Book 7: Chapter 1

If asked about what was the place that was deeply related to the Zadark Kingdom citizens’ lifestyles, anyone would first say that it was the 「Guild」.

From intermediating jobs, to dealing with applications related to business, and even doing consultations about entire lifestyles, the Guild had a hand in all sorts of things.

Among those Guilds, what boasted as the Zadark Kingdom’s greatest structure was the royal capital Arkverm Guild Headquarters.

That building that was always jam packed with many Mazoku, a single little girl was looking up at it.

「Haaー……Amazing. Somehow, it reminds me of my home town……」

While muttering that, the little girl looked around at the area with curious eyes.

Her figure of having large luggage, she had the appearance of having just come out from the countryside.

Her appearance was childish, but age-wise, she really couldn’t be called a 「little girl」.

Being a half between the Metalio and the Sylphid, which were races of mankind, she was a splendid adult that surpassed a hundred years old. Moreover, she was even married.

Her name, was Margaret.

Known by anyone who had set their aims on blacksmithing in the Zadark Kingdom, she was the legendary blacksmith.

In regards to her, rumors like her entering the Demon King Castle that everyone else feared to approach after the previous Demon King’s demise with a smile on her face to gather materials, or her seriously asking an Ancient Golem if she could 「shave off a bit」 of it were whispered about.

However, these weren’t just gossip, but were all facts that actually happened.

If she felt that something would seem like blacksmithing materials, Margaret was the type of person that would joyfully go out to pull it out even if it was a Dragon’s back tooth.

「Aryah, Ojou-chan. What’s wrong, are ya lost?」

「Oi oi, it’s not like a Majin will always have an age that matches their appearance. Erm, is this your first time in th royal capital? This place is the Guild.」

Seeing Margaret peeking inside of the Guild, two Beastia that just came out from there called out to her.

The one who first asked her if she was lost was a black boar Beastia, and the one who asked if this was her first time in the royal capital was a brown bear Beastia.

Both of them were making gentle faces, but their objective was picking up women.

「Ah, no. Ahー, actually, this might really be my first time here. If I remember correctly, the last time I came here was before Arkverm was made. 」

「In that case, I guess 『Onee-san』 would be better. Huh, oi.」

「Haha, sorry he’s such a rude guy. Ah, I’m Nortom, and this guy is Kyoudo. Ojou-san, if you don’t mind……」

「Eh? Erm……」

When Margaret thought about how she should respond, a man cut in between Margaret and Nortom’s group.

The one who came in as if defending Margaret, was a grey cat Beastia.

「Oi oi, just when I find myself passing by……I see two men surrounding an ojou-san like this. Don’t you find that shameful?」

Seeing that Beastia that carried a bow on his back, Nortom’s group raised their voices with an “ugh”.

His name was Midam. The objective of the cool and nihilistic Midam who was a hunter by occupation, was also picking up women.

「Ojou-san. If you’d like, won’t you go with me to a store with some delicious fish dishes?」

「Umー……Well, the thing is, I, see?」

As Margaret was about to refuse with a troubled looking smile, yet another man’s hand went *pon* and was placed on her shoulder.

「Oi oi, Midam-san, are you of all people picking up women? Ain’t you troubling the ojou-san.」

「Nu……」

The one who came up next was a cow Beastia who was famed for normally being slovenly yet chivalrous, Egi. Naturally, his objective was picking up women.

「Ojou-san, won’t you leave these guys alone and come play with me?」

「No, like I was saying, I.」

「……What are you doing.」

Hearing that resounding voice, Margaret changed to a delighted smile in a flash.

「Aー-chan!」

「Aー-chan?」

To make such a beautiful girl call him in such a close way, just what kind of bastard was he?

With jealousy mixed in, the Beastia looked towards the man’s direction……and their expressions froze.

「Honestly……I leave you alone for just a bit and it turns out like this. That’s why I said that we should come here together.」

「Ehehe, sorry about that.」

The one that was there was a single man with silver hair that was cut short and evened up.

That man who was clearly a Majin, there was no one in the Zadark Kingdom that didn’t know of him.

One of the Four Cardinal Generals, the Northern General Altejio.

Also called the Light Burying Altejio, he was a corner of the Zadark Kingdom’s strongest members.

「Are you serious……」

「No, but, calling him Aー-chan……」

Ignoring the Beastia that were whispering to each other, Margaret jumped into Altejio’s chest with a whole faced smile.

Holding a grilled skewer in one hand, after Altejio caught Margaret in his arm with his other hand, he glared at the Beastia that were there.

「Hie!」

While keeping his gaze on the Beastia that reflexively let out that sort of voice, Altejio slowly announced to them.

「……Listen up, I have no recollection of allowing anyone other than my wife to use that nickname. Be sure to forget it immediately.」

「Y, yessirrr!」

「Very good.」

After taking his gaze off from the Beastia that were rapidly shaking their heads vertically, Altejio looked down with gentle eyes at Margaret who was rubbing her face into his chest.

