Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue

Satou here. When busy, and small tasks begin to accumulate, I often forget them and end up in a rush. Nowadays, I have something that reminds me what to do, so that rarely happens anymore.

“Sorry I’m late.”

I apologized to my friends as they all hugged me in greeting. When I checked on how they were doing, I noticed there were more and more high-ranking demons popping up, and I was in a panic. In the rush to unleash the barrage of reflective lasers, part of the forest caught in the cross fire with the high-ranking demons was reduced to scorched earth.

“Is everything fine on your end?”

“Eh, I guess.”

The adventurers who had been fighting the undead earlier took quite a bit of time to retreat, delaying me.

“The Tauruses didn’t stampede, so everything is fine with that, at least.”

“Did you take all of them out?”

“Nah, I didn’t want to get in the way of everyone leveling up so I blocked the gate using Wall and made it so they couldn’t get out.”

I made sure the Tauruses couldn’t get out so easily by blocking the gate with a thick sixty-five-foot wall, then used Hard Clay to strengthen it even more. If they still made it out after that, then we’d just have to take down their leaders, the general and the lords. We could buy some time until the next leader appeared, and a Taurus without a leader made for a good hunt target.

“It looks like you guys had a hard time here.”

I listened to them tell me about their battle with the high-ranking demon as I transferred mana to them using Mana Transfer. Arisa and Mia had increased their MP lately, so halfway through, I had to recharge my own mana with a battery.

“That reminds me! Master, could you look for Fenrir? I doubt you caught him in the cross fire.”

“It’s fine. I sent a golem out.”

It was a lightweight golem made from a theory of Goddess Karion. It wouldn’t bring the Divine Beast here, but it would deliver some healing potions to him.

“Master, the fortress function took a beating, I declare.”

Ugh, really?

“Are you hurt?”

“No, Master. Shall I take off my armor so you can inspect it? I ask.”

“N-no, Nana!”

“Shameless.”

Perhaps because I hurriedly touched Nana’s body over her armor, the two members of the Iron Wall reacted with extraordinary reflexes. I could see from the AR display that Nana wasn’t injured, so she was probably fine.

“It must have been difficult not having Fortress, right?”

“No, Master. We were able to recover with Castle.”

I’m glad but I think the reason the Fortress function ended up banged up was because the Castle function was incorporated. Although I’ve conducted several operational tests pushing it to its limits, that’s no excuse. We need to improve the safety circuits even more.

“Master, is the battle at the fortress city over?”

“It looks like it. Oh, look, Ms. Tia is here.”

I checked my map as Arisa spoke, and sure enough, there was a marker with the name Ms. Tia making her way toward us. I changed my appearance to the hero Nanashi as I waited for her to arrive.

“Master, she’s in Great Sorceress mode.”

She was wearing a decorated robe and holding a staff, and her hat was so big, it covered her eyes and hid her face.

“Was it your magic that defeated the high-ranking demon?”

“Yes, Great Sorceress Arcatia.”

Tia made an attempt to lower the pitch of her voice, so I followed suit.

“True hero, I thank you for your assistance. We will hold a feast to celebrate.”

“Thank you. But there’s somewhere I need to be. Please hold the feast for the other adventurers, though.”

“I see. In that case, I will not stop you. But please, take this.”

Ms. Tia handed me an amulet. It had a variety of runes carved into it, and it sparkled gold.

“What is this?”

“It’s a healing talisman. Those who yield great magic should value it.”

“Are you sure I can have this?”

“Please. Such an item is useless to me, who is in harmony with the source.”

“In that case, I thank you.”

I accepted the amulet and showed it to my friends using Magic Hand, as I also lifted myself up into the air, too.

“Well, I’ll be off.”

I waved at Ms. Tia, and I used Return and left the area.

“Mr. Satou!”

I finished changing and brought the whimpering Fen, who was now as small as a puppy, back to Arcatia. Roro and the hamsterfolk children enthusiastically greeted me when I got back.

“I’m back, Roro.”

“I’m glad Lulu and the others are all safe!”

My friends also greeted Roro and the hamsterfolk children when they got back.

