Chapter 113: 113 Pinnacle of Motherhood, the Empress!
I walked through the underground passages. I shook my head at the sour and astringent smell. I should be used to it by now. Ugh, damn it.
"I can’t get used to this smell. I thought the capital’s underground passages would be different, but they’re even dirtier. Is this what a city is like, after all?"
I let out a small laugh. Relying on my memory, I headed towards where the hidden piece was supposed to be.
Surprisingly, this place seemed untouched by cultists. First, there were no traces of those bastards.
"They would have made it into a hideout like Weaverpool. But then again, it’s tough here too."
The capital’s underground passages are vast, so humanoid monsters are mostly found there. Among those humanoid monsters, there were many extremely dangerous ones. Like Shadow Stalkers, a goblin variant, or Flesh-Severers, an orc variant, and so on.
This was a place where such monsters could appear. That’s why the Imperial Palace only managed up to the entrance of the underground passages and didn’t bother sending soldiers all the way down here.
"I only want to see things like this in games. Ugh, it makes me lose my appetite."
I thought about covering my nose, but it was futile. What could I do about what was already inside? Why doesn’t invincibility block things like this?
I could feel the air gradually becoming damp. The atmosphere also grew much darker.
Shrrrk!
I heard a presence. I turned my head, wondering if it had appeared.
Krr-r-r-r!
What appeared was a wyvern, a prime example of a C-rank monster. A wyvern with one wing severely torn was hanging from the ceiling, roaring.
"Hmph, you weren’t who I wanted. But still, nice to meet you?"
The wyvern swung its tail in lieu of a greeting. The tip of its tail was sharp as a blade.
The tail, gleaming coldly, flew towards me. But I just took the hit and advanced.
I staggered for a moment but pushed off the ground, closing the distance with the beast. As the wyvern was about to swing its tail again—
[Vane Severing Sword Style - White Lightning]
The wyvern roared and sacrificed one of its wings to block the White Lightning. Then, using its long neck, it opened its maw and lunged.
"What are you... huh?"
The beast bit my head. It shook me back and forth while holding me, and honestly, it didn’t hurt, it just felt disgusting.
I grabbed its lower jaw and asked,
"What the hell, you bastard. You stink like hell. Get it off, you fucking bastard?"
I delivered a front kick. The wyvern was stunned and crashed to the ground.
I descended towards the fallen wyvern and lightly wielded my sword.
[Vane Severing Sword Style - White Lightning]
[Enemy defeated!]
[Acquired 25000 Collector Points (CP)!]
That was easy. After harvesting its parts, I obtained its hide, bones, and teeth.
"There’s no way I’d struggle with just this much, right? The one I’m trying to catch is a B-rank monster."
I advanced.
As I moved forward without hesitation, I came across an open space with strange liquids splattered here and there.
The white, sticky substance looked like cum, but it didn’t smell like chestnut flowers. A faint sky-blue liquid was noticeably abundant.
"Finally... I found it!"
Among slimes, there’s a legendary Pokétmon-level one. That’s the Aether Slime!
『Side Quest - Aether Slime』
-Objective: Defeat the Aether Slime.
-Reward: 10000 CP, The Bitter Cold of the Western Natives
Along with the quest, the crouching beast appeared.
Outwardly, it was a 3-meter tall, sky-blue slime. Its very existence was semi-transparent, and it had an aether defense mechanism, making it immune to physical damage.
Furthermore, its habitat wasn’t fixed, making it a truly rare sight. However, it was said to appear almost exclusively near battlefields, as if it sought out war zones.
"That’s how I was able to pinpoint its location!"
I approached the beast. It might not take physical damage, but I’m different.
"Hmm hmm hmm, hmm!"
As I hummed and approached, the slime seemed to tense up, wary of me. Then, feeling a threat, it inflated its body.
[Electric Shot]
An electric shot swept past me. So what?
"That’s a 3rd Circle magic, right? Yeah, it’s meaningless."
I kept approaching. Sky-blue energy began to envelop and swirl around the slime’s entire body.
That was aether. It was a natural energy originating from a planet, not from space. A similar substance would be Kahlum. Probably.
The slime bound that aether into one mass and then launched it into the air. I watched to see what it was doing—
It fell as lightning. Transforming aether to wield high-level magic was the Aether Slime’s specialty.
"Yeah, sorry, but it doesn’t hurt. Because I’m invincible. Really, my bad."
I offered a casual apology and charged. The slime thickly transformed its entire body. That was also magic.
[Heavenly Barrier]
I simply broke through it. The semi-transparent body of the slime trembled greatly. A laugh escaped me as the slime, having lost a quarter of its body, retreated.
"Try harder, friend."
[Vane Severing Sword Style - Pruning]
Sseogeok, Pukwakakakakak!
I utterly turned it into a rag. But then, an impact came from behind.