「Look, Margaret. Since I’ve bought the grilled skewer, let’s go. If we stay in a place like this, people will hit on you one after another.」

「Ehehe, sorry about that. But, the royal capital Guild really is splendid, isn’t it!」

「Fufu, you can’t put this together with the North’s Guild. That one has place importance on utility after all.」

The Beastia gazed at Altejio, who was rumored to be coldhearted, with flabbergasted looks, but being glared at by Altejio who turned towards them with eyes that looked like he wanted to shoot them dead, they ran away and scattered like baby spiders.

「……Honestly, how incorrigible.」

「Ahaha, but Aー-chan. I’m devoted to you, Aー-chan, you know?」

Seeing Margaret say that while munching on the grilled skewer, Altejio laughed with a *fu* and patted her head.

「I know that. Margaret, I have never doubted your love for even a single moment.」

「Un! Ah, Aー-chan, want some too? It’s delicious, you know?」

Although she held the grilled skewer out, Altejio slowly shook his head sideways.

「Thank you very much, Margaret. But right now, I am not all that hungry.」

「Is that so? It’s really good though.」

Saying that, Margaret chewed on the grilled skewer in a happy mood.

It was a grilled skewer with special sauce covering well grilled charging boar meat.

It was a local specialty of Arkverm, but actually, it was innovative cuisine not just to the country of Mazoku, the Zadark Kingdom, but to the entire world including mankind’s territory.

The cuisine of this world, it was mostly dishes seasoned with only salt and pepper. It wasn’t like there weren’t any other seasonings or spices, but actually, the concept of putting those together into a sauce didn’t exist up until now.

Therefore, the cooks of the Zadark Kingdom that succeeded in the development of sauce with the simple desire of wanting to make something delicious should be revered more, that is what Margaret seriously thought.

Since Margaret hasn’t gone to mankind’s territory in the Shutaia Continent for more than a hundred years, she didn’t know how things were over there now, but surely it wasn’t inferior compared to anything of the current Shutaia Continent.

The skills of the Mazoku called Norm, which had natures that were really similar to Metalio, were truly formidable.

Margaret’s field of experience in blacksmithing was in weapons and armor, but among the Norms, there existed quite a lot of people that possessed senses that could make Margaret groan.

Of course, Margaret had no intention of losing to them, and with the appearance of rival candidates, her motivation had been ignited even more recently.

「Hey, Aー-chan. There’s still quite a bit of time until the promised time, right?」

「Yes, that is true. Is there a place you would like to see?」

The reason why that motivation filled Margaret came to Arkverm wasn’t just to have a date.

「Uーn. It’s all changed so much that I don’t really know……」

「That might be true. Even for me, I become unable to recognize it after leaving it for a bit.」

Having finished eating the grilled skewer, Margaret and Altejio started walking side by side.

To begin with, the reason why Margaret came here today was for the sake of one of the Four Cardinal Generals of the Demon King Army, Sancreed.

The Magic Sword that Sancreed used was too powerful, so his swords would immediately break. That’s why she was wholeheartedly developing a sword for his exclusive use that could endure even his Magic Sword, but Margaret had brought several swords for him to use for the time being as makeshift goods.

She thought that she would have Sancreed wield the swords at the time she hands them over to him, look at their condition when they are swung, and then use that as a reference for the swords she was making right now.

Of course, if it was just that, it would be enough if she just had Sancreed come to her workshop.

「……It’s tomorrow, isn’t it.」

「Yes, it is tomorrow.」

Tomorrow was the day that the Zadark Kingdom would receive their first tourists from the Jiol Forest Kingdom.

It was the day where the Dark Continent would voluntarily receive mankind for the first time.

There was the time where the Jiol Forest Kingdom’s delegation came at the time they entered the treaty of friendship, but that wasn’t really known to the general public. For a majority of the Mazoku, they thought that the last time mankind came here was when the Hero’s group came, so this could also be said to be their first 「guests」. It seems that the first group would be limited to royalty and nobles.

「Hey, Aー-chan.」

「What is it, Margaret?」

「Do you think, things can……stay peaceful like this?」

With a worried looking face, Margaret hugged Altejio’s arm.

The Dark Continent before the current Demon King, Vermudol, had appeared was something terrible.

With the previous Demon King, Gramfia, being defeated by the Hero, it turned into an era where the powerful stood on their own against each other.

There was no order, and was teeming with rampaging Mazoku that sought the title of the strongest.

Having been famous as a blacksmith in those days, Margaret was targeted by Mazoku, and Altejio tore those Mazoku up.

Compared to that era that was smeared in blood, just how blessed were they now where he was only buried in paperwork.

After all, it was a situation where he didn’t have to worry about Margaret’s life, but about her being hit on.

With just that, Altejio was able to understand the preciousness of the current peace.

「The tourism plan is for the sake of that.」

「……Un, that’s true.」

Embracing Margaret, Altejio looked up at the dull sky.

Just like this sky that would never clear up, how the future of their country would turn out, still couldn’t be seen.

Even so, he had no choice but to start with the things that he could do.

「I’m sure, that the future we wish for will come.」

Tomorrow would be the genuine start date of the tourism plan.

From there, something would surely change.

Right now, all he could do is pray that it would guide the future into a good direction.