Volume 3 - CH 1.1

Prologue

Translated by SoundDestiny

Edited by SoundDestiny

Three days after the hero party selection test.

“Well then, let’s start the meeting to defeat the Demon King.”

In the conference room of the royal castle, I said to the people present.

The four people gathered here now are me, Alice, Phylicia and Kirch, who belong to the hero Party. Also inside the room are Princess Rushia, the princess of this country, her guard May, and Riese, the leader of the 『White Dragon Chivalric Order』, making a total of seven people. Riese is here as an adviser.

“W,what do you want to talk about ……?”

“All of it.”

I answered Alice’s question succinctly.

“Of course, there is no precedent for defeating the Demon King. So no one knows what to do or where to go. Let’s discuss that with everyone and decide.”

Everyone shook their heads at my words.

“As far as I’ve been able to find out, it seems the standard is basically to look for a suspicious-looking place and investigate it……. Well, I don’t think you need to be bound by the standard ……”

May commented.

Being a serious knight, she must have done her research beforehand.

“There is one thing I’m wondering about.”

Phylicia raises her hand and says.

“I have heard the term Demon King’s Castle and I heard a rumour that the castle is located in a mysterious fortified city on the northern continent…. No one has been able to investigate it yet, as it is inhabited by many high-ranked monsters.”

“Ah….. that one. That was a hot topic for a while.”

The castle became famous when several parties mentioned it as a place to investigate. The northern continent is less civilised and the monsters that inhabit it are extremely powerful, so there is not much information available and combined with its eeriness, it became a topic of conversation.

The fact that no one has been able to investigate it yet means it is as dangerous as it sounds. To suggest such a place shows Phylicia’s strong determination.

However, there is no need to investigate this matter with regard to the Demon King’s Castle.

As it turns out, it’s a hoax.

“Where did you get your information?”

“I’ve been there.”

“……Hmmm?”

I replied to Phylicia, who asked me again.

“The adventurers’ party I used to be with were very curious.  As as…..result, the view was spectacular but the Demon King was not there.”

It was a nice landscape.

I remember the vastness of the landscape because of the lack of civilization. The view of the wilderness at dusk from the top of the stone castle was so beautiful that I could watch it until sunset.

“Th,that’s just what I would expect from you,Ned-san……!”

“Umu…… Ned is not what he seems to be.”

Next to Alice, who honestly admired me with a twinkle in her eye, Rushia  was slightly taken back.

For me, who is more often drawn to her, Alice is, how can I say this, a very good girl. She’s a breath of fresh air for my soul.

As I was thinking about this, Riese smiled a little amusedly.

It’s not so much 『King of Illusion』 as 『King of Weirdos』.

(変幻王. 変人王) (It’s a pun)

…..In the first place, the name 『King of Illusion』itself was given by someone on their own.

I’m not that attached to a name that was given to me on its own.

“Returning to the subject – at present, there are few clues about the Demon King, so it is difficult to head directly to the Demon King’s stronghold. We will have to look for clues first.”

In other words, instead of looking for the Demon King, we need to look for clues about the Demon King.

“I’ve encountered a few hero parties on my way as an adventurer, but they were all engaged in very similar and very different activities. As May-dono said, they must investigate suspicious places, but their means are different. Some parties worked on the basis of what they heard from others, while others worked by observing the ecology of the monsters. This area would largely depend on Brain.”

Riese tells the facts she has seen and heard for herself.

“Ah, when you say Brain, you mean ……”

As if in response to Alice’s murmur, they all looked at me.

“….. me?”

They all nodded their heads.

“Brain’s not a character, but……actually, I’ve been thinking about it a bit.”

I’m just not very good at the combat side of things.

But even so, since I joined as a member to fill in for the heroes’ party, I want to do my job. So, in my own way, I was considering several plans. I will explain them now.

“The hero party has already been dispatched by countries all over the world. We, the Kingdom of Enuvidia are quite late to the party…..and we have already investigated most of the suspicious areas.”

