Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Settling the Score - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After that, everything proceeded without a hitch.
First, Offense obtained the imperial palace blueprints through the capital's assassin guild.
Adwin summoned the souls of the clerks who had worked in the palace one by one, confirming in detail whether the blueprints matched the actual layout.
Jenia identified a route beyond the guards' surveillance by sharing vision with Agril.
Risel turned into a spirit and even conducted a test scout along that route.
Serein did nothing.
Neril did nothing.
I said to the two of them,
"Don't you two feel anything about this?"
Neril replied,
"This job isn't about beating, smashing, or destroying anything."
"A true Saintess of Coercion way of putting it."
"Leave off the first word? Mr. Unyielding Sword Emperor."
At that moment, Serein clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Khuh... Saintess of Coercion."
"Got something to say, kid?"
"I just thought the first word suits you perfectly, and the second one doesn't at all. No, nothing in particular."
"You already said it all. You're really getting on my nerves."
"Ahaha. Back in the old party, I'd have swallowed those words. This place really is better."
A vein bulged on Neril's forehead.
"Now that I think about it, you don't have a title of your own, do you? Want me to make one up for you?"
"......Uh, no. I already have one?"
"Never heard of it."
"Um. Well. Ah, right—how about Girl of the Gods?"
It didn't land at all.
If anything, Neril seemed to draw inspiration from her words, flashing a mischievous smile.
"God's Monster fits better."
"Huh? Hey, that's a joke."
"You've got zero faith but a ridiculous amount of divine power. You're a total personality wreck who pretends to be cute."
"I'm not pretending—I'm actually cute."
"Taking that contradiction into account, God's Monster it is. That's what I'll call you from now on."
My jaw dropped.
[Why are you so surprised?]
'Before my regression, our party gave Serein her title too.'
[And?]
'The one who first came up with it back then was Neril.'
The flow of the conversation was very different, but the person who named it was still Neril.
Well, damn.
Even after all my regressions and the changes I've caused, some things stay the same.
I said,
"Sounds good. God's Monster."
"It's not good! Who'd like a title like that?"
"Everyone except you."
"No way."
"Want to vote on it with the party?"
Serein nodded confidently, as if to say go ahead.
And that night, the party voted on Serein's title: God's Monster.
Six in favor, one against.
The next night.
Thanks to the full cooperation of the party members, we stood before the door to the underground of the imperial palace.
As expected of the palace, the security was tight—but honestly, against our party's skills, it might as well not have existed.
The real challenge started now.
Offense wore an uncharacteristically excited expression on his plain face.
"Maide."
"Yeah. Let's check it out if we get the chance."
The night before, Adwin had already summoned Biond for Offense's sake.
Biond had pointed out the location where he inscribed the wide-area scanning magic circle, somewhere beyond this mysterious door.
I said,
"Of course, tonight we're just scouting where the magic circle is."
"Right. Even Neril couldn't activate a spell that massive in one go."
Neril cut in.
"You're talking like it's a given that I'd help."
"Huh?"
"I don't remember you ever formally asking me."
"I'm formally asking now."
"No thanks."
Leaving the rowdy party members behind, I approached the door.
I took a deep breath and gripped the handle.
"Opening it."
As if by magic, everyone fell silent.
I slowly opened the door.
Then we all stepped inside together.
It was a world of pure white.
Bright enough to pass for the heaven described in scriptures.
A place where floor and sky blurred together, nothing but white.
Neril came over and said,
"Looks like we're all safe."
"Mr. Gray was right after all. Otherwise, I'd have planned to beat him until he dropped dead in the afterlife."
"How do you beat a dead guy to death?"
"That's why it'd be for life."
I scanned the surroundings.
Just the white expanse, nothing else in sight.
"Strange. The emperor said there were thousands—tens of thousands—of doors."
Jenia asked,
"Which emperor?"
"The current one."
"Did he say that?"
Ah. That was from the Eye of Omniscience.
