Chapter 151
A castle stood on a small island floating in Bigdaleio's oasis. In terms of size alone, it wasn't particularly enormous—only somewhat larger than the Aarlu Temple we had attacked the other day.
However, its beauty far surpassed that of the temple. White and gold formed its primary colors, just as they had there, but the sculptures found throughout the castle were incredibly powerful! Rather than being delicate and elegant, they were massive and masculine, perhaps reflecting Bigdaleio's character.
In addition, the canals drawn from the oasis and the fountains formed beautiful geometric patterns. This alone made it clear that they had built a civilization no less advanced than that of humanity. It was proof that monsters were not necessarily uncouth and foolish beings.
Setting that aside, it seemed word had already reached the royal castle, because the Boar Orc guards let us pass with a salute. Their rigid, motionless stance was reminiscent of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Their training was superb.
"This is completely different from the image of an Orc."
"Goblins are much the same. Humans are food, not sexual targets. It's the same as humans not being attracted to monkeys."
"Toji! You're a girl, so could you wrap it in a little more euphemism...?"
Eiji admonished Toji, but the person being lectured didn't care in the slightest. Had conversations like this been common during their journey? Toji was fairly free-spirited, while Eiji was constantly being dragged around by her... He must have had a difficult time.
"Welcome, esteemed travelers."
Upon entering the royal castle, we found an elderly Orc waiting for us. He was dressed in loose white traditional clothing and carried a staff made from some kind of bone, with a yellow gemstone set into its tip.
These clothes were called kanduras and closely resembled those worn by Arabs and others. All of Bigdaleio's residents wore them, not just the Orcs, but this old man's clothes appeared to be made of finer fabric than those of ordinary people. He also wore a necklace adorned with a large gemstone. The necklace was clearly a luxury item, so this old man serving in the royal castle was probably no ordinary person.
"Thank you for welcoming us. I am Izaam, the leader of this party. And you are?"
"Oh, my apologies. I am Mahad, a Boar Orc High Wiseman and Chief Court Magician. I hope we will become well acquainted."
A Boar Orc High Wiseman!? He had to be a high-level magician! I wondered if he might teach me something about magic. I would have to ask him if I got the chance.
"Come this way. His Majesty is waiting for you."
Led by Mahad, we proceeded through the royal castle. Soft carpets covered the floors, paintings larger than Jigoro himself hung on the walls, and the ceilings were carved with sculptures similar to those on the outside of the castle. Hmm, someday I wanted us to establish a base as magnificent as this castle.
"Your Majesty, I have brought the travelers."
"Admit them."
The royal guard standing before them opened a massive door that appeared to be five meters tall. Beyond it, four people—including an especially large Boar Orc—sat in the place of honor on circular cushions that looked wonderfully soft.
"Welcome, guests. Sit wherever you like."
"Then, if you don't mind."
We sat on the cushions prepared for us. Although we were sitting on the floor, as Japanese people raised in a culture of floor seating, none of us found it uncomfortable. The royal audience was quite different from what I had imagined, but if this was Bigdaleio's way, we would follow it. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Salmaan XIII, King of Bigdaleio, a Boar Orc Warlord. I hear that you intend to help resolve the anomaly that has struck us. Is that true?"
Boar Orc Warlord... He was probably a higher form of Boar Orc. He was larger and more heavily built than any Boar Orc I had seen so far. As for the tusks extending from his lower jaw, while the other Boar Orcs had two, he possessed four particularly thick ones.
He wasn't equipped with any weapons or armor at the moment, but considering Bigdaleio's level of civilization, he undoubtedly possessed excellent equipment. His Majesty Salmaan, clad in that gear, must possess strength that no one else could match.
"Yes, Your Majesty Salmaan. My tamed monster Karnagtoor and I are capable of conducting aerial reconnaissance."
"That is reassuring. However, some question whether it is wise to entrust this matter to you alone. Can you guess why?"
"...Because there is no way to entrust an important mission without reservation to a traveler who has yet to prove himself?"
His Majesty Salmaan nodded solemnly. Come to think of it, that was only natural. I had accomplished nothing in Bigdaleio. At most, I had helped Bowie and the others, but that was a very minor achievement. Entrusting the survival of the country to someone like me was bound to be difficult.
"You understand quickly, which is helpful. Accordingly, I would have you take one of my sons with you."
"Your son... You mean His Highness the Prince?"
"Indeed. Greet them."
Prompted by His Majesty Salmaan, one of the Boar Orcs stood up. Judging by his physical characteristics, he appeared to be a Boar Orc. However, he was on the short side and had a slender build. The Boar Orc approached us, straightened his back, and opened his mouth.
"P-pleased to meet you! I-I am Jahal, the First Prince, a Boar Orc Prince... I-I mean, I am!"
Prince Jahal was apparently a Race called Boar Orc Prince. Since he was called a prince, he was probably a boy, but his voice was somewhat high-pitched. Had he not gone through puberty yet?
He was almost the same height as me, but perhaps he was still a child by Boar Orc standards. His speech was unsteady, and the way he trembled under our gaze conveyed the nervousness of a young boy.
"Jahal is somewhat immature, but he possesses extensive knowledge. He will surely be of use to you. This will be good experience for him as well. Put my son to work."
"Understood. I look forward to working with you, Prince Jahal."
"Yes! No, I mean, indeed! Do as you see fit!"
