Side: Mako
Yamato and Asuka’s exploration-type stacking magic allowed us to pinpoint the location of a monster that appeared to be Cetus.
Currently, we are riding in the multi-functional beast carriage piloted by Eos, waiting at an altitude of 20 meters above its location.
The plan was to lure Cetus to the surface and then defeat it. However, Asuka once again declared that he would fight alongside Maoh.
I honestly felt uneasy about this development, but it seems Asuka is undertaking this quest with Yamato in mind.
He took on the Kobold Emperor as a proxy when Yamato was absent on an inspection.
He aimed to liberate the Divine Metal Mine on Enigma Island from Nidhogg.
And now, to showcase a mythical-tier spell that even Yamato has never seen before.
I heard from Yamato that it was difficult, but I understand it wasn’t just that.
Maoh seems to be a bit of a softie, so perhaps it was to create a balance.
Asuka and Maoh then leaped from the multi-functional beast carriage, combining Caladbolg and Failnaught.
“Wh—!”
“As I thought, you’re using that.”
“Since you’re using that, this way will be easier.”
“We were the ones who originally generated this, too.”
Caladbolg and Failnaught became one spear as they were enveloped in light.
The spear was over 3 meters long, with a trident at both ends and adorned with divine decorations.
It had been a while since I last saw it, but that was their true engraved divine artifact, the Divine Spear Brynhild.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yeah! It’s been a while!”
Asuka and Maoh, holding Brynhild together, pointed the tip of the spear towards the sea surface.
Simultaneously, a very thin beam of light shot out from the tip, and the next moment, the sea surface exploded.
After a while, Cetus’s corpse floated to the surface. It had only one wound and was about 2 meters in size, making it almost intact.
“That was… Brynhild’s greatest mythical-tier spell…”
“I expected it, but you used Balor after all. The sea surface exploded, but there seems to be no danger of a tsunami.”
Balor, Brynhild’s greatest mythical-tier spell.
It was said to boast destructive power that surpassed all nuclear weapons on Earth combined, equivalent to 1.5 gigatons of TNT. It was supposed to be the most powerful among the existing engraved divine artifacts.
Before the generation of Caladbolg and Failnaught, it didn’t possess that much power, but it was still said to be 1 gigaton. This power would be unimaginable to anyone on Helios Orb.
This time, they considerably suppressed the scale and power, but thanks to that, the magic stones and materials seem to be sufficiently usable, which will surely please Lady Hilde and Emperor Reinhardt.
If used at full power, even a 300-meter-long Cetus would have vanished without a trace, not even leaving bone or cell. I’m grateful to them for holding back.
“Yamato, don’t just stand there stunned. Hurry up and confirm it.”
“Huh? Ah, right. Understood.”
Prompted by Asuka, Yamato used Questing on the corpse to confirm.
“It’s definitely Cetus. It’s completely dead, and I’ll store it.”
Although it was hard to tell due to its size, it had wing-like structures, so it was indeed Cetus.
Yamato stored Cetus’s corpse in his inventory in a daze, while Mana and Meena, who were accompanying him, were speechless.
I understand how they feel, as I was the same way the first time I saw it.
“I suppressed the power to about a third, but if Yamato and Mako succeed in the Dual Heart Fusion Technique, you might be able to use spells even greater than that.”
“I suppose so. More importantly, won’t using Brynhild have any repercussions?”
“Brynhild is a dual-heart fusion type engraved divine artifact of Caladbolg and Failnaught, so it doesn’t make much difference to Chalice.”
The Holy Grail Chalice.
It is a supercomputer-level engraved divine artifact that fuses Excalibur with multi-element specialization setting types. Its processing, detection, and defense capabilities are outstanding.
From Chalice’s perspective, fusing Caladbolg and Failnaught into Brynhild would indeed be no great effort.
“Engraved divine artifacts are always absurd. Well, that’s probably why you thought of something as outlandish as transferring to another world.”
“Well, yeah. If it were just about coming here, Caladbolg and Failnaught alone could have done it with a catalyst. But that wouldn’t allow us to return.”
