Ikana Village
“Well then, be good and stay quiet, okay?”
“Hey, Rua, if that thing starts rampaging, I might be the only one who can stop it.”
“Don’t worry, you. It’s really calm and cute. Look, it’s purring.”
The creature sitting like a cat and watching us is the Blast Chimera, which we decided to keep in our village. Given its size, it can’t fit inside the house, so we have no choice but to keep it outside. Plus, with three heads, feeding it is quite the expense. My father says we would have gone bankrupt long ago if I weren’t earning so much as an A-Rank Adventurer. He seems a bit bothered that his daughter is the one making the money, and it looks like he plans to register at the Adventurer’s Guild soon. But it took us quite a while to reach A-Rank, and there are those exams to consider. He might be fine, though.
“Still, Rua, you don’t have to get involved with that Phantom, do you?”
“It seems to be targeting me for some reason, so I can’t just ignore it. If I stay here, it could cause trouble for everyone.”
“There’s no need to worry. You’re still a child; it’s perfectly fine to rely on your parents.”
“That’s true. You’ve certainly become impressively strong, but the issue lies with your heart. There are beings in this world beyond your imagination. It’s not just about strength; it’s something else entirely…”
While stroking the Blast Chimera’s throat, my mother worries just as much as my father does. Even A-Rank Adventurers like Seigel and Gantetsu are keeping their distance and watching from afar. Gantetsu said the same thing as my father: if it starts rampaging, we wouldn’t last even a few seconds. There’s no way something so calm and cute would go wild.
“What do you mean?”
“A prime example would be the former Prime Minister, Belmund. That was no metaphor; he was a monster wearing the skin of a human.”
I understand what they mean. I can’t count how many times I’ve thought that while witnessing the Comet Wolf Brigade in the Nation of Kashiram. Even though we’re all human, why are there such vast differences? Yet, there are also people like Seigel and Gantetsu. The members of the Demon Lord Army were originally human too. Still, they had their reasons for becoming monsters.
“The worst of it is the human heart. But it’s also the most trustworthy thing. Please don’t forget that.”
My father’s hands, which wrapped around mine, were warm and firm.
In Front of the Castle Gate of the Kingdom of Avangarde
“That’s all; we’ll take it from here.”
A simple square building has been set up in front of the castle gate, and you can’t pass through the gate without going through it. Inside, the guards check those entering the town and confiscate any weapons they have. They also conduct thorough inspections, and it seems things have become quite severe in just a short time.
“Since when has this system been in place?”
“Well, I always thought it should be this way. Ever since Ambassador Ryoho from the Nation of Negesta was appointed as a minister, things have gotten terrible.”
According to what Kurinka summarized from what she heard, after Belmund and the other ministers disappeared, there was chaos. It seems the King requested cooperation from the Nation of Negesta, known for its excellent security and refined discipline. He apparently thought about incorporating their culture and ideas to fundamentally reshape the nation.
“Hey! Why should I have my precious equipment taken away by you guards? I’m an A-Rank!”
“It’s the rules, so please understand. In our nation of Negesta, all weapons, especially those capable of causing harm, are strictly prohibited.”
“This is Avangarde, you bald idiots!”
Over there, Greyman, known for his golden armor, is shouting angrily. He’s spitting at the Smooth Ones, trying to avoid handing over his weapons and armor. I’ve never seen those Smooth Ones before; I wonder who they are.
“The fact that Ryoho was appointed as a minister means that the King of Avangarde has officially sanctioned this. If you refuse to comply, you’ll have to give up on entering the town.”
“Is this some kind of joke? Negesta is a country full of crazed zealots of the Uzei Religion! To accept an ambassador from such a cramped nation and even appoint him as a minister? Has that King lost his mind?”
“Please refrain from making such statements. If you commit an act of disrespect, I personally cannot remain silent about the blasphemy against the Uzei Religion.”
“Oh? And what will you do about it? Do you think you can stand against me, Greyman, A-Rank 97th, clad in Golden Armor?”
“If Pea-chan can’t enter, then I won’t stay quiet either!”
I couldn’t see because of Greyman’s large body, but Kiki was there too. Pea-chan must refer to that Kaiser Eagle. I think even before the Smooth Ones arrived, that would be a problem. We left the Blast Chimera behind, after all; we can’t walk around town with a monster.
