Chapter 95 : The Blessing & Disaster (Part 1)

'[The World Serpent, Jormungand], was known as one of the children of [the God of Mischief, Loki] who was also known as the son of [The God of War, Odin]. This story came from Norse Mythology, the place of Gods called [Asgard].'

'Jormungand was a serpent that encircled the land of Asgard. It was known as a gigantic serpent that could sprout deadly poison through its mouth and swallow everything that gets on its way.'

'Its tail could thrash the land, and its deadly venom is enough to kill all living beings when it touches them.' Rei explained.

'W-woah...' Ray who listened to this just simply gulped down his dry saliva.

'This is all from what I read in my old world...but for such a monster from a myth like that...would be here.' Rei thought of it.

'Not only that...it's a [Named Monster] like [Arachne].' Ray commented.

'[Arachne] is also the same...it came from a Greek myth in my old world, while [Jormungand] came from a Norse myth.'

'So both monsters' names come from your old world myth? And they are from different places?' Ray spoke.

'Mhm...I don't understand this at all...Yggdrasill, Jormungand, and Arachne...they are all myths from my old world!'

[Chatroom]

Ifrit : "I think you're losing the most important part here."

'That is?'

Ifrit : "Regarding this quest that was given to you."

'That's true.' Ray agreed.

'Aghhh, the question is...why would [The God of War, Odin] be the one who created this quest! Especially ordering me to fight this gigantic monster!'

'I rather choose [Arachne] because some of the parts are needed for a new bow, although [Jormungand] material is pretty tempting...but I can't think of a plan to defeat such a monster!' Rei complained.

'Right...since Bug type monsters like Arachne are weak against fire, from what I heard.'

Ifrit : "I don't know....this is beyond my authority ¯\_༼ ಥ ‿ ಥ ༽_/¯"

Ifrit : "What I can tell you is that...Odin is favoring you for naming his famous spear on your skill and the spirits of a warrior despite being a blacksmith. (⌐■_■)"

'And that doesn't mean he can throw me into this mess! Isn't that monster supposed to be his grandchild?!'

Ifrit : "I'm afraid you have to either refuse or accept this quest."

Rei sighed, 'ugh...'

While they were talking, Rei was in the middle of walking in the hall towards the treasury, guided by Eindride who's walking in front of him.

"What are you sighing so much for." Eindride asked him rudely, he looked displeased to be in this situation.

"Nothing, just some useless thoughts."

Eindride snickering, "Heh, if you think you are disappointed with the treasury we have, you better be ready."

"I never said that, and besides...why would I be disappointed by your Queen's generous offer."

"I know you humans are very fond of trickery, never call her name or her title ever again." Eindride's voice suddenly became heavier as he put a bit of pressure on it.

Rei stared at him, "It's her own choice...and besides, are you...a siscon?"

"A sis–what? is that some sort of chanting or something?"

"A siscon...it means you cared for your two sisters a lot" Rei spoke sarcastically.

"Hmmm...that is true, I do care about my sisters a lot, ever since Rurua's disappearance...I'll make sure I won't let my sister Erna disappear like her."

'I didn't mean like that...and somehow it got heavier.' Rei felt bad when he spoke like that and continued to walk.

Rei looked at him, "But that Rurua you talked about finally came back."

"Yeah...I was happy to see her again, that is why I won't let her disappear from my sight...especially when knowing you are her current leader."

"Well what an unexpected coincidence then."

"A coincidence? Someone as dangerous as you who also reeks of blood is her leader?" Eindride stopped and turned around to stare at him, "Even if you got my sisters' trust...I, Eindride would never trust someone like you."

"Why is that."

"Because you are just like me...you are someone who would kill to protect or to reach one's goal, creating a pool of blood everywhere you go." Eindride spoke as he leaned his head closer to him, glaring into his eyes.

"So after this...make sure you get away from my sisters."

Rei just stood there and stared into his eyes back coldly, "I'm not the one who decide that...and I'm not someone who would bow my head just because you told me so."

