Chapter 443 – New Masters and Meeting with the Minister of the Eight Wonders
<– Previous Chapter | Glossary | TOC | Next Chapter –>
The huge silver wolf howled as if to subdue the other white wolves. He started wandering around Higlia while leading the pack.
Is he trying to transmit some sort of feeling to her?
As the wolves kept walking around Higlia, they also started shaking their heads.
Are they inviting us over?
Immediately following, the illusions of the big wolf and his followers went through Higlia, vanishing into the wall.
“That might be a spear connected to us wolves and the Small Moon-sama…”
“The spear that appeared in the wall?”
“…Yep. Just like the wooden spear that disappeared after becoming a frame…I believe this one here to be a lost sacred treasure of Uryou-sama.”
“Oohh.”
“A sacred treasure!”
Elza and Aris cried out.
“I’m curious about it, but…”
Higlia nodded at my words and extended silver claws from both hands’ fingers. They were different from usual as their tips were round.
Has she lost her composure? Well, I guess it’d be normal if she did…
Just moments ago, a huge silver wolf had appeared right after the Twin Moon Goddesses.
“But, I could only hear the voices of Hurley-sama and his kin… I wanted to directly see Hurley-sama as I did with the Twin Moon Goddesses.”
Huh? Couldn’t she see the wolves? Maybe it’s because they had appeared behind her…? Though I was sure Higlia had actually seen them as well.
I suppose the Twin Moon Goddesses were special. After staring at the spot in space where the goddesses had appeared, Higlia shifted her eyes to the spear growing out of the wall.
Everyone else hadn’t noticed the wolf illusions either. They were staring at the weapon in the wall like Higlia.
However, not so Rollodeen. Her head was turned in the direction of the wall where the wolves had vanished. And in the next moment, she jumped into action, quickly closing in on that spot on the wall and pressing her nose against it.
You could hear a muffled scream from the small beastman caught in her tentacles.
The walls were just like before. They contained a lot of stones, including gravel. The surface was quite uneven and wet.
After furiously sniffing away at the wall, Rollodeen looked my way.
“So your nose only got wet?”
“Nn,” she purred throatily.
Afterwards, she pulled off some acrobatic jumps and poses, fascinating Helme and Aris with her performance while giving the beastman a good shaking.
Soo,n she wrapped it up and came back to me, silently appealing to me by intently staring at me. Before stroking her head, I commented, “I’m curious about the long-handled weapon that Uryou-sama caused to manifest.”
Aris reacted to that after pretending to touch Rollodeen.
“――It might be the spear appearing in one of the fairy tales surrounding the legend of the Holy Chalice!” She blurted out somewhat excitedly.
Aris looked at my face and pointed a finger at the spear in the wall.
Elza spoke up, “As expected, maybe it’s the secret passage mentioned in the writings left behind by Aldel?”
“Yep!”
Aris and Elza nodded at each other. I wonder what’s that Aldel they’re talking about? Both are checking us and the cave out while murmuring amongst each other.
Aris’s voice sounded very lively. Hearing that, a shadow overcast Higlia’s expression.
“You’re talking about the legend of the cursed Holy Chalice, huh…?”
Higlia remarked as if the whole thing had some special circumstances.
“Higlia, is it also connected to these phenomena in some way?”
“Yes, it is, but…”
She shifted her eyes to the beastman from the thieves’ gang. It looks like she doesn’t want her to hear it. Maybe it’s about a treasure that’s been passed down among the ancient wolfmen.
“Gotcha. For starters, we’ll hurry up with the interrogation of this noir runner here.”
I’m interested in that spear, but the interrogation comes first.
Looking at Rollodeen, I instructed her, “Rollo, please bring that noir runner over here.”
“Nn――”
After purring, she moved her tentacles. Reeling in the tentacles towards her neck a bit, she contracted the tentacles with a speed exceeding that of an electric cord being pulled back into a vacuum cleaner.
“Kyaa――” screamed the small beastman.
She was moved right in front of my feet.
Looking at Rollodeen, I said, “――Thanks!”
After thanking her, I looked down at the exhausted beastman.
