NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 20
Chapter 20
70th floor.
It was the dominion of Andromalius, but with the allied forces from the 72nd and 71st floors eliminating him, the ownership of the floor naturally changed.
The new lord was Citri, the Demon King from the 71st floor. Upon seizing the Demon King Castle, she officially became the owner of the 70th floor. In the process, she granted half of the territory, wealth, and troops as spoils to Seere von Debata, the Demon King of the 72nd floor, who fought alongside her.
Seere von Debata came to the 70th floor today to personally inspect the spoils.
“Wow!”
Right into Nahun’s arms. Naturally, Seere had been brought along, and it was Nahun who had suggested this visit. Upon their arrival, a woman approached freely and greeted them.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
It was Lin El Lazine, the commander of the Fourth Legion. She finished her greeting to Seere and also bowed to Nahun. Nahun bowed back and asked if everything had been secured as mentioned.
“Did you secure all the items you informed us about?”
“Yes. Her Majesty Citri also said to take whatever we wanted, so it was easy.”
It seemed that Citri, probably as a result of transferring the Demon King Castle and Andromalius’s life, was generous with the distribution of the spoils. Nahun said to Lin:
“Let’s go check it out.”
“Yes, this way.”
Lin guided Nahun to the storeroom where the wealth was gathered. From the way in, the legion soldiers were on high alert.
“Welcome, Your Majesty!”
The loyal soldiers saluted immediately upon seeing Seere. Seere flinched for a moment, as if surprised, but then recalled something and began to look at the training journal Nahun had given her.
She placed her hands on her hips and spoke in the most serious tone she could muster.
“Y-You’ve worked hard!”
Of course, it was only adorable that young Seere attempted to act serious; she was oblivious to this fact. The soldiers, almost forgetting to salute, nearly smiled, but thanks to Lin and Nahun’s presence, they managed to remain composed.
This was part of Seere’s practical assignment in royal study. Before leaving the Demon King Castle today, Nahun had written it in her training journal.
“Become accustomed to being treated as a king by your subordinates.”
She would soon have many subordinates, and she couldn’t afford to display childishness at every turn. Nahun nodded approvingly at Seere and followed Lin into the storeroom.
“Wow!”
Seeing the sparkling items, Seere was overwhelmingly delighted. Inside the storeroom were half of the various treasures that Andromalius had stored. Though it had been divided, the sheer amount was staggering.
“Sparkle sparkle!!”
It wasn’t just Seere who was excited. Nahun spoke with a look of amazement.
“Wow, indeed.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Seeing the amassed wealth made Nahun involuntarily exclaim in awe, thinking that money worries would be gone for a while. Afraid he might seem shallow, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
Lin briefly regarded Nahun with a puzzled glance before averting her eyes and spoke.
“The items you specifically wanted to be saved are here.”
As Lin gestured to a soldier organizing the storeroom, the soldier saluted and then headed off somewhere. He returned with a large wooden box that was locked.
When Nahun looked at Lin, she commanded the soldier.
“Open it.”
“Yes.”
The soldier unlocked the wooden box and opened the lid to show them. Inside the box was a sword with a broken blade. It had a large groove in the hilt, as if a gem had once been embedded there.
“Could you confirm if this was what Nahun mentioned?”
“That’s right, you brought it well.”
Nahun took the broken sword out of the box. Even though the blade was broken and the ornament missing, making it look completely useless, Nahun knew exactly what this sword was.
“The Blood Tear Sword.”
The gem embedded in the hilt was as red as blood, and when magic power flowed through the sword, the appearance resembled someone weeping blood tears, which is how it got its name.
Currently, the blade was broken, and the gem was gone, but Nahun, being a former player of the Ebel Queen Maker, knew exactly where the blade had broken and where the gem used to be.
In terms of game mechanics, equipping it to Seere would increase growth efficiency by five times, but whether that would hold true in reality remained uncertain.
“Even if there’s no effect, it still holds value.”
Even without the effect of increasing growth efficiency, the Blood Tear Sword itself was an outstanding equipment. It had the highest attack power among equipment that could be obtained at the early stages, and its user would be able to learn unique magic.
“What is this, Teacher?”
Seere asked curiously, and Nahun smiled gently.
“It’s a gift for you.”
“Huh? But it’s broken?”
“It’s okay; it can be fixed.”
Seere tilted her head, as if unsure. Nahun imagined the surprised expression on her face and chuckled quietly.
“First, we’ll check the list of the spoils we brought, and then we’ll go fix the sword.”
