Volume 3 Chapter 10 (1/2)

I traversed the mazes of [Evil]'s dungeon together with the Mythological Foxes, Dwarf Smiths and the others.

I believed Ancient Elf would prevail against the enemy Demon Lord without suffering any real harm. The chances of there being a monster that could win against her were nil. And even if for some reason there was such a monster, I assessed Ancient Elf who was the fastest among my monsters would be able to escape unharmed.

”Ancient Elf, I believe in you.”

I murmured so and quickened my pace

After about 15 minutes since Ancient Elf was abducted and transferred away, the surrounding scenery suddenly became distorted. The walls that hindered our progress slowly vanished and the complicated maze became an empty plot of land.

I breathed a sigh of relief knowing Ancient Elf succeeded.

”Everyone, Ancient Elf has defeated the [Evil] Demon Lord. She will probably catch up to us soon. In the meantime, let's push ourselves a little bit harder.”

Upon hearing my words, my monsters who all adored her looked at each other and smiled, pleased with our imminent victory and her safety.

I didn't think stopping and waiting for her was a good idea; it's her so she would catch up to us soon. For the sake of Wight and the others currently still enduring our enemies' fierce attacks, we had to break the crystal as soon as possible.

◇

We cleared floor after emptied floor. We haven't broken the crystal so the monsters should still be alive and yet we received no form of resistance on our travels.

That was a little unexpected. Perhaps, the reason they were not stopping us—despite them disappearing after we have broken their crystal—was that they didn't have wills of their own.

Demon Lords, to a certain extent, could affect the strength of their monster's ego upon synthesis.

So most likely, [Evil] had deprived the monsters he created of an ego of their own. And that's why, unless their Demon Lord told them to, they wouldn't really be able to do anything.

I looked at my own monsters and thought I wouldn't want them to become like that.

I wanted them to have their own will and work toward achieving their own happiness.

After all, I would probably die earlier than Kuina and the others.

The girls' races—Celestial Fox, Elder Dwarf, Ancient Elf—were extremely long-lived races. Their body, after maturing up to a point, would remain youthful forever.

Whereas I was set to live for exactly 300 years. They would live long after my death.

Of course, that was under the assumption that Avalon's crystal is not broken at any point of time.

I thought of such and laughed to myself; that was still a far-off thing.

For now, I must focus on the war before me.

”Master!”

I heard a cheerful voice and, without the chance to turn around, I was hugged from behind. I also felt something soft pressed on my back.

”Welcome back, Ancient Elf.”

”Yes, I'm back! As master hoped, I have defeated the [Evil] Demon Lord and his aces.”

I freed myself from her embrace and walked beside her. The smile and look she had on her face had the words Praise me written all over it.

As we walked, I brushed her head. Her silky blond hair felt good to touch.

”Good work, Ancient Elf. As expected of my [Monster of the Covenant]”

Her eyes sparkled when she heard the words [Monster of the Covenant]; by defeating [Evil] she had earned her place to be one. However…

”I will properly praise you and also give you your name later when we have broken the crystal. For now, let's hurry onto the innermost part of the dungeon.”

”Yes! I'll work gladly work extra hard!”

Ancient Elf cheerfully said so and deployed wind magic.

It was a spell that would eliminate the wind resistance we were to face while also making the wind blow on our backs. It was nothing grand but I was thankful nonetheless.

It made our steps lighter and our fatigue less.

Most of all, it made us faster, enough for us to dash through the dungeon in one go.

◇

And then, finally, we arrived at the crystal room.

In the center of this simple room was a stone pedestal and atop of that was the crystal that emitted a pale light. This was the dungeon's core.

”Ancient Elf, be the one to break it.”

With this, she would have fulfilled all of my conditions.

”Yes, master.”

She nodded and hit it with a lump of wind, thus breaking it.