◆ Avangarde Castle – Royal Dining Hall ◆
A long table draped with a white tablecloth, large enough to seat dozens. In the center, there were the quintessential candles and vases, just as Kurinka had said; this was a place I would never have the chance to visit in my lifetime if it weren’t for this occasion. Around the table stood several servants, their postures straight and formal. The dishes they brought forth were lavish, unlike anything I had ever seen. They were more delicious than anything I had eaten before, making me want to ask for seconds, even though I wasn’t Kurinka. The King had said not to hold back, but it felt awkward.
“Excuse me! I would like a refill, please!”
But Kurinka’s lack of restraint was bold enough to put my own to shame. The servants came to clear the plates, so they never piled up, yet she had already devoured dozens. Even the King, who had encouraged us to eat, was smiling wryly. Prime Minister Belmund was even more blatant, exhaling sharply in displeasure. Kurinka, please take notice.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. My Kurinka is—”
“Not at all, our royal chef must find this quite rewarding.”
It was supposed to be Kurinka’s line, yet here I was, saying it.
“After all, you two are heroes who have saved the kingdom twice. It is only fitting that you stock up for your future endeavors.”
Belmund’s words were laced with barbs, and I could only remain silent. I couldn’t help but wonder if Kurinka had always been this way. She had never been the type to forget herself over delicious food, slurping soup directly from the bowl without a spoon. Surely, Eerlich must have cast a spell on her.
“Now, while we enjoy our meal, I would like you to listen carefully. To put it bluntly, I wish to designate you both as S-Rank Adventurers. Are you interested?”
I never expected to burst out laughing at the same time as Kurinka. The King had suddenly thrown out an outrageous proposal.
“Oh, I’ll replace it right away!”
“Oh, it’s fine. It’s not dirty…”
Belmund looked like he was about to voice his exasperation. After all, S-Rank? That was more than enough for Tiferia.
“Well, I would like you to remain calm and listen. Even without this incident, you both already possess the qualifications. I have sent messengers several times, but they were unable to reach you. Finally, I can bring this matter to the table.”
“With an A-Rank, you should have been informed that you could be summoned in emergencies. When you venture far, you should properly notify the Guild of your expeditions.”
It was a thinly veiled jab, but I did recall such an explanation. Though I had intentionally avoided doing so. The reason was that I didn’t want to be used by this country. Especially with the ominous presence of Kirkton and Mugen looming over us. I had often wondered why we, who were not soldiers of the kingdom, had to be considerate of these people. No matter how grandly they explained the A-Rank, it didn’t sit right with me. We had only aimed to reach Ikana Village, and without that goal, a B-Rank would have sufficed. Life as an Adventurer was enjoyable, but somehow, it felt like the higher our rank, the more that enjoyment faded.
But with Kurinka so easily swayed by the food, I couldn’t voice my concerns too strongly. I really wished she would be more sensible.
“With an S-Rank, our kingdom will provide the utmost support. You will have a place to live, clothing, and meals—all at your command. If there’s anything you desire, we will procure it immediately.”
“In exchange, of course, you will need to dedicate yourselves to our kingdom even more than before… So, what do you say? Are you interested?”
The sweet words were incredibly tempting, making me want to leap at the offer, which was frightening in itself. But I didn’t want that. Even as an A-Rank, I was subjected to jabs like earlier; becoming an S-Rank would mean losing my freedom entirely. At the very least, what we aimed for wasn’t something like that. But Kurinka, lured by the food, might decide on the spot. No, I had to trust Kurinka.
“Please allow me to think about it.”
Kurinka stated firmly, looking straight at the King without fear. It was hard to believe she had been consumed by her appetite just moments ago, even with sauce smeared around her mouth, she still held herself with grace. The King showed no signs of disappointment at her response, instead, he lowered his gaze to the table and resumed moving his knife and fork.
“I see.”
In that moment, it felt as if he transformed from a king back into an ordinary uncle. His response was surprisingly casual for someone of his stature, and there was a hint of loneliness in it. At that moment, I realized I had misunderstood the King in some way.