“…Now then, let us hear your name, Ms. Member of the Tsuranuki Gang.”
I stared straight into her eyes.
“Kuuh…my name is Araha.”
“Araha-san, huh? Did your gang members infiltrate the inner part of the Wolf Moon City? Or are you going to tell us about the hiding place of the Tsuranuki Gang?”
“…I have no intention to talk.”
Usually that would be the answer here, I’m pretty sure. While charging my eyes with mana, I scowled at Araha.
“Araha, right now it’d be better for you to spill the beans…,” I kindly recommended to her.
Immediately following, her pupils widened and shrank
…I think at this rate she’s going to talk sooner or later. But, we’re in a hurry here.
“Just now you saw the power of our divine beast and the guidance of the Twin Moon Goddesses…it looks like you don’t understand what that means.”
“……”
Araha remained silent. Her eyes were darting left and right while she shook her head slightly. It seems like she does understand after all.
“No matter what reason the Tsuranuki Gang might have, it won’t change the fact of your friends getting caught, as I assume that they’ve already infiltrated the city. For this reason, I’m simply recommending you to talk now while considering what father is awaiting you in the future. If you stay silent, it’ll just worsen your position in this.”
It’d be easy if she were to talk with this much, but…even if she doesn’t talk…Helme and Jody are here. If the paths ahead of the caves, in front and back, diverge, I’ll ask them to handle the scouting.
Noticing my look, both nodded. After nodding in return, I focused on Araha again.
Alright, I guess I’ll get serious about this interrogation. While making the tip of the chain coiled around my left wrist move a bit, I activated <Blood Path – Open Third Gate> and <Beginning Dusk>. Small darkness formed at my feet, just for the dusk world to start encroaching on the area around me at a very small range.
Next, I activated <Blood Chain Banquet>. Small blood chains extended through the gaps in my dark green protective clothing, surrounding Araha.
“…”
Araha was completely scared like a puppy. She had lost consciousness with her eyes still open. But I immediately got her to wake up by shaking her powerfully.
“…I-I’m going to talk, so pweash stop dat d-darkness!”
“Sure.”
I immediately canceled my skills.
“One comrade has infiltrated the inner part. He should be stealing several of the treasures in the treasury of the Twin Moon Tree around now. And our Tsuranuki Gang also has a reason for the theft!”
One person, huh?
“I don’t care about your doctrine of stealing stuff. So, front or back, which is it?”
Araha mumbled something, about to speak up, but Rollodeen forestalled her, “Nn, nya, nyaa.”
She meowed something along the lines of “Over there, it’s the cave in the front ~nya.” One of her tentacles pointed ahead of the cave. A shining bone sword extended from the flat tip of the tentacle.
In response, Araha’s eyes trembled. She had apparently grasped that I was truthful about the “power of our divine beast” that I had mentioned earlier. Tears trickled down her face as she stared in terror. She’s probably feeling something akin to resignation. It’s a face full of sentiments towards her friend.
…It got me slightly interested in the circumstances of her gang. But, at the present stage, I won’t show any pity, even if faced with the tears of a cute woman.
“The reasons for a thieves’ gang, huh? Well, that will have to wait for later.” Then I looked at everyone else, “We’ll leave the lead to Rollo. I’d like to investigate that long-handled weapon. If it’s a spear, it’ll be fine for me to get it, right?”
“Sure, I don’t mind. I’m fine with my current weapon,” Elza showed her back.
The Great Fang of Yahanuga, was it?
“Yep, no problem. Let’s catch the baddie!”
“Yes, it is something bestowed upon you by the Twin Moon Goddess, Your Excellency.”
“Indeed.”
“If it’s one of the lost sacred treasures, the wolf commanders, who are picky about the laws and council, won’t stay silent, but I think it’ll be okay if it’s you with whom I plan to pair.”
“Bidoln, if he knows about my existence…I think he’ll remain silent,” Judoy said.
“Ah, that makes sense. You can’t be called a Death Butterfly woman anymore, but… you did fight with Daon’s grandfather in the past, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’m going to examine this then――”
I jogged to the long-handled weapon growing out of the wall. Its rear end was jutting out from the rock.
