Avangarde Castle – Courtyard
The garden, tended by the royal family’s dedicated gardener, is now filled with tense individuals. Standing before a crowd of over a thousand, Prime Minister Belmund passionately explains the situation, flanked by ministers who maintain rigid postures, their faces betraying their anxiety. They look as if they were forced to stand there under Belmund’s stern gaze. The sheer intensity emanating from him, a figure who has supported the nation as its highest authority, is palpable.
But it’s not just soldiers gathered here. There are also formidable individuals who have come in response to the request sent out by the Adventurer’s Guild. To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. The idea that Rua might be involved with the Demon Lord’s army, and that they might attack here, seemed absurd to me until this very moment. Yet, the atmosphere here tells a different story.
“Just by participating, the reward is 100,000 gold. If we take down the Flash Strike Girl, it’ll be an additional 50 million gold on top of that.”
“It sounds fishy, but frankly, I couldn’t care less. I’ve always disliked how that brat has been overestimated.”
“Yeah, we need to teach that little brat a lesson about reality. The world isn’t that sweet.”
The tension in the air is not a mere metaphor; it is thick with hostility. What surprised me even more was the number of people who harbor ill feelings towards Rua. It seems that in this line of work, those who stand out are often targeted. I feel a pang of sympathy, having once been consumed by my own insecurities, but I can’t judge too harshly.
However, the adventurers gathered here are not mere pretenders. A glance around reveals familiar names and titles—people I’ve heard of before. They are as formidable as Crusher Hecaton, and just a quick scan reveals names like “Leaping Sword,” “Verdant Mage,” “Slashing Blade,” and “Dark Ripper.” I doubt I could win against any of them in a fight.
Among them, one person stands out. While everyone else is buzzing about the rewards and Rua, this individual sits cross-legged, lost in meditation.
“…Have you finished your speech, Belmund?”
“Who are you?”
“Why do old men always ramble on? If I know the reward and what needs to be done, I’m leaving now.”
“Since you are here, you will follow my instructions. I will not tolerate any disobedience. If I deem your actions inappropriate, you will receive no reward.”
Before I knew it, that person had stood up. The way he spoke to the Prime Minister was far from respectful, and Belmund is particularly sensitive to such things. Yet, Belmund’s response remained strictly professional. It seemed he preferred to handle this situation calmly rather than escalate it into chaos. I could see through his calculated demeanor; he wanted as many pawns as possible.
“Hey, who is that guy?”
“You don’t know? He’s the only one besides the Flash Strike Girl to have scored a victory against Hecaton…”
“They say his skills rival the Five Elites, but he’s not well-known because he hasn’t been active compared to the others. No one knows why…”
That person has a peculiar hairstyle—half of his head is shaved, while the other half has long black hair, giving him a unique appearance. I believe that’s Destroyer Habak. Even he is here.
I can understand the feelings of the adventurers gathered here. These individuals have survived countless life-and-death situations and built their reputations long before Rua became an adventurer. It must be infuriating for them to see a girl who just became an adventurer receiving so much attention, especially with the rumors surrounding her as the Flash Strike Girl.
“Captain Ritta… do we have to fight Rua?”
“Irene, we are soldiers of Avangarde. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“So, it really is…”
I can empathize with Irene’s feelings; my heart feels heavy. I don’t want to believe that Rua has betrayed us, and I certainly don’t want to fight her. But if I run away now, what was the point of becoming a soldier? I’ve finally earned Captain Kirkton’s recognition and been entrusted with leading a small squad.
“Our duty is to protect the nation.”
Yes, if the enemy attacks, we must respond. Fleeing in the face of the enemy is punishable by death in any nation. We must never act on personal feelings, even if it means missing the chance to say goodbye to a dying parent. Protecting the nation is our responsibility.
“Irene, Shuri. Follow my orders. No reckless actions.”
I’m stating the obvious, but I’m just as shaken inside. Irene and Shuri remain silent.
“Now, what remains is—”
I realized that the adventurers had already dispersed, leaving only us soldiers behind. In this case, Captain Kirkton should take command, but I can’t see him anywhere. Where could he be?
“Now, brave soldiers of our nation. You are the chosen elite. You have dedicated yourselves to the peace of our country and have undergone relentless training. To praise you now might tarnish your pride, but I must say it anyway: well done.”
It’s rare for him to offer such flattery, and it feels almost unsettling. Clearing his throat dramatically, Belmund shifts gears, his expression turning stern and lined with age.
“The threat that approaches us could devastate our nation. I do not wish for you to waste your lives unnecessarily. However, there are those among you who would gladly die for the country. So, I ask…”
Belmund’s dramatic pause heightens the tension. Everyone leans in, eager to hear what he will say next.
“Are there any among you who wish to risk your lives to protect the nation?”
