Grimoire X Rebirth – Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Alfan Mountains I [Geta^[1] of the Karasu-Tengu^[2]]

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Hey, this is Shuten here.

…Even if the name Shuten sounds pleasant, I have not given up on my original name and will only go by Shuten temporarily. Even if you search this name on Ameba^[3] the negative connotations of it will not be revealed.

I have now arrived somewhere else. After leaving the hidden dungeon in the north, when I checked there was a reaction from the pearl piece that seemed to come from the third continent. Speaking of the third continent, it contains a mountain range with plentiful resources, a free trade city, and many dungeons encountered in the middle of the story. It was the most prosperous continent that appeared in Grimoire Lancer I. It is also the closest continent to the Far East Island “Jappon” where I was.

Unfortunately, from the reaction the location of the pearl piece seems be moving around…at least it seems when I’m nearby I can sense the fragments^[4]. Although I would have to ask that goddess, since it is a part I don’t understand at all.

So I was now on the third continent. As for how that happened, naturally any fishing boats aren’t going to let a demon ride, so I swam. I did not feel too confident in my physical strength, but I thought I could find the land mass pretty easily. The biggest enemy was exhaustion. Somewhere around the middle it began to get troublesome because I have been crawling through the water all this time, but I continued, knowing that if you fall into the trap of not moving forward then you will drown.^[5]

But after swimming awhile, when I arrived at the third continent it went like this…

“Oh, it’s a demon?!” (Guard)

“Don’t be afraid, this is probably his limit!! Fight! Fight baaaack!” (Guard Leader)

I was surrounded by dozens of guards. Crouching towards me with weapons raised, they leaped towards me.

Since I had almost completed my swim, I first wanted to find out where I had ended up, and if the third continent was around here.

“Where is this?” (Shuten)

“Shut up! Kill that demon!!” (Guard Leader)

“Ah…” (Shuten)

And that’s how it went.

The third continent was famous for its strong hostility towards demons. It should be said that this was due to a demon that had threatened the continent. It is a silver nine-tailed fox that the hero’s party will encounter. I remember struggling a lot in those days because it used an unreasonably strong magic on top of being a brutal level compared to the heroes’ party at the time. That reminds me, but I don’t know where the hero party is currently at. Anyway, if possible let’s try and pass them along their journey.

I would say I was getting used to the feel of battle, but my movement was still slow. Perhaps this body’s performance is good, but it should get even better with the integrated power of the pearl pieces.

The moment I put my hands on the Demon Slayer, the guy who looks like the leader of the guards cried out. “Tsu!? Don’t let it go to the Alfan Mountains!! The Kamiko of light is there now!” (Guard Leader)

Oh, thanks for telling me all this information.

Alfan Mountains.

It is the third dungeon the hero arrives at, found on the third continent. The quest is to acquire haze grass on top of one of the four mountains, after crossing all four peaks. Since the whole mountain range is shrouded in clouds, all the roads are hazy and vision is considerably obscured.

The Alfan Range has a fairy-tale-like atmosphere, with many kinds of demonic monsters that appear in the dungeon.

…some which are cow-like.^[6]

One of the reasons to pick the haze grass is because in town a fortuneteller tells you to “go pick it up,” and that once you arrive at the summit you will encounter one of the Four Heavenly Demon Lords. In addition to the game-battle with the first of the Four Lords, the hero obtains information on the significance of the “??? Key (red)” that was previously acquired fighting one of the Devil King’s subordinates. It’s at this stage that the series of seven keys are revealed for the first time, and in the end, it is the same kind of item as the “key to the underground empire (orange)” that I already got by mistake.

Gathering the seven keys opens the gates to the underground empire and the Demon Castle. And this sets the stage for the final battle… How nostalgic, I want to play it again.

Although I have the orange key right now, it’s actually quite damaged, and it probably won’t help me much. Though, since I’m a demon this might also be misunderstood as simply excuses. Besides, I felt that the protagonists right now were surely in a difficult place.

It’d be nice to see the battle of the Four Lords, but it would not be good to involve myself in the story any more. Even if my power is dungeon class, that does not mean I’m going to go out to kill the heroes, and with my lack of battle experience I’ll choose to be cautious.

Anyway.

That makes it easy to explain why I want to meet the hero. It is to pass on this stylish orange key I have. If I have it then they will never reach the underground empire, so even if it is awkward and my intentions are doubted I want to quickly hand it over. Having said that, is it better to wait for them to come down from gathering the haze grass, or climb the Alfan Mountains at a faster pace?

Shouldering the Demon Slayer, I gathered my resolve.

There should be some Geta nearby that disable all terrain damage…though it certainly is a hidden item. Demons are also weak to attacks from below, and I don’t want to be poisoned later from the swamp so let’s diligently obtain that item!

Once I stepped foot onto the mountain path entrance, my visibility was quickly hindered.

