WM – Chapter 257: Takatsuki Makoto heads to the Deep Sea Temple

“Are we going the right way?” 

“Yeah, there’s no doubt.” (Makoto)

Demon Lord Cain was looking at me with eyes of doubt at my side.

The reason I know his expression is because he has his helmet off.

When I told him it was hard to talk like that, he took it off.

He is currently showing his handsome face.

This Demon Lord is seriously good looking.

If he were to fix his appearance, he would look like a host or a model. 

We are currently riding on the dragon of Demon Lord Cain -a Taboo Dragon.

As always, it has a whole lot of eyes and a lot of mouths, which is quite the disgusting appearance, but…when I give it a good look, I wouldn’t say it is impossible to grow attached to it.

(Are you kidding? Are your eyes rotting?) (Ira)

Ira-sama, your tongue is rotten.

Doesn’t it have an avant-garde and charming look to it? 

(Not at all~.) (Ira)

Well, I do think I am pushing it there though.

Ira-sama then told me ‘Be careful of Demon Lord Cain’ and cut off the transmission.

By the way, about Mel-san, I gave a 1 day difference in the schedule of when she should bring me to the place and the day I met with Cain.

It is so that they don’t run into each other even if by mistake. 

After waiting for 1 day, I managed to meet up with Cain safely.

We are currently heading to a place called the Habhain Archipelago that’s outside the West Continent and is close to the Deep Sea Temple.

I have the location in memory thanks to the Mapping Skill.

My preparation for that one day I would go to the Deep Sea Temple has worked in my favor.

“Our King…please be careful.” (Dia)

Dia was at my back, attentive at the moves of Demon Lord Cain.

I don’t think there’s the need to worry that much though.

“We are almost at the island. Let’s decide where to camp first!” (Makoto)

“Alright…” (Cain)

The response of Cain was low in contrast to mine that was excited.

“What’s the matter, Cainhart?” (Makoto)

“You, using that name so carefreely—! …Fine. Noah-sama told me that it is okay to believe your words… I will obey the words of Noah-sama…” (Cain)

Looks like Noah-sama has agreed to us two going to the Deep Sea Temple.

And it seems like she has easily seen through my identity.

“Takatsuki Makoto…you are the Apostle of Noah-sama from 1,000 years in the future…?” (Cain)

“Yeah.” (Makoto)

“You are saying my proselytization for the sake of Noah-sama was pointless…?” (Cain)

“…Well, yeah.” (Makoto)

Or more like, that was no proselytization but just threatening.

Anyways, Noah-sama can’t increase her believers because of the Divine Realm Regulations.

Noah-sama in the future was seen with scorn as an Evil God.

It seems like that was shocking information for Demon Lord Cain.

“Well, isn’t that okay? If we help out Noah-sama, we will be even.” (Makoto)

“O-Okay…” (Cain)

I speak cheerfully to Cain who has a dark expression, and speak about Noah-sama until we arrive at the target location.

◇◇

Habhain Archipelago.

1,000 years in the future, it is a resort location for the nobles and royals of various countries.

But in the current era it is uninhabited.

There are monsters, though not in high numbers.

We prepared a simple base in a location that has a good field of view.

“Now, let’s go to the Deep Sea Temple!” (Makoto)

“Right now?!” (Cain)

Cain was shocked when I proposed to depart.

I planned this expedition to last 2 weeks.

I would be worried about Momo and Hero Abel if I were to leave them for too long after all.

I don’t want to waste time as much as possible.

“It is still just past noon after all.” (Makoto)

“B-But isn’t it too sudden?” (Cain)

Cain was the one who brought us here using a dragon.

Is he tired?

“Well then, I will go check out the place on my own first.” (Makoto)

“Alone, you say?!” (Cain)

“I will be coming back.” (Makoto)

“No…I will accompany you.” (Cain)

In the end, he will be coming too.

We had the dragon of Cain protect the base, and we jumped into the sea.

The Habhain Archipelago has a warm tropical climate.

The inside of the sea is filled with abundant coral reefs and colorful fishes swimming calmly.

How peaceful.

Cain and I slowly swam underwater, and headed in the direction where the Deep Sea Temple is at. 

I then looked at my side and something bothered me.

“Isn’t it hard to swim in that?” (Makoto)

I speak to Cain who is wearing full armor even underwater.

The conversation is transmitting through water magic, but there’s no response.

