Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Comedy and Tragedy - 2
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One hour later.
We arrived at Havel Territory.
To give you an idea of just how incredible that speed was, Kaild and his lackeys weren't even there yet—Idria's monsters were still nothing more than smoke.
But even that smoke alone had the territory gripped in shock and terror.
I immediately requested an audience with the lord.
The lord of Havel Territory wiped away his cold sweat nonstop as he spoke.
"Y-Your heroic reputation precedes you, Hero."
I couldn't tell if he was scared because of the smoke or because of my name.
"You must be here because of that black smoke."
"Yes. And it's not just any smoke."
"......"
"You should've already received the announcement through the Empire's communication orb system. That's the monsters of the Demon King of Lies and Deceit, Idria."
Gulp.
He swallowed hard, his entire body trembling.
He knew, but he didn't want to believe it—that was the look on his face.
Was it the shock?
The lord uttered words he never would have spoken under normal, rational circumstances.
"Ahh. Why is it Maide instead of Kaild... Eep!"
He clamped his mouth shut too late.
Snap.
A vein bulged clearly on Neril's forehead.
Even the relatively mild-mannered Jenia and Risel were the same.
"What did you just say......"
"Calm down."
"Maide."
"From his position, it's a perfectly understandable reaction. Kaild's already handled the monsters four times by now."
My name, Maide Mohan, probably never came up in those four territories.
No, it wasn't just that.
In a subtle tone, I asked the lord,
"In those four territories recently attacked by monsters, how have I been evaluated?"
"Pardon?"
"It's fine. Please be honest."
The lord cautiously studied my face.
Realizing I meant it, he took a deep breath and spoke.
"They say you summoned those monsters, Maide......"
"......"
"B-But I don't think that's true!"
"I understand."
So that's how they tarnished someone else's reputation?
He'll have to pay the proper price for this.
I pondered for a moment.
Soon, a good idea came to mind.
"Lord."
"Y-Yes!"
"You don't have to answer so stiffly."
"......"
"No matter what you think, I am the true Hero. And the rumors circulating are the exact opposite."
I continued in a low voice.
"Kaild is the one who summoned the monsters."
"N-No way."
"I'll prove my words are true."
Not just the lord—the party's expressions were filled with doubt too.
Being in league with the monsters would be the secret Kaild most wanted to hide.
So how could I expose and prove it?
I slowly opened my mouth.
"To prove it, I need your cooperation, Lord."
"......What is it?"
"Keep our arrival here a secret."
Neril cut in.
"Keep it a secret? Why?"
"We need Kaild to think 'everything's going smoothly.'"
"......"
"If Firensha comes with him like last time, she'll try to drive off Kaild and the monsters. Then my proof goes up in smoke."
That sharp second finger would avoid a showdown with me and settle for splitting the fame amicably.
I couldn't let that happen.
I looked at the lord.
"Will you grant my request?"
"But......"
"Lord, if I prove that the monsters and Kaild are in league, you'll become a hero."
"Me?"
"The biggest mystery on the continent right now is figuring out who's the fake between me and Kaild. Havel Territory will be known as the place that solved it. You'll be the star of the story."
His eyes darted around.
As the fear and anxiety faded, he seemed to be calculating profits and losses like always.
"Do you think His Majesty the Emperor will just praise a lord who achieves that and call it a day?"
"Ahem."
"If need be, I can petition His Majesty myself. I'll say your contribution to exposing the fake Hero was immense."
He froze.
His eyes stopped moving.
He'd finished deliberating.
I gave his back a light push.
"All you have to do is one thing, Lord. Keep secret that I arrived here first."
A moment later, he replied.
"Very well, Hero."
Good.
He doesn't seem like he's lying.
We soon withdrew from the lord's residence.
After securing a suitable inn and taking seats, Serein spoke up.
"While we were busting our asses, Kaild was sucking up all the glory, huh."
"Yeah. I could've guessed that much just from the fame stats. But......"
"Yes. Hearing the actual evaluations makes it even more disgusting."
I chuckled.
"So we have to pay him back."
"Pay him back?"
"Originally, we planned to take out the monster horde before Kaild could lift a finger, right?"
"We did."
"Time to change plans."
Everyone tilted their heads.
In a somewhat sinister voice, I continued.
"I said it earlier. I'll prove he's teamed up with the monsters."
"How?"
"I'll make it look like the monsters don't counterattack at all, even when Kaild attacks them."
No matter how staged the play, the monsters had to play their roles faithfully.
They had to attack Kaild sometimes, and he had to take a few hits too.
But if Kaild slashes and slashes and they just take it meekly?
Wouldn't that be too suspicious?
Neril nodded.
"I get that far, but how do you plan to stop the monsters from counterattacking?"
"By making sure they can't even twitch a finger. With this."
Thwack.
I flicked the gem.
The Withering Jewel.
Neril, realizing what I meant, lit up.
"That just might work...... If we drain their vitality down to the roots."
"Glad to hear it."
"Perfect timing too. I was just thinking it needed recharging."
"Hm. But can it absorb the monsters' vitality? Come to think of it, this is a Demon King's core."
Even if it was Idria's fake one.
"It can. I refined it myself, remember?"
"Ah."
"It's not a Demon King's core anymore. Think of it as a tool that absorbs vitality and amplifies power. From how it felt against those monsters last time, it should absorb plenty."
She smiled contentedly.
"Absorbing the vitality of ten thousand monsters should keep me stocked for a good while. Like being full without eating."
I chuckled.
That's when Offense spoke up.
