Chapter 35: The Consequences of One’s Choices (10)

Chapter 35: The Consequences of One’s Choices (10)

I had passed through these sewers without much difficulty even while completely exhausted. Now, my fatigue was relieved, and I wasn’t suffering from any injury penalties.

Plus, my level had increased, so my capabilities had also increased to a certain extent. Maybe.

Although I couldn’t expect a sharp increase in my combat power through skills—I didn’t want to suffer like last time, so I focused on treatment skills—this was good enough.

I easily advanced through the sewers.

“Is he even real...?”

“That’s the Demon Knight...”

“Are all Iron Plaque adventurers like this?”

That aside, wasn’t this a bit too easy? I heard they had been dragging their feet because they lacked manpower, but just how little did they have?

At one point, I wondered whether they left this place untouched for the player to sweep through. Just what kind of game was this?

“Urgh, the smell.”

At that moment, Deb, who had been following me while we were in the sewers, blocked his nose. He hadn’t complained even once until now. He only did so after we’d finished our work, which was quite professional of him.

On another note, I wasn’t entirely sure why he followed me despite knowing it would be like this.

“How are you fine, Mister?"

How could I be okay? Deb was just in the rear all this time, but I had been fighting in the front, so all kinds of muck had splattered on my clothes. If they didn't have this automatic cleaning function, I would be shuddering in disgust right now.

“You've done nothing, and yet you complain about the smell? How ridiculous."

“Then what did you do to say that?"

“What was that?"

They could just continue fighting while I went ahead.

I turned around right away, as I had reached my endurance limit and certainly didn't want to stay here. After confirming through every means available that there were no more Demons present, I returned without any hesitation.

My clothes, which had become completely clean again, fluttered as I walked.

“Right. I've always wanted to ask, where did you get those clothes? Ah, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious because they seem enchanted with the high-level spell {Automatic Restoration}, which is quite amazing.”

I gave the Archmage a look as he asked that question. They were just items I had received as a reward for buying the game's deluxe edition, but was that kind of high-level magic placed on them? On these clothes?

“Now that I think about it, you certainly have a lot of strange things. Like that space expansion bag..."

My starting equipment was better than I thought, and I also maintained it quite well to uphold my character's image. I planned to change my gear once high-level armor and weapons became available.

However, from his reaction, it seemed only the starting gear had automatic restoration/cleaning functions. Well, store-bought items wouldn't have these kinds of options, at least.

“...How many times must I tell you to stop caring about me?"

While I let out a fierce growl externally, I was internally holding my head in despair.

If this place was real, I could never replace these items. Automatic cleaning was the most convenient option ever, after all.

“It seems I asked something useless. Let's go."

After dropping that bomb on me, the Archmage just turned around.

Well, it was better knowing it now than getting scolded later, but even still, I felt like I had been hit over the back of my head. That was apparently the price I had to pay for listening to Mr. Too-Much-Information.

“...But I'm with him. Not you."

“That's...!”

While that was happening, these two were still fighting. Couldn't she see that the respect the priests held for her as the Hero was steadily diminishing?

“There's also something I can't understand. Why did you even follow us into the sewers to begin with?"

However, that didn't mean their quarrel wasn't worth paying attention to. The Inquisitor asked him something I was also interested in.

“..."

Deb pursed his lips. The sewers suddenly fell into complete silence.

“Oh, right, now that I think of it, Miss Inquisitor. I haven't told you yet, have I?"

Damn it. The Archmage was the first to break the silence. His silver mane, gently reflecting the lantern’s light, gave off a slight shine.

“How about we make this young man our next Companion?"

“What?!”

No matter how I looked at it, it would be rather difficult for Deb to join us. I had wondered how they would solve it, but they just did it like this?

“Why-wha-what?"

“Y-you mean me?"

However, both the Inquisitor and Deb fell into confusion at the Archmage's words. I couldn't see their expressions as they were both behind me, but I could tell from their tone of voice that they couldn’t believe their ears.

“That’s right. As long as you agree to it.”

“I’m against it! What good would he even do—!”

“I’d be more useful than you, though.”

“You!”

“What? Did I say anything wrong?”

“A-argh...!”

At that point, I had a premonition: he would end up joining us as though caught in a fierce storm. I often saw such scenarios not only in works of fiction but also in real life.

“Inquisitor, please think about this while setting your prejudices aside. How many things were we able to solve thanks to him? Consider how well he performed."

“Th-that's..."

It wasn't something I cared that much about, so I just increased my pace a bit.

I was not involved in deciding whether Deb joined our party, and I couldn’t treat him well even if he did due to my character setting.

“That’s why I’m suggesting it. Our goal is to drive out the Demons from our lands once and for all, but to do that, we will have to go through many trials and tribulations. Your eyes, which can reveal the truth and find things hidden from view, will certainly be more than helpful."

“E-even if you put it like that, it’s still a difficult decision for me to make.”