Now that I think about it, I believe Negesta helped us when the Garden of Beasts attacked. Yes, the Fist Saint Baran was an S-Rank from the Nation of Negesta. He defeated the monsters of the Garden of Beasts one after another with his bare hands, showcasing incredible strength. If that’s the case, those Smooth Ones must be quite powerful as well.
“This is rather noisy, isn’t it?”
“Ambassador Ryoho, thank you for your hard work.”
“Well, simply warming the chair isn’t enough to fulfill my duties. Patrols like this are also an important part of the job.”
The person who appeared with a calm demeanor was a thin man with sunken cheeks. Like the others, he had a bald head and narrow, slanted eyes, dressed in clothing reminiscent of Azuma’s kimono.
“These individuals have blasphemed the teachings of the Uzei Religion.”
“I-I didn’t do anything?!”
“That is unacceptable. Indeed, we have only recently arrived in this country, and it will take time to deepen our understanding. However, discipline is absolute.”
“To appoint an ambassador as a minister is laughable! What face do you have to interfere with another country’s justice? What kind of tricks did you use, huh?”
“If you do not comply, there will be some rough consequences.”
“Go ahead and try! What can a skinny guy like you do?”
“This finger.”
Ambassador Ryoho pointed his index finger toward the ceiling, drawing the attention of Greyman and Kiki. This is dangerous; that person is no good.
“With this finger, I will subdue you. And you won’t even be able to touch me with a single finger.”
“You said it! I’ll grab that bald head and throw you all the way to Negesta!”
“Ah, wait a moment, Greyman…”
The size difference was evident. Even without a weapon, Greyman, being an A-Rank, was formidable. Just as he aimed to strike Ryoho, he suddenly recoiled violently, as if he had slipped on something, and slammed the back of his head against the floor, falling spectacularly. It looked like Greyman just tripped over himself; I think everyone else saw it that way too.
“Ugh…! W-What just happened?”
“Those who are mired in distractions and desires will find their efforts futile. The proof is in the excessive wastefulness of your movements.”
“Greyman?! Please hang in there!”
“R-Rua-chan. Just now, that person… he poked Greyman’s forehead with his index finger and made him fall…”
Kurinka is surprisingly sharp. I bet even Kiki over there couldn’t comprehend what just happened, but she understood exactly what occurred. However, I doubt she knows why it happened.
“As you can see, by correctly understanding the teachings of the Uzei Religion and dedicating yourself to training, even someone as slender as me can defeat a large man like you. Do you now grasp a bit of the greatness of the Uzei Religion?”
“Ambassador Ryoho, what should we do with this individual?”
“Are you planning to throw him in jail?! Ugh…!”
Greyman tried to stand up but writhed in pain. Kurinka rushed over to heal him, but was stopped by another Smooth One with an arm. The silent head shake was incredibly calm.
“We will not do such a thing. Because the teachings of the Uzei Religion have no punishment. However, one must recognize their sins and purify their mistakes. The essence of the Uzei Religion is that humans are inherently good… Now, let us remove the curse from this individual.”
“Ugh! What are you doing?! Let go!”
“We will take you to the main hall. Rest assured, your sins will be purified through training.”
“I don’t understand! Let me go!”
Greyman’s large body was dragged away by Ryoho and the other two. Both Kurinka and I were left speechless by the situation. I want someone to explain what just happened.
“Ah, Rua-san and Kurinka-san! Long time no see! Did you see that just now?! I can’t believe this is what I come back to after so long! That Ryoho is apparently quite a high-ranking person in Negesta! Why is His Majesty allowing this?! Hey!”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s right.”
“So that means the town has changed quite a bit, no doubt about it! Negesta is known for…”
“Please refrain from discussing matters here; it interferes with our duties.”
I was taken aback by the sheer force of her words, unsure of how to respond. I never knew she could be this chatty. It was better than being met with hostility, but if we became too close, that might be exhausting in its own way. The Smooth One had given me a disapproving look, and it was clear that I would be a nuisance if I stayed here. Reluctantly, I handed over Disballade and the Staff of Scorching Tales, but a wave of anxiety washed over me. Was it really okay to give her Disballade? It was sheathed, but if she drew it, it could lead to a disaster.
