Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Last Party Member - 3
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Kaild was camping outdoors for the first time in a long while.
He clumsily skinned a rabbit he'd caught, roasted it roughly, and shoved it into his mouth.
He grumbled.
“It's disgustingly tasteless. Risel was amazing at cooking, at least.”
That was when it happened.
Whoosh.
A public notice appeared before his eyes.
Kaild chuckled to himself.
‘Wonder what it'll say this time.’
Ever since he'd called the public notice the “Demon King,” their communication had become much more frequent than before.
The new message read:
[Serein Magnus and Risel Vaint have joined Maide's party.]
[Serein Magnus and Jenia Side will combine their powers for a grand purification ritual.]
[Their purification will drastically reduce the activation time.]
Kaild's face hardened.
‘Serein joined? No way.’
Had Maide really agreed to her outrageous wish to abolish the priesthood?
Then another message appeared.
[Kill Maide Mohan as originally advised.]
[Or kill Serein Magnus.]
Kaild pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Hey, Demon King. Talking through text like this is such a hassle. We've come this far—why not show yourself in person? I have some questions.”
Scribble.
A new message appeared.
It was in a tone quite different from anything the public notice had shown before.
[You're quite the unusual one yourself.]
“Now that's more like a Demon King.”
[It would be inconvenient to appear before you right now. Maide's party is too close.]
“What's a Demon King got to fear?”
[Plenty to fear. Bion Kunze is attached to Maide.]
Thud.
He dropped the rabbit leg he'd been holding.
His whole body trembled like an aspen leaf.
Yes.
Right now, Kaild feared Bion Kunze.
More than even Idria did.
The public notice continued to fill with text.
[I don't particularly blame you. You undoubtedly killed Bion Kunze.]
“......”
[But heroes are beings beyond comprehension. Especially Bion Kunze.]
Kaild bit his lip.
The Demon King asked through the public notice.
[So? What's on your mind?]
The text appeared at an astonishing speed.
Almost like a real conversation.
Kaild decided to steady himself first.
Bion could wait.
Focus on the matter at hand.
“From what I've seen so far, it seems like you can observe the world from some remote corner.”
[Something like that.]
“How did Maide convince Serein?”
[Hmm. It was a somewhat unexpected proposal. In simple terms......]
Demon King Idria relayed the offer Maide had whispered into Serein's ear.
The next moment, Kaild burst into loud laughter.
“Uhahaha!”
[What's so funny?]
“Yeah, I get it. So Maide knows nothing about Serein's past or her parents?”
[It seemed that way.]
“No wonder he made such a ridiculous proposal. He's way off base.”
Idria neither confirmed nor denied.
Kaild's mind raced.
Soon, he came up with a plausible scheme.
“Actually, this works out perfectly.”
[What does?]
“Serein and Jenia's linked ritual is certainly frightening. But at the same time, it'll be their final resort.”
So for now.
“Let's make them think everything's going smoothly. Then, at the critical moment, have Serein betray them.”
The public notice went silent for a while.
It seemed to be mulling it over.
But shortly after.
[I'm not so sure. Serein seemed plenty appealing to me.]
“As if a Demon King could understand the human heart. Pretend you didn't say that.”
[You understand the human heart so well that you lost both Offense and Risel?]
“......Shut up.”
[Fine, whatever. I still think killing Maide and Serein is the better option, but since you're so confident, I'll watch for now.]
His appetite gone, Kaild extinguished the campfire.
He stood and said.
“All I need is Maide's reputation. Once he comes under me peacefully and I'm sure I've absorbed his fame, then I'll kill him.”
[Oh. That's good.]
“Will you show yourself then?”
The public notice stayed blank for a while.
Kaild was certain the ‘author’ was cackling undignifiedly somewhere.
Much later, text appeared again.
[Very well.]
“Good.”
[Or......]
The text paused, as if hesitating.
But soon, the next line followed.
[Or if you suffer a miserable defeat this time, I'll meet you then too.]
“What?”
[You've been a decent puppet so far. Might as well collect the corpse.]
Kaild's expression crumpled.
Serein greeted each party member one by one.
“Hello. I was really impressed by your performance at the Aspent View in Tetra territory. The Witch of......”
