Sousetsuka

9



The next day, Lecan came to Shira's house and practiced <Lamplight> from morning to dusk.

The day after, he began practicing <Lamplight> in Shira's house since morning again, but this time there was a visitor just before noon.

It was the lord's son, Agito Ulban. He's together with one sham knight.

Lecan opened the front door but without letting Agito inside.

"What do you want."

"Is Shira-dono not present."

"No."

"I-Is Nike-dono not here."

"No."

"Do you have any kind of clue?"

"Clue to what."

"A clue to the whereabouts of Shira-dono and Nike-dono of course!"

"Shira is no stranger to going off somewhere by herself, it's not like she's been kidnapped. Nike doesn't live in this house to begin with."

"I-I see."

"S'that all you need."

"This door."

"Hm?"

"I apologize for breaking this door."

"...So you do."

"It was Chaney who arranged for the craftsman but the repair cost was paid with my private fund."

"So it was."

The lord probably ordered it. In other words, this is an apology from the lord to Lecan and shira.

"Anything else you need."

"N-no. That is all."

Agito went home with his head hanging.

When Lecan got back to the workroom, Nike, that is to say Shira in her young girl form was sitting there.

"Heya."

"You're back huh."

"Uh huh."

Nike poured tea in a cup and offered it to Lecan.

"Should I call you Nike when you're in that form."

"That would be for best, yep."

"I got a Golden Potion at Golbul Dungeon."

"Hoo! Did you drink it?"

"I did."

"What kind of skill did you get?"

"No idea."

"Humm. Well, you'll figure it out eventually."

"My sword broke."

"Hee."

Lecan took his sword that has been broken in two out of <Storage>.

"<Self Restoration> won't work once it's broken to this point. Its life as a sword is over."

"Let me see that for a bit."

Nike examined the part where it broke and then carefully the part where a Jewel is embedded.

"Its magic is still working. This jewel hasn't died yet. It's just lacking mana a bit. Uunn. Mind if I keep this sword for a little while?"

"I don't."

"A friend of mine is pretty good at this stuff you see. I'd like to show this to that person, do you mind?"

"Are you talking about magic engineer Yaclubend who lives in the capital?"

"Yep. Where'd you hear the name?"

"From Chaney."

"Hmm. Did something happen?"

Lecan explained the events that took place after he returned to Vouka Town.

"Uun. Well, that's about the gist of it. If I stayed here, some ill-mannered folks aka Midosco's messengers would keep intruding in every single day. So I just went somewhere for a bit. Would be nice if those bunch would disappear quickly, wouldn't it."

She must have found Midosco very much a handful.

"By the way, aren't you curious?"

"About what?"

"That Eda-chan isn't here."

"Ah, now that you mention it, she is."

Lecan did not forget. The thought simply never crossed his mind.

"Think you'd better act a bit kinder to your pupil. For that works in your favor as well."

"I just recalled something."

"What is?"

"Why did you make Eda my pupil. You taught her magic a lot more."

"Good grief. Haven't I explained that to you. Teaching someone will be a unique learning experience for you as well."

"It was a learning experience for me indeed. But if we're doing this for Eda's sake, learning directly from you seems a better idea."

"Listen here. In this world, an average mage can learn at most two three spells from one type, or at most three or four spells from two types of magic, excepting stuff like <Ignite> and <Lamplight>. A pupil can only learn what their teacher use. That's how it works. Now look at you, you can use Perception type, Creation type, Space type and Light Heat type, four types, can't you. Moreover, I believe you can also use the Special type <Absorption> as well no? Eda-chan is very blessed to have the opportunity studying under such an excellent teacher."

"Is that right."

"That is right."

Lecan couldn't hope to win against Nike in an argument, he got easily swept up. Of course, Nike has her own reasoning for inducing Lecan to teach Eda. However, Nike has no intention to explain that.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"Well that said, you'd probably be absent a lot of time. I'll take care of teaching her when you're not around. Putting all that aside, let's have you challenge a new magic today."

"By all means."

This day, Lecan learned the basics of <Recovery>. He wasn't able to cast it, but Nike thought he had a knack.

"You didn't manage to cast it, but the magic construction was on the right track. You will probably learn it, I think. There's nothing more handy to have than <Recovery> for an adventurer. Work toward it patiently."

"Speaking of recovery, Shira, both your wound salve and mana recovery medicine showed wonderful healing properties."

"Glad to hear that."

"I felt like your mana recovery medicine was more effective than Large Blue Potions."

"Uun. That depends on usage though. The effects of Red and Blue potions are quantitative, but mana recovery medicine's effect is proportional to the user's life force. Same with wound salve."

"Quantitative?"

"That they have a fixed amount y'see. Say there's a child, suppose his health is two points. When that child gets hurt, his health is decreased to one point. If you let this child drink ten Red Potions, how much is this child's health afterward?"

"Eleven, I think."

"Nope, two. His health won't go up more than the maximum. Then suppose your health is 1000. It goes down to 900 when you get hurt. How much do you think your health is after drinking ten Red Potions?"

"910, I guess."

"Let's say that's correct for now. In contrast, the effect of my wound salve is different. If that child who has lost one point of his health only has one life force worth, then my medicine can only heal one point worth of health. His health will be restored to two still though. Now let's say your life force is 1000, which stays 1000 even when you're wounded. That means my wound salve will be 1000 points worth also, and get your health back to 1000. But this is only theoretically speaking, my wound salve can't close deep wound and works slowly, so it can't deal with serious wound that needs immediate efficacy."

"Fumu. Then it's better than Red Potions for wounds that aren't fatal."

"No no. My wound salve can only cure wounds. Red Potions can temporarily heal internal organs illness, and even stick back broken bones. In an instant that is. And since it also recovers all kinds of exhaustions and fatigue, it takes away tiredness too. And when used on small children, even the Small one will be as effective as <God Cure>. Hence their high prices in the market."

"Really. It works better the weaker you are huh. I get it now."

"By the way, did you notice how less effective Red Potions become the more you drink them?"

"Yea. I thought that was weird."

"That's just how it is even with normal medicine though. Anyway, taking Red Potions successively will degrade its effects. Right. If you drink two Large Red Potions, which is 100 point worth each, one after another, the total amount recovered won't be 200 but only about 120. Drinking three almost at the same time gets it to about 130. Roughly speaking that is."

"I got it."

"Say there's an adventurer with a bloody wound on his arm, but it's nothing life-threatening and will recover in time even if left alone. On the other hand, that adventurer is also down with an internal organs illness which, even though painless, will lead to his death if left as is. Now say this adventurer drinks ten recovery potions. The potions have only enough curing power to recover either his arm or his internal organs. Which one gets healed, didja think."

"Internal organs of course."

"Nope, it's the arm. This is a well known story you see. There are many theories as to why, like it's prioritizing the more painful one, the newer wound, or that it won't cure disabilities."

"Fuumu."

"I'll get to a slightly difficult talking point now, Red Potion doesn't only heal wounds and illness, but it restores parts back to their healthy state, or in a way, its effect is consumed in an effort to check whether a part is truly healthy or not."

"I don't get it."

"Well, just listen for now. You can try to understand later. Even if a certain adventurer has a big wound, one that's very old and brings him no pain nor discomfort, Red Potions will postpone healing that wound."

Nike put a silver metering cup on the desk.

"This cup is you. Your health is 1000. And your left eye is located around this 800 point. One Large Red Potion will heal about 100 worth. 120 with two of it, and 130 with three."

"It won't get there."

"Yep. Even if you drink 100 Large Red Potions, it will never reach 800. Hence your left eye can't be cured with Red Potions. Amongst adventurers who have been exploring deepest part of dungeons for long, there are those whose old wounds never go away. This is probably why. Their maximum life force and health have gotten too big that there are now parts that cannot be cured."

"Fumu. I was a bit shocked when I lost this left eye, but I obtained a nice ability in its place. I don't feel inconvenienced now. But I'm thankful for your concerns."

"I'm sorry for being a good-for-nothing apothecary. But don't you give up now. An adventurer of your level will surely get his hands on <God Cure> one of these days."

"Will this left eye see again with that <God Cure> thing?"

"It will, I believe so."

"Then I'll be looking forward to that day."

"You can also get it cured right away by visiting a temple with a skilled <Healer> and pay a stupid amount of cash."

"Hou. It can be cured?"

"There are those who can, but there are also those who would take the payment even though they failed."

"Yeah no thanks."

"Well, you can earn as much money as you want anyway. You can also sell favors in exchange of the treatment. Though they would probably make best use of it to take you into their camp."

Lecan dislikes intrigues of human society, he's also bad at it.

Getting coaxed by some cunning priest and made into a handyman is a future he's really not thrilled with.

"I don't wanna go to the temple."

"Really now."

Afterward, Nike cast <Recovery> on Lecan's left eye.

Then, she smeared Lecan's eye with a wound salve mixed with Pure Mana Water which had been put <Recovery>.

However, Lecan's left eye remained without sight.

"Really sorry. The me now can't use too strong of <Recovery>."

"No. Sorry for taking your time."






Previous Chapter

Chapter 283 Strongest Sage, Breaks Stage

 

"...Understood! I shall use my everything to defeat this test partner!"

Little brother Anmorr cast many more magic than ever after saying that.
But he's still as bad as ever at using it.

I dodged little Anmorr's attacks while getting away from him, luring him into coming closer.
Those experienced in battle would have seen through this obvious trap at a glance--however, little Anmorr quickly fell for it.

