261 – Dungeon and Nymphs: The Nymph’s Journey #4
“The pawn of the Demon King has been driven off!”
“The hero has repelled one of the Demon King’s underlings!”
“Inoi is our hero of the Pilgrims’ Village!”
After the Imp Burburu fled, we were greeted with even more enthusiastic receptions and cheers.
The people carried Inoi on something like a flower sedan chair, parading them around as the symbol of a festival. Inoi seemed to enjoy this immensely, puffing out their chest and shouting.
“This Inoi here has vanquished the wicked villain…! None of the other nymphs with tails could have ever driven away such strange-tailed creatures as elegantly as I have!”
The demon-slaying hero Inoi.
Their name spread to every last one of the 666 residents of the village, making us quite famous.
Saint Isabella hurried out to the park and said,
“Driving away the Demon King’s pawn, Burburu the Imp, is truly remarkable…! That imp was an evil one, always demanding unreasonable tributes from us on behalf of the Demon King.”
Ever since the Demon King had taken over the ancient castle, Demon King Barbatos had been demanding tributes from this Pilgrims’ Village, threatening to take hostages if they didn’t comply.
No one knew what had happened to those who had been taken hostage and dragged to the Demon King’s castle.
The people breathed a sigh of relief.
“Five boxes of honey candy was an outrageous demand. That’s approximately all the honey we could produce in a year.”
“If the esteemed hero Inoi hadn’t driven away that wicked demon, we’d have been forced to hand over another hostage for failing to meet the tribute!”
“It was my daughter’s turn to be taken hostage this time. We’re so lucky!”
“Lord Inoi, we’d like to offer you thanks! Is there anything you desire? Please let us know!”
It seemed they wanted to offer some form of thanks to the great hero Inoi.
When people experience gratitude, there’s often a desire to offer some form of reward.
That’s when someone spoke up.
“Muheh… Then I would like five boxes of honey candy as a reward…! The only payment fitting for us nymphs is exquisite honey and exciting money to boot…!”
Pfft!
Someone leapt forth towards the square.
It was a nymph with red hair cut short, except for the ponytail at the back of their neck, styled like a tail.
Soon, the people were startled.
“An imp! Another imp has appeared!”
“Twice in one day! We’re doomed!”
“Oh! On closer inspection, there’s no tail!”
That’s right.
This was a tail-less nymph.
“Searching for a tail on a nymph is quite a foolish act…! Because like me, Illinois, and other nymphs, we naturally don’t possess tails…!”
“Ah! Sister Illinois has arrived! This Inoi here is thrilled to meet a nymph sister here in this unfamiliar village!”
“Of course…! Me too! Nice to meet you too!”
Pfft, Dodo-do.
Inoi jumped down from the flower sedan and ran towards Illinois.
Illinois also ran towards Inoi, and they embraced each other. The scene was deeply touching, and some sensitive individuals even shed tears watching them.
I, too, was surprised by this situation.
Illinois being here meant…
“I thought something disastrous must’ve happened but you’ve been surprisingly well-behaved. Then again, finding such a large settlement inside a rift is also an incident in its own right. Haildo, why can’t you be calm even for one day?”
A woman approached with her hands on her hips, striking a dignified pose.
Her name was Seo Ye-rim… There’s really no need to explain further, is there?
“Seo Ye-rim! What brings you here?”
“Didn’t Cha Yura tell you? I was designated to handle the aberrant rift in the well. And here you are, going into the rift without permission. At your A Rank, you’re supposed to know better than to enter a T Rank region prematurely.”
“Actually, I’m not here without permission. I’m already accompanying an S Rank individual. She’s the person over there. ‘Epidemic Doctor,’ an unofficial S Rank from Korea.”
As I said this, I felt a bit uneasy.
It was difficult for me to decide whether or not to reveal the identity of Ari to Seo Ye-rim.
“The Epidemic Doctor… You mean that person over there? What a very suspicious and unpleasant character. They may pretend to be innocent, but behind closed doors, they’re certainly up to no good.”
Seo Ye-rim evaluated the Epidemic Doctor while looking at them.
Based on her indifferent reaction, it was clear she didn’t know that the Epidemic Doctor was Yu Ara.
“You’re the one who brought Haildo here into this T Rank dungeon without thinking, right? Do you know how dangerous T Rank rifts are? What exactly is your role here?”
“…”
The Epidemic Doctor Yu Ara fell silent.
Watching this scene, I was unsure whether to stay silent or try to alleviate the tension. It was stressful, and I felt a slight twisting sensation in my gut.
I’m not good at lying or anything like that!
Perhaps it would be best to change the atmosphere here.
“Ye-rim, try saying ‘Status Window’ while channeling your mana.”
“Status Window.”
Pfft!
「Name: Seo Ye-rim
Princess 5 Lv
Witch 5 Lv
Sarcastic One 1 Lv
Total Level: 11 Lv MAX
Strength: Strong
Speed: Fast
Intelligence: Smart
Mana: Extremely Potent
Skills: ??」
“What is this? Why are words appearing?”
Seo Ye-rim seemed slightly startled.
I was surprised too.
So, it seems S Rankers reach a total level of 11.
Seo Ye-rim had the traits of both a “Princess” and a “Witch,” as well as an inexplicable “Sarcastic One.” While traits like Princess and Witch make sense, Sarcastic One sure is a peculiar trait.
The skills section was filled with question marks.
Based on my intuition and remembering that Ari’s skills hadn’t been visible to me either, it seems that the information is concealed for those with higher levels than myself.
