Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 156
Chapter 156: Chapter 49. The Fifth Auction of Devildom (4)
And then… I beheld huge flames arrayed on all sides. There seemed to be about twenty of the Fire Spirits, who could be described as fireballs. Each of them had already reached the highest level. I was struck with amazement, though it wasn’t new since I had felt so from before we had opened the door.
“The elite of the elite.”
This was my impression of the spirits of fire. Not one of them had anything that I could look down on. Their military might overturn all things, even in a one-in-a-million situation! I didn’t see the spirit king, but I was sure that only those who were his close associates had come out.
“The Fire Spirits turn into fireballs when they meet their enemies, don’t they?”
That meant that they were watching me with suspicion.
Indeed, could it be that I was able to recognize them even when they had failed to recognize me?
Of course, they wouldn’t have figured out fully that I was an overwhelming one, but they had perceived right away that I was a significant adversary. Their spirit was truly shocking, sharp, and hot.
“My Dungeon Master.”
Krithli was asking for my understanding.
I realized it was time for me to take one step back.
The instant they had seen me, they were already nervous. There was but a small margin here for me to step forward and for things to end well. In the big picture, it seemed right to let Krithli proceed.
“I’ll allow it.”
As soon as I had spoken, Krithli took one step forward, both her hands clasped together.
“Spirits of Fire. My name is Krithli. We are not your enemies. As one who can take more intense fire than anyone, I seek friendly relations with you.”
—Her energy is amazing.
—Yes, but the other half is water energy.
—No… the fire side is fiercer.
The sharing of opinions briefly went back and forth. The fire spirits were looking inside Krithli, and assessing that she contained the energy of water and fire.
After a while, the largest fireball standing in the midst of them spoke.
—Child. I see that you are one who has very strong fire energy. But this is quite unexpected. Not to mention the fact the one who stands behind you is a demon.
“This is my master. He walks a completely different path from the other demons. He is a demon who hunts other demons, and he also possesses vast knowledge. He can relieve your curiosity.”
I saw it clearly. Krithli was saying that I knew more about the Auction of Devildom than any other demon. She had successfully figured this out, and used this as the exchange for a deal.
Once again the spirits became noisy.
—A demon that hunts demons?
—Demons normally detest other demons, you know.
—That’s not such a big deal.
Their response to me was expected. This was the attitude most spirits would treat a demon with.
Then the head of the Fire Spirits spoke.
—Are you saying you know what information we seek and will give it for friendly relations?
“This is most impolite, but we briefly overheard your conversation from outside. Seeing that the name Kerpy also came up, it appears that you have some reason for being hostile to the Spirits of Water. And fact that you are even meeting in this place means that when you arrived here you must have received some surprising information. I would venture to guess that someone slipped you information that gave you no choice but to take strategic opposition to the Spirits of Water.”
Krithli’s silver tongue was incredibly fluent.
That she had deduced that much from just hearing a few words of conversation was an amazing skill.
“It’s a good thing I brought her.”
I did bring her to get an impression of Pandemonium, but there was another reason I had chosen Krithli besides this. It was because I recognized that her ability to adapt to circumstances and to apply her intellect was even above mine.
There was nothing wrong with having a wonderful subordinate. Perhaps my talent will be to use this subordinate as the right person in the right place. Bringing her based on this thought was the right course of action.
—Hoho… so you’re saying you can figure that out for us?
“Before that, first we need to hear your story. If we can solve it for you, we shall do so for no price whatsoever.”
—Well, you already said from the start that you’re seeking friendly relations with us. The way you act now, and getting us to accept it from our perspective, isn’t this achieving your goal?
“I’m not shameless enough to curry your favor in this manner.”
Whooosh!
The flames gradually died down.
Soon after, a man appeared in the midst of the fire.
A man with red hair and a heavy build.
The man spoke with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Good. Then tell us. Seeing as it’s a problem we can’t solve on our own, in any case.”
The man briefly looked behind him and continued.
“All of you drop your disguises. These are not enemies, but our guests.”
Whooosh!!
Around twenty of the spirits all let down their guard together. Instead of fireballs, they appeared in the forms of powerful-looking men and women.
