Taking shelter from the sudden rain in a secluded place we had found by chance, we planned our next move.
“I froze Griffil Sea of Trees… came this way… We’re here now.”
“Our current location is this plain. It seems the terrain in this area has changed over the decades due to the influence of magic and demons. This hidden realm appears to have formed in the last few years. This map is only a rough overview, but…”
“It’s infinitely better than having nothing. If we’re talking about gathering information around here… it would be this place, right?”
While checking the map spread out on the ground, I ask the two sitting around it.
“The explorer’s town, Ghat… that seems good.”
“Ghat! Garm hasn’t been there in a long time!”
“Where people gather, information gathers. There might also be information about those who are freely using the Helheim name.”
After confirming their nods, I put away the map, stand up, and dust myself off.
As I stretch, Garm looks up at me curiously, twitching her wolf ears.
“Still, King, your acting is amazing! You seem like a normal guy!”
“Garm, that’s disrespectful to speak that way to the Corpse King. There is nothing this person cannot do. Playing the role of a harmless nice guy is effortless for him. Isn’t that right, Corpse King?”
“…Y-yes, that’s right…”
A harmless nice guy… It’s not exactly an insult, but somehow it doesn’t sit right with me. This is actually my natural self…
Well, I was always acting like that before, so I can’t blame them…
“If we’re gathering information, this approach is better. I plan to keep this up for the time being.”
Something like that should work as an explanation.
“And… I’m sorry, but for certain reasons, I’m weaker than I was in my prime. I’m counting on both of you.”
“Huh!?”
“Gah!?”
“Hm?”
At my words, the two of them jolted—Nifl with tears streaming down her face, and Garm with eyes blazing like stars as she dropped to one knee.
“I-I’ll protect you with my life!!”
“This is the first time! The first time the King has ever said he’s counting on us!!”
“O-oh, was it…?”
Trying to ignore their extremely overexcited reactions, I led them toward our destination: the adventurer town of Ghat—when suddenly…
Crash… clang…
“Corpse King.”
“Yeah.”
The screech of metal and heavy footsteps echoed through the dim underground space, shrouded in shadow. The source of the noise remained unseen,
but it was unmistakably closing in on us.
An anomaly within hidden realm, the dungeon—only one thing came to mind.
[Grooooaaaahhh…………!]
Emerging from the depths of the dungeon’s darkness, it appeared before us.
A demon.
Its body was smooth and pitch-black, as if coated in lacquer, and with every step it took, an ear-grating metallic clatter rang out.
humanoid, bipedal, its face and limbs encased in thick armor-like plating.
“A demon… and not just any demon—a mid-tier Demons.”
“Which means this dungeon is at least Lv. 5.”
Seemed like the dungeon we’d stumbled into was more troublesome than expected.
Its crimson eyes flickered in the dim light, locking onto us.
Just as I raised a hand toward the mid-tier Demons—
“Here! Right here! Garm’s got this!!”
With a spirited “Hmph!”, Garm leaped between me and the demon,
her ears and tail twitching excitedly as she kept glancing my way.
Clearly fired up after what I’d said earlier. Her face practically screamed, “Leave it to me!”
“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yay!”
The moment Garm’s wolf ears perked up—
[Roooooaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr!!]
The mid-tier Demons kicked off the ground with terrifying force,
cratering the earth beneath its feet—its mass and strength evident in every movement.
Its speed and weight were comparable to a modern-world truck. A direct hit would flatten any ordinary human.
Naturally, someone as small as Garm stood no chance—or so you’d think.
Yet she didn’t even try to dodge, grinning mischievously as she stuck out her tongue.
—BAM!!
The Demons smashed into her without slowing—only for Garm’s body to be sent flying effortlessly, crashing into the dungeon wall.
Dust erupted from the impact, a testament to the sheer force behind the blow.
[Oooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrr!!]
A roar of victory? The demon immediately locked onto me next—
“—Hmph!”
BANG!!
Its arm exploded into fragments before it could strike.
[Gahhh!!]
Whether from shock or pain, the demon howled.
In front of me, Garm was hopping on one foot, completely unharmed.
“Strong, but that’s it! No tricky moves!”
“Then this is right what Garm is good at.”
“Yep!”
She lunged at the staggering demon—without a scratch, let alone serious injuries, despite taking that hit head-on.
“[Indestructible Beast Body]… Still as ridiculous as ever.”
