Debuff Master

Chapter 504

The dictionary meaning of "annihilation" was complete destruction or obliteration of something.

“Yes.”

“But what is that?”

“It is a holy flame within the Fire Temple of the Fire God, Ormazd.”

“Oh?”

“That thing possesses the otherworldly energy of Apocalius, so it will be impossible to destroy it using ordinary methods. I’m guessing even the breath of a fire dragon won’t work on it.”

“Then what is the second option?”

“The second solution is the lava in the crater at the peak of Mount Kunlun.”

“The peak of Mount Kunlun?”

“Ah, this reminds me. Elder-nim is the owner of Mount Kunlun, so you must be familiar with its peak.”

“No, I have not even been anywhere near the peak,” Siegfried replied.

“Really?”

“Master has gone up a few times to bathe in the hot spring, but I have not gone up even once.”

“I see... It makes sense for a hot spring to exist where there is lava,” Daode Tianzun said.

“I guess...?”

“Anyway, that ancient crater is known to be the first ever volcano that had erupted in this world, and the lava in it is arguably as powerful as the flames of Ormazd.”

“Then what is the last option?”

“Find a highly skilled alchemist.”

“Ehh? An alchemist?”

“It has to be someone possessing the Emerald Tablet.”

“Emerald what?”

“Hoho! You should study a bit.”

“Do I have to? I am not a magician.”

“It’s general knowledge!”

“...?”

“Who on this continent doesn’t know what the Emerald Tablet is?!”

“But I am an Adventurer...”

“Hmm?” Daode Tianzun raised a brow. Then, his eyes slowly shot wide open, ‘Oh right! This guy is from another world!’

Siegfried got along so well with the NPCs that most of them had forgotten that he was an Adventurer.

“Ahem... Yes, you\'re an Adventurer.”

Siegfried narrowed his eyes and asked, “What did you think I was?”

“I thought you were one of us; what else?”

“...”

“Anyway, an Emerald Tablet is something like a magic book.”

“A magic book?”

“The highest-tier magic book for necromancy is the Necronomicon while the Emerald Tablet is the highest-tier magic book for alchemy. Wait, you do know what the Necronomicon is, right?”

“Of course.”

The Necronomicon was so famous that Siegfried had heard about it. It was impossible for him not to have heard about it, as the official backstory of the Necromancer Class was that all of their skills had come from the Necronomicon.

“The Emerald Tablet contains everything there is to know regarding alchemy. Are you aware that every process used by the blacksmiths to craft artifacts was derived from the knowledge given by the Emerald Tablet?”

“I see...”

“The Emerald Tablet contains knowledge of creating something out of nothing and something into nothing.”

“Then the owner of the Emerald Tablet must be a Grandmaster Alchemist, and that person would know how to destroy this Ignite Soul?”

“Precisely.”

“Then who is the owner of the Emerald Tablet?”

“Beats me.”

“Huh?”

“As far as I know, the last known owner of the Emerald Tablet was an alchemist called Acheron. Three hundred years ago, Acheron crafted the Elixir of Immortality—the Philosopher’s Stone. He was renowned as the Immortal Acheron, and he was capable of transforming an ordinary stone into gold.”

“Wait! Did you just say he could turn stone into gold?!” Siegfried exclaimed with his eyes sparkling.

“H-Huh?”

“Is that even possible?!”

“Why look at you! You seem to be more interested in gold rather than the Elixir of Immortality,” Daode Tianzun grumbled in disbelief.

“What is the use of living so long you start shitting in your pants? How pathetic~ People who live over the age of one hundred is just a nuisance to those around–”

“What did you say, punk?!”

“Heok!” Siegfried gasped after remembering that Daode Tianzun was over two hundred years old.

“You little brat!”

“T-That is not what I meant. What I wanted to say was...” Siegfried racked his brains to come up with an excuse. Then, he explained, “I was just surprised! Being able to turn stone into gold is really surprising! To be honest, immortality is not really all that impressive when some people live really long. Ah! You are the perfect example, Elder-nim!”

“I guess you’re right...”

“So, you do not know where this Acheron is?”

“Ha! Look at this weasel changing the subject!” Daode Tianzun scoffed, glaring at Siegfried.

“Hehe...” Siegfried revealed a dumb grin in response and asked, “If you had lost contact with Acheron three hundred years ago, then how am I supposed to find an alchemist possessing the Emerald Tablet?”

“That’s your problem.”

“...”

“Do you want this old man lying down on an infirmary bed to look for it for you? Ughh...” Daode Tianzun said with a groan.

“N-No, that is not what I meant,” Siegfried replied while profusely sweating.

Daode Tianzun had exhausted his powers closing the dimensional gate to prevent Apocalius from crossing over to this world, and he was most likely going to be out of commission for at least two to three years.

“Anyway, I have told you everything I know, so the rest is up to you,” Daode Tianzun said, waving his hand dismissively.

“Thank you for your advice, Elder-nim,” Siegfried replied with a bow. Then, he added, “Please rest well! I will make sure you receive the best care possible!”

“Hoho! I have had numerous disciples but you are the most filial one of them all!”

“You praise me too much. I will be taking my leave now, so please rest.”

“Take care and work hard for the sake of this world’s peace!”

Siegfried instructed the nurses to take extra care of Daode Tianzun before leaving the infirmary.

