Kashiram Royal Palace – Guest Room
I could barely understand what Kurinka was saying through her sobs, but she managed to piece everything together. The story of the elves, Elmera’s older sister, and Vandalsia. Elmera’s sister was taken away for Vandalsia’s research, and the remaining elves were slaughtered.
After that, I felt a strange connection between Elmera and me, both having been saved by adults. Our circumstances were eerily similar.
“My sister was amazing… Her knowledge of magic was undoubtedly the best in the world, far beyond what humans had achieved in thousands of years. They say an elf like her appears only once every few thousand years, and she was studying the boundaries between our world and the Demon Realm, which no one else understood at all.”
“Why was she studying something like that?”
“I get dizzy just hearing the word ‘study.'”
“The Demon Realm is filled with terrifying monsters that are beyond anything we can imagine, and if they came here, it would be a disaster. My sister was incredibly kind. She even thought about those worthless humans… and yet!”
I was the only one who couldn’t grasp the situation. Even Elmera was speaking seriously, and I felt utterly lost.
“Vandalsia tried to use my sister’s knowledge to strengthen his army. With her alone, he didn’t need any other elves. He killed them all on the spot to eliminate any potential threat to himself.”
The more I listened, the more I understood just how terrible Vandalsia was. I was glad I had defeated him; I never thought I would feel that way again. It wasn’t just the Hero lineage that rose up; descendants of other heroes and warriors had also approached the throne of the King of Destruction. But Vandalsia didn’t even look at them, leaving only their heads behind as a warning. He displayed them in the town to instill fear. Vanishing—no one could stand against that power, not even me.
“That’s why I had to kill him. What did you do, Lua-chan? This can’t be true, can it?”
“This ribbon is the best proof. It was in the room where Vandalsia was.”
Just when I thought Elmera had returned to her usual self, she clutched two ribbons tightly. As she brought them closer together, a faint light seemed to grow slightly stronger.
“My sister… She patiently taught me magic, even baked Ringberry jam tarts for lunch, and slept beside me on lonely nights. I still dream of those days, as if they never ended.”
No one spoke to Elmera as she continued to murmur like a mantra. The King remained silent, and the dwarves were the same. I didn’t have a sister, but if I did, I wondered if she would be someone precious to me. Of course, Kurinka was important to me, but she wasn’t a sister. I didn’t quite understand what it meant to lean on an older sister like Elmera did.
“We can’t say anything irresponsible. But Elmera, I can tell you this: your sister protected you. Vandalsia made a foolish mistake. He might not have noticed a girl with the same potential as the elf he was obsessed with.”
“Me, the same as my sister? Don’t be ridiculous; I’ll pluck your beard!”
“At the very least, it was your strength that allowed other races, including us, to survive until this era.”
“Ah…”
What I was doing wasn’t exactly that of a failure. Besides, who else could replicate Imagination Magic?
“…All my knowledge about potions comes from my sister. Everything.”
She looked even sadder. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, her head hung low. I couldn’t see her face, but it looked like she was crying.
Sister, I can’t truly understand since I’m an only child. But if she meant that much to Elmera, she must have been incredibly special. If she were here, what kind of conversations would we have? Would she spoil me?
“This ribbon… I can faintly feel my sister’s presence.”
“If you stick them together, will anything happen?”
“Of course not, you idiot! Just die already!”
“That’s so mean!”
“Elmera-chan, if you mock Lua-chan, I won’t forgive you! And if you want to survive in this era, you better watch your mouth!”
“Ngh!”
Elmera let out a strange sound and pulled back slightly, showing just how intimidating Kurinka could be. Perhaps it was because they shared the same Divine Nature and regeneration. Maybe Elmera’s Imagination Magic could be restored through regeneration too. No, that might be impossible.
Even without that, Kurinka was frightening when she was angry. I couldn’t understand how the usually quiet Kurinka had become like this.
“What do you think this light is, Kurinka?”
“Who knows… Maybe Lord Hast would know something.”
“Speaking of which, is he still in the Kingdom of Avangarde?”
“Surely he must have returned by now?”
“The downside of Word Soul Magic is that we can’t initiate conversation…”
“Why did Vandalsia have my sister’s ribbon… There must be some meaning behind it…”
No one could answer those questions. With Elmera and me having lost something precious right before our eyes, I felt an urge to help her. Just a while ago, she had been the leader of the Phantom, and she had attacked this country, but the root cause was Vandalsia.
If he hadn’t attacked the elves long ago, this wouldn’t have happened. Thinking about it, Elmera was just another victim. I still found her difficult to deal with and often got angry, but the feelings of cherishing something precious were the same for both of us.
“Elmera, I want to know what happened with that ribbon.”
“That’s a foolish question.”
“Then can we have that ribbon?”
“Shut up!”
