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[I hired you as my escort. Besides, according to the information I received in MIlls, it wasn’t like you’ve betrayed and ditched us.]
[Pii♪]
Pigimaru happily added his comment too.
[D- Didn’t you understand after this happened? If you were to stay with me…]
[I will also be chased by the Black Dragon Knights?]
[T- That’s right. That’s why, please get away from this place already. For now, it seems that they haven’t sensed your presence yet except for this man…]
[Can’t we just escape together after you use that Illusion Technique you’ve used before? Or is it that you can’t change your face other than to that face you’ve used before?]
[I can indeed use it to change into other faces but… the spirit that could use the illusion is currently confused right now after the effects of the Illusion Breaker. I can’t seem to be able to use its ability until it calms down.]
[When will its confusion subside?]
[…I don’t know.]
Seras takes out a pouch from her pocket.
[I’m sorry. That guard mission that we’ve talked about before, I will be canceling it. I will also be returning this Azure Dragon Stone back to you.]
I breathe out a sigh.
[Why is it suddenly canceled?]
[Like I said…]
Seras puts her hand over her chest.
[If you are together with me, you would be exposed to danger.]
She looks like she’s quite pained when she said this.
[To be honest, this is really quite troublesome.]
[Yes— That’s right! It would be quite troublesome if you were to go with me.]
I inadvertently scratch my head.
[That’s not what I mean.]
[W- Well then, what do you—]
[I mean, it’s a hassle for me to search for a guard again that equals or exceeds you in the requirements that I needed for my guard.]
[———–]
I feel like Seras’ words were stuck under her throat.
She took a brief pause…
And then after that, I could see some indications of her tenaciously facing me.
[I- If you were to go north of Mills, then you should be able to pass by the capital city of Urza before you get into the Demon Zone. You should be able to hire a skilled mercenary there. If you want to exchange the Azure Dragon Stone into money so that you could hire an expensive mercenary, I can also tell you about someone that I know that could exchange that jewel…]
As I thought, she knew of an under the table route to cash out this Azure Dragon Stone huh…
[Hey, Seras. Which of us has the problem here?]
[P- Problem…?]
[The reason for cancelling out our agreement. Is the problem on your side or in my side?]
Seras cast her eyes downwards.
[…I- It goes without saying. It’s my problem.]
[Then, there’s no problem with it. Our agreement shall continue.]
[H- Hati-dono!]
[Take off your clothes here.]
Seras’s time suddenly stopped.
Her eyes blinked out in surprise.
[—Eh?]
I put down the backpack I’m carrying.
I started taking out women’s clothing that I bought before.
[The size may be a bit different, but I have procured you some clothes. Those guys back in Mills should still remember the clothing that you’ve been wearing. Just in case, you would avoid wearing those clothes you’ve worn before until we’ve entered the Demon Zone.]
[Ah— S- So that’s what you mean…]
Seras seems to be a bit embarrassed.
Hmm?
Ah, I see.
[Did you get confused by the words I spoke before. I’m sorry about that.]
[That’s right… Though it was a fact that I’m a bit upset—]
Seras looks as if she suddenly became aware of something.
[P- Please wait! Our guard agreement would be going to continue for quite some time, but my problem is much bigger than you might be thinking…]
I turned towards the dragon knight that has been suffering in his sleep.
[I’ve heard about it before, that the Black Dragon Knights were supposed to be strongest. Was it something like the strongest Knight Corps in the whole continent? And, this supposedly strongest knights were chasing you. That’s why you have to escape while you have to keep yourself hidden from their sight… or something like that, right?]
[…………]
Did I push it too far?
[Can I ask your real reason why you want to go to Jonato?]
I thought that she would probably not say anything and began suspecting me but…
After hesitating to speak out a few moments, Seras finally confided.
[From the port at the western borders of Jonato, there is a ship that goes towards the west continent. However, it requires a lot of money to get into that ship.]
I see.
That’s why she needed that 300 gold coins.
[Is that story about you’re participating in this call for the Monks not true?]
[Yes… I’m sorry that I’ve lied about it before.]
I’m not really that surprised.
I thought it was possible that she could have lied about some things.
Our conversation continues.
[To put it shortly, it should be fine if you could just hide yourself somewhere safe?]
[That’s right. That’s what I was—]
Seras grasps her hand tightly and places it over her chest.
[Because, that’s the last command I received from that person.]
It seems that there was someone who guided Seras’ escape somewhere.
The way she spoke about it…
Well, that place should be good enough.
[Thereupon, I have a suggestion for you.]
I spoke about the suggestion I have.
