Chapter 50 (1/2)

Volume 1

CH 24

In the instant that the teleportation magic takes effect, my reflexes kick in and I pour mana into my emergency protection measure, the【Severing Sword of Safeguarding . ]

A huge amount of mana pours into it in that fraction of a second .

My increased thought speed allows me to see each little detail of that process .

Blazing fireballs, sharp icicles, sharp blades of wind that I can’t see, masses of rock that could crush anything, spear-shaped missiles of light, dark shadows in the shape of hands .

The mana of over a hundred spells full of murderous intent . I’ve felt this somewhere before .

I release the disguise of the【Mirror Sword of the Divine Devil]and get ready for a fight .

Beyond the swirling dust and scattered pebbles, I see over two hundred fierce knights bearing scars from their past battles . The knights who are familiar with the battlefield and shared their knowledge about its basics with me, the knight captain who leads them and Princess Alesia whose silver hair is fluttering behind her from the wind produced by the force of the spells cast .

「Really, the fact that you are so durable for such an idiot makes you so difficult to deal with . 」(Alesia)

Taking a quick glance at my surroundings, I see that I’m at the center a colosseum-shaped dome that I’ve seen before – the Guardians’ Chamber in the deepest part of the Elegant Maple Ruins that I conquered along my journey before I challenged the Demon Lord .

It wouldn’t be strange to think that the Guardians revived long ago, but seeing that they’re not here, I guess they’ve been defeated again . The proof of that is that the Dungeon Core behind the princess is no longer shining with mana . I don’t know whether these guys did it or they hired adventurers to do it, but even I had the assistance of the Knights’ Order to defeat the boss here . As long as they knew its weak points and how to fight it, I’m sure that it would have been simple for them to defeat it .

「 . . . Alesia, have you betrayed me as well?!」(Kaito)

「Betrayed? You are mistaken; the word “betray” is used in regards to allies, you know? You were never an ally to me, so I have not betrayed you . After all, there is no way that I would do something as horrific as becoming allies with someone from another world, is there? Ah, this feels so unpleasant, but now I can finally put an end to this act . 」(Alesia)

Alesia says this with a happy smile .

It is, without a doubt, a truly genuine smile .

「Really, everything would come to an end if you were to die . You are just like a gutter rat . Well, even so, this is the end . 」(Alesia)

「Alesia… You . . . 」(Kaito)

「Teleportation-type powers do not work in this place, do they? This is not a city, so there is no need to be concerned about collateral damage, either . I do not believe that even you could escape while surrounded by this number of people with the exit sealed . 」(Alesia)

It’s just as Alesia says . In the『Guardians’ Chamber』, teleportation-type powers… don’t work . Even if teleportation is used to enter the chamber, it’s impossible to teleport out of it . Even if I were to freely use my movement-type Skills, it’s impossible even for me to make it to the only exit while facing this number of truly exceptional knights .

If they were ordinary soldiers or inexperienced knights, then I might have a small chance, but these guys are all the real deal . There’s no opening that I can use to cut through this encirclement .

「The fact that you are so foolish was of great help . You were deceived so easily; it is no wonder that you were even fooled by the commoners who were on the verge of falling into the slums . 」(Alesia)

「W-what… it can’t be!」(Kaito)

「Yes, ever since you came to this city, I have been receiving information about you . Did you not know? My informants were very talkative after being offered a mere two or three gold coins . 」(Alesia)

「 . . . 」(Kaito)

『This time, it’s our turn to save you . 』

『It’s only natural to repay those who have helped you . 』

The faces of the people who said that to me surface in my mind . Did they betray me as well?

「 . . . Damn it, how can you betray people so easily?」(Kaito)

I feel rage from having been betrayed . And disappointment in myself .

Why did I have no doubts in my mind? It’s only been two days since I arrived in the city .

The royal capital has no shortage of outsiders; there are countless people entering and leaving and my appearance was mostly concealed by a large hood . So just where did she get information about a woman who resembled the Hero?

Why didn’t I realize where the safe house was?

Teleportation magic could be used in that room, even though you couldn’t teleport into the middle of the city from there .

This mistake was caused by the naivety in my heart .