That long shaft…I guess it’s a spear after all. You can only see the rear part, but still…
Its width is close to the metallic staff of Baldok. I assume that this is some sort of spear supposed to be carried by a humanoid lifeform. Its shaft’s core had a color that suggested it was steel. The steel color was bordered by a dark brown color. I think you could describe it as steel sandwiched between wood.
It looked like varnish, as it was used for frames, had been applied to the wood, too. The pommel had the shape of a small moon.
Suddenly, the weapon reacted to my approach to the wall. A wave of many was emitted from it. This mana wave transformed into a wolf shape. It connected to the moon-shaped pommel as it spiraled. Immediately following, the pommel started to shine brightly like moonlight.
As if having gained power, the shining spear created cracks in the wall around it. This was accompanied by a high-pitched noise. Moreover, a tremor as if a fault had shifted could be heard with a slight delay.
Are we okay here? This cave…
I felt insecure about the stability, but couldn’t find any hints of an imminent collapse.
Alright. The shape of the moon pommel looks pretty groovy.
At once, I tried to touch the spear. In response, mana similar to faintly glowing fireflies burst out of the steel-colored surface. Followed by rune-like characters surfacing on the surface. The runes were patterned after small moons and wolves. Their surfacing looked like they were being carved in real time.
They also seem to bear some meaning.
And then each and every one of those runes blurred into emptiness as if to test me.
…They blurred, but…I knew that those runes had some meaning. But why blur?
While straining my eyes, I touched the shuriken-shaped metal piece next to my right eye. As I tapped it with my fingertip, the runes became clearer as if the camera had focused itself properly.
Excellent. Now to translate the characters.
“…Moon, ring, ah, wolf before that, huh? I see, so its name is Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring. It seems to possess Offensive Stance <Single Drill of the Shadow Wolf> as a magic spear technique. It appears to possess other Offensive Stances, too, but… their names are blurred. I can tell that it has a trick weapon built in, though…”
Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring might be its official name.
“Sh-Shuuya――” Elza rushed towards me. “Those are ancient letters. Moreover, characters I’ve never seen before! You can read those?”
She thrust her face at me with such a verve that I thought she was going to kiss me through the mask. I can only see a bit of skin around her eyes, but she’s way too defenseless…
The instant I thought that, the overcoat around her left arm rustled. Galassus, huh? Is he cautious of me?
Without pointing that out, I answered while looking at the spear, “…It’s just a part, but yes, I can read it. Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring seems to be its official name. The magic spear technique I mentioned before seems to have been carved in as well. Anyway, I’m going to get it then, I suppose.”
I held out a hand to make Elza move back and tried to place my other hand on the long-handled weapon. In that moment, the howling of wolves reverberated.
The same as before? But…I don’t see the huge wolf from before.
Rollodeen is behind me, but she hasn’t realized those howls. Suddenly, my visual field warped.
『Vessel, be careful. Don’t get sucked into it――』, I was warned by Saraten.
At the same time, the Spear Writings of the Demonic War Night Parade reacted. The Demonic Knights on its cover gleamed once again. My mana was being absorbed by the three-dimensional gem between the knights. Thereupon, a part of the leather and plumes binding the writings came undone as if being stripped off.
The falling leather pieces and plumes were engulfed in black flames. And each time they went up in flames, the black mana swirling above the curved gem gained in intensity and size.
And just as before, the magic spears held by the knights began to bend. They started to twist and move like dancing snakes, each with its own consciousness. Simultaneously, blood gushed out of the clumsy devil knight’s arm.
In the next moment, the writing started to throb loudly, emulating a heartbeat that was much clearer than before. Furthermore, you could hear very low, bassy singing voices from within the eight magic spears.
We, the eight big, the eight strong, the eight mysterious, magic spear users of the Spirit World Eight Spear Lords.
We, the eight oni, the eight demons, the eight males, magic spear users of the Spirit World Eight Spear Lords.
We, the magic spear users of Demonic Castle Lugfant’s Eight Lords of Mystery.
We, the guardians of the former, abnormal, demonic castle!