“Whether you accept or decline is entirely up to you. However, remember this: soon, not only the Neo Demon Lord Army, including the Garden of Beasts, but also the Comet Wolf Brigade will begin their full-scale invasion. If that happens, this kingdom will become a battlefield. Blood will flow not only from soldiers and adventurers but also from innocent civilians. Will you be able to turn a blind eye when that time comes? Reflect on this within your hearts.”
“…With all due respect, if that happens, we will fight regardless of orders.”
“You do not understand. In your current state of free movement, will you be able to arrive when it truly matters?”
“Ah…”
“We are not saying that you must be restrained as S-Rank; we merely ask for a little cooperation so that you can respond immediately in emergencies.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Kurinka pressed her hand against her robe’s chest, lowering her head. I felt the same unease as she did, shaken by Belmund’s piercing insight. He had seen right through our thoughts about the S-Rank. His glaring eyes felt as if they could see into my very soul, and it was unsettling.
Thinking back, this man had been the Prime Minister of this country for decades; it was only natural he would understand the thoughts of children like us.
“We are constantly gathering information and keeping a watchful eye on even the slightest changes around us. When they begin to move in earnest, we will be the first to detect it.”
“But… please let me think seriously about the S-Rank matter.”
“Ah, I apologize for pushing you.”
He had shifted from a stern tone to a casual apology. I found myself feeling relieved, and perhaps that was the intention behind his sudden change in demeanor. It felt like there was no point in staying here any longer. I had sensed it all along, but I really didn’t like Belmund. He was somehow more difficult to deal with than the King.
“Hmm, I have kept you longer than intended. Your sleeping quarters should be ready soon.”
“I will guide you.”
◆ Avangarde Castle – 1st Floor – Guest Room ◆
“Ugh, I really can’t stand that guy. He just hits the nail on the head with everything I’m thinking.”
“Just like Ganoas said, he was truly devilish. His face looks almost inhuman, like a lizard…”
“Rua-chan, it’s not nice to mock someone’s physical features. That’s just low.”
I was genuinely scolded. According to Kurinka, I had a tendency to do such things, and I needed to correct it.
“Hey there! How’s it going?”
“Whoa! What, what, what?!”
“It’s me, it’s me!”
“Oh, could it be Lord Hast? It’s been a while…”
“If I had been forgotten, I would have soaked my pillow with tears.”
“Lord Hast, it’s been a while. Have you learned anything new? We’ve made quite a bit of progress too.”
“Oh?”
When it came to the emergence of Hero Aleid, even Lord Hast seemed to nod repeatedly in agreement. I had forgotten it had been a while, but from here, it looked like we were speaking to someone completely invisible to us, making it difficult to respond unless it was a moment like this. I found myself glancing around, recalling the situation.
“The hero who drew the Hero’s Sword… that is most likely the son of the hero who defeated the Demon Lord thirty years ago. It would be reasonable to think that baby Aleid was handed over to someone. Perhaps the hero, sensing danger, entrusted Aleid to that person.”
“So, he really is a hero after all…”
“But Lord Hast, why did this kingdom… the Kingdom of Avangarde announce the existence of a hero?”
“Once the real deal appears, there’s a limit to how much you can hide it. Or perhaps there’s another motive behind it. For instance, they might see some utility in him.”
“Utility?”
“To use him for the Demon Lord’s defeat, and once that’s done, dispose of him.”
It felt unsettling that what Lord Hast had said before was now becoming a reality. His tone was no longer playful; it was the genuine voice of Sage Hast himself.
“I’ve done some research and compiled my findings, but it seems we may have misunderstood the very essence of the Demon Lord Army. Where did they first appear?”
“Probably in the Kingdom of Avangarde. I don’t know about the others…”
“It seems it was a situation serious enough to send three high-ranking members of the Demon Lord Army to one nation. From what I’ve heard, in other countries, including the Wizard Kingdom, they usually only send one high-ranking member at a time. In fact, they often wreak havoc in much smaller units.”