"When should we set out? As far as I'm concerned, we could leave immediately."
"Then you shall depart as soon as Jahal has finished preparing."
――――――――――
Emergency Quest: 'Investigate the Desert Anomaly!' Will you accept it?
※ If you do not accept it, you will never be able to accept it again.
Yes/No
――――――――――
So this was where the quest acceptance screen appeared. I glanced at the faces of the other four, and they all silently nodded. All right, then—Yes!
"And as for the reward... Mahad."
At the same time I tapped Yes on the virtual display, His Majesty Salmaan signaled to Mahad. Mahad nodded once, then took a box from inside his robes and handed it to the attendant waiting behind him. The attendant respectfully offered the box to us and opened the lid.
It was packed tightly with gemstones! If we sold them properly, they would fetch a considerable sum! Or perhaps we could use them to make equipment. W-was it really all right for us to receive this much!?
"This is an advance payment. If your investigation is successful, I will pay you the same amount again."
"Th-this much... Are you sure this is all right...?"
"It is no concern. That is how serious a crisis this is for our country. No one has died so far, but neither has anyone succeeded in investigating it. Do not forget that I have placed great expectations on you as well."
◆◇◆◇◆◇
After receiving the large advance payment, the meeting was adjourned. We were now waiting in a room of the royal castle for Prince Jahal to finish preparing.
"Well then... I suppose I should finish my evolution and Job change while we have this opportunity."
I had kept putting it off because everything had been so hectic, but I had now reached the point where I could evolve and change Jobs. At level 50, this evolution and Job change should undoubtedly let me learn either an 'Ultimate Art' or a 'Secret Art.' I could hardly contain my excitement!
"All right! Evolution complete!"
Something flashed beside me, and apparently Jigoro had evolved. Had he reached level 50 at the same time as me? I hadn't known that.
"Oh, Jigoro evolved too?"
"Yeah! Apparently I'm an Enrai no Jaakuki."
The Enrai no Jaakuki was a Race that seemed to be a direct enhancement of its predecessor, the Enrai no Akki. There was no major change in its height or visible muscle mass, but according to Jigoro, his magical power had increased considerably in particular.
Its defining feature was the Skill that allowed it to control fire and lightning without relying on magic. This trait had shone in the 'Ancient Ruined City,' and Jigoro had occasionally used the Skill even during ordinary close combat. It didn't seem as though his fighting style itself would change dramatically.
It would not be an exaggeration to call him the most attack-oriented monster among us. Conversely, he possessed almost no defensive Skills, and since Jigoro had chosen an attack-oriented 'Ultimate Art,' he received no Skill bonuses to his defense whatsoever. Unless you were a real cheat like Jigoro, there was no way to make use of this.
"So? What are you planning to attach this time, brother?"
As expected of Jigoro. He had apparently realized that I was trying to add another new body part this time as well.
"Heh heh heh. This is what I'm attempting this time..."
"This? Wait, wait! That's a skull!"
Exactly! For this evolution, what I had been painstakingly preparing was the addition of another skull. It was an utterly outrageous challenge, but I was already used to altering the shape of bones themselves. There was no reason I couldn't pull this off!
I reshaped the bone around the base of my neck using the same technique I had used when adding arms, then fitted the prepared skull into place. Please work! I had used several bones for this, reducing my maximum HP. I had no idea what would happen to my reduced HP if I failed! It had worked when I made the Ushi-Oni, hadn't it!?
"There! Like this... All right! It's finished! Yes, yes, it moves properly!"
The addition of the new head proceeded without a hitch. The new head moved properly as well. I moved my two heads in erratic patterns. Hmm, motion correction really was incredible if it let me control even this kind of monstrosity exactly as I intended!
"Hm...? But my vision is worse now?"
However, the added head had no vision. More precisely, I could only see through one head or the other. I had hoped to gain twice the field of view of an ordinary person, but I suppose things couldn't be that convenient.
"Wahahaha! This is completely insane, brother!"
"It's cool!"
"Uh... um... what...?"
"...No comment."
The two who were used to watching me turn into an aberration were enjoying the spectacle, but it seemed to have been too much for the two who were seeing it for the first time. Eiji was floundering, while Toji was openly looking away.
"Next is evolution... Yeah, this one."
I selected the only available evolution path. As usual, an effect appeared. This meant my evolution was...!?
"Whoa!? G-g-g-g-gah!?"
At that moment, something strange happened to me. The two heads were drawn together as if by powerful magnets, then began fusing with loud cracking sounds! No! After all the trouble I had gone through to add them! My hard work!
"M-my head... My two heads have become one...!"
"No, that's normal."
Jigoro seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't hear him. Some kind of log seemed to scroll past at the same time, but I didn't see that either. I was too devastated.
Despite finally completing such a laborious procedure, all my effort had gone unrewarded. That fact alone was more than enough to depress me.
"I'm so discouraged... Maybe I'll log off for today..."
"Wait! Izaam-san!? We have the reconnaissance quest starting now, remember!?"
Oh, right... But still... Honestly, I wasn't exactly feeling motivated anymore... You understand, right? This feeling of helpless frustration... Look, even the skeleton-kun right in front of me seems a little sad... Hm?
"What is this?"
"Th-there's a skull floating in the air...?"
All I could do was stare blankly at the black skull floating in front of me, which was identical to my own.