“Indeed. Even as an ally, it’s absurd.”
Garm’s unique ability, [Indestructible Beast Body].
A defensive skill that nullifies all damage short of a fatal blow.
Meaning, to defeat her, you’d need to inflict near-lethal damage in a single strike.
Born with the naturally sturdy physique of a beastkin, Garm’s ability was already overpowered—but this skill made her practically untouchable.
Honestly, there’s hardly a more annoying opponent. Thank goodness she’s on our side.
[Oooooo—Gahhh!]
“Rawr!!”
CRACK… SPLAT.
A brutal execution belying her cute voice. With a sickening squelch, Garm crushed the demon’s armored body—innards and all—underfoot.
Turning back with a carefree, blood-splattered grin—
“How’s that?!”
“Thanks, Garm. You really are reliable.”
“Hehe~”
Nifl pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to me.
I wiped the demon’s blood off Garm’s face as she happily leaned in.
“The materials… should we take them?”
“A mid-tier Demons isn’t worth the trouble, I’d say.”
“Oh, if Nifl says so, then never mind.”
“G-Garm too! Garm thinks the same as Nifl!”
“R-right. If Garm says so, then we’ll leave it…”
“Ehehe!”
“Hmph…”
Patting the eager Garm on the head, I averted my gaze from Nifl’s slightly resentful stare.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
A hilly region slightly north of the Griffil Holy Kingdom—perched at a relatively high elevation—lay the adventurer town of Ghat.
Though called an “adventurer town,” this was just one of many such hubs. In the Griffil Holy Kingdom’s vicinity, Ghat served as the gathering place for adventurers.
“Move it, you lot!!”
[Oooooohhh!!]
Passing through the gates amid a rowdy crowd of adventurers, I found myself staring at a drastically changed cityscape—yet a faint sense of nostalgia tugged at my chest.
Though dusk was approaching, the town buzzed with energy.
For some reason, the entire place felt restless, uneasy.
“Ghat… it’s been a while.”
The first place I’d visited after being summoned and leaving Griffil.
That I’d been summoned near Griffil again this time felt… intentional.
Maybe just a coincidence, though…
“First, information gathering.”
I muttered under my breath.
Once I confirmed Nifl and Garm had blended into the crowd, I got to work.
What we needed was information on the group falsely using the name “Helheim.” Without knowing their motives, beliefs, or methods, we couldn’t counter them.
I couldn’t say for sure none of my executives were involved… but if they were, they’d be far more efficient. And if they were rampaging, the damage would be catastrophic.
Since that wasn’t the case…
“…No, can’t jump to conclusions.”
I shook my head, dismissing unnecessary thoughts.
It was entirely possible they’d turned traitor in my absence.
Preconceptions would only get in the way.
“Objectives, movements, trails… those three first.”
Voicing my plan, I headed for a specific location—
The Adventurer’s Guild.
Scattered across the world, these guilds served as humanity’s strongholds. If civilians had reports of life-threatening anomalies, this was where they’d go. So naturally, any information on Helheim’s activities would be concentrated here.
Even if details were scarce, we’d at least learn how Helheim was perceived in this world now.
As dusk settled, orange streetlights illuminated the stone paths. Tucking my discarded cloak under my arm, I looked up at the towering building ahead.
The Adventurer’s Guild… its exterior had changed slightly from my memories, but the clamor inside and the flow of people entering remained the same.
The double doors were left half-open, inviting anyone to step in.
“Alright then…”
Playing the part of a harmless civilian, I scanned the guild’s lively interior.
Observing the crowd, I filtered out the overly wary and the desperate-for-cash types.
We didn’t have the funds to buy information, so negotiation-heavy targets were off the table.
The best sources would be the easily approachable, naive-looking…
“…Oh.”
My eyes landed on a duo at the bar—a male and female adventurer sharing a table.
Likably rustic, with matching hair and eye colors, their gear suggested they were from the same place.
They looked slightly younger than me, laughing as they drank. (In this world, most nations allowed alcohol from age 15—but these two clearly weren’t used to it, given their reckless pace.)
The boy was already tipsy. At this rate, he’d stumble off in minutes…
The girl watched him with concern, hinting at their relationship.
“Hmm… her, then.”
Their gear was leather—entry-level adventurers, maybe Lv. 2 or 3. Country bumpkins, perhaps?
The girl had started fiddling with her hair, her demeanor relaxed. Her expression held just enough openness.
“Perfect.”
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