◆ Avangarde Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
“Listen, I did my best to keep watch, you know? But when someone like that threatens me with ‘Don’t get in my way,’ anyone would instinctively run away! I should have informed everyone beforehand, but that would have been the same as getting in the way! Honestly, I felt like I was living in a nightmare! And that thing—I’ve only seen it in picture books—it’s the Jet-Black Earth Dragon Dogra, right? I mean, I couldn’t believe it was real! Does the Demon Lord Army even command something like that?”
“I understand, I understand, so please be quiet, Kiki. It’s true that the opponent was formidable; there was no chance of victory in that situation. Neither His Majesty nor I intend to blame you.”
“Oh, is that so? Phew…”
Kiki finally calmed down, her hand resting on her chest. She had been thoroughly scolded by Kirkton for not mentioning that Eeks, the Funeral Knight, had infiltrated beforehand. I didn’t care much about that. When the Funeral Knight actually appeared, even Mugen was held back, and the outcome of the battle was as expected. What adventurer could stop an opponent that Mugen couldn’t defeat? I certainly couldn’t. Since it was Eeks, I couldn’t even make excuses.
In the end, the investigation in Ikana Village failed because we couldn’t capture the Black Beast. However, neither the King nor Prime Minister Belmund was angry.
“Still, it’s been a long time since Eeks went missing…”
“I had trusted him, the A-Rank adventurer with the same strength and achievements as Tiferia.”
“Your Majesty, I apologize. This situation arose due to my lack of power. I am prepared for any punishment.”
“What are you saying? Both you and Kiki are not to be blamed. It’s unfortunate about the Black Beast, but we will think carefully about what to do next.”
Despite that, Mugen was bowing his head to the floor in a deep apology. Kirkton was doing the same; these two were genuinely regretting their actions. Meanwhile, I was so lost in thought that I barely paid attention to their exchange. I didn’t care about the reward; my mind was filled with thoughts of Eeks above all else.
—Come to the Demon Lord Castle. I will tell you everything.
Why was Eeks with the Demon Lord Army? Was he truly trying to destroy the world? Even now, I couldn’t believe it. Lies, lies, that thought kept racing through my mind.
“…Rua-chan! Rua-chan!”
I snapped back to reality as Roel shook me. Startled, I looked around to find everyone— the King, the Prime Minister, Kirkton, Mugen, and the soldiers— all staring at me.
“…Is something wrong?”
“N-no, it’s nothing at all.”
“According to Kirkton, you matched the Funeral Knight Eeks blow for blow. You helped us during a previous attack as well. With this incident, I am convinced that you are an indispensable presence for our kingdom. The power of the Demon Lord Army is growing stronger by the day, and we cannot predict when they might strike again. Therefore, I would like to ask you…”
“I’m tired, so I’m going to rest now.”
“W-wait. The conversation isn’t over yet…”
“Rua-chan…”
Ignoring the King as he stood from his throne, I walked toward the entrance of the King’s Chamber. It was true that I was tired, but more than that, I felt a strong sense of why it had to be me. They would probably just ask me to go gather the Millennium Herb again.
I am not the King’s slave. I am an adventurer. Furthermore, I haven’t forgotten the killing intent I felt before Eeks appeared. For some reason, Mugen and Kirkton had definitely tried to kill me. I couldn’t follow orders from people who would do that. Even if I asked, they would surely play dumb, and at worst, I might face the punishment Mugen mentioned. I had enough of that; I am who I am, and I will do what I want.
“Your Majesty, is that alright?”
“Very well. It is only natural that you would be tired after facing that Funeral Knight. You should take your time to rest today.”
From the conversation between the King and Belmund behind me, it seemed they still intended to use us. “Today” implies they have plans for tomorrow. I had wished for the investigation in Ikana Village, and I understood the weight of being A-Rank. However, I felt uneasy, as if I were being used by the King.
“Maybe Eeks felt the same way…”
Being ranked first must mean he had completed a significant number of requests. I realized that Eeks had probably forced himself to talk about only the fun things. I had longed for the outside world without knowing any of this. How foolish I was, truly.
“Rua-chan. Let’s rest today, just as the King said, okay? I’ll prepare something for dinner.”
“Thank you, Roel. If you weren’t here, I would be…”
After that, Roel stayed by my side without saying a word. She didn’t try to comfort me as I cried, simply remaining silent. I wanted to thank her, but I hated myself for not being able to express it.
◆ Avangarde Castle Town, Hotel Maison ◆
Even though I said I was tired, I couldn’t just throw myself onto the bed and sleep. My mind was wide awake, and I couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. It was still too early to sleep, and I hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so it wouldn’t make sense to go to bed.
“…Rua-chan, do you want to eat this?”
