Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Admah (1)
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Perhaps because the reality of entering the Demonic Realm had suddenly hit them, or maybe because they sensed the gravity of the situation, everyone had grown remarkably quiet.
Even after I told them to go and rest, they remained in the room, standing guard.
“Can’t we just start by smashing all their heads in? Even those who use demonic energy won’t survive a blow to the head. Then we wouldn’t even need to enter this Demonic Realm place.”
At Niceta’s aggressive remark, Seamus and Reinhardt sighed and shook their heads. Their gazes seemed to ask how she was becoming more and more like me as the journey continued.
It’s not me! I didn’t do anything! I’ve barely even spoken to her since that day in Libria!
“It’s not demonic energy. What they use isn’t demonic energy but a kind of divine power. Should I say their properties are similar?”
“What? It’s not demonic energy? What they’re using?”
When it came to detecting demonic energy, I had some expertise myself, so I circulated my spiritual power to check, but what the Raelian folks were using was definitely not demonic energy. That much was certain. Setting aside the fact that something about it felt deeply unsettling.
“You’ll understand when you see it for yourselves. The power they wield. It’s impossible to define.”
“What do you mean…”
“The Council of Elders aren’t fools. Or rather, even if they were, they would never have accepted the Raelians as part of the Holy Kingdom if they used demonic energy. They would have been branded as heretics themselves.”
Niceta tilted her head, clearly not understanding my words, but there was no time to explain every detail. It was better for her to see and feel it firsthand.
“Experience it for yourself. Why His Holiness sent you here. What you must find and what you must say. It’s meaningless if someone just gives you the answer.”
“I understand.”
“Now, really, go and get some rest. We have a grueling march ahead of us.”
After everyone had left, I spread out the map I had received from Krain Rzhev and examined the documents.
If the Empire or the Raelians were controlling the monsters, would that black antenna be set up here as well?
In the Ashar Desert, the antenna’s role was to gather monsters, leading them to Kanta Village.
However, in Lagaris, it seemed to serve a different purpose. Even after I destroyed the antenna, the monsters still charged toward the inner fortress.
It clearly had another, unknown, or perhaps improved, function. A very important one at that.
Technology is always bound to advance. The Empire’s researchers weren’t all idiots with their heads for decoration, and they had taken a significant portion of my research data from Granok.
If they drew inspiration from that, it wouldn’t be strange for them to have made improvements.
*Knock, knock—*
As I was looking over the documents, someone knocked on the door.
“It’s me—”
The door creaked open, and Niceta peeked her head in.
“What is it?”
“May I… ask a favor?”
“What kind of favor?”
Fidgeting like that, I couldn’t guess what she was about to ask. Besides, she had been surprisingly obedient since the battle that day, so I was willing to grant her request as long as it wasn’t too difficult.
Building a good relationship with a priestess of her caliber was always important. There was no harm in showing a little goodwill.
“I want to learn how to fight.”
“How to fight?”
It was a completely random request. Who was asking whom for lessons? Besides, from what I’d seen in Libria and in our other battles, she was already fulfilling her role quite well.
Of course, she seemed to have a few issues, but those were a matter of experience.
Besides, I was under the impression that priestesses were taught the basics of combat during the process of becoming a Heretic Inquisitor or a Paladin.
“I lack experience. I want to learn how not to panic so easily in unexpected situations. And also how to fight without a weapon.”
I said nothing and just looked at Niceta. That couldn’t be the only reason. If that were all, there were plenty of people around who could teach her.
“During my last mission, a comrade was injured, and I panicked, failing to do my part. I was more of a burden.”
Seeing how she had lost her mind and rampaged in Libria, I could roughly guess what had happened. It must have been truly awful. Perhaps that was why she had locked herself away in the prayer room.
“But you’re not like that, Sir Kratos. I want to learn that fighting style of yours, the way you maintain your composure in any situation.”
A fighting style that maintains composure. If that was her reason, it was certainly understandable why she would want to learn. Her fighting style in Libria had been anything but composed.
No, it was more like she was on a rampage. There were even times she’d gotten injured by recklessly charging in.
In the first place, the fact that she had captured Sejanus, killed the lord, and laid waste to the city was the result of her failing to control her emotions and charging in headfirst.
The problem was, that wasn’t something that could be taught. It was something one had to realize on their own.
“I don’t know what I could teach you, but you can learn what you need to from combat. I’ll spar with you once a day.”
“Thank you!”
It must have been the answer she was hoping for. Niceta bowed her head deeply and left the room.
Whatever she learned was up to her own abilities. Besides, for her to ask for lessons like this…
Hadn’t she found her own reason to tighten the reins on herself during this mission?
It was for the best. Besides, it was about time I started building my own team anyway.
***
Before the sun had even risen. I led the group, who were yawning widely as if still half-asleep, out of Rzhev’s northern gate.
“Ugh—it’s cold. Is it winter already?”
As if winter had arrived on the continent, the dawn air in Rzhev felt particularly cold.
