Chapter 78: Earthworm (part 2)

“What? A demon’s tunnel?”  

“Yes.”  

“Hahaha… I’ve been on the front lines for over a decade, but I’ve never heard of such a thing!”  

Ian was about to retort, ‘Hey, you’re just a 1-star summoner who doesn’t pay attention to such information,’ but he caught himself. 

This was his biological father, after all. Instead of speaking, he simply pressed his lips together.  

There was no need to discredit him—there were many ways to persuade him.  

“Father.”  

“Okay.”  

“Actually, this is something His Majesty the Emperor informed us about—”  

“I don’t need to listen.”  

“…What?”  

“Anyway, you’re right, so don’t tell me.”  

The moment Ian mentioned the emperor, the baron instinctively covered his mouth, as if wondering whether Ian was lying.  

The only thing he had managed to process was that his son had become a 4-star summoner. If he were to hear information directly related to His Majesty the Emperor… he wasn’t sure if he’d survive the shock. He might as well have his funeral that very day and pass the barony down to Ian.  

“This father is afraid of you,” he admitted. “You’ve grown too powerful, too quickly. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if you’re really my son.”  

“…Let’s hope so.”  

“Yeah… That shouldn’t be the case…”  

The baron sighed heavily before falling into a brief silence. Then, as if pushing aside his doubts, he returned to the previous topic.  

“…As you said, there is a passage for demons. But there’s nothing this father can do for you.”  

“—Is that so?”  

“Hmph. But! As a father, I’m at least happy that you’re seeking my permission.”  

“Then please allow me to do something.”  

“…What is it?”  

“Can I break some mountains?”  

“…What?”  

Hearing Ian’s request, the baron tilted his head in confusion. 

Break mountains? Did he mean cutting down trees or digging into the ground?  

If that was all, it didn’t really matter.  

“Fine, do as you please.”  

“Understood. I’ll be back after breaking down a few mountains.”  

“Hahaha, you’re full of energy.”  

After getting the baron’s permission, Ian took Noah to the ridge. He had no idea how deep the tunnel stretched underground.  

To test it, he had sent Anna and Theresia inside. After thirty minutes, they returned and reported that there was no end in sight.  

Considering that both of them could easily move at speeds of tens of kilometers per hour, this meant that the cave extended for at least ten kilometers.  

“Alright, Noah, be ready for any unexpected landslides.”  

“Yes! Understood!”  

Noah summoned a Terraman and a Colossus to prepare for any possible collapses. After setting everything up, Ian turned toward Empress.  

She was already gripping her staff, her excitement evident as magical energy surged from her body.  

“Are you ready?”  

“Standing by—standing by—”  

“Alright. Search and—”  

“Destroy!”  

Empress, unable to contain her excitement, gathered an immense amount of mana. Her refined mana cannon trembled with power before she unleashed it into the cave.  

A blinding light filled the tunnel, illuminating its depths before vanishing into the distance.  

Then, the cave, unable to withstand the powerful impact, began to collapse.  

‘…This will take some effort to rebuild.’ 

After using her Special Move, Empress shuddered slightly as exhaustion crept over her body.  

“Whew. Summoner, that felt good. Shall we do it one more time?”  

“You have no choice. There are two holes.”  

“Oh… right. There are two holes.”  

Understanding Ian’s words, she let out a giddy laugh and prepared to charge up her mana again.  

Just as she was about to unleash her second Special Move, she suddenly felt something approaching from a distance.  

“…Summoner?”  

“Host.”  

“Master.”  

Though Empress had sensed it first, she was a mage—her awareness wasn’t as sharp as a warrior’s.  

Anna and Theresia, whose instincts were honed to perfection, felt something rushing from beyond the cave. Without hesitation, they moved in front of Ian, shielding him.  

And then—  

“Gaaam hee hee hee!”  

“Guuooo—!”  

A massive creature burst forth.  

It was a gigantic earthworm.  

To be precise, it was a Land Worm, a high-level monster known for tunneling through mountains and carving out caves.  

“Hahaha—! How foolish! Who charges straight at a mage?”  

Giggling, Empress immediately unleashed another Special Move. A prepared mage had nothing to fear.  

However—  

Even if she hadn’t expected her attack to be blocked by the Land Worm’s skull and deflected, Empress wouldn’t have lost her composure.  

“…What is that thing?!”  

“Just run!”  

Anna and Theresia wasted no time. Anna grabbed Ian, while Theresia picked up Noah, and both leaped away from danger.  

Empress, reacting a moment later, flew into the air to avoid the Land Worm’s attack.  

The monster, which had emerged from the cave and risen to its full height, was enormous.  

Its upper body alone stretched tens of meters into the sky, and yet, a large portion of its body remained inside the tunnel.  

[Guoooo—!]  

[A wild Land Worm has appeared!]  

For a moment, it almost felt as if an invisible system notification had just popped up before Ian.  

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