Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: A Slightly Old Secret - 3
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The next day.
We headed to the lord's residence.
We ran into Kaild right out front.
"Good morning."
"Yeah. Shake on it?"
"We shook plenty yesterday."
"Good thing. I was scared you'd actually want to."
We flashed each other bright smiles.
My companions whispered from behind.
"This vibe feels like it'd be better if they just fought outright."
"I've never seen Maide get under someone's skin like that."
"Heh heh. Their killing intent is rattling my bones. It's been 2,000 years since I felt killing intent this thick."
"Kid. You got all pumped from that 1,500-year story yesterday, huh?"
Anyway, I straightened my expression and said.
"Shall we head in?"
Just then, Neril tilted her head and asked.
"But where are the rest of your party?"
"Hm?"
"You came alone. Where are the other three?"
"Why do you care, Witch of Atrocities?"
"I just asked because they're not here."
"Sigh. What's the problem if they're not?"
Come to think of it, before my regression, Kaild had used formal speech with Neril.
Guess he doesn't need to bother with manners now that they're not on the same side.
Jenia answered in Neril's place.
"Maide's never once left us behind. Whether meeting the lord or anyone else."
"Ah."
Kaild snapped his fingers lightly.
"Looks like he wants to borrow your hands for everything, start to finish, since it's too much for him alone."
"Watch your mouth."
"Yeah, I am."
"......"
"As I said yesterday, we're gathered to defeat the Demon King. And no one's more suited to killing the Demon King than a hero."
Kaild yawned, like he was bored explaining something so obvious.
"So the hero decides how to handle everything. Even my party members agreed to that."
"......"
"Don't get the wrong idea. It's not about ignoring them—it's just more efficient this way."
"Hmph."
"If you're aiming for hero, Maide, you should do the same. Not trying to lecture you, of course."
I smirked and replied.
"If I were aiming for hero, I'd do the exact opposite of you."
The lord of Tetra Territory was Count Graham de Flynn, a young man in his thirties who had inherited his title quite early.
He greeted us with utmost humility.
"Maide. And Kaild. It's an honor to meet you both."
"You know us?"
"Of course. Maide, hero of the north. Kaild, hero of the south. Anyone in this position who doesn't know your names wouldn't belong here."
I opened my mouth slightly.
The territory's central location on the continent meant they kept ears open to both sides.
Kaild glanced at me and spoke.
"It's an honor. I only did what needed doing."
"Haha. So humble."
"......"
"Anyway, two heroes in the same era—it's the empire's joy. Of course......"
His expression darkened slightly.
"It also means the Demon King's descent isn't far off."
"......"
"Still, it's strange. History's never had two heroes at once. No oracle has come down yet, though."
His eyes asked the question.
Which of you is the real hero?
I shrugged and changed the subject.
"More importantly, we came today because we have urgent business."
"I'm listening."
"Something big's about to happen in this territory soon."
The count's face hardened.
"Like what, exactly?"
"A natural disaster. An earthquake."
"Our territory has had its share of quakes in the past, thanks to my shortcomings."
"Not like this. It'll be a massive one—castle and residence collapsing, mountains flipping."
"......! What should I do?"
I like how fast he gets to the point.
Kaild and I answered at the same time.
"Please evacuate everyone."
"Just stay put."
"......?"
"......"
I asked.
"An earthquake hits, and we just stay put? What the hell does that mean?"
"That's what I want to know."
He approached me and whispered.
"If we evacuate the territory folk, who's left to witness our feats?"
"......"
"Rumors from ear to ear don't hit like miracles seen with your own eyes. Sounds to me like you're throwing away a chance to boost your fame."
"......"
"How's that gonna make you a hero, Maide Mohan?"
I let out a sigh.
"What if something goes wrong? Territory folk are helpless against a big quake. You gonna run around rescuing them one by one?"
"No room for error. If it does go wrong, that's their fate."
"Hah."
I let out a deep sigh.
I don't want to argue with this guy.
So I told the lord.
"Evacuate the folk, but they don't need to leave Tetra Territory. Divide the territory into five sections—the easternmost one's impact will be lightest."
"Pardon?"
"At worst, furniture topples, bodies shake. There's probably an old training ground for the garrison there, right? Have them hole up for a day or two."
Old training ground.
Where Kaild and I clashed yesterday.
It looked set up for cavalry drills too, so not livable long-term, but crammed full, it could hold them for now.
Grab.
Kaild gripped my shoulder.
"Who said you could steer the conversation?"
"Let go while I'm asking nice."
"What'd you take my words earlier for?"
"Dunno. Can't remember—care to shout it again?"
Kaild's face stiffened.
Can't exactly say in front of the lord, "Stay put and risk death to witness my glory."
So he tried something else.
"How can you be sure the east sees less impact? How do you even know where it'll hit?"
I know from pre-regression memories.
Epicenter's west side of the territory.
Tetra took heavy damage because castle, residence, and homes clustered west.
Can't say that, so I gave a convenient answer.
"You call yourself a hero and don't know?"
"Annoying answer."
"I get your worry—don't sweat it. I have a plan."
I leaned in and whispered.
"Not passing up fame. I'll make sure you get yours too."
"......"
"You can trust me on this, even if nothing else. A hero aspirant give up fame?"
Kaild glared a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. Let's see."
"Thanks."
"Anyway, that's the plan, Count."
The lord stared blankly, then startled.
"Pardon?"
"Do as he said—evacuate everyone to that old training ground. Deadline... six days left."
"Wh-what next?"
Kaild replied softly.
"Just watch."
A mass exodus began in Tetra Territory.
