248 – The Day of the Nymphs and the Day of Bragging #8
The high-ranking Awakeneds in Europe often gathered in one place to hold meetings.
Today was no different.
Mityuver Kira glanced around at the people seated at the round table. Their faces were devoid of any friendliness. Since Kira was the most social among them, she cleared her throat and began speaking, shouldering the burden of starting the discussion.
“Then, let’s begin the operation meeting about neutralizing the large T-class rift ‘Demon King’s Castle’ that appeared in Romania. First, this rift is about the same size as the Typhon storm that approached Greece…”
No one was listening to Kira’s explanation. Since they were all S-Rankers, there was no real need for such a detailed explanation.
“Cut to the chase.”
A man from Germany, S-Rank and smoker Roberto, who had a cigar in his mouth, lifted the fedora that had half-hidden his face, revealing his ashen hair. Everyone appeared to agree with Roberto, and so Kira sighed.
“Alright then. What we know so far is that the ‘Demon King’s Castle’ is heavily populated with A-Rank demons called ‘Demon Gargoyles.’ There are also plenty of ‘Eating Pictures’ and ‘Polter Geists.'”
Kira looked at the files laid out in front of her, which had some consolidated information about the ‘Demon King’s Castle,’ a rift that had appeared out of nowhere several days ago.
“Generally, it takes the form of a castle, but as you go deeper, it’s uncertain what enemies and traps will appear. However, it’s certain that there’s a ‘Treasure Room.'”
Whoosh.
A man whistled at Kira’s explanation. It was Hex, the Greek S-Ranker known as the Gale. Dressed as a cleric, he slapped the table with his palms.
“Good. Treasure. Let’s neutralize it and split the spoils. Fairly.”
Hex was the kind of straightforward man who was as refreshing as the wind. However, Roberto, the meticulous smoker from Germany, chuckled and casually placed his legs on the table.
“Wasn’t it because the job wasn’t going to be that easy that we’re all here? If you try to take even one thing from a castle-type rift, it wakes up and comes at us with all its might. It doesn’t tolerate treasures being taken.”
“Roberto’s right. Moreover, the ‘Demon King’s Castle’ seems to have a Demon King lurking there, as befits its name. Demon King. The King of Demons. Everyone understands the weight of that name, correct?”
At Kira’s question, Hex began fiddling with the cross hanging around his neck. He was recalling the ‘Amsterdam Incident’ from five years ago, where many were injured in a battle against an entity called the ‘Demon King.’ Although the skills and experience of awakened ones skyrocketed after that, the title ‘Demon King’ still sent shivers down the spines of European awakened ones.
Kira continued.
“The ‘Demon King’s Castle’ that has appeared in Romania is expected to house tremendous treasures. However, the risk is that to obtain them, we will have to defeat the ‘Demon King.'”
Swoosh.
Someone raised a hand. It was Weber, an S-Rank Awakened from Germany who covered his eyes with a bandage.
“Why don’t we just grab the treasure and run? All we need is to find the exit. The demons can’t leave the rift, so as long as we find the exit, we can escape with the treasure.”
It was a textbook approach. Kira nodded in agreement.
“That’s correct. Currently, several entrances to the ‘Demon King’s Castle’ have been found—not only in Romania but in various locations such as Rome, Germany, and England. However, where the exit is inside the Demon King’s Castle remains….”
Hm.
Everyone crossed their arms and fell into a gloomy silence.
# # #
－Roaaaaaaaar!
－Cawaaaaaa!
Demon statues cawed like crows and lunged at me. Their hardness and strength seemed at least A-Rank.
“Kkungkkung!”
－Kkung…!
Kkungkkung lunged at the demon statue.
Pfftzzzzzz!
The demon statue turned back into stone easily.
“Good. We can now handle A-Rank threats without Hyper Evolution seamlessly.”
I smashed the demon statues’ chests with my fist, reducing them to mere piles of shattered rocks. Even without Kkungkkung, I could take on a few A-Rank demons alone.
“Is everything alright?”
I effortlessly penetrated through the demon statues and made my way to the exit. The exit led to the same well, and I returned to the meeting place where everyone was waiting.
“What happened in there? You’re all soaked?”
Jin-A Lee pulled me out of the well and asked.
I received a towel from Ari, dried myself off, and told everyone what had just happened.
Chirp chirp!
“What? That really happened?”
“There’s a castle inside? Senior, is that true?”
Everyone was surprised. I, too, was surprised that my Nymphs were chatterboxes whose every word could be understood by everyone here.
Pfft!
At that moment, the piggy bank in my arms leapt at Inoi.
－Koiiinnn!
“Ah! I don’t understand this sound! However, the piggy bank exists in Inoi’s memory! The piggy bank, Pignoi, is alive! Moving!”