“…..does that mean there are no more places to investigate?”

“Aaa, that’s what a normal hero party would think.”

I looked into Alice’s eyes as she asked me.

“I know because I have some interconnectedness with heroes from other countries…..and they are all so talented that it is hard to believe that they are the same human race. It is honestly unbelievable that they are desperately searching for the Demon King and have not even made contact with him yet”

Remembering all the brave men and women I have met, I told them.

“I suspect……that there is a traitor in our midst.”

It was a statement that could have been marginalised at the drop of a hat.

But I trust everyone here. These women would be able to carry on a constructive discussion.

“Do you think there might be falsehoods in the reports of the findings?”

I nodded silently in response to Riese’s confirmation.

She is an exemplary S-class adventurer. She is familiar with all situations and understands them quickly.

“Well, I don’t know if that person is deliberately betraying us. It is possible that they are being manipulated or threatened by the Demon Lord. Or it could just be a lack of investigation……Anyway, I suspect that there are actually important clues hidden in places that have once been investigated.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“In any case, we are latecomers. To be clear, I don’t think we can achieve any results by following what other heroic parties are doing now……Then why don’t we make a bold move from the very beginning?”

I look at the three members of my party.

“ I agree. If no one has done something like that yet…..I think it’s always worth it for us to do it.”

Alice said on behalf of all three of us.

I look at Her Highness the Princess, who is standing beside me.

“Is that okay with Rushia too?”

“Umu! If it’s Ned’s decision, then it doesn’t matter!”

“…..Princess Rushia  is our sponsor, so you can have more say, you know?”

“I’ve decided to trust my heroic party. This mistress is going to be ready for whatever decision the Ned’s make!”

That may not be a bad stance to take.

At least I feel like I can live up to that trust now that I’ve heard those words.

“Well, give me some time. Even though we’ve decided on the……policy, I’d like to have some idea of where we’re going. I’ll try to contact someone I can rely on.”

Saying that, I left everyone for a bit and took a communication stone out of my pouch.

After a while, the communication connects.

“It’s been a long time, Ju──…”

“Aaaaahhh! You! You’re Ned!!　You-aaaaah!!!”

A furious yell was heard.

I take the communication stone away from my ear, waited a few seconds and then  spoke again.

“…. you sound well. I’m relieved, Julius”

“『I am not fine!!!!』”

His shouts were heard again.

Julius, the guardian knight of the Kingdom of Intail. The man who had once joined the Intail Kingdom’s heroic party in my place was now furious.

“『I can finally say this!　I’ve always wanted to say this to you!　─ – Listen to me!　Your party is crazy!　They’re all idiots!　You’re all idiots for helping people, from reanimating, to fighting, to researching!　Nobody listens to me!』”

“Why don’t you become an idiot too, Julius? It might make things easier for you.”

“『How am I supposed to that HA?!!!!』”

He’s still a loud person.

“『I’m always covered in fresh wounds because of the idiot who likes to help people and the idiot who likes to fight! Just when I think I’ve finally got them by the scruff of the neck, the resuscitation idiot and the research idiot are always causing problems!　Thanks to them, I never get any rest, body and soul!　I haven’t slept!』”

“That sounds hard. Why don’t you get that priest to cast an anti-fatigue spell on you?”

“『Don’t be silly! That woman is interested in nothing but resuscitation and she only wants to resuscitate you!』”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

She was the best in the world at raising the dead but she could do nothing else.

“『She’s the kind of woman who, every time she finds a graveyard, she’s going to raise the dead from one side to the other and throw a party!　Last time she was mistaken for one of the Demon King’s henchman because of that!』”

Come to think of it, that happened a lot too.

Julius is currently travelling with the members of the 『Stardust Light』 I created. Travelling with them has been exciting, for better or worse. More than once or twice, I was mistaken for a subordinate of the Demon King.

When I think about it, the hero party I joined this time is quite sensible and reasonable.

