NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 378
“A Hero and a Dragon Priestess…?!”
“……!”
The Elf Girl Lily and the Fox Beastgirl Yurica were stunned after hearing Albert’s introduction.
They couldn’t even imagine meeting a hero and a dragon priestess in such a place; their faces showed pure shock.
“Is this for real?! This isn’t… a dream, right?!”
“…!!”
Lily and Yurica started to get all flustered. Yurica’s tail puffed up because she was so surprised.
Well, for the two of them, a hero and a dragon priestess would be like meeting their idols. Who wouldn’t admire the duo that saved the world from the demon king’s tyranny?
“This is Hero Eric, and this is Dragon Priestess Alice. After defeating the demon king, they’re traveling incognito due to some circumstances. I hope you two can lend them your strength.”
“M-Me? Be part of the hero’s party?!”
“N-No way…”
It’s hard to believe, right? It’s totally understandable.
“Do you think I would lie?”
But if the one saying that is the priest of the God of Light and Justice, and a wandering judge representing that will, it changes the game.
At Albert’s words, Lily and Yurica could only shake their heads.
“As I mentioned before, your punishment is to accompany the hero diligently as part of the party. Normally, this wouldn’t be allowed, but I’ve made an exception this time.”
“Uh, so it’s actually a reward, right…?”
“Uh, yeah…”
Lily was looking more and more confused while Yurica nodded hesitantly.
They had initially been brought here for acting like a couple of troublemakers, but now this seemed oddly fitting.
Since they were caught due to their wrongdoings, being told they could travel with their idols makes it even harder to believe.
But you know.
“Just a heads up, it won’t be an easy journey.”
“Yeah, it won’t be easy at all!”
When Albert mentioned this, even Finna chimed in, causing Lily and Yurica to tilt their heads slightly.
“An easy journey? But we’re traveling with a hero and a dragon priestess; what could go wrong?”
Nod.
Yurica nodded silently. Seeing the reactions of the elf and the fox beastgirl, Finna shook her head and said.
“You can’t even begin to imagine where the three of us have been before coming here! We just crossed the Blazing Desert and even witnessed the Sacred Flame!”
“The Sacred Flame…?”
“That’s… suicidal, right?”
“I won’t deny that it could be seen as such, but it was quite the journey! And we still have a long way to go!!”
They still had ancient gods to meet ahead.
“The reason we ended up in this court is to know the whereabouts of the God of Light! Not to mention, it’s a journey confronting many ancient gods!”
Finna said with confidence. However, Lily and Yurica’s expressions began to harden.
After all, who had the guts to meet ancient gods? Usually, places where ancient gods dwell are either extremely dangerous, sacred lands of certain races, or just outright unknown locations.
Meeting such ancient gods? No ordinary existence could pull that off.
Unless you’re a hero or a dragon priestess, it seems impossible.
“So, since you met the Sacred Flame, you used the exceptional abilities of the hero and dragon priestess to make it an easy journey, right? Right?”
Lily was looking a bit pale. In response to her question, Finna shook her head softly.
“That’s not the case! For various reasons, the hero and the dragon priestess couldn’t fully utilize their powers during their battles against the demon king! It was a huge hassle, you know! I almost lost my heart for a second!”
Finna said casually, but her mentioning the close call made Lily and Yurica’s faces turn stiff.
A journey where death could be around the corner. To think they’d be tagging along on such a trip… Yeah, it’s definitely scary.
But.
“Hmph… okay… I’ve made my decision.”
The fox beastgirl, Yurica, took a deep breath and said.
“I’ll join you.”
“What?!”
“Anyway, I’m a sinner since I got caught stealing. If I can wash away this sin, I’m willing to do anything. Besides… it would be a dream come true to work for the hero and the dragon priestess who defeated the demon king.”
Yurica said, looking straight at Eric and Alice.
“If you two hadn’t defeated the demon king, who knows when or where I would have died. If I can give my life for you two, I’d do it without hesitation.”
With that, Yurica gave an awkward smile.
“And… by defeating the demon king, I can show my gratitude towards you two for ensuring no more poor children have to suffer.”
It was an awkward smile, but the emotion behind it was evident.
“Ugh… a thief saying such things… how cheeky!”
“So, are you saying you won’t join? Ready to face punishment?”
“N-No way!!”
Lily shouted as if she was unleashing a war cry. Considering the damage she may have caused…
She’d probably face some hefty punishment.
She might not lose her life, but if she has any possessions, she could lose a lot, plus forced labor for quite some time.
“I’ll join! I mean, even that small dwarf decided to join the hero’s party! What can’t an impressive being like me do?!”
Lily shouted fiercely.
“Liliana Silvrea! I’ll dedicate my entire being for the hero and the dragon priestess! In the name of the Goddess of Life and the World Tree!”
“Yurica Dobell. Though I’m just a petty thief, I’ll give it my all. Please let me wield my dagger well.”
With that, the two became members of the hero’s party.
“Great! With that settled, I can finally tell you where the God of Light resides!”
“Finally!”
At last! Albert opened his mouth.
“The God of Light is located…”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
In the great north plains. A harsh land where the cold wind cuts against the skin like blades.
North of those plains, instead of land made of soil and sand, lies a frigid plain made entirely of ice.
An eternally frozen land, known as Tundra.
It’s said that there exists a place where light never fades, resembling a layer of the underworld, the Ice Hell (or Cocytus) brought up to the surface.
White Night.
A land filled with pristine ice and dazzling light.
That cold place, where no life can survive, was once known by humans only after the hero left to save his friend from the underworld.
What resides there are monsters adapted to survive in the piercing cold. And beings of light that reject humanity.
Monsters hostile to humans and a spirit of light that rejects humanity. Even the bitter cold turned that land into a place where even the most skilled adventurer would risk their life.
Much like the Blazing Desert on the opposite side of the world, White Night has also gained a spot in the world’s seven forbidden areas.
…
Seeking such a White Night could cost you your life, yet a select few would pursue it themselves.
These were either elementals seeking the power of the Spirit of Light or adventurers wanting to acquire the by-products of the monsters immersed in that ice.
Of course, the risks were off the charts. Those wanting to tread that ground… must be ready to be forever left behind in the frozen depths of despair.
– A guidebook for adventurers exploring the world.
Chapter on the Seven Forbidden Areas.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Thus, the hero party gained two new companions.
And their next goal was…!
“The Sacred Mountain Sagarmatha, the World Tree Yggdrasil, and the God of Light Shamash. All of these are to the north, which is a long way off.”
“So….”
“The God of Wind could be anywhere.”
“Then….”
“There’s only one option left.”
At Alice’s words, the party’s attention focused on her.
“We must go to the sea.”
“The sea!”
“We need to meet a mermaid who will guide us, as well as the God of the Sea and the Master of the Endless Flow.”
But the next destination she mentioned wasn’t easy either.
“But… how do we get to the sea?”
“We’ll need a boat… a boat would be necessary.”
Nod.
Finna, Lily, and Yurica were all saying they needed a ship for this journey.
And… of course, they had no such ship.
“That’s the dilemma…”
“To go that far to encounter mermaids, we need a pretty sturdy ship.”
Everyone’s thoughts pointed towards one place.
Vistia. The land of the Beastmen.
Located between the two Romanians, it prospered from trade.
A land known for the unfathomable Infinite Maze, and the island of Minoa.
In that country… oh, it would be impossible to find a ship of that caliber elsewhere.
“Alright. It seems we’ve set our next destination.”
With that, the hero party turned their direction toward their next goal.