67. Opening
67. Opening
67. Opening
A rumor spread among travelers.
That there was an incredible treasure hidden in the underwater city of Atlantis.
Most travelers who heard this rumor laughed it off, but some did not.
And so, one by one, travelers set out to search the sea for the legendary city called Atlantis.
Unlike the Avalon continent, it was not difficult to find using the power of modern science.
The problem was that they couldn't enter it.
How could they get in with a giant Kraken guarding the city?
Moreover, wasn't that Kraken from the group known as the Red Revolution?
They absolutely must not provoke them.
However, there are always exceptions.
People whose screws are loose or missing in their heads, that is.
There were often cases of people blinded by treasure trying to sneak into Atlantis, and every time that happened, they ended up as fish food.
I was witnessing one such case.
It felt like watching a 4D movie, but I should still try to save them.
"Zook zook zook!!!"
Although only "zook zook" sounds came from my mouth, I used hand and foot gestures to convey my intentions to Grandpa Kraken.
Fortunately, he seemed to understand and spared their lives.
[It's been a while, savior.]
"Zook zook zook!!"
I waved my hand to express that I was glad to see him, and in an instant, I was transported inside the city with a bright light to have a conversation.
After putting the pacifier away in my subspace, I greeted Grandpa after a long time, and he looked even healthier than before.
"You've changed so much I barely recognize you! Someone might think you're in your 30s!"
"Hohoho, you only say nice things. Well then, what brings you here?"
After chatting about various things since it had been a while, I got to the main point.
I said I came on behalf of Lala because she was busy with trading company work.
"Sigh, that child doesn't even show her face once, making me go out looking for her. And she even sends a friend instead."
"Y-yes, that's right."
I earnestly agreed and tried to improve his mood while chatting about various things, when the Siren clan came looking for me.
"It's been a while, Savior. The Queen is waiting for you."
"I'll be right there."
After saying goodbye to Grandpa Kraken, I went inside where the Queen was waiting for me.
Perhaps because it had been a while since we last met.
She welcomed me very warmly.
She thanked me, saying she had sent her children to help us adapt to this world and received a lot of help.
"It's nothing between us. It's only natural."
After the pleasant meeting, I said I would visit again and prepared to return to the surface.
I told Grandpa Kraken that I would send Lala nicely packaged later, and he said he understood and would let it slide this time.
Poor Lala. This is why she should have shown her face once in a while.
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[Main scenario quest conditions have been met.]
[CHAPTER 7: Conquer the tower.]
[Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds]
One minute left.
With a tense heart, I was checking the broadcasts being transmitted worldwide when an alert window popped up.
[You have failed to conquer the tower.]
[A new quest has arrived.]
[Monsters existing in the tower will be expelled outside.]
[Main scenario quest conditions have been met.]
[CHAPTER 8: Stop the monsters.]
[Time remaining: 47 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]
Monsters began pouring out from the towers being broadcast worldwide.
And the worst-case scenario unfolded.
The monsters pouring out scattered in all directions and began destroying civilization.
The only fortunate thing was that there were no monsters that looked like demons.
It's strange. I clearly heard that demons were occupying the upper floors, so why are there only monsters visible and no demons?
I need to stop them for now.
We started moving as previously discussed to join forces with travelers and stop the monsters pouring out.
It took a long time as we moved to our respective areas and persuaded the monsters pouring out, but it couldn't be helped.
Spending the busiest days of my life, we were able to deal with all the monsters pouring out of the towers in a short time.
We suffered massive damage, but somehow we were able to resolve it.
However, as if not giving us time to catch our breath, a scenario quest alert window popped up.
[Main scenario quest conditions have been met.]
[CHAPTER 9: Prepare for invasion.]
[Time remaining: 239 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]
An ambiguous phrase.
Invasion?
Who on earth is invading now?
As I collapsed on the spot and blankly looked up at the sky, someone approached me.
Those footsteps were stealthy yet familiar.
"It's been a while."
"Demon King!?"
Jet-black hair and huge horns.
Red eyes and alluring lips.
The Demon King wearing a black China dress and looking at me with a bright smile.
"H-how...?"
"I've been a bit busy protecting the demons from pollution."
The reason why demons didn't appear when the towers opened and monsters poured out.
She said the demons fought desperately to stop the pollution that the World Tree had been suppressing from rampaging.
Because of that, the demons who lost their home need a new place to settle, she said, and I know a good place.
"Would you like to come to our hideout together? We've expanded it recently, so it's similar to the demon realm."
"Then I'll impose on you for a while."
With those words, numerous demons revealed themselves.
And they greeted me politely.
"We greet you, Duke!"
Ugh, it's burdensome.
I received their greetings and opened a gate to guide them to their new home.
The place where the World Tree has taken root.
The demons shed tears of joy seeing it restored to its former appearance through the power of magic stones.
"I'm sorry. My children have a tendency to be sentimental..."
"It's okay. It's understandable."
As I showed her around the village currently undergoing expansion, I said I would quickly prepare accommodations for the Demon King, but she waved her hands saying it was fine.
But the Demon King is the ruler of the demon realm, she can't live just anywhere.
As the Duke of the demon realm, I can't allow that.
"I'll build you a building as grand and magnificent as possible!"
"That's not necessary."
"No!? This is a matter of the demon realm's pride!"
The celestial realm and demon realm don't get along.
What if they were to find out we're living in such a shabby state...?
That day would be the day the celestial-demonic war breaks out.
We, we absolutely can't let that happen.
By mobilizing all the dwarves living in the Arcana continent and manpower, a fairly decent city was built in the short time of three days.
See, we can do it if we try, right? All that whining...
"See! We could do it!"
"C-can you not see my current state...?"
As I was looking away from the nearly dead dwarf grandfathers, someone came looking for me.
The Archangel Michael with ten pure white wings appeared.
"It's been a while, Yuna."
"Michael-nim!"
She welcomed me with a bright smile, but suddenly her face turned cold.
She was looking at the Demon King beside me, and I didn't know she could make such an expression.
"It's been a while, Demon King."
"It has been a while. How is that troublemaker Miel doing?"
"She's doing well."
Just how much trouble does Miel cause for even the Demon King to know about her...?
Michael-nim took something out from her bosom and held it out to the Demon King.
"This is the will of the celestial realm."
"Oh? I'm curious about that."
After checking the document, she smirked and made it disappear.
"Tell them not to worry, I have no intention of waging war against the celestial realm."
I can roughly guess what the contents were.
Did they come because they were worried we might be creating a new demon realm on earth?
Well, since the demon realm disappeared, if we said we were going to use earth as a foothold to create a new demon realm, it would be troublesome from the celestial realm's perspective.
I can fully understand.
But suddenly, the Demon King hugged me and said:
"I'm satisfied as long as I have Yuna, so you can go back now."
"I-I can't do that!"
Michael-nim shouted angrily, saying she would take me back.
The situation seems to be getting strangely twisted...?