Kuro no Maou

After successfully destroying Crystaurus, we explored Crystal Cave for about three days.

The giant cave of white crystals is so bright that there is no trouble with the lights, and so dazzling in some places. But I can also say that's about all the benefits of this area.

First, the monster is usually strong. Because it's an environment full of intense magic, even the elementary at the bottom of the food chain is at the level of releasing intermediate attack magic.

And the monsters who prey on those guys are gaining even more power. Even races that don't use magic, like Christaurus, usually use magic.

The terrain is also troublesome, as the strength of the monster increases. Until now, every hierarchy has buildings and other artifacts, but natural demon stone crystals just spread here. There is nothing noticeable about it and it is simply easy to get lost.

Besides, the terrain seems to keep changing here.

Until the depth to the fifth tier, he said, the shape of the cave is constantly changing so that it moves itself. They say in a month, it's going to be a lot different. So the map is pointless, too. To move on, you need to map yourself every time, and still, if you're unlucky, the road you've come is changing and crushing, which seems to be common.

A place like this can rely more on sharp leki than Ursula, who seriously loads the map.

Then again, on the fourth tier, they say there are halls and altars with magic formations for return, but they can't always be reached thanks to the changes in the cave. We were unlucky and could not discover.

Tactical difficulty as a dungeon is jumping from this area. Adventurer Ranks 3 and 4 are also convincing that they are called first-rate differences from veterans.

About the third tier would surely be able to attack anyone if they worked out and kept trying.

But the fourth hierarchy is unlikely to be able to attack without the power it deserves to be called first-rate.

It's a tough place. But at the same time, it's good to get in.

If the monster is strong, that increases the value of the material as well. Unlike both goblins who only have garbage-like equipment.

Then, if you can mine colorful high-density magic crystals, that's a good amount of money. It is an environment where treasures are falling apart. Even without great magic, it can be worth it as a gem if it looks beautiful.

"All right, time to go home"

In the three-day exploration, neither the monster material nor the mined crystals became significant amounts. But it should be enough in return for what I've been diving this far.

Going for Rank 5 as an Adventurer and leveling ourselves up, then going to Crystal Cave for a while.

"Yeah, I'm tired of boulders this time"

"All the monsters here were strong, Dace"

Leki and Ursula can't hide their fatigue either. Even the usual count will be a series of heavy fights. Kristaurus is strong as a boss, but he doesn't fly and is not a strong wack compared to the guys who live here either. If we go deeper, the creatures born in a darker magic environment will be waiting.

"It was definitely a lot of difficulty here, but I'm sure we can attack. Let's go in no hurry."

"But I can work on it for another day or so."

"Leki is still in good health Days!

"No, I'm leaving. And I have my next job."

Today is the 24th of the Dark Moon.

Actually, starting this evening, I'm supposed to go to that escort because I have Emilia live.

It's only morning, so if you go back to the third tier now and use the Return Magic Formation, you can go back to the ground at your leisure.

"I mean, you know what I'm saying."

"Oh, no, Death."

"Terrible, Master Chrono. We don't imitate that."

Leki, who openly deflects his gaze, and Ursula, who stares in grandeur. Both are lying to me on either side.

"Don't worry so much. I've told you many times that Emilia has nothing to do with her work."

"But Master Chrono is the only one nominated for escort!

"The Lekies are a party!

"Well, there it is, because we still lack the track record as a party..."

Say it yourself, I think it's a somewhat painful excuse.

But Emilia herself is also a client of the escort, so there's nothing better than to obey her if she tells me to come to the escort alone. That's all I said. I'll drink some Wagamama.

"I want to see Emilia so badly -?

"You don't need Leki anymore, kid. Death!?

"Fine, I'll be home soon. Clean it up and pull it out."

While we were making a scene like that, we cleaned up the camp and took it up to the third level.

"- Hey, you're the rumored black mask Ash, right?

"Oh, seriously, we're having a party. Was it" Ash to Ash "?

"Wow, I've never seen it live before"

Coming up to a building with a third tier return magic formation, there he was tangled up by a trio of adventurers.

Each has red, blue and yellow hair, a trio like a signal machine.

From what I've seen, it's three young men of composition: swordsmen, warriors and magicians. Age doesn't seem that different from mine.

"Oh, you're right, but what can I do for you?

It's been rumored from the beginning, and because of Emilia, my appearance is distributed nationally. So, as always, if you follow the gray robe in a masked outfit, that would call for one of your voices.

Ursula is wary of the three with a strange look, but Leki seems less interested. I guess the signs show that these three have no particular hostility.

"I'm not wacky for that."

"You're a celebrity."

"Yes, yes."

What's funny, haha, and the three of us are laughing on our own.

What a thin knoll that if it were modern Japan, it would be photographed on a smartphone and diffused.

"Well, that's enough."