“That’s precisely why Arthur and Yukino, who heard our story, offered their cooperation. Ostensibly to introduce Koji and Sarah, but the true reason is this.”
Koji, wasn’t he Yamato’s older brother?
He also had an older sister, whose name I believe was Mikoto. But who is Sarah?
“Sarah, by any chance, is she Arthur and Yukino’s daughter?”
“Ah. It was postponed because Yamato went missing, but their wedding is scheduled for next spring. Even the Seven Imperial Masters, who cannot easily leave the country, have no choice but to act.”
I see.
So, under the guise of preparations for Koji and Sarah’s wedding, Arthur and Yukino were able to come to Helios Orb, with our cooperation.
“My older brother’s wedding was postponed?”
“Of course, when his younger brother went missing, he couldn’t think about the wedding.”
Maoh is right.
If a family member suddenly goes missing, you can’t even think about getting married.
“Let me tell you, it’s not just Koji and Mikoto, Sarah is worried too, you know?”
“Even if you say that, it was partly unavoidable, wasn’t it?”
“That’s true, but that’s exactly why she’s worried? I mean, no one expected you to have this many brides, though.”
“To have Mako too… it’s impossible to expect that.”
Well, that’s true.
From what I heard, I was declared dead two years after I went missing, and the search was called off.
Because I was known by name as one of the Valkyries, the fact that there was someone in Japan capable of killing me caused diplomatic tensions with other countries for a while.
Ultimately, since I had been transferred to another world, no country was involved. But at the time, there was no way to investigate.
With Yamato going missing this time, the truth behind my disappearance has coincidentally been revealed, but it’s too late now.
“My older brother’s wedding is scheduled for next spring.”
“It involves not just Japan, but also Australia.”
Since it’s the marriage of the eldest son of Japan’s Seven Imperial Masters and the eldest daughter of Australia’s Seven Imperial Masters, it’s natural for countries to be involved.
“Then, I don’t know if it will be usable there, but I’ll prepare some wedding present.”
“That could cause problems, so don’t make it too flashy, okay?”
“I understand.”
Like me, Yamato doesn’t intend to return.
However, it is his family’s wedding, so I understand Yamato’s desire to prepare a gift.
Ah, in that case, perhaps I could also make something for my family as proof that I am alive and well.
I don’t know if it will be usable there, but since the seals and magic power are the same, it will probably work out.
I’ll need to start thinking about it as soon as I return.
Side: Hilde
Upon receiving the report that the carcass of Cetus, a Demise Species sighted the other day, had been brought to the Hunter’s Guild in Bestia, I immediately ended my duties in Deseo and headed to the Hunter’s Guild, Torencia Headquarters, accompanied by Meena, who had come to report.
According to what Meena told me on the way, my father-in-law and mother-in-law had defeated it, but her explanation was somewhat vague.
Well, they said Cetus, which was at a depth of 50 meters, was killed with a single blow of a spell called Balor. Even if I had seen it, I probably wouldn’t have understood.
However, it is a fact that it was defeated, so I had to confirm it at all costs.
Upon arriving at the Hunter’s Guild and being shown to the 10th Appraisal Room, the examination of Cetus was already underway. My sister, Hildo, who is in charge of Torencia’s governance, had also arrived.
“Th-this is Cetus…?”
I had heard from Meena that it was larger than Nidhogg, but I was surprised by its size, which exceeded my imagination.
The 10th Appraisal Room is quite spacious, but Cetus’s carcass occupies nearly half of it.
While the 10th Appraisal Room is designed to handle such situations, there is also a prophecy that a new Demise Species may be born. Should I consider expanding it?
“Hilde, you’ve come too.”
“Yes. I heard from Meena. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I am deeply grateful for saving our country from peril this time.”
“Please lift your head, Lady Hilde. It is unbecoming for a ruler to bow so easily.”
“You are right, but you have eliminated a threat that could have led to the downfall of our nation. I will bow as much as you wish.”
As with the Slume Lord, neither my father-in-law’s nor my own strength could have accomplished the feat.
I also witnessed the subjugation of Nidhogg, but Cetus is a monster that inhabits the sea. Even with my father-in-law and mother-in-law’s power, I did not expect them to defeat it so easily.
