CH 160.1

Translator: “Ashita”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”

Further East from the frontier of the Kingdom.

The place where the river flows from the North to the Western seas. That is where the capital of the Eastern country – Cathedral City*, lies.

In a room of the church that lies at the center of the central plaza, the archbishop is looking through the report.

[*TL note: A raised throne of a bishop. To find out more, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral]

(The annihilation of two villages. And the loss of many soldiers and Knights belonging to the border guards)

He reads on with a grave expression on his face.

(The Knight Order that had been dispatched in a hurry was annihilated with the exception of the C-rank Knights that were placed at the rear)

Faced with a loss of this level, a leaked from his Adam’s apple.

「Just who is that? That person」

The surrounding bishops could not answer this question, that seemed like a soliloquy.

The one who caused this situation that is the very definition of a disaster is but a single magician. Nobody had an inkling of this.

This happened several weeks ago.

A village on the outskirts of the West that is closer to the border than that of the Kingdom. It seems like the person appeared suddenly there.

And of all things, the person started activating magic all of a sudden and killed several villagers.

(Why would that person do such a thing)

The archbishop frowned.

Boldly letting out Lightning Arrow in broad daylight.

The reason is still not known at this juncture.

There is no one that can stand up to a magician in such a small village. The villagers ran to the closest border guard station.

(But the C-ranks were unable to stand up against the person)

The Knights and soldiers rushed to the scene.

Many of them were turned to cinders by the thunder that struck over and over.

The archbishop who received the news immediately decided to dispatch the Knight Order.

The A-rank Knight that the vice-commander was piloting has a device, that is the manifestation of danger awareness. installed on top of its head.

(But even that got annihilated)

Before it could even get close, it was defeated by a long-range attack magic.

(It may very well be a technique that is not human. The movement too)

He made a wry face.

An existence that is dangerous even though it is merely drawing closer. After the C-rank Knights at the rear fled and successfully returned, they were fearful and did not report to the soldiers of the Kingdom.

It was then that he sent a request to the Adventurer Guild to perform an investigation.

(There are already no traces of the magician at the scene)

It is not just the magician. The villagers and the village, there is nothing.

The only things remaining are the burnt fields and the wreckages of the Knights.

Pressing both of his hands on his face, the archbishop agonized. The bishops could only watch as he did this.

The stage moves to one afar, to the nation known as Pseudo-Acacia.

That is a small nation which is located North-North West of the Kingdom.

Due to a flood of candidates entering this region from similarly small nations, the Pseudo-Acacia nation has had a sudden increase in presence in the recent years.

Exterminating magical beasts on trade routes and hunting down bandits, they have established their position as a relay point in trading routes.

In addition to this, they fought as the main force in the defensive battle against the invasion of the Empire and were able to repel the forces from the Empire.

It is ni exaggeration to say that the position that they stand at now can be called the leading power of the Northern League of Nations.

And the one who accomplished these feats is a single hero.

「Kyah! Lightning-samaa!」

A scream of delight that is enough to split the ears of a person.

It is this person – Lightning – who has now become a pilot of a B-rank Knight, that is the hero that saved this nation.

Whenever he comes out of the marketplace that is lined with street stalls, housewives just like the one earlier will fill the streets continuing on for what seems like an eternity.

(Even though the truth is that these are the achievements of Tauro-dono)

Even as he is returning a gentle smile to the crowd, he let out a huge sigh in his heart.

The one who defeated the stone golem along the border, the one who also took down the B-rank Knights during the defensive battle by the Northern League of Nations, that person was not him.

But for some reason, he has become the person who defeated them all.

He refuted this and corrected it countless times but that only resulted in others thinking that he was acting humble which led to others having an even better evaluation of him.

(Tauro-dono too dislikes this and has pulled back as quickly as possible)

Lightning is convinced.

By the way, Tauro has said that it is fine to call him 『Tauro-san』. However, Lightning could not get used to this and has reverted back to calling him 『Tauro-dono』.

「Welcome home. This morning is another popular day for you」

The eggs that were bought from the marketplace. His wife teases him as she takes those off his hand.