"Hmm?"
In an instant, I was trapped inside a giant cube of sky-blue liquid. I could move my body around, but any further action was difficult.
I knew what this was.
"Haa, one of the Aether Slime’s ultimate moves. Absorption."
Everything around me was sky-blue, but this was the aether energy enveloping me, trying to make me a part of the slime. That’s why the color was becoming even more intense.
"Oh well, it’s pointless."
I gripped my sword and swung it in all directions. I didn’t need any techniques or anything.
I was invincible, and I had a title that allowed me to cut through anything.
I broke through the cube and came out again. The slime trembled all over, letting out a sound similar to a shriek.
It filled the entire open space with sky-blue energy.
"Oh... pretty, isn’t it?"
Suddenly, the beautifully glowing sky-blue energy turned bright red and became a catalyst for an explosion.
A powerful explosion that shook the open space occurred. Just before being caught in the blast, I trusted my invincibility and tried to endure, but I was surprised.
The edges of my clothes disintegrated, and my arm felt hot.
"What, it even pierces invincibility? Ah, aether is a unique energy like Kahlum!"
Unique energy, natural energy. These were concepts so rare and little-researched that they were said to exist above the laws of the world.
But what did I have?
I returned into the ring. Once inside, I saw women surrounding Lynn and talking.
"Oh my, she’s female, but her muscles...?"
"I’d squeeze him dry all day long♥"
"Oh, big sis, really. Still, Lucian’s is the best♥"
"My nephew is mine, you brats."
I stared blankly at the women for a moment. What were they doing when I wasn’t around?
"Wait, how many seconds have passed?"
The Aether Slime’s ultimate move, Apocalypse. It was a dangerous ability that caused a massive explosion for 5 seconds.
It should be over by now.
I returned to reality once more. I was fine.
The slime, thinking I had disappeared in the explosion, was slumped over. Is this really the time to let your guard down?
Its core was visible at close range.
"It was fun, goodbye!"
[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Pierce]
The core was pierced and shattered. The slime trembled and tried to dye the open space sky-blue again.
"Oh no, you don’t! No-no. This time, it’s my turn!"
[Vane Severing Sword Style - Pruning]
With the sword still embedded, I performed Pruning. The slime was butchered in all directions, reduced to mere fragments of liquid monster.
[Enemy defeated!]
[Acquired 35000 Collector Points (CP)!]
Done.
[Side Quest ’Aether Slime’ Cleared!]
[Acquired 10000 CP as reward!]
[Acquired Special Byproduct: The Bitter Cold of the Western Natives!]
Despite its name, this was a special byproduct that could cure incurable diseases. It was incredibly rare, something even the Imperial Palace didn’t possess.
Well, that’s why it was a hidden piece.
As I was about to leave, something glowed where the slime had been. Thinking it was a gem, I approached and found something curious.
"Oh, this?!"
It was a small, pink vial. What was it, you ask?
A powdered aphrodisiac.
Holy shit. To think I’d see this, why is it here?
"Awesome. Wait a minute. What if I do this instead?"
I’d been itching to ’have’ the Empress for a long time anyway. To have the woman at the pinnacle of the world. Just that alone would be known for generations... which would be problematic, I guess.
"With this, my goal will be easily achieved, won’t it? Hehehe."
My Debauched Hero-style instincts emerged. I applied the powdered aphrodisiac to the special byproduct and returned to the Imperial Palace.
My heart pounded. Like a mischievous imp preparing a grand prank.
I explained the full details to the Butler.
"My father told me about this. Please, make use of it!"
"...I’ve heard of it before. To obtain such a precious thing. Lucian, you are a hero sent by the heavens!"
The Butler rushed off to use the special byproduct with the powdered aphrodisiac on it.
All I had to do was wait.
I waited leisurely in my quarters, laughing sinisterly. What could I do when this kind of laugh kept coming out?
One hour later.
"Lucian, you amazing fellow! Her Majesty the Empress has recovered. Her breathing has returned to normal, and her complexion has improved!"
"That’s a relief!"
"Haa, Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you. It is an honorable moment, so do not refuse."
"I’d be grateful. It’s an honor."
I followed the Butler towards the Empress. How great would it be if the plan proceeded smoothly? Kekeke.
As I walked, people around me stared only at me. It seemed the news had spread, and they couldn’t help but admire me.
"Is that Reiner the Hero’s grandson?"
"Indeed, what an incredible feat. They say he cut down tens of thousands of cultists by himself? Truly, a cultist butcher."
"And this time, he even saved the Empress. Hyaa, what must it feel like to live as Lucian?"
"I’m a noble, but I envy that man!"
As I ascended higher and higher, I laughed inwardly.
"Now, shall I ’have’ the mother of this nation?"
I licked my lips, maintaining my expression. Finally, the Butler stopped.
