◆ Avangarde Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“Oh, so this is the Millennium Herb… how beautiful.”
The King wasn’t the only one taken aback by our return with the Millennium Herb; Prime Minister Belmund’s eyes widened as he repeatedly confirmed its existence. The whispers from the surrounding guards revealed just how unbelievable it was for us to have brought back such a treasure.
“Hmm, this is indeed genuine. We shall send it to the analysis team in the laboratory for further examination later.”
“Wonderful! This is no ordinary achievement, Lua and Roel. Your reward will not be limited to mere praise. What do you desire?”
Suddenly being asked such a question left me at a loss. I wasn’t in need of money, and the only thing I could think of that I lacked… came to mind.
“Um, actually, I have a request. You see…”
As expected of Roel, she efficiently explained the events in Azuma and how we brought the villagers to the Kingdom of Avangarde. The King and Belmund listened attentively, not showing any signs of displeasure. According to Amane, it seems that refugees are still pouring in, which makes me wonder how things are really going.
“I see, I understand the situation. Very well, we shall provide housing and living expenses for sixty-four individuals. Since they are moving from a distant land, I will also send a few caretakers to assist them.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Think nothing of it! Compared to the reward for the Millennium Herb, this is hardly enough. Should anything else arise, feel free to come to me anytime.”
The King was in high spirits, and if I was going to say something, now was the time. If I didn’t act, I might never get the chance to go there. I couldn’t leave this to Roel; I had to say it myself.
“Um, um…”
“Hm? Is there something else?”
“Uh, well, I… I want to go to Ikana Village!”
I want to go! It was the first time I used honorifics. Roel had taught me a few times, but I had never felt the need to use them until now.
“Ikana… Village, you say?”
Even I could sense the shift in the atmosphere. The King’s earlier jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by a look that was hard to read—was he angry or surprised? He simply frowned deeply.
“…Why do you wish to go to Ikana Village?”
“Because the fallen Ikana Village is my hometown. I want to see with my own eyes what has become of it…”
“Y-Your hometown?!”
Belmund’s voice echoed throughout the grand hall. It wasn’t just him; the surrounding soldiers began to whisper among themselves. The King lowered his head, lost in thought, and it was clear that something was amiss.
“Roel, I think I messed up…”
“Stay calm. It’s not like you were scolded or anything…”
“Um, ahem. Excuse me, Lady Lua. May I ask you a few questions?”
“Y-Yes.”
“That village was destroyed by monsters about ten years ago. At that time, our kingdom attempted to rescue survivors, but the result was zero. …Are you truly from that village?”
“Y-Yes…”
“How did you manage to survive?”
“Well, that is…”
How I alone survived and what I had done since then. I decided to share the rough details. I wasn’t sure how much my clumsy explanation conveyed, but I noticed Belmund shudder at the mention of the Abyss Cave.
Something felt off.
Eventually, Belmund began whispering to the King, and I started to feel quite uncomfortable. I seriously considered leaving right then. Just as I was about to act on that thought, the King spoke up.
“…There are unidentified monsters roaming there, and it has been designated a no-entry zone. However, recognizing your achievement in bringing back the Millennium Herb, I shall consider it.”
“C-Consider it?”
“It means I will think about it, Lua-chan.”
Normally, I should have been overjoyed, but I couldn’t feel that way. The King, Belmund, and the soldiers all wore expressions that suggested they were hiding something. Even if I asked, they probably wouldn’t tell me, and I might end up angering them. So, we simply expressed our gratitude and left the castle.
◆ Avangarde Castle Town, Central Street ◆
We returned aboard the Leopardess Guild’s ship, the White Leopard. The journey to Azuma had taken an excruciatingly long time on a regular passenger ship, but this time it took less than half that. Thanks to the unique sea route discovered by the Leopardess Guild, we made efficient progress, and the ship could even navigate somewhat automatically.
With rotating wings attached to the hull, it could move without relying solely on the wind. It seemed that the Kingdom of Metallica had developed even more advanced technology, allowing them to travel at several times that speed. I wondered if the ship we had been on was powered by that technology.
