The Demon King Who Draws

Chapter 60

“Was this the altered Act 3?” I pondered, finding traces of the missing act in such an unexpected place.

“No… it’s too early to be certain, especially with the contents of this book.”

It felt unjust to accept at face value that this unclassified document, with its solitary label, was prophesying my ominous future.

But…

Crisis often strikes when one ignores its approach, pretending not to see. It’s not a matter to be dismissed lightly.

“Everyone, stay back.”

“Master Faust…”

“I need some time to think.”

“Understood, Ruby.”

“Huh? Oh… umm.”

Ruby and Mori left me alone, clearing the space.

“Let’s start from the beginning. Where did things go awry?”

Despite slight variations, the flow of the story had led me to meet the final boss of Act 1, Karl Kurso, and the unpleasant trio, the bosses of Act 2.

“But why…”

…Every year, as autumn reaches its peak, the host of the rotten root awakens.
“Autumn… autumn, huh…”

What was autumn like in the original game?

My memory was hazy. Was it hard to feel the autumnal ambiance?

If I’m struggling to recall the autumn of the rotten root…

“Oh no.”

It’s because in the original, autumn was spent elsewhere, not in the rotten root.

“Did I miscalculate the flow of time?”

This was a grave error, assuming that events would unfold as they did in the original timeline.

In the original, the events from Act 1 to 5 all occurred before the arrival of autumn, while Faust was still entrenched in the rotten root.

In other words, the original sped through five acts in merely half a year, whereas in this world I’ve entered, only Act 2 has just concluded. Consequently, I have no knowledge of what transpired in the rotten root during autumn, as the Adventurers’ Association’s investigation team was dispatched before autumn in the original, leading to Faust’s expulsion.

“The mere possibility that this content could be true is despairing.”

It’s not that I lack countermeasures. A myriad of actions to take come to mind, maintaining a cool head. Yet, it’s overwhelming to decide where to begin, prompting a sigh.

Moreover, there’s an unresolved question lingering.

“Why did Leon ask me to bring him this book?”

Was it mockery?

Or to help me?

Why would he help someone he just met?

No… more importantly…

A chilling thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“I never told him I stayed in the rotten root.”

My response to Leon was solely about being a dungeon keeper. I never mentioned the rotten root.

Perhaps he has been…

“Watching me?”

Since when?

If so, is he an enemy?

“If he were an enemy, he wouldn’t provide me with such information.”

Then an ally?

That too was strange.

A character not present in the original suddenly appearing as an ally is unlikely.

And for an ally, his actions are too suspicious.

If he intended to warn me, there were countless other ways.

For instance, ensuring I wouldn’t leave the rotten root. He wanted me to come directly to this place, Kyrene. If he knew something was about to happen in the rotten root, this was clearly not the act of an ally.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know…”

It’s only fitting that my mind isn’t clear when thrown into confusion by a perplexing character.

Step…

Step…

I gathered the book and slipped out of the Kyrene Central Library, avoiding the librarian’s gaze.

Waiting at the main entrance downstairs were Mori and Ruby, and Bill had also joined them.

“Mori, there’s something you need to do at the association.”

“The association? Which one… You don’t mean the Adventurers’ Association…”

“Yes.”

“…Please tell me what I need to do.”

Mori had used his shapeshifting ability to assume the identities of several adventurers who had perished in the dungeon. With their identification papers intact, it was nearly impossible to uncover his true identity, especially outside the major cities.

I instructed him to check if there were any issues with the rotten root or the nearby Luiodi Great Forest. He was to rejoin us as quickly as possible upon confirmation.

My companions were taken aback by these orders.

“There’s been a problem.”

I explained the situation in a low voice, sharing just enough information for them to grasp the gravity, without revealing all my secrets.

“We must return to the dungeon as quickly as possible. If this is true… the rotten root will face an unprecedented crisis.”

“Oh…”

Bill responded with a grave expression.

“We’ll have to sell the carriage at a loss. I’ll immediately procure horses for everyone.”

* * *

The Whirring of Gears

Whirr…

Whirr…

“Why does my body feel so heavy?” she wondered aloud.

Amon’s mechanical hands, her tiny minions, were diligently kneading every inch of her body. Crafted by Amon herself, these hands moved with a freedom and delicacy akin to human touch, providing comfort without fail.

Yet…

“That’s enough. Stop,” she commanded, sensing that her discomfort wasn’t due to physical fatigue.

At Amon’s displeased gesture, the mechanical hands retreated from her in unison.

“What is this unease I feel?”

Yawning…

Amon decided it was time to leave the lab and wander the dungeon for a change.

Swoosh…

The vast underground forest boasted lushness even in barren conditions, exhaling pure air.

Now a familiar setting.

“This isn’t quite to my taste, but…”

With a nonchalant air, Amon avoided the Saturnian fields and headed towards a secluded cave within the forest.

The cave soon led to a new location, the temporary abode of the hidden boss of the forest field, ‘Ariel.’

The dark elf queen had ceded control of the field to Jakim and now tended to her own garden within this dwelling.

“Not there, Moam.”