It wouldn’t be untruthful to say that it was because I was tired from being on the run . However, letting my guard down like that is what led to my current situation .

「Why, why are you going to such lengths to try and kill me?!」(Kaito)

「Oh, are you trying to buy yourself some more time? Well, I do not mind . I do think that you did your best for a gutter rat . I can engage in a little conversation with you . 」(Alesia)

With these words, she gives me a scornful smile and a small giggle .

I won’t die until I go back to my own world, until I fulfil my promise .

As I look around, searching for an opening to turn my situation around, I see Alesia behaving like this .

… What I’ve seen of her up until now was really all an act .

「The Hero who slew the Demon Lord . The existence of a human with this power is incredibly inconvenient for the Kingdom . The very fact that you live and breathe leaves coals to stoke the fires of independence and rebellion . The people’s discontent has been suppressed up until now because of the Demon Lord . That is why for the sake of the Kingdom, you must bear all of that discontent and allow it to be cleansed in a single moment . 」(Alesia)

「For that reason . . . 」(Kaito)

「That is the official reason that Father and Mother have given . The true reason is simply because we cannot allow you to exist . Ah, how disgusting it is for someone from another world to have the same appearance as us, speak the same words as us and exist in this world . Demi-humans and Beast-people are the most repulsive creatures, but you are something that induces even more disgust . You are truly unpleasant; did you know that I had to hold back my nausea when I came into contact with you?」(Alesia)

「 . . . !」(Kaito)

She looks at me with something that is more than just a disdainful, cold gaze .

Those eyes don’t even consider me human . It’s as if she is looking at some abhorrent filth .

… Her gaze conveys the feelings of repulsion from the bottom of her heart .

However, in the next moment, Alesia’s frowning face changes into the flower-like smile that I’m used to seeing .

「Still, this is fine . This is the end, after all . As promised, I will teach you the spell for you to return to your original world . 」(Alesia)

Alesia gives an amused laugh .

I’m bewildered by the sudden change in her behavior .

「Ah, of course, this is not a lie . Ah yes, let me invoke the『Prayer of Restriction』to prove that I am not lying . 」(Alesia)

『Prayer of Restriction . 』

This is something that users of spirit magic can use on themselves as a method of proving their intent .

If the contents of the restrictions are broken, the caster will pay the declared price as well as losing their spirit magic and the divine protection that it grants .

「I hereby swear to speak only the truth with no falsifications regarding the Ritual of Hero Summoning/Return, with my arm as the price . 『Prayer of Restriction . 』」(Alesia)

A faint light wraps around Alesia, showing that the restriction has been applied .

With this, Alesia has become unable to lie as long as the light of the『Prayer of Restriction』surrounds her .

The moment she lies about the Hero Summoning/Return spell, her arm will be offered to the spirits and lost forever .

「Now then, shall we talk?」(Alesia)

Alesia gave a smile full of sadistic intent that she has never shown as the princess .

That sight sets off every alarm bell of my sixth sense .

Why is she going as far as to use the Prayer of Restriction to prove that she isn’t lying?

Even if she is trying to just make me feel better about dying, what reason does she have to do such a thing?

Unable to read Alesia’s intentions, my sense of suspicion grows stronger, but this is a good opportunity .

It’s true that I need to find some way to escape, but I’m really desperate gain any information about the ritual spell that could send me home .

As long as the Prayer of Restriction is in effect, she can’t lie . Even if she does, I’d be able to tell immediately by looking at her arm .

「The procedure for the ritual is truly simple . Like other ritual spells, the Hero Summoning/Return ritual can be carried out by anyone as long as the corresponding offerings for the ritual spell can be prepared . The offerings required for this ritual is any object containing a vast amount of mana, and the ancient magic circle carved into that place . And what else do you think is needed?」(Alesia)

「What else, you say…?」(Kaito)

What the Hero Summoning ritual spell requires is an object that contains an overwhelming amount of mana, enough to transform numerous magical items that are worthy of being national treasures – for their powers, not because of their historical value – into pieces of junk .

It is possible to use multiple objects to make up the required amount, but even then, each object needs to contain a certain amount of mana to be considered as an offering .

That’s what I was told is needed for the Hero Summoning ritual .