“Yes!”
“It will be a truly magnificent sword, so look forward to it.”
“Is it really magnificent?”
Seeing Seere respond to the word ‘magnificent,’ Nahun let out a light laugh. It was a typical cute reaction for a child. Nahun nodded to heighten her expectations.
“Yes, it will sparkle.”
“Sparkle sparkle!”
Lin then commented on the mention of repairing the sword.
“Should we call a craftsman?”
“No, it’s not a sword that needs that kind of repair.”
“Pardon?”
What does that mean? Lin tilted her head in confusion, but Nahun changed the subject.
“First, let’s check if we have everything.”
“Okay, understood.”
Nahun started to check each item against the report and what had actually been brought to the storeroom. In the meantime, Seere had momentarily climbed down from his arms and began to wander around the storeroom.
The legion soldiers guarding the storeroom were observing her closely. They were worried she might get lost and become a missing child, but their thoughts began to align in a slightly different direction.
“How cute.”
With a proud father smile. Seere wandered around, picking up and putting down jewels. She tried some necklaces on her white cat, but she wouldn’t take anything with her.
At her age, it was only natural that she would have the desire for shiny things. However, the way she returned everything to its proper place prompted the soldiers to think.
“How well she’s growing up.”
A short while later, when Nahun returned after checking the other side, Seere had a cheerful expression as she inspected the gems.
“Seere?”
“Ah!”
Seere fumbled as if she had done something wrong. Had she been taught not to touch treasures like these? Nahun, seeming to convey that it was okay, gently patted Seere’s head.
“If you want something, you can take it, Seere.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. After all, everything here belongs to you, Seere.”
“It’s mine?”
That was certainly true. All of it belonged to her domain on the 72nd floor, making it hers without a doubt.
“Choose whatever you want.”
“Hmm….”
After a moment of contemplation, Seere cautiously picked one up. Nahun looked at Seere with surprise at her choice.
“Is this what you like?”
“Yes!”
Nahun stared at the item Seere was holding momentarily, then chuckled inwardly.
‘You can’t hide your bloodline.’
Her actions and appearance clearly reflected that she was just a little girl, but her instincts were unmistakable. She, the one who would rule over all demonkind as a Demon King, chose nothing less than a crown.
She picked up the enormous crown that Andromalius had worn. Holding a crown as big as her head, Seere beamed with joy.
—
After completing the inspection, Nahun took Seere to a certain area on the 70th floor. A mining area that was received through the partitioning with Citri. Nahun sought something there.
“Teacher, where is this?”
“This is the place where the pieces to complete your sword are.”
“Complete?”
Nahun nodded. The pieces of the broken blade and the lost gem were inside this mine.
“We need to find that?”
“I’ll find it soon. I know where it is.”
Thus, he hadn’t brought any subordinates. After all, only Nahun knew the location, and he didn’t need to search widely.
“Let’s go over there first.”
“Yes~!”
Holding Seere, Nahun stepped into an abandoned mine among many. Once inside, Seere frowned.
“I can’t see.”
“I’ll make it bright.”
With a snap of his fingers, a bright light burst forth in the air. It was light produced artificially using magic power.
Flap!
“Wow!”
As a result, bats that had been sleeping in the mine flew overhead. They seemed startled by the sudden light and fled. Seere, delighted by the flapping bats, watched them with bright eyes, full of wonder.
‘Usually, little kids don’t find bats disgusting, do they?’
It seemed the Demon King was different. Observing Seere’s joy, Nahun chuckled and began to proceed slowly into the mine.
The mine appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, with ancient carts and rusted tracks decaying in neglect. Seere seemed fascinated, exploring them like old antiques.
“We’re at a fork!”
“This way.”
It wasn’t a problem even with a fork in the path. Nahun knew the exact location. He wasn’t a foolish player who could forget the hidden piece discovered only in the 40th ending.
After entering the left fork and walking a bit, what Nahun was looking for appeared. A portion of a broken sword was carelessly tossed on the ground. It was so rusty that it was indistinguishable whether it was a sword or mere trash, yet Nahun felt certain.
“I found it.”
“This is a sword?”
“Yes. Now, we just need to find one more thing.”
The remaining gem was deeper inside. After securing the broken sword piece, he moved forward again. After a while of walking, they came upon a suspicious door that welcomed Nahun and Seere.
A gigantic statue opened its eyes. Its eye glowed a sinister red as it spread its wings and gripped a spear with mighty arms.
