Chapter 25: Irrevocable (4)

Chapter 25: Irrevocable (4)

“Ah, damn it."

I had been pretty proud of what I’d just said, but Deb suddenly cursed after hearing it. He said he would get me a horse, so I chose to let it go, but I had no idea why he did that.

“...Hey, Mister. I really hate those guys from the Temple."

I already knew that. I knew he hated them so much that he would openly discuss it with me, whom he wasn't even close with, right in front of a member of the Temple.

“However... I hate Demons even more. I also really hate people who are no better than Demons."

Was the favorability level of all plot-relevant NPCs screwed up or something? If it wasn't, he would never have told me, someone he just met, something like that.

As I reached that conclusion, I listened to the rest of his words.

“So, take this with you."

I reflexively caught something that just came flying toward me.

“...In any even remotely developed city, you should be able to find a tavern with this insignia out front."

As I was about to check what he had thrown, Deb whispered to me. I didn't know what he’d given me for him to bring up some tavern.

“If you find one, give them this. You'll be able to buy any kind of information."

I glanced at what was in my hand.

It was a piece of wood engraved with a rat overlapping with a snake. It was something anyone who played Legend of Heroes would be familiar with: the emblem of the Information Guild.

“You deserve it."

Crazy. This was an Information Guild access card. It was similar to the Adventurers' Guild but fulfilled a slightly different role.

I felt the back of my head tingle slightly. I thought Deb would join us because of this incident, but now I realized it was all just to get him to deliver this card to the player.

I very much welcomed this twist. However, I would probably be able to log out before I even got to use it.

“...Why did you give this to me?"

“I just told you. I hate those Temple guys, but I hate Demons and those associated with them even more. And wouldn't you, Mister Knight, make better use of that than us, who just hold onto information."

That was true. After NPCs provided the player with information, the player would investigate and solve the situation according to the Quest.

However, I didn't think he gave me that knowing this.

“What do you want?"

I asked as I put the card into my inventory. Deb lifted the corners of his mouth to that.

“It's fine. I already got what I wanted."

...I would have to check if I had anything in my inventory to give him. I never gave him anything, so why was he acting like that?

“And the horse... I'll try to get it for you as fast as possible. In the meantime, rest a bit. I'll be able to do it alone."

Wow, what good service.

What? What did I do for him to go to such lengths for me? I couldn't even explain it as being part of the plot anymore. Was this really all because I gave him one Demon Contractor? Wasn’t that a bit much?

“Wait.”

While I was trying to read Deb’s mind, the Inquisitor spoke up this time. Her sunken eyes glittered in the moonlight.

“I will join you.”

It wasn’t anything I particularly wanted to happen or couldn’t predict. These plot-relevant Companion NPCs just wouldn’t stop following me. Even if they did, I wouldn’t mind.

“Sir Archmage...”

“...How could I let you go alone?”

Although the Archmage’s expression seemed rather grim, he eventually agreed to come. He pressed his thick fingers against his eyes.

“But, do you really not mind?"

“I didn't expect to go through such ordeals already, but... you don't have to worry about me. Ever since I decided to join you, Miss Inquisitor, I decided to stay by your side."

Good, it seemed they decided to come along. However, why were they talking like that?

“...You guys will have to get your own transportation, though."

“Hmm. I'll pay the original price for it. Is it still not possible for you to arrange some for us?"

“Well, in that case."

Deb shrugged and gestured to the other thief NPC—the one who had brought the sack—who instantly disappeared into another alley.

“You'll have to pay the original price, so you better be prepared."

As he spoke, Deb slowly walked backward in the direction the other thief had gone before turning completely and running off. That instant disappearing skill really made him seem like the Thief class’s representative character.

“...Anyway, all we can do now is wait."

“Ah, then we should go to the dorms. We shouldn't have any problem using it."

The Temple’s dormitory... I guess not going there would fit my personality better, wouldn’t it?

“You should also come with us, Demon Knight. Wouldn’t it be better to rest properly, even just a little?”

Hmm. If they put it like that, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

I just had to avoid lying in a bed. No matter whether I slept standing up, sitting down, or lying down, my fatigue level would decrease all the same.