“I've abandoned that title now, so don't call me that.”
“Oh, right. Then can I call you Sister Neril?”
“......!”
Having greatly endeared herself to Neril, Serein turned to Jenia.
“Long time no see. Would you let me ride Agril again sometime? The view was amazing.”
“Of course. Agril won't refuse you, Miss Serein. You're a fellow devotee of the Heavenly God.”
“Ahaha......”
With zero faith, she gave an awkward laugh and turned to Adwin.
She patted his head.
“What a cute, bright-eyed little guy. How old are you?”
“Hmph. Remove your hand from my head at once. Judging me by appearances would be a grave mistake.”
“Yeah, yeah. You're that type, huh.”
Next was Offense.
“Sorry for dragging you in so roughly.”
“Miss Risel. It's only been a few days, but it feels like forever.”
“You weren't mad at me?”
“You never did anything directly harmful to me, Miss Risel. We just had differing positions. Let's get along from now on.”
She whirled toward me.
“Alright, greetings done. Shall we get started? What exactly do I need to do?”
“Feels like someone's missing.”
“I greeted everyone.”
“......If you say so.”
I slowly explained the plan.
Serein nodded along, looking convinced.
Then she spoke brightly.
“I'm not doing it.”
“Huh?”
“I wondered what you'd ask...... A grand purification ritual? That comes with a price. What if the Heavenly God takes my life?”
She'd used it before regression.
Come to think of it, what had Kaild said to convince her back then?
No point dwelling on it now.
Then Jenia pulled out the branch of corruption.
“With this, it'll be fine.”
“This is?”
“Break this branch before activating the ritual, and there'll be no price. Miss Neril made it.”
Serein looked at Neril in disbelief.
“No matter how skilled the Witch...... Oops, I mean, even with Miss Neril's amazing skills, how on earth?”
“She's even more incredible than you think. And didn't you say ‘sister’?”
“That was just a trial run.”
“Why.”
“Anyway, I've confirmed the power of Maide's party. Truly astonishing.”
Her last words seemed genuine, not flattery.
Clap.
I clapped my hands lightly and said.
“So? How long do you think it'll take with the two of you together?”
Serein and Jenia looked at each other.
Without a word, they clasped hands.
They closed their eyes and whispered prayers to the Heavenly God, soft enough not to be heard.
A moment later.
Jenia spoke up.
“This is embarrassing to say.”
“It's fine. Go ahead.”
“With Miss Serein, I think five minutes will be enough.”
I pursed my lips slightly.
Jenia alone had said it would take about fifteen minutes to activate.
Adding just Serein cut it to five?
Serein scratched her head sheepishly.
“Aww, no. Actually, your precise ritual control is more impressive, Miss Jenia. I'm just brute-forcing with raw divine power.”
“Heehee. You've received great blessings from the Heavenly God.”
“Yeah, well...... Um. Yeah.”
“Something you want to say?”
“To be honest, I'm not particularly reverent toward the Heavenly God.”
“I heard. From Offense.”
Serein tilted her head.
“Who's Offense?”
“You're just going to pretend he doesn't exist.”
“Anyway, you're awfully calm after hearing that. Not exactly music to a knight's ears.”
Jenia shrugged.
“Belief is personal freedom. A priest lacking faith is a bit odd, but that's not for me to judge.”
“......”
“Of course! The Heavenly God is absolutely worthy of love and reverence. Let's talk more about it later.”
Serein bowed her head.
I tilted my head and focused my hearing a bit.
In a slightly trembling voice, she murmured.
“I wish my parents had been like you.”
What was that?
[Too bad. If we knew her parents' names, the Eye of Omniscience could've checked.]
‘No. Even if I knew, I wouldn't look.’
[Why?]
‘Intuition. If there's one thing Serein truly doesn't want revealed, it's that.’
If I pried into that secret too, winning her heart would be tough.
Same reason I haven't looked into Neril and May Enerica's secrets.
‘Besides, that's not the priority right now.’
I clapped my hands.
“Alright, let's get started.”
The plan was simple.
Neril, Risel, Offense, and Adwin would evacuate the territory residents in preparation for Kaild unsealing the Jewel of Destruction.