“So, they were particularly wary of the Kingdom of Avangarde…?”
“That could be part of it. Especially since S-rank Tiferia and the Five Elites have made it their base. If they were to strike right after making their grand entrance… it seems there must be a more solid reason behind it. A grudge that goes beyond simply being defeated by the kingdom’s army led by the Hero.”
“A grudge?!”
If it weren’t for Lord Hast, I might not have believed that the Demon Lord Army harbored such deep resentment towards the Kingdom of Avangarde. But as I mentioned before, we must remember that this is merely speculation.
“Thirty years later, a force calling itself the Neo Demon Lord Army suddenly appeared… They must have been preparing for something all this time.”
“But even if that’s the case, why attack other countries…?”
“It would be more natural to think they had a significant grudge against them as well, even if not as strong as against the Kingdom of Avangarde.”
“Hey, Lord Hast, do you have any idea where the One-Winged Demon is?”
“Hmm, I still don’t know about that.”
I slumped my shoulders in disappointment. I felt like we were getting closer to answers, yet here we were again. Ultimately, everything Lord Hast had shared was just his speculation, and I still had no clear understanding of the situation.
“As for Ikana Village, no matter how many times I think about it, I keep coming back to square one. There are too many unclear aspects regarding this matter. I have some leads, but there are too many inconsistencies to discuss.”
“I see…”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. I’ve spent decades as a sage, but I’ve never encountered anything like this before. It’s truly an inexplicable incident.”
“Sage life, huh…”
“It’s getting late, so I think I’ll head to bed. Don’t underestimate the early sleeping and waking habits of the elderly.”
“I’m not underestimating anything. Good night…”
After a while, once I could no longer hear Lord Hast’s voice, I thought to myself that he must have finally gone to sleep. Even as I tried to piece together what he had just said, the answers eluded me. I figured Kurinka felt the same way; we still had no idea about Ikana Village, the very thing we wanted to know most.
“…What is the Demon Lord Army, anyway?”
“Huh? Why the sudden question?”
“We’ve been fighting the Demon Lord Army as if it’s the most natural thing, but when I think about it, I have no idea where they came from. I feel like there’s a key to everything hidden in that.”
“Ah, geez, thinking about it won’t help, and it’s about time…”
“Right, we were supposed to go to the large bath.”
Avangarde Castle has a large bath. It’s meant for the soldiers to use together, but it seems there’s no problem with us, as guests, using it as well. The King even suggested we should go, so there was no way we could refuse. This castle is surprisingly well-equipped.
◆ Avangarde Castle, 1st Floor, Corridor ◆
“Hey, is this the right way?”
“Probably…”
“Are you sure?”
“Nope, I have no idea.”
In simple terms, we were lost. I never expected it to be this vast. It was more complicated than I thought, and on top of that, there was no map. It felt like we had wandered into a maze-like dungeon. Just when I thought to ask someone for directions, there seemed to be no one around at this moment.
“Do you think they’d get mad if I broke through that wall?”
“Stop it.”
I knew it was a bad idea, but I was tempted to make that decision because I was so lost.
“It seems we’ve come quite deep, but…”
“Uh-oh, dead end.”
“Whoa… You’re right. This really does feel like a dungeon… Why would they build it like this?”
“They say it’s to confuse enemies if they ever attack. But really, if we keep wandering around, we’ll get in trouble. Honestly, it’s just like you, Lua-chan, to end up in a corridor with nothing but dead ends…”
The stone walls around the guest room we first occupied were beautifully polished and elegantly crafted, but this area felt rather shabby overall. There were no doors around, and it felt like a lonely place.
“Has no one cleaned this area?”
“Just thinking about cleaning every corner of such a large castle makes me dizzy…”
“What are you doing there?”
Turning at the sharp voice, I saw Belmund standing with his arms crossed behind his back. His large eyes were wide open, and his mouth was tightly shut. He looked clearly angry, and Kurinka and I exchanged uneasy glances.
