Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Warrior Meets His Kin
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Golden mana erupted like an explosion at the entrance to the dungeon's first floor.
Balak sensed the power immediately.
"Oh? Has a powerhouse shown up already?!"
How long had it been since the Sword Saint arrived, and now another powerhouse was here?!
He was glad he'd turned the wrecked boss room into a grassland.
But was this newcomer a bit of an exhibitionist?
Why release their power in the boss room of all places...?
Anyway, to check out this new powerhouse, he casually activated the video magic tool.
*Beep!*
"Hm?"
A mage?
A woman with black hair and golden eyes, no less.
It felt like he'd heard of a female mage like this somewhere... Ah!!
Come to think of it, Anima had mentioned traveling with a demon woman.
A demon with exceptional physical prowess using magic—it was so unusual that it stuck in his mind.
And just as described, she was a dead ringer!
Plus, this demon had come from the demon realm to meet him.
He'd gotten word that she'd parted ways with them not long ago.
So her heading straight here was only natural.
But why was she coming to see him?
A question popped up, but he could just ask when they met.
Soon enough, the demon charged forward while casting spells.
That would trigger the laser traps he'd set up to block mindless sprinting exploits.
But this demon was a grand magic user.
Meaning she was on par with Karian!
*Zing! Zing!!*
*Clang clang clang clang!!*
With such an immense mana barrier, she'd blow through the first room in no time.
Not to mention, being a mage meant she was smart.
The female demon paused briefly when the iron labyrinth shifted paths in the second room.
But she quickly found her way and picked up speed.
Even if a sentinel appeared, a mage of her caliber could handle it with—
*Boom!!*
Sh-she punched it?!
Watching her moves, her physical abilities were top-notch, and she moved like a knight who'd trained professionally.
She even faced the mid-boss with a mix of elemental magic and close-quarters combat!!
Ahh... this was exactly the scene he hoped for from Dampir.
A true ninja.
He was getting itchy now.
Questions aside, a fight sounded good!
*Snap!*
*Whirr whirr whirr!*
After summoning all his weapons, he crossed his arms.
The demon had already reached the dungeon shelter quickly.
She'd be at his boss room any minute!
All he had to do now was wait.
Come on, kin! Hurry up!
He was looking forward to their clash!
*********
Aretia was utterly astonished as she surveyed the dungeon's layout with her own eyes.
This space felt like it had been designed specifically to train someone—it was, in her view, the perfect training ground.
'Was this why the dimensional rift closed so quickly?'
Thanks to the one she served, Aretia knew some of the mortal realm's fate, much like the heavenly god Ilusia.
By the natural flow of destiny, the mortal realm should have suffered significant erosion.
But heroes and various beings had challenged this place nonstop for a year.
Their gained strength had prevented much damage to the mortal realm.
Having grasped that, she quickly reached the dungeon shelter.
After checking the shop's items, Aretia understood why heroes and others kept challenging this place.
'Improving their skills while getting rewards like these...'
She felt tempted herself—what must it be like for others? They'd lose their minds.
As Ophelia stared at her with a strange gaze from nearby,
Aretia, needing no buffs, headed straight to the next room.
She marveled at the dinosaur park that was practically a dream world.
She made mistakes in the vicious structures and got sent back to the start.
Even thousands of magic bullets couldn't pierce her mana barrier, no matter how they dazzled the eyes.
In the end, Aretia arrived right in front of Balak's boss room.
She slapped her cheeks to clear her head, then slowly opened the boss room door.
A vast blue sky and green waves swaying in the wind greeted her.
As she stepped forward, savoring the fresh breeze, the wind blew back her large hood, and the horns she'd hidden with magic slowly emerged on her head.
Those golden horns gleamed like gold, matching her shining golden eyes and contrasting her long, black silk-like hair.
Spotting Balak with his arms crossed in the distance, Aretia took a deep breath and walked out.
Thus, the two demons met in the dungeon.
Just as Balak was about to greet her first,
Aretia, in her rush, spoke up instead.
"Nice to mee—!!!"
"......?"
She bit her tongue, ruining her first impression on Balak.
****************
On the vibrant grassland of the shaking meadow, the bizarre sound of the tongue-biter echoed.
Balak didn't pay it much mind.
But Aretia, whose buildup had crumbled, flushed bright red.
Balak knew how to handle this.
"Welcome, challenger."
That's right! Just ignore it!
You have to know how to gloss over a stranger's slip-up.
Aware of that, Balak changed the subject.
But it backfired on Aretia.
His considerate demeanor only made her face burn hotter, and she averted her eyes for a moment.
Whatever, Balak—thinking only of fighting his kin—calmly drew the greatsword stuck in the ground.
"Enough wasting time. Let's fight—"
"W-wait! I'm not here to fight you!"
"...Then why are you here?"
*Chill—!*
A savage aura suddenly blanketed the entire field, making Aretia freeze under the prickling killing intent.
"This isn't some teahouse for idle chit-chat. It's a battlefield, an arena. Demon, don't sully my battlefield."
Having botched her first impression even worse, Aretia broke out in cold sweat but took a deep breath and spoke.
"Hoo... So if it's not 'here,' you'll hear me out?"
"Hmm?"
Balak was bound to the dungeon.
Her suggestion to move elsewhere piqued his curiosity for a moment.
Seizing that, she smiled.
"If you want to talk with me, come to the highest place. I have things to say about our kind."
"What do you—"
*Thud!!!*
As her words ended, the boss room space rippled violently.
The surrounding grassland turned into paved roads, and the wind became dust.
Shadow-like walls and towers encircled them, plunging Balak into a grand city bathed in soft moonlight.
Looking around, he saw a portal behind him leading to his blue grassland boss room.
Absurd as it was, Balak scratched the back of his head and mulled over Aretia's words.
"Kin, huh..."
Honestly, Balak wasn't that interested in demons.
But she'd gone this far to set the stage for a talk.
And since she was Anima's friend, maybe he'd hear her out.
Besides, if he didn't like what she said, he could just fight her then.
As he moved to step forward,
There was one problem.
"There are multiple 'highest places'...?"
A castle to the right.
A clock tower to the left.
Several massive buildings ahead.
Practically impossible to choose, Balak pondered—then recalled a message from his son, who'd lived with Aretia.
[The demon woman you're with is secretly a klutz.]
Aretia truly lacked attention to detail.
Anyway, for the first time since reincarnating, Balak walked through a city.
Elegant, stylish buildings lined the streets, pleasing his eyes.
Though lights shone everywhere, the emptiness gave it a eerie vibe.
He confirmed his magic tools weren't working.
As he strolled sightseeing, a blue bird suddenly flew down from the sky.
It circled him insistently, as if guiding him.
Obviously Aretia's belated guide.
At least he wouldn't waste steps—Balak headed for the clock tower.
At the massive door, he powered his legs and leaped.
Gliding through the air effortlessly, he reached the top in an instant.
There stood a woman in a black dress with golden horns, her back turned, standing silently.
"Couldn't you have sent the guide sooner?"
"Hahaha... I-I didn't think of that."
"Anyway, I get that you went to all this trouble for a talk. So what is it?"
"It's a lot. First... let me introduce myself."
She turned with a smile.
"I'm Aretia. Demon King Aretia Versien."
Thus, Balak faced the king of the demons.
The Demon King.