Gathering Allies ①
After that, I took my leave from the king, who was radiating relief as the nobles erupted into a festival-like commotion. I dashed past the waiting civil servant, the royal guards, maids, and butlers, all offering their congratulations, and burst into the training grounds where I was supposed to meet Fana. Once I confirmed that no one was around, I unleashed my pent-up fury on a wooden training dummy, reducing it to a pitiful wreck before sitting atop the remnants.
There was no real need to wait for Fana. However, considering what was likely to happen soon, I wanted a companion and a sacrifice—someone I could rely on without hesitation.
So, I waited for Fana.
Fortunately, there was no one else in the vicinity, nor any signs of anyone approaching. I also wanted to discuss the destroyed dummy with someone responsible and offer dragon materials as compensation instead of an apology.
……Hmm? Someone’s coming? From the footsteps and presence… it’s a woman, but not Fana. That means it’s either a maid or a knight… Either way, it doesn’t matter. This could be a chance to get the apology out of the way first before discussing compensation.
“…Oh? What are you doing over there?”
“…I was waiting for someone and wanted to apologize and offer compensation for this.”
“I see? Hmm… The hero has been quite a help to my subordinates, and my incompetent sister has caused quite a bit of trouble, so should I cover for you?”
“No need. I don’t have money, but I have plenty of things that can be turned into money.”
“Ha, you should say you have money instead!”
“I have no reason to sugarcoat it.”
“Oh, that honesty is quite commendable, Hero.”
The woman who entered had familiar golden hair styled in a mid-length cut. Her lightly armored knight attire complemented her delicate frame, which seemed as if it could topple over with a gust of wind. Yet, the aura she exuded and the tone of her voice were anything but innocent.
I didn’t recognize her, but since she called me “hero” instead of “brave one,” she must be someone from the upper echelons… but she’s not Fana’s sister. I had spoken with her a few times, and I even had memories of fighting alongside her, yet I had no recollection of this woman before me.
“Ah, I apologize for the delay. Until two years ago, I was in charge of the attendants for the second princess, and until recently, I was the captain of the 13th Knight Squad. My name is Stella. I’m also the sister of the saint, Elifia Oz, who was once regarded as a companion of the hero. Unfortunately, it’s been quite a while since I was expelled from the Oz family, so we haven’t really spoken at all.”
“Stella Oz… Ah, I remember now.”
“Oh? I see, while I do have a reputation for being infamous, I didn’t expect it to reach the ears of the hero.”
“I heard you were a heavy drinker who called male prostitutes to a shady casino in the royal capital, got them drunk, and knocked out the entire staff, leading to its closure.”
“Wha—?! Hero? Where did you hear that?”
“At a tavern from a female knight. She was wearing a white lily hairpin.”
“…Ah.”
“…Are you alright?”
“Y-Yes… It’s quite a fatal blow, you know.”
She coughed loudly, as if trying to dispel the suspicious atmosphere, before collapsing to the ground in despair. While it was true that I hadn’t lied, it was also true that I had heard those rumors multiple times.
Stella, formerly known as Stella Oz. She had been disowned by the Oz family, which had produced a saint, and was left without a place to go until she was picked up by a knight and became an apprentice knight. She had a remarkable history, eventually being recognized as a member of the knight order and becoming an attendant knight to the princess. However, she was known to be a ruthless individual who showed no mercy to villains, enjoying the thrill of killing. She had been stripped of her title after being accused of slaughtering members of an illegal merchant group.
Other rumors suggested she enjoyed both inflicting and receiving torture, gleefully torturing villains under the guise of her job, and during peacetime, she was said to have undergone torture herself as a form of training from novice to seasoned knights. It was also rumored that she was involved in the illegal drug trade and operated a dark guild, but it was overlooked because it benefited the royal family. There were even whispers that she took in children who couldn’t be publicly acknowledged, indulged in her desires, and then killed them to cover her tracks.
Well, there was no way someone in the knight order could do such things, and besides, I had seen female knights with flawless skin that bore no scars, leading me to believe they were innocent and had no tolerance for such matters. Most of the rumors were likely lies or exaggerated tales meant to intimidate others.
