} Arc 11: Where the Shadow Lies {
{|} Prologue: On the Eve of Change {|}
(3rd person POV)
"Sorry for the wait. Here's your order, miss."
The waitress then places the plate of meat before the woman then a large mug of ale. She then bows while saying-
"I hope you'll enjoy your meal and drink."
She then walks off to attend to the next customer. The woman who had just been served watches as the waitress walks away, looking at her with narrowed eyes before turning her attention to her meal. She wasn't angry about the wait as she had come to expect such things during the busy hours.
She was just wanting to continue making everyone think she was a hard ass kind of woman.
This woman in question had a rather voluptuous body and was strikingly beautiful. She had yellow eyes and long black hair that sometimes hid her right eye with the way she wears it. Her attire consisted of a black leather collar, V-neck top, a large belt and boots, mini jean shorts, a purple bolero jacket, and fishnet stockings. She also had a enchanted dagger hanging from her belt.
As she eats her food, she grumbles how it was lacking the sorts of taste her refined palette had become accustom too since she began her carrier as an expert treasure hunter. In truth, she was actually a thief but hated using that title, so she always introduced herself as a treasure hunter instead.
As she goes and takes a long drink from her beer, she hears-
"So, is the food and drink offered by Axel's guild to your liking, Melissa?"
The girl named Melissa turns her gaze towards the new arrival at her small table off in a corner of the guild hall. The arrival was her old friend from back home who quickly takes the only other seat at this table.
"I wasn't expecting to see you today. Something about 'checking out the many ways one can enter the Erisia Cathedral without drawing attention to oneself' or something like that. What happened to doing that, Serena."
"Surprisingly, getting in and around in there is rather easy. Not unexpected, seeing as the followers of the Eris faith tend to be very open minded and welcoming."
"Unlike those weirdos who follow the goddess Aqua. Never did like those nut jobs. Have a tenet to excuse and allow any and all things one could and would want to do. So, did you find what you were looking for?"
"I did indeed. Getting access will be a little tricky but I already have an idea or two were dealing with that is concerned. The only real obstacle we have before us now is simply the wait for the next chosen day to arrive."
"Oh joy, I can't wait..."
said Melissa before going back to eating her meal. Serena doesn't fail to hear the disinterest in her old friend's tone but decides to not bring up that old debate with her again.
'So even after all this time, her loyalty to OUR faith is still lacking. No matter as I kind of like being the sole recipient of our lady's powers. The fact she agreed to come help me out with my plan is enough.'
"Well, seeing as you're here, you might as well order yourself something to eat and drink too."
"I guess I will. Say, where's our fearless leader at right now? I was thinking we should go out and do some quest together."
"Why?"
said Melissa, stopping mid drink to stare at Serena.
"Appearances... mostly. Don't want to draw any unwanted attention towards us now would we. Don't worry, I saw a quest up on the board as I arrived that's right up your alley. A new dungeon, rumored to be filled with treasure."
"If that's true, then I get first dibs on everything inside."
"Agreed. So, do you know where that perverted booze hound is..."
Without saying a word, Melissa points over to the bar, making Serena turn to see Dust sitting there, next to a girl. And from the looks of it, he was doing his best with trying to flirt and woo her from the looks of it. Melissa then takes another bite of her meal, then goes to get up while saying-
"Wait here. I'll go fetch the moron..."
"Wait..."
Melissa stops then sits back down. After a moment, she finally says-
"What is it?"
"Perhaps we should leave Dust and the girl alone for now. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can handle the new dungeon without much issue."
"While I'm in full agreement with that assessment, care to share your reasoning with me on this sudden change of mind."
"We should stay away from girl Dust is currently flirting with. We should stay as far from her as possible, in fact."
Melissa looks again at the girl; seeing she was dressed in priestess robes of deep blue and was sporting long blonde hair. She then looks back at Serena and says-
"Because she's clearly a member of the Axis cult. While I do agree with not getting involved with anyone who follows Aqua, I don't see..."
"That's not my reason. I know this may sound strange, but my gut is telling me if we let our guards down with her, interact with her, we will regret it."
"Your gut... or is it the power you were gifted as a priestess of Regina?"
Serena doesn't answer Melissa's question.
Over with Dust, he and the blonde-haired Axis priestess girl were busy chatting and laughing away. Dust originally planned on just doing a little flirting in an effort to con this girl into buying him a meal but for reasons he didn't understand, he was now finding himself wanting to spoil this girl to the fullest.
"Thank you for the meal... and for the company. It's not often a girl like me gets a chance to socialize with such a kindly, and handsome, gentleman such of yourself."
"Not a problem, not a problem. I should be the one thanking you. To be in the company of such a beautiful young lady like yourself. I can't help but feel that you must be the goddess Aqua herself, here to bless me."
"That's very kind of you to say."
"Tell me, is there anything else I can do for you this day... um..."
"Cecily, my name is Cecily. And yes, there is something else you can do for me."
The Axis priestess named Cecily then uses one hand to pull out a piece of paper and lays it onto the bar before Dust then places a pen beside the paper. She then reaches up and touches a finger against the choker she was wearing while saying-
"Would you sign this paper here and become an official follower of the goddess Aqua."
{|} Chapter 1: The Runaway {|}
{|} Part 1: Idols in Axel {|}
(Cielo POV)
The world of light that surrounded us finally lets up, revealing the inside of the teleport chamber of the Axel Teleportation Station. Immediately, several of the girls began to look around, curious as to what differences that might exist between the Axel branches room to what the Veridae branch offered.
"Doesn't look all that different. Are we really over in Axel now?"
asked one of the girls who's name I had yet to learn. In response, I say-
"Were any of you really thinking there would be some grandiose design differences between the two stations? Sure, I guess I can understand seeing as Veridae usually doesn't hold back when it comes to making everything as insanely over the top as it can. But for a place like this, the overall design has a purpose behind it."
"In other words, the designers are just dull and lazy."
adds Aqua absentmindedly, making me, and several of the other girls, just role our eyes. Erika then says to Aqua-
"It's too bad they didn't consult you on their final design choices. You are, after all, such a master of the art of good design style."
Erika was clearly being sarcastic, but seeing as Aqua was rather... Aqua-like in her thinking ways, didn't seem to notice the sarcasm present in Erika's tone as she was quick to say-
"Isn't that the truth. In fact, there's no doubt in my mind that the world would be a better place if..."
Lia claps her hands together, getting everyone's attention onto her as she says-
"Now-now, I'm sure we're all excited about exploring a new city, or re-exploring a place once visited. But we need to focus on the present and that's getting a carriage ready to help us move all our stuff to the new place. Cielo, you said you would take care of the carriage rental."
"Yeah, I did and have. All of you just wait here, and maybe make sure everything has been teleported. I'll go fetch the carriage and be back in a bit."
And with that, I left the room and made my way to the rental shop.
About an hour later, the carriage had been loaded and we were slowly making our way through the streets of Axel, heading towards the east gate. Currently, I was driving the twin horse drawn carriage. I could have paid the additional fees to have a driver hired for this but I was already fairly good at this sort of thing, so I didn't feel the need to hire one.
As we moved, the girls were staring all wide eyed at the city streets. Perhaps it was because of all the activity going on or perhaps it was their first time coming to Axel. At least Lia and Erika seemed to be showing some restraint. As for Aqua...
"Still think we should have moved this whole thing to Arcanretia..."
Yeah, pretty much that. A few moments later, Erika, who was sitting right behind me, asks-
"Out of curiosity, Cielo. What's going on here in Axel? I mean, it's obvious that they're in the middle of setting up some kind of big festival event but I'll be damned if I have any idea as to what it could possibly be about."
