Traveler: Derek Walker 13 - The Armadillo Earth Spirit King Crit
The Earth Spirit King Crit, in the form of an armadillo—this little spirit had reached the pinnacle among the earth spirits, one of the four great elemental spirits.
The four great spirits—fire, water, wind, and earth—were familiar to any fantasy enthusiast. They were renowned even in the Solary World, and if you asked an ordinary person what a spirit was, nine times out of ten they'd name these four.
Of course, high recognition didn't make them the strongest. The most powerful spirit in the Solary World was the Chaos Spirit. The Chaos Spirit was the progenitor of all spirits, the sole entity of its kind in existence.
For the four great spirits, there were various ranks from the lowest spirits up to the spirit kings: lowest-grade, low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, top-grade, and spirit king. Each spirit symbolized something specific, and for earth spirits, it was 'fidelity.' That was why people often pictured sentinels or guardians when thinking of earth spirits. Crit claiming to be Parakelia's guardian spirit was undoubtedly for the same reason.
"A spirit mage commanding a Spirit King as her guardian spirit. Far more impressive than I imagined."
Of course, the current Parakelia had no power to truly command Crit. Though he denied it, Crit followed her undoubtedly because of her talent. Parakelia possessed the aptitude to become a Spirit King's contractor someday—and such contractors were exceedingly rare, even from a spirit's perspective.
"Ah, no, that's not... I... I just found out today that the gnome was a Spirit King."
"Allow me a proper introduction. My name is Crit."
Gnome was the name given to the lowest-grade earth spirits. Being called that must have wounded Crit's pride. Well, as a spirit of fidelity, maybe it didn't. After all, Crit had volunteered as Kelly's guardian from the start.
"S-sorry! I had no idea and called you a gnome... no, acted all familiar. I'm sorry!"
"No need for formal speech. If you truly value me, treat me like always. I prefer it that way."
Crit stroked his snout with both tiny hands, his voice warm and benevolent. Lulled by his adorable form, Parakelia gave a small nod.
"Ah, got it..."
"Anyway, back to business—I'll test you. To see if you're truly worthy as the Sun Warrior, and a man fit to take Kelly with you."
"Fine by me. No reason to dodge it."
The moment I spoke, a new alert window popped up before my eyes. These kinds of notifications were almost always quests. Sure enough, this one was too.
←Quest
●End of the Fairy Tale
↩Conquer the dungeon 'Fairy Tale Dungeon' at the demand of the Earth Spirit King Crit.
←Quest
"About an hour's walk from here, there's a dungeon called 'Fairy Tale Dungeon.' Conquer it and bring me proof of your victory, and I'll acknowledge you."
An absurdly easy request. In the game, recruiting Kelly required passing Crit's test. The trials were randomized, but the strategy guide limited them to a few set routines. This Fairy Tale Dungeon conquest was straight out of the guide.
"Simple enough. What counts as proof of conquest?"
"Bring back any trace of the ruler who dominates that place."
Crit answered crisply, his voice brimming with the confidence of an Earth Spirit King.
Dungeon exploration was the easiest trial for me. It was where the strategy guide shone brightest.
"I'll head out now."
"I was going to give you time to prepare... but if you're ready, fine. No time limit, though try to get back quick."
"Got it."
We returned to Laus Lake. I left the combat-weak Elf at the inn. It wasn't a dangerous village, so a woman alone would be fine.
I set off for the dungeon with Sera. There was only one nearby, so I got directions from the village chief and made it there easily.
Laus Lake brimmed with the raw power of nature, surrounded by vast forests. With no large settlements nearby, the untouched wilderness teemed with vibrant life, showing just how dynamically nature could thrive without human interference.
But it wasn't all upside. The overgrown underbrush and encroaching trees made navigation a nightmare. Without my compass, I'd have been utterly lost in the woods.
"Our hometown wasn't even this lush. This place really lives up to its nickname as the spirits' sanctuary~."
"Yeah. An hour from Laus Lake, and it's still this wild. Looks like no one comes here. Just the occasional monster or beast tracks."
"Ah! Portal over there~!"
Sera's keen eyes spotted the dungeon entrance first. It sat atop a broad, flat rock—a shimmering amethyst portal, just like the one at Blade's Shelter.
Sera spoke up, her voice laced with worry.
"But Master, are we really diving in with zero prep? Dungeons are super dangerous places~."
"Don't sweat it. As long as we follow the future the Sun Medal reveals, conquering a dungeon's a joke."
I had my inventory, so I was always fully equipped anyway. The Fairy Tale Dungeon we were tackling wasn't that tough to begin with. Sure, without the guide, there were a few tricky spots.
"Trust me and follow."
"When Master says it like that, courage just bubbles up~! Alright! Let's go~!"
Sera threw her shoulders back and strode boldly ahead, plunging into the portal without a second thought. I followed right after.
My vision twisted oddly, a touch of vertigo hitting me—but it faded instantly.
Before us stretched a vast plain. After over an hour trudging through dense forest, the open expanse hit like a breath of fresh air. I let out a deep sigh of relief.
Sera bounced on her toes, squealing excitedly.
"Master! Look at this~! It's a total flower field~!"
She was right—the broad plain was a meticulously tended garden bursting with flowers. Blooms of every color dotted it at precise intervals, each variety distinct in shape and hue. Their scents wafted seductively, each one harmonious without overpowering the others. It felt soothing, pleasant.