“Oh? And who is this?”

“He’s in our care, I declare.”

Nana spoke as Roro snuck a peek at the small wolf pup in Nana’s arms.

“We found him in the forest. We decided we’d look after him until he’s well again.”

“In that case, I will, too!” Roro declared eagerly, almost cutting in.

“That’s fine, but do you even like wolves or dogs?”

“Not really, but… When I was a child, I helped a similar kid in the forest. Since I was just a kid back then, I ended up leaving them in Ms. Tia’s care partway through,” Roro said, softly stroking Fen’s head.

The hamsterfolk children were either jealous or wanting attention, too, as they all gathered around Roro’s legs and pushed the tips of their noses up against her.

But, hmm. The wolf cub she helped back then was probably Fen. That explains his actions and him mentioning he owed her.

“Oh, he’s gotten so cute—”

Ms. Tia, who was now back in pupil mode, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She snuck a look at Fen and mumbled to herself.

“…Ms. Tia?!”

“Hey, Roro. I’m relieved you and the little ones are fine.”

Ms. Tia spoke to Roro, then shot us all a look.

“Tonight, we’re having a celebration party for those who defended the city, so you should come along. I’m sure all of you should be able to make it…right?”

As I thought, she found out who we really were. Well, it was fine. We figured out her true identity, too, so I doubt she’d go spreading the news about us.

“I would love to join with Roro and the others.”

“Good. I’ll prepare a table for you near the main area.”

Ms. Tia responded with a nod.

“Toooo-ho-ho-ho!”

There it was again—that villainess laugh. It was Lady Keri and her assistant, Tomali Toloole.

“You’re safe, Roro.”

“Keri! Were you worried about me?”

“N-not at all! I was just—! Yes! I just happened to see you, so I thought I’d grace you with my presence!”

Seeing Lady Keri panic, both Arisa and Mia exchanged looks, mumbling to themselves, “She’s in her tsundere arc” and “So cliché.”

“While there was some trouble, the competition still stands! The participant who gathered the two materials first is the winner!”

Lady Keri was trying hard to hide her embarrassment as she shouted and pointed at Roro.

“…Competition?”

“Yes, the competition we held to see who could gather the materials requested by the Great Sorceress first.”

Ms. Tia tilted her head in confusion, so Roro explained.

“Weren’t there three items?”

“We already had the parasite mushrooms, so we held a competition to get the remaining two items. I already got my hands on the underground lily, and all that was left was the masher frog tongue—”

I looked at Arisa. She wore a huge grin as she pulled the tongues out of the Item Box.

“Yeah, we have them.”

“WHAT? No way, that’s simply an illusion!”

Well, the undead stuff was literally yesterday, so it would be surprising to see we’d gotten the items despite all that.

“Huh? It’s the real thing. Do you really have the parasite mushrooms, too?”

“Yeah, here.”

Arisa pulled out the parasite mushrooms from her Storage.

“Whoa, they really do. Thank you! I can make a very important item with these.”

Ms. Tia jumped for joy, holding the three items in her arms.

“All right, I’ll take these. I’ll deliver your reward to the store later.”

Ms. Tia spoke before she skipped with joy out of the store, along with the people who came with her.

“That means the Hero’s Rest won the competition!”

“…Auu, auuuh, auuh…”

“Madam, let’s acknowledge this loss and use it to fuel our revenge next time.”

Tomali Toloole escorted a very pale and burned-out Lady Keri home.

“All right, we’d best be off, too.”

I spoke as we headed back to the Hero’s Rest.

“Roro! You’re safe?!”

“Hey, Roro. Glad to see you’re uninjured.”

“Glad to see you’re fine.”

There was a group of regulars waiting in front of the Hero’s Rest, who had come to see how Roro was doing. She’s so loved.

“Ms. Nona, and everyone else! Are all of you uninjured?”

“Oh, I’m always getting hurt, but the medicine from the Hero’s Rest saves me every time.”

“Same here. If I didn’t have that medicine, I’d end up like the others, unable to even leave my bed.”

“I’m glad it helps you all.”

