Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 82

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“Hyulololoo! It’s about time…”

Having passed through the dome where Monokio and the others were, Pumpkin flew at high speed down a narrow staircase towards the basement.

By the time he had been in flight for about 10 minutes, the staircase ends, and a light-filled space was in sight.

“Here is…”

His vision was briefly hindered when he reached the space due to the abrupt change from darkness to light, but he soon started to see the interior of the place.

Simply described, it was a location akin to the inside of a volcano crater.

“Wow…”

A passageway made of a different material, one that looked like stone, led from the entrance to the center of the space. In the space’s center was a scaffold in the shape of a disc, supported by a number of thin, thread-like objects made of an unknown material that extended from the scaffold to the walls.

Furthermore, the walls of this space appeared to be composed of something other than scaffolding, presumably due to the location’s intended usage.

The scaffolding and the threads were comprised of a material that would absorb magic power to strengthen their durability, but it was not immediately evident what they were, while the walls appeared to channel magic power only in a specific direction.

“If they are all gathered together like this, they look like normal human beings…”

Even more than these objects, something at the bottom of this area drew his attention.

That was magic power.

Perhaps the magic power that had been continuously amassed over the years from the surrounding earth, exploiting the properties of the wall, was in existence at the bottom of the space in such quantity and concentration that even an ordinary human being could see it with their eyes.

“Oh? Hearing the word ‘intruder,’ I wondered what kind of person would come, but it ended up being someone quite bizarre.”

“Ugh… that person is…”

Pumpkin was jolted out of his thoughts at the entry by a voice that seemed to mock him, and he immediately turned his attention to the scaffold in the room’s middle.

“Please be on your guard. According to my memory, he is the… the dragon-slaying sorcerer who appeared in the Far East about three years ago, the chief of a group of people called Spalpkin or something like that.”

“The dragon-slayer… I see, I don’t know which elder brother sent him, but he’s a very high-profile one indeed.”

Atop the scaffold were two humans.

On one side was a man of an unknown race with blue skin, black hair and nails, and black magic power, dressed in a clerical garment that signified he was a priest… who could be employed by God.

The other was a young nobleman clad in a military uniform that, despite its glamour, was designed to facilitate ease of movement for use in actual combat, and holding a staff with a number of jewels attached to the end of it.

The priest has never been part of their conversation, but if Pumpkin had paid closer attention to the nobleman’s white magic and face—which resembled the first prince and the king in some ways—he would have recognized him as the Fourth Prince, Ray Senko.

“Now, dragon slayer. What led you to this location? You are welcome to come and join me if you have come to do so. You will certainly be of far more value to me than those worthless fellows in the halls above, and as long as you join me, you will have money, status… and whatever else you need for your research. What do you think? Hmm?”

“…”

The Fourth Prince lifted the hand that wasn’t holding his staff in his palm and directed a few words of invitation in Pumpkin’s direction, while the priest shot a sarcastic smile in return.

I see, money, status, and research assistance… Indeed, it sure sounds palatable. But…

“Are you an idiot?”

“What!?”

It’s a load of crap, to say the least.

“I’ll get everything I want if I follow you? Less of your nonsense, no, you were nothing more than a spoilt, dumb brat who only cared about himself. You are a very dumb prince who overreached with his foolishness and even revolted. So I’m going to make it clear at this point.”

“…!?”

The Fourth Prince, or the foolish prince, was flushed red in the face and opened and closed his mouth like a fish that had run out of oxygen.

However, Pumpkin was extremely clear about what he intended to express because he had witnessed the situation.

“You should go suck on your mama’s t?i?t?s?, you foolish prince.”

“You…”

“Your Majesty!?”

The foolish prince’s shoulders were quivering as he endeavored to formulate something in response to his words, but he was so outraged that his words didn’t seem to be coming out.

Oh, by the way, the king said that the foolish prince’s mother died in an unexplained explosion about four years ago. In other words, if he wanted to go see his mother, he would have to die. Well, it’s none of my business.

“Calm down, Your Majesty! That was just a provocation!”

“I know! I know…!”

The foolish prince regained his rationality at the priest’s words, though only a little.

Contrary to his words of concern for the foolish prince, the priest’s mouth corners were hung up.

Hmph. I mean…

“Your Majesty, isn’t it true that you are the presumptuous king in terms of your status? Frankly speaking, you’re laughable on a level that makes my stomach ache even though I don’t have a stomach.”

“You aaaaaaah! ‘Lalip Elvisiven’!!”

After making a valid argument, the foolish prince lost his temper and released a form of magic that was invisible to the naked sight.

“Hmph!”

“What!?”

But since it was exposed to Pumpkin, who can see the magic power, he gathered the magic power in his right hand and struck it normally, destroying it.

By the way, the term usurper was used to describe someone who set their sights on becoming king without going through the official process, and it also basically referred to those who dispersed without ever becoming king. That actually fit the foolish prince like a glove.

I mean, it’s not the foolish prince that’s dangerous even in terms of competence…

“T-This is absurd… damn it! Priest! By any means necessary! Kill this insolent man now!!”

“As you wish. But Your Majesty?”‘

“What is it! Kill him quick…”

The priest who was behind the foolish prince drew a sword out of nowhere and pierced the foolish prince’s back with such force that the tip of the sword protruded from his chest, and the staff fell from the prince’s grasp.

I mean, I was right, he will be killed after all.

“Argh! W-What…”

“Please die, you’re in my way. I don’t need you from here on out.”

“No.. way…”

The foolish prince was struck by the priest’s sword as he kicked his corpse off the scaffold. As soon as the body of the foolish prince fell from the scaffold and was swallowed by the vortex of magic power that had pooled at the bottom of this space, it caused [Overburst] and burst apart.

“Was it fine that you killed him?”

Pumpkin asked the priest.

At the same time, he observed his movements closely.

“When he brought me in here and gathered soldiers to be subjected to experiments and sacrifices, that idiot’s role was over. In actuality, he was also expected to bide time for me, but given that you are present, he has failed to do so. All I have to say is that it’s a shame because the ritual is so close to completion.”

With his lips curled up and a smile that had a whiff of insanity, the priest remarked to Pumpkin.

I see. I finally understand who this guy is.

“You are a follower of the God of Destruction?

In response to his words, the priest’s smile grew broader and deeper, followed by the words, “You are right. You running dog of the God of Creation.”