◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram, Adventurer’s Guild ◆
“Once you deliver this package, the request will be complete.”
“And finally, C-Rank… I thought I might go crazy with all these errands. Rua and the others, I can’t believe you managed to reach A-Rank.”
“Right now, it’s more about building trust and achievements rather than experience… It makes sense that you can’t assign high-level requests to those without them. Apparently, this was established by the Guild Master and the Seven Law Guardians.”
“You mean the ones who called Rua and the others to the ‘Adventurer’s Guild Headquarters’? They seem so important, but they did nothing when Rulud was rampaging.”
“Don’t say things like that!”
Despite the back-and-forth, I handed the package to the guild receptionist, marking the end of the task. I had expected something important inside, but it turned out to be sweets. While they won’t spoil, being told to deliver anything, no matter how far, is part of the training. It’s a mental exercise to complete tasks without complaint, no matter how tempting it is to eat the contents.
“Now we’re officially C-Rank! From here on, we can take on monster subjugation requests like crazy! Crazy!”
“Let’s take on requests and show off our strength! We’ll surprise everyone with, ‘Why are these guys C-Rank…?'”
“Even if we show off our overwhelming power, people often struggle to accept it. Rua and the others took quite a while to be recognized for their abilities. Accepting a reality that one cannot understand is quite difficult.”
“Hmm… Being ordinary must be tough. I didn’t care whether it was Madias or Rulud.”
“But you didn’t want to admit it, did you?”
“Well… yeah.”
Now I understand why so many challengers met their end against me. It’s not just humans; even non-humans struggle to accept it. If you think about it that way, this ranking system makes even more sense.
◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram, Main Street ◆
There’s quite a commotion. The town is already bustling, but one corner is particularly lively. Men are fervently shouting about something.
“Today, I want everyone to hear my song! Nerba has been working hard, sacrificing sleep to come up with this!”
“I too sacrificed sleep to fantasize about this day!”
“Everyone, today is a jacking day!”
“I want to jack with Mimmy-chan!”
Even Elmera is frozen in shock. There stands Nerba, the Evil Noble, alongside Mimmy, a member of the Demon Race. The very Nerba that Elmera had defeated is now hosting a concert with Mimmy. Kirius was fine, but the fact that such nuisances have returned is more than a mere inconvenience.
Especially the Evil Nobility is dangerous. The daughter of Vandalsia, a princess who reveled in the Dark Ages. She possesses a “rejection” divine nature that even Elmera struggled against. But now Meria is here, and if it comes to it, miracles can happen. I’m not afraid. What truly frightens me is why those two are collaborating and blending in with humans. That is what terrifies me.
“Hey, sis, you recognize that face, right?”
“…I was surprised. I will never forget the girl who always laughed amusingly next to Vandalsia, no matter how many people were killed or tortured…”
“Should we kill her? Her singing has some tricks, but there’s something that captivates those who listen.”
“Even so, this situation is strange.”
“I bit my tongue! The taste of blood! Just a hint! Jacking! Jacking! The anger with nowhere to go reminds me of love!”
It is indeed strange. The catchy tune has a charm that almost lures you in just by listening. No one seems to flinch when her arms turn into wings, transforming her into a Harpy. In a town where Beastkin walk, it’s nothing new, yet the End has been completed and reverted. Is this even possible?
“Hey, Shin.”
“Yah! Y-you! Eerlich! And Getou!”
“Don’t be on guard. I’m not thinking about revenge anymore.”
These are the Demon Race members who were defeated by Rua. For Shin, who was bullied, it’s nothing but unpleasant memories, making it hard to feel joy even if they have come back to life. It’s a complicated feeling.
The fact that they aren’t thinking about revenge is evident from their appearance. Eerlich is dressed in a tight suit with a black body and a bowtie. Getou still has his face covered with a turban and bandages, but it’s the same. This only makes them seem more eerie.
“At first, I thought about revenge with blazing fury. But at this rate, I’d just be asking for a beating. After waking up, I first went to look for that old man Aboro.”
“Fortunately, I found him in a country called Noibranz, but it seemed like he wouldn’t cooperate… Looking back, our enthusiasm was completely different from the start.”
“Moreover, if I caused a ruckus, Rua would never forgive me. So, I ended up producing that duet.”