"Do you want to try?" Eindride suddenly grabbed his hilt as a greenish color of aura suddenly came out of his body.

Rei responded to him by letting out his red aura while his hand looked like it's about to reach something.

*SWOOSH*

*CRACK* *CRACK*

Their aura crashed against another in that hall, creating cracks on the floor and the wall around them.

*SWOOSH*

Until they stopped their action as their aura calmed down.

*CLINK*

Eindride sighed and turned around, "This isn't the right time to fight." as he put his sword back to his sheath.

Rei sighed, "I know." He replied right before they both continued to walk again.

"Let's hold the fight later, I want to know how strong you are." Rei spoke as he sped up his pace to walk by his side.

Eindride who was still looking at the front, said, "Sure, after everything is over...let's see who comes out on top."

The Adventurers team that walked from behind them was scared and couldn't move a step the moment they saw their clash of aura.

"T-that...was intense." Fang commented.

"I know Crimson-san is strong...but to think that person could stand toe to toe with him..." Andrew spoke.

"More importantly...do they forget that we're still here." Fang mentioned as the others nodded their heads.

Fang sighed, "Let's agree to not piss off Crimson or that guy again."

******

Meanwhile, Iris and her companion are now in the garden inside the castle. They are at the gazebo in the middle of that garden itself, surrounded with beautiful flowers of various colors and showered with a slightly bright light coming from the window above them.

Iris was sitting there on the seat prepared for them, face to face with Erna with two of her guards and Ruru standing beside her, Wlwhile Harson, Silvi and her brother Albert stood side by side with Iris.

"Now then, we can finally have a private talk~" Erna spoke with a smile.

"Yes it is, my Queen~" Iris replied with a smile.

"But I prefer us to be alone, if you all wouldn't mind~" Erna spoke as she directed her words to the guards and Ruru.

Ruru bowed a bit along with the two guards beside her, then they left to stand outside of the gazebo.

Iris picked up on her intention and glanced at her companions, even to her brother. Harson and Silvi would bow at her before they too left to stand on guard outside.

Albert tapped her shoulder, "I will wait for you."

Iris nodded and smiled, "Mhm, thank you onii-sama~"

He followed Silvi and Harson, leaving the two of them alone in the gazebo.

Erna smiled when she saw her companion left, then she snapped her fingers.

*TIK*

A barrier began to surround them.

Iris could notice what magic she is using, "I see...[Sound Barrier] is it."

"Ohhh~ you'rw quick to notice what kind of barrier this is~"

Iris smiled, "Of course I would, because I have experienced something quite similar~" Iris spoke, reminded of her and [The Witch, Matilda] first met.

When she knew of her secrets and used this kind of barrier to prevent their voices from being heard.

"Ara~ I see~ well then...I assume you want to have a private talk with me since yesterday, young lady Iris~" Erna spoke while taking a sip of her cup of tea.

Iris calmly took her cup and sip on it, "Yes, I have been waiting to talk with you~"

"Hmmm, is it about Crimson?"

*BUSSS*

Iris suddenly coughed on her tea and looked at her with a flustered look, "O-of course not!"

Erna giggled, "Fufufu~ i'm just joking, it's really fun to tease you girls when I pretended to snatch the guy you liked~"

"L-like–?! N-no, we just met a few days ago! We are just companions! Right! An Adventurer and his Client!" Iris tried to change her wording but somehow failed from the smile that Erna showed her when she tried to explain.

Erna giggled, "Yepp, definitely worth it~"

"M-my queen!" Iris stuttered

"Jokes aside, I know this is about these monsters right?" Erna spoke as her eyes got serious but her smile remained the same.

Iris regained her composure when the topic changed. She didn't answer it as her eyes were locked on her.

Erna giggled, "As expected...from the looks of it, it seems you knew these monsters more than we do."

Iris shook her head, "I cannot deny it."

Erna smiled when she looked upon her, "And it seems you have carried a big secret behind those words~" She spoke as her golden eyes suddenly glinted a bit.

Iris didn't move or react when she did that.

