Chapter 136: The Rise of Elminash
ㅤ”…… Huh? Where…… is this……?”
ㅤ”Wh-What happened!?”
ㅤ”I should have been in front of the hearth……”
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ㅤAll the villagers of Hope Village who appeared before my eyes are bewildered.
ㅤThe number of people who drifted to the Navel of the World and lived in Hope Village is a little over a hundred.
ㅤAll of them had been summoned to the vast central control room of the “Pillar” ―― the tower controlled by the Elminarsh System, located at the center of the Navel.
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ㅤThe structure of the central control room closely resembles the observation floor of the Skytree.
ㅤHowever, the area is easily more than ten times larger than the observation floor.
ㅤAccording to Elminarsh, it can be expanded even further.
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ㅤ”―― Minato! Are you alright!?”
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ㅤThe one who called out to me was the Hope Village Adventurer Captain.
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ㅤ”Yeah, somehow. 100 consecutive wins against the Grandmasters was tough…”
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ㅤAfter that, Elminarsh declared, “The trial is not over yet,” and we were forced to fight the three Grandmasters again.
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ㅤAt first, our win rate was around 70%, so even if we won several times in a row, we would lose somewhere and have to start over.
ㅤIn the end, we couldn’t completely shut down the Grandmasters until we were able to coordinate with Grunblin and Boroneal.
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ㅤWhile discussing future plans in between, we continued to fight the three Grandmasters day after day ―― and finally, we achieved our goal of 100 consecutive wins.
ㅤWe literally cried with joy.
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ㅤHowever, according to Elminarsh,
ㅤ『Although I’m a little dissatisfied, I’ll consider you to have passed with the help of your companions.』
ㅤThat’s what it said.
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ㅤ（Well, I’ve mostly stolen the Grandmasters’ combat techniques. Even if the Grandmaster’s Blessing disappears in the future, it won’t be a problem.）
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ㅤIt turned out to be good training in the end… but it’s frustrating to admit it honestly.
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ㅤ”I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I was worried. I was surprised when Minato, Arsh, and Miicha disappeared after being swallowed by the Transfer Formation, but when I returned to the village, Miicha was leisurely taking a nap. So, there was a commotion about who the Miicha that was with Minato was.”
ㅤ
ㅤMiicha is the explorer Schmos, right?
ㅤAh, it’s the other way around. Schmos’s real name was Miicha.
ㅤThe Schmos who followed me was Boroneal in disguise.
ㅤAs Boroneal said, the real Miicha seemed to be safe.
ㅤIf that was a lie, I would have beaten Boroneal up.
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ㅤ”I’ll talk about that later. First, the good news.”
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ㅤ”Good news? C-Could it be……”
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ㅤ”Yeah, we can go back.”
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ㅤ”Is that true!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’ll have Elminarsh explain the details, so could you gather everyone?”
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ㅤ”O-Okay!”
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ㅤThe Hope Village Adventurer Captain ran off and gathered the villagers who were looking puzzled or anxious.
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ㅤSince explaining the situation is a hassle, I’ll leave it to the octahedral Elminarsh.
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ㅤWhen the explanation was over, the villagers cheered.
ㅤSome hugged each other with joy, while others crouched down and quietly shed tears.
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ㅤ”Hmm. Such a secret in this place…”
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ㅤThe Village Chief said.
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ㅤ”I can’t believe the Grandmasters had such a hidden side…
ㅤIs it thanks to the Demon King’s Blessing that we’re able to live like this?”
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ㅤThe Captain muttered while looking down at his own body.
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ㅤI said.
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ㅤ”Leaving aside the history lesson, with the function of this tower, I can transfer everyone to their designated locations. Before that, we have to ascend.”
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ㅤ”Ascend, you say?”
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ㅤ”Yeah. The spire that you all call the 『Pillar』 is just the tip of this Demon King’s Castle, Elminarsh. If I let the castle float as it is, it will be a disaster for Hope Village, so I summoned everyone first.”
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ㅤ”W-Wait a minute. Even though Hope Village is a temporary dwelling, everyone has belongings they’re attached to. If possible, once――”
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ㅤ”Of course, that’s the plan. I’ll return everyone to their original location, let you pack up, and then we’ll ascend. Please gather the things you want to bring. Let’s see… how about noon the day after tomorrow?”
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ㅤ”That’s right… Everyone, is that alright with you?”
