From the shadow of the open wooden door emerged a small old man, his face obscured by a white beard and bushy white eyebrows. He appeared diminutive, likely due to his hunched back, and leaned heavily on a wooden staff for support. The girl stood at about the same height as us, but the old man was a bit shorter. He received a basket from her, checked its contents, and nodded in satisfaction multiple times.
“Ah, well done! Thank you. My legs have grown weak lately, so it’s a struggle to go outside. You’ve been a great help!”
“Not at all, Grandpa! I’ll do anything to assist Lord Hast!”
“Good, good! In about five years, I might need your help with something else! Ha ha ha!”
The old man’s mouth, covered in a thick white beard, opened wide in laughter. I realized that this old man was indeed Lord Hast, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the girl was Truppo. Back then, her face was mostly hidden by a hat and scarf, but that voice was unmistakable. Yet, seeing her now, it felt like she was a completely different person.
“Grandpa, I brought them here!”
Rash introduced us to Lord Hast. Until now, I hadn’t noticed, but when Lord Hast looked at us, his white eyebrows shot up, and his eyes widened in surprise. But it was the girl’s reaction that caught my attention. Upon seeing us, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly hid her face behind her scarf and hat. Yes, now she resembled the Truppo we had seen before. The bright girl who had been here just moments ago seemed to have vanished.
“R-Rua and Roel… you came…”
“T-Truppo, right? It’s been a while.”
“It has been a while…”
Her voice had dropped an octave. She had always been a bit of a mystery, but now she was even harder to read. All I could see were her eyes peeking out.
◆ Lord Hast’s Home ◆
The white walls housed a small kitchen with a fireplace, and a door leading to a bathroom and toilet. On the shelves, there were numerous peculiar animal figurines. The most striking feature was a massive bookshelf, crammed with books that seemed to reach the ceiling.
To someone like me, who neither read nor understood books, their value was lost. Watching Roel read with delight, I often wondered what she found so fascinating in those pages filled with text. I had tried to pick one up and read, but within ten seconds, my eyelids grew heavy. Perhaps they would be useful for sleepless nights.
“Come now, make yourselves comfortable.”
On the thick wooden table, herbal tea and juice were laid out for everyone. I wasn’t particularly fond of herbal tea, so I was grateful for the juice.
“First off, congratulations on overcoming that Fire Rain.”
“Did you really give the orders for that, Grandpa?”
“I wasn’t worried, but if you couldn’t get past that, I couldn’t possibly ask you to deal with the Golem.”
I had intended to tackle that challenge, but it felt like the conversation was moving ahead at lightning speed. For me, it was one thing, but if Roel hadn’t leveled up, things could have turned dangerous. If anything had happened, I would never have forgiven this man. Lord Hast might be far scarier than he appeared.
“You probably already know, but I am Lord Hast. And you are Rua and Roel, as my grandson Truppo has informed me.”
“Grandson? Truppo…?”
When I glanced at Truppo, he had lowered his face. What had that Truppo from earlier been all about?
“He’s a cute grandson, but he can be quite shy. I was more worried about his social skills than his magical prowess, so I sent him on a training journey. It seems that was the right decision, as I can see him happily talking about you two.”
“Grandpa, why don’t you give me some training or tasks? You call me your disciple, but you haven’t taught me anything!”
“I’m getting old, you know.”
“Don’t make excuses!”
So, Truppo was Lord Hast’s grandson, and Rash was his disciple. If I had known this sooner, I would have asked Truppo about it long ago, but now it was too late.
“I’ve heard the tales. I never expected to hear the words ‘Abyss Cave’ come from my grandson’s mouth.”
“Grandpa, do you know about the Abyss Cave?!”
“I’m old, so it had slipped my mind. Would you like to know?”
“I want to know! And where the One-Winged Demon is too!”
“Rua-chan, calm down a bit…”
Roel stopped me as I got too excited and nearly jumped onto the table. Truppo quietly wiped up the spilled juice. I appreciated his help, but his silence was a bit unnerving.
“I hear you’ve ventured into the Abyss Cave.”
“Yeah, I defeated Vandalsia too.”
“Oh…?”
“Normally, there’s a barrier there, and ordinary humans can’t enter. But… I’m more curious about how you learned the name ‘Abyss Cave.'”
The Abyss Cave. Yes, for some reason, I had known about it as if it were common knowledge. There was no sign with its name at the cave’s gaping entrance, and I couldn’t read anyway. Where had I learned it?
“If you’re okay with what I know, I can tell you. The Abyss Cave is where the monster that plunged this world into darkness is sealed. Regardless of the era, they destroyed and dominated the world. But every age has its end, and they were all sealed by those called heroes of their time. I don’t know if the Abyss Cave was designated as a sealing place throughout history. But yes, Vandalsia was the last monster to be sealed.”
“So, the many-headed dogs and giants I defeated were…?”
