Chapter 184
I logged in. After the three of them were abducted to the Demon World, I had to log out because I had to work on my day off. So I could only check the chat logs to find out what happened afterward.
"...and that's what happened."
"That Satan guy is absolutely, one hundred percent bad news!"
"Well, he's not exactly serious, is he?"
"That... sounds like a truly terrible ordeal."
But hearing it directly from them was more accurate and much quicker. More importantly, Mot-san had been reporting on the Demon World through the chat like a live broadcast, but toward the end, he had become so flustered that the chat no longer made any sense. So I asked them about the parts that remained incomprehensible even after reading the logs.
After hearing the three of them recount what had happened in the Demon World, we felt sympathy for them from the bottom of our hearts. They alone had gone through an experience straight out of a horror game. That might be enjoyable for people who liked such things, but otherwise it would be nothing but painful. If it had been me, I might have felt sick.
"So, what are you planning to do? Will all three of you accept the invitation and become Demons?"
I was interested in Satan, whose attitude changed constantly and who honestly made me feel uncomfortable, as well as the Demon Palace, which was frightening but presumably had useful functions. But what first caught my attention was becoming a Demon. Becoming a Demon would almost certainly increase one's combat power. So if all I wanted was to become stronger, the choice had been decided from the very beginning.
However, no power exists without a price. After becoming a Demon, they would have to complete quests from the Demons living in the Demon World, and repeated failures would incur heavy penalties. I didn't think it was something one could decide lightly.
"I intend to."
"Oh?"
Mot-san's immediate answer was entirely unexpected. I had thought he was cautious, like me, so I was all the more surprised.
"And why is that?"
"The quests will probably be difficult, but if I ask Izaam-san and the others to help, I think we'll manage somehow. Oh, we'll split the rewards, of course."
"I see... So there's a benefit for the people helping, too."
If they could obtain items from the Demon World as rewards, then many of our companions, myself included, would certainly help. There were times when outsiders were forbidden from helping, but we would deal with that if it happened.
"What about you two?"
"Honestly, I'm torn. I know I'll become stronger, but I might end up looking gross..."
"I think I might become a Demon..."
Shifune was holding off because of the issue with her appearance, while Wool seemed inclined to accept. His reason was probably the same as Mot-san's. Demons seemed troublesome once one became one, but with companions, it apparently wasn't so bad.
"And what are you doing today, Izaam-san? Are you going to start gathering parts for repairs right away?"
"That's the plan. First, I'll head to 'The Ancient Ruined City.' Eiji and Toji will be coming with me. It's the only large-scale ruin we've found."
What form Mot-san and the others would eventually evolve into was a story for a little farther in the future. For now, the priority was repairing the floating battleship. I didn't know whether we could obtain the exact parts we needed, but the 'Ancient Spring' and 'Ancient Ruined City' were said to contain mountains of junk parts that could be processed into them. For a while, my job would probably be to recover those parts and entrust them to Iris and the others.
"I'll help. What about Shifune-san and Wool-kun?"
"Sorry! I have plans with Ruby and the others!"
"We're going to take quests at Birdy Perch!"
Apparently, Shifune and the others had plans at Birdy Perch. Speaking of Birdy Perch, we had received a great deal of help there. We would be leaving before long now that we had a new base in the form of the floating battleship, but a departing bird should not muddy the water behind it. It would be nice if we could leave on good terms.
As an aside, the other members were also acting separately, apart from those who were accompanying me. Iris and Shiitake were absorbed in their work at the 'Dragon's Holy Land,' while Ruby and Shio had presumably gone to Birdy Perch together. Kanna and Ragaia were searching for the ruins remaining on Vetus Floating Island while also enjoying a long ride for recreation. All the remaining members had headed to Heavenly Spirit Mountain in the Aquaria Archipelago for training. I was sure they would return stronger.
"Since everyone has plans, shall we call it a day here?"
"Yeah! See you later!"
"See ya!"
And so we parted ways and headed toward our companions waiting in different places. The thought that we might make some new discoveries had me positively thrilled!
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While Izaam was exploring the 'Ancient Ruined City' with Mot-san and Eiji's group, surrounded by harpies that had somehow proliferated there, the members who had been brought to Heavenly Spirit Mountain by Jigoro were all fighting a desperate battle around its fifth station.
"Hah-haah! Nice! They're pretty strong!"
"Oraa! There's way too many of them, Big Brother Jigoro!"
The ones attacking them were mainly animal-like yokai. On this island, apart from the factions of tengu and oni that Jigoro's group had encountered before, there was another group led by a yokai with formidable power. They were hostile toward the tengu, and Jigoro's group had fought them during their previous stay.
Moreover, Jigoro and Genjuro knew what they were fighting. The enemy horde consisted of two types of yokai. One was made up of lower-ranking yokai, while the other was made up of summoned beasts whose numbers had been bolstered by a commander yokai using 【Summoning】. The latter were small but nimble yokai called Mujina, with sharp claws and fangs.
"They rely too much on numbers, the fools. There's no coordination whatsoever... Compared to Shichiko, their use of 【Summoning】 is terribly crude."
"I'm flattered, but... I'm already at my limit here! How are you so damn relaxed!?"
To Genjuro, a horde of summoned beasts trying to crush them by sheer numbers was no threat. The lower-ranking yokai were stronger than the summoned beasts, but they were still nothing more than cannon fodder. That was why they needed at least some coordination to be a threat, but that was impossible when they were all such unintelligent yokai.