"Probably because your first time here in Axel was a rather limited one. I confess that I'm also unsure as to what's going on."
said Lia. I guess that makes, seeing as neither of them were native to the kingdom; instead being the same as Kazuma in that they were originally from some far-off land. As such, I explain-
"We're just a few days away from the start of the Eris Thanksgiving Festival. That's what they're preparing for."
"The Eris Thanksgiving Festival?"
said both Lia and Erika together. Before I could respond, another of the girls who I know was named Jade speaks up.
"The Eris Thanksgiving Festival is a special weeklong event that's held every year across the continent; a time to celebrate our divine benefactor who watches over all souls here on this world. In other words, it's a week where people actually feel compelled to do things as a way of thanking the goddess Eris."
"Yeah, that's... more or less the gist of it all."
"Hold on, that's not fair. Why is it that ONLY Eris is getting a celebration in her name. What about me?"
"What about you?"
said the other girls while both Erika and Lia just send Aqua a deadpan look.
Aqua gets a twitch in her left eye before she finally stands and starts talking her usual nonsense again.
"Haven't any of you realized who it is I am yet? Fine, I shall tell you all again so make sure you don't forget this. I am Aqua... yes, the Goddess Aqua who is worshiped by the Axis church and it's ten million followers. I am a key figure in the stability of this world and I daresay my role is even greater than that of Eris herself. If anyone should be getting a festival in her name, it's me."
Everyone is silent for a moment, and I could have sworn I saw a tumbleweed go rolling by, which had to have been my imagination as there weren't any tumbleweeds to be seen around these parts. One of the girls then leans in close to Jade and asks-
"Does the Axis Cult really have ten million followers?"
"Naw, I've heard their numbers are less than a hundred thousand. Perhaps even no greater than ten thousand."
Meanwhile, Erika finally says-
"Aqua... what the hell are you talking about. Didn't you once tell me that your FOLLOWERS, I use that term loosely, are throwing you celebration after celebration, week after week. Hell, I can vividly recall you saying that it's the norm for you to get MULTIPLE festivals held in your name weekly."
Aqua sits back down, making a pouty face while poking her index fingers together.
"Yeah, I know that, but they only do it in Arcanretia. I want to be celebrated elsewhere too."
"God, she is such an attention whore."
grumbled Lia as she begins to rub her temples. I reach over and place a hand on her shoulders while saying-
"At least you'll soon be able to distract yourself from her... antics. Exploring your new home, setting up shows, and getting to spend more times with Kazuma and the others. Maybe even joining us on our many adventures in the future."
Lia looks at me, a smile forming on her face.
"That does make me feel better, actually. So, will Kazuma be meeting us at the amphitheater?"
"Unlikely. Once we're there and offloaded, I'll need to return the carriages and horses, then make my way to the mansion to see if Kazuma's gotten back from helping Yunyun out. Once he's back, I'll bring him over to the spot and the two of you can do whatever it is you two will need to do, as co-managers of Idol Hearts I mean."
"Looking forward to it."
With that, I return my attention to the path ahead, seeing the large arch that was the eastern gate coming into view. Behind me, I think I hear Erika say-
"Meeting this guy named Kazuma. How I wish it would end up being MY Kazuma she was talking about..."
Does Erika know someone named Kazuma also? Actually, I think I've heard that mentioned before. Maybe I'll ask her about him once time permits.
Also, I wonder how the others are doing. Did Darkness's trip to the capital go well? Did Yunyun pass her trial thanks to Kazuma being at her side? What did they end up doing with Megumin? I can't wait to meet up with everyone so we can all find out how things went down for everyone.
{|} Part 2: Message on the Table {|}
(Darkness POV)
"As much as I love our visits to the capital, I have to admit that it feels good to come home. Don't you agree, Lalatina."
"Indeed father. While the capital does have its own charms to it, there's just something about the rustic vibe Axel has going on that I feel more comfortable with."
Father and I had finally gotten back from our meeting with the chancellor and I for one was ready to get out of these flamboyant and flashy noble attire and get back into my beloved casual attire and Crusader armor.
"So, now that we're back home, do you have any plans. Don't forget that with the Eris Festival is just a few days away from starting so I'm sure the stands and stalls are already being set up. In fact, some may even be open and operating by now."
"First things first, I need to head back to the mansion and see if any of the others have gotten back yet. Odds are either Cielo or Kazuma have returned. Was there something you were wanting me to do, father?"
"At the moment, no. That said, I was thinking that maybe we could walk together on one of the festival days... you know, like we used to do when you were younger."
"Sure, we can do that, seeing as the festival will be going on for a full week. Tell you what, I'll come back by tomorrow and we can set up an 'us' day."
"Then I'll be sure to check my schedule today and make figure out what day will be the best for us."
"Understood. Well, unless there's anything else, I better be going now."
Ten minutes later, I was walking down the streets of Aqua. While I was wanting to hurry back to the mansion, I couldn't help but take the scenic route that took me by the Erisia Cathedral in order to see all the preparations that were being made for the festival.
After a while of just wandering, I finally began moving towards the east gate proper which resulted in me running into...
"Cielo... hey, Cielo. Over here."
Cielo had come into view from an adjacent street, and I found myself calling out to her while quickening my steps in order to join her. Cielo, upon hearing my voice, looks around and quickly finds me before she walks quickly over to me.
"Darkness, I see you're back too. How was your trip to the capital."
"It was interesting, to say the least. For one thing, the chancellor is confident that this long war the kingdom has been fighting will be over by years end. Also, the high council is thinking about finding a new ruler for the kingdom."
"Say what? Are you serious, Darkness."
"That's what me and father were told. I'm guessing the king's thinking about stepping down once all this conflict has been resolved and it's no secret that prince Jatis isn't really interested in becoming the next king."
"So, I guess that means you and lord Dustiness didn't get to meet with his majesty then?"
"Nope. He and the prince are still out there on the front lines from what my understanding of the situation is. So, what about you? Did anything eventful happen over in Veridae?"
"Nothing noteworthy, apart from that Axis cult girl that Kazuma doesn't like getting herself into some serious debt. She was probably thinking we'd be gone before the debt collectors came calling. Probably would have gotten away with it, had she not caused a major scene while in a drunken stupor."
"Sounds like fun times. Anyways, we can go into detail as we walk. After all, we're not getting home anytime soon if we just keep standing here like we are."
Cielo nods as we finally get back to walking. Once outside of Axel, I spotted figures playing around outside the amphitheater. It was some of the girls in Idol Hearts, or at least I'm sure it was them. Apart from Lia, I didn't quite remember what the others look like.
OK, I can remember Aqua's face but seeing as she wasn't a performer, I didn't count her in their numbers. As we pass by, I ask Cielo-
"Say, should I stop in and say hello to Lia and the others?"
"We'll come back and do that in a bit, once we've reunited with the others. Don't forget, Kazuma's going to need to stop by so he can sign those papers to make his status as co-managers official."
"Oh yeah, good point."
Not long after, we were finally back home at the mansion. After the two of us take a moment to breathe in the familiar air, we step inside only to be greeted by the silence.
"Hey, is anyone back yet? Hello... HELLO..."
I shouted before shrugging my shoulders. I then look at Cielo and say-
"Huh, guess we really were the first to get back."
"Not quite. Someone's here right now if the boots are anything to go by."
Cielo then points to the single pair of boots by the door. I then ask her-
"Megumin, perhaps? I forgot to ask if she ever came to join you over in Veridae?"
"Nope, never showed up. Guess that means she ended up going with Kazuma back to the village. I'm pretty sure those are Anna's boots. The frills at the top are a dead giveaway."
Good point.
"I wonder how Yunyun's trials went for her. Guess we'll find out soon enough. How about I go drop our stuff off in our rooms while you get the hot springs prepped and ready for us. I don't know about you, but I'm in serious need of a nice, long bath."
