Astral Online: Cursed by the Demon Lord to Become the Strongest Beautiful Girl, I Rapidly Grow and Dominate with Cheat Skills Despite Being the Weakest Profession - Chapter 223
Chapter 223: The Oni Princess
We stepped through the ever-open grand gates and entered the country.
What spread out before us was a scene of traditional Japanese architecture reminiscent of the Sengoku period.
The buildings were on an entirely different scale compared to those in the village we passed earlier. Some structures were as large as full-scale inns.
Though I had heard about it from my companions, who had arrived in this country ahead of me, seeing it firsthand was still a bit overwhelming.
In the distance, I could see the familiar silhouette of a traditional Japanese castle. That must be ?Yaoyorozu Castle?, the symbol of this nation and the residence of the royal family.
The inhabitants here didn’t wear the medieval European-style clothing we’d seen so far but were dressed in traditional Japanese attire.
The bustling main street felt as if I’d time-traveled back to ancient Japan.
Holding Kuro’s hand, I walked down the street, exploring our surroundings as usual.
“So, this is the fourth country. Once we conquer it, there’ll only be three Great Calamities left.”
“Getting the fourth ring feels like it’s going to cause some serious trouble. Are we really going to be okay…?”
“But if we leave the Calamities unchecked, they’ll have a massive impact on the real world. We can’t avoid this, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“That’s why there’s no point in overthinking it. What we need is the mindset to stay calm no matter what happens.”
…Or so I said, trying to sound confident so Kuro wouldn’t worry. But honestly, I was pretty scared inside.
What would happen to me once I collected the four rings?
What was my connection to El?
What was she planning to do with the knights?
On top of the gender swap I’d already gone through, these new problems kept piling up, leaving me quietly sighing to myself as my thoughts swirled.
Eventually, we reached the transfer crystal that connected to the other nations. Standing there were four adventurers we’d arranged to meet.
“You’re late, big brother!”
“Finally, the two of you have arrived!”
“Oh, the main protagonist has finally shown up, huh?”
Shio, Inori, and Shin greeted us with bright smiles. Meanwhile, Rou glanced around, then turned to us and said,
“It looks like Kuro’s father has given you his approval.”
“Yeah, we had a little talk with our swords,” I replied.
“Dad and Sora’s duel was so cool and amazing!”
Kuro chimed in enthusiastically, recounting the intense battle between Hart and me that she had watched up close.
Hearing her story, the other four looked a bit disappointed, muttering things like, “We should’ve snuck over to watch.”
“But it’s great that you got his approval safely.”
“It was so nerve-wracking to wait for the outcome!” said Inori.
“If it hadn’t worked out, the four of us were already brainstorming how to convince your old man.”
“Honestly, I figured Sora would manage to pull it off one way or another.”
“You guys…”
I couldn’t believe they had been thinking about that together.
I’m really lucky to have found such incredible companions.
Feeling a warm glow in my chest, I realized that if we kept talking about this, I might actually start crying. Swallowing the lump rising in my throat, I turned away.
And then—WHAM!
A strong smack landed on my back, almost sending me tumbling forward. I barely managed to stay upright, using my balance to recover. When I turned around, the culprits, the four of them, were standing there with their right fists extended, ready for action.
“Since I got permission from my clanmates, I’m joining in this time.”
“Yoru’s off wandering around ruins, but the four of us can finally adventure together again!”
“You’ve got a girlfriend your parents approved of. Of course, your motivation must be through the roof, right?”
“At last, the chance to join forces has arrived. Let’s snag that final ring and take down the fourth Great Calamity!”
“Alright, it’s the rebirth of ?Hunters of the Apocalypse? with Kuro and Shio joining the ranks!”
This would be the first time in this game—outside of boss battles—that we’d have a full six-person party.
And not just any six, but some of the top players in ?Astral Online?.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, I couldn’t imagine losing.
“Alright, let’s head to ?Yaoyorozu Castle? as a team of six!”
“Yeah!”
…………………………
The wilderness was dotted with small springs here and there.
The villagers from the settlement we passed along the way explained that the springs were maintained under the country’s supervision to ensure they didn’t dry up.
But what exactly was the country managing?
It turned out to be the largest water source in the wilderness—a spring called *Ame no Mikumari*.
Using the pendant Hart and Arisa had given us (it apparently granted passage for up to three people), we passed through the castle gates. The first thing that came into view was a star-shaped bastion fortress resembling Gory?kaku but with six sides.
