Before I knew it, the month had changed quickly, and it was now the first day of April, the Month of Green Winds.
“—So, everyone is going to be away on quests, huh?”
At dinner, I confirmed everyone’s quest plans. This time, rather than going as a party, everyone would be going on quests they accepted individually.
Most likely, the only time we would all head out together would be for the subjugation of the ‘Chaosgrim’. So far, there hasn’t been any intention to challenge any other dangerous rank 5 quests, and there haven’t been any powerful monsters reported around Spada.
Speaking of Chaosgrim, apparently it had rampaged through Parthia just like it did in Fahren.
Parthia, whose vast territory is mostly grassland, is home to many centaur tribes that traverse the wide plains. Therefore, centaur archers with bows were trailing Chaosgrim, but it seems they had little chance against an opponent that could dig into the ground. In the end, they weren’t able to capture it, suffering considerable—though not insignificant—damage.
The damage wasn’t limited to just people; the monsters in the grasslands were similarly affected. Signs of devastation were evident everywhere, and among those were large monsters like Garuda.
Still, hearing the name Garuda was a bit nostalgic. It felt like just years ago when I snuck into its nest with Lily to retrieve a stolen family sword as part of a personal quest… Well, let’s set aside my personal reminiscing for now.
What’s important is the whereabouts of that thing.
Since Parthia lost sight of it, the next appearance of Chaosgrim was, surprisingly, in Rune.
Rune is an island country floating in the vast inland sea, the Lemuria Sea, located in the central part of the continent. It borders Parthia across the sea, so in short, Chaosgrim crossed the sea and landed in Rune.
Did it dig through the seabed or swim across? It may have consumed the core of a water attribute Pride Gem, absorbing its abilities. If that’s the case, it might have gained the ability to move freely underwater, not just by swimming.
If it gained wings to fly in the sky, it would truly become unmanageable.
In any case, tracking Chaosgrim, which continues to move whimsically between city-states, is a challenging task. We are not in a position to subjugate it yet. As frustrating as it is, we must bide our time for now.
Now that we’ve set aside the trial, let’s discuss the plans for this time’s individual quests.
“I heard Sariel is going on a quest to raise her rank to 4, but Chrono, you seemed to have a sudden plan come up as well.”
“Yeah, Simon invited me. I’ll be joining him on a quest as a form of protection.”
“A quest in a dungeon that’s dangerous enough to need protection?”
“I’m heading to the rank 3 dungeon known as ‘Mikene’s Ruins’. Simon’s party is still rank 1, so it’s just a precaution.”
“Shouldn’t you go to a dungeon appropriate for your rank, then?”
“There’s a high likelihood that something like the ancient golem ‘Taurus’ remains in the ruins. Investigating that is the primary aim this time.”
The rank 3 dungeon, ‘Mikene’s Ruins’, is a massive ancient city that has preserved its streets intact. However, more than half of the buildings have decayed, and their preservation state isn’t very good. Yet, it still maintains a minimum semblance of a city, making it a favored nesting ground for various humanoid monsters like goblins and orcs. The gang wars among different races, as well as among the same race, lead to intense territorial disputes day and night, making it a dangerous monster-infested city.
However, it seems that the noteworthy treasures were excavated during the several hundred years from the time of discovery to the present. Nevertheless, there are many items that seem to have no apparent value or utility at first glance, except for the commonplace gold and silver treasures, weapons, and magical tools. For instance, there’s a stout, one-eyed giant stone statue.
“I see, if we could acquire an ancient golem, it would significantly boost our fighting power.”
Simon, despite being a rank 1 adventurer, was able to earn a medal due to his exploits thanks to the ancient golem—as in, the heavy machinery ‘Taurus’. Such a powerful force should not be overlooked.
Moreover, the Crusaders will undoubtedly deploy ‘Taurus’ or new machinery in their next invasion. Just having that one unit could potentially break down the Great Wall of Galahad. Unless we come up with countermeasures, the Galahad Fortress will certainly fall this time.
Of course, the Spada Army understands this as well, so I heard from Wil that a research project regarding ancient golems has been launched. Perhaps in time, Simon might receive an invitation. After all, he is the one who has actually operated it.
“I don’t expect to find a living unit, but well, obtaining well-preserved parts for research purposes would be sufficient.”
“Yes, ancient technology still has many unexplained aspects, so appropriate research is—”
“Thank you for waiting, Lady Fiona. Here is your cheeseburger!”
“Thank you very much.”
Cutting into the flow of conversation was Hitsugi, who had completely adapted to life as a maid, comfortably moving around in the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’.
It is truly unfortunate, but as promised, I gifted Hitsugi a maid outfit. Since she can only move in humanoid form while in the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’, I had to custom order a special oversized maid outfit that can be worn over this gigantic armor. Behold, the chic dark blue fabric fluttering over the ebony armor, complemented by a frilled white apron. No matter how you look at it, I’ve become a perverted creature wearing a maid outfit over full-body armor.
