Royal Capital of Kashiram – Hans’s Workshop
I think it’s been about thirty minutes since we arrived. Despite the five of us crammed into this small workshop, no one has said a word. At first, it was a warm atmosphere as Rama welcomed Tatarka back with tears of joy, while Tatarka apologized.
But that stubborn father of hers just sat there with his back turned, refusing to acknowledge her return. Maybe bringing Tatarka back with a surprise announcement that she was the rightful heir was a mistake. He certainly seems like the type who would dislike such things. No matter how much Tatarka apologized, Hans didn’t even bother to hurl his usual insults. I realized that this is what they mean by an awkward silence.
“Dad, you don’t know what to do with this situation, do you? Come on, let’s just take it easy today.”
Rama, who had been yelling and tugging at his ears, was trying her best to ease the tension. But no matter how much she tried, Tatarka remained rooted to the spot, and Hans didn’t budge an inch. Even Kurinka, usually so composed, was scratching her cheek and tilting her head in confusion.
Putting aside the details, I wanted Hans to reforge Disballade since I brought back the heir. He never said it was unacceptable for his daughter to take over, and I thought I had kept my promise. But if I were to voice that here, it would only add fuel to the fire, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Dad, can’t you understand…?”
“You know what this girl has been through, right? I can’t believe she was at that factory run by Matere Trading Company… To think I’ve been living my life carefree without knowing that, it makes me want to cry…”
“After wandering around freely until now, you want to be a blacksmith because you’ve run out of options?”
His words were infuriating, but upon reflection, they weren’t entirely wrong. Yet, Tatarka didn’t fight back against that accusation. It was as if she acknowledged her shortcomings, and with that understanding, she kept apologizing. Over and over again.
It was better that Hans wasn’t going berserk, but the silence made it all the more frightening.
“Even if you don’t forgive me, I’m still here. I’ve decided to take over Dad’s work.”
“You dare say that?! Which mouth of yours is saying such nonsense?!”
Rama was desperately trying to pry Hans’s hand off Tatarka’s shoulder, gripping it so tightly I thought she might crush it. She shoved chairs aside in her frantic attempt to protect her daughter, and finally, I jumped in to help.
But even as I grabbed Hans’s arm, he didn’t do anything further. He kept Tatarka pinned against the wall, breathing heavily as he stared her down.
“Even if you don’t forgive me? Fine by me. I won’t let my daughter do anything she wants. I’ll keep her locked up in this cramped workshop until she’s completely drained of moisture, suffering in misery. She might have been better off at Matere’s factory. No matter what happens, I won’t let her go until I’m satisfied! I won’t forgive her until she becomes the world’s greatest blacksmith! Prepare yourself!”
After shouting that with a face as red as a tomato, Hans turned back in his chair, dismissing the situation. Tatarka crumpled to the floor, her body relaxing as she let out a small laugh. Meanwhile, Rama and Kurinka burst into laughter, leaving me bewildered.
I was the only one who couldn’t grasp what Hans was saying for a moment.
“Hey, give me that girl.”
“Huh? Me?”
“The weapon! The weapon!”
“Oh, you mean you’ll reforge it!”
As I unsheathed Disballade and placed it before him, Hans stood up from his chair and began examining it from various angles, resting his elbows on the floor. His reaction to Tatarka, whom he called over with a nod, was clearly abnormal.
Tatarka stepped back, breathless, while Hans wore a creepy smile. One thing was clear: their insight into weapons was leagues beyond Formas. Even if he had belittled it just to save face, it was evident he didn’t understand the true nature of Disballade at all. For the son of a so-called great weapon merchant, it was disappointing. I hoped these two would step up and defeat Matere Trading Company.
“Hey, where did you find this? You’ve been carrying something like this around?”
“Yeah. Can you really tell it’s a dangerous weapon just by looking at it?”
“A weapon is something that, when forged by a decent blacksmith, carries some kind of thought or wave within it. That can lead to additional effects, and it changes depending on the ores used. But what this is emitting isn’t thought… it’s a curse.”
“I-I get a headache just looking at it… Rua, where on earth did you…”
“I’m curious about how many lives this has sent to the brink of death. You carry it around so casually.”
What the Dragonfolk had said was true. Even the blacksmith Taita, a Dragonfolk, would run away from a Demon Sword like this. Yet here I was, handling it myself, and I found it strange. Even if he was the world’s greatest blacksmith, I wondered if Hans could reforge it. If something were to happen to him, it would be my responsibility.
