Chapter 118: Information from Distant Lands
On the evening after returning from a long journey, I gathered with Dinoss, Retze, and Note. We were discussing the details of our upcoming expedition.
“So, it’s been declared. Am I weak? What’s the world’s standard?”
“Save the bragging for elsewhere.”
Retze was intently focused on his hand of cards, a serious expression on his face.
“What does the world’s standard even mean?”
“The young lady has had a long knightly career…”
Dinoss and the Butler were looking at their cards, seemingly lost in thought.
“I think I could flatten this town if I wanted to.”
“That’s a rather unpleasant revelation!”
“Note?”
“—That falls outside my area of expertise.”
Surrounded by Dinoss, Retze, and Note, we were playing a card game reminiscent of poker. No, we were actually discussing the details of our expedition.
Maybe I should set up a game room on the second floor? I feel like card games are better suited for round tables rather than square ones.
“You don’t seem weak, but you don’t give off much of a fighting vibe, you know? It’s like you’re not really in the business of life-and-death exchanges.”
Retze changed his cards, momentarily making a grim face.
“I get the impression you’re more suited to preparing birds in the kitchen or gossiping by the well.”
“You maintain a clean house, I see.”
I couldn’t deny it.
“I just don’t do it because it’s not necessary. But I’ve slaughtered birds for bedding before, you know.”
I drew a card and added a coin to the pot.
“The reason for fighting seems a bit vague… and check.”
Retze didn’t add any coins.
“Raise. Just make sure to consult me before you go flattening everything, alright?”
Dinoss doubled the bet.
“I feel like there’s a lack of urgency given the declaration of mass destruction… Is it your charm at work? Call.”
The Butler matched Dinoss’s bet.
I was known for being harmless back in Japan.
“Four of a kind.”
“Whoa. So the weak play (check) was a bluff?”
Dinoss tossed his cards down, revealing three Kings and two Fives—a full house.
“Quite impressive.”
The Butler also revealed a full house, even better than Dinoss’s hand.
Me? I had two pairs.
“Sorry for the sudden request, but can we move the departure up to the day after tomorrow? I’ve already spoken to Dean and Chris.”
Dinoss, having lost, shuffled the cards for a new deal.
“I think that’s possible, but is there a reason?”
“Jean mentioned that a girl named Nina from Rosa’s Group is coming.”
“Rosa’s Group…?”
Retze’s murmur was brushed aside.
“That was quick.”
“Apparently, the fastest one, empowered by the Wind Spirit’s magic, is on her way. It seems Rosa will arrive in a day or two.”
“Oh, that’s why we’re leaving.”
I understood.
“Have you heard about the summoned Hero?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard about that.”
I was practically one of the involved parties.
“There are four summoned Heroes, but it seems one of them is a Changeling.”
I confirmed that the other two nodded before Dinoss continued.
“Changeling? Isn’t that a swapped child?”
The one involving fairies and babies.
“Typically, it’s a swap between a Spirit in the form of an Imperfect Sacred Beast and a human child. Once the Sacred Beast grows strong enough to protect itself, it disappears. But the Hero’s Changeling is different.”
Dinoss set his cards down and reached for a glass of brandy.
“It’s a reflection of a loved one left behind in the original world. Human memory is a fickle thing; it’s impossible to keep a clear image of someone in your mind. I’ve heard that the Imperfect one consumes Spirits to gain stability.”
“I’ve heard there are those who have actually seen it consume Spirits. According to Nina, it gets dealt with quickly, so no one knows who the Changeling is.”
So that’s why there are four of them. I wondered who created it; it would be easy to figure out through process of elimination.
“Doesn’t that mean they’ll deal with the Hero too? I’ve heard they’re a nuisance, using magic left and right.”
I sipped my coffee, which I finally managed to brew using the Siphon I made while working with glass.
The room was filled with the pleasant aroma of coffee.
“Not really. Heroes are beneficial to the country, and it’s believed that Spirits turn into Demon Beasts in far-off lands where humans don’t dwell. For us on the frontier, they’re a source of food.”
“That’s easy for you to say since you’re strong, Dinoss. For someone like me, the increase in strong Demon Beasts is terrifying.”
Retze shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s said that Heroes nurture gods, and indeed, the influence of the powerful Wind God is still strong in this world. The country and its people won’t easily let go of that.”
The Butler added his insight.
“Nina seems genuinely intent on dealing with that Changeling, but piecing together the rumors from outside, it seems Rosa wants to storm the Royal Capital under the pretense of extermination to drag down the royal family.”
Dinoss took a swig of brandy, looking displeased at the prospect of getting entangled in such matters.
“They probably want to deal with the Changeling sooner rather than later, but there’s a sense of self-inflicted trouble for the country. Right now, I want to avoid getting involved with En.”
Dinoss declared that family came first. More important than the country, the people, or anything else.
I couldn’t help but think that if they didn’t understand, they should just deal with the Hero as well, which was a stark contrast to his perspective.
“Since you call them a loved one, can’t you see them getting all lovey-dovey?”
Retze rested his chin on his hands, looking at Dinoss.
“The relationships in the Hero’s world might be as they appear, or they might have changed as they wished. The impressions from the outside can’t be trusted. And this time, there are two couples, a brother and sister pair, and a sibling pair.”
Dinoss spoke with an air of annoyance.
“Oh, so the brother is the fake.”