Chapter 16: Chaos in the Royal Capital – 01
It was two weeks after we left Aadorf that we finally set out.
We had been waiting for the completion of the Dark Flare Dragon armor and for Mr. Sarandol to finish his research on the “Demon” and the “Wandering Dungeon.” Both matters required our attention.
The armor turned out to be quite magnificent. The pieces for me and Karma resembled scale armor, adorned with large scales on the chest and shoulders, giving it a sleek appearance.
For Larni and Mariane, their armor was more akin to scaled protectors, which also looked impressive.
The pitch-black armor, with sections of shimmering mithril, stood out remarkably as we walked together. Even in Aadorf, the local elves often turned to look at us as we passed by.
By the end of our stay, we had become somewhat famous as adventurers who delivered large quantities of meat.
On the other hand, regarding the “Demon” and the “Wandering Dungeon,” Mr. Sarandol had shared some information with us. However, it was insufficient, so we would need to report to His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Vermillion in the Royal Capital and align our information.
Given that we had recently defeated the Kin of Twilight and considering Geshura’s situation, it was unavoidable that we would have to meet the King. Thus, our next destination for “Soul’s Guidance” was naturally decided to be the Royal Capital.
I also inquired about the “Candlestick of the Netherworld” with Mr. Sarandol, but he had no information on that matter whatsoever.
On the day of our departure, at the gates of Aadorf, Mr. Sarandol and Ms. Aranda, Sfenia’s parents, came to see us off.
Sfenia bowed respectfully before them.
“Father, Mother, I will be off again. I believe that by the next time I visit, I will have achieved A-Rank.”
“Ha ha, I look forward to hearing tales of your exploits, Sfenia. And I hope you’ll share stories of the sights we cannot see,” Mr. Sarandol replied.
“Please take care of yourself. As an adventurer, I cannot tell you not to engage in dangerous activities, but be cautious in your endeavors,” Ms. Aranda added.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind as I act.”
After exchanging words with Sfenia, Mr. Sarandol and Ms. Aranda turned to me.
“Souji, please take good care of Sfenia. It seems she has come to trust you greatly, so please keep her by your side and look after her.”
“I will rely on her strength in the future, but as someone entrusted with your precious daughter and as the leader of our party, I will do my utmost to protect her. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
I bowed and urged everyone to leave the gates of Aadorf.
Sfenia was embracing her parents one last time.
At that moment, I heard Ms. Aranda whisper, “Neither Sarandol nor I have any complaints if it’s Souji,” but… could it be that I was being tested in some way?
Well, if it meant I had passed their scrutiny, then it was nothing to worry about.
We proceeded directly toward the forest where Geshura resided. In the end, she had to wait for us for two weeks.
“It’s a relief that nothing too significant happened in Aadorf after all,” I remarked as we walked, recalling the flashy battles we had been involved in with Oz and Mecalinan. Compared to that, it felt like we had merely completed two requests and operated as ordinary adventurers this time.
Immediately, the beautiful wolf beastwoman Larni voiced her dissent. “Well, for you, Souji, tackling the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ and defeating the ‘Kin of Twilight’ might seem ordinary, but we haven’t become so desensitized yet.”
“Indeed. While I didn’t have time to reflect on it during our actions, looking back, both were astonishing requests,” Shizuna, the priestess of the Oni Race, nodded, her black hair swaying.
Sfenia, the High Elf, chimed in as well. “If it weren’t for Souji leading ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ I don’t think either request would have been achievable. Especially persuading Geshura, a member of the Kin of Twilight, would have been impossible without someone like Souji, who can defeat the Kin by himself.”
“Such a feat is only possible because of the capable Souji… However, while it may be a remarkable achievement for ordinary people, it seems trivial to you, doesn’t it? Your ambition to always aim for greater heights is truly admirable, Souji,” Freinir, the former candidate for Saint with her golden hair and blue eyes, attempted to bestow more attributes upon me, prompting me to hurriedly clarify.
“Well, now that you mention it, both requests were indeed of high difficulty. The success of those requests was due to everyone’s strength, so as the leader, I misspoke just now.”
“I understand that you’ve received medals in every country, so I get that it might not seem like a big deal,” Larni added.
“Since joining this party, I’ve experienced so many unbelievable things that it’s dizzying. But having crossed swords with that vampire lady Lyra Nora and the Kin of Twilight was truly a valuable experience. I never expected to receive the title of ‘Twilight Slayer,'” Karma, the tiger beastwoman, said cheerfully, clasping her hands behind her head.
Hearing her words, Mariane, the guild receptionist, approached me.
“Souji, when we arrive in Euron, we should first stop by the Adventurers’ Guild. I believe there will be discussions about everyone’s rank promotions.”
“Does that mean everyone except Shizuna will become A-Rank?”
“Yes. Considering the defeat of three members of the Kin of Twilight, the completion of the ‘Wandering Dungeon,’ and your activities in Oz, it’s only natural. Shizuna will likely become B-Rank under certain conditions.”
