< Chapter 28 - Returnee #3 >
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As Cordelia encountered the Wild Fairy Queen, Uther took off his blindfold and left the bathhouse with Kaplan.
“I plan to go back underground and meet up with Cordelia.”
The exact destination is the bridge where Lacto, the Fairy Queen’s request location, appeared.
The bridge no longer existed, but the other side still connected to the outskirts of Endymion.
“I can contact the fairies in this way… It was a great learning experience. When I return, I will definitely try it out at a place where the fairies’ legends are passed down.”
“Uh… yes. Good luck.”
It might be difficult though.
A girl as beautiful and lovely as Cordelia would be rare even in the vast empire.
‘It’s not because of the bean pods.’
After making excuses to himself, Yuder opened his mouth again and spoke.
“Anyway, it’s still a relatively safe area, so I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you what information we know.”
“It must have something to do with the current situation, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. In fact… we are not simply affiliated with the Academy.”
Kaplan nodded at Uder’s words.
Because I saw with my own eyes the power of Uder and Cordelia, which was too powerful for them to be considered mere undergraduates.
“We actually have a connection with the Holy Cross.”
“Ah! Indeed!”
The Guardians of Pleiades, active across the continent, waging fierce battles against demon followers.
“I understand now.”
Why did the two come to Endymion?
Why are the hearts of these two people so beautiful?
‘They were a saint and a saint.’
‘It looks like there’s a strong misunderstanding, but it doesn’t seem like anything bad, so let’s leave it alone.’
After each of them finished their thoughts, the two began talking again.
“The woman I met earlier is Lena Einsberg. Have you heard of her?”
“Of course. I can’t help but know the Archangel Lena, one of the five heroes of the Paragon Kingdom.”
The tragedy of the Paragon Kingdom, although there are many distorted stories, was a situation in which the incident itself was widely spread throughout the continent.
It was a major incident that caused the entire kingdom to fall due to a Demon Prince summoned from hell.
“He is a famous figure, just like Iron Man Landius or Sword Demon Kamael.”
Saint Archangel Lena.
The last angel born and raised on earth.
She has various nicknames, and is the only female among the five heroes of the Paragon Kingdom, while also having the symbolism of an ‘angel’.
Thanks to this, she always played the role of a beautiful heroine in the songs of the bards who sang the tragedy of the Paragon Kingdom.
“I didn’t originally plan to meet Lady Lena here. I came here to investigate… It seems like something bigger than we expected is happening here in Endymion.”
Kaplan nodded with a serious face at Uder’s explanation.
That would be the case, since he has already seen many of the monsters of hell.
“That’s all I can explain right now.”
“It’s enough. I’ll do my best to help, even if it’s just a little bit.”
Kaplan, who was pounding his chest, walked forward with enthusiasm, and Uder felt a strange sense of satisfaction at his appearance, which was quite different from that of the game.
And so, how much time passed?
Following the map, Yuder and Kaplan were finally able to reach the other side of the bridge.
“Ah! Yuder is here!”
Cordelia, who had been crouching and chatting with the fairies, suddenly stood up and said.
Seeing Yuder smiling brightly and waving his hand, my heart automatically warmed.
“Cordelia.”
“The conversation went well. Isn’t it, Your Majesty?”
As Cordelia asked urgingly, the Wild Fairy Queen, who was sitting on her shoulder, nodded.
“I heard everything from Cordelia. You have been working really hard for our fairies. As the queen of the wild fairies, I would like to express my gratitude to you both.”
Kaplan blinked at the Wild Fairy Queen’s words, wondering what she meant, but it wasn’t Yuder.
Because Cordelia smiled brightly and gave me earnest glances.
‘Did I do well?’
‘Well done. I’ll stamp it for you later.’
‘Shit.’
But Cordelia’s smile grew wider, as if she was satisfied.
In fact, what Cordelia did was simple.
‘It’s not like it’s completely a scam.’
Something unusual is happening underground in Endymion.
It is no coincidence that lacto appeared.
If we leave it like this, more demons will appear within the fairies’ realm.
‘We can’t stand by and watch the fairies be put in danger. In order to protect the fairies’ territory, Uther and I will investigate Endymion. It will be a very dangerous task, but we will do it. For the safety of the fairies and the queen!’
Even though the order was slightly reversed and some modifiers were added here and there, it wasn’t a lie.
If we save Lena and solve Endymion’s case, won’t the fairies be safe too?
‘It’s good for the sister and good for the brother-in-law.’
Digging a ditch and catching crayfish.
Sweeping the yard and picking up coins.
“I really don’t know what to say. I resented you for caring so much for us······.”
“Yes? You were resentful?”