"And...you want me to check on you~" Erna spoke as her eyes turned back to normal.

"I want to know about myself, so I am here to give you some information regarding where these monsters came from and where I got it."

"In exchange...you want me to tell you your own condition using my [Soul Eyes]?" Erna spoke to her.

"Yes."

Erna sighed as she leaned back on her seat, "Hmmm, no one know the existence of this eyes except my family and your companion, Crimson...but it seems I have to add another one in the list~"

"It seems these days have become very interesting~" Erna spoke with a smile.

"So? Will you accept this deal?"

Erna smiled, "Fine, I'll listen to what you said and I will tell you what your condition is after that."

"That's fair enough." Iris replied.

"Now then, regarding these monsters, we already know their habits, nature and how they fight...but what we don't have is the origin of these monsters." Erna spoke.

"Now could you please...tell me, what kind of being they are and where did they come from." Erna asked.

Iris sipped on her tea for a moment, "They are a monster called [Chimera], an artificial monster that was created by mixing all kinds of monsters into one entity."

"[Chimera]...you mean the forbidden creature from ancient times that has been banned because of how it bends the nature of this world?"

"You mean those things are Chimera?!" When Erna spoke of it, her face became serious and at the same time her voice became louder.

Iris could only nod, "And the one who created them was none other than one of the [Six Underworld Kings]."

"The [Six Underworld Kings]? Isn't that the title of those criminals you humans spread?"

"That is correct."

"So a single human created those horrendous and ugly creatures like them?!"

Iris nodded again

"That is impossible, to create something like that requires manpowers, that person wouldn't be able to create such a thing alone."

"I never said she is alone."

"She? You mean a woman created them? And what do you mean by she's not alone."

"This may not be a 100% accurate assumption...but I think the one who got her the manpowers to create this creature...was one of the Kingdom you Elves hated so much." Iris spoke as she put her cup down.

Erna was confused about the last part, until she was able to guess it. "You don't mean..."

"Yes...our Kingdom, Luxion's rival...[The Great Human Empire, Axel]."

When she spoke that name, Erna suddenly released her magical power and a greenish aura began to surround her body and created a strong whirlwind around her

*SWOOSH*

Meanwhile, Iris remained calm in this situation.

"You mean that disgusting Empire was the one who caused this problem!? For how long they want to cause us trouble!?"

Erna's face twisted in anger, until a few seconds later she calmed down again.

Erna sighed, "This is beyond my expectations...we already suspected the Empire had a connection with this, but knowing we arrogantly shrugged everything, thinking we have superior knowledge by default, and decided to think that these monsters were birthed by nature...is what makes me feel disgusted."

Iris closed her eyes for a moment, "I know, this is hard to process but this is the truth...since you looked into my soul the whole time."

"Yes it is...but this leaves one question."

"Yes?"

"How did they manage to slip into this forest and put such giant monsters like that?" Erna spoke.

"I don't know how they managed to do it...but I think these monsters are failed experiments."

"Failed experiments? You called them failures?!"

"Yes, I assume they were thrown here when their body was still small and young...then it matured and evolved into hideous things that you saw now."

"How is that even possible..."

"Did you forget? They are monsters with names?"

"I…i see!" Erna guessed.

"Yes, along with their characteristics after being created by mixing multiple monsters, it made them different from normal monsters."

"Which also means they became stronger everytime they survived from dangers."

"So they grew larger...and evolved into those kinds of things you are all facing."

"Oh Great Tree, this is much more serious than I thought...to think a human could do something like that."

"I had faced one at the Kingdom, at the facility where they kept these monsters." Iris spoke.

"You had?"

Iris nodded, "Mhm, the one I have faced probably the strongest from these monsters since it carried the part of...One of The Four Generals of the Demon Lord."

"What?!"

"Yes, that is [The Ashura, Styx]."

"That is impossible! That monster is a Demon who destroyed many cities and with its body that contained poison and miasma, no human could possibly survive it!" Erna spoke.

"I also thought the same...but if it's that woman, it's possible."