The dungeon of the Alfan Ranges is a type that leads upward to the top, unlike the dungeon I met the vampire girl in before this. Because the road often branches out, the capture difficulty is a little high. However, the monsters that pop up are woefully weaker than the ones in my tower, so it shouldn’t be of any concern to the way I am now.

“Even so, being by myself is lonesome.” (Shuten) I muttered to myself as I advanced through the haze.

Besides the great axe carried over my shoulder I have no belongings, so it feels a little lonely, but that cannot be helped. If I had companions traveling with me right now, I wonder if we would be chatting casually. But I am a demon and not an adventurer, so there’s no reason to take on the trouble of a party.

Besides, whether or not there are even people who would team up in the first place…now I’m starting to become even more depressed and lonely. It’s no wonder that solo adventurers become so serious.

I go along the mountain path while thinking about the appearance of the vampire girl.

“Flare Reel-chan, I wonder when you will be able to go out into the sunshine?” (Shuten)

Surely among the boss monsters that appear in Grimoire Lancer, there are demons who can become subordinates using magical contracts. Even if I fantasized happily about having a cute vampire as a contracted demon, in reality it doesn’t work that way.

“Well, that’s how it is. Anyway, take the sandals, hand over the key to hero-kun quickly, and finish this dungeon.” (Shuten)

Perhaps that would be the most sensible.

While thinking of such things, I found the staircase. I did not encounter any monsters on the first level. Many of the monsters that appear in the Alfan Range are made of grass, rock, or fog. Fog monsters are disadvantageous for me because physical attacks mostly pass through, but since I have the Kinagaishi it is bad for their magic attacks as well. Even if it turns into a mudslinging contest, it should be an opponent I can possibly defeat.

Then, three rock-like monsters appeared in front of my eyes.

“I wonder what this is?” (Shuten)

Indeed, I remembered similar monsters appearing on the first continent. It is the strengthened version in a different color. A common trait in an RPG.

“However, that does not matter.” (Shuten)

I pulled out the Demon Slayer, and swung. Breaking through the rock monster that is only capable of rolling, it was smashed into crimson dust. I cannot deny that it feels a bit like overkill, as it was only a single hit. While looking over it the other two escaped.

…As the goddess said, it seems the power of a final-dungeon class demon is now in me.

Replacing the Demon Slayer over my shoulder from my grip before, I focus on my senses to make sure the others had truly fled.

I will not even level up from this, the only real targets are merely the Geta and the hero.

 

“Now where can I find those Geta?” (Shuten)

It was certainly a pair of sandals with a high performance. Thinking about the kind of place this was, I heard the sound of the water ahead on the mountain road.

“…Ah, I remember.” (Shuten)

The waterfall that flows through the mountain is quite spectacular, although it is not wide. As the sound gets closer along with the coolness, misty specks hit my cheeks. While feeling comfortable, I walked for a bit until I arrived beside the waterfall.

It’s surely behind the flowing waterfall before me. I believe that if I arrived at the Alfan Mountains some time later, then someone should have already repaired the bridge and passed over. Unfortunately, if someone had already discovered this secret then there would not be a treasure chest to find, but it can’t be helped. Since the bridge has not been fixed, I have to see for myself.

“I wanted to go behind the waterfall easily, but…is it impossible?” (Shuten)

Well, if it’s with my current physical ability I’ll manage somehow. With a jump, I leap through the waterfall and land on the other side behind it.

It is hard to see it hidden behind the grass, but there was certainly a treasure chest.

“Open up~” (Shuten)

Once I opened it a pair of Geta could be seen inside.

“Terrain damage disabled…just in time for the Poisonous Swamp.” (Shuten)

I would never willingly enter it, but even so I had gathered the right equipment if I ever needed to.

While remembering the weaknesses of my demon tribe, I feel joy at overcoming it as I once again jump through the back of the waterfall.

“Now then.” (Shuten)

Now I just need to pass on this key to hero-kun. While spinning the key with my index finger triumphantly, I headed towards the edge of the Alfan Range.

Let’s go visit the protagonist, Crane-Fafnir!

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Translator Notes

1. Geta are traditional Japanese wooden sandals
2. Karasu-Tengu is a bird-humanoid demon in Japanese folklore (generally with a bird head).
3. Ameba is a Japanese blogging and social networking website, similar to the English Facebook, and with a searching mechanism. Thanks to the comments for help with this!
4. The Pearl Pieces are also called “beads” in the translation, so something like prayer beads probably.
5. If I remember correctly, when you swim for a long time and then stop when you get tired, your muscles will tighten or cramp up and you become unable to swim. In the middle of the ocean with deep water and nothing to hold on to, this is very likely to lead to death. So yeah, trap indeed
6. ushi, meaning cow, probably refers to ushi-oni, whwich are bovine-headed demons, like a minotaur

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