The meeting with Lakra and the others was over, and just as I was about to leave for the future, I received a message on Lakra's crystal. The Mejis army camped in the Mejis demon world gradually retreated while repeating checks and balances, and a full-scale interception battle was to be held near the boundary.
The main check will be done by the Taze knight who possesses the ring that controls the demons, so Ao and the rest of our party are asked to give priority to replenishing the empty ring with magic power.
This is not to say that Ao's strength is not taken into account, but rather that he plans to use his highly maneuverable horses for deployment. In that case, the presence of a ring that can be used as a demon lord dramatically increases safety. The number of spare rings is limited, and it will be difficult to replenish them when Ao is in the front. It is likely that the instructions were given with this in mind. Therefore, he is currently heading to the village where Ao is resting and planning to join him.
It's nice to be able to rest.
But, you know, we've never been in a battle before.
As for me, I'm more tired of traveling long distances than fighting half the time.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm more tired when I'm reading than when I'm doing housework.
I know what you mean. I'm also more tired when I use my head.
By the way, the three of you seem to be getting along quite well. You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing. You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. ...... Maybe it's both.
I'm not sure. You and Lakra were from Mejis, right? I think I heard something about your mother still being in Mejis or something, what about it?
"You heard it from your own people? According to Archbishop Maja, yes. I don't know the details.
You don't want to see him, do you?
Not particularly. If you had a relationship with him as a child, you might have some feelings for him. ....... I'm sure Lakra knows more about that subject than I do.
Yes, I'd like to see my parents' faces at least once. I was able to track them down quickly by asking the people at the orphanage. I saw their faces, but I never met them.
"Oh? Are you sure you don't want to talk to the mother who abandoned you?
No, no, no. My mother sent me to an orphanage because she judged that she could not raise me. At the orphanage, I was able to live a decent life without any serious illnesses and I was able to find a decent job.
The demon took me when I was not even a child, and the village I lived in was destroyed. While I was moving from one place to another, I gave birth to Lakra. If I had raised her out of spite, it is easy to imagine that the situation would have been even harsher than it is now, with no food or shelter, and no power. She must have made the decision with a lot of determination if she wanted to help her daughter.
Why don't you show her your face now that she's grown up?
He'll apologize when he sees her. I don't like that. I'd be grateful for that.
It's not like you have that much of an attachment to him when you went to see him out of curiosity and didn't show up.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this in the future. As I recall, Harkdock's birthplace is also .......
What about you, Mr. Harkdock?
"Well, in my case, they didn't just leave me there, they really threw me out. Worst case scenario, I'd be dead. I don't think he's a parent no matter what he looks like. Well, when it comes to family, I've got my brother!
As a child, Harkdock's instincts were so sensitive that he cried out in response to all kinds of danger, and he was judged to be unruly and abandoned. He was abandoned because he was judged to be unmanageable. In that sense, he is closely related to Lakra.
If there were people with decent family structures, there would be a drop in the bucket on this topic, though, wouldn't there?
What about those Guristas?
What about my parents? I don't know. They disowned me just before I became a full-fledged adult, you know?
I see. There seems to be no one here who can talk about family ties. It seems that there is no one in this place who can talk about family ties. Since there is little to be gained by talking about things we don't understand, let's end the conversation.
The village is full of Mejis soldiers resting. Most of them are Tarzan knights, but the Mejis soldiers are also providing cover fire and numbers to intimidate their opponents. By having them rest in shifts, they may be relieving some of the burden.
However, in that case, this combination is seen as a bit strange. Even though Lakra is dressed as a Yugra priest, my outfit, Gillista's, and Harkdok's look out of place.
The party of adventurers that Jestaff has arranged are traveling around the city on scouts and raids. It would be a little better if they showed up, but ...... there's no point in worrying about it.
I'm going to go gather some food. You go ahead.
Well. Then I'm going to report to Ao first.
And while you're at it, make sure your room assignments are in order. Just because we're in the same house doesn't mean we can't run into each other!
I know.
It'll be hard if you're alone. Why don't I come with you?
But don't cause any trouble, Gurista.
Don't worry. There's no one you'd rather slash than you.
Oops, I guess I'll have to worry about my life first.
In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, please contact us. Not only would we lose a man, but we might lose even more manpower to take care of him.
After splitting up with Harkdock and Gillista, Lakra found out the location of the house where we would be staying and we moved on. From the looks of it, there were only a few soldiers with obvious injuries. I guess it's a good thing that we have so little wear and tear before the all-out battle against the Demon Lord.
"Ah, here it is. Is the Blue Demon Lord already here?
When I opened the door and went inside, I saw Ao wandering around the house by himself. I thought he was resting, but there was something wrong with him.
"Oh, Ecdysiac!
What's the matter, Ao? If you don't rest when you can, you won't be able to rest later, will you?
How can I rest? You didn't tell me! Yeah, I bet it was that guy! It had to be!
I don't understand what's going on, but I'm not sure if my people have done something. It's easy to imagine what he's up to.
"Calm down. What's going on?
I saw him! I saw her! I just met your mother!