“No, no. I never held a grudge. I never did.”
When Yuder asked pointedly, the Fairy Queen, with her elegant demeanor, flinched.
But Uder was also joking.
If you didn’t feel any resentment when you were first ripped off like that, it would be even more absurd.
‘Anyway, the structure has been established.’
The plot shifts from Uther and Cordelia begging the Fairy Queen to lend them the Bellagio to the Fairy Queen thanking Uther and Cordelia for their sacrifice and service.
There was a huge difference between these two.
‘Especially the presence or absence of compensation.’
For a moment, Yuder’s eyes sparkled and he put aside his personal desires and began to talk about public matters.
“Fairy Queen, as you may have heard from Cordelia, somewhere in Endymion is Lena Einsberg, one of the five heroes of Paragon. You must find her.”
“Yes, I heard from Cordelia. Since you have worked so hard for us, it seems only right that we help you. Our children have already gone to Bellagio to pick him up, and he will be back soon.”
“thank you.”
“I am the one who should be grateful.”
It was right after Uther and the Fairy Queen had a warm conversation.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
“I brought you Bellagio!”
“Good, good.”
The last words were from the fairy riding on Bellagio’s head.
“Wow! The real Bellagio! It looks exactly like the one in the legend!”
‘Yeah, it really does look like a golden retriever.’
A white, winged golden retriever.
Bellagio, who flew in with fairies on his head and back, panted with a very gentle face, perhaps resembling a golden retriever.
“Ear, you’re so cute. Your Majesty, may I hug you?”
“I guess so.”
When the Fairy Queen gave her permission, Cordelia smiled brightly and hugged Bellagio.
“Wow, so soft. Yuder, Yuder, isn’t it cute? Huh? Okay.”
The last little scream was because of Bellagio.
Because Bellagio licked Cordelia’s cheek with his tongue.
And so, instead of answering Cordelia’s question, Uther counted in his head.
‘One, two, three, four, five.’
Okay. This is enough.
Three for humans, five for beasts.
Uder grabbed the back of Bellagio’s neck as he was digging into Cordelia’s arms, stopping the hug, and immediately changed the subject before anyone could say anything.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me for having to hurry as time is limited.”
“Yes, I know the urgency of the situation. I need to make Bellagio remember the traces of magic, so would you please give me a feather?”
“Here it is.”
As Yuder held out Lena’s feather, the Fairy Queen infused it with magic, making it almost as tall as herself.
“Luke, can you remember?”
At the Queen’s question, Bellagio-Luke immediately nodded, panting, and even wagged his tail.
“Yeah, that’s good.”
The queen smiled and looked at Uther again.
“Bellagio will guide you.”
“Thank you. And Your Majesty, I know it’s a late introduction, but this is Lord Indiana Kaplan. He is a tenured professor at the Aragonese Academy and a valued colleague.”
At Uder’s introduction, the Fairy Queen gave Kaplan an elegant smile, and Kaplan’s eyes turned red.
It was because of Uder’s expression, ‘precious colleague’.
“Indiana Kaplan meets the Fairy Queen.”
As Kaplan gave his trembling greeting, the Fairy Queen also responded in an elegant voice.
“Indiana Kaplan, thank you so much for helping us. And… as a comrade of Uther and Cordelia, it seems only right that we should grant you some protection as well.”
It was when the Fairy Queen said this that she tried to approach Kaplan.
“No, no. You’re bald.”
“You’re full.”
“A bunch of crap.”
The fairies who brought Bellagio grumbled and complained in opposition.
Should we really say that this is typical of fairies who are obsessed with lookism?
But the Fairy Queen was a little different.
Unlike the other fairies who were just little kids, she was thoughtful and considerate. She approached the cowering Kaplan and said.
“That’s not true. Look at those beautiful, moist eyes. They’re like jewels.”
As she said that, the Fairy Queen pressed her lips to Kaplan’s broad forehead.
“May the protection of the earth be with you.”
It was the smile of the Fairy Queen, so benevolent that everyone who saw her couldn’t help but think she was a saint.
“thank you.”
As Kaplan, who was in a trance, barely managed to express his gratitude, the Fairy Queen laughed a little like a fairy and flew up again to speak to Uther and Cordelia.
“May the protection of the earth always be with you.”
“Thank you, Fairy Queen.”
“Thank you so much.”
The Fairy Queen waved to Uther and Cordelia, who were once again showing their respect, and retreated, taking the other fairies with her.
As Uder had said, the situation was urgent and there was no room for further delay.
“When you’re done, be sure to come back to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will definitely do that!”
I wonder if I can get more than the Bellagio back, but I also need to get compensation.
After waving to the Fairy Queen, Yuder started moving again, led by Bellagio.
