Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Chapter 14 - Asain Canyon
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Two days had passed since the Gleston Earl's family was attacked.
No matter how decentralized the Hecatoncheires were, they must have figured out by now that Balboa and Astra were dead.
‘Still, they won’t come right away.’
It would take time to dispatch new agents, and even more time to discuss countermeasures.
Would they target the Spirit Jewel again, or choose a substitute?
[Master, if new agents appear, they’re likely to be the Dragonkin from the western arc of the original story, right?]
“Probably.”
Dragonkin Jenadu.
A powerhouse on a completely different level from the lowest-tier Dragonkin like Balboa or Astra.
In the original story, it was Jenadu who descended the Beast Lord using the Spirit Jewel secured by Balboa.
“They could dispatch another lowest-tier Dragonkin, but after Balboa and Astra got taken out, they won’t do something that stupid. They’ll probably send Jenadu, just like in the original.”
[Indeed. Then the key factors are when this Dragonkin Jenadu shows up and whether the Hecatoncheires recognize Master as their primary target.]
Luther had definitely taken down Balboa and Astra.
But there was a high chance the Hecatoncheires hadn’t yet grasped that Luther was the one who did it.
And even if they had, they could dismiss Luther’s involvement as coincidence.
The Balboa incident was pure luck, and the Astra one was too much of a stretch to claim Luther knew in advance and came looking.
“So they probably don’t see me as a primary target yet.”
[That’s fortunate.]
[If they start sending assassins directly after Master, it’ll become a real headache.]
Integra, having said that, projected a calendar into the air and continued.
[The Night of Mana is in 17 days.]
[If they don’t see Master as a primary target, the chance of an attack in the meantime is low.]
[The key will be gathering enough power in those 17 days to stop the Beast Lord’s descent.]
Of course, that assumed the Hecatoncheires found a substitute catalyst for the Spirit Jewel, but it was only logical that an organization like them could secure a replacement.
So, prepare for the Night of Mana.
Not just powering up himself, but preparing other means to definitely block the Beast Lord’s descent.
“Dragon Hunter Origin gets serious in the late game. If the Hecatoncheires start moving directly, it’ll be hell unleashed.”
It wasn’t called a story marching toward destruction for nothing.
Like how he’d blocked the Gleston Earl’s family massacre this time, he had to shatter the original story’s flow from the early game to avert the promised doom.
[Understood.]
[Then let’s steel our resolve and head out for some powering up.]
[Actually, Karen and Max have been waiting since earlier.]
Their final wrap-up before leaving had dragged on too long.
Luther hurriedly left the room and joined Karen and Max, who were waiting at the annex entrance, before departing the Gleston Earl’s manor.
* * *
The suspected site of the second fragment’s fall was Asain Canyon, about half a day’s walk from Venus City.
It was such a rugged terrain that even as the area around Venus City was developed, it had essentially been left abandoned.
In the original story, it was a place that got decent screen time.
‘Where Anne Rose fought Astra.’
In any case, Luther’s group, who hustled right after leaving Venus City, arrived at Asain Canyon by late afternoon.
“Integra, sense anything?”
[A faint signal is coming in.]
[The second fragment is definitely in Asain Canyon.]
[I’ll launch a drone to map the terrain.]
With that, Integra immediately sent a drone high into the sky.
Max, watching it, spoke to Luther.
“Lord Luther, it could be dangerous to enter the canyon, so how about camping at the entrance tonight and starting a full search tomorrow morning?”
It was sound advice, so Luther nodded right away.
“Let’s do that. And for camping... this way. I’ve got a spot in mind.”
“A spot you’ve scouted? Ah... yes, understood.”
Max looked puzzled since they’d arrived together, but nodded after seeing the drone fly up.
He probably thought it was a place the drone had found.
[Master, you’re heading to the spot from the original story, right?]
‘Yeah, where Anne Rose camped.’
Flat ground nearby, water close by—perfect for camping.
But more importantly, there was something else.
‘There’s an event.’
[An event?]
‘Yeah, or more precisely, an event that almost happens in the original.’
[If it’s hidden, it’s hidden. What’s this “almost happens” event?]
‘It exists, that kind. I’ll explain when we get there.’
Luther quickened his pace.
And they arrived.
Karen and Max checked the nearby stream and nodded, understanding why he chose this spot.
“It’s good. Flat ground, water nearby. And the scenery’s amazing.”
As Karen said, a short walk from the campsite led to a hill overlooking outside Asain Canyon. With the sun setting that way, the sunset was breathtaking.
[Master, is that sunset what you called the event?]
[How poetic.]
[Who knew you were such a romantic.]
A mini Integra appeared on Luther’s shoulder, giggling, but Luther shook his head.
‘No way. You know how pragmatic I am.’
Sunset was sunset, event was event.
With the red sunset starting to paint the land behind him, Luther looked to the opposite sky.
Through the darkening night sky, the faint outlines of two moons were emerging.
* * *
“Uh... so, you mean fairy...?”
“Yeah, fairies.”
Answering Karen’s question with a firm face, Luther pointed to the stream.
“There’s a legend about this stream.”
The fairy tale that if a beautiful girl soaks in the stream and sings, fairies will appear.
