chapter 100

Leaning against the outer wall of the cave, I was able to meet the party after a short break. Kim Sujeong used the fireflies to treat me and asked, “Are you really okay?”

“…Yes.”

“I don’t think you’re okay… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I should’ve been with Father.”

“No. No one could’ve expected that situation to happen.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is weeping as she watches the sleeping ‘Prometheus.’]

I had no face to see Camille, who kept sending sad messages. It was my responsibility that Prometheus turned out like this. If only I had been a bit stronger…

[Kuaack! What the hell is this body? How am I trapped here?]

Damn. I was going to die from this noise. ‘Be quiet, you rotten guy.’

[How dare you talk like this to me? You have to die…]

‘Crazy guy.’

[Chwiik. Y-You..!]

I was able to indulge in the swear words I had been holding back for a long time. Of course, I said it inwardly but I still wasn’t in a good mood. I didn’t know why I could hear Mudur’s words.

“I’m sorry. It is my fault, Brother. Sigh.” Gyeonso Dragon came back from where he had been punching a rock since earlier. The moment he had seen me bleeding, he struck the rock with a blue lightning bolt. Fortunately he did it softly because he saw my state. If he had hit a bit harder, this place would have collapsed.

“You should stop now. You’ve smashed a lot of them. Tsk tsk. Why crush the rocks?”

The finely ground sand was blown into the distance by the cold wind.

Gyeonso Dragon told me, “I’m also sorry. In this case, the fight with me…”

It turned out this was the reason. “Don’t worry about it. There will be no hindrance.”

“Then I’m glad.”

He seemed more concerned about not being able to fight me than my safety. No, if someone was hurt like this then shouldn’t he first ask if I was okay?

[Kuaack! Don’t ignore me! Human!!!]

‘Shut up.’

[Grruruk. Do you know who I am? I am the emperor of the great orc empire, Leica.]

‘I know. Your name is Mudur. So shut up. I’ll give you a chance to talk later.’

[ … ]

Now it was a bit quieter. I asked Kim Sujeong, who was still focused on healing me, “You didn’t bring the orcs with you?”

“Yes, I thought this would be better. It is a labyrinth so it is a bit hard to find the way.”

“Well done. It would’ve been noisy if you brought them.”

I moved around and felt like I could breathe slightly. I stood up and Kim Sujeong looked surprised. “Ah, my healing still isn’t over…”

“It’s okay. Rather, let’s hurry out of here.”

The frost orcs would be troubled when they learned about Sven’s death. I thought it would be better to get out of here before that. Maybe I would just pretend to be with the frost orcs. Well, it was inevitable. He was the one who attacked me first.

I quietly escaped from the village of frost orcs with my companions.

* * *

Around this time, the A.S.L community was in shock. Many guilds tried to hunt the monster called Minotaur found in the Kobold Mines a few days ago but there wasn’t a single team that had been successful. The even more shocking thing was the content of the videos filmed there.

Minotaur was a giant bull with a power beyond imagination. The high temperature fire that was shot from his mouth was so powerful that no one could withstand it. Even the Cassiopeia Guild, who challenged it after raising their fire resistance, wasn’t able to hold on for a long time. Meanwhile, today was the day the Guardians Guild challenged it.

[The Guardians announce they are going to show the difference in strength!]

[Cassiopeia: Guardians will receive a huge injury.]

[Guardians: We are in a different dimension from Cassiopeia.]

Michael read the articles and was in agony. He watched the raid videos an unknown number of times before standing up.

‘I don’t see any weaknesses.’

It was the first time he had seen a monster like this. Until now, all monsters had weaknesses such as a slow speed or weak defense. Based on it, he made a plan and thoroughly attacked. This time it was different. The basilisk he hunted the other day turned into stone when he stabbed it in the eye. However, Minotaur had no such weakness.

“The problem is that he is too perfect.”

High defense and high attack power. Even his resistance to magic was very high. Compared to his attack power, the speed was a bit slow but it wasn’t enough to be considered a flaw. Rather, Minotaur’s balance of attack and defense was perfect.

‘Fortunately, I can use Antares’ sand power but I can’t use his poison…’

He could block Minotaur’s fire attack with the power of sand but that was it. If he only defended and didn’t attack, this raid was doomed to failure.

“Damn!”

Michael threw the vase next to him to the ground. The housekeeper Reina came running in when she heard the sound. She exclaimed with a surprised expression, “Michael! There is blood on your hands!”

“I’m fine. Please bring me some bandages and a disinfectant.”

“Yes, I understand. Be careful not to step on the broken shards.”