“Alright, I’m going to forge it now. Tatarka, you stay here too.”
“Yes.”
“Um, is that really okay?”
“Huh? A blacksmith can’t be beaten by a weapon!”
Trusting his confident words, we decided to head back to the inn. I was worried, but I thought I should believe in Hans. Taita, the Dragonfolk blacksmith, couldn’t handle it, but once Hans understood the situation, he would likely let it go.
Most importantly, it seemed Tatarka was motivated now, so this should resolve the issue between father and daughter.
Royal Capital of Kashiram – Kutsurogi Inn
“Phew, it’s noisy no matter where you walk… It feels like it never sleeps, day or night.”
“Really? I think it’s a happy place, like the Avangarde Festival is happening every day.”
For Kurinka, who was munching on skewers with both hands, it must be a great country. There were shady shops, street performers, and food stalls bustling with activity at all hours. I wondered if the King was right when he said they were fighting without rest at night.
Selling goods and making a fortune, becoming arrogant like that factory. Is that what happiness is?
“Hmm, I said some harsh things back then, but I can understand what the King is saying.”
“Eh?! So, you think the King is right?”
“Not exactly. For example, with weapons, I think good things can’t be made without competition. If you create something and it sells well, that’s the end of it. You wouldn’t strive to make something better, would you? But when there’s a rival, both sides will work hard not to be surpassed. Then, the techniques get refined, and the market flourishes. There’s a lot to gain from fighting and competing.”
“Well… that might be true.”
“Also, I heard about that King’s nickname. Apparently, when he was young, he single-handedly stormed a bandit hideout and brought back every last one of them tied up. That’s why he’s called the Battle King because of his combative nature.”
“Ugh… that’s terrible.”
I heard that even now, he’s strong enough to rival an S-rank fighter. It seems Kurinka has done her research. I could certainly feel that level of power, but I couldn’t accept that he would treat everyone the same way. Not everyone can become strong. I think Kurinka mentioned that too.
“His bold and reckless personality is somewhat similar to Hans.”
“Speaking of Hans, I’m a bit worried. I hope he doesn’t get killed by Disballade…”
“But if we said we were worried and held back, he’d go into a rage.”
“Right…”
“I hope things go well with Tatarka.”
The image of Formas, who had said he’d thrown Tatarka away to that factory, flashed in my mind. I wanted to punch that guy so badly.
“Once Disballade is fixed, let’s aim for the Demon Lord Castle next. I think that person… Eeks is waiting for us too.”
“Yeah… but I have a bad feeling about this…”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the Demon Lord Army that attacked so flamboyantly is being unusually quiet… They defeated Lafoule in the Kingdom of Normitz, so I wonder if other countries are in a similar situation. If that’s the case, we can’t overlook it. What should we do? We can’t ignore the Garden of Beasts either.”
“…I’ll follow Rua. I think we should do what Rua believes is right.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, because we promised to go on an adventure together.”
Seeing Kurinka blush made me feel silly for overthinking things. As I lay back on the soft bed, Kurinka quietly snuggled up next to me. It had become a routine for us to lie side by side, wrapped in a blanket, embracing each other as we drifted off to sleep.
This area is hotter than the Kingdom of Avangarde, making it somewhat uncomfortable to sleep, but ever since Kurinka regained her memories, it has mostly felt like this. Kurinka takes off her thick robe, and I do the same. We share a kiss and hold hands as we drift off to sleep. Depending on how we position ourselves, we might almost fall off the bed, but I don’t mind that at all. I just want to be together, to be close, for as long as possible. That’s all I desire.
“Mmm… ahh… good night, Lua-chan.”
After our lips meet, she quickly falls asleep, perhaps to hide her embarrassment. Especially after a bath, fatigue hits her all at once, making it easy for her to doze off. Listening to the quiet sound of Kurinka’s breathing, I too let my eyelids grow heavy, eagerly awaiting the completion of Disballade.
◆ Demon Lord Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“Oh… well, well. You’re awake, I see.”
Bathram greeted the figure that appeared in the King’s Chamber with a smile after stroking his slicked-back white hair with his index finger. The being looked like it had just woken up, glancing around as it gradually came to its senses. It was a creature clad entirely in black, fitting for the dim, cold atmosphere of the King’s Chamber. Two small horns sprouted from its forehead, and it wore no clothing, resembling a true monster.
