Following the flash of teleportation, the white light was devoured by absolute darkness. The air that greeted us was thick, stale, and carried a persistent smell of dampness and mold that clung to the back of the throat.
"This place really is abandoned," I thought, as my eyes tried to adjust to the gloom.
I turned around to observe my companions. Elinalise, a veteran of a thousand battles, was already on guard, long accustomed to these kinds of dismal environments.
Zanoba, by contrast, was pacing about pompously, as if he were in an art gallery, studying the magic circle beneath our feet with curiosity. Rudeus also looked around, keeping his staff raised.
It was Roxy who took the initiative. She pulled out a light scroll and, upon activating it, a glowing sphere illuminated the room.
"Too much dust has settled here... let's get out as soon as possible," Roxy said, guiding the light to inspect the walls.
However, the outlook was bleak: there was no door in sight. We were trapped in a stone box.
Without a word, Zanoba approached one of the walls. With a sharp movement of his arm, he struck the stone, opening a fifty-centimeter hole as if the granite were mere clay.
"How efficient Zanoba is... his brute strength always saves us from lengthy explanations."
Rudeus took advantage of the crack and used his magic to widen the hole, allowing us all to pass through. What we found was a hall stretching ten meters forward, submerged in a deathly silence.
As expected of the Demon Continent, the floor was littered with remains. There were bones of various shapes—some so strange they looked as though they had been artificially manufactured.
"It seems this was a prison," Elinalise stated after inspecting the remains. She pointed to what was left of some arms and legs where rusted, time-eaten chains could still be seen.
I stopped in front of one of the skeletons. I folded my hands and kept a minute of silence, praying that those souls would finally rest in peace.
We moved forward cautiously; bones crunched beneath our boots in every corner. Roxy didn't seem very affected by the scene; I suppose her life on this continent had hardened her against such sights.
"How many were imprisoned here?" Rudeus asked in a low voice, looking at the sheer volume of remains.
"It was probably many, many years ago," Elinalise replied, analyzing the wear on the metal.
"There's a staircase here; let's head up," Zanoba announced from a corner.
Indeed, there was a stone structure ascending into the darkness. I wondered how the prisoners hadn't escaped if the exit was right there, but then my feet tripped on something.
Looking down, I noticed rusted hinges fallen on the ground and remnants of rotted wood that crumbled at the touch.
There had once been sturdy, solid wooden doors in this place, but the passage of thousands of years had turned them into nothing but accumulated dust. Moving forward, we found a stone staircase leading upward, ending at a heavy metal hatch.
I moved ahead of the group and climbed the steps. When I tried to push, I felt absolute resistance.
"Something heavy is pressing against this from the other side," I commented, adjusting my stance.
I applied more force, tensing my muscles. A loud creak echoed in the tunnel and the door began to give way. Immediately, a cascade of dirt and dust fell over me, clouding my vision.
"Pah..." I spat, trying to clear the grit.
"I'll handle the dirt, Arthur. Keep pushing," Rudeus said from below, extending his hand.
"Ready!"
With one last superhuman effort, I pushed the metal plate while Rudeus used his magic to divert the flow of earth that threatened to bury us. Finally, the hatch swung wide open. The raw, brilliant sunlight hit us full force.
I stepped out first to secure the perimeter. We were on a sloped hillside. Beneath the horizon stretched a reddish, arid land, dotted with giant rocks that created an extreme terrain of constant ups and downs.
In the distance, I saw the "specialty" of this land: forests so malnourished they looked like fish skeletons left in the sun. Further off, the famous Great Earth Turtles moved with their usual sluggishness.
This really is the Demon Continent... the place where Roxy was born
"All clear, you can come up," I told the others.
They emerged one by one, shaking off the dust. There was no city in sight in our immediate vicinity.
"Do you think Kishirika is really around here?" Rudeus asked, brushing off his robe.
"We need to find the nearest settlement to get information," Roxy replied.
"Do you know where we are?" Rudeus asked.
"Well, I think I have an idea," she continued confidently. "First, let's get out of this crater."
As expected, my Roxy is always the most reliable. As we climbed the ridge surrounding us, the view opened up before us. Below, in the center of a massive natural crater, lay a large city. In its heart stood a castle of black and gold tones—an architectural jewel half in ruins, half majestic.
"So this is where he sent us..." Rudeus murmured.