[Master, there’s no way the original has such a lame event, right?]
‘No, what’s lame about this event?’
[A classic lowbrow fanservice event.]
‘What’s lowbrow about soaking your feet in the stream and singing?’
[Feet?]
‘Yeah, feet. Feet in the stream, singing event. What the hell were you imagining? Huh?’
[Hm, got it. Understood.]
‘Look at her playing innocent like it’s natural.’
But from the start, Luther and Integra were half-joking.
Luther tapped his bracelet to tease Integra, then turned back to Karen and Max.
“Fairies supposedly shower playful people with gifts and blessings. So, why not give it a try?”
“Wow, that’s... Huh? Give it a try?”
Karen, nodding at the fun story, was suddenly startled.
But Luther looked at her with utter seriousness.
“As my armor repairs, my memories are recovering too. And according to my memories, the legend of this stream is real. Plus, we have a beautiful girl right here. So, isn’t it obvious to try?”
The legend is real, and there’s a beautiful girl.
All conditions met—why dodge the event?
At Luther’s strong insistence, Karen stammered in panic.
“W-Wait. You’re telling me to summon the fairies... right?”
“Yeah, exactly. You’re pretty, Karen. Right, Max?”
Max chuckled and nodded at Luther’s question.
“Yes, Karen’s very pretty. Gorgeous.”
“See, pretty. I think so, Max thinks so—must be true. You think so too, Karen?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you look in the mirror and know you’re pretty. Right?”
Karen, already flushed, turned even redder at Luther’s words.
Karen knew she was pretty.
She’d always known.
Impossible not to.
But saying it outright, especially from her own mouth, was mortifying.
“M-Max.”
Face and neck beet red, she called to Max for help, but no dice.
Max grinned mischievously, like a teasing brother.
“You can do it, Karen. Our Karen’s pretty.”
Simple words, but the final blow for Karen at her limit.
She covered her face with both hands, squirming in embarrassment, while Max chuckled again.
And one more.
Integra, watching crookedly alone, spoke up.
[Master.]
‘Yes, Integra?’
[I’m prettier.]
‘Sure, if you say so.’
Integra puffed her cheeks at Luther’s half-hearted reply.
Then, after about 10 minutes.
Karen, pants rolled up, soaked her feet in the stream, stayed silent a moment, then glanced back.
Her eyes asking if they were serious—if she really had to.
But Luther and Max were resolute.
Luther clenched a fist in encouragement; Max mouthed cheers.
‘Go for it, miss!’
And chuckled.
Feeling deeply betrayed by Max’s glee, Karen bit her lip, turned forward.
“Fuu, fine. Whatever. Let’s do this.”
Bluntly, she was pretty, fact.
Flushing but steeling herself shamelessly, Karen took a breath and began singing softly.
Stars filling the sky, two moons reflected in the clear stream.
A black-haired girl standing between, singing.
A beautiful, romantic scene.
But Luther and Max’s smiles faded.
“I said I wouldn’t do it.”
10 minutes later.
Blushing with shame, embarrassment, mortification, Karen spoke bitterly.
No matter how she sang, no fairies—not even a firefly.
“Lord Luther, maybe the legend’s wrong? Or the song?”
“Hm.”
Max asked, but Luther just furrowed his brow, hesitant.
Truth was, no fairies appeared in the original either.
‘Specifically, side characters say Anne Rose could summon them, and just as she tries, they get ambushed, and the event vanishes.’
But since there was dummy data for Anne Rose summoning fairies, it should work...
Was the song wrong, like Max said?
Then—
[Haa, no helping it. I’ll have to step in.]
Integra tsked, shook her head, sent a drone to the stream, and projected a hologram.
Bigger than palm-sized now—life-sized, thanks to the larger drone.
“Holy Spirit?”
“Wow...”
Max and Karen gaped in awe at the life-sized Integra.
No wonder; this wasn’t her usual maid-outfit support AI look.
Literally a holy spirit.
Silver hair shimmering naturally, pure white off-shoulder dress exposing shoulders—stunning.
Full-makeup Integra?
Even Luther stared, entranced, making Integra hum smugly.
[I’ll give it a try.]
Her voice was elegantly graceful.
Max and Karen, fully buying her as a holy spirit, nodded eagerly; Luther watched, face slightly heated.
[Then, let’s begin.]
The song began.
Unlike Karen’s a cappella, Integra subtly added instruments for perfect music.
Silver songstress under the illusory moons.
Max and Karen listened, enraptured.
1 minute, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15.
[I don’t believe in unscientific legends.]
[The legend’s obviously bogus.]
Nothing happened; Integra gazed at the calm lake, face red, declaring so. Adorably, Luther chuckled.
Then—
“Fairies! Fairies over there!”
At Max’s shout, the group whipped around.
Indeed, small fairies flew from deep in the canyon toward them.
[See!]
Integra fist-pumped; Karen pouted unconsciously.
But Luther and Max noticed something odd simultaneously.
‘They’re not coming to play?’
‘They’re fleeing?’
Fairies’ desperate faces, flight.
Terrified screams.
“Run! Run!”
“Kyaa!”
[Master! Strong life signal under the stream wa—]
Kwang—!
The water surface shattered with a roar, swallowing Integra’s voice.