episode_0190

I was forgetting the biggest premise.

It was true that people can be easily deceived by what they see.

The energy source of ancient demon researchers incorporated into the magic derivative strongly attracts targets with a specific magic vibration.

The reason why Mariel did not actually test various values to find out the exact magic vibration of the Demon King’s soul.

If the magic vibration of the derivative was aimed at humans or demons rather than the demon king’s soul and operated, another disaster would occur.

And the fact that it had such a risk was also proof that the magic derivative had excellent guidance performance.

We activated the magical energy derivative precisely targeting the Demon King’s soul.

Although it was damaged to the point where it could never be used again due to amplifying its power too much, it definitely worked.

In that case, of course, it had to be assumed that the demon king’s soul would not move and would approach the place where the magic derivative was located.

However, I had been seduced by the large number of monsters that suddenly began to invade from the northern part of the continent, and had not even considered the possibility that the demon king’s spirit was approaching through a different route.

Even if you firmly believe that the Demon King’s Soul is somewhere in the sea of monsters flooding in and look for it, wouldn’t it be natural to not be able to find it if you’re approaching it through an invisible underground?

As I recited to myself the conclusion I had come to from listening to the narration, Sylphy looked up at me and asked.

“Underground… … Ramen, do you mean underground? Is there something there?”

“Think about it. The Demon King’s Spirit has already started its activities. And since the magic inducer has been activated, the Demon Lord’s soul must be coming towards Kubel. But both in the demon world and in this kingdom… … I can’t see anything that looks like the devil’s soul. That’s only one possibility.”

I summarized and told Sylphy exactly what I had just thought in my head.

Sylphy asked me back with an expression of still unanswered questions.

“But wouldn’t it be possible that the demon king’s spirit is hiding behind the monsters, waiting for his time? Or, if they don’t show up at all and plan to use monsters to attack the kingdom… … .”

“No, magic derivatives are not those things. I don’t think I can relax and move strategically even if I’m affected by it. At Calozium, the demon facility where the energy source for magic derivatives was discovered, there was a demon test subject that had properties most similar to the actual demon lord soul. Do you know what that demonic test subject was doing next to the energy source of the magic derivative?”

“Umm… I’m not sure.”

“I was not doing anything, I was just staring at the energy source. As if trying to protect the most important thing in this world. It’s like it’s your own treasure, blocking everything that comes near. It seems like I went for an incredible amount of time without eating or sleeping. That means the influence of the magic derivative is so strong that it cannot be resisted.”

I recalled the scene when I first reached the original source of the magic derivative created by Mariel, that is, the central device of Calogium.

The appearance of a dried and twisted demonic specimen empty-handedly guarding the side of the central device.

That was the reason why the dangerous test subjects in Calosium did not run out even though an enormous amount of time had passed.

The test subjects there were all beings with pseudo-demon souls in their bodies, and the central device was tuned to the magic frequency of the pseudo-demon souls, so the test subjects did not escape from Calogium.

There were still many questions about the original intentions of the demon scholars who created the device, but looking at it anyway, I thought it would be difficult for the demon king’s soul to resist its desire to approach the magic derivative.

“If you say what you said, the Demon Lord’s soul is already coming this way along with the monsters on the ground, right?”

“Yes. So it’s strange. Because the Demon King’s soul, which should be clearly visible, is nowhere to be seen.”

“What is the possibility of it being in the Demon World?”

“That may be possible. The continent is large, so honestly, even if you narrow it down to the underground, it’s hard to know where to look… … .”

『Just as Yunoa said, the continent was large. But it wasn’t difficult to specify the route.

Unlike the surface, where monsters could enter from anywhere, the routes through which they could enter the underground were limited.

The Demon King’s soul wandered around the demon world after being pulled out of Versella’s body.

And the destination the Demon King’s Soul is heading to now is the magic derivative in Kubel.

There were almost no underground passages leading from the Demon World to the area near Kubel.』

So, in order to move underground, it was necessary to use an underground passage.

It would be a different story if it came by digging into the ground like a tunnel worm, but listening to the narration, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

All I have to do is find an underground passage leading from the Demon World to around Kubel… … .

But is there such a long underground passage underground on this continent?

I think it’s normal to have something like a long cave underground… … .

No, it actually happened.

I shouldn’t look at this world with the common sense of the world I lived in.

When I accidentally fell through a hole in a ravine and fell into the demon world, there was an underground place I visited.

A demon who grew a mushroom containing life force on its head… … It is a village of the Karia tribe.

The underground passage leading from there to the Demon King’s Castle was very long and complicated.