"I recognize this city," Roxy said with a nostalgic glint. "It's Rikaris, one of the three largest on the continent."
"Rikaris..." Roxy whispered. "It was my first major stop when I arrived on this continent. This is where I formed my first adventuring party.
"What a coincidence," Rudeus commented, though his gaze was lost in the landscape. I knew what he was thinking: this was also the place where he had teamed up with Ruijerd and Eris. The place where it all began for them.
We descended the slope until we reached the main entrance. The guards stationed there watched us intently.
"Hey, Roxy, we're under surveillance. Do you think it's a problem?" I asked.
"It shouldn't be. Cities here generally welcome everyone," she replied, though she frowned. "But... they look unusually tense."
The guards wore pitch-black armor and closed helmets that gave them an ominous, lethal appearance. "I wonder if Roxaria would cut through that steel in a single stroke," I thought, unconsciously stroking the hilt of my sword.
"The last time I was in Rikaris, the guards weren't this well-equipped," Rudeus muttered.
"Halt!" ordered one of the soldiers as we approached.
"What's the matter?" I asked, stepping forward.
The guard didn't look at me, but at Elinalise. He pulled out a piece of paper and began comparing a drawing to the elf's face. I caught a glimpse of the poster: it was a drawing of a woman similar to a succubus, with wavy hair and large breasts.
"Hmm... it's not her. The bust doesn't match," the guard grumbled after a moment.
"Ah, well then, no."
They let us pass without further explanation.
"Are they looking for a fugitive?" Zanoba asked curiously.
"Well, as long as it has nothing to do with us, it doesn't matter," Elinalise replied, though Rudeus warned us to be careful in the dark alleys.
We entered the city, and demon life enveloped us. The market was filled with merchants of exotic races, adventurers mounted on giant lizards, and a bustle that reminded me of Sharia, but with a wilder atmosphere.
However, black-clad soldiers patrolled every corner. Every time they saw Elinalise, they checked the poster, but seeing that she didn't fit, they left us in peace. How strange...
Upon reaching the Adventurer's Guild, I immediately felt eyes fixed on us. Or rather, on me. A lizardman turned his head quickly as I passed by.
"I stand out too much. My appearance looks too much like Perugius or Orsted for this place," I thought, deciding to ignore the whispers.
Rudeus handled the paperwork: he exchanged money and put up a notice on the board seeking Kishirika's whereabouts, including a detailed description.
"Now it's our turn to look for information on our own," I said.
"Leave it to me, I know this place like the back of my hand," Roxy said with pride.
Just as we were about to leave, a voice in the Demon God tongue stopped us.
"Well, well, if it isn't Roxy! Did you finally find what you were looking for?"
I turned and saw a man with a horse's head.
"Do you know him, Roxy?" Rudeus asked.
"Yes, he was part of my old adventuring party."
The man, named Nokopara, approached. He stared at me for a second, as if trying to place my face in his memory, but quickly returned his attention to Roxy.
"Hello, Nokopara. Yes, I found them," she said, pointing to Rudeus.
"I'm happy for you... I see you're still with the elf. And these new ones? A new party?"
"It's not that, we're just looking for someone. Would you help us?"
"You know this is my business, little friend. Even if we're old comrades, I have to earn something. What are you offering?"
"One green coin now... and three more if you find her.
"Deal!" Nokopara exclaimed with an equine grin.
After giving him the details about Kishirika, we agreed to meet later. Rudeus suggested going to a high-class inn for safety, but on the way, we passed by the "Wolf's Claw" inn. Rudeus stared at it with nostalgia and suggested entering a nearby shop alone for a few minutes.
When we reunited, we tried to gather information on our own, but didn't get much. At midday, we decided to return to the Guild for lunch. As soon as we sat down, Nokopara appeared out of nowhere.
"Yee! Sorry for the wait."
"What have you found out?" Rudeus asked.
Nokopara gave us more precise details than what we had already collected, but he added more things in depth.
"By the way, the Demon King also seems to be looking for the Great Empress."
"The Demon King?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes. About a year ago, a Demon King from an adjacent territory moved in here. Now they reside in the old Kishirisu Castle. All those black-clad soldiers are their personal army."
"Don't tell me it's Badigadi..." Rudeus whispered.