“That is indeed the case…”
Lord Hast stood up from his seat and began rummaging through the bookshelf. The book he sought was positioned high, nearly touching the ceiling, so he used a ladder to retrieve it.
“This is it. These monsters are so ancient that they’ve been forgotten by the people. They’ve mostly been passed down as stories to tell sleeping children. Here.”
The thick book contained illustrations. They were somewhat different, but they resembled the monsters I had defeated. Let’s see… Giga Atlas, Helberos, Jörmungandr. That four-headed dog was called Helberos? The words were so complicated that I couldn’t read them, so I asked Roel to read it for me.
Helberos, said to have scorched the continent and been the embodiment of hell. Giga Atlas, who stomped across the land, crushing nations beneath its massive feet. Jörmungandr, who swallowed everything and returned it to nothingness. And the King of Destruction, Vandalsia, who plunged the entire world into despair and ruled through fear. Many of the monsters I had defeated were documented within.
How had they been defeated? The book only mentioned that they were vanquished and sealed by heroes.
“Come to think of it, I read this to Truppo when he was young. I had completely forgotten.”
“That’s where I heard it before…”
Truppo seemed to understand. Listening to this, I realized just how formidable the monsters I had defeated truly were. The dungeon stretched down to the 100th Underground Floor. I had only recognized it as that.
Indeed, they were no ordinary foes, and I had nearly died multiple times. Yet, I still managed to win. Why was that? Until now, I had held confidence and pride in conquering that dungeon, but now I felt lost.
“Lord Hast… I mean, Lord Hast. We have fought against those who call themselves the Neo Demon Lord Army. The Kingdom of Avangarde has also been attacked by them. Do you know anything about those people?”
When Roel asked politely, Lord Hast raised his eyebrows slightly. It was hard to tell if he was surprised or not from his expression.
“I see, so they have already made quite the spectacle.”
“W-What? You know them, Lord Hast?”
“Know them? The leader of the Golems currently invading this country has claimed that title.”
I had suspected it, but it was indeed them. They were a nuisance to show up even here. Now that I knew, I was even more determined to cooperate.
“Well, you probably don’t know about the battle that occurred thirty years ago… the existence of the Demon Lord Army that clashed with the Kingdom of Avangarde.”
We listened intently without asking any questions. We wanted to know as much as possible without interrupting the flow of the conversation. I wasn’t sure if everyone felt the same, but all of us present sat in silence, not making a sound.
Only the faint sounds of the town outside drifted in.
“Thirty years ago, a grotesque group appeared out of nowhere. They called themselves the Demon Lord Army and invaded the Kingdom of Avangarde. The power of the Demon Lord Army was tremendous. The clash with the kingdom’s forces, including A-Rank Adventurers, took place in the Patchna Highlands to the north of Avangarde. It was a fierce back-and-forth battle, with neither side willing to yield. Even now, it’s remarkable that they didn’t allow the invasion to reach the Royal Capital.”
Those were ordinary days, but suddenly, a ray of hope descended upon us. A seemingly unremarkable boy, alongside his companions, stood against the Demon Lord Army. Before we knew it, they gradually pushed back the forces of the Demon Lord, and in less than a year, they ultimately defeated the Demon Lord!
I was startled when he suddenly raised his voice at the mention of the defeat. Lord Hast cleared his throat lightly and continued his tale.
“The people praised that boy and his companions. They called them Heroes and showered them with admiration. Yes, a Hero. He was a descendant of the Heroes who had saved the world throughout history. Giga Atlas, Hellveros, and Vandalsia. It was the Hero clan that defeated them and sealed them deep within the earth.”
Honestly, I couldn’t keep up with all this information. Roel seemed to understand, nodding along as she listened. The Demon Lord, the Hero. I wanted to sort things out in my head, but I doubted I would have the chance. Oh, but I think I remember Vandalsia mentioning something about Heroes too.
“Um, I understand the story. However, I had no idea that such events occurred thirty years ago. I wasn’t even born yet, and it seems no one else knows about it either…”
Roel posed a reasonable question, but I knew one thing for certain. Gantetsu. On that day when Baltz declared himself part of the Demon Lord Army, Gantetsu had shown a flicker of fear. He must know something. But I doubted he would tell me. The King and everyone else had avoided discussing the Demon Lord Army. That’s why I had come all this way to hear this person’s story. Of course, I hadn’t forgotten about the One-Winged Demon. If I could find out where that creature was, I would surely rejoice.
“Well, that’s to be expected. At that time, the kingdom reported them only as a group of monsters. They likely thought there was no need to spread such an ominous name as the Demon Lord Army among the people. It remains a mystery whether those who participated in the battle chose to remain silent about it, though…”
“I had no idea… I really didn’t know,” I admitted.
“The Demon Lord Army that appeared thirty years ago, and the current Neo Demon Lord Army. It seems reasonable to assume that they are survivors from thirty years ago.”