I listened to Julius’ complaints and looked at Alice.

“……? Ah, um, what is it?”

“Alice is a good girl……”

“Fhew!!? Is that so? Ehehe…..”

Alice smiled happily.

Now that my mind is at ease, it’s time to get down to business with Julius.

“Julius. I need to have a serious conversation with you”

“『This is serious talk!　I’d rather not have any more serious talk──』”

“──Julius”

It’s really serious.

When I called his name seriously, Julius was silent.

“As you may know, I’m going to join the Kingdom of Enuvidia’s heroic party as an alternative. And now I’m wondering about my first destination.”

“『…… so what is it then.』”

“I want your opinion. Have there been any clues regarding the Demon King recently?”

Julius is silent for a while and then speaks up.

“『Soon after we left the country, we engaged the Demon Lord’s men. …… The location was the Edwin Mine. Rather than being active in the vicinity, they appeared to be on the move. They were moving north from the coast, so they may have crossed the sea.』”

If they are on the move…..it seems that the mine itself does not need to be investigated. Even if they do investigate, let’s leave that to Julius and his team, who actually engaged the Demon King’s men.

If the Demon King’s men crossed the sea, towns along the coast would also fall within the scope of investigation.

The range is wide, but it may be possible to narrow it down based on the route and other factors.

“……Thank you. In return, I’ll give you some tips on how to control Llyod and his friends.”

“『What is it then?』”

Julius sounded like Husan.

“The warrior love combat, but they also like hard training. If you give him a branch from a tree and say, [Learn to cut rocks with this,] he’ll immerse himself in it for a while. I think after a while it’ll seriously come true, so you’d better always have backup ideas in mind.”

“『…. Where did you find such a monster, you bastard?』”

“I killed a monster that was being hunted down and he came out of its belly”

He then says [I was sleeping when it ate me]. No one knows how or why he survived. A body that is too robust may no longer be associated with a sense of danger.

“The wizard has a voracious appetite for knowledge, so give her a rare book.Especially if it’s something she’ve never read before, she’ll be happy even if its a home-cooked recipe…….the priest will settle down after a night in the cemetery, so it’s easier if you talk to the cemetery owner beforehand.”

“『….What about the hero?』”

“He’s the kind of guy who can’t leave people in trouble. So you should tell him that you are in trouble too. If you do that, he’ll listen to what you have to say……Since you’re Julius, your pride must be getting in the way, and you’ve never once spoken out against them, have you?”

“『……Hmph, don’t associate me with you, who have nothing. As a knight of the Kingsguard, I have a duty to live unashamedly as a knight of the Kingsguard.』”

“Well, maybe that’s true.”

I am aware that I have nothing.

“That’s all the advice I can give you. You see…..or rather the Kingdom of Intail, has declared the disbandment of the heroes’ party. I thought Julius would return to his country soon, but I see you’re still travelling together.”

“『If I could go home, I would!　Those guys are forcibly taking me around just because my title of Kingsguard Knight of the Kingdom of Intail is convenient!』”

“I see.”

They’re getting smarter too. 

As long as the kingdom of Intail has declared the disbandment of the heroes’ party, Lloyd and the others are mere adventurers. They have no backing or anything. Julius is the only person with a decent title. They must have realised that Julius’s presence would make it easier for them to gain trust in various ways.

I cut off communication with Julius and approached Alice and the others again.

“Sorry to keep you waiting…..I’ve got some good information. It seems that my previous party from the kingdom of Intail have made contact with the Demon King’s men. Let’s cross-check this sighting with the investigated areas in the vicinity.”

I shared what Julius told me with everyone and looked at the map on the table.

The area around the Edwin mine is noteworthy. In particular, the area to the south across the sea.

In this area, the areas that have already been surveyed are…….

“There is only one place that falls under……”

I nodded at Kirch’s murmur.

“The Airun Ruins.”

(アイルーン)

In the past, adventurers who set foot in these ruins died in every instance. This is one of the most dangerous places in the world.