“We’ll be staying here for a while. If anything comes up, come to the port. It’s not wise to show your faces too much in the castle town.”
It seemed that the Leopardess Guild had its share of detractors in Avangarde Castle Town. Amane had been cheered on passionately during the Combat Tournament, so I had thought they were well-liked. However, Amane mentioned that there were quite a few voices criticizing them, saying their actions were no different from the Blood Shark Pirates, even if they only targeted bad people. I thought they were admirable.
“Thank you, Lua! We’re going to do our best in this town!”
Konoka and Nanoka decided to live in an empty house on the outskirts of the town. I was surprised at how spacious the town was, and they had easily arranged accommodations for the other villagers as well. However, Kirkton was worried that while things were going well for now, if the number of refugees continued to rise, it would become problematic.
“The customs, climate, and everything else is different, so it might be confusing at first, but once you get used to it, it’s a good town. If you need anything, just tell the caretakers who are stationed here.”
“Uh-huh…”
“W-What is it?”
“Kirkton, you’re quite handsome too. Your forehead is lovely.”
“D-Don’t tease me!”
It was amusing to see Kirkton, who was flattered by the twins’ compliments, trying to hide his embarrassment as he hurried away. I figured I wouldn’t have many chances to see him act like that again. However, it seemed he was a bit self-conscious about his forehead, so I hoped they wouldn’t mention it too much.
“Well, if it isn’t Lua. I hadn’t seen you in a while; I thought you had quit being an Adventurer and run away.”
Just then, Greyman appeared, clad in golden armor and a golden helmet that dazzled the eyes. This was why they called it Golden Armor. And why would I run away? He was as irritating as ever.
“Th-This person can’t be…?”
“Hm, I see unfamiliar young ladies. From your attire, you must be the ones who came from the rumored Azuma…”
“Golden Armor! Golden Armor!”
“W-Why do you know that name?!”
“Golden Armor! Golden Armor!”
It seemed anyone could recognize that outfit immediately. Without even an introduction, Greyman instantly identified himself as the Golden Armor that Roel had mentioned. The twins circled around him, clearly enjoying the moment, while Konoka, who was muttering “gold,” stroked the armor, leaving me unsure of how to respond.
“Why do you know my alias?!”
“We heard you were famous.”
“…I see. So my reputation has spread all the way to Azuma. Hmph, I suppose being too famous can be troublesome. Hehehe…”
I felt a twinge of guilt for letting him misunderstand, but it was Greyman, so I figured it was fine. After all, this was all Roel’s doing, and she was pretending not to notice, looking away.
“Hey, Lua. I heard you went to Azuma. Did you make it back safely?”
“Ah, Seigel!”
“So, how was it? You didn’t actually go and slay Daigami, did you? Hahaha!”
“N-No way. Absolutely not.”
“Seriously, that’s rude, Seigel!”
Why did he have to guess so easily? I hadn’t killed anyone, and while I could admit it, I didn’t want to be teased about it. But I felt Roel didn’t need to deny it so vehemently. Why?
“Is this person Seigel?”
“Eh? Oh, right, I remember you wanted to meet him. Yes, this is the Dragon Hunter.”
“Oh, and who are these children?”
“Cool!”
“Ooh?!”
Suddenly, the twins clung to him, leaving even Seigel taken aback.
I wanted to learn from the resilience of these two, who were already adapting to life in a foreign land despite just arriving.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but wait a moment, my honeys. I understand why you would be drawn to my sweetness. I would love to escort you, but unfortunately, I’m busy right now.”
“Escort! I don’t quite understand, but it sounds like a lovely city term!”
“O-Oh… hey, Lua and Roel.”
Seigel whispered to me that these two could be dangerous if left unattended. We had our own matters to attend to, and I wanted to leave the rest to the caretakers who had come from the castle.
“They might get tricked by bad people and follow them.”
“This pair might need someone to keep an eye on them for a while…”
“Seigel, would you like to join us for tea?”
“Whoa, I never expected to be the one invited…”
Seigel looked utterly bewildered as he was tugged along by the two of them. Although he adored women, he often insisted that children were off-limits. It wasn’t that he disliked them; he simply drew a line, a distinction I couldn’t quite grasp, but I figured it was his own conviction. He was always kind to us, though.