[How about trying to negotiate whether the Witch of Taboos can hide you?]
Chapter 74
In Front of the Approaching Dusk
[The Witch of Taboos, is it…?]
[Didn’t you say before that no one has been able to confirm the whereabouts of the witch yet? If you were to put it in another way, isn’t her home the perfect place to hide?]
[T- That certainly sounds true, but…]
She glanced towards her backpack.
In exchange for just hiding Seras, I’m also giving her the Azure Dragon Stone?
To be honest, the ability of Seras’ wind spirit is really useful.
It has the ability to sense other people’s lies.
When we are going to negotiate with the Witch of Taboos, I think having the ability to judge the authenticity of her words would be a great help.
I heard that elves rarely appear outside of their village.
Moreover, Seras’ spirit seems to be a special variety among others.
What I mean is… It is highly possible that her ability is something that can’t be acquired by others.
Moreover…
I turned towards Seras’ face.
[?]
What I said about finding an “easy partner” is indeed true.
[So that you could conceal yourself, you should aim towards the Witch of Taboos’s home. In the first place, wasn’t the Golden Demon Zone itself was considered a dangerous area, and that people can’t approach that area?]
Dangerous monsters have gathered in that Demon Zone.
However, if it’s just against those golden-eyed monsters, there is a high probability that I could easily deal with them with my skills.
If there is also Seras with me, the safety of our travel should further increase.
I also told about this to her.
[In order to get some information about the ancient characters that we’ve talked about before, I need to go into the Demon Zo
ne. And, if things were to go well for us, we might find a good place to hide inside the Demon Zone.]
[That might be true, but…]
[If that is so, could we continue this contract?]
[Touka-dono… why are you doing this for me?]
After thinking a bit about it, I answered.
[You kind of somewhat resembles familiar with someone close to me, my aunt.]
[I resemble… your aunt?]
[Yeah. My uncle and his family took custody and raised me after I was abandoned by my real parents… Well, unlike my real parents who just treated me as a hindrance, they were really kind people. I’ve never forgotten to be thankful towards them and I still respect them up to this day.]
I never expected that I would reminisce about my memories with my uncle’s family.
It’s as if some kind of force made me spontaneously blurt out of my mouth.
[Your way of speaking and your appearance was clearly different, and there’s also hardly any resemblance with your personality but… if I dare say it, it’s the atmosphere around you…]
You could tell that she’s smart, but she’s unreliable at times.
Seras is useful as my guard.
She can use those special spirits of hers.
Pigimaru is also attached to her.
However, the reason why I came to this place is—
[The thought of just disregarding you in this place… I felt like I was abandoning my own aunt and running away on my own.]
[Touka-dono…]
Seras smiles.
Is it alright to say that it’s a smile that’s filled with light?
[As I thought, you’re a kind person.]
[Well… I have to admit that this sweetness was something that’s common back when I was around my uncle’s family.]
At that time…
[Guueeeehhhh–!]
The black dragon has finally died.
My level still didn’t rise.
[Well then.]
The dragon knight is still alive.
[I hope I can draw out some useful information about the Black Dragon Knights but…]
I partially released the
Next, I canceled out his
The paralysis gauge is still sufficient enough.
[—-Guuggaa…? Guuuhhh… Kuhh, shii…! I- It hurts…]
I look down towards the dragon knight who will not die from the poison.
He acted just like Seras did before.
His behavior was still the same just as I invoked paralysis towards him.
Though, I would be crazy if I think of this as an established fact after just trying it out on two people.
This man is someone good to kill.
My face has finally been clearly seen by this guy.
I look like someone that doesn’t have any reason to interfere with them.
My indifferent face tells him so.
[If you answer our questions truthfully, I will save you.]
I’ll save you.
I didn’t lie at all.
Because I will just cancel out the non-lethal settings of the poison and save him for further “suffering”.
First of all, I asked about the current situation of the Black Dragon Knights.
Next, I asked about the strength of their units, their position, their movement, and the policies they would do in the future.
[If you have some things you want to know, you should ask about it now.]
After contemplating about it, Seras opened her mouth.
[Who is the one aiming for my life?]
[T- The other guys… how are they!?]
The dragon knight just passed through Seras’ question.
I took a deep breath and answered.
[The people that I met on my way here, I defeated them.]
[D- Don’t say stupid sh*t… guhh… Against a piece of sh*t like you!? Kuh!? Who is the user of that strange technique!? Who is it!?]
[Didn’t you know already? It’s the piece of sh*t in front of you.]