What's ......?
I managed to calm Ao down and asked him for details. It seems that one of the villagers helping to serve the soldiers was Natra Sarf, the father of Lakra and me.
I thought there was a good chance that he was living in Mejlis, but it was quite a coincidence.
I'm not sure what to make of this.
So, what did you do after you heard his name?
"How could I tell you honestly? I did my best to deceive him!
I don't think you have to fake it.
Are you out of your mind? You think you can say you're the Demon Lord who turned my son into a demon?
I've been a demon for a while now, haven't I? I forgot. It's very possible that my father, who was kidnapped by the great demon Beguragud, found out that I was still alive and went to the aid of the front lines in the hope that he might be able to meet me. I see, I might have some mixed feelings if I knew that my son had been turned into a demon.
But it's not something you can fake. I am who I am. I'm still me, no matter what anyone thinks of me.
You, ......, are more bland than a demon lord who lived alone for hundreds of years!
But I'm in trouble. I'm not sure what to do.
Lakra, you're not so bad yourself. ....... So, what do you want to do about Ecdysium? Do you want to see him?
I don't think I want to go out of my way to see him. ...... What about Ao and Lakra?
I don't really want to meet them.
I don't want to get in trouble either.
It's not a good idea to take the stance that I'm the only one who's okay with either. I've learned from my compatriots that a dichotomous attitude makes the other person uncomfortable.
So I'll go along with them. I'll refrain from going out as much as possible, and if necessary, I'll use invisibility magic.
"I don't want to go out in the first place, so that won't be a problem. I don't want to go out in the first place, so that won't be a problem. But what if Mr. Harkdock and the others can't get the drinks ready?
You'll have to be patient!
If it comes down to it, I can provide the alcohol, but my people have told me not to spoil Lakra. It's going to be difficult to find the right amount. But alcohol, I don't like to drink much, but I wonder if it has anything to do with Lakra's usual high level of concentration. ...... I'll talk to my compatriots about it next time.
That's right. I'll also check with Shosho-sama. I'm sure it's the quickest way.
Right. If he's behind this, we'll never get away with it!
Well, I don't mind, but ......
No, when I think about it, if this is what my compatriots are planning, then they must have some deep agenda. In that case, I should meet with my mother. Was I taking the easy way out by agreeing with you two?
They activated the communication crystal and opened a channel to their people. And told them how it happened.
"It's a coincidence, of course. Don't blame me for everything.
"Oh, yes.
It was a coincidence.
It was a coincidence. - Oh, you have a bad habit of doing that, don't you?
I'm the good guy. I'm aware of what I've done wrong since it happened. It's important to maintain spiritual harmony.
From where I'm sitting, Master Shosho's daily routine is pretty good too!
"It's your own fault. I accept you, but that doesn't mean I forgive you for everything.
"Duh.
But it was a coincidence. I thought this would be a consideration for my people. ......
I've been thinking about this for a while now. But that's your problem. I'm not sure why I should be involved in someone else's cold family environment.
This is a perfectly legitimate opinion. A fellow human being's interference is limited to the extent that it affects his fellow human beings. No matter what kind of relationship I, Lakra, or Aoi have with their mother, it doesn't have much effect on our people. I'm saying that this is a problem that we should solve on our own.
Don't be fooled, Mr. Ekduk! "Don't be fooled, Mr. Ekduk! I'm sure Master Shosho is talking smugly!
You know, ....... If you're dealing with a potential enemy, you might do that to make them think you're a threat. You can't gain credibility by frequently doing that to your allies, can you?
My ears hurt. Indeed, there were many faces like that in the vicinity of the day I started helping my people. I had just turned from the side of Raheit, so I wasn't considered a complete ally. I guess that's to be expected. I think it was similar in ...... Quama, but that was because the enemy was not only Ao, but also the wily Raheit, those hiding behind the guild, and even Zenotta and Archbishop Serraes.
I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. My people are busy being my people.
"Don't worry about it. It's just that you brought it up. If you don't want to see your mother, I've got some simple advice for you.
"Advice? Can't I just refrain from going out and use invisibility magic when I walk outside?
"Not enough. Listen, there's a guy in your midst who's going to act unexpectedly at a time like this. Watch out for him.
Who's that?
The guy who's not there. See you.
We lost contact. The ones who aren't here are Gillista and Harkdock. ...... Oh, I see what you mean. He's certainly a man of unexpected behavior. I'll have to be careful.
I'm sure he's not the only one.
You'd better do something about that habit of yours!
No, I'm not implying anything, I'm being direct. ......
What do you mean?
Well, Ao's not really involved. You don't know much about him, do you? As I was thinking about this, I heard a familiar voice at the door.
"Oh, thank God! I'm not a local, so I had no idea where the supplies were!
"That's right. I'm not a local, so I didn't know where the supplies were!" "That's true. You've been wandering around the village for so long that the soldiers are suspicious of you.
"Shut up, Gurista! It's because you were wandering around that you were able to meet such kind people and they even gave you a tour!
"You're very energetic, Mr. Harkdock. By the way, are you two adventurers?
