Chapter 77
Chapter 77
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Last Party Member - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Huh?
Thud.
He backed away, leaving exactly eleven steps between us.
A cold sweat broke out on my back in that instant.
But on the surface, I sneered and asked.
“Why’re you backing off? Scared?”
“They say I can’t close the distance any further.”
“What’re you talking about? Who says?”
“Who knows.”
Lightning struck me with realization.
Trail let out a groan, as if confirming my thought.
[Groan. Must be Idria. She must’ve tipped him off about that path to becoming the hero or whatever.]
‘He saw my technique once and figured it out? That eleven steps is the limit?’
[It’d be weirder if that Demon King didn’t notice.]
Kaild spoke.
“If you come any closer, I’ll unseal the Jewel of Destruction right away.”
That’s when Neril whispered.
“That skill of yours has a range limit, right?”
“Yeah. You’re quick.”
“Anyone would notice with how sneakily you were closing in. Anyway, hold on.”
She hurriedly formed hand seals.
Binding magic.
It was one of Neril’s signature spells, the one she’d used to restrain the Martial King when he’d gone berserk once.
Invisible chains wrapped tightly around Kaild.
But.
Clink. Clang.
Kaild casually flexed his muscles, and they shattered all too easily.
The sight was like snapping old thread, and it shocked everyone in the party except me.
“No way!”
“Magic doesn’t work?”
“Th-that’s impossible. That spell restrained even the rampaging Jewel of Withering!”
Ophens narrowed his eyes at Kaild.
“As expected, magic doesn’t work on you. I’d suspected as much for a while.”
Jenia, sweating coldly, picked up on his words.
“There was something my father told me last time we got a day off in the capital.”
“......”
“Kaild overheard our conversation perfectly, even though we were in a room soundproofed with magic. I thought it was some kind of mistake back then...”
This time, Adwin spoke up.
“Come to think of it, didn’t something similar happen when we first met in Tetra territory?”
“Huh?”
“I’d cast a spell to hide my soul, but Kaild found me without issue. I figured it was because he was pretending to be the hero.”
“......Maybe magic and spells just don’t work on him at all?”
At those words, I recalled Kaild from before my regression.
From our first meeting, through all the quests we’d done.
When fighting monsters or facing all sorts of trials.
Kaild never got hurt through any of it.
He never once bled.
Neril shook her head as if in denial and said.
“It worked fine when I cast Apent View on him. And Serein healed his injuries from Maide with divine spells.”
“Maybe only things that benefit him actually work.”
Neril bit her lip at Ophens’s response.
Then she forced a casual tone.
“Hmph. Doesn’t matter. Last time, Maide beat the dust out of him in the rain.”
“Heh. I don’t recall it being that one-sided.”
“I wasn’t talking to you. And stop grinning like that.”
“I’ve been curious about that myself. Why did I bleed against that guy? Did his sword pierce my gut?”
“......”
“It was quite the fresh shock for someone who’s never been ‘hurt’ before.”
Clap.
He said that much and clapped his hands once.
“I’ll give you two days.”
“......”
“Think it over carefully during that time. Whether you’ll join me, or just watch your hometown vanish.”
“Or maybe we’ll come cut your head off.”
“Gonna throw away that Unyielding Sword Emperor title? Sure, that works too.”
He grinned and said.
“It’ll take quite a while for that knight’s grand purification ritual to activate. With that much time, dealing with you slowed by the Jewel of Destruction won’t be hard.”
“......”
“And Maide, that new technique of yours isn’t so scary once you put eleven steps between us.”
As expected.
I ground my teeth.
“I’ll be waiting halfway up the Baharma Mountains for two days. I’ll watch with interest to see what you choose.”
He turned away completely calmly.
Even with his back fully exposed to us, he was utterly at ease.
Grind.
Neril ground her teeth and tried to form more seals, but I stopped her.
“Enough. Don’t waste your energy.”
“That last one was just me being off. Don’t misunderstand.”
“I’m not, so cancel the magic. More importantly, let’s discuss what to do.”
Ophens groaned.
“Who’d have thought the guy claiming to be the hero would pull something like this.”
“......”
“Should I reveal a few assassination techniques? Poison might work, at least.”
Even Ophens, saying it, sounded uncertain.
We didn’t respond, and he shrugged as if conceding.
I said.
“Looks like I’m the only one who can kill him after all. I’m the only one who made him bleed.”
“Maide. But... even under the power of destruction, putting that aside— is it really okay if this territory vanishes?”
I couldn’t answer easily.
That’s when it happened.
Suddenly, a voice spoke—one belonging to someone not present.
“Or we could just activate the grand purification ritual a bit faster.”
We all looked around.
Adwin said.
“Huh? That voice?”
I stared quietly in the direction of the voice and spoke.
“Nice to see you again. Companion of the Emperor.”
“No need to stand on ceremony now. We’ve seen all there is to see of each other.”
“Haha.”
“And I’m trying to drop the title ‘Companion of the Emperor.’ It’s a name that only pleases the current emperor.”
Swish.
Risel Vaint.
And Magna Neros.
She revealed herself.
“My emperor is only Grade.”
“Greetings.”
“Ah, yes. Greetings to you too.”
Risel clasped her hands and bowed politely.
Even in this situation, her unwavering courtesy made me chuckle as I spoke.
