Chapter 66: From the Very Beginning (1)

Chapter 66: From the Very Beginning (1)

The Archmage sighed and turned his attention to the situation before him.

The party consisting of the Inquisitor, the Demon Knight, the Thief, and Windhand departed for the next stronghold.

What remained were the Temple’s people, the wizards of the Magic Tower, Windhand’s subordinates, and the people they had rescued.

Meanwhile, he was able to observe the environment’s advancing Demonization. The longer they delayed the Purification, the greater this disaster would become.

“First of all... Your role is extremely important.”

However, this was Yabad. This land didn’t tolerate religious organizations. If they made just a single mistake, they might fall into an unfortunate situation where people who should be cooperating would be fighting against each other.

“You must mediate between these people and us.”

So, he firmly requested this of Windhand’s subordinates and the adventurers. They were the only ones who could communicate with this area’s residents.

The wizards? He held no expectations of them. They were idiots who, even if he asked this of them, would just forget their tasks because they were too immersed in their interests.

He held no trust for those of his organization.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

“I know it might be rather unpleasant to do this, but... please help us.”

“Hmm, no need to worry. You hired us, after all.”

“I mean, it must be rather troublesome for you in various ways.”

Fortunately, the adventurers immediately agreed to cooperate.

“...Don’t worry, Sir Archmage. We also have brains.”

“This is really annoying, but... This is my homeland, so I will cooperate.”

Although Windhand’s subordinates weren’t happy about it, they were also willing to work together. It seemed the public fight between the Inquisitor and Windhand had some impact on them. And the Demon Knight’s words.

“And about these people’s treatment, I was trying to find a way to send them to Jacrati somehow. If that’s possible, then...”

“We should send them there?”

“We can’t send them back on their own. They seem far too anxious for that, don’t they? However, splitting our forces would be rather difficult, as well. We also don’t know if they are the only ones. This might happen again later.”

Of course, they didn't know when their reinforcements would arrive, either. Or if they would come at all.

If they allowed it, then...

“So, the thing is...”

“Look here, Mr. Wizard.”

“Ah, go ahead.”

“...Is there actually a way to solve this? I don’t really want to think about it, but you’ll be able to drive out those damn Demons... and Vipurit from this land, right?”

The Archmage thought briefly before answering the question of Windhand’s subordinate.

Should he tell him the truth or give him hope? Many possibilities and their outcomes flitted through his mind.

“If we’re just discussing the conclusion, then I think it’s possible.”

With the combined strength of the Demon Knight and the Demon’s natural enemy, the Inquisitor, there was almost no Demon they couldn’t kill, even with the added disadvantage of their lacking compatibility. Rather than synergizing with each other, one side would suffer damage one-sidedly.

They had the Thief with them, who was skilled at detecting traps and gathering information, and there was also Windhand, who requested to come along.

He didn’t know whether Vipurit was actually there, but there was a high chance of it.

“However, if you wish to reduce the damage further... You’ll need help. Help from the people of the mainland.”

“...Are you saying you’ll bring even more of the Temple’s people here?!”

“It’s not anything unexpected, now is it?”

Getting rid of Demons didn’t end with just killing them. The land was stained by Demonic Energy and needed to be Purified, and even after that, one had to turn over every stone to ensure all remnants were gone.

Those tasks couldn’t be taken care of immediately with physical strength alone, either.

“What we need now is time and manpower. And the more of one you have, the less you’ll need of the other.”

“We still have fifty people!”

“Please look at this situation calmly. Montana isn’t small enough for just fifty people to completely survey.”

Fifty people was far too few.

If one truly wanted to use just fifty people, assuming they all worked hard without a single moment of rest, it would take them a year at best.

It may take even longer. The longer it took to Purify this place, the more Demons would appear, and when more Demons appeared, the Demonization would only accelerate.

It would become a very fierce power struggle.

“Alternatively, another way would be to obtain thousands or tens of thousands of Purification Stones. However... As you know, they aren’t something that can be made so easily. Even if you were to bring all the stones available on the market, it wouldn’t be enough. If you were to ask the Temple for them in the name of the Yabad region, they would provide them for free, but even the Temple cannot give you items they don’t have.”

“...!”

In the end, the problem was time. If they didn’t want to bring in any more people from the Temple, they would need more time, which would cause more damage to the region.

“I know this is nothing short of a disgrace to you. I know it was hard for you just to accept us. However, there is no other way. The people of the Magic Tower alone aren't enough for this task.”

What a cruel twist of fate.

“Then why are you telling us that?”

“Deck captain...!”

At that moment, someone stepped forward. He was the one who went with Windhand to request help, so he seemed to be the vice-captain and next in rank.

He looked to have noticed the hidden intentions of the Archmage, who now realized why Windhand left the crew to him in his absence.

“I need someone to spread the word to Jacrati.”

So, the Archmage answered him honestly. The deck captain’s face crumpled together slightly.

“There is a way to contact others there. I left behind one wizard for that reason. However, it matters who gives this report.”