I shrugged.
"Just felt like it."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Anyway, a space this vast with nothing in it—you couldn't survive. The emperor planned to use Serein's parents as leverage, so he wouldn't have wanted them dead."
"That's true."
"It means there must be survival supplies inside. But everything's just white, which is weird."
That's when Risel spoke up.
"It's not completely white, though?"
"Hm?"
"Something huge is floating there. Look."
Where Risel pointed, countless patterns floated.
Like stripes drawn on pure white wallpaper.
The moment I saw them, realization dawned.
"No way..."
"What's up?"
"Those floating things. They're door handles."
"Huh?"
"This space isn't white. We're surrounded on all sides by countless doors. White doors!"
That's why the whole space looked white.
Doors filling this massive area.
Tens of thousands, for real?
I approached one of them.
Gripped the handle and turned it.
The others rushed over, peeking over my shoulder.
"What's in there?"
"Weapons stacked up. Looks like an armory."
"Hm... Ah!"
Jenia cried out in shock.
"That's my father's sword!"
"Huh? Dame's sword? Last time I saw..."
"To be precise, it's the sword he used to use. It broke during a mission when I was eleven."
"..."
"He didn't sleep for two straight days after that. I remember it clearly."
Dame's broken beloved sword.
But the one Jenia pointed to was in perfect condition.
Shing.
I drew it once—the blade was as sharp as the day it was first forged.
"What the hell is going on here?"
That's when Offense spoke.
"It's a mysterious space to begin with. More importantly..."
"Got it, got it. Biond said twelve steps from the entrance, then the door on the right?"
"Yeah. Twelve steps, then right door."
We walked as Biond had instructed.
A handle floated on the right side too.
When I opened it, I was even more stunned than before.
"What kind of place is this?"
The previous armory at least made sense as a warehouse.
But the site of Biond's wide-area scanning magic circle was an endless field.
Literally—a field overgrown with grasshoppers and weeds!
A cool breeze even blew from inside.
This was getting incomprehensible.
"Oh! That's the magic circle. Neril, can you copy it?"
"What am I supposed to do, copy it now? I told you it can only be used here."
"Just wishful thinking."
"Getting this far is a miracle. You lucked out sticking with Maide, huh?"
"You've been singing Maide's praises a lot lately. Well, it was definitely the right choice."
After partially fulfilling Offense's wish like that, we headed back out.
'But now the problem is how to find Serein's parents in here.'
[...]
'Why so quiet? Time to do your Eye of Omniscience thing.'
[Uh. Follow me for a sec.]
Swoosh.
A screen window suddenly appeared.
It began drifting slowly away from me.
'Where to?'
[Just come quietly. I think I know where.]
'Huh? You've been here before?'
[No. I was busy beating Idria—why would I have ties to a place like this? Can't explain why, but... in your words, it's a gut feeling.]
I tilted my head but followed Trail anyway.
The others asked,
"Where are you going?"
"I think I know where Serein's parents are."
"Huh? How in the world..."
"The hero's mystique?"
Trail chuckled.
[It's thanks to me, you punk.]
'That's why I said it that way.'
[...]
'Finding it with the mystique of the longest-serving hero. Wrong?'
He fell silent for a moment.
Then he replied in a soft voice.
[Only you would.]
Opening the door Trail indicated revealed a kitchen.
A kitchen.
......Why the hell is there a kitchen here?
I should stop trying to make sense of this.
That's when it happened.
Someone slurped and gulped down food.
"Gulp. Ngh, I've never tasted delicacies like these in my life."
"Really. What kind of world is this place?"
"Right? No matter how much we eat, it refills right away."
"We could stay here forever."
Serein flinched at the voices.
I whispered to her,
"Those are...?"
"Yes. My parents. For now."
Step.
Serein approached them.
They were too engrossed in eating to notice her.
"Still, we can't stay forever. We have to fix Serein someday."