The amount of mana that an object can contain is influenced by its properties .

For arms or armor, it depends on the materials they are made of, the techniques used to create them and the crafting skill of the person who made them .

Objects with the power to contain that much mana are rare enough on their own, but if the search is narrowed down to objects that contain the correct type of mana as well, it would be extremely difficult to collect such objects even if an entire nation was to dedicate all of its resources to doing so .

That’s why I was entrusted with her magic core, which is in the pouch resting on my chest .

「There’s something else that’s needed…?!」(Kaito)

「Yes, precisely . There is no way that mana alone would be sufficient for a spell that infringes on the domain of the God, is there? Have you not given it any thought at all?」(Alesia)

Alesia gives a sweet, princess-like smile .

And as if not even giving me a chance to think, she speaks in that venom-like voice once more .

「There are four procedures for this ritual spell . First, a『hole』must be opened in the space-time of this world . Second, a『hole』must be opened in the space-time of another world . After that, a『path』that connects the two holes must be created . And the final process is『drawing in』the human that has been chosen as the target of the summoning . Each of these processes requires an offering; mana is merely a stimulant to activate the ritual spell and an offering for the『drawing in』process . So with this being the case, can you imagine what the remaining offerings are?」(Alesia)

「 . . . 」(Kaito)

I have no way of knowing what’s needed for a ritual spell .

The only offering for a ritual spell that I know of is the large amount of medicinal plants that are needed to cast an anti-poison spell . I’ve seen a powerful ritual spell before, but I don’t know what offerings were used for it . I’m not particularly knowledgeable about ritual spells to begin with .

「*Giggle* Well then, let me give you a hint . The price of opening a『hole』in our world is . . . 」(Alesia)

Fear runs down my spine .

「In the place where the『hole』is opened . . . 」(Alesia)

My instincts are screaming at me not to listen, to not allow this to enter my ears . My body aches, telling me to stop these words .

But I suppress my instincts with reasoning . There’s no point in doing something like that, and it’s impossible for me to do so anyway .

And so, the words don’t stop .

「The lives of two hundred people must be offered . 」(Alesia)

I feel the blood drain out of my face .

As if pleased by my reaction, Alesia gives a demon-like smile .

「Now then, I will change the question a little . When you were summoned, Beast-person slaves obtained from other nations were used to open a hole in the space-time of this world . So then…『What was the price of opening the other『hole』and the『path?』』」(Alesia)

What, that’s…

If the requirement for opening a『hole』in this world was that『the lives of two hundred people must be offered at the place where the hole is to be opened』, then…

Of course, in my world, the offering to open a『hole』in my world is…

「Say, Hero-sama . We have talked about it previously, have we not? Can you remind me who the people around you were when you were summoned? Now then, could you please answer the question regarding the『hole?』」(Alesia)

I was in a classroom in my high school .

So then, the ones who became the offerings that time, were the ones who were there with me…

… The teacher and my friends?

「You’re… lying…」(Kaito)

「This is not a lie . As proof, look, my arm is still here . The two hundred people closest by to you were sacrificed when you were summoned . 」(Alesia)

I can hear the sound of something cracking inside my heart .

「YOU FUCKEEEEEEEEERS!」(Kaito)

「「「「「『Iron Chains of Binding Thorns』!!」」」」」

「Gah! Guh!」(Kaito)

In my rage, I unleash a powerful Soul Sword capable of the fastest attacks, but as I move, magic chains tie my body down .

Obeying the mana poured into them by the knight mages, chains with gray thorns attached burst out of the ground and repeatedly wrap themselves around me to form a net . I don’t have a single wound thanks to the【Dark Spirit’s Attire]that I’m wearing, but with this many chains wrapped around me, there’s no way that I can escape .

「*Giggle* I did say that I am not lying, didn’t I?」(Alesia)

「Shut up! I’ll kill you! Shit, don’t get in my way!」(Kaito)

I’m seized by a rage that feels like my head is boiling .

I attempt to forcibly throw off the chains that bind my body and tear them to pieces, but though they creak, they show no sign of coming apart .

Watching me struggle, the corners of Alesia’s mouth twist upwards in an expression of true delight .