The childhood friend of Lightning and the granddaughter of the previous head of the dojo, who was also his master.

This house has the master and his wife, and us, there is also my child.

「How is the condition of The Great Madam?」

The expression of his wife became clouded as she hears this question.

「It seems like she has been unable to sleep recently」

Lightning puts on a concerned expression and patted his own face once.

The Great Madam has been in poor health in recent times.

「It is because she is no longer young anymore」

The wave known as time strikes relentlessly and does not stop.

There are times, when a person is old, that a single spark can cause that person to end up immobilized.

They confirmed through their eyes that they have always been keeping a close eye on her.

「Preparations for breakfast will be done soon so go to the dining room and wait for a bit」

He nods and first heads to the bedroom for a peek.

On top of a small bed lies an infant, who has already eaten breakfast, and has fallen asleep once again.

After he lets out a grin, he heads for the dining room.

「Good morning」

Already in their seats is the master and his wife.

(It seems like her condition is not good)

He thinks as he looks at The Great Madam.

Reminding himself that he should not forget to be considerate, he turns his face toward the scene outside the window.

A refreshing ray of light shines in from the window facing the East reaching up to the far reaches of the room.

(It seems like today will be another comfortable day)

The jobs of a pilot and his responsibilities as the head of the dojo.

These have left him quite busy but he did not hate this sense of fulfillment.

The stage shifts to the inside of the mind of a certain someone.

There, a hideous greed pulsated like that of a heart.

However, it has not been let loose.

Several invisible chains, known as logic, intertwine and form a seal.

(Ghh)

However, that seal is already at its limit.

It is letting out an ominous grating sound along with the pulsation even now.

Several pulsations later, a breaking sound can be heard along with a single chain that broke off and fell.

『Do it』

A voice resounds immediately after that.

A certain being looks around the surroundings but found no one who could have said such a thing.

The beings around were looking at this being with a mystified expression.

It seems like that voice that the person heard was one that came from within.

『Do it!』

The voice that gradually increases in clarity and grows louder.

Unable to endure this, the certain being covered ears and fell face-first on the table.

The beings in the surroundings let out shocked voices and called out to the being in a concerned tone. However, the loud voice within interferes and they do not reach the being’s ears.

『Have intercourse!』

The chains of logic finally broke apart, they burst, scattering in all directions.

The greed that was released from its seal used memories as its fuel and rapidly corrupted the heart.

(You)

The male right in front of the being.

After a short moment, he shows the being a sorrowful expression.

It is probably because he has robbed the lives of many during the war.

He does not say anything but there is no doubt that a shadow has been cast on his heart.

(It is your fault)

No, no, do not heave a sigh like that. I will not be able to control myself.

What is it?

You are fine. And the condition of your body is not bad.

Why do you look at me with such a worried expression?

Why do you show concern for me? Even though you are in more pain.

Stop it, do not be kind to me. If you are kind to me, I……

「……Oooo」

A sound came out from the being’s mouth, one that no one would imagine a human would make.

I have put up with just looking.

I have put up with just imagining.

I tried to be satisfied with perking my ears to listen in on the bedroom beside and comforting myself.

You are the husband of my grandchild.

You will never be together with me.

Ahh, it is no use. I can no longer stop myself.

I want your body, I want your heart. No, I want everything.

「Umoooooooo!」

All of a sudden, the whole body of The Great Madam shook as she let out a scream from the depths of her soul.

That howl caused cracks on the glass windows, made plates fall from the cupboard, and made the mug cups on top of the table topple.

She then tore apart her clothes and threw them away, rolling forward, she assaults the person of her dreams.

「Lady of the house! What are you」

Lightning jumped to the side even as he is in shock. It is the literal definition of making it by the breadth of a hair.

A giant lump of meat that stopped in its tracks after getting stuck in the wall of the dining room. Trying to shake off the broken wooden pieces, it squirms about, trying to get up.

「What is wrong? Grandmother!」

「You must stop」

Her granddaughter and her husband, who was the previous head of the dojo, shouts.

From the bottom of the rubble, The Great Madam shifts her head and looks over, her eyes persistently chasing after Lightning. The two people came to a realization from looking at the color of her eyes.