Volume 3 Chapter 19 (1/2)
Volume 3 Chapter 19
The Holy Capitol City Eden I [Magical Girl Desiree]
{Shuten POV}
Half a day after we split up from Crane and his friends.
It would have been nice to tour around Merrick, but it seems that Desiree had recently left the city already. I noticed soon after looking around the shrine in the city, but Hiragi hadn't caught up with me yet. Oh, maybe I could read the books in the inn while I wait.
”That kind of- Notice these things more quickly!!” (Hiragi)
”Do not get angry.” (Shuten)
”I am already angry!! I searched absolutely everywhere including the shrine and the market street! Why are you here calmly sipping tea!?” (Hiragi)
”No, well, because when I noticed, he was not in the shrine, so I decided to just wait here with a book until you finished whatever business you had.” (Shuten)
”I even went as far as the outskirts, you bratty demon!!” (Hiragi)
Even after walking together for awhile Hiragi who was next to me was still fuming.
After leaving Merrick, we were walking along the road to the Holy Capitol Eden. Since the two main strongholds are in the north in Tunto and the Port of Narcissus, security around here is loose. There is the possibility that I may be arrested at a checkpoint since I am a demon, but I am not too worried considering how soon the Demon King's Army will be invading.
”……So where is the Demon King's Army invading from in the Professor Country?” (Shuten)
”Huh, why should I investigate unrelated humans?” (Hiragi)
”Human…unrelated humans, huh.” (Shuten)
”What?” (Hiragi)
”No, nothing.” (Shuten)
”But that doesn't change the fact that this road through the Professor Country hasn't changed. I feel like we have been walking through the forest forever.” (Hiragi)
”Unlike in the Princ.i.p.ality and the Empire, it is not maintained. It is also through the mountains so it cannot be helped.” (Shuten)
”The Republic isn't around anymore so we can't compare, but I had heard that the roads in the Kingdom also weren't well taken care of.” (Hiragi)
”Why…Oh, because of the Magic Train?” (Shuten)
”It's easier and safer to travel by the Magic Train, so the road has a lot of monsters and has been neglected.” (Hiragi)
As we chatted, the time on the road pa.s.sed surprisingly quickly.
For an ordinary person, it would take three days of walking, but a demon or group of demons could probably arrive in Eden in less than a day. No, if we sprinted, we could probably arrive even sooner, but walking quickly like this is fast enough for me. I usually enjoy travelling leisurely, though I do appreciate the option to go faster as a demon.
The average human would probably think different than me though. Well, most people who meet me say I'm strange after all.
We chatted like this while walking leisurely. What a strange journey.
However, the ”Festival of Slaughter” is waiting at Eden, the Holy Capitol of the Professor Country.
”The Demon King's [Invasion Festival of the capitol city Eden]…that flyer, it would be great of Yatano could have seen it.” (Shuten)
…Even though her seeing the flyer probably wouldn't change anything.
“What is this Demon King's Invasion Festival? It sounds serious.” (Hiragi)
Led by Braument of ”Reason” and Reckless of ”Balance.” Although in-game you did not engage with Reckless, there was no guarantee it would be the same now that Veloce has joined in.
Regardless, we should do what we need to here and then head towards the Holy Capitol. If they destroy the capitol here, I do not know if Crane will be able to defeat the Demon King in the future.
What happens if the Demon King does not die? It's simple.
The desire of the Demon King is to overthrow and destroy the world of humans. If the Demon King is summoned into the human world he would trample everything in his conquest. However, he will first enslave the humans rather than completely destroy them. He would then establish a 'glorious' society for demons where humans become livestock for the Demon King's Army. That is the future painted by the Demon King.
However, in the end the Demon King would eventually get bored and completely destroy the world anyway.
The reason why I know about this is because the Demon King eventually appears in Grimoire Lancer II and starts to create such a situation.
Therefore, the Demon King's ambition must be stopped. But, only Crane can stop him and be victorious. Until now I was optimistic because things seemed to be going according to the plot, but now I don't know what will happen.
“Should I just have ignored what was going on?” (Shuten)
”Is something bothering you?” (Hiragi)
”No, well….various things.” (Shuten)
So, returning to the first question, where will the Demon King's Army invade from?…The Port of Narcissus and Tunto are active cities in the northeast, so shouldn't their information network notice if the army comes from there? The Holy Capitol Eden is a large city that is the western edge of the Country and sprawls towards the south, so they would have to come by water from the west or south. However, the Demon King's Navy is terrible.
I hope that Eden is safe until we arrive, but for now I am wandering around, thinking. What should I do if Veloce partic.i.p.ates in the battle? I am not sure that I can win against that person.
”Even if it isn't certain, we still have do something against Veloche…right?” (Shuten)
”Rather, wouldn't it better to confirm if she's even there? Yatano isn't here after all. Honestly, right now I'm wondering about how the leaders of the Demon King's Army could be defeated.” (Hiragi)[1]
It would be easier if Veloce didn't want to fight, but reality is not so kind. Maybe the Demon King's Army will retreat if Braument and Reckless are defeated.
I wonder, could the Kamiko of Light absorb the Pearl Pieces?
Desiree had absorbed a pearl piece. He had not only survived, but now he was powered up.
I had thought that the soul of a human being couldn't absorb it in the first place…but that doesn't change the fact he had taken it in and survived.
”No, I don't think it is worth the risk.” (Shuten)
”What are you talking about?” (Hiragi)
”Just rambling.” (Shuten)
”By the way, do you think they are in Eden by now?” (Hiragi)
”Hm, probably.” (Shuten)
I needed to catch Braument. He clearly had a power-up that was very similar to taking in a Pearl Piece, which makes things more complicated. Yet, why is the G.o.ddess' sensor not reacting even though it is so similar? If it was because it was a Pearl Piece I knew of, then there was only one person I had given one to, and that was the vampire girl Flare Reel…but if that is the case, then I will slaughter him. I am hoping that other possibilities exist.
Maybe, it is grasping the location of a fake pearl piece. It's kind of fun to think there are decoys among the fragments that need to be collected. Either way, going to Eden and executing Braument are my current goals.
”Oh, there's Eden.” (Shuten)
It gives off a pure-white feeling that give off an impression that ”this town in sacred!”
I found a good spot to look down mountain road that leads to the city. We should be able to reach it by the end of the day once the sun has set.
It's a city that was formed around a white tower as if drawing a circle around a circle. There are two outer circular walls and an inner citadel. Furthermore, it looks like a moat is being maintained, so the defense was quite good.
…I wonder if there are some guards watching the mountain path from above, where more of the landscape can be seen.
The Holy Capitol City Eden…It is a religious place, not to mention part of the Professor Country, which adheres to the wisdom of G.o.d. Even the four priests who are considered to be the closest to G.o.d have a large influence in political affairs.
Since the Child of the G.o.d of Light who is said to be a savior had appeared in the Professor Country, they had raised him carefully as one of their strengths. It seems that they had let him ”go on a journey” only due to the imminent revival of the Demon King.
Even so, it is the starter city. The city that you visit first in Grimoire Lancer II. I mean, the starting point. There is something that is very emotional. It would be a sacred place for the people of the teaching country, but it is also a sacred place for me.
”Let's have a picnic here!” (Shuten)
”Not going to happen.” (Hiragi)