Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Dreamlike Disaster (1)
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"The sky's been so overcast lately..."
The sky over Nabez, the capital of the Aintban Kingdom, was filled with thick storm clouds.
Snow fell frequently even before, but lately, it had become several times more common.
"Did you hear? They say the latest one to fall asleep was Mr. Glenn."
"Man, I wonder how many it's been just this week."
"Yeah, really. No idea what's happening to the world anymore."
Such talk could be heard all over the streets of Nabez.
The frequency of narcolepsy incidents, which had occurred sporadically before, had surged dramatically over the past month, and the affected area had expanded far beyond before.
It was only natural for Nabez's citizens to feel anxious, but at least it had only been people falling asleep—no major chaos had ensued yet.
Until today.
"Oh? It's snowing."
Snow began to fall from the gloomy sky.
It was the same sight as always, but what followed was entirely different.
Pure white snowflakes started blanketing the entire city of Nabez, and people struck by them began collapsing one by one onto the ground.
This was on a whole other level from the narcolepsy cases so far.
"W-What's going on?!"
"Don't let the snow hit you! Everyone, take cover!"
As those hit by the snow collapsed, people on the streets fled to any spot they could find to shield themselves from it.
Fortunately, as long as the snowflakes didn't touch them, they didn't fall asleep, so the crowd managed to catch their breath.
But the real problem started then.
"...Huh? They're getting up right away."
One man pointed at the fallen people.
Those who had collapsed after the snow touched them were rising one by one.
However, their movements were off.
With eyes closed and serene faces, they jerked along like broken dolls.
As if sleepwalking.
"Eek!"
Those who witnessed the scene screamed and hid.
At the sound of the screams, the sleepwalkers turned and shuffled toward the noise.
"N-No! Let go of me!"
Those hiding from the snow were dragged out by the sleepwalkers.
And soon enough, they too became dolls hunting for the hidden.
"Damn it! We have to take them down before they get close!"
"N-No! That's just my mom—she's only acting weird for a bit!"
The sleepwalkers were all someone's family or friends. Striking back at them wasn't easy.
As this vicious cycle repeated for a while, Nabez descended into chaos in mere hours.
"This is just the beginning."
Sior, the winter spirit with blue hair and skin.
Blue light spread from his fingertips and reached the sky.
The snowfall from the heavens grew heavier.
"I'll put them all to sleep."
Not just this small kingdom—he would plunge the entire human world into silence.
He would destroy this world that had made him writhe in loneliness.
* * *
"As expected, this snow is falling artificially. And its power has grown stronger."
Margal, the demon with crimson hair, muttered while staring at the falling snow.
A red aura flickered around him, and the snowflakes evaporated the instant they touched it.
"This might be related to the incident in the Asktalin Empire."
"Ah, that? Damn it, we should've gone to the Asktalin Empire first!"
"Too late now that it has an owner."
Margal clicked his tongue at his adjutant's words.
The Seven Heavenly Swords had to be claimed before they gained an owner.
Once an owner appeared, even killing them wouldn't let you take the sword.
A Heavenly Sword could have only one owner.
No matter what.
"Zenon."
"Yes."
"Do you think the Heavenly Sword here is just for me?"
Margal's adjutant, the upper demon Zenon, nodded in agreement with his judgment.
"I think the same."
"This bizarre phenomenon... Didn't the Demon King call it a 'disaster'?"
"The Asktalin Emperor said the same."
An entity that would destroy the world. Their Demon King had hinted at it too.
Most demons had been skeptical, but after the events in the empire and these phenomena here, they couldn't deny it.
"It's not that strong yet. If we find it, we can deal with it quickly."
"But do we really need to kill the disaster? The sword anyway..."
"There wasn't one in the palace either."
After arriving in Aintban, the two demons had approached the Aintban king with the same offer as they had in the Kainzel Kingdom.
The king had shaken his head with a somber face.
"I'm sorry, but the Seven Heavenly Swords have already left our hands."
He said the guardian of the ruins and the sword itself had vanished.
Margal suspected it was connected to this 'disaster.'
"Let's split up and search. Can you handle it?"
"Yes, leave it to me."
Margal nodded at Zenon's resolute response.
"Good. Let's go."
With that, the two demons vanished in different directions.
To find the disaster—or the Heavenly Sword.
* * *
"I-Is it really okay with just us?"
Lutia spoke anxiously at Nabez's entrance.
It was understandable why she was worried.
Disasters were usually confronted with the help of the Black Skull Mercenary Corps and countless other mercenaries.
"That was when the whole kingdom—not just the capital—became its territory."
"So we can handle it with just us now?"
"Of course."
I gauged the area controlled by Sior.