“Um, please don’t draw that sword.”
“Rest assured. We will take full responsibility for your weapons.”
Whether she understood or not, the Smooth One accepted our weapons with a smile. I could tolerate this much; after all, I wasn’t going to swing my weapons around in town. If something happened, I could still fight barehanded to some extent, and Kurinka’s magic was there too. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
◆ Kingdom of Avangarde, Royal Capital, Pirate Tavern ◆
“The menu… the seafood… it’s gone…”
The Pirate Tavern was a popular establishment known for its dishes made with fresh seafood. The Helmet Butter Roast of Jelly Fish was a delicacy that could make anyone drool just by thinking about it, and we had both promised to eat it when we came here today. But the menu that Kurinka opened, her face pale, had none of that. Instead, it was filled with seaweed salad and seaweed noodles—everything was seaweed. There were no fish or shellfish to be found.
“Um, um… did we come to the wrong place?”
“I’m sorry, young ladies.”
A large man, likely the cook here, approached us with a hunched back, looking apologetic. With hardly any other customers around, it was clear something was amiss.
“If you feel sorry, then bring us the Helmet Butter Roast right away!”
“Ever since that Ryoho from Negesta became a minister, the use of seafood has been completely banned. Apparently, it goes against the teachings of the Uzei Religion…”
“I don’t understand! I demand the Helmet Butter Roast!”
“Kurinka, calm down…”
“But! But! This is… Waaaah!”
I never thought the day would come when I would have to comfort Kurinka. She was genuinely crying, and it broke my heart to see her like this. Even when I gently patted her head, she wouldn’t stop.
“Lua-chan… I’ve lost the will to live…”
“Wait, that’s not true! I’m here for you! We promised to be happy together, remember?”
“I… I might be done for… Lua-chan, I’ve had fun until now…”
“No way, that’s definitely a lie!”
This was genuinely concerning. As Kurinka trembled and looked like she might burst into tears again, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and listened carefully to the cook’s explanation. Apparently, that Ryoho was trying to spread the Uzei Religion throughout the entire country, intending to convert all the citizens. Killing living beings was considered a punishment, and according to the Uzei teachings, there was no punishment for that. Because of this, seafood and meat had been banned, and those who broke this rule were forced to shave their heads and undergo training in the Uzei Religion.
“I don’t know what that training entails, but it sounds like a punishment in itself…”
“Negesta has had issues in the past with their aggressive missionary activities. But they believe their teachings are absolute. They think that by imposing it on others, they can lead them to greater happiness.”
“Right, they don’t have any ill intentions. When they came to our shop, they explained everything so politely that before we knew it, the sun had set.”
“They even confiscated knives and sharp tools. Cooking with just our bare hands, as if our bodies are the gifts of nature… Ugh, I’ve forgotten! Damn it, those guys are ridiculous!”
Other cooks seemed to have gathered, likely out of sheer boredom. I glanced at Kurinka, who was slumped over the table, and pondered. If this was the case, then all the weapons at the Weapon Shop should have been confiscated too. Wait a minute, that meant a lot of shops must be in this state.
“Even if we say something, they’ll just start their preachy monologue. Hey, Flash Strike Girl, can’t you do something about this?”
“Huh? You want me to do something?”
“I’ve lost my will to live…”
I had to do something. At this rate, Kurinka would melt away like a slime. But what could I do? If this continued, our path to the Republic would be cut off. I couldn’t understand why the King had invited such people in the first place.
“Phantoms and the Uzei Religion… this is exhausting…”
As the cooks looked at me with hopeful eyes, I let out a sigh. The only thing I could do was defeat that Ryoho. I knew what would happen if I did that, and it felt wrong to fight someone who meant no harm. I guess I just had to meet Ryoho.
◆ Shin Report ◆
No meat, no fish!
This is terrible! We need to do something quickly!
Why is it that humans, like the great gods of the East, stubbornly cling to one belief?
Once they decide on something, they believe it to be true without question.
With brains capable of thought, why don’t they use them?
In that regard, faith is flexible.
Even if they serve the Demon King, they love the Demon King and follow the Demon King.
This is the proper way of faith.
Hmm, faith should properly hold its own beliefs, and that is admirable.
Faith of faith, how amusing!