Little Anmorr ran after me toward the barrier where the girls were trapped in.
And just when he was right in front of the barrier... I jumped away from the wall.

--Now.

I shoot out a type of attack magic, [Fusion Collapse], toward little Anmorr.
This particular attack magic is specialized in destroying defensive magic.

Little Anmorr seemed to have perceived that much at least, he dodged my [Fusion Collapse] instead of blocking it.
And then the [Fusion Collapse] which had missed its target flew over him--and hit the barrier where the girls were.

And then--the barrier broke down.

"Wha... The barrier!?"

Elder Anmorr sounded surprised when he saw the breached barrier.
He must have never expected the [Wall of Space Rupture] getting broken apart.

Normally, [Fusion Collapse] is not powerful enough to destroy [Wall of Space Rupture].
Yet, it broke anyway.

I only slightly modified [Fusion Collapse] to make it capable of destroying [Wall of Space Rupture].
Actually, this was a well known method to break [Wall of Space Rupture] in my era.
However, since these Anmorr Brothers lived even farther in the past than that era, they must have no idea about this.

"This can't be! The load on that part of barrier didn't even reach 2%! How could it broke!"

"Continuing this test any further is too dangerous! Let's dispose of test partners and start over--"

Elder Anmorr is confirming environment data with a surprised look.
But he probably will never find out the reason for the barrier's breach no matter how hard he looks.
Since the reason isn't due to the power of magic used to destroy it but a defect on the barrier itself.

Little Anmorr was begging for help from Elder Anmorr with a look of fluster.
But Elder Anmorr dismissed that after pondering for a bit.

"No, that won't be needed. I will now increase Lunat's life force. You can ignore his attacks, just focus on eliminating your opponent... We'd get some good data."

"But it should be impossible to raise life force through  『Broken Star』 any further than this!? Excessive amount of life force will bring about magic circuit collapse!"

"To tell you the truth, I actually left a bit of room in 『Broken Star』 output, just in case... I will now allot that portion."
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
Elder Anmorr cast a magic.
Then the amount of mana flowing into Little Anmorr suddenly increased.

But--isn't this a bit too much.
Little Anmorr's mana had been relatively stable up until now, but it's oscillating unstably now.

This will probably work reinforcing his magic for a while--but he will eventually lose control.
Those accustomed to mana control can probably avoid a fatal overdrive state... But it will undoubtedly result in grave damage to his magic circuits, and loss of ability to cast magic.

In exchange for that, little Anmorr's mana has been temporarily reinforced many folds.

"...Challenging the limits are exactly what make experiments! ...Proceeding to the second phase of test now!"

Saying that--Little Anmorr cast several times more [Discolored Explosion Spheres] than before.
It's impossible to dodge against these numbers.

No matter how bad little Anmorr at attack magic, there is just no way to evade when there is nowhere else to go.
At most, I can only go to the least damaging spot and fortify myself with defensive magic to decrease damage.

--That's if I'm the only one fighting though.

"Mu!"

Little Anmorr noticed an arrow coming behind him right as he was about to release [Discolored Explosion Spheres] and shouted.
Alma had shot out an arrow Ruli made.

"You think a mere arrow can defeat me--no, [Strengthened Test Body No.1]?!"

Little Anmorr knocked down the arrow with his left hand.
Beating down a flying arrow, as expected of a strengthened human--but that arrow was not an ordinary arrow.

The little Anmorr's hand which hit the arrow turned red, small cracks ran on it here and there, blood began seeping out.

"What was that arrow...!?"

Little Anmorr cast recovery spell while looking shocked and confused.
However, even when the recovery spell healed his wound for a moment, it would quickly reopen up.

Seeing that, elder Anmorr pondered while looking at the data--before shouting out loud.

"...It's counter magic!"

He noticed huh.
Guess it's only obvious to have the nature of your magic quickly found out when you're at a place where so many data gathering magic tools are present.






Previous Chapter

7



The day after, Lecan dropped by Shira's house. It would be the 12th day since he handed over Vurs magic gem before departing to Golbul Dungeon.

The front door has been neatly repaired. Furthermore, they didn't use new wood but one with subdued and quiet looks to it, not sure where they got it but the material used very closely resembled the original.

Shira still wasn't present.

Jericho welcomed Lecan by listlessly raised his left hand from his bed.

Just as Lecan went in the workroom and thought of boiling some tea, dripping sounds could be heard.

It's rain.

Rain is pouring down. The clouds above apparently aren't too thick, as even though sunlight has softened up, it's not enough to make the garden looks dim.

Lecan felt like looking at rain in the garden, he opened the workroom's door. But there's a windbreak right in front of the door, so the view isn't too good. In the end, Lecan gazed at the garden while standing at the door.

The herbs and poisonous plants have varying heights, shapes and colors. Raindrops fell on those varying leaves, dropping to the ground in all kinds of forms.

The closely dense formation of Speck Weed with their small round leaves are happily swaying left and right from getting hit by raindrops.

Dragon's Breath and their sparsely grown thin long leaves with red to black coloration springs down and drops collected raindrops when it can't hold anymore. Like a wise old man nodding to something.

A poisonous plant called Hell Priest stands aloof with about twenty leaves growing horizontally, possessing frightening poison, a single drop extracted from its leaf has enough paralyzing power to knock out a grown man just by getting exposed to it, but the scene of this lone plant firmly towering over other lower herbs around it possesses a certain spectacle to it, like that of a proud lady who's quietly shedding tears.

Water flowing down weed and trees created a pool of transparent water for a short time before getting sucked, disappearing into earth. If this garden had a small pond, it would probably make for a different kind of attraction.

Lecan recalled the day he first saw rain after he arrived at this world.

People around him was puzzled when he started running around trying to hoard food, later on, he was summoned by Lady Rubianafale and ended up having to explain his circumstance to her.

In Lecan's world, rain won't stop for days and days once it starts pouring down. Enormous amount of water just keeps spilling down the sky without stopping.

Rain is something that brings about hunger and cold, it spoils food, and dims the days. <Death Begets Rain> are words loaded with people's real feelings.

You've got to secure several days worth of food before rain comes down. Otherwise, a miserable end awaits you. That was a common sense in Lecan's original world.

Lady Rubianafale's eyes almost popped out when she heard about this story.

Lecan closed the door to prevent too much moisture seeping in the room.

Going down the basement, the air there was stagnant and damp.

He used <Move> magic to stir the air, and then he lit up the fireplace to remove the dampness. The gigantic chimney was made so rain won't pour down it, but it can't completely stop raindrops blown from sides. This place needs to be ventilated once in a while to remove moisture.

Lecan got back upstairs and had some tea.

Slowly savoring warm tea soaking into every corners of his body.


<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
8



Lecan took the Gold Potion out of <Storage> and put it on the desk.

It's a dungeon item that grants one some sort of skill when drank.

He decided to drink it himself the instant it fell on his hand.

But only after Shira has taken a look of it, such was his plan.

However, Shira isn't present right now.

Then should he wait to drink this potion until Shira got back.

There's no particular reason why he needs Shira to look at it. To begin with, even Shira has no idea how this potion works. Shira herself said that you wouldn't know what kind of skill you'd get until after you drank it.

The skills one gets from defeating dungeon bosses in his former world are seemingly limited to battle-related ones, but what about skills from this potion. Is there a chance the skill obtained from this potion turning out harmful to Lecan.

Shira supposedly said this.

<If you obtain a Golden Potion from defeating a monster, the skill you get from that potion will definitely be usable to you.>

There's no need to worry. In any case, he will never find out unless he drinks it.

Lecan gazed at the potion on top of his palm for a while before putting it in his mouth.

He crushed the container inside his mouth. Taste of liquid filled his mouth.

The jelly-like texture must be from the container. He has already experienced how this container melted in his mouth.

Lecan gulped down the liquid along with the container's remains. Nothing occurred for a while.

After about ten breaths. Something warm puffed up from inside his stomach. That warm something spread out slowly like tentacles in his entire body. And right after it had spread throughout his whole body without gaps, burning sensations like that of a high fever assaulted Lecan.

His body quivered. Losing strength from head to foot. He can't even afford to sit on the chair. Lecan crumbled down and lay on the floor. He has no mean to oppose the intense chill assailing his whole body. He can only endure it. That was when he passed out.

When he woke up, Jericho was looking at him worryingly from above.

The anomaly that attacked his body has vanished. Lecan got up and sat on the chair without any problem, no pain nor anything wrong with his body.

Now then, what kind of skill has he gotten anyway.

Lecan thought of that while sitting on the chair for a while but he doesn't understand. However, he definitely has obtained a new skill.

The rain stopped before he realized.

Lecan went back to his inn and got a room while feeling discontented all the way, then he had a meal and went to bed.






Previous Chapter

Chapter 282 Strongest Sage, Sees Through Enemy's Weakness

 

"Here I come!"

Little Anmorr produced a red sphere in his palm.

It's an attack magic popular in my past life, 『Explosion Sphere』.
It's not particularly that powerful, but since it produces an explosion at impact point once shot, this magic is easy to use as you don't need to aim accurately.

However, the [Explosion Sphere] used by little Anmorr wasn't normal.
After getting manifested, the [Explosion Sphere] turned blue half a second later.

Magic discoloration due to excess amount of mana.
This is a phenomenon exclusive to magic combatants possessing mighty mana.
Once it got to this state, [Discolored Explosion Sphere] exhibits ten times more power than a normal one at the very least.

