I Became the Strongest With The Failure Frame 02

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  It’s a pretty long country based on this map.

  Magnar occupies most of the top part of the continent.

  That place that the fallen Great Fortress – Night Wall was situated in seems to be somewhere in between two mountains.

  Sharp mountain-like symbols were extending out towards the east and west of the fort.

  I see.

  So, they’ve set up the fortress in this plain area huh…

  Before this fortress have fallen, they must have been obstructing the intruders in this place.

  The name of the Mira Empire is written in the southwestern part of the continent.

  This is a place that I’ve only known for the first time.

  Situated in the southeast lies the Bakuos Empire.

  Nearby, there’s the Holy Kingdom of Neia that is sandwiched in between Urza and Bakuos.

  I heard that Bakuos has invaded them and they had surrendered though…

  It seems that this map hasn’t been revised yet.

  And then, there’s the Jonato Principality that’s located in the northwest part of the continent.

  That’s the country that Mist said she was aiming for.

  [However…]

  I shift my line of sight towards the upper right corner of the map.

  The Alion Kingdom is located in the northeast part of the continent.

  It’s the country where that f*cking goddess lives.

  North — Magnar Kingdom

  Northeast — Alion Kingdom

  Northwest — Jonato Principality

  —In the Center — The Golden Demon Zone

  Southeast — Bakuos Empire

  Southwest — Mira Empire

  South — Urza Empire

  There are these six countries on in this continent, that’s if you exclude the Golden Demon Zone.

  Alright.

  I have roughly grasped the locations of the these countries.

  […………]

  I was able to grasp the information that I wanted to confirm.

  I proceeded on checking out the time.

  There should still be plenty of time until the time we promised to meet up.

  If that’s so…

  [Is it possible for me to just go back to the inn and get started?]

  –to make the Monster Enhancer.

  * * *

  After excusing myself from the innkeeper, I started making the Enhancers in my room.

  It can be said to be easy to make since it only makes use of a single material.

  I quickly washed the utensils that I would be using with water in the area below.

  Pigimaru is lying on the bed.

  He’s swaying left and right, but he’s trying to keep quiet as much as possible.

  I spread out the tools on top of a clean mattress.

  Overall, the utensils were quite compact.

  Or rather, I chose the utensils that were as compact as possible.

  It’s so that it would be easier for me to bring them on my trip.

  Well, I might still make use of it in the future…

  I reconfirmed the contents in the “Encyclopedia of the Forbidden Arts” that was left open beside me.

  [Let’s see, I should first…]

  First, I should finely crush the bones.

  Again and again, I pounded down on the bone in a mortar and turned it into powder.

  Crush~ Crunch~

  Next, mix the powder with water.

  [Hmm?]

  When they had thoroughly mixed, it looks like the water level has considerably decreased.

  The color has also changed from its silver color to a translucent blue.

  [Next would be…]

  I put the mixture into a glass container and heated it.

  There are special tools that were specifically just for heating.

  When it was heated, the transparency of the blue bone powder is increasing.

  Until finally, it became transparent.

  I feel like I’m doing some kind of science experiment or some sort.

  [After this, I will use this filter to— wait, before I do that…]

  There were some crystals that were attached to the filter.

  When I’ve injected magic element into the crystal, it began to shine.

  With this, this filter could neatly filter things through some unique ability.

  The price of this thing and that heating magic tool was quite hefty.

  It seems that tools that make use of magic energy is somewhat more expensive.

  By the way, they said that these tools can’t be used indefinitely because it has some sort of life span which depends on the number of uses each tool could do.

  The first filtration for the mixture of bone powder and water is finally finished.

  I repeated this until all of the bone meal was used.

  And with this…

  [It’s finally complete.]

  I seem to have used up a lot of bone meal…

  [If you mix water with the bone meal, the water level would go down by a lot. In the end, I only have around the volume of one coffee cup…]

  Anyway, the Monster Enhancer is finally complete.

  Suddenly, I felt really drowsy.

  I check out the time in my pocket watch.

  [Should I sleep for a bit…?]

  Sleep is really important.

  I still had some fatigue that accumulated in the Mills Ruins that hasn’t been released yet.

  I would try to use the Enhancer to Pigimaru later I’ve taken some sleep.

  It would be hard for me to sleep properly after I tried using it and something wrong suddenly springs up.

  Well, I think it’s going to be okay since the effect was written down in the “Encyclopedia of the Forbidden Arts”.

  [And with that, We’ll just use the Enhancer later.]

  [Pii~ ♪]

  After asking Pigimaru to wake me up if something happens, I fell asleep on the soft bed.

  Chapter 67

  In the room of the inn, Together with Mist

  I’ve just woken up.

  The pocket watch that I had placed on my bed was on Pigimaru’s side as he plays with it with his squishy protrusion.