No one understood the implications of his words. None of us did.
Demon Lord Castle – Conference Room
“W-What happened to this monster?”
“It seems to have taken a liking to us…”
Alongside a lion, a goat and a bird-like creature nuzzle against us, sniffing and rubbing against us repeatedly. It’s sniffing too much.
“Hahaha! Maybe it feels some sympathy for you guys. After all, it’s one of the test subjects.”
“Whaaaat?! This monster?”
“It likely escaped with the previous Demon Lords. They probably experimented with various animals during the initial stages.”
So this monster is a victim too. No, since it’s a monster, maybe it’s not a ‘victim’ in the traditional sense. Judging by its behavior, it seems many creatures have suffered more than I thought. To toy with lives and ultimately discard them—what purpose does such experimentation serve? We need to help the people of Ikana Village immediately. If that kingdom turns a blind eye, we’ll have to use force.
And this Blast Chimera is far too affectionate. It’s stronger than I expected, and a normal person could easily be thrown off by it. By the way, what’s that rumbling sound coming from its throat?
“Kurinka, it seems to have really taken a liking to you…”
“As long as it’s not a bad creature, that’s fine… But if it follows us, we can’t take it into the city. Besides, it would be like declaring that we’ve joined the Demon Lord Army.”
“Exactly! All because of that Aleid…”
No wonder it was watching us back in the Garden of Beasts. Even though it was ordered by Pansard, I felt no hostility from it. One mystery has been solved, but…
“Why not just tame it? If we order it to stay away from the city, it might listen. Besides, it’s incredibly strong. The only monsters that could rival it would be higher-tier dragons.”
“No, no, that’s a gross underestimation. After all, it was a training partner for Pansard. A typical monster wouldn’t be able to handle that.”
With Eeks and Bathram’s endorsement, I can certainly feel its strength. There were many monsters in the Garden of Beasts, but this one stood out. I doubt it would flee from intimidation, and I even considered how to deal with it while unarmed.
“Hmm, looking at it this way, it seems like a bonding moment between two creatures of the same kind.”
“Shin, you’re here.”
“I was busy tending to the Demon Lord, who nearly killed you. Unlike you, that Demon Lord is quite delicate!”
“So you really think I’m stronger than the Demon Lord, huh?”
“Th-That’s just a play on words! If the Demon Lord were to get serious, it would be a different story!”
“Shin, be quiet.”
With a sharp reprimand from Bathram, Shin, who had been flitting about like a fly, quietly settled onto the Demon Lord’s shoulder. It was oddly satisfying to know that even someone like me could tease Shin a little. Alright, next up is Kurinka.
“I’ll give you the Blast Chimera. Feel free to use it as you wish.”
“Even if you say that…”
“Rua, the Kingdom of Avangarde is likely on high alert like never before. Sneaking in without being detected and searching for a laboratory whose location is unknown is practically impossible. You understand what that means, right?”
“It means we can’t avoid a fight, doesn’t it? That’s fine, but…”
At this point, we might end up having to fight Kirkton and Ritta as well. I wonder how they’ll react. If I explain the situation, will they let us through?
“Rua, was it?”
The Demon Lord’s gray face looked down at me. I hadn’t noticed it during our battle, but now that I was close, I could see he was quite tall. He wasn’t wearing his usual black cloak, just a simple long-sleeved garment, which made him seem surprisingly casual. This familiar appearance felt like a testament to his former humanity. If he had lived a normal human life, he might have blended into a crowd in this outfit.
“Is there a man named Juke in Ikana Village?”
“Juke…? Is that my father…?”
“…I thought so.”
I usually call him “Dad” or “Mom,” so hearing his name felt oddly out of place. Juke—that was my father’s name. He was intimidating and rarely smiled, but he was always kind. I remember thinking he was like a leader to the villagers, someone they all looked up to.
“That was the name of the leader of the moderate faction who strayed from our path. If he had joined the Great War thirty years ago, the tide of battle might have turned significantly… He was a straightforward man, much like you.”
“W-was my dad really that amazing?”
“If he had come with me and gained control over his powers, he would likely have taken the throne of the Demon Lord. I see now why you are his daughter.”
I tried to say something, but the Demon Lord immediately turned away. If he knew my father, I wanted to hear more. But if my father might still be alive, it was best to cut the conversation short.
“…If my father is alive, then…”
“Shin, you will accompany these two.”
“Y-yes?!”
As if to completely change the subject, the Demon Lord began to say something absurd.
“I’ve taken an interest in their journey. You will record it.”
“B-but, Demon Lord, you wanted Shin’s report…”
“…I apologize.”
“Huh?”
With just that, the Demon Lord vanished into the dimly lit corridor. I couldn’t help but think he was a rather confusing person.