Jenia and Serein would immediately prepare to activate the grand purification ritual.
And I......
‘Would face Kaild.’
More precisely, kill him.
Thud.
Midway up Baharma Mountain.
Kaild stood with his back to a sheer cliff that seemed to stretch endlessly upward.
I scanned the surroundings and said.
“You picked a terrible spot. Dug in for a siege or something?”
“I don't think I'm cornered that badly.”
“No. You are. Your half-baked plan is already in ruins.”
A smile crept onto his lips.
“Because Serein came?”
“......You knew.”
“It pains my heart. Why choose you, Maide, over me?”
Step.
I took one step forward and replied.
“No better explanation than character.”
“I've wanted to say this for a while: every one of your answers grates on me.”
“Truth tends to grate.”
“Hoo.”
“But as I said before, I'm considerate. So I'll kill you without further ado.”
Shing.
I drew my sword.
But Kaild didn't.
Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and spoke.
“You think Serein and Jenia combining for the ritual will speed up activation?”
“You're pretty sharp yourself.”
“And the rest of your party is evacuating the residents.”
“......”
“But that plan assumes Serein cooperates, right?”
What was this guy on about.
‘Should I close the distance?’
I approached him cautiously.
Still a long way from ten steps, where I could hear clearly.
Slowly now.
“True, but Serein promised to cooperate this time.”
“Her promises don't carry much weight. You'd know if you spent time with her.”
“This time's different.”
“How much do you really know about Serein?”
“Enough.”
“Yeah? Do you know her parents were insane?”
Hm. That I didn't.
Even pre-regression, she'd never shared such personal history.
No names in her Blood Letters, so no reason to check with the Eye of Omniscience.
Kaild spoke.
“The Magnus family were lords of Voltrin territory. A count family that ruled those lands for centuries.”
“......”
“They were generous to the people and quite popular. But the Emperor arrested the previous head—Serein's father—and stripped the title. The land became direct imperial territory.”
That much I knew.
But I replied first.
“News to me.”
“It was handled very secretly through Alcahad's upper echelons.”
“Why? Why would the Emperor do that?”
“I told you. The lord went mad. Can't let a lunatic play lord of the empire.”
No, it was the territory's gold and treasures he coveted.
The Emperor who left territory wars for them to sort out themselves.
“Serein had an older sister, frail from childhood. She died on her twelfth birthday.”
“......”
“The count couple prayed desperately to the Heavenly God. ‘Please return my daughter!’ Weeping blood tears every night. Then the countess conceived Serein.”
“So?”
“As you know, Serein was born with monstrous divine power. The couple had no choice but to believe she was the Heavenly God's answer to their prayers.”
I took a light deep breath.
I could see where this was going.
I said.
“No way?”
“Yes. They believed Serein was their dead daughter resurrected. Reborn in a new body by the Heavenly God.”
“......”
“Unfortunately, Serein and her late sister were polar opposites in personality. The sister was gentle, pure, and smiled brightly at everyone.”
“......”
“But Serein was straightforward, loved sharp retorts, and had a somewhat rough demeanor by nature. That difference was Serein's misfortune.”
I slowly responded to his words.
“So the count projected his dead daughter onto Serein.”
“Exactly. ‘Don't dress like that. Don't smile like that. Don't talk like that.’ He drilled it into her hundreds of times a day.”
“......”
“You know how Serein's outward self differs from her true one? That's the side effect of the count's indoctrination. Forced to always be kind and friendly to others. That's how she became so unique.”
I crossed my arms.
That's when Trail spoke.
[That guy with hands behind his back......]
‘Communication orb, right?’
[Yeah. When'd you notice?]
‘Around the middle.’
[Just gonna let it slide? Looks like he's linked it to Serein. Trying to shake her into betraying you.]
I smirked and replied.
‘And? Think that'll work on Serein? You know the conversation we had last time.’
[Yeah...... Uh. No way. Absolutely not.]
‘That's why a better idea came to mind.’
I uncrossed my arms and pulled out my own communication orb.
Kaild flinched.
I said.
“It's fine. Keep going.”
“What?”
“Continue sowing discord.”
I activated the communication orb and continued.
“I'll do my part.”