“Of course, since we can’t guarantee your safety during this journey, I won’t force you to join. However, I believe we won’t meet anyone as talented as you again, so won’t you at least consider it for this old man’s sake?”

At the mention of that word, my face became even more distorted. My brain was running rampant to come up with something.

I had no idea about this, but I suspected I would discover some information that might help me cover for my error if I continued listening...!

“During the two weeks you were unconscious, I contacted the Magic Tower and received information related to this matter. As a result, I was able to learn that that very name also appeared in some ancient texts."

I grabbed my weapon with my right arm, my hand grasping hold of it. My fate depended on his following words.

“Gretchen is a tribute dedicated to one of the Seven Great Demons, ‘Wrath,’ or someone possessed by them.”

“...!”

“Wh-what...?”

As I focused on his next words, I wondered why the two dumplings looked even more surprised than me, even though this had nothing to do with them.

The Archmage, while seeming desperate, didn't show any hostility toward me. In that case, the next thing he was going to say would probably be in my favor.

“The Great Demons are no different from Satan’s direct subordinates. Ah, don’t worry. I don’t consider you a servant of the Demon King. But... isn’t that why you were so wary of those places? When you enter Satan’s realm, the influence that his presence has on you increases, and the power of the Demon suppressed within you may become stronger than it is now. The possibility that it would run amok would increase exponentially.”

What a perfect excuse to cover for my character-setting error.

I was almost moved to tears when I looked at that man who could be seen as both my enemy and benefactor.

Although, if those guys hadn’t forced that setting upon me to begin with, I wouldn’t be in so much trouble...!

“...What is your reason for saying all this?”

Still, I had to continue acting. I didn’t want to get teamkilled. Sob, sob.

“Have you decided that I need to be killed?”

“Don’t misunderstand. How could that be right?”

Still, judging by the Archmage’s words, things seemed to be going pretty well.

“It’s about this: since we can’t immediately enter the frontlines anyway, we could use that time to find a way to completely seal that Demon in your right arm. What do you think?”

—That wasn't really a matter of level, but job advancement, going by the original, at least. Whether or not the Demon got sealed would decide the Demon Knight’s job advancement.

I heard that they completely changed the old advancement system. Did they actually incorporate it into the story?

“I’m sorry if I have offended you. But Demon Knight, you can’t go on like this forever.”

However, I didn’t have the leisure to focus on that in this situation.

I quickly analyzed what would be the most appropriate response to that.

“How dare you run your mouth like that...!”

Ah, my character setting was that I hated myself so much that I wouldn’t be happy even if presented with a chance to be cured.

Baaang!

I pulled out my sword and hit the table with it. Black energy scratched the seat beside the Archmage.

The noise faded, with only the faint sound of breathing left behind.

“I...”

But when I opened my mouth, I couldn’t think of any fitting line. I was about to reuse that one I just said.

However, whether I needed to say something depended on my interpretation anyway.

Bam!

So, I just decided to leave the canteen.

In the end, wasn’t my setting that I had run away from my past to the point of even discarding my own name? So, it should be fine if I just ran away like this, right?

According to the setting, the most unacceptable thing for this character was his own happiness.

* * *

Bam!

After that shocking conversation, Deathbringer blankly stared at the empty seat the Demon Knight, who had rushed out of the canteen, had been sitting in.

“I had been wondering why he was like that...”

In the early morning before reaching Tatara, he’d made some remarks that made him seem like some kind of Demon. The reason the energy emitted by his sword was such an ominous black color. And the reason he only coughed up blood when Divine Power, which was supposed to be benevolent to all, was used on him. And also, why the sage was in charge of caring for and wrapping his right arm.

It felt like he understood all of that now. No, he completely understood.

“So, he was holding a Demon in his right arm...”

If that was the cause, it all made sense.

“He is, indeed, a strong man.”

“...What?”

“Even though he holds a Demon in his arm, don’t treat him as one.”

“What nonsense are you...”

Deathbringer reflexively tried to retort but slurred his words at the end. When he realized that the Demon Knight held a Demon in his arm, why didn’t he feel repulsed?

“...”

At that moment, he remembered the moment the Demon Knight had been overtaken by the Demon two weeks prior. He still prioritized defeating Demons over his own life.

『I just cannot tolerate those pests eating away at the world.』

He’d felt impressed when first hearing that, but looking back at it now, the line seemed to possess an even deeper meaning.

“Ah...”

Deathbringer couldn’t even fathom what emotions he was going through or what meaning those words carried for him. However, after fully knowing what was going on, instead of contempt and rejection, the only things he felt were admiration and lamentation.

If he were in the Demon Knight’s position, he would never have been able to act like he did.

“...Hey.”

As such, Deathbringer opened his mouth almost impulsively. Even though he knew he would regret this choice, he couldn’t help himself.

“Erm, do you really think that I would be of help to you?”

Making rash decisions was the privilege of the young.