Not counting Orum Arx on the surface, I have reached the 14th floor which means there should only be 11 more floors. All demon beast that we have encountered are mostly juggernaut class capable of using magic and then there are also some of medium size but at danger level beyond that of ‘never to approach’. I can’t go into more details on the classification as Azanthys and I are currently fighting many of such beasts.
Four floating great swords made of ice are moving as if dancing amidst various color of scattered blood and monstrous body parts, mowing down the enemies in succession. The one controlling it, Azanthys is behind me while I am holding the unnamed serrated sword in my right and a wyvern fang dagger in my left doing the vanguard role. I have accustomed myself too much on fighting solo but our cooperation and combination attacks are perfect. I’ve been using her weapon form for quite a long time during my hero days so perhaps she already knows all my habit and tendencies.
Mostly she heavily injured the demon beasts and I delivered the killing blow while at times it’s the other way around. Whenever the enemies attacked me with magic Azanthys would shield me with her ice so I can continue attacking without worries. I could immediately take on a medium sized ones by myself but killing the far larger juggernaut class can only be as fast with Azanthys’ assistance. Looking at our attacks, if I am a machine gun, Azanthys would be a railgun in comparison.
As I attacked the legs of the last remaining juggernaut class demon beast I quickly pulled back leaving its collapsing body.
“Azanthys, now!”
“Yes… master!”
The four ice greatswords gathered at one place and merged into one boulder size ice sword. Azanthys then launched the sword towards the beast’ head, ultimately impaling it right until the guard part touched the skull.
Just like that, in just a little more than an hour the two of us massacred a total of 25 juggernaut class demon beast and 30 medium sized ones. We have conquered this floor. We were going by 2 floors per day so I might be able to clear this place faster than I had thought. I didn’t go for more because even I can feel fatigue and Azanthys uses quite some mana in battle so I need to allocate the time for her automatic but slow recharge. I will only send her more mana when it is necessary.
“Phew, I’d say we’re doing well.”
I put my weapons into their sheath and wiped my sweaty forehead.
“Master… shall Azanthys… gather… materials?”
“Hmm, please do. Choose whatever you think is best but make ‘em no bigger than this.”
I gestured shoebox size with my hands. I’ve been looking for new material to make new armor so I have gathered quite the amount even after selecting only the ‘I think this can be used’ ones. My backpack can’t carry any more belongings so if I find a better one something else less promising must be discarded.
Azanthys doesn’t really need to eat but it seems she likes to, especially when it is the same as what I am having. Even so consumables are decreasing slower since while I have prepared his share Mareritter is not here and I have also took another dungeon culinary challenge with both curiosity and saving supplies as the reason. Taste is another matter but I have at least found several edible demon beast. While that can be said as a good thing the amount of freed space is not much for the time being.
Right now my cracked back plate is being reinforced with Azanthys’ ice. I don’t feel cold since her magic cannot directly affect me which is good. Azanthys is capable to create two kinds of ice, one that is close to natural ice and one that will only melt under extreme heat like that gigantic dragon’s breath. The amount of mana needed to create the latter is obviously higher. I don’t think there is a need to mention which one is used to reinforce my armor.
About my damaged armor though, should I ask that equipment shop old man to repair and permanently reinforce it or just make a new one with materials gathered here. I guess I’ll just ask his opinion later.
After I secured a place to rest and put my backpack down I also started looking for material but found nothing that piqued my interest. Azanthys brought back some chunk of shells, bones, and scales. Amongst them I found one peculiar item, a dark blue feather the size of a standard refrigerator. That is beyond the size I mentioned but I tried holding it. Not betraying its appearance, the feather is light, but is as strong as steel.
“Make… threads…perfect…”
I nodded to Azanthys’ suggestion. The feather is huge but is lightweight so I guess I can carry it without stuffing it into my bag. One might not be enough so I asked Azanthys to take two more. I don’t know if that old man can process this but I’ll just look for another craftsman if needed be. Thus I bundled the three feathers by having Azanthys to make ice holding them together at the quills close to the barbs.
After confirming the surrounding that there is no surviving demon beast I then chose to rest here and sleep.
