Desecrated Sanctuary – Outside
“Then, let us commence the meeting.”
In a hidden space beneath the capital of the Kingdom of Alstovar, ten men sat on crude stone chairs, their surroundings damp and dreary, with cracks in the walls and water dripping down. Among them, a young man with a lively demeanor clapped his hands to draw attention.
“Today’s agenda includes the recent activities of the hero, Ferno Desire, the Disaster-designated Monsters and their emerging forms, the movements of the remaining executives of the Demon Lord’s Army, the current state of various races, and the domestic situation. Let’s start with the hero’s status. Adventurers’ Guild, please.”
Following his words, a burly man with a shaved head and a scarred face, clad in a muscular frame, stood up.
“Regarding the hero who returned recently, the notable activities include his treatment and a visit to the Adventurers’ Guild. While he wasn’t severely injured, it seems he had some internal wounds. He was doused with several potions while under anesthesia, which opened up his body.
Now, here’s the important part: during his visit to the Adventurers’ Guild, he registered as an adventurer accompanied by the former captain of the 13th Knight Squad and three Beast-folk. He also took on requests to explore the underground dungeon and eliminate monsters that had formed nests.”
“Hmm, did he mention anything?”
“He reportedly said it was for training and to pass the time. Ah, I forgot to mention, I heard this from the receptionist because my presence tends to spread unnecessary rumors, so I can’t guarantee its accuracy.”
“No, that’s fine. Is there anything else?”
“Nothing… Ah, wait, there is one thing. It seems he went to a letter shop and wrote several letters to be sent. This information comes from multiple sightings by other adventurers, so it can be trusted.”
“I see, thank you.”
“Apologies for the lack of useful content.”
“No need to worry.”
With that, the man, the guild leader of the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital, took his seat. As everyone began to ponder what the hero might want and where he had sent his letters, the young man who had declared the meeting’s start clapped his hands again to regain their attention.
“Please hold your thoughts for later; this is a space for sharing reports. Next, regarding the Disaster-designated Monsters and their emerging forms, Research Society, please.”
This was a space for exchanging reports, and he urged everyone to stop their speculations and proceed to the next report. Upon hearing his words, a pale man in a lab coat with a monocle stood up.
“Regarding the Disaster-designated Monsters, I previously reported that there was a possibility they did not occur naturally. After further observation and comparison with past instances, we have concluded that they did not arise naturally.
The differences from typical specimens are minimal when viewed as pure aberrations of nature. If we consider them as new species, they exhibit an evolution that sacrifices survival. The physical damage they display is far too abnormal for creatures living in a natural environment.
From this, we conclude that they were artificially created and subsequently grew into Disaster-designated Monsters through some means.”
“Artificially created? And what do you mean by ‘some means’?”
“Yes. What that means is completely unclear. While we can speculate on the existence of those who likely created them, the details will be revealed in the next report. The ‘some means’ refers to the fact that, under normal circumstances, the six creatures designated as disasters should have perished before reaching such a stage. However, they exist as living beings, not Undead, fulfilling some unknown purpose.”
“Hmm. Do you have any hypotheses?”
“Not yet fully formed. I will return next time with a 99% certainty on the facts, but… I suspect that emotions may be involved in their purpose.
Oh, and regarding the emerging forms, the observations indicate that they can be sufficiently dealt with by the Knights and adventurers. Therefore, while they are already of high difficulty, we have spread the requests, so there is no need for excessive concern about the emerging forms.”
“I see… Quite intriguing, but let’s set that aside for now. Thank you.”
“No, I apologize for not having it fully fleshed out by today.”
With that, the man in the lab coat, the head of the World Ecology Research Society—a group driven by a mad obsession with knowledge—took his seat. After confirming that everyone had absorbed the information, the young man clapped his hands once more.
“Next, let’s discuss the movements of the remaining executives of the Demon Lord’s Army. Knights, please.”
Upon hearing this, a man clad in a full-face helmet stood up.
“Regarding the remaining four entities, I will skip reports on the Lich and Succubus, as there have been no changes since the last report. Their forces are regularly thinned out, so there has been no expansion in scale.
Next, concerning the Merman. I reported previously that they had retreated to the ocean floor, and they have not surfaced since. We sent an investigation team, and while we suspected they were preparing for an offensive, it turned out otherwise.”
“What was it?”
