Chapter 120: Title (4)

Somewhere in Rudera

Boom!

“They just keep coming without end, and they can’t even touch me? Such pitiful trash.”

Amidst a swarm of monsters, a twin-tailed elf, her entire body cloaked in spirits, stood tall.

“Despite being so weak, they’re desperate to be at my feet. If they try a little harder, maybe they’ll reach the level of my toenail dirt.”

– Laura-tan is so cute!

– More insults, please!

– I would die to be Laura-tan’s toenail dirt! Hehng!

She was Laura, the most popular broadcaster in the scene.

Once known as Aura, the strongest elf, she had fallen in love with streaming and spent her time with her lowly viewers, always live.

‘Where on earth do I need to go to find the title?’

The title of [Demon King], granted by the GM, had raised the admin, Ju-tak, to divine status within the community.

It seemed he had always been a demon king, lord of the demons, but that title alone had made him a god. 

They said a vast amount of these incredible items had been scattered across Rudera.

If I could find even one, it would grant me immense power.

‘As the Guardian of the Elves, I can’t let this slip by.’

Many players had jumped in. Someone would acquire the title. 

The GM had said only the worthy could claim it, so it wasn’t likely an evildoer would, but there was no certainty the rightful holder would be friendly toward elves.

I have to get it for the sake of my people.

And so, pretending it was for broadcast content, Aura entered the Tower of Labyrinth.

She wasn’t alone—most players and broadcasters were scouring Rudera, so it wasn’t unusual.

Thus, she entered the labyrinthine tower of Rudera and climbed with all her might. 

She defeated countless monsters and roamed endlessly.

‘How long do I have to do this?’

No matter how much she fought and explored, she found no clue of the title.

Is it even possible?

– I love watching Laura-tan crush monsters, but when will it end?

– Hey, you! Are you saying Laura-tan’s broadcast is boring?!

– No, I didn’t mean it that way!

– Heresy! Purge him!

– Purge him!

– Pur- – ge!

Thanks to the zealots, it was under control for now, but more viewers were starting to find the stream boring. 

She kept the broadcast lively with her charisma, but as a professional, she couldn’t just leave this lull unaddressed.

If this drags on, even the loyal viewers who have stuck with her might leave.

But without even a clue to the title…

What should I do?

– Huh? What’s that over there?

– No way!

“What? Are you trying to trick me again? Hmph. It’ll take a hundred years before trash like you can fool this Laura-sama!”

The viewers were sending chats, claiming there was something behind her.

It was probably nothing.

I’ll go back there, find nothing, and they’ll laugh, saying ‘Fooled again.’

Like I’d fall for that again.

– Nuh-uh, it’s real this time! Believe us, Laura-tan!

Looking through the chat history, she saw it was from a reliable viewer.

Maybe I’ll give it a shot, just this once.

“Hmph. It’s not like I’m falling for this, but I’ll check it out because I pity how pitifully weak you are.”

The stream had become too stale.

Even if it ends up being ‘Fooled again,’ a little event in the middle should lighten the mood.

“Let’s see… where, where…?”

– Laura-tan is like my grandma sometimes.

– The way she keeps offering us food is grandma-like too.

– But she’s cute, so it’s okay!

“You’re all getting judged for calling me a grandma.”

– Gasp!

– We’re sorry! Just this once…! (Message deleted)

It was already bothering her after the queen had called her grandma yesterday.

These little…!

“Did I kill this many?”

Aura, retracing her steps, stuck out her tongue at the pile of monster fragments and remains she had left in her wake.

– Laura-tan is strong!

– She may be small, but she’s mighty!

“Hmph, of course! This is nothing. You weaklings could never reach my level.”

She tried to act nonchalant, but her shoulders and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

– Laura-tan is the best!

– Even so, Laura-tan is still adorable!

Though she was once the strongest of her race, she was surprisingly vulnerable to compliments.

While stepping over the monster remains, she noticed a small crack from which light seeped out.

“…Wait, it’s real?”

How did I miss something even these weaklings found?

Guess I got too focused on the title and my vision narrowed.

I’ve been calling everyone weaklings as part of the broadcast gimmick, but am I becoming one too?