“The iron plate is hot, so please be careful not to burn yourself!”
Sadly, I have grown so accustomed to this pitiful armored appearance recently. The black-armored maid struts around the mansion, cheerfully involved in chores and laundry, and this has already become a part of my home’s daily life. Fiona’s attitude of, “What a perverted sight,” was only fleeting. Gradually, she has begun to use Hitsugi quite readily, as if there was now a helpful maid added to the household.
“Another drink, please. An iced café au lait.”
“Understood! Ah, how about you, Master?”
“No, I’m fine for now.”
Pardon me, as Hitsugi, flipping her apron and long skirt, heads to the kitchen. Still, as many times as I see this tragic figure, I can’t help but mourn… but well, it seems Hitsugi is more satisfied than ever, so I have no intention of stopping her.
“This cheese is delicious.”
Fiona, elegantly cutting and savoring the piping hot hamburger dripping with meat juices and melted cheese, looks quite pleased. This cheeseburger is the second plate. The first plate is the demi-glace sauce hamburger I’m still eating.
In the kitchen, Sariel is probably grilling the third and fourth plates of burgers that will be necessary soon. She has inherited Ms. Shirasaki’s secret recipe, receiving overwhelming support from both me and Fiona, to the point where she has been entrusted with the kitchen entirely. Therefore, Hitsugi remains focused solely on serving.
Contrary to her appearance, Hitsugi manages household chores rather proficiently. Cooking isn’t something she can’t handle. I praised her, acknowledging her background as a former bodyguard maid.
“Hehe, I’ve been taught thoroughly by Mama about maid work, so it’s all perfectly done!”
But what does she mean by Mama? The curse originated from the resentment of a bodyguard maid, so Hitsugi wouldn’t technically be the same person.
No, the Cursed Weapon ‘Devourer’ became a cursed weapon due to Vulcan’s resentment, but it can’t be said to be the same person. It’s essentially a blend of his resentment and the lingering thoughts of the Chaos Eater that formed one ‘curse’.
I see, the process of transforming from the resentment of a bodyguard maid into a ‘curse’ could be considered the birth of Hitsugi as a self-aware being. Also, it seems her will has become more established through my continued use. Over time, she has become increasingly verbose and assertive, which proves her growth.
Well, there are various forms of curses, so not all of them can be defined by this logic. However, at least in Hitsugi’s case, it can be said that she indeed carries the ‘daughter’ of the bodyguard maid’s will.
“Anyway, while I’m away, it should be fine to leave things to Hitsugi.”
“No, it’s my armor, so of course, I’m taking it.”
“Is that so?”
Oh no, Fiona only sees the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ as a maid. I need to properly assert its identity as a powerful ancient armor with phenomenal capabilities—otherwise, she might just start treating me as a maid. That absolutely must be avoided.
“By the way, what quest did you take, Fiona?”
“Oh, it’s nothing significant. I’m just gathering some materials needed for the workshop.”
“A gathering quest, then?”
“Yes, something like that.”
The gathering quest was a term that evoked nostalgia. If I get a chance to free Daedalus someday, I’d love to go with Lily to gather Luxia Grass in the Fairy Forest.
There’s a place known as the Southern Galahad Abandoned Mine. Once, the southern part of the Galahad Mountain Range thrived as a Mithril Mine. However, due to a lack of reserves, its period of prosperity came to an end in less than a decade. That was over a hundred years ago.
This location, with tunnels leading all over the mountain like an ant’s nest, is not far from human habitation, so fortunately, it hasn’t become a dungeon. Instead, such places perfect for evading the public often become hideouts for rogues.
Currently, there is a thief secretly residing in this Southern Galahad Abandoned Mine.
“Excuse me. Boss, there’s an urgent item that I’d like you to check…”
“Ugh, can’t you see? I’m in the middle of a delightful dinner with Vivi.”
His voice was raised to the point where he looked like he might throw the cup in his hand. He was a brawny brown-skinned man. His silver hair was cut short, and one of his distinctive long ears was partially ripped off.
The boss was a dark elf. Interestingly, the man who was scolded was also a dark elf.
This band of thieves is composed of half dark elves. While it’s rare in Spada, given that they hail from the neighboring country of Fahren, it makes sense. Just recently, a Spada band of thieves had caused an uproar in Fahren, but the roles have reversed this time. A Fahren band of thieves is advancing into Spada, trying to stain their hands with new misdeeds.
“Well then, it can’t be bad to check. If they bother to come and ask for you to take a look, it must be some exceptionally good item they’ve got.”
The sweet and sultry voice was not from a voluptuous dark elf beauty, but rather from a small, really small girl. Yes, she was tiny. Her height wasn’t even thirty centimeters. Sitting atop a table, she downed honey wine from a special small cup, making her look like a finely crafted doll in motion.