—
“Alright, so we need to head towards the Demon King’s castle to rescue Kalilnoi and Ji-hu. I think the captives from this village are being held together with them.”
I gave Seo Ye-rim a good explanation of what needed to be done next.
She let out a long sniff, seeming somewhat uninterested in my plan.
It’s true that what may be a tense situation for me in this T Rank rift might just be another day at work for Seo Ye-rim.
“The Demon King, huh. That name does sound fairly powerful.”
Seo Ye-rim mumbled to herself with a lackadaisical tone as if the fearsome Demon King were nothing special.
After all, Seo Ye-rim’s flames were among the most destructive in the S Ranks, and she had incinerated many monsters, including hydras and lava giants in the past.
Even the Demon King should be within her capabilities to handle.
Seo Ye-rim and Yu Ara.
Being accompanied by two S Rankers gave me a sense of assurance.
Shall we depart, then?
“Muheh… Let’s head to the Demon King’s Castle!”
“Let’s go…!”
We set out for the Demon King’s Castle alongside the nymphs.
It really felt like being a hero in a game.
Seo Ye-rim was in the rear, managing fire magic as a supporting mage.
Ari was operating as a monk, capable of dealing damage and healing alike.
I was the druid, a friend to animals, fulfilling various utility roles.
Inoi was the Nymph knight.
Illinois was just herself.
What a romantic combination!
Pfft!
At that moment, something jumped out in front of the Demon King’s Castle.
It was a creature with a black body and bat-like wings. Its claws were hook-like and sharp, and its tongue flickered like a serpent’s.
It was terrifying at first glance.
“Senior level Demon, Level 10.”
The interesting thing was that the name and level number appeared above its head, much like encountering a monster in a game.
Is this also one of the Demon King’s rules?
I immediately became alert.
My level is 9, and this Demon is 10.
It must be at least Grade A or even S Grade!
“Kkungkkung!”
-Krrrrr!
I shouted, and Kkungkkungi, who had been sitting on my shoulder, let out a fierce cry. It was a mighty and fearsome sound.
However, before Kkungkkungi could do anything, the situation was already over.
Pfft!
“Break the Construct!”
Pshiing!
Ari had swiftly moved with incredible speed and stabbed the demon’s neck with a finger, creating a huge hole.
Seeing the tunnel-like hole in the demon’s neck, I couldn’t help but tremble.
Ari’s skills were even more extraordinary than I imagined!
“Th…that’s incredible.”
I felt somewhat intimidated but couldn’t help but admire her.
The Epidemic Doctor wiped the blood from her finger and said,
“I have an acute intuition that allows me to see things others cannot. Every object has a weakness. By targeting that weak point, I can take down any enemy.”
Indeed, that must be how she does it.
As simple as Ari made the process sound, it couldn’t have been achieved through talent alone. There must have been much blood-sweat-and-tears.
I imagined Ari, unnoticed by others, practicing until the mannequins were pierced with a “Break!” shout.
It was both warm-hearted and impressive in its own way.
“That’s truly remarkable.”
“Do…do you think so?”
Yu Ara was scratching her mask.
For some reason, I felt like I could see the face behind the mask.
She was likely blushing and feeling shy.
Even under the guise of ‘Epidemic Doctor,’ Ari was still unmistakably Ari.
Ari was still my innocent and kind junior.
“Don’t be overly impressed with merely taking down one S Rank monster. People are being held hostage, right? Time is of the essence. ‘Butterfly Flames’—.”
Flap flap.
As Seo Ye-rim waved her hand, flames like butterflies flitted through the air.
They effortlessly incinerated the other incoming “Senior Level Demons, Level 10.”
-Kreeeek!
-Geeeaaah!
Within two seconds, the demons were roasted black.
Seeing this, Illinois remarked,
“These demons might have been able to endure Hell’s fire, but it was impossible for them to withstand Core Ye-rim’s fiery temperament!”
It was indeed.
While it would have taken me a complex process to defeat an S Rank monster, Seo Ye-rim was taking them down simultaneously with simple techniques.
Seo Ye-rim and Yu Ara continued to take down monsters, as if in competition with each other.
I had expected to face some monsters in this T Rank rift, but I didn’t get the chance to face even one.
It felt like I had unintentionally boarded a bus and was just a passenger, feeling restless as I had nothing to do, and it was making my back itchy.
It felt like ants were crawling on my back!
-Zzeeji.
—
“Is this the Demon King’s Castle?”
Seo Ye-rim, despite having faced countless S Ranks, hadn’t even broken a sweat.
The same went for Yu Ara.
Thanks to the overwhelming firepower of the two S Rankers, I was able to safely arrive at the gates of the Demon King’s Castle, where many heroes were rumored to have fallen.
At the entrance was this inscription:
“「Abandon all hope, ye who enter here」… Muheh, this is a line from the Divine Comedy which I helped Dante craft back in the day…!”
Though it was the first time I’d heard that Illinois had assisted Dante in crafting the Divine Comedy, I was familiar with this famous phrase.
“It was the inscription at the entrance to Hell.”
This Demon King’s Castle, being inhabited by a demon powerful enough to be called a Demon King, must indeed feel akin to Hell.
“Then let’s go in.”
Creak.
Together, we pushed the heavy doors open to reveal a dim room beyond.
A voice thundered like lightning.
“「Welcome, challengers. In the monotony akin to eternal time, your arrival brings a refreshing interruption. I am the Demon King Barbatos of Troubles, and I invite you into my playground.」”