“That was quick…”
“I don’t even understand it myself, so what makes you think you can figure it out? Besides, I won’t let you have it! Shoo!”
She hugged the ribbon to her chest and waved her other hand dismissively. Maybe I should just give up on cooperating.
“But if we stay here, we’ll never find out.”
“Don’t underestimate elves.”
“And Elmera, the Phantom is kidnapping people, right? We originally came to chase the Phantom to find someone.”
“I told you, I don’t know anything!”
“You all came from a country called Avangarde, right?”
One of the dwarves spoke up as if he had just remembered something. They all had bushy beards, making it hard to tell them apart. I didn’t even know their names.
“That’s right.”
“Then you should hurry back. I heard something about a Death Weapon Merchant lurking in that country.”
“What?! Kurinka, wasn’t the Death Weapon Merchant the one who gave Ritta that strange weapon…?”
“He was wanted in the country, and there was a bounty on his head. I can’t believe he was a Phantom.”
“Elmera! Tell us something about the Death Weapon Merchant!”
“I don’t like your attitude.”
She picked her nose with her pinky finger, mocking us, which made it seem like she knew something after all. She certainly didn’t act like a girl.
“Then I’ll give you that ribbon. We’re going back to the Kingdom of Avangarde.”
“What?! You’re giving up that easily?”
“Because Elmera-chan won’t give it to me…”
“If you really insist? Well, I might consider it…”
“She may look tough, but deep down, she’s just a kid. She wants attention.”
When I noticed the sudden change in the dwarf’s attitude, he whispered to me. I see, so that’s how it is.
“But it’s fine. You elves know everything, right?”
“Keep pushing! More! More!”
“Well, we’re leaving now.”
“Me too.”
It seemed like she was getting off the bed and trying to follow us normally. I had almost forgotten that she was a captive.
“Well then, take care.”
“Your Majesty, is it really okay to be so casual with a captive?”
“A captive? What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Puhahaha! I used Imagination Magic ‘Memory Lapse’ to erase part of their memories. The minds of living beings are complex, so there are things that even Imagination Magic can’t do. But erasing just a part is easy.”
That’s terrible, in so many ways. If that can be done, anything is possible. No, it always was. Balbus’s words that no one could defeat Elmera were not a lie.
“I also erased the memories of the weaklings keeping watch outside. And that Blast Chimera you have? You can walk it around town. The reason is… well, you can imagine.”
“…Your Majesty, why is Elmera-chan here?”
“That’s because of the Phantom… Huh? Something feels off?”
“Hey! Don’t do anything unstable like that!”
It seemed like it was genuinely unstable. The proof was that when I continued to ask questions, it seemed like she was about to remember something. Even if it wasn’t complete, if this were misused, no one could stop it. If that were the case, I would have to defeat Elmera once and for all.
“Right, you said your name was Lua. We want to thank you as well.”
“Thank you? I don’t really need that…”
“I’ll reforge that Disballade. Its sharpness should increase severalfold from what it is now.”
“Really?! Then please do it!”
“I’ll also take care of that girl’s staff.”
“Ah, thank you so much!”
“Good for you all. Well, I don’t need such lowly things as weapons.”
I felt a bit annoyed, but when I ignored Elmera, who was seeking attention, she sulked as expected.
“Once that’s done, we’ll head back to Avangarde right away.”
“The Phantom isn’t finished yet.”
The dwarf’s voice suddenly dropped low, and I could feel the weight of his last words. The Death Weapon Merchant—an unknown entity, and I couldn’t even tell if it was a foe I could fight. However, I still couldn’t forgive them for handing something like that to Ritta, and finding out where they were was a stroke of luck. I might finally be able to fulfill Ord’s request.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital ◆
“A reward of 60,000 gold, huh? That’s a bit underwhelming for an A-Rank.”
“Come to think of it, this is the first time we’ve formed a party like this. You had quite the battle cry for someone who doesn’t look the part.”
“In a fight where it’s life or death, I can’t afford to keep a pretty face, Gantetsu.”
After the battle in the Fourest Mountains, we returned to the Royal Capital filled with humiliation. We were utterly helpless against the Beastkin, a race we had never encountered before. There were skilled adventurers among the A-Rank, and even B-Rank members present. With that kind of team, they could handle anything short of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Demon Lord Army.
Being A-Rank and a candidate for it isn’t just for show. Now, I’m celebrated as the adventurer who single-handedly defeated the “Flame Dragon of Dawn,” but I had nearly died three times before that. The first time, just seeing its form paralyzed me, and I swore I would never be an adventurer again. I don’t want to become a petty man who boasts about his scars, but those experiences have contributed to my achievements.
“We’re insignificant. Even if there are countless A-Ranks from various countries, it’s still just among humans. There are monsters in this world that are beyond comprehension. It’s good to have ambition, but learning to cope with things that just won’t go well is part of life’s essence.”
