Chapter 72
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Sword God's Clone
The location where Enoch and Rionne had previously entered the dungeon. A spatial rift hung in midair there, resembling a shattered glass pane.
Having arrived in Tetica via the dungeon alongside several elf rangers, the group investigated the traces left by the lingering monsters.
"Fortunately, it doesn't seem like they headed straight for the city."
At the ranger's words, Rionne asked,
"What about the types of monsters? This dungeon overlaps with the demon realm. If there were no reports, they probably weren't demon realm monsters."
"Yes. They were the usual monsters you see in the forest."
The ranger brushed away the footprints on the ground with his hand and stood up.
"But there were an unusually high number compared to normal, and plenty of abnormal specimens too."
"Abnormal specimens?"
"They were abnormally strong. And they seemed to have distinct intelligence."
Enoch, who had been scanning the surroundings, activated his Heavenly Eye. If the monsters had crossed over to Tetica through the dungeon, they would have been tainted by the dungeon's demonic energy.
Kiiing—!
His Heavenly Eye traced the demonic energy's remnants in the form of thin lines.
"Rionne. Over there."
Rionne nodded. But her expression looked quite grave. Even if the monsters were strong, it shouldn't worry her this much.
"Let's go for now. I hope it's just my imagination..."
"What's wrong?"
"Uh... it'd take too long to explain."
As Rionne hesitated, Tsukiyo suddenly chimed in.
"Just tell them. What if something happens out of nowhere because you held back?"
"...You're right."
Rionne briefly recounted the story of Kyle Estor they had met in the dungeon. About the current situation, the fragments of emotion, and so on.
"S-so you're saying... the Sword God's clone is nearby, nya...?"
"Wait a second."
Rionne closed her eyes and extended the branches of the great tree in her mindscape. She could now pinpoint the location more clearly than before.
"Over there."
Coincidentally—or perhaps not—it matched the direction the monsters had gone.
Tsukiyo's eyes darted around frantically, her face turning pale.
"W-we're all screwed, nyan! I had a bad feeling, like we're one step from total disaster... Hieeek!?"
Rionne grabbed the scruff of the rowdy Tsukiyo's neck and lifted her up, letting out a sigh.
"We definitely need to stay cautious. You all heard, right? There might be Dad's clone around, so no solo actions under any circumstances. And try not to stray too far."
"Yes!"
The rangers replied crisply and bowed their heads.
"Alright, then. Let's move."
*
While the rangers cautiously scouted the area, Rionne took Enoch toward the city.
"I'm going to explain the situation first and ask for cooperation if possible. No one likes outsiders running wild in their territory, right?"
"Yeah."
"We could ignore them, but hey, no harm in being nice. It's not like it'll take much effort."
Skipping the hassle of the main gate, they vaulted over the walls and headed straight for the lord's castle.
"Halt. What business does an elf have at the lord's castle?"
A guard blocked their path. Arrogantly. Just as Enoch was about to hurl the guard aside, Tsukiyo stepped forward.
"Out of the way."
The guard nodded blankly as Tsukiyo's small hand waved dismissively.
Enoch stared at the now-dazed guard.
"Illusion?"
"Yep. That illusion you saw through in an instant, butler."
Tsukiyo pouted her lips.
"Oh dear, I need to step up my game."
"Sword Queen, how did you even get over that wall? Liking little kids is a mental illness."
"Wh-what!?"
Rionne's mouth fell open. Enoch jumped in to defend the critically hit Rionne.
"Choco."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Know what's better than kids?"
"...Let's hear it."
"Strong, tough kids."
Tsukiyo tilted her head, her face scrunching up oddly.
"Kinda makes sense?"
Thanks to Tsukiyo's illusion, the path to what seemed to be the lord's presence was smooth sailing. Whether this was okay or not was debatable, but the lord couldn't do much about it anyway.
From the lord's perspective, it might even be a good thing. They were here to help, after all.
"...Who are you lot? Humans, elves, beastkin—a strange mix."
The port city's lord was a portly middle-aged man. He glanced over Enoch's group, then at his dumbstruck subordinates behind them, and clicked his tongue.
"Just to be polite, are you assassins?"
[Would they come just for you? What a confident guy.]
Undine giggled, and the lord's expression shifted oddly.
"Then what?"
Rionne poked Enoch's side. She figured this was a chance to teach him some social skills.
Ahem. Clearing his throat, Enoch stepped forward.
"Enoch Estor. We're gonna stir up your territory a bit, so don't take it too personally..."
"...Enoch?"
"Not like this?"
