Kuro no Maou

"When I struggled to get back on the ground, the battle was already over or something..."

I saw nowhere in Flame Oak's army where the underground pit was so full that I watched with vain as a crusader composed of Dwarves warriors and adventurers was preparing to withdraw.

"Good day, Mr. Chrono"

"Oh, I'm tired for nothing."

By the time I noticed the Flame Oak march, I was already in the middle of their march route. We had to move forward so that they wouldn't spot us, even as we were aiming for a prompt return to the ground.

Hustled by jizziness and impatience, hiding with the guys who are rolling around there, occasionally ambushing to get rid of them, eventually, being found and chased, or, without help, unable to move for a few days in hiding...... after all the hard work, it's already after the war if you think you've finally come back.

"You're pretty dirty because you've been diving in holes for days. You can take a shower first."

"You can afford it, Fiona."

"Yes, I could afford it because the Flaming Dragon ended it for me"

I've heard the upside of it.

Eventually, while we were mocking underground, Flame Oak Squad went out on the ground, sprayed a flaming dragon and broke through the defensive line... and Fiona beat the flaming dragon upside down and wiped it out.

"That's a big battle. You're the only one who can destroy that number."

"He was a good kid who honestly listened to what I had to say, so he was very helpful"

What Flame Dragon did, though, was because Fiona was the one who took the enemy's secrets backwards. Without complaining, the reward for the success of the emergency quest 'Flame Oak Crusade' would be the sum of one of her.

"It's good to have Fiona in the damask. Fire Dragon opponent, then, whether we can stop or not."

"You can praise me more."

"I regret it, but I commend you this time."

"Then let Mr. Krono work on me with his body."

"No, that's... well, yeah"

"Saliel has many delicious dishes"

"Yes, Master Fiona"

"Lily, stay in the corner."

"Mmmm!

We went back to Damask with Fiona, who can do whatever she wants.

The next day. The 21st of the month of pale flames.

In the Adventurer's Guild, I have completed the Third Prince Exploration, and Fiona has completed the Flameo-K Crusade, each of which is reported, and the rest is closed.

I'm a little tired of boulders, too. Running around the underground pit for a few days in a hurry adds up to mental fatigue rather than physical. Besides, if Othi puts it on that their hard work was wasted, it's even worse.

Sariel doesn't make you feel tired or other shards with his usual faceless expression, but still it wouldn't mean zero. I give them a rest.

Lily has the most fatigue in her young body. The last one was a little sloppy. Days of vigilance and battle are tough on Lily, who has the constraint of transformation time. It is a plain weakness.

By contrast, Fiona is the best at her best.

He said that he only asked Flame Dragon to do it, and he didn't do much work, and he didn't consume as much magic as he did himself.

I was fine this morning, flattening the breakfast Sariel had made.

"I don't like hard bread anymore. No thin soup, no dried meat just salty."

and so on, some happy look. Was it such an unsavory meal while Sariel was away?

Anyway, at the end of the holiday, I have to serve my primary purpose in coming to Adamantoria. It is the original monolith of the Iron Blood Tower that it is in the Royal Castle.

I was just wondering if there was as much room as I could do for some favors because Fiona was very active in The Flame Oak Crusade this time.

"The royal castle sent me an invitation."

Apparently, he brought the story from the other side.

By the way, the content of the invitation reads, "You are amazing for manipulating Flame Dragon and returning Flame Oak troops! I'm impressed! I want to thank you in person, so come quickly! It was a concise written expression that conveyed the meaning very clearly. The vainly roundabout Royal Avalon Palace is what I want you to apprentice.

"Mr. Chrono, escort to the Royal Castle of Adamantoria, please"

"Delighted, my lady"

with a wax, yet the next day, the 22nd of the month of pale flame.

Quickly, I took Fiona with me to Royal Castle. In the name of escort, my hands remain connected, there are two riders on Mary, and Lily is in such a grumpy mood to say "Mm-hmm."

But before Fiona's handle, she seems to be putting up with it a lot. Afterwards I'm scared, so I'm going to be careful so that Fiona's Wagamama doesn't go too far.

Thus came the Royal Castle of Adamantoria, if only in size, a huge castle, far from Sparda and Avalon.

But its appearance is like a gray monochrome, stubborn, boneless architecture. Rather than a royal castle representing the country, the atmosphere is more like a great fortress of intransigence that protects important bases.

There is no decoration at all, so much so that when it comes to strong and seemingly like things, there are big stone statues of black gods and ancient heroes? The construction, lined with giant rough shredded cylinders, also looked like a primitive temple.

