## Chapter 1225 – Shurdick Great Desert

Feeling that unpleasant sensation, we exited the ruins.

“Still, Katt-nim, even though we didn’t get a Fragment of God, we got something pretty decent.”
“Heh heh heh, you’re right. It’s a good thing.”

Though I’m not sure if we can use it.

Ah, but even if the golem arm itself isn’t very useful, this energy-filled core has a high chance of being useful. I heard that the quality of a golem is determined by its core. With such immense energy, there will be plenty of uses for it.

“And we also got a clue about the Titan era.”

An ancient weapon of war created by the Titans.
There’s a good chance.

And if the Titan Empire really existed, then Hilde’s words might be right too. Outer Gods, Outer Gods, huh… I thought it was absurd.

“Katt-nim. This… I’m not saying this because I’m a demon, no. In the first place, I’m already an angel. Anyway.”

Hilde became serious and whispered to me.

“I’ve been thinking about it again, and I think we should be careful about the World Tree. And that power of God too. Not only that, but we should also be careful about other divine beings.”

Is she worried about me?
Just as I was about to say something, feeling touched.

“It’s okay.”

Claudia replied.

“Even if it’s a suspicious power. Katt will be able to subdue it all and handle it perfectly.”

Her tone was filled with perfect faith in me.

“Right, Katt? Katt can do anything, right?”
“Heh heh heh, of course. Claudia is right, Hilde. There’s no need to worry. I’m thinking about that too. As long as there’s suspicion, I won’t blindly believe it.”

Hearing that, Hilde smiled brightly.

“As expected of Katt-nim! The strongest in power and the strongest in brains!”
“Kim Katt, the greatest genius who even blasphemes against God.”
“What? What’s with that modifier? This is the first time I’ve heard it?”

It’s a day that reminds me of Ruanox.

“Hey, Blondie? Are you going to use that crystal ball and sleep well tonight?”
“I wonder.”

This is something to think about.

No.

It’s better to just take a look and ask. It would be better to read his intentions that way. Thinking so, I took the crystal from Ari and infused it with my power.

“Let’s rest here tonight and move on.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”

And that night.

The World Tree didn’t appear in my dream.

* * *

As soon as I woke up, I told them the truth.

“Isn’t it because it’s too far away? Father?”
“Hmm… is that so.”
“I also think the desert might not be a good place for the World Tree.”

Generally speaking, that would be the case.

“If you think about it that way, then…”

Then why is it reacting to this power and emitting a blue light? No. It could be separate. Because of excessive speculation, excessive suspicion has arisen.

As long as I can’t grasp the World Tree’s intentions, I’ll have to be careful about him anyway. I’ve been doing that so far, so let’s continue to do so.

Anyway, let’s move on.

“So, Claudia? Where are we going next?”

We unfolded the map, and Claudia quietly looked down at it and said.

“The closest place to these ruins is… how about this?”

The place she pointed to was just somewhere in the desert. Honestly, I don’t know the map very well. It’s my first time in the desert. But judging by their expressions, everyone except Claudia seemed to think the same way.

“What is that place?”
“This place is called the Forbidden Desert.”
“Forbidden Desert?”

What a scary name.

Is there a Hamunaptra or something?

“I told you, right? There are monsters called Colossi.”
“Ah.”

Somewhere in the Shurdick Great Desert, there are giant colossi wandering aimlessly. No one knows their origin. They just wander around local areas.

They don’t cause any harm, and there’s no technology to kill them, so they’re just being left alone.

I heard that some of the desert people worship them as gods.

Claudia said she had seen one once. Of course, she said she ran away after seeing it. Somehow, Claudia’s stories always end with her running away.

“That’s the area where they appear. For some reason, they seem to linger inside, but that giant being… maybe it’s related to the golem arm we found this time? Even if it’s not, such a being must have something.”

Certainly.

“Hmm, it could be a monster made from a Fragment of God. I agree with Unni. Blondie will destroy everything anyway.”
“Heh heh heh, it’s become such a natural thing now.”
“I’m getting used to it.”

That’s right.

“As expected of my women, you know me very well. Then what. Shall we go that way?”

There were a few other ruins as candidates, but we’ve already seen the ruins. This time, it wouldn’t be bad to go see that monster called the Colossus.

“Claudia. How far is it?”
“It’s a bit far, but there’s no problem. And there are a few cities built by humans on the way. I remember there being a large agricultural area.”

Hearing that, Liztina nodded.

“Ah, then let’s stop by there first. Human cities are at least better.”

Decision complete.

Let’s go through that city and look for the Colossus.

In my opinion, it’s likely to be an ancient weapon used during the Idol War, or a summoned monster from another world. If not, it’s likely to be something ancient and god-like that has existed since even earlier. Or maybe a creation of the Titans.

In the end, it’s my target.

But I heard that there are human cities and dark elf cities mixed in this area, well. I hope I don’t run into any dark elf bastards if possible.

“Then let’s go!”

And so, we set our direction and headed for our destination.

* * *

“Ooh.”

The city walls began to appear in the distance. It was the human city that Claudia mentioned. It was a fairly tame desert area, and seeing plants blooming in various places, I felt that a city could be built.

The city was surrounded by walls.

It’s impressive that the buildings are white.

Whatever the case, I’m going to rest there and then move on, so let’s take a good rest. Thinking so, I reached the city.

“Hmm?”

Rarely, the entrance line was quite long.

“Claudia? What’s going on? Are there usually this many guests?”
“Hmph… that can’t be.”
“Well, let’s wait and see.”

We took our place at the end of the line.

How long has it been?

It was our turn.

“Show your faces and take out all your luggage.”

A turbaned soldier said with a scimitar in his hand. He looked like the only survivor of the 40 thieves slaughtered by Ali Baba.

