## Chapter 1221 – Shurdick Great Desert

“Imhotep… Imhotep… Imhotep…”
“Imhotep… Imhotep… Imhotep…”
“Imhotep… Imhotep… Imhotep…”

The earless Dark Elf looters were walking in a line with expressions as if they had seen the end of the world. They looked even more dejected than colonial marines who had discovered an Alien chestburster inside them during a routine health checkup.

Their listless appearance was quite pleasing.

How should I put it? It was just like the kids in the movie *The Mummy* being brainwashed by Imhotep, and it made me happy. It was a world of pure innocence.

I used to play like that when I was a kid.

Those were the days.

“Hehehe.”

Just looking at that scene made my heart feel warm. Cutting off their ears might seem a bit gruesome, but since they were looters anyway, it didn’t really matter.

Claudie’s smile was more important.

“Sis, do you really have to carry that around?”
“Yeah.”

Claudie was swinging the sack full of Dark Elf ears around. Seeing her so lively made my heart feel even warmer.

“Seriously, you’re so unpredictable, sis.”
“Hehehe, unpredictable? This is normal for a warrior.”
“More like a berserker.”

Is that so?

“Actually, I used to do this a lot. Dark Elves were usually hostile to me. So I would collect a bunch of ears like this, put them in a sack, and throw it into Dark Elf cities at night before running away.”

What’s this story?
I’m hearing this for the first time.

She was talking like she was telling a story about ding-dong-ditching.

“Wow, Claudie really knows what’s up.”
“It’s a bit cruel, but you have to get your revenge properly. It’s only natural. I have similar memories.”
“That’s how we all grow up. I grew up like that too.”

Karin and Liztina giggled, impressed and sympathetic. Of course, I have similar memories too. Anyway, that’s Claudie for you. My proud woman. Claudie was oppressed for being a Half-Elf, but she never just let it slide.

She always got her revenge properly.

Whatever happens, it’s the fate of the warrior race to pay back double what they receive. Claudie was a very fine warrior.

“Those were pretty fun memories.”

Claudie’s smile was beautiful.

“Since there’s no one who can withstand that quick sword of yours. You just killed them and ran away?”
“Yeah.”

Claudie told Karin interesting stories about how she chose her targets, how she stalked them, and how she ambushed them to fill her sack. Listening to her, it was so Claudie-like.

“Hehehe, that’s my girl. You’re so cool, Claudie.”
“Katt is cooler.”

Should I start collecting ears too?

“Ear, Ear Hunter!”

Just then, the Dark Elf behind us screamed in shock.

“That woman was the Ear Hunter!”
“What?”
“Imhotep! It’s the Ear Hunter, Imhotep!!!”

The four of them started buzzing and making noises about the Ear Hunter. I was wondering what was going on when one of them answered.

“There was a crazy woman who threw sacks full of Dark Elf ears into the city, Imhotep! Th, that was her! Imhotep!”

No way.

“F, for decades… Ugh!!!!!!”

The Dark Elf looter was cut off by Claudie’s kick the moment he mentioned decades. The guy who got hit in the back of the neck buried his face in the sand.

“You better shut up.”
“Ugh…”

Claudie’s voice had turned cold.

Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.

Claudie’s hatred of Dark Elves seemed more serious than I thought.

“Hehehe, looks like you were a celebrity.”
“…I never thought that name would come up.”

Risha said with an amused laugh, and Claudie blushed.

“What, sis? You knew about that nickname?”
“This is fun! Ear Hunter!”
“I… I’ve heard of being called that… but I never thought I’d be confronted like this.”

Looks like she’s embarrassed by her nickname.

“Father, I’m not sure. Is this a pleasant topic?”
“It’s a pretty pleasant topic.”

Ari tilted her head and asked, but honestly, this was just a feel-good story.

“Claudie. You were the Ear Hunter? Huh? You were the Ear Hunter?”
“W, well… It’s not a shameful nickname.”
“That’s right! It’s not a shameful nickname! You should be more proud of it!”
“Ugh…”

Claudie didn’t know what to do at my words. Her ears were twitching; she’s so cute. Should I make her a name tag when we get back?