“They were preparing sacrifices for a ritual. The Merman were continuously chanting some spell while creating a mountain of hearts and skulls in front of a massive statue, staining the ocean floor with blood. Naturally, we did not leave them undisturbed and interfered with the ritual to disrupt their incantation.”
“I see. And what about the Dullahan?”
“That too involves a ritual. They are conducting a magical ceremony known as ‘Insect Poison’ using countless monsters. This aligns with the earlier report from the Research Society regarding the artificially created Disaster-designated Monsters.
The individuals designated as Disaster-designated are essentially failed products of the Dullahan’s objectives. The reason for this judgment is that we observed a massive Dragon hovering above the eastern plains where the Dullahan resides. It possesses at least the strength equivalent to that of an executive of the Demon Lord’s Army.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“Apologies for the grim news.”
With that, the Knight Commander, who had altered his appearance and voice, took his seat. The others, excluding the Research Society head, were left speechless by the reports… until the young man, the first to recover, clapped his hands to regain everyone’s focus.
“Now, let’s discuss the current state of the various races. Mercenary Corps, please.”
Upon this prompt, a man dressed in black with a red scarf stood up.
“First, regarding the Beast-folk, three out of eight settlements in the country have been annihilated, leaving only the three accompanying the hero alive. The remaining five settlements are safe, but they have suffered damage from attacks by the Demon Race.
We have assigned some of our subordinates to provide support, but it won’t hold for long. It would be best if the Knights or adventurers could send aid, or if the kingdom could take the lead in providing protection.”
“I see. What about the others?”
“The Mermaids, Harpies, and Gnomes are all fine. They have suffered some damage, but they are not on the brink of destruction, nor do they show any signs of it. I spoke with their leaders, and they assured me that everything is fine, so I believe we can trust them.
As for the Elves, I’m not sure. I managed to spot them and even converse with them, but it’s clear they are hiding something. However, it’s impossible to pry further into the details until I have more information. So, the specifics remain unclear, but they likely won’t face immediate annihilation.
As for the Dwarves, I couldn’t find them. I went to their former hidden village, but all I found were traces of relocation. I’ve searched all the likely places they might be, but I still haven’t found them, nor do I sense they will be found anytime soon.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“Ah, I apologize for the lack of detail.”
With that, the leader of the Mercenary Corps, known as the Red Wolf, took his seat.
“Now, let’s proceed to the domestic situation, please.”
Standing up next was a man clad in a blue cassock, wearing glasses.
“First, due to the announcement that the Hero is no longer a hero, the populace was engulfed in confusion and anxiety. However, it has been confirmed that he is safe and continues to stand on the battlefield, which has calmed the chaos, albeit with lingering suspicion.
Next, regarding the damage caused by the Demon Lord’s Army. The news has reached even the Demon Race, and their activities have begun to intensify. However, following the recent incident in the capital and the defeat of the first Disaster-designated Monster, the continued existence of Ferno Desire has been observed, leading to a temporary decline in their activities as they return to the shadows.”
“Is there anything else happening?”
“Nothing particularly noteworthy. There has been an increase in believers knocking on the church doors, pleading to explain their circumstances in towns affected by the Demon Lord’s Army executives, and more people are beginning to question faith and the nature of the hero, but these are not significant issues.”
“I see.”
“Yes… Furthermore, it seems that the notable individuals are gradually making their way to the royal capital. They must have somehow learned that the Hero has secured a base in the capital. The fanatic has been the first to take action, leading the charge.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
After delivering this report, the priest, acting as a representative of the Cardinals from the Holy Spirit Church, took a seat in the church of the royal capital.
“With that, today’s meeting is concluded. Please proceed with sharing information and devising future strategies among yourselves. I will be heading to a discussion with the Empire shortly, so I will provide a report on the movements of neighboring countries, including that matter, at the next meeting.”
With that, the young man, the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Alstovar, wrapped up the meeting and departed from the room. The remaining nine men watched him leave before beginning their discussion on how to respond to the contents of the report.
This gathering, known as a meeting, was actually a reporting session led by the Second Prince, conducted in secrecy from the King and the Crown Prince, the First Prince. It was a forum for those who acted not for the sake of the throne but for the betterment of the nation, united under the belief that they could create a better country. This was the essence of the reporting session and the meeting itself.
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Starting from the next chapter, I will weave in various anecdotes related to the new Hero, connecting the end of the first chapter to the beginning of the second. Flashbacks will be interspersed to bridge the narrative. Since there were inquiries about the setting, I will include those details at intervals to provide a breather.