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ㅤThe villagers nodded with hopeful faces.
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ㅤ”Oh, look! The sea is splitting!”
ㅤ”It’s really floating…”
ㅤ”Oh, the village is being destroyed… Damn, I thought I didn’t want to die in a place like this, but it’s sad to see it go.”
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ㅤThe villagers of Hope Village raised their voices at the sight displayed on the observation screen of the Demon King’s Castle, Elminarsh.
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ㅤAs the “Pillar” extended from the ground, the ground cracked, and the sea surface beyond it also split.
ㅤFrom the base of the “Pillar,” a jet-black wall with magnificent decorations rose up, and its area continued to expand.
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ㅤ”… How big is the Demon King’s Castle?”
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ㅤI ask Elminarsh.
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ㅤ『It’s dozens of times larger than the exposed part you call the 『Navel.』
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ㅤ”Dozens of times!?”
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ㅤ『Although it’s called a 『Castle』, it’s actually closer to a fortress city. It can hold a population of over a million. Of course, there was also a system to provide food for them. Now that the Demon King’s power has been scattered, it’s unlikely that all of its functions can be activated…』
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ㅤ”Then, once we collect the Dungeon Cores, we can expand the Demon King’s Castle and shelter the beastmen who have been turned into monsters, the intelligent beasts, and the demons who don’t have bodies yet.”
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ㅤ『Fortunately or unfortunately, due to the Grandmaster’s System, their population is about a tenth of what it used to be. If the Demon King’s Castle is fully restored, we might be able to support them here alone.』
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ㅤWhile we were talking, the Demon King’s Castle continued to ascend, and finally, the ground near Hope Village began to bulge.
ㅤSome people apparently called it the “Village of Despair,” but seeing the village disappearing into the earth and sand, the castaways either broke down crying or sighed with sad faces.
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ㅤThe ocean currents surrounding the Navel flowed into the ruins of the village buried in the earth and sand, swallowing everything into the muddy torrent.
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ㅤ”How far will this ascend?”
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ㅤ『The Demon King’s Castle was originally in the sky. However, that’s not possible with its current power. It will likely only float just above the sea surface.』
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ㅤ”That’s still amazing enough.”
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ㅤA single fortress city floating on the sea surface like a hovercraft.
ㅤThe technology and magic power required for that are beyond imagination.
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ㅤ”The 『Navel』 is… disappearing…”
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ㅤOne of the villagers muttered.
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ㅤWith the ascension of the Demon King’s Castle, Elminarsh, the ocean currents surrounding the Navel flowed inward, gradually raising the sea level.
ㅤThe sea level will continue to rise until the depression caused by the whirlpool disappears.
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ㅤ”… I wonder if this will change the surrounding climate.”
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ㅤ『Oh. Minato is well-informed. Or rather, are people from another world well-informed?
ㅤIndeed, such a large change in currents will affect the atmospheric pressure distribution above. Rain may fall in areas that were previously dry, and areas that were previously heavy rain zones may dry up.』
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ㅤ”Th-That’s terrible…”
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ㅤThe “Navel” was located in the middle of the inland sea between the northern and southern continents.
ㅤIf the disappearance of the super-giant whirlpool brings about climate change, it will affect not only the coastal cities of the north and south, but also the surrounding cities.
ㅤIf grain-producing areas suddenly wither, dry areas suddenly become swamps, or the flow of large rivers changes, the impact will be immeasurable. Not only will it affect the region directly, but it will also have a significant impact on other cities connected through trade.
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ㅤ”Elminarsh, can you simulate the climate change?”
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ㅤI ask, even though I think it’s an unreasonable request.
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ㅤ『It’s possible. However, the accuracy isn’t that high. I can only predict changes in rainfall, temperature, and humidity.』
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ㅤ”No, that’s enough.”
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ㅤIt seems to be more accurate than Earth’s weather forecasts.
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ㅤThen, Boroneal, who was passing by, said.
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ㅤ”The shipping routes that were set along the currents of the whirlpool will also have to be changed. There will certainly be talk of connecting the north and south through the center of the inland sea ―― in other words, around here. How we perceive and utilize such movements is… Oh dear, there’s so much to think about.”
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ㅤ”I’m also counting on you to persuade the remaining Four Heavenly Demon Generals, Hamilton the Steadfast, right?”