No need for mana detection or Insight Eye.
'The places where it's snowing—that's its territory.'
Just a few meters ahead, snow fell, but where we stood was perfectly clear.
The moment we entered Nabez, it would notice us right away, but for now, it hadn't detected us yet.
"My lord, the demons are on the move."
"Perfect."
I grinned at Jade's report.
The Thieves' Guild had been secretly tailing them since they appeared at the Aintban royal castle.
"And they haven't spotted you?"
"Probably because they're too strong."
Jade smiled slyly.
"No human bothers with every little bug unless it buzzes right in their face. They won't even notice us. Even if they do, they probably won't bother swatting pests."
This guy was no ordinary fellow.
'How can I lure him to our kingdom or territory?'
Information was one of the most vital things in this world.
No wonder I'd been shocked getting Synopsis. Knowing what others didn't was immense power in itself.
'I'll make him an offer later.'
If I name-dropped Riya, maybe it'd work?
"Then Lutia and I will move together... Maria."
"Yes."
Maria responded to my call with a resolute face.
"Can you do it?"
"Yes, I can. I'm a merchant, after all."
I had no idea why being a merchant came up now, but Maria clearly knew her limits.
"R-Really, are you sure, Maria?"
Maria shot Lutia a glare as she asked worriedly.
"Don't pretend to care now."
"U-Ugh."
Lutia made a slightly teary face at Maria's sharp retort.
Still, this was much improved from before. She hadn't even properly responded at first.
'She must've softened up after realizing Lutia was telling the truth.'
I glanced between them, then told Jade.
"Then Maria goes with you, Jade."
"Understood."
After roughly assigning groups, I took a deep breath and met Lutia's eyes.
"Lutia, I'll be chasing the disaster, so... you know what to do, right?"
"...I never had a role like this."
Leaving the grumbling Lutia behind, I stepped into Nabez.
Now it was time to take down the Dreamlike Disaster.
* * *
A blue light shining heterogeneously amid the thick storm clouds.
Zenon was certain that light was the so-called disaster.
'What trick is this? Doesn't seem like teleportation magic...'
But no matter how he pursued it, catching the blue light was impossible. Its movements defied all common sense, without any prelude.
Judging mindless pursuit a waste of time, Zenon scanned his surroundings.
"Hmph."
Humans drifting about, lost in sleep.
The more of them there were, the stronger the power infused in the falling snow became.
Of course, it still wasn't a threat to him yet, so he'd ignored it... but he'd changed his mind.
'I wanted to handle this quietly if possible.'
The pointless time sink was starting to grate on him.
If he swept away these minions, the disaster would have no choice but to reveal itself.
Bzzz!
The moment Zenon raised his hand to wipe out the humans.
"Wait!"
A frail female voice rang out, and something flew in from the sky.
Zenon instantly recognized it as a demon—a succubus.
The succubus, with pink hair, black wings, and a long tail, approached him with a terrified face.
"Who are you?"
"I-I'm Lutia. One of the demons searching for the Seven Heavenly Swords on the Demon King's orders."
At the mention of the Heavenly Swords, Zenon narrowed his eyes and stared at Lutia.
'Power close to upper rank. Could well be one of the searchers.'
Succubi weren't particularly strong demons.
For one to rival an upper demon meant this succubus had exceptional talent.
"So, what do you want?"
"W-Well, the owner of Genova—one of the Heavenly Swords found in the empire—is currently in this country."
"What? Is that true?"
"Yes."
Genova's owner.
It stung to hear, but there was nothing to be done.
Couldn't kill and steal it.
"Do you know why he's here?"
"Seems like he's chasing a Heavenly Sword. Probably... thinks the disaster has it. He's heading there now."
"Is that true?"
"Yes, definitely."
She didn't seem to be lying.
'A trap...? Unlikely.'
Even if this succubus was colluding with Genova's owner, she couldn't handle him. He was beyond a regular upper demon—nearing top-tier.
She must know that too.
'If it's a trap, I can just kill them both.'
Decision made, Zenon spoke calmly.
"Fine. Where? Lead the way."
"This way!"
Lutia licked her dry lips at Zenon's unquestioning acceptance.
'...It actually worked?'
She hadn't dared believe it, but as Zenon followed, she inwardly sighed in relief.
Now, just lead this demon to Clay, and it was done.
'It'll be fine, right?'
Anyone her daughter trusted that much wasn't ordinary.
He was Genova's owner, after all.
And unlike Fabian, she sensed he was extraordinary in his own way.
'Leave Maria to that man.'
Lutia had a vague sense of how this would end.
She would probably die.
Her only worry was Maria's future, but that man would surely cherish her daughter.
So until then, she would do her utmost to help him.