◆ Avangarde Castle Town, Alley ◆
Having returned early from the Nation of Negesta, I reported the situation to Lord Hast. I recounted the events that transpired during the prophetic ritual, the transformation of the Uzei Religion, and the rise of the so-called Religious Founder. My grandfather didn’t respond immediately; instead, he gave me and Rutna a small reward and hurried us out. He was probably deep in thought, as he often was.
“Hey, Truppo, why do you always hide your face with that scarf and hat?”
“Not really…”
“Are you siblings with Rash?”
“No…”
“Could it be… are you dating?”
“Not at all…”
After finishing our meal at a nearby restaurant close to Hotel Maison, I was still being bombarded with questions, feeling utterly exhausted. It wasn’t that I disliked her; I wasn’t being cold on purpose. Normally, if someone acted like this, you’d think they wanted to keep their distance. But she kept pressing on, from our departure to our meal, and now on our way back.
“Well, Truppo and Rash are quite far apart in age, so it’s not like they’d be dating. So, what do you think about Rash?”
“What do you mean…?”
“You know, like if he’s childish or annoying, stuff like that?”
I was still only ten years old, so it wasn’t strange for a child to act childishly. Unlike me, he was lively, but I didn’t find him annoying. He was just a junior disciple, not a friend, and certainly not someone I was dating. So when she asked how I felt about him, I couldn’t answer right away.
“I think he’s… capable…”
“That’s it?”
“Unlike me… he has… talent…”
“Is that really all? I mean, he teaches well enough, but I want to know what you think of him as a person.”
Her relentless questioning was wearing me down. What did it matter how I felt about him? I had never thought deeply about people like that. As I pondered while walking, Rutna peered at me with a dissatisfied expression.
“Why is Truppo so lively in front of Lord Hast, but like this now? She’s so cute, yet she hides it with that scarf.”
“Cute…?”
“I thought so when we were in the bath. I’m flat as a board, and Rash often teases me by comparing me to other girls. Of course, I slap him every time.”
“Violence is bad… you’ll be hated… Does Rutna dislike Rash…?”
Having asked the question myself, I finally had the chance to think. Rutna often spoke ill of Rash, yet she was always with him. She was even learning magic from him, and despite everything, she seemed to be smiling and having fun. There was no way Rutna disliked Rash.
“I-I don’t dislike him!”
Seeing her flustered and looking away, I realized she wasn’t lying. It was clear that Rutna liked Rash. If that was the case, I could easily answer her earlier question.
“I… like Rash…”
“…Huh!?”
Rutna suddenly turned to me, frozen in shock. My unexpected response seemed to take her by surprise, and her eyes widened as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
“That was… the answer to my question…”
“B-but you just said he was capable! You mean you like him, like, like him?!”
“I don’t understand…”
“Because you like him, right?!”
As she shook my shoulders, I truly began to lose my grasp on the situation. The sun was setting, and we needed to return to the hotel quickly, yet here we were, caught up in this. Thanks to the Kingdom of Metallica, we no longer had to worry about that bacteria called Divils, but the safety of the streets hadn’t improved completely. While I could handle a thug or two, I had heard that even skilled Adventurers were becoming rough around the edges lately.
At just fifteen, I had risen to A-Rank at an unprecedented speed, thanks in part to Lua and Kurinka. This nation had been saved countless times by them, and their exploits had already elevated them to the status of heroes. Many were captivated by their strength and charming appearances, and among children, a game called Flash Strike had become quite popular.
On the other hand, many were not pleased with this. As their fame grew, trust in other Adventurers was dwindling. Flash Strike Girl Lua and Flame Princess Kurinka were the pride of this nation. In other words, fewer people were placing their hopes on any Adventurers outside of them. It was no fun being labeled as a useless Adventurer. I had heard that there were those trying to spread baseless rumors about them, whether they realized it or not.
“Rutna… we need to hurry back…”
“Do you like him?! Hey! Rash is childish, not attractive at all, and he has no delicacy! You should just forget about him! And with Truppo, you could find someone much better!”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
“You just said you liked him!”