It was true, however, that she showed no mercy to villains.
“Hmm, so why are you waiting here, Hero?”
“It’s convenient, and I can move my body. Though the result is this pile of wreckage.”
“I see… By the way, what’s your other purpose besides reporting? It seems you’re moving separately from the holy knight.”
“You’re quite perceptive. Well, it’s fine. Also, please call me by my name; ‘hero’ feels awkward.”
“I’ll do my best. So, what’s your purpose?”
“I spotted a group of demons without a commander. I launched an attack and killed some, but there’s a possibility that a high-ranking demon or a member of the Demon Lord’s Army is among them. If they were to attack here and wipe out the royal family, it would cause chaos in our command structure, allowing the demons to run rampant. I went to ask the knight order to mobilize everyone to find and eliminate the demon group.”
“I see… That’s quite convenient.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, all knight squads except for the 5th, who are on an expedition, the 8th, who are busy suppressing ruffians, and the 10th, who have deployed members to various cities, are all available. Moreover, there are no urgent matters that require the direct involvement of the squad leaders at the moment.”
“Then it is indeed convenient.”
“Right.”
Lately, I had been feeling like my luck had taken a turn for the worse, but it seemed to be balancing out here. Well, it wasn’t bad.
………Fana is still going to be late. In that case, I might as well pass the time by asking her something.
“…So, why did you step down as captain?”
“Oh, were you not listening? It’s a simple story. I made a significant mistake at work and resigned to take responsibility.”
“Oh? What kind of mistake?”
“It was a request to eliminate a monster. To be blunt, it involved a Roper that had absorbed a Succubus, using both slaves and nobles as seedbeds. I hoped to rescue the victims, but when I encountered it, I failed to kill it, and the dying Roper released a swarm of seeds it had implanted.”
“Ah… That’s unfortunate.”
“Indeed, it was a disaster. I was blamed by the noble’s family and had no choice but to resign from the knighthood… Though I suppose resisting was also a mistake.”
“Under those circumstances, it’s normal to resist, so don’t worry about it. Still, you were caught in a truly unfortunate accident.”
“Indeed, completely.”
I felt sympathy for her. Moreover, sending a woman to deal with a Roper, a creature that was nothing but a bundle of trouble, was a nightmare in itself. Those things reek, like a mix of decay and various aphrodisiacs that have been combined without dilution.
For reference, Ropers are plant-type monsters that implant their seeds into living beings, repeatedly being reborn while expanding their colonies. I’ve dealt with them a few times, even having to handle a Roper that had turned an entire village into its colony. Interestingly, both males and females can serve as seedbeds, but males tend to be more robust, making them more common.
As for the nobles who got caught up in it… well, they probably thought it was just a monster and went to kill it, only to be caught off guard and turned into seedbeds. Even freshly spawned Ropers can take down most monsters, and some even capture high-ranking demons to use as seedbeds.
The only saving grace is their rarity; they don’t spawn often, and even if they do, they only live for five years, no matter how many times they are reborn and form colonies. Their ecology is so incomprehensible that specialized researchers frequently come to study them, but it goes without saying that those who express a desire for practical research often meet unfortunate ends.
“By the way, do you have any plans for your future?”
“No? I haven’t thought about it at all. I suppose trying my hand at being an adventurer could be interesting, but… I just don’t feel inclined.”
“Hmmm… Then, would you like to join us?”
“Oh? Is that alright? It would mean taking on troublesome matters as well.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, it doesn’t matter if a hundred or two hundred more troubles come our way at this point.”
“No, that’s definitely not the case.”
“Then let’s flip it. We have a lot of troubles, but would you like to come with us?”
“…Hehe, I see.”
Now that I’ve been given the title of hero, I’ll likely be asked for various things in the future. Considering that, I wanted an easily usable and maneuverable ally besides Fana. In that regard, having someone capable of nearly killing a Roper that likely formed a sizable colony would be more than sufficient.
“Then, I shall be in your care.”
“Very well. I look forward to working with you.”
“Indeed, leave it to me, Ferno.”
“Ah, I’ll count on you, Stella.”