Chapter 235: The Reason for the Summoning
“W-Wait, Shuu!? What happened?!”
As I couldn’t contain my excitement and struck a victory pose, Rio grabbed my shoulders and shook me vigorously.
“Oh, sorry, sorry! I just got a little carried away because I can see Skills now thanks to my appraisal…”
“Whaaat!?”
Rio seemed genuinely surprised, her reaction betraying her usual composure.
“By the way, are the folks behind us alright?”
“Huh?”
It seemed we had drawn attention, as the leader of the group turned to look at us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Second Prince was in a foul mood. My apologies for interrupting your serious discussion, but honestly, your situation pales in comparison to the fact that I can now see Skills.
“Ah, don’t mind them.”
“What are you doing…?”
Ivan’s voice echoed in my mind through Telepathic Communication. I’m really sorry. I’m curious about our Skills, but right now, we need to deal with this situation first.
“My name is Ivan. And these are—”
“I’m Shuu.”
“I’m Rio.”
“I’m Phonia! And this little one is Nil.”
As we introduced ourselves, surprised expressions spread across their faces, and attention shifted to Nil. I guess a four-legged Beast is quite rare.
“Thank you for the introductions. Since it’s not polite to chat here, let me explain the situation in a more suitable room.”
“Oh, then please lead the way.”
With that, Ivan turned around, and I nodded in agreement.
“Very well. Please follow me.”
The leader nodded graciously and turned on his heel, exiting the Hall. The Majin Tribe members who had surrounded the Magic Circle began to move, forming a tighter perimeter around us.
“Allow me to guide you.”
One of the Majin stepped forward, leading us. It was clear they were forming a formation to prevent our escape, but I decided not to dwell on it.
We were flanked by about ten members of the Majin Tribe as we exited the Hall into a corridor. The stone corridor was devoid of decoration, with a few doors scattered along the way. Given that this was a building designed for a race that stood nearly three meters tall, everything from the doors to the hallways was impressively large.
After a short while, we were led into a room furnished with enormous chairs and a table. The Second Prince and his companions were already seated, waiting for us.
“Please, have a seat.”
Even if invited, only Ivan could sit comfortably. For Rio and me, who were barely half the height of the Majin, we had to stand in front of the chair, place our hands on the seat, and hoist ourselves up to sit.
As I settled into my chair, Phonia handed Nil over to me. She then skipped over to Rio, raising her arms in a gesture that clearly meant she wanted to be picked up.
“Here you go.”
With a wry smile, Rio lifted Phonia and placed her on the chair. Thanks to the size of the chair, they could sit side by side.
Across the table sat the Second Prince and the leader, with a few individuals in lavish attire standing behind them, along with four others standing at attention.
Before long, three maids arrived, moving swiftly to prepare tea. Their long skirts were red and reminiscent of traditional Japanese maid outfits, but their fierce faces and four arms added an intimidating presence, especially with their towering height of three meters.
“Please, don’t hold back.”
After appraising the tea, I confirmed that it contained no poison. It seemed to have a mild calming effect, likely intended to soothe us, who had just been summoned. However, sitting down, I found it difficult to reach the table.
“Now, let’s get straight to the point and discuss our situation.”
Despite inviting us to drink, the leader didn’t touch his tea as he continued speaking.
“This is the Steinfluss Demon Nation, located in the central part of the continent—”
To summarize, it seemed that a nearby Dungeon’s shallow layers had connected to some underground kingdom, leading to an invasion by the Subterraneans. While the Subterraneans themselves weren’t particularly strong, their equipment posed a significant threat. They wielded tools that unleashed magic at speeds so fast they were nearly invisible, leaving armor and bodies riddled with holes before one even realized what had happened. While elite troops could handle them, regular soldiers struggled to cope.
“Subterraneans, huh…”
“Indeed. If it were just one Dungeon, it wouldn’t be so bad, but they’ve started to emerge from other Dungeons as well…”
It seemed the elite military forces could no longer manage the situation alone. So, it was our turn to step in, huh? While it wasn’t explicitly stated, it felt like that was the implication.
Well, it’s only natural, but this situation has nothing to do with us. We have no obligation to assist those who kidnapped us.
“Ah, that sounds quite troublesome. If we can be of any help, we’re willing to lend our strength.”
Just as I was thinking that, Ivan spoke up. Rio turned to him in surprise, but given that he was Subjugated, I wondered if this was the direction they intended to take.
“Oh, that would be a great help. We’ll provide more details later, but we’re currently preparing a modest welcome feast. We have a room ready for you, so please relax until the time comes. I’m sure you’ll want to discuss matters privately away from our ears…”
“That would be appreciated. We’re still quite bewildered ourselves.”
And so, we were led to a separate room designated as our guest quarters.