Meanwhile, Shichiko had set crows on the summoned Mujina. Since the caster was concealed, there was no way to tell what kind of opponent they were dealing with. However, Shichiko believed the caster surpassed him in the level of 【Summoning】. Each individual summoned beast was of high quality, and there were many of them. The caster was surely superior in monster level as well.
Even so, Shichiko was able to keep fighting thanks to his skill at manipulating summons and his battle instincts, both honed through the deadly situations he had survived alongside Izaam and the others. However, as he himself had admitted, he was already nearing his limit. It was a difference in fundamental ability that technique alone could not overcome.
"I see them! All troops, charge!"
"Ooooooh!!!"
"Tch! The tengu bastards! Retreat!"
Perhaps sensing their battle, a group of oni led by a single tengu came down from higher up on the animal trail Jigoro's group had been climbing. When the tengu swung down the metal staff in his hand like a commander's baton, the oni began charging at full speed. They advanced with such force that even Eiji might not have been able to stop them through strength alone.
The animal yokai that had fought them since ancient times knew well how terrifying they were: oni clad in sturdy bodies and armed with iron clubs, greatswords, and other weapons that made full use of that strength. That was why they decided to retreat so quickly. As a hoarse voice, presumably that of their commander, rang out from the depths of the forest thicket, the lower-ranking yokai obediently fell back. At the same time, the summoned beasts began a charge that was brave in the best sense of the word, and reckless in the worst. It was an obvious delaying tactic.
Even knowing it was only a delaying tactic, leaving the summoned beasts alone would have been a poor decision. After all, just as Izaam had done countless times, the summoned beasts could be made to self-destruct. The oni knew they would be in danger if they did not defeat them before that happened, so they dispatched them efficiently. However, the yokai escaped in the meantime.
"There's no need to pursue them. If we chase too far, we'll suffer a painful counterattack."
"Yes, boss."
Not a single oni got heated and tried to chase after them. This sort of skirmish was an everyday occurrence. They all shouldered their weapons and stood down from their battle-ready stances.
"Yo. Been a while, tengu-san."
"Oh! If it isn't Jigoro-sama!"
"Good work, Instructor!"
"Mm."
Jigoro possessed the Title 'Direct Disciple of the Great Tengu,' so he was respected by the tengu and oni clans. Likewise, Genjuro, who held the Title 'Heavenly Spirit Island Swordsmanship Instructor,' was even worshiped by some of the warriors. Even now, the oni stood at attention in a neat formation.
"Is the old Great Tengu here?"
"Yes. Great Tengu-sama is in the dojo as always."
"I see..."
In stark contrast to the cheerful tengu's response, Jigoro twisted his face into a grin. A ferocity reminiscent of a beast stalking its prey seeped through it. The aura surrounding Jigoro, like an unsheathed blade, was frightening enough that even Sei and Shichiko, who should have been his allies, felt somewhat afraid.
"By the way, why did you come down the mountain? Isn't it unusual for you to come this far?"
"That is..."
Unlike Jigoro, whose only thought was fighting the Great Tengu, Genjuro asked about the difference from the last time they had visited. The tengu's territory lay at a high elevation, extending from the mountain's summit down to around its eighth station. They sometimes came down to hunt, but Genjuro had been told they never came as far as the area around the fifth station where they were now.
The tengu who had been asked the question grimaced bitterly. However, after taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling to calm himself, he put on a serious expression, looked straight into Genjuro's eyes, and continued what he had hesitated to say.
"Great Tengu-sama will probably tell you about that himself. For now, please come with us to the 'Heavenly Spirit Capital.'"
"Hmm, understood."
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At the summit of Heavenly Spirit Mountain stood a city called the 'Heavenly Spirit Capital.' The atmosphere of the city called to mind Japan during the Edo period. However, the people walking its streets were yokai such as tengu and oni, while the beasts harnessed to the ox carts were also animal yokai. It was a Japanese-style capital, but the sight made it impossible to forget that this was still the land of yokai.
A particularly large building stood in the center of the 'Heavenly Spirit Capital.' It contained a gathering hall for the city's influential figures, as well as the dojo where Jigoro and the others had honed their skills alongside the tengu and oni. When Jigoro visited the dojo, unusually, there was no one training. Instead, a figure was lounging around on the raised seat.
"Yo, old man. Came to visit."
"Ho ho? It's been a long time, my pupil."
The person in the dojo was none other than the Great Tengu, the leader of this capital. Though he had a house of his own, he always relaxed in the dojo whenever he had no other business.
"It's been a while, Great Tengu-dono."
"Genjuro is here too. Hmm? Looks like you brought others as well."
"They're our companions. Come on, get up here."
The Great Tengu leaned to the side and looked behind Jigoro's group. Jigoro slapped the two on the back and pushed them forward.
"I took damage there... Sigh. Well, I'm Shichiko. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm Sei. Good to meet you, Big Brother's master."
"Well, well, good and lively."
The Great Tengu smiled with the air of a kindly old man. But Jigoro and Genjuro knew the truth. Despite his appearance, the Great Tengu had the prank-loving nature of a trickster, and once battle began, he became a troublesome monster who rampaged as violently as if he were an entirely different person.
"Still, your coming here when we're in such a predicament is nothing short of a godsend. Say, could you do us a favor?"
This had to be a troublesome matter, and there was no way they could escape it. Jigoro and Genjuro realized this and sighed.