Chapter 127
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Elrosia's Mother
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Hill joining us as an ally was a tremendous stroke of luck.
Beyond the boundary, countless monsters and demons poured out every single day. But with Hill by our side, the heroes could grow stronger safely right there at the front line.
She made dealing with demons and monsters easier through mental attacks, erected shadow walls for rest when needed, and kept the fights going nonstop.
As expected of the Dream Demon Queen? The demons could sense the abundance lurking beyond this shadow wall, yet none of them even thought to break it down or breach it.
To the demons, Hill might be a traitor... but few could withstand the aura of the former Demon King's right-hand demon. They wouldn't dare touch the shadows.
"Let's do one last one, then head back."
"Yes!"
Sia responded with a spirited voice.
The mental growth as a hero that the goddess had fretted over was progressing steadily. After a full week of battling monsters and demons without rest, she was starting to look the part.
I'd wondered if they could really get that strong by the one-month mark, but this might exceed even my expectations.
Well... after hunkering down in front of the demons' boundary for two weeks and hunting like maniacs, it'd be weirder if they hadn't grown stronger.
Still, I couldn't help thinking—if Hill had been helping our heroes from the very start instead of me, they'd be even stronger now...
Lost in such idle thoughts, I glanced at Hill, and she beamed a bright smile right back at me.
"Alright. We've rested enough. Dismantle the shadow now."
Hill nodded and slowly dissolved the shadow wall. As it crumbled, the heroes and Celestina tensed for battle. I readied myself to join the fray.
-Shruk...
"Graaaah!!!"
"Kill the hero!"
The moment the shadow wall vanished, the encircling demons and monster hordes surged forward.
-Shwaaak!
Maybe because they'd grown used to it over the past week, but the heroes didn't panic at all. They just kept slicing through the onrushing demons and monsters.
This place really was hell.
Corpses of monsters and demons everywhere. The ground soaked in demon blood, cracked and split like drought-stricken earth.
No matter how many times I saw it, it wore on the mind.
If we couldn't take down the Demon King, would the entire continent end up like this?
-Slash...
"Graaaah...!"
It was gruesome.
The heroes carved a path ahead, eyes fixed forward as they cleaved through monsters and demons. I trailed behind, mopping up any stragglers like In-hyeok on cleanup duty.
"New weapons?"
"Yeah."
Min-geon lit up at the mention of new gear. Sia looked a little wistful, though—attached to the weapons she'd been using all this time.
But those blades had reached the end of their lifespan. The emperor had hooked them up with quality stuff, and we'd maintained the edges religiously, but constant use had worn them down.
Don't heroes usually get holy swords or something? What the hell was the goddess doing all that time...?
"But... where are we headed?"
"Told you. Dragon's nest. Dragon lair."
"Dragon lair...?"
Dragons had always loved collecting rare weapons and artifacts. Living for hundreds... or even thousands of years, they'd raided countless ruins.
But they hoarded without using and never shared with outsiders.
Son-in-law asking to kill the Demon King? No way they'd refuse.
This was Elrosia's parents' lair. I'd wanted to meet them after slaying a dragon as a mere human and knocking her up, but it got shelved once the hero party formed.
The dwarves' underground city of Delgarn made the best weapons... but it was too far from here. Perfect chance to pay a visit, score some gear, and kill two birds with one stone.
They wouldn't kill me just for impregnating their daughter, right?
"Plus, we need weapons—and you guys need some real rest."
"Rest?"
The word thrilled the two of them, but Sia's face didn't brighten.
"If we don't take down the monsters and demons, other people will..."
"There aren't that many strong demons, and without freaks like Hill popping up outta nowhere, they can hold the line fine without us."
"But..."
"Priority one is rest and new weapons. You get strong, but then your mental snaps mid-fight with the Demon King, or your blade shatters—what then?"
Sia finally nodded. She had that hero vibe going, but I didn't want her burning out.
After a week of bagging thousands of demons, their stats were pushing 300, and she was still anxious? These days, both of them rushing me together would actually give me a workout.
Strength was good, but watching them power-level this fast left me feeling bittersweet pride.
-Stroke... stroke...
I gave Sia's head a light pat, and her ears flushed bright red as she bashfully looked away.
"......"
Min-geon's expression soured slightly at the sight of In-hyeok stroking Sia's hair.
Celestina and Hill were already his women, and now Sia too...?
Heard the guy had a harem the size of a small army... Sure, he was respectable and all, but seeing him pull that on Sia stirred up dark thoughts.
What's so great about a married guy patting your head?! We're the ones saving the world anyway...
"Min-geon Hero, your face looks kinda sour...?"
"Ah, it's nothing, Celestina."
"Hmm... I see."
Min-geon calmed his startled heart as Celestina eyed him suspiciously.
That innocent look of hers... Bet at night she was pinned under bro, moaning and crying her eyes out...?
Min-geon swallowed hard, staring at Celestina.
Unlike what In-hyeok imagined, Sia and Min-geon were changing bit by bit as they grew stronger as heroes.