[Don’t think you’ll be able to get away from the Black Dragon Knights… Guuhhh!? Ugh… There’s also the ruin of that Holy Knight! Guuahhh!? Ku… Kuku… The day that you’re captured would also be the dawn of your life as you will be loved by a dragon knight’s pet for a really long time!? Fu, Fuwahahahaha! Even the women of the Neia Holy Kingdom that you have been protecting was quite delicious—-]
Seras got on her knees.
She walked towards the dragon knight and coldly looked at him.
[I said, on whose order were you sent here?]
The dragon knight looked a bit overwhelmed.
[V- Very well…! This Gizun is also a bit interested… What kind of face would the former High Elf Princess, who has dedicated her sword for the Holy Kingdom as knight, make when she knows the truth?]
A sudden chill…
Right into my spine…
I promptly…
Stood up.
[Seras!]
——-Schhhwwwiiinnnggg!!!——–
It was a white spear.
A white spear flew from the sky.
The spear accurately pierced through that man.
The head of the man named Gizun is even skewered.
It’s obvious that dragon knight on the ground is dead.
I move my line of sight upwards.
[………]
Both Seras and I were doing our best to respond.
Even she turned towards the skies.
[Who is… that!?]
There’s an incoming shadow that’s approaching.
Three black dragons.
Even their size is comparably larger than the previous dragon.
There is also someone with them.
[………]
He’s still currently out of range.
No.
Above all, he is someone—
[Seras Ashrain.]
A stiff voice in which you can’t find any warmth within reached my ears.
A white man.
His clothing is white.
His hair is white.
Only his pupil is bright red.
That man was clearly foreign.
He’s the only person who’s wearing white clothes among the Black Dragon Knights and the black dragons around him.
Just that one person, it’s only him who has that armor.
Even the mount he’s riding on is a white dragon.
I look towards the person beside me.
Seras’ eyes were wide open.
[No way—]
The white man opens his mouth.
[My name is Civit.]
When the man named Civit narrowed his eyes, he looked towards me rather than Seras.
[But most of the people in this world seems to call me by another name. They seem to call me like—]
While he’s talking about his other name, he seems as if he’s indifferent.
[“The Humanity’s Strongest”.]
Chapter 75
Now, In a Distant Place
Ortora Stramius.
We used to be the king who had once ruled the Holy Kingdom of Neia.
Now, we are having a nightmare.
Dreams sometimes evoke the vivid experiences that you had from the past.
That was back when we had enough energy to move his legs…
* * *
The Holy Kingdom of Neia.
Bakuos Empire.
There’s a group of ruins stretching over around the border between these two countries.
At one point, Golden-eyed monsters began to overflow from these ruins.
Both of our countries has decided to deal with this problem together.
At that time, the emperor of Bakuos led his troops himself.
Not wanting to be inferior, we also led his troops and headed for the ruin
s.
It was when the army of the Holy Kingdom of Neia arrived late.
We began to doubt what we’re seeing.
Was the Evil God that we had heard from the legends descended into this world?
At first, we thought that we were just hallucinating.
The boy’s red eyes shone brightly.
His white hair were being bathed in the blood of monsters.
The most noteworthy thing about him is his expression, it’s as if he’s enjoying this battle.
The monsters gradually began avoiding the boy.
Those Golden-eyed monsters were known for being ferocious.
Moreover, the boy began cursing at the fleeing monsters.
“Why!? Why are the f*cking Golden-eyed monsters, who are synonymous to ferociousness, acting in that f*cking shameful behaviour!? Why aren’t you facing me!? Don’t you have any pride as ferocious monsters!?”
A boy who is soaked with the blood of the monsters he defeated.
His voice is filled with despair.
It sounded like a shout filled in pathos.
The boy wished for an “enemy”.
We had only learned about this later.
And, the boy finally seem to notice us.
I still remember it even today.
The moment his red eyes met with ours.
His eyes shows anticipation, expecting that the strongest person in a kingdom would be the king.
The boy began walking towards us, the king of a country.
However, no one stopped him.
Nay— no one could stop him.
The boy stared at us with his red eyes that glowed with fighting spirit.
However, I found out that the heat that was on his eyes disappeared in just an instant.
“Tsk, it’s just a small fry.”
The boy’s voice quivered as his expression began to look distracted.
He seems utterly disappointed.
The boy looked up towards us.
He held out his towards us who’s currently riding above a horse.
“Hand him over.”
The boy said with a creepy, and yet serious look.
“Hand over the strongest person in your country to me, bastard.”
* * *
Bamm! Thud!!!
[—–Ahh… Haaa… Haa…… ngh!]
We jumped out of the bed.
My room is very quiet and deserted.
We live in a lakeside mansion located south of the Imperial territory.