“I have vanquished all the monsters rampaging in the castle town. Rest assured.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Captain Kirkton expressed his gratitude to the group. The surviving soldiers saluted and shouted in unison, mimicking the same pose. Before us stood three Adventurers, the higher-ranked individuals that Seigel had mentioned. But wait, even counting Shinbu, there were only four of them.
“This is quite a significant amount of damage, isn’t it? Even I cannot bring the dead back to life,” one of the women remarked.
Her brown hair curled around her shoulders, framing a beautifully arranged face, yet her tone was rather peculiar. She wore a robe similar to Roel’s, though it was far more luxurious.
“Well, there is something I urgently wish for Lady Yuyu to see.”
“Is it something only I, as a High Priest, can handle?”
【”Compassionate Angel” Yuyu, Lv: 88, Class: High Priest, Rank: A】
With a quiet elegance, Yuyu was led to Tiferia. No one could hide their shock at the sight of Tiferia, who was writhing in agony. The three Adventurers involuntarily gasped.
“What could have happened to someone as skilled as Lady Tiferia?”
【”Savior Monk” Mugen, Lv: 94, Class: Super Monk, Rank: A】
One of the men, adorned with a necklace of round beads, leaned in to examine Tiferia. When I discreetly asked Roel, she told me it was called a prayer bead. The sunlight reflected off his bald head, reminiscent of Grundom’s. I knew this was not the time to be distracted by such thoughts.
“Mugen, can you not discern her condition?”
“Hmm, if it were within my area of expertise, I could assist… But it is certainly not a curse.”
Kirkton’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. I wondered what kind of person Mugen was. Did he fight with weapons or magic? I had no clue.
“I hope my music can alleviate her suffering, even if just a little…”
【”Battlefield Poet” Laurel, Lv: 90, Class: Bard, Rank: A】
With hair longer than his shoulders, I initially thought he was a woman, but he was indeed a man. Yet, his features were such that one could easily mistake him for a woman.
“I would greatly appreciate it, Lord Laurel.”
As he nodded to Kirkton, music began to flow. The sound of the harp invited drowsiness and tranquility, and despite the battle having ended, I felt the tension drain from my body, causing me to sit down on the ground. The others followed suit, sitting on the floor, entranced by the melody. I thought I noticed Tiferia’s expression soften slightly.
“Ah, amazing! I really feel it easing!”
When I shouted, the three Adventurers seemed to finally notice me. Kirkton approached, as if recalling something.
“It’s you. I hadn’t yet expressed my gratitude. I truly appreciate your help. For someone so young, your performance was remarkable.”
Kirkton praised me with a smile, and when Mugen inquired about what had happened, Kirkton explained everything.
“…I see. It’s hard to believe, but if Lord Kirkton says so, it must be true.”
Mugen turned his shining head toward me. His stern expression suggested he was a very serious person. He wore a thick black robe that matched his imposing appearance.
“I am quite interested in that girl as well, but right now, this matter takes precedence.”
His peculiar way of speaking was evident once more. Yuyu raised her hand, emitting a soft light. As it illuminated Tiferia, Laurel’s music seemed to further ease her expression.
“Oh… as expected of Lady Yuyu and Lord Laurel.”
“However, this does not provide a fundamental solution. We have no grasp of the disease afflicting Tiferia.”
“My blood has been used to infect her with an incurable disease… Inoro, or rather, Juo said so.”
At my words, everyone turned to look at me. Now that I thought about it, I was the only one who knew the name Juo. Moreover, only Roel and I knew that Inoro, or rather, Juo was a member of the Twelve Demon Generals. I felt a bit embarrassed by the unexpected revelation, but I pushed through to explain. Almost everyone who heard my words expressed disdain for Juo.
“A Necromancer… to dabble in such forbidden arts is utterly unacceptable!”
Mugen slammed his fist into his palm with a sharp sound. Yuyu, Laurel, and everyone else who had not been present wore dark expressions. Only Roel and I were left out of the loop.
“What’s a forbidden art?”
“To put it simply, it refers to magic that is prohibited. If one were to use it, they would be unable to reside in any nation.”
Seigel provided a straightforward explanation. Forbidden arts—magic that everyone despised, especially Juo’s. Indeed, seeing the dead rise or being forced to fight made me feel anger as well. I thought of it as magic that toyed with people, and I felt that way about Juo.
“They mentioned something about the Neo Demon Lord Army, but what could that be?”
“That discussion will have to wait until we report to His Majesty.”
Kirkton spoke in a chilling tone that sent shivers down my spine. What had I said that was so strange? Meanwhile, Yuyu was chanting something over Tiferia. After casting what seemed to be a healing spell, Tiferia’s breathing became even more subdued. Roel watched Yuyu with keen interest.
“W-Wow. Yuyu, what was that? What did you just do?”
“Oh, and who might you be…?”
“Excuse me, I’m the Adventurer Roel. This is Lua-chan.”
“Ah, how young you are. I want to taste it…”
“Huh?”
“Are you still a Healer? If that’s the case, a detailed explanation might be lost on you, so to put it simply, it’s a type of magic that neutralizes pain.”
Roel nodded ambiguously, as if she understood but wasn’t quite sure. Yuyu seemed to see through my relief at the existence of such magic and continued.
“However, it does not remove the fundamental cause. It merely alleviates the pain. If we leave it as is, who knows what will happen…”
“Anyway, we should report the events so far to His Majesty. I would like everyone present here to accompany us.”
No one refused Kirkton’s request. Come to think of it, the King was safe, but where could he be?