Sia held deep respect for In-hyeok's guidance... and a secret affection, a love buried deep in her heart. She dreamed of power purely to vanquish the Demon King and bring peace to the world—endlessly heroic.
But Min-geon? He'd started with awe and respect for the overwhelmingly powerful In-hyeok.
Then he learned about In-hyeok's flings with Celestina and Hill. Watching himself surge ahead in strength, a male inferiority complex took root... along with an arrogance that only he could slay the Demon King. It began coalescing from the depths of his heart.
If he'd harbored Sia's sense of duty as a hero, maybe not... but Min-geon was inching toward self-destruction on his own.
That future was just around the corner...
Did he realize his vision was narrowing, choked by inferiority toward the In-hyeok right in front of him and a possessive desire to keep Sia from him—strangling himself in the process?
But Min-geon had no way of knowing.
"We've only got two weeks left. Hurry up, snag those weapons, and rest up proper."
In two weeks, two of the Demon King's top lieutenants would emerge together.
Hill guaranteed that if Sia and Min-geon kept this pace, they'd crush them easily—even after some downtime.
We arrived at Elrosia's parents' lair.
I'd pictured a massive dragon nest or cave, but no—to flaunt their draconic castle, there stood an enormous dragon statue alongside a colossal fortress.
Makes sense. Elrosia had stayed in a mansion in human form back in Delgarn...
Still, I figured as the daughter's husband, even if the welcome was frosty, we'd get in without issue.
"I-In-hyeok-nim, what the hell is this?!!!"
"Beats me."
-Kuuuooooh!
Not a welcome wagon—an outright attack. Never saw that coming.
"Absolutely... unforgivable, human...!!!"
As we neared the castle, a beastkin servant came out like to greet us. I introduced myself as Elrosia's husband and said we were expected—then this gray dragon came charging out. Called me the scum who'd defiled his cute daughter and went full aggro, blasting away indiscriminately.
And now... this.
-Kwaaaang!
"Kyaaak...!"
"Uwaaak!"
Belching breath nonstop, whipping up storms with wingbeats.
Honestly, if I went all-out to kill, I could... but how do you kill your father-in-law?! Suppressing him without harm? With him thrashing like a madman... possible?
Told the party to hold fire, so now we were just screaming and dodging his assaults.
This fucking...
He paused the breath blasts, hovering in the sky and starting dragon-tongue magic—summoning a meteor or something?
No choice—gonna have to lay hands on Dad...?
Silently apologized to Elrosia in my mind, then to my father-in-law. Drew my dragon sword to interrupt the incantation—
"Grrr... Gr... Grrk...!"
-Kugugugugu!
Another massive dragon burst from somewhere, slamming straight into Elrosia's dad's head mid-spell and cratering him into the ground. The buried father-in-law was out cold, tongue lolling.
Uncannily like Elrosia's dragon form in color. An even darker black dragon. Who the...? Then it polymorphed into human form, and I knew instantly.
Elrosia's mother...!
Horns bigger than Elrosia's... a massive tail... she looked just like her.
Put Elrosia through pregnancy and child-rearing, and she'd end up like that...? Like a fully ripened Elrosia?
"Sorry about my fool of a husband. You must've been shocked."
"Ah, no... we're good."
"I've heard all about you from my daughter. Come on in."
We followed Elrosia's mother into the castle as she beckoned us with a smile, leaving the downed gray dragon behind.
"I'm Erda del Adalats Sheerdan, Elrosia's mother."
"Y-Yeah... Song In-hyeok."
"Heehee... I already know your name from Elrosia. Introduce the others, dear."
I went around: Celestina, Hill, Min-geon, and Sia. Erda chuckled like it was the funniest thing.
"Told you to drop by anytime... but I never expected the whole famous hero party."
"......"
"And one other slightly suspicious thing...?"
"!"
Sharp pupils gleamed between her smiling eyes, pinning Hill right on the spot.
This the great dragon Elrosia mentioned? She saw through Hill's true nature instantly.
Hill took the piercing stare in stride, flashing a casual smile and dipping her head in greeting.
"Suspicious, yes... but traveling together, you seem fine. Still, stay cautious."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
"So... what brings you here so suddenly?"
We entered a room that opened into a vast space. She took a seat at the grand dining table and smiled.
"What business does our daughter's cute human hubby have, dragging even the heroes along?"
Erda spoke while proudly displaying the massive breasts Elrosia had nursed from atop the table.
I glanced, and she cutely pressed them together more with her arms.
Ahem. Clearing my throat, I explained why we'd come. Erda agreed readily, like it was no big deal.
She even offered the castle for rest... but showing up out of the blue demanding weapons felt rude, so she initially refused.
"Politeness is lovely, but refusing a persistent guest isn't."
"...Then, mind if we impose for a few days?"
She'd said with her own mouth that turning down ongoing insistence wasn't polite, so we decided to crash at this dragon castle.
The rest of the party seemed thrilled for some proper downtime after so long...
Flinch—
That glimpse just now... between Mother's smiling eyes, her gaze felt a little... off.
Like a predator eyeing prey... a beast's hunger.
Nah, gotta be my imagination...?
Scratching my prickling nape, we all settled in for some rest anyway.