“Oh, could that be…?”
I recognized that voice after a long time. Was he still in this town?
“Ah, Ord!”
“Hey, hey, it’s been ages!”
“Hey, Rua. Who’s that person with the broom-like hair?”
“That’s Ord, another Adventurer like us. At least, he’s not a friend.”
“Come on, that’s harsh! I’m working hard every day, you know… oops.”
【Ord Level: 23 Class: Lancer B-Rank】
“Uh-oh, did you see that? I didn’t mean to show it off, though.”
Oh please, he definitely intended to flaunt it. Why else would he be casually holding his Adventurer Card between his fingers? He must have pulled it out just to show off when he saw us. But B-Rank, huh? Thinking back, we struggled for quite a while before reaching B-Rank ourselves, so I suppose he must have worked hard for it too.
“Wow, I don’t really get it, but that’s impressive!”
“Yeah, it’s not something just anyone can achieve. It takes effort, determination, and in the end, talent is what counts.”
“But Rua is A-Rank, right? A-Rank is even more impressive, isn’t it?”
“Yes, A-Rank is… huh?”
I silently showed Ord my Adventurer Card. He froze in shock. When he finally moved, he pointed at the level and began checking the numbers repeatedly, his eyes wide. Greyman joined in, muttering about how the digits were off. Now that I think about it, aside from Roel, I had only shown my level to Bottom and the others.
“Listen, Rua. There are things you can and can’t do. Do you know that tampering with an Adventurer Card is not allowed?”
“Tampering? I don’t really understand, but that means rewriting it, right? There’s no way I could do something like that.”
“No, no, no. Wait, seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Tell me, where did you train?”
“Abyss Cave.”
“What was the location? What’s the Danger Level? Because even the Five Elites are around 80 or 90, right? What’s the level cap? Are you even human?”
What is with this enthusiasm? It seems they’re more interested in that than the fact I’m A-Rank. Seigel and Greyman kept bombarding me with questions, and I couldn’t keep up.
“Is that Abyss Cave lucrative? If so, I, Greyman, shall conquer it!”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, the Danger Level is over 100… There are only seven dungeons in the world that are recognized as being over 100. Rua, I acknowledge you once again.”
“What does level even mean? Is 999 impressive?”
Everyone present crowded around me, eagerly pressing for answers. But I didn’t find it annoying. The Abyss Cave was that dark, unfathomable place. I had spent ten years there, fighting day in and day out without speaking to anyone. Compared to that, here I had Roel, Seigel, and now Konoka and Nanoka with me. Even if I wasn’t particularly fond of Ord or Greyman, I felt a connection with new people every time we went on an adventure. It wasn’t bad; in fact, every day spent with everyone felt enjoyable.
――――The outside world is fun, isn’t it?
I thought I heard that voice. What was it? I really needed to go to Ikana Village. I knew no one was left, that it was in ruins, but I couldn’t help but feel the urge to go. It felt like I was on the verge of making a decision, a resolution within me.
◆ Avangarde Castle Town Hotel Maison Guest Room ◆
“Ah, I’m so tired…”
“Even Rua-chan gets tired, huh…”
“What do you think I am, Roel?”
I never expected the bed to be this soft. It was as if all the fatigue I had accumulated until now had finally caught up with me. Perhaps I felt relieved after returning from Azuma. After that, I took Konoka and Nanoka to Tavern Alucchu for a meal, but everything I saw was so new and fascinating that I was bombarded with questions. Those two really ate a lot; they truly devoured their food. Roel said it was a reaction to the simple fare they had in the village. But even Roel, who had eaten better food, ordered seven plates of herb chicken fried rice, so it didn’t seem to matter.
“I hope Konoka-chan and Nanoka-chan can adapt well from now on.”
“They were so eager to till the fields, but it was a bit sad that there was no space at all.”
“A field, huh? They might thrive in the Kingdom of Normitz.”
“Speaking of the Kingdom of Normitz, I wonder if Gilbert and Barm have returned?”
