Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Single Log Bridge
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Orek followed his eldest brother's words and entered the mini-dungeon to test his own power.
"Something feels incredibly light about my body."
"It's probably because our power is amplified through the gear you're wearing."
That made sense coming from Lady Zephyra.
And if he drank the buff potion his eldest brother had given him on top of that, what would happen?
Still, he'd been receiving so much from his eldest brother—what should he do about it...?
"Don't worry too much~ Your siblings are as tight-knit as us spirits, aren't they?"
"Hoo... True. In return, carrying out the missions Big Bro assigned perfectly is the right thing to do."
"Right! So, ready to fly?"
"Of course!"
I used magic to change my body into a new form and soared toward the blue sky. Lady Zephyra immediately followed behind me as we surveyed the skies of this mini-dungeon.
We flew between the clouds, taking in the sky islands decorated like ruins from mythic times, getting a feel for the layout.
Lady Zephyra, flying beside me, seemed to really love this place.
"This place is awesome!"
"They say Big Bro specially commissioned it."
"No wonder my kids kept begging to come here. Alright... kids!"
"Whoa! Hello!"
"What brings you here?"
As expected, Lady Zephyra knew all the nature spirits here.
Soon, nature spirits gathered around us from all sides, and before long, we were all flying through the skies together.
That brought back memories of my childhood, playing in verdant fields with the nature spirits.
The green nature spirit racing lightly across the fields like the wind.
The sparkling blue nature spirits like water droplets, landing cutely on my hand to catch their breath.
The playful red nature spirits sharing their warmth—that scenery, I never thought I'd see it again....
Was this sight a dream?
But the gentle warmth coming from beside me proved that this moment was real.
Thank goodness I wasn't in my original form.
Having reclaimed everything from my lost past made my heart tremble nonstop.
To calm my shaking heart, I flew upward with all my might toward the lofty sky.
Lady Zephyra and the surrounding nature spirits followed me in unison, circling around me one by one, forming dazzling trails of light.
How long did we swim through the skies like a comet?
Far off, my target came into view.
Now it was time to complete the first task Big Bro had assigned.
I released the transformation and activated a magic tool, gliding down slowly instead of plummeting from the air.
In the meantime, I drew my bow, nocked an arrow, and poured all my power into it.
"Lady Zephyra, ready?"
"Of course! What about you all—want to join in?"
"""Yes!!"""
I hadn't expected the nature spirits here to help me besides Lady Zephyra.
This had to be Big Bro's grace as well.
So!
"Get the hell out of Big Bro's domain, you vermin."
Piiiiing!!!!
Paaaaang!!
The arrow Orek loosed became the eye of a massive storm and flew forth.
Thanks to the various spirits around, that storm gained even greater power.
When it struck the target, the arrow obliterated the hideout built by the great nobles' underlings and erased everyone waiting there in blue light.
Confirming he'd perfectly handled his first target, Orek transformed anew and soared through the vast skies to eliminate the next one.
***************
Balrak and Ferguson watched two birds flying side by side from the sky island, unable to hide their admiration.
"Ugh! It's so moving, Bro Balrak!"
"Yeah, I'm glad the little one's looking that happy...."
Was this why parents cried when their kids got married?
Ah... this was true emotion.
The heart of a parent....
And the magic tools seemed to change form perfectly to match the little one's animal transformations, so I had to give another round of applause to the dungeon merchants today.
"Still, a greater spirit really is something else. To think the little one got this strong right after contracting with Lady Zephyra...."
"That's why the Kanf tried to steal their power even while clashing with the spirits. And check this out, little bro."
In the footage I showed my second brother next, Zephyra was secretly taking out the Kanf inside the mini-dungeon without the little one knowing.
"Whoa, that's kinda scary."
"The brighter someone is, the scarier they get when mad. But with that sharp personality, I don't have to worry about the little one anymore."
"...What if Lady Zephyra ends up owning him instead?"
"Hey! Owning? The spirits are practically objects of worship to the little one from the start."
Everything the spirits did for the little one was basically a reward.
Those beings wouldn't do anything weird anyway!
That was needless worry.
Alright, now that the troublesome mini-dungeon was in the little one's good hands, I'd just check its status occasionally.
Time to focus on my training and dungeon management... Huh?
Suddenly, an old knight entered my dungeon, followed by a huge crowd in mismatched gear.
With that many people, the giant iron ball would roll in and wipe them out soon, right?
But my prediction was quickly shattered.