That duet refers to the collaboration between Nerba and Mimmy. It’s clear that behind this street performance, these guys are orchestrating various schemes. It’s unbelievable that those who once caused chaos and only thought about revenge have turned into this. Moreover, they are dressed in such ill-fitting suits, making them even creepier.
“Once I tried it, I found it quite fun. I mean, controlling humans through song isn’t so bad.”
“I get that, but Eerlich, do you know that Nerba is the daughter of Vandalsia?”
“What?!”
“You didn’t know?”
“No, I thought it was just a rare monster flying around. I was thinking of killing it if it attacked me on a whim, but I ended up getting along with Mimmy, and here we are.”
“Good for you. If Mimmy hadn’t been there, you would have been beaten.”
“Is she really that strong…?”
It seems they almost met their end right after being revived. I wonder if any of their family members have also come back. It’s truly a precarious manipulation of time, and it could have easily led to more damage. However, the fact that this is happening is nothing short of a miraculous coincidence.
For Shin, even these guys are among the few Demon Race allies. If they can blend into human society, that would be a joy in itself. A world where humans, Beastkin, and Demon Race can hold hands and live together is gradually becoming a reality. If I told Rua and Kurinka, they would surely be shocked. I wonder where they are now and what calamities they are erasing.
“Well, that doesn’t mean we can do anything about it now. After all, that old man Aboro is keeping an eye on us. But judging by that situation, there’s no way Aboro lost to Rua, right…?”
“I heard he got completely wrecked! By the way, he’s stronger now than when he fought you guys, so seriously be careful!”
“No wayyyyyyy!?”
To them, Aboro was an absolute figure they couldn’t defy. In the Demon Lord Army, he was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, but the disparity in power was evident. Looking back, Aboro’s intensity was likely influenced by that.
“Hmph… Well, that’s already irrelevant to us. If the world becomes peaceful, those who can only rely on such power will find it hard to survive. Elmera, you better stay healthy.”
“I never thought I’d be lectured by someone like Getou.”
“And you, the well-endowed sister. Anyway, we’re busy, so we don’t have much time to pay attention to you.”
“What did you just call my sister? Do you want your heart crushed or something?”
“Sorry… Wait, didn’t your sister die…?”
Even Elmera couldn’t defy them. While her face turned red, she glared at the Demon Race with fierce eyes. She holds an outdated notion about relationships with the opposite sex. She’s that pure. Shin is also pure, though lacking in the chest department.
“…Jacking, jacking.”
“Marty-chan?”
“Jacking.”
“Hey, is this a case of someone getting hooked? Sis, this is definitely only going to have negative effects, right?”
“It’s fine. I want you to touch anything you’re interested in. Experience is everything… but no lewd stuff is allowed.”
“I’m really sorry, but Elmera is scarier.”
I can’t tell if this is a good trend, but it’s true that she’s gradually becoming more human. However, things are going so smoothly that it feels like a miracle is happening. Oh, wait a minute.
“…?”
Before I knew it, she had bought meat buns and was stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel. With Marty’s miracle, it seems this town might become peaceful after all.
◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram, South, Kashiram Port ◆
“Ah, I’m tired. Couldn’t we have just used One Move to get here?”
“I’ve never been to the Nation of Kashiram, so it’s impossible.”
“…Thank you very much, Amane.”
“Don’t mention it. Of course, I don’t need any fare.”
After several months, we arrived on this continent aboard the Leopardess Guild’s ship. The King of Kashiram seems eager to spread magic throughout this country, and he even reached out to the Wizard Kingdom for that purpose. I thought there was no way our cold-hearted king would agree, but surprisingly, it was accepted quite smoothly.
The task was monumental, and I thought there would be many candidates for the selection, but it turned out to be surprisingly simple. Truppo and I were chosen as the special envoys. Since I couldn’t handle it alone, Truppo was brought in as the negotiator, but to be honest, she’s not really suited for it. I’ve improved enough to express my gratitude clearly, but I’m still awkward in front of anyone other than us. Having her as an intermediary is a bit of a bonus, and I appreciate that.
“Ugh, I’m tired. The Royal Capital is just ahead, and we have accommodations waiting for us, right? I just want to rest already.”
“You’re noisy for someone who’s just a bonus. It was only me and Truppo who were called. And your magic is still lacking…”
“Come on, it might be a good learning experience for me.”