“From now on, you’re Ear Hunter Sis.”
“That’s such a fun nickname! And come to think of it, I think Winia also has a nickname.”
“Huh? My nickname?”
“Boob Magician?”
“Wh…!”
“Walking Boobs!”
“Seriously. Hilde, you’re just a lewd succubus!”
“Ah! That’s right!”

In a friendly atmosphere, we dragged the Dark Elf looters toward our destination.

* * *

Before long, we were able to reach the ruins.

The giant ruins, half-buried in the desert sand, seemed to show a glimpse of the past’s destruction. It had a visual that looked like it came straight out of *Fist of the North Star*. That’s exactly what a ruined city of the past should look like.

And.

There were many Dark Elves all over the ruins. It looked like a den of thieves. Dark Elf looters wearing turbans, covering their bodies in black clothes, or boldly exposing their skin, were scattered around the ruins, each holding their curved swords.

Most of them were sitting on top of the ruins, looking at us.

Let’s start with a conversation.

I took a deep breath.

ㅡHap!

“ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!! KNEEL, YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!!!”

ㅡHeavenly Demon Descent Step.

At the same time as the shout, I used the Heavenly Demon Descent Step to step down. ㅡRumble! The power was much stronger than before. A localized earthquake occurred, and a sandstorm swirled.

“Ugh!”
“Aaaagh!!”

The Dark Elves scattered around lost their balance and fell or knelt on the spot. Yeah. If I use the Heavenly Demon Descent Step, everyone has to kneel.

“Wow. You subdued them with one shot.”

Karin said, and I walked through the Dark Elves who were kneeling.

“Leader, come out here.”

As I said that, I released the power.

“…”

The guy who had been sitting there looked around, shook himself off, and came over. He was a male Dark Elf with short, white hair.

“W, who are you…? And who are those guys behind you…”
“Leader! I, Imhotep!”
“I, what? What happened to your ears?”

The prisoners shouted right away.

“These people took my ears! Imhotep!”
“Took your ears? And what’s with the Imhotep? What is that?”
“Who told you to speak without permission!!!!”
“Hiii Imhotep!!!”

At my roar, the guy stopped talking and prostrated himself. Seriously, this bastard!

“And if you say Imhotep one more time, I’ll tear you apart!!! It’s so annoying, you bastard!!!”
“I, I’m sorry!”

I roughly got the atmosphere under control.

“…”

The leader just had a terrified look on his face.

I immediately explained to him the circumstances of killing the looters and how we got here. After hearing the story, the guy stammered and replied.

“Eight people… ground up one of our cavalry units? In the blink of an eye? There were 40 of them…? Zodval and Ssorthen were there too…?”

I don’t know who they are.

“Yeah.”

The moment I answered.

“Oh my, guests. What brings you here?”

The guy bowed 90 degrees and greeted us.

“Ruins exploration.”

This guy’s attitude is good.
This kind of attitude saves lives.

“Ah, ruins exploration, you say. Please, come in. I’ll get you a guide. This place used to be quite popular.”
“Hehehe, a friend who understands me. What’s your name?”
“My name is Zerqueng, sir. Hey! Everyone! We have guests! Treat them well if you don’t want to die!!!”

The guy actively begged for his life and controlled his subordinates. I was going to just wipe them out if they acted like assholes, but seeing him act like this made me think I should spare them.

“It’s the first time we’ve had guests like this. I don’t know how we should treat you. Ah, about that cavalry unit… I’m sorry they caused trouble. They were just too aggressive. I thought they would die because of their personality someday, but it just happened! They died of natural causes! Hahahaha!”
“Hehehe!”

This guy is too friendly.

“Anyway, we don’t need anything. Just get out of here.”
“Yes? Get out of here?”
“Just go somewhere for a while. I’m just planning to explore the ruins and go back.”
“Of course. We’ll do that. We’ll leave for a while. Everyone! Let’s go!!!”

