244-238 How to spend the holidays

The day after the strategy meeting, the resistance led by Alberto-dono left for the imperial capital.

I want to believe that they will properly listen to Mr. Bazak's words this time.

While thinking about that, I think about the information that Estia and the others heard yesterday and mutter.

''But it's possible. Because if it changed from human magic to demonic magic, it wouldn't be surprising if the slave crest was transformed there.

Then Lionel, who was half a step ahead of me, uttered that.

I had never heard of slave crests disappearing due to magical transformation, and people didn't seem to know about it either.

Well, it's not a story that doesn't exist, because not only has it been transformed, but the race has also changed as a demon race.

If the magic power is transformed, will the same adventurer cards and other things not be able to be used?　Thinking about such a simple question, I asked Lionel's thoughts on why Duchy Blange made such a chump move.

''Even so, did Duchy Blange send Cloud to the Empire without looking into such a simple matter?

''It's really only recently that research on demonization has progressed. It may be that the person who has been turned into a demon race may be able to restore their magic power at will.... Now I think it's reasonable to assume that they didn't have time to research that.

''.........Indeed, that's true. But just finding out that there are more than fifty soldiers who have turned into demons, and more than a hundred according to estimates, this operation is pretty diminishing.

I also found out that the number of people in the empire who are turning into demonkind is about fifty, but I don't take too much stock in this.

More than that, I found out that the emperor also condones it when it comes to demonization, apparently.

Lionel's expression when he heard that was very scary, like a demon god before a battle.

''Those who have become the demon race because they wanted to will be returned to the soil, and those who have been turned into the demon race unwillingly will be saved if you can please restore them to their original state.

Lionel's reassuring words made me feel a little saved.

'Well, yes, I suppose so. But still, I couldn't listen yesterday because Mr. Bazak and the others were there, but what kind of hearing would allow me to get that much information?　I didn't think he'd be so quick to talk.

Yes, sir. We gave him three shots of Object X, just like Master Galba had taught us, and he opened his mouth immediately, much to our surprise.

I can drink it undiluted, and Master Luciel is just crazy.

'But it's because of that that I'm able to go out like this, so thank you, Luciel-sama.

It was an odd conversation, with Kefin, who was working up front, stopping to look at me before answering, followed by Ketty playing with me and Esther lifting me up.

For what it's worth, the three of them are good friends, aren't they? I made a mental note to leave it up to the three of them if I was going to do any more listening.

At the same time, Keti doesn't express her feelings as much as Lionel does, but if we leave this case to the two of them, it will be fine.

It seemed that way.

'Yes. It's not easy to keep the heat on.

Lionel nodded deeply and moved on.

But that wasn't what I was trying to say.

''Normally, in a situation like this, I think it would have made sense to send Lyna and Nanya back to the Holy City, wouldn't it?

Those two, for what it's worth, don't want to be separated from Lord Doran.

It's true that yesterday evening, when I told him I was going back to the Holy City because I had time to spare, he said he was going to stay in Ebiza, but that was probably because Doran was there.

''That said, you decided to take a week off for a rest day, right?

Yeah. That's why I need to change my mind at times like this.

I agreed with Ketty.

But I hadn't realized this morning that everyone has a different way of changing their moods.

I let out a deep sigh at that, and then Kefin, who had finished his work, called out to me.

''Luciel-sama, we've been able to disarm the trap.

Oh, I think we're about to see the stairs.

Then I'll go ahead.

And when Esther, with the map, told him so, Kefin went to disarm the trap that seemed to be ahead of him.

Right. We were currently hiding in the labyrinth that had connected Ebiza to the Empire.

We had been buying various foodstuffs and ingredients since the morning, so we thought it was a little strange.

Still, he was impressed and high-minded about the purchases he had made in case something happened in the Empire.

In the blink of an eye, we had to see off His Highness Albert and the others to the position of the labyrinth, and before we knew it, we were attacking the labyrinth. Obviously, this is strange, but I couldn't interrupt them too much because everyone seemed to be enjoying the attack.

