Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair – 23
Afterward, the undead outside were completely eradicated, marking the end of the siege on the Royal Capital.
Once King Giselfa and the Queen were captured, there were no further disturbances. The suppression of the castle both inside and out progressed steadily, and by early afternoon, the entire Royal Capital was under the Marquis’s control.
The populace was promptly informed of King Giselfa’s abdication and the impending ascension of the young Ryusha. A parade was hastily organized, centered around Ryusha, Marquis Lagantz, and General Durack, and the Royal Capital was soon enveloped in a festive atmosphere.
I firmly declined to participate in the parade.
Avoiding the throngs of people in the central street, I made my way to the Adventurers’ Guild.
The lobby of the guild was nearly empty. Most adventurers were likely out on patrol, checking for any remaining undead.
The receptionist spotted me and hurriedly stepped out from behind the counter to approach.
“Um, you must be Soushi-san!?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Thank you so much for your help!”
“What’s this about? I don’t recall doing anything worthy of thanks…”
“That’s not true! You liberated the Royal Capital! I believe most of the people living here are grateful to you.”
“I see… But I merely participated in the Marquis’s army. If anyone should be thanked, it should be the Marquis.”
“No, no! The name ‘Demon God’ has already spread among the soldiers and adventurers.”
“‘Demon God,’ you say?”
“Yes! An adventurer who broke through the castle gates in an instant, defeated countless undead, and swiftly took control of the royal castle. That tale has already circulated widely!”
Despite the receptionist’s cheerful words, I felt a sense of dread at the prospect of becoming a target of attention. I should have hidden my face… but that would have been pointless. With that mace and shield, I was easily recognizable.
“That’s a problem. I’ll have to be careful when walking outside. By the way, I’d like to meet the Guild Master.”
“Oh, yes! Please, this way.”
Upon entering the Guild Master’s office, Mr. Danken, who had been wearing a serious expression, stood up and broke into a smile.
“Ah, you’ve come! And you’ve done well. It seems I’ve won my bet.”
“I’m relieved to hear that I met your expectations.”
“I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for my family. Now, I can finally fulfill my responsibilities as Guild Master. In various ways.”
Mr. Danken’s words carried an undertone of guilt, likely stemming from the fact that he had been forced to make questionable decisions while his family was held hostage. Of course, he couldn’t simply brush aside his responsibilities as a member of the organization.
“Please don’t worry about your family; it was purely coincidental. By the way, I have a small request.”
“Sure, I can accommodate most requests. I’m still the Guild Master, after all.”
“I’d like you to send a message to the guild in Oz using the Magical Communication Device. I want to inform my party members there that I’m safe.”
“Ah, right! You mentioned that. Of course, I can do that now. What should I send?”
“Soushi is safe. I will reach the borders of Oz in two to three days.”
“Got it. Just a moment.”
Mr. Danken left the room and returned about ten minutes later.
“I’ve sent it. I happened to speak with a staff member named Mariane, so it was easy to communicate.”
“Ah, that’s a relief.”
“They wanted me to tell you that everyone is worried about you. It seems you’ve earned their trust.”
“I hope so. Also, could you appraise this Skill Orb for me?”
“A Skill Orb? Since I have the Appraisal Skill, I can take a look.”
In fact, I had recently obtained a Skill Orb from the Lich Legion. When I mentioned it to the Marquis, he had laughed and said it was rightfully mine.
“Hmm… Oh, this is impressive! It grants ‘All-Element Magic Resistance.’ That’s quite a high-tier skill. What kind of monster did it drop from?”
“The Lich Legion. I encountered it within the castle and defeated it myself.”
“The Lich Legion!? That’s a top-tier monster even for A-Rank. Why would such a creature appear?”
“Actually, I wanted to ask you about that. Do you know of an organization or group called the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’?”
At my question, Mr. Danken furrowed his thick brows and pondered, “Hmm, so you didn’t manage to gather much information about the Candlestick of the Netherworld?”
At the evening meal, the Marquis, seated across from me, fixed his sharp eyes on me.
We were currently in the castle’s dining hall, accompanied by Ryusha and other nobles involved in the siege of the Royal Capital. Being the only commoner among nobles made me feel extremely out of place, but as a contributor to the recent conflict, my presence was somewhat obligatory.
