Will I End Up As a Hero or a Demon King (WN)

Chapter 248

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Chapter 248 – A Scene I’ve Never Seen Before

Day two of the search.

I was sleeping in a hole that I had dug into the wall when I was awakened by Alicia’s presence. She had returned.

The sky had just begun to lighten, and despite the embers still burning, I felt a piercing cold and couldn’t help but sniffle.

I had asked to be woken up first thing in the morning so that we could make the most of the time while Alicia’s vision wasn’t obstructed.

After eating a quick meal as planned, we set off immediately.

As we crossed mountains and valleys, we confirmed that the terrain was gradually becoming rougher the farther south we went.

It wasn’t nonstop flying. Once we entered the fourth layer, a C-rank hunting ground, I started hunting.

It wasn’t for any new skills; rather, monsters began to appear that would allow me to raise my skill level a little.

The monster habitat in Palmera is quite extensive, which makes hunting there much less efficient than in other areas.

So I only hunted a little.

If I couldn’t raise my level anywhere else, though, I could always come back here.

Then, around noon, just as we thought it was about time, we sensed something strange in our field of vision, so we stopped moving.

“Huh, what’s that?”

“Can you see it, Loki-kun? I don’t have any skills, so all I can see is something flying.”

“Yeah, I kind of get it. It’s a black monster with slender, goblin-like features and large wings. There’s another type, too—fewer in number, but more like blue birds. I think they’re bigger.”

We’ve seen flying monsters before, like bees and bats, but this is the first time we’ve seen monsters flying so high in the sky.

When I heard the word “intercept,” I assumed an attack would come from the ground.

I even considered the possibility that ancient survivors were using magic or weapons to shoot them down.

But, looking at this scene, I nodded in agreement.

They were taken down by their own kind.

If they specialized only in flying, then it’s true that they couldn’t go any further.

“Alicia, can you follow me? I’ll go ahead and take care of any monsters that come near.”

Well, it doesn’t concern us.

“Are you sure?”

“I think so. They have some hard-to-judge skills, but I think I can predict most of their attacks.”

They give off a stylish and cool vibe. I’m guessing they’re gargoyles. They’re the physical attack type, characterized by claws and bites.

The blue birds are probably using ice magic to hinder our movements and assist the gargoyles.

My magic power is gradually decreasing due to the combined use of Storage and Flight, but it’s still sufficient for now.

That’s why I chose to camp out in the wild and conserve my magic instead of returning to town.

―Ignition―

“Let’s go!”

I see the monsters rising from the forest, thinking I’m their prey. I can’t help but smile.

I used to think Palmera was inefficient, but up here in the open sky, with nothing obstructing us, it might actually be a decent hunting ground!

(Let’s enjoy this!)

As if to say, “You’re the bait!” I charged straight at the monsters that had begun to gather.

▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽

(Just a little more! Just a little bit more!)

Despite what I was thinking, I continued to cut down the monsters in front of me.

It was the fourth day of our exploration.

We were still in the fifth layer.

The monsters blocking our path weren’t strong.

The two types of flying monsters swarming around us were quickly defeated by my sword, so that was for sure.

But—

“Gyaaaahhhhh!!”

Buh…

“”…””

I’ve arbitrarily named this one a gargoyle, and the scream it lets out as it dies is quite intense.

Whether I pierce its chest or cut off its neck, there’s a low chance it will let out a terrifying scream when I kill it.

The scream echoes throughout the area, causing the forest to shake for a moment and the gargoyles and blue birds within range to float into the sky.

This skill is called Final Scream.

When I first saw the skill, I thought the name was scary, but when it was used, it was terrifying in a different way.

“Oh no! There are so many enemies. I can’t stop!”

I’m sure I was smiling when I said that.

Alicia has repeatedly teased me, saying, “Loki-kun, you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

But I can’t stop; I can’t quit.

Actually, if I go even higher—around 1,000 meters above the ground—the gargoyles won’t follow.

I already knew that, so if I wanted to avoid them, I could move to a higher position and only occasionally deal with the blue birds.

However, I’m extremely weak in environments like Call to Assembly, where monsters gather and increase my efficiency.

I don’t have the luxury of collecting materials. I think I’m an idiot, but…

‘You have acquired Flight Lv8.’

“Aahhhh!!”

With results like this, it’s no wonder efficient hunting grounds are so popular.

I immediately leveled up after reaching the target level for the skill I had been aiming for.

I bowed three times in midair to Alicia, who stared at me coldly.

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting! I’ve finally reached the target level, so we can finish!”

“It’s already been three days, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, I’m very sorry! But listen: My magic power increased by 400! Isn’t that amazing? It’s amazing, right?”

I continued to grind, even though I had stopped exploring, because I wanted to prioritize the efficiency of Flight.

That was a big part of it, but more importantly, Flight’s bonus stat was Magic Power II, which applies to special skills.

It’s in the same high-tier special slot as the top-tier blessings, Divine Communication and Mapmaking.

The normal bonus stat for level 8 is 100, but it’s doubled to 200 with Magic Power and doubled again to 400 with Magic Power II, bringing my maximum Magic Power to over 4,500.

Given my goal of maximizing my total magic power, this is an incredibly attractive and substantial number.

With this much magic power, I think I could cover a certain range of round-trip travel to and from town on my own.

“I can see why Feeril is so worried.”

“Huh! It’s okay now! There’s no other hunting ground this good, so it’s okay!”

A burst came from the top of my head.

How many hours did I spend telling stories about the wonders of Earth to keep her happy while doing acrobatic backflips?

“Ah…”

Alicia suddenly reacted as if she were surprised.

“Oh? Did we finally reach the sixth layer?”

I turned around, thinking so, but… Hmm?

We had already passed the fifth layer, and there were no monsters flying in the sky.

Instead, Alicia reached out her hand and expressed her feelings for the first time.

“I…I think I like it there.”

Following her gaze, I saw two terraces of different heights.

How far south would that be on the map?

The land rose 200 to 300 meters high, and isolated cliffs stretched endlessly to the left and right.

To the right—the western part of the map—there was a range of mountains that seemed even higher than the ones we had seen earlier. Many of the peaks were shrouded in clouds and were impossible to see.

But I think this is what caught Alicia’s interest.

In front of us, we could faintly see a waterfall flowing down from the high ground. Below the plateau, there was a lake so large that it couldn’t be called a waterfall basin.

One of the two rivers extending from the lake flowed toward us.

As it was just about sunset, I was speechless for a moment at the unfamiliar scene.

Perhaps she was concerned about my reaction.

“If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else…”

“No, I think this is fine.”

I answered without hesitation.

“Eh?”

“I don’t know… I can’t imagine a better place than this.”

The terraces with varying elevations stretched out to the north and south, and as far as the eye could see, they were covered with lush forests.

Felin and Feeril’s conditions had been met at this point, and with these two terraces, I might be able to create the “division of labor” I had in mind.

It’s hard to say what Ria finds interesting because it’s a matter of personal taste. However, if she wants strong monsters, I can figure that out right away.

“Let’s check out the monsters.”

“Ah!”

Unable to wait any longer, I quickly descend.

I activate Investigation to search for monsters. As soon as I sense one, I use Insight to leap in front of it.

“Wow… Ril and Carla will agree, right?”

“Ubooo…”

It’s beatable, but definitely strong.

The creature standing before me is about ten meters long.

It’s a giant elephant with black skin, sharp tusks, and yellow, cloudy eyes looking down at me.

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