Inside the magnificent palace, a banquet was underway.
Azure stone bricks were covered with a red carpet, and individual seats were arranged beside the carpet. Unlike the celebratory banquets in the Clover Kingdom, each person had their own food and drink. At the very top of the red carpet was a throne made of piled iron swords.
The banquet, from start to finish, did not last very long.
The food consisted of cooked beef and lamb, rice, and fresh fruit. In fact, it was no different from what was found on the surface, and the taste was quite good. The only thing Bai En found regrettable was that the banquet's food was not prepared by him.
He had missed out… on an opportunity to increase his magic.
There were many dwarves at the banquet, seemingly important figures of this kingdom. Since most dwarves looked similar, and they didn't speak human language, Bai En didn't form any particular impressions of them.
Dulin IV, the King of the Dwarf Kingdom, was a very interesting old man. He was one of the few dwarves, like Vice Captain Thor, who could speak human language.
During the banquet, after expressing symbolic gratitude, he announced that he would send a letter to the Wizard King, and spoke of maintaining peaceful exchanges between the two nations… The most practical part was that they could choose one item they liked from the treasury.
The reason this old man was interesting was that he enthusiastically introduced the dwarf women of his kingdom during the banquet, praising them as beautiful and serene. Gosen, upon hearing this, became very interested, only to then see dwarf women with beards, looking much like the men.
It startled him so much he almost rode his flying broomstick away.
The reason this banquet didn't last long was also because of this old man. It is understood that dwarves have long lifespans, living over two hundred years.
From 40 to about 240 years old, they remain strong and vigorous, with unchanging appearances. However, in the ten years before their death, their appearance ages very rapidly… just like this old man, Dulin IV. Already in his rapid aging period, he heavily used magic during the battle against the Demon God, making his body even worse. Perhaps it wouldn't be long until… After the banquet, the Aqua Deer Squad, led by Vice Captain Thor, toured the Dwarf Kingdom. The residents' lives were not much different from those in the Royal Realm of the Clover Kingdom. The buildings were somewhat unique, such as large areas of forge houses… To the south of the kingdom was a lake like a sea, which the dwarves called the "Sea Lake," a sacred place here.
It seemed that during the battle with the Demon God, Vice Captain Thor observed Bai En's "sword." So, during the treasure selection process, he took Bai En to the forge house and re-melted the sword using a lot of "Mithril."
It was a pleasant surprise.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
East of Khazad-dûm.
Due to the re-melting of his sword, Bai En had separated from the main group. After the re-melting was complete, he simply wandered aimlessly by himself, avoiding crowds, and gradually moved away from the buildings.
When he looked up again, he saw a giant "door" embedded in the mountain, yet seemingly existing independently.
The black door had no patterns, looking somewhat like a massive iron gate cast from profound iron. It stood silently there, its pitch-black color making one feel eerie, as if something might rush out from within at any second.
"Did you bring me here?" Bai En suddenly asked, but he was alone.
"Not speaking? Then never mind, I'm leaving."
Having said that, Bai En turned to leave.
Blackness, like a tide, seeped from the door, enveloping Bai En and drawing him into the darkness.
As the blackness slowly gained color, red stained the scene. In a world interwoven with black and red, the sky was blood-red, and the barren land was empty.
Several giant black-winged shadows surrounded Bai En. Their ferocious faces showed playful, mocking smiles, and endless malice emanated from their bodies.
"Demons… Is this the Underworld?" Bai En murmured softly.
"Hehehe… Little brat, aren't you scared?" one of the black-winged shadows asked.
"Why should I be scared?"
"Don't you know who we are?"
Bai En pondered for a moment, then said indifferently, "Demons, right? Who else could you be? Do you want me to say your names?"
"Lucifero? Beelzebub? Megicula? Or other highest-ranking devils?"
The smiles on the black-winged figures' faces froze. "You… How do you, a little brat, know those guys' names?!"
"So, you're not even highest-ranking devils~" Bai En gave them a mocking sneer.
"You little brat!! We'll remember you. When the Gate of the Underworld opens, and we descend to the living world, we will definitely kill you!"
"If you're so capable, why not do it now?"
Mikuriya's final chapter could be used one last time before Frost Ember and Shattered Dream were tempered.
Just as Bai En was about to say a few more taunting words, a golden figure burst in. It lightly stepped in the air, and through the light and shadow, it seemed to be a small deer.
"What is this?"
Golden light slowly filled the barren world of black and red. The black-winged figures gradually dissipated, and Bai En faintly heard the demons' curses: "You damned fellow, you're here again!"
They seemed to be old acquaintances… Bai En's vision blurred for a moment. When he looked again, the giant "door" was still before him. "This must be the Gate of the Underworld that Vice Captain Thor mentioned. It's really eerie. I'm leaving."
As he turned, he saw a girl with crimson hair holding a bouquet of blue and white flowers.
It was Nancy, who had been knocked unconscious by his hand chop and had been comatose for a long time.
"Why is she here?"
Many thoughts suddenly flashed through Bai En's mind.
Did I hit her too hard?
No, no, no, she's holding flowers. Is she here to express gratitude?… Hmm? Could this appearance mean she's here to confess because I saved her?
Oh, oh~ I'm going to be the strongest person.
What reason should I think of to reject her? Should I just say I want to be the strongest? That would be too rude, wouldn't it?
Just as Bai En was deep in thought, Nancy walked over: "Bai En? Why are you here too?"
"By the way, have you seen a glowing little deer? I followed it here."
Bai En was stunned. So it wasn't… a glowing little deer. He had indeed seen it earlier.
He turned his head and looked around, but he couldn't find the little deer anywhere.
"It's gone?" Nancy murmured, "Never mind…"
"Oh, right, Mr. Bai En, I heard all about what happened earlier from Vice Captain Thor. Thank you so much for saving me. Indeed… I still want to live."
"Mm." Bai En nodded, "Then live well."
"Mr. Bai En, shall we go plant flowers?"
"Plant flowers?"
"Yes, Blue Creek Flowers. Vice Captain Thor said that the Bronze Trees on the Bronze Fertile Plains have withered with the dissipation of the Demon God, and the entire land is bare. The dwarves are preparing to plant Blue Creek Flowers there, symbolizing hope and the future… In the future, that place will be a sea of flowers."
The wind gently blew. Looking at Nancy, whose smile was like a flower, Bai En somehow felt that the Blue Creek Flowers in her hand were not as beautiful as her.
"Okay."
… (End of this volume)
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