Roel offered me a roast beef roll while I lay in bed. It wasn’t that I didn’t have an appetite, but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat it right now. I simply said thank you and placed it on the table beside me.
“Um, cheer up, okay? I’ll do my best to help you…”
“I’m sorry for making you worry. I’m fine now.”
I propped myself up but still couldn’t reach for the roast beef roll. Seeing me downcast made Roel look sad too, so I knew I had to change that. Roel must be suffering too, not remembering anything, and compared to her, I was still better off.
“I’ll cooperate with you no matter what… Eeks must have some reason for what he’s doing…”
“Roel, you know… I’ve only thought about myself until now, but from now on, I’ll help you regain your memories.”
“Eh…? N-no, you don’t have to do that. I’m not worried about it at all.”
“I realized something in Ikana Village. Losing something precious in childhood is painful, but it must be harder for you, Roel, who has no memories at all. You don’t have to worry about me. Please, let me help you.”
“…But…”
“Please.”
I felt a flicker of sadness in Roel’s eyes. It was only for a moment, and I might not have noticed it before, but now I could see it clearly. It was evident that not having memories was painful for her.
She quickly composed herself and smiled brightly. I wondered if I was being a bother. Would she turn me down?
“…Okay, then. I’ll rely on you. But promise me one thing.”
“A promise?”
“Prioritize Eeks over my memories. Even if I regain my memories, it might not be a good thing… and memories are just that—memories. The past cannot be changed. But Eeks still has a chance to return. So, okay?”
“…Understood.”
“Hehe…”
“What’s with that smile? Are you that happy?”
“It feels like a fresh start here. From tomorrow, it’s a new beginning!”
Roel hopped off the bed, spinning around joyfully. Her golden hair twirled with her, releasing a pleasant scent that filled the air.
“Alright, then from tomorrow…”
“Hey there! Feeling good?”
That loud, unexpected voice echoed in my mind. I recognized it immediately; it was Lord Hast.
“Um, Lord Hast… could you please read the room right now…?”
“Hmm? What’s this? Am I interrupting?”
Roel politely explained the situation to him— the Demon Lord Army, the Funeral Knight, the Black Beast. Lord Hast murmured that it seemed like the dots were starting to connect. Speaking of which, I wondered what brought him to talk to us this time.
“Hmm, as I suspected, that kingdom seems suspicious. I’ve learned a little while investigating the Hero.”
“The Hero? The one who defeated the Demon Lord thirty years ago?”
“Yes, that Hero. He vanished thirty years ago. The kingdom claimed he set off on a journey across the vast world, but it doesn’t add up. Why is it that only the Hero’s Sword remains in the Kingdom of Avangarde? Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“Um, could it be…?”
“Don’t speak carelessly. It’s merely speculation, and if you say something foolish, you’ll end up in prison. If you’re adventurers, it’s best to stay on good terms with the kingdom.”
So the killing intent I felt back then was real. The missing Hero. Mugen and Kirkton trying to kill me. I couldn’t articulate it well, but I felt like there was an answer hidden here.
When I shared my thoughts with Lord Hast, he let out a deep sigh.
“The fact that you were allowed to investigate Ikana Village could be related to this.”
“S-so, they want to kill me?!”
“Mugen must think he’s the strongest among the Five Elites, believing he can handle things alone. Kirkton is likely just a backup; he probably thinks that with the two of them, success is almost guaranteed. But don’t rush. As I’ve said many times, everything is just speculation. It’s safer to treat those two as we have until now. I doubt they’ll easily reveal their true intentions, even if we take some action.”
I thought Kirkton was a good person, and while I had my doubts about that night, he was very serious with Ritta and his subordinates. Someone like him trying to kill me seemed impossible.
“By the way, only the Hero can draw the Hero’s Sword, right? If you were using that sword to search for the Hero…”
“There are several possibilities, but… there’s far too little information to discuss that. The Kingdom of Avangarde, Ikana Village, the Black Beast, the Hero, the Demon Lord Army, the Funeral Knight Eeks, and the One-Winged Demon. Hmm, I’ve managed to piece together some thoughts in my mind.”
“Really? Then what about the One-Winged Demon?”
“Don’t rush me. If my reasoning is correct, that being is… No, I’ll hold off on that. There’s still time; let’s gather more information before we talk.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense! What should I do?”
“What do you want to do? What kind of outcome are you hoping for?”
“What kind of outcome…?”
What had been nagging at me was the desire for Eeks to remain the kind Eeks I knew. That was it. I wanted to return to those peaceful days of the past. That was what I truly wished for.
“Lua, you have the power to obtain what you desire. You possess the strength to break through unreasonable barriers. With that in mind…”
“…I’ll go to the Demon Lord Castle.”