Just a day or two under cover, but fearing property loss in the big quake, folk packed heavy—looked like a full refugee trek.
[It basically is one.]
'Fair point.'
Anyway, we blended into the trudging masses.
We helped the weary body and soul, refining our strategy bit by bit.
And six days passed.
Earthquake day.
Me and Kaild's showdown.
Kaild stood at the epicenter of the upheaval.
Physically, atop the castle.
Spot overlooking the whole territory—one hell of a view any other time.
-Crack. Boom!
Century-old trees toppled, roads and bridges crumbled.
Houses collapsed, ground caved.
But the castle they stood on held firm.
"Oh, gods of heaven......"
Serein's prayer-woven holy power enveloped the entire castle.
Risel asked.
"Kaild. Shouldn't we start?"
Risel rarely chatted with anyone, party included—but she was relatively at ease with Kaild.
Serein chattered from behind.
"Yeah. It's getting tough for me too. I don't have a holy sword like some."
"......"
"That knight down there's got the holy sword Kesar, I think. Ahh, it'd be nice if our leader snagged one for me."
Kaild slowly turned to look at Serein.
She flinched at his impassive gaze, waving hands frantically.
"Joking, joking."
"Jokes are supposed to make people laugh."
"Uh...... sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood."
"No. I was too curt. Not trying to wear you out on purpose."
He pointed at the territory.
"Judged it'd be better to let a bit more damage happen first."
"Pardon?"
"That way......"
Kaild cut off.
That way, it'd convey the quake's destructive power more vividly.
Boosting his fame for stopping such a massive quake.
But Kaild didn't expect his party to grasp this "heroic" thinking.
'Only Maide and I would understand.'
Laughter bubbled at the irony—his sole kindred spirit was his rival.
"Anyway, let's start. Risel, if you would."
"I just stay back, right?"
"Yeah. Same as always."
"Got it."
Same positioning as ever.
Kaild raised both arms high at the castle's edge.
Anyone without context would think he was about to do something to stop the quake.
Serein watched, then whispered to Offense.
"Not the first time we've talked this, but that feels off, right?"
"Why? Bad that Kaild takes credit for Risel's work?"
"......Not exactly, but no need this time. No territory folk watching."
"Maide told Kaild he'd wring out fame no matter what, so don't worry. Kaild prepping full even without eyes makes sense."
"......"
"Hey. If you don't like it, tell Kaild, not me."
Serein just pouted instead of answering.
But what could she do?
Kaild commanded it in the hero's name.
And Risel herself took it in stride.
No room for her to butt in.
Risel closed her eyes behind Kaild and murmured softly.
"Arkdar. baan. Opil. Serium."
Serein whispered to Offense again.
"Wonder every time—what spell's that?"
"Not a spell."
"Huh?"
"Think of Magna Nero's precedent. He didn't summon spirits with spells—just spoke to them."
"......"
"So those weird pronunciations are the spirit language itself, commanding them. Spirit tongue, if you will."
"You're unusually knowledgeable, Offense."
"You're true to form—always one word too many."
As they bantered lightly.
"Darkrani. Malpyre. Aitum!"
Bang.
Risel's voice rose.
Moments later, the ground tremors began to subside.
Her "command" working on the earth spirits.
Serein nearly whistled but held back—didn't suit a "delicate priestess."
Soon after.
"Whew. Done."
Risel smiled brightly.
Kaild lowered his arms for show and looked down.
Thanks to his deliberate delay, much of the territory was wrecked—but overall, not catastrophic.
'Just right.'
Surely the way to max out fame.
Offense said.
"Good work, Risel."
"Ah, no......"
"Kaild. What's next? Maide didn't interfere at all."
Kaild's original request to Offense: Block Maide, in case of sabotage.
But Maide never showed, even after quakes stopped.
Kaild turned and answered.
"No idea what he's scheming, but we do our part."
"Our part?"
"Visit the shelter, of course. Announce the quake's safely stopped, bask in praise. That's our job."
All nodded.
Then a voice pierced them.
"Got a minute?"
Swish.
They spun around in haste.
"Eek."
Serein made a weird noise.
"A monster!"
"It's the Divine Carriage."
"That knight's voice?"
Atop the castle's top floor appeared a beast like a dragon.
And atop it, Maide's party.
Six days prior.
After hearing the old secret from Grade, I came up with a solid plan right away.
I explained slowly to everyone.
Neril, listening intently, tilted her head.
"You're asking Risel to stop the earthquake?"
Adwin picked up.
"Risel sis is......"
"What sis? She's 1,500 years old."
"I call you sis too, Neril sis?"
"Yeah. So?"
"......Anyway, Risel seems to follow Kaild more than the others. No way she'd agree to hand it to you, brother Maide. Quake's once-only chance."
I smirked.
"Who said once-only?"
Mouths gaped.
Right—pre-regression, Tetra had two quakes.
Eight hours apart.
But more crucial than twice was the scale difference.
"First's a minor tremor. Hits every ten years or so."
"......"
"Second's the big one. Century-level."
"Ah."
"As I said, Tetra's quake-prone, folk used to it. First'll scare 'em, but nothing unheard-of."
And that's my hook.
If Risel stops the first minor one, Kaild thinks he won, drops guard.
But......
"If I set the groundwork here, then stop the second big one myself, I can flip it."
"Makes sense. Blocking same quakes, bigger one's fame wins."
"Nope. Far from it."
"Huh?"
"I'll plant a bomb in the first minor one. Details later—you'll see. But one thing's sure......"
I grinned and continued.
"I won't let that bastard take even a speck of fame from this territory."