“This is troubling. You shouldn’t be wandering around like this…”
“I’m sorry. We couldn’t find the large bath…”
“There should be a servant’s room nearby. I believe I instructed you to ask there if you were lost. What on earth are you doing in a place like this?”
In this case, we were completely in the wrong. With everything Lord Hast had said, my mind was a jumble, and I had completely forgotten about the instructions.
“The fact that we haven’t placed strict surveillance on you is a testament to the trust we have in your abilities. We believe you wouldn’t engage in any thievery.”
“I’m really sorry. Um, we just want to go to the large bath, so if you could guide us, that would be great?”
“…Very well.”
“Very well,” he said. It seemed he was getting a bit too pleased with himself since we were being so submissive. I understood that we were at fault, but I felt sorry for Kurinka, who was dealing with him. I wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind. It was frustrating not being able to retort.
Later, I learned that most of the soldiers were out helping with the restoration of homes destroyed by the King of Six-Six, so that was why there were so few people around. When I heard that, I thought we should help too, but Belmund quickly cut us off. It seemed they didn’t need our help.
◆ Wizard Kingdom, Hast’s House ◆
Today, Grandpa looked particularly troubled. It was clear that this was after his interaction with Lua and the others. He hadn’t touched his tea and was staring intently at a single point on the wooden table.
“…Grandpa?”
“Truppo, I will be leaving the house starting tomorrow. There are some matters I must attend to.”
“If I ask why, you won’t tell me, will you?”
“I’m sorry…”
No, I can’t let him go. At this point, he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. Even if his body ached and he couldn’t use magic properly, there must be a reason strong enough to make Grandpa say something like this. I had an idea of what it might be, but I still needed to confirm it.
“Grandpa, you really know everything, don’t you?”
Grandpa, Sage Hast, remained silent. That was like a nod in response to my question. Although he had been playing dumb with Lua and the others, he truly understood everything. Yet, if he had to pretend otherwise, there must be a reason.
“Is it a truth you can’t share with Lua and the others?”
Grandpa gave a faint nod. After finally taking a sip of his tea, he hesitated before speaking.
“This is… too heavy for those children. And I must take responsibility for it myself. For thirty years, I have been turning a blind eye to it…”
“What if I said I wouldn’t let you go?”
I gripped my staff tightly, but of course, I had no intention of attacking Grandpa. This was purely my will; I would stop him by force if necessary. I stood in front of the door, blocking his way, but Grandpa approached me, placing his fist against his bent waist.
“My dear granddaughter, do not let your talents go to waste.”
My eyelids began to droop. My consciousness faded, and I felt all the strength leave my body. My hand loosened, and with a dry sound, my staff fell to the floor.
“Though I am old, it is still too early to stop me.”
The outcome had already been decided. What had he done to me? Was it a sleep spell? When had he cast it? Ah, of course, he didn’t need to chant anything. Non-verbal casting was one of the strengths that allowed Sage Hast to remain at the pinnacle of magic. It was effortless for him to lull me to sleep as if it were a mere breath.
I realized how naive I had been to think that he wouldn’t use such methods to kill me if he truly wanted to. I’m sorry, Grandpa. I had genuinely considered following you, but now I would just be a burden.
“Goodbye.”
In the fading haze of my consciousness, only Sage Hast’s farewell echoed clearly in my ears.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The identity of the Demon Lord Army?
The Demon Lord is the Demon Lord.
The one who controls everything, the Demon King, the Demon Lord.
An existence that is absolutely unique and absolute.
Now, what am I thinking about? How tiresome.
No matter how strong they are, they are still just children.
At this rate, there’s no way they could get close to the Demon Lord.
Let them become whatever they want, even if it’s an S-rank.
Hmm, hmm.
“Sometimes, if I don’t express my love for the Demon Lord, I’ll end up with a serious case of pent-up feelings and die from it.”
“Hey, where did those two go?”