Especially since I don't have the in-laws to talk to them. I'm tired, so I just want to go home and rest before I go to Emilia's escort.

Oh, thank you.

"Good story, Tane."

"Whoa, speaking of which, Mr. Hero."

A third yellow-headed guy talks as he already passes by and steps into the Transition Magic Formation.

"I hear Elder Trent is rambling on the farm on the second level right now, don't you have to go?

Pita, stop your leg.

"No, you were making such a scene."

"They were pretty much little kids over there."

Indeed, "Elder Trent" is a guy like Trent, the popular botanical monster that emerges in the second tier. A giant tree monster, usually shouldn't move from the depths of the forest even in the second tier.

But rarely do these powerful monsters move away from their habitats as if they were rampant. And in that case, it's mostly about where people get together.

"Hey, tell me more"

I look back and go back under the threesome.

"What, seriously, the system of going to help?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

"Hugh, that's cool!

"Just tell me quickly. Where is it?"

It's such a tease and ridiculous atmosphere, but the three of them told me so much about the place when I opened the map.

Are the roots surprisingly good guys? The consideration was not particularly demanded either.

"Thanks"

"My hero thanked me."

"Well, good luck with that."

I'm here for you.

Nevertheless, I had no idea that even the second tier would be out. Though the farm, it means that it can be targeted by powerful monsters that emerge suddenly.

And it is often said that slaves who work there are abandoned as slaves. Not at all, it's an emergency response like shit.

"That's what I'm talking about, so I'm just gonna go. You two go back first."

"Yes, Master Chrono"

"I understand."

Though you acknowledge it, we both seem to regret it.

I know you really want to go with me, but I also understand why I can't help but go back because I'm still tired of exploring the fourth tier.

The only reason I'm good at hearing is because I'm an adult, not a child.

"I'm sorry, both of you. I'm coming."

With the words of drop-off on my back, I rushed to my full strength.

After about half an hour of full sickness, I finally reached my destination, the farm.

It was a farm run by the Xanadu treasury that seemed to grow beans that became a coffee like preference, a farm famous for its considerable size. There are signs standing nearby, which are really easy to understand.

"Damn, there's already been a lot of damage"

The sign on that farm was broken in two, and beside it was the body of an adventurer with a crushed head and the body of a slave whose body twisted like a rag squeeze.

The grassy ground stretches toward the farm with tractor-dug traces becoming a straight path.

I'm pretty sure Elder Trent wanted to get through here.

We have to hurry. His danger rank is four, he's not that easy to stop.

I followed the plain path he had taken, and when I ran out again - I was immediately spotted.

At the end of your sight, there's a big moving tree.

The height is over twenty meters and the thick trunk silhouette looks like a rookie cedar.

But swinging a large branch stretched from both sides like an arm, the root part fluttering as hard as a tentacle, and thrusting with a creepy voice, is rightly a monster.

"" Demon Bullets (Barrett Arts)/Howitzer Artillery (Grenade Burst) ""

Preemptive attack first. I'll attack it for now with the fire attribute, which is the same weakness as Trent, the original species.

Let go of dozens of grenades. That's so big. I won't even take it off at this distance.

Moaaaaaaaaa!

Along with being able to land and play a black blast flame, Elder Trent makes a loud shout. It's a tree but screaming is with Trent, but only in the boss class, and that voice was a heavy bass that sounded like a belly.

"You're screaming, but it doesn't seem to work very well"

When the black smoke clears, the trees that have grown green leaves appear unchanged. There is also no appearance that the product was set ablaze and extended. Big damage wouldn't have gone through.

But I cautioned against the extent to which he would stop.

In the meantime, I went around releasing the grenade continuously, interrupting him in the direction of his progress.

"Uh, it's Ash!

"Black Mask Ash!

"Wow, you're here to help!!

Wow, cheers are coming from behind me all the time.

This place is already on the farm. Elder Trent is lined up in the middle of a bean field, and ahead of him is a wooden two-story building sheltered by slaves, including many children.

I don't know if that's their quarters, or the warehouse where they store the harvested beans, or the processing plant, to that extent, but at least they don't seem to have the sturdiness to withstand Elder Trent's attack.

For once, you said you made it in critical time. In three minutes, Elder's bastard was undoubtedly attacking a slave in the building.

"Elder, I'll take Trent down! Everyone stay there, because it's dangerous."

I don't mean to be a hero, but you should declare it right. Honestly, Koitz is not enough opponent to win easily. If you have already gathered in the building and evacuated me, it is safer and more certain that you will not move from there.

"Come on!

"Ash, come on!

Kids cheer me out the window. That's good. I don't feel bad about heroes.

But as a basic jerk, the pressure is bigger.

"Koitz, I guess the real weakness is fire......" Incendiary Bullet (Napalm) ""

The grenade didn't look like it worked, so now I can take a napalm that's more combustible than an explosion.