"Alright."
Cielo then hands me her travel bag and I head upstairs. After dropping our things off in our respective rooms, I take a moment to sneak a peek inside Kazuma, Yunyun, and Megumin's rooms. Finding them empty, I look in on Anna next and find her all curled up under the blankets.
"Anna, hey Anna. It's me, Darkness. If you're awake, then I guess I'm wanting to tell you both me and Cielo are back."
"(groan)"
"Do you know where Kazuma and the others are..."
"Go away, Darkness. My head's still hurting after all that booze I drank last night. Please let me sleep."
"Sorry, I won't bother you. Keep resting..."
Well, that wasn't very informative now, was it. After closing her door, I begin to walk down the stairs and as I do, I decide I'll make Anna a special Dustiness family remedy that helps to kill off a hangover. That'll perk her right up.
Once I was downstairs, I quickly find Cielo standing beside the dining room table with a piece of paper in her hands. I walk over while asking her-
"What's with the note?"
"Something Kazuma left behind. Here, you should read it."
Cielo then hands me the note and I read its contents aloud.
"To Cielo, Darkness, Megumin, or Yunyun... or Anna, seeing as I'm pretty sure you didn't hear me when I was talking to you. In case anyone is wondering where I am when you're reading this, I am currently away with Lynn, taking care of something important. We'll go into more detail once we get back. As for when we'll be getting back. It should be by the first day of the Eris Festival. Tell Lia high for me and also sorry for making her wait a little bit longer to have me sign those papers. Make sure you guys stay out of trouble, especially as you all can't seem to function without me there..."
"He must be talking about how things went down for us when we were off on that special quest for the guild. So, Kazuma and Lynn, huh? Wonder what that's about."
said Cielo, making me think about what it could be. Wait, wasn't Lynn wanting to help Kazuma with...
"Hey Darkness, something doesn't feel right about this note."
"Hm... how so."
"Well, Kazuma included Yunyun and Megumin in it as well as us. Shouldn't they have come back with Kazuma?"
"Maybe those two just decided to stay back at the Crimson Demon Village for a little bit longer. Either that or Kazuma came back home early. Either way, I don't think it's anything we need to worry ab..."
"Hey, is anyone here? I'm back."
The sound of Yunyun's voice fills the mansion, making us both look towards the entrance, quickly seeing Yunyun as she gets out of her boots.
"Yunyun, you're back. So, how did your trials go?"
Yunyun shows us a victory sign as she comes walking up to join us.
"We did it. Me and Kazuma managed to make it all the way to the end. Speaking of which, where is Kazuma and Megumin right now. There's something I need to talk with them about."
"Huh, what do you... shouldn't Megumin be with you?"
"Why would she be with me? According to Kazuma, she left to join up with you over in Veridae. By the way. She didn't cause any trouble while she was... what's wrong?"
"Yunyun, Megumin never came to Veridae. I just assumed she was either with you and Kazuma or he had figured out something else to do with her."
The three of us just stand there for a moment, letting all that sink in. Finally, I said-
"If Megumin wasn't with you, or you, or me... then just where the hell is she right now?"
{|} Part 3: To the Scarred Lands {|}
(Megumin's POV)
"... and let my fury rain down from the Heavens and scorch all my foes. EXPLOSION!"
"Explosion, yay."
I smile as I look down at the little girl who was mimicking my pose and shouting Explosion with sheer excitement. This cute little red-head reminded me so much of my little sister, especially with her twin tails, that it was almost like I was here with Komekko right now.
That is, if Komekko had red hair and dark eyes instead of dark hair and crimson eyes.
I then kneel down and place a hand on her shoulders as I tell her-
"That's good, perfect even my honorary student. Just remember what I've told you, taught you, and one day you shall become a force of nature none can hope to ever overcome in this world."
"Yes miss, I'll remember... I'll remember. The path of Explosion, that's the road I want to walk."
Heh heh, looks like my work here is...
"Hey, what are you doing to my daughter, you crazy weirdo? I asked you to just watch my daughter, not go teaching her strange things."
I stand as a rather plump middle aged woman comes running up to me, grabbing the hand of her child and quickly pulling her away from me. The little girl looks up at her mother, clearly confused by what her mother had said and was doing while saying-
"What's wrong, mommy. Did big sister do something wrong? She was only wanting to teach me some really cool..."
"Quiet Peeka. You mustn't associate with someone like her ever again, you hear me. Seriously, going behind a parents back and trying to pass on your strange ways to an innocent child..."
"I would ask you not to go and say my ways are strange, ma'am. I'll have you know that as a Crimson Demon, what I was both saying and doing are considered very normal."
"What, you're a Crimson Demon?"
The woman the leans in close and gives me a focused look over, then says-
"You really are a... What is wrong with me? Why didn't I notice your eyes sooner. I can't believe I left my precious baby alone with... with something like you. Come Peeka, we must not talk with someone from the Crimson Demon clan less we pick up their strange habits and weird ways."
"Hey, both me and my clan take offense to what you are... and she's already walking away. Hey, for your insult, I will send a prayer to our divine Nekopara that your daughter one day runs off to join my clan."
Once I was alone, I take a moment to look around at the other people who were making use of the carriage transport. For where I was wanting to go, no teleportation station could see me there. Luckily, there was a convoy that traveled between the city I had arrived at and a small frontier town we were currently heading that was presently unavailable to be teleported too due to some strange local rocks or something.
I sigh then look up at the sky as I say absentmindedly to myself-
"The nerve of that woman... saying all that she did to me. She's lucky I don't send you over there to give her a piece of your mind... and mine, right Kazuma. Kazuma... oh, right."
Damn it, what is this now, the fifth time or maybe the sixth time I've forgotten that it's just me and Chomusuke on this trip. That Kazuma doesn't even know what it is I am doing now.
"(sigh) I really wish I could just say 'screw all this' and head right back home. Maybe he won't be mad once I tell him the truth and I offer to rock his world as my apology."
Yeah, as if that is going to happen. Seriously, me. If I was going to change my mind and head back home, then I would have done it long before now. Oh well, better check my location.
I then pull out a map and look it over. While I admit I'm lacking when it comes to properly pinpointing one's location, I'm pretty sure I had a good idea where it was we currently were. Still, only one way to make absolutely sure.
I walk over to the driver of the supply carriage, which was also the carriage I was riding on for various reasons. Once I reach him, I get his attention then ask him-
"Sir, I was looking over this map here and assuming I'm right on our current location, I can't help but wonder if stopping here was really a good idea, what with how close we are to the Scarred Lands."
"Hm... oh, good eye, miss. You're right about how close we actually are. In fact, if you look off in that direction, you can just see it on the horizon; the dark clouds that eternally cover those evil plains. Normally, we wouldn't dare make a stop for a break in this area but with one of the carriages suffering a broken wheel, what other choice did we have."
I nod my understanding as I look off in the direction of the Scarred Lands. I then says while trying to sound as absentminded as I could-
"Is it true what they say about that place. About it being the home to a strange kind of creature not seen anywhere else in the world. A creature that's said to be unlike anything anyone has ever faced before."
"I too have heard about that. They also say walking in those lands is like being trapped inside a nightmare. It's said that the clouds are so dark in the skies over the Scarred Lands that it feels like night during the day and when night actually falls, the light from any light source seems to be eaten away by the darkness. And then there's the pressure one will feel upon their minds and the strange voice one would swear they're hearing on the ominous winds that blow relentlessly."
"Hah-hah-ha, good thing we don't need to go anywhere near that place."
OK, I'm really beginning to have second thoughts about this now. Was the reports in the paper correct about lady Wolbach really being seen entering these dark and dangerous lands really true? You know, maybe turning back really is the best...