“I know. I understand…”
Even without alcohol, Gantetsu’s preachy tone suggested he was anxious inside. But he didn’t show it at all, likely due to his experience. The “Tyrannical White Wolf” we just defeated had killed hundreds of humans before. Many adventurers had lost dear companions to it and were left in tears while submitting requests for its defeat. For an adventurer to submit a request to the Adventurer’s Guild—how humiliating that must be.
“Just look at this Royal Capital. There are many humans without the power to fight. To them, we must seem like monsters too. Even among fellow adventurers, some regard us with fear, and there are those among the common folk who think poorly of us for various reasons. So, we should take pride in ourselves. The ‘Tyrannical White Wolf’ may be lower-tier, but it has taken down A-Ranks… Did you see the commotion at the Guild? It was as if some hero had returned in triumph.”
In front of that Beastkin, even the Tyrannical White Wolf seemed insignificant. It was like a dog being kept on a leash. I felt utterly deflated after that battle. To think I could receive 60,000 gold just for defeating something like that. The expressions of those at the Adventurer’s Guild were so dumbfounded they looked ridiculous. I wanted to ask them what world they had been living in.
“Well, I guess I’m the same…”
“Hm?”
“Don’t worry, Gantetsu. I’m not throwing a tantrum or anything.”
“I-is that so? Then that’s good…”
“Sure, it’s frustrating that I couldn’t lay a finger on that cat. Ah, maybe I should retreat to some cave like Rua did… In ten years, I’ll be the Flash Strike Boy.”
“Ha ha ha! You’re a Flash Strike Young Man, aren’t you?”
“My heart is still a boy.”
I joked, but I was half-serious. I should have asked where Rua’s cave was located.
“Oh, isn’t that a lady from the Maison Hotel walking over there?”
“She doesn’t look like a lady anymore… She must be over forty.”
“You won’t get anywhere by judging a woman by her age.”
“I already have a wife and children. I’m on a different level than just a pretty boy.”
“Hey there, miss. What’s wrong? You look so gloomy.”
Normally, if someone called her “miss,” she’d blush despite her age, but today she didn’t react at all. Her complexion was poor; something must have happened.
“…Seigel.”
“Oh, Marda. Is something wrong?”
“Yes, actually, I’m really troubled…”
“I see. If you want, I can lend an ear.”
“Thank you… The truth is, I’m not getting any relief from working. I work almost every day for 15 hours, including late nights, and my monthly salary is only 300 gold. Raising a child on my own is incredibly tough. The rent for my house is 100 gold, daily food costs about 20 gold, and when you add in other living expenses, child-rearing costs, and taxes, hardly anything is left over. Only a few wealthy people can say this country is prosperous and blessed. There are many poor people like us, so what are the important people in this country doing? Promoting policies that discard the weak, and on top of that, they call it a republic? Isn’t that ridiculous? Hey, Seigel, how long do you think it would take me to earn the 60,000 gold you all earned?”
“W-wait a minute! Calm down… Did you hear that?”
“Yes, I heard it. Because someone like me is already dead, living only to work. I’m a ghost.”
Just in time, I dodged the landlady’s thrust. In her hand was a glistening, sharp knife, and she gripped another one in her other hand. Her eyes seemed hollow, and Marda’s body trembled slightly.
“S-Seigel!”
“Hey, just because she’s a lady doesn’t mean you can get angry, right? By the way, Marda, didn’t you try to target Rua once before? No, twice?”
“And what of it? We’re Phantoms, unrecognized ghosts.”
Her movements were so amateurish that I was able to dodge. If her skilled technique had combined with the speed of that thrust, I would have been killed. I had no idea what was happening, but it was incredibly dangerous.
“Whoa! W-what are you doing?”
“Yikes!”
Screams erupted from all over town. My bad feeling was coming true.
“Seigel, this is an extraordinary situation.”
“Yeah, and is this Marda talking about the Phantom we know? I have no idea, but for now, we need to handle Marda. Gantetsu, you take care of that side.”
Marda had transformed into someone unrecognizable, gripping knives in both hands, and lunged at me again. She looked less like a ghost and more like a beast that had strayed from its pack. Despair, loneliness, and fear without a place to go. So, I have to take down this landlady? I’d rather not.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Two ribbons—what do they signify?
In the realm of true clarity, ribbons hold some meaning.
The light is likely magical power.
Do they want to convey something? Or could that ribbon perhaps be…
Heh, only Shin has made it this far.
That arrogant elf could be a bit troublesome to deal with.
I’ll use this as leverage to threaten and coerce them repeatedly.
Now that I’ve written the report, it’s time for a little nap.
Hmm, Elmera should be in captivity.
This is an escape! I need to quickly inform that dangerous king about this fact.
Huh? Even though they’re right in front of me, no one is saying anything.
Huh? Captivity? Huh? What on earth is Shin doing?