“……”

“Hello?” (Makoto)

Cain’s mouth was flapping, but I can’t hear him.

It can’t be helped, so I grabbed the hand of Cain.

I cast underwater conversation magic on Cain as well.

“Can you hear me?” (Makoto)

“Yeah… I am surprised you can converse underwater.” (Cain)

“We are going to challenge the Deep Sea Temple, so isn’t it necessary?” (Makoto)

“Leaving aside swimming and underwater breathing, this is my first time learning about a spell that allows for conversation underwater.” (Cain)

“I see. By the way, isn’t it inconvenient to be wearing armor?” (Makoto)

“That’s unnecessary worry. This is a sacred treasure granted to me by Noah-sama. No matter the place, it isn’t inconvenient.” (Cain)

“I see.” (Makoto)

Well, sacred treasures are the strongest sword and shield of Demon Lord Cain, so if he takes them off, it would half his strength.

But there’s one point of worry.

“I am raising the speed.” (Makoto)

Cain’s swimming speed is slow.

If possible, I would like to reach the entrance of the Deep Sea Temple, Deep Scar, by today.

I grabbed the arm of Cain and accelerated at once with [Water Dragon].

“O-Oi!” (Cain)

“Don’t bite your tongue.” (Makoto)

“Wa?!” (Cain)

I could feel the fish that were swimming closeby turn our way all at once, but we left behind the surrounding living beings the next instant.

◇◇

“O-Oi…what was that speed of just now…? Can someone really advance faster than flying magic underwater?” (Cain)

The tone of the Demon Lord was weak.

“That’s pathetic, being shaken by just that much.” (Dia)

Dia was amazed.

Hmm, I honestly didn’t think that he would get worn out with just this much.

The difficult part is just starting here…

“Sorry, Cain. I will keep it a bit slower next time.” (Makoto)

“Y-Yeah…please do.” (Cain)

He is my only comrade as a believer of Noah-sama, so I act more kindly than Dia.

Or so I say, but we will simply be diving into the deep sea though.

We slowly descend the dark depths of the sea.

The water temperature dropped, so I adjusted it with water magic so it doesn’t cool down our bodies.

It didn’t take long for the place to become a complete dark world where the light of the sun doesn’t reach.

I use [Night Vision] and [Detection] to keep an eye on the surroundings.

The waters around here are plentiful in mana, and there’s a lot of sea monsters.

“Our King, please be careful at our front.” (Dia)

“Is that…a whale? The size is around that of a ship.” (Makoto)

“That there is the Ancient Giant Shark, Megalodon, checking us out.” (Dia) 

“It should be okay at this distance, but let’s stay on guard just in case.” (Makoto)

“You can see it?” (Cain)

Cain raised his voice agitated hearing our conversation.

“You can’t see it?” (Makoto)

“If I had my helmet…I would be able to.” (Cain)

He says awkwardly.

Looks like he can’t use Night Vision.

“Please put on your helmet.” (Makoto)

“Yeah, got it.” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain relied on his gear even more than I thought.

After that, Cain was making noise saying ‘Wa, the monsters of the deep sea are this gigantic?!’ or ‘Isn’t that dangerous?!’, but when I said ‘All monsters are wary of Dia and are not approaching us’, he got quieter.

And in this way, we arrived at the deep sea.

Of course, this isn’t our goal.

This is the starting point.

“Now then, the Deep Sea Temple is just ahead of there.” (Makoto)

I pointed at the chasm in the bottom of the deep sea.

It has a width of around several hundreds of meters, and it is several tens of kilometers long.

It is said that that place is a trace of the planet having been injured in the Divine Realm War of the past.

Also called as the Deep Scar.

From here on it is a different world.

The power of the planet that’s called the Star Pulse is overflowing here, and the monsters living there are strengthened to a whole other realm.

The Deep Sea Temple is located at the deepest part of it.

“Now then, let’s go test the grounds a bit, Cain.” (Makoto)

“W-Wait a moment! You said that we would only be going to go look at the Deep Scar!!” (Cain)

“Yeah, so let’s peek at it a bit.” (Makoto)

“This isn’t what we agreed on!” (Cain)

“We haven’t been attacked by a monster once.” (Makoto)

“Y-Yeah…that’s true, but…” (Cain)

“Then let’s go! Dia, keep an eye on the surroundings please.” (Makoto)

“Yes, leave it to me, Our King.” (Dia)

Dia, who responded to my words with no hesitation, was so reliable. 

