Huh?
Clack.
The man stepped back precisely eleven paces.
A cold sweat ran down my back in that instant.
But outwardly, I smirked and asked,
“Why are you backing off? You scared?”
“They say I shouldn’t get any closer.”
“What are you talking about? Who said that?”
“Who knows.”
A flash of realization struck me like lightning.Trail let out a groan, as if confirming my suspicion.
[Urgh… Must be Idria. Told him through that whole ‘Path to Becoming a Hero’ thing.]
‘She figured it out just by watching my technique once? That the limit was ten steps?’
[It’d be stranger if that Demon King didn’t figure it out.]
Then Kaeld spoke.
“If you come any closer, I’ll immediately release the seal on the Gem of Destruction.”
At that, Neril whispered to me.
“You’ve got a range limit on that skill, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Sharp as ever.”
“Anyone could tell, the way you’re trying to inch forward like that. Anyway, hold on.”
She quickly formed hand seals.
Binding magic.
One of Neril’s specialty spells, the same she once used to restrain a berserk martial king.
Invisible chains wrapped tightly around Kaeld.
But…
Clink. Crack.
Kaeld simply flexed his muscles, and they shattered effortlessly.
It was like tearing through old string. Everyone except me visibly flinched in shock.
“What?!”
“Magic didn’t work?!”
“T-That’s impossible. That spell restrained the rampaging Gem of Desolation!”
Offense narrowed his eyes at Kaeld.
“So magic really doesn’t work on you. I had a hunch.”
Xenia wiped sweat from her brow and added,
“Last time, when we got a day’s leave in the capital, my father said something…”
“…”
“He said Kaeld eavesdropped perfectly on a conversation held in a magically soundproofed room. At the time, I thought it was just a fluke, but…”
Adwin spoke next.
“Now that I think about it, wasn’t it the same when we first met in the Tetra territory?”
“Hm?”
“I cast a spell to conceal my soul, but Kaeld still found me without issue. I figured it was just because he was pretending to be the Hero, but…”
“…Could it be that no magic or spell works on him at all?”
At those words, I replayed everything about Kaeld before my regression in my mind.
From the first time we met, through every quest we undertook.
Every time we fought monsters or endured various trials—
Kaeld had never once been injured.
He’d never bled.
Neril shook her head as if rejecting the idea.
“But when I used Append View on him, it worked fine. And the wound he got from Mide was healed by Serein’s healing spell.”
“Maybe only what benefits him works,” Offense replied.
Neril bit her lip.
Then, trying to sound casual, she said,
“Hmph. Still. He got beaten up like a ragdoll by Mide when it rained, remember?”
“Ngh. I don’t remember it being that one-sided.”
“I wasn’t talking to you. And stop smiling like that.”
“I’ve been wondering too. Why was I the one who bled when fighting that guy? Why was it his sword that pierced my stomach?”
“…”
“It was quite the novel experience… for someone who’s never been ‘wounded’ before.”
Clap.
He clapped once and continued.
“I’ll give you two days.”
“…”
“Use that time wisely and choose whether you’ll come under me, or just stand by and watch your homeland disappear.”
“Or we might just come after you and cut off your head.”
“Ready to toss away that fancy ‘Sword master of No Killing’ title? Fine by me.”
He smiled lightly.
“That holy knight’s purification spell will take some time to activate. And if that’s the case, dealing with you all while you’re slowed by the Gem of Destruction won’t be a problem.”
“…”
“And Mide, your new technique isn’t all that scary if I just stay ten steps away.”
Of course.
I ground my teeth.
“I’ll be waiting midway up the Baharma Mountains for the next two days. I’ll be watching with great interest to see what you decide.”
He turned his back on us completely and walked away, utterly at ease.
Grit.
Neril clenched her teeth and began forming hand seals again, but I stopped her.
“Forget it. Don’t waste your strength.”
“That last one failed because I wasn’t in good condition, okay? Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I’m not. Just cancel the spell. Let’s talk about what to do instead.”
Offense let out a groan.
“I can’t believe that guy, claiming to be the Hero, would pull this kind of stunt.”
“…”
“Should I share a few assassination techniques? Maybe poison would work.”
Even he didn’t sound confident.
None of us answered. He shrugged as if conceding.
I spoke.
“In the end, I’m probably the only one who can kill him. I’m the only one who’s made him bleed.”
“Mide… but… even assuming you can harm him under the power of Destruction, are you okay with this land disappearing?”
I couldn’t answer right away.
That was when it happened.
A voice, one that shouldn’t have been here, rang out.
“Or we could just activate the grand purification a little earlier.”
We looked around.
Adwin said,
“Huh? That voice…”
I stared in the direction the voice came from and opened my mouth.
“It’s good to see you again. Companion of the Emperor.”