"If it's a Dwarf country, can it even be a more docile and luxurious castle?

The first thing that comes to my attention with Dwarf's technical skills is its excellent performance. If it's a sword, it's chopped flavor, if it's a castle, it's sturdy.

But in every field, it's great in terms of design sense.

In fact, Dwarf architects are famous for building pandoras, ruggedly lavish palaces, aristocratic mansions, temples, and more. Both Royal Castles of Sparda and Avalon also involve Dwarf craftsmen.

Even so, it is a strange story not to build the royal castle of our own country in concert with design taste.

"The ancient Dwarf kingdom has been told that it has extremed its prosperity, exhausted its luxury, but thus perished. The royal castle is made of solid quality because of its legend as a lesson."

"I see."

It is Sariel, whose commentator recently came about the board.

I have a puppet personality, but am I surprisingly good at gathering information, etc.? In boarding the city one foot in Pegasus, Saliel's arm, which gathers basic information, is plainly helped.

This time it means boarding the Royal Castle of Adamantoria, which also teaches us the least courtesy in this country and so on. Compared to Avalon, there is far less attention and it seems to be a perceived breeze, so I'm fortunate to be able to go easy here for it. Fiona is natural and soothing, probably not either.

I tell myself that it's okay, while I follow the guide through the cold royal castle of ash.

Thus came the time to behold with King Adamantoria.

"- First, let me thank you. Fiona the Adventurer, who was truly worthy of this battle."

And it is His Majesty King Dvor Balrog Adamantoria who speaks out loudly.

I see, he is indeed the king of Dwarves, a fine white beard and stature, as you might think. As far as I can imagine, I'm rather even impressed.

"Thank you"

With compliments, Fiona bows her head respectfully. If this happens, she's a real beauty. Even more so because they are dressed for the royal castle.

Then, the conversation of a frank thank you and the rest is briefly followed by a reward, and the sight ends without delay... and it seemed.

"Fiona the Adventurer, I have one suggestion for you"

"Yes, what is it"

"Um, it's..."

"Wait, Dad! That's what I'm supposed to say myself."

It was the First Prince Breda, who was present, who raised his voice. He's also the one who was entrusted with the command of the crusade, so it's natural to be here.

"Fiona. I fell in love with you. Be my wife!

"I refuse"

Now it's time for me to raise my voice! At the moment I thought, Fiona was categorically saying no.

Hey, wait a minute. At times like this, you can let me imitate you as a lover...

"If you marry me, the Princess of Adamantoria. One thing, I won't let you feel crippled. I'll make you absolutely happy!

"I don't like it. I refuse."

"If you don't like my look, use Dwarf's treasure. But even if it's changed to your taste, yes!

"I really don't like it. I refuse."

"Hey, why... what the hell don't you like about me?"

"I have already dedicated myself to one man, both physically and mentally. It's not that you don't like it, but whoever else you are, I will never accept it."

Duh, what am I gonna do, at this time, "Fiona's my bitch!" Should I shout and appeal? Or would it be easier to keep your mouth shut? No, but I knew if I didn't name it here, I wouldn't be able to show it as a man.

All right, I'll tell you what.

"Okay. If you say so much, I won't be forced to either. I give up on you."

"Thank you for understanding"

"But I meant it when I thought of you as my wife. Manipulating a flaming dragon, there's no way I want that power. I just fell in love with what you looked like then. Love at first sight."

"Just how you feel, thank you"

As such, Prince Breda withdrew somewhere lonely, but resolute.

That's my turn...

"I'm sorry for the rush. To be honest, the ability to manipulate the Flaming Dragon as small as you wish is a powerful force in this Adamantoria. I won't force you to be Breda's daughter-in-law, but instead, I want you to make a covenant here at the Pandora Temple as a witch."

"Okay. Let's swear."

Flaming dragons are special in the Balrog Mountains. In Adamantoria, like a rough God, he is feared and revered. In fact, if beings with animal instincts were to burst as volcanic eruptions themselves, it would be extremely natural to treat them as such.

If you could manipulate Flame Dragon so easily, you'd never be so afraid. It should be used as the most powerful defensive weapon in the Balrog Mountains only. But that hasn't happened in real life.

I mean, there's no such thing as manipulating a flaming dragon, ancient or present.

But it was Flame Oak and Fiona who attacked us this time.

Even though it is outrageous to deliberately just summon a flaming dragon, should the art of communicating the will to the advancing flaming dragon and pushing it back, etc. be more of a literal divine business than magic?

