Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Ditto (1)
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“Awooo—”
A feeble cry. Yes, like a newborn puppy's first howl—feeble, yet adorable.
However, the way all the spiritual power that had gathered in response to that howl was absorbed into the egg was anything but feeble.
When the egg cracked and the creature revealed itself, its appearance was slightly different from what I had imagined, leaving me bewildered.
I’d naturally assumed it would be some kind of canine after hearing that howl.
But what was it? It looked like a formless mass of spiritual power, with no definite shape.
No, more accurately, its form was changing in real time, shifting slightly from moment to moment. It took the shape of a dog, then at times, a horse.
But its size was never very large. If I had to compare…
It was about the size of a soccer ball.
“What in the….”
Its form wasn't fixed; it just kept changing. I had never seen or heard of such a creature.
And then, the feeble creature began to wriggle and slowly crawl toward me.
When I slowly extended my hand, the creature climbed onto it and curled up into a ball.
I could feel the pulse of life. Its heart was beating, and it was warm.
I could also feel it. A connection between this creature and me.
“Caw—”
It suddenly let out a bird-like cry, like a crow, and as if my hand was uncomfortable, it climbed onto my head, curled up, and lay down.
“You’re sleepy, huh. Right… you’re sleepy. Haha….”
A dry laugh escaped me. It was all so sudden. The egg that had shown no reaction no matter how much spiritual power I poured into it.
Why would it suddenly synchronize with this test tube and hatch?
Its appearance didn't seem related at all.
“Sir Kratos! Are you in here?!”
From the entrance of the cavern, Gleb’s shout echoed, accompanied by the light of a torch.
“Yes, I’m here!”
Just in case, I stored the giant dragon skeleton in the center of the room in my inventory. There wasn't much else worth taking.
But where on earth did these guys find this massive skeleton? It must have been from the Demonic Realm.
A dragon skeleton. I would need to investigate this thoroughly later. This was clearly no ordinary matter.
Especially if these damn Imperials were in cahoots with a dark magician.
“Oh, good heavens, what is this place.”
“A truly wretched place. How can humans do this to other humans?”
The reactions of Gleb and the people with him were similar to my own when I first saw this place. The test subjects here weren't just monsters or animals.
“Hah… Another reason why the Empire must be wiped from this world.”
Niceta, who arrived late, hardened her expression as she looked at the dead bodies on the floor.
“But… Brother, what is that on your head?”
Gleb asked in a voice full of caution, having finally raised his torch to get a better look at my head.
His reaction was understandable. It wasn't fur, nor was it anything else recognizable, just a round shape nestled on my head.
“Uh, um… a pet?”
“You certainly didn’t have it just a moment ago, did you?”
“It popped out from somewhere and made a nest on my head. It doesn’t seem dangerous, so I’m leaving it be.”
“In a profane place like this… We can’t be too careful. It would be best to make sure.”
“Yes, well. I agree.”
With my permission, Gleb sent a blast of holy power toward my head.
I wasn't too worried, since it was born from my spiritual power.
The creature simply accepted the holy power, then shook its body with pleasure, like a wet dog shaking itself dry.
“Hoh. It’s quite familiar with holy power. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be tainted with anything profane.”
“That’s a relief.”
Gleb smiled faintly, as if reassured. He must have been deeply concerned, given that the Demonic Realm itself was a place full of profanity.
“Shouldn’t you give it a name?”
Seamus said, looking at the creature on my head from various angles with curiosity.
“A name…?”
I lowered my head.
Hah, I’m terrible at naming things.
.
.
.
.
.
“Ditto?”
“What’s that?”
As the cleanup of this place was nearing its end, I finally managed to come up with a name.
Ditto. And no, it’s not from that famous NewJeans song from before I came here.
“The English name for Metamong…?”
“What’s a Metamong? That’s a strange name.”
“It’s… a thing.”
“Ditto. It doesn’t sound bad. Though it feels more like a person’s name than an animal’s.”
No matter how I looked at it, it was a perfect fit for a Ditto. Seeing it in the form of a small bird now, it seemed it could transform into anything.
But using the name Metamong as it was felt a bit weird. Metamong. It wasn't easy to shorten, either.
“The cleanup is complete. The remnants seem to have all fled. There’s nothing left here, either.”
Gleb approached with a refreshed expression, having tracked down and burned the last of the stragglers.
We had done everything we could in the Demonic Realm. Everything.
“Everyone, pack your things. The road back will be long and far. It would be better to take a route that purifies the demonic energy, even a little, rather than the old path. We can’t just leave this place as it is.”
“Are we heading back now?”
I had also gathered everything I needed from here. Or rather, there wasn't much to gather in the first place, as the Empire had already swept it clean.
I had hoped to find some trace of that mad king, but there was none here. That was a bit disappointing. I was curious, after all.
“Finally.”
The Empire would not be able to re-enter the Demonic Realm. We had blocked the very means of entry. If they had a problem with it, they should have defended it properly.
There were probably remnants of the Empire scattered about, but not enough to open a portal. This was their largest base; the others were just outposts for exploring the Demonic Realm.
“Has it been almost a month?”
“A little over two weeks.”
Now, once I get the mercenary corps in order, we’ll settle down here. In this place I’ve chosen as the new base for the White Mercenary Corps.
“Let’s go back. To Rzhev.”
For now, it was time to return.
***
“They say he’s coming back.”
“So he’s finally returning.”
“My word. To think he’d actually conquer the Demonic Realm. Driving out those Imperial bastards, no less.”
“The Empire must be on edge. The Demonic Realm is not a region they can easily give up.”