***
I stretched my body after Azanthys woke me up. I told her to wake me up exactly after 6 hours have passed and she did… maybe. It seems Azanthys and Mareritter have something that is more than just your normal body clock and it is in time format I’m most familiar with, the one on earth. Having a butler and a maid that can function as an alarm clock is simply amazing isn’t it? I wonder if they have snooze function or not… The best feature of Azanthys is her lap pillow though. Make no mistake, it wasn’t because of my demand but she was the one that strongly offered it. I don’t know if she sleeps while I do or she was just looking at me all the time since I always woke up to find her face looking at mine. I don’t snore do I?
Yeah, you can ignore my useless rambling.
After a quick check on my equipment and having Azanthys strengthen the ice on my back plate we then departed to the next floor.
Wait, is it just me or did Azanthys just make the design of ice on my back more extravagant than yesterday? I noticed some lavish spikes when I happened to turn my head sideways. Must be my imagination… doesn’t seem to be one.
It seemed like her ability to control ice magic has improved a lot as well. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say she is getting closer to her past self if I were to consider what that dragon who knows her past had said. Since my mana is constantly being drained by Azanthys and Mareritter, right now it’s just Azanthys, my mana capacity has been steadily increasing by the day as well. As long as I get stronger Azanthys and Mareritter will also become stronger so their strengthening method problem wasn’t even there it seems, which is good.
There is no railing on the long flight of stairs in this tower but the stone stairway is almost 5 meters in width. The stairs to go to the next floor is always located at the wall on the opposite side of where you reached a floor, there is no need to look for them compared to those randomly located teleportation circle of the tower’s counterpart on the surface. If I would mention a problem then it is that there is always a hole several tens of meters across in the middle of a floor so it is dangerous to fight near it.
As we were nearing the landing on the next floor I could sense some peculiar presences.
“What the?”
After I stepped into the 15th floor, right before my eyes is a small settlement with people… they’re horned, demon race? They are wearing what seemed to be makeshift clothing made out of leather material, perhaps from demon beasts. Coincidentally I could only sense some small sized demon beast and very few juggernaut class demon beasts on this floor and they are located on the opposite end.
Azanthys who was next to me doesn’t seem to be surprised but why are there even people here?
As I was wondering some of those people noticed me and after some talking between themselves three of them approached me by running. An elderly man is looking especially rushed.
“A, are you an outsider? Did you come from the outside world?”
Since they don’t show any hostility yet I decided to have a talk for now.
“Yeah I am.”
“Are you maybe here to free us and the great creator?”
“The great creator?”
“It is… Mother…”
Azanthys answered my query in their stead. It seems I’ve collected another piece of puzzle but I still can’t see the big picture yet.
The old man and his companions opened their eyes wide when they finally noticed Azanthys.
“Don’t tell me… that same appearance as in the engravings left by our ancestors… You are… Lord Azanthys?”
Lord?! Azanthys? I looked at Azanthys who just blushed while averting her eyes from mine. No, I mean this taciturn Azanthys was called a lord?
When they finally snapped from their daze they apologized to us for their rudeness while I don’t think anything was rude to begin with. After a brief introduction between us. The elder whose name is Roland guided us to an old building made of stone significantly larger and more advanced in design than the surrounding huts which looked like they were made of clay. There are also some ruins of similar stone buildings which about half were patched with the clay-like substance, perhaps to be reused and then there is a strange big stone slab visible just a little from behind the main stone building.
The people here looked at me and Azanthys with full curiosity while we were walking following the old man who must be the elder of this community as I don’t see anyone else close to his age. Well, many tribes of demon race has life span several times longer that of human albeit not as long as elves, and they only start to look old by human standard when they are nearing the end of their life span, again, by human standard that would mean several decades left.
From what I could see the population here doesn’t even reach a hundred and there are more children than adults, like 3:1. There are also fat-ostrich-like demon beasts confined in a poorly made pen, while another pen got four legged demon beasts covered in thick blue and white fur eating black grass common in the grasslands or forest areas of Orum Arx. I think those are their main food source.
I entered the building after the elder and inside I could only find leather rags, makeshift table made of the clay and some bones, perhaps from demon beast, and piled up leather mats and some bundled up rags which must be a set of bed and pillow.
“Please forgive us for not being able to offer you better hospitality.”