And how much time passed?
“Woof, woof, woof, woof!”
Bellagio, who had stopped in place, barked lowly.
“What are you saying?”
Even though Yuder was well-versed in the various languages of the Heroes Chronicles series, he still couldn’t understand the nonsense.
But it was at that very moment.
Cordelia said, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Uh… I feel like I can sense multiple magical energies?”
“uh?”
Uther asked in surprise, but instead of answering, Cordelia looked at Bellagio and spoke.
“Luke, you’re saying there are feathers in several places?”
“Woof, woof, woof, woof!”
“As expected. It looks like there are feathers in many places. I think it’s asking which one I should go to.”
Bellagio nodded and wagged his tail at Cordelia’s interpretation.
It seemed to have been a perfect fit.
“As expected of beasts. They have something in common.”
“Do you want to fall behind?”
Uther nodded at Cordelia’s cute threat and thought for a moment before speaking.
“Tell me to chase the traces of the greatest magic power.”
“Okay. Luke, follow the traces of the greatest magic power… What, you can just do it.”
“No, I thought you could translate it into some kind of beast language… Ouch! It hurts! It hurts!”
“If you hit me because it hurts, why don’t you hit me because it doesn’t hurt? Woof woof! Woof woof woof!”
Cordelia, who had been growling and hitting Uther’s back, took a deep breath and spoke to Luke again.
“Luke, please.”
“Woof, woof.”
Luke nodded and started moving forward again.
And how much time has passed?
The group slowly but surely approached the center of Endymion.
While moving, I encountered several hellish monsters, but fortunately, there were only two or three of them at most, so I was able to get through them without much trouble.
But after an hour had passed like that.
Uder felt a strong sense of discomfort.
‘It’s strange.’
I encountered a number of monsters on my way here.
There are five different types.
But mine was not included among them.
I haven’t encountered a single devil follower.
What happened?
This was no longer the outskirts. We were moving towards the center.
‘Moreover, the monsters are strange.’
I’ve defeated all the monsters I’ve encountered so far.
But the alarm has not sounded yet. It seems that no monsters have been aware that they are on the move.
How can this be?
If someone summoned the monsters with a purpose, there would be some level of organization among them.
What happened?
What is the cause of this strangeness?
“Woof, woof.”
It was just then.
Bellagio barked lowly, and Cordelia nodded nervously.
“Yuder, I feel Lena’s energy strongly. And… it feels like a different section is unfolding from here on out.”
At Cordelia’s words, Uther quickly spread out the map.
As she said, if you leave the area now, you will reach the ‘underground city’, the center of the magical Endymion.
“Looking at the map, it looks like a city was built inside an incredibly large hollow… Could it be something like an ancient dwarven city?”
When Kaplan asked softly, Yuder nodded.
Up until now it was just a regular underground facility, but from here on it was different.
It was the beginning of a true underground city, with buildings built inside huge hollows that could reach tens of meters in height.
“Let’s be more careful.”
“huh.”
Cordelia answered with a very nervous face, patting Bellagio’s back and speaking softly, and Bellagio, wagging his tail, began to take the lead again.
And then another few minutes.
The group, who had reached the large stone gate, frowned without realizing it.
“Can you feel it?”
“I feel it.”
Cordelia was skilled at sensing the magic of demons thanks to her sensitive senses and the power of the witch.
No, even Kaplan, who was insensitive in this regard, could sense the outrageous fraud being transmitted from beyond the stone gate.
What could it be? What on earth is beyond the stone gate that makes it feel so fraudulent?
“It’s not right across the door. It’s far away.”
Cordelia said, closing her eyes and heightening her senses. Uther also couldn’t sense any significant presence just outside the stone gate.
“There is Lena’s energy among that strange energy.”
A link between the events unfolding in Endymion and Lena’s death.
Yuder, who had calmed down, took a deep breath and looked back at everyone.
“let’s go.”
“Ready.”
“Woof, woof.”
After hearing everyone’s answers, Uder opened the stone gate.
And then, the moment he saw the sight before his eyes, Yuder knew.
I realized there was only one answer that could explain all the discomfort I had felt up until now.
“Hell… Gate.”
It wasn’t a summons or anything.
It wasn’t an incident involving the devil’s eye either.
Hell monsters suddenly appear.
Those guys who roam around without any real control.
It was natural.
Because they weren’t summoned for any special purpose in the first place.
Because all I had done was step into Endymion through the gates of hell.
The center of Endymion, beneath the giant magic sphere that replaced the sun. That place can be seen from afar.
Between the gaps in the huge, split space, a purple hellish aura swelled.
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< Chapter 28 - Returnee #3 > End