“Hmm, who knows? Of course, the King hasn’t said anything…”
If they hadn’t returned yet, it could only mean something had happened. I was worried, but more than that, the softness of the bed was luring me in. In other words, I was sleepy. So sleepy. Was the fatigue from the battle with Lord Daigami finally catching up to me? Now that I think about it, I had also fallen into a deep sleep after defeating Vandalsia. Lord Daigami, Vandalsia. Are there stronger opponents in this vast world? For now, I couldn’t tell if there were beings stronger than the Demon Lord Army or the Twelve Demon Generals. And the Comet Wolf Brigade; Amane seemed to know something about their leader, but what kind of person were they? Were they stronger than me? Either way, I needed to train more.
“Rua-chan? Did you fall asleep…? You didn’t even take a bath…”
I heard Roel’s voice as I drifted into unconsciousness.
◆ ?????? ◆
“Why did you become an Adventurer, Eeks?”
“Well… I must have had something I wanted to do, but I’ve forgotten. Too much has happened.”
“I see…”
“Don’t you have any dreams for the future?”
“A dream?”
“Something you want to do when you grow up.”
“I want to go outside the village and have adventures!”
“Well then, you should start by not getting angry or crying so easily!”
“Eh, why? I should practice with a sword instead.”
“If you don’t build the capacity to wield a sword, you’ll definitely break down someday. It’s important.”
“Break down? I don’t really understand…”
“Yeah, it’s complicated…”
Eeks chuckled and patted my head. He always made sure to pat my head at the end. I looked forward to these moments. He was a kind older brother who played with me and Kurinka often. I always thought how nice it would be if someone like him were my real brother.
“Well, I have to go now.”
“Huh, where to?”
Eeks suddenly stood up and turned his back to me. I felt a deeper sense of loneliness than usual.
“Somewhere far away.”
“No, stay here forever.”
Eeks didn’t turn around. He began to walk slowly away.
“…I’ve had enough.”
“Enough of what? Why…?”
I ran as hard as I could, but for some reason, I couldn’t catch up. Eeks kept getting farther away.
“Don’t cry.”
“No, no, no…!”
Eeks disappeared from my sight. The surroundings turned red, and the village was engulfed in flames.
“Noooooo!”
◆ Avangarde Castle Town Hotel Maison Guest Room ◆
“Kyah!”
I shot up, startled, and saw Roel staring at me wide-eyed. Had she just woken up too? The morning sun streamed through the window, and I could hear the chirping of birds. Yes, it was morning.
“I-I was so surprised! Rua-chan, did you have a scary dream? You were shouting so loudly…”
“Yeah, a little…”
“I wonder what kind of dream would scare even Rua-chan…”
“What do you mean by that?”
Roel quickly changed her clothes after getting out of bed. As for me, my mind still felt hazy. There was no way I should still be tired from yesterday.
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door. After what happened before, I didn’t want to open it casually. I was confident I could fend off anything that might attack, but those kinds of surprises were mentally taxing.
“Y-Yes, who is it?”
“Good morning. We urgently need you both to come to Avangarde Castle.”
“Is it already a… mission?”
“Well, yes, but actually…”
I was about to interrupt Roel, who was about to say “mission,” but I thought the same thing. What would come after the Millennium Herb? Were we going to be sent to collect the Ten Thousand Year Herb next?
“We would like you to participate in an investigation into Ikana Village.”
At that moment, my blanket flew across the room, and I leaped out of bed. I was wide awake now.
I can’t believe she made it back safely. After facing that storm, I thought she and her ship would sink for sure. Ah, but that girl? She’ll definitely swim back, no doubt about it.
Heh heh heh, this time, it’s all thanks to me. After all, I’ve figured out Rua’s weaknesses even more.
Rua’s weaknesses! She can’t even use honorifics properly! It’s ridiculous how foolish she is—she can’t even manage basic speech. What kind of brain does she have?
And there’s one more thing: that Rua hails from a village of all places. Considering why those fools are so obsessed with her, I can’t help but laugh.
At first, I wondered why I was even stalking such a girl. But now that I’m here, it’s become quite entertaining. Heh heh heh.