“The Demon Lord’s mind is still unstable. We never know when another episode like earlier might occur. But… when was the last time we saw the Demon Lord so at peace?”
“Demon Lord…”
Shin, clutching that book, swayed unsteadily. I see, that book contained information about us. If that’s the case, she should have shown it without hesitation. I felt relieved, almost let down.
“Shin, let me see that book…”
“You fools! Hurry up and go! As long as my eyes are black, I won’t let you slack off!”
“What are we slacking off on…?”
Nodding at Kurinka’s question, I turned to Eeks. He smiled as if to say, “Go on.” I responded with a thumbs-up.
“Do your best, Rua. Your life is yours to live; make sure you have no regrets. Don’t end up like me.”
I was about to say I wanted to be like Eeks, but I quickly realized that wasn’t what he meant. He was warning me not to make the same mistakes.
“Make sure to catch up; I believe in you.”
“Yeah, see you later.”
◆ Near the Kingdom of Avangarde ◆
Thanks to the Blast Chimera, we easily navigated the Cocytus of the Great Garnis Glacier, which had caused Kurinka so much trouble. When I saw the lion’s mane enveloping Kurinka like a blanket, I felt a twinge of envy. The Blast Chimera was protecting Kurinka, someone I couldn’t shield myself. It looked warm and cozy, and I wanted to join in. But while the lion allowed me to ride, it didn’t offer me the same comfort. It was as if it was saying I was fine on my own. I had never owned an animal before, but I wondered if I needed to train it.
“Still, this Chimera flies faster than I do. Look at those wings; they’re so long!”
“Really? I think Kurinka is faster.”
Even though it was a trivial conversation, I found myself getting defensive. I doubted Kurinka would be taken away by the Chimera, but I felt oddly anxious.
“Ah, I can see the kingdom! We should land soon.”
It was far too dangerous to approach while riding the Chimera. If we were seen with a monster, there would be all sorts of misunderstandings, so we decided to walk toward the kingdom. I wondered if the Chimera would listen, and when I simply said to land, it began to descend gracefully. I had never owned an animal, but I felt like I was beginning to understand why people did.
“Thank you, Chimera. You can go far away now.”
I wondered if “Chimera” was an appropriate name. But the Chimera took off into the sky again. It was almost unsettling how obedient it was. Perhaps it had always been a docile creature. Pansard had mentioned it was a training partner, so maybe he had trained it well.
“That over there is the kingdom’s walls…”
“W-wait! Is that over there?!”
In front of the walls, a massive horse caught my eye, standing in a row with several others. I would never forget; those were the Gigas Horses that pulled the enormous carriages of the Kingdom of Avangarde. They were digging up the earth with their front hooves, looking anything but calm.
“With those around, no one can enter the kingdom… What are they thinking?”
“I don’t think anyone can enter… They probably don’t want anyone coming in or out of town. There’s something they don’t want seen. We have no choice, Rua-chan.”
Kurinka was right. Aleid had indeed told everyone we had joined the Demon Lord’s army. If we approached now, a battle with those horses would be unavoidable. But those horses were supposed to be gentle; they were essential for pulling large carriages. It was still important for the kingdom.
“I always found it strange that such horses could be kept in the kingdom…”
“We won’t kill them; let’s just pass through.”
【A herd of Gigas Horses has appeared! HP 6055】
As we approached, the Gigas Horses snorted aggressively, just as I had expected.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Shin Report: Revival!
Once again, I have been given an important mission by the Demon Lord.
Though I feel lonely being away from the Demon Lord, this is a splendid
solo assignment! In other words, it is a privilege only granted to the exceptional.
Hehe, reaching this point would have been impossible for those two. They are merely…
The flow so far:
The valiant Eeks has made a comeback.
Rua and Eeks claim it’s due to the armor received from the stealthy merchant.
Blaming things on objects is not good.
Everything stems from the weakness of the heart.
It’s worse to create openings for others to exploit.
Then, Rua confronts the Demon Lord.
At that moment, that foolish hero appears.
Even though Rua is ambushed, she gives the chance to use recovery magic! Fool!
After all is said and done, it all leads to blaming Avangarde.
Are we finally on the brink of destroying a nation?
To witness the downfall of a single country is…
No, no, no, that can’t be right.
Still, those scoundrels who betrayed the Demon Lord…
Well, that’s fine. Rua will take care of them eventually.
Oh, and I mustn’t forget Rua’s weakness!
Yes, she has grown attached to Eeks!
Ah, I don’t need this anymore.
Um, what should I write… Hmm.
Monster Compendium:
【Gigas Horse HP 6055】
The largest and strongest among herbivorous monsters.
They do not attack other creatures for food, but once provoked, they become troublesome.
Some say their rampaging strength is akin to trampling the earth itself.