When the leader confirmed that they had all completed their transformations, he sat at a spacious table. Krithli naturally took her seat on the opposite side. I also sat next to her in order to hear their discussion.
The other spirits all stood, looking intently in our direction.
“Let me tell you the main part. Quite by accident, we came upon information that among the items that will appear in the auction is the Great Quintessence of Fire. The Great Quintessence of Fire is one of the nine Fire Deities that we Fire Spirits have maintained, and was stolen 20,000 years ago. And we are guessing that the one who stole one of our nine gods was a Spirit of Water. This is because soon after our flame was stolen, the Spirits of Water greatly expanded their influence.”
“So an item that was stolen 20,000 years ago is actually here, then.”
“That’s right. The godly fire doesn’t even go out, but it’s already been 20,000 years since it left its place of origin. This is around the time when it will gradually start to lose its strength. It must be their secret plan to sell it here before it totally loses its power and raise their own ‘level!’ This is truly… an inexcusable action.”
“But items can only be put up for auction by demons.”
“Hmph! That doesn’t mean that a demon is not cooperating with the Water Spirits. Just like how you and your master came to find us. It could be… that you came directly to us just to toy with us.”
If you looked briefly at it, there was nothing incorrect about that. It could be that a demon who met in advance with the Spirits of Water had in fact put it in the auction.
But it was all just their deductions. The story was hazy, even from the part about someone stealing the object. If the Spirits of Water really stole it, what reason would they have to neglect it for 20,000 years? It could be that they wanted to remain above the fray after taking a hit, but… wouldn’t they just say that because they couldn’t be “certain?”
The part after that was the same. It was a stubbornness that didn’t make sense.
It seemed that Krithli had also recognized the gap.
“If we start to doubt those around us, there will be no end. But clearly we should move past that part for now. Who was it that handed you this information?”
“They call him Deboron. He merely said that the Great Quintessence of Fire was on the auction block, but under the circumstances, everything was already proven to be correct.”
It was Deboron.
His name had come up. Something about it raised my suspicion.
Krithli opened her mouth.
“Did he say it was the Water Spirits who did it?”
“If it’s not, isn’t there no reason for it to appear at this time, and in this place?”
Krithli briefly closed her eyes.
After just hearing these snippets of their story, it was hard to think specifically what to think.
Presently, Krithli wrinkled her forehead and spoke.
“Please tell me a bit more specifically what exactly The Great Quintessence of Fire is.”
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s a flame that burns forever and can’t be put out. It’s one of the nine Sacred Fires. If I were to add more, among those flames the Great Quintessence of Fire exerts ‘control.’ The fact that the Water Spirits suddenly widened their influence would also be because of the influence of this power.”
“…”
“Well, can you reach a conclusion? If not, we have to make a decision. We have to strike back heavily at the Water Spirits that deceived us.”
The man was demanding. Krithli let out a deep sigh.
“The information is too piecemeal. The things we’ve talked about are all things the Water Spirits already know. Unless you can tell me something deeper, I’m afraid I won’t be able to solve this with my own strength until I can meet with them.”
“Child, this is all I’ll tell you. If you say you’re going to meet with the Water Spirits, I won’t stop you. But they’ll definitely be evasive!”
My worries increased. Soon after, Krithli asked carefully.
“By any chance… do you know someone named Arshilla?”
“How do you as a Dark Elf know that name? That’s one of the ancient Spirits of Water. He is already extinct, but they say everyone respected his power. He was a close advisor to the Spirit King of Water.”
Just then, as if she had gotten something, Krithli nodded her head.
“I see. Then we shall meet the Spirits of Water and return.”
“Use caution on your way. If they don’t return it to us in its original form, there will be a full-scale war!”
Of course, the Spirits of Fire.
Their endless valor.
“…My Dungeon Master.”
Krithli spoke to me as she stood from her seat. It seemed that she had something she wanted to tell me. In any case, it was an indication that we should leave this place.
Scrape.
The instant I stood from my seat the man spoke.
“My name is Jeeves! Monster of Fire Jeeves.”