On this continent, where such underground passages exist so casually, there was no way that there would not be other underground passages.

But the place we were was already in the northern part of the continent.

Is there a way to find an underground passage here where the Demon King’s soul might be heading to Kubel?

Even if there is, wouldn’t it be too long a way to go back?

Just as I was worrying about that, I heard the narration again.

『If I had a map of the continent, I could know the underground entrances and exits leading to all Kubels on the continent.

There is no way Yunoa, who is not prepared, would have a map.』

If you have a map of the continent, you can find out all the underground passages?

All the maps I’ve seen so far didn’t show any underground paths.

And of course I didn’t have a map right now.

“… … Who knew that something like this would suddenly happen… … .”

“Senior? Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m just talking to myself for a moment.”

“Have you forgotten something?”

Sylphy was worried about my self-talk.

Guidance… … How many people carry something like that with them all the time?

It’s not that I’m unprepared, it’s that it’s strange that I suddenly ask for guidance.

However, since the narration wanted a map of the continent, it was necessary to obtain a map from somewhere.

Anyway, if you go any further from here, you will only end up encountering a group of monsters on the ground and engaging in a meaningless fight.

Should I take the long way back to the defense line and see if anyone has a map?

But if there’s no map there… It’s a huge waste of time.

Maps of kingdoms are common, but maps depicting the entire continent are less common than you might think.

They say you can’t even use dog poop for medicine, and that’s exactly what I look like now.

“Map… If there was a map of the continent… … .”

I muttered with my head down.

It goes without saying that the longer I delay, the more victims the monsters will inflict.

I sighed involuntarily, thinking that something was going wrong.

But then─

“There is a map.”

“What?”

“Yes, there is. Always carry it with you.”

Sylphy said to me as she rummaged through the small leather bag she was carrying next to her.

“We need a map of the entire continent, not a map of the kingdom.”

“Yes, I have both. I have a map of the kingdom, a map of the entire continent, and even a map of the Demon World, although it is not accurate. Navigation is my specialty now, so having maps of various places is helpful. I also have maps near each major city.”

“What… what… … .”

How can there be such a sincere child?

I knew that after changing my weapon from a dagger to a bow, my talent blossomed and I have been working hard ever since.

The preparations are so thorough that they always carry maps of all parts of the continent.

Obviously, if navigation is your specialty, maps are helpful and worth carrying around.

At this moment, Sylphy is starting to look like the most capable adventurer in the world.

“You said you needed a map of the continent, right? Senior, here.”

Sylphy handed me a rolled up map from a small bag.

When I opened it, there was actually a map depicting the entire continent.

As I was drawing the whole thing, even the details other than the major cities were not marked, but it was an excellent map of the continent.

As soon as I unfolded the map of the continent and looked at it, I started hearing the narration again.

『Voices cannot draw pictures on a map, but it was possible through Yunoa’s magic.

All I had to do was recall the time when I was injecting the numbers to summon the demon lord’s spirit into the converter for Mariel.

He needs to be told these things one by one in order for him to understand, so I may have to cook and feed him his own meals later.』

Aside from the unnecessary words at the end, I still vividly remember that feeling.

I immediately closed my eyes and slowly let the magical energy flow onto the map.

Then, a will began to creep into my head, as if it wanted to draw a trajectory of magical power.

Instead of resisting that will, I followed my intuition and drew the trajectory of magical power on the map.

And when my mind became quiet again, I opened my eyes and saw the magic trace I had drawn on the map glowing purple.

“This is… … .”

On the map of the continent, certain routes are marked with my magic.

There is no doubt that this is the map of the subterranean continent that the narration was talking about.

It also showed only one of the few underground paths on the continent that only leads to the Kubel area.

With this, it is possible to fully predict the path of the demon king’s soul underground.

On the map, even the entrance to the underground was marked with bright magical dots.

“Senior… This… … What is it?”

Sylphy asked in surprise as she looked at the map shining with my magic.

well… this… What is this… … .

I was inspired by God to create an underground map… It’s a bit hard to say that… … .

“I read the ley lines of the continent with my magic power and marked on the map an underground passage where the demon king’s spirit could come. If the Demon King’s soul comes underground rather than above ground, it will probably come to Kubel through one of these routes. With this, you won’t have to search the entire underground of the continent.”

“Woo… wow… … .”

Sylphy stared at the map shining with magical power with a face of sincere admiration for my words.

And after a while, the narration spoke briefly.

『Yunoa was a liar.』

No, it can’t be helped.

Please just move on.

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