NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37 - Asain Gorge
Chapter 37 – Asain Gorge
—–CROW—–
Two days had passed since Count Glasston’s estate was attacked. Even though Hekatonchires was a decentralized organization, they should have grasped the deaths of Balboa and Astra by now.
‘But they can’t come right away.’
Not only did it take time to dispatch a new Dragonmancer, but it would also take time to discuss countermeasures. Would they target the Spirit Gem again, or would they choose an alternative?
[Master, if a new Dragonmancer appears, it’s likely to be one who appeared in the Western Arc of the original story, right?]
“Probably.”
The Dragonmancer, Jenad. A powerhouse who was on a completely different level from low-ranking Dragonmancers like Balboa and Astra.
In the original story, it was Jenad who summoned the demonic beast using the Spirit Gem Balboa had secured.
“They could dispatch another low-ranking Dragonmancer, but… after Balboa and Astra were defeated, they wouldn’t be that foolish. They’ll probably send Jenad, just like in the original story.”
[I see. Then the key is when this Dragonmancer Jenad will appear, and whether Hekatonchires recognizes Master as their main enemy.]
Luther had indeed defeated Balboa and Astra. However, it was highly likely that Hekatonchires hadn’t yet figured out that Luther had defeated Balboa.
And even if they had, there was still a chance they would dismiss Luther’s involvement as a coincidence. The Balboa incident was literally a coincidence, and in Astra’s case, it was unreasonable to assume Luther had come looking for her beforehand.
“So they won’t consider me as much of a threat yet.”
[That’s good to hear.]
[It would be troublesome if they started sending assassins directly after Master.]
Having said that, Integra projected a calendar in the air and continued.
[The Night of Mana is 17 days from now.]
[If they don’t recognize Master as their main enemy, the likelihood of Master being attacked during that time is low.]
[The key is to acquire enough power to stop the demonic beast summoning within those 17 days.]
Of course, that was assuming Hekatonchires found a catalyst to replace the Spirit Gem, but it was also unreasonable to assume that an organization like Hekatonchires couldn’t find a substitute.
So, prepare for the Night of Mana. Prepare not only Luther’s own power-up but also other means to確実に stop the demonic beast summoning.
“The situation in Dragon Hunter Origin becomes more serious as it progresses. If Hekatonchires starts to move directly, it will literally be the opening of hell’s gate.”
It wasn’t called a story heading towards destruction for nothing. He had to disrupt the original story’s flow from the beginning, like preventing the tragedy at Count Glasston’s estate this time, to prevent the promised destruction.
[Understood.]
[Then let’s gather our resolve and depart for our power-up.]
[Actually, Karen and Max have been waiting.]
It seemed his final preparations before leaving had taken too long.
Luther hurriedly left the room and joined Karen and Max, who were waiting near the entrance of the annex, and then they departed from Count Glasston’s estate.
—–CROW—–
* * *
The place where the second fragment was presumed to have fallen was Asain Gorge, located about half a day’s walk from Venus City.
Because of its treacherous terrain, it was a virtually untouched area, even as the vicinity of Venus City was being developed, but it was a location that appeared with considerable significance in the original story.
‘It’s where Annerose fought Astra.’
Anyway, Luther and his companions walked diligently as soon as they left Venus City and arrived at Asain Gorge in the late afternoon.
“Integra, do you sense anything?”
[I’m picking up a faint signal.]
[It’s certain that the second fragment is in Asain Gorge.]
[I’ll launch the drone to analyze the overall terrain.]
Having said that, Integra immediately launched the drone high into the sky.
Max, watching the drone, spoke to Luther.
“Luther, it could be dangerous to go deep into the gorge, so how about we camp at the entrance today and start a full-scale search tomorrow morning?”
It was a sound argument, so Luther immediately nodded.
“Let’s do that. And if we’re camping… let’s go this way. There’s a place I have in mind.”
“A place you have in mind? Ah… yes, understood.”