The sight of two girls wrestling in such a narrow alley must have looked strange to anyone passing by. It wouldn’t be surprising if a thug took notice of us. Completely giving up on engaging with her, I started to walk away. Ahead, I noticed someone sitting at the edge of the dimly lit path.
“Rutna… there’s someone there…”
“You can’t just brush it off like that!”
“What if it’s a thug…?”
The mention of a thug finally made Rutna quiet down, and she noticed it too. Was he a beggar? I had heard that there were few in this country, but they weren’t entirely absent. He wore tattered, thin clothing with holes, and his beard was unevenly grown. A gaunt middle-aged man sat there, staring blankly at an empty bottle in his hand.
“Wow, isn’t that a beggar? Should we take a detour?”
“It’ll take longer that way… let’s just ignore him and walk past…”
The man didn’t seem to notice us as we tried to pass by. Just when I thought we could slip by unnoticed, he suddenly dropped the bottle from his hand. The dry sound echoed in the alley, causing Rutna to shrink back and cling to me tightly.
“I’m done for… hey, ladies… please help me out…”
I urged Rutna to ignore him and quickened my pace. The man stood up, swaying slightly, blocking our path. This was turning into a troublesome situation. I could give him something, but I had heard that half-hearted charity could backfire. What should I do?
“I don’t have anything on me…”
“What’s with this pathetic old man… disgusting!”
“Rutna, don’t say that…”
“Please…”
“Just a little…”
I handed him a small amount of money, just enough to stave off hunger for a bit. I wanted to pass by quickly, but the man staggered and blocked our way again.
“This isn’t enough…”
“Wha-what?! How greedy! Truppo, let’s just leave him!”
“Ah, I’m done for… I might as well die…”
It was true that engaging with him further wouldn’t lead to anything good. I tried to sidestep the frail man and quickened my pace toward Hotel Maison. But my feet wouldn’t move. No, to be precise, I couldn’t get past him.
“Truppo, doesn’t something feel off?”
“Off…?”
“Are you really not going to help us…?”
“I said I’m not! You’re an adult; go work for your money!”
“Well then, the bet is a success…”
—This is bad. I felt it instinctively.
“You two can’t move from that spot… I’ve lost a lot of bets at the tavern, and I was wondering what to do…”
I found myself unable to move my feet. Rutna seemed to be in the same predicament, desperately twisting her upper body and struggling. No matter how hard I tried to push down with my legs, I couldn’t move. I had fallen for this beggar’s skill. And he was no ordinary beggar; he had been waiting here, pretending to be one, for prey.
“The first time, I bet you’d give me money… the second time, I bet you wouldn’t… the odds were better for the latter, but I’m a coward…”
“Who are you… what’s your purpose?”
“Just a little, I’m just a bit short on cash! I thought I’d squeeze some from you girls! I’ve won two bets in a row, and I’m feeling great! Gwahahaha! Gwahaha!”
“W-what’s with this guy… he was just pathetic a moment ago…”
The man’s hair stood on end, and he had completely transformed from a beggar. This was bad; I had been careless. I couldn’t ask Lord Hast for help now. From the way he spoke earlier, it seemed he gained some sort of benefit with each bet he won. Just like how our feet were stuck now, I didn’t fully understand the details, but it was clear he had some kind of skill.
“I’m Etica! A wandering Gambler and one of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz! I’ve been ordered to slowly bring this place to ruin from the inside! Unlike Maternya, I’m not a brat! I’ll take my time with this! Gwahahaha!”
What a bold man to announce his name so loudly. If we revealed this, it would lead to serious trouble.
“If I expose my identity and don’t let you escape, the bet is my victory! Gwahaha!”
As if he could see into my heart, he started speaking on his own. But of course, being one of the Ten Destroyers, he was an S-rank Adventurer. There was no way I could handle him well enough to call Rutna a burden. Even without the skills of a Gambler, the chances of winning were almost nonexistent. An S-rank Adventurer was simply a being far removed from the ordinary.
◆ Kingdom of Noibranz, Southern First Defense Line near the Royal Capital ◆
“That will be enough.”