"No, it's not Badigadi-sama," Nokopara replied with a visible shiver. "It's Atofe-sama, his older sister. She is a terrifying Demon King, a heroine of the Laplace Campaign. If you offend her, she'll execute you on the spot."
"So that guy has a sister..." I thought to myself, crossing my arms. "If that's the case, she must also be an immortal lifeform."
"By the way, has Badigadi returned?" Rudeus asked curiously, as if speaking about an old friend's return
Nokopara shook from head to toe.
"Not yet..." he lowered his voice to nearly a whisper. "Hey! Watch your language when you talk about a Demon King, you could lose your head before you know it."
"Sorry," Rudeus replied, scratching the back of his neck with an awkward smile. "But back to the poster... the description doesn't look much like the photo."
Roxy leaned forward, observing the succubus drawing closely.
"Maybe she's grown," she suggested. "After all, years have passed.
"It's not impossible," Nokopara added, nodding nervously. "We have reports that she's been seen wandering through several regions."
Rudeus stood up from the table abruptly. In his eyes shone that dangerous spark I knew well.
"How about we go see Lady Atofe?"
"For what?" I asked immediately, turning toward him. "According to what this guy says, she's in the same boat as us: searching for Kishirika without success. She doesn't even know what she looks like now."
"Well," Rudeus replied, remaining calm, "maybe her army has information that hasn't reached the guild. It's better than wandering around blindly."
"Hey, hey, hey..." Nokopara looked at us in horror, as if we had grown second heads. "What are you thinking? Roxy, tell your group this is suicide. That woman is a monster."
Roxy looked at me, seeking my approval. Her eyes reflected doubt... but also determination.
"I think we can try what Rudeus says," she said finally. "If we want to find Kishirika fast, the castle is the best place to start."
"You're crazy!" Nokopara exclaimed, clutching his head. "Completely crazy!"
"If we are to meet with royalty, allow me to help," Zanoba intervened with a refined smile and elegant posture. "After all, I am a prince as well."
That got me thinking.
"If I think about it... technically, I'm royalty too. I am the grandson of Perugius Dola."
"Does Lady Atofe like art?" Zanoba asked with genuine curiosity, likely already imagining a figure as a gift.
"I don't think so," Nokopara replied curtly, without even looking at him.
"What about Badigadi's tastes?" I asked, turning to Rudeus. "Maybe she shares hobbies with her brother."
"Mmm..." Rudeus thought for a few seconds. "He liked expensive beer and strength challenges."
Finally, I stood up as well.
"Alright," I said decisively. "We'll give the plan a chance."
...
In Front of Kishirisu Castle
Hours later, we stood before the imposing castle gates.
The first attempt was a total disaster.
Zanoba stepped forward with a steady gait and regal bearing, cleared his throat, and spoke with all the diplomacy he could muster.
"I am Zanoba Shirone, prince of the Kingdom of Shirone. I request an audience with Lady Atofe."
There was a brief silence.
Then, the small window in the door snapped open.
"I've never heard of that country! Lady Atofe is busy! No one may pass!" the guard shouted before slamming the door violently in Zanoba's face.
"...I'm sorry," Zanoba said, lowering his head slightly. "It seems my country lacks prestige on this continent."
"No, no," Rudeus replied quickly. "I was the thoughtless one for sending you first."
Then he turned to me.
"But maybe... Arthur, if you present yourself as the grandson of the Armored Dragon King... perhaps there's more of a chance."
I blinked, surprised.
I had never used my lineage to clear a path since I discovered it. After all, there had been no need for it; in fact, the title of "grandson of Perugius" was practically unknown to the world.
But Rudeus was right.
I had the physical evidence with me
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
Slit pupils exactly like his. I just hope the old man doesn't get mad at me later.
"I'll try."
I walked toward the door and knocked firmly. The same guard opened the window with an irritated grunt.
"You guys again? I told you to get—"
"Tell your lady that Arthur, grandson of Perugius Dola, the Armored Dragon King and one of the heroes who defeated the Demon God Laplace, requests an audience," I said with a deep, authoritative voice, letting my mana flow subtly so he would feel the weight of my words.
The guard went silent.
His eyes slowly traveled across my silver hair... then my golden pupils.
The contempt on his face shattered, replaced by doubt.
Then by fear.
"W-wait a moment..." he murmured, swallowing hard before closing the window with trembling hands.