Krain Rzhev’s face was filled with a smile at the news that the people who had entered the Demonic Realm were returning.
It wasn't as if Rzhev had faced no crises while they were gone, but they had managed to fend them off one way or another.
“That’s what I’m saying. They must feel like they’ve been sucker-punched.”
Rzhev wasn't the only one filled with anticipation. Glen Pendley was also curious as to what kind of magic Kratos had worked.
Not only had he purified the Demonic Realm, but he had completely shattered the Empire's base. It was a refreshing victory.
Furthermore, many mercenaries had yet to decide on a place to settle and were weighing their options, looking for a corps to join.
And in this situation, the White Mercenary Corps, in a joint operation with the Holy Kingdom, conquers the Demonic Realm and establishes it as their base?
He wondered what thoughts were running through Iscario’s mind. Kratos’s mission to the Demonic Realm with the Holy Kingdom was top secret, known only to the commanders and a few others like himself.
“Things are about to get shaken up.”
“Indeed. And rumors like these must be spread as actively as possible, wouldn’t you agree?”
He planned to spread two rumors. One, that Ivan Pons had been corrupted by a demon and was dead. And two, that the White Mercenary Corps and the Holy Kingdom had purified and conquered the Demonic Realm in a joint mission.
The Demonic Realm was ownerless land. Since the Holy Kingdom and the White Mercenary Corps had conquered it, they planned to claim ownership. Of course, the matter would proceed in a way that, citing various circumstances, the rights would be transferred to the White Mercenary Corps.
“A truly clever man. I wonder how he comes up with these ideas.”
“I’m constantly surprised myself. Honestly, I never would have thought of contacting the former mercenaries of the White Mercenary Corps.”
Kratos’s foresight was astonishing. How on earth did he think of such things?
He couldn't have known in advance, yet he always came up with the right answer so quickly.
“It just goes to show he’s his master’s disciple.”
“In some ways, he’s a spitting image of him, isn't he?”
“That he is. Sometimes, it’s like I’m looking at him.”
This time was no different. To think of using the Demonic Realm to relocate the mercenary corps' base and call in mercenaries to take advantage of the situation in such a short time.
“They’re coming!”
And in the distance, from the direction of the Demonic Realm, a force of nearly a thousand was slowly approaching Rzhev.
“Open the gates!”
Krain Rzhev threw the castle gates wide open. The monster wave was over, and they, and we, were the victors.
“All men, form ranks!”
Even if they couldn’t have a grand triumphal return with fluttering flower petals, these men deserved applause.
“Let’s go down as well.”
Krain Rzhev, along with Glen Pendley, moved toward the gate. At the very front, Gleb and Kratos were walking side by side.
All the people of Rzhev gave them a round of applause, and for a moment, the faces of the Holy Kingdom’s soldiers and the mercenaries were filled with smiles.
After all, they had won. They had survived and conquered the Demonic Realm.
“Kratos!”
And as they reached the gate, Glen Pendley, overjoyed, strode up to Kratos and grasped his hand.
His expression was one of pure delight.
“It’s been a while!”
“It’s good to see you. Though I can’t exactly ask if you’ve been well.”
Given the circumstances, Glen Pendley’s mood was quite somber despite his expression.
“What can we do? Who could have predicted such a situation?”
“How is the Commander? Any improvement?”
“A little. The people from the Holy Kingdom have been taking good care of him. But he still hasn't woken up.”
The fact that he still hadn't woken up was concerning. Not waking up even after receiving treatment from the Holy Kingdom meant that the demonic energy had penetrated deep within him.
Besides, Peri Batoni wasn't just any swordsman; he was a Sword Master.
“Let me take a look.”
“Will that be alright?”
“It’s important, isn’t it? Of course, he should be the first priority.”
Kratos nodded and headed straight to Peri Batoni.
I hope it’s nothing serious.
***
“Commander….”
Upon entering the temple, he saw Peri Batoni lying on a sickbed as if dead, his skin turned black.
For a Sword Master like him to be so tainted by demonic energy that his skin had turned black and died… this was a situation that couldn't be explained by a simple attack.
“Hmm….”
Circulating his spiritual power, he could feel the demonic energy deeply rooted within the man's body.
“We are infusing him with holy power, but there hasn't been much improvement. It seems the demonic energy has penetrated to the deepest parts….”
The priests who had remained in the temple said apologetically.
“Let me try.”
Gleb, who had followed him in, saw Peri Batoni’s condition and summoned his holy power. He was, after all, a high-ranking priest.
Bright holy power filled the room and poured into Peri Batoni, but it didn't seem to have much effect.
However, I could see it clearly.
The demonic energy was slowly being pushed back.
The problem was, as the priest had just said, that while there was some progress, it didn't feel like this would be enough to wake him up or bring about a dramatic recovery.
Of course, if they continued to pour in holy power like this, he might get better, but right now, they needed Peri Batoni to wake up and take control of the situation as soon as possible.
Besides, mercenaries would soon be flocking to Rzhev.
*Whoosh—*
“What the?”
While I was lost in thought, Ditto, which had been nesting on my head the entire journey here, suddenly came down and landed on Peri Batoni’s chest.
“Hey, what are you….”
Just as I was about to stop the creature’s sudden, impulsive action.
The demonic energy throughout Peri Batoni’s body began to slowly gather toward Ditto.
“You’ve got to be kidding me….”
And Ditto began to absorb it. Little by little. Continuously.
Just like how I purify and absorb demonic energy.
“Ughn—”
And after everyone else had left.
Peri Batoni, who had been as still as death, let out a faint groan.