Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Homeward - 3
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Risel clasped her hands together and bowed politely, true to her personality.
“Long time no see.”
Serein blinked before returning the greeting.
“Ah, yeah. How’ve you been? But is this really how we should be greeting each other?”
“I know it’s confusing, but please hear me out first.”
The moment Kaild had left, Risel had tried to approach Serein.
But sensing something off about his sudden decision to disband the party even temporarily, she had attached one of her spirits to him for surveillance.
And that’s how she learned he was climbing Mount Baharma—the mountain that was the Jewel of Destruction itself.
With a hunch, Risel had sent her spirit to patrol Hasfil Territory, where she discovered Maide and his group.
The Jewel of Destruction, Kaild, and Maide’s party.
It hit Risel like a bolt of lightning.
“Kaild is trying to unseal the Jewel of Destruction. He plans to use it to kill Maide and his party members.”
Serein tilted her head.
Not expecting her to grasp it all at once, Risel prepared to elaborate.
But Serein was far sharper than she’d anticipated.
“Oh man, that old guy’s really going all the way.”
“......Pardon?”
“But didn’t Grade destroy the Jewel of Destruction? Why is there even a seal on it?”
Risel froze as memories of the past flooded back.
Hermes Meim.
She had loved Grade, but that didn’t mean she disliked the other party members.
The first hero’s party had its own bonds and camaraderie.
Hermes had been the kindest and most gentle among them.
‘The one who prayed for our party every mealtime.’
She could still vividly recall how he’d sternly scolded Grade for picking up his spoon during prayer.
And now, the one trying to break that man’s seal was Kaild.
Serein spoke up again.
“Well, you wouldn’t know, Risel.”
“......More importantly, isn’t there something bigger at stake? Kaild’s trying to unseal the Demon King!”
“Lately, that old guy’s been getting desperate in all sorts of ways. I figured he might pull something shady, so it’s not exactly a shock.”
“......”
“But even so, a hero unsealing a Demon King? That’s a no-go. If word got out, he’d never be a hero.”
She added in a quiet voice.
“Maybe I should look for another way.”
Risel didn’t miss that faint whisper.
With hope in her eyes, she said.
“Serein, come with me to see Maide.”
Tension flickered across Serein’s face.
Risel spoke softly, as if soothing a younger sister.
“You’re smart, Serein, so you already know. Maide’s name has long surpassed Kaild’s across the continent.”
“......”
“His chances of becoming the hero are much higher. Naturally, so are his odds of slaying the Demon King...”
“He seems too nice.”
Risel cut her off.
She blinked, wondering if she’d heard right.
Serein let out a deep sigh.
“Anyway, you changed your mind about him ages ago, right, Risel? Guess I don’t have to keep up the act.”
“Serein?”
“I saw Maide in Tetra Territory too. Knew it at a glance. He’s a good guy.”
“You know he’s good, so why?”
“The one who’ll grant my wish can’t be a good person. Needs to be just rotten enough, just human enough trash to say yes.”
Risel couldn’t make sense of it.
Serein waved her hand dismissively, as if annoyed.
“So just go.”
“Serein, think about it again...”
“Ugh, just go already. Don’t think acting friendly means we’re actually friends?”
“......”
“I won’t tell Kaild, so leave. We never met.”
Risel gazed steadily into Serein’s eyes.
She was trying hard to play it cool and indifferent, but disappointment lingered in her gaze.
After a moment’s thought, Risel said.
“Are you mad because I left without a proper goodbye last time?”
“......? Huh? You switched to informal?”
“You started it.”
“......”
“You know I’m not much of a talker. But that’s exactly why I could observe the party objectively.”
Risel continued slowly.
“So I know you don’t like Kaild, that you never truly followed him.”
“......”
“And yet you stayed in the party because you believed only he could grant your wish?”
“Pfft. You’ve changed your image, Risel.”
“I’ll head out first. But I’ll leave a spirit with you.”
She murmured a brief incantation in spirit tongue.
Nothing was visible to Serein, but a wind spirit had definitely settled on her shoulder.
Serein brushed at her shoulder irritably.
“Why do it without asking?”
“Next time we meet, let’s talk more openly.”
“No. Hey.”
“Whatever you think, I see you as a real little sister.”
Serein clamped her mouth shut.
Risel stepped back with a light bow.
“Stay healthy until we meet again.”
Serein didn’t reply.
Once Risel was out of sight, she scratched her head and muttered.
“Yeah, you too.”
Grade returned, visibly disappointed that Risel was gone.
I crossed my arms and said.
“Grade’s hunch is probably right.”
“Hm?”
“Kaild getting support from Idria isn’t exactly surprising anymore. With that Demon King’s powers, she’d know we’re staying here too.”
“True. ......Speaking of which, why doesn’t Idria just confront us herself?”
Who knows.
Ask Trail about that.
[Why me?]
‘Last time, she tried to blow up our whole inn but backed off. Because of you.’
[......]
‘Tell me when you get the chance. Not urgent right now.’
I changed the subject.
“I don’t know the reason either, but we need countermeasures ASAP. Let’s assume the worst—the seal on that mountain breaks.”
I said that, but I didn’t think any real plan would come of it.
Grand Purification Ritual.
Even Hermes, one of the first heroes, had to trade his life to perform it.
It was also the ritual Jenia and Serein had linked for back then to quell the ghost incident in the regression.
Even with a divine proxy and a divine monster combining forces, the heavenly god claimed their lifespans as payment.
‘Can’t let that happen.’
Jenia seemed about to speak up.
“As expected, I should...”
I moved to cut in quickly.
“No need.”
But those words weren’t from me.
