Chapter 6
「Are you okay, Lilia?」
Sitting on the sofa, Mars called out to Lilia, who seemed absent-minded.
It wasn't as if something monumental had happened, but precisely because of that, Lilia couldn't organize her thoughts.
「I thought I no longer had a place to return to. I knew it, but seeing it with my own eyes unsettled me a little.」
While her expression clouded, Lilia managed a smile with just her lips.
「When we reshape the world, let's turn this place back into a forest. That much should be possible.」
Lilia must be seeking her lost family.
Mars understand, but he wanted to at least offer her a place.
Although they could possibly be revived with the power of the gods, Hazuki would surely oppose it.
Lilia's lack of desire for her family's resurrection was likely due to that.
「Nemu want a sea too-nyaa! Although it's necessary for Sion-nyan, Nemu also wants to play there-nyaa!」
「...Having saltwater in the forest might be a problem. Well, we'll figure something out!」
Lilia laughed as she listened to their lighthearted exchange.
The tension dissipated.
「Yes, let's think about the future. Can't we create a tree that produces chocolate?」
Lilia laughed again, clarifying that it was a joke.
Seeing Lilia's relaxed demeanor, Sion chimed in.
「Mars-sama, how do you intend to change the world?」
Sion asked.
「Basically, I plan to leave it as it is. However, I want to eliminate discrimination against different races.」
「Will Nemu and the others be able to walk in the city like anyone else-nyaa?」
「Yes. And I intend to keep the dungeons. I'll reduce their hostility a bit, and make them more accessible to everyone. I'll make the difficulty levels clear and provide some information about their content. I've always loved the labyrinthine cities, after all.」
The labyrinthine city is like a symbol of this world.
Everything and everyone gathers there.
It's a treasure chest filled with vitality.
Above all, it holds dreams. Anyone, regardless of their background, can become something.
If he was to create a world, he would want it to be a world of such hope.
「The previous one probably had some desires for me too. That's why they gave me power.」
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
Generally, there is only one reincarnator from a specific era.
Currently, there are two: Mars and "Jet-Black," but there should have been one before.
Mars carries the remnants of that predecessor.
Likely, it's an artifact left by the previous god.
「At first, I thought that the magic of the 'Treasury of Dreams' had a limited number of uses, and the items used by someone would be passed down. But there was nothing left in everyone's treasure vault.」
For example, when I die, the personal belongings stored in the 'Treasury of Dreams' will become the possessions of the next person who acquires them.
That's what Mars thought.
However, the things that Lilia and the others newly acquired were different.
「That's true. My items and Hazuki's items felt like freshly created spaces.」
「Right. But mine was different. There were many things that the previous person had used. And probably, they belonged to the previous reincarnator. I found it eerie and kept it hidden, but I looked at it a little while ago. Take a look at this.」
Mars showed a sword.
「It looks... worn out, doesn't it?」
The sword was covered in tattered cloth, both the scabbard and the hilt, and at first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a worthless item.
「I thought the same and kept it hidden. It was unsettling after all. But take a look.」
Mars forcefully removed the covering cloth.
Inside, a pristine and beautiful sword appeared.
Both the scabbard and the hilt were pure white.
「A magical sword... I suppose.」
「This sword, it can be used as a regular sword, but it seems like the blade can extend. More precisely, it can release slashing attacks... that's what I feel.」
Mars demonstrated it.
He lightly swung it towards the wall, and a sharp scratching sound was heard.
「!?」
「I haven't verified the range yet, but this can be used for surprise attacks. Dealing with this slashing attack won't be easy. It should be effective even against 'Jet-Black.'」
「Even if he understands that, there's nothing he can do about it, right?」
Since the blade doesn't physically extend, it's not difficult to handle.
It can be seen as an expansion of Mars' attack range.
「A surprising and decisive blow, pow! Nya?」
「If it goes well.」
Fighting without killing is difficult. If he were to try, Mars would undoubtedly have no chance of winning.
But in a fight to kill, it's different.
All they need to do is deliver a fatal blow first.
Instead of combat, it's assassination.
That was the direction he intended to solidify in this strategy against "Jet-Black."
「The magical technology on the surface is amazing...! I also want to learn them!」
「No, Sion. I don't think you can create something like this with the current technology alone, including past technologies. Although the form may be different, this is also a kind of 'Forbidden Magic Book.' It doesn't belong to any specific branch of magic.」
Lilia denied Sion's surprised statement, and Mars agreed.
Magic has its own system of technology, and there are established tendencies, and it's possible to determine where most magic originated from.
Exceptions would be special magic from 'Forbidden Magic Books' or unique magic used by mermaids that have no connection to others.
This sword itself is a magical existence and does not belong anywhere.
「The previous reincarnator... surely, the previous god chose 'Jet-Black.' But they also have expectations for me. I don't know the reason, and I have no proof, but that's what I think.」
I don't know what they want me to do, but they left me with a means of resistance.
Mars interpreted it that way. No, he wanted to believe it.
「Tomorrow, we're going to the dungeon-nyaa?」
「That's the plan. We can't afford to linger around too much.」
「Then we should eat properly and get some rest, right-nyaa? Nemu doesn't feel like eating much today, though-nyaa...」
Even Hazuki, who usually eats the most, didn't seem eager to prepare a meal today.
Everyone was affected by the tense atmosphere. Their stomachs churned, and they had no appetite.