“A gargoyle?”
It was not an inanimate object like a statue. It was a gargoyle, one of the many races that formed the demon kind. As Nahun remembered, this species was known to have only a small number of survivors by the time of the Ebel Queen Maker’s progress.
“Intruder, you cannot pass here.”
Judging by its massive size, it seemed to have lived for a considerable amount of time. A gargoyle that had lived for such a long time surely possessed extraordinary power. It would be more than capable of serving as a guardian for the gem.
“Was there a gargoyle guarding the Blood Tear gem?”
It seemed like a detail that hadn’t been revealed in the game. Nahun asked the great gargoyle.
“Gargoyle, who is your master?”
“My master, that person is the great Demon King Andromalius. Only him.”
“Andromalius is dead.”
“…What?”
Nahun pointed to Seere, who was in his arms.
“Andromalius is dead. We have conquered the 70th floor as well. Now your new lord is here, Seere von Debata.”
“Debata?”
The gargoyle seemed surprised upon hearing the name Debata. Clearly appearing to have lived for a long time, Nahun was convinced the gargoyle was recalling the previously existing Seir.
“How could Debata conquer such a lower tier?”
“I have no idea. All you need to know is that your master has changed.”
Nahun’s atmosphere shifted, becoming quite serious. He spoke to the gargoyle in a low voice.
“We have business ahead, so step aside without interfering.”
“That cannot be!”
The gargoyle aimed its massive spear at Nahun.
“My master is only the great Andromalius…!”
“…What a foolish creature.”
Nahun stepped forward. In response, the gargoyle thrust its spear rapidly, as if surprising the massive size gave it a disadvantage.
Thud!
“What… what…”
However, the spear was caught and held in Nahun’s hand, leaving the gargoyle powerless. It couldn’t withdraw the spear or push it any further. With tremendous strength, Nahun gripped the spear firmly, making it immovable.
“Do not be a nuisance.”
Crack!
Then he broke the spear with his bare hands. The gargoyle stared blankly at its broken spear and then looked at Nahun.
“Hu, huh!!”
The gargoyle saw it. Behind Nahun, a massive white whale was gaping widely. It was a tremendous size, enough to swallow not just him but the entire 70th floor and beyond.
The gargoyle quickly folded its wings and bowed its head to the ground.
“I pledge my allegiance to you, my lord!”
After witnessing the gargoyle’s attitude shift by 180 degrees, Nahun sighed.
‘Should I take him in….’
Gargoyles of this size and age were rare. He concluded that taking it in would be helpful. Nahun spoke firmly to the gargoyle.
“…The master you will serve is not me.”
Nahun pointed to Seere, who was gazing at the gargoyle with bright eyes in his arms.
“This child here is your master.”
“Yes, I will remember!”
“I will come back, so wait here.”
“Yes!”
Nahun stepped through the suspicious door guarded by the gargoyle. Finally, he found the most valuable item among the reasons for conquering the 70th floor. It might even be more valuable than the Demon King Castle on the 70th floor.
“Wow!”
Seere was thrilled as well. It was sparkling. Unlike the rusty pieces of the sword, the Blood Tear gem retained its beautiful and eerie glow.
“Now then….”
Nahun briefly set Seere down. She grabbed his clothing and clung closely.
Nahun took out the broken sword and placed it on the pedestal in front of the gem. Then he arranged the broken piece he had just found to fit. Finally….
With a click, he took the Blood Tear gem. He inserted the gem into the groove in the hilt of the broken sword. The size and shape of the gem fit perfectly with the empty groove.
Once the gem was inserted, the broken sword began to emit a radiant light. Then the pieces of the broken sword that were merely arranged together fused together on their own.
“Wow….”
Eventually, the light gradually faded, and the rusted and broken crude sword completely vanished. In its place stood a magnificent sword embedded with a brilliant red gem aptly named Blood Tear.
Nahun smiled in satisfaction as he picked up the sword. He then extended it toward Seere, who had eyes sparkling with wonder.
“It’s a gift.”
“…Can I really take it?”
“Of course. It’s meaningless unless you possess it.”
Though it looked a bit too large for Seere to hold, she solidly took the sword with her small hands. Looking at the sparkling Blood Tear gem, Seere smiled brightly.
Nahun had worried that Seere might not like the sword because she might prefer something like a doll, but it seemed needless worry. Seeing Seere so delighted, he too smiled.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes!”
Seere bent deeply, bowing with her white cat.
“Thank you, Teacher!”