The monsters around are wary of the mana of Dia and are not approaching.

We were slowly descending the big deep sea tear.

(We are being watched…) (Makoto)

I could feel the several hundreds of sea monsters observing the intruders.

Judging from my Detection, they are Sea Dragons.

In other words, a nest of dragons.

If I hadn’t met the White Dragon-san family in Laberintos, I might have been more nervous, but I could tell how strong the dragons here are.

“Takatsuki Makoto…there’s a lot of monsters…” (Cain)

Demon Lord Cain grabbed my arm.

“It is a nest of dragons after all.” (Makoto)

“A nest of dragons, you say?! Then we have to attack first!” (Cain)

“As long as they don’t come at us, there’s no need to force a fight, right?” (Makoto)

“But won’t it be too late then?!” (Cain)

“I don’t think it is that dangerous of a situation.” (Makoto)

My Detection isn’t ringing at all.

Dia was yawning by my side.

“You are a Demon Lord, so how about acting a bit more dignified?” (Dia)

It is rare to see Dia speaking to Cain.

“But the monsters living here are monsters that have no relation to the demon lord army. They can’t recognize me as a Demon Lord.” (Cain)

“Even so, as long as you have that armor and sword, there should be nothing to fear about monsters, right?” (Makoto)

I say this, but there was no response from Cain.

Could it be…he is scared?

As we went slowly downwards…it got brighter despite it being the deep sea.

That isn’t the light of the sun.

The magic crystals that are embedded in the surface of the walls are shining. 

The light of mana.

It was a faint light at first, but the numbers were steadily increasing.

The magic crystals were shining like the starry sky. 

The mana density underwater also increased proportional to this.

This does indeed feel like a different world.

“This is beautiful.” (Makoto)

“Yes, Our King. For us Spirits, this is a good place to live in.” (Dia)

True. There’s a lot of Water Spirits.

The mana of Dia was amplified even more here.

With how things are now, the chances of a monster trying to attack us is low.

Dia and I enjoyed the view of the deep sea.

“Hey, Takatsuki Makoto…how far are we going? Isn’t this far good enough for today?” (Cain)

Looks like it isn’t fun for Demon Lord Cain.

Even though this is such a wondrous sight.

But let’s stop going any further.

“It is about time we return.” (Makoto)

“Yeah, let’s!” (Cain)

“Eeh~, I want to stay here for a bit more though.” (Dia)

Dia was unsatisfied by this, but this is the first day, so I would say we are going great.

We decided to return to the base.

◇◇

We return to the base and cook the fish that we caught on our way back.

I had Cain make the fire.

“Tomorrow we will be going to jump into the real exploration, so let’s rest early today.” (Makoto)

“…You seem to be having fun, Takatsuki Makoto.” (Cain)

“Really?” (Makoto)

“Yeah… This is my first time doing something like adventuring, but I didn’t expect it to be this tiring.” (Cain)

After saying this, Demon Lord Cain laid to the side with his armor still on.

“Hey, Cainhart, no matter how you cut it, that’s way too harsh on you, right?” (Makoto)

When I said this, Cain glared at me.

“You are thinking about attacking me in my sleep when I am defenseless, huh! I won’t give the sacred treasure of Noah-sama to no one!” (Cain)

“No, that’s not what I mean… We are going to the depths of the Deep Scar tomorrow, so it is better to rest as best as possible. If you are going to sleep first, I will be the lookout. Good night.” (Makoto)

Saying this, I begin my water magic training.

“Are you…not going to sleep?” (Cain)

“Later I will.” (Makoto)

I answer as I create water butterflies.

It is a base close to the sea, so there’s a lot of Spirits.

It might also be because the Deep Sea Temple is closeby.

I look up.

The stars in the sky are beautiful.

“Takatsuki Makoto.” (Cain)

After a while of training, my name was called.

“What’s the matter, Cainhart?” (Makoto)

“…No, it is nothing… See ya tomorrow.” (Cain)

“Yeah, let’s explore deeper tomorrow.” (Makoto)

“…”

There was no response to my words, and I heard stable breathing not long after.

This would be the first step in my adventure to clear the Deep Sea Temple, so I couldn’t manage to sleep.

In the end, I only managed to fall asleep at around dawn.

And in this way, the first day of our adventure to the Last Dungeon finished.

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