However, instead of being designed to repel cannon fire, this fortress formed a *hexagram*. Priestesses would perform rituals there, purifying the water from the spring so it could be used by the people.
Lucifel explained as I observed the structure, ?Not only that, but the effects of a single prayer last for an entire month. From what I can see, the castle itself serves as a massive magical energy reservoir, in addition to the magic circle it houses. Any magic-based attacks or curses are either neutralized or take significant damage the moment they pass through the gates. The first Oni Priestess who conceived this system must have been a genius.?
(I see… so everything here is designed to protect and manage the spring.)
Guided by a middle-aged Oni who seemed to be our assigned escort, we crossed a massive bridge.
As I listened to Lucifel’s further explanations along the way, I gained a renewed appreciation for just how crucial this spring was.
Beneath the bridge, the spring shimmered, its waters crystal-clear and untainted. Just this sight alone spoke volumes about the powerful function of the castle.
…Now that I think about it, this might be the first time I’m learning about resources critical to the people’s lives in this world.
How valuable must water be? From what I’d observed on the way here, it wasn’t so much used for drinking as it was for growing crops.
As I pondered this, we crossed the bridge and stepped into the hexagonal fortress. Beyond it lay a Japanese-style garden designed with feng shui principles in mind.
It had been a while since I’d seen green lawns like this in the area. Perhaps due to the real-world season being October, the trees were painted in stunning autumn hues.
It reminded me of how I was dragged along for leaf-peeping last year. I couldn’t help but smile wistfully at the memory as I walked.
Then, at last, the enormous Japanese-style castle we had glimpsed in the distance revealed itself in full glory before us.
“I’ve seen nothing but Western castles up until now, so this Japanese-style one feels really fresh.”
“This might actually be the first Japanese castle I’ve ever seen…”
“Really, Kuro? That’s surprising.”
“Yeah, I lived in America until I came to Japan.”
“Well, you’ll get to see one next holiday then.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
Kuro tilted her head, not understanding Shio’s comment. Watching her confusion, Inori, Shin, and Rou exchanged knowing smiles but remained silent.
Seeing them refuse to explain, I followed suit and kept my mouth shut.
As I watched Kuro, visibly puzzled with a metaphorical question mark above her head, we reached the castle gates.
Our Oni guide spoke to the gatekeeper, and the tightly shut gates slowly opened with a creak.
(Hmm, the atmosphere feels off somehow.)
As we advanced toward the uppermost floor of the castle, I noticed something odd about the guards we passed by.
If I had to put it in one word, it was *unease*.
They seemed tense, almost as if something troubling had occurred.
The city outside seemed normal, which suggested that whatever it was, it was something the authorities couldn’t make public.
Just as I was considering this, we arrived at our destination: the throne room.
“Princess, the certified adventurers have arrived.”
“Certified Adventurers? …Very well. Let them in.”
A clear, commanding voice of a young woman echoed from within, and the large sliding doors in front of us slowly parted.
Our Oni guide stepped aside, silently indicating that we should proceed on our own from here.
After thanking him, we stepped into the throne room.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the ?Silver Enchanter? who defeated three of the Great Calamities.”
The words were sharp as a drawn blade, accompanied by an oppressive sense of authority.
But such intimidation wouldn’t faze someone like me, who had faced countless formidable foes before.
Without hesitation, we advanced together, undaunted.
The space ahead was vast, easily several times larger than the upper chambers seen in period dramas.
The tatami floor was reserved only for the farthest end, where the ruler sat. The rest of the room had wooden flooring, likely to accommodate those wearing shoes.
On either side of the hall stood armed Oni warriors, their levels around 80. They watched us warily, exuding an air of tension and unease.
The one commanding their allegiance was a stunning Oni girl seated cross-legged on a raised platform. Her black hair, trimmed neatly at shoulder length, framed her face, and she wore her kimono loosely draped around her.
In her left hand, she held a Japanese sword sheathed in a crimson scabbard that emanated a powerful, intimidating aura.
Her slanted, golden eyes, which a mark of royal lineage, glinted as she appraised us. Then, in a measured tone, she spoke.
“This is our first meeting. I am Setsuna Yaoyorozu, daughter of Susanoo Yaoyorozu, and ruler of this Oni castle.”
And then, she delivered words that defied belief.
“I am grateful for your intent to save our country… but the Calamity of Gluttony of this land was already defeated several days ago by knights wielding the power of a white angel.”