Satori looked blankly at the profile of the dark-haired man looking down into the coffin, more expressionless than usual, in a funeral parlor.
He didn't turn red from rage nor did he break down crying with grief. He just stared at Badrack's corpse silently.
Aku indeed seldomly showed his emotions in his expression. He was the type of guy to be easily misunderstood as cruel or cold-hearted, but in reality, he was more compassionate and caring than anyone else.
When Badrack had joined the group, Aku took him out for meals and adventures frequently, so Satori thought he liked him a lot. That was why he must be quite shocked when he heard that Badrack had suddenly stopped working for Breathgarm.
Satori knew that the cause of this was that newbie-crusher, Munch, and she was sure Aku was aware of it as well. Still then, it was far better than dying. Reckless newbie adventurers often died quite early, after all. A clan of extremely dangerous adventurers certainly needed someone like Munch to teach them how to be strict.
However, the case of Badrack was different. Ever since then, several adventurers had dropped out of the Breathgarm clan and the air inside the clan had changed concretely.
Satori asked Munch about the incident, but was met with curt dismissal.
Apparently, Satori's abilities had been exaggerated to the point of claiming that she could read people's minds. But, as a matter of fact, she could only see the color of the statement.
Precisely speaking, if a statement was a lie, some kind of greyish color would exude out of the liar. In other words, rather than calling it mind reading, it was nothing more than being able to identify whether a statement was a lie or not. It was that kind of flawed ability. As long as you know the nature of Satori's ability, you can easily counteract it by simply changing the way you say things.
Munch seemed to be aware of this flaw. Of course, Satori didn't trust him very much. Besides, Munch's act was bizarre. It was hard to put into words, but just talking to him made her feel intensely uncomfortable. Anyhow, she felt like there was more than meets the eye
"Aku, I have an unpleasant premonition. Let's investigate this incident once again by ourselves."
"No need......"
That's how it happened.....
Aku had a faith in Satori's [Soul of Word]. No, he trusted it too much. As long as Satori said it wasn't a lie, Aku would not have a shred of doubt about it. Until now, at least he'd respected Satori's opinion as much as he respected her ability. However, it was the first time he rejected her so strongly.
"What a pity, he was still young. What a poor soul."
A grey-haired man with his long white beard walked into the room.
"........"
Akuu pulled out his long sword from the scabbard he was carrying over his back and turned the tip toward the old man.
"Don't point such a boorish thing at a sickly old man. Besides, I'm not Sir's enemy."
"You, a sickly old man? Make a joke anywhere else!" Satori shouted instead of Aku. She could sniff the smell peculiar to scumbags. It would be farfetched to trust that person. The wisest choice would be to stay away from him.
"I'm talking with the S-Rank adventurer, Aku. Weaklings should shut up!" the grey-haired old man stared at Satori as if he was looking at a bug.
His comment caused a thick blue streak to appear on Aku's forehead, and the hilt of his sword began to shake.
"I think you should stop there. I will not spare you if you turn me into an enemy."
The face of the grey-haired old man was tinged with malice as he glared at Aku with a piercing look.
"Now, now. Hold down there, you guys. Right now, we should cooperate to kill that brat."
Just then, a purple-haired young man, Munch, entered the room and cut in between Aku and the grey-haired old man.
As expected, it feels disgusting whenever Munch is around. Previously, although Satori hadn't been on good terms with Munch, it wasn't enough to the point she felt psychologically disgusted.
Multiple personalities, so to speak, combined and wriggled around. It was such an unbelievable feeling.
"I will kill that bastard."
Aku lowered his sword, sheathed it on the scabbard he was carrying over his back, and was about to exit the room.
"Like I was saying, I will prepare the battlefield."
"Battlefield?"
Akuu stopped his footsteps and, just slightly, turned his head.
"I see, you don't know about it. Status, so to speak, indicates someone's strength. Speaking roughly about this pendant, it's an item that makes you incredibly strong."
"The way to use it?"
"The holder only has to charge mana in the pendant."
He looked at his subordinates holding the pendant and ordered, "Wear the pendant and charge your mana in it!"
"B-but—"
"Do it!"
When directed by a murderous glare, the subordinate wore the pendant around his neck with trembling hands and charged mana in it.
Then, a terrible oppressive pressure began to flow out of him.
"......."
Poisonous Liquor ordered the subordinate, who was moving his hands in silence, "As a test, punch that wall lightly."
"Y-yes!" the subordinate nodded and hurled his right fist on the wall.
Boom!!!
With a crushing sound, the wall blew away without a trace, revealing a large hole, and the moonlight shone in.
"A-amazing....." the subordinate was taken aback dumbfoundedly.
Poisonous Liquor asked, "Do you feel anything wrong with your body?"
"N-No!"
"I see, then give it to me."
He snatched the pendant from the loudly mumbling subordinate, put it on himself, and applied magic power to it.
"Hahahaha!!! Wonderful, Conductor! With this, you can get that brat, no, even the world in your hands!" Poisonous Liquor trembled with joy and ecstasy.
"I'm really glad you liked it," Conductor smiled.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Munch and his companions straightened their postures in unison as Poisonous Liquor and the others left the room in high spirits.
"What an idiot. There's no way such power is enough to go against that brat," Conductor's face twisted viciously, as if he was amused.
"With all due respect, Aku is far more powerful than Poisonous Wine. Wouldn't it have been better to use it on Aku?" Munch asked Conductor hesitantly.
"It's fine. He's a bit too pure for this. The dirtier you are, the more that [Demon Lord Seed] fits in."
"I'm really thankful for your praise!"
Conductor nodded in satisfaction as Munch shuddered with tears of joy.
"The experiment of transplanting it into an ape demon was a complete failure, as it did not even germinate. I hope it will be a good seedbed this time."
Conductor walked around the room in a good mood, and Munch and the others all knelt down at once.
"Now, my cute little servants! Pull the curtain on this thrilling and exciting play and turn it into reality!!"
As Conductor held up his hands high, all humans in the room hung their heads in unison.
And so, the curtain slowly rose on the lowest and worst of play.
(T/N : the brave word here comes from “Eiyuu” and the usual hero words come from “Yuusha”. Literally speaking both means hero and in terms of context, “Eiyuu” is used when someone achieved a legendary feat like defeating a demon king and “Yuusha” means someone who’s trying to achieve that legend. That’s why summoned hero called as “Yuusha” and any past legendary her as “Eiyuu”)