“This way.”

I carefully watched the retreating Inquisitor’s back and followed at the last possible moment.

“Are you hoping for your own destruction?”

The Archmage then asked me in a low voice so the Inquisitor wouldn’t hear. I decided not to answer the sage.

Because his question perfectly described the image I had been aiming for. Wahaha.

* * *

Deb returned around dawn.

It took longer than I anticipated, but I just let it go after saying, “You’re late.” The horses were too good for me to throw a temper tantrum.

It seemed the Inquisitor wanted to send Deb away or replace him with someone else...

I had no idea why she insisted on us taking Deb—maybe because of the plot—but it seemed there wasn’t anything we could do. Well, I didn’t really care who came along.

“Are you going to keep blabbering?”

I felt really sorry. We’d only exchanged a few words, but I couldn’t waste any more time.

Just when I mounted the horse, the Archmage coincidently came trudging in.

“I’m the last one, huh?”

He didn’t even ask why there were five horses or who this new addition was. Even a normal human’s ears would have picked up half the conversation between the Inquisitor and Skyley, so with his hearing, he should have already grasped the situation.

“Oh my, it seems I wasted too much of your time. Off you go.”

“Erm, yes. Thank you... for your consideration.”

The Inquisitor, defeated by her eloquence, eventually got on her horse with a sullen expression. Deb had already mounted his, so all we needed to do was leave.

“Ah, wait. Hey, listen.”

“Huh, what else is there?”

...All we needed to do was wait for the horse owner to finish speaking with her representative and then leave.

“I wish you luck.”

“May God be with you.”

They didn’t talk for long.

I didn’t feel the need to listen to these words of blessing, so I just started riding.

“Giddy up!”

Neigh!

The great horse immediately started moving its legs at my command. Its speed and acceleration were quite good.

“Th-that.”

“Hooh.”

The priests behind me were staring quite intensely, but my character wasn’t one to care about the looks of others. Wahaha.

“...! How nice!”

“...Looks like I’ve been pampered to death here. Sigh, I deserve it.”

I could hear the Inquisitor’s exclamation and Deb’s mutterings enter my ears. It seemed this was the first time that Deb had ridden a horse.

“At this rate, we’ll arrive in three days.”

“That long?”

“Yeah.”

Just as I heard the Archmage lamenting close by, a horse approached me.

“...Erm, Mister. Please forget what you just heard.”

It was the Deathbringer.

“I met her a little while back in the alleys, and she’s a bit nosy, so...”

“I don’t care.”

In fact, I would engrave that incident into my mind, but that was just me. My character wouldn’t be that interested in it.

“Is that so.”

I wondered how he took these words. After riding beside me silently for some time, Deb opened his mouth once more.

“...Mister, have you ever regretted it?”

That question seemed a little strange in this situation. Besides, shouldn’t such sensitive subjects only be broached after we’d known each other for some time, or, in other words, after we’d built up some rapport?

Did that guy’s favorability somehow rise without me doing anything, like with the Inquisitor?

“...”

Should I ignore him, or shouldn’t I? If I decided not to ignore him, how should I answer?

I quickly thought about what my character would do, and an appropriate answer soon came out of my mouth.

“What a meaningless question.”

Because he hadn’t been strong enough, he had been unable to prevent his family’s demise.

Because he hadn’t been strong enough, he was the only one who survived.

And because he hadn’t been strong enough, all he could do now was hunt those Demons.

From his perspective, was there even something to regret?

Regret was only possible when one realized they had done something wrong or could have made a better choice. Neither applied to the Demon Knight.

In other words, he never even had the chance to feel regret.

All of his despair resulted from an unstoppable disaster.

However.

“...The nutrient supplements should have run out by now, so why can I still not log out?”

Two days had passed since we began our journey to Tatara. With how much time had already passed, this couldn’t have happened because of the sleep function’s time skip, but I still couldn’t log out.

Even when we reached Tatara, the game still didn’t end.

“Why...?”

I had a lot of regrets.

Connecting to this game. Getting too immersed in my roleplay. Putting aside all my worries, thinking I would eventually be able to log out. These were all things I could have prevented!

Shit!