“My old man would never do something like that!!”
Klyssa, who had been silent until then, suddenly shouted.
I was a little startled by the sudden loud voice.
“You don’t know, but my old man has never done anything crooked or wrong! He was always working desperately for the people of the town, and he always took the initiative to go on dangerous missions himself! There’s no way he would do anything to Fiss and the others… Don’t go making things up!”
She ranted with incredible intensity.
However, the Sage didn’t seem fazed by Klyssa’s outburst, showing no signs of being intimidated or disgusted.
“I believe I have already answered that question, but it’s pointless to discuss it here.”
As if to say the conversation was over, the Sage’s gaze shifted from Klyssa to me.
“Kouya. You’ve been calm since the beginning, but do you also believe that Xanthos wouldn’t betray us?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so…”
My attitude became ambiguous.
After all, we’ve only known each other for less than a month, and while I think Xanthos is a serious and good guy, I’m not confident that I fully understand his inner self.
Especially in an extreme situation where a family member is in danger and sacrificing someone else could avoid it.
So, the reason I’m so calm isn’t because of Xanthos, but because of my trust in Fiss.
I’m confident that if the goal is to capture her alive, we can handle any attack.
Well, I won’t say that in front of Klyssa.
I want to keep Fiss’s combat power hidden until the very last moment.
“Good grief, your optimism is astounding. But very well. It is also the duty of a ruler to guide the people in the right direction. I have already dispatched the Royal Guards when Kouya entered this room. The Artifact that maintains the seal is in the basement of this tower, so they won’t escape.”
“Royal Guards…?”
“Ah, he’s talking about the Pseudo-Golem Machines directly under the Sage-sama’s command. They’re smarter than the regular ones and can flexibly respond to complex orders. The Pseudo-Golem Machine that guided me here this morning was one of them.”
“Yes, they are versatile Pseudo-Golem Machines with high autonomy.”
“Hee, so there are things like that too.”
……………..
The conversation ended there. An awkward silence filled the room.
I was about to look for something to talk about when I remembered my original purpose.
I came here to ask them to abolish the sacrifice system.
I understand the circumstances, but I can’t overlook the loss of life. We’ve gotten off track, but I need to bring the topic back.
“That’s not important right now. More importantly—”
“!”
Just as I was about to speak, the 〖Mana〗 next to me surged. It was on the opposite side from where Klyssa was.
The Sage noticed it and turned a sharp gaze towards it, but this wasn’t my doing.
However, before I could explain, the 〖Mana〗 manifested.
“It’s terrible, Kouya-kun!”
Indeed, Paula was the one who jumped out of the hole that had opened in space.
She seemed to have acted on impulse, and her expression changed to surprise as she belatedly noticed the Sage.
“A surface dweller with 〖Barrier Affinity〗… Paula, was it? I see, this is the transfer hole that was reported. It is indeed a terrifying magic.”
“Um… who are you?”
“He’s the Sage-sama.”
“Ehh!? This… person, is?”
Paula tilted her head in confusion.
Well, I understand how she feels. I also imagined the ruler to be an older person.
He’s 〖Ageless〗, so it’s not strange that he looks like he’s in his twenties.
“So, what is it, Paula? You seem quite flustered. Well, I can guess. It’s about Xanthos, isn’t it?”
“Ah, that’s right. Xanthos-san consulted with me.”
“I’ll continue from here.”
A second person appeared from the still-open hole. It was none other than Xanthos.
Then, Fiss also appeared. She wasn’t bound or had a sword pointed at her, and she walked with her usual poker face.
“(No, that’s not right. She seems more spirited than usual… ?)”
“Kouya-dono, you’re here, so you might already know, but—”
“Wait, Warden! What have you come here for?”
The Sage, looking slightly confused, called for a halt.
“I apologize for the late introduction, Sage-sama. I have come here, of course, to ask for your cooperation in subjugating the 〖Calamity Beast〗. Kouya-dono, I know it’s a lot to ask, but please, lend us your strength.”
“Uh… the 〖Calamity Beast〗 you’re talking about is the one that’s been sealed for a thousand years, right…?”
“Yes. If we can defeat it, Klyssa won’t have to sacrifice her life.”
“I was also told to help. Barrier Magic is useful even against stronger opponents, and it can be used for evacuation.”
“I see…”
It would be difficult to directly attack an opponent who can use 〖Zone Control〗, but that’s not the only strength of Barrier Magic.
For example, it can also exhibit outstanding performance in terms of defense and evasion.
While I was convinced, the Sage was groaning with his hand on his forehead.