We opened the doors to the Hero’s Rest to the regulars outside who wanted to replenish their stocks—we were busy well up until the evening. Obviously, we didn’t make my friends work—not after the battles they’d had to endure, so I forced them to rest.

“All right, Roro. I’ll see you later at the celebration feast.”

“See you then, Ms. Nona. Thank you for helping.”

Ms. Nona saw how busy Roro was and offered to help out.

“Once we close the store, let’s start preparations for the feast.”

“Preparations? Oh, okay. We need to treat the adventurers who did their best to protect Arcatia to something.”

Roro rolled up her sleeves—which was cute. But she was a little off.

“No, not that. I mean, we need to get dressed up.”

Arisa poked her head out of a door and looked into the store.

“B-but, I don’t have anything nice to wear.”

“That’s fine, Roro. I’ll lend you some of my clothes.”

“…Ms. Lulu?”

Lulu looked like she was having fun as she grabbed Roro by the shoulders and led her deeper into the store.

“It’s time for the larvae to get dressed up, too, I declare.”

Nana picked up the hamsterfolk children that were rolling around and took them with her. I was a little worried for them, but Mia was with them, so I figured it’d be all right.

“Were you able to rest?”

“Yeah, I drank a nutrition drink and slept, so I’m all right now.”

I told Arisa and the others to get ready for the celebratory feast as I busied myself with closing the shop.

“Master, something’s wrong, sir!”

Pochi rushed out from the inside of the store in a panic.

“Not good, not gooood.”

Tama was with her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Egg isn’t doing well, sir!”

She was referring to the White Dragon Egg that was currently bouncing around on Pochi’s stomach. Pochi caught the egg, which had burst out of the egg sac, with great force, using both hands and chest, just like in dodgeball.

“It just suddenly started acting like this, sir. It’s fine, sir. There’s nothing scary around, sir.”

Pochi started talking to the egg.

“There’s a crack?”

“Oh no, sir! It’ll break open like this, sir!”

Both Pochi and Tama were in a panic.

…Wait a minute.

“Isn’t it hatching?”

“Hatting?”

“What’s hatting, sir?”

“It’s when the egg breaks and a baby comes out of it.”

My words seemed to shock Pochi and Tama—both of their ears and tails went straight with shock.

“A baby comes out, sir?”

“Oh, great?”

The cracks got bigger. Eventually, one part of the egg cracked open, and we could see a beak-like snout.

“Almost there, sir! Keep it up, sir! Hee-hee-foo, sir!”

“Keep it up.”

Tama and Pochi cheered the egg on. Even with the dragon fang that pierces everything, it probably can’t be used effectively from this angle.

LYURYU.

“It made a noise! It’s going ‘lyuryu’!”

“Cuuute.”

For just a small second, I saw a red light within the egg.

That’s not good.

I took Pochi, Tama, and the egg, and Teleported us outside of Arcatia.

“Mew?”

“Hot, sir.”

I took the egg from Pochi’s hands, as it seemed hot enough to cause burns, and floated it in the air using Psychic Hand. Even after being hit by Dragon Breath, the egg showed no signs of burning. The baby dragon gave up on breaking the egg with its breath, and instead opted to break the eggshell with its nose. I figured that maybe the parent dragon would help them break through the egg, so I tried to help break it open.

Man, it’s hard.

Using just my strength wasn’t very effective, so I broke it open with a dragon’s-claw short sword. Worried the dragon would imprint on me, like a baby bird, I hid myself with an Invisibility Cloak.

LYURYU.

“Mr. Egg is here!”

It was a complete White Dragon.

“Congratulashons?”

“Happy birthday to you, sir!”

LYURYU.

The baby dragon flapped its wings as it made noises, facing Pochi. It looked like it couldn’t fly yet.

“Pochi, why don’t you give it a name?”

“Yes, sir. It will be called—”

LYURYU.

“…Lyuryu, sir!”

At the same time Pochi gave it a name, both Pochi and the baby dragon were engulfed in a white light. There was a chance that some form of magical bond may have been formed.

LYURYURYUUU.

In the clear sky, the cry of the baby dragon and the cheers of Pochi and the others echoed far and wide.