With a single word from the King, Geog ceased his attacks on me. I had lost track of time, but I had been dodging the skills unleashed from his two-handed sword for what felt like an eternity. As expected of someone so arrogant, the power behind his strikes was heavy enough to gouge the ground beneath us. Just when Geog, who had initially worn a confident expression, began to sweat and show signs of panic, the King’s voice finally called for a halt. It was a relief in a way, not just because it was clear that continuing would be futile, but also because he seemed to be preparing to reveal some hidden technique.
“Geog.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Do not dwell on it.”
“Y-Your words are too kind!”
Even though he said not to worry, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if the King hadn’t been here. Despite his earlier confidence, the reality of battle had left him powerless. His face was taut, as if he might explode with frustration, a feeling that words like ‘regret’ couldn’t even begin to describe. I had experienced that feeling many times myself. That’s why I believed I had no choice but to grow stronger.
“Treat those girls as guests.”
No one dared to question the King. Yet, I could see the surprise in the soldiers’ eyes, as if they wanted to ask something. Ignoring their silent exchanges, we had no choice but to comply. In fact, I felt relieved that they weren’t stubbornly insisting on punishment at this moment.
“From now on, treat them with respect. The others shall maintain the front lines.”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers straightened up and responded in unison. While I understood the soldiers’ reactions, I couldn’t fathom why even the Servants were so subdued.
“Follow me.”
As I walked, surrounded by large guards, I began to see the answer. A mountain-like monster was faintly visible behind the castle, its round red eyes glowing ominously. Even in a seated position, it was as large as the castle itself; this was the Great King that Private First Class Bikuro had mentioned. With a creature like that under his command, it was no wonder the other Servants were keeping quiet.
“I feel like that elephant is looking at us…”
“Maybe it likes Kurinka?”
“Don’t say weird things! Ugh!”
“I was just teasing a little.”
“You lot! This is before the King!”
One of the burly guards admonished us quietly. Perhaps he was still a bit shaken from the fight with Geog. Even so, his voice was loud enough to send spittle flying.
“I will not tolerate any disrespect towards the Great King!”
“Enough.”
“Y-Yes…”
Unlike the Kingdom of Avangarde, the atmosphere here was distinctly different. The enormous wall gates we arrived at had a musty smell to them. As the gates opened, the townsfolk lined up just like the soldiers. Not only did they clear the way, but both adults and children knelt on the ground.
The town’s appearance was just as I had expected before entering the gates—somewhat antiquated. The houses, with their reddish-brown roofs and walls, seemed to emit a scent of mold or rust. The gazes of those peering out from the second-floor windows felt piercing. I could tell they were intensely curious about us, who had been brought here by such a powerful king that no one dared to oppose him.
“On this fine day, we owe our ability to thrive to the great Emperor Brahmd! Let us salute in gratitude!”
“Salute!”
Some of the townsfolk suddenly stood up and shouted. They remained in that position until the King and we passed by. The King didn’t seem to take any satisfaction in it; he appeared completely indifferent, as if he didn’t even consider it noteworthy.
“Kurinka, it doesn’t look that poor here.”
“It’s the Royal Capital, so it should be decent, right? The countryside must be worse…”
I stopped talking when I felt the guard’s murderous intent as he glared at us. It seemed we should avoid speaking in such situations.
“Let us talk leisurely in the castle.”
The Noibranz castle that came into view was nothing like the beautiful castle of Avangarde. It was a jumble of uneven towers and square buildings, resembling a fortress. Square rooms jutted out from the walls, haphazardly assembled. And there, closer than ever, the Great King’s eyes glinted. If that thing stood up, it could easily blow the castle away.
◆ Noibranz Castle, Audience Chamber ◆
We were led into a room that was different from the throne room. There were fluffy sofas and a table seemingly carved from some kind of ore, with a chandelier that sparkled like something Greyman would adore hanging from the ceiling. The carpet beneath our feet was soft enough to sink slightly underfoot. It was extravagant inside the castle, yet the residents were suffering outside.
“Welcome to our nation, promising warriors.”
As the King settled into a sofa resembling a throne, he addressed us directly. I wondered what kind of conversation he intended to have. The guards on either side continued to glare at us, their displeasure palpable.
“To think you could toy with the fierce general Geog. I sensed it when we met before, but you possess a quality akin to that of the World’s Strongest Man.”
“Are you referring to the Ten Destroyers?”