Not at all the vibe you'd expect from a brutal dungeon.
"Achoo! Ughhh...! Way too much pollen. And the smells are intense~!"
But for Sera, with her sensitive nose, paradise it was not. She blew her nose hard, her face screaming she wanted out yesterday. Apparently, the aesthetic beauty couldn't compete with pollen hell.
Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle!
As if answering her, a glowing speck like a firefly shot up from the yellow flower patch. It zipped left and right before landing in front of us. It was a flower fairy.
"Smells intense? Your nose must be seriously off! This is the first page of a beautiful fairy tale—the Rainbow Flower Garden! Red, yellow, green, blue, purple flowers in a disordered earthly paradise. Not some garden for uncultured cats who wouldn't know art if it bit 'em!"
The flower fairy brimmed with pride over her garden. Anyone tending something this magnificent would feel the same.
But Sera shot back sharply at the fairy praising her own work.
"Pollen stinging my eyes, smells like a perfume explosion, colors so garish it's dizzying. And you call this a well-made garden? I just don't get fairy taste."
"Never expected a savage like you to appreciate it. You there—human? Or orc? Whatever, what's your take?"
The flower fairy turned to me abruptly. If I was being honest, it was a fine garden. But this fairy was an enemy I had to kill. Why bother with the truth?
"Perfect for my toilet. Flowers would mask the stench, and they'd double as auto-fertilizer."
"Eeeeek! Using stinky human shit as fertilizer would ruin the flowers! Wanna know what I use? The corpses of ignorant, dumb beastkin and orcs! Raplawa! Rise!"
At her shout, a low rumble shook one corner of the garden.
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
From the epicenter, a massive plant stalk rocketed upward—like some buried tentacle beast stretching after a long nap. The emerald stem bristled with huge thorns, and at its core bloomed a single enormous flower. Crimson petals hid a maw of jagged teeth straight out of a carnivore's nightmare.
A grotesque bio-horror that looked more at home in an evil scientist's lab than this pretty garden.
"Raplawa! Long time no snack! Grab and gobble those smelly idiots!"
Sera dropped into a battle stance at the fairy's cry. I just smirked. Classic fantasy plant weakness: fire.
"Fire Wall."
Flames erupted around me, forming a blazing barrier. The inferno quickly set the surrounding flowers ablaze. The beautiful garden started crisping up like pork belly on a barbecue grill.
"Gyyyaaah! Savages! What the hell are you doing!? My garden!"
"Fire Blast!"
I didn't stop there, unleashing a massive fireball. The compressed orb hurtled forward, turning the flower garden into a smoldering wasteland. Acrid smoke poured from the roasting blooms, replacing their sweet scents.
The fairy buzzed up and down in horror. Her precious garden was going up in flames. Probably felt like watching a cousin smash your hard-earned figurine collection on holiday.
"These flowers are mine now! I can do whatever I want with 'em!"
"Nooooo! Raplawa! Attack! Kill the human first! My garden's gonna burn to nothing!"
The fairy commanded Raplawa, but it couldn't budge. Fire was its biggest weakness.
The first stage of Fairy Tale Dungeon was a breeze with fire skills.
"M-Master! It's getting hot for me too~!?"
"Wind Control."
I used Wind Control to blow the encroaching flames back at the garden. Wind met fire, and the blaze roared fiercer. Oxygen was key to combustion, after all—and wind supplied it in spades. Basic knowledge even a lit major knew.
"Gyaagyaaah! Human! I surrender! Total defeat! Please, extinguish it! My garden's turning to ash for real!"
Even Raplawa was engulfed. Instead of putting out the fire, I fired a Darkness Arrow at the shrieking fairy.
The black shaft pierced her chest clean through.
"Guhhh! I curse you! My garden..."
Squish!
I stomped the fallen fairy. It burst with a wet splat, crumbling to dust. Raplawa followed, incinerated in the wind-fueled inferno.
Took less than ten minutes to trash those two losers.
"Incredible~!"
Sera gushed over my skills. With the strategy guide, early stages were child's play—even blindfolded.
With the first zone's trash cleared, a pearlescent portal appeared. The gateway to the next area.
This was just chapter one of the dungeon. I knew how to beat everything ahead anyway.
I stepped through without hesitation.
Beyond lay a grand castle—utterly unlike the vibrant flower field. Perched precariously on a cliff pounded by crashing waves, it looked like Dracula's lair. Ancient and dilapidated, it reeked of danger even setting aside its killer location. Dark purple and ivory tones dominated, with jagged spires stabbing at the sky like threats.
"Flower field to castle next? Total mood whiplash~."
We approached the castle. The entrance was a massive iron gate.
But the hefty door was locked from inside—forcing it open or finding a bypass was the play. The thick steel seemed immovable by human strength alone, especially bolted shut. No way to budge it.
Sera rolled up her sleeves and gave it a heroic try, but retreated panting after five minutes.
"Won't open~!"
"Not the way."
I found a dog hole and squeezed through—with Sera's help shoving my pudgy frame. It led to the castle basement.
"Light Control."
I lit up the area. Dust and cobwebs choked the long-unused space, proving years of neglect.
We climbed the stairs from the basement. A grand hall welcomed us, carpeted wall-to-wall in deep red.