That [Discolored Explosion Sphere] was shot under me.

"Whoops."

By running forward, I got out of [Discolored Explosion Sphere]'s range.
A moment later--the sphere caused a huge explosion.

I got slightly blown away by the blast but I landed just fine without suffering any damage.
Rather, I'm thankful for assisting me getting some distance away.

"Kya!"

"I-it's as if that was Iris's magic..."

Ruli and Alma sounded surprised to see the explosion.
Indeed, its strength rivals that of Iris's magic...

"Wonderful!　...Cast time 70% up, magic strength has been increased by 2400%! Our experiment is a success!"

Elder Anmorr is looking at a huge amount of data displayed on a data monitoring device while getting excited.

"Come now, fight! Give me more data!"

"Yes I get it! --Can I... Can I shoot successively!?"

Little Anmorr looked askance at elder Anmorr.
Hearing that, Elder Anmorr glanced at the data gathering device--and grinned.

"Load on the barrier, 15%.... Very well! You're permitted to shoot successively at 70% of full strength!"

Shooting magic successively puts load on the barrier.
Normally, there's no need to even worry about destroying [Wall of Space Rupture]... But in his life-force enchanted state, looks like there is a need to monitor the load.
Judging from their conversation, it seems the barrier won't endure 100% strength.

"70%, but there's a high chance my sparring partner won't survive..."

"I don't care! We've got a sparring partner exactly for this sake!"

"--I understand! 70% power rapid-fire, here it comes!"

Little Anmorr produced a large quantity of [Discolored Explosion Spheres] and scattered them around me.
I rush into the gaps between those spheres--and deploy a defensive spell.
Then a moment later, the [Discolored Explosion Spheres] detonated all at once.

"Ohho, you withstood even that huh... You're pretty good for a test sparring partner."
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
Little Anmorr mumbled when he saw me unscathed.

--I can win this.
I'm convinced after seeing that rapid-fire discharge just now.

Were my opponent of Grevil's level, I wouldn't have come out of that much barrage of [Discolored Explosion Sphere] unharmed.
However, against little Anmorr, it's a simple matter.

He has the skill to control magic, but lack the finesse to employ it in battle.
He probably doesn't have enough combat experience.

It's a result of putting all their effort into some weird magic research while making light of combat skills.
He must be thinking that he could win by relying on enormous mana and physical strength alone.

"....Could you start attacking now? I'd like to verify the barrier's defensive power."

Elder Anmorr said that to me while I was observing my opponent's trend.
...It's a pain but I guess I'll play along with him until the preparations to crush this experiment are done.

"Understood!"

I shoot some random attack magic at little Anmorr.
He then proceeded to deploy a barrier magic and easily blocked my magic.
Well since I didn't put any tricks in the attack just now, it's only natural for it to get blocked.

"Defensive magic is wonderful as well. That attack magic just now was of the highest level in this current world. --However, the barrier Lunat deployed didn't lose even 0.2% of its density!"

"0.2%...! What a wonderful result! I thank you for cooperating with our experiment!"

Yet, none of little Anmorr's attack ever reached me.
My attack couldn't hit little Anmorr either--however, the brothers found this situation unexpected.

"What's wrong Lunat! The you right now surpass your opponent's magic power by 5400% and physical strength by 700%! Why are you having a hard time!"

"My attack won't hit him! --But my strong point is the amount of mana I have! At this rate, I'll win this fight eventually!"

"Your opponent's mana amount has only decreased by 7.3% thus far. Don't think you can easily scrape it off! 　...Your mana is 50 times higher than him! How could it take so long! --I'll raise the barrier's strength temporarily! Claim your victory in the meantime!"






Previous Chapter

6



Lecan was shocked to find his body aching all over and feeling very languid when he woke up the next day. But when he thinks about it, he did go through a series of battle in which he couldn't afford to lose focus at all on Golbul Dungeon's lower stratum, and the battle against Great Ogre in the lowest floor was absolutely one where he mustered up his everything to overcome.

In consideration of his body's demand for rest, that day Lecan spent all day napping besides for breakfast and light dinner. He was told to get out of his room on noon, but he paid an additional day for his room. Chaney's subordinate dropped by to deliver potions' money in the evening. He stowed it inside <Storage> without counting.

The morning after, he thought his body would have gotten better by then, but instead it felt even heavier than yesterday. He paid the room for this day as well and spent all day sleeping.

By third day, his body could finally move even though it still felt sluggish. Rather, despite the sluggishness, he felt overflowing life force welling up from deep within his body.

Lecan spent this day strolling in downtown. He sat down in an open space and spaced out while gazing at every person who came and went.

He took a look at weapon and armor stores.

He also visited the store where he got rebuked by the storekeeper for appraising the weapons there last time. A customer was asking about swords displayed in the shopwindow, the storekeeper courteously gave a detailed explanation to him. Since Lecan has seen many swords in his life, he thinks himself as a competent sword connoisseur even without the use of Appraisal. He thought the storekeeper was mostly right in his explanation.

However, Lecan found that the sword he appraised back then had a lower valuation on durability than he thought it had. Though it's better than the storekeeper telling it higher than the real value, Lecan was curious about the reason for the imprecise valuation.

"Ain't ya the guy who was appraising my stuff openly back then."

"Yea."

The shopkeeper gazed at Lecan from top to bottom.

"You must be quite a skilled adventurer eh."

"Yea."

"However, yer' an amateur with <Appraisal> aintcha?"

"Yea."

"Hold still fer' a bit."

The storekeeper brought back a sword from the store's back.

"Try appraising this."

Lecan did as he was told.

It's an ordinary steel sword. It's not a defective good but neither is it anything of note in particular.

"Then try to appraise only the grip."

Appraising while concentrating on the grip, Lecan found out that its grip had loosened up, the sword was about to slip out of its handle.

"OK now try appraising this sword as a whole once again."

After doing that, he found the Durability value had been greatly lowered.

"Seems ya got it huh. Next, these two."

The storekeeper brought two swords.

"Try appraising only these two swords' Durability values."

One of the sword has a sharp thin tip. The other one has a thick blade and a dull tip.

Looking at the Durability values, the one with a thin tip is higher.

"Next try appraising their durability against side impacts."

Lecan appraised while being surprised to find that was possible. Appraisal result, the swords' Durability values have been reversed.

"Ya gotta be fully aware of what ya wanna appraise. Doing it haphazardly will only get ya Durability for general usage of that sword and how much it's been used. But there's so many ways ya could use a sword. And that's something unique with every customer. Us storekeepers gotta explain a sword's performance while keeping in mind how that customer gonna use that sword."

The storekeeper put away the swords Lecan appraised back in the store.

"A well-experienced appraiser ya see, will appraise each sword from all angles and conditions before putting out a comprehensive assessment."

"I see."

"But a true master appraiser appraises a sword in one glance. Besides, you've gotta got the insight to fathom what kind of appraisal ya need just by looking at a sword."

"Storekeeper, so you can use <Appraisal> too."

"Heck naw. I woulda use <Appraisal> to put food on the table if I could do that. That line of work is far more profitable 'fter all. But, it don't matter whether ya run an appraisal shop or a weapon shop, ya still hafta work your way up. Yer' gonna find yerself in a world of hurt if ya think talent alone will get you by in this world."

"Got it. That was very educational."

Lecan turned his back on the storekeeper after saying that.

He was going to leave the store just like that, but he changed his mind and turned around.

"Shopkeeper."

"What."

"Show me the best sword you got in this store."

"Best swooord? Well I don't mind just showin' ya. What type of sword yer' using?"

"A versatile long sword. I do slashes and blows with it. Also sweeping slashes with slanted blade. Also to guard side attacks at times. And to cut rocks and iron."

"Cutting rocks and irooon? We don't have that kinda crazy sword, but hold on fer' a bit."

Lecan immediately knew the sword the storekeeper brought back after a moment was not an ordinary sword.

"It got no graces cuz it ain't no dungeon item tho'. It's a sword smithed by a master blacksmith called Rusk who's kicked the bucket already. Ya ain't gonna find 'nuther sword this balanced. This thing can do everything ya asked fer'. Complete with thrustin'."

Lecan stared hard at the sword. Stared hard at its workmanship as well. It's a good sword, he thought.

It looks quite similar to his broken sword.

More than 20 swords reside in Lecan's <Storage>, but every one of them are special like being made from rare materials or possessing special ability, none is an ordinary sword like this one. His trusty sword was the best sword there was for an ordinary sword, all the more with <Self-Restoration> it had, hence he didn't find any value in other ordinary swords of inferior quality.

This one doesn't have a Grace indeed. Curiously enough, he knew even without appraising the sword.

"How much."

"Six gold coins."

"Bought."

"Eh?"

Lecan fetched six gold coins, put them on the counter, took the sword off the dumbfounded shopkeeper, and put it on his waist before leaving the store.

Once he was in his inn room after a meal, he tried appraising the sword he just bought.

<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>

<Name: Sword of Rusk>

<Type: Sword>

<Offense: A bit high>

<Sharpness: A bit good>

<Durability: Perfect>



Surprisingly enough, results of appraisal were mostly similar to his trusty sword's except for the lack of <Self-Restoration>. Lecan had an unbelievably good luck for having bought this sword for merely six gold coins.

However, since it doesn't have <Self-Restoration>, he will need to do regular maintenances on it, over time its durability will degrade regardless and eventually break. With how Lecan fights his battle, it's simply an unavoidable eventuality.

This sword's Durability value is <Perfect>, but that's in regard to this sword itself, the material it's made from cannot escape its limit.

Lecan has a need for a new sword.

A special sword made from special materials that can withstand Lecan's way of wielding it. He needs a sturdy weapon that can withstand a swing with all his might put while being reinforced by <Guardian Gem of Zana>.

Just where can he get his hand on a sword like that.





Previous Chapter

Chapter 281 Strongest Sage, Confronts Test Body

 

It wasn't obvious at first due to his normal mana reaction compared to [Warmongers]'--but little brother Anmorr has probably taken in the effect [Broken Star].
The next experimental body after [Warmongers] is the little Anmorr himself--Lunat Anmorr.

"...You turned yourself into a test body huh."

"But of course! There's only one body I understand most in the whole world, and that is mine! And with my mana as a base rather than other test bodies, it's far more stable than some plebs! Nothing else can compare as the best test body there is!"

"In addition I have been putting him under the necessary magic enchant for the past month... We can confidently say that it's our highest masterpiece."

Experimenting on their own bodies huh, these guys are pretty zealous.
The past me had done something similar so many times as well.
...Going reincarnating in order to change my crest was the terminus of that.

Doesn't mean that I won't crush this experiment though.

"Good then, I can fight without worry."

"Yeah. Go ahead and fight to your fullest... But hold on a bit, I need to set up data collecting magic tools first."

Elder Anmorr cast multiple magic then.
Several magic tools got deployed all around the barrier that enclosed us.

"...Those are some fanciful equipment."

I check the magic tools for any that can be used to attack while pretending to be impressed.

"Obviously! My big brother Saikia Anmorr is this world's best augmenter! This test facility is the culmination of his skill!"

...Best in the world huh.
Well, the work put on his magic circles is a bit loose, but perhaps that title fits considering the current world.
These equipment are more than adequate for collecting rough combat data.

That aside...

"You're not gonna fight the way you are now, are you?"

I asked the little brother Anmorr.
Right now, he's not been strengthened that much.
The unnatural mana reaction inside his body isn't acting like it's reinforcing human mana for now.

However, I've noticed the two magic stones embedded near little Anmorr's heart.
The reinforcement on this guy will probably go into effect once that magic tool is started.

I can't attack right now since there's a barrier between me and Lunat.
They probably intend to remove that barrier once he's done getting reinforced.

Although it's not like attacking over the barrier can't be done... But it'd be difficult to end the fight in one blow then.
Besides, elder Anmorr will probably regard it as an act of betrayal and join the fray.
So long as I cannot end the fight in one shot, I'd be forced to fight the two of them at the same time.

These guys are ancient mages for once.
It's not easy to win a frontal fight in a location set up by your enemy.

For now I should go along with the test, defeat little Anmorr and go after the elder one afterward.
...It would be best if they failed with the strengthening experiment and self-destruct though.

"Not fight they way you are now... huh. Correct... Lunat, are you ready?"

"I'm ready anytime you are!　...Now, come and do it!"

"Understood... Activation!"

Once elder Anmorr declared so--a change occurred.
Little Anmorr's mana rapidly swelled up and began sucking up surrounding mana.

"T-this is the power of [Broken Star]...! Ooh! I'm overflowing with power!"

Little Anmorr shouted with an enraptured expression.
Guess I can't count on him self-destructing due to failure.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
I murmured when I saw that.

"...His life force is increasing."

"Correct... You've got good intuitions. You may have talent in magic research... It's too bad that you have to die here."

[Composite Test Body No.1] was a fusion of ten people, acquiring enhanced strength by combining them.
However this [Strengthened Test Body No.1]--little Anmorr isn't that different from ordinary human.

There's only one thing little Anmorr differs from ordinary human.
It's the fact that he possesses an unbelievable amount of life force unthinkable for mere human.

Life force is the root of all mana and physical strength.
Your mana and strength will automatically increase if you strengthen your life force.
This [Strengthened Test Body No.1] has his life force increased through [Broken Star] that possessed, [Revival] which is in a way the strongest buff on life force, to create a reinforced human.

"Lunat, how's your intelligence, any problem?"

"...My thoughts are clear! There's no problem at all!"

"Very well... This is the culmination of our [Broken Star Experiment]--Strengthened Test Body No.1. We will now begin combat test as scheduled... Are you ready?"

Elder Anmorr looked at me as he said that.
Hearing that, I winked at the girls for an instant--and replied.

"Yea."

"Well then, starting test."

Elder Anmorr removed the barrier that separated me from little Anmorr.
And almost at the same time, little Anmorr deployed attack magic.






Previous Chapter

5



"Dear me, truly an incredible way of enjoying food. Though I am not surprised considering you've just got back from a dungeon. And to think you would run into young master and his group on the same day by chance, I'm not sure whether to call it bad or good luck."

In a private room of a restaurant Chaney invited him to, Lecan is wholeheartedly enjoying his meal and booze. Food really taste best after a dungeon. All the more when it's food from a high-class restaurant like this, truly makes him feel alive.

"Now then. Now that it's come to this, I have to explain the situation to Lecan-san."

"I'm good with not knowing."

"When lord-sama welcomed his spouse to this town, that spouse brought along with her, her cousin, knight Midosco Avanklein to this town. This person had an awfully spendthrift personality, and despite not being that able, held a strong craving for authority. He obtained all kinds of rights from many positions, and even plotted to make his eldest son, Aria-sama, to take up the position of the lord of Vouka Town."

"More of this booze."

"Yes."

Heeding Lecan's demand, Chaney called a waiter to make additional orders and continued his talk. His subordinates are not with him in this room today. At first, it seemed like he was being considerate to Lecan, but apparently that was not all there is to it.

"There are two people cooperating with Midosco-sama. The first one is the present master of a major merchant house, Zack of Zaikaz Company. And the other one is the second son of Golbul town lord, Henjitt Douga."

After finishing another piece of fried boned chicken, Lecan threw away the leftover bone, and drank up a cup of booze filled to the brim.

"Once Zaikaz Company set up a branch in this town, they gradually built reputations over the years, crushed their rivals through means of slightly questionable moralities, and permeated into the core of this town. Eventually, the present master Zack himself came to this town and unfortunately took away my company's position as the lord's purveyor."

"Another plate of this deep-fried boned chicken."

Chaney continued on after ordering more.

"In the meantime, town lord-sama had been gradually gathering evidence from those who couldn't stomach Midosco-sama's ways of doings things and those whom he betrayed, waiting for a chance to convict him."

"I'd like some vegetable. Get me something green."

Chaney resumed his talk after ordering some more.

"Midosco-sama proclaimed himself as the one in charge of this town military force, he persistently demanded the lord to increase the number of personnel for both knights and soldiers. However the lord flatly refused him, saying that four knights were enough and they wouldn't have the budget for more than sixty soldiers, neither do they have a need to."

"There's only four knights?"

Lecan asked while gulping down booze.

"Yes. Town lord-sama, his eldest son, Midosco-sama and his eldest son, the four of them."

"There were two knight-looking guys behind that lord's eldest son though."

"Those were only their equipment. You need His Majesty the king's sanction to be formally recognized as a knight."

"I see."

"Since Midosco-sama was getting too relentless in his demand, the lord made a request to Shira-sama to purchase five magic tools that could shoot out flames from a magic engineer renowned in the capital, Yaclubend-sama."

Now that he mentioned it. One of those five is inside Lecan's <Storage> right now.

"A mage capable of shooting out powerful fire magic is said to equal ten knights. In other words, as it was practically an additional force of 50 knights, Midosco-sama had no choice but to stop clamoring. Yet, he then went to make up some reasons and demanded to safeguard those magic tools himself. The lord entrusted two of the five magic tools to Midosco-sama."

"Another cup of booze please."

"Now then, the other day, lord-sama's daughter Sushana-sama had fallen ill. They gathered all medical experts in the town, but none could pinpoint the cause of her illness. At his wit's end, lord-sama begged Shira-sama to make a house call. Shira-sama said that her illness was born from a curse, she wouldn't make a complete recovery from ordinary medicine."

When a curse makes you ill, curing the illness will only delay its recurrence for later. You won't recover fully unless you dispel the curse.

"At that point, Midosco-sama and Zack Zaikaz made a bold offer full of confident. That they would surely get their hand on a medicine that could cure the young lady were they tasked for it. Of course, that was in exchange for an outrageous compensation."

"Was Midosco aware that it was a curse?"

"I wonder? It was known only as an illness however. The fact that it was a curse was kept secret even to the madam. At any rate, as I was aware of the situation, I made a suggestion. That I would procure the medicine."

"Hou?"

"To tell you the truth, about a decade ago, a <God Cure> was found in a small dungeon at a certain small village. It was a miraculous medicine the village chief's son frantically looked for in order to cure his mother's sickness. However, the son couldn't make it in time before the passing of his mother, he left the village out of sadness and died in another dungeon. The village chief secretly kept the Cure with him without ever telling anybody else."

"But you knew, Chaney."

"I saved that village from a crisis by chance you see. They offered me the <God Cure> as thanks. I refused at the time. Since it wouldn't be a fair trade. For the matter this time, I prepared as much money as I could possibly collect and offered to buy the <God Cure>. I went with as few escort as possible along with a coachman as to not draw attentions, but it ended up biting me in the back instead."

So that was the situation with escort recruit back then.

"I brought the medicine on the day the young lady was barely holding to her life according to Shira-sama. As for the rest, Lecan-san is familiar yourself. Ah right. The day after I delivered the cure to the lord's mansion, Henjitt Douga-sama suddenly came visiting. Saying, <After hearing about peril befalling the young lady, I have come with a medicine that will surely heal her illness>."

"You said Midosco and Henjitt Douga were accomplices."

"Yes."

"Then did Henjitt come because Midosco and Zack asked him to."

"I suspected as much myself, however I'm not exactly sure."

"What's in it for Henjitt?"

"Henjitt-sama has been in love with Susyana-sama for quite some time."
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"I see."

"Now then, from here on are but rumors and hypothesis. First of all, there are rumors about Midosco-sama losing the magic weapons entrusted to him."

"Hou. Both of them huh?"

"Both of them yes. However, those were important weapons that town lord-sama entrusted to him after many absurd quibbling from him. Not to mention the enormous cost attached. You simply do not lose them. One of those is with me, and even though I could make use of it to question about how it ended up in the hand of assassins who were trying to obstruct me, it would just turn into an endless argument of him accusing me of theft. Once it turned into an ugly back and forth, I'm afraid it would end with me losing as someone with a weaker position."

"For sure."

"This is also a rumor, apparently Midosco-sama had been visiting Shira-sama many times over demanding her to urgently deliver substitute magic tools since the ones he had been forced to buy were broken."

"Why didn't he go to the lord instead."

"The lord has signed a pact with the maker that forbids him from making additional purchases were he ever lose or break the weapons when he purchased them."

"And that's how it connects to Shira's disappearance huh?"

"That's what I personally suspected. Major drug stores in this town are currently having a huge uproar at the disappearance of Shira-sama due to Midosco-sama's unreasonable demands. Of course, high class customers of those drug stores, aka this town's powerful people are furious at Midosco-sama. In addition, Shira-sama is said to be acquainted with many powerful figures in the capital. Having made an enemy of such a person, people in Midosco-sama's faction have been like rats fleeing a sinking ship."

"Including Zack Zaikaz?"

"Oh he was leading the pack. Hence, the time is finally about ripe to charge Midosco-sama for his crimes. No. It's already mostly ripe."

"I see. By the way, who is Nike?"

"Oh, have you not met her yet? She's Shira-sama's granddaughter you see. Despite being a young woman, she beat huge magic beasts that were sighted near this town twice, and became a gold rank adventurer."

"Shira's granddaughter? A young female adventurer? Is she perhaps a silver haired young female adventurer with a short sword on her waist, outwardly appears to be in her twenties, and whom Shira would probably look like in her younger days?"

"That's right, that's her."

"I see. I didn't know her name, but I was with her for 20 days in our search for herbs."

"The two of you alone?"

"Yea."

"That's, I'd suggest not to let the young master be privy of it."

"Why?"

"Because love is blind."

"Hou? Love? To that?"

"Nike-san showed up in this town's guild the other day, you see. And someone must have informed Agito-sama about it. Along with the commotion regarding Shira-san's disappearance, in exaggerated manners."

"I see."

"By the way, Lecan-san. How was the dungeon this time?"

"Got to the lowest floor. Got this from the dungeon boss."

"T-that's! First time these eyes feast upon one. A Golden Potion is it. If you'd let me take it off you."

"Nay. I'm using it myself."

"I thought you would."

"No other treasure chest besides this spawned. I'm unloading some potions including leftovers from last time."

"Ooh! Thank you very much."

Lecan stuffed a bag with all small and mid red and blue potions and brought it with him.

After handing the bag over, he gulped down the last of booze, and left his seat.

"It was a good meal."

"I'm glad to hear that."






Previous Chapter

17-16. Pink-colored Calamities

 

"Sold out?! What do you mean by sold out!"
"Exactly what it says ssuyo. Our store's stock is zero ssu."

Red-haired Nell who was working as a salesperson in Echigoya Firm's store replied while using a tray to defend herself from flying saliva the unreasonable customer shot out.

"When are you gonna get more!"
"Next delivery is undecided ssu."
"What?! Then deliver them to my house once you have it."
"We can't ssu~ We don't do home deliveries ssu."
"Then put aside some for me."
"Too bad but we don't accept reservations for candy ssuyo."
"What! I am the customer here!"

The customer whom Nell was dealing with flew into a rage.
Echigoya Firm's security caught him as he was about to grasp Nell.

"If you really want one no matter what, how about buying off adventurers in front of the tower ssuka?"

Nell said so to the back of a former customer who was being taken away by security.
Nell's advice seemed to have hit the former customer's nerve as he kept cursing out abusive language on his way getting dragged out.

"Is it about candy again?"
"Yep ssu. Gimme anything, coffee, cola whichever, he said."

Nell affirmed her coworker, Manager's secretary, Tifaliza's question.

"The signboard 『We are sold out of candy』 in the entrance does not seem to have any effect, does it."
"Lots of people can't read after all~"

Even after the popularization of Study Cards which were said to originate from Seryuu City, the literacy rate in the capital is as low as ever.

"Maybe I should ask Tama-sensei to draw a sold out picture ssukane?"

The shadow on Nell's foot wriggled.

"Pictures?"
"Yep ssu. Even those who can't read should understand pictures ssuyo."
"Let's forget that you're trying to ask one of the busy [Demon Lord Slayers] for a sec, using pictures is a good idea. Let's commission art dealers that are in good terms with our firm."

The shadow on Nell's foot sunk down lonesomely after Tifaliza said so before leaving to make preparations.
No one heard a small "Shame~" sigh in the hustle bustle of the market.

Looks like we'll have to wait for another chance to witness Cat Ninja showing off her genius artistic skills.



◇



"Guess three really are too much?"
"We can do it! Three gobu are nothing to us!"
"Hell yeah!"

Five boys holding farming tool-like clubs are fighting three Demigoblin Vanguards inside a [Tower].
Demigoblin Vanguards are not a strong monster at all, but so are these young boys who have never taken a proper training in their life before.

The bloodied boys continued to strike the Demigoblin Vanguards with their clubs even while getting hurt by the goblins' claws.

"S-so tough."
"Keep at it!"
"Some candy might drop if we beat three of 'em."
"Right!"
"Un!"

From what you can get on the tower's lower floors, Candy sell more than magic core fragments whose price crashed.

"Over there!"

Right as the ugly fight was reaching its climax, voices of men could be heard coming from a nearby corner.

"Hehee, thanks fer' wounded gobu!"
"And 'nuther!"

Three men running in and killed two Demigoblin Vanguards in a flash.
While the boys were dumbfounded by the rapid development, the men picked up their loot.

"Ooo, yeah. Got candy!"
"And this one's a magic core, not a fragment."

The men rejoiced while ignoring the boys.

"Don't steal our prey!"
"T-that's our gobu!"

"Whaddya want, huh!"
"Stealing what?!"

The men erased their smiles when the boys protested and began flaunting their weapons, pressuring with stern looks on their faces.
The men are wearing well-used leather armor along with the recently popular gobu swords and gobu axes as weapons of choice.

"We saved your ass when you boys were gonna get killed by those gobu!"
"...S-sav--"
"Huuh?"

When one of the boys was about to object, the man with beard pressured him into silence.

"Oh crap, it ran off!"

The last Demigoblin Vanguard ran away when the bearded man was pressuring the boys.

"Sheit!"
"Folks, go after it!"

The men ran after the goblin while brandishing their swords around to hold the boys at bay.
The boys who were left behind began hitting walls and floors with their clubs, frustrated at having their prey stolen.

"We worked so hard to weaken those goblins."
"Dammit!"
"Our candy and magic core..."
"And I thought we would have a moldy bread-less feast today..."
"Those guys should have no problem fighting on upper floors."

The boys kept grumbling while doing an emergency treatment on themselves.

『So unfair isn't it.』
『Adults are unfair aren't they.』
"Yeah yeah! Those guys are supposed to be adults!"

Young sounding voices could be heard from somewhere.
Little girls' voices.

Their figures can't be seen.

『Bad adults.』
『Bad people need to be punished, don't you think.』
"That's right!"
"Punishment to bad adults!"

Yet, none of the boys found it bizarre.

『What kind?』
『What kind of punishment fit for those guys?』
"Un, umm. I know! I hope those guys stumble down hard while running after that goblin!"

The little girl laughed 『Kusu kusu』 at the kind boy's words.

『Are you fine with something so light?』
『Don't you think bad people should be punished more harshly?』

The little girls breathed malice into the boys.

"That's right! Those guys should have their weapons break and get eaten by goblins!"
"Yes! They should meet an ogre in the middle of chase and get blown apart like boom!"
"Get eaten from their head down!"
『Nice, that punishment sounds nice.』
『Just the right punishment for bad people.』

Miasma that leaked out of the boys' bodies flowed into the depth of darkness.
At the same time, grim expressions from the boys loosened up.

『Master will be happy if we punish bad people.』
『I'm sure he will.』
『Will he praise us?』
『He'll praise us. He'll also pat us for sure.』
『We might even get a kiss on cheek.』
『Can't wait for it.』
『Looking forward to it.』

The little girls' voices got smaller as they went away.

"Err."
"What were we doing again?"
"Mad at our gobu getting snatched?"
"Well whatever, who cares 'bout those guys. Let's look for our next prey."
"Right. Getting mad isn't gonna stuff our bellies anyway."

The boys who came to themselves resumed their hunt as if they didn't remember about the mysterious voices.


<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
◇



"Tch, it just hafta ran around all over the place..."
"And just for a fragment?"
"Shoulda not went after it."

At a spot quite far from the boys, the men who snatched their prey finally beat the fleeing Demigoblin Vanguard.

"Heck, we sure ran deep."
"Where are we again?"
"Who knows?"
"Eeh, 's fine. There ain't enemy who coulda hurt us 'round these parts anyway."
"Yeah. We're gonna party hard if more gobu come out."
"Ya got that 'rite"

Not sure what's funny, the men look at each other before bursting into laughter.

『Found bad people.』
『Bad people, found.』

"Didcha say sumthin'?"
"Nah?"

Only one of the men reacted to the little girls' voices.

『Give punishment』
『Punishment, give.』

"Uwaa"

One of the men stumbled upon a depression on the floor and fell down.

"What'a klutz."
"Shut up. --Tch, dang this tower and its cheap traps."
"Like hell that a trap, so laaame."
"Whaddya say!"

The man who tripped shouted back at the man mocking him as if hiding his embarrassment.

"Oy oy, stop fightin' inside a labyrinth ya guys."

The leader man tried to mediate his friends who are grabbing each other collars, but these temperamental men show no sign of stopping.

"Come off it--what?"

Right as the man stepped forward to forcefully stop his friends who had started a punching match, he heard a heavy footsteps-like sound.
The man yelled at his friends, "Quiet down", and put his ear on the ground.

"Oh crap, some big one's coming."
"Big one?"
"Ya mean tiny giant explorers bunch?"

The leader ran off by himself without replying to his friends.

"O-oy."
"What's up with him."

The men were puzzled to see their leader's fluster.

A common sense that only Demigoblin Vanguards spawn on this floor has been carved in these men's mind during these past several months.

"Tiny giants, you mean those [Ogre Eater] bunch?"
"Or maybe the [Candy Hunters]."
"Ah, those guys huh. They shoulda do chain hunts on upper floors."
"You tell me."

The men reproved other parties' bad manners while being blind to their own.

The footsteps reached the corner at last.

"Eh?"
"Oy oy."

The men had a cramp on their faces when they saw a <Demiogre Vanguard> coming out of the corner.

--ＯＷＲＧＷＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ.

The men desperately ran off when the Demiogre Vanguard roared.
Afterward, they could heard thud thud sounds of the ogre chasing them.

"Why the hell there's an ogre here!"
"Hell if I know! That damn Jifu, scurrying off ahead of us!"
"There he is!"

Their leader was standing behind a pillar at the end of a path they're running toward.
His upper half was hidden behind black shadow, but for knowing him for so long, the men couldn't be mistaken.

"The heck didja ran off on yer own!"
"It's an ogre! You run--"

The man stopped in the middle of his speech.
Because the upper half of his friend that had come into view was missing.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"JIFUUUUUUUUUUU"

The screaming men's views were turned upside down along with an impact.
They only noticed that the Demiogre Vanguard had caught up to and punched them when they saw it swinging down its fist toward them on the wall.

"Let's ru--"

The man gave up trying to say, "Let's run", to his friend who fell next to him when he saw his unshapely bent neck.
As the man tried to crawl his way out, a Demiogre Vanguard stood before him while chewing something in its bloodied mouth.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

The shrieking man swung its sword only to have it broken in half when it hit the ogre's armor.
The ogre caught the still shrieking man with both its hands, opened its huge mouth wide and took a bite.

『A bit wrong?』
『That was an accident.』
『Can't be helped then.』
『It really can't be helped. I mean, it's an accident.』

The pink-colored little girls whispered next to the man with broken neck.

『Let's go home~』
『Un, to where Master is.』
『Will he praise us I wonder?』
『I'm sure he will.』
『Shouldn't we clean up that ogre?』
『Eeh, too much work~』
『But you have to clean up your toys after using them you know?』
『Then you do it yourself? I'm going back ahead.』
『Me too~. Can't wait for Master's praise any longer.』
『W-wait for me~』

When the two little girls disappeared into a hole on the purple wall, the last one who was insisting to take care of the Demiogre Vanguard also ran after her friends, disappearing into the hole.
After eating all three corpses, the Demiogre Vanguards that were left on the site ended up reigning the lower floor with overt tyranny.

The next day, taverns were filled with rumors about Mabudachi, Shatei and a visiting dogkin warrior, who got rid of two Demiogre Vanguards.
Additionally, the boys whose prey was snatched away by the first victims apparently escaped the disaster since they moved onto another floor earlier on.



◇



"Master, going out to instruct young organisms so I report."

Nana who has put on a disguise reported to Satou in living room of Solitary Island Palace.
Nana was asked by senior kids in the orphanage who wish to be explorers to lead them in their site practice in the tower.

"Be careful out there."
"Yes Master. 『Treasure your life』 so I firmly promise."

Nana saluted firmly before going out.

She's disguised herself to hide her [Demon Lord Slayer] identity.
Anyone will immediately find out about it once she talks, but it should be fine this time.

"Master, Elterina-san and Tifaliza-san from Echigoya Firm are here to see you."
"Thanks, Lulu. At the parlor no?"
"Yes."

Lulu who came in after Nana went out informed Satou.

"Mwu."

Mia who was having a performance for Satou in living room showed her dissatisfaction for being interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Mia. Do play for me again once I'm done with work, okay."
"Nn."

Satou went to the parlor after poking Mia's puffed cheeks to return her face to normal.

"Kuro-sama, our apologies for coming without prior engagement."

Manager Elterina and secretary Tifaliza stood up and bowed to Satou when he got in the parlor.

"No no, don't worry about it."

Satou sat down on the sofa after encouraging the two to do so as well.

"Yep yep. You should visit us more often without reserve."

Arisa warped in and positioned herself next to Satou while speaking in a friendly manner.
She has her natural purple hair when she's here in the home ground Solitary Island Palace, not the blond wig she usually wears outside.

"It's about the matter with candy right? How was it?"
"Royal Research Institute did not detect a particularly dangerous substance. Here are the documents."

Satou looks over the documents Tifaliza handed him.

"The analysis result doesn't differ much from Burainan Clan's and Biroanan Clan's--but what is this postscript note about addictive effect?"

Satou asked while mentioning elven clans known for their love for research.
The research documents he got from the elves mentioned nothing about this addictive effect.

"That's not a result from analysis. As pertained in the documents, the result on that is negative when tested on guinea pigs such as rats and small birds. That postscript is an impression the researcher who did the test got from observing a trend in a portion of Royal Capital's populace. This addictive effect is so low and not on the level of banned drugs such as Corpse Drug or Fiend Drug however, it's at most on the level of a habitual drinker's fixation toward alcohol."

Satou was lost in thought after hearing Tifaliza's explanation.
That must be because he cannot tell whether the addictive effect is high or not.

He himself drinks, but he's never had a dependency on the level of alcoholic.
In former case, you can stop anytime you want to, but in latter case, the road to recovery is said to be so thorny to the point of requiring an entry in medical institutions.

Additionally, the reason why Satou requested an analysis on the candy was because the candy-loving Winged Fairies in Boruenan Forest started to get extreme in their demands for candy after several visits of him bringing in new drop items.

"It's not written here specifically, but is it like getting irritated when you run out of candy and resort to unscrupulous acts to get your hands on one?"
"My apologies. We don't know that--"

Tifaliza stopped in the middle of her speech.

"--Come to think of it, today. When Nell told a customer looking for candy that we were out of stock, it caused a commotion where the man tried to seize Nell with an extremely threatening attitude."
"Is Nell all right?"
"She is fine. Nell's level is high and the security made it in time."

Tifaliza smiled faintly when she saw Satou relieved to hear Nell was safe.

"Considering something like that occurred, maybe it's a good idea to hear the researcher's opinion on this? Who's in charge?"
"It's a man called associate researcher of Royal Research Institute." <TLN: was tled as runner-up before.>
"Ah, that guy huh..."

Satou murmured slightly disagreeably as he recalled an event that happened when the tower first appeared.

"Since it'd take too long if we depart from the capital's mansion, mind if I go from Echigoya Firm?"
"Yes, of course not."

After smiling back at the manager who gave her consent, Satou transformed into Kuro.
Without the conspicuous mask or scar, nor the distinctive gakuran, he's wearing a gentlemanly wear common in Shiga Kingdom.

"And of course, I'm going too right."
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Me~ too~?"
"Go."

Mia who was peeking on the door, and Tama who showed up out of nowhere from Satou's shadow on the sofa requested accompany as well.

"No choice. Make sure to disguise yourselves okay."
"Nn."
"Roger~"

Mia is wearing a blond wig like Arisa's, while Tama insisted that she'd be fine cause she's a ninja, however in the end, she couldn't resist the allure of a tiger set Satou prepared for her and okay'ed the disguise. Surely it's because she found the big pink ribbon to her fancy.

Arisa didn't look like she had a disguise with only her blond wig on, but since no one ever found out that she was a [Demon Lord Slayer] when she put it on, none of them complained.



◇



"Kuro-sama! We've sold out all of our Seven-sensei's plush toys! Please tell Seven-sensei that she has an additional order when you meet her."

It's about plush toys that Seven-sensei--Nana started making for orphanage kids.
Those kids have started taking sewing lessons lately, and Nana are teaching them to make one.

"Okay, I got it. I'll make sure to tell her."

Kuro and the girls came through the market area on the first floor before going out.

"Ah! Tifa-san! Have you told Tama-sensei ssuka?"
"About what~?"
"Huh? Don't tell me it's Tama-sensei ssuka!"
"Ssh~"

Tama took the [It's a secret] pose at Nell who shouted out loud.

"I'm sorry ssu."

After apologizing, Nell made a request for her to draw posters that indicate candy being out of stock

"Tricky~?"
"So it can't be done ssuka..."
"Moving pictures may work, but there's only so many things you can represent with drawings. Something like smoking ban with a cross inside a circle should be doable tho'."
"Even Arisa-chan can't figure it out ssuka."
"Nell, Kuro-sama and his escort are about to go out. Save the talk after they're back."

The manager admonished Nell who started to mull over.

"Oh no ssu. Kuro-sama, forgive me ssu. Tama-sensei, let's talk about the matter with drawings later."
"Aye aye sir~"

Kuro and the girls waved at Nell and the other as they departed Echigoya Firm on the firm's wagon.

"It doesn't have to be a ban, a signboard to tell about candy counter will do, no?"
"Ah, I see. Drawing of store being out of stock might work."

Arisa struck her hands together at Satou's suggestion.

"That or maybe making a candy factory so it doesn't get sold out could be a solution. We've got lots of coffee beans we bought at Saga Empire anyway."
"Oh that's nice. That'd open employment opportunities too. Let's talk about the location for a new factory with Tifa-san once we get back."
"Now. ■■……■ Summon Messenger Pigeon."

Mia used summoning magic she just learned from a Phantasmal Labyrinth's [Blessing Orb] to summon a carrier pigeon.
Unlike ordinary carrier pigeons, this pigeon can fly to places the summoner is familiar with.

It'd be faster with space magic [Telephone], but surmising that Mia was eager to try out her new magic, Satou put a letter on the pigeon and let it fly without saying anything unnecessary.

"So, think those candy are the demon god's scheme too?"

Satou honestly replied to Arisa, "I'm not sure."
Seeing how demon lords and demons are, he doesn't believe that demon god is a virtuous existence. But considering his warnings toward reincarnated people about the danger of overusing Unique Skills when they get brought here, he also can't reliably conclude that he's pure evil.

The wagon passed through Royal Research Institute's gate as Satou was pondering hard.



◇



『Where are bad people?』
『Wonder where, villains are?』
『We'll exterminate a whole lot and get Master's praises.』
『For the sake of getting Master's praises, let's exterminate a whole lot.』
『No bad people anywhere?』
『Must be one somewhere, I'm sure.』
『Bad people-san, please come out cause we're gonna exterminate you~』

The little girls are whispering about deep in the tower today as well.

It would take a bit more time before those voices reached Satou.





※Next update is planned for 5/26





Previous Chapter

Chapter 280 Strongest Sage, Challenges Experiment

 

"...We've gone quite far."

"I think it's around 100 meter deep?"

"Yea... Guess it's a precaution to prevent getting found out."

The magic freight car stopped after a while.
Our destination was a small space protected by a powerful barrier.

A general purpose powerful barrier commonly used in the past, 『Wall of Space Rupture』 has enclosed us all around.
Walls, ceiling and even floor are all barrier-ed.

...Probably implying that they have no intention of letting us get out the test area.
It's possible to dig out escape holes on ordinary floors after all.

One may think that they're cutting corners by using common magic like this, but it's actually an effective method.
The fact that it's commonly used is exactly why its spell art has been through many refinements over time.

...Though it's also partly because using a spell art whose inner working you don't know well could potentially result in having its weakness used against you.

"Welcome, test partner-kun."

The elder brother Anmorr's voice could be heard when I was checking out the barrier.
Then elder Anmorr asked us after pondering just for a bit.

"...Right, I forgot to ask one thing. So Mathi-kun is here to be our test sparring partner, that's good and all, but why are those three with you?"

"It's cause we're gonna fight alongside him!"

"That's right! We're fighting too!"

"Me too, I'll fight too!"

Elder Anmorr pondered a bit after hearing the girls.
Then he shook his head.

"Unfortunately, I cannot allow that... Even if it's the strongest test body, fighting multiple foes right from the get go carries too much risk. All the more reason when one of those is a dragon in human form... Mathias-kun, you are to fight alone outside the barrier."

Elder Anmorr cast a spell after saying that.
Then the barrier enclosing us changed property.

Looks like it's been turned into a barrier that lets only me through.

"...I got it."

I walked outside the barrier.
The barrier turned back to its original state after I was outside.

"Mathi-kun alone!?"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"Are you saying we can only watch...?"

"Worry not. If you wish to fight, you'll have your turn from the second test onward... If you do not want to fight, you can become our test subjects for mana reinforcement through [Broken Star] instead. We can't have you go back alive now that you know about this place... Your honorable sacrifices will definitely prove useful for the sake of furthering magic development. I guarantee that much."

I check the surroundings while listening.

We're in a 15 meter-long cuboid space right now.
The barrier where I'm in is in one of its corners.

One man stood in the corner to the opposite of the girls.
--It's the little brother Anmorr.

"I welcome you to our proving ground! So very glad to have you here as a sparring partner for our strongest experimental body!"

Little brother Anmorr smiled like he was truly enjoying this after saying that.

However... I don't see anything resembling this test body anywhere nearby.

"...So where is this test body?"

I probe the surrounding mana.
The barrier here makes mana hard to pass through, but since it doesn't completely shut off all mana, it's possible to probe to a certain degree with [Passive Detection].

They probably did it on purpose so that they can gather data which otherwise would be impossible were mana was completely shut off.
...There are ways to collect mana data even while blocking detection though... But since these methods were mostly unknown even in my past life, I supposed these Anmorr brothers had no idea as well.

But no matter how much I used detection, it only showed me Anmorr brothers.
I found lots of mana reactions that seemed to be magic tools, but I couldn't find one weird enough to be connected to Dead Revival.
Doesn't seem like they're going to revive the test body here.

Is this a trap, I wonder.
Luring us here with seeking sparring partners as a pretext before exterminating us.
From our conversations with these brothers, I don't think they're the type that resorts to such schemes though...

Little Anmorr spoke while I was thinking.

"What do you mean by where? That test body is right in front of you."

I noticed it after hearing that.

--Little brother Anmorr's mana reaction feels a bit weird.
I could feel a peculiar mana pattern like the one 『Warmongers』 had in them in little Anmorr.

The response is smaller compared to the one [Warmongers] had, but there's no mistaking it.
His mana response is obviously stranger compared to Ruli and the girls.






Previous Chapter

2



Lecan was taken to a dreary room containing nothing but a shabby desk and chair right after he arrived at the lord's mansion.

Quite some time has passed since they left Lecan here.

It's not like he's got nothing to do though.

After having a meal he took out of <Storage>, he has been practicing <Lamplight> all this time.

Controlling mana smoothly and decisively.

As much Mana as on the tip of your fingernail is already enough to cast <Lamplight>. However, he's circulating mana in every corner of his entire body, and lighting up a tiny tiny flame from among that enormous flow. Lecan continued to tirelessly repeat that kind of practice of control.

As someone who has gone through battles all his life as a swordsman, there are so many ways where attack magic would prove useful. Of course, he'll be mainly using his sword in battle, but once he's succeeded in weaving together magic into his style, he'll get even stronger and be able to cope with all kinds of enemies and situations. He also possesses magic bows that can shoot out magic arrows and wands that can unleash flames, but their power and usability are problematic, he hasn't been able to make use of one in a battle. An attack magic has to carry a certain degree of speed and power on it before it could be useful to a swordsman of Lecan's level. Getting ahold of such magic was nothing more than a dream within a dream for a swordsman like Lecan.

And now he is capable of wielding these dreamlike magic. Moreover, he vividly witnessed a glimpse of that power in the dungeon. It utterly demolished that gigantic Wrinkle Man in one shot.

However, presently it's difficult for him to keep using magic in the heat of a battle. Moreover, it's terribly costly in term of mana expenditure. As such, he's going to refine his control and raise the speed.



3



"Lecan-san. Please excuse me."

The door opened along with a familiar sounding voice.

It's Chaney the merchant. With Commander Tesla right behind him.

"Now now. Shall we go then."

Lecan kept silent. Not even trying to get up.

Chaney added more words when he saw Lecan acting that way.

"To where town lord-sama is waiting."

<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>

4



"We're indebted to you this time. You have my gratitudes."

The town lord Crimus Ulban suddenly stood up and lowered his head. Commander Tesla who was standing by in the corner of the room was surprised with eyes wide open.

Once the lord sat down, Chaney who was standing to his right gave an explanation.

"Lecan-san. It was thanks to you escorting me that I managed to deliver a precious medicine here. To tell you the truth, Lord-sama's daughter, Susyana-sama was stricken with a serious illness. Thanks to your effort, we were able to have the medicine delivered even during a difficult time, which resulted in Susyana-sama's recovery. Lord-sama wished to thank Lecan for that."

"That deed is yours, Chaney. I was merely hired by you to work as an escort."

"Don't say that. Think of my position here. Oy."

Ordered by the lord, a personal attendant who appeared to be the grand chamberlain approached Lecan and offered a small pouch on a square-shaped silver tray.

There's probably gold coins inside the pouch. Lecan spoked sharply toward the town lord without even sending a glance toward the pouch.

"How do you plan to make up for the crime of breaking in Apothecary Shira's house and wrecking her door."

The air in the room froze.

"Hou. Do you have a problem with a lord investigating a private house in his territory?"

The lord asked with a chilly voice. Lecan replied not to him as he turned around and walked toward the door.

"Please wait! Please!"

Chaney ran off and stopped Lecan as if begging him.

"We'll hire the best craftsman there is. We'll strive to restore the door to as close to its original state as possible. I swear by my name, Chaney. So please, Lecan-san, please temper your anger."

Lecan kept his silent. Chaney added more.

"A certain knight-sama lives in this town. That knight-sama has been sucking up this town's wealth through wicked means over a long period of time. And he had devised a scheme in an attempt to take over this town. Young master was instigated by that knight-sama."

"Chaney!"

The lord interrupted Chaney using an awfully loud voice. He must be saying that was not something that could be spoken out loud.

"Lord-sama. Are you planning to completely make enemy of Shira-sama here? If that's not the case, then you cannot let Lecan-san return in this state."

The Chaney now had a very serious look on his face as if he was a whole different person than his usual shifty self.

"Lecan-san. If you end up opposing lord-sama, that means the lord household will turn antagonistic toward Shira-sama as well. And that's exactly what that knight-sama wanted. Are you sure you're fine with that?"

That's one clever way to put it. Lecan himself loathes to act just as that man expected. Which means, he's gotta stop his quibbling toward the lord.

Lecan noticed another thing. Shira must not wish to have a hostile relationship toward either the lord or that certain knight. Because Shira's wish is surely to live quietly without intervention of men. In other words, if Lecan who names himself Shira's pupil were to go on a rampage, it would bring liabilities to Shira no matter who the other party was.

He's got to thank Chaney for granting him an amicable way out of this.

"Understood, Chaney. I'll take back my words earlier."






Previous Chapter

Chapter 279 Strongest Sage, Rides Freight Car

 

"OK then, walk about 500 meter to the left from there!"

I check mana reaction of the spot 500 meter away.

...It only showed a rocky mountain.
But looking closer, it's really concealing an entrance to a facility.

That's a well done camouflage.
Even if my ability to detect hidden places has fallen compared to my past life, I know a concealment if there's even a slightest bit of oddness.
It's probably hidden with an ordinary concealment magic, but its application is pretty good.

Well, they wouldn't have been able to make use of [Supranatural Art] if they can't do this much at least.
Really, it's such a waste these guys are like that.

They probably would become considerably great mages were they channeled their passions in the right direction.
While thinking that as we progressed further, I could see a small hole on the base of a rocky mountain.

And that hole widened up as we got closer.
Just enough for one person to get in.

"Come in."

"Yea."

I replied to the comm magic and drew closer to the hole.

...I'm leading the way since there's a chance they've set up traps there.
I jumped down the hole in a state where I could immediately cast counter trap magic.

But my fear ended up being imaginary.
I got down the hole without triggering any kind of trap.

There was a huge door at the place I landed down to.

『All clear. You can go down.』

I called the girls.

『T-this place was so close by...』

『...They must have set up a test facility nearby to get data from [Composite Test Body No.1]. It would be super hard to find so long as it's concealed properly... These guys are cream of the crop in term of magic techs amongst all enemies we fought so far.』

Then I open the door.
There was some kind of railway track beyond the door, with one magic freight car on top of it.
...I thought this was a test lab, turned out this place was merely a transport facility.

"Get on. It may be a bit cramped for four since it was designed for us two... But you should manage."

"Yea."

I look at the magic freight car.
...It's a very high speed type.
Our enemy's hideout might actually be quite distant from here.

I talk to the girls while thinking that.

『Once we get on this, we're gonna stop with comm magic and talk normally.』
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
『We're going to fight without comm magic?』

『Yeah... Ordinary comm magic would be leaking all over against people who could use that level of magic.』

『...I see... It's like the time with Grevil-san...』

『That's the idea... Rather, there's a chance they'd hack and hijack our comm magic. If you receive a call in comm magic, just ignore and regard it as a fake.』

Getting our comm intercepted is not a problem if we know beforehand.
But, it could be fatal if they broadcast fake information to confuse us.

『Gotcha!』

Then we got on the magic freight car.

"So where are you taking us? These installations feel too large-scale for a disposable test lab..."

"Yea. We're inviting you to our stronghold this time. As that's where the best equipment for data gathering reside. Complete with defensive equipment of course. It won't break so easily, worry not."

Looks like our enemy have complete confidence on their defensive equipment.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have invited us outsiders to their stronghold.

The magic freight car began moving as we were talking.
It accelerated along with a loud sound as expected.

"A-aren't we going too fast!?"

"T-this magic device is incredible! How could it even produce this speed!"

Alma was nervous about the speed, while Ruli peeked out of the freight car to look at the engine.
...I don't think it's a good idea to peer out of a fast moving magic freight car... But fortunately, this tunnel seems to have been properly made, there's no danger even if you do that.

"Uun... This cart-like thing is too loud!"

Iris lodged a complaint to the magic freight car.
Well the problem with sounds is just a natural destiny of a magic freight car that runs at high speed.
The sounds get amplified inside the tunnel too.

The magic freight car started to decelerate while I was thinking.






Previous Chapter

1



The fact that he accused Lecan of doing something to Shira must mean that these people too have no idea about Shira's whereabout. Even if that's the case though, just what are they doing.

"I reiterate, who are you people. Who gave you permission to come in here."

The young knight's stature is more than a head lower than Lecan. He bravely stepped forward, scowled at Lecan, drew his sword and pointed the tip before Lecan.

"I am Knight Agito Ulban. Eldest son of Crimus Ulban, lord of Vouka Town. And who are you!"

"The town lord's son? Unlawfully breaking into apothecary Shira's house, wrecking her door and pointing a sword toward someone of this house. You're saying all those are done under the lord's will then?"

The other two knights behind him flew into a rage when they heard Lecan.

"Mind your manners!"

"Who do you think you're talking to!"

Agito himself seems to be beside himself with anger as he orders the two soldiers next to him.

"What are you doing! Capture this suspicious man at once!"

"You will not!"

The owner of that voice was another soldier who just came out of the workroom, however he was wearing better armor than other soldiers. The man has an aged face befitting of his senior years. Three soldiers followed after him.

"Agito-sama. Could you please refrain from giving orders at your own discretion."

"Commander! This man has definitely done something. We have to capture this man!"

The man called Commander stepped forward toward Lecan. Lecan turned only his head to look at this commander man's face.

Lecan was awfully furious at this point. He himself found it curious as to why.

It might be because he was bewildered at the sudden disappearance of Shira, or maybe it was an anger at the absurdity of these unknown men trampling over Shira's house, in any case, he's just really furious. And the knight's attitude poured oil into that fiery anger.

Were any of these suspicious men made an attempt to attack, Lecan would surely cut down everyone present here.

"I presume you're Apothecary Shira's pupil, Lecan?"

It was Agito who reacted to the commander's words.

"What? Pupil? Pupil you say? I heard nothing about Shira-dono taking a pupil in!"

"Lord-sama is aware of it. I was informed of it by lord-sama himself."

The commander glanced at Agito.

While toward Lecan, his expression is full of resolute will yet also awfully apprehensive as well.

This commander must vaguely realize just how dangerous Lecan is.

Lecan himself turned his eyes burning with anger at the commander.

An awfully tense silence ruled over the garden.

Then at this point, Jericho came out of the still open workroom's door.

Jericho politely closed the door, moved on the ground with his long arms, and then climbed the stakes on the wall to go off somewhere.

Seeing that, Lecan's heart regained a curious composure.

Shira wouldn't have left Jericho here were she abandoned this dwelling. Jericho wouldn't have been that calm were Shira got herself in some kind of trouble. Since Jericho is quietly spending time here, that must mean Shira has gone somewhere by her own volition, and will come back in time.

Once he calmed down after thinking that far, Lecan finally replied to the commander.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"Yea."

"I am commander of Vouka Town Guard, Tesla. We are searching this house as part of our duty, we hope for your understanding."

"Duty?"

"Considering a VIP of this town, Shira-dono, has gone missing, we cannot just ignore it."

"That's funny. Shira was present when I left this house six days ago. Which means, Shira would have been absent for six days at most. Last month, Shira was away from this town for about 20 days, but no one was making a commotion over it in particular. Why would this time be then. On top of that you brought along three knights and six soldiers in tow. What do you intend to do with such forces."

"I gave the order! I heard from a certain channel that a peril might be approaching Shira-dono and Nike-dono, so..."

"You please be quiet! You have no rights to order troops around! And by gathering off-duty members outside of my awareness at that. Don't you realize that you risk getting accused of trying to raise a rebellion if you mobilize the lord's soldiers without permission?! The matter this time gets to be treated as the guard commander's order because I noticed in time to catch up with you, but it was really a close call, you hear me. You must never do anything like this ever again!"

Lecan has no idea about their situation, but he could sense this commander's heartfelt worries toward Agito.

Commande Tesla faced Lecan once again.

"We would like you to accompany us to the lord's mansion to answer our questions."

Lecan no longer has any intention to cut down these intruders. That said, he's really not at all eager to go to such a troublesome place as the lord's mansion.

He thought of running away here but he would have a hard time living in this town if he did. As he had no other choice, he decided to go along with them.

"I'm gonna get changed. Wait outside the front door."

Lecan went inside the house to Shira's room in the furthest back.

The bed has not been roughed up. Looks like they didn't notice the hole below the bed.

Lecan put away his sword, overcoat and all valuables inside <Storage> and put on a casual wear he got from Zaidmahl house. They won't try to confiscate anything off him now.







Previous Chapter