Filled with Anguish (9)
Back when I had no idea how to get home, I wouldn't have minded being used as nothing more than a seal to lock a demon away. Execution would have been the same. It was a hopeless situation either way—whatever became of my future no longer mattered to me.
"Your body doesn't house only the demon. There's the soul that contracted with the demon to suppress it, and then there's you as well—altogether…"
But the moment I heard those words, I cast every single one of those resigned thoughts to the wind.
"So you were here all along."
To my astonishment, the things that had dragged me into this place had been right beside me. More precisely, they had been with me the entire time.
"You were here. You were… right here, and still…"
Then why hadn't you answered until now? Why? You must have watched every second of my suffering, my agony—so why?
"I misspoke. That just now—what I said…"
I listened to the Great Sage and let out a shallow laugh. A slip of the tongue, at this stage? As if I would simply let it pass.
"If I follow your words."
I jerked my head up and forced my mouth to move. Surging emotion sent heat rushing to my skull, but I crushed it down somehow. The more heated the moment, the more I needed cold, clear thought.
"Can I truly go home?"
I pressed the burning rims of my eyes, then asked quietly.
The reason he had waited for my answer without speaking first was that he feared the Temple would prove inflexible—and so the real question was whether people like that would ever send me home.
"…I don't want that."
Of course, it was possible they might. They might even step forward for me.
When I thought of the companions who had walked with me until now raising their hands on my behalf, that hope only grew stronger.
"I don't want it."
And yet… and yet…
"I'm sick to death of being jerked around by other people's circumstances."
My party had a clear priority: capture Satan. There was no way I could leapfrog that.
They would say they would help, of course—but in the process they would bounce from one crisis to the next, dragging me through every last one of them. They were Heroes, after all. They had to save not only me but this entire world!
The same went for any faith that the Order would throw its full sincerity into helping me. No matter how I turned it over, I could not picture myself coming out ahead by clinging to that paper-thin possibility.
Honestly, now that things had come this far, I fully expected them to tell me to keep cooperating against Satan, or else treat me like a dangerous creature that needed to stay quietly locked away so the demon wouldn't run wild.
"I've done enough. I want to leave now."
Therefore, no. I could not endure any longer.
The possibility of being suppressed. The contemptible wariness of the priests. The nauseating Holy Power that leaked from them. The suspicious stares of citizens who misunderstood me. Every trial and hardship waiting to yank me around!
No—every single day I would still have to spend in this world!
I hated all of it! I refused to keep enduring!
I had only held on because there had been no way to look away. Now that a path of escape had finally appeared, I had no desire to keep suffering through it. There was a limit to how much I would sacrifice just to be considerate of all of you. I would not throw away the chance to reclaim my own life!
"…Yes. I suppose so."
And so I fixed a hard stare on the Great Sage who still gripped my forearm. Whether it was that gaze or something else, he slowly withdrew his hand.
"I have no right to stand in your way."
Looking at him, I also slowly withdrew the hand that had been supporting his back. The man lying neatly on the ground raised a hand. Mana gathered.
Snap.
"Guh—!"
For an instant I almost set my hand on my sword hilt at the movement of mana. But the gathered power shot not toward me—it lanced into the surrounding guards. I was left stunned.
"It's only the rebound from the sleep magic. Cough. No need to worry…"
The explanation that followed was just as unexpected. Looking at the Great Sage—who had gone out of his way to help me even though it might land him in trouble later—I swallowed a sharp breath.
"For your devotion… my thanks."
…Even so, I would not remain here.
"You must go."
"…Yes."
I laid the Great Sage carefully on the ground and searched my inventory for a blanket. Leaving an elderly man on the bare earth felt wrong, and after everything he had done for me, I wanted to offer at least this much.
It was the last kindness I would show in this place.
"Would it be all right if I spoke in your defense?"
…A final trace of hope that this truly would be the end.
"No… please don't."
Looking at the one who still tried to help me to the very last, I smiled sadly.
Defending a runaway might well bring suspicion down on you as well. And still you ask for my sake?
"Why?"
"…I couldn't say."