Slash!!!!
"Whoa."
"He just sliced that giant iron ball in one swing!?"
That ball was solid steel with all sorts of defensive spells.
For someone to cleave it in one hit like that... what a powerhouse.
And unlike his followers' attitudes, the old knight seemed to be waiting for someone.
That meant!
"No way the thing I predicted would actually happen."
"Bro Balrak, what do you mean?"
"That's them calling for me."
"What?!"
Before the giant iron ball rolled, the info that I'd personally wipe out groups larger than a certain size had already spread outside.
So I figured they might deliberately bring a big group to provoke me.
My predictions never miss.
"Heh heh... If they provoke me like that, they'll pay the price. I'll be right back."
"No way, Bro—you're heading to the first room?"
"Yeah. You think I'd ignore a challenge like that?"
"But if you go out personally now, won't they keep provoking us forever?"
"Even better!"
Having a powerhouse like that openly provoke me was thrilling!
What a knight right up my alley!
Of course, I'd collect the price for the provocation.
And I needed to see how far such a strong guy could handle my patterns. Knight!
I accept!
Your challenge.
*************
While Balrak was grabbing his weapon,
Rolang, captain of a knight order, had broken through every trap in the Land of Madness and was waiting for someone.
"C-Captain Rolang! Are you sure about this?!"
"I've said it's fine—why keep asking?"
"But even if that thing accepts your challenge, fighting here...."
"That's what makes it better. Anyway, Aven. What do you think of this place?"
"Huh?"
"Heh heh heh... Who'd have thought I'd find this much fun in my old age. Guess I should donate to the Church of the Heavenly Gods later."
Rolang looked incredibly pleased, saying incomprehensible things to his adjutant.
As the traps in the Land of Madness whittled down the ones who'd come with him one by one,
When no more giant iron balls came rolling, Rolang seemed disappointed.
"What, is he not coming...?"
"Captain, almost everyone who came with us has retreated."
"Fine. Pay them compensation later. And Aven."
"Yes, Captain."
"You can go back with the others now."
"No way. We're already this far—gotta see the Hero's Grave, right? The others probably think the same. Plus, you can't make maps yourself, Captain."
"Kh-hm...."
"And I kinda get what you meant just now."
Aven then swatted an incoming arrow from behind, slashed a magic bullet from the blind spot,
Sliced a suddenly appearing golem, dodged a massive blade from the side and spikes from the floor,
And handled the chain of traps perfectly. The knights caught their breath.
"I'd heard rumors, but I didn't expect the traps to be this dense. But if there are more rooms like this ahead... this is the perfect spot for us."
"You think so too? Honestly, I should've come alone without those rookies. And something like a drake but stronger waiting ahead!"
"I'd like to meet that thing myself."
And so Rolang, Aven, and the veteran knights following them reached the halfway point of the Land of Madness.
Of course, some veterans were forcibly ejected midway.
"Pfft! All that cockiness, and look at 'em now."
"Watch it—you might go next?"
"Alright, bet's over. Better prep for that meal you owe later."
Thinking of mooching off their ejected comrades loosened the veterans' tension.
But their fun didn't last.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the Land of Madness shifted dramatically, and all traps stopped working.
"C-Captain Rolang! This is!"
"Yeah! That Balrak boss accepted my challenge! And you lot—don't interfere with me, got it?"
"""Yes, sir..."""
Hearing Captain Rolang's warning, the knights began retreating the way they'd come, as their superior wished.
But...
Piiiing!!
"What the—!"
"Arghhh!!"
Suddenly, massive weapons burst from the surroundings, assaulting the knights.
They quickly huddled back-to-back to block the steel rain.
But the narrow path restricted their movement.
A giant hammer spun wildly through their midst, and in the end, Aven and the veterans vanished in blue light without doing a thing.
The steel beasts then lunged at Rolang, but he deflected every attack coming his way and called out to the figure approaching from ahead.
"Hah, isn't that a bit much? My boys didn't do anything wrong."
"Following you here means they came prepared to die, no?"
"Fair point."
Step step.
Thud.
"You're that famous Balrak?"
"That's right. And you are?"
"Rolang."
"Very well, Rolang. You're prepared for provoking me, I assume?"
"Haa... How long's it been since I jumped straight into battle like this? You bet!"
"Heh, a warrior with a long tongue is useless."
"Couldn't agree more."
Thus, the two warriors facing off on the single log bridge drew their weapons.