Chapter 191: [Arc 5] Chapter 1-3: The Tower Out of Reach

6 days before the release of the Invidia Overlord.

Zaria's PoV:

It's the second day after Mira beat up the old man in that mano-on-womano fight of theirs. They've both recovered after the fight, and right now:

"I win." - Mira

"NOOOOOO!!" - Ling

Mira is beating him again. This time in arm wrestling. 

"Old man, your stocks are falling big-time." - Zaria

"Ah, Zaria! Wait, you know I do not understand your modern words!" - Ling

"She means you're out of your prime." - Mira

The old man slumped to the floor, but she's right. You got to take more care of yourself, old man.

The place we're in is the former last floor of the old man's Dungeon. The "mountain cave"-type Dungeon of the old man Ling used to be only three floors deep with an entrance close to the top of the Loong Mountain, which is a specific mountain part of the Mystic Mountains mountain range. And I'm saying "mountain" too much here.

As for why it's the "former" last floor after the old man handed over the Dungeon, we got several new floors added to it. But since the furniture and traps and stuff stayed the same as before this place changed owners, there was no need to relocate further into the mountain.

"No matter. Zaria, how did your search go?" - Mira

"Lots of goons." - Zaria

"...huh?" - Mira

"Zaria, you did look for the source of that black lake, did you not?" - Ling

Mira gave a puzzled look while the old man tried to reaffirm that I was doing my job right. Both of them are rude, but it comes as no surprise. I would react rudely myself if I wasn't the one who investigated the mountains. 

"*Cough*, well, as ordered, I looked for the source of the strange lake that's surrounding that treasure tower we're supposed to be raiding. And there's no doubt that it's the same substance that's in the Demonic Sea. I can't forget that stuff even if I wanted to." - Zaria

I shivered a little just by the memory of that place. I can't stand it. Just as much as I can't understand why Garami's been so fixated on it? She even built that..., what did she call it? A "radio tower"? Why did she build something like that down there anyway?

Ah, I have to continue with my report.

"According to Dejidem, who I got into contact with as part of the investigation, the Luxuria Demonic Sea does not have a "leakage" of any kind, meaning that the lake has a different "source". Following some rivers connected to the lake, we discovered a strange "facility" of some kind. I don't know how to explain it, but it feels...out of place with the rest of the mountain. Like someone suddenly teleported it there." - Zaria

"It's that strange?" - Mira

"Yeah. It looks like it was suddenly forced into the mountainside one day. It's a big block of a metallic building with lots of pipes, but the rocks and plants look like they were pushed aside to make space for this new construct." - Zaria

"Hmm, that does not sound like something I know. And I know most about these mountains by now," said the old man while stroking his beard.

"That's what I thought. Because this building is the source of the Demonic Water. You know, if we have to give that stuff a name. And the clincher is this: the Karasuna clan has occupied the building and are guarding it against strangers." - Zaria

"Karasuna?" - Mira

"...the Karasuna clan. Those wretched yakuza...!" - Ling

Old man..., they're better than most yakuza. I know, because I think I've been through the whole catalog. Unfortunately.

"Oh, the rumored debt collectors from the festival. Why're they here?" - Mira

"That's what I wanted to know, so I returned to report it." - Zaria

Or, Akai was the one who suggested that we would return. He's always the smart (cowardly) one. He, Takai, and Furu went down to the towns to gather info before we split up, but they're fast on their feet. They should return in a day or two.

"Good call. Can't believe that Zaria thought of that." - Mira

"It must have been Akai. He is the most brilliant kamaitachi that I have ever known." - Ling

These two...

"I would love to meet this "Akai" then. Miss Mira, mind if you arrange a meeting for me?" 

And then someone came from behind me! He's got black hair, glasses, and dressed in a butler-like outfit that uses equal parts of black and white instead of just black. He's...

"Vice-chief Blunt?" - Zaria

"It is Blot. But you are not far off regarding the title," replied Blunt, Blot while pushing up his glasses. Ugh, I can't stand this type of serious character...

"Didn't you say you were busy striking a contract with the local government?" asked Mira. There was talk about that, yes. To use Wakoku as a place to escape to in case things went south.

"The negotiations are going swimmingly. Losing his powers due to the Yamatai festival did not seem to affect his decision-making abilities." - Blot

Oh yeah. I sorta forgot in the rush, but most of the elites in Wakoku's government had obtained skills from that fake festival. Now with the festival a thing of the past, the winners should be weakened from suddenly losing their skills. 

From the corner of my eyes, I could see the old man breathe out relieved. I'm with him on that. It's good to know that this country's not ending because the shogun died. 

"We are soon to complete the contract, but they came with a strange condition before signing it." - Blot

"And that's what? Nullifying that stupid promise Noire said she forced onto that oni-princess?" - Mira

"That one is already included in the contract, nor is it something weird to ask about." - Blot

Did Noire do something with the princess?

"The shogun asked me to present miss Mira for him." - Blot

"Why me?" - Mira

"You are technically one of the winners of the final Yamatai festival, so he wanted to congratulate you." - Blot

Ohh! My best friend has become a celebrity-!

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"The real reason is probably to ask you to stop hunting for the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi though." - Blot

...eh? Kusanagi..., that lost national treasure? Eh?

"Hey, what is the meaning of this?! What are you planning on doing with this country's long-lost treasure!?" - Ling

"Calm down! It's just one sword, strong or not. Is it worth getting all worked up over?" - Mira

"No. From the reports I have about your group, I would say that you are the last person to be allowed to say such a line," said Blot while pushing up his glasses again so that the light reflects in them and makes it impossible to see his eyes. He's serious...

