Chapter 219
The stage returns once again to the dungeon.
In the depths of the dungeon, Earth’s followers are each recovering in their chambers from their wounds.
『Phew…』
Leaning against the wall, Ann heaves a deep sigh.
Having finished her conversation with Heleb, she too had returned to the depths.
With the tension of battle dissipating, fatigue comes crashing down all at once.
『As expected, this fight has left me exhausted…』
Though they were victorious, there were considerable sacrifices.
The number of dead antlings likely reached tens of thousands.
Ann quietly offers a prayer for them.
The battles of the Imperial Ant is battles of numbers.
In other words, battles where “sacrifice is a given”.
（Thank you…and please forgive me….）
That’s why Ann makes sure not to forget them.
Down to the lowliest footsoldier.
She offers a prayer for their souls.
And then slowly shifts her mindset.
From a mother mourning her children, to the visage of a queen.
『―――San, Nan, report the damage situation. Ran, tend to the injured antlings. Yan, take the uninjured antlings and head to the middle floors dungeon to begin repairs immediately.』
She rapidly issues instructions to the next generation queens, confirming the situation.
Concerned thoughts are sent her way through thought transmission saying “Shouldn’t you rest a bit more?” but that is secondary.
There is no harm in reveling in victory, but stopping there would be meaningless.
『―――The dungeon defenses and barriers are lower than they have ever been. The protections and defenses of the lower floors barely function at all.』
That’s right, the dungeon now has almost no traps to greet invaders.
The battle with Agil and Tsumugi’s new magic “Great Invasion” used up nearly all the defenses and stored magical power.
Though the battle has just ended, this situation must be rectified quickly.
（We must press on. For the sake of those who sacrificed themselves.）
Chewing on a magic stone, Ann walks.
It is to recover even a little strength.
（Come to think of it…）
Ann recalls the story Heleb told her about the Imperial Ant that once appeared in the Eld Desert.
（It raised some concerning questions…）
400 years ago, an Imperial Ant appeared.
She was known as the Calamitous Black Ant, Mýrus.
Destroying many nations and inflicting terrible damage on the people, she was finally destroyed here in the Eld Desert, a Disaster-class monster.
（I know that name）
Joker, Yamu, and Jibru.
Various people mentioned that name. And said she resembled me.
（A follower of the Stellar Vein…there’s no mistaking it.）
The Stellar Vein Dungeon.
Jibru’s follower.
One of those was the same species as me.
（But that’s not all. In this battle, Tsumugi evolved into Dream Mist…）
Dream Mist―the same species as the divine disaster monster—the “Dream Mist” Joker.
And Joker was once one of Jibru’s follower, a Stellar Vein follower.
（Could this really be…a coincidence?）
Both the Stellar Vein Dungeon and Earth’s dungeon.
Both have an earth dragon at the apex, and multiple creatures of the same species.
It seems too convenient to be mere chance…
Some indescribable unease flickers through Ann’s mind.
（Plus…I’m worried about Lord Earth’s condition.）
With the battle over, Ann and the everyone else were told about Earth’s state.
That he had two souls, and they separated into the adult Earth and the earth dragon golem possessed by Earth.
It was unbelievable at first.
（Come to think of it, Lord Earth was acting strange ever since the meeting to prepare for the battle with Agil’s forces…）
Back then, it was as if he had done a complete 180, vigorously moving to intercept Agil.
I thought it odd how forcefully he pushed using the white powder at first, but in hindsight it makes sense.
The Earth Ann knows loves indolence and sloth more than anyone, and adores wasting time. There’s no way he’d work that energetically.
（And from Elibel’s reaction, it seems likely she had known about this for a long time already…）
She was…only Elibel knew Earth’s secret.
That fact presses down on Ann’s chest unbearably.
（Lord Earth…why didn’t you tell me…?!）
Ann clenches her fist tightly.
Of course, rationally she understands. He likely didn’t want to cause unnecessary turmoil among his followers.
That’s the kind of person he is.
While she comprehends that, her heart cannot accept it.
（After all, Lord Earth he…values Elibel more than…）
Thinking that far, Ann catches herself.
What was she just thinking?
What thoughts crossed her mind?
『How shameful these ugly feelings of mine are…』
Wanting to be treated equally among the followers, yet also desiring to be special and closest of all – such contradictory desires.
To be his number one.
To be by his side more than anyone.
To have her ego satisfied by his affection.
Such detestable egotism.
『I thought I had overcome such feelings long ago…』
It reminds her of the deadly battle with the Dream Mist Joker in the imperial capital.
In that fight, Ann was lured into a nightmare she couldn’t awaken from by Joker’s mists, her mind nearly shattered.
Back then too, trapped in Joker’s illusions, she harbored such emotions, withdrew into her shell, and then―――
―――Are you struggling again?
Yes, she heard a voice like this that somehow brought her back and helped her recover―――huh?
『W-who’s there!?』
Ann looks around but there’s no one.
Only the familiar dungeon passages continue on.
『An auditory hallucination…?』
―――No.
『Wha- again!?』
The voice echoes in her head.
A clear feminine voice.
―――I’m glad. To be able to speak with you again like this…
『Thought transmission…? No, this is…』
As if being spoken to from inside her own body―――
―――Please don’t be so wary. I intend you no harm. Rather, I want to help you. That my voice reaches you so clearly…shows how strongly we’ve connected, you and I…
Hearing that voice makes Ann’s head spin.