“Yes.”

He was grateful to Reina for taking care of him ever since his mother died when he was a child. Michael was able to calm down once he saw her worry. A short time later, Michael was having his wounds disinfected by Reina. He spoke to her, “I’m sorry. I let you see me like this.”

“Are you worried about something?”

“In fact…”

“Talk to me. What can’t you tell me? I’m always ready to listen.”

‘Yes. She’s always been like this.’

Michael remembered the always kind Reina and opened his mouth, “I have to hunt a burning bull.”

“Burning bull? Are you talking about the game called Arkstar?”

“I don’t see any weaknesses from it. It is strong and the skin is hard so it isn’t easily attacked. The fire is so hot that I don’t know what to do.”

“Um…”

Reina stopped disinfecting the wounds for a moment and opened her mouth, “Can’t you put out the fire with water?”

“Yes, but I don’t have water.”

Perhaps if it was Torres who had the power of a Zodiac like him. If it was the power of his water bottle then it might be possible.

No, was it an alcohol bottle…?

Reina wondered, “So what do you have?”

“Sand.”

“Then can you cover it with sand?”

“Cover it with sand…”

‘Yes. I’ve been thinking about using the power of sand defensively. I wasn’t thinking about using it aggressively.’

Michael nodded.

“Thank you, Auntie. I think I found a way.”

“I’m glad I helped. Where are you going?”

“Now that I’ve found a path, I have to walk it.”

Michael lay in a top-of-the-line capsule in the corner. He was smiling with satisfaction.

“Auntie, thank you. Take a few days off.”

Then the lid of the capsule closed straight away.

* * *

[★ The Star Piece, Remus’ Heart has been acquired.]

Once I arrived in Diya, I met Romelana and was able to get Remus’ Star Piece. I looked at the turbulent heart of black night and couldn’t help having a strange feeling. He had arrived well in the cradle of the stars. Romelana saw me and opened her mouth, [I’m really sorry. Prometheus is like this…]

The noble white wolf in front of me had a sad expression. I was so sad that I had forgotten for a moment. She was sadder than I am right now. I had been too self-centered. I had room to meet Prometheus again but Remus was different. I looked at her and smiled. “Don’t worry, he will wake up soon. I will make it happen.”

[Prometheus would be glad to hear it.]

“Who knows? I think he would start by asking why I woke him up so late.]

[If you need my strength to wake him up then tell me at any time. Prometheus is like a benefactor to me.]

“Yes, I’ll do so.”

It might’ve been a long time ago but when Remus was hurt, it was Prometheus who helped him settle down with Romelana in the North Pole. It was the day when Prometheus and the tundra dragon met for the first time. For the sake of the two wolf constellations, Prometheus had predicted that guy’s future. It was before meeting Alexus and there was no Solar. His prophetic power was perfect so he had made a pretty good prophecy. Of course, it was a burden on many gods.

Perhaps the prophecy at that time said, ‘You will fight against a being with the same personality?’

It was terrible just thinking about it. The same personality as that nasty guy… I thought about it and unknowingly shuddered. If that really happened, I thought the North Pole might be destroyed.

Romelana told me, [I am connected to Remus’ Heart.]

“Really? Then you are now first-grade?”

[Not yet. After lending you strength, I intend to take back Remus’ Heart. Only then can I be promoted to the first-grade.]

“It means this is a one time use.”

I thought that Remus’ Heart in my hand felt somewhat shabby. If I could keep this Star Piece, I could kill those guys after my granddaughter Tsk, it couldn’t be helped.

“In any case, thank you. Then take care. I’ll see you again someday.”

[I pray for your good luck, promised monarch.]

I turned around with no hesitation. Long farewells weren’t needed. It was a place where I would have to come back to one day.

-Jackson: Sujeong, are you ready for the departure?

-Crystal: It’s all finished! All you have to do is come over!

-Jackson: I’ll be there soon.

I quickly arrived at the dock where the ship was located. I saw the faces of the captain and the crew after a long time and they were quite plump. They had been doing pretty good in my absence.

“Buroder~!” Drain was waving both hands in the distance. He seemed a bit depressed when he learned that Prometheus was lost but he seemed to have overcome it quickly.

I was worried about him so I was glad.

It was because Drain had a softer side than I expected. Prometheus fell asleep because of him. In fact, I hadn’t blamed Drain but he had been blaming himself the whole way.

I climbed onto the deck of the ship and everyone gathered around me. The captain stood waiting for the order and I opened my mouth, “Let’s go. To Windia!”