"...I think it worked," Rudeus whispered.
The metallic sound resonated louder than it should have
Behind me, the group remained silent.
"Whoa..." Rudeus murmured under his breath. "That actually worked."
"You're not releasing it entirely," Elinalise added with a lopsided smile, "but it still makes the skin crawl."
Not even a minute passed when hurried footsteps were heard on the other side of the door. Several voices were arguing in a low but tense tone.
Finally, the window opened again. This time, the guard did not raise his voice.
"My... my lady has been informed," he said, avoiding direct eye contact. "She requests confirmation... do you carry any proof of what you say?"
Without a word, I let a tiny fraction of my mana leak out. The air in front of the door vibrated—heavy, ancient. It wasn't raw power; it was presence.
The guard instinctively took a step back.
"T-that's enough," he said quickly. "More than enough."
The massive castle doors began to open slowly, letting out an oppressive aura that made even the wind stop.
Before moving forward, Rudeus approached me.
"Arthur," he said in a low voice. "If this goes sideways..."
"I know," I replied. "I'll speak first."
Roxy nodded in silence, trusting me without need for words, though her hand did not stray from her staff.
We followed the guard through a hallway flanked by soldiers lined up shoulder to shoulder, until we reached an audience hall.
It was narrower and more austere than the great throne room of the Floating Fortress, but the atmosphere was far heavier.
However, the throne was empty.
We waited. One hour. Then another. The thick air and silence were only interrupted by the clatter of the guards' metal.
"This is taking too long," I thought, beginning to lose my patience. " I assumed that with my grandfather's name, she would already be here waiting for me."
"Hey, you," I called out to the guard who had escorted us. "Where is Atofe? Why hasn't she appeared?"
"I already told you," the man replied, without looking at me. "She has been notified. It's just that... our lady is very poor at managing time. Even inside the castle, she can be up to a day late."
A cold drop of sweat broke out on all five of us simultaneously. She was simply a scatterbrain. I could only sigh, trying to calm the twitch in my eyebrow, as I listened to the murmurs of the soldiers around us.
"Hey, that kid claims to be Perugius's grandson..." "Probably just blustering. It was never known that the Dragon King had offspring." "But look at him... his features, that gaze. They're identical."
"OUT OF MY WAY!"
A thunderous shout echoed from the entrance, followed by the sound of something heavy being dragged. I turned immediately and saw her.
Of everything I had seen so far, this woman was the purest representation of a demon. Pale blue skin, hair as white as snow, and crimson-toned eyes. From her back sprouted bat wings, and from her forehead, a pair of large horns curved backward.
She wore black armor, but unlike that of her soldiers, hers was filled with dents, battle scars, and blurred decorations from the wear of centuries of combat. At her waist hung a sword ridiculously large for her slender wrists, in a scabbard that radiated an ominous elegance.
She was a bit shorter than me, but her presence filled the entire room with a killing intent that made my skin crawl.
"Don't you hear me? I said move!" she snapped at Rudeus, who hurried out of the way.
She walked into the center, unsheathed her massive sword, and slammed it against the floor with an arrogance that made the floor tiles tremble. After a deep breath, her voice thundered through the hall:
"THIS IS ME! THE IMMORTAL DEMON KING, ATOFERATOFE RAIBAKU!"
"Huh?" I blurted out, bewildered by her theatrical entrance.
The soldiers, as if it were a rehearsed ritual, raised their weapons in unison to cheer for her. Zanoba immediately bowed with a perfect reverence; Roxy, Elinalise, and Rudeus did the same out of instinct or precaution.
I, however, remained there, standing with my back straight. I don't know if it was because of the proud Dragon race blood running through my veins, but I loathed bowing before someone like this. My gaze remained fixed on hers—defiant and firm.
She stayed in that heroic pose for several interminable minutes. The silence became awkward. It seemed she had forgotten what came next.
"...More?" she murmured, tilting her head toward her subordinate. "Who did you say came?"
The officer beside her sighed, used to his queen's ramblings. "Lady Atofe... this young man claims to be the grandson of the Armored Dragon King, Perugius Dola."
Atofe scanned the group with her gaze, ignoring those who were bowing, until her crimson eyes locked onto me—the only one still defying her authority in the center of the room. Her expression shifted from confusion to a predatory smile that revealed her fangs.
To be continued...