“According to the Guild Master, this group seems to have been rumored to exist shortly after the last great war began. They reportedly used undead to attack and defend several towns and fortresses. However, their motives and origins remain unclear.”
“Hmm, so this group still exists and was lending power to Duke Giselfa. It certainly was unnatural for Duke Giselfa to command such a number of undead. If there are ulterior motives, then it makes sense.”
“Regarding the undead, I’ve heard that small Summoning Stones can be harvested from the B-Class Dungeon in the Royal Capital, but is that not sufficient?”
“While larger ones may be different, small Summoning Stones typically can only summon two to three F-Rank monsters. That’s why I was surprised to hear that Duke Giselfa had acquired the ability to summon a large number of undead. I haven’t confirmed the details yet, but it’s likely that man named Isunani is involved.”
“Given that he summoned the Lich Legion, it would be reasonable to assume he is well-versed in handling undead.”
“Indeed. However, it’s also intriguing that Isunani melted away and disappeared. If the Candlestick of the Netherworld exists, it suggests they possess techniques unknown to us.”
“It seems that way.”
With that, the conversation paused. It might be worthwhile to check with the Vermilian royal family, the Grand Master of the Adventurers’ Guild, and merchants like Mr. Toronto regarding the Candlestick of the Netherworld. However, this world is filled with mysterious entities, from demons to the Kin of Twilight.
As I pondered, Ryusha, seated at the head of the table, spoke up.
“By the way, Soushi-san, are you really planning to leave the Royal Capital tomorrow?”
“Yes. My tasks here are complete, and I must urgently reunite with my party.”
“I would like to present you with a fitting reward for your significant contributions in this battle, but would you be able to wait until the preparations are complete?”
“I understand that you have many responsibilities to attend to, Ryusha-sama. Please prioritize those, and I would appreciate it if you could call for me once things settle down.”
“I’m grateful for your consideration. Very well, I will focus on what I must do. But I will definitely call for you, so please be ready when that time comes.”
“Understood.”
Thus, it seemed I could postpone the reward for now. I was well aware that I had done quite a bit this time, so refusing was not an option.
“By the way, Soushi-san, once you reunite with your party, where do you plan to go next?”
“I plan to enter the Kingdom of Vermilian from Oz and then head to the Inner Elf Village.”
“The Inner Elf Village? That sounds wonderful! I’d love to visit it too. Do you have a specific purpose for going there?”
“Yes, we intend to investigate the demons. Additionally, we plan to look into the Candlestick of the Netherworld as well.”
At my words, the Marquis leaned forward, intrigued.
“If you manage to gather any information, would it be possible for you to share it with us when you come back? I can arrange for it to be a formal request if necessary.”
“Of course, I’ll inform you if I discover anything. I believe it will be crucial information for the Country of Mecalinan as well.”
“Thank you. The Inner Elf Village is a place where ordinary humans cannot even enter. If I recall correctly, your party includes a High Elf, correct?”
“That’s right. Given our status as adventurers, we may be well-suited for the investigation.”
“Hmm… With the demons, the Candlestick of the Netherworld, and the appearance of the Kin of Twilight in the Kingdom of Vermilian, it feels as though the world is shifting in a strange direction.”
As the Marquis spoke, the other nobles at the table nodded solemnly.
Reflecting on it, it indeed seemed that significant events were unfolding in the world one after another. Moreover, my own involvement in these matters was exceedingly high. If something further were to occur, the likelihood of my being involved was very high. Even if it might seem like self-importance, my past experiences led me to believe that this was inevitable.
As the atmosphere at the dining table grew heavy, Ryusha raised his voice.
“In that case, we may face situations that require cooperation across nations. For that reason, we must rebuild our country as swiftly as possible. However, this cannot be done without everyone’s strength. I ask for your continued support.”
“Yes, my lord!”
As I watched the nobles bow in unison, I felt as though I were witnessing a moment in history. No, this was undoubtedly a scene that would be recorded in the annals of the Country of Mecalinan.
Thinking about it made me feel even more out of place. I needed to reunite with my party and dive into a dungeon soon, or I might forget who I truly was.