229 Episode 229 "Sequelae and Countermeasures of" Loyalty Runaway "by Rita, and Mysterious Ritual".txt

Rita's point of view...

It's not difficult for Rita, who has the ability to "sense your presence," to follow someone without being noticed.

So Rita kept her distance(kiri) and followed Yamazoe.

(It's harder to lose track of that guy than it is ......)

Rita nodded, looking at the back of Yamazoe in the distance.

He was very conspicuous in his silver armor with a slender sword at his waist. The armor reflected the sun and shimmered. He must be polishing his armor frequently.

I'm sure he's not the only one who's noticed.

It's not ideal for covert operations, but its armor may be able to intimidate opponents. It's like being a brave man.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

(──But I can't forgive her for looking down on Nagi.

Rita clearly remembered Yamazoe's line from earlier.

You were kicked out by the king, and you couldn't even become a hero. You were kicked out by the king, and you couldn't become a hero.

To be honest, I wanted to punch him in the face.

The reason why Rita didn't touch it is because Nagi stopped her.

Besides, boasting about her relationship with the king and her status as a brave man would not make Nagi envious.

Because neither of those things are of any value to Nagi.

What Nagi values is the carefree life with Cecil and Rita - her friends.

She aims for a life of leisurely slothfulness, a life of not working.

It's the opposite of a brave man working for honor and glory.

(But ...... you might not know that if you told that to that brave man.)

Rita wears a hood over her eyes, hiding her face. She always has a "sea dragon mask" in her pocket to hide her true identity.

He is now in "human mode" with his animal ears and tail covered.

Hiding her appearance and hiding her presence, Rita follows Yamazoe.

(I feel like I'm being helpful to Nagi when I do this.)

I'm kind of nervous.

Rita is now trying to use her skills to fulfill Nagi's wishes.

She's using herself for her master's sake.

I'm happy about that and for some reason my heart is racing.

(I ...... wonder if there's still 'Loyalty Runaway 《Over Loyalty》' left.

Loyalty Runaway──that is the aftereffect of being separated from Nagi. A slave who is too loyal is subjected to it, and when it occurs, the slave goes into 'full service mode'.

Because of that, Rita was all over Nagi this morning.

That's a good thing because it felt good, but - the feeling of that time still lingered in a deep part of my body.

It tingled.

My chest feels warm.

Your heart is beating underneath the palm of your hand.

I'm so happy that I'm doing Nagi's bidding at this very moment.

If the disease that had occurred in the port city of Ilgafa was 'Maounian deficiency disease', what Rita had was 'Master (Nagi) deficiency disease'.

I've replenished the Nagi component all morning, but it's still not enough.

I want to serve you. I want to serve you. I want to spend everything I have on Nagi - that's how I feel.

(No, no, no, if I do this, I'll go out of control again.)

Rita shook her head.

(I have to control myself properly. Even if I'm away from Nagi, I need to be able to be normal when we meet again.

(...... and how to do that.)

It is not always possible to be at a distance where True Consciousness Sharing (Mind Linkage True) can be understood.

In order to prevent "Loyalty Runaway", you need to be able to feel Nagi's presence even when you are far away.

For example, .......

(──Children?)

rustling sound

Before I knew it, Rita's palms had moved from her chest to her stomach.

(Nagi's child might be able to stay ...... away from me if she's inside me. ......)

This 'loyalty runaway' was caused by not being able to feel Nagi.

In other words, if you can always feel Nagi inside you, it won't become "Loyalty Runaway".

In order to do so, you have to beg Master (Nagi) to...

(Wah, wah, wah, wah!)

Your thoughts start to spin around in circles.

Once I realize those means, I can't stop.

Nagi's back when we took a bath together. The time when Nagi and I had done the 'reconstruction' many times. I thought of the time when we made the "spirit link" and I felt like I was going to let out my tail. It made me want to go into beastman mode and flap my tail.

Rita's face turns bright red and her heart begins to pound.

(...... What do I do?)

If I "begged" for those reasons, Nagi probably wouldn't say no.

Her life is now stable and she'll do what Rita wants.

Come to think of it, I don't know if there's still some 'dried meat from the Horned Serpent' left.

That should be preserved, so...

"Sent by: Nagi

Recipient: Rita.

Body: Rita. Are you okay?　You don't have to push yourself. Come back in moderation.

Moderate ......?

"Sent by Rita.

Recipient: Nagi

Body: No, it's not impossible. It's not impossible. It's not good to be moderate. I'll do my best. I'm going to do my best to fulfill my mission, and I'm going to make sure that I don't go out of control anymore, and I'm going to make sure that Nagi's door...

(────!)

Rita almost screamed, and Rita held her mouth in panic.

Her heart almost jumped out of her chest when she realized what message she was trying to send.

What she was trying to send was an incredibly embarrassing plea.

