Chapter 316 : Crybaby Princess

"Light."

Thump!

A light resembling the sun illuminated the darkness.

What was revealed was... a damp, cave-like terrain.

"Oh. We won't need a torch."

At the sound of his voice, I looked back and saw Tifri throwing the torch he had brought from somewhere behind him.

Siri asked, illuminating the area with the light of Hope she had summoned with her divine magic.

"Where... are we?"

"Welcome to the demon realm. This is the first underground floor of the demon realm. A place called 'the cave' or 'the beginner's zone'."

"Beginner's zone?"

"It's a good place for those who have just entered the demon realm to adapt. From the faint demonic energy that remains like a lingering scent, to the magical beasts that hide in the pitch-black darkness and attack. You learn first that you shouldn't rely too much on your eyes. It's like you naturally learn the basics of combat."

"Then what about that torch?"

"The torch is for guests."

"Aha."

Tifri looked around and said in a voice full of nostalgia.

"Was I seven when I first came here? I was so scared, I felt like I was left alone in the darkness."

You threw a seven-year-old in here?

In a place with no light and C-rank magical beasts roaming around?

"So what happened? Did you tremble alone and ask to be brought back up?"

"No, as I was trembling, the magical beasts attacked. I realized I wasn't alone, and my fear disappeared. I calmly beat up the magical beasts."

"..."

It's certain.

There are no normal people here.

"Well. The level here is excessively high."

What was I doing when I was seven?

I think I was exchanging punches with guys who were one or two heads taller than me in the back alleys.

[You're not normal either.]

'Ah, am I? What were you doing then, Master?'

[I don't know. I think I was training, vowing revenge on the rotten Murim Alliance guys.]

'...How desirable.'

Tifri said to us, who were looking around.

"This is the place with the faintest demonic energy in the demon realm, so it should be bearable for now. If it's tough, tell me. We'll go right up."

"If we go up because it's tough here, how are we supposed to go down there?"

"You have to adapt slowly. By gradually increasing the time you stay, and slowly going down."

"Hmm. We don't have time for that."

"It's better than forcing yourself to go down and being completely consumed by the demonic energy and being bedridden for a few days. We were born here, so it's no problem, but you guys are outsiders."

I looked back at Siri.

"How about you? Are you okay?"

"Yes. What about you, Big Brother?"

"I'm fine too."

Siri sniffed and said.

"Big Brother, but don't you smell something familiar?"

"You too?"

"Yes."

I had been feeling it for a while.

The feeling was faint, so I didn't know exactly what it was, but as Siri said, it felt quite familiar.

"We'll know when we get there. By the way, where should we go?"

At that, Tifri answered.

"Be quiet for a moment."

I thought something had come, so I shut my mouth and listened.

There was no approach of a magical beast yet.

However, I could hear the sound of water dripping from somewhere.

"You hear this sound, right? The sound of water dripping."

Nod.

"Just follow this sound. It's a kind of guide."

"Alright, let's go."

I took the lead, and Siri followed with a floating light.

Tifri yawned and took up the rear.

And as we walked, following the sound of dripping water, magical beasts began to appear one by one.

Whether they were waiting for the right time, they didn't come out into the light, but just quietly watched us from the darkness.

I roughly spread my ki sense and scanned them, and they seemed to be about C-rank magical beasts.

C-rank from the start. Just as I had heard.

The demon realm seemed to be the demon realm.

But since this wasn't the time to play with these guys, I created a Night Sky Spear and threw it.

Whoosh!

Thwack!

The guy who was pierced by the Night Sky Spear fell without a scream, and at that moment, when the other guys were startled, the remaining Night Sky Spears flew and were embedded in their heads and bodies one after another.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

"Whew—"

Tifri whistled from behind.

"It wasn't an empty boast. Is that magic?"

"To someone who hasn't seen my attack, it would be no different from magic."

"I see."

We broke through the path of darkness with the Night Sky Spear and Siri's holy light.

If there was a wall blocking our way, we would break it and go.

"Do not block my path."

BOOM!

Rumble...

"How refreshing."

Every time that happened, Tifri would chuckle from behind.

And as we broke through everything, whether it was a magical beast or a wall, that blocked our way, we reached the end sooner than I thought.