The guy answered coolly and gave an order.

“Ah, but… would it be okay if we took all our belongings with us?”

Then he bowed 90 degrees again and said in a very polite tone. This guy knows his manners.

“Ah, yeah, yeah. Take all your belongings. I won’t get mad if you take them quickly. Pack up quickly and clear everything out.”
“Yes! We will!”

With those words, Zerqueng started organizing his supplies with his subordinates. The work was quick, and they left soon after. I gave them all the earless prisoners as a gift.

“Things worked out well, didn’t they?”
“Hey. Isn’t this almost the first time this has happened?”

They also seemed surprised.

“It’s all because Katt showed his strength.”
“That’s right.”

Whatever happens, strength is important.

“Haa. I wish things like this would happen all the time. I prefer to resolve things with words rather than fighting.”
“Witch? Have you forgotten what happened back then?”
“T, that couldn’t be helped!”
“Okay.”

Anyway, with that feeling.

ㅡKugugugugu.

We opened the stone doors of the ruins and went inside.

“Oh.”

The inside was really cool. And very dark. We have plenty of lights, so it doesn’t matter. But what should I say? The overall size is huge. The passage is wide enough for several people to enter and exit at once.

“It’s so wide. Claudie? You said you’ve been here before?”
“Yeah. I’ll guide you. I’ve been here before.”

I feel safe with Claudie’s guidance.

“Everyone, before that.”

Then Ari took out the World Tree Crystal Ball.

“Ah, we had that. But what’s the reaction?”
“Hmm?”

But the World Tree Crystal was a bit strange. It was emitting light, but it wasn’t the usual green light.

“It’s a very faint blue. Has this ever happened before? Katt?”
“I don’t think so. Blue?”

Originally, it glowed green when there was a fragment of God. But blue? This is the first time I’ve seen this color.

ㅡOoooong.

Anyway, does that mean there’s something here?

“If there’s something, that’s good. We’re lucky. Let’s go down.”

Karin took the lead.

“Yeah. If there’s something, that’s good. Let’s go.”
“Then let’s start exploring the ruins!”

I feel like I’m riding the Pharaoh’s Fury at Lotte World.

* * *

As Claudie walked, she seemed to vividly recall her old memories and began to explain what had happened in the past.

We went down like that without hesitation, and roughly looking at it, the size of the ruins was no joke.

It was so wide and complex, and almost undamaged, that it looked like the underground ruins in *Alien vs. Predator*. That place was really wide too.

“It’s so big? Why is it so big?”

Karin, who was walking, seemed to feel it too.

“I know. Such a wide ruin…”

Liztina said, running her finger along the wall.

“Oh my, the letters are big too.”

Large letters were engraved on the wall. None of us could read them.

“So big… Could it be that the Titans made it?”
“Oh. That could be it.”
“Right?”

As Liztina said, it could be.

“Hmm… I don’t think so. When I came here before, an army of human mummies appeared. If the Titans made it, wouldn’t there be Titan mummies?”
“Ah. That’s true. Maybe the ancient people just liked big things.”

Claudie’s words were reasonable.

“No. We can think of it this way.”

Risha, who was looking at the wall while stroking her lips, said.

“The ancient Titans built this, and later humans occupied and used it? They may have removed all traces of the Titans that were here before.”

Oh.

That could be it.

“Ah, that could be it. As expected of the Witch.”
“Since the Titan era was much older than the Idol War, that could be it?”

Karin and Winia agreed.

“I feel like I’ve become an archaeologist!”
“That’s what I’m saying.”

Titans.

Why did the Titans, who could create such amazing ruins, go to ruin and end up like that? Come to think of it, there was suspicion that the otherworld palace that appeared last time was also built by the Titans.

The Titan Prince clearly said that humans summoned gods from other dimensions and destroyed the Titans… That’s not a very credible story, but if we assume that it’s true.

Does the World Tree belong to that outer god?

ㅡOoooong.

The World Tree Crystal Ball vibrated and emitted a blue light.

What does this mean?

Anyway, if we search more, something will come out.