Enoch scratched his head. Rionne had nothing to say either and just scratched hers.
Graciously, the lord opened the conversation.
"Estor? Then this lady must be..."
His gaze turned to Rionne, and Enoch nodded.
"Ooh...! To meet the Sword Queen herself! What an honor!"
"You know Rionne?"
"My grandma used to read me fairy tales about her when I was a kid. Hard to believe how long ago that was..."
It was clearly a compliment. But it felt like a subtle jab at her age, leaving Rionne with a strange look.
"Human!"
Just then, the dissatisfied Tsukiyo stepped forward.
"If you recognized the Sword Queen, you must know me too, right?"
Thrusting out her flat chest proudly, Tsukiyo pressured the lord with sharp eyes.
The lord's gaze quickly scanned Tsukiyo. Ears, tail, fur color—black cat tribe. Someone of Sword Queen caliber with that build...
"Could you be Tsukiyo...?"
"Ooh! That's right! See that, butler? I'm this famous a cat—er, person!"
Was she fishing for praise? Enoch ruffled her hair like a cat, and she freaked out, smacking his arm repeatedly.
"Kyaa! Don't do that, nyan!"
Rionne gave the retreating Tsukiyo an odd look before addressing the lord.
"Anyway, get to the point."
"Ah, yes."
"Monsters crossed over from the Elf Alliance."
"What? From the Elf Alliance?"
The lord looked puzzled.
"The dungeon connected the spaces. I'll explain that later. Anyway, we're deploying rangers to hunt down the monsters that came through. We'd appreciate your cooperation."
"Of course."
"Thanks."
The lord practically melted at Rionne's bright smile. Should I kill him? Enoch wondered briefly but decided to let it slide this once.
"The monsters might head for the city, so first..."
Leaving the eagerly nodding lord behind as Rionne spoke, Enoch gazed out the window.
The sea beyond the walls. Where did all that water come from?
The first ocean he'd seen somehow carried an unsettling hue.
*
"Is this... heaven, nyan?"
Tsukiyo drooled as they passed the fish market. Enoch grabbed one of her twintails and yanked.
"Hurry up."
"Gyaaak! Don't pull my hair!"
The Sword God's clone said to be here. If it turned hostile, could they survive?
Recalling the Sword God from the dungeon, Enoch furrowed his brow. Better not use the Heavenly Eye for a while.
"Worried?"
Rionne gently took his hand. Enoch shook his head as he looked down at her walking beside him.
"Nah? You've got Rionne."
"Hmm... I guess so?"
Rionne smiled faintly and tousled his hair.
"Still, stay careful. Even if it's a clone, it's Dad's clone—won't go down easy."
"Or it might not show up."
"True. Honestly, the odds of it not appearing are way higher, right?"
Nothing major had happened so far. What would change just because a few monsters crossed over?
"What monsters were in the forest again?"
Lizardmen, goblins, orcs, occasional ogres, spider monkeys now and then, noisy parrots too...
"Hmm."
Probably nothing. It'll be fine.
*
—Kueeeek! Kweeeeeek────!!!
The malicious screech seemed intent on shredding eardrums, making Enoch grimace deeply.
"...What the hell is that, Rionne?"
"Noisy parrot. Exactly what it sounds like—a loud parrot. Just a bit noisier than usual."
Fed up, Tsukiyo dashed off over the hill.
Soon, she came dashing back and flung a vibrantly feathered bird to the ground.
"They're noisy as hell!"
The noisy parrot, mangled like a butterfly toyed with by a cat, resembled a parrot as its name suggested.
Except it was the size of a human's upper body, with an abnormally developed beak.
"Noisy parrots attack with unique sound waves. Once the target weakens, they swoop in and finish with that beak."
Enoch scratched his chin at Rionne's explanation.
"It won't pop out the clone screaming like that, right? You said it's like in a dormant state."
"Th-that... probably not? Noisy parrots are loud, but the area around here isn't usually that quiet."
Bwooooo──────!!
Just then, a ship's horn blared from afar.
"Fair point. Lots of people and ships."
Enoch nodded and relaxed. But Rionne seemed a tad uneasy.
"...Still, wanna deal with them quick?"
"Good idea, nyan!"
Tsukiyo, apparently anxious herself, nodded eagerly and hopped onto Enoch's shoulder.
"Leave the rangers be. We'll split into two."
"Then you go with Enoch, and I'll handle it alone..."
"Hey! The strongest Sword Queen should go solo."
Tsk. Rionne clicked her tongue.
"Butler, let's hunt these parrots and train while we're at it."