He sat on a rag and gestured an offer for us to sit as well while a woman served us some kind of light blue drink in wooden cups and some pieces of dried meat cut to the size of a thumb in wooden tray, maybe of that ostrich-like or furry demon beast. She then sat behind the elder while two males who also guided us sat at both sides of the elder.
“I would like to say don’t hesitate to eat but we wouldn’t be offended even if you don’t do as much as touching them as I am aware that they might not be to your liking.”
The elder lowered his head to me and Azanthys who just took our seat. I already ventured my share of dungeon culinary challenge so the meat actually look to be more of a normal one than what I had fixed myself until now. First time to see the drink though.
“Nah, don’t worry, I’ll try some.”
“If master… eat… Azanthys will… too…”
I ate some meat and Azanthys immediately copied me. They’re somewhat tasty but lacks seasoning. It’s not like you can just find chunks of salt and sugar lying around or popping like mushroom especially in this kind of place so I have no complaint. The bluish drink tastes like goat milk but rather sour albeit not the bad kind of sourness. This is still better than biscuits and hardened bread that is my rations so I took and ate some more. I’ll not mention some frozen consumables which need to be cooked first in my bag though… just another feature of my maid.
“I am glad that our savior is willing to accept this humble hospitality.”
“Savior?”
I immediately asked and the elder nodded in response.
“You are the master of lord Azanthys, correct? Our people has been waiting your arrival for many generations. However, I don’t see Lord Mareritter and the other 3 lords. We have been waiting for who knows how long so might some unfortunate incident have rendered them unable to come?”
His expression was bright at the first sentence but gradually turned sour after that.
“I don’t know about the 3 other lords but I gave Mareritter another task so yeah, he was unable to come.”
“... I am sorry to be impolite here, but will you be able to free the great creator with just the two of you?”
“Uhh, I don’t know. Or rather, I’m actually in the blank here. Can you explain everything first?”
“Did lord Azanthys and Mareritter not explain to you yet?”
“Bound to… rule… can’t… explain…”
“I see. Please follow me then.”
The elder stood and so I followed him. The others in the room also followed but at a distance.
He led us to a door to a wide area in the backyard. There he stopped at the base of the giant stone slab I saw on the way here.
“This is the message our ancestor left us.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
He looked upwards so I followed his line of sight. There engraved on the old and battered stone slab is a picture of a winged maiden spreading her arms and wings. Near her feet then are five figures, 3 females and 2 males. A dragon with multiple pairs of wings is engraved to the background. All the figure including the dragon and the winged maiden are made elaborately except for the blurred face which must be intentional. I immediately recognized two as Azanthys and Mareritter while the winged maiden should be Praesia although there are some difference from the Lavinia-like Praesia that I know like the hair-length. Then at the lowest right corner are some writings but I can’t read them since I’ve never seen the characters before.
“Praesia the great creator has fallen after defeating a fragment of Aži Dahāka. The remaining enemies used that chance to conjure this accursed tower, destroying our cherished city and sealing the great creator. We must free the great creator as part of our pact so that the great creator can finally leave this world to help the supreme being the great creator called as Tiamat. As powerless as we may against the Ar daenocens… we can only wait for the savior led by five lords created by the great creator herself. We shall give guidance and assistance at the cost of our life. Until then we shall wait here even if it will take an eternity for when the great creator is freed, we shall also be.”
The elder read the passage for me and looked at me with worry reflected in his eyes.
“Our savior might have come but he only has one lord accompanying him.”
I can’t say ‘don’t worry, I can take care of anything’ when you said it like that you know.
After that I engaged in a Q&A session with the elder. He doesn’t really know the details of what happened in the past but I got quite some information from him. First, Praesia is a being known as Ar draughum, meaning ‘true dragon god’ or ‘one who regulates the universe’, what a grand name eh? She created the five lords, two of them being Azanthys and Mareritter to fight against something called Ar Daenocens or ‘true demon god’, however the enemies created their own similar fighting force albeit somewhat weaker than the five lords.
The war soon began to involve the original residents of this world while some took Praesia’s side, some other took the enemies’ The five lords can only have one master that was Praesia so she created and bestowed her followers with the downgraded form. Needless to say, the enemies also did the same.