Elder Trent can be moved at its roots, but it does not have the mobility to move around quickly. I can't take it off. It's big, but it seemed to behave like it would wave and guard the branch instead of my arm.

The "Incendiary Bullet (Napalm)" released took the form of about half on the torso and the other half on the arm branch, but in either case scattered a fiercely burning black flame (Hellflame).

Using liquid fuel made with the pseudo-water attribute Abyss Drop as food, the black flame quickly turned into a fire column huge enough to wrap Elder Trent.

It would be easier if you could just keep burning me out...

Bo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

With a creepy roar, the powder scattered bright white as the giant tree let itself wiggle. Pollen, is it? It was a sight of my nose muzzling just watching.

"Pollen poison attack...... no, is it an extinguishing agent"

As the white pollen blows out, the momentum of the flames diminishes and finally quenches the fire.

I see, there is no substitute for the fact that fire is weak, but is the countermeasure gained? He's a pain in the ass.

While I think about it, I let the thin wind blow just in case I don't suck on the pollen. I don't like that fire extinguisher pollen if it also has a tear-like effect.

With all the flaming counterattacks, Elder Trent moves his arms and roots to attack me.

The branches of the swinging down arms make heavy noises with the bassinet and slap the ground. Quite a blow, but I don't have the in-laws to hit you like that.

It was gently avoided, but the slap splashed with some red apple-like fruit from the branches.

That apple falls to the ground,

"Whoa, jeopardize!?

It exploded.

Koitsu, is the fruit a bomb?

Bomb apples sprinkled with roses are more dangerous than a massive slap. For what it's not after, it could fly unexpectedly.

And his arms aren't the only ones attacking him.

"Is this your destiny?"

Unlike arms, each, like a cunning snake, strikes sharp, pointy roots ahead.

Intercept with Demon Bullets (Barrett Arts) - Shit, maybe that fat root can't be stopped just by bullets.

Or it's not a good idea to deploy defensive magic and stop your legs.

Then the demonic roots are limited to cutting them off.

"-" Black ""

Gripping it in your right hand is a black sword, usually flying as the 'Great Devil's Sword (Buster Sword Arts)'.

In my pair of hands with Leki, I am reviving some of the swordsmanship that I would have used before.

Says this basic slashing martial arts technique called "Black" was my most commonly used skill.

Shame on you, my body remembered me, so that I can release "Black" even at the timing of the staggering.

With the power of his black martial arts, the Great Sword cut off the tentacles of the thick roots that were looming in front of him with one blow.

"But you don't have any sparkle."

His roots are myriad on the ground. If it is within reach of the roots, it can also be considered an overwhelming maneuver. Using a demon hand (bind arts) won't stop it all.

"Is this only a 'Void Cannon (Zero Cannon)'... No, let's try some more - 'Demon Bullet (Barrett Arts) - Sealed Cold Strike (Cold Seal)' - 'Added (Enchant) - Black Ice (Zero Freeze)'"

It was the ice attribute that I chose.

"Sealed Cold Strike (Cold Seal)" is also a kind of sealing technique that freezes the opponent. And wrap a pseudo-ice attribute around the blade of the Great Sword.

If it can be blackened, the addition (enchant) can be used in the same way. Now that you can handle pseudo attributes, it's easy to add various attributes to your weapons in hand.

"Freeze!"

Hit the main body of the tree with the usual "Sealed Cold Strike (Cold Seal)", while intercepting the imminent root attack with a sword that houses the power of icing.

"You're a clam."

Elder Trent's movements were clearly dull with a painful squeal.

The trunks and branches freeze black, and it seems painful to take one.

The roots cut off by the frozen blade are completely frozen and the tip is immobile.

"Now you're gonna have to take care of the ice."

If you seal the movement so far, it's easy to stab the todome.

You can safely chant and prepare 'Void Cannon (Zero Cannon)', but it seems faster to fell here with the Great Sword as it is already.

The moment I grabbed the pattern with both hands and stood ready to unleash my martial arts - Elder Trent slashed in two.

"-" Meteor Sword (Starsword) ""

A dazzling green glow sweeps away Elder Trent's wild trunk.

The trunk was amputated from the roots without five seconds, with bursts and fierce crushing noises.

Mooooooo aaaaaa......

With a roaring interrupter, the chopped down Elder Trent makes a noise and turns it into a fallen tree lying on the ground.

Later, the pimples and the roots, only the stump remains.

And on the stump that exposed that beautiful section, the person who cut down the rampant giant tree descended without sound.

It's a beautiful girl with long white gold (platinum blonde) hair and emerald eyes. No, the shining rainbow feather on its back is definitely a testament to being a fairy.

The fairy girl looked at me dumb with a big sword in her hand and said:

"- What is it, Temei?