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ㅤ”That old man isn’t the kind of guy you can persuade with words. It’s up to Minato-sama and Almirash-sama to convince him. Give him a good smack.”
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ㅤ”Ahaha… That’s not really my style.”
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ㅤBoroneal started calling me “Minato-sama.”
ㅤHe won’t listen even if I tell him to stop.
ㅤDespite his personality, he says he has to show respect for hierarchy.
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ㅤ”Minato-sama has more guts than Almirash-sama. Since you’re in charge when it matters, you’ll have to do your best.”
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ㅤ”The condition is that I’ll only switch with Arsh at the critical moment, and she’ll be the figurehead the rest of the time.”
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ㅤThat’s right. Elminarsh suggested that to Arsh and me, who were arguing about passing the buck.
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ㅤIn other words, why don’t we take turns playing the Demon King?
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ㅤArsh and I look exactly alike except for our hair and eye color.
ㅤEven our personalities are similar.
ㅤMoreover, when I draw out the Demon King’s power from Arsh and “Awaken,” my hair and eyes become the same color as hers.
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ㅤUsing this, I can switch with Arsh when I’m Awakened.
ㅤOr conversely, we could spread the rumor that Arsh’s usual appearance is black hair and black eyes, and I could play the Demon King in my usual mode.
ㅤHowever, in that case, I wouldn’t be able to meet anyone who knows the face of “Adventurer Minato.”
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ㅤIf we play the role together, the burden on each of us will be reduced.
ㅤThat was Elminarsh’s proposal.
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ㅤ”The first job is to transport the residents of Hope Village.”
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ㅤ”Oh, don’t think of it so simply! We should take advantage of this opportunity and sell them a favor for rescuing the castaways. And then, we’ll establish the Demon King’s Castle’s territorial waters.”
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ㅤBoroneal said.
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ㅤ”Establishing territorial waters? Based on Earth’s standards, that’s definitely going to cause trouble.”
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ㅤ”Of course, it’s the same in this world’s standards. In that respect, the Netherworld was comfortable because there was no concept of space.”
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ㅤ”So, are you going back?”
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ㅤ”No way! I’m done with that world where if you’re not careful, the boundaries of your soul become ambiguous and you end up merging with someone else’s soul before you know it.”
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ㅤ”That’s how Imsoda grew, right?”
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ㅤ”Yeah. On the other hand, Grunblin and I have strengthened our souls by defending our own boundaries. I think our way of being is easier for the people on the surface to understand.”
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ㅤIf Imsoda is a giant collective spirit, Grunblin and Boroneal are each like a single yokai.
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ㅤ”First, the oceanic city-states along the coast.
ㅤOh, that’s right, the request I received in Celesta is still pending.”
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ㅤIt’s the request to investigate the Kielhen Islands, where the pirate ship disappeared.
ㅤHarriet-san （Chairperson of the Celesta Council and the client） must be worried too.
ㅤThere are also people from Celesta among the residents of Hope Village, so let’s start there.
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ㅤ”Out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh?”
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ㅤThinking about the hardships of future negotiations makes my stomach ache.
ㅤEven though I’ve become stronger by sparring with virtual Grandmasters, the heavy pressure of negotiations is different.
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ㅤ（I also have to persuade or execute the demons who are scattered around the world and acting like terrorists. Moreover, this is also an international issue. There’s no doubt that it will lead to tough negotiations with other countries.）
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ㅤI’ll leave the persuasion and execution of the demons to Grunblin, the diplomatic negotiations to Boroneal, and the rituals and ceremonies to Arsh.
ㅤLike a yakuza boss backing them up, my role is to go to the scene of out-of-control troubles and silence them with force and magic.
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ㅤ（Oh… why did things turn out like this?）
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ㅤIgnoring my lament, the Demon King’s Castle continues to ascend.
ㅤThe seawater that made up the whirlpool flows in with tremendous force, centered on the area directly below the Demon King’s Castle, causing a raging storm at sea.
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ㅤThe sea raged all night long.
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ㅤOn the sea that had regained its tranquility, a huge, gleaming black castle ―― the Demon King’s strongest shield, the Demon King’s Castle, Elminarsh ―― was exposed to the light of day for the first time in thousands of years.
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ㅤ―『HAPPY LIFE Aiming for a Happy Life with Difficulty Changes!』 Part 3: The Navel of the World Arc – End―
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ㅤto be continued…