“…Oh no.”
With the unpleasant sensation of his body breaking apart, Serrek’s mind returned to consciousness.
The Sand Soldier utilizing that person’s power was strong, a level that ordinary Outsiders could never defeat.
The problem was…
“Of all people, that one…”
The one who shattered the Sand Soldier was a woman known as the Heavenly Horse.
She possessed an outstanding power among Outsiders, ranked among the strongest.
It was recorded that she had connections with Lady Lily, and she appeared, having gained strength far beyond what was documented, shattering the Sand Soldier and rescuing Black.
“…This is troublesome.”
There were not just those seeking reward who were attacking Desertum.
Among them were individuals with connections to Lady Lily and some truly moved by a greater cause.
Based on their known personalities and patterns of behavior, they would likely withdraw immediately if informed of the truth.
But that couldn’t happen.
‘At least not now.’
The Emperor was currently undergoing the ‘integration’ of soul and body using Scorpio.
The body lost long ago had become unable to properly accept the soul of the heightened ‘Pharaoh’ after thousands of years.
Though it was once his own body, as that person’s power and greatness increased, the rift had grown pretty significant.
To reduce that rift, Scorpio, who had seen the body during the void of time, was absolutely necessary.
In other words, the current Pharaoh was in a defenseless state where he could not leave his position or respond.
‘If this situation regarding that person leaks out…’
Some would obviously come to protect him, but most greedy Outsiders would rush in like rabid dogs.
Creeeak!
They wouldn’t just rush in without a plan, so they’d come up with an odd justification about giving birth to a new disaster or spinning some lies.
In the past, such words would have been dismissed as meaningless nonsense, but now, strength was lacking.
Shlurp…!
A Sand Soldier wearing a striped hood rose from the ground.
The soldier’s face was covered by a cobra mask; one of the Generals reborn through that person’s authority.
“Nemus.”
─Command me.
“Go and stop the Outsiders. If necessary, you may kill them.”
─Understood.
Nodding, Nemus vanished back into the ground.
That bought some time.
‘But I can’t stop them all.’
While it wasn’t confirmed how many Outsiders were coming, in the current state, there was no way to stop the Heavenly Horse, at least not without.
That person’s latent power was entirely dedicated to the integration, and the power received was only a fraction.
And supporting from Elbrite…
“…That’s a bit much.”
Besk Ronhadia, known as the Eight Swords, but can’t hold a candle to the Heavenly Horse.
In the end, there aren’t many options left.
“…Huh.”
Whoooom.
The Magic Formation on the table flickers to life.
The formation, glowing a golden hue, briefly hesitates before turning red.
It’s a bit of a tricky opponent, but given the situation, there’s nothing to be done.
─What’s going on?
“Lady Lasty, I need help.”
─Huh? Help?
Progenitor Lasty.
An entity comparable to the Emperor and a girl possessing the strength and power to crush the Heavenly Horse with just a finger.
A playful laugh echoes beyond the Magic Formation.
─You need help with romance? Why not just go crazy and charge in? The statue won’t refuse you.
“…Not that kind of help. There are intruders invading Deserthum.”
─Why?
“It seems to be due to disaster, and with the Emperor and Lady Lily currently absent, there aren’t many places I can request support from.”
Serrek quickly explained everything to Lasty, detailing the events up to this point, the Pharaoh’s condition, and future plans.
Lasty responded with understanding, “Mhm, mhm,” as she listened.
─I see?
“…So I need backup. I am not connected to the Space of Despair, so I can’t provide any additional support. If you can’t come, then your subordinates…”
─Sorry, but that’s not possible.
“Pardon? Why…”
Crackle…!
The Magic Formation forcibly expands.
Though Elbrite is quite a distance away, she expertly alters the formation as if it were right in front of her.
Two unstable Life Vessels float beyond the Magic Formation.
Lasty shakes her head upon seeing the vessels.
─Those weaklings got beat up by an octopus and are out of commission. It’ll take them some time to recover.
“Then… when will it be?”
─Well, since I can’t exert my full power here, I’d say at least a month?
A month.
That’s a long time.
No matter how much we endure, that feels impossible.
“Then what about the others…?”
─Who else is there? Black Cloud isn’t particularly useful, and ‘Lily’ won’t step in. Doppelganger also doesn’t want to get involved… Oh, there’s one.
As Lasty moves her hand, a Space opens, and something pops out.
─Kraang!
It’s a dragon.
An Ice Dragon, a Hatchling Sre with a fragment of the ‘Demon King’ within its body.
But even this young dragon should be enough to hold back the Heavenly Horse and Outsiders…
I can definitely fend off the Heavenly Horses and Outsiders…
─I hate the heat.