"Attention-Attention passengers. Repairs to the main carriage have been completed. Please return to your carriage at once as we'll be departing within ten minutes."
Damn it. And just when I was about to talk myself out of doing this.
"Looks like it's time to go miss. Better hurry and get back to your seat... and sorry about the whole having to ride in the back with the luggage."
"Don't worry about, sir. It was my choice after all. Alright Chomusuke, it's time for us to be going."
Chomusuke, who had been happily playing around by chasing butterflies looks at me then scampers over and hops onto my shoulder. I then make my way to the back of the last carriage, but I don't hop onto my seat. Instead, I quickly hide myself behind a rock that was just large enough to hide my mostly tiny frame.
I then wait and watch as the carriages slowly begin to move and pull further and further away from me till they were far enough that I was confident they wouldn't notice what it was I was really doing. After all, the Scarred Lands were technically forbidden to anyone who didn't have special permission to go and enter them with the punishment for doing what I was about to do being a very long stay in prison.
Assuming you manage to live long enough to make it out, get found out, and taken to trial that is.
I then look towards the direction of the dark clouds that hung over the Scarred Lands, then reach up and run my hand over Chomusuke's ears.
"Are you feeling scared here, girl. Honestly, I know I'm feeling scared right now. That said, we've come this far so we might as well see this through."
And with that, I began my walk towards the Scarred Lands. Excluding a few hours which I will take to eat and get in a little sleep, there would be nothing to stop me from reaching my destination. Only one question remained in my mind...
How long will it take me to find master Wolbach and where exactly should I be looking for her at. After all, the Scarred Lands weren't small and I obviously wasn't sure what land marks to be looking for.
{|} Part 4: A Single Word that Explains it All {|}
(Yunyun's POV)
"What's going on? I feel like I'm sitting up. I'm pretty sure I should be laying down right now."
After our discovery that Megumin hadn't gone to Veridae like she had told Kazuma she was going there, we had gone and fetched Anna from her room and brought her downstairs to see if she could remember any other details about the day she had left.
Of course, her current state of being wasn't helping us out here as she still appeared to be in the process of recovering from her hangover. Why is it taking her so long to recover anyways? Perhaps it was because of just how smashed Kazuma had told me she'd gotten.
"Sorry about this Anna. Just try to work with us here and you can go right back to sleeping your pathetic drunk ass away."
"I can... yay."
Cielo and me just look at each other, the both of us wondering if she was even aware of the fact she had agreed with us about her being pathetic. I shake my head while Cielo asks her-
"OK Anna, now what can you tell us about those few days you, Kazuma, and Megumin spent alone."
"Um... well, I remember Megumin asked Kazuma out on a date with me and Nia tailing them from the shadows to watch. I can tell you all some juicy details later... once my head stops hurting like one of Megumin's Explosions being rapid fired and on infinite repeat."
Once again, both me and Cielo look at each other as we both say at the same time-
"We'll ask her to dish on those details later."
"Did I hear something about Kazuma and Megumin going out on a date?"
came Darkness as she comes walking back into the living room. She had stepped out for a bit in order to make that special drink her family uses when one needs to escape from the pains that comes from hangovers. She hands the cup to Anna who quickly drinks it while Darkness asks-
"So... tell us what happened next?"
"(drink) Well, that day went pretty much like one would expect. Megumin being Megumin, you get the idea. When the outside part of the date ended and we had all returned to the mansion, Megumin insisted on making dinner that night. Me and Kazuma made a big mistake when we agreed to let her do that. I don't know if it was those special spices Megumin used on her food, the ones she says she got from her mother, or if it's just her current cooking skill level... or maybe it was both. Either way, let's just say dinner that night was a total nightmare."
"That's interesting and all, Anna. But that still isn't helping us with our..."
"Hold on a moment, Cielo. Let's allow Anna a chance at finishing her story first. Please continue, Anna."
"Well, after puking my guts out for a good while, which really caught me off guard seeing as I didn't think my current state of being could actually become sick. Technically still a ghost girl and all that. I retired to bed and tried to get some sleep, not that I could with all the noise coming from Kazuma's room. It was mostly Megumin's voice too. Seriously, couldn't they have shown some manners and keep it down."
I found myself blushing, as were Cielo and Darkness, and I quickly tell Anna-
"Can we please skip ahead to the next morning. I don't think we're needing to hear about..."
"Speak for yourself, Yunyun. Anna, I want you to tell me everything you can remember hearing. Every-Single-Word!"
"Sorry Darkness, Yunyun's right. Business first, pleasure later. Anna, tell us what happened the next day."
Darkness deflates but accepts it as Anna, after taking a moment to think, says-
"Honestly, I don't really remember as I was still sleeping. But from what Kazuma told me, Megumin said she had decided to go to Veridae and help Cielo with Idol Hearts. They did their goodbyes and that's that. He woke me up and we went to the Crimson Demon village. You know the rest, Yunyun."
Yeah, I do... unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it.
"OK, we know about THAT, more or less. Still doesn't answer our initial question though."
"What was that again?"
asked Anna, looking more awake now than what she did a few moments ago.
"Where Megumin could have really gotten off too. Guess we should head into Axel, see if anyone down at the Teleportation Station or the carriage depot remembers her coming around."
"We should probably check in at the Guild too, see if she swung by there the day she left. We can also check in with Wiz and Vanir. Maybe they can help us out."
With our neck course of action decided with what Darkness and Cielo had said, we go to leave the mansion, and Anna. I stop though and look back at her and ask-
"Anna, just to play it safe here, can you think of anything else that happened after we all had left that day that could explain Megumin's strange actions. Any clue that could tell us where she might have run off too."
Anna thinks about it for a moment, then says-
"Sorry, nothing I can think of... except maybe that thing that happened after you all left. If I'm remembering what Kazuma said correctly, Megumin had sudden ran off to her room with the newspaper in hand and didn't come out till the next day when she did that whole asking Kazuma out on a date bit."
Megumin had locked herself away in her room with the newspaper? Oh right, I do recall Kazuma saying as much after he and Anna had arrived at the village. Darkness says in response to that-
"That's an important detail. We should see if we can find a copy of that day's paper if we can."
After that, the three of us headed off to Axel while Anna ended up staying back at the mansion, by her own choice. As we ran towards Axel, we decided to split up upon arriving. Darkness would visit the local news office and see if they had any spare papers left over from that day that hadn't been disposed of. Cielo would check both the Teleportation Station and the West Travel Depot to see if anyone could recall seeing her and I would check the Eastern Depot and Wiz's shop. We would then meet up at the guild and discuss what we have learned and how we would be moving forward with things.
Just as re reach the eastern gate, I remember I could have just used teleport to see us to Axel quickly, making me deflate from embarrassment.
We then split up, and I made my way first to the Eastern Depot and checked in with them. That ended up going nowhere, unless you wanted to count me getting hit on by some weird looking guy. Luckily, he seemed to be the fickle type as the moment the next cute girl came along, he had forgotten all about me and moved on to her. Just as well as I was going to turn him down anyways.
Not long after, I entered Wiz's shop.
"Welcome to my shop... oh, Yunyun. It's been a while since I last saw you. How is everything going? If memory serves, your Crimson Trial was supposed to be happening about now, correct."
"It happened a few days ago, actually. Thanks to Kazuma, I am the first of my clan to have actually passed the trials."
"You did... congratulations."
"Thank you... actually, that's not the reason I came by. I was wondering if you've seen Megumin around here over the last week."
"Well, not here in the shop but I did see her and Kazuma walking around Axel and judging from how she was dressed, I couldn't help but think that the two of them were out on a date."
"Yeah... I think they were. Forget about that, here's the thing, Wiz. You see..."
