Arifureta [Vol 1] Chapter 16 – Chatting at Ease (1/2)

After defeating the scorpion, they returned to Hajime’s base after retrieving materials and meat from the scorpion and cyclops. They were troubled by the sheer size of the bodies, but after Yue who was exhausted after using highest grade magic drank some blood again, her strengthened body recovered splendidly in a flash and exhibited superhuman strength. Between the two of them, they were somehow able to bring the items back.

Incidentally, Hajime originally wanted to use this sealed room as their base, but the idea was discarded after Yue adamantly refused. It was no wonder. She had been imprisoned there for who knows how many years, it was only natural that she didn’t want to stay there much longer. In order replenish their supplies, they must stay there for a period of time. Hence, it would be better for her mental health if they left this sealed room as soon as possible. Just like this, they were currently chatting with each other while Hajime was replenis.h.i.+ng his supplies.

“In that case&h.e.l.lip; doesn’t that mean Yue is at least 300 years old?”

“&h.e.l.lip;Breach of etiquette.”

Yue stared at Hajime with reproachful eyes full of criticism. Talking about a female’s age seems to be a taboo no matter of whichever world it was.

From his memories, Hajime recalled that the vampire race perished after a large scale war three hundred years ago. Yue had probably lost her sense of time after being sealed in that dark room for such a long time. It wouldn’t be surprising if anyone said that she had been sealed for a much longer time than that. She was sealed when she was twenty, to be called over three hundred years old after she was released, how could she accept.

“Do all vampires live for so long?”

“&h.e.l.lip;I’m special. 【Regeneration】, prevents aging&h.e.l.lip;”

According to her, after her inherent magic -- direct magic manipulation and 【Auto-Regeneration】 -- awakened at the age of twelve, she seemed to have stopped aging. Ordinary vampires also appears to live much longer than other races since they sucked blood. Even so, about two hundred years was the limit.

By the way, the human’s average lifespan was 70 years, demonkin around 120 years, while demi-human’s lifespan was dependant on the race. There are elves who lived for hundreds of years.

Yue was considered one of the strongest of her time in only a few years after she awakened to her atavistic powers. At the age of seventeen, she took the throne as the Queen of Vampires.

Indeed, her magic that melted the scorpion’s sh.e.l.l was an attack that had little to no time delay. Moreover, she also had an almost immortal body. To the point that she would be called either a 【G.o.d】 or a 【Monster】. Yue was without a doubt, the latter.

Her uncle who was blinded by greed, started spreading rumors that Yue was a monster. He tried to kill her in the name of righteousness, but because of her 【Auto-Regeneration】, he failed and hence, could only seal her in the underground instead. Yue was so shocked by the sudden betrayal that she did not put up much resistance and was put under some sort of sealing spell amidst the confusion. By the time she regained her self, she was already in the sealed room.

Therefore, that scorpion, the sealing method, and how she ended up in the abyss, she was completely clueless. Maybe there’s a way out! Hajime, who held that kind of expectation, drooped his head in disappointment.

He also heard something pertaining to Yue’s powers. According to her, Yue seems to have an apt.i.tude for all attributes. When Hajime became aware of this, he muttered to himself with a blank expression, “What, this cheat&h.e.l.lip;” However, Yue was weak in close combat. All she could do was run around with her strengthened body as she rapidly fired off spells. Despite that, in the face of her powerful magic, it wasn’t really that big of a handicap.

By the way, Yue was able to cast magic without any incantation, but she would mutter the names of the spell out of habit. Many people used unique activation words or actions to supplement their magic and get a clearer image. Yue was no exception.

As for her 【Auto-Regeneration】, it was cla.s.sified as a Unique Magic. As long as she had any remaining magic power, she wouldn’t die unless she was turned into ashes in an instant. Conversely, self-regeneration wouldn’t work if she sustained any injuries in the state of magic depletion. In other words, because her magic power had been drained after being sealed for all those years, Yue would have died if the scorpion had hit her.

“Next&h.e.l.lip; the key point, do you know anything about this place? Or any escape routes to the surface.”

“&h.e.l.lip;I don’t know. But&h.e.l.lip;”

She also seemed to not have any knowledge about this labyrinth. While feeling apologetic, she continued her story with what she knew.

“&h.e.l.lip;It was said that one of the liberators made this labyrinth.”

“Liberators?”

Hearing an unfamiliar term, Hajime stopped with his trans.m.u.tation work, so as to not make any disturbing sound as he turned his line of sight towards Yue. She, who had been watching Hajime work, also s.h.i.+fted her line of sight. After nodding her head, she continued her story.

“Liberators&h.e.l.lip; they are the followers of G.o.d that challenged him during the Age of G.o.d&h.e.l.lip; Legend says they intend to destroy the world.”