「――Well, that makes sense. Let's postpone it until the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, each of us will take a rest. Also, I want you to think about what you want to do with the world. How you want to live after this adventure is over.」
The end of the journey was near.
After conquering this dungeon, there would be no more adventures to follow.
「I have a proposal for everyone.」
Raising her hand quietly, Lilia wore a serious expression.
「Shall we consider making babies for real?」
"Huh?" Everyone's faces turned serious.
「Even Lilia-san a pervert!? What happened to my identity?!」
「N-No, it's not like that!――Was that your intention!?」
「No, I just really love sex, that's all!」
「C-Come on, let's get back on track!」
Lilia blushed and showed her anger at being called a pervert.
「M-Making babies out of the blue.....!」
「――We don't know what will happen to Master, Mars's life this time. That's why I thought of having a child before that. Even if I have to bow down to 'Jet-Black', I will protect my child. I want that kind of determination. I'm willing to throw away my pride and connect it to the future.」
One's own life can be easily thrown away.
Marsu knew this from experience.
「I-I agree. I want to try not using contraceptive magic as well. But Mars-san, I want you to live no matter what! It will make the child happy to have both a father and a mother.」
「Baby-nyaa... Can Nemu also make a baby-nyaa?」
「If it's during the mating season... there's a possibility. ――Actually, I'm about to enter my mating season soon. I've been feeling some signs lately...」
Lilia's face turned even redder than before.
Elves, like Nemu the beastkin, also have mating seasons. The same goes for Sion, by the way.
Lilia enjoys it normally because it feels good, but she doesn't experience strong instinctual desires very often.
Elves have long lifespans, so their reproductive cycle is much slower compared to humans.
In animals, the mating season is the period when they are most fertile.
Despite all the attempts so far, there have been no signs of pregnancy for Lilia, but during her mating season, she can conceive.
「I-I might get a little wild, so please don't be shocked, okay?」
「L-Lilia is going to be even wilder than before... Just from imagining it, I might get a nosebleed.」
「G-Geez......I-In that case, would it be possible for us to do it one-on-one rather than as a group? I don't want too many people watching, and I want to concentrate...」
Lilia averts her gaze from Mars and speaks in a low voice.
「So you want to have passionate, perverted, lovey-dovey sex with just the two of you... is that it!?」
「Think about how you phrase things!」
Hazuki's head is lightly tapped.
「Is it really mating...? It sounds intriguing.」
「...Sion, you're also quite lewd in fundamental ways, aren't you?」
Sion joins in with a warm tone, even in such a risqué conversation. Lilia distances herself, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
「Maybe everyone actually likes it secretly-nyaa. They're just hiding it-nyaa.」
「I think that might be true... but I still believe that a certain level of modesty is necessary.」
Lilia still couldn't fully come to terms with it.
「...」
Mars silently listened to their conversation.
He realized that despite engaging in activities that could result in having a child, he hadn't fully prepared himself when considering the actual birth of a child.
「After all this is over, let's get married, everyone. In this world, it's not widely practiced, but let's have a proper wedding ceremony.」
「I have to make lots of dresses...! I have a few good designs, so everyone, please choose!」
Hazuki happily presents several design ideas.
She had sketched them in her sketchbook during her free time.
「I will also strive to heal and grow my legs by that time!」
Sion pumps herself up and strikes a victory pose.
Taking a break is currently her main focus.
「What should Nemu names her children-nyaa...It would be nice to use names inspired by things we love-nyaa. Fish... Ice sounds good too-nyaa.」
「Using names inspired by things we love is fine, but it's not suitable for human names, okay!?」
Mars strongly believes that he should express his opinion when Nemu names her own child.
「Shall we have a light meal and go to sleep? I don't think anyone is really in the mood today.」
「My stomach is empty, but I don't feel like eating.」
「Me neither...」
Before their appetite, gruesome scenes from the future come to mind.
No one in the group feels any desire when confronted with the sight of numerous dead bodies.
The same goes for their sexual desires.
On days like this, it's best to simply go to bed early.
「Let's go to sleep early today, do the final equipment check tomorrow, and spend the day as we please. This dungeon is not like the mazes we've encountered before. It's all boss battles. Be prepared. Give it your all as always.」
「Depending on how you look at it, it might even be easier. Those small shadowy monsters give me the creeps more often than not.」
「It would be nice if we could break through with my magic alone, but....」
Relying on Hazuki's immense firepower would make things go faster.
However, they've learned from experience that it's difficult to rely solely on brute force against boss-class enemies.
「This time, I plan to make full use of the 'Forbidden Magic Books' that I possess. Everyone, use your favorite spells without holding back. There's no reason to be stingy anymore.」
「We'll need powerful magic this time, and it will likely be the last opportunity.」
Everyone falls silent at the mention of "last."
Whether they win or lose, the adventure will come to an end.
They have to think about what comes next, what lies beyond.
But still, the end of the adventure is a little bit sad.
「That's right-nyaa! Let's create a dungeon that we can all play in-nyaa!」
「Oh, that sounds good! I have a feeling that if I don't go to the dungeon, I'll keep gaining weight!」
――Dungeon creation, huh? It sounds somewhat like a sports gym from my past life, but it might be a good idea.
Essentially, it would become an athletic facility.
Things that I never imagined are coming from my companions.
Even if we become close to immortal, it seems like we'll never get bored, thought Mars with a smile.
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