Max was puzzled that Luther, who had arrived with them, had a place in mind, but then he nodded as he looked at the drone that had flown into the sky. He probably assumed Luther had found the place with the drone.
[Master, are you going to the place that appeared in the original story?]
‘Yes, I’m planning to go to the place where Annerose camped.’
A place suitable for camping with a nearby water source and flat ground. But there was something more important than that.
‘There’s an event.’
[An event?]
‘Yeah, or rather, an event that was almost in the original story?’
[If it’s a hidden event, it’s a hidden event. What do you mean by an almost event?]
‘There are such things. I’ll tell you when we get there.’
Having said that, Luther quickened his pace.
And upon arriving at the location…
Karen and Max, checking the water in the nearby stream, nodded as if understanding why he had suggested camping here.
“This is a good spot. The ground is flat, there’s water nearby, and the scenery is beautiful.”
As Karen said, a short distance from the campsite was a hill overlooking Asain Gorge, and since it faced the setting sun, the sunset scenery was incredibly beautiful.
[Master, did you mean this sunset by ‘event’?]
[How poetic.]
[You’re unexpectedly romantic.]
As Mini Integra, who had appeared on Luther’s shoulder, chuckled, Luther immediately shook his head.
‘No way, I’m a practical man.’
A sunset was a sunset, and an event was an event.
Luther, with his back to the red sunset that was beginning to paint the ground after the sky, looked up at the opposite sky. Beyond the darkening night sky, the silhouettes of two moons were faintly visible.
—–CROW—–
* * *
“So… you’re saying… fairies?”
“Yes, fairies.”
Luther, replying with a firm expression to Karen’s question, pointed at the stream and said,
“There’s a legend about this stream.”
A fairytale-like story that if a beautiful girl bathed in the stream and sang, fairies would appear.
[Master, is there really such a silly event in the original story?]
‘No, what’s so silly about this event?’
[It’s a typical low-brow fanservice event.]
‘What’s so low-brow about dipping your feet in a stream and singing?’
[Huh? Feet?]
‘Yeah, feet. The event is about dipping your feet and singing. What kind of imagination did you have? Huh?’
[Hmm, I see. Understood.]
‘Wow, just smoothly pretending not to know.’
But it was a conversation that both Luther and Integra had started half-jokingly.
Luther tapped his bracelet as if teasing Integra, then spoke to Karen and Max again.
“It seems the fairies give gifts and blessings to those who play with them. So how about we try it?”
“I see, tha-… Wait, you’re asking us to try it?”
Karen, who had been nodding as if listening to an amusing story, asked back in surprise.
But Luther, looking at Karen with a serious expression, continued,
“As my armor is restored, my memories are also gradually returning. And according to my memories, the legend of this stream is true. Moreover, we have a beautiful girl here. Wouldn’t it be natural to try?”
The legend was true, and there was a beautiful girl present. All the conditions were met, so why should they avoid the event?
At Luther’s strong assertion, Karen asked back with a flustered expression,
“W-Wait a minute. Are you asking me to summon the fairies… right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Karen, you’re beautiful. Right, Max?”
At Luther’s question, Max chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, Karen is very beautiful. Beautiful.”
“Yes, she’s beautiful. She’s beautiful in my eyes, and she’s beautiful in Max’s eyes, so she must be beautiful. You think so too, Karen, right?”
“Huh?”
“No, you must think you’re beautiful when you look in the mirror. Don’t you?”
At Luther’s question, Karen’s already reddened face turned even redder.
Karen was beautiful.
She knew it. No, it was a fact she couldn’t deny.
But to have it pointed out so directly, and to admit it herself, was incredibly embarrassing.
“M-Max.”
Karen, her face and even her neck completely red, called out to Max as if asking for help, but it was no use.
Max, smiling with a nonchalant expression as if he were a truly mischievous older brother, said,
“I’m sure Karen can do it. Our Karen is beautiful.”
It was a simple remark, but it was the final blow to Karen, who was already at her limit.
In the end, Karen covered her face with both hands and squirmed in embarrassment, and Max chuckled again.
