Chapter 157 - Start of the War 6 (1/2)

Chapter 157 - Start of the War (6)

“Look, look.The sky and the clouds are orange.”

Maetel acted as if they were out on a picnic.She linked arms with Artpe, and she had a bright smile on her face.However, there was no way Artpe felt the same way.

“The blood shed by Demons leave behind traces of their curses.Demons fought and died here.Their blood evaporated, and the condensation rose into the sky.However, it isn’t something that is easily gotten rid of.It dyes the sky and clouds red.It seems the color is light, because there weren’t many battles here recently.If the fighting intensifies, it’ll get redder.”

“I see, so that’s why….”

At the unexpectedly heavy response, Maetel stopped talking.Artpe smirked as he stroked Maetel’s head.

“In some ways, the Demon race might be much more honest in that aspect.In many instances, the fights conducted by humans are larger in size and cruelty.However, the evidence of such fights between humans doesn’t remain in the sky like that.”

“To be alive is to fight?”

“······maybe.”

They had set foot on the Demon world with the intent of killing the Demon King before they died.They were heading towards the heart of Nirotacid, and a fight might be waiting for them.The level ups and the acquisition of skills was merely an extension of this fight.

“Didn’t I tell you before?The fight doesn’t end even if we kill the Demon King.However, we’ll be able incrementally change the shape of the fights.”

“I see·····.”

“Master, we will follow you.”

He was soothing Maetel when he heard a voice in his ears.When he turned around, he saw that Sherryl had stepped ashore. Two hundred thousand Genesis Mermaids started crawling out after her.

Their lower body had been in the form of a fish’s tail, but soon, their tails turned into slim legs.They were able to stand on land, and they started moving around as if they were practiced at moving on land.It was normal for merfolk to live on their two feet, while they were within the mermaid kingdom of Anaid.

“The army can move freely in the ocean, and they can move on land without much difficulty……If an ability to fight in air can be added, they’ll be the strongest fighting force.”

“Sometime, Artpe-nim says the funniest jokes.”

Vadinet laughed, but his other party members knew Artpe wasn’t making a joke.He decided to think about that problem at a later date.Artpe turned around, and he waited for the 200 thousand merfolk to form columns.Then he led the army forward.Maetel stuck to one side, and Sienna held onto Artpe’s other arm.Sienna suddenly tilted her head in puzzlement as she asked Artpe a question.

“Oppa, isn’t the hero’s party supposed to work as a small elite force for stealth?Doesn’t this defeat that purpose a little bit?”

“I know you are worried, but Nirotacid is a bit different from the normal Demon realm.Look over there.”

“Mmmm······!?”

Arpte raised his hand to point behind him.The sandy desert of Nirotacid was letting about a black red light.The normal territories of the Demon realm should be visible.

However…

“What······ What the hell is that?”

“Big!It is incredibly big!”

“Wow.If we went in there, we’ll probably be ground to bits by the sand…..”

The party see the rest of the Demon realm.An enormous sandstorm was blowing, and it blocked out Nirotacid from all other territories.

It wasn’t just that.A storm of similar size was present in the middle of the ocean they had just exited.They hadn’t known about it, because they had approached Nirotacid from deep within the ocean.If they had approached that storm, it wouldn’t have mattered what level they were.They would have been swallowed up and swept away by the storm.

Nirotacid was a large region, and the location was surrounded by natural phenomenons.Storms kept appearing on land and ocean.Maetel wasn’t the only one.His other party members were struck dumb by it too.

“Why is that occurring······?”

“I’m not sure.At the very least, it has always been like this since the Demon realm started keeping history.No one in the human realm or the Demon world knows why those storms form.”

However, these stormes weren’t a curse for his party.They were a blessing.Nirotacid was filled with incredibly high level monsters that even a Four Heavenly King(Artpe) had been reluctant to face.The natural environment was so bad that it wasn’t inhabitable by living things.The Demon race and of course, the Demon King didn’t pay attention to Nirotacid.Almost no one entered this place, and that was the truth.It also meant no one had exited this place alive.

“That is why it doesn’t matter if we let merfolk tag along with us.The Demon realm wouldn’t even realize that a large army had formed in the Demon realm, so you can be at peace.”

“When I hear oppa’s explanation, it makes me worried in other ways!I really can’t be at peace!”

“Sienna, you are getting really good at undercutting my words.”

Even if the Demon King’s Army had someone with the same ability as Artpe on their side, they wouldn’t be able to move around Nirotacid in such an easygoing manner.

However, this wasn’t a problem.Artpe wasn’t on their side!

“My father came to such a dangerous location······?”

Maetel tilted her head in confusion.

“I think you dad might be incredibly strong.”

“He sired such a formidable daughter.It is harder to believe that your dad was a normal traveling merchant than him being incredibly strong.”

“Jeez, Artpe······.”

“It isn’t a compliment, so don’t like it so much.”

The party continued their friendly chat as they ran across the desert at considerable speed.At that moment, Roa suddenly let out a small cry.The Evil Heart in her mouth was vibrating hard enough that one had to wonder if it could cause a wave.

[Nyaa-ah-ah.]

“Hey guys.They are coming.”

“Who’s coming······ Koohk!?Monsters!”

Sherryl had been well-mannered as she followed behind Artpe.As she was responding to Artpe, she let out a groan.Amongst the Genesis Mermaids, she possessed overwhelmingly high level, so her ability to sense Mana was also outstanding.

Her unrest was immediately conveyed to the 200 thousand merfolk, and they immediately raised their weapons.Artpe’s eyebrows twitched as he spoke.

“A lot of you will die.”

“We will attempt it.Please watch over us.”

“Do you know the level of your opponent?”

“Of course, master.”

“Mmm….All right.Show me what you got.”

Artpe thought over it for a brief moment, but soon, he nodded his head.His reasoning was extremely simple. Even if monsters of Nirotacid were strong, Artpe’s party had leveled up to the extreme, so it wouldn’t be much help to the party to kill these monsters.

Of course, that would change a bit as they got closer to the heart of Nirotacid.