Since Yue was an expressionless girl who didn’t talk much, her explanations took a bit of time. On the other hand, Hajime still needed more time to resupply. He realized his firepower was insufficient due to the fight with the scorpion. As a result, he was currently developing a new weapon. While working carefully, he was poised to listen to her.

According to Yue, during the Age of G.o.d, seven followers betrayed the G.o.d and plotted to destroy the world. However, when their plan failed, they each fled to the ends of the world. Those “ends of the world” were reportedly the current Seven Great Dungeons. This 【Orcus Great Dungeon】 was one of them. It is said that in the deepest part of the abyss was where the liberator lived.

“&h.e.l.lip;If it is there, there might be a way out&h.e.l.lip;”

“I see. There is no need to expend so much effort to climb up the abyss. If it is a magician from the age of G.o.ds, it wouldn’t be weird if they had some sort of teleportation magic to take them to the surface.”

Hajime loosened up his cheeks when the possibility was presented before him. He then returned his eyes back to the work in his hands. Yue also turned her eyes back to his hand.

Jii-- ⌈1⌋

“&h.e.l.lip;Is it that interesting?”

“&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; (Nods! Nods! Nods!)”

Yue did not say anything, she just nodded her head strongly to express herself. The image of her wearing that oversized coat and the way her small hands were holding onto her knees was very charming. In addition, her unbelievably well-featured appearance made her look very cuddable.

(But, three hundred years old. As expected of fantasy world. Loli-granny really exist&h.e.l.lip;)

Even if his personality changed, Hajime hadn’t forgotten his Otaku knowledge. As he unintentionally thought of something like that, Yue reacted to it.

“&h.e.l.lip;Hajime, thinking about something strange?”

“Nope, what’s up?”

Hajime deceived her, but he felt that Yue’s -- or more precisely the woman’s -- sharp intuition was something to be afraid of. His inner self broke out in cold sweat as he continued to work in silence. Yue left it off at that and asked a different question.

“&h.e.l.lip;Hajime, why are you here?”

It was a natural question. This abyss was a genuine land of demons. Other than magic beasts, there was nothing else.

Yue had mountains of question for him. Why can he manipulate magic directly? Why can he use so many types of Unique Magic? How can he eat the flesh of magic beasts and still be okay? What happened to his left arm? Is he really a human? What is the weapon he is using?

Bit by bit, Hajime answered all the questions patiently. Perhaps Hajime might be longing for a conversation himself, he did not seem annoyed at her questions. Looking from certain aspects, Hajime seems to be very fond of Yue. Maybe she was the last resort to prevent him from falling into complete darkness. Perhaps Hajime had already realized this unconsciously.

Hajime started with when his cla.s.s was summoned to this world. How he was called incompetent by everyone, and how he fell into this abyss after he was betrayed by an unknown cla.s.smate during the battle against the Behemoth. The transformation after eating magic beasts. The desire to fight the Talon Bear. About the potion (This is what Hajime called the Sacred Water). About how he developed the modern weapons by basing them on the weapons he had seen in his homeland. As Hajime recounted the events one by one, sniffles could be heard from Yue unwittingly. What happened? When Hajime lifted his head to look at Yue, she was weeping. Startled, Hajime instinctively reached out and wiped off her tears.

“What happened all of a sudden?”

“&h.e.l.lip;Sniffs&h.e.l.lip; Hajime&h.e.l.lip; in pain&h.e.l.lip; I also feel painful&h.e.l.lip;”

Apparently, she was crying for Hajime. He started to stroke her head with a bitter smile after he got over his shock.

“Just forget about it. The business with my cla.s.smate is inconsequential. Don’t worry about the small stuff. After getting my revenge, then what? Rather than that, I want to put all my energy in surviving and finding a way home.”

Yue produced a nasal sound. She seemed to be feeling very comfortable with Hajime’s caressing and narrowed her eyes like a cat. However, after she heard Hajime said he wanted to go back to his homeland, she jolted momentarily.

“&h.e.l.lip;Going home?”

“Hm? To my original world? Of course. I want to return&h.e.l.lip; I changed a lot but still&h.e.l.lip; home&h.e.l.lip; I want to return home.”

“&h.e.l.lip;I see.”

Yue looked down with a sunken expression. Then muttered to herself.

“&h.e.l.lip;I don’t have a place&h.e.l.lip; to return&h.e.l.lip;”

“&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;”

Seeing Yue like this, Hajime stopped brus.h.i.+ng Yue’s head and started to scratch his head. He wasn’t that dense. He had more or less felt that Yue was viewing him as a new place to return to. That was the whole reason why she asked him of a new name. Because of this, if Hajime left this world, Yue would be alone again.