After years of war Praesia finally managed to defeat the enemies’ leader, Aži Dahāka but only by sacrificing herself. Although both Ar draughum and Ar daenocens cannot truly die the enemies used the chance to seal her. Unfortunately, No one knows what happened to Aži Dahāka after its defeat. The five lord was spared but as they are beings bound to pact the enemies used that to prevent them from helping Praesia by themselves in exchange of having the enemies withdraw for a set of time, leading to a temporary peace.
The whole story is longer but in conclusion, I have to release Praesia from her seal as she needs to help this Tiamat. No one knows what exactly happened to this Aži Dahāka’s fragment. The five lords are in an obvious disadvantage since they cannot operate without someone supplying mana and no human can do that. Wait, so I’m not human? Does being a hero removed me from human category in this world? Oh well…
There are still many missing details like what are they exactly and why this Tiamat even needs help but the elder only knows this much. I have barely read any book in this world which is a rare product, let alone reading a history book but I am sure that there is no one out there that knows about the story I was just told. It is a long lost history.
“I might be rude to ask this but if you didn’t know anything then why did you come here in the first place?”
The elder’s tone changed, it’s not as reserved as before but he is still trying to be polite.
“I owe Praesia some, especially my life. She was the one who told me to come see her as well.”
The elder looked at me in disbelief.
“How is that possible? The great creator has been sealed.”
Even if you ask me that… I don’t think he will believe me if I say I met Praesia in my dreams.
“Master… has that…”
Azanthys pointed at my chest.
“Huh?”
“Excuse…Azanthys…”
Perhaps annoyed because I was just standing there dumbfounded Azanthys got closer to my side, grabbed my shoulder and used her other hand to go through my breastplate and shirt from the neck, groping around my collarbone.
“Oy! What are you do…ing?”
The blushing Azanthys took out the amulet of Praesia I’m always wearing. I take that back, rather than annoyed, she was just being an opportunist.
“That is… don’t tell me… the sacred gem made by the great creator herself? The one she gave to one of the ancient monarchs, our queen?”
The elder immediately knelt, followed by the three others that were present, I can never accustom myself to people genuflecting for me as I felt this itchiness on the back of my neck.
“Please forgive me for my previous breach of manner. Not only you are to be our savior, I did not realize that you were the bearer of the sacred gem. It should have been in the hand of Eldarifst’s queen, are you a descendant?”
“Eldarifst? The one who gave this to me is a princess of a kingdom called Rifst though.”
“Rifst? I see, much time has passed so it is natural that many changes have occurred. Nevertheless, the one who holds the sacred gem and capable to converse with the great creator is the proof of the one who shall lead us as her majesty the queen once led our ancestors.”
Hm? If this Eldarifst was the predecessor of Rifst wouldn’t their ancestors be humans then? Or demon race and human really used to coexist well to the point of living in the same country?
“Were human and demon race living together in this Eldarifst?”
“I am sorry, I don’t understand the meaning of your question… what is a demon race? I do know the race called as elves, dwarves, and the quallentes.”
I decided to ask further about the details on how was life at that time while returning inside the building. We sat and the woman served another batch of meat sticks and blue drinks.
To my surprise, there was no such thing as demon race. No, to put it better, their ancestor were human given power by Praesia which changed part of their physique and magic circuit, increasing their battle prowess. In short, the demon race was once human. I have never heard about dwarves so they are either extinct or living hidden from the rest of the world. The quallentes was how they called the beastmen and they are living in the northern island nations. While the once oppressed human was in Praesia’s camp, the elves, dwarves, and quallentes were on the enemy’s. Funny to think that now mankind is the dominant race. It seems Praesia was also the one who taught the hero summoning method as they became their main fighting force and the heroes were given this thing they called as sub-lord. Some kind of a downgraded version of Azanthys and Mareritter maybe?
The elder was surprised when I told him that there is currently a war between human and demon race. He said, time sure is cruel for allowing such a change. On the other hand I just thought, isn’t that just how human is but didn’t say it out loud.
After I cramped all the new information, I got the feeling that I have collected most part of the puzzle but still couldn’t picture it whole.
Unlike most other floors, the magic stones lighting in this floor dim out at set intervals which must be the night. So, after the talk ended the elder asked us to spend the night here. He even offered his makeshift bed for me but I declined. I’ve learned to sleep on any kind of environment and I have this ultimate maid-lap pillow called Azanthys anyway… I don’t think I will make use of that service now, not in front of others. I definitely didn’t decline because I don’t want to use a bed of an old man okay. Refusing others’ hospitality for such a reason is rude… okay, I am quite rude then.