“…Am I hearing things? Surely you didn’t just say you were going to subjugate the ‘Devouring Horizon’, the Earth God Mud Dragon?”
“That is correct. Sage-sama, I am prepared to risk my life to defeat that great Demon Beast.”
“…I am speechless. To think that someone from my own people, who have been repeatedly told of its threat, would embark on such a foolish endeavor.”
Although he spoke with a tone of disbelief, there was an undisguised anger and impatience in his voice.
“Its seal is maintained by shifting its internal phase. To subjugate it, the seal must first be released. And that is something I can never allow. You are far too ignorant of the terror of the Mud Dragon… of the 〖Calamity Beast〗.”
“Sage-sama, we’ve also heard the stories from a thousand years ago. That they lost even with six combatants comparable to 〖Feral Beasts〗. That’s certainly a considerable threat. But here we have people of the 〖Third Canon〗 and 〖Fourth Canon〗—”
The Sage’s voice… a roar, interrupted Fiss’s words.
“That understanding is too naive! Listen well, 〖Calamity Beasts〗 are calamities that can destroy even nations. A thousand years ago, a neighboring country was destroyed in a single night simply by being in its path. A great nation that had many heroes of the 〖Fourth Canon〗, was destroyed. In the first place, humans who need to prepare multiple 〖Fourth Canon〗 just to fight a 〖Feral Beast〗, how dare you speak such nonsense about defeating an 〖Calamity Beast〗!”
The Sage, who had been calm until now, was starting to lose his composure after hearing Xanthos’s determination.
I could tell that his impatience was probably due to his sense of duty and responsibility, listening from a step back.
Xanthos is a person of considerable standing, and he might also know the location of the sealing device. He is a person who could realistically release the seal.
For the Sage, who has experienced the tragedy of a thousand years ago and has maintained the seal, Xanthos’s willingness to release the seal must seem very dangerous.
He must want to make him reconsider at all costs.
“…Why, old man?”
Then, unexpected support fire came from an unexpected direction.
“If I, just me, die, everything will be solved, right!? My old man knows that we can’t possibly beat a monster that can sink a whole town, right!? Last month, my old man agreed with me! It’s obvious that that’s the right thing to do, so why…”
“…Be righteous, do not stray from the path, I have always told you that. …I am the same. I swore on the day you were born, and on the day your wife (your mother) passed away, that I would never betray justice in order to be a father you could be proud of.”
Xanthos revealed his inner thoughts with a strength that seemed to declare each word.
“But I forgot to tell you the most important thing. Klyssa, you are precious to me. Even if it’s for the sake of all people, I cannot allow you to lose your life. I want you to laugh with your friends, pursue what you love, and be happy. Therefore, I have decided to take up my sword, even if it is reckless and not righteous. Please forgive your father for speaking two different things.”
“What the heck is that…”
“It doesn’t matter! The decision to offer Klyssa Sideros is final. Whether the Shrine Maiden refuses or the Warden refuses, it will not be overturned.”
As if interrupting Klyssa’s tearful words, the Sage declared firmly.
“The Shrine Maiden’s will is respected to the utmost. However, I cannot compromise on using a soul for the seal. If you have any regrets, then resolve them to the fullest during the period until the Earth God Festival.”
A voice filled with the same heavy and firm will as Xanthos.
I could feel the weight of what the Sage was carrying.
There is only one thing she has overlooked.
Since I’m hiding it, it might be a misnomer to say “overlooked,” but anyway, it’s time to reveal it.
“Come to think of it, I hadn’t given you an answer yet. Alright, I’m in. I’ll participate in the subjugation of that ‘Earth Dragon’ thing. I’ve been wanting to fight an 〖Calamity Beast〗, and I want the materials and 〖Experience Points〗.”
“B-but, that’s—!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything as stupid as charging in with no chance of winning.”
As I said that, I released the concealment of my 〖Mana〗.
Watching the surrounding people step back, I continued my words.
“I understand that 〖Calamity Beasts〗 are incredibly dangerous Demon Beasts. We haven’t seen one in person, but it’s painfully obvious from the way you’re talking. Normal humans… no, even exceptional humans have no chance of winning, right?”
“If that’s the case—”
“Then, what if it’s another 〖Calamity Beast〗?”
While using 〖Telepathy〗, I focused my consciousness inward,
“Executing 〖Evolution〗. The 〖Evolution Path〗 I choose is—”
““Eh!?””
“Eh, Kouya-kun, are you revealing it here!?”
I initiated the 〖Evolution〗 into an 〖Calamity Beast〗, which I had been putting off for so long.