Chapter 95 – Ardopolis
As they descended the gentle slope, they realized that this place used to be up on the surface.
Only part of it was stairs, while the rest was a cracked floor that went downwards. Sometimes, there were large gaps, but nothing that could stop Menew and the others.
There were things that used to be buildings on both sides, but they had been crushed and were misshapen.
“Hmm… Wood dragon. Was this place once a city?”
“Indeed. It was called Ardopolis. A city with a temple at the very top.”
Menew had heard of the city state called Polis, but not Ardo.
“Ardo?”
“It is an old word that means ‘earth.’ Then sun reigns over it, and life dwells there. This city once worshiped the temple of the earth, master.”
Said Mr. Wal with a look of nostalgia. If it was a temple of the earth, perhaps they would have worshiped Mr. Wal as well.
Menew tried to think of something to say, but came up with nothing.
“It was a long time ago. But even now, there are remnants. And the temple as well… Master, there is something up ahead.”
It happened just after Mr. Wal’s warning.
Something appeared vaguely in the darkness.
“What is that?”
“…A giant…crystal?”
Totto narrowed his eyes.
And then a few faint lights appeared.
Close to them and in the far distance. There were ten lights in all.
“Damn it… Let’s run, Menew.”
“What is it, Mofusen?”
Mofusen’s eyes shone sharply behind his white eyebrows.
He turned on his heels frantically, and so Menew followed him. Though, he still did not understand.
“Spawners! If you stay there, it will bring out enough monsters to defeat you!”
That was bad.
It could cause a kind of stampede. And so Menew ran as fast as he could.
“Hurry. It seems like some are already born.”
Ralph took charge, and Totto ran with Kanon on his back.
They could sense the things chasing after them. Ten, no twenty or more.
Right now, their mission was to get out of there as fast as they could.
While holding his staff and running, Menew willed it twenty meters ahead.
“Shortcut!”
A film of water appeared, and they all tumbled inside. And like that, they rushed out into the temple’s entrance.
The monsters were almost upon them. If they were unleashed here, they would ruin the balance of the ecosystem.
While leaving the shortcut as it was, Menew rolled in order to kill the momentum of running, and then he turned around.
“Alright! I’ll leave the edible ones to Totto! No humanoids, apes or anything too creepy!”
“Ye-yes!”
“Ralph, you support Totto. Mofusen, make sure to get any that slip through! I’ll deal with the ones that can’t be eaten!”
“Fine.”
“It will be good training for Totto.”
As acquiring food had been one of their goals, no one argued with Menew. Even though they were being attacked by monsters, they would be thinking about whether it was edible or not.
In the meantime, the presence could be felt more strongly.
Herds of forest lizards and volcano lizards, skull knights and white apes. Also, there were hobgoblins, cave mantises, mermen and kelpies too.
“…Bugs, no. Horses, yes!”
“Ye-yes!”
Menew gave them orders. Totto had thought the cave mantis would be fine, so he frantically changed his mindset.
Menew raised his staff and summoned two at once.
A cocoon of rippling earth, and a cocoon of blazing flames appeared.
“Damagarga, Torum, I summon you!”
The two seemed to understand the situation, but Menew created a link to them in order to convey the details.
‘Take down the humanoids and cave mantis. We don’t need the crystals. And make sure that none escape.’
Menew ordered, and Damagarga answered, ‘Understood!’ However, Torum seemed more hesitant with an “Are you certain?’
Menew did not understand what he meant, but what was in front of them now was the most important, and so he simply replied, ‘Yes.’
After that, there was a chaotic battle.
Menew rode on top of Damagarga as he crushed the skull knights and mermen with his giant hands and tongue. Torum dealt with the rest. And that is when he saw it.
Damagarga was fine. He was a frog. He would probably eat something.
But Menew had forgotten.
Birds at animals and bugs too.
Torum held down a cave mantis and tore off an arm and swallowed it. After that, he ate the rest as well.
And then he went off to the next one.
Torum let out a high-pitched cry. It was similar to Stan’s.
And then the Garudas were at Torum’s settlement all gathered around and attacked the cave mantises.
‘As I promised to stay out of Falis’s territory, it has been some time since we had nutrition like this that is not meat. Thank you.’
‘Uh, yes.’ Menew muttered in reply.
Indeed, when they had been invited there, they were served only vegetables. He then told Damagarga to avoid the cave mantis.
For the first time since coming to this world, Menew saw a sight that truly disgusted him. And so he quietly cut the link to Torum. Of course, the Garuda was too preoccupied with the feast to notice.
Menew only thought about the mountain of meat Totto and the others were likely carving up. Lizard and kelpie, surely. And like that, he continued to take down the skeletons and fishmen. Though, his eyes remained upwards, as if trying to escape reality.
After the long battle was ended, Menew saw the Garudas leave, and then he dismissed Damagarga and Torum.
What was left was a field covered in crystals and meat. The clean up was Menew’s job usually, but this time, everyone helped.
As they picked up the crystals, Menew alone looked pale for quite some time.
Thanks for the chapter!