Whether it was simply the season, or if this continent itself was in the process of losing its vitality…
Well, I couldn’t be sure.
“How far are we planning to go? We don’t even have a carriage.”
“As far as possible. I plan to go as far as we can.”
This time, the plan was to scout the situation in the Demonic Realm, so I intended to go right to the entrance.
[Name: Kratos▼]
[Strength 101][Stamina 55][Dexterity 21][Spiritual Power 50][Intelligence 71]
<Skills>▼
Annihilate Evil - 10.8%
Ring of Spiritual Power - 3 Strokes
Spiritualism - 2-Star]
I still had plenty of stats that needed to be raised. Hunting monsters along the way was just a bonus. I had no intention of avoiding them. If anything, I’d be seeking them out.
Just in case, I also filled my inventory with various items. This was a place where running out of water or food would be disastrous, just like in the Ashar Desert.
That held true even at the entrance of the Demonic Realm, where the demonic energy hadn't yet tainted the land to its depths.
“Everyone, stay sharp. The Demonic Realm is a place where you can’t let your guard down for a single moment.”
I had been here a few times in the past. Of course, I had given up on entering the core, as it seemed too difficult, but my memories from that time were quite impactful.
It was a place that was difficult in so many ways that it made you wonder how such a place could even exist in the world.
Whether it was the environment, the monsters, or something else entirely.
.
.
.
.
.
“Do you know why the Demonic Realm is called the Demonic Realm?”
The path to the entrance of the Demonic Realm was relatively smooth. We encountered a few monster hordes, but they weren't particularly difficult opponents.
That’s why I brought up a story from my memory.
“I know that it was once the site of a kingdom in the distant past. They say its king dabbled in demonic energy and was divinely punished by the gods.”
As Niceta spoke up, the other members nodded and perked up their ears.
True, it wasn't a widely known story. I only learned of this secret history myself while digging through ancient records in search of a way back to Earth.
It was the kind of story that offered no valuable lessons.
“It’s true there was a kingdom. And that its king dabbled in demonic energy. But that alone doesn’t explain why this vast region has been shrouded in unending demonic energy for hundreds of years.”
“That is true. The Holy Kingdom tried to purify it several times, but they failed each time. After that, the Holy Kingdom’s policy has been focused solely on preventing the Demonic Realm from expanding.”
At some point, the Demonic Realm just became the Demonic Realm. A place one must not enter. A place where all things profane and evil flaunted their existence.
“There was a kingdom here. No one knows its name. It was erased from all history books. It was said to be a rather large kingdom. I found records calling it the hegemon of the north at the time.”
Like children listening to their grandfather’s old tales, the members listened intently, even as they walked toward the Demonic Realm. There were no visible enemies, and they were curious.
“The king who led the kingdom during its most prosperous era had a thought. *If I didn't have to die, I could lead this kingdom forever. I could build not just a kingdom, but an empire. Perhaps I could even unite this continent and the eastern continent as well.*”
It was a truly absurd thought.
“So the king sought to become immortal. But no matter how powerful a being became, aging was inevitable. It could be slowed, but death could not be avoided.”
“That is the natural providence of the gods and the law of time.”
“Right. The providence of the gods. But the king sought to defy that providence, and to achieve his goal, he turned to demonic energy. He was deceived by a demon whispering sweet words.”
It was a foolish act. Demons never give what is desired. they simply wrap it in clever and plausible packaging.
“*I will grant you the eternal life you so desire. With your eternal life, could you not build dozens of kingdoms like this one?* Something like that, perhaps? As a result, the foolish king offered his entire territory and all its living beings to the demon. He sought to gain eternal life in return.”
It must have been millions of subjects. Perhaps even tens of millions. Few records from that time remain intact.
And it wouldn't have been just humans. The document clearly stated *non-human life forms*.
“The king offered everything but himself. He even sacrificed his own family to the demon, and in return, the demon attempted to manifest itself. It had more than enough ‘offerings’.”
It was all so absurd. It was like… yes, the cults on Earth were basically just scams. No matter how much they prattled on about eternal life or second comings, any third party knew it wasn't real.
But this place was different. Gods and demons existed. Divine power, black mages, magic, and miracles coexisted. It was, after all, the gloriously named world of fantasy.
This damn fantasy world.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Well, the rest of the story is predictable. The demon was stopped by the gods during its manifestation, and demonic energy continues to pour out from the countless connections that have yet to close.”
“Horrifying… What on earth was he thinking? What happened to that king?”
“Who knows what that bastard was thinking. The records don’t say, but if the gods themselves had to intervene to stop a demon’s manifestation, the king likely didn’t get away unscathed. In any case, as a result, the kingdom became a land where demonic energy endlessly flows, and that place became the Demonic Realm.”
This was also the reason I was deliberately stepping into the Demonic Realm.
For the bastards from the Empire, who were accustomed to demonic energy, I figured this would be the perfect place for their shenanigans.
A natural fortress that no one can easily enter. And no one knows what is happening inside.
No one.