CH 167

“Well, thank you for your help. Thanks a lot.”

A large man with a beard greets Raidorl on his return to the town.

A bearded man carrying his beloved battle axe on his back – Bartolomeo Zafis, the guild master who is the head of the adventurers.

He was the mentor who raised Raidorl as an adventurer and looked after him as his guardian until the day he returned to the capital.

“I didn’t have any trouble at all. You didn’t even get any light exercise, so I’m afraid it’s going to slow me down.”

“You’re right. We’re risking our lives against a herd like that.”

Zafis snorted and made fun of Raidorl.

“You’re the hero of national salvation, aren’t you? If it weren’t for that holy sword, you’d have a little more trouble, don’t you think?”

“You might be right…… No?”

Raidorl strokes the holy sword at his waist and replies vaguely.

It’s been nearly a year since he got his holy sword back, but Raidorl can’t help but feel like Dáinsleif is already a part of him.

It was no longer possible to imagine, even if only as an analogy, the hypothetical “…… without the Holy Sword”

Instead, he decided to ask what was bothering him.

“And yet……raids of this scale continue every day?　I’m amazed you’ve lasted this long.”

“Well, …… to be honest, I’m glad you’re back.”

The reason why Raidorl left his post as regent to return to the frontier city was because he had received a request for help from Zafis.

The Kingdom of Zain was badly affected by the earthquake that struck a month ago.

The settlement was no exception, with buildings and the walls surrounding the town collapsing.

However, even more troubling was the outbreak of demons that occurred immediately after the earthquake.

That big earthquake. And since the appearance of the Red Moon, the number of demon outbreaks has skyrocketed in many areas. Even in areas that had been free of demons for years, goblins and orc swarms have been confirmed to have appeared.

Just when Raidorl thought he had finally finished cleaning up after the earthquake, the demons attacked. It’s like the end of the world.

He has been sending his knights and soldiers to various places to kill demons, and he himself has been going to the frontier cities.

In the pioneer city of Raid, which was originally home to powerful demons, packs of demons have been emerging from the jungle every day recently.

Due to the damage caused by the earthquake, the adventurers’ fight was in a state of crisis, as if they were endlessly turning the wheel of fire.

Raidorl’s participation in the previous war was paid for with a large sum of money from the Royal Court…….If it had not been for the increased defence, the frontier city would have been destroyed.

However, their strength had already reached its limit, and Raidorl, the keeper of the holy sword, was sent out in person.

“As for the outbreak of demons, it is said to have been seen in the “Great Calamity” three hundred years ago. Also, this might be the influence of the “Resurrection of the Witches”, which has activated spiritual veins and blown mana around the country…….”

Raidorl told Zafis exactly what he had heard from Neimilia.

Zafis sighs in disgust and scratches his greasy head, which has probably not been washed for days.

“How did ‘we’ manage to survive three hundred years ago? I’m dying of exhaustion right now.”

(TL: I put ‘we’ as in the their forefathers who survive) 

“Survive….? Three hundred years ago, about ninety percent of the population lost their lives.”

“Seriously, …..That’s a lot to take in.”

Zafis held up his hands in surrender.

“My maid will take care of you soon. Just hang in there a little longer, okay?”

Raidorl patted his mentor sympathetically on the back and walked through the city towards his house.

The outbreak of demons itself is inevitable……. Fortunately, Raidorl has one of the original “Six Witches of Doom” under his command.

In the villa, Neimilia was supposed to be working out how to deal with this situation.

It has already been a week since Raidorl arrived in the city.

During that time, he has not been able to return to his house much due to the battle with the demons, but he was sure she will come up with some countermeasures soon.

After leaving Zafis, Raidorl walk around the town, which was destroyed by the earthquake and is now being repaired.

This is Raidorl’s second home. He had spent only five years here, but he felt a strong attachment to it.

“Look at what you’ve done to my town ……. Witches and demons alike. Feel free to smash it ……!”

For that reason, he now had to meet up with Neimilia and discuss how to deal with the situation.

After a short walk, Raidorl arrived at the house where he used to live. The house, which is also the residence of the lord of the pioneer city, was partially damaged by the earthquake, but there was barely enough space for people to live.

This is a mansion owned by Raidorl. Without any hesitation, he opened the door without knocking or ringing.

“Oh, welcome home, Master.”

Then – he was greeted by a familiar maid at the door.

No. It was not a maid. It was a familiar maid in an unfamiliar outfit, posing in a way that emphasised her breasts.

“Do you want to eat? Would you like a bath?　Or do you me-Jyaaaaaaaaa!”

“……….”

Raidorl was silent – he jumped and kicked the bunny girl who was standing in front of him.