Chapter 189 : Chapter 189

Chapter 189 : Join (2)

Arandir, the High-Rank Sand Spirit.

A grateful existence who roamed the continent with Derix like my direct guerilla unit.

I formed a connection with Arandir thanks to Narima.

Arandir made significant contributions to gathering the initial members of Remnant, performing tasks to the best of his ability, whether it was information gathering or combat.

‘Moreover, he was even cute when he transformed into a desert fox.......’

In many ways, I had much to be thankful to Arandir for.

Right now, Arandir was staying in the Spirit Realm, which was also due to my request.

Currently, Arandir was in charge of persuading the spirits.

He was struggling to bring even those spirits with little interest in worldly affairs into the expedition.

‘Can Lord Arandir persuade even the strong spirits?’

I couldn't help but look forward to it.

At first, I thought just joining the sand spirits to the expedition would be a great help.

However, before Arandir left for the Spirit Realm, he said something to me.

– I will request the Spirit Kings to cooperate as much as possible.

– Really? Then it would be a great help...... Is it possible?

– The Spirit Realm is also currently contaminated with demonic energy, so many are suffering. They won't be unaware that now is the golden opportunity to kill the Demon King.

Arandir resolved himself and left for the Spirit Realm.

Since then, we, connected by contract, often conversed, but we talked more about daily life than the expedition.

It was partly because I didn't want to burden Arandir, and partly because I firmly believed Arandir would handle it well on his own.

‘Anyway, it was possible because Arandir and the spirits were additional forces not included in the expedition.’

The Polarin Expedition gathered in front of Myeolji and advanced, but those gathered here were not everyone.

There were spirits Arandir would bring, and Hike and Baden decided to coordinate their joining timing.

Such additional forces would be a great help when the expedition was tired or the war situation was unfavorable.

First, the timing for the spirits' deployment was determined in advance.

That point was exactly when the war situation changed due to Gallajio.

Now it was time to check how much additional force Arandir had gathered.

If the spirits' power was strong, the expedition would be able to establish a strategy to breathe easier.

– Polarin, is it time?

Hearing the dignified voice after a long time made me smile automatically.

“Yes, that is correct. How was the Spirit Realm after staying there for a long time?”

– It was just stifling. This is all because of you and Derix. You showed too many things to me, who would have been fine staying only in the desert.

“Once this expedition wraps up well, let's go for a sand swim together.”

– That's a good idea.

“Did you gather many spirits?”

Arandir made a loud laughing sound.

– You can look forward to it. Demons are swarming near where you are right now. Shall we sweep them away?

“You intend to participate in combat immediately?”

– I've already made up my mind, so what is there to drag out?

Arandir spoke reliably.

“Yes, please do so. I look forward to your help.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a portal suddenly formed in the empty air of Myeolji.

And starting with Arandir in the shape of a desert fox, countless sand spirits, the Fire Spirit King Selion who looked like a giant lava lump and the spirits following him, and numerous other spirits poured out of the portal, vying to be first.

The energy felt from them was tremendous.

Seeing that there were spirits comparable to Selion, it seemed Arandir had persuaded several Spirit Kings.

Arandir glanced at me and immediately dug into the soil of Myeolji.

Then, stirring the ground like a mole, he began to move forward at a very fast speed.

Spirits of other attributes also ran fast, not wanting to lose to him.

“Barbarians sweep away demons!”

“Barbarians sweep away demons! Barbarians....... Huh, what?”

Before anyone knew it, the spirits had overtaken even the Southern and Eastern natives and the Elf Guerilla Unit who were running ahead as the vanguard.

“Stop! We are the vanguard!”

Even though the distance between the main unit and the vanguard was already quite far, Dvalic's scream was heard well.

“Kukuku, you should have seen Lord Dvalic's expression just now!”

When Keldric laughed, others in the main unit laughed along.

***

The expedition's main unit arrived at the area where a battle had taken place.

Carcasses of New Demons were scattered everywhere.

The demons were dead with their bodies on fire or frozen white.

Unfitting lush trees had also grown, and there were demon corpses pierced by branches.

The only living ones here were the expedition.

But I didn't think it was terrible.

It seemed we had taken a step closer to the complete purification of Myeolji that the expedition aimed for.

Even without seeing the battle situation personally, it wasn't hard to figure out that the spirits had swept away the army of confused demons.

Everyone was in a serious mood, but there was one person huffing and puffing.

“We didn't even fight properly! Put us as the vanguard for the next battle too!”

Dvalic spoke while bursting with anger.

However, seeing him fully angry only made the expedition members laugh, which further provoked Dvalic's anger.

‘I'll soothe Dvalic later.’

I ran to Arandir first.

Arandir, still in the shape of a desert fox, hopped toward me and climbed onto my shoulder.

......However, unlike his appearance, because I knew how well Arandir fought even in this form, he wasn't just cute.

Even now, demonic energy was vibrating from Arandir's body, and I could guess how many demons he had bitten off.

“You went through a lot of trouble. Lord Arandir.”

– As promised, the Spirit Kings participated in large numbers. How is it?

“Decent forces wouldn't even be able to show their signets. I think it will be as strong as all the beastkin tribes combined.”

– Right. Since all the Spirit Kings participated. I didn't even bring intermediate spirits.