I then explained our current situation to Wiz, making her also become worried at what I was telling her.
"Oh dear, this is a problem. Has Megumin ever run off like this before?"
"Not that I can think of. Sure, back home she had this tendency to go missing for a few hours or sometimes even for an entire night. But that was usually because she was wanting to do her Explosion training. To my knowledge, she has never gone and done THIS before. So, you really have no idea where she could have gone off too?"
"Sorry Yunyun. I really wish I could help you out here but... if anyone would know her mind and where she could have gone off too, it would either be you or Kazuma."
"Yeah, I guess hoping that you would know would be a long shot. Out of curiosity, is Vanir around. Maybe he could use his powers as a Devil of Foresight to help find her."
"I'm sure he would, if he were here, but he left earlier to have a meeting with his supplier and won't be back for a few days... oh, that reminds me. He did tell me something interesting before he left. I believe he said..."
"Moi shall be back in a few days. Should any annoying brats come around wanting to speak with Moi, tell them they shouldn't rely on Moi to answer all their questions for them. Besides, they'll get their answers if they ask the right person the right questions."
"Are we really that annoying? Never mind, I better go meet up with the others. Hopefully, they've had better luck than I have. Thanks again for the help, Wiz."
"Sure thing, Yunyun. If there's anything else you can think of that I might be able to help with, please let me know."
"Sure thing."
I then begin to leave the shop but stop as a thought comes to mind. I look back at Wiz and ask-
"One last thing, Wiz. You wouldn't happen to have the newspaper from about five or six days ago lying around, would you. We can't be sure of anything, but we believe the reason behind her sudden and weird actions could be related to something she saw or read in said paper."
"Hm... sorry, but I always recycle my papers after reading them. Sometimes, I'll cut articles out that catch my eye to add to a special scrap book I keep for those but other than that exception..."
"That's what I figured. Any chance you wouldn't happen to remember anything of importance that might have been talked about over the last five or six days."
Again, Wiz takes on a thinking pose before finally saying-
"Sorry Yunyun, I can't for the life of me remember anything from the paper of either day."
"Oh, I see. I guess that's not to surprising..."
"Oh right, except for the article about lady Wolbach, that is."
I felt the world around me come to a dead stop as those words rang out on repeat within my mind.
"Lady Wolbach... lady Wolbach... lady Wolbach..."
"Wiz, please tell me you can recall what that article about lady Wolbach said."
"I can do you one better. Seeing as she's both a good friend of mine and a... former comrade, maybe still a comrade... I'm not quite sure. Anyways, anything that has to do with old friends that makes the paper gets a special place within my scrap book. Just wait right there and I'll go get it for you to read yourself."
As Wiz leaves the room, I just stand there as my mind races with many-many thoughts, chief among them being the very thought that I end up speaking quietly aloud to myself-
"Megumin, you idiot..."
{|} Part 5: This Feeling that Guides Me {|}
(Wolbach POV)
"So, this is the place you humans like to call the edge of sanity."
said Hans as he steps forward and passes his arm partially through the nonexistent barrier, I use that term loosely here.
The boundary that separated the Scarred Lands from the rest of the world was a unique one to say the least. Imagine being out during the day without a cloud in the sky to block the sun then sudden you reach an area with clouds so thick that it seemed like day turned to the darkest of nights. That's what we were seeing before us; a place where light instantly turned to pure dark without rhyme or reason.
After keeping part of his arm inside the dark side for a few moments, he pulls his arm clear before looking at it and flexing his various digits. Watching him, I just observe for a moment before finally asking-
"Something wrong, Hans?"
"Hm... oh, no. Nothing's wrong. My arm is just... cold."
Curious as to what he might mean, I also stick a hand inside the dark side and I immediately understand what Hans was saying. Within the dark, the temperature dropped a lot. I couldn't be sure, but it felt like it was at least a twenty-to-thirty-degree difference between being under the sun and not.
"So the air is going to get colder once we step into the dark. I guess that makes sense. We should expect it to possibly get even colder the deeper in we go."
"Great, makes me wish I had brought my winter coat with me now that I'm hearing this."
I turn to give Hans a bemused smirk before saying-
"Funny, I once recalled a certain someone once telling me changes in the temperature didn't really effect slimes. Especially king tier slimes."
"Did I once say that? Maybe... though in my defense, this matter is a little different than what I was meaning in that statement before. After all, the weather within the Scarred Lands is anything but normal on this world."
I nod before looking back at the dark. After a moment to collect myself, I take a deep breath before finally stepping inside. After a moment, Hans follows me in and together, we begin to make our way deeper into these lands.
"So, any idea where we're supposed to look for... what is it we're here for again?"
"We have two objectives. One is to determine if the sudden weakening of the worlds mana has anything to do with the creatures that call these unholy lands their home."
"And we're going to do that how?"
"(sight) As much as I hate to say this; we might have to go all the way to the center of the Scarred Lands in order to get our answers there, though it's my hope that won't be necessary for us to do that."
"And the other reason? If memory serves, it has something to do with your parents, right?"
"Yeah, like I told you before, my parents died a long-LONG time ago. Despite that, a certain someone assured me that when the day came when I was released from my long slumber..."
"You mean when you were sealed away in the Crimson Demon village."
"Details. Anyways, I was told once I had been awakened, it would happen at a time when both my parents had been reborn into the world and if I searched for them, fate would eventually see me reuniting with them again. According to lord Yasaka, the Faea oracle saw that if I came here, I would finally find my mother's reincarnation."
"And your father?"
"I believe I've already met him before, back in Arcanretia. Remember that boy who walked in on us when we were enjoying a little dip in the spring waters?"
"Can't say that I do. What's the point in seeing them again. Sure, I get the whole sentimentality part of the deal, but they aren't going to remember you... or at least they shouldn't be able to if my understanding of how reincarnation works."
"Yeah, I know that. Still, to be able to see them again, to talk with them and be around them once more. Even if they don't remember me, I can still remember them and for me, that's enough."
"Anyone ever tell you that you're quite the bleeding heart, Wolbach."
"(heh) I've been called worse."
Hans chuckles as well before looking around. After a moment, he begins to focus on one particular direction before saying-
"If my slime king senses are working as they should, then I believe the way to go will be that way."
"That way, huh? What makes you say that?"
"Because that direction is where I'm feeling the most danger, the most dread. It's the direction where my senses are telling me to NOT go towards."
I look in that direction as well, also feeling something off in that direction that sent a kind of terror racing up and down my spine. I clench my fist before making my decision.
"If that's the direction we shouldn't be going, then let's go throw caution to the wind and start heading that way. Hopefully, like I said before, we won't need to go all the way to the center of this place."
Hans nods as we continue on walking. As we go, I send a silent prayer to aunt Eris, hoping that, if nothing else, I find mom's current self before something bad can happen to her. After all, I've heard the beast that roam these lands aren't known for their kindness to outsiders.
{|} Part 6: Follow that Megumin {|}
(Cielo's POV)
I hope the others are having better luck than I did. No one at the Western Depot could remember seeing anyone who met Megumin's description, though it didn't help that it had been nearly a week since she would have stopped by. I seriously doubt she would have taken a carriage ride anyways, seeing as the teleportation options available at the moment were pretty broad. You could pretty much have yourself teleported anywhere though the return trip still had a high chance at requiring a carriage ride.
As for the Teleportation Station itself, it was even more frustrating as one of the workers there could recall several individuals matching Megumin's description having been by but refused to reveal where they were going as they all paid extra to keep their trips off the books.
I was now back at the guild, taking a moment to have a drink when I saw Darkness finally enter the mess hall. I get her attention and wave her over to me. Once she was sitting down, and had made her own order, she asks me-
"So, any luck?"