I was just as clueless as Roel. So, they must be attacking now for revenge because they lost thirty years ago.
“More importantly, you two didn’t come all this way just to hear about that, did you?”
Lord Hast’s eyes, hidden beneath his white brows, gleamed sharply. That gaze again. The kind of penetrating look that only adults possess, as if they could see right through the thoughts of children like us. It might just be my imagination, but I couldn’t bring myself to like that gaze. I shared everything that had happened in my village, as well as the matter of the One-Winged Demon. Lord Hast listened silently to my account. After I finished speaking, he crossed his arms and fell into deep thought for a moment. Finally, he spoke.
“I don’t know.”
The shock was immense, given my expectations. If he knew about the Demon Lord Army, I thought he would surely have something to say. I had assumed too much.
“I can’t say anything based on what you’ve told me so far.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense…”
The room fell silent. After coming all this way, what was I doing? To still have no leads at this point was infuriating, my fists clenched painfully.
“I’m not a monster expert, you know. However, if you could take on a Golem hunt, I’d be willing to lend a hand. What do you think?”
“Well, I was going to do that anyway… But lend a hand?”
“I mean to investigate the One-Winged Demon as well,” he clarified.
“R-Really?!”
“If it’s about the Demon Lord Army, I can gather the same information I just mentioned. You can rely on Lord Hast.”
I jumped up so suddenly that I knocked my chair over. Just then, a knock echoed at the door.
“Lord Hast, please hand over the two girls with you immediately.”
Everyone turned their attention to the door. A voice from outside belonged to a man I didn’t recognize. The “two girls” he mentioned were probably Roel and me. A terrible premonition washed over me.
◆ In front of Hast’s House ◆
Wizards lined the street, surrounding the house and blocking any escape routes. The visitor was none other than the King of the Wizard Kingdom. His brown hair was slicked back, making his forehead appear quite broad. He looked considerably younger than the King of Avangarde. Adorned in a red cloak embellished with jewels, he held a staff topped with a large, glowing yellow gem. It was clear he was a Wizard himself.
“It’s troubling when you act on your own, Lord Hast. Why did you allow those two to enter the kingdom, even mobilizing the Fire Brigade?”
The captain of the group that had unleashed Fire Rain upon us lowered his head apologetically. The King shot a piercing glare at us, striking the ground forcefully with his staff. The dry sound made the captain flinch.
“The damage from the Golem invasion is not to be taken lightly. Are you still stubbornly willing to sacrifice more lives?”
“I am the King of this land. You have no authority here. Therefore, I will treat those two as illegal entrants and punish them.”
“Wha—! Hey, wait!”
As Rash attempted to protest, a bolt of electricity shot from the King’s staff. A thin streak of lightning struck Rash at lightning speed, causing his head to spin before he collapsed.
“R-Rash… Lord Hast… What should we do about Rash…?”
“He’s just unconscious, don’t worry, Truppo. More importantly…”
This was turning out to be quite different from what I had heard. Wasn’t the King supposed to be subservient to Lord Hast? The King of Avangarde certainly had an intimidating presence, but this man surpassed that. He exuded a cold aura, as if he regarded us as nothing more than mere insects. He didn’t even spare a glance at Rash, whom he had just attacked.
――――Zajeel, what have you done to my precious disciple?
At that moment, an overwhelming Frost Aura emanated from the hunched old man. No, it wasn’t that he was releasing cold air. Each word Lord Hast spoke pierced through the King and his soldiers like icy blades, causing them to falter and fall. Only a few managed to stand, gasping for breath, and the King was the only one still upright. Yet even he instinctively took a defensive stance, his wariness palpable. I felt fine standing behind them, but Roel and Truppo were backing away against the wall of the house, trying to shield themselves. I could hear their teeth chattering from fear.
“B-But as the one who leads the nation, you taught me many times when I was young, Lord Hast! I have my own way of doing things!”
“Hmm, that is true.”
“R-Right?”
To my surprise, he returned to being an ordinary old man, leaving the King looking both exasperated and relieved. I see, it made sense that he wouldn’t be able to assert himself. At this moment, Lord Hast could have wiped out everyone present except for me. The King, who had been so imposing just moments ago, now seemed to choose his words carefully, glancing at Lord Hast as if he were a predator. He had gripped his staff with both hands, clearly anxious.
“Well, I suppose there’s no helping it. Rua and Roel, you two will have to be taken into custody. Don’t resist.”
“Huh?”
What would happen to the Golem hunt? What would happen if we were captured and punished? I had so many questions, yet we found ourselves at a loss for words in the face of the old man’s nonchalant demeanor.
“However, Zajeel, I cannot quell my personal anger regarding Rash’s incident.”
“Yes, I got carried away… I’m sorry.”
His half-hearted apology was drawn out of him by sheer terror.