Chapter 133 (1/2)

<Dragonslayer’s POV>

Alion.

In the hallway of the Royal Castle.

I could see the barracks from where I stand.

I, the “Dragonslayer” Banewolf, placed my elbow on the railings as I gulp down my alcohol.

Looking down towards them, I could see the soldiers scurrying about in a hurry.

Everyone is preparing for the upcoming fight against the Great Demon Emperor.

I called out to the beautiful Goddess who was just passing by behind me.

[And— What’s your intention for making me stay behind in Alion?]

[I can’t just let this place have a lack of people, right?]

Vysis stops walking and continues.

[I also wanted to accompany them if I could but… I have to go to Magnar Kingdom tomorrow. Ah, I’m really worried… Would those children be alright?]

[The Drunken Sword Party together with Nyantan Kikeepat, and you also added the Four Revered Saints into their group. They should be all right with them.]

[The more the people that say that they would be all right, the more that I worry.]

The Heroes from Another World have left the Royal Castle just the other day.

They were heading towards the Great Ruins in the west of Alion.

In the place that was also known as the Golden Demon Zone.

Turning around and facing towards Vysis, I leaned my elbows on the handrails.

[The reason why you removed me from the group going into the Demon Zone, is it related to me being the teacher of Sogou Ayaka?]

[Eh? What are you talking about?]

Vysis tilted her head.

She looks like she can’t think about why I say something like that.

Her eyes tell me so.

I continued.

[Is it that the Goddess-sama’s goal is to make someone from that child’s group die?]

[Hnnnn~? I still can’t understand what you mean. Why would I do something like that?]

[If I’m not there, the dangers that girl and the others would face would increase— or am I mistaken?]

[Eh? I would be troubled even if you say something with a baseless reasoning like that…]

I gently brush my beard.

I began thinking of some reasons.

[For example, let’s see… it’s to make it easier for the Goddess-sama to control that child or something like that?]

[Hmmm? Excuse me, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Umm, are you just trying to waste my time? Perhaps, are you actually just talking about a logic that only works for you? Are you kidding me?]

[The more broken a person is, the easier it would be to manipulate them.]

[Eh!? I- It would be really troubling if you talk about ideas like that…]

[………………..]

[Speaking of which Bane-san, is your father all right?]

[…So-so, I guess.]

[If I remember it correctly, the reason why you joined the Magic Knights is for your father who was lying on sickbed, I believe? Even when he’s alone, he splendidly raised a splendid man out of you.]

Vysis began approaching me.

She placed her arm on the railings and looked towards the barracks.

Her expression appears to be filled with sorrow.

[A material that can only be obtained from the mine that Urza controls… A very valuable medicine that was made from that material. Only that medicine could suppress the symptoms of your father’s illness… And the one who decides who gets to enter that mine is Urza’s head, The Magister King Jin… In other words, just about everything could be changed based on the Magister King’s whim… It appears that your situation is very dangerous for you. However, you may rest assured.]

Vysis then stands in front of me.

She tightly grasps my hand with both of her hands.

[As long as I put in a good word for you towards the Magister King, you would be able to continue obtaining that expensive medicine, free of charge. What do you think about this?]

I exhaled out as I could feel the corners of my mouth slacken up a bit.

[That is why… This dragonslayer that was known for his laziness has responded to the Goddess’s summon and quickly went into this place, right?]

[What a wonderful dedication you have. Even I feel happiness from the bottom of my heart.]

My reason for joining the Magic Knights.

It’s all to protect my slothful life.

That’s what was circulated around the public.

However, if I was living alone, I could have just become a mercenary.

With my ability, I could have just completed easy tasks when I wanted to.

I lost my mother back when I was just a wee child.

My father had raised me all alone until he fell ill.

And I would return the favor I’ve received.

Therefore, I accepted the invitation to join the Magic Knights.

[Well… I’m going to move with my position in mind.]

[What a grown-up you are.]

[And, that famous straight-laced leader-sama of the White Wolf Knights— Did you manage to take control of that? Perhaps, that’s the reason you’re going to Magnar in advance, right?]

[What? That has nothing to do with our current conversation, right?]

Good grief.

I was just interested in that.

I’m completely bewildered by her actions.

If she’s doing something like this, then I bet that this goddess doesn’t have anyone that could be called her right hand.

[By the way Bane-san, it’s different from what we’re talking about but…]

[Hmm?]

[What do you think about the Heroes from Another World?]

I looked towards the distant west sky.

[The one who’s been doing favorably well in the path of the strongest Hero is, as expected, Kirihara. Even compared with the opposing Great Demon Emperor, his abilities were by far the best.]

[I see, I see~ How about the other Heroes?]

[The A-Rank Oyamada seems to be steadily getting stronger. I was actually quite worried in the beginning, but Yasu is also growing. In the case of Sogou though, I have some various impressions regarding her… Well, I could see some impatience from her because of her inherent skill that has yet to manifest. After that, I honestly don’t know about Hijiri and Itsuki. From what I could see from them, it seems that the sisters don’t know what to do with Nyantan…]

[I can’t really say that those sisters were rebellious but… I also can’t say that they would faithfully follow the missions I will give to them. Especially the older sister, I still don’t know what they were thinking… Human minds were quite complicated…]

[Ah. There’s also that one Hero that I’m a bit anxious about…]

[Ara? Who is it?]

[Asagi Ikusaba.]

[Ikusaba-san huh.]

Since I’ve arrived here in the Royal Castle, the only Hero that I’ve been consciously avoiding is Asagi Ikusaba.

[I’m not good at dealing with humans like her.]

<Kashima Kobato POV>

It’s the first day of entering the Demon Zone.

Lots of dense and overgrown trees.

The black soil was just exposed all around the area.

I wonder if these path were treaded on by the monsters.

I could see a number of footsteps from some kind of beasts on the ground.

There’s also some branches here and there that looks like they’re unnaturally broken.

Perhaps, these were the traces left behind by a monster.

I could also smell some beastly odor reaching into my nose.

Something that indicates that there were some monsters that have just passed through here.

On the first day, the Heroes first tried their abilities and fought against the monsters on the outer edge.

We will be leveling up now.

We were also trained by strong people that were called from every country by the goddess.

Through their teachings, we have grown to the point where we could easily defeat the monsters on the outer edge.

(However—)

While our group was advancing, I suddenly felt some sort of fear.

[Oi, over there!]

A member of Asagi’s group discovered a monster.