“Risel, no need for formalities with you either.”
“Ahem. Anyway, I’ve been watching the situation roughly.”
“Huh. Spirit magic is impressive. Neither Kaild nor us noticed you right beside us.”
Well, Risel, the Spirit King, could even turn her own body into a spirit.
Risel twirled her platinum hair around a finger and replied.
“I’m not particularly skilled in combat techniques or strategy. So I need aces like this.”
“I see. But what did you mean by what you just said?”
“Before that, there’s something I want to tell you first. I don’t think I’ve ever said it properly.”
She composed her expression seriously.
I had to struggle to keep my lips from curling up.
Because I could guess what came next.
“Um, well. I might be lacking a lot and not much help.”
“......”
“No, probably definitely no help at all... but I’m pretty good at cooking?”
“......”
“If you let me join the party, I’ll handle all the cooking. And the dishes too.”
It was a very Risel-like application.
Neril whispered.
“Why’s she so subservient?”
“She’s lived about 1,300 years longer than you.”
“Yeah. And?”
“......Never mind. Anyway, it’s an old system long abolished, but she used to be a slave, so that attitude pops up sometimes.”
“You sound like you’ve known her forever.”
I shrugged.
Jenia said.
“I’m totally for it!”
“Great if she can cook.”
“No, that’s not it. Anyway, Risel, about what Maide asked you last time...”
Risel flinched.
“I was just about to mention that.”
She took a deep breath and continued.
“I tried, but I was refused.”
“Ah.”
“So please call Serein here too.”
“Yes?”
“Sorry for the shameless request. But it’s not just to ease my mind. Jenia, you were planning to use the grand purification ritual, right? Serein can do it too.”
For a moment, I nearly clapped.
Even without Risel telling me, I already knew Serein could perform purification.
Hadn’t we solved a quest in Adwin’s territory before regression with just that?
Ophens narrowed his eyes thinly and said.
“That faithless Serein?”
Everyone except me, who already knew, widened their eyes.
Yeah.
Serein doesn’t believe in the Heavenly God.
Not believing here doesn’t mean denying existence.
It means she doesn’t rely on the Heavenly God.
That’s why her moniker is Monster of the Gods.
Well, if she had overflowing faith, she wouldn’t want to abandon her priestess role in the first place.
Trail said in disbelief.
[That girl’s holy power was no joke? It overwhelmed Jenia’s, didn’t it?]
‘That’s why it’s so funny and ironic. No idea what criteria the Heavenly God uses to grant holy power.’
[......]
‘Well, we gave her the Monster of the Gods moniker ourselves. Naturally, before regression, Serein was introduced to the continent as the most devout priestess.’
If word got out that the hero’s party priestess had an awkward relationship with the Heavenly God, it would’ve been a massive blow to Kaild’s reputation.
Then Jenia said.
“I can’t believe she lacks faith. Then what was that monstrous holy power?”
“I wondered too, but it was straight from her mouth.”
“......”
“Her spells are more in the knight’s domain than a priestess’s anyway. Having holy power doesn’t mean you can cast them.”
But Risel shook her head.
“Serein is very unique in many ways. You can’t judge her by common sense.”
“Well, same goes for us. No normal people here.”
I totally agreed.
Of course, excluding me.
I said.
“Let’s trust Risel. So if Serein joins Jenia for the grand purification ritual...”
“Yes. It should definitely shorten the activation time.”
“How much?”
“W-well, I’d have to ask her directly to know.”
“Then let’s ask her. Where is she?”
Instead of answering, Risel raised her index finger.
“Focus on my finger.”
Our gazes converged on her finger.
Swish.
Soon, a hazy form began to take shape.
It looked like a child shrunk to about 1/20th size.
Something transparent, blue, and overall round.
“A spirit!”
“Yes. Right on the first try, even though it’s your first time seeing it.”
“But I thought spirits hate showing themselves to people.”
“I convinced it well. It wouldn’t show to you all, so I couldn’t bring Serein.”
Risel continued explaining.
“Serein had something she wanted from Kaild, so she refused to join. But I attached a wind spirit to her.”
“......”
“The spirit will guide you to where Serein is. Please bring her back.”
“You’re not coming, Risel?”
“I feel like she kinda hates me now. Me going might backfire.”
Her expression turned bitter.
I nodded and said to Ophens.
“Ophens. Can you bring her?”
“Not hard, but why me? She probably hates me plenty too.”
“Why?”
“I’m a traitor, after all. Wouldn’t Jenia’s Agril be way faster?”
“Agril’s too conspicuous. Kaild might spot it. And...”
I grinned and continued.
“Who said to sweet-talk her into coming?”
“Hm?”
“Knock her out or whatever—just get her in front of me. I’ll handle convincing her.”
Risel panicked.
“Maide! Not too violent...”
“Don’t worry. I don’t want to be hated by my future comrade either. Not by you or Serein.”
“......”
“Once Ophens brings her, I’ll persuade her purely with words after that. Trust me.”
Risel gazed at my face quietly, then nodded.
Neril asked.
“But you’re really confident you can talk her into it? She’s got that innocent face, but doesn’t seem easy at all.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve won over someone with an even tougher personality.”
“Oh. When was that? Who?”
I stared blankly at Neril.
She tilted her head.
Nah, if you don’t know, that’s fine.