Since losing to a young human in a tournament, she had changed her view of other races, but her strange way of talking remained thanks to the broadcast.

The viewers loved it, but the more she used it, the dumber she felt.

‘I should reflect on this. If I stay like this, I’ll never find what I’m looking for.’

Resolving to do better, she flashed a bright smile at the broadcast camera and jumped into the crack.

– Wonder what’s inside! – It’s dangerous, Laura-chan!

The newbies screamed at her reckless dive, but

– You must be new here.

– Worrying about Laura-tan, how cute! 

– Even if there’s lava down there, Laura-tan wouldn’t lose a single hair.

– Talking about Laura-tan’s hair! There shouldn’t be such a thing! (Message deleted)

Thunk.

Laura landed lightly.

‘Underground, huh.’

“Feels like I’ve come down a few hundred feet.”

– Ack, a few hundred feet! 

– Laura-tan, please!

A wail echoed through the chat window.

“…Honestly, they can’t even understand the basics of units.”

Other races just couldn’t grasp the Great Elven Units.

It was probably due to their inferior intelligence. 

These amateurs.

‘How useful it is to use units based on the human body.’

One day, she’d change everyone’s perception of this through her broadcasts.

Snap.

With a flick of her fingers, the surroundings brightened up.

The Spirit of Light had exercised its power.

Blessed by all spirits, she could easily wield their strength.

“What… is this place?”

Aura’s usually calm expression hardened.

“The light… was devoured?”

The light from the Spirit of Light disappeared without any effect.

Even though it was a force far superior to simple light magic, it couldn’t illuminate this space.

“……”

A cold sweat trickled down Aura’s back.

This place.

It wasn’t ordinary.

As long as the spirits protected her, no attack could reach her.

Until she had been defeated by that strange opponent who could stop time in the duel tournament, she had never known fear.

But this atmosphere.

Sensing something was wrong, Aura gulped.

The light wouldn’t shine.

When she tried to sense her surroundings, she felt only an empty void.

Thanks to the spirits, her senses could normally detect even the tiniest details within a ten-mile radius, yet she sensed nothing but emptiness here.

Aura slowly lifted her gaze.

Even the entrance she had just passed through was gone.

Thud.

Aura launched herself off the ground.

With the help of the Spirit of Wind, she ascended a thousand feet, yet the entrance she’d seen moments before was nowhere to be found.

Only an abyss of pitch-black darkness remained.

Her heart sank.

“…This can’t be happening.”

Trapped?

Aura concluded that she was ensnared in a prison-like barrier.

The entrance had vanished, and the light from the spirits couldn’t penetrate the area.

There was no explanation except for some magical interference.

Feeling a chill, she tried to regain composure and activated her broadcasting screen.

But nothing happened.

Not only the chat window, but even the broadcast management system screen wouldn’t open.

–This can’t be happening, right?

She tried other status windows, but none responded to her call.

…Don’t mess with me.

The system windows wouldn’t open.

That meant even logging out was impossible.

In other words, there was no way out.

“Don’t mess with me!”

Boom!

Reacting to her rising emotions, the spirits of water and fire unleashed their powers.

A fierce explosion of violet energy enveloped the surroundings.

“Haa… haa…”

Yet, nothing changed.

The violet glow briefly illuminated the area, only to be swallowed by the darkness, just like the Spirit of Light’s power.

And then—

Voom.

“No, no!”

The spirits around Aura began to disappear one by one.

Since the closed space cut off the connection to the spirit world, they could not replenish their energy and vanished after exhausting what they had accumulated.

“D-Don’t leave me alone…”

Thud.

Aura collapsed, squeezing out a pitiful voice.

In the center of this infinite, inescapable darkness, where she could perceive nothing, and no audience or spirits remained, the frail elf sobbed.

“What is this? A bug?”

Albus, checking Rudera’s system, noticed a player who had fallen out of the map into some outer space.

“Strange. There shouldn’t be any bugs.”

There was no way a player’s authority would allow them to break through the map.

If that were possible, Rudera would have been a chaotic mess from bugs long ago.

Well, I’d better get her out of there.

With his authority, Albus touched Aura’s level.