Published: July 3, 2025
CHAPTER TEXT:
Information release commemoration, early post!
The next chapter, "0331," will be updated today at 9 PM as usual.
"A demon...?"
Nils's murmur was so quiet that it barely reached Ryo's ears.
No one else could even utter a word.
For a full minute, a time passed where no one spoke, and no one could move.
"…I see, quite interesting."
The words of the red elder were spun slowly.
"Why do you think I am a demon?"
"Those, golden eyes."
In response to the red elder's question, Ryo answered.
Ryo remembered.
He recalled where he had seen those "golden eyes" before.
They were the same… golden eyes as the "demon of the south" that had been unleashed near Kona Village.
"I see, golden eyes…"
It seemed not only Ryo but also Eto realized it and murmured the same.
Perhaps they heard that word.
The red elder inquired further.
"Is it true that not only the child of the fairy king but also others recognize these eyes…? Hmm… I have not heard of anyone living in the human world…"
"The child of the fairy king…"
Nils seemed interested in that phrase and murmured it.
However, Ryo ignored it and continued.
"Three years ago, a demon was unleashed from its shackles. We were present at the scene…"
He spoke honestly.
"I see. That is heavy."
Nodding once, the red elder said.
Then, he looked back at Harold and continued speaking.
"Is it another's 'burst' different from the one who was unleashed...? You should resolve that quickly. The 'deadline' is still far off, but carrying such a burden brings nothing good."
"We are searching for the demon king to break that curse."
Harold answered himself.
Of course, he had the desire to resolve it.
"Hmm? There should be the demon king's blood in the church, right? If you donate, they might give you a drop to put on your forehead?"
"The other day, the church's vault was attacked, and it seems the jar containing the demon king's blood was broken, so the blood is gone."
The red elder asked, and Eto responded.
"What did you say…?"
The red elder was left speechless, and after a while, he continued speaking.
"That is quite bad..."
After about five seconds, he said.
"Sorry, but I no longer have time to speak with you. Come again another day."
"Um, may I ask your name…?"
"My name is Marlin."
In response to Zeek's question, Marlin answered and then disappeared.
At the same time, the end point of the eleventh layer appeared before the group.
Abruptly.
"Marlin was a demon…"
"Yeah…"
Eto nodded in response to Nils's words.
This was the first-floor lounge of the inn, "Holy Capital Minstrel," where the exploration party was staying.
The group had returned immediately from the teleportation "monument" of the eleventh layer.
After that incident, they were certainly not in the mood to challenge the twelfth layer or below.
"What should we do…?"
Nils murmured, then looked at Harold and continued speaking.
"Harold, what do you want to do?"
"Uh…"
Harold probably did not expect to be questioned at this moment.
Nils was the leader of the group, and Eto was the sub-leader.
The group's course of action was determined by Nils, and if advice was needed, it was offered by Eto.
If there were hopes of "room 11," it was often Zeek who spoke up…
However, the leader of "room 11" was Harold.
And for the sake of breaking his spirit curse, the group was putting themselves in danger.
Harold's opinion mattered greatly.
"I… honestly feel really sorry for putting everyone in danger."
"Hey, that…"
Nils tried to say something but was interrupted as Harold continued.
"No, I understand. But that's my genuine feeling. At the same time, now that we've come this far, I want to meet Marlin again and ask. If it is possible to break this spirit curse through you. If you cannot do it, then I would like you to tell me where the demon king is."
Taking a breath here, he continued further.
"I know it is indeed scary to think that I might anger you by doing so, but I do not want to end things without asking."
He said it firmly.
Upon hearing this, Zeek and Gowan nodded.
They felt inseparable with Harold, or so they thought.