"Sob. What's wrong with that child?"
"It's because our prayers weren't enough."
"We prayed all night! Had the territory folk pray all day too!"
"..."
"That kid's possessed by a demon, no doubt."
Serein couldn't hold back anymore.
Tatatak.
She charged at them full force.
And kicked her father with all her momentum.
Thud. Crash.
"You bastard—I feel like an idiot for worrying even a little!"
"Gyaaah! Wha—what? Serein?"
"Dear!"
Serein stood and said to her mother,
"You're the same. Fuck!"
"How did you get here..."
"Huh? You've put on some weight since I last saw you? Enjoying the temple slop while I picked at it?"
"H-how dare you talk to your mother like that!"
Serein grabbed her mother's arm.
Then headbutted her with all her strength.
"Gahk!"
Crack.
The sound of a nasal bone breaking.
As her mother fell back spewing blood from her nose, Serein yelled,
"A mom has to act like a mom!"
"Gasp."
"You two are done with the good times. When I wrap up my business, I'll come back and beat you properly one by one—so wash your necks and wait!"
She huffed and puffed, taking deep breaths.
Then she turned to us and walked over.
Flinch.
The party members trembled, intimidated for some reason.
Serein straightened her clothes and flashed a refreshed smile.
"Shall we head back now?"
We rescued Serein's parents and returned to the inn.
Recalling her words earlier, it was hard to tell if this was a rescue or a kidnapping.
"What do we do with these two?"
I stuck out my tongue and pointed at Serein's unconscious parents.
Serein wrinkled her nose and said,
"Dump them in a well or something."
"......Offense. You handle this."
Offense nodded.
"Hide them somewhere beyond the emperor's reach?"
"Yeah."
"Then the assassin guild here is perfect. No one specializes in hiding things like they do."
With his reputation, the guild would provide top service for a fair price.
Serein hesitated, then spoke.
"Thanks. Take good care of them, Offense."
"Oh, so I can talk to you now?"
"I was supposed to wait another month, but this shaves it off."
"Much appreciated."
Serein smirked.
Then she backed up about five steps.
Neril asked,
"What're you doing?"
"Backing up until I can see everyone at once."
"Why?"
"......To say goodbye. Don't worry, it's not a farewell or anything."
She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands.
"I'm really bad at this stuff, so I'll say it once. Dig out your earwax and listen well."
"......"
"Thank you all, truly."
"......"
"From your perspective, you had no reason to help me when the emperor had dirt on you. You could've just kicked me out of the party. But you all teamed up and..."
She hesitated, then continued.
"Thank you. Really."
Serein had always been two-faced, but right now, she was giving her all to convey her true feelings.
Her ears red, as if unaccustomed to such sincerity.
I looked at the party members.
They stared back with expressions saying, 'You reply for us.'
I said,
"I'm grateful too."
"Huh?"
"Thanks for joining our party."
Serein looked dazed for a moment.
Then she dry-washed her face a few times.
When she spoke again, she was back to her usual self.
"Promising investment opportunity. Investors need to be treated right."
"Good that you know."
"Ahem. Anyway... I was planning to anyway, but I'll give it my all until we crush the Demon King. Looking forward to working with you."
"......"
"That's it! I'm hungry now—let's eat."
The party members nodded, each with a gentle smile.
"Looking forward to it, God's Monster."
"Pfft. God's Monster."
"Sis is the Proxy of Pheasant, though."
"I'm not!"
"Am I the only one here with a normal title?"
"Offense, yours isn't exactly..."
Serein beamed at their voices.
It was the most genuine smile I'd ever seen from her, before or after regression.
'She can smile like that too.'
[Must be thanks to a good leader.]
'Yeah. Seems like it.'
[Try being humble once in a while.]
I chuckled.
Anyway, with Serein's parents safely rescued, our party had no more loose ends.
'Time to pay the emperor a visit.'
Gotta let him know not to mess with heroes.