Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair – 09
“I see, you are indeed an adventurer held in high regard within the Adventurers’ Guild. It is no wonder that the Guild Master of the Royal Capital entrusted you to Ryusha. However, it seems you have experienced quite a tumultuous journey to arrive here.”
Marquis Lagantz said this as he leaned back in his chair.
I was currently seated on a sofa in the Reception Room, facing the marquis. Of course, beside me sat Earthlin, and the marquis’s butler stood attentively by his side.
I hadn’t expected to be released immediately, but the marquis had delved deeply into my circumstances. I felt that any attempt to obscure the truth would only raise suspicion, so I recounted my journey from the Oz Country honestly, and both the marquis and Earthlin appeared quite astonished.
“While it is indeed an unbelievable tale, I understand the situation now. I must express my gratitude for bringing Ryusha this far.”
“If you are willing to offer a reward, I have a request.”
“A request, you say?”
At that moment, I glanced at Earthlin. He noticed my look and began to speak on my behalf.
“Marquis, as you mentioned earlier, it seems that Soushi has left party members behind in the Oz Country. He wishes to contact them, and if possible, he would like to use the ‘Magical Communication Device.'”
“Hmm? The use of magical devices is not an issue, but… you wish to connect to the guild in Oz, correct?”
“Yes, I only need to convey that I am safe and that they should not come looking for me.”
Upon hearing my response, the marquis confirmed with his butler before nodding.
“I shall grant that request. However, I imagine you would like to head to Oz immediately. If the situation in this country were different, we could arrange that without delay.”
“I have heard that crossing the border is quite difficult. In fact, one of the reasons I accepted this request was due to that…”
“You believe that once Mecalinan’s political situation improves, you will be able to leave the country?”
“Exactly.”
The marquis seemed amused by my answer, letting out a soft chuckle.
“I see, Soushi, your perspective is quite different from that of an ordinary adventurer. As a ‘Twilight Slayer,’ you could easily breach borders if you wished.”
“However, I hesitate to commit any obvious crimes. Moreover, I have heard that the current king of Mecalinan is contemplating war with neighboring countries.”
“Oh? You wish to prevent war, then? Your thoughts are increasingly those of a significant figure. But if that is the case, would you be willing to lend us your strength a bit more?”
“What kind of assistance are you referring to?”
At my question, the marquis’s expression grew serious.
“I would like you to assist us in the upcoming conflict with the royal family. The current king is skilled in summoning Undead, and it is highly likely he will deploy them on the battlefield. Furthermore, I have heard he may also send out failed adventurers as soldiers. To counter these threats, our house is calling for the participation of adventurers in this battle.”
After that, I unexpectedly found myself dining with the marquis. The conversation was mostly casual, but Ryusha seemed particularly interested in my tales of adventure, asking me numerous questions. When I mentioned that the other members of my party were all women, the marquis shot me a meaningful glance that sent a chill down my spine.
Once the meal concluded, I was shown to a guest room for my stay. I was told I could use it for as long as I needed, and I decided to stay for at least a week.
As for the ‘Magical Communication Device,’ I couldn’t speak directly to it. In fact, the device itself was extremely valuable, and I wasn’t even allowed into the room where it was kept. Therefore, I requested that a message be sent to the guild in Oz, informing them of my safety and that they should not come looking for me. With that, I believed I had resolved the immediate issue.
By the way, it seemed that the marquis’s use of the communication device to connect to the Adventurers’ Guild was quite an exceptional measure. It appeared that the current situation in Mecalinan played a role in this.
So here I was, lying on a luxurious bed, contemplating the ‘participation in the war’ that the marquis had requested. In truth, I had been unable to respond immediately at the time.
I had always thought that adventurers could not participate in wars. While it seemed that international treaties indeed prohibited such actions, I learned that the guild itself did not impose any specific restrictions. Given that I had brought Ryusha this far and wished for the marquis’s side to succeed, it would only be natural to lend my support to them.
However, my former Japanese sensibilities were a hindrance. I knew that there were individuals who participated in overseas conflicts as mercenaries in modern Japan, but whether I could do the same was a different matter altogether. It was one thing to swing a mace against monsters, but the thought of doing so against ordinary soldiers made me hesitate… As I spiraled into this internal conflict, my consciousness began to fade.
The next morning, during breakfast, the marquis asked me what my plans were for the immediate future.
At the table, besides the marquis, were Ryusha and Earthlin. From our exchanges yesterday, I gathered that Earthlin held a position as a trusted subordinate to the marquis.
“I do not intend to move from this town, so I would like to resume my activities as an adventurer. After this, I plan to visit the guild to delve into a dungeon and take on some requests.”
“Do you plan to operate solo?”
“I originally started as a solo adventurer, so that is not an issue. I can tackle dungeons up to C-class on my own.”
“Soloing a C-class dungeon? Ah, I see, as a ‘Twilight Slayer,’ that might be possible. I was once a B-rank adventurer myself, but I never considered delving into a C-class dungeon alone.”
I had not realized that the marquis was a former adventurer. Now that he mentioned it, he certainly had the aura typical of an Awakened One. Perhaps he possessed the ‘Stealth’ skill, much like Mariane.
“To be honest, unless I encounter a monster that is particularly ill-suited for me, I believe I can solo a B-class dungeon as well.”
“Hmm, your demeanor does not suggest that you are merely boasting. Earthlin, what do you think of Soushi’s abilities?”
At the marquis’s inquiry, Earthlin responded.
“Yesterday, during the battle with the Slave Hunters, Soushi took down four failed adventurers with his bare hands in an instant. I believe he is quite a formidable individual.”
“Is that so? Then I would like to rely on your strength even more.”
Hearing Earthlin’s words, the marquis fixed his gaze on me. When a beautiful marquis looks at you with such earnestness, it is hard not to feel inclined to say, “Understood,” but I felt I needed a bit more time.
“By the way, Marquis, as I mentioned yesterday, there is a ‘Gate to Another World’ near the Royal Capital where Demons may appear. Please be cautious, as they could come this way.”
“Indeed, I intend to notify the guild about that. If a Demon were to appear, would it require B-rank adventurers or higher to deal with it?”
“That is what I have heard. I have fought a few times myself, so I will assist if that situation arises.”
“That is reassuring. I appreciate your support.”
As the marquis began to focus on the food again, Ryusha turned to me and spoke.
“You came from Oz, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I was in Oz just a few days ago.”
“Have you heard any news about Mecalinan’s people causing a stir? I heard that the king was planning some measures.”
At that question, both the marquis and Earthlin suddenly fixed their sharp gazes on me. It seemed they were eager to know.
I hesitated about how much to reveal, but since I had not been specifically instructed to keep quiet by High Priestess Miona, I decided to share everything.
“It seems a man named Mazero and his faction caused a commotion using Golems. They attempted to seize the priestess of Oz and a national treasure during the chaos, but that was thwarted.”
“Is that so!? What on earth is my uncle thinking…?”
Oh dear, I had just overheard a rather dangerous remark. It appeared that Ryusha was indeed the child of the former king. Moreover, the fact that he referred to the current king as “uncle” suggested he was not an illegitimate child but rather one who had been acknowledged. If that were the case, the current king’s ascension to the throne seemed to carry a whiff of intrigue.
As Ryusha fell silent, the marquis turned to me with a piercing gaze.
“How do you know such detailed information, Soushi? I would think it impossible for anyone who is not an official of Oz to know such things.”
“That is… because my party was the one that captured Mazero and retrieved the priestess and the national treasure.”
Upon answering truthfully, the marquis widened his eyes for a moment, then continued to scrutinize my face intently.