......
Didn’t something like this happen before?
“Neril?”
“You’re planning to use the grand ritual, right? It comes with a price.”
“But.”
“Even Hermes had to give his life for it. You’ve got plenty of years ahead—no way you’re doing that.”
“Is ‘plenty’ really the word to use there?”
Jenia said it with a warm smile she couldn’t hide.
‘Heh.’
I smiled contentedly and asked.
“You said no need? So there’s another way?”
“Yeah. Perfect timing too. Finished prepping it yesterday.”
Neril rummaged in her bag and pulled something out.
Unwrapping the cloth revealed a bundle of twigs inside.
“What’s this?”
“Jewel of Corruption.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, huh? We got it along with Idria’s hand branch, remember?”
“Of course I remember, but wasn’t it originally shaped like Patrick’s eyeball?”
“The Jewel of Corruption, unlike other Demon Kings’ cores, has no fixed form. Obviously, it can change into anything.”
She spread the twigs out on the table.
Exactly ten, precisely.
“Idria’s hand branch turned to ash after a few days. So I focused even more on researching the Jewel of Corruption as a substitute.”
“......”
“As you can see, I shaped it into twigs. Bion Kunze helped a lot.”
“Hm. Now that you mention it, you were asking Adwin something every night. That was to summon Bion Kunze’s soul?”
“Yeah. What’s the point of slacking? Gotta prep everything we can.”
Doing it all on her own initiative without even being asked.
I felt my lips curving up involuntarily.
Jenia asked.
“But why twigs of all things?”
“After brainstorming with Bion Kunze, we figured these would be the easiest to snap in a pinch during combat.”
“Snap?”
Neril nodded and continued.
“As you know, the Jewel of Corruption’s power turns people into monsters. But what’s the use of a hero party commanding monsters? So I tweaked its function.”
“Oh. Like how you modified the Withering Jewel from draining life force to emitting it. So this turns monsters back into humans?”
“Similar, but a bit different. Just reverting monsters to humans lacks versatility.”
“Then?”
“Property Reversal. Like turning monsters into humans, it reverses the inherent properties of magic, rituals, skills, whatever. Um, so...”
She raised a finger.
A small flaming arrow floated up.
“This is basic Fire Arrow. Snap a twig and cast it, and it becomes Ice Arrow.”
Ah, so that’s the property reversal.
I tilted my head.
“Impressive, but not sure how it helps right now. In your example, just use Ice Arrow from the start.”
“You said the grand ritual has a cost, right?”
“Yeah?”
“What if we reverse the property of ‘having a cost’ to ‘having no cost’?”
Everyone’s jaws dropped in unison.
The others were shocked, but Jenia looked outright stunned.
“I-is that really possible? Can I test it?”
“No.”
“Thank you! ......Why not?”
“Too precious. Only made ten total. Can’t produce more.”
Ten.
Yeah, a convenient tool like a ‘costless miracle’—ten is plenty.
I nodded and said.
“I’ve always thought it, but you really are amazing.”
“S-stop. It wasn’t just me.”
She waved it off.
I wanted to praise and thank her more, but knowing her personality, it’d just burden her, so I held back.
Instead, I turned to Jenia.
“Jenia.”
“Yes?”
“You should hold onto this.”
“Me? Not you, Maide?”
“These twigs are basically a dedicated tool for the grand ritual.”
“A holy knight keeping a Demon King’s core?”
“You offered prayers to the heavenly god with the Withering Jewel. What’s this now?”
“Ugh. Fine, got it. Best if that mountain’s seal never breaks, anyway.”
She carefully tucked the twig bundle into her bosom.
Then she said to Neril.
“You modified it for me from the start, didn’t you, Neril?”
“No.”
“I’m always grateful. Someday, I’ll repay you.”
“I said no.”
“Even though I’m just a vice-captain of the Knights of Light slandered by a false contract. You care this much—you’re like a real big sister.”
Bang.
Neril couldn’t take it anymore and shot to her feet.
She spun around.
“Where to?”
“Bathroom.”
“......”
“No, not bathroom. Tea.”
She must’ve been seriously flustered.
Her ears, peeking through her ink-black hair, were bright red.
Anyway, thanks to Neril, we had a glimmer of hope.
I asked Offense.
“What was the Destruction Demon King’s power again?”
“Making pheasant girl’s weight go up.”
Thwack.
Under the table, Jenia kicked Offense’s leg.
Why the angry face? It’s true.
[Just stay solo forever, man.]
Shut it.
Offense rubbed his leg and said.
“Calm down. Not saying you gained weight, Jenia.”
“Don’t say it directly.”
“I mean pressure. Crushing pressure over the whole body. So intense normal folk can’t even breathe.”
“.......”
“Weakest bones and organs crush first under it. Bones shatter, organs pulp.”
A brief silence fell.
The Destruction Demon King, first of its kind.
Its power pressed down land with invisible force.
The range was staggeringly vast.
Enough to cover nearly one-fifth of the continent.
Jenia spoke.
“Unlike other Demon Kings, Destruction sat heavy on its ass in the northern continent’s edge, slowly expanding its domain.”
“Just that was more devastating than any attack. Humanity couldn’t resist—crushed flat by the power.”
“Grade’s memoirs say even he, at his peak, struggled to move in that zone.”
“Figure about 50% performance drop. Carrying that debuff and still killing the Demon King? First hero lived up to the name.”
Adwin asked then.
“But will Idria show up herself? Like last time.”
“Doubt it. Lost a wrist to me, and with good cards in hand, no need to move personally.”
“Ah...... You mean Kaild’s coming?”
I answered without hesitation.
“Definitely.”