Even if the truth came out that I was a soul from another world, nothing would change. That revelation would not erase the fact that I had fled, setting the safety of this world aside under the pretext of going home. And few would feel enough sympathy for my situation to plead for leniency.
"More importantly, I am truly leaving."
Besides, if I failed to find the path back, I would ultimately have to die together with the demon. I had no desire to buy pity there as some "poor outsider."
…I did not want to see the young ones who knew my innocence and would weep for me.
With a faint smile I rose to my feet.
Ah. From now on I would have no further business with any of them. Or perhaps we would meet again? If I failed, I would inevitably come looking once more.
But I hoped, if possible, that such a future would never arrive.
Carrying that thought, I walked across the lightless plain.
For the record, I had given up on Frederick. My prison had been placed on the frontier for safety reasons, but the horses had not. And there was no need to risk discovery just to fetch him. If I reinforced my body with mana I could not run quite as far or as fast as a horse, but I could manage a passable imitation.
In short, the benefit was too small for the risk. I set out alone across the open grassland.
"…Still no intention of answering me, I suppose?"
There was one thing I could not leave behind. I spoke to the two beings who, it was now certain, had been with me all along—the ones who had dragged me here. Of course, no answer came.
A bitter smile rose on my face.
"Right. No reason you'd start answering now. If you were going to, you would have done it long ago…"
But could they really hide forever?
I glanced at the bundle of papers I had stowed in my inventory.
"Fine. Let's go. Dig through the entire past and clues about you two are bound to turn up."
Leaving everything behind, my legs struck the earth and broke into a run across the plain.
"Let's see who wins."
There was only one destination.
Home.
…Year 861, May 5, evening. First sighted at the Shuburken Adventurer Branch. Obtained adventurer credentials.
No one, including the receptionist, paid him particular attention at the time; physical description therefore unconfirmed. Activities within the city outside the branch visit remain unknown. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
—Year 861, May 9, night. Observed submitting the heads of wanted criminals Margarita and Schweiger at the Shuburken Adventurer Branch.
Receptionist's testimony: ordinary adventurer appearance, shabby leather armor and cloak. Race other than Shagi; gender presumed male. No one recalled hair or eye color. Weapon: longsword.
Activities within the village outside the branch visit remain unknown. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
—Year 861, May 20, night. Observed submitting the heads of wanted criminals Till, Brühl, and Florian at the Brisden Adventurer Branch.
According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Activities within the village outside the branch visit remain unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
—All subordinates who had accompanied the wanted criminals are missing. Presumed slain. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
(Omitted)
—Year 861, July 13, night. Observed submitting the head of wanted criminal Kaladan at the Hirsenchih Adventurer Branch.
According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Activities within the village outside the branch visit remain unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
—All subordinates led by Kaladan are missing. Presumed slain. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
(Omitted)
—Year 862, April 13, daytime. Sighted during the Brusada Collapse Disaster in Manahfelt. Below is the then-branch head's account.
⌈Immediately after the collapse of Brusada Hill began, dozens of demons appeared. Evacuation was delayed; a massacre was underway near the gates when an unidentified expert of unknown origin appeared.
With every swing of his sword, ogres, minotaurs, three-eyed demons and the like fell dead. The time required to slaughter every one of the dozens of demons was approximately five minutes. (However, every demon he hunted vanished as if evaporating, so exact species and numbers cannot be confirmed. Contemporary testimony firmly establishes the presence of ogres, minotaurs, and three-eyed demons.)
After exterminating all demons he proceeded toward the collapsed Brusada Hill. Knights and soldiers called out for him to stop, but he ignored them and crossed the hill.
He has not been found from that day until the present record. Investigation of this individual is deemed necessary.
Physical description and traits:
* Leather armor. Hooded cloak. Longsword.
* With every swing of the blade, black energy billowed like flame. Possibility that he is a mage must also be reconsidered.
* No fur on hands or lower face; no protruding ears visible beneath the hood. Probability of Middle race is high, though not certain.
* Hair color, eye color, gender, voice, etc. unknown. He kept the hood pulled low, and the chaos of the situation meant no one obtained a clear look. No one conversed with him either.