KWAAAAAAA—

The sound of dripping water had turned into a huge waterfall.

"Wow...!"

Siri exclaimed in admiration, looking at the waterfall that was pouring down with a strong momentum.

I also couldn't help but be amazed at the sight.

"...What a sight."

When we came out of the dark underground cave where not a single point of light could be seen, the light that I had missed was pouring down, and huge waterfalls were pouring down from here and there.

Whoosh!

Because of the updraft that would sometimes rage, the waterfall would flow backwards and spray water droplets into the empty space, and they would be reflected in the sunlight, creating a rainbow.

When I raised my head, I could see the large hole of the demon realm that I had seen from the outside, and above it, the blue sky and the dazzling sun were floating.

"From here on is the 2nd floor, the cliff area."

Looking around, while waterfalls were pouring down from here and there, various magical beasts were playing among them.

There was a magical beast that resembled a mountain goat, and guys that looked like giant bats were hanging from another cave that could be seen in the distance.

And a giant snake that was coiled up, a giant snail that was hiding in its hard shell, and a bird magical beast with large wings that would peck at the shell with its beak and then lift it up with its claws and drop it from the air.

I was honestly impressed.

"How strange."

The cliff area seemed to be a place that could not be approached carelessly unless one was skilled in movement arts.

Because if you made a mistake, you would fall from the cliff.

"If you don't have any business on the 2nd floor, you can just pass through. There's a direct course to the 3rd floor."

At Tifri's words, I pointed at the waterfall that was pouring down with a loud noise.

"This?"

"That's right."

Siri's face turned pale.

"Uh, I don't think I need to go. I'll wait here. You two can go."

Whether the shock of falling from the well had not yet subsided, Siri stammered and stepped back.

I instantly moved behind Siri and then lifted the retreating girl up.

"B-Big Brother?"

I grinned.

"Where do you think you're running away to? You said you wanted to go on a trip with me, right? How can you miss a single moment of this meaningful trip with your big brother?"

"I-I think I can miss this one. Please put me down!"

"I can't do that. Acrophobia, be gone! The way to overcome a shock is with a bigger shock."

"Where is that law! Aaaah! Put me down!"

Siri struggled in my arms.

'Heuk, this girl.'

She was surprisingly strong for her appearance, so I had to put a lot of strength into my arms that were holding her.

It was dangerous to drag this on any longer.

I said, trying to act nonchalant.

"Hahaha, Siri. Are you ready?"

"No!"

"You'd better be."

When I showed no signs of backing down, Siri gave up.

She closed her eyes tightly and clung to me.

"Ugh, ughhh! Then at least count down."

"Alright. 10, 9."

I jumped at exactly 9.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaak!!"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

* * *

From a distance, a sound different from usual was heard.

It sounded like a scream, and also like laughter.

"...Noisy guys have come."

In a small, secret hideout built on a tree.

The woman who had been lying down tossed and turned.

Her dark indigo hair flowed down.

Who cares?

It didn't matter who came.

Because no one would be able to find this place anyway.

"Ashuban..."

That fool.

It had been well over a year since he had left, but the thought of him still made her heart ache.

There were words she had never been able to say to him.

There was a heart she had been hiding.

And because of that, a bruised heart remained.

"That fool... he was weak, but he was so nosy..."

If I had known this would happen, I would have just confessed.

Regret, sadness, resentment, and remorse flowed down her two cheeks as tears.

Drip, drip.

If I could go back to the past, and if I could see his face.

This time, I wouldn't hesitate.

Drip, drip.

Regret became tears and flowed endlessly.

Drip, drip.

It was raining on her face again today.

Drip, drip. Drip, drip.

* * *

"Hahaha! That was awesome!"

Tifri came out of the noisy stream, laughing.

"Was it refreshing?"

"It was refreshing."

"Hahaha!"

As long as it was refreshing, it was fine.

Next to me, Siri, who had become a drowned rat in an instant, was wringing out her hair as if she were wringing out laundry, with a tearful face.

"It's wet..."

"But it's refreshing, right?"

Glare—

"Ahem."

I avoided her gaze.

Siri summoned the warm light of Hope and dried her clothes.