“Indeed, that name resonates even in other nations. There are beings in this world who cannot be understood by reason or common sense… No, that’s enough. I wish to know why you risked danger to enter my country.”
I remained silent. In situations like this, it was Kurinka who spoke up, simply stating that we were pursuing the Red Devil. Upon hearing that, I learned that this Red Devil had already appeared near the Royal Capital, causing significant damage to Noibranz’s forces. Although they had managed to repel it, they had also allowed it to escape.
The shock hit me like a blow to the head. Platiu had already been rampaging in this country, and she had taken lives. It was too late; I wanted to stop it before it came to that. The thought was so overwhelming that sitting still became a struggle. Even if it was due to that Machine Maiden, a young child had taken lives. If I could save her, would she still be sane? Imagining her, conscious yet compelled to kill, made me feel nauseous.
“Lua-chan.”
“I’m fine, really. Please continue.”
I didn’t want to show weakness in front of such a king. I glanced at him, but he seemed completely unconcerned, his expression as stoic as ever.
“That Red Devil has caused such damage to the Noibranz army; if possible, we wish to join the hunt.”
“That will not do. This is our problem.”
“But as an allied nation…”
“Do you have any compassion for a devil?”
Kurinka fell silent, taken aback. While we had only stated that we were pursuing it, we had never mentioned wanting to save Platiu. So how did he see through us? He didn’t seem to possess any skills that would allow him to do so.
“I cannot say, but you will be treated as important guests here. If you wish, I will allow you to tour the Royal Capital. However, you are forbidden from taking anything from our land, no matter how small… But…”
As I met the King’s sharp gaze, I realized he was someone who had lived many more years than us. It wouldn’t be surprising if he could discern our thoughts from our slightest gestures or attitudes. That was why he had invited us here. I had thought I could gain freedom by getting close, but instead, I felt bound. What should I do?
“I am prepared to welcome you as Special-class Adventurers. If that is the case, the conversation will change, but I wish to hear your intentions.”
“…If we accept that offer, would it mean we could join the hunt for the Red Devil?”
“I refuse! Why would we join a nation that invades others?”
“Lua-chan!”
As I stood up impulsively, the guards thrust their spears forward. The weapons were poised dangerously close to my throat, showing no hesitation. If I leaned forward just a bit more, they would have pierced me. The other guards, who had been standing against the wall, also moved in unison. I took a moment to calm myself and sat back down, and the heavily armored guards halted their advance.
“An invading nation, you say? It is understandable that such a description of my country has spread to other lands. The Demon Continent War did indeed begin because of us.”
“Begin, you say?”
“Let us discuss this. While it may not be a grand truth, every matter has its facets. If you only focus on the front, you will miss what lies beyond.”
His tone was condescending, as if he were simply saying we knew nothing. Yet, I sensed a sudden change in his voice. The King spoke gently, as if trying to guide us.
“I want you to listen to me.”
I could only nod silently at the King, who suddenly showed a pleading, desperate look in his eyes. An unsettling feeling washed over me, as if I didn’t belong here. The comfort of the sofa suggested that the King was trying to put us at ease. Even knowing that, I had no choice but to listen.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The two of them are unaware, but the resentment from the back is almost palpable, like a shadow lurking behind them. It’s humiliating that the heavenly realm can’t even touch a mere girl like me. It’s not just a matter of shame; it’s a disgrace. Surely, they’ll dismiss me as insignificant, flipping their palms in disdain. How pitiful.
I’ve thought this before, but I might as well become a special adventurer. Even now, I can do as I please, so becoming a special adventurer wouldn’t mean being restrained. Being labeled as a level 2000 is far more ridiculous than the title of special adventurer, which would earn me much more trust. I wouldn’t be looked down upon anymore—two birds with one stone. My snacks would increase too—two birds with three stones. Alright, I’ll make sure to negotiate with them next time.
Is this the truth behind the intricate war? No matter what happens, war demands many sacrifices. It’s futile to try to obscure that with pretty words. However, those two are in a precarious position; they’re bound to be cornered.
More importantly, I’ve run out of snacks. If I stay in this dreary country any longer, I might just end up with a serious case of snack withdrawal.