* Given testimony that the bodies of the demons he hunted vanished instantly, he is presumed to possess a storage magic item.
* Entry into Manahfelt is not confirmed in any record. He either slipped into the city unnoticed or joined the battle from outside when combat began… (rest omitted)⌋
Accepting the Manahfelt branch head's recommendation, decision made to collect and organize all information presumed to concern this individual. (Recorded 862. 4. 30.)
(Omitted)
—All gathered materials have been organized. However, no matter how thoroughly we searched, no sighting prior to Year 861, May 5 could be found. Further investigation appears meaningless.
Subsequent information will be distributed to every branch and continually updated. (Recorded 862. 9. 12.)
—The lack of a name creates difficulty in drafting documents.
Proposal to assign a provisional designation. (Recorded 862. 9. 13.)
—Approved. In light of his deeds to date, this individual shall be called "He Who Walks the Ruins, Ruin." All future documents are to refer to him as Ruin. (Recorded 862. 9. 15.)
(Omitted)
—Year 862, October 15, night. Ruin sighted at the Klebeh Adventurer Branch. According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons. Other activities within the city unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 862. 10. 23.)
—Year 862, October 17, daytime. Ruin sighted at the Klebeh Adventurer Branch. He submitted something to the branch; the nature of the item was not confirmed.
Ruin left the city immediately afterward. (Recorded 862. 10. 23.)
—It has been established that the band of thieves known as the Azure Bandits, who had been plaguing Klebeh, Pereyachuk, Mukask and several other cities, were wiped out without a single survivor.
However, given that news began to spread only after Ruin visited the Manahfelt Adventurer Branch, and that the city lord began searching for him at the same time the news spread, the Azure Bandits are presumed to have been suppressed by Ruin. (Addendum by Klebeh branch head, 862. 10. 27.)
—The Azure Bandits were reportedly two hundred strong, yet only a few dozen corpses remained. Whether the number two hundred was exaggeration or the remaining corpses were manipulated cannot be determined. Investigation deemed necessary. (Addendum by Pereyachuk branch head, 862. 11. 7.)
—Accepting the Pereyachuk branch head's recommendation, joint investigation decided. (Addendum by Klebeh branch head, 862. 11. 15.)
—Joint investigation confirms that the Azure Bandits' strength was indeed close to two hundred, and that all but the few dozen remaining corpses had evaporated.
Given that Ruin possesses a storage item among his belongings, he is presumed to have taken them. Motive unknown. Investigation required. (Addendum by Pereyachuk branch head, 862. 12. 5.)
—Many criminal organizations previously suppressed by Ruin likewise left no subordinate corpses except the heads of the leaders. Correlation should be investigated. (Addendum by Manahfelt branch head, 862. 12. 17.)
—Investigation approved. (Addendum 862. 12. 30.)
—Year 862, November 9, night. Ruin sighted at the Bogotia Adventurer Branch. According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Other activities unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 862. 11. 14.)
—Year 862, November 14, night. Observed submitting the heads of multiple wanted criminals at the Bogotia Adventurer Branch.
Other activities unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 862. 11. 15.)
—Subordinates of the wanted criminals still not found. (Addendum 862. 12. 2.)
(Omitted)
—Year 863, December 9. Confirmed that Ruin was involved in the bloodbath at Lineiru. Ruin killed all forty Nordah warriors who had come down to plunder and took every corpse with him.
Purpose for which the corpses were taken remains unknown. (Recorded 863. 12. 10.)
—Year 863, December 14. A cyclops appeared between Lineiru and Nikadumala. A nearby merchant caravan was nearly harmed, but an individual presumed to be Ruin intervened, beheaded the cyclops with a single stroke, collected the corpse, and departed.
Physical description obtained from their testimony:
* Untidy long hair. Color unconfirmed due to night. (Recorded 863. 12. 23.)
—This evidence suggests that several incidents in which demons appeared yet vanished before a suppression order could be issued should be investigated in depth. The similarity of the travel routes indicates a high probability that Ruin eliminated them. (Addendum by Mukask branch head, 864. 1. 12.)
—Accepting the Nikadumala branch head's recommendation, decision made to investigate the matter. (Addendum 864. 1. 29.)