Rita looks around in a panic. None of the passersby are looking at us.

Rita was relieved to see the words "Metecal Dungeon" in her field of vision. It's an information board for adventurers.

(...... Come to think of it, I remember when Cecil-chan confessed to Nagi that he wanted to have a child right after he came to this metecal.

(I realize I want Nagi's children when I come to this town, what if it works like that?)

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

The reason why she didn't send it is because she wanted to properly make a "request" in front of Nagi's eyes.

Since it was important, in front of the master's eyes and with his face - with determination, Rita stopped.

Because she saw that the target of her tail stopped in front of the mansion at the end of the street.

It's the small mansion surrounded by walls that Yamazoe entered. There is a guard at the gate.

You're on high alert ......

Rita pulls herself together.

For now, the 'Loyalty Runaway' measures are on hold for now. In any case, she's connected to Nagi. There is no shortage of "master ingredient".

So, I have to focus on the mission - and while thinking that, Rita looked at the mansion at the end of the street.

''If it's the destination of the brave and vigilant ......, I wonder if a nobleman lives there.

There are many soldiers around the house.

They are patrolling around the nearby streets and alleys.

They seem to be trying to keep people away from the house.

Yamazoe is talking to someone from the other side of the gate.

If he gets a little closer, he might be able to hear the voice, but if he does, the soldiers will notice him. If they think he's suspicious, he's out.

(What would Nagi do in a situation like this: ......?)

A master who loves strategy would surely think of a good method.

And if he's a good slave, he should at least be able to trace his master's thoughts. Thinking that, Rita held her head in her hood.

(...... Oh, by the way, did Nagi tell her to use her alter ego?)

Rita quickly moves into the alley.

Making sure there are no people around, she activates her 'alter ego attack'. She creates her own alter ego.

There are two of them. The hood is deeply covered, and the face is set to be invisible.

Then, please.

Kok Kok Kok Kok.

The alter egos nodded towards Rita (the main body).

In the next moment, the alter egos all jumped out into the main street at once.

"...Mmph!

The soldiers guarding the mansion reacted.

Rita's alter ego's (Raphilia's direct) suspicious movements attracted the soldiers and changed course as soon as they looked at us.

We jumped into the opposite alleyway from where Rita (the main body) was.

'Wait!' That's a weird move, you weird dude!

That's it!

Rita sneaks in a gut punch.

She instructed her alter ego to draw the soldiers to her and disappear just in time.

This should buy us a few minutes of time.

(This is what I mean by "use your alter ego", isn't it? That's what I'm talking about, Nagi. It's a precise strategy.

Somehow, lately, I'm starting to understand what my master is thinking.

Glad for that, Rita holds her cheeks and laughs.

(Well, I have to gather information.)

Rita (the main body) listened carefully to the conversation between Yamazoe and the mysterious boy.

Soon, the voice that came out of the room...

...... The strongest hero, Yamazoe, returns... Talk to Count Kelvis. You're not going to tell me what to do, are you?

Suddenly, Yamazoe's tone changed.

''──and I'm sorry. I didn't know you were Kamil-Kelvis-sama!

(Kamil-Kelvis?)

Rita looked towards the house.

She saw Yamazoe and another boy talking in front of the gate.

He was a tall boy. He was dressed like a nobleman.

Yamazoe said, 'Tell Count Kervis I'm here to see him.

If that's the case, then this is the residence of Count Kervis.

Count Kervis is the lord of the northern town of Hermilt and the head of the Original Heroes Guild. I know that Yamazoe is serving it, but who is the other boy?

Rita closes her eyes and listens carefully.

The soldiers who were guarding the mansion have not yet returned.

You can also feel the sensations of your alter egos. They haven't seen their faces, nor have they been captured. They are keeping a certain distance from Rita, drawing us away from the soldiers. That should buy us some more time.

So, the conversation that Rita heard when she cleared her mind...

No, no, no, your father is very pleased with your work. Yamazoe, the bravest man alive.

"Your father, your father ...... has always been a great help to me, Count Kervis.

'So, did you get the 'stray (free) visitors'?

'Ha, yes. We've already had two ...... useless ones, but I think we can get them in here. We can do it!

My father has already finished the rituals and the preparation of the altar.

The boy called Kamil-Kelvis turns his back on his chest and tells us.

"To make you the true heroes. And to fulfill the prophecy of the Demon King's Army. You know what I mean. Yamazoe.

Yes, I know.

That's what the tournament is for. Repeatedly - in the past -

Yamazoe and Kamil-Kelvis walk into the house.

The voices of the people talking move away and become inaudible.

After confirming this, Rita erased her alter ego and left the place.

─ ─ Nagi's point of view.

I... Rita said she saw something like this happening.

I just told Aine and Cutlass about the message I received from Rita.

This is the main street in the city of Metekal.