"Who is this woman..."

"She is the woman who targeted your Kingdom for a long time. This woman is a respected noble from the Empire who also reigns the Underworld from behind the scene."

"Her name is...[The Femme Fatalle, Minerva]."

"Minerva."

"Yes...she is the woman who has been targeting me, and at the same time the one who conducted those awful things."

"Oh Great Tree...such a vicious woman." Erna was shocked that such a human existed.

"She has an innate skill which makes her immune to all kinds of poison, including the one at the Demon Realm. She's also an [Alchemist] which makes everything even more perfect."

Erna sighed as there's a lot of information that needed to be processed. "And you fought with this monsters she created using parts of that Demon? And you won?!"

"That is correct...but I must say I am lucky."

"And why do you think so? That thing is the strongest of all...I think you might be able to defeat these monsters with ease."

"That is the problem that I mentioned...that monster I faced before was far too young, it just achieved its evolution when being cornered by me. That is why it will be difficult to fight these monsters...who have been living here for several years, and matured after defeating all kinds of monsters around the forest."

Erna gulped when Iris explained that.

"We will be facing the real strength of the Chimera that is far stronger...than the one I faced." Iris spoke to her.

Erna sighed, "I see...I thank you for telling me this information."

Iris smiled, "We are going to form an alliance, so we must build a good relationship between our Kingdom right?~"

"That is true, you are a bright child, Iris~" Erna spoke as they both smiled to each other, as if now they achieved understanding of each other's means.

"Although, I won't lose to you~"

"Huh? Lose on what?"

Erna giggled, "Of course the one who will take our Crimson's heart~"

"O-our?!–w-wait, I don't have feelings for him!"

"Ara~ really?~ but your face said otherwise~" When Erna spoke, Iris' face could be seen turning bright red.

"Y-yes! And besides I have someone I like...so there's no point in liking others!"

Erna giggled, "I see I see~"

"N-now, since I had given you the information that you need...may I know the result from those eyes of yours." Iris quickly changed the topic.

Erna nodded, "I understand, but this might be a bit shocking for you."

"What do you mean?"

"What I am about to say...your soul right now...is unstable." Erna spoke.

Iris widened her eyes, "What?"

"Inside of your body, there are two souls that are trying to merge together."

'Two...souls?–' Iris could not hide her shocked face.

"May I ask you a question? Do you ever feel...like something is wrong with you?"

"L-like what?"

"Like...you suddenly acted like you were not yourself."

"Like myself?"

"For example, someone kind suddenly acted aggressively or you could say acting out of ordinary." Erna explained.

"I-i do...I guess."

"When was the first time you felt something like this?"

"Ummm...it's when I was fighting that monster."

"Which monster?"

"The Styx."

Erna's face got serious when she heard that, "Then can you explain to me now."

Iris nodded and began to explain about her recent behavior, especially what happened in that battle. About her change of personality, the power boost that could overwhelm a monster like Styx, and her cold villainess attitude that was getting much stronger each day.

She told her about her own innate skill that she had...which is the [The Villainess], an unknown skill that only Iris knew of the effect and no one else, she even told her about it.

She couldn't lie at this rate, because this is regarding her own safety. After explaining everything, she even told her about her unknown feelings towards Crimson when she first met him.

"I see..." Erna spoke after listening to her.

Iris was nervous, this is out of her field despite her working so hard on her studies to gather as much information about this world, as well as using her knowledge from her old world.

"Could you explain to me...what's going on?"

Erna looked at her, "It's nothing serious but...I shall explain it to you now."

Erna snapped her fingers as suddenly two small fire orbs popped out in front of her, the fire had two different colors. The right one is red and the left one is blue.

"Now then, you could say these are the souls that are within you now."

"You mean I have two souls?"

"Correct, the blue one is yours...and the red one is the other's."

"We don't know who this soul belongs to...but I am certain that it's trying to merge with yours." Erna spoke as the two fire in front of her began to mix, creating a swirl of slightly larger fire.

"H-how come?"