I knew that he was looking in my direction. He was staring at me with a peculiar desire to gain victory. Jeeves, who had darted his eyes and looked at me during the conversation. Somehow it seemed he desired a battle with a “strong one…”
“Randalf Bruciel.”
I ignored his stare and turned around.
When we were a good ways away from the room where the Fire Spirits had stayed, Krithli spoke.
“If my prediction is correct… the Water Spirits are not the culprits.”
“It seems you are pretty sure of that.”
“Yes. It seems that this might resolve in a good direction. I was originally thinking of gaining their favor by the name of my father, but…”
Jinma Dragon Ahojin.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Spirits of Fire were acquainted with him, a dragon among dragons, who could rightfully be called an embodiment of fire. She could have easily gained favor with them by using that connection to her advantage.
But she didn’t do that and instead set out to solve their problem, because she must have been confident it would lead to a better direction.
“The Great Quintessence of Fire. Its strength is its ability to ‘control,” and that it never goes out. I know someone who possesses a similar object. I’m not sure of this, but if he’s shown his face at the auction, there’s a high probability it’s him.”
“Who?”
“It’s Pandemonium.”
Pandemonium?
Why the hell is that name popping up here?
I naturally voiced my doubts.
“Didn’t they say it was stolen 20,000 years ago? Pandemonium may be old, but he can’t live 20,000 years.”
Decrepit. He was the most aged of the Archdukes. But 20,000 years was too long.
“Strictly speaking… it was right after Oculus’ dungeon was attacked. His dungeon fell and burned in flames, and everyone but me couldn’t help but turn and run. I just hid myself and blankly watched the dungeon. Then one day, I saw Pandemonium take out a small essence of fire in the midst of that blaze.”
“It still doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t this have nothing to do with Oculus?”
“That’s correct. The person who’s really connected to it is… Contegnome.”
Contegnome, King of the Yetis!
It was the name of the one who fell into Nothingness and opposed me.
Due to losing my reason while using Depravity, I couldn’t remember Contegnome’s end, but I just had the definite surety that I had killed him.
Sensing my skepticism, Krithli spoke first.
“Contegnome, King of the Yetis. He’s the very one who stole the holy flame. By doing so he became King of the Yetis, and continued to rule a continent worthy of one with the title of ‘king.’ However, originally Yetis have strong connections to the characteristics of water. A Spirit of Water called Arshilla made a contract with Contegnome. He must have used this contract in order to utilize the power of the Great Quintessence of Fire. That would make sense.”
Smack. I lightly clapped my hands together.
“A contract. So it was a contract. But does that mean the Fire Spirits didn’t know any of these details related to Contegnome?”
“The spirits don’t really have any interest in the affairs of Middle Earth. I also wouldn’t have known any of this if I didn’t have the writings Oculus left about Contegnome. On top of that, the period during which Contegnome, King of the Yetis was active was incredibly brief. Barely fifteen years. An absurd amount of time for him to conquest an entire continent. Perhaps that made him even more obsessed…”
After I had disappeared, it seemed Krithli had struggled and used all her energy to research the source of this. And while doing this, she must have naturally came upon the stories of Contegnome.
“And Pandemonium got his hands on the Great Quintessence of Fire after Contegnome died?”
“My Dungeon Master, in my estimation, that is correct. We can make a more accurate judgment after meeting with the Spirits of Water.”
I stroked my chin.
I couldn’t have predicted that Contegnome’s name would reappear.
However… it’s strange. The instant I heard his name and remembered the Great Quintessence of Fire, for some reason something churned in my stomach.
Thump!
My heart also raced greatly.
It felt almost like a foreign substance was inside my stomach.
Up until now, I didn’t have any reaction, but as soon as I thought of Contegnome, I felt nauseous.
“My Dungeon Master… what is it?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
I hadn’t eaten anything strange, and even if I had, my body didn’t usually complain of pain. Once I’d entered the world of an overwhelming one, my body hadn’t had trouble digesting anything.
It must be a delusion. I had run into many different kinds of situations, and this had to have just been nerves.
It was an unlikely reason, but I also definitely couldn’t deny it.
I shook my head with great effort and moved my feet.