Chapter 153 - Start of the War 2 (2/2)

“So how are we supposed to exit this place, Artpe?”

Elrick belatedly had this question.Elrick tilted his head in puzzlement as he asked Artpe.Artpe looked very satisfied by the fact that Elrick had asked this question.

“First, we have to destroy this dimensional pocket.”

“Is that so?What do we do after that?”

“We have to kill the whale before it digests us?”

“In the end, we have to kill it!”

“Ha ha.When did I say we won’t have to kill it?”

If it was someone else, the newly learned great magic would have been used to destroy the Dimensional pocket.This would tire out the combatant, and it would cause difficulty in the battle against the whale.Artpe possessed the Read All Creation ability, so this didn’t apply to him.

He just brought out several long strands of Mana String, and he gestured towards Regina with his eyes.

“Regina, prepare the Downfall spell.”

“Just using the spell is humiliating….As a price, I’ll extract equal amount of humiliation from Artpe.”

“Wow!The Dimensional pocket is melting away!”

“Kyahhhhhhk!Rei!The spell!Hurry up and use Downfall!”

“A...All the stars of the galaxy…..”

After 30 minutes, they were somehow able to kill the whale.Artpe’s party was successful in freeing themselves.After the whale swallowed the party, a calm had arrived at the heart of the ocean of Zestbar.When the party split open the stomach to exit the whale, they found out that their surrounding was completely dark.It was hard to tell where they were.

“It seems light doesn’t reach this place.”

“My body feels a bit heavy.If I practice moving here, would I become much faster when we get out of this place?”

“Artpe-nim, it seems we are closer to the waters of the Demon world.I can feel an extremely evil energy······!”

Artpe gathered his party, and he used his Blink ability.He tried his best to get as close to the surface.They were so deep underneath the water that a single Blink didn’t show any indication that they had moved closer to the surface.However, they could feel the pressure lessen after each subsequent Blink.

After repeated Blinks, they were steadily moving towards the surface.However, Artpe stopped moving the party when he suddenly sensed something.

“Artpe?”

“It is a familiar energy.”

“Mmm?”

Maetel was a beat late, but she tilted her head.

“Yes, it is an energy that I extremely hate….I don’t know what itis, but I want to kill it?”

“Those are words that should never be spoken by a hero.”

It was ironic.Artpe immediately realized the identity of this presence when he heard Maetel say that she wanted to ‘kill’ it.Some lifeform was moving swiftly towards the party from above, while emitting energy.It was an extremely familiar Mana signature.

[Master!]

“Let’s kill her.”

“Calm down, Maetel.She is an ally.”

“Anyone that has an eye for Artpe is an enemy!”

He held back the agitated Maetel as he allowed ‘her’ to get close to the party.There was supposed to be no light within the depths of the ocean, yet she was out light of the the five cardinal colors.She was travelling in the form of a cloud of bubbles.The cloud of iridescent bubbles reached Artpe, and it let out a bright light as it resolved into a single form.

“I wanted to see you, master!”

“······.”

Her hair resembled the sea, and her eyes shone like pearls.She was the queen of the mermaid kingdom named Anaid.It was Genesis Mermaid Queen Sherryl.

“You bastard.You even got a mermaid…..”

“Ah.Ahhhhhhh.”

“She looks older.Safe.”

When faced with Sherryl for the first time, each new party member expressed their opinion.Arpte flicked the forehead of Regina, who was spouting nonsense.Then he turned towards Sherryl.He was having a hard time believing it even after seeing her again.

“Why did you change so much?”

“I wanted to be of help to master!”

It had been nearly one year since their reunion.Sherryl had matured a lot outwardly.However, the most surprising part was her level.She was close to level 350.

It seemed she had changed her Class twice, and he had evolved her skills to a ridiculous level.Basically, she was stronger than the whale they had just killed!

“As master ordered, I conquered the entire ocean.”

“You did it in a year!?”

“Of course, I haven’t conquered the ocean of the Demon world yet, but I believed I’ve made adequate preparations that’ll allow me attempt it.I just need an order from you to go to war!”

“In a year!?”

Arpte might have revived a ridiculous race!

“We were scouting the ocean of the Demon world to find out the standard of monsters living there.This was when I received a report saying an enormous whale had made its appearance.When I came to look at it for myself, I felt master’s Mana….I waited for master to come out.”

“Moreover, you came straight towards me after I exited the whale.”

“It would have been more proper to greet you after acquiring the ocean of the Demon world, but I couldn’t suppress my feelings….”

Sherryl’s feelings towards Artpe was beyond love.It was closer to fanaticism and reverence.

Artpe had made a throwaway comment without thinking much about it, yet she had conquered the ocean.This was why they saids words were scary.Artpe decided to self-reflect.Sherryl carefully asked a question, while Artpe was examining himself.

“Master, if you are planning on entering the Demon world….May you take us with you?”

“Is that the reason why you came looking for me?”

Unfortunately, he already had a destination and route in mind.That was why he was going to turn her down.

However, in the next moment, Artpe suddenly had a thought.

‘What if I bring them along?What happens if I help them subjugate the Demon world’s ocean?’

In the past life, the hero’s party had obviously traveled by land.They fought an endless battle with the Demon King’s army along the way, and they had wasted a lot of time.They couldn’t take advantage of the merit that came along with having a small elite force.What if....What would happen if they entered the Demon world through the ocean….·?

‘The ocean of the Demon world is connected to all the important locations.My first destination is Nirotacid, and I might be able to reach it faster using the ocean.This might also be true for reaching the Demon King’s castle.In the end, we have the choice of fighting the Demons on land or the aquatic monsters of the Demon world.If I choose the latter option, I will receive support from the mermaids.Moreover, I can grow the mermaids as we fight alongside them.It is necessary for the Demons to cross the ocean to reach the human realm…...’

After finishing his calculation, a smile appeared on Artpe’s lips.Maetel gave a sigh of resignation when she saw his smile.Sherryl let out a bright smile.

“All right.I’ll help you guys.I’ll be sure to guide you all.”

“Master······!”

“W...what the hell?Ocean?We are traveling by ocean?”

“Artpe.Idiot.”

The decision was made at that moment.The hero’s party was going to move in ways that no one would have been able to predict.