CH 522

“That sound just now was ……!?”

As Lars began his battle with Vertical, Apollos’ eyes, which had been lulled into a shallow sleep in his room, widened and he rushed into the next room.

There was a large round table in the middle, with ten skulls arranged in a circle.

Three of them were broken or shattered, and Apollos squinted as he looked at them.

“…… The demons have been defeated? They can’t kill themselves …… But I didn’t know there was anyone who could defeat them.”

He mumbles, “It’s not absolute, though”, and then smashes the skull to pieces, his mouth twisting into a smile. 

“Kuku …… It’s not a problem then. It’s good if the demons can overrun the Reflexion Kingdom …… If they are all defeated, so be it ……”

Apollos stares at the skull with the light of his darkest emotions.

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

“We’re going to Berias!?”

“Yeah, I’m going to infiltrate with the ten chief priests and Retzel.”

–After everything was over and the town of Gust had regained its tranquility, we gathered in the garden of the mansion to talk after our efforts to heal and return the knights.

I was pale when I heard that Ryuuze’s right arm had been amputated, but I was relieved to hear that he had managed to get it back together after eating Sephiro’s fruit. But I have to ask him about the fact that Sephiro gave it to him without telling me ……

In the midst of all this, when I quickly told everyone about my conversation with Vertical and the others, Makina was so surprised that she came up to me and shouted.

“A-Are you sure you’re going to be okay ……”

“It’s a dangerous place and we can’t be too careful. I’m aware of that, but I need someone to come with me. I’m going as a potential believer in the Gospel’s Descent.”

“I’m coming!”

“I, I’m coming with you!”

Ryuuze immediately raises his arm with a pained look on his face, and Makina says, standing up. I nod to them both and replied with Sephiro on my lap.

“Of course, Makina will have to follow me, and Sephiro too.”

“Yes!”

“W-What about me?”

“Can I ask Ryuuze to infiltrate the Everlide as originally planned? Fath-san will lead everyone.”

“Sure, Of course. I’ll be there to defeat any demons that may be there.”

When Fath-san looked at Vertical sitting in the corner with a self-satisfied look in his eyes and felt uncomfortable, Makina put her hand over her mouth and said.

“Huh, Master is not back yet?”

“Hmm? Yeah, I think she concentrated a little too deeply. Well, she’ll be back soon.”

“Okay, so Ryuuze and Fath-san are going to Everlide, and the rest of the team is–“

“I–.”

Just as I was about to mention the other members, my brother raised his hand and I immediately announced my rejection.

“–You can’t go, brothers, you have to stay here with Nora and protect the town of Gust.”

“No, I’m your brother, and I can’t just put Lars in harm’s way like always.”

“No, no, you’re the son of a lord, so people might know your face.”

“No, no, no, isn’t it the same to Lars.”

“I don’t mind, I have my adventurer title, after all.”

“Well, I guess Lars is right. I can’t go to Berias either, so give it up, Dedite.”

As they were arguing, Tigre-sensei put his hand on my brother’s head, laughed, and nodded with an unusually disapproving look on his face. Now, as I was wondering who else, Vertical opened his mouth.

“The Lord prefers young women. The Axe user girl there might be a good choice.”

“Oh, me? I’m not a young woman.”

“No, Basleigh-sensei, he said an axe user.”

“Makina, you can ignore it because it’s a sure thing. I mean, that’s dangerous in a different way.”

It’s okay if he’s just looking at you sexually, but if he’s going to assault you, I won’t be able to stop myself, I said to Vertical, and Eiiri interrupts.

“No, It’s a good move if you want to cloud the Lord Founder’s judgment? I’m sure he’ll decide to keep you around for now. You should show him how strong you are and let him know that all the women are yours.”

“That’s right. Can you take a few more women with you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re really a real piece of work, aren’t you …….”

Basleigh-sensei raised her hand and left the dumbfounded Albatross alone. I mean, we have to find out why the Albatross is still alive ……

As I was thinking this, Kudelica clasped her hands in front of her chest and said to the others.

“I’m okay with it! If he tries anything weird, I can just use [Superhuman Strength] to destroy them, right?”

“……”

“? What’s wrong?”

The men, including myself, fell silent at Kuderica’s innocent words. Makina and the others tilted their heads and asked, but we didn’t have anything to say in response. 

“W-Well, leaving that aside, I’ll be counting on you. “

“Yes! I’ll do my best.”

“Hmm, I’d like to see someone with a little more sex appeal ……”

“He’ll be just a perverted old man then …… It better not be your hobby.”

“I’m not bound by nature, so don’t worry, I’m talking about the Lord.”

“They’re only demons, after all ……”

As Vertical snorted seriously as he looked around at the women, Jack opened his mouth to talk about going to Everlide.

“In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll be fine since your face isn’t well known. I’d like to go too, but Sharuru has a tail.”

“Ohhhh, the tail ……”

“A dragon that can humanize with its tail visible can’t go. If you want, It’s that guy over there, if he’s coming.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sarge glared at Vertical and intimidated him, and the tension in the air caused us to be silent for a moment. Then Basleigh-sensei scratched her head and began to speak.

“…… Well, whatever it is, you’ll have to lead them to Berias, too. I’ll take care of that. We’ve got Hitzrite, Albatross, and the Ten Chief Priests over here, so we should be able to deceive them.”

“Basleigh-sensei is being serious ……”

“Shut up! …… Well, I’m sure the ones going to Everlide we’ll be fine since Fath-san will be with them, but we’ll have to ask the Leor Trading Company to make it look that way. And with Luciel and the others are daughters of the Trading Company, their truthfulness will increase.”

“Wait, you can’t do that, Basleigh-sensei!? We can’t involve Luciel and the others in this!”

“You won’t get caught if you mix the truth with lies, you know? Don’t worry, they’ll be accepted as a traveler in the Everlide area.”

“Hmm ……”

“Well, now that it’s decided we’re going, let’s invite some other people who can fight.”

I can only feel worried about Basleigh-sensei who was talking happily. We don’t even know if Leor-san will cooperate with us in the first place ……