And one person…
Integra, who had been watching this scene with a skeptical look, spoke.
[Master.]
‘Yes, Integra.’
[I’m more beautiful.]
‘Yeah, if you say so.’
At Luther’s indifferent reply, Integra puffed out her cheeks with a dissatisfied look.
And about 10 minutes later…
Karen, having rolled up her pants, dipped her feet into the stream and remained silent for a moment, then glanced back.
Her gaze asked, “Are we really doing this? Do I really have to do this?” but Luther and Max were firm.
Luther clenched his fist in encouragement, and Max mouthed a message of support.
‘You can do it, missy!’
And chuckle.
Karen, feeling a deep sense of betrayal at Max’s gleeful expression, bit her lip and turned back to face the stream.
“Sigh, fine. Alright. I’ll give it a try.”
Honestly, she knew she was beautiful.
With a reddened face, Karen forced herself to think boldly and, after taking a deep breath, began to sing in a small voice.
The clear stream water reflecting the stars that had filled the sky and the two moons. And the black-haired girl standing amidst it all, singing.
It was a very beautiful and romantic scene, but the smiles on Luther and Max’s faces gradually faded.
“I told you I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
10 minutes later…
Karen, her face flushed with shame, embarrassment, and mortification, spoke in a resentful voice.
No matter how much she sang, not even a single firefly, let alone a fairy, appeared.
“Luther, perhaps the legend is wrong? Or maybe the song is wrong.”
“Hmm.”
At Max’s question, Luther furrowed his brow but couldn’t readily answer. In the original story, the fairies hadn’t appeared either.
‘To be precise, the supporting characters said Annerose would be able to summon them, and when Annerose was about to try, she was suddenly attacked, and the event itself was skipped.’
But since there was dummy data of Annerose summoning fairies, it seemed like it should work…
Was it the song, as Max suggested?
But just then…
[Sigh, it can’t be helped. I’ll have to step in.]
Integra, clicking her tongue and shaking her head, sent the drone to the edge of the stream and projected a hologram.
Perhaps because the drone had been upgraded, the hologram wasn’t palm-sized like before, but a life-sized Integra.
“Holy Spirit?”
“Wow…”
Max and Karen, seeing the life-sized Integra for the first time, gasped in amazement.
The Integra that appeared now wasn’t the usual support AI in a maid outfit.
It was literally a Holy Spirit. Her silver hair shimmered naturally, and the pure white off-the-shoulder dress that revealed her shoulders was beautiful.
It was, so to speak, a fully made-up Integra.
Even Luther was momentarily captivated, and Integra, greatly satisfied, hummed and said,
[I’ll try summoning them.]
Even her voice was incredibly elegant.
Max and Karen, completely convinced that Integra was a Holy Spirit, nodded with anticipation, and Luther, his face slightly flushed, also looked at Integra.
[Then, let’s begin.]
And the song began.
Unlike Karen, who sang without accompaniment, Integra subtly added instrumental music, creating a perfect melody.
A silver songstress singing under the mystical moon.
Max and Karen listened to Integra’s song with entranced expressions.
And 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes passed.
[I don’t believe in unscientific legends.]
[The legend must be wrong.]
Integra, looking at the calm lake with a reddened face, spoke, and since her appearance was cute, Luther chuckled.
But just then…
“Fairies! There are fairies over there!”
Startled by Max’s shout, the group quickly turned their gaze. Indeed, they saw small fairies flying towards them from deep within the stream.
[I knew it!]
Integra clenched her fist, and Karen involuntarily made a slightly frustrated expression.
But unlike the two of them, Luther and Max noticed something strange almost simultaneously.
‘Aren’t they coming to play?’
‘Are they running away?’
The fairies’ desperate expressions and flight. Their terrified screams.
“Run away! Run away!”
“Kyaa!”
[Master! I’m detecting a strong life reaction from beneath the stream-]
Crash-!
A roaring sound, as the surface of the water exploded, swallowed Integra’s voice.
—–CROW—–