“Ah, guard sir. I have a question.”
“What? Where did you crawl out from…”

I immediately slipped him a dozen or so 5-copper coins and asked.

“Is there a reason why the entry inspection has become so strict?”
“Hmm? Ah, you haven’t heard the news.”

The soldier handed me a piece of paper.

“Here, take it.”
“What’s this?”

It was a wanted poster.

And it had a dark elf woman with purple hair drawn on it.

“A famous mad killer from the past has reappeared. She’s called the Ear Hunter, and she’s reappeared this time.”

What.

“Originally, there was no information or anything, but for some reason, the description has been specified. So the dark elf lords, who are full of anger, are looking for the Ear Hunter with their eyes burning. Dark elves believe that their children are eaten by the Ear Hunter when they go missing… The lords are the same. Heh heh heh, the children of the dark elf lords often go missing.”

This is.

Damn it.

“Well. That’s the story. This city belongs to humans, but it’s not good to be disliked by the dark elf lords who have completely gone mad with anger. So we’re cooperating like this.”

Those, those dark elf bandits, those bastards… I let them live and sent them back, and they backstabbed me like this…?

—Imhotep… Imhotep…

That annoying sound is heard in my ear. Those bastards must have spread rumors about Claudia. Those sons of bitches! I shouldn’t have let those bandit bastards live just because their attitude was a bit good!

Zerkhong, you bastard!!!

Next time I see you, I’ll chop you up into small pieces and make you into canned meat cubes!!!

—Grinding!

“Hey?”

The guard called me as I was suppressing my anger.

“Ah.”
“Well, anyway. I’ll do a simple inspection. Everyone, take off your hoods and show me your luggage.”
“Well… I will.”

I was about to give Claudia a look right away.

But Claudia was already gone.
She quickly hid herself.

The guard did a simple inspection, and we went inside.

“Ear Hunter… Claudia must have been more famous than I imagined.”
“Heh heh heh, I was quite embarrassed just now.”

Talking about the Ear Hunter while crossing the city gate. Seriously, Claudia. What were you doing in the old days? I can’t stand not knowing this.

“Anyway, Unni is really unpredictable. Why did you cut off ears for no reason?”
“Heh heh heh, you’re right. Claudia has some unpredictable parts.”
“Is that so?”

Certainly.

“No, Katt-nim? Can you treat the story of collecting cut ears as unpredictable?”
“Is that so too?”

I don’t care about the ears of the dark elf bastards.

Anyway, it was when we crossed the city gate and entered the city.

—Swoosh.

Claudia, who had completely covered her hair and face, appeared from the side.

“Wow, here. Our master teacher has arrived?”
“Katt?”
“Yes, yes. This is Master Hael Claudia, the master of smuggling. Everyone, applause.”

As I stroked Claudia’s back, everyone burst into laughter and applauded.

—Clap clap clap clap.
—Clap clap clap clap.
—Clap clap clap clap.

“Nice to meet you! Master of Smuggling!”
“Heh heh. There’s really nothing Unni can’t do.”
“Heh heh heh, she’s really a master of everything.”

I also clapped and exclaimed greatly.

“Ugh, ugh… S, stop it. I’m embarrassed…”

Claudia said, bowing her head.
I could tell that her face was red.

“Heh heh heh, I’m just kidding. Anyway, Claudia. The rumors of the Ear Hunter teacher are rampant in the streets? You’re just popular. Popular. Everyone knows you. You’re a big star. Love Love Desert Idol.”
“T, that’s… well…”
“Well, it’s a good thing to be famous as a warrior.”

Karin said warmly, stroking her philtrum with her index finger.

“Yes. Claudia. Be proud. It’s proof of sacred revenge.”
“…”

Claudia couldn’t continue her words because she was so embarrassed. Anyway, we grabbed a decent lodging and went inside.

And.

We surrounded Claudia, who was sitting on the bed.
Let’s hear the story.

“Haa… well, it’s a bit of an old story. I didn’t know things would get this big…”

Claudia’s story began.

“Half-elves are usually ignored by dark elves. I had a lot of those experiences too.”
“Those bastards dare to Claudia!!!”

—Growl!!!

I scolded the dark elves.

“It’s okay, Katt. I killed them all. When I had such an experience, I always tracked them down and killed them all.”
“Good job, Claudia!!! That’s Claudia!!!”
“And I cut off their ears… and collected them. Yeah.”

Very well done.

“And when I’m walking alone in the desert, I often get attacked… Even if they’re not looters, dark elf groups become hostile as soon as they see me… Every time that happens, I kill them all. If they’re human looters, I just kill them, but if the target is a dark elf, I always cut off their ears.”

Yes. Trophies are important.

“As I walked around like that, ears naturally gathered in my bag… T, then it became a bit fun… Ugh, ugh… Katt. Can I stop talking? It’s too embarrassing.”

—Flap flap.

Claudia, whose face was completely red, flapped her ears and looked up at me. But no. I’m going to hear the whole story.

“Uh-uh. Claudia. Hurry up.”
“Ugh… Katt, don’t tease me!”
“Tell me quickly, Claudia! Tell us the story behind your proud alias!”
“…”

Claudia covered her face with both hands.

—Flap flap.

Even so, her ears are flapping.
And they’re a little red.

“H, it became fun as I did it… I even deliberately revealed that I was a half-elf and looked for prey. I was young at the time… I enjoyed that kind of thrill.”

Exciting sports.

“I collected a lot of ears like that. When I threw the collected ears into the dark elf cities, I was honestly so excited… I couldn’t stop doing that… and then…”
“And then you became the Ear Hunter?”
“…Yeah.”

Claudia, who was covering her face with both palms, slightly parted her fingers and looked at me. Her trembling eyes were very cute.