“That means we’ll finally be able to venture into A-Class Dungeons. By the way, since we defeated the Kin, I wonder if we’ll receive rewards from the royal family again.”
“Yes, indeed. Although the Elf Village is recognized for its autonomy, it is still considered part of the Kingdom of Vermillion, so rewards from the Vermillion royal family should be expected.”
“I see… I hope it won’t become a hassle again.”
“Given that we’re bringing Geshura along, some complications are unavoidable. The guild has already received approval from the Grand Master, so there shouldn’t be any issues. The royal family will likely treat Geshura as an important envoy bringing vital information. The real question is whether the general populace will accept her. We’ll have to rely on your status as an A-Rank adventurer who has performed heroic deeds to quiet any dissent.”
“Looks like that’s how it will be. Now, it’s a matter of how the Arshuram Church will react. If we manage to conquer the ‘Wandering Dungeon,’ which the ‘Supreme Radiance’ failed to do, they might see us as a target.”
“We’d prefer to avoid contact with them, but if they summon us beyond the cardinal level, we won’t be able to ignore it.”
To be honest, I felt that dealing with the Arshuram Church would be more troublesome than the royal family or the nobles. After all, they are a group that doesn’t operate solely on worldly logic. However, once we become A-Rank adventurers, I believe they won’t be as aggressive…
As we entered the forest and approached Geshura’s log cabin, we found that she had already finished packing. She stepped outside, carrying only the bag equipped with the “Item Box” function.
“It’s a shame to leave this house I worked so hard to build,” Geshura said, a hint of regret in her voice.
“It’s impressive that you managed to create something like this all by yourself,” I replied, adjusting my tone since she was now part of our party. I was still contemplating whether to take her into the dungeon. The Kin of Twilight possesses tremendous power, but since she hasn’t undergone an Awakening, it seems there’s little point in bringing her into the dungeon.
“Hey, Souji, can’t this house fit into the ‘Item Box’? You managed to fit a whole tree in there, so it should work,” Larni suggested.
“That’s true; it’s worth a try,” I responded to her bold suggestion, prompting a wry smile from Karma.
“Souji, isn’t that a bit reckless?”
“That’s usually the case, but it seems my ‘Item Box’ has reached its level cap… It’s worth a shot.”
I activated the “Item Box.” Normally, a hole about fifty centimeters in diameter would appear in the space, but this time, I focused on creating the largest possible opening near the log cabin.
A black hole large enough to swallow the entire log cabin opened up before us. At first glance, it resembled a Gate to Another World.
“What is this…? Humans can use such skills?” Geshura exclaimed, her eyes wide in astonishment, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised myself.
The other members were equally astonished… or rather, they seemed more incredulous than anything else.
Ignoring their reactions, I lifted the log cabin slightly and pushed it toward the opening of the “Item Box.” My immense strength, combined with the effects of the “Immovable” and “Stability” skills, allowed the log cabin to slide smoothly along with its foundation into the hole.
In the end, the entire log cabin was stored within the “Item Box.”
“Wow, what an extraordinary ability. Souji, you are far more interesting than I initially thought. Perhaps it was fortunate for me to meet you here on this continent,” Geshura remarked.
“Likewise. Now, Geshura, I’m afraid your outfit is a bit inappropriate. Please wear this over it.”
Though Geshura had the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a snake, she wore only a single piece of cloth that barely covered her ample bosom, despite being adorned with numerous accessories like necklaces and bracelets.
Given how conspicuous she already was, I wanted to reduce her exposure, so I had bought a lightweight vest for her.
“Hmm… I don’t require much clothing, but if you say so, Souji, I will wear it.”
“Thank you for that. By the way, where are your dogs? I don’t see a single one around.”
Normally, the Kin of Twilight’s Twilight Hounds would be lounging around the house, but today not a single one was in sight.
“I sent them back.”
“Sent back…?”
As I asked for clarification, Sfenia added, “Sent back? Does that mean the ‘Twilight Hounds’ are summoned beasts?”
“Yes. They are summoned beasts that only the Kin of Twilight can call forth.”
“What exactly is a summoned beast?”
This was the first time I had heard that term since coming to this world. I felt like I had encountered it in games from my previous life, though.
“It’s a technique to summon monsters from different worlds. While it’s rare, even ordinary people can occasionally use it, and adventurers can summon them if they possess the ‘Summoning’ skill. Of course, the adventurer’s ‘Summoning’ is generally more powerful, but the ‘Summoning’ skill itself is quite rare.”
“Such techniques exist? Well, considering Shizuna’s ‘Spirit,’ it wouldn’t be surprising. Now that I think about it, there were also tools for summoning the Undead.”
“Indeed. However, the fact that the ‘Twilight Hounds’ are summoned beasts is valuable information. It seems obvious in hindsight, but…”
I had heard that much about the Kin of Twilight remained unknown, but it seemed there were even more mysteries than I had anticipated. In that sense, Geshura might turn out to be far more significant than I had imagined.