Chapter 131: Open

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Translator: Soafp

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I slowly walked towards the rainbow-colored rock.

El and Ashera remained vigilant not only towards the rock but also to the surroundings.

I infused magic into the ring and called out to Aoi.

“Aldo. Quite convenient for you to be summoned and dismissed at your own convenience!”

Aoi seemed slightly annoyed.

“Sorry about that. I’ll apologize later if needed. Now, please tell me how to change masters.”

Aoi, who seemed surprised to be suddenly called to the Mana Spot, suppressed his usual grumbling and began to speak.

“So… you guys were quite outstanding, huh…”

“That’s enough small talk. Could you please hurry?”

“Got it. Okay, leave it to me.”

Aoi started talking while deftly moving his short forelegs.

“Aldo, bring out your ‘proof’ and use your dagger on it. Infuse it with magic and stab it.”

“Is it okay to stab it with magic right away?”

“Wait a moment. Elphus, Ashera. When Aldo destroys the ‘proof’, the master will be absent. That moment is the most dangerous. I’ll rely on you to provide strong protection.”

El and Ashera nodded seriously.

Although there were no visible enemies around, we decided to be cautious and cast a sonar within a radius of 100 meters.

There was a reaction from a creature nearby… probably a Foul Mole. I had once been surprised by an ambush from underground when I received a request before.

These creatures simply wait underground for prey and then attack when they hear footsteps.

“Aoi, there’s a Foul Mole under the Mana Spot. It seems to be targeting the Mana Spot since it’s not attacking immediately.”

“Really? That was close. Please defeat it quickly.”

“Got it.”

I moved to a nearby bush. There was a hole about one meter wide in the bush, leading to a tunnel dug by the Foul Mole.

“We’re going to pour water into this hole.”

“Water?”

“Yeah. Flooding is the usual method for driving out cicada larvae and moles.”

“I’m not entirely sure, but we just need to pour water, right?”

“That’s right.”

The three of us poured water into the hole.

After about 10 minutes, the ground next to the large rock collapsed, and a two-meter-long Foul Mole emerged.

I had informed El and Ashera beforehand that the Foul Mole would come out when it started to feel uncomfortable and showed its face from the large hole.

It was a real whack-a-mole demonstration to see who would be the first to find it.

Ashera, who was lightweight because of her fighting skills, was half a step ahead.

The moment the Foul mole appeared, she slammed her magic fist into the ground.

A crater formed on the ground, and blood seeped from its center. The poor Foul Mole seemed to have met its demise, leaving only its nose intact buried in the soil.

Though I believed there was nothing left, I cast the 100-meter radius sonar again to confirm the Foul Mole’s death.

Even though releasing the Mana Spot would replenish our magic, I wanted to conserve it as much as possible. Despite using a narrower range sonar, there was no response from any creatures.

“There are no creature reactions within a 100-meter radius.”

“Aldo, please stab the ‘proof’ with the dagger near the Mana Spot and infuse it with magic.”

“Got it”

I moved to the side of the Mana Spot and took out Emperor’s index finger, the ‘proof,’ from the compartment of my water bottle. Placing it against the large rock, I stabbed it with the magic-infused dagger.

The ‘proof,’ Emperor’s index finger, crumbled to ashes from the point where the dagger pierced it, disintegrating in just a few seconds and scattering away in the wind.

As I stared blankly at the dagger, the rainbow-colored light emitted by the large rock gradually weakened.

After about 10 seconds, it became indistinguishable from the surrounding rocks.

“Aldo, quickly put on the ring and make the contract.”

“Got it.”

Prompted by Aoi, I touched the large rock with my right hand, and it began to glow blue. At that moment, the atmosphere around the Mana Spot changed completely.

It felt familiar and warm…

It was the same feeling I had when I saw the ring in the basement of the mansion.

El had felt “awe” at the mansion, but now he was squinting contentedly.

On the other hand, Ashera seemed to have the same impression as when she saw the ring and frowned, enduring it.

“Ashera, it seems to be over now. Let’s move away for a bit.”

“Yeah…”

After moving about 10 meters away, Ashera finally seemed to relax as the feeling of “awe” disappeared.

Looking again at the Mana Spot, Aoi had remained motionless on top of the large rock since earlier.

Aoi doesn’t seem to be reacting or responding, even when I call out to him, making me wonder if it’s okay to return to the Blue Ring. About 30 minutes pass before Aoi finally starts moving.

“Aldo, Elphus, it seems like the Mana Spot here is undergoing a ‘magic change.’ Seems like we hit the mark.”

At this point, I’ve grown accustomed to not understanding what Aoi says. Letting out a sigh, I address him.

“Aoi, what do you mean by ‘magic change’? What did we hit?”

