone.
For some reason, he wasn’t looking at me.
Following his gaze.
“...You’re awake?”
The companions I thought were sleeping were sitting up, staring this way.
With pretty serious faces.
Guess our chatter woke them.
...No wonder the snoring stopped.
“Number One.”
Before I could speak, Thompson beat me to it.
His voice was gravely serious, rare for him.
“I want to walk the path you take. Not as a burden.”
“...What? No, you’re not. Never thought of you that way.”
“You were gonna pick somewhere else for our safety. If that’s not treating us like burdens, what is? The answer’s clear.”
“...”
I clamped my mouth shut, out of words, as Thompson continued.
“It’s not just me. The redhead girl, the dwarf too. They all want the same. Right?”
He glanced left and right.
Kayla and Barundel nodded like it was obvious.
“Honestly, I wanna smack you upside the head. Since when am I some fragile thing?”
“With your monster growth, you see everyone else as weaklings who need protecting and coddling, huh?”
Both their faces were full of displeasure.
‘...That’s not it.’
And looking at the three before me, it hit me anew.
They wanted to grow strong too.
They weren’t blindly following me.
“...Got it.”
With my thoughts reaching that point, I made my decision.
“Let’s go. To the Demon Realm.”
Our next destination was set.