We become the sole Spirit World’s Eight Lords of Mystery!
Fiercely burning with the resentment of revenge, the guardians of the abnormal demonic castle!
We, the Lugfant’s Eight Lords of Mystery!
We, the magic spear users of the Spirit World Eight Spear Lords!
『…What’s that? A song? Lugfant’s Eight Lords of Mystery?』
The thought waves, which I felt I was hearing, flew into the spear writing. And immediately following, the singing stopped.
『That’s right, Employer. I am Shuri, the Lightning Fire Spear』
I heard a female voice that sounded like a bell.
『I’m Seyoux, the Demonic Tower Soul Spear』
A male voice that sounded awfully flat.
『Mine name is Tolsun, the Evil Spear』
A grim voice.
『I, am Sol, the Strange Divine Spear』
A man’s voice.
『I’m Lepyres, the Empress Spear』
Oh? She sounds kinda like a princess. Going by her name, she’s some sort of big shot, huh?
『I’m Gurd, the Jail Demon Spear』
A delinquent type?
『I’m Ilvayne, the Judgment Spear』
Huh? She has a vocal tone similar to Shuhelia’s, but it’s a tad rougher.
『I am Glad, the Flying Spear of Wonders』
I can tell that it’s the refined voice of a grandpa.
I didn’t see any illusions or phantoms, but I could hear the characteristic voices of eight people.
『…Eight Lords of Mystery who used to guard Demonic Castle Lugfant, I guess you are all great people who are living inside the Spear Writings of the Demonic War Night Parade, but…what business do you have with me? Right now I’m about to get this new spear, so I have other things to do…』, I answered them telepathically.
These guys have bypassed the <Granted Seal of Light>, so I should deal with them carefully…
『The spear you speak of…the Twin Moon Goddesses and the God Wolf, huh? A beast spear classified as part of the divine domain, right? Just ignore that broken piece of wood! Having learned my Jail Demon Spear will be of your benefit in the distant future!』
The delinquent, Gurd, said.
『I agree with disregarding the Twin Moon Goddesses and the God Wolf. But, I believe my Lightning Fire Spear matches him much more! My keen and nimble spear movement was the best in the Spirit World! It’s my prided spear movement Dark God Aldin and Boshiad use while deliberately using Demonic Eyes to achieve the same! Though I’ll have you go to a strict training regime in return…ihi』, Shuri said.
That might be fine. It sounds like she used to be a user of the Lightning Fire Spear that relied on nimble footwork.
『LOL… Still, the Demonoid Martial Arts and magic spear techniques are such a pain in the ass, don’t you think? In the past, you also got ridiculed by that Crazy Eye bastard for it being an ancient walking technique. In that regard, my <To Be Number One> spear techniques of my Jail Demon Spear are pretty awesome. Especially the <Jail Demon Number One Maker>, one of the magic spear techniques that robbed Demonoid Martial Arts King Pupil Lasuar of his right arm, has truly explosive might!』
『Humph, you only boast about techniques similar to the Demonic Destruction Spear』
It looks like Shuri and Gurd aren’t exactly on the best of terms.
『…I guess they plan to start fighting again… Employer, study my Empress Spear Style rather than whatever those two can offer you. I’ll teach you a special magic spear style that is the crystallization of my experience. It can slaughter demonoids, divine men, cursed gods, ancient gods, the gods of the divine domain, their kin, and heaps of soldiers. I’ll also teach you why Demonic Castle Lugfant is known as an abnormal demonic castle』
Lepyres-san, eh? At first, I thought she sounded like a princess, but you can feel some majesty from her. It might be the voice of a very important woman.
『Oh my, we’re not fighting. Our employer will misunderstand, so let me make it clear: Crazy Eye Togma, who ridiculed me, fought against me and lost, you see? He simply made fun of me out of frustration over his loss』
Shuri defeated Crazy Eye Togma? I also fought him on the 20th floor of Pelneet’s labyrinth.
Just as I started to revel in my memories of the past,
『What nonsense. My exquisite skills fit this black-haired lad the most, you know? It looks like he’s also learned a dual-spear style』
The voice of this Sol guy sounded a bit like that of a playboy. Maybe he’s a handsome hunk or something.