"Not quite. I'm pretty sure she went to the Teleportation Station, but I have no idea where it is she went off too thanks to some damn confidentiality thing a person can pay extra for... if they're willing to pay an additional, and very overpriced, fee."
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
Darkness scowls while mumbling something to herself. Finally, she says-
"I'll need to have a little word with those people down there later, perhaps even get father involved as running a scam program like that should be illegal. Hell, I'll make it illegal. In the meantime, let's swing by the Knight Guard's base once we've met up with Yunyun and have the captain make a fake warrant for Megumin's arrest. We can force them to tell us where she ran off to in exchange for them not being thrown in jail."
"I would have done that already myself if my name held as much weight here in Axel as yours does right now. Anyways, you know how I fared. What about you? Did the visit to the news office bare any fruit."
"(sigh) Nothing helpful, sadly. They only keep extra papers for a few days before they get recycled. Did have a talk with the guy in charge, said that a master copy of any daily paper should be preserved for the long hall down at the Archives so that future generations, or those in need of an emergency look like we are, can have access to them at any time."
"What did he say."
"Tried to argue with me about how pointless that all sounded, which forced me to remind him of who it was he was talking too. Being both the next in line to lead the Dustiness family, as well as the deputy governor of Axel, does comes with quite a few perks."
"Probably scared him enough that he crapped his pants, huh?"
"Well, maybe just a little. He did say he needed to make an emergency trip to the bathroom by the time I was done with him. So, you think Yunyun's had better luck than we have."
"I doubt it. Knowing Megumin, she probably went above and beyond with trying to get to wherever it is she's going without leaving any clues for us to follow her with."
"That girl... she tries to act all mature and grown up but sometimes she shows just..."
"Wait, here comes Yunyun now. Let's see what... what's got her looking so furious right now."
To say Yunyun was looking furious was an understatement. In fact, in all the time I have known her, I don't think I've ever really seen her mad before. Certainly nowhere near as mad and angry as she did right now. Once Yunyun had reached us and had taken her seat at our side, me and Darkness look at each other then at her as Darkness says-
"What's wrong, Yunyun. Didn't have any luck with finding Megumin either? Join the..."
"Oh, I found out where she's likely going alright. What's more, I know what it was that made he go running off like she did. Damn it, Megumin. We made a promise to one another, A PROMISE that if either one of us found out where SHE was at, we'd go together and see this personal matter concluded."
Me and Darkness look at each other again while Yunyun begins to grumble out things like-
"You're the biggest idiot." and "I'm going to kill you when I next see you." Things like that. Finally, I say to her-
"Yunyun, are you OK? Need something to drink..."
"Hey, give me your best beer, and make it quick."
shouted Yunyun suddenly, making EVERYONE inside the guild jump in surprise before giving the now former shy, quiet, introvert a shocked look. Darkness places a hand on Yunyun's shoulder as she says-
"You're really not OK, are you. I daresay you're looking very angry right now, especially seeing as you're ordering a beer... a strong one. That doesn't sound like the Yunyun we all know and love."
"That's because right now, I'm not that Yunyun. Right now, I'm the Yunyun who's going to strangle her damn friend the moment I see her again for breaking her promise. It wasn't just any promise either but a Crimson Pinky Promise, something that is sacred to our clan and must never be betrayed."
Ah, it's one of THOSE things. A little detail about the Crimson Demons that others would find weird.
"So, based on your current state of mind, I'm guessing that means you had better luck than us. Want to fill us in on the details."
"Hm... oh, right. Yeah, Wiz luckily had the article in question in a scrap book... long story. Turns out what Megumin saw in the paper that day was about master Wolbach."
"Who's master Wolbach?" (x2)
"That's also a long story, a long-long story to tell. In a nutshell though, she was once sealed away on the outskirts of our village till Megumin, who was five at the time, unsealed her. She's the one who caused Megumin to develop her obsessive love for Explosion magic. Megumin is likely heading to where master Wolbach is now so she can show her how far she's come since they last saw each other. Truth be told, the reason Megumin left the village to begin with was so that she could find her for that purpose."
"That explains her desire to find this Wolbach person, but what about you? Do you have any particular reason for wanting to find her also, or is your current anger simply from Megumin not keeping to the promise you both made to one another."
"Also, how can you be sure that article about this Wolbach person was what led her to go running off like she did?"
"Like I said, it's a long story. I'll tell you both about it in full later. As for how I know that it was seeing her name in the paper that led to Megumin's actions? It's because I know Megumin as well as I do and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that there are very few things that would make her do what she has done; run away from home, I mean. Wolbach is at the top of that short list of things."
I see. Makes me wonder if something happening to Kazuma would also be part of that short list. Yeah, probably. If someone had hurt him and escaped or if Kazuma had been kidnapped, Megumin wouldn't stop till she found the villain and see them suffer greatly for their actions.
"OK, so we know WHY she ran off, or at least the most likely reason behind it. Do we have any clues to to WHERE it is she may have gone off to."
"Yeah, I have a very good idea... and that's where the problem comes into play for us. Megumin... is heading towards the Scarred Lands."
"Scarred Lands?" (x2)
Yunyun sends us a confusing look, probably surprised by hearing the confusion in both mine and Darkness's tones.
"Have the two of you not heard of the Scarred Lands before?"
I simply shake my head while Darkness says-
"I think I can remember hearing about it once, in passing. Some far off land, home to strange creatures that can't be found anywhere else in the world. A forsaken land where life goes to die or something."
"That's... the kindest way to put it. The Scarred Lands are said to be veiled under clouds so dark and thick that it is locked under an eternal night. The beast, if they detect you, will hunt you till you're dead on the ground. There is this pressure that weighs on your mind and body, making you feel like you've been bearing a heavy load on your back forever. The howling winds makes one feel that their sanity is being assaulted by a dark and ominous voice. And it only gets worse the longer you are there and the deeper in you go. Finally, it is said ones magic will grow weaker and weaker as well. No, not just magic but your mana in general. They say it's the one place in the world that the grace of the goddess Eris cannot touch."
"Then why the hell would Megumin ever want to go there for?"
"It has to be because of that Wolbach woman, right Yunyun."
"Yes, there's no doubt that it's all because of her. There's no other reason I can think of that would make Megumin go to a place like that at present."
"Terrific, that's just great. Give me a moment to pull out the world map here..."
said Darkness, having already begun to dig through her adventurers pouch. She then pulls out a map and unfolds it. While the map only showed locations present on THIS continent, it was rather detailed in what it did show. After looking, she finally taps her finger at a gray out point that had the words 'Forbidden' etched upon.
"I'm guessing this must be those Scarred Lands you talked about. This area the map says is forbidden."
"Yeah, I think that's where it's located. Seems like the nearest city is Hyperion at being two days out."
"Wait, the map says its forbidden. And that seal by it too..."
"Yeah, I saw that as well. By royal law, none are allowed to enter that place without permission from his majesty. Failure to comply could see anyone spending the rest of your life in jail, if not executed."
"That seems a little harsh where the punishment is concerned, don't you think?"
"Agreed. It just goes to show how serious the dangers that place could offer really is. So, what's the game plan here?"
Darkness was quiet for a moment before she finally says-
"Like Kazuma would say: 'It can't be helped.' There's not enough time to go through the proper channels with this matter, plus Megumin would likely be punished by court of law if they knew."
"We can't be having that now, can we. After all, we're going to be all the punishment she's going to need here."
"Exactly. We need to go prepare ourselves for this journey, and not just with anything. If we're going into these bad lands, we'll need very specific items. We should also head home and get our things together. Once we've been teleported to Hyperion, we'll purchase some horses and maybe a carriage to see us there."
"Will we be allowed to do that? I mean, what if the driver..."