"Fine, FINE! I'll go and agree to those geezers! The sole "clue" we found left us clueless anyway." - Mira

Phew. Score one for Wakoku.

"In that case, miss Mira will come with me. Miss Zaria, may I ask that you scout ahead this mysterious building for us while we are gone? Having a clear understanding of the terrain and the enemies will help immensely if we need to strike this "facility" you speak of." -Blot

"More sneaking? Fine with me!" - Zaria

"That is good to hear. Now, just to confirm, but there were no other irregularities in your search?" - Blot

"Hmm..., there were some things. We spotted some gigantic footsteps here and there, plus some of the trees were pushed aside as if some gigantic snake had passed by. And not to forget about the vicious claw-marks we found! And they seemed to be from three different sources! Don't ask me who they came from, because I'm clueless." - Zaria

Blot listened to my report with a serious expression before turning over to the old man who said: "I have no idea either". Huh? The old man doesn't know?

"It seems that there are some immigrants to these mountains." - Blot

"Other than us. And they sound like bad news." - Mira

"Yes. Mister Ling? I am sorry to ask a newcomer like you to work on such an important mission right after you joined, but could you-" - Blot

"Relax. I am just a retired old Loong. No need to act all formal with me." - Ling

"That is great to hear. Then, Ling? Mind looking into the sources of these disturbing tracks?" - Blot

"Wha-hahaha! No sweat! I don't like the idea of strangers messing around on my mountain anyway, so it's a pleasure!" - Ling

The old man and the vice-chief are getting along...

"However, will this territory be fine if we all leave for our respective tasks?" - Blot

"No problems there. This place is filled with Smoke Snakes and Lesser Loongs, plus the other monsters that arrive from the other Damavand territories." - Mira

"Oh, you only summoned two types of monsters in your Dungeon?" - Blot

"Anything more would be too big of a mess to keep track on. I am a simple Loong." - Ling

"No, no. I do not find fault in you for doing so. Quite the contrary. Garami had to overcomplicate the spawnable monsters in her territory to the point of looking at the øost of the potential workforce we could take from the Dungeons gave me an incredible headache, and-" - Blot

And now they're talking about some big-league stuff that I can't keep up with. Is Blot overworked? That time when he came to file a complaint to the boss, he looked like an incarnation of silent rage. *Brr*, that time was scary.

The boss, however, fixed that by creating a list of monsters for each attribute Damavand had. Then she could just assign one or two attributes to a Dungeon and have the listed monsters spawn in that place.

Not sure about the detail, but I think the boss chose 5 monsters, one that acts as a leader and 4 subordinates. Plus 1 pre-evolved monster for each racial rank below the of the selected ones. Since most of the highest ranks that can be spawned in Damavand are D-ranks at the moment, one attribute provides..., 20 different monsters, I guess? Around that. 

But why didn't the boss use that idea from the start!? She even forced all of us to work on those monster groups even when it was declined just a few weeks after all that hard work! 

"Hey, Blot? I'm ready," said Mira all of a sudden, having packed her stuff into an item bag and was waiting for the vice-chief. 

"Oh, excuse me. It seems that I forgot about the time. Ling, I hope we can speak again." - Blot

"Wha-hahaha! The pleasure's on my side, youngling!" - Ling

"Very well. And I will see that the exceptional Loong you mentioned will be granted its name anew when Garami is available again. Ta-ta." - Blot

After saying farewell, Blot created a "door" of some kind and went in along with Mira. A teleport-door? That's handy.

I said goodbye to the old man who went out to look for the creatures leaving those strange marks. Leaving me with the task of stalking the Karasunas...

Hold on. If someone like the vice-chief goes on a rampage against the yakuza, would the latter group survive? I mean, the vice-chief doesn't look like an easy target, so..., won't they be destroyed? What about my debt!? How am I supposed to pay them back if they're dead! The contract isn't broken just because one of the parties goes five feet under! 

Hey, I got it! I'll just capture those bastards! Then they'll be in debt to ME for once, and this show of mercy may even get my debt erased! Mhmm, let's go with that! I have the strongest backup called "Damavand" with me, so I can't fail! Or so I think. It's not like the "Wiggly" will appear here! A-hahahaha!!

......he won't appear, right? That way-scarier-than-even-Filyn bastard...?

---

Kigal-Note/Monsters/Dragons: Lesser Loong

Description:

Lesser Loongs are for C-ranked Loongs what the Wyvern is for True Dragons. A weaker variant of the mysterious Loong-race that even normal snakes can evolve into. 

Even if they are considered pseudo-dragons, Lesser Loongs is everything a Loong can be, only that their mystical abilities are a huge step lower compared to the proper Loongs. However, like their evolved brethren, they are a gentle species that do not engage in battle unless provoked. They do prefer to live by themselves in secluded areas, though. 

Appearance:

The Lesser has a long, serpentine body with grey scales and horns. They have two arms and two legs, and the tip of their tail has white-colored fur on it that acts as a decoration. Unlike the evolved Loongs, they do not have a beard, nor can they fly in the sky.

Abilities:

A Lesser Loong has all the physical capabilities of an evolved Loong, except that their mystical abilities are much lower. On the other hand, they are strong for a D-rank creature and can use even Dragon Breaths despite being a pseudo-dragon.

The scales of the Lesser Loong have the reputation of being excellent in guarding against magic. Even more so than other pseudo-dragons, and that is without adding defensive skill-effects. 

Finally, despite living like hermits, a Lesser Loong can easily cooperate with other creatures thanks to its wits, and it will gladly do so if someone tries to attack its habitat. You may face big armies of monsters led by a Lesser Loong or two if you are not careful in the less populated and mystical areas of Terra Sol.

Ling's comment: Ahh, my youth. I was a prime example of a calm-headed Loong.

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