Perhaps, as the Royal Palace of Adamantoria, it is more important to have a clear friendship than to thank Fiona for calling.

Even if Prince Breda really wasn't in love with Fiona at first sight, one or two of the marriage stories could have been carried away.

"Great. Then let's say this one swallows your demands"

"Bye."

"Um, allow contact with the original monolith of the Iron Blood Tower, the deepest part of my Royal Castle of Adamantoria"

Thus, I carried everything smoothly without saying a word in particular.

I don't know what to say, I'm serious this time, you're a good place.

We were given access to the Iron Blood Tower, and we headed to the scene on that foot.

Of course, the guide was completely unexpected.

"We're sorry for the inconvenience."

"... no, you're safe and above all. His Royal Highness Prince Carl."

I reply slightly awkwardly.

Now bowing his head in front of me is the third prince, Carl, whose search quest was undisputed.

Why is he alive? Why are you here? The answer is simple and lucid everywhere.

Because he came back on his own.

"When I found this jewel from Ravagigantopide, I gave up survival"

"Oh, I knew it was in my stomach. When they attacked me, I really didn't think I could do it anymore..."

Apparently, the ancient jewel, which was the Prince Explorer, was in a handheld bag, and when it was attacked by the Ravagigant Pead, only that bag was eaten. Fortunately, the prince himself took off his predicament, but only the jeweled bag was to remain in the belly of the great mukade.

So, if you find that, you'll naturally mistake it for being eaten.

"But you must have just returned from an abandoned mine. You'd better rest."

"No, in this experience, I deplored how spoiled I was. I'm not as strong as Brother Breda, and I'm not as smart as Brother Dalles. But that's why I'm going to do whatever I can."

Apparently, sending Dungeon Survival alone sprouted a strong sense of independence. Like, as a prince, as a man, growing up all the time?

"Well, thank you"

If you say so far, there's no reason anywhere to turn down a guide.

"Yes, please, this way"

Thus, with Carl the Third Prince and several other accompanying and escorting knights, we all enter the Iron Blood Tower.

The tower is about 20 meters tall, with a smaller impression than I thought. It was an image of a central hive-like Dodecai iron tower standing with Dawn, but at the corner of the vast royal castle grounds, the Iron Blood Tower standing only with a potpound also feels somewhere lonely.

It's really just an iron tower with no appearance, no overall rust noticeable and no decorative shards. The same goes for the interior, only with a gallant space.

"This Iron Blood Tower has been famous since ancient times as a site here, but as you can see, it's not particularly noticeable, and few people bother to visit it"

This is becoming famous because it is in the royal castle, he said, is the best reason. And because of the original monolith, the priests of the Temple of Pandora enter and leave regularly, so they are not forgotten either.

But it is certain that Prince Carl is right, not enough stuff to come all the way to see. If I came to see this for tourist purposes, I would be definitely disappointed. If they feature Adamantoria's three disappointing points or something in the guidebook, it's definitely the kind of tower that will take the lead.

"Mr. Chrono, do you have any idea what the exact height of this iron tower is?

"Look, it feels like 20 meters."

"No, not at all. It's off the hook."

Kusuri, and Prince Carl grins like a child whose pranks have succeeded.

What, does this reaction mean that there are more secrets than it looks?

"The true height of the Iron Blood Tower is about three kilometers."

"Huh?"

I got a voice with vegetables.

No matter how much you gaze, the tower is 20 meters tall and no matter how hard you try, it won't reach 30 meters. From there on, you say it's transparent... no, right, not up there.

"No way, the tower is buried underground?

"Yeah, you're right. The Iron Blood Tower remains standing still in the kingdom of the Dwarves, which perished in ancient times. In other words, this tower is connected to the deepest part of the abandoned Ballog mine."

It is just the existence of a direct route.

"Well, if we go through here, we'll be exploring the underground city."

"Unfortunately, the bottom door of the tower seems to be tightly sealed and you can't go outside. You can barely see the outside through the small window."

I'm sorry about Soitz. An ancient city that sank at the bottom of the earth, if it were almost unexplored too, though a lot of treasures seemed to be sleeping.

And so on, around thinking first, do you mean I'm a total adventurer, too? Or is it just greedy?

"The original monolith is on the lowest level, but don't worry, there are also lifts used in the pits"

It was set up because it was too tight to go up and down three kilometers of stairs on boulders, he said. Thank God for Dwarf's technical skills.

"Well, let's go"

So we were going on a little underground trip for a while.