“Princess Brynhild also thanked you earlier, but are Demise Species that formidable?”
Hildo had already met my father-in-law and mother-in-law.
No, that’s only natural.
I will officially abdicate to Hildo some time after the Febro Lehithrest Marquisate gained independence.
Hildo already holds most of the real power within Torencia, and I am merely the titular queen. Therefore, Hildo, as the one entrusted with the country, must be even more relieved than I am by the defeat of Cetus, a sea-dwelling Demise Species.
“Yes. Here on Aura Island, nearly 200 years ago, a country that existed at the time was instantly annihilated by a Demise Species called the Slume Lord. Subsequently, an expeditionary force was dispatched, but while they managed to inflict some damage, they could not defeat it.”
Yamato-sama also defeated that Slume Lord, and Solemn, a great enemy, has also perished. Therefore, Torencia may be enjoying the safest year since its founding.
Although the Krater Labyrinth has appeared, the Krater Labyrinth is home to Grand Silk Crawlers and Royal Crawlers on the fifth floor, making it a prime destination for Ancient Hunters. It is unlikely that there will be any Labyrinth Floods or Labyrinth Ejections to contend with.
“I see, there was a precedent.”
“So it was good that we were able to defeat this whale, Cetus, early on.”
“Yes.”
As it is a Demise Species, we cannot guarantee its defeat.
Although it was sighted in the sea areas close to Bestia, it is a sea monster, making investigation difficult. It is possible that until a town is destroyed, or even after it is destroyed, there may be nothing that can be done.
I am truly grateful that you defeated Cetus.
“Hilde, Princess Brynhild said that the magic stones should go to the Celestial Emperor’s Family, and the materials from Cetus to the three royal families and us. Is that truly alright?”
“Yes. The magic stones from the Kobold Emperor and Nidhogg have been presented to His Majesty the Celestial Emperor, and the materials are the same. Therefore, Cetus should be treated the same way.”
“That may be so, but is there any need for them to include us?”
I wondered why Yamato-sama asked such a question, but it was about the materials to be bestowed upon Wing Crest.
Indeed, although it was my father-in-law and mother-in-law who defeated it, they are also Yamato-sama’s parents, and Wing Crest did participate, so it is only natural.
If you are concerned, perhaps you could have something made for your father-in-law and mother-in-law using the materials from Cetus or Nidhogg?
“Ah, yes, that’s also an option.”
“No, I mean, I was made clothes, but what do you think about using such precious materials on someone who will disappear soon?”
“Right. Ah, but these clothes are easy to move in and comfortable, so I’m thinking of taking them with me.”
My father-in-law and mother-in-law, who are also Arc-class, brought some luggage with them, but they wouldn’t be inconvenienced by having spare clothes. The Crafters of Wing Crest are all working together to prepare clothing made from Royal Silk Cloth.
With their cooperation, we also conducted verification of monster materials, which resulted in the conclusion that only M-rank monster materials could withstand it. Thus, we had no choice but to use Royal Silk Cloth.
Even without those results, I probably would have used Royal Silk Cloth anyway.
“That’s being tailored for Father and Mother, so please take it without hesitation. Then, Hilde, is it alright if we just take a little bit of Cetus’s hide?”
“Is that all you require?”
“For Nidhogg, besides the hide, I also received several fangs, but I can’t possibly use them all.”
“I see, understood.”
Indeed, even if we were to use them, it would not be immediately.
In that case, as Yamato-sama desires, I will provide a generous amount of hide.
As for the reward, since it was my father-in-law and mother-in-law who accomplished the feat, Wing Crest has declined it.
It is a problem to have no reward, but the materials of a Demise Species are not something that can be bought with money. Therefore, it is more valuable to Ancient Hunters than monetary compensation.
In fact, Holy Grave and Falcon’s Beak, who accompanied the subjugation of Hanuman, were also bestowed with Hanuman’s fur.
Therefore, I intend to store some of Cetus’s hide and fangs for the purpose of bestowal.
Now then, I will have you tell me the details of the report again.
First, please tell me how you discovered Cetus.
