Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Speed Battle - 1
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We were traveling by carriage for the first time in ages.
Serein sank deep into her seat and said,
“It's so stuffy.”
“Should I open the window?”
“No. It's not the air that's stuffy. It's the speed.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
Lately, we'd been relying so much on Agril for travel that we'd gotten used to zipping around.
Humans really are fickle creatures.
Jenia spoke up.
“We've been pushing too hard from Atrium to the starting line, and then all the way to Gavril territory. We need to give it a rest. Even with plenty of holy power, you can't just stuff your face and expect endless performance.”
“How would you know something like that...”
“Maide. I'm sorry.”
“You're not listening.”
I shrugged.
“What's there to be sorry about? It's just common sense.”
Truth be told, all our party members had shone brightly in their own ways, but that was only because Agril always got us to our destinations 'right on time.'
If the timing had been off, we wouldn't have had those chances to shine at all.
'At this point, it could be our eighth party member.'
[The eighth party member is me, right?]
'If you want to say that, go introduce yourself properly to the others.'
[Oh no. Big trouble.]
'Don't change the subject.'
[No, really.]
Ping.
A screen popped up.
It had turned red.
Idria, that bastard, watching us again.
'Which means she's definitely still alive.'
[I've already proven I'm alive, haven't I?]
'Hmm. Anyway...'
I gave Adwin a look.
This wasn't the first time, so he smoothly chanted the spell.
Soon, the group began a conversation that was all surface and no substance.
[Idria's alive after all.]
[What a clingy bitch.]
[Not the Demon King of Lies, but the Cockroach King.]
[Ah! That's why she's raising cockroach Kaild. Got it.]
Did Idria have any idea how much we were trash-talking her in our heads?
A moment later.
Swipe.
The screen turned blue again.
“It's over.”
“That was quicker this time?”
“Yeah. They're just chatting for a bit.”
I said to Trail,
'We need to find out why she's watching us. Use the Eye of Omniscience.'
[Idria and who?]
'Huh? Obviously Kaild... No, wait. Kaild just vanished, didn't he.'
I crossed my arms and pondered for a moment.
Nearly ten minutes of thought, but the conclusion was the same.
I definitely shattered that guy's core back in Gavril territory.
Someone unknown must have intervened to revive her, but even so, she'd barely scraped by with her life.
'In that condition, I doubt she safely recovered Kaild... No choice. No other suspects come to mind, so set it to the secret between Idria and Kaild Wake.'
[Got it.]
[Used the Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 4. Can view up to A-rank secrets.]
[Selected condition: 'Secret between Idria and Kaild Wake.']
[That secret is B-rank. Viewing.]
I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
First, Kaild appeared.
Then, a 'perfectly fine' Idria!
'What the hell? Why is that guy looking so chipper?'
Hard to believe, I glanced at the top right.
It was just ten minutes ago.
Meaning, right now, Idria was in perfect health.
[Not just chipper. She feels even stronger than before.]
Definitely.
That's when Idria's voice came through.
“I encountered some bizarre entity and recovered my power. To be precise, more than recovered.”
...
The Demon King, who had spread lies across the world, uttered the words 'some bizarre entity.'
I wanted to laugh it off as absurd, but the Idria on the screen didn't look like she was joking.
'Someone definitely intervened.'
And without a doubt, that 'someone' was the one who erased Neril's Apend View footage.
Who the hell?
Since no answer came immediately, I focused on the screen.
Idria was outlining a new plan.
“Speed battle.”
“Speed battle?”
“Yeah. I'll open portals across the continent and send monsters through. You handle them at just the right moments to build your fame.”
Monsters, huh.
That's the best she could come up with? Such a shallow trick.
[Hey, it actually sounds pretty good.]
'Idria's spatial authority seems invincible at first glance, but it has a clear weakness.'
[What's that?]
'It can't send that many targets beyond space at once.'
I wasn't entirely sure, but at most ten entities.
What fame could you gain from just ten monsters?
I felt a sense of ease wash over me.
[Whoa. It has limits like that.]
'Yeah. More importantly, how do you not know? You've been fighting Idria for eternity—you should know better than me.'
[I killed her before she could even unleash monsters.]
Envy hit me hard. For real.
Then Idria said,
“First, let's see where Maide is right now.”
Swipe.
She tore open space.
Beyond it, our group was visible, chatting in the carriage.
Casual talk about what happened to Kaild, what the Demon King might scheme next—surface-level stuff.
If Idria knew how much we were ripping into her internally...
“That's a smokescreen conversation.”
Huh?
Kaild asked,
“What do you mean?”
“They're probably using a spirit talker in the party for soul communication. Even my spatial authority can't eavesdrop on that.”
“...”
“That's how they took down Consumer, too—by plotting via secret talk. Otherwise, that kid's pathetic defeat doesn't make sense.”
Smart as ever, that Demon King.
Surprising she'd caught on so quick, but no real issue.
As long as she couldn't hear our inner talk, we were untouchable.
“But that's odd, then. It means they noticed I was watching. Otherwise, they wouldn't switch to secret talk at such perfect timing.”
“...”
“Maide? No, more likely Bion's assistance. Didn't know he had that kind of ability.”
It was recent.
Kaild said,
“Either way, it's a problem. We lose the benefit of surveilling them.”
“No. I didn't use my authority to check their schemes in the first place. See... wherever they are now.”
She gestured lightly at the space.
Soon, our carriage shrank to a dot.
She was viewing the overall terrain from high in the clouds.