To think she would use divine power to dry her clothes.

Was that even allowed?

As I was looking at Siri, I ran my hand through my wet hair and looked around.

"Is this really the demon realm?"

The sound of birds chirping was heard from here and there, and it wasn't dark like the cave on the 1st floor.

The sunlight was coming in directly through the large, gaping hole, and the trees were growing tall, receiving that sunlight.

But, the trees were bigger than I thought.

They seemed to be several times bigger than the trees on the surface.

Rather, it was an environment where the greenery was more lush than any other forest on the surface.

It was a scene I couldn't have imagined when I had looked down from above.

Tifri said, laughing.

"This is the 3rd floor of the demon realm. The ancient forest area. Maybe because they've been growing since ancient times, the trees are all strangely big."

"Oho..."

KYAOOOOOO!

In that moment, a huge magical beast rushed out, cutting through the bushes.

It was a guy that looked like a giant rhinoceros beetle.

"Ugh, what!"

Siri, who had been drying her hair and clothes with the light of Hope at the loud cry, shot up.

And then, when she reached out and grabbed the light of Hope that she had been floating,

The light transformed into the shape of a mace.

Siri swung the mace, which had been forged from light, at the guy.

"Be quiet!!"

KWAAAAAAAAANG!!

Crack!

The hard shell that looked like a helmet was shattered at once, and the guy's head was crushed, and the insect magical beast died on the spot.

Tifri continued, with his eyes wide open.

"...Of course, the magical beasts are big too."

"So noisy! Why! Are you screaming! And making a fuss!"

Crack! Crack!

The angry Siri stomped on the rhinoceros beetle magical beast and threw a tantrum.

Every time she did, the hard shell would shatter and her feet would sink in.

Tifri, who had been watching that scene blankly, muttered.

"...That little lady is incredibly strong."

Siri, who immediately got angry.

"I'm not a little lady!"

"Ah, alright. A mature lady."

Tifri, who saw the shining mace in her hand, showed his palms and calmed her down.

Siri stomped on the poor magical beast a few more times and then went to the stream to wash, grumbling that she had gotten bodily fluids on her.

Tifri clicked his tongue.

"...What a terrifying lady. To defeat a mid-grade magical beast in one blow."

"She's a platinum-rank too."

"Platinum-rank?"

"It means she can beat up an A-rank, that is, a high-grade magical beast, on her own."

"...I see."

Tifri, who had been nodding and looking at Siri's back for a moment, turned his head and looked at me.

"So, how are you going to find the princess? You'll have to move quickly to search for the princess. The day is quite short here."

"So, this is the princess's haunting ground, right?"

"That's right."

The Demon King had said.

That girl's senses were very sharp, so just by him setting foot in the demon realm, she would know and hide.

Then she would know that a guest had come here.

She just didn't know that the guest was an old colleague.

"Finding her won't be difficult."

Tifri tilted his head to one side and looked at me.

"Didn't you say you were the princess's colleague?"

"That's right."

"Then you should know about the princess's hiding ability, right? Nearly half of the Kingdom of Sorrow came down to search, but they couldn't even see the princess's shadow."

I grinned and said confidently.

"There's a way. Just watch."

Tifri crossed his arms and looked at me.

It was a face that said, 'Let's see how you find her.'

I put my two hands to my mouth, and then, with my inner energy in my voice, I shouted with all my might.

"Viola!! It's the captain's order!! Come out right now!!!"

Come out— come out— come out—

My voice echoed loudly.

To the point where an echo rang out over the gaping space.

The startled birds flew up.

Tifri, who had been watching from nearby, was startled and covered his ears, and Siri, who had been washing her face in the stream, let out a "Kyaak!" and fell forward.

"No, what..."

Tifri looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

I gestured for him to wait.

And after a while.

When I closed my eyes for a moment in the blowing wind and then opened them.

She was standing among the trees.

Tifri's mouth fell open.

The woman with dark indigo hair and tear stains under her eyes looked at me and her lips parted.

"...Ashuban? Is that you?"

Her characteristic, slightly trembling, gloomy, and unconfident voice.

It was Viola.

I grinned and said.

"Hello, crybaby princess."

*Drip, drip—*

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

(End of Chapter)