We are now walking towards the venue of the 'Martial Arts Tournament'.

'Did you leave safely, Rita-san?

Yeah. They didn't notice.

I heard he was using his alter ego to make it safe for me to be noticed.

Rita sent me a message in "True Consciousness Sharing" to make sure the information was properly conveyed. And it's accompanied by a video. There was a picture of Yamazoe and a boy named Kamil-Kelvis on it.

The information is helpful...but Rita is too close to the mansion.

It's a good thing that she's so serious. She has gone to the limit of what she can gather.

"I don't know what she does sometimes," she said. She can't help it.

That's why Rita-san is trying to be helpful to you.

I know, but ...... sometimes I worry about it.

Especially now that Rita still has her 'runaway loyalty'.

She has a tendency to follow my requests too much.

It would be nice if there was a way to keep her from recklessness. For example: ...... It would help her to take better care of herself.

...... Take care of your body.

Rita is trying too hard to take care of herself rather than her mission.

In order to do that...

"Shouldn't the Lord conceal the beast girl?

'I knew you'd say that!　It's about Reggie.

"Whoa.

The Magic Sword Leggy trembled at my back.

I thought you were going to say that means you've been thinking about concealing the beast girl for a bit.

"Don't read people's thoughts.

I am Arujidono's sword. It's a good idea to make sure that the beast girl is taking better care of herself. It's a good idea to take care of your body ......

Well, yeah.

It's not something you can cheat your way out of.

Rita and I need to have a talk. And...

...... hmm?

"[────]

The next thing I knew, Aine and Cutlass were staring at me.

'What's up, you two?'

"No, no. No, no, no, it's nothing.

Aine, Cutlass, who for some reason has a very kind face.

Aine is taking a mysterious leather bag out of her storage skills for some reason.

Cutlass is whispering, as if he's talking to Fynn about something.

...... They're both up to something.

What do you think he was thinking?　Both of you.

I've been thinking about the party.

I've been thinking about you and Yuji.

"I've been thinking about the future.

"It's about family planning.

Aine, Cutlass, (sneaking out) Fynn, and Reggie, who answer verbatim.

Uh-huh. I get the gist.

...... I'll tell you all about it when I get home.

"'Yes,'

So we put this story on hold for now.

After walking for a while, we arrived near the site of the Martial Arts Tournament.

It's the arena in the center of Metekal.

It's a place that is usually off limits to the public.

Aine said that while looking at the arena.

''I guess the only ones who can use it are the soldiers who got permission from the nobles. During my grandfather's time, the 'Commoner's Guild' tried to get him to use it for training, but it seems that it was no good. They said it's a place that the royal family also uses, so they said .......

''Is this 'martial arts tournament' really so special?''

I guess. We can't get close to them now because the soldiers are watching them too.

At the end of the street is the arena, hidden behind a tall wall.

There is only one entrance. There are several soldiers standing there.

"You can get in by using White's 'rebi-teshon', but not during the ...... daytime.

If it's floating around in broad daylight, it's too obvious.

If they really want to investigate, they should wait for night.

............ Huh?

What's up. Aine.

'In Aine's storage skill 'Sister's Treasure Chest', someone is calling me. Is this ...... Lord Death?

Lord Death?

The Demon King Armor's Death Catastrophe - commonly known as Lord Death - is kept by Aine in storage mode.

The reaction to that Lord Death is ......?

We moved to the alley.

Aine activates 'Sister's Treasure Chest' and calls out to Lord Death.

Lord Death appeared a little bit from the storage space (storage space), and with an excited voice──.

"It's hard work, that it is. Master.

What is it, Lord Death?

"I heard a voice in the arena, that I did.

Voice?　Like what?

"'I'm here. I'd like to see you at night" - that is what he was saying. It was a very young voice. There's something about ...... that resonates deep within me.

With that, Lord Death returned to the 'sister's treasure chest'.

It seems that Lord Death himself still has something to think about.

'The owner of a voice that only Lord Death can hear, huh?

Lord Death was created to be the armor worn by the Demon King.

A voice that only that Lord Death can hear: ...... No way, the Demon King?

If that's the case, then ...... is wrong. That place is the site of a 'martial arts tournament'.

Aine is nodding her head.

'I don't understand what the Demon King's voice says ...... from the place where he chooses the brave men to defeat him.

That's exactly what I'm thinking.

I don't even know what a ritual or altar is in the first place: ......

This is information from Rita.

Count Kervis's child - Kamil Kervis said that he has finished preparing the ceremony and the altar.

What is it for, and who is it to worship?

I'll take a nap when I get home to get ready for the night.

I agree. - Yes, you do.

At night, you can sneak into the arena without being seen.

I don't know who's inside, but let's check out ...... first.

If it looks dangerous, we'll just head home.

While discussing this, we returned to the inn.