"But if this plan gets found out, we're done. If Idria peeks at us even once, it's over."
"Exactly."
"And if Firensha comes with Kaild, it could be risky. That lackey seemed pretty sharp."
"Right. That's why we're moving."
"Huh?"
I stood up.
"Let's head back to this morning's territory. It's close enough to go back and forth in an hour anyway."
Ambiguous smiles crossed everyone's faces.
They still couldn't get used to the speed, it seemed.
In a cautious tone, Neril asked,
"Still, there's one thing bothering me."
"What?"
"Will it really work just by having the monsters not attack Kaild?"
"......"
"They've got brains too. Of course they'll counterargue. They might say you're controlling the monsters to frame him."
I chuckled.
"You're right, but that plan is just step one."
"......?"
"It's just planting the seed of doubt. The real key comes next."
I continued slowly.
"Who says only Kaild gets to do the acting?"
Five days later.
The black smoke had become an army of ten thousand.
Kaild and Firensha were facing them with the same gusto as before.
With the walls at their back, basking in the cheers of all the soldiers, they boldly confronted the monsters.
Up to here, it was business as usual.
But Firensha felt a nagging unease.
'The lord...... He seemed like he was hiding something.'
The empty-headed Kaild didn't notice, but she'd caught the lord's smile falter slightly.
But what could he be hiding at this point?
She closed her eyes and called to Idria.
-Mom. Got a moment?
-Speak freely.
-Where's Maide's party right now? Something feels off.
Idria didn't ask why.
If Firensha felt uneasy, it was always right.
But when she checked Maide's party with her spatial authority, they were still in the same spot as five days ago.
-Nothing to worry about. He hasn't moved.
-I see. Hmm.
-What's wrong?
-The lord seems to be hiding something. But if it's not related to Maide, it doesn't matter.
-Come back if you're uncomfortable.
-No!
Firensha continued with an enthusiastic expression.
-I know sending ten thousand troops through space isn't easy, even for you now that you're stronger. We have to make it worth it.
-Hee hee. Alright. Don't push yourself.
-Thanks.
Just as her connection with Idria cut off, Kaild's voice rang out.
"Not starting?"
"Ah. I was in a good mood."
"......?"
"No. Let's begin. How much power should I grant you?"
Kaild crossed his arms and pondered.
"Last time, the battle ended too quick and easy."
"About half a day, right?"
"Yeah. Make them a bit weaker this time."
Firensha nodded and snapped her fingers.
And in the next instant.
Kaild felt an indescribable power surging through his body.
It was beyond human words.
A power that felt like he could do anything if he set his mind to it.
A power fit for a hero...... no, even a god.
The second finger of deceit could make any target she touched incredibly strong.
Miraculously so.
"Start whenever. If you feel yourself getting pushed, I'll support you again."
"Heh. Thanks as always."
"No problem. Put on a good show this time too."
Shing.
Kaild drew his sword and replied.
"It's not our first rodeo. What's there to worry about?"
Morning of the fifth day.
I was thinking of heading out when a red screen suddenly popped up.
It turned blue soon after, as if just confirming my location.
I chuckled and said,
"Idria's peeking again. Offense, your advice paid off."
"My doing again, huh."
"You're losing your humility lately."
"Who'd I learn it from?"
Not me, I hope.
Jenia said,
"Good thing we evaded ahead of time. It could've been dangerous."
"Yeah. Kaild's probably about to stage his epic monster battle soon."
"What if the fight ends before we get there?"
"We checked the Empire's communique already. In the past four monster invasions, Kaild dragged the fight out for half a day. We'll arrive in under an hour."
He probably thought putting on such a splendid show for the territory's people boosted his fame.
Thanks to that, we're saved.
"Let's head out now."
"Yes. Agril!"
Soon, we rocketed toward Havel Territory at terrifying speed.
If you love theater so much, I'll put on a show for you, Kaild.
'It won't be the ending you want, though.'
When we arrived at Havel Territory, Kaild was already in the thick of it, rampaging away.
"Graaaah!"
"Gruk?"
"Kieeeek!"
He was in the middle of the monsters, showing off his skills to his heart's content.
Whoosh.
Every swing of Kaild's sword cleaved through dozens of monsters effortlessly.
Of course, for the sake of a convincing performance, the monsters counterattacked relentlessly.
Spewing poison needles, launching thorns, snapping with fangs.
But Kaild blocked it all with ease, dominating the battlefield.
Neril muttered,
"He seems stronger than when we saw him at Garril Territory last time."
"Firensha's here too."
"Hm? Ah. Yeah, there she is. But what do you mean, 'because Firensha's here'?"
"Look at her hands."
Neril narrowed her eyes.
Offense cut in.
"Neril, your eyes aren't what they used to be. Don't strain them."
"Written your will yet?"
"I'll tell you instead......"
"Have you?"
"......"
That's when Jenia, whose eyesight was as good as mine or Offense's, spoke up.
"She's snapping her fingers repeatedly. What do you think that motion is?"
"Probably powering up Kaild."
"Huh? That?"
"Firensha didn't seem like a combat type last time. And she's staying way back from the battlefield now too."
"......"
"A Demon King's lackey didn't tag along just to watch the fight. Her role must be strengthening Kaild."
That's why, before my regression, Firensha never acted alone.
She always traveled with the other fingers, supporting them reliably from the rear.
Facing a lackey buffed by her support meant running for your life was the only smart move.
[How the hell does she make them that strong?]
'Adwin will explain soon.'
[What? What do you mean?]
It was then.
Adwin gaped and shouted,
"I think I know!"