Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Drunken Heart-to-Heart - 2
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Though it was hidden by his helmet, he expressed his reluctance with his entire body before bowing his head.
“I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
Idria turned to Kaild.
“Sobiers is the first finger of lies. He’s the strongest after me, the limb I trust and rely on most.”
“...”
“Sobiers will join your party. But it’s just in name only. Until I recover my strength, obey his orders. Like the quest I gave you before.”
It wasn’t a directive Kaild particularly liked.
But he didn’t refuse.
For someone who wanted to be loved eternally by all, the means to get there didn’t matter much.
“Let’s do that.”
“Good.”
“I mentioned two things I needed you to do earlier.”
“The other one’s obvious, isn’t it?”
Kaild nodded.
“Stop Maide.”
“That’s right. Your fame is overwhelming Maide’s right now. He’ll struggle to break out of this situation.”
“...”
“Block Maide. The continentals who favor you now will make it a very advantageous stage.”
*Cough.*
She vomited blood once more.
The first image that came to Kaild’s mind when thinking of Idria was ‘invincible.’
Seeing her show such weakness felt strangely off.
“The second through fourth fingers... I’ll reveal them one by one once I’ve recovered somewhat.”
“...”
“Savark in particular needs treatment for his previous injury. It’s impossible in my current state.”
“Understood.”
“Go now.”
Idria said that much and closed her eyes.
Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.
Kaild quietly gazed at the sleeping Idria.
She appeared nothing more than fragile and beautiful on the surface.
Who would associate this form with the Demon King?
“How long are you going to stare at her?”
“Ah, um. My apologies. Sobiers, was it? Is that your real name?”
“Why are you curious?”
“Ophelia was given the new name Teranaim.”
“I’m in the same boat. But there’s a slight correction.”
Sobiers continued in a low voice.
“I consider Sobiers my true name.”
“...”
“It’d be good to set up a suitable backstory if you’re introducing me as a party member. Something like the descendant of a fallen knight family. Work out the details yourself.”
“That means... you’re from a knight background too?”
The empire’s two pillars were the Knights of Light and Alcahad.
But that didn’t mean other knight orders didn’t exist.
While the Knights of Light and Alcahad received direct orders from the emperor in the capital, the lords of each territory formed their own knight orders and trained knights.
Sobiers answered as if growling.
“Are you that curious?”
“You’re my party member now.”
“It’s just a nominal title. I’ll pretend to be under you on Lady Idria’s orders, but that’s as far as it goes between us.”
“You’re quite cold.”
“We’ve joined hands out of necessity, that’s all. I don’t see a reason to get any closer.”
Kaild shrugged.
Sobiers changed the subject.
“First, we need to track Maide’s whereabouts.”
“Is that your first quest for me?”
“Think whatever you like.”
“With Idria asleep like that, it’ll be hard to spy on Maide’s every move. How do we even know where he’s headed?”
Sobiers answered without hesitation.
“I can see it. Or rather... I already have.”
“...?”
“For some reason, the Hero’s Mark didn’t descend on Maide.”
“What?”
“That makes their next destination easy to guess. Let’s get going.”
Incongruous with his words of ‘let’s get going,’ he drew his sword.
Kaild flinched for a moment, but Sobiers merely slashed through space.
*Zzzt.*
A landscape now quite familiar to Kaild unfolded before him.
“The space is splitting!”
“Indeed.”
“Wasn’t this Idria’s authority?”
“Do you think Ophelia’s bugs or Hyren’s smoke weren’t Lady Idria’s authority?”
“...”
“Besides, as her first finger, I’m closer to her than anyone.”
*Clank.*
Sheathing his sword, he continued.
“Follow me.”
He casually stepped into the rift.
Kaild felt as though he’d become the party member and not the leader.
But he didn’t rebel.
It was unpleasant, but he didn’t complain.
Honestly, he could endure far worse.
As long as he could be loved forever.
Rather than fully entering Gavril territory, we were climbing a small mountain at its outskirts.
I remembered this narrow path.
‘The one the Gray gang climbed, as seen through the Eye of Omniscience.’
[Um.]
‘Not a great memory for Neril. It’s where her cherished gravekeeper butler met his end.’
[Huhu. You’ve been paying her extra attention lately.]
What are you talking about?
Right then, Neril spoke up.
“Huff... huff...”
No, more like she was panting roughly.
“You okay?”
“Totally fine.”
“Jenia, keep an eye on Neril.”
“No, I said I’m fine?”
But Jenia approached and took Neril’s hand.
“Anyway, holy power comes from that bastard, so waste it freely.”
“...”
“Heavenly God? What’re you doing? Can’t read the room?”
A soft golden light then swirled around Neril.
Neril’s expression softened, as if she could finally breathe.
Serein giggled as she spoke to Jenia.
“You can pray to the Heavenly God like that?”
“I’ve got no more prayers for him. Might change professions after killing the Demon King.”
“Hm-hm. If you’ve got no plans, how about going into business with me...”
“Maybe follow Lady Lepia and open a restaurant? What do you think?”
Serein pouted, but I thought it was a plan perfectly suited to Jenia’s talents.
“Yeah. Put Risel in as head chef.”
Risel reacted at that.
“Why drag me into this when I’m just standing here...”
“Because everyone acknowledges your cooking skills.”
Adwin said it with a beaming smile for some reason.
“My father was a chef too.”
“Huh? Really?”
“He was in charge of our hometown lord’s kitchens. How about opening a restaurant right there in our territory? He could consult.”
Come to think of it, Adwin’s hometown was Lepia’s too.
