Chapter 690: Rescuing the Beauty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 690: Rescuing the Beauty
The heart of the Abyss.
Orange Zone, the Black Forest.
A bizarre, eternal mist shrouded this withered woodland.
Due to the sunless nature of the Abyss, the vegetation here lacked lush foliage. Instead, black branches grew haphazardly, interlacing and entangling like a giant black web suspended above the earth.
This was a land where even the Demon Race rarely set foot.
Dense, tangled root systems covered almost every inch of soil. These greedy plants were never satisfied with the meager nutrients they drew from the earth; vines secreting highly toxic sap constantly coveted any flesh and blood that dared pass through.
Any creature that accidentally wandered into this place would have even its bones turned into nourishment for the plants.
Consequently, it had become a forbidden zone for magical beasts.
However, on the maps of adventurers, this land—which should have been classified as a top-tier danger zone—was specifically marked as one of the few safe havens in the Abyss.
After all, once the famous alchemist Mr. Foreman produced an antidote for those toxic plants, simple man-eating vines could no longer pose a threat to experienced adventurers.
Whether it was venturing deep into the woods to gather rare materials found only in the Abyss or evading pursuit by the Demon Race or demons, this was an excellent refuge. Every adventurer entering the Abyss was told that if they encountered danger, their best bet was to hide in the Black Forest.
It was a natural sanctuary, a safe house for explorers...
Or so it should have been.
But...
Boom!
A massive explosion thundered through the trees. Vast flocks of Dark Crows swept across the sky, their crimson eyes reflecting the sight of countless withered trees being swallowed by a sea of fire, as well as the futile struggles and screams below.
Hideous rifts tore through the mist. Angry vines lashed out wildly, but before they could even mount a counterattack, they were reduced to ash by even more terrifying strikes.
Driven by the encroaching flames and the relentless advance of powerful demons, one disheveled figure after another was forced out of the woods, fleeing toward the unknown...
...
"Damn it!"
Temier slammed a fist into the ground in fury, letting blood stain his palm. "Those demon bastards... how did they break into the Black Forest so easily?"
Everything had happened so suddenly.
A large force of demons had attacked the forest, including several powerful High-Class Demons. Scattered adventurers stood no chance against them.
The demons were capturing female adventurers en masse and consigning everything else to the flames, turning the Abyssal earth into a lifeless, scorched wasteland.
"The reason is simple. Humans aren't the only ones who can manufacture an antidote for the black vines. Don't forget that the ingredients for that antidote can mostly be found within the Abyss. It wouldn't be hard for the demons to replicate it."
A mature-looking woman beside Temier shook her head. She tore a strip from her skirt and carefully began bandaging Temier’s arm.
Temier hadn't been injured by his punch just now, but during his clash with a demon. The wound had been corroded by the demon's fighting spirit, turning a startling reddish-black.
Fortunately, the woman’s healing magic was exceptional. She slowly dispersed the fighting spirit, restoring most of Temier's strength.
"Sister Roya, your stamina..."
"I'm fine. Mana management is a required course at the Academy, remember?"
"But..."
"Don't move!"
"Oh."
Temier looked at the gentle woman working so intently right in front of him, a deep sense of longing flashing in his eyes.
The girl before him was his neighbor, his childhood sweetheart, and the adventurer companion he could trust with his life.
Most importantly, she was the secret object of his affection.
Though he hadn't found the courage to confess yet, after so many years of being together day and night, Temier felt the distance between them was practically zero. All it needed was a sudden burst of courage.
"It looks like we'll have to run for our lives this time," Roya sighed. "Those demons don't look like they're going to let us off easily."
Along the way, they had seen several adventurers either killed or captured alive, including people they knew.
"Don't worry, Sister Roya. I'll protect you this time. Trust me, I won't let those demon bastards lay a finger on you!" Seeing Roya’s worried expression, Temier immediately beat his chest in assurance.
That earlier longing transformed into the iron-clad resolve of a man.
"Mm, I believe you."
Roya brushed a strand of hair back and gave a sweet smile at Temier’s promise. "Since we were little, hasn't Temier always said he would protect me?"
"This time it's not just talk. I will definitely—"
"Yes, yes, I know. You've become very strong, Temier. But now isn't the time for this."
Roya pursed her lips, soothing Temier like one would a child, but her expression quickly turned solemn. "The most important thing is that the demons have started such a massive hunt for adventurers, specifically capturing women. Something must have happened outside that we don't know about."
"Is it because the demons are attacking the Empire's Dolonslei Fortress?" Temier scratched his head.
"No. Although adventurers often cause trouble in the Abyss, it's a trivial matter to the Demon Race as a whole. After all, very few adventurers have the courage to operate here..."
Roya looked thoughtful. "That wouldn't be enough to make the demons go to such lengths, especially when they need to concentrate their strength on attacking the Empire."
"That... is indeed very suspicious."
Temier tried to follow Roya’s train of thought... but he wasn't good at using his head. He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything.
"Let's not worry about that for now. Like I said, we need to get out of here. Whatever is happening in the Abyss, it's best if we withdraw and report this to the Adventurer's Association."
Roya grabbed Temier’s uninjured arm and cast a Levitation Spell, soaring toward the edge of the Black Forest.
"Let's go."
The entire Black Forest had been torn open by the demons' indiscriminate attacks, allowing Roya to fly over the burning trees without obstruction.
This was the shortest path out of the forest, but also the most dangerous.
Temier, however, wasn't thinking about that. He was focused on the feel of Roya’s soft hand, thinking that she must surely love him back...
"Get down!"
In that instant, Roya’s voice cracked. Her scream, no longer gentle, snapped Temier out of his daze.
