TN: Please read my translations only on my website nyx-translation.com since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi, and join our Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!
Sponsored chapter by Patreon. Enjoy~
TL: ALT
Chapter 201 – Day 32 of Management Life
The ancient city of Yggdrasil, also known as Midgard, was in ruins. The grown “Migrating” monsters flew about, wreaking havoc. They devoured everything down to the bones, uprooted trees to their roots, and scattered clumps of earth everywhere.
The “Migrating” monsters, such as griffins, already had the imposing bodies of adults. Gargoyles, which were larger than humans, charged forward with gleaming eyes. Flocks of harpies circled overhead, practicing flying higher. Their bodies were clearly twice the size of the dungeon dwellers.
While the inhabitants of the demonic land were capable of countering the monsters, the dungeon dwellers seemed to lack the means to do so.
“What do they eat to grow so big?”
“I heard it was a mass attached to the root. Apparently, among the plants originating from the botanical dungeon, there’s a species that forms root masses to store magic and nutrients.”
Katan explained, showing us an overturned tree root. The root was mostly eaten away, bearing teeth marks and beak gouges.
“Who told you that?”
“The dungeon director, of course. How would I know such things?”
“So that’s why the ground’s been dug up?”
Plants in the demonic land grow back quickly. The only real problem is that the dungeon dwellers can’t move west anymore.
“The dungeon dwellers just have to endure until the monsters’ migration begins. Since it’s grown this big, will it return to Cliff Garuda before winter?”
“The full moon is in about two days…”
Jennifer said this while deflecting an attacking gargoyle.
“The sea is at high tide, and the wind is light.”
Lipa also seemed to think the migration would start in two days.
“How many days until the giant magical beasts attack?”
“About thirteen days.”
Hel seemed to have counted the three months properly.
If a disaster-level giant magical beast appears, the monsters in the Midgard ruins will have a better chance of surviving.
“The ‘Migration’ starts on the day of the full moon. Let’s prepare what we can. If the ‘Migration’ takes two days, we won’t have much time. We need to tell Cliff Garuda, too.”
“Makyo-san…”
Katan tugged on my arm.
“What is it?”
“I brought seeds from the Botanical Dungeon, and I want to try growing them in this barren land.”
Even in the demonic land, an area with this many clumps of earth is rare. I understood her desire to try growing new plants while she had the chance.
“Sounds interesting. Go ahead. Ah, but…”
I looked at the leather pouch containing the small dungeon.
“Is it still dangerous? I actually asked Katan-chan to check it for me!”
Jennifer started confessing on her own.
“No, that’s not what I meant. The dungeon egg in the pouch hatched, so I don’t think I can enter the dungeon. Be careful.”
“Can’t you enter a dungeon within a dungeon?”
Hel asked.
“Yeah, but you’d lose track of which dungeon you’re in. Plus, the dungeon itself would reject it. That’s how I managed to avoid dying in the Magic Stone Mine dungeon.”
“You…you almost died again!? How the hell do you even die with that Makyo body!?”
For some reason, Sylvia started punching me. It seems she wants to kill me. Please don’t kill me out of curiosity.
“Should we open the room with the teleportation magic to Midgard written on it soon?”
Deep within the cave, there’s a room with a magic circle drawn on the floor. It’s sealed off because it’s dangerous, but it’s time to bring in wheat and vegetables.
“The captains from the training facility brought supplies to the entrance. I’ll move them in later. More supplies should be coming, so if anyone sees them, it’d be a big help if you could move them in.”
“Got it. We’ll handle night patrols.”
Hel and Sylvia planned to head home and sleep.
“Then, the rest of us should go inform Cliff Garuda.”
Katan, Jennifer, and Lipa headed toward the Botanical Garden dungeon.
Chel and Kahiman remained behind.
“We should tell Saketsu and the others, too!”
Kahiman said, clenching his fist.
“Yeah, if we don’t tell the golems, the base dungeon might get covered in shit.”
We retrieved the relief supplies piled at the entrance and carried them deeper into the cave. Roughly two wagonloads’ worth.
Hel and Kahiman carried them to the teleportation room to prevent the magic circle from activating.
“All right, let’s get ready and head out.”
I put jerky, bread, a waterskin, and a sunshade cloth into my bag.
“Is there anything else we need?”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Kahiman? Can you keep up with our speed?”
“You can run surprisingly well, right?”
“I’ll do my best.”
After breakfast, Chel, Kahiman, and I set off. Having traveled to the desert many times before, I vaguely knew the usual route.
We dodged familiar monsters, such as Rock Crocodiles, Lamias, and Golden Bats, and carefully bypassed the Arachne nests.
We climbed cliffs, passed through caves, and leaped over swamps. Finally, we reached the edge of the forest.
All three of us were moving at nearly the same speed, but only Chel seemed tired.
“Why do you think that is?”
“Probably overusing her magic.”
“I think so too.”
I whispered to Kahiman. Chel’s magic usage seemed terribly inefficient.