I very much doubted if this was really the right use of the holiday, but since no one but me objected to it, I had no choice but to dive into the labyrinth.

'Lionel, isn't there something different about using a week that was supposed to be used for rest to attack the labyrinth?

''As Luciel-sama always says, it's the best way to avoid dying. Luckily, I've also obtained a map of this labyrinth, and perhaps Luciel-sama's new powers will increase.

I certainly understand what Lionel is saying. And he's not wrong that doing the best I can to not die is what I should be doing right now.

But is it strange to feel that there is something wrong with visiting the Adventurer's Guild in the morning, winning a one-on-five odd match from an adventurer, buying a map of the labyrinth, and constantly slaughtering demons on the front lines after entering the labyrinth?

I racked my brain.

'I've always said it's certainly the best way to not die. So I never say or think it's wrong to raise the level. But........do we need to push ourselves here?

''Yes, even this is not enough. The brave men and heroes in history have always been involved in conflicts. And Luciel-sama is no exception, and he will surely be involved in warfare.

'....Ominous. And you sound somehow convinced.

If Lionel's gut instincts as a warrior told him so, it was troubling because there didn't seem to be any chance of that happening.

''Yes. I've had experiences in the past that I wouldn't normally think of, so I have a hunch that Luciel-sama will be involved in many things in the future as well.

Lionel, who announced such an ominous premonition in the labyrinth, had a clean look on his face, as if he didn't think it was ominous.

Lionel doesn't talk to me too much about his true feelings. He just watches me grow up. It always felt like that.

That's why I wanted to ask Lionel how he felt about all the levels and skills he'd built up and emptied out by fighting the evil god and protecting me.

'How can you be my squire with such an ominous feeling? It's very helpful, but is Lionel really going to be my squire as it is?

I know I'm being a little mean, but Lionel had a family in Yenis.

I had always wondered why Lionel, who was no longer a slave, was following me so far.

But when Lionel heard my words, he didn't seem to care much and turned to me and said

''Well when I was a general of the Empire, I only thought about the Empire. I don't think that was wrong either, but there was always an emptiness there.

'We're not at war, but we're getting everyone into conflict at times these days, and it's no different than when we were in the Empire, is it?

It's true that since you became my squire, you've probably had nothing to do with war, but even so, lately you've been forced to fight for your life against things like the demon race and evil gods, even if it's force majeure.

But when I think about it, Lionel smiles and opens his mouth.

''To take a person's life is to close that person's future forever. In times of war, I always ran around the battlefield hoping that the other side would retreat and that my allies wouldn't get hurt. It was very empty.

'Lionel's time in the Empire.......I hadn't really thought about it or heard much about it.

''It's a cloud of difference compared to that time. Since I became Luciel-sama's squire, I've had many mind-blowing battles, and I've had some experiences that I wouldn't normally think of. Including this wonderful experience of being physically rejuvenated as you see here.

Lionel smiled at that. There was no sense of regret or sadness in that smile.

''You have no regrets?''

None. I've fought dragons, fought a whirlwind, fought demons and evil gods. And now that I've been rejuvenated, I can aspire to greater heights. And I have a family now.

I'm surprised you were able to pull it off.

'Haha. It's not so. By protecting Luciel-sama, I am protecting the future of this world. That's how I see it.

Don't think of the future of the world as being directly related to me. That's too much to expect, no matter how much you think about it.

'It's a fair assessment. And I have ambitions.

Ambition?　Can I ask you a question?

''Yes. As a former Imperial General who was the first Squire and supported the wise Luciel, it is to be included in the biography that Master Luciel is portrayed in.

The unexpected change confuses me.

'Huh?'

'It is my ambition that when the biography of Luciel-sama is completed, he will be talked about as a loyal vassal who supported the wise Luciel. Hahaha.

Lionel walked ahead of him with a high smile on his face.　

I was descending to the ten levels of the labyrinth, dropping the tension.