Inoi was greatly surprised by the sight of the piggy bank coming alive. Seeing an inanimate object move as if it were alive was astonishing, even for Inoi.
“There is no doubt that no nymph has ever owned a living piggy bank. Only this Inoi possesses one!”
Inoi held the piggy bank high and exclaimed. Several nymphs responded with “Ohh” and “Hoo” and were delighted.
“Hmm, is this a product of capitalism? I have heard that when objects beloved by nymphs move like living things, it is indeed a peculiar thing…! This is definitely something of that sort!”
It was a surprising story. Perhaps because Inoi was so interested, life had awakened within the piggy bank. It felt like glimpsing the origin of magical items.
“This Coris doesn’t know what’s going on, but this pig is certainly very impressive…! Let’s all do the Dance of Joy of the Nymphs!”
While the nymphs danced to the tune, I checked the CCTV circuit through Seo Ye-rim’s Telos ID. The CCTV footage showed the piggy bank jumping into the well and escaping to the yard.
That means—
The piggy bank had entered the rift on its own.
Inoi spoke as if something had occurred to her.
“Actually, I heard that to use the coins inside a piggy bank, you have to break open its belly…! I thought it would be too pitiful for Pignoi…! So, I was contemplating what to do with Pignoi…”
Could this story be related to the present event?
Did the affection for Pignoi unwilling to cut it open result in this phenomenon?
Morales scoffed.
“Hmph, you don’t need to be surprised now…! There’s also the story of Pygmalion, who loved a statue so much it transformed into a human…!”
Is that so?
The inanimate object coming to life due to affection.
It seemed to happen often with older nymphs.
Amazing.
－Gwanggwang…!
At that moment, the mechanical spider Miong latched onto my back.
Out of concern, I looked at Miong.
－Miowwwng!
I had always thought that the mechanical spider Miong was no ordinary AI. It felt more like a real living creature.
Perhaps Miong had truly become a living creature or was in the process of becoming one!
－Gwanggwang…!
That would be good news.
Over time, with more affection, it would certainly happen!
Anyhow, the case of Inoi’s lost piggy bank was quickly resolved.
However, there was a problem.
“This Inoi still cannot cut Pignoi’s belly…! This way, I cannot buy land for the nymph sisters…! Heek…!”
Because Inoi had formed too much of an attachment to Pignoi, they couldn’t cut it open to get the coins.
Money that cannot be used is as good as nonexistent.
Thus, Inoi might not become the top nymph next year.
Seeing Inoi’s drooping shoulders, I decided to step in.
“I was able to meet Kkungkkung, Bangbang, and Ahn Ahn thanks to Inoi. Moreover, my rise from D-Rank to A-Rank, walking the path of a hero, was largely due to Inoi.”
I lifted Inoi and placed them on the table in the yard. In response, Inoi straightened their shoulders and shouted confidently.
“That’s right…! This Inoi is a guide nymph assisting the house’s master on the path of the hero…! Performing quite admirably in this role…!”
“This Coris believes that the owner of the house is very nymph-friendly and commendable…! Pignoi returned quickly…!”
“This Illinois also highly appreciates the nymph-friendly efforts of the house master…! Partner Nymph Inoi also deserves praise…!”
“This Tyrrenol also agrees…!”
－Hoo, hoo…!
Coris, Illinois, and Tyrrenol, as well as Kalilnoi, awarded Inoi the “Ditch Water Points.”
Four ditch water points.
Coris scored the same as Cha Yura.
Soon after, Morales added a comment.
“Hmph, next year this Morales will aim to achieve an even more excellent score…! However, I will acknowledge this time that it is worthy…! Snowman was splendid…!”
Morales also gave Inoi points.
Five ditch water points.
Inoi ultimately received the highest score and became the top nymph for the next year!
“The top nymph for next year has been decided…! The top nymph is this Inoi…!”
Waayy!
All the nymphs happily raised their hands.
Seeing this, Cha Yura nodded her head.
“Why don’t we designate today as Nymph’s Day each year and make it a public holiday? And maybe one of you nymphs can run as a proportional representative number one in the National Assembly this year…?”
That sounds good.
Adding more holidays is always a good thing.
In any case, afterwards, the nymphs busily and joyfully spent their day eating cookies, drinking beverages, dancing, and playing with mechanical snails.
The nymphs’ joy was much like it always was, but because it was Nymph’s Day, they seemed to have enjoyed it even more today.
“This Coris has never experienced a better Nymph’s Day!”
“Joyful ‘Happiness’ (喜)…!”
In such a manner, the evening approached, and Seo Ye-rim told me:
“Today was just passed over because it was the Day of the Nymphs, but we need to talk about the rift that formed inside the well soon. It doesn’t seem ordinary. It could even be the castle of a ‘Demon King’.”
The Demon King.
The source of headaches in Europe?
Simultaneously, the Imp Barbarbar came to mind too.
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