『No, Sol. Your spear style is full of weird quirks』, Ilvayne of the Judgment Spear rebutted.
『You say so, but being able to adapt to all sorts of situations is essential. The battlefield, where a spear shines the most, isn’t always the same』
Sol of the Dual-spear Style has apparently fought on the battlefields of the Spirit World.
『…Even so, I think my Judgment Spear will be better as it managed to even injure Vampire God Lugnad. If you actually take a look at my stances and movement quality, it should appear quite charming. Also, the Judgment Spear Style is a hidden technique that mimics Spirit World Knight Grenada, who once served the Magic Emperor of Old. It consumes a lot of mana, but…it will suit you, who freely handle your movements through a divine beast』, Ilvayne advocated with a stiff voice.
Her voice had the timbre of a female knight.
『…Tower…』
Tower? It’s a telepathic message, yet it’s difficult to understand what it means…
『How about my Flying Spear of Wonders…?』
It was easy to tell that this was Gramps Glad. Each of them sent me telepathic messages while using characteristic speech patterns.
It seems like they’re going to teach me spear techniques and martial arts. I focused so as to not come across as rude to those people
『Spear walking styles, magic spear techniques…are you all telling me that you will go out of your way to teach me martial arts?』
『Indeed』
『Yep』
『It won’t be for free though』
『Kakakaka』
『…What are your terms then?』
Did Gramps Labius mean that when he talked about those esoteric writings? Well, it certainly seems to come with a risk.
Suddenly, a flash of light was released from the Spear Writings. Magic characters, which had the shape of arrowheads as they shot out of the writings, appeared in my visual field and burst apart.
In the next instant,
『It’s your soul』
『…You shouldn’t take Seyoux’s words for real. Usually, he doesn’t get much chance to talk like this』
『Hey, what are you going to do after getting our employer’s soul!? Do you plan to betray us!? There’s no point in that, is there?』
『…Tower…』
『Kakakaka, just ignore Seyoux, whose mouth is concealed by magic threads. All of you…I’ll communicate with our employer telepathically as a representative for all of us. Alright?』
It looks like Gramps Glad works as the mediator in this group of Eight Lords of Mystery.
『Sure. So far as it goes, you’re the leader of the Eight Lords of Mystery after all. But, employer, before you listen to the old geezer, keep in mind that the Lightning Fire Spear is the best, okay? Smooooch』
Ugh, I felt some sort of breath despite this being a telepathic conversation.
『Tsk, a blown kiss!? Are you using seduction to get what you want!? Bloody bitch, you’re just capitalizing on our employer being a guy!』
『Well, I can understand the feeling of a dude to be swept along by the appearance of a woman. And I also agree with Gramps Glad explaining things as our representative』
『Very well. I’ll leave it to the geezer. But the Jail Demon Spear is the best. And Shuri, shut your trap』
『Sure, sure~』
『Would it be better for me to use seduction as well?』
Lepyres-san’s seductive techniques might actually be quite nice.
『*cough* Everyone, let’s stop it at this point』
『Shuri has――』
『Be quiet! Or I’ll make you eat a Divine Domain Stone! At this rate, I won’t be able to explain anything! With that said, let me do the explanations. Employer, the first and foremost condition is the destruction of the Eight Great Tombs』
I remember having heard about the Eight Great Tombs in the past.
『And the second?』
『You are to deliver a <Deadly Stab> to the one who killed us! Take revenge on the one who crushed us and robbed us of our bodies! Death to the one who sealed us! Take back the banner of Lugfant!!』
『right. Drill the Demonoid Martial Arts King and all his pupils to death!』
『『――Slay Demonoid Martial Arts King Ganghis!』』
Intense telepathic waves echoed throughout my mind…and then a bell tolled.