Lepia opened a restaurant back home after slaying the Demon King...
Not a bad picture.
Adwin continued.
“Uncle Offense can do the dishes.”
“No way. He’s handling the business finances.”
“I never agreed to both.”
“Everyone. Sorry to kill the vibe, but I still need to find a way to become human.”
I chuckled at Risel’s final remark and replied.
“I’ll look into it diligently, so handle kitchen duty until then.”
Neril reacted then.
“Aren’t you retiring?”
“Retirement comes after wrapping everything up.”
“Hmm. What to do. I don’t have any special plans either.”
“What are you saying? You’ll be busy running around with me.”
“Huh?”
“We’ve got to research turning Risel human together, cast wide-area search magic arrays for Offense, restore Adwin’s father, and get Ophelia a real body.”
For some reason, Neril’s lips twitched.
I continued in a casual tone.
“And once that’s all done, we agreed to track down Gray.”
“He’s fine now.”
“Huh?”
“Once it’s over, let’s go to your hometown. You need to show your mother what the hero you’ve become looks like.”
Neril slightly turned her head as she added.
“And introduce me while we’re at it.”
Neril didn’t head straight to Erenika’s grave.
Instead, she veered off midway and led us to a rundown cabin.
This must be where the gravekeeper butler lived.
Come to think of it, I still didn’t know his name.
“Domen Howd.”
“Huh? What?”
“You seemed curious about the butler’s name.”
Has this girl learned mind reading lately or something?
*Clack.*
Neril approached a small shed next to the cabin.
She formed a light mudra in front of its door.
*Whirrr.*
A dizzyingly complex magic circle etched itself across the entire door.
Offense muttered.
“Even a layman like me can tell that’s a pretty intricate magic circle. If she’d put it up from the start, that Gray guy and his gang wouldn’t have stolen the treasure.”
“I was in a slump back then. Felt like nothing in the world mattered.”
“Wasn’t that around when you met Dame?”
“It’s been that way nonstop for thirty years. Satisfied?”
“Quite the long slump.”
For some reason, I felt like I knew what Neril’s slump was about.
She’d said pre-regression that her fight with the Demon King was her ‘place to vanish.’
Not for any reward in particular—she’d joined the party thinking it the best stage for her exit.
‘No way.’
Was she trying to die? Pre-regression Neril.
My heart sank.
[Hey. Don’t freak. She’s not like that now.]
‘How do you know?’
[She asked you to introduce her to your mother. Means she’s picturing a future.]
‘...That’s a huge relief.’
[Huhu. You’ve changed a lot, but you turned that auntie around the most dramatically.]
‘Who’re you calling auntie? You wanna die?’
[Haa.]
Right then, the magic circle shattered, and the door opened.
“Don’t come in—wait here. It’s pretty cramped.”
She went inside.
Rustling sounds came from within for a good while.
Minutes later, Neril emerged holding a headband.
A sturdy blue cloth headband.
Honestly, it looked worn and plain—no way it was for decoration.
Serein asked.
“What is it? Looks super rough.”
“I made it.”
“It’s super pretty!”
“Enough. I know I’ve got no talent for this stuff.”
Neril put on the headband.
And the next moment—
*Shwoop.*
Neril’s appearance changed!
From a woman with long, dark-blue hair to one with short pink bobbed hair.
Not just the hair color and length—even her frame and build were completely different.
We all gaped in shock.
“Isn’t this Uncle Offense’s curse? The one that changes your face.”
“No. Totally different feel. That one hurts like hell, for starters.”
“It hurts?”
“Of course—your bones and muscles get remade. I just endure it. But...”
Offense peered closely at Neril as he continued.
“You’re completely unfazed.”
“Right. It’s a type of illusion magic.”
“The one you used to summon Patrick from the capital?”
“Not quite that impressive... Actually, in a way, this might be more so.”
Neril removed the headband.
She reverted to her original form.
Lightly adjusting her hair, she went on.
“The capital spell leaves a mana afterimage from the caster, no matter what. All magic does.”
“...”
“But no mage can detect this. I altered the perception so the magic caster isn’t a person—it’s the headband.”
“...”
“An inanimate object like a headband has no mana. By perceiving a mana-less entity as casting it, no one can tell.”
Someone translate this into imperial tongue.
That was when it happened.
“Amazing!”
“Huh? Adwin?”
“...Lord Byond shouted it.”
“Byond Enerica? Don’t tell me he’s strolling the underworld again.”
“Seems like. You heard last time—heroes from first-gen to third are buddies down there.”
And he learned underworld commuting tips from the first hero, Grade, right?
Thinking deeper would just give me a headache, so I told Adwin.
“He’s got something to say—call him out.”
“Yes. One moment.”
Soon, Adwin’s voice shifted.
Byond Enerica skipped greetings, sounding thrilled.
“I sensed it when I saw your Decomposition in the capital, but you truly are a genius, Neril Slaine.”
“Ah, um. Thank you.”
“Could you let me see it up close for a moment?”
“I’d normally say no, but since I need your help too, here.”
Byond examined the headband as if he’d found treasure.
More precisely, its interior.
It was packed with tiny magic circles and script.
I nodded deeply.
“I see. So that’s how it’s done.”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
“Just pretending.”
“Pfft. Figures. Only someone Byond-level would spot it—normal mages wouldn’t even recognize it as magic.”
“I’ll do a Byond impression too. You’re a real genius.”
Neril scratched her cheek.
“That’s not exactly why I made the headband. I was just desperate at the time.”
Desperate?