Grrr?
Moam, the guardian of ruins, scratched his head in confusion.

Usually, Moam and others who weren’t assigned to the forest field stayed elsewhere, as was the case for many familiars without a field assignment.

They were provided with just enough to survive. Dungeon resources were finite, and prioritizing combatants was fundamental to dungeon management.

The familiars understood this simple principle well, which is why most yearned for field deployment. Had Ariel been a belligerent leader, a fierce rivalry would have ensued between her and Jaquim.

“Over by that rock.”

Grrr!
“How reassuring it is to have you here, Moam. It’s not an easy task alone.”

Grr… Grrr!
A bashful Moam.

“You seem busy.”

“Not at all, Lord Amon. Let’s have tea and catch up.”

“…Thank you.”

Amon was fond of Ariel.

She was dignified, cultured, and well-mannered.

Anyone who knew the kind of capricious beings Amon dealt with in hell would understand his appreciation for her.

As they chatted about trivial matters, Amon broached the main topic.

“I’ve had a strange feeling today.”

“A strange feeling?”

“An ominous premonition. It’s not always accurate, but sometimes it helps me avoid trouble.”

“Then it might be something significant. However, I’m afraid I can’t be of help to you, Lord Amon. I haven’t felt anything, you see?”

“Is that so? Then perhaps you’re right.”

“Could it be because Master Faust is away?”

“Because of him? …You jest.”

After concluding their conversation, Amon rose, seemingly having gleaned all she could from this place.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’m not one to stay put for long unless I’m in my lab.”

She traversed the forest and reached the lava caves. Her destination: the second field of the Dungeon’s Rotten Root.

Teeheeheehee!
Passing the ever-lively Santo, she sought out Phenex…

“…Is she not here?”

The ominous feeling seemed to grow stronger.

Having just surveyed the forest field, the only place left for Phenex was the Core.

Without haste, she moved past the lab and opened the door to the Core.

Boom…

Creeeak…

Only two were present in the Core.

Phenex and Lucifer.

Both women were demons.

And Amon, who had just entered the Core, was also a demon.

All the dungeon’s demons had gathered in one place without any sign. As if only they sensed something amiss.

“Could it be…”

“Have you felt something too, Amon?”

“It’s ominous! An incredibly ominous aura…”

Thud!

“I see. It’s not a physical ailment. The surrounding magical energy is dispersing oddly.”

Lucifer shook her head.

“It’s different.”

“Different?”

“We’re being robbed of our magic. By something.”

“Ah… That’s precisely it, then.”

All three looked up simultaneously.

Creak…

A single crack in the ceiling.

Crack…

The fissure spread like a spider’s web in all directions.

“…The dungeon is collapsing.”

Lucifer shouted urgently.

“Phenex! The Core…!”

Crash!

…Crash!

Boom!

The dungeon collapsed, and from its center, dark roots burrowed into the ground.

The massive form that emerged through the cracks was a monstrous tree, seemingly thousands of years older than the trees of the Great Forest.

Roar!
…Autumn deepens.

* * *

Bang Bang Bang!

“Who is it?”

“Master, it’s me!”

“You impudent pup, where did you learn to nearly smash down your master’s gate? What about the expedition? Weren’t you supposed to leave today?”

“Well… could you open the door first?”

Creeeak…

The middle-aged man opened the door and scrutinized the somewhat youthful-looking man.

“Why are you still in the city instead of on the expedition?”

“The expedition isn’t important right now! Will you just listen to me?”

“I am listening.”

“Argh! That’s what I’m trying to say… It has appeared!”

“…?”

The young man explained his purpose for coming.

“It’s that creature from the Great Forest! The Thunderous Urea that won’t fall!”

“Has a bounty been issued?”

“Just this morning! The expedition’s dispatch has been postponed, and we’ve been ordered to head to Riudira immediately.”

“Hmm…”

The master spoke.

“Neil, how many have responded to the bounty this time?”

“Dozens… no, over a hundred, I’d say? And luckily, there seem to be some powerhouses nearby.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, including the Twin Blades of Slaughter, Lee Moon, and even the Luminous Fire Party is joining.”

“Then they should be sufficient.”

“Eh? Are you joking? Of course, you should go too!”

“Why should I?”

“What are you saying… Sigh…”

Neil, the man, pressed his forehead.

“Well, it was none other than you, Master, who felled Urea last year. You should lend your strength again!”

“Have you ever seen an adventurer act so righteously?”

“Shall I recite the rewards offered by the association?”

“Go ahead.”

Neil recited the contents written in the documents to his master.

“…That’s quite a bounty.”

“See! It doesn’t make sense for the One-Eyed Wolf, Skala, to stand back with arms folded at a time like this!”

“Can… can you stop calling me that?”

“If you don’t go, I’ll call you that for the rest of your life. One-Eyed…”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

“…You’ll go? Hehe… I’ll let the association know! That Master is going!”

“Haah…”

Thud!

Neil, the disciple, closed the door forcefully and disappeared. His master, the One-Eyed Wolf Skala, muttered to himself as he looked out the window.

“…Has autumn arrived?”