“Then could you at least be a little quieter…”
Rutna is always complaining and tagging along. Does she really want my attention that badly? We’ve been together so much lately that I’ve been teased more often. When we were on the Leopardess Guild’s ship, I was mercilessly teased. I couldn’t say it out loud since they were kind enough to let me aboard, but being surrounded by women made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
“Hey, kid! If anything happens, I’ll rush over to help you!”
“Y-Yeah. Thanks, Eikichi-san.”
I heard that the Leopardess Guild used to only allow women on board, but that’s changed recently. Eikichi-san, this super muscular guy, apparently used to live deep in Azuma’s mountains. From what I gathered, he was saved by Lua and the others. And to top it off, he’s married to that monstrous woman named Randa. It’s kind of funny—what a muscle couple! He seems to have put in a lot of effort to be liked, giving me countless lectures on how to handle women. If it were me, I’d rather die than flatter a woman just to be liked. Lua is incredible; she saves the world without regard for gender, and that’s why she’s naturally respected. That’s right, the person I admire is simply amazing, regardless of whether they’re a man or a woman.
“I heard that the Leopardess Guild used to have trouble docking at ports. But it seems like they can dock in the Nation of Kashiram now.”
“I wouldn’t call it grassroots activism, but we worked hard for it. Plus, now that it’s known that we once had the hero Lua on board, some people have changed their tune.”
“Yikes… Lua, truly fearsome.”
“Kashiram has always been quite accommodating. Many rough sailors have had their share of troubles, but as long as you show respect, there’s no better port than this.”
With Lua and the Leopardess Guild scaring off monsters, I doubt anyone would dare approach them. You can tell the port workers hold them in high regard. They’re unloading cargo roughly, but they follow Melissa-san’s orders without fail. She’s dressed in a way that’s almost scandalous, and it’s amusing to see the men stealing glances, unsure where to look.
“Hey… Randa-san. About how you met Eikichi-san…”
“Oh, at first, I thought, ‘What’s up with this scrawny guy?’…”
Rutna seems overly interested in Randa-san’s romantic stories. I wonder why she’s so fascinated by that. As I look up at the sky, stifling a yawn, it seems oddly dim. It should be clear, but the overall saturation feels off.
“…Is it getting cloudy? No, something feels strange…”
“Hey, hey, the mist is rolling in too.”
As I chat with Amane-san, the darkness deepens. The conditions for mist shouldn’t be present, so is it an attack? The Leopardess Guild is quick to react in situations like this. Amane-san is already calling for the port workers to evacuate. The guild members are gearing up for battle.
“Hey, a ship is approaching. I thought there weren’t any scheduled to dock today…”
“One ship, two ships… Wait?! What the heck is that?! How many are there?!”
In the distance, through the mist, ghostly sailing ships emerge like shadows. They’re lined up, and there are dozens of them. But these aren’t ordinary ships. The sails are tattered, and the hulls look like they’re rotting, with chunks missing everywhere. There’s no one aboard those hole-riddled vessels.
“Amane-san! Those aren’t living ships! And there are so many of them! This isn’t normal!”
“Ugh… Could they be ghost ships? It’s something you encounter after long voyages, but this number is abnormal. I wonder who’s behind it?”
“I know someone who can pull off something like this… I’ve fought him before.”
“Who’s that?”
“The Necromancer… Juo.”
As I whispered the name “Necromancer,” a jolt ran through my mind. Necromancers are considered taboo in the magical community, and some high-ranking officials criticize them for their ethics. But that’s not the fundamental issue. The real problem with necromancers is their ability to manipulate the souls of the dead.
Why is Juo aware of this and still chooses to be a necromancer? That’s exactly it. That’s his true purpose.
“That guy is the type to plunge the world into chaos out of sheer jealousy. He’d sacrifice even himself for that…”
“Could you explain that more clearly?”
“A necromancer binds the souls of the dead to this world and controls them. The reason they’re despised in the magical community is that doing so inevitably angers someone you absolutely shouldn’t provoke.”
“Wow, is he scarier than Lua?”
“The Underworld…”
Saying it myself, I felt a sense of impending doom. The Underworld isn’t just a fairy tale; it exists just like the Celestial Realm. The souls of deceased beings fall into the Underworld. A necromancer disrupts that process. That’s why Hast’s grandfather always warned against necromancers.
“After all this… after we finally achieved peace… after everything returned to normal! That damn Juo!”
He’s not the type to be provoked easily, and he might not even be nearby. Still, I couldn’t help but shout.