Thus I slept while leaning to a wall with Azanthys to my side.
***
The next morning there was a commotion waking me up before the alarm, Azanthys, could.
I stretched while being watched intently by Azanthys. It seems I’ve gotten used to her gaze I don’t feel any awkwardness anymore.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
The elder came in through the door from the outside.
“Did something happen?”
“Our hunters just returned from the floor above bringing some battle beast’s meat. It is our main food source after the farm. Also, the news of our savior’s arrival have spread to the whole village, adding to it.”
Battle beast… ah, demon beast. I still couldn’t immediately connect the ancient term and the current term right away it seems. So the huge difference in number of children and adult was because the adults were out hunting. By the way, there is some kind of magical contraption made by their ancestor that prevents dangerous demon beasts from respawning on this floor. There are some that very rarely respawns but even when they do it is always far from the settlement. Too bad they weren’t of edible kind so the hunters must go to the floors below or one floor up. It seems going to the 17th floor and beyond is strictly forbidden.
“Sadly, we lost two of our hunters but we are used to such… that is why we only hunt when the farm is lacking.”
Used to… that’s some sad words but I didn’t say anything. I wonder if I just have gotten too used to the term ‘death’.
“Anyway, thanks for yesterday, I got many information but it is time for me to resume my tower climbing.”
“Must it be so soon? Now that we are in possession of more food we can have a banquet for you and the lord. A mere one day later to be freed is nothing compared to the years that have passed.”
“Thanks but I promised to return as soon as possible to someone waiting for me out there.”
“I see, then I shall have our best hunter to accompany you from here on.”
“Eh?”
I honestly though that is certainly a help I would need but before I could answer Azanthys cut in.
“... Hindrance… not necessary…”
Oy, she’s not saying that because she wants it to be just the two of us right?
“I see… certainly there must be a reason our ancestor forbid us from going to the floor beyond the one above… however, it is our duty to guide the savior. Will you please reconsider?”
Hmm. I don’t know how capable their hunters are but they must be quite strong to be able to hunt the demon beasts here. Some fell victims though.
“How many people goes in a hunt by the way?”
“A... at least thirty… to kill a battle beast. Less than that will lead to a heavy failure.”
The elder hesitated before giving an honest answer.
Thirty for one, eh… The juggernaut class demon beast here is several times stronger than their counterpart in the surface’s Orum Arx so I guess the hunter should be as strong as a demon general especially one of lower tier such as, who was it, Nourrie? Berudis is closer to Orcus in strength so he is an exception.
Well, I guess going with that much people will be more of a trouble than a help. Slower progress while there is an increase in food consumption. I’d feel bad for the barely scraping village if some of them dies on the way. Okay, rejected.
“Sorry, but I agree with Azanthys, going in small number is also faster.”
“T, then please at least take only the strongest along. You can use them as shield or sacrifice at the very least. Our life is nothing for the success of our long awaited savior.”
Seriously??? Oy… if that’s how it goes then… I guess… wait, no. I’ve felt myself losing my humanity many times before. At least I don’t want to be like that to those bearing only goodwill towards me.
Before I could say another objection some people came in through the door.
“Grandpa, I thought you called for us so we’re… who are you?”
The spiky haired young man who just entered and followed by a muscular man whose head is cleanly shaved and a girl whose hair is tied into a loose plait immediately became wary and grabbed their weapons when they saw me and Azanthys. As they had just returned from a hunt, they are still wearing crude armor made of demon beast materials but the weapons they have were properly made ones albeit not in best condition.
“Where are your manners!? Sir Erik is the one who will be our savior, and he is the sacred gem holder.”
“The one mentioned in the legend? So the outside world and the story were not just a myth made by the ancestors…”
The girl opened her eyes wide while holding a hand to her mouth after she said that. The bald muscular man lowered his weapon while still bewildered. The young man on the other hand still kept his stance, his eyes were scrutinizing us thoroughly.
“I still can’t believe that yet. Fight me outside! I’ll acknowledge you if you can beat me, the strongest here.”
