Chapter 206: Negotiations and The Hammer (3)
Chapter 206: Negotiations and The Hammer (3)
“It’s a shame, but you’ll have to put that hammer away for a bit.”
“Why all of a sudden? Based on what you said earlier, it sounded like we were walking into a fight.”
What kind of lunatic would stick their head into your mouth of their own accord?
Of course, the world—including the Otherworld—is maddeningly vast, so there might be at least one pervert with such self-destructive tastes, but statistically, it was unlikely for such a person to be the leader of a group.
“Mr. Grix seemed to have a plan as well; he suggested we visit the moderate ones first. He said it’s best to delay the news that someone is collecting keys for as long as possible, and that if we can communicate, we might even gain allies.”
“So, does that mean the absolute ruler of this sector is someone you can actually talk to?”
It was a bit of a letdown, but if we could settle things peacefully, that was for the best.
“Yes. Just looking at this room, doesn’t it feel quite peaceful? There are few prying eyes, and various races are living together.”
“Is that so?”
At Al’shel’s words, I turned my head to look back at the path we had walked.
I wanted to see the atmosphere of the street that I hadn’t noticed because I was lost in thought.
The place was certainly bustling and filled with a lively energy.
Though rare, restaurants were visible here and there. There were even shops.
Why hadn’t I noticed?
Even if it was faint, this was a place that held what I was looking for.
“…Yeah. It does look pretty moderate. Is this the kind of atmosphere you were hoping for, Al’shel?”
“Hmm. It is a bit disappointing. Weapons aren't traded, and their commercial capabilities are scraping the bottom of the barrel. But…”
“But?”
When Al’shel trailed off—a rare occurrence—I prompted him.
Al’shel covered his mouth with his hand and fell into thought for a moment.
However, it didn't last long.
“Yes, it’s a decent sight in its own way. It’s the first time since boarding the Demon Train that I’ve seen a positive cycle in motion. It just needs to develop about several dozen times more than this.”
Perhaps Al’shel wasn't used to giving compliments, as he spoke while his Black and White gradient skin shifted.
The hand over his mouth was likely there to hide the smile forming on his lips.
Well, look at that. Even you have a sliver of a peace-loving side, Al’shel.
“No, it’s not peace. I worship the intensity of chaos and the battlefield.”
“Huh? Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yes, it seems you had a slip of the tongue.”
Hmm. I guess so. It’s not like he has telepathy.
I put away The Hammer I had been holding and resumed my walk toward the tower.
“By the way, I should have tried buying some food.”
I wondered what kind of food culture they had developed.
Since the races were different, their sense of taste would be different too.
“You can buy some on the way back.”
“Right. To do that, I’ll need to finish this conversation on a good note so the food actually tastes good.”
“Let’s do that.”
* * *
As if to show that this room was functioning quite normally, this tower even had a guide.
On top of that, they had the sense to guide us as guests the moment I mentioned Grix’s name.
Of course, the person in charge didn't know the name Grix, so it took quite a while to verify.
Regardless, the room we eventually arrived at was a more normal place than I expected.
It was cluttered to no end in my eyes, perhaps because the tastes of the various races living in this room were all mixed together.
There were stiff sofas and a dining table with some sort of patterns engraved on it.
Additionally, a yellowish tea was served in wooden cups.
It was a bit strange to drink it cold—perhaps cold tea was the standard in this civilization—but the bitter, salty taste wasn't bad. I sipped it quietly and spoke while staring blankly into space.
“…The taste of civilization.”
“Indeed. It is more functional than I expected. However, it is still severely lacking.”
Well, that was true.
The sofa was hard, and the floor was only covered with a monochrome carpet.
I said the room was cluttered, but in reality, it was just a few ornaments scattered haphazardly.
If I had to describe it, it was like a living room in a common house.
At the very least, it wasn't a place the highest-ranking person would use to receive guests.
To put it bluntly, Al’shel’s office where we currently resided was more luxurious than this.
Curiosity piqued, I set down my teacup and tossed a question to Al’shel.
“I have one thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Among the places that purple-eyed guy told us about, how high does this room rank in terms of having its own culture?”
The purple-eyed guy—the Nuu Race—was said to be a small-scale race, so it was understandable that their own society and culture were weak.
So, what level was this room at?
“It’s in the upper tier. Even then, this is a multi-racial room, so civilian-level activities are quite active.”
Right. So this was the upper tier.
In that case…
“‘Ruined.’ That eyeball described it perfectly.”
“Indeed. Even the Nuu Race supposedly had the magical technology to perform Spatial Severance in their prime, but now, you won't find anyone capable of that besides Grix himself, no matter how hard you look.”
Hmm? Is Spatial Severance that impressive?
“I can do Spatial Destruction, and Macbeth or that Lord of Infinite Castles geezer can do it too.”
“Let’s exclude the exceptional few. What I’m talking about here is whether ordinary people can gather as a group and perform it. To use humanity as an example, it’s like launching a Nuclear Weapon. Of course, humanity is unusually aggres—”
Just as Al’shel was about to launch into a long explanation.
BANG!
“Sorry I’m late!”
A sound loud enough to make one think the door had been destroyed echoed through the room, and a figure walked in.
She wasn't very tall. About 165cm? Naturally, she was much taller than me, but she was shorter than Al’shel.
The being with a green body strode across the room like a storm and sat down across from us.
“Right. You came with a recommendation from Grix? It feels like it’s been ages since I heard that name. I’m surprised he’s still alive. Now, let’s hear what this is about.”