I felt it when fighting Zenburga too, but no one could match the spirits in group battles.

I looked around at the reliable spirits, and asked Arandir a question I had felt since earlier.

“By the way, somehow I don't see a single water spirit.”

Fire, water, earth, wind, vegetation.

These are the commonly spoken 5 elements of spirits.

If going into lower branches, among earth spirits there are sand spirits, and among vegetation spirits there are World Tree spirits.

Among the 5 elements, water spirits were famous for being numerous compared to other spirits. It was just strange that not a single one of such water spirits was visible.

“Ah, Water Spirit King Naiad was taken by Lady Hike. All the high-rank water spirits too.”

“By Lady Hike? Ah.......”

I soon noticed what situation had occurred.

Since I asked Hike to gather spirits in the empty Jar of Spirits, I couldn't not know.

‘I did tell her to gather decent spirits but...... to think she would put a Spirit King in the jar.’

I was able to realize once again the fact that Hike was also a formidable dragon, although overshadowed by Baden.

While Arandir and I were conversing, Fire Spirit King Selion along with Raldetun approached our side.

I politely greeted Selion as well.

“It's been a long time, Lord Selion.”

– I knew I would see you again someday, but I didn't know we would meet in the land of dirty demons.

“Thanks to your help, we were able to easily win a big battle without damage.”

– Arandir went through trouble.

“Yes, on behalf of the expedition, I convey gratitude to Lord Arandir, and also to all the spirits who ran all the way to Myeolji in one breath.”

When Selion grinned, a lump of red lava fell from his mouth.

It was powerful enough to melt the hard rocks of Myeolji in an instant.

– I thought you were extraordinary, but I didn't know you would become one to represent the expedition...... Now it seems my judgment is not intact either.

“How could that be? You must be here because you judged well.”

Kuhahat!

Selion laughed heartily.

Then, even more lava lumps fell, and I stealthily took a step away from Selion.

–However, I cannot stay long because of the terrible smell. Call me through Arandir whenever help is needed.

“Yes, if you are resting in the Spirit Realm, I will request help again.”

Whoosh!

Selion puffed his breath into the empty air.

Heat hot enough to burn the atmosphere soared, and soon a portal was formed there.

‘Fascinating. The inside of the portal isn't even visible to my eyes. Should I try opening my Ghost Eye?’

While I was looking at the portal with fascination, Selion turned his body and spoke.

– And treat the fairies well too. Why on earth is Raldetun's condition like that.......

“No, Lord Selion! My Lord always treats me well.”

Selion shook his head side to side and entered the portal.

He was a spirit with a heart as hot as lava.

Although he looked like he was played by demons in Kipaso, he still cared about the fairy tribe he had formed a connection with somehow.

– I will return to the Spirit Realm as well. Then call me whenever needed.

Arandir also came down from my shoulder and took a step with his cute paws toward the portal.

“Lord! If there is work to order me, please speak anytime.”

For some reason, I had the thought that the ratio of idiots in the expedition was quite high.

“Yes, I will tell you if there is.”

......There were truly many good idiots who shared my will.

***

The expedition finished the rest they couldn't finish, and advanced again.

And on the path we advanced, traces of the spirits' battles were discovered here and there.

It seemed the spirits didn't just attack the camp of demons that disintegrated with Gallajio's appearance, but also swept away the demons retreating urgently to the rear.

Thanks to that, the expedition was advancing comfortably like never before.

It was because most of the lower-rank demons were wiped out, and the occasionally visible intermediate demons ran away or hid themselves rather than attacking the large army.

“Slowly...... we must consider that we have left the outskirts.”

Bitelleanus, who was knowledgeable about Myeolji's terrain, confirmed our location.

There was still a long way to go.

The Demon King would be in the very center, and the further we advanced, the stronger demons would appear.

What bothered me recently was that contact had not yet been made with the units infiltrated into the rear, such as Gallajio or Urseca.

– It is just that we cannot pierce through with our technology because the thick demonic energy in the center of Myeolji is blocking it. Even on the abacus, the probability of them being alive is calculated at 83%. Do not worry too much.

Agamben reassured me, but I was still concerned.

It was because I hoped those who crossed the Sea of Death risking their lives for the expedition were safe.

Even if they were safe right now, the power of the rear unit led by Gallajio was definitely weaker than the main body of the expedition.

It was unknown if they could deal with it certainly when meeting a high-ranking demon.

So I asked Hike to join the rear.

If even one dragon, either Hike or Baden, helped them, there would be no support more reliable than that.

– Understood. Baden said he would go personally.

“Then must Lady Hike guard the High Dragon's Nest?”

– For now, but do not worry. If the time comes when I am needed, I will ask Baden to carry the High Dragon's Nest and fly up.

Indeed, I could be relieved because I saw the feat where the place Baden was became the High Dragon's Nest.

While we were continuing such a strangely peaceful advance, Ryung's report broke my composure.

“Lord Polarin, there is a demon beastkin unit ahead. Their energy is too dangerous so I couldn't get close.”

Would Zenburga be there too.

No, it didn't matter even if he wasn't there.

Because I intended to kill Zenburga by searching through all of Myeolji.

I gripped Maron strongly.

Reacting to my killing intent, Maron trembled.