“Eh, but he’s the savior you know! Will you be fine?”
The girl looked at the young man worriedly but was brushed aside with a ‘humph’.
“That’s what I’m going to confirm! Come on!”
Well, here it comes. Just another cliched event! … Let’s just get through it quickly.
As the young man left through the door followed by the other two the elder bowed to me.
I am very sorry, but he is my grandson… please don’t overdo it…
Judging by the previous flow of conversation I think he would have his grandson guide me… telling me to not overdo it after allowing me to have him as a shield or sacrifice… just wow.
“Don’t worry, I won’t. I’ll just try to end this quickly without hurting him too much.”
With an ‘oh shit…’ kind of expression on his face, the elder wiped his sweaty forehead.
“Good grief, that grandson of mine can’t even see the fact that reaching this place with just two people is a feat beyond ordinary…”
After that I also exited the through the door and was led to an open area just a little bit away from the farm. Many villagers including the kids gathered around to watch the fight. Azanthys who is watching from the sidelines is expressionless as usual but I can tell that she wasn’t worried about the fight at all. Okay, I’ll show an overwhelming difference of power so that the elder will give up on having a guide for me…
“Erik, was it? My name’s Albert the raging wind! If you are really our savior, then prove it by defeating me first!”
“*Buhh* raging what?”
My fictitious grandfather, Albert the raging storm blah-blah just flashed through my mind when I heard his name and title so I inadvertently let out such. What are the chances for this kind of coincidence?
“You! What was that!? Only the best hunters are bestowed with a title and you dare to make fun of that!?”
Without waiting for the signal to start or for me to take out my weapons he dashed at me while brandishing his sword. At the same time four small tornadoes appeared surrounding me, closing in fast. The spell is just an upper mid-class but to create four at once and chantless at that is not easy so he must really have some skill. It seems he intended to attack me first while having all the tornadoes to prevent me from dodging or to hit me if I was able to dodge. Nice one, but your opponent is just bad.
I also dashed forward and confronted him head on. He was surprised but managed to swing his sword at me which missed its mark. Only for a second I stopped holding back and with a speed that his eyes couldn’t follow circled to his back.
“Okay, it’s over.”
Stopping my blow before it hits will not work on convincing this kind of hot-headed guy so I kicked him for real while holding back to some extent. As a result, he was blown away and is en route to hit the screaming spectators so.
(Azanthys!)
(Yes… master…)
Azanthys jumped in and grabbed his leg just before he could hit the spectators. It is good that he was already unconscious, if not, he would feel more pain from the sudden stop of momentum from being held by the leg.
“What was that? The savior suddenly disappeared for a second and appeared behind Albert!”
“Amazing, that Albert got done in with just one hit?”
“Mister savior is so strong!”
It seems no one from the spectator spoke out a negative remark. Not that I would care even if there is one though.
***
Why?
I was climbing the stairs to the 16th floor. Next to me is Azanthys, while behind me are Albert and his two friends. Juno the muscular guy and Novia the girl.
Why are they following me?
They are carrying all my luggage plus their own so I just have to hold my weapons with me.
I should have rendered Albert unable to move instead of just making him faint…
Because the elder urged me to wait until Albert regained consciousness I am now stuck with him after Albert, and the whole settlement pledged their allegiance to me.
I have accustomed myself to the silence of the dungeons and so now I’m feeling slightly annoyed from the constant chatter behind me.
“Savior, after you have freed the great creator, please teach me to fight!”
“I would like to ask the same.”
“Eeh? I’m not sure… I mean mister savior is too strong… can I even follow his teaching?”
I didn’t answer.
“Savior! I beg you to answer!”
“Please.”
“Aaah okay, okay! Me too!”
“Master… shall… Azanthys… throw… the disturbance… down… there…?”
I don’t know if Azanthys was annoyed too… wait, she wasn’t just annoyed… she’s very pissed off now as can be seen from her eyes.
Hearing that the three shut their mouth and started sweating profusely.
“Well, why not…”
The three’s face turned aghast from my words.
“…have them around as long as they’re not so noisy. They have a use as luggage carrier so we can bring back more materials if we want to.”
Then they heaved a sigh of relief. Azanthys just puffed her cheeks with a ‘muu’ with her now already expressionless face.