CH 41

“There were a hundred airplanes and a hundred ships sent out, yet zero were successful in crossing the Pacific Ocean…? That’s appalling.”

“Are you referring to the convoy that our country deployed with all possible arrangements the other day?”

Following my parting from Ichiko during the “Purge of the Fog,” I withdrew to my home for a month.

But I couldn’t allow myself to carry on like this. So when I emerged this morning, this is what I found on the TV.

“How did this happen…?”

“According to your father, it is attributed to the fact that there are undiscovered dungeons at the bottom of the ocean and in the sky over the world, and the Demon Kings there have begun to take aggressive measures.”

I see. Then, the present state of affairs is…

“So, naturally, the issues of foods and supplies are starting to arise since the resources are scarce in this country.”

“Does it mean the country is in an unfavorable position?”

“It’s getting worse. Owing to this, those who possess the skills to resolve this predicament are being bowed down by the government to utilize their skills. By the way, even you, Lady Ryo have received a request to make use of your healing skill.”

I-it is indeed not ideal to have secluded myself in the room for a month… I figured that thanks to becoming a kin, eating and sleeping have changed into an indulgence, so I wasn’t inconveniencing anyone.

“S-speaking of which, what is Kurokiri up to? Given Kurokiri’s standing, I wouldn’t expect him to sit idly by and witness this situation quietly…”

“Who knows? The only thing is that he seems to be increasing the number of kin, mainly abandoned children and military personnel. After that, it looks like he has set up something called a transportation magic line. I believe this has been briefed to you as well, Lady Ryo.”

“Ah, come to think of it, I remember something like that…”

So Houki doesn’t know much about the situation on Kurokiri’s side also…

“Incidentally, this area is safe and sound due to Kurokiri-sama, but I hear that the Demon King has invaded the northern part and is wreaking havoc there.”

“What about the west?”

“I hear that Kurokiri-sama and the Fox Princess-sama have some kind of private agreement that they will not lay a hand on each other’s territory but the details are unknown. Accordingly, it is said that Ichiko-sama has done something about it.

“…”

Ichiko… No, I don’t have any more concerns about that girl. She has chosen her own path by her own initiative. Yes, that girl has chosen the path of saving and hunting as many lives as possible by any means.

But it is unfathomable for me to propose saving individuals who were about to die as human beings by compelling them to relinquish their human race. Therefore, I’ll save those who can be saved, but let those who can’t be saved to their own fate.

No, that alone won’t be enough to finish off that abominable Kurokiri anytime soon. I myself have to grow even stronger. To accomplish this… despite how aggravating it is, I must strike a negotiation with Kurokiri.

“Where are you heading, Lady Ryo?”

“I’m off to meet Kurokiri.”

With that, I rise from my seat and head downstairs to the basement.

“So what do you want from me specifically?”

In front of me is Kurokiri in a state of fog.

“Even if you said… specifically… well…”

“Let me remind you, all of Ichiko’s earned experience has accrued to her since that day, except for kickback.”

“I had a faint understanding of that. I mean, apart from that.”

“In that case, you’ll have to earn your own experience from henceforth. In other words, what you require now is the means to gain experience on your own.”

Kurokiri put his mouth to my ear and whispers, “Well, if that is the way you want to go, I can recommend a good hunting ground for you. Or, to put it another way, there is an area in our country where current conflicts are erupting, and you should go there and resolve them.”

“Unless I’m in a dungeon, I don’t see how that would be a significant gain in experience, right?”

“It isn’t a problem since the number of them are so vast. You have heard it too, haven’t you? The Demon King of the North, ‘The Frozen Silver Snow King,’ has given rise to a new breed of demons that are spreading southward.”

“Now that you mention it, I recall hearing that…”

“So, one Mystic will be assigned to you, and you, Houki, and Chirito will travel together. You can rest assured that there will be equipment and means of transportation.”

Saying this, Kurokiri thrust a coat and boots made of some kind of giant mist wolf fur, as well as a dagger made of something that looked like scales at me out of the blue.

“I’m supposed to hang in there with these…?”

“I suppose it’s a benevolent gesture of support for someone who has explicitly vowed to kill me someday.”

“…I understand. You better brace yourself, because one day I’m definitely going to make you cry.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

And so, after greetings to my father, I set out north with Houki, Chirito, and the Mystic, Aria.

My goal is solely one: to become strong enough to vanquish Kurokiri by my own hand. For that purpose, I will exploit both the Demon King and human beings to the brink.

“Ichiko, I shall deviate to a different path from yours…”