'You can't do that?'
[Hey, I show the entire continent map.]
'Big talk.'
Soon, Idria said,
“Next, head to Peck territory.”
“Huh?”
“It's the farthest from Maide's group right now.”
Strange.
Idria could only send about ten monsters at most.
Did she really think that alone could make Kaild a hero?
[She's probably sending some seriously strong monsters.]
'Then she'd be better off sending her own fingers.'
[Fair point.]
No clue what she was up to, but it clearly wasn't a huge threat.
But her next words made me doubt my ears.
“For starters, how about sending around 10,000?”
...
What?
Ping.
Idria stood up.
She headed outside the cave.
The screen followed Kaild slinking after her.
They walked quite a ways out, stopping before a deep valley.
“From there...”
Idria pointed to the top of the valley.
Then drew her finger down to where she stood.
“Here.”
The next instant.
Cracks began forming where she pointed.
They widened bit by bit, soon creating a massive rift filling the valley.
I gaped.
'She made a rift that huge!'
[Hard to believe even seeing it.]
'Was she capable of that before regression?'
No way.
That was when Trail was dead.
I was just another party member, not threatening Idria like now.
No one to stop her if she tried.
With her goal of creating a fake world so desperate, she'd have used every trick.
Yet I'd never seen a rift that size pre-regression, meaning she couldn't do it back then.
Sure enough, Idria said,
“This is easier than I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like I said, I've never felt this strong before. Sending 10,000 monsters right now wouldn't even strain me.”
“...”
“Feel honored. You're the first to witness this.”
With that, Idria began 'creating' monsters.
She held her palm skyward.
Then, into that empty palm...
“Hoo.”
She blew air from her mouth.
Black smoke billowed up from her empty hand.
The thick black smoke rode the wind, drifting slowly into the valley's rift.
[What the hell is that?]
'Idria's making monsters.'
[Weird method. Did other Demon Kings do it the same way?]
'Not that I know of.'
For example, the Demon King of Corruption directly monsterized humans with his authority.
The others had their own unique creation methods, as far as I knew.
But right now, Idria's creativity wasn't the issue.
'How did the Demon King get this strong?'
[It's just like you.]
'Huh?'
[After you beheaded Kaild back home, you got freakishly stronger.]
Lightning struck my mind at those words.
That's when I met Impellium in my dream, and grew stronger after.
Impellium knows Bellosian.
Bit of a stretch, but maybe Idria met Bellosian?
If so, then Bellosian erased the Apend View too.
Kaild's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Slice the black smoke?”
“Don't worry. I'm not asking a worm like you to mimic Maide. Though he didn't exactly slice the smoke-formed Hireon either.”
“Please stop comparing me to that guy...”
“In about five days, the smoke will turn into an army of 10,000 monsters. I'll send you to Peck territory, and you handle them with my second finger.”
Second finger, huh.
This was getting a real headache.
“With the second finger, you can take 10,000 monsters?”
“Yes. Ask that child for the details.”
“Phew. Fine. But why five days? Send me now.”
“That's how long it takes my smoke to turn into monsters.”
Kaild nodded as if he got it.
The smoke Idria created had all vanished into the rift.
She closed the valley's space and said,
“You'll have to repeat this dozens more times.”
“...”
“After those dozens, the continent will forget Maide's name. Only Kaild Wake, the savior of territories under monster invasion, will remain.”
Kaild grinned.
“Heh. Sounds good.”
Snap.
The screen cut off.
I hurriedly told Trail,
'Sorry for back-to-back, but one more. The secret between Idria and Bellosian.'
[I have a bad feeling.]
'No. You can do it. I believe in you.'
[Ahem. Thanks.]
Ping.
The screen appeared again.
But.
[Error. 'Secret between Idria and Bellosian' is S-rank.]
[Requires Eye of Omniscience level 5 to view.]
'Told you it felt off.'
[You said I could!]
'But it's not a total bust.'
The Eye reveals if no secret exists.
An S-rank secret existing meant Bellosian saving Idria from near-death was equivalent.
[They must've had quite the secret chat.]
'Or...'
Or the mere fact Bellosian was there was an S-rank secret.
I crossed my arms, pondering more, then noticed the party staring.
“What?”
“Whenever you make that face, you tell us which way to go next.”
“Neril, you always have a knack for saying trivial things in a way that feels nice.”
“Only for you.”
Serein and Risel whispered after hearing us.
“Ugh. They've been like that a lot since last time.”
“Why? It's cute. Reminds me of the old days.”
“But it's so obvious, honey dripping from their eyes.”
“Hmm. Ah. Could it be Serein doesn't have experience like that...”
“Don't say another word.”
Huh?
Did I have a lifelong singleton ally in my party?
[You betrayed yours.]
Whatever.
I shared what the Eye of Omniscience just showed.
Including Bellosian's name, suspected of backing Idria.
Neril furrowed her brows.
“Bellosian—the guy who gave Grade that imperial underground door? He's the one who erased my Apend View?”
“Just a hunch.”
“Your hunches are always spot on.”
I chuckled and changed the subject.
“Jenia.”
“Yes.”
“You said earlier we'd rest Agril, but now I have to say something shameless. We have to win this speed battle.”
“I'll talk to Agril. It's understanding, so it'll get it.”
“Thanks. Tell it I'm really grateful.”
“Okay. It'll be happy.”
I looked around and continued.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
I barely suppressed a sigh.
“We're probably going to meet the second finger this time.”