"We won't hire a driver. My skills with riding horses and leading them are pretty good so I can take charge in needed. Have either of you ever ridden horseback before."
"I have though it's been a while since I last did so."
"Never ridden a horse in my life though I am familiar with... no, nothing... never mind me."
Yunyun had suddenly become all flustered, making me wonder what was going on. I look at Darkness and see her sending Yunyun a devious smirk. I would ask her what she was thinking but given her perverted thought process, I decided to was better not to ask her what she was thinking right now.
"OK, we have our game plan and we know what needs to be done. Let's get to work so we can hopefully catch up with Megumin in the sooner."
"Doubly so seeing as she has a few days lead on us already."
As we go to leave, I suddenly realize something and thus say-
"Yunyun, do you think you can send a telepathic message to Kazuma. Let him know what's going on."
"I already tried that before, while I was still at Wiz's shop. He's either outside my current range or in a place that doesn't allow for telepathic communication. Doesn't help that he didn't tell us where he and Lynn were running off to."
"Probably for the best. Let's see if we can find Megumin ourselves and get her back home before Kazuma and Lynn can get back from wherever it it they're at right now."
"Wait, are you saying we're going to keep Kazuma in the dark about all this, Darkness."
"Not at all. We will tell him about it eventually, if he doesn't discover it first. I just want the three of us to have a go at yelling at Megumin, punishing her, before Kazuma gets his turn. After all, having Kazuma mad at her will be the worst punishment Megumin can suffer. Don't you all agree?"
That is true. Alright, let's go follow that Megumin and see if we can get her back without needing Kazuma there to help us or him even finding out till we're ready to tell him about it.
{|} Part 7: Behind These Castle Walls {|}
(Kazuma's POV)
"Just up ahead, once we reach the top of this hill, you'll be able to see the castle, Kazuma."
After Lynn's teleportation had ended, she and Ruffian had led me across this rocky and somewhat desolate area of the land. This place was truly fitting for the term wilderness or frontier, a region yet to be settled and tamed by anyone.
Well, almost anyone as clearly this is where the Devil King and his forces had chosen to set up shop at.
"You doing OK there, brat. Is the thought of finally reaching the gates of hell making you nervous."
"Dad, how many times do I need to ask you to stop using hell to describe everything."
"What's wrong with me doing that? You know that's my calling card, Lynn. I recall your mom loved it when I used that term and even Luna has come to love it when I bring her screaming into my..."
"OK dad, seriously. There are some things I'll allow you to talk about. You and miss Luna's newly developing sex life isn't one of them so would you PLEASE keep those details to yourself."
"If I must though I have to say you're missing out on learning some valuable tips you could make use of for when that special day finally comes for you."
"... How in the hell did mom even fall in love with you, anyways?"
"Oh, there are many reasons. Like the fact I'm quite the Goliath in certain areas, as Luna has recently learned."
"Dad, that is something I DIDN'T need or want to hear so will you please just shut up."
So, this is what goes on with this father-daughter combo whenever they're together. I wonder if what I'm hearing them talk about is the norm or if this is intentional, at least on Ruffian's part, because of me being here with them.
Also, side note, this is really strange. I honestly never expected I would ever be going with Ruffian anywhere, at least outside of Axel. I was really thinking it would just be me and Lynn doing this thing.
"Kazuma, hey Kazuma. Are you doing OK back there?"
I come out of my thoughts and see Lynn and Ruffian having made it to the top of the hill we had been walking up on. They were now looking back at me with a hint of concern in their eyes. I simply shake my head and say-
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind, is all."
"To be expected, I guess. After all, considering where it is we are taking you and who you will soon be meeting."
said Ruffian as the distance between us grew smaller and smaller. As I reach the top, Lynn turns and motions with her arm off into the distance and says-
"Anyways, here we are, Kazuma. The moment you've been waiting for. The castle fortress of the Devil King."
What I saw before me took my breath away, if I was being honest. The place was massive, incredibly massive in fact. It was like I was looking down at Axel, if Axel was one giant castle or fortress. Perhaps that's why Lynn had said it was a castle fortress.
The outer most walls looked to be twice as high as the outer walls that protected Axel, perhaps even three times bigger and what I was able to see beyond them looked like dozens of different castles all lumped together into one oversized mega-castle. And of course, there was the amber color of the tremendously huge barrier that surrounded the whole thing.
"How many... and just how big..."
"I had a similar reaction as you currently are when I first saw this place, Kazuma. It truly is a site to behold. And then there's that magical barrier."
"In case you were wondering, Kazuma. You normally can't see mana materialized into a physical form unless a large amount of it is being focused into a singular spot. Given that the barrier that surrounds the whole castle fortress is visible to the naked eye, that should tell you just how powerful this barrier is. The amount of mana being put into it alone exceeds anything most people could even comprehend."
"How is all that possible?"
"Time will answer that question, Kazuma. For now, what do you say we head inside?"
After that, Lynn and Ruffian led me back down the hill, then we followed a side path that brought us down to ground level with what I assumed was one of the many gates one could use to enter this place. As we get closer and closer, I find myself asking-
"Question, if the two of you are as chummy with the Devil King as I'm being led to believe, then why..."
"Why are we taking the scenic route with you and not just teleporting straight into the throne room?"
"Yeah, that."
"Two reasons, Kazuma. One is we wanted to give you a chance to see the sites as it's not often we find ourselves entertaining visitors from "the enemies side." The other reason is purely because of protocol. All first timers have to take the long way around, for security reasons."
"Makes sense."
It was weird to hear Lynn use the term "enemies' side," especially seeing as both she and her dad associated with said enemy on a regular basis, though this could be proof that they are spies. It didn't matter as I trusted Lynn and she me, or so it seemed anyways. Hopefully, meeting the Devil King will answer all the questions I have.
A few minutes later, we come to a stop before the barrier. After a moment, Ruffian says-
"I'll leave these next parts to you, Lynn."
"Yeah-yeah, I know, dad. Seriously, after all this time, you'd think you'd remember how to do this yourself. Hopefully you'll be a better study than this idiot I call father, Kazuma."
"I'd like to think I already am. For one thing, I wouldn't talk about my sexual escapades with my daughter in earshot like this guy does."
"Hey, I only do it because I want to educate my little girl, seeing as her mother is no longer able too."
Lynn giggles at my words and rolls her eyes at Ruffian's reply. She then turns her attention to the barrier before reaching out and tracing her fingers across it in a rounded four drawing, save for it being mirrored with the round four in its normal position with a reverse on the underside and she does this all with a single motion while saying a strange word.
"[Jimalock!]" (the J has more of a Y sound to it, so it sounds like Yim-Ah-Lock)
Immediately, an opening forms in the barrier and we quickly pass through as the opening doesn't stay open for too long before sealing up again. We then find ourselves standing before the massive gate with two incredibly tall creatures standing guard, dressed in impressive looking armor.
"So dad, want to give this one a try? All you have to do is speak the password."
"Ah... I'll let you handle this one as well, Lynn. Last time I tried to do it myself, I found myself getting the point of their halberds in a place no man should ever feel their points at."
I have a good idea what he was implying, and I really wish I didn't.
Lynn laughs before taking a few steps forward and says with a commanding voice-
"[Maya!]" (basically, what it sounds like, My-Yah with the 'ah 'sound slightly drawn out)
The two massive guards let out a gurgle like sound as their armor creeks as if it hadn't seen motion in a long time, raising their halberds up before bringing the ends back onto the ground three times. A new sound, a deep groaning like noise, fills the air as the massive gates slowly begin to open. Not much mind you, just enough to see us able to pass on inside.
Lynn, with a smirk on her face, looks back at me and says with a bemused and coy tone-
"Nice touch, huh Kazuma?"