  [Pii~]

  Checking the time on the pocket watch…

  It seems that I’ve woken up earlier than I had planned.

  [I think I still have some time to get some dinner.]

  I decided to go to the restaurant downstairs and have my meal.

  There are hardly any customers in the restaurant.

  I’m pretty sure that it should already be around dinner time right now but…

  [It looks like some of the mercenaries that went here have already left Mills today.]

  The innkeeper is sighing across the counter.

  Today, I’m having my meal sitting on the counter seat.

  [Is there none of them left in here? It seems that Dragon Eye Sakazuki that the Marquis-sama wanted was recently just found. There seems to be some mercenaries though that were saying that there should still be other treasures to be discovered in the new floor.]

  Are they just depending on finding treasures by chance now that the centerpiece treasure has been found?

  [Thanks to that, the rooms that were just filled-up yesterday are now empty. Mills would be peaceful again until the next floor is discovered… Well, I think with our Marquis-sama like that, I’m sure that he would want the next treasure he could acquire and start another one of those recruitment again…]

  The innkeeper muttered to himself.

  However, I could feel that he was already quite used to it.

  It seems that the discovery of the new floor may be just like one of those festival for this place that would happen from time to time.

  [Ah, I’ve just remembered it. Hati-sama.]

  [What is it?]

  [Don’t you think that this may also not be a
bad thing? Didn’t you know that the person of topic, the one who found the Dragon Eye Sakazuki is now staying in this inn~? Actually, that person has also stayed in this inn before she had discovered that treasure.]

  And then, the innkeeper tried to conceal his voice.

  [Moreover, she’s quite the beauty.

  I have told the innkeeper that I may invite some guests into my room.

  However, I didn’t tell the name of the person I invited.

  I don’t think he would have thought that the one I’m inviting was the person who has discovered the Dragon Eye Sakazuki.

  By the way, when I have said to him that I would call some guest into my room…

  [I understand~]

  The innkeeper told me that with a face that looks like he knows what I’m up to.

  Did he think that I’m calling some prostitute into my room?

  Anyway, it seems that Mist has acquired a room in this inn without difficulty.

  [The food in this inn is delicious, so she might have wanted to eat in this place again.]

  [I wonder if I can promote this inn as the inn where the discoverer of the Dragon Eye Sakazuki is staying.]

  After finishing my dinner, I returned to my room with some meal for Pigimaru.

  Pigimaru happily eats the grilled meat and salad I’ve brought.

  [Mokyuu~, mokyuuu~ ♪ ]

  The door was knocked just as Pigimaru finishes his meal.

  Pigimaru promptly turns into his crystallized form.

  [Hati-dono.]

  I check the pocket watch.

  [It’s Mist.]

  It’s already the time we’ve arranged to meet.

  * * *

  [You want to continue hiring me as your guard, is it?]

  Mist looks pretty surprised as she exclaimed that.

  [Yeah, well I don’t think I’d earned more money than other people. Though I say that, you may already have enough money now for your travels from the reward from the Dragon Eye Sakazuki but…]

  It may have been a detestable way of saying it.

  I’ve just indirectly mentioned about that matter where I gave the Dragon Eye Sakazuki to her.

  [However, it doesn’t matter since you already have money on you, right?]

  [That’s right… It’s better to have it than not having it after all.]

  Mist is sitting on the edge of the bed.

  I was just sitting in a simple chair.

  [You’re heading towards Jonato Principality, right?]

  [—Yes.]

  I spread out the map I have purchased before.

  [You may have guessed it already, but my current goal is to meet the Witch of Taboos. In short, I’m going towards the Golden Demon Zone.]

  [Yeah. I realized it to some extent.]

  [And— if you were in a rush to head towards Jonato from here, you would either head west and pass through the Mira Empire or head north and pass through the Golden Demon Zone. Well, that’s if you’re travelling through land.]

  [Jonato generally doesn’t accept ships from Mira. Mira also blocks the west sea route that’s connected to Jonato.]

  [Hmm? Is it possible though to head towards Jonato through the west route from Urza?]

  [Yes. I think it would be particularly difficult for mercenaries and travelers to use this route though. As Mira Empire sees it, it isn’t an amusing sight to see all the people gathering in Jonato that were aspiring to be Monks. I’ve also heard one theory that said that Mira’s Emperor and Jonato’s Saint weren’t in a favorable relationship with each other.]

  [Fumu…]

  The Mad Emperor Falken Dotzine.

  I’ve certainly heard that name were mentioned the other day in the tavern.

  I was quite impressed about his really long name (?).

  And so, is Mira Empire governed by this Mad Emperor?

  [But if you were to pass through the northern route, you would have to go through the Great Frozen Seas that is near the place where the Great Demon Emperor held his influence.]

  [In short, going through land is the only option?]

  [That is so.]

  [So, which way are you going to go through?]

  [That is—]

  Mist is pondering about it.