Just as Eeks had said, that was the only option. If Eeks was being forced to serve the Demon Lord Army against his will, then I would defeat them. What I wanted to reclaim was that person.
“Those who have died cannot be brought back, no matter what power one possesses. Even if it were a Divine Being, I believe it’s impossible. However, Eeks is alive. He’s within reach if you just extend your hand.”
That was true. If that were the case, I couldn’t stay here forever. In that moment, my resolve solidified.
“Lord Hast, we’re going to…”
I shared everything we needed to do with Lord Hast. Yes, we were aiming for the Demon Lord Castle. Of course, we couldn’t ignore the Demon Lord Army rampaging across various regions. We had dealt with them before, but this time, we would actively seek to defeat them. As for Roel’s memories, I had no idea how to approach that.
“It seems you’ve made up your mind. Are you planning to depart tomorrow?”
“Well, I was thinking we should first head to the Kingdom of Normitz. Actually, two A-Rank Adventurers have been missing from that country for a while now… They might have fallen victim to the Demon Lord Army’s invasion.”
“It would indeed be unnatural for that peaceful agricultural nation. I can’t say for sure if the Demon Lord Army is involved, but be cautious. Well, as long as you two are together, I doubt there’s much to worry about…”
“Lord Hast, you don’t know where the Demon Lord Castle is, do you?”
“Not just me; I doubt any country has that information. If we want to find it, we’ll have to pressure the Demon Lord Army until they spill their secrets…”
I decided to follow Roel’s suggestion. Barm and Gilbert still hadn’t returned, and whatever had happened couldn’t be overlooked. Moreover, as Lord Hast said, if we took down the Demon Lord Army, we would surely find a path to the Demon Lord Castle. Pressuring them for information wasn’t my strong suit, but I would do my best.
“Then if I learn anything else, I’ll reach out to you. Stay safe.”
With that, Lord Hast abruptly ended the conversation, and we immediately began planning for tomorrow. Since I wasn’t good at thinking things through, Roel would decide on the specific strategies.
Summarizing what we needed to do:
- Identify the location of the Demon Lord Castle.
- Defeat the Neo Demon Lord Army.
- Ensure the safety of various nations.
- Recover Roel’s memories.
Divided broadly into four tasks, the one I had no idea how to tackle was Roel’s memories. The rest were all things Roel could help strategize. I couldn’t forget about the Comet Wolf Brigade and Phantom, who were supposedly after my life. However, that took a lower priority than Roel’s memories. The Comet Wolf Brigade was dangerous, but they weren’t operating on a scale larger than the Demon Lord Army, and if they were just after my life, it wasn’t that serious.
As for Phantom, I had no idea who they were, but since they were also after my life, it was a similar issue. If they could try, then let them.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good plan. As expected of Roel; you’re so much smarter than me.”
“Hehe, hehehe…”
Roel’s adorable bashfulness made me want to hug her. The joy of finally solidifying our plans made us dig into the now-cold roast beef rolls.
“But, Roel, about ensuring the safety of other nations… Can’t we just defeat the Demon Lord Army as we go?”
“Lua-chan, are you really planning to travel to every country in the world? The world is vast, you know? Plus, we don’t know the scale of the Demon Lord Army’s forces. No matter how strong you are, there are things you can and can’t do.”
“Is that so? I feel like we could manage if we really tried.”
“I’m glad to have you, Lua-chan…”
“But, Roel, how did you come up with the idea to ask them for help? I completely forgot about that.”
“Yeah, really…”
Seeing Roel let out a deep sigh of relief made me realize just how many things I couldn’t do. Alright, starting tomorrow, we would aim for the Demon Lord Castle.
――――Come to the Demon Lord Castle.
I’ll go, Eeks. I will definitely defeat the Demon Lord Army. So please, stop with the foolishness of trying to destroy the world.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Rep-po, rep-po, rep-poh.
Tch, that Lua girl was crying so much, yet she’s already bounced back.
By the way, is Eeks acquainted with Lua? If that’s the case, I should have just approached her directly and stabbed her when she came running over, feeling safe! I could have killed her much more efficiently!
Somehow, Eeks still hasn’t fully moved on. He’s repaying the Demon Lord for his kindness with malice. Shin is overflowing with LOVE for the Demon Lord. It’s all lovey-dovey.
What’s this? Aiming for the Demon Lord Castle? Ha! Good luck reaching it if you can! That vast expanse is home to monsters that won’t even allow low-level creatures to survive. Even if you somehow make it there, three powerful monsters guarding the castle promise a tough challenge.
Ah, Lua’s weakness… She’s such a crybaby despite having that monstrous strength. Should I make her cry again next time?
Oh, roast beef rolls! They look delicious! I want a bite too! Ahhhh!