He was shoved aside by Roya. Simultaneously, sensing a lethal threat, Temier’s body moved on instinct.
His broad longsword cleared its scabbard as Temier roared, slashing at a streak of eerie light shooting toward them.
Bang!
The calm light transformed into a torrent of destruction in an instant. The resulting astral winds could easily shred steel. Temier hacked at the flood, struggling to part it. But against that staggering power, he was sent flying like a ragdoll, completely out of control.
He slammed into the ground.
The scorched earth cracked like a spiderweb. Dust rose and was immediately blown away. In the center of a massive crater, Temier coughed up blood, leaning heavily on his sword to stand.
"Oh? You didn't die?"
A High-Class Demon, possessing no monstrous features other than horns and slit pupils, floated in mid-air. With a casual wave of his hand, Roya—who had also been injured in the blast—was pulled toward him through the air. Every movement he made was elegant, looking less like a ferocious demon and more like a true human noble.
In his crimson eyes, he saw the image of an insect still struggling in its death throes, causing his brow to rise in slight surprise.
"A mere human who just entered the Fourth-Tier managed to take a hit from me, Demon General Basaroka. You have reason to be proud."
"Damn it..."
In reality, Temier was in much worse shape than he appeared.
He forced his trembling hands to stay still while fighting the urge to cry out in terror.
A Demon General.
It was actually a Demon General.
In the entire Demon Race, the Demon Generals were the elite few, second only to the exalted Grand Dukes in power and status. Forget meeting one; just hearing a Demon General's name would make ordinary adventurers take a detour without hesitation.
He never expected to run into one directly.
No, they had been hunted down.
Damn it, just how many powerhouses had the demons deployed to deal with adventurers?
"So... so what if you're a Demon General?"
Temier shouted as loud as he could to mask his fear. "Do... do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"Oh?"
Basaroka was genuinely surprised. "You still have the courage to fight me? You should be well aware of the gap between us by now."
"So... so what?" Temier gritted his teeth.
So what if he was a Demon General?
So what if he was powerful?
He knew the disparity in their strength. Their realms were an entire stage apart—an absolute, unbridgeable chasm. Just blocking a casual strike had exhausted all his strength.
But...
"I said I would protect Sister Roya..."
Temier snapped his head up. "I said, I would—"
"Run."
"Eh?"
Temier’s roar cut off abruptly as a familiar, gentle voice reached his ears.
"Run, Temier."
"Wha... what?"
Temier looked at Roya.
The girl was currently imprisoned by a deep, eerie light, unable to move. Yet, her eyes held a resolute determination.
"Run, quickly," Roya sent via voice transmission.
"No, I can't..." Temier shook his head. "I promised..."
"I'll be fine," Roya said. "Have you forgotten? The demons are only capturing female adventurers. I'll be safe for now. But you... they will kill you instantly."
"..."
Temier’s mouth hung open.
At Roya’s words, the fear he had been trying so hard to suppress came rushing back like a tidal wave.
Perhaps he had never conquered his fear. He had only... pretended it wasn't there.
"Right... that's right."
Temier’s cheek twitched.
"Sister Roya will be fine for now... she's just being captured..."
"And I'm no match for a Demon General. Even if I charge in now, I can't save her..."
"Exactly. The right thing to do isn't to recklessly attack a Demon General. I should escape first and then bring reinforcements..."
In an instant, a sense of relief unlike anything he had ever felt washed over Temier.
This relief immediately drowned out his guilt, making him forget that this was the Abyss—a place where it was impossible to find reinforcements.
But it was fine. He wasn't breaking his promise; he was simply choosing a more "correct" course of action.
"Sister Roya, wait for me! I'll... I'll definitely come back to save you! That's my promise! Yes, a promise!"
Temier turned and bolted, never looking back.
...
Watching Temier’s receding figure, Roya let out a sigh of relief.
"I hope you won't be so childish in the future, Temier."
Roya whispered softly, "If you had changed... I might have given you an answer..."
Roya gripped her magic wand, pouring the last of her meager mana into it.
"Oh?"
Demon General Basaroka, who had been watching Temier flee with an amused expression as if watching a bug, turned back in surprise. "You intend to do something so foolish as well?"
"Heh..."
Roya smiled.
She knew her actions were futile. In her weakened state, she couldn't possibly threaten a Demon General.
But...
"I'm not like that naive boy. I know I won't have a good end if I'm taken. I'd rather die than fall into the hands of you demon scum!"
Roya’s expression turned fierce as she hurled her final spell at Basaroka!
It was over...
Having burned through everything, Roya closed her eyes, waiting for her end.
In the end...
Her life had been so ordinary. She had never met a prince charming falling from the sky, nor a hero who hacked through thorns to reach her.
She would likely be buried in a land of blooming flowers, mourned by the tears of that boy who loved her...
"A girl's tears shouldn't flow for something as dull as death..." a voice lamented.
Suddenly.
Everything went silent.
In that absolute silence, Roya felt no tearing pain. Instead... she felt an incredible warmth.
Warm and comfortable.
It was as if even the blazing flames had become friendly.
"Who... who are you?"
The Demon General’s terrified voice shattered the peace.
Roya opened her eyes in curiosity.
"Who am I?"
A cloak billowed in the wind. A hood fell back, revealing a face that seemed to have witnessed all the world's changes and tasted much of its pain... a weathered, mysterious, and beautiful face.
It wasn't a face that seemed peerless at first glance, but it possessed a charm that made it impossible to look away.
Amidst the dancing flames, the well-endowed girl stood with her sword. Facing the Demon General's question, she seemed to recall many past events and looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
"A name is nothing more than dust scattered by the wind in the flames. But if you insist on asking...
I am merely a traveler wandering in search of true love, Ariel Bugard."