***

Siegfried spent his time finishing up some administrative work before calling Brunhilde and Verdandi, who were currently in Elondel.

— So something like that happened.

Brunhilde looked quite serious over the communication orb.

— We can only relax after the Ignite Soul is destroyed.

“Yes.”

— Honey.

“Yes?”

— I’m proud of you.

“...!”

— I’m really proud of you, and you are the one I love the most.

Siegfried’s face flushed at Brunhilde’s words.

Proud? Love the most? Those were words that would make anyone feel good, happy, and shy.

“You\'re proud of me?”

— Of course! My husband foiled the plans of that evil Church of Osric and saved the world! How can I not be proud of you? Am I right, my child?

Brunhilde lifted Verdandi, showing her to the communication device.

— Kyah! Kyah!

Verdandi smiled brightly and cried out in the cutest way possible after seeing Siegfried’s face on the communication orb.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

Siegfried felt his heart thumping so wildly that it seemed like it was going to explode.

How could such lovely and adorable people exist in this world?

— Ah, also.

“Yes?”

— I heard you sent back the beautiful women offered by the Great Jungle natives?

“T-That was!”

— Thank you.

“Yes?!”

— For not looking at other women.

“W-Why are you thanking me?! It’s only right for me to do so! You’re the only one for me!”

— Really?

“Yes!”

— I’ll believe you.

“You can trust me!”

— But you can take in a concubine if you really want to.

“What are you talking about?!”

–You are a king. A king of this world is allowed to have numerous partners if they wish to do so, and that is not something to be ashamed of. Don’t worry; I’ll be an understanding wife.

“Don’t say that. I don’t have any desire to do that,” Siegfried said adamantly.

— But...

“I have to go now. I love you! Talk to you later!” Siegfried hurriedly tried to end the call, as he no longer wished to discuss the matter of him taking in concubines.

— Ah! Okay!

“When are you coming back?”

— I’ll be back next week!

“I miss you!”

— I miss you too! I’m sorry for not being there when you came back!

“Don’t worry about that! I’ll be waiting! I love you! I miss you too, my daughter! I love you!”

— Kyah! Papa! Papa!

Siegfried ended the call after telling them how much he loved them.

“I don’t need concubines,” Siegfried grumbled while thinking of the customs of the continent.

***

Siegfried boarded the Super Airship, Huracan, and headed to Mount Kunlun. He was heading there to test out one of the solutions to destroy the Ignite Soul, which was the Ancient Crater located at the peak of the mountain.

He decided to test this method first, as Mount Kunlun was like his hometown now. The entire mountain was under his master, Deus’ dominion.

“Kyu! Owner punk! Why are you so diligent these days?! Don’t you have to rest? Kyuuu!”

Hamchi cried out.

“My beloved wife said she’s proud of me.”

“Kyu...?!”

“She’s proud that I’m protecting this world from evil! So how can I laze around?”

Hamchi narrowed his eyes and asked, “Owner punk... Didn’t you do that because of some other reason?”

“What?!”

“You did all that because of your quest and growth, but now you’re acting as if you care about this world after Brunhilde said she’s proud of you? Kyu! Hamchi knows you!”

“Why you little?! Do you really think I’m someone who would prioritize my own benefit before the world?!”

“Kyuuu! You get a lot of benefits from doing this anyway, right?! You’re just doing this for the benefits!”

“T-That is...!”

“Stop pretending like you’re a hero! Hamchi knows that you’re a selfish villain! Kyuu!”

“How did you know...?” Siegfried muttered in sheer disbelief. Then, he flashed a sinister look and said, “You’re too sharp for your own good, Hamchi. Hehehe... I don’t like sharp people.”

“Kyu?”

“Do you know what happens if you know things you’re not supposed to know?”

“K-Kyuu?”

“You’ll have to die now!” Siegfried exclaimed before licking Hamchi’s ear with the tip of his tongue.

A chill traveled down Hamchi’s spine.

“K-Kyuuuuuuuu?!”

“Slurp!”

“G-Get away from me! Kyuuuu!”

“Stay still and be a good boy! Hehehe!”

“KYUUUU!”

Siegfried grabbed the scared giant hamster and rolled on the ground, licking the hamster\'s ear. Meanwhile, the Huracan flew at frightening speeds to reach its destination, seemingly indifferent toward what its owner was doing.

***

A few hours later...

“Your Majesty! The mountain is too high from this point onward, so it is impossible to fly any further! You will have to travel by foot from here on out.”

Siegfried commanded the captain to land the Huracan near Deus’ residence.

“Please wait here.”

“Yes! Your Majesty!”

“I will go greet Master first—” Siegfried was about to go greet Deus, but he realized that the house was empty, “Huh? He’s not here? I wonder where he went...?”

“Kyuu! What are we going to do now, owner punk?!”

“What else? We’re going to the Ancient Crater first. I’ll just leave a letter and wait at the kingdom if he’s still not here by the time we come back down.”

“Kyu?”

“I’m sure he will come to the Proatine Kingdom. He adores Verdandi.”

Deus had been spending most of his time at the Proatine Kingdom ever since Verdandi was born. In other words, Siegfried no longer had to come all the way to Mount Kunlun to greet Deus.

“Anyway, let’s get moving.”

“Kyu! Alright!”

Siegfried and Hamchi started their ascent of Mount Kunlun.