“No need to be so formal now. We’ve seen all there is to see of each other.”
“Haha.”
“And I’m thinking of giving up the title ‘Companion of the Emperor.’ That name only brings joy to the current Emperor.”
Step.
Lisel Vint.
Also called Magna Neros.
She stepped into view.
“The only emperor I acknowledge is Lord Grade.”
“Have you been well?”
“Ah, yes. I have.”
Lisel clasped her hands together and bowed her head politely.
Even in this situation, her consistently courteous demeanor made me chuckle as I opened my mouth.
“You don’t have to be so formal, Lisel.”
“Hmm. Anyway, I’ve been watching the situation for a while now.”
“Hah. Spirit magic really is something else. Neither Kaeld nor any of us noticed you were right beside us.”
Well, it made sense, Lisel was the Spirit King, and she could even turn her own body into spirit form.
Twisting a strand of her platinum hair around her finger, Lisel replied,
“I’m not particularly skilled in combat or strategy, after all. I need to have some kind of trump card like this.”
“I see. But what did you mean by what you said earlier?”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to say first. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever told you properly.”
She straightened her expression seriously.
I had to try not to smile, because I already had a pretty good idea what she was going to say next.
“U-um. I may be lacking in a lot of ways, and I might not be of much help…”
“…”
“No, I’m probably not going to be of any help at all… but I am pretty good at cooking, you know?”
“…”
“If you’ll let me join the party, I’ll take full responsibility for the cooking. I’ll even do the dishes.”
It was such a characteristically Lisel way to apply for a party slot.
Neril whispered beside me,
“Why is she being so overly humble?”
“She’s lived about 1,300 years longer than you.”
“Yeah? So what?”
“…No, never mind. I mean, it’s a long-abolished system, but her former status was a slave, so that sort of attitude comes out sometimes.”
“You talk like you’ve known her for ages.”
I just shrugged.
Xenia spoke up.
“I’m all for it!”
If people had found out the party priest had a complicated relationship with the gods, Kaeld’s reputation would’ve taken a massive hit.
Then Xenia said,
“I can’t believe she lacks faith. What was that monstrous divine power, then?”
“I wondered the same thing. But that’s what she said, out of her own mouth.”
“…”
“Besides, most divine spells are more close to paladin’s domain than a cleric’s, right? Just having divine power doesn’t mean you can use it freely.”
But Lisel shook her head.
“Serein is unique in many ways. You can’t judge her by normal standards.”
“Well, that goes for all of us here, I suppose. No one in this group is normal.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Of course, I excluded myself.
I said,
“Let’s trust Lisel. If Serein helps Xenia with the Grand Purification spell…”
“Yes. I’m sure it’ll shorten the casting time.”
“By how much?”
“W-Well… I’d have to ask her directly to know that.”
“Then let’s ask her. Where is she?”
Instead of answering, Lisel raised her index finger.
“Please focus on my finger.”
Our eyes followed her finger.
Fwoosh.
Something began to faintly materialize.
It looked like a child, shrunken down to about one-twentieth the size. Transparent, bluish, round all over—
“A spirit!”
“Yes, that’s right. You guessed it immediately, even though it’s probably your first time seeing one.”
“But I heard spirits don’t like showing themselves to people.”
“I persuaded it. If it doesn’t appear to you all, there’s no way to guide you to Serein.”
Lisel continued explaining.
“Serein wanted something from Kaeld. That’s why she refused to join us. But I left her with a wind spirit.”
“…”
“That spirit will guide you to where Serein is. Please go bring her here.”
“You’re not coming?”
“I… get the feeling she resents me a little. If I go, I think it’ll only make things worse.”
Her expression turned a bit bitter.
I nodded and turned to Offense.
“Offense, can you bring her?”
“It’s not hard, but… me? I’m sure Serein resents me plenty too.”
“Why?”
“Well, I did betray her. Wouldn’t it be faster to use Xenia’s Agril instead?”
“Agril’s too big. Kaeld might notice. And…”
I grinned.
“Did I say anything about coaxing her gently?”
“Hm?”
“Knock her out, drag her here, whatever works. I’ll handle convincing her.”
Lisel flinched and blurted out,
“Mide! That’s way too violent.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t want to be hated by a future teammate either. Not by her, not by you.”
“…”
“Once Offense brings her here, I’ll convince her through pure conversation. You have my word.”
Lisel stared at me for a moment, then nodded.
Neril asked,
“Are you really confident you can talk her into it? She might look innocent, but she didn’t seem like someone easy to deal with.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already won over someone even tougher.”
“Oh yeah? Who?”
I stared at Neril.
She tilted her head, puzzled.
…Well, if she doesn’t get it, that’s fine.
Read advance chapter on Patreon. Click here.