I hear an unfamiliar voice. It's a woman's voice, and even I can't tell who it is because of the change in Ao's complexion.
I'm a little different, though. But I'm from Quama, so I know a lot about adventurers.
"Really? My son is an adventurer. He's an adventurer named Exduk.
Ao sensed something and ran out at a very fast pace. I was surprised by the unexpected speed. I didn't know he could move this fast.
"Oh, well then--
"You're late, Hark-dog! I've been waiting for you!
"Squeak.
What?
Oh! Mr. Hark-dog! Are you all right?
I'm fine! I'm sure he's just so relieved to see me that he's exhausted! Come on, Gillista! Let Mr. Hark-dog in! You showed me the way, Natra! Thank you!
...... I've never felt so sorry for anyone in my life. I've never felt so sorry for anyone before. He probably doesn't want us to meet his mother. We need to take a good stand here.
Oh dear.
Goodness, we're in the middle of a war.
"You've got a nice face.
That's a nice scowl.
"Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Lakra is very perceptive when it comes to casual things, yes. By the way, I didn't directly interfere with their mother. The only thing she did was to ask Archbishop Ucka to make a strong appeal for a party of adventurers to help her when she recruited the villagers for logistical support.
I know that Lakra's mother regretted leaving Lakra in the orphanage. I also know from Maja that she was happy to know that Ecdysius was still alive.
If they knew that the Yugra religion was going to be the main force in the fight and that adventurers would be participating, parents who were concerned about their children would probably come forward with a little hope.
Nevertheless, the number of villages remaining near the border was reasonable, and it was only by the good fortune of Lakra's mother that we were able to encounter them from the very beginning.
Well, it wouldn't have been hard to find Lakra if we had really looked for her, and we would have had a near miss sooner or later.
But Lakra didn't want to see her parents, did she? Why don't you just force her to meet them?
"As for Lacula. But in the case of Exoik's character, he doesn't even want to meet them. If that's the case, I think it's better to let them meet and clear the air.
It seems that the three of you have been colluding to avoid seeing each other, but given Exoik's personality, I'm guessing you just went along with Ao and Lakra.
In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. I hope it doesn't get out of hand. ......
I'm not going to get into that. Ecdysium will choose Ao in any case, and Lakra is ...... Lakra.
I've prepared the opportunity. We'll leave the rest to them. If they can successfully prevent Harkdock's surprise behavior, it's possible to avoid meeting him altogether. That's not the only concern for them, though.
You may be right, but in the middle of a ...... war, you are a ......
I knew Marit would be cautious in the beginning, given his personality. I'm sure you've got a lot of time on your hands, so why not put it to good use?
The Demon Lord gets tired easily in the demon world created by other Demon Lords. In any case, Ao will move back to Medicine and have more opportunities to rest. It's better to have a stimulus than to be smoked half-heartedly, so you can maintain your motivation.
"Wouldn't it have been better if your friend had gone to greet Lakra-dono's mother?
It's not like you can tell her what kind of education you're getting. It would only make things awkward.
As for Mister Eckdœk, your friend is giving him a hard time, but as for Mister Rakura, he might thank you.
It's not going to do any good until after Rakhra and the others have settled their relationship. If you see them first, they might ask to see Lakra and Ecdysium. I don't want to run into an opportunity to make a promise I can't keep.
I don't like the idea of forcing Rakura to meet me. I don't like the idea of forcing her to see him. If I had to weigh up Lakra and her mother, whose face I don't even know, Lakra would be my priority.
You must be thinking a lot. By the way, you can ask my parents to greet you at least once.
Marito and I will go with you then.
You're killing me!
Ouch.
But it's true that the previous King of Tarlys has been hiding out in the grounds of Tarlys Castle ever since he abdicated. It's not like you can't meet him if you want to.
Aside from Mikus, the previous generation must have had many thoughts about Marith. He may be pleased to hear that he has made a friend. But I would like him to go to Luko first.
Anyway, what is the Purple Demon Lord doing now?
Unlike Ao, he's not the type to take direct command. He's working behind the scenes as much as possible. It could be a secret weapon that could be one of our trump cards.
Secret weapon ...... has a nice ring to it!
Right? Well, I have another favor to ask of you, so you should do something for me.
If you don't make him promise to take a proper rest, he'll overwork himself soon. If the person can say that he or she is fine for someone else's sake, that someone else must make sure that he or she takes care of himself or herself.
However, if you ask them for a reward, what can you do about the fact that there are many things that will cause you a lot of trouble? No, I'll just accept it.
"As for me, I would like to be your trump card myself.
"It's greedy of you to monopolize the sword, the shield, and even the trump card slot.
Isn't it rather greedy of you to try to have more than one trump card?
You could say that.
I think the Iliad has got it in the bag. But he has a mental weakness that makes me feel uneasy when I'm alone, so I hope you'll give him credit for that.
Wolfe is also Shisho's trump card!
"Of course. I'm not sure what to make of that.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this. After a certain interval of time, Wolfe should be able to fight. We can't let our guard down, though.