『…I heard the name of the Demonoid Martial Arts King several times now. If I defeat that person…you’re going to teach me your secret techniques?』
『That’s correct. The second condition isn’t simple. It’ll likely take a long time. That’s why it’ll be fine if you fight a pupil of the Demonoid Martial Arts King or clear the first condition. Well, all of this is ultimately a talk about premises. Before that…you have to choose one of us, the Eight Lords of Mystery, as your master and become their apprentice. Everything will start from there…』
Taking them as my teachers… But I already got Master Archilles.
『Choosing you as teachers…』
『Indeed. Harsh training will await you, but you’ll be able to become an apprentice of us Eight Lords of Mystery. Think of it as an honor. Also, no matter how outstanding you might be, I don’t think you’ll be able to learn all our secret techniques, you know? Kakakaka』
Gramps Glad laughed loudly through our telepathic connection. He’s fundamentally different from Master Archilles.
But…
『I’d like to learn, but I will turn down your offer』
『Eh!?! W-What did you say…?』
『I already possess a great teacher』
Now then, guess I’ll pick up that Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring.
『W-Wait! If you become the pupil of us Eight Lords of Mystery, you will be able to learn the hidden techniques of our demonoid martial arts…you should be received cordially by each lord, too. Moreover, you’ll also be permitted to attend the Grand Demonoid Martial Arts Meet. On top of that, you’ll be able to enter the Great Market’s festivities of Spirit World Cities in various places as an official successor…as a demonic ruler…if those markets still exist…』
『I do have an interest in spear techniques, and I want to learn them. But, I have no interest in fame』
『For you to turn down such an invitation…please. Can’t you become our pupil…?』
Gramps Glad’s tone had softened. Now I’m being begged instead…
It’s hard to refuse, I guess. No choice then. This is fine as well. A meeting with my new teachers, the Eight Lords of Mystery. I’ll be able to teach spearmanship, so I guess I’ll have them become my teachers.
But, I won’t change my foundation of the Wind Spear Style. I plan to develop it even further.
So, if my spear arts become powerful…I think Master Archilles will forgive me as well. If I include swordsmanship, I got plenty of teachers…
『…Alright. I want to learn if I can』
『『Oooohhh!!』』
All of them shouted in delight. The Spear Writings were trembling.
『Well said, employer! If you become my pupil, I’ll give you a reward!』
『Would it be better…for me to use seduction as well?』
『――Silence! F-Forgive them, employer』
『No, if I can go to the place with the Great Eight Tombs, I plan to go there. I will consider the destruction once there』
『Very well』
『Okay, I want to collect the Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring, so we’ll talk about the teaching matter on another occasion――』
I drove my thick mana into the Spear Writing with an image of stretching the bell tolling that has been ringing inside my mind.
――In the next moment, the Spear Writings quieted down. The metal fixtures, which had come undone, now contracted and entangled the ruby, binding the writing into a book once more.
Pheew…my shaky visual field has also returned to normal…good. I was quite panicked there for a moment, but…everything has ended without a hitch.
And all of this apparently took place over several milliseconds, as the others hadn’t even noticed the writings trembling.
Still, one of them, Seyoux, wanted my soul. Those around him patched things up right away, but his telepathic wave didn’t give me the impression that he was joking.
As such, I think Suloza in Pelneet might actually classify this item as a 1st Class Hazard Item. No, wait, I suppose it’s more likely that his appraisal ability would be too low for this.
Anyway, worrying about it won’t change anything. I’ve got a spear waiting for me.
According to Higlia, it seems to be a spear associated with wolves and moon goddesses. I placed a hand on the spear, thinking that I should probably catch the comrade of the small thief beastman after collecting this weapon.
At that instant, the Spear of the Moon Wolf Ring settled itself in my palm as if it had only been waiting for me to touch it. I powerfully clutched its handle as if to meet the spear’s expectations. Then I drew the spear out of the wall in one go.
Its spearhead had the shape of a small sword, as if combining a katana and a stake. It was as thick as a sword blade. Metallic loops were equally affixed to its upper part. But, it wasn’t as long as Gudohl.
Thereupon, I passed my mana through the spear in my hand――
<– Previous Chapter | Glossary | TOC | Next Chapter –>
Help out filling the Glossary of this series with life! Anyone is free to join by clicking >here< !
Translation Notes: