Suspicious Movements - 4
As Eri had predicted, the Adventurer’s Guild in Chelino City had sent a support request to the Holy Knight Order. The number of people required was substantial, so Seere and Secily—who carried A-rank adventurer badges—and Eri, who had operated in the human realm and deliberately raised her adventurer rank significantly in advance, joined without issue.
“Why are you AA-rank?” The tone suggested genuine disbelief that someone as weak as her could possibly outrank him.
Eri answered Seere with a touch of embarrassment. “Adventurer ranks aren’t decided by strength alone. The number of completed requests factors in heavily as well. While gathering information here, I worked as diligently as possible.”
She added the words she knew would please Seere. “For Lord Nahen.”
“…For Teacher?”
Eri had hoped to maintain a smooth relationship with Seere and had deliberately displayed her loyalty to Nahen in order to earn favor. Yet for some reason the situation refused to follow her script.
“So you really do harbor those feelings for Teacher.”
“Pardon?”
“…Hmph. I won’t believe a word you say from now on. You’re Teacher’s subordinate, so I won’t kill you, but you’d better watch yourself.”
Eri looked utterly flustered. The slight tremble in her eyes spoke volumes.
Did I… say something wrong?
She had assumed that declaring she would work hard for Nahen would naturally bring joy. Instead Seere seemed to have misunderstood and was now baring her fangs.
The stiffened expression and cold gaze made Eri lower her head. As she wondered what mistake she had made, Secily spoke up.
“Eli means she did it out of loyalty to Lord Nahen, right?”
“Ah… yes. That’s correct.”
“…Is that so?”
Hearing Secily, Seere’s expression eased a fraction. Eri seized the chance and nodded vigorously.
“Yes, truly. I didn’t have any other intentions.”
“…Really?”
Seere’s mood seemed to have lifted; her face brightened again. Seeing the change, Eri gave Secily a small, grateful bow.
Just then someone descended from the second floor. The first thing that caught the eye was the letter S emblazoned on his epaulet. This was Benedict, Chelino’s guild master and an S-rank adventurer—the Holy Kingdom’s greatest warrior.
Eri whispered softly, “We must be careful not to let that man discover our true identities. As the guild master here, he could cause us enormous trouble even if he doesn’t see through our strength.”
“Even if we kill him without anyone noticing?”
“Yes.”
“So he’s a man of influence.”
Seere nodded in understanding.
Benedict, having come down from the second floor, surveyed the adventurers gathered for the Holy Knight support mission. He lifted a sheet of paper that appeared to be a roster.
“We’ll begin by confirming the support roster. When your name is called, answer simply.”
One by one the adventurers responded as Benedict called their names. Seere and Secily waited, recalling their aliases.
“Eli.”
“Yes, here.”
Whether because they called higher ranks first, Eri was summoned before the others. A short while later, Benedict spoke Seere’s alias.
“Sera.”
“Yes.”
“Sylvia.”
“…Yes.”
Eri tensed slightly just in case, but Benedict showed no hint of suspicion. Since Dane had procured the identities from another region, the chance of exposure had been low to begin with…
Still, it would have been troublesome if he happened to know any of them.
Adventurers often knew one another through mutual connections. As Eri breathed a sigh of relief, Seere asked her, “Do we just stay quiet now?”
“Yes. Once the roster is confirmed, we’ll move out.”
“Hmm.”
Just as Eri had said, after finishing the roll call Benedict introduced one man to the adventurers. He wore pure-white clerical robes embroidered with a cross—unmistakably a paladin.
“This is Sir Joffrey, senior paladin of the Lilium Holy Knight Order, who will be accompanying you.”
“A pleasure to meet you all. I am Joffrey of the Lilium Holy Knight Order. We require your assistance to root out the vile demonfolk.”
Joffrey spoke with a kindly smile.
“We won’t ask you to do anything excessive. The dirty work will fall to us paladins; you need only lend a helping hand. Once you receive your compensation and return home, the job is done. Any questions?”
“Could you tell us specifically what we’ll be doing?” one adventurer asked.
Joffrey answered readily. “You will help us draw the people out of the village.”
“You mean assist with the evacuation?”
“Correct. After that, anyone discovered to be a spy will be separated, while innocent citizens will be protected separately. That is all.”
Listening to Joffrey, Seere felt something was off. Whether humans were protected or not was none of her concern, but from what Nahen had told her she had expected them to be far more ruthless.
Is there really another Demon King who sent spies, and they’re searching for them?
While Seere pondered this, Joffrey asked, “Any further questions?”
“……”
Seere disliked asking humans anything, but she recalled Nahen’s teaching that there was no shame in curiosity and no fault in asking what one did not know. So she raised her hand without hesitation.
Both Eri and even Secily were visibly startled, yet Seere spoke boldly.
“How exactly do you plan to find the hidden demonfolk?”
“You are… an A-rank adventurer. I understand your curiosity, but this is classified. I cannot disclose it until we arrive. Once the evacuation is complete, we will conduct the search ourselves, so please rest easy.”
“Are you certain there really are demonfolk?”
“Indeed. His Holiness the Pope has already issued a formal declaration… You seem rather late to the news.”
Seere asked no more. Joffrey, seeing she had no further questions, was about to move on when his gaze suddenly caught on her. As Seere shifted, the face beneath her hood was briefly revealed, prompting one more question.
“You there.”
“Hm?”
“How old are you?”
Seere was momentarily taken aback internally. She didn’t show it outwardly, but the question was utterly unexpected.
“Why do you ask? My age should already be listed on the roster.”
“…No, my apologies. You simply look younger than I expected. You are not a pure-blooded human, I take it?”
Not pure-blooded. In other words, she carried the blood of one of the other races living in the human realm. While the majority were indeed pure humans, there were also elves, dark elves, orcs, and other demi-human factions.
Seeing no value in answering, Seere remained silent, and Joffrey stopped pressing. Yet even though he had dropped the subject, the other adventurers’ eyes inevitably turned toward her.
Eri’s expression grew troubled as she watched.
Drawing attention is the last thing we need.
Attention invited restrictions on their actions. It meant someone might decide to keep an eye on them. While Eri worried, Joffrey addressed the adventurers.
“Right, then let us move out. From this moment we begin the Purification Operation! Adventurers, simply follow my instructions!”
#
“Evacuation means driving them out, right?” Seere asked abruptly just before they reached the village.
Eri affirmed it. Seere continued, “Then wouldn’t killing one as an example scare the rest into leaving on their own? Humans are frail creatures.”
Whether this came from a Demon King’s view that even the strongest human spirit seemed weak, or simply from hatred of humans, Eri could not tell. She shook her head slightly.
“It’s not that simple. There are always people who refuse to bow to tyranny. That’s why they’re resorting to forced removal.”
“I don’t quite understand.”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Though this was Eri’s first time participating as support, she had witnessed the process from afar once or twice while passing by. She had not seen it from beginning to end, but…
It never seemed to go peacefully.
Every village must have seen such clashes. And the result of those clashes was surely the men Eri had first encountered upon returning to the human realm—the ones who had lost their homes and turned to banditry. When she had gone looking for them again later, they had all vanished.
……
It saddened her. She had thought five years in the Demon Realm had dulled her emotions, yet it seemed some human feelings still remained. As Eri bit her lip, Seere showed a measure of consideration. Though clearly curious, she refrained from asking further and simply looked away. Eri did not notice, but Secily did and smiled faintly.
“We’ve arrived. Everyone wait here for a moment!”
Joffrey, who had been guiding the adventurers, stationed them in an open field a short distance from the village. He then headed toward the distant Holy Knight Order, returning shortly afterward.
“Let us begin.”
Joffrey divided the adventurers into groups—pairs, trios, and up to quartets. After assigning everyone else, only Eri, Seere, and Secily remained.
Eri asked, puzzled, “Are we to form our own group?”
“You three will be moving with me.”
“…Pardon?”
Eri was slightly flustered. She offered a mild objection. “If you’re worried about three women, there’s no need. I am AA-rank, and these two are both A-rank.”
“Ah, that’s not the reason. Looking at your classes, you are a magician, while these two are a magic swordsman and a wizard. All of you can wield magic, correct?”
“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“I have a separate request for those of you who can handle magic at this level.”
Eri tilted her head. She glanced at Seere and Secily. When Seere closed and opened her eyes in a sign that it was fine, Eri answered quickly.
“What is this request?”
“I’ll explain on the way. For now, I ask that the rest of you move in your assigned groups and assist the Holy Knight Order. Thank you all.”
As the adventurers dispersed into their teams, Joffrey beckoned to the three women.
“You three, follow me.”
“Understood.”
#
Joffrey led the three toward the village hall. Eri asked, “Why have you brought us here?”
“The truth is, heretics have been barricading themselves inside since a short while ago.”
“…Heretics?”
“Indeed. If those who refuse the investigation ordered by His Holiness the Pope are not heretics, then what are they?”
Joffrey spoke with absolute conviction. Eri, not being a believer of the Heavenly Faith, could not understand, but having worked as an adventurer in the Holy Kingdom she had seen people as fanatically devout as him. She was about to dismiss him as one of that sort when he added,
“I would like you to open the door for us.”
“…Us?”
“It seems there was a mage in the village. We tried to break the door by force, but a barrier blocked us.”
That was why Joffrey had brought Eri, Seere, and Secily—the highest-ranked mages among the adventurer support. The easiest way to break magic was with stronger magic. In short, he wanted them to shatter the barrier with superior spells.
Eri hesitated. To gather concrete information as Nahen had ordered, she ought to comply with Joffrey. Yet she could not shake the anxiety of what might happen once she opened that door with her own hands. Still, Nahen’s command took precedence. She was about to answer when—
“It won’t break because of a barrier?”
Seere cut in first. Joffrey nodded.
“It appears the caster was quite skilled in barrier magic.”
“Step aside. I’ll break it with my sword.”
Seere stepped forward boldly, but Joffrey stopped her.
“Look here. I’m not doubting the skill of an A-rank adventurer, but even our order’s captain couldn’t break this barrier. For you to say you’ll simply cut it with a sword…”
“You won’t even let me try?”
“……”
Joffrey had nothing to say. He honestly thought it would be a waste of time, but there was no risk in letting her attempt it.
“…Very well. Do as you wish.”
Seere smiled with satisfaction and drew her sword. She had naturally been unable to bring Bloodred, but she held a sturdy blade. Joffrey could tell at a glance that it was an excellent weapon.
Seere lifted the sword lightly with one hand. Joffrey narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight.
Even the captain and I couldn’t break it, yet she thinks she can do it one-handed…?
It was impossible. Joffrey watched without much expectation. Yet his prediction was spectacularly wrong.
CRAAAAACK!!!
“…?”
Joffrey’s eyes widened. Seere, however, pointed at the shattered barrier with an expression that said it was nothing special and spoke in a relaxed voice.
“See? It broke.”
“H-how…?”
Ignoring the bewildered Joffrey, Seere placed her hand on the doorknob. The moment she yanked it open, something flew out from inside.
Clang!
“That startled me.”
What had flown at Seere was a sharp farming tool. Fortunately she had caught it; had she failed to react, it might have pierced her skull. Eri, Secily, and even Joffrey looked shocked. The irony was that Seere herself appeared completely unthreatened.
“H-how did you get in…!”
“Kyaaaah!”
“G-get out! Get out!!”
Quite a few villagers were inside the town hall. Joffrey regained his composure at the sight and remembered his duty. He clapped a hand on Seere’s shoulder.
“Well done. That was an excellent sword strike.”
It was merely meant as encouragement. No one could have predicted it would touch Seere’s reverse scale.
“Hey.”
“Hey?”
“Remove it.”
Joffrey felt his entire body stiffen. Eri and Secily beside him felt the same sensation.
…Magic power?
Seere, thoroughly displeased, had released her magic power and seized control of the surrounding area. Joffrey and Eri wondered why she was reacting so strongly to a mere hand on the shoulder, but to Seere, being spoken down to by a human was far more offensive.
Touching me…
Is something only Teacher is allowed to do.
Seere glared at Joffrey with fierce, axe-like eyes.
“Remove it.”
“…Y-yes, of course.”
Joffrey barely managed to move his trembling hand and lift it from her shoulder. Yet Seere’s mood had not improved; she clicked her tongue in irritation.
“Just wipe them all out…”
“Sera.”
Secily called her from behind. Seere glanced back, let out a small sigh, and withdrew her magic power.
“I opened it for you. Handle the rest yourselves.”
Joffrey could not answer easily. He simply nodded and obeyed Seere’s command. As Seere turned on her heel and left, Secily followed. Passing Eri, she whispered quietly,
“We’ll leave this place to you. Please watch carefully how they handle it and report back.”
“…Understood.”