Eventually she can’t even stand, collapsing on the spot.
『W-who…who exactly are you―――』
And slowly, Ann’s consciousness fades away.
◇◆◇◆◇
―――Shhhhhhh.
In the arid Eld Desert, a creature lies dying.
『Aaa…aghh…』
It has a feminine form wrapped in ant-like exoskeleton.
Surrounding it are countless corpses of killer ants, piled high. A creature stands atop them.
『How pitiful, ■■■■』
Looking down on the dying creature is a black crow, body wreathed in crimson flames.
Backlit by the sun, its visage resembles a page from myth.
Behind it wait dozens more black crows.
『You must understand by now, ■■■s. That your struggle here is futile.』
The black crow speaks the creature’s name.
But oddly…the name is inaudible.
No, more than that, what is this scene…?
『Whether you die here or not, it will only delay the inevitable for a time. Why can you not comprehend that? You who understood her―Jibru’s will more than anyone…』
『Aaaaa….aaaaAAAARRRGGHHH!!!』
『I see…you’ve lost even the capacity for reason… How pitiful…』
A torrent of magical energy unlike that of any dying creature flows out in waves, rocking the Eld Desert.
The earth shakes, boulders crumble, the entire desert trembles.
The blazing black crow narrows its eyes slightly.
Then as if resolved, it cries out.
『Heleb! Come forth!』
『Yes, I am here!』
A young black crow steps forward.
『I will now stake my life to challenge this wretch. Bear witness to my life as the Flame Wing. And carve into your soul…the life of that Black Ant. From this moment, you are chieftain of we Accurate Crows!』
『W-wait father…what do you mean…?』
『Go now! Let us lament the wretchedness of our guardian’s existence! Sing it loud and clear!!』
『―――RAAAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!』
The two creatures clash.
―――Shhhhhhh shhhhhhh.
Ann watches this scene from outside its frame.
『This is…?』
It was a bizarre space.
In a void of pure white floated numerous picture frames suspended in midair.
Displayed within the frames were not paintings, but moving images.
Multiple scenes played out within the frames.
『This is…an event from 400 years ago…?』
The subjugation of the Imperial Ant she heard about from Heleb.
Was this scene a part of that?
『―――That’s right.』
『!?』
The voice came from behind.
Turning around, a creature was there.
『It can’t be-!?』
It was a black ant monster.
A feminine body wrapped in an ant’s exoskeleton.
An Imperial Ant.
Seeing one alone wouldn’t have shocked Ann so.
What shocked Ann was that the creature bore an uncanny resemblance to “herself”.
『Meeting like this is a first, isn’t it?』
Faced with Ann’s stunned expression, “she” smiles gently.
『My name is Mýrus. An imperial ant, like you. Former guardian of the 9th floor of the Stellar Vein, Black Ant Mýrus.』
『!?』
Thump.
Ann feels her heartbeat quicken.
『We finally meet, my daughter born to this era.』
◇◆◇◆◇
Meanwhile at that time.
In the depths’ training hall, the other Earth lets out a yawn.
『Fwaaah…so bored…』
His expression lacks any hint of tension.
『I wonder if my partner managed to stop Elibel… Well, he hasn’t sent any thought transmissions, so looks like it worked out somehow…』
He had sent the last remnants of his magical power to stop Elibel’s shota obsession rampage. As a result, he could barely move his body now.
Still, he could absorb some magical power from the dungeon, so as long as he stayed put here it was fine.
『Can’t move well, and waiting is tedious…』
In the first place, there was no telling how long this state would last.
In the next moment, some strange occurrence could happen and his very soul might collapse.
『But my partner and Elibel and the rest will figure something out.』
Yet this other Earth felt not a shred of worry or fear.
Because he believed in his partner and everyone from the bottom of his heart.
While the inability to act irked him, he did not panic or fluster about.
In a sense you could call it nonchalance, but his composure showed no hint of fear that he might disappear at any moment.
『For now, I’ll take a nap…』
Come to think of it, he had been constantly working since appearing.
Getting over that hump, resting a bit here should be fine.
Somehow an intense drowsiness had come over him.
Sleepy. So very sleepy.
『Fwaaah…』
Ah, right. Once I get back to my original body, I need to explain all this.
A lot happened and I couldn’t tell them, but it’s about time I did.
About myself, and about my reincarnated partner. I’ll tell them everything.
So just for a bit.
Let me rest just for a little bit.
『…Goodnight…partner…』
And gradually, the other Earth’s consciousness sunk into darkness.
『―――Oh my? Going to sleep already, my dear Earth?』
At the last moment, faintly…he thought he heard a voice…maybe… Huh, what?
『!?』
Earth bolts upright reflexively.
The drowsiness vanishes in an instant, his vision clears.
Before his eyes.
There, a being that should not be.
In the center of the training hall.
There was an earth dragon so tiny it was nearly invisible unless stared at.
Blending into the surroundings like a small rock, yet exuding an overwhelming presence that made it obvious where it was no matter what.
Why…?
Why are you here?
『It’s been a while, cute Earth.』
The Divine Catastrophe Dragon King Jibru was there.
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