“So, you want us to tell the Lord that she should bring in more people from religious groups?”

“I’m not forcing you to. And I don’t want you to request that of her directly, either. I just want you to show a positive inclination to this option.”

“So that’s what this is about.”

Was it still impossible? He felt a little disappointed but quickly gave up on the matter. As survivors of that atrocious massacre or their descendants, their attitude toward the Temple was understandable.

“If there is a God, he sure is cruel. How could he make us make that choice? He really is cruel.”

However, it seemed he’d judged too quickly.

“Hostages make things a lot more difficult.”

“...Those captives are probably from here.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll save them.”

“...”

Windhand’s expression, which had seemed incredibly furious just moments ago, became ambiguous as they spoke back and forth. His anger over the current situation appeared to have shifted to the background, at least.

“It doesn’t feel good hearing you treat me with respect, so just do whatever you feel comfortable with.”

“...! Got it!”

“...”

He had been with the Inquisitor for six whole days. Could he have figured out her character? Or had it perhaps become harder for him to get angry at her? Either way, it didn’t really matter to me.

“Their formation.”

Anyway, I urged Deb, who had just returned, to give me information. The young man squatted down and began outlining the situation beyond the hill with a stick.

Fourteen people formed a protective circle around a carriage with children inside. Some adults were bound near the carriage.

Crunch.

Crack.

When I heard there were children trapped in the carriage, the hilt of my sword grasped within my gauntlet-clad hand gave off some eerie sounds as if they were rubbing together. What followed was the sound of Windhand grinding his teeth.

The atmosphere had suddenly become quite bleak.

“...I guess they set up camp because the sun will set soon. There’s a stream nearby, and the hill gives them a good view of everything approaching them.”

They would absolutely regret this.

I hated crimes that harmed children in any way the most! Wouldn’t it be more pitiful and sad if everyone died, adults and children alike, such as in a war, rather than just seeing some kids locked up in a carriage?

They seemed about the same to me. I usually didn’t advocate personal revenge, but those bastards really deserved to get hit. My character setting also allowed for these actions, as well!

“Go back, don’t get in my way.”

I took out the scimitar and turned it half a turn.

To be clear, what I just said was more like insurance for me. I mean, they might even take a child or one of the others hostage in a fit of rage.

At that moment, the Inquisitor, who’d taken a step back, unfolded her defensive barrier, Deb took out some shackles, and Windhand even declared that the Inquisitor was a decent person despite being from a religious organization, which made me more at ease.

Of course, I felt a bit uneasy as I’d spoken quite ambiguously... Did they understand what I wanted them to do?

If not, I would have to kill them all before they’d even get an opportunity to take a hostage.

“Understood.”

“But I can fight, as well...”

“You idiot, he wants us to secure and protect the people while he attracts their attention.”

Fortunately, the meat dumpling clearly understood what I was getting at.

“...Those were his intentions?”

“Most certainly. As expected of the Demon Knight...!”

“Although he pretends otherwise, he sure is a kind person.”

Oh no. It hadn’t been perfect. Rather, they managed to corrupt my image.

Aaargh. Stop ruining my image with your weird interpretations. That kindness isn’t my character’s kindness. They’d instead managed to reveal part of my personality! Of course, my character was extremely kind deep down, but it shouldn’t show like this, no, no, it couldn’t be like this, uwaargh!

“Eek.”

I quickly swung my sword and stopped it right before Deb’s nose. In that instant, wind blew up the dry, fallen leaves.

“Begone, before I rip out your tongue.”

Notably, my facial expression probably seemed extremely angry right now. I should keep my distance, and whenever I notice them getting comfortable with me by saying I’m kind, I should do something like this again.

Crunch.

I turned toward the hill without changing my expression. My boots crumpled the leaves as I climbed up.

Tatatak.

The moment I crested the hill, several arrows flew toward me. [Ground Crash], a skill that activated whenever I struck down with my Zweihänder, released huge amounts of Arcane Power everywhere.

Those arrows flying at me getting bounced off was just a bonus.

“Wh-What the hell is that thing!”

“I-It’s a Knight!”

“He knows how to use Arcane Power! He’s a Knight!”

“Didn’t they kill all the Knights?!”

The Arcane Power subsided, and I looked down at the ground filled with cracks.

People tied to a carriage with their legs shackled. The slave traders who set up camp before those people. I could see plenty of signs of merrymaking around the place.

‘I have to kill them all.’

I put strength into my legs. Bang! As I kicked the ground hard, my body went straight down the hill.

Slash!

I killed the first guy.

“Brats.”

I looked over the guy I killed after kicking his face as I landed. All the children trapped in that iron carriage were looking at me.

“Close your eyes.”

In an instant, pitch-black energy began to form around the scimitar’s silver blade.

“You shouldn’t watch these kinds of things.”

The children very obediently closed their eyes.

Soon after, two black slashes flew across the area, avoiding the carriage and the captives outside of it.

Screeek. The scimitar let out a metallic sound.