  It will be a difficult choice.

  To go through a country where you’re disliked if you’re someone aspiring to be one of the Monks.

  As long as they hear about you, it may even be difficult for her to get out of Mira Empire.

  However— I don’t really know if Mist really is one of those “aspirants”.

  I continued speaking.

  [After I accomplish my goal, it’s just if you want it, I could accompany you after I get out of the Golden Demon Zone. I certainly have the strength to defeat even something like a Skeleton King. I should be able to easily defeat any monster that cross my path. However—]

  Mist’s contemplation deepens.

  My destination after all is a place called the Golden Demon “Zone”.

  Of course, there is a high probability of being attacked by monsters.

  Behind me, there is the “eye” of Pigimaru.

  However, Pigimaru is just currently focusing on detecting any potential enemies.

  And then—

  After conducting the Enhancement Experiment No.2 that’s written in here, Pigimaru’s fighting ability hardly increased at all.

  For example, if monsters were to simultaneously attack from all directions.

  If something like this were to happen, I don’t think I may not be able all of them alone.

  It is not always possible for me to maintain a wall behind me to cover my blind spots.

  Therefore, it would be reassuring for me if someone proficient in fighting is to cover my back.

  I felt like Mist is someone like that after I saw her fight back in the Mills Ruins.

  From the perspective of someone who wants to keep his own safety as much as possible, I was thinking of hiring a warrior.

  Currently, she’s one of those who were compatible with this role.

  Mist still seems to be pondering.

  It seems that she still has some thoughts that makes her hesitate.

  There is probably one big problem that may occur if she were to guard me on my travels.

  However, I was already aware of this “problem” she had.

  Mist… has been pondering for an exceedingly long time.

  I feel like she’s hesitating about something.

  [………]

  I can feel it a bit.

  I guess I should just cut off this unnecessary thoughts and remove the problem.

  Well, I don’t know if this will succeed but…

  I loosened my breathing and said.

  [Well, you don’t really have to be in a rush to answer. As an aspiring Monk, you may even be at a loss on whether to leave Mira Empire or not. Let’s put that aside for now. Is it alright if I ask you something, Seras?]

  [Yes, what is it?]

  The next moment—

  Mist’s face stiffens.

  She slowly puts her hand over her mouth.

  Just as if she’s suddenly became aware of my words…

  [—Ah—]

  Chapter 68

  Seras Ashrain

  She has just responded to the call towards another person that shouldn’t have been her name.

  The air became heavy, it became too uncomfortable.

  [Ummm, Hati-dono… that just now was—]

  [I’m sorry if I did it like I was deceiving you.]

  The hand that was over her mouth began heading over her forehead.

  After a brief pause, she opened her mouth.

  [So, you’ve noticed it?]

  [Yeah.]

  I talked about my usage of at the Mills Ruins.

  After I invoked my spell towards her, the sleeping Mist’s ears and her facial features changed.


  I explained that this is the reason that led to me speculating about the true identity of Mist which was Seras Ashrain.

  I spoke out all of my thoughts.

  [Is that so…]

  She took it easier than I had expected.

  [Don’t worry. I don’t have any intention of revealing this to anyone. Fortunately, I’m not really in trouble in regards to money. I don’t need the bounty on your head. There’s also no merit for me to tell about you to others. The only thing I needed from you is your ability as a warrior.]

  Mist has a complicated smile floating on her face.

  No— Seras Ashrain.

  [That time you’re wavering about travelling with me earlier, are you worried that your real identity may be revealed to me?]

  [——-]

  [That time when you’re travelling with me while trying to hide your identity, there’s one problem that came up. That problem is probably about your inability to sleep. Am I mistaken?]

  Seras became surprised that I realized.

  [Y- Yes.]

  If it were inside an inn, you could just separate by going to different rooms.

  However, it would be different if we were to go towards the Golden Demon Zone.

  [My understanding is that whenever you fall asleep, that power of yours that makes you able to change your features would be temporarily lifted. Your face and ears that have been changed with your ability would turn back to how it really was. But if I already know your identity, there will be no problem even if your face would turn back even while you sleep.]

  […Yes.]

  [But now that you’ve already turned your identity, it would only be your own determination that’s stopping you from stepping forward.]

  As a result, I have drawn her decision closer towards my side.

  [I’ve already said this before, but I don’t intend to sell you out to others. There’s no reason for me to give away a plausible war potential that I needed. Besides, you could easily talk with someone around those times that you’re in need with people that know you for who you are.]

  Seras hadn’t spoke anything for quite some time.

  Soon, she spoke out as if she made her decision.

  [My spirit ability is a bit different compared with other spirits.]

  Seras puts her hand over her chest.

  [When I’m borrowing the power of my contracted spirits, I would need to offer my “desire to sleep” towards the spirits.]

  It seems that you would need to offer towards the spirit the things that someone desires the most.