However, she was certainly not a magical automaton moving with ancient technology. Anyone could tell by her glowing pair of wings that she was a fairy.
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes, indeed. I checked myself, but I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman.”
“Wow, that sounds promising. Looks like good fortune has arrived in Spada.”
“Alright then, bring her here!”
With a feral smile reminiscent of a carnivorous beast, the boss issued the command.
Soon after, that beauty was brought into the room.
“Whoa, this is…”
Having seen many beautiful women, the boss couldn’t help but gasp.
With short, lustrous black hair and flawless white skin, it was a human girl. The beauty of her face and figure was evidently ideal for a woman. However, what the boss found most captivating were her golden eyes, shining like the sun, bestowing the earth with abundance.
“Hold on, boss, don’t get entranced and do something foolish.”
“Ah, oh no… This one is the real deal.”
As the fairy Vivi glared at him, the boss snapped back to attention, looking contently at the highest-quality girl he’d ever dealt with.
She was still in the same outfit she’d worn when captured, a well-tailored white robe. The material was silk, or perhaps some luxury fabric treated additionally. This girl was clearly not an ordinary village girl; her refined appearance indicated she came from a prestigious background.
With beauty and lineage both outstanding, this girl would likely fetch an astonishing price.
“Alright, let’s send her back to our homeland. Make sure she doesn’t get harmed, no matter what—”
“You may step back.”
The voice that flatly interrupted the boss’s instructions wasn’t from any subordinate. It was from the girl standing in front of him, her expression dull and unfocused.
“Hey, what’s up with you guys? Did you administer some weird drugs to her?”
Even while being captured by such rough men and brought to this abandoned mine, her expression was utterly vacant, as if nothing mattered to her and she was simply sleepy. The boss suspected it was due to a sedative’s effects. However, when she suddenly spoke words that made no sense, he wondered if they mistakenly used a different drug. This fool always repeated that medication must be used properly and within the correct dosage. Before he could yell in anger, the girl spoke again.
“Thank you for the guidance.”
The fact that the girl’s words led to the subordinates letting go of the ropes binding her and swiftly leaving the room without saying a word proved that this was not mere delirium from the drugs. The subordinates faithfully executed the girl’s command to “step back.” Moreover, it became apparent that the ropes that were supposed to bind her had not been tied at all.
“You! An adventurer?!”
The boss wasn’t so senile as to not grasp the meaning.
This girl had purposely gotten captured to lead them straight to the boss. It’s a standard infiltration method seen in entertainment, but this was the first time he had witnessed it in reality. She must either be a complete fool or someone with exceptional confidence in her abilities.
The boss assessed the situation. There was undoubtedly only this girl as a potential enemy in the room. Outside the door, he sensed the presence of subordinates standing guard. It didn’t seem like fellow thieves were waiting for the right moment to burst in.
As expected, the enemy was alone. Moreover, she appeared to be a mere child. Even if she had some weapons hidden, she looked unsuitable for combat because of her extremely youthful appearance, which caused the boss to underestimate her.
She was a fool. A foolish girl who overestimated her own power and came swaggering alone into the den of thieves like a hero.
“Hah, you’ve underestimated me! The moment you came here alone, you’ve already become our merchandise!”
He would knock her out with a single strike. Though he was a bit tipsy, his magical flow was unaffected. Drawing on the abundant magical power unique to dark elves, he channeled it through his body at full strength. It transformed into silent enhancement magic, bringing further power and speed to his trained and robust physique.
The boss was a monk soldier. His battle style was honed in martial arts to take down monsters with sheer physical strength. He would instill overwhelming violence and despair into the girl in an instant.
“Wait! That girl is rank 5—”
The last thing the boss saw was the girl’s black hair turning a pale blue.
“—Did you know me?”
The dark elf boss was suddenly engulfed in flames as if he spontaneously combusted, dying silently before he even realized it. There was nothing to it; the girl had simply launched a ‘Fire Arrow’ with such speed that he couldn’t detect its activation.
Moreover, considering that she dispatched a boss who possessed one of the top ranks among rank 3 adventurers with a single shot, her power exceeded that of common low-level offensive magic.
“I’m the witch Fiona Soleil, the ‘Element Master’…”
“Correct. I am Vivian Zura, an executive of the Fahren band of thieves, here to capture you.”
When undertaking activities in Spada, it is imperative to gather detailed intelligence about the country. Especially crucial is the information on knights and adventurers targeting them, which is prioritized above all else.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the hero of the Fifth Galahad War, representing Spada, is the rank 5 party ‘Element Master’. Even without actively seeking information, it reaches their ears. Vivian, being a fairy herself, has shown particular interest in learning about them.
And if this party decided to come after them, she had decided that the thieves’ advancement into Spada should be aborted.
“W-Wait a minute… We haven’t