"I don't know the reason why it happened...but I think it's connected with the skill in your possession." Erna concluded.

"Huh? But that skill never tried to harm me, and it's the reason why I managed to keep my composure normal when under pressure."

"And that's what is weird about it...that one is not a skill but a habit of oneself."

"We living beings have this state where we could calm ourselves by training and enduring it...and I assume that this skill belongs to that very person's soul that is within you."

"It doesn't harm you but your mind thought otherwise. This soul within you now is sleeping under your care, sleeping within your own soul."

"We don't know when...or what could happen when she woke up again, just like before."

"That's certainly it...then what should I do? What is going happen to me?" Iris asked.

"I don't know...this is my first time seeing something like this, you might change into someone different when the soul finally merge into one...or you stay like you are now." Erna replied.

"I-i see..."

Erna glanced at her, "But the only advice I could give to you...is that you need to accept her for who she really is."

Iris went confused when she heard this, "Huh?Accepting it? Not...refusing it?"

"Yes...from what I see and listen to your story, I believe this soul is related to you and him."

"Me? And even Crimson?!"

"Yes, we don't know why or how, only time will tell you and after that...you must brace yourself to face the truth."

Erna finished her explanation after she snapped her fingers once again to erase the fire and then took a sip on her tea once again.

Iris sighed and took a sip of her own tea, "The truth...I see, my Queen is surely very calm after hearing something like this and thank you for telling me this all."

"Don't worry, we already had a deal and it's fair, beside...I had seen a similar case like yours."

When Iris about to took her cup, she stopped, "Huh? You do?!"

Erna gently brushed her lips with her index finger, "Yes, but the only difference between you and this person...is that the two souls within this person doesn't try to merge into one."

"But...they are accepting of one another and even cooperate."

"Cooperate?! Is that even possible?!"

"Yes, that person told me so...they discussed like any other person could do within their inside, they talk and trained themselves together....and even exchange memories together."

'Even memories?!–'

'And because of that, this person achieved something that no other living being could have." Erna spoke calmly while taking another sip of her tea.

Iris gulped, 'Is there really such a thing happening in the game...i have never heard of it...'

"Then...could you tell me who that person is?" Iris decided to ask.

Erna glanced at her, "No can do, it is a part of our contract, so I cannot tell you about her or his name, or where they're about."

"I see...that's too bad." Iris' shoulders slumped and felt a bit dejected. However, she finally knew about what happened to her own body now, and managed a small relieved smile but it was gone when her mind wandered to the identity of this mysterious person Erna spoke of.

Erna could tell simply by looking at her, "You don't have to worry about it, for at least I know that soul inside of you is not hostile to you and wants to help you on your journey."

"It wants to help me...on my journey?"

"Yes, it helped you every difficult situation right?"

"Ummm...that is true."

"That's why the only thing you must do now is to accept it for what it is...and certainly, you could achieve something higher than anyone could." Erna explained as the barrier around them began to dissipate.

"Higher...than anyone could." Iris continued to repeat her words as she was surprised to hear that.

"Now then, since this conversation is over, shall we head to the armory to prepare for your subjugation quest?" Erna spoke as she stood from her seat and offered her a hand.

Iris looked upon her and smiled, "Thanks...and I certainly do." Iris replied.

But after she grabbed her hand to stand from her seat.

Someone came into the garden in a hurry.

"M-my Queen!" One of her soldiers came into the garden.

"What happened?" Erna asked him with an annoyed glare since this guy just ruined such a good moment.

"There's a problem within the armory room!"

"What problem?!"

"T-the....t-the..."

"The what?!"

"[The Mysterious Flame] that was within the forbidden area inside of the armory room was..."

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"Was what?!" Erna hurried him to continue his words.

.

.

.

.

"I-it was stolen my Queen!"

"Stolen?! Who is the fool that dare to stole our things from armory?!"

"I-it was b-by...by none other than that Adventurer!

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Crimson!"

When the soldier spoke of his name, they widened their eyes in shock.

'Crimson...what have you done?'

To be continue…