—Year 864, January 4, night. Ruin sighted at the Nikadumala Adventurer Branch. According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Other activities unknown. Confirmed to have left the city the next morning the moment the gates opened. (Recorded 864. 1. 10.)
(Omitted)
—Year 864, May 5. The knight academy at Osla announced it would bestow upon Ruin the honor of the title "Knight." (Recorded 864. 5. 5.)
(Omitted)
—Year 864, June 10, daytime. At the Marnis Adventurer Branch, Ruin requested that his registered designation be updated to Demon Knight.
He thereafter lodged at an inn in Marnis. Additional physical description and traits obtained in the process:
* Hair color differs left and right from the crown: one side ash-gray, the other jet black.
* Eyepatch covering the right eye. (Recorded 864. 6. 10.)
—Year 864, June 17, night. Observed submitting the heads of multiple wanted criminals at the Marnis Adventurer Branch. (Recorded 864. 6. 17.)
—Year 864, June 24, night. Observed submitting the heads of multiple wanted criminals at the Marnis Adventurer Branch. (Recorded 864. 6. 25.)
—Year 864, June 27. After lengthy deliberation the Adventurer Guild granted approval.
All future documents are to refer to him as Demon Knight rather than Ruin. (Recorded 864. 6. 27.)
(Omitted)
—Year 865, February 1. Demon Knight sighted at the Pasarel Adventurer Branch. According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Updated physical description and traits obtained in the process:
* Discarded leather armor for a light shirt. Still wears the cloak.
* Zweihänder added to the longsword. (Recorded 865. 2. 2.)
(Omitted)
—Year 865, April 8. Demon Knight sighted at the Renant Adventurer Branch. According to the receptionist, after submission he inquired about criminals and demons.
Updated physical description and traits obtained in the process:
* Discarded the cloak for a shirt and coat. (Recorded 865. 4. 10.)
(Omitted)
—Year 866, May 5. Demon Knight sighted at the Tatara Adventurer Branch…
(Omitted)
…End of the record of the Demon Knight's deeds.
Below are questions and conjectures concerning the Demon Knight.
1. The Demon Knight is presumed to have received knightly training.
However, among those who graduated from knight academies in the past twenty years, none match the Demon Knight's appearance; therefore the probability that he is a graduate is low.
Judging by the swordsmanship employed, attendance at Chechebator or Munmunt is likely. Yet the numerous deviations make it equally possible that he did not.
2. The fact that part of his hair is ash-gray strongly suggests eastern origins.
3. The list of demons presumed slain by the Demon Knight is…
(Omitted)
…Finally, from the 5th of May in Year 66 onward, the man himself seems subtly different. Cause unknown… though that, of course, has everything to do with your memories, doesn't it?
Well, those who don't know that fact sometimes look at your absurd combat power and wonder whether you might have contracted with a demon. Ah, for the record, that theory evaporated the moment you began traveling with the Hero, so no need to worry.
Ah, and the separate documents enclosed are materials that the Information Guild itself did not classify as yours, but which I added on my own initiative.
They consist of a few unsolved cases—such as the massacre of Inquisitors near Deorfumain whose perpetrator was never identified—and rumors that a famous playboy of Bemyurhen claimed to have seen a boy wreathed in black flames, among other things.
The reason I enclosed them is that illustrations resembling the power you use appear among them… please don't misunderstand. I do not believe you are the protagonist of those incidents or rumors.
I simply added them because the fee I received was substantial. Truly.
So please, the next time we meet, don't charge me with insult or anything of the sort. Using my services again would be even better.
That is all. :)
"Daniel."
"……"
"Daniel!"
"…Ah, Senior."
"I understand your feelings are complicated after hearing that the Demon of Black Flame has been sighted, but focus. We are not going to hunt a demon—we are going to help people."
"…Yes. I know."
"Good. Then let's keep moving. Among the cities that requested aid, ours is the farthest, that's true—but that doesn't mean we have to arrive last, does it?"
"Yes…!"
"The rest of you, put your backs into it as well!"
"Yes!"
"Yes, sir!"