Then, before we could even get a word in, she poured out her words like a waterfall and reached her hand out toward us as if telling us to speak quickly.
Clearly, either Al’shel or I should have said something, but my mind was occupied by something else.
…Can that even be called a living creature?
I said ‘green body,’ but that was quite far from the truth.
I even doubted if that should be called a body in the first place.
To be precise:
A Green Sun floated where the head should be, and for the torso, numerous rotating comets left pale green trails, forming a shape resembling a human body.
Where exactly is the voice coming from?
No, what even is that? Can you even call that a race?
Numerous questions popped up, but I didn't voice them and waited for Al’shel to speak.
However, Al’shel didn't open his mouth either. Curious, I turned my head.
And I saw something quite interesting.
“….”
Al’shel, glowing in rainbow colors once again, stood there with his mouth and eyes wide open.
No, what’s the problem this time?
Thinking that, I looked forward again.
“Oh. It’s Al’shel? How long has it been?”
The being—no, is it a ‘she’?
Her voice sounded feminine.
Does that race even have genders?
Anyway, she grabbed the teacup placed before us and poured the liquid into the Green Sun.
She seemed to know Al’shel, as she spoke—or rather, let out a voice—while demonstrating that bizarre method of beverage consumption.
Al’shel didn't respond, but the woman sat quietly after finishing the tea, as if waiting for Al’shel’s answer.
After about a minute had passed.
“How in the world…”
Al’shel finally spoke.
“How in the world?”
“How in the world are you still alive?!”
Al’shel asked in a thunderous voice.
“What? Do you two actually know each other?”
“No, I know her all right. That person is a First Generation. In other words, someone who has existed since the very beginning of the Demon Train.”
“No, not since the very beginning. I think I was the third trial or something.”
“That’s basically the beginning. More importantly, how are you alive?”
“What do you mean how? I don’t have a lifespan.”
“No, you know that’s not what I’m asking. When I last saw you, I heard you had challenged the powerhouses of the Demon Train and died after being overwhelmed by numbers?”
“Ah, that? Those guys made a mistake. They thought I was dead just because the light in my head went out. They should have made sure to blow my head apart.”
As she said that, she moved her comet arms and tapped her head. Thump. Thump.
It was a very strange sight, but that was the only way to describe it.
…Whatever. This is the Otherworld; to hell with the laws of physics.
More importantly, I have something I’m curious about.
“Hey. This is going to be a long story. Go be unconscious for a bit.”
“Pardon? What all of a sud— Guegh.”
I squeezed Al’shel’s neck to knock him out and tossed him into a corner of the room.
“Hmm. You treat Al’shel quite violently. Are you two close?”
“We’re not close; it’s a business relationship. More importantly, my name is Lee Ha-ram. Might I ask yours?”
“ZPC K0005.”
“Pardon?”
What was that?
Did the translation go wrong?
“Just call me Zess.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s do that. Ms. Zess. As I mentioned earlier, we came here on Grix’s recommendation.”
“Yeah, I heard that. So, why are you here?”
As if already bored, she blinked her Green Sun and moved her body sluggishly.
Hmm. She’s someone whose emotions shift very quickly.
“Do you know about the kin of that person tucked away in the corner?”
“Of course. I even had a friend among them.”
“I wish to obtain The Key to The Tomb where they died.”
the moment I spoke, the Green Sun flared up.
“For what reason?”
And a fire ignited within the voice itself.
That was the only way to describe it. Because my ears were burning.
The thought ‘What is this?’ naturally occurred to me, but I swallowed those words, endured the pain, and continued speaking.
“I am not the one who came up with this plan. But Al’shel told me that the Demon Train of the past wasn't like this.”
Even as I spoke, the flames encroaching on my body gradually grew stronger.
“Keep going.”
Heat applied to my ears once again.
Enduring it, I followed her command.
“The Demon Train was an Ark for everyone’s growth. However, I heard that at some point, it stopped developing and began to fall into ruin.”
“That’s not wrong.”
As if reflecting her impatient personality, she cut in before I could finish.
Thinking she had something to say, I stopped talking as well.
But she said nothing and simply tilted her head.
“What are you doing? Keep going.”
In the end, what came out of her mouth was an urge to continue.
I think I have a handle on her personality now.
Impatient and passionate.
Did she say she used to pick fights? She’s probably a battle maniac too…
Literally an incarnation of fire. Something like that.
Organizing my impression of her in my head, I continued.
“So, Al’shel and I want to try and change this situation. To return to the era of the Demon Train of the past.”
“Even though it’s peaceful now?”
“To borrow Mr. Grix’s words, he said that a slow decline is ultimately the same as dying. I agree with him.”
After finishing my piece, I picked up the teacup in front of me to wait for her reaction.
Slurp.
The sound of water going down my throat echoed.
Clack.
As I slowly set down the empty cup.
“It’s not a bad idea. I also think this system will collapse someday. Even if it looks peaceful now.”
It looks like this will end smoothly.
Just as I thought that and let a smile touch my face.
“But you see. I have one thing I’m curious about.”
Whoosh.
It wasn't as hot as before, but a lukewarm heat enveloped my body.
“What would that be? The method to change the Demon Train? If it’s that, you should ask Al’shel over there rather than me.”
“No. It’s not that. I have no interest in things like that.”
She stood up.
And I felt her emotion.
A fierce fire.
An emotion focused solely on one thing.
“I’m wondering if ‘you’ are strong enough to even bring up such a topic.”
Pop!
Her comets exploded.
And from her right hand, a Green Flame Sword sprouted.
“Please. Entertain me.”