"Sure, if you like the ominous ambiance of it all, that is."
"Just stay close to us, kid. For your sake, you'll want to stay close less you become something special for some of the guards inside."
"Dad, please don't go scaring Kazuma. Besides, I'm pretty sure they would kill him before defiling his corpse."
"You two are not making me feel better right now. I hope you both can understand that."
Once we were inside, both Lynn and Ruffian pull out light torches that begin to glow. Ruffian hands me one and together, the three of us begin to make our way down the pitch-black halls that made up the inside of this massive structure. As we go, I can't help but ask-
"So, is it always kept pitch-black inside this place?"
"All denizens of these halls can see in the dark, if that's what you're wondering."
"One of many the security measure that has been put into place, should an enemy somehow make it past the barrier and outer walls. Inside the castle fortress, the light from regular torches or any light creating spells won't work. Even using the Night-vision skill won't help one to see where they are going. Only these special illumination torches can be used in here."
"Understood... I think. Lynn, about those two words you spoke earlier. What do they mean?"
"Hm... oh, right. I should tell you, otherwise they won't work even if you say the words perfectly. [Jimalock] is essentially our way of saying open sesame, a term I'm told you would be familiar with. It means 'to open the path before me.' As for [Maya?] That's my people's word for friend. Basically, I told the guards at the front gate that you were a friend, thus making it safe for them to let you inside."
"I see. One would think having the two of you with me would be enough to tell them that."
"It would be nice if it worked that way, kid. But rules are rules. Only the current [Riiji], or high one, can grant you the honor to be recognized and allowed to pass without issue."
"That's why we have to take you the long way around, Kazuma. Until our [Riiji] has met with you personally and granted you his blessing will you be able to come and go freely with us and our people."
"Gotcha..."
As we walked deeper and deeper into the castle fortress, I began to take notice of something important. None of the guards walking never once spared me a glance as I passed by them. Even stranger was the fact my Enemy Detection skill wasn't going off either. Perhaps it was because they weren't really a threat to me or could it be possible that...
"Something on your mind, kid?"
Ruffian's question pulls me from my thoughts and Lynn also looks back at me with a curious look in her eyes. I hesitate to say anything for a moment then I finally decide to ask them about it.
"I've noticed that none of the guards seem to be taking notice of me. In fact, they haven't said anything at all since the three of us arrived. Then there's the fact my Enemy Detection skill hasn't gone off even once either. I'm assuming that means that none of these guys are my enemy at the moment but... well, something just isn't sitting right with me."
"I was wondering when you were going to take notice of those details, Kazuma."
"What do you mean, Lynn?"
Ruffian answers for her by saying-
"Perhaps we should have told you this before, but I personally felt it would be better for you to learn this secret once we were here. I'm guessing you felt the same way, Lynn."
"Sort of. I just wanted to surprise Kazuma here."
"Surprise me how?"
Just then, another guard came round the corner and Ruffian stops it before it could pass us.
"Here, let me show you. Now, tell me what you see beneath the helmet."
Ruffian then pulls the helmet of the guard off its head, revealing the face of the creature beneath. I then stare at it, as best I can given the limited reach of the illumination torches, but the truth was clear.
"None of these guys are alive, are they? They're all some kind of..."
"Golems. You would be correct, kid. Each and every guard stationed here at the Devil King's castle fortress is a special golem class entity, created by the craftsmen of our clan and given life, if you could call this living, by the mages and our [Riiji] himself."
"This is the truth of the Devil King's army, Kazuma. None of them are real living, breathing beings, but instead mindless drones that exist solely to fulfill a specific purpose. Also, the reason your Enemy Detection skill isn't working isn't because of you being with us, but because these sentry golems have been enchanted with an aura that negates the Enemy Detection skills ability to detect them and see them as an enemy."
"I see. So, does that mean these guys can act like statues so they can catch any intruders off guard?"
"For the most part, yes. Now, let's hurry along. We're almost at the throne room."
And so, we continued even further into this place. As we continued, new questions began to fill my mind. If all the guards were nothing more than mindless golems, then were there any living people in this place besides the Devil King himself? And if not, then what could that possibly mean for his motivations behind this war and if the whole purpose of this war was something no one could even imagine it being.
Finally, we reached two massive doors. Not as massive as the gate entrance doors we had passed through but still fairly huge in their size. I feel Ruffian place a hand on my shoulder and he says to me as I look at him-
"Ready for this, kid?"
"Yeah, I am. This meeting has been a long time in the making and one I've felt I've waited long enough for."
"Then let's not waste any more time, Kazuma. Beyond this door is the meeting you've been waiting for."
Once the doors had been opened, we stepped into the large circular room and positioned dead center, sitting upon a massive throne that was raised up was a massive body of demonic armor that gave off the most intimidating presence I have ever felt in my life.
"So, this must be the Devil King... is what I would like to say if this thing was the real deal."
"Eh?" (x2)
Both Lynn and Ruffian were shocked by my words as I look back at them and say-
"This is a good trick, especially the scary aura this armor is giving off. But as the old saying goes: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. After what you two told me about the guards, I began to wonder if there were any living being here apart from your [Riiji] and not that I'm supposed to be standing before him, I can say without any doubt that not even he is actually here. Am I wrong?"
They both just look at me for a second before they finally start laughing.
"Please tell me this isn't going to turn into some kind of cliché moment where you two plan on stabbing me in the back because if that ends up being the case, I'm going to be very annoyed."
"Don't worry, Kazuma. I can be mean sometimes, but I'm not that mean. Besides, I would sooner do that to Dust before I would do that to you."
"Not bad, kid. I always knew you could be quick on the uptake so long as you have the right information inside that noggin' of yours beforehand. You are correct in that neither our [Riiji] or our people are actually here inside this castle fortress. They never were."
"So, does that mean I'm right in assuming that the purpose of this place is to draw the eyes of the Kingdom of Belzerg and its ally's here in order to protect the true home of your people then? Seems like a lot of work to build a place like that for such a thing."
"Actually, my people never built this place. This castle fortress is a remnant that remains from a much older time, one so far back that any and all records of its existence has more or less been forgotten to time. We just simply borrowed this place to fulfill a specific purpose, nothing more."
"Makes sense. So, what was the point in bringing me here to begin with then?"
"While this place itself isn't our home, a way to getting there can be found within these walls. Observe."
Lynn then approaches the false Devil King's armored form then walks back behind the throne. Ruffian then leads me behind there as well and I watch as Lynn makes some motions with her hands while whispering out more of those unknown words. Immediately, the back of the throne shifts and becomes like a mirror that Lynn then steps into. With Ruffian urging me onwards, I step through as well...
And find myself emerging somewhere else inside the castle; a hallway to be exact.
"Just a quick walk down this hall, kid. That's where we will find the road to our real destination."
After walking down said hall, we enter a small room with an arch located right at its center. Once again, Lynn approaches it and places a hand upon the marble like material.
"[Uskari Rizka.]"
"Or 'reveal the road' in that language, kid."
I watch as a light comes into being at the center of the arch before a field of glowing blue-white magic erupts within, filling the inside of the arch with its light. And then, along the bottom, a pathway of green pulsing light begins to grow, seemingly stretching onward into the endless.
"I am so glad I came to this world."
"Kazuma, this isn't the end of the trip for us. Once we emerge from the other side, we'll have to pass a few more test in order for you to reach our city. Nothing too big and definitely nothing challenging, especially seeing as me and dad will be with you. So, ready to do a little Realm Walking?"
"Yeah, I am. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to what sights and wonders you two are going to show me next."
Lynn and Ruffian smile at me and together, the three of us step into this gate of magic and through it, into a world I'm sure I will quite enjoy being in.
{|} to be continued... {|}