Aoi responds with an obvious look of disdain.

“You’re still clueless, Aldo. I’ll explain it to you so you can become a bit smarter. Listen carefully.”

This guy… Should I just punch him? He kept talking about being a part of the Spirit King, but I’m starting to lose my patience…

“When you release the Mana Spot, the apostles’ abilities are slightly enhanced with the accumulated magic power.”

“Abilities? You mentioned ‘magic change’ earlier…”

“Yeah, that’s right. The ‘magic change’ should make your abilities a bit better.”

I immediately draw my dagger and transform it into a magic weapon (a greatsword). Upon trying it out, I do feel like its activation is slightly faster.

However, the difference seems to be negligible.

“Aoi, it feels like it’s just a little different…?”

“That’s how it is. It’s just a little extra, after all.”

“I see. What else gets enhanced?”

“Well… The big hits are things like ‘physical abilities’ and ‘amount of magic.'”

“Magic amount increases?!”

“Yeah, it does. But Aldo, you might end up with abilities like ‘keener taste buds’ or ‘faster hair growth.'”

Are there even such pointless abilities…? I finally understand the meaning behind ‘magic change’ being a hit.

After that, Aoi says he connected the Mana Spots together.

“Can we teleport to the Blue Ring?”

“Teleport? It’s not teleportation. I connected them. You’re really dense, Aldo.”

“Is it different from teleportation?”

“That’s what I’ve been saying! I connected them. We’ll move to other Mana Spots through the Mana Stream.”

“Isn’t that teleportation?”

“I said, it’s not! Teleportation involves magic that affects space. This uses the Mana Stream.”

“I kind of get it, but not really… Well, whatever. Can Ashera pass through it too?”

“Since I’m the one sending, anyone can pass through.”

“Aoi, are you taking us there?”

“Of course. Aldo, can you enter the Mana Stream by yourself?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“El, Ashera, should we go back?”

“Yes, Nii-sama.”

“Yeah, I’m a bit tired…”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Yeah, let’s go back. To the Blue Ring.”

“Yes.”

“Yeah.”

We decide to ask Aoi to send us to the Mana Spot in the Blue Ring, which is essentially the basement of the mansion.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Aoi calls out, and I feel a sensation akin to being sucked into the large boulder. In what feels like an instant but also like several hours, within a sensation akin to moving through lukewarm water, I suddenly snap back to awareness.

When consciousness returns, we find ourselves in the mansion’s basement, standing before the ring.

Ashera, facing the ring, seems to be struggling just like with the boulder, clearly feeling the same ‘dread’.

We quickly move past the broken door and into the corridor.

“That distance in an instant, huh…”

I mutter, to which El responds with a subtle expression.

“Yeah, indeed. You truly became a ‘apostle’…”

“Yeah. That’s right. I’d like to include Marl and have a talk with the four of us.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I need to talk to Marl…”

Ashera cuts the air between me and El.

“Marl will absolutely not leave El’s side. I’m willing to bet on it!”

“Right… I believe Marl and Ashera’s words.”.

“Yeah”

A brief moment of tension passes before we continue. We leave the basement with our tired bodies.

Emerging from the basement and crossing the door that Ashera had destroyed, we encounter a maid who is in the midst of cleaning. She drops her bucket in surprise.

“R-Rafina-sama!! Aldo-sama has, Aldo-sama has returned!”

The maid, who appears to be in her teens, shouts loudly, her voice echoing throughout the mansion.

Just moments later, my mother, with her eyes red and swollen, rushes over and, as if overwhelmed with emotion, embraces me tightly.

“Al… Aldo… Where… were you… going…?”

At first, it was just a normal hug… but for some reason, the strength gradually increased… now it felt like I was being crushed in a bear hug so strong that even a bear could be defeated.

“M-Mom… pleas…e… l… loos…en… it…”

I struggle to speak as her embrace tightens further.

“I won’t let go until you tell me where you’ve been!”

“Eh… I… went… to… defeat… the Emperor…”

It feels like the pressure increases even more…

This is getting dangerous… just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, she finally releases me from the bear hug.

“Please, don’t be reckless anymore! Going alone to defeat them is absolutely out of the question!”

“I understand…”

My mother then turns to El and Ashera.

“El, Ashera, thank you for stopping Al. I’m really grateful.”

El and Ashera exchange subtle looks.

El gives me a look that says,

“Come on, say something!”

I reply with a look that says,

“Come on, can’t you say it nicely?”

El’s eyes seem to say,

“Are you kidding me? If you don’t say it, I’ll just say something random!”

It’s all just a silly fantasy born out of boredom, by the way.

“Sorry, El-san… I’ll talk to her myself.”

I say, returning to reality.

“Mother, actually…”

I start telling her about what happened after we left the mansion.