“Chel, you’re wasting a lot of magic power. Aren’t you getting tired?”
Chel, who was nibbling on a cam berry, was breathing heavily. Maybe the fatigue was building up after the curse was lifted.
“I know my magic usage is different from yours, but I don’t know how to fix it, okay?”
“Because you haven’t met the Sealing Clan.”
Kahiman stepped in to help.
“Yeah, it’s not just about using magic power; you need body control, too. It’s not about using as much magic power as possible. It’s easier if you just circulate and use only what you need.”
Chel seemed determined to use magic, repeatedly spewing flames from her body.
“Each finger has a purpose. When you channel magic power through your bones…”
“Aligning your knees and big toes makes it easier.”
I patiently explained what I’d learned from the old man of the Sealing Clan. Since Chel was a veteran of the demonic land and a demon herself, it would be embarrassing to teach her magic usage in front of everyone. Only in front of Kahiman and me, who were skilled with magic, could she afford to fail repeatedly.
“Why is Kahiman so good at manipulating magical power even though he barely uses spells?”
“Well… I don’t really know…”
“Kahiman’s good at hiding, so he observes a lot. You can kind of see the flow of magical power, right?”
“Maybe.”
“He carefully watches others and adjusts himself.”
“Even if I adjust, I can’t be like Makyo-san.”
Kahiman waved his hands emphatically and said, “No way, no way.”
“I’m not trying to be like Makyo either, but it’s true—using your body and magic in a way that’s easier for you. I totally get that.”
Chel said earnestly to Kahiman.
“All right, then! Let’s practice right here in the desert!”
Refocusing their determination, they stepped into the desert.
Thud!
Had she miscalculated her magic? Chel spun around and around as she flew off into the distance of the desert.
Suddenly, a Poison Scorpion the size of a cow burst out of the sand.
Kahiman and I leaped up and severed the scorpion’s tail with our magic-infused fingers. However, its pincers still lunged at Chel.
Crack!
In an instant, the Poison Scorpion froze solid and turned pure white.
“Hah! Magic power is important, but spells are important, too.”
“Yeah.”
I had mostly dealt with monsters using a rotation of magic power and cubes, while Chel relied on spells. Neither was inherently superior. You just used whichever you were good at.
Kahiman grumbled that, since he wanted to be a trapper, he had to memorize monster tracks, droppings, and magic circles.
“There’s only so much you can memorize in a day. You’ll forget it.”
“You’ll memorize it eventually, whether you like it or not.”
Attacked by sandworms, we headed toward the desert base.
We told the golems that the “migrating” monsters might arrive in about two days, and then took a lunch break. While teaching Saketsu techniques, the golems, whose ability to take human form had improved, seemed concerned about their appearance. They tried to recreate muscular bodies and enlarge their chests.
“It’s fine to get your ideal body, but if it makes it hard for you to move, then it defeats the whole purpose of being a golem.”
My words seemed to hit home with the golems, and they froze solid.
“Nah, coming from an adventurer who was all flab and sag, a soldier’s body is more than impressive enough—it’s the kind of physique you’d have right before dying. No need to worry about appearances.”
As I said this, sand began falling off the golems’ bodies, and they gradually transformed into average-sized bodies.
“Saketsu, be careful—bird droppings are falling in huge quantities.”
“Understood. Makyo-san, actually, there’s something I’d like you to see…”
“What is it?”
“Just a moment!”
Saketsu brought a large ship with a big sail from deep within the dungeon, accompanied by the golems.
The hull was flat, and the deck was wide. It appeared capable of carrying a substantial amount of cargo.
“I haven’t drawn the magic circle yet, and it’ll require magic power to operate, but I’m designing a ship that can travel across sandy terrain for desert transport.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
“Would it be all right if I tried making it?”
To me, it looked almost finished already.
“Oh, of course. It’ll be useful for the demonic land, too. Go ahead and do what you want.”
“Thank you.”
“Next time, you should ask Hel to teach you magic circles.”
Gradually, everyone is finding what they want to do. Though they were initially bewildered by the harsh environment, once they can eat proper meals, sleep well, and work, they might find their roles in the demonic land.
“The demonic land’s lord’s role is simply to support everyone. I hope it doesn’t end up like that.”
“It won’t. Let’s do our jobs properly.”
“Yes.”
We left the military base and headed south without pause. The afternoon heat was intense, but we kept running, wrapped in sun-protective cloth.
As we watched the chains leading to the Sky Island, we suddenly found ourselves being chased by a sandworm, and we broke into a sweat. The sweat mixed with the sand, turning our hair and bodies a sandy color.
We reached the ruins before sunset.
“Desert nights get cold.”
“Should we press on?”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
We pushed southward and climbed the cliff in one go.
The Cliff Garuda Forest had springs and monsters eager to be our dinner.
Even when we bathed naked, the plants didn’t attack.
A crescent moon rose in the sky.
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!