“Hey, is the Demon Lord not here?”
“He’s currently resting. If you have a message, I can relay it.”
“Ah… whatever. More importantly, I feel like… something’s been revived after a long time.”
The impolite creature, Eerlich, waking up likely meant that the other members had already stirred as well. Once they fall asleep, it’s not uncommon for them to remain unconscious for years, including Eerlich, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord Army. Unlike the Twelve Demon Generals, these beings do not genuinely pledge their loyalty to the Demon Lord. Speaking of different beings, I can’t say much either.
“I have a feeling that our important thing has come back to life after a long time. Of course, I’m going to jump up. I want to get it, I really do. But I can’t quite pinpoint its location. Yeah, I can’t identify it. Oops, I’m rambling too much.”
“What do you mean by ‘thing’?”
“Come on, you know what I mean. It’s our thing, right? There’s nothing else but that. It’s that thing!”
“I don’t understand.”
“Forget it, I’m heading out. I’m going out now.”
Despite the convoluted words, his speed of flight was instantaneous. The black wings sprouted from his back, and he was out of the King’s Chamber in less than a second after lifting his feet off the ground. Eerlich, boasting the title of the fastest among the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord Army, was simply showcasing their inherent physical abilities. It wasn’t magic or a skill; humans don’t call walking a skill. It was just an extraordinary level of capability, that’s all.
“Good grief, he’s impossible to handle. Eeks, can’t you say something to him?”
“What do you expect me to do when you can’t handle it yourself?”
“The Funeral Knight who destroyed the Kratz Empire is being modest.”
“…That’s a terrible thing to say.”
“Huh…?”
I merely stated a fact. Bathram didn’t press the issue further, and I returned to honing my skills as the Bad Slayer.
“Six of the Twelve Demon Generals have already been defeated.”
“Ah, it’s getting lonely.”
“You don’t mean that. Still, it seems that her presence is indeed a hindrance to achieving our tragic goal…”
Even I didn’t expect that the crying girl, Lua, would grow to such an extent. She was just a child from that village, but that alone doesn’t explain it. Her physical abilities, reaction speed, and swordsmanship—all of them exceed the norms of this world significantly. At that time, when I revealed myself while observing her, I might have caused her to falter. That could have been the only chance to defeat her. It feels dirty to say, but I see no other path to her demise. Normally, whether human or monster, there exists some form of combat style or technique. If one wields a sword, they can be broadly categorized as a low-guard waiting type or an upper-guard swift attack type.
But she has none of that. There’s no fixed stance at all. She reacts to unknown attacks with astonishing speed. Even the threat of my Bad Slayer was sensed by her just by looking. I have no idea what else she was born with, aside from her reaction speed and instinct that surpass human limits.
“She is a being of Divine Nature. Without anyone teaching her, she learns to fight on her own. If anything, her opponents teach her. She probably doesn’t even realize her own essence. Therefore, even if I were to ask her for swordsmanship lessons, there’s no way to explain it. No, it’s impossible.”
“That applies only to those who remain within the bounds of common sense. Once she reaches End, it will be exceedingly difficult to suppress her with tactics.”
“The destructive power that surpasses even End—that’s what it comes down to.”
“Honestly… can’t she just behave for once?”
Despite his words, Bathram showed no signs of agitation. Enjoying tea here, he seemed to underestimate Lua’s existence. Even with half of the executives already defeated, this calmness must stem from the unfathomable strength of this old man. I myself have never seen Bathram in battle. I can only sense that if we were to fight, I would lose to this old man. I would die, crushed beneath shattered armor, tasting blood as I crawled on the ground. That image flashed through my mind. It’s hard to explain in words, but the difference in power can be surprisingly palpable.
“I could go myself, but…”
“The Demon Lord is unstable right now; it’s better for you to stay with him.”
“Hmm, but we can’t just sit idly by.”
“Oh? What kind of measures do you have in mind?”
“Well, let’s wait for good news…”
Without saying much, the old man elegantly sipped his tea. For Bathram, the Twelve Demon Generals must also be important. Is he not saddened by their loss, or is he simply being ruthless? Nothing could be read from that wrinkled face. I could only ponder as I faced the old man.
◆ Shin Report ◆
I feel like I’ve completely been forgotten by the Demon Lord Army. I don’t know why, but I just feel that way.
Goo… zzz…
Huh? Speaking of which, where exactly is this?