Chapter 131: The Bustling City
It was the third day since we arrived in the Underground Kingdom.
Surrounded by the clamor, Kouya, accompanied by Xanthos and Klyssa, walked through the city.
“You’re really standing out.”
“It’s because Kouya is so big.”
I walked through the street, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
The citizens were only watching from a distance and didn’t approach… rather, they were making sure not to get in my way, so we were able to move smoothly. I felt increasingly apologetic.
Even though I was using the Space Expansion Bag to shrink myself, I was still about the size of a small elephant, so it was only natural that they would avoid me.
“It’s not just that, you know. Everyone is seeing someone from the outside for the first time, so they’re more scared than necessary.”
The girl with deep green hair said with a “hehehe” smile that was hard to understand.
After a few awkward exchanges, Klyssa’s attitude had settled into this.
“Well, it’s helpful that they’re clearing the way. For now, take me to the place you recommended, Klyssa.”
“Roger that!”
Led by the enthusiastic Klyssa, we looked around the streets of the Etha Kingdom.
It was my first time seeing a city of people from another world, and even Fiss seemed very interested in the exotic architecture.
The region where she lived was also based on stone construction, but the materials and architectural styles were different.
In particular, since the sun doesn’t move from the center of the sky in this country, the structures were adapted to that.
In addition, there were Artifacts at the foundation of this city.
The fields were plowed with a modified version of the rake used in club activities, with the tip replaced with an automatic rotating blade, and the livestock were monitored by Haniwa-shaped Lesser Pseudo-Golem Machines.
The elderly moved around on self-propelled chair-like devices.
The Sunstone floating in the sky was also an Artifact.
It also served as a furnace to amplify 〖Mana〗, and it seemed that the 〖Mana〗 stored inside during the non-illuminated night was sent to 〖Mana〗 storage facilities throughout the city, and by supplying them, the large-scale Artifacts in the city were operating.
“Well, that’s the system for sending 〖Mana〗 from the sky.”
“Hee, so there was such a method. It’s well thought out.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it too. So that’s how it works.”
Thanasis was also accompanying us as an Artifact explainer.
Just because he was an Underground person didn’t mean he knew everything about Artifacts.
“Hmm, hmm, I see. There are no Artifacts on the surface, so that’s understandable. By the way, how do you on the surface…”
Well, the only flaw was that I was frequently asked about the surface, but that was his true purpose, so it couldn’t be helped.
I skillfully passed the questions to Fiss while answering only what I could.
“Man, it’s so lively, or rather, everyone in the city seems busy. Is this normal for this country?”
“…There’s a festival at the end of this month. The Earth God Festival, which is held once every five years. Everyone is excited and preparing for it.”
“…”
“God, that’s a bad sound…”
“Hey, hey, I know how you feel because of the Demon Beast Cult, but you shouldn’t say things like that.”
I warned her, feeling nervous that they might get angry at the insult to their object of worship. Fortunately, no one seemed to mind.
And so, we toured the city, ate a mysterious sweet treat—apparently made from a crop unique to this country—and had lunch—a set of roasted frogs. It was surprisingly delicious—and ate a thin but chewy treat—apparently made from seafood from the Underground Lake.
“There really is a forest…”
“Hmm, it feels strange, even though we’re underground.”
“The Sunstone is great, huh?”
On the fourth day, we had come outside the city.
This forest, on the opposite side of the grassland where we had fallen, was one of the most inhabited areas for Demon Beasts in the underground, and the Wardens were apparently culling the Demon Beasts every day.
“Indeed, this forest did not exist at first. It seems that it became a lush forest through cultivation and tree planting using Artifacts.”
“Hee, so was the grassland created in the same way?”
“Yes, it seems that the other side was mainly cultivated for the purpose of grazing.”
Thanasis gave us some trivia. Come to think of it, when I fell, there were a few small Demon Beasts.
By the way, Xanthos and Klyssa were separated in front and behind to watch out for Demon Beasts.
“I see. But why did they let the Demon Beasts breed so much? It’s not like they suddenly increased one day…”
“It’s to create a place to raise 〖Levels〗 and to produce high-level Demon Beast materials. The materials of Demon Beasts that have undergone 〖Evolution〗 often have special effects.”
“——Demon Beasts.”
Xanthos, who was leading the way, raised one hand.
A tense atmosphere ran through the group.
“The sound of those wings is probably a Lesser Beast, a Cave Bat. There are three of them, and they will make contact in about twenty seconds.”
When I suggested that I wanted to go to a place where Demon Beasts appeared, I was taught about the Demon Beasts that appeared in this area.
Cave Bats were bat-like Demon Beasts that had 〖Skills〗 related to sound.
“Hmm, got it.”
“…Is Fiss really going to fight?”
“No problem.”
Fiss, who stepped forward, was dressed differently than usual.
She was wearing light armor that emphasized mobility, which was used by the Wardens, and gauntlets that were Artifacts.
The gauntlet on her right hand was for artillery, with a hexagonal prism at the tip.
“Kii kii kii!”
Three Cave Bats flew towards us, weaving through the sparsely growing trees.
They were a size larger than ordinary bats, and their long fangs were glinting.
“Activate, Shoot.”
When Fiss poured 〖Mana〗 into it, a 〖Mana〗 light bullet was fired from the cannon on her right hand.
It flew at the speed of an arrow, but it didn’t hit the Cave Bats that were flying around agilely. The second and third shots that followed were also dodged.
“Even though she’s been well-trained, it’s difficult against Cave Bats that are good at dodging—”
“——I’m used to it now.”
And with the fourth, fifth, and sixth shots, she shot down the Cave Bats one after another.
Silence fell over the scene.
“…That’s too OP.”
“…I thought so during the test firing, but Fiss’s shooting talent is terrifying.”
“The weapon was good. It has amazing power even though I hardly put any 〖Mana〗 into it.”
She said, rubbing the gauntlet on her right hand—a magic cannon that used a red Mana Crystal.
“If you use a high-level Mana Crystal, the output of 〖Mana〗 release will also increase. Normally, it’s a weapon that only the Warden Captain class is allowed to carry… but that’s thanks to Kouya-dono. We who received the donation are very grateful.”
“Fiss was with me when I found that mine, and it’s no use keeping it dead. More importantly, thank you for doing so much for us.”
The cave of high-quality Mana Crystals that we found before fighting “Hanji”.
I had asked them to make Artifacts for us because I was going to donate some of the Mana Crystals I had picked up there to this country.
The production of Artifacts was apparently overseen by the Sage—the king with the 〖Ageless Attribute〗 and a disciple of the Great Sage—and Thanasis had been running around to get permission from him.
I couldn’t thank him enough for making the Artifacts.
“The dissection of the bats is finished.”
“Oh, thanks. Then let’s go find the next prey right away.”
“Okay.”
Our exploration of the forest continued.