“Excuse me?”
─Hmph.
Thud.
Sre threw some of the meat piled up in the laboratory into his mouth and disappeared back into the Space.
“…….”
─Back in the day, I didn’t have to worry about stuff like this; it’s clear that with all the monsters gone, situations like this arise…
“Um…”
─You want me to go? No thanks. I’m not fond of the heat.
I’m not really fond of the cold either.
“Please, for that person, just help me once.”
─Then I’d want to go even less.
“…What can I do?”
─Or maybe the octopus could go? It’s still a bit out of its mind though.
“……”
No way.
In the first place, Lady Lily’s soul, the monsters in the Space of Despair aren’t gathered together for the good of anyone.
‘Prison.’
This prison is for those who have committed sins that cannot be washed away.
While beings like Sre and the Circulation’s Red Horse are exceptions, their return was unavoidable, and basically, everyone there was a prisoner.
They’re all warped or twisted in some way.
Beyond the Magic Formation, Lasty is chuckling.
─Then do me one favor, and I’ll help you.
“What is it? I’ll do whatever you need.”
─Really?
“Yes.”
─Say that you love and adore the Pharaoh. Then promise to confess once this is over.
“…I’ll handle it my way.”
Thud.
I forcibly extinguished my magical power.
That old girl has no intention of helping herself.
No, she doesn’t seem to take this situation seriously at all.
‘It must not be a big deal to her.’
Since Lasty had helped with the Kraken hunt, the Pharaoh had to face Scorpio.
Compared to the battle against the Kraken, which boasted a rank of Upper, this wouldn’t even be considered a fight.
In reality, those attacking don’t hold any grudge, and if I tell them the truth, there’s a good chance they’ll go back.
But for now, I still can’t trust them.
They’re only following the Lady Lily’s surface.
If there’s someone who knows not just the surface of Lady Lily but also believes in her wholeheartedly and follows her…
■
[You feel unwell?]
[Let’s go to the Desert, the Desert.]
[Yena isn’t going for this?]
[Hmph.]
[The hunting efficiency here isn’t great.]
“Eh, I’m sure they’ll handle it themselves.”
Swish!!
The green dagger slashes through the level 100 green ogres.
After the Kraken raid, Yena had been leveling up on islands outside the continent, not the continent itself.
It felt like the Great Cataclysm was coming to an end, and to enter the “New Continent Dungeon,” one needed to reach level 121.
To achieve it, you need to reach level 121.
Currently, Yena’s level is 113, so she just needs to level up 8 more times to enter.
Swoosh!
The problem is that leveling up is incredibly slow.
[But it is kind of strange]
[Yena, to level up, you have to defeat a boss]
[Everyone’s going to the desert, but you’re not going]
[Ogres really don’t help with the scenery, haha]
[Desert? Desert? Desert?]
[What if That Guy Uncle betrayed us?]
[Take down the boss and bam, 121]
[With Lily’s specs, wouldn’t you easily take down the intermediate ones?]
[Why aren’t we using the cat toy?]
[Stop taking the meds, Yena;;]
“Hmm…”
I’ve heard the news.
There’s a scorpion boss in the desert that hasn’t been caught yet, and That Guy Uncle is holding it.
People thought That Guy Uncle had betrayed us and rushed to the desert, but Yena didn’t go.
The reason is simple.
‘I don’t think that’s likely to happen.’
“Brothers, you all know it too, but he doesn’t seem like that kind of person. There must be a reason.”
That Guy Uncle and Pharaoh belong to Lady Lily, and I don’t think he would do something truly weird.
I’ve already had a few lectures from him, and if he were the type to cause trouble, Lady Lily would’ve dealt with it by now.
Even if he did something really strange, once Lady Lily returns, she could take action immediately.
“We have time, so rather than rushing…”
Swoosh!
As something rises from the ground, Yena instinctively takes a cat hunting stance.
Her ears and tail perk up, and she sharpens her focus as if ready to pounce, but the approaching figure had no hostility.
[Sand?]
[What is a Sand Soldier???]
[Huh?]
“What is it meow?”
─Yena, I need help.
“Help?”
─Yes. Please protect the Deserthum. I will ensure ample reward.
“Hmm…”
Well, that’s a bit…
Not attacking Deserthum is based on my trust in Lady Lily, but I can’t completely cut ties with the users.
Before being a friend of Lily, Yena is a streamer and the Guild Master of a guild, after all.
“I’m sorry meow. That might be a bit difficult…”
─If you help, I will grant you a huge amount of essence using Deserthum’s status. It’s not certain, but at least similar to defeating an intermediate monster…
“Just leave it to me meow.”
I can’t resist the experience points.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