///
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After the report, it was not the King who spoke, but an elderly man nearby. I didn’t quite understand Roel’s complicated explanation, but he was the Prime Minister, someone who assisted the King. Kirkton led us to a basement that connected to the floor below. The floor opened to reveal a hidden refuge that one would never notice if they didn’t know about it.
“Everyone, you must be tired after today. There are many who wish to express their gratitude, but for now, please rest within the castle. We will discuss the matter of your rewards tomorrow.”
“…Wait, you there, girl.”
For a moment, I wondered who he was referring to, but the King was pointing at me. Why was the King calling me? I was confused as he approached.
“I’ve been curious about you since the match. According to the records, you are still a C-rank…”
“Y-Yeah. I just became an Adventurer…”
“Lua-chan! Use respectful language! Respectful language!”
Roel pinched me, and it hurt. What was respectful language? Realizing I didn’t know what it was, Roel covered her mouth in surprise.
“Your Majesty, let’s discuss that matter tomorrow as well.”
“From what I hear, I can vividly imagine your exploits. Truly remarkable.”
Ignoring the Prime Minister, the King continued to speak to me. The Prime Minister, seemingly irritated by the King’s behavior, turned to him and interjected.
“Your Majesty! This is hardly the time for that! Do you understand the state of the nation?”
With the Prime Minister’s sharp reprimand, the King stepped back, looking somewhat chastened. Despite being of higher rank, the elderly Prime Minister managed to silence him. The King cleared his throat and began to speak.
“First and foremost, we must prioritize the treatment of the severely injured and provide temporary housing for those who have lost their homes. Understood, Belmund?”
“As you command.”
Thanks to the injured being accommodated, the rooms were filled, so Roel and I ended up sleeping in the quarters of the female soldiers. On our way back, I saw the bodies of fallen soldiers, Adventurers, and spectators lined up in the Coliseum. The sight made me feel nauseous, and I quickly distanced myself from the scene.
///
“Phew, I’m exhausted… Ah, Lua-chan, I found you here.”
Roel spotted me lost in thought atop the castle wall. She had apparently been helping to treat the injured until just now. Yuyu, the person I had mentioned earlier, had been surprisingly kind and thorough in her explanations, which Roel had come to appreciate.
“Roel… I couldn’t protect them.”
The pleasant night breeze felt colder than usual. The buildings were partially destroyed, and those who had lived there until today…
For now, we are taking refuge in the castle and other large buildings that have escaped damage. The darkness obscures everything, but I can vividly picture the scene in my mind.
“I never want to see a sight like this again. After all the training I went through in the Abyss Cave…”
“If it weren’t for Lua-chan, things would have been much worse,” Roel said, gently encouraging me as she nestled closer. “So please, don’t be so down, okay?”
I understand that, but there’s something inside me that just doesn’t sit right. Roel gazes at my profile, her eyes filled with concern.
“If I hadn’t met you, Lua-chan, I wouldn’t have met so many people, and I wouldn’t have gained this confidence. If I were to say thank you… would that be okay?”
Her words jolted me. I noticed her body trembling against mine. That’s right, Roel has faced so many terrifying experiences today alone. When Juo almost did something to her, and during the massacre orchestrated by the Neo Demon Lord Army in the Coliseum. I wasn’t the only one who witnessed that horror. Everyone fought back—Seigel, Gantetsu, and all the others. There are people who were nearly killed, others who are injured and still unconscious. Yet here I am, wallowing in my own inability to save anyone.
“Lua-chan, no matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side. I want to keep saying thank you, over and over.”
“Roel…”
I took her cold hand in mine. After squeezing it gently for a moment, I felt warmth return. Perhaps that was the trigger, as Roel suddenly leaped into my arms.
“W-What’s wrong?”
Her golden hair trembled like a small animal, fluttering slightly in the breeze. She wrapped her slender arms around my back, holding on tightly. Has she been enduring all this with such a soft and small body? I’m not sure if this embrace will ease her worries, but I held her close in my own way.
“Lua-chan…”
“I’m sorry, Roel. I’ve been the one complaining… You’re right; everyone has their own heavy burdens and wounds to bear. I need to pull myself together.”
Roel didn’t say anything; she merely trembled in my arms. However, that trembling gradually subsided, and I could feel her calming down. For some reason, my heart began to race. Looking up at me, Roel’s expression mirrored my own feelings, and I couldn’t shake that thought. My flushed cheeks betrayed the excitement in my chest. Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I instinctively pulled away. Roel didn’t seem particularly surprised, but her expression was undeniably warm.
“I-It’s kind of strange, isn’t it…?”
Finally, Roel shyly scratched her cheek with her index finger. I, too, was at a loss for how to respond, mimicking her gesture in a daze.
“It’s getting cold. Shall we head back to our room?”
To distract myself from the embarrassment, I took Roel’s hand and started walking. The lights dotting the castle walls contrasted sharply with the encroaching darkness, emphasizing the end of the day. On this night, marking the conclusion of tragedy and fierce battles, the sky above felt lonelier than usual, as if it could swallow everything into its vast emptiness.
Monster Compendium
Vito, the Hunter with the Echoing Wings – HP 15,300
One of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Neo Demon Lord Army. With a mantis-like appearance and clad in metallic armor, he slashes through everything with the blades on his arms. He doesn’t use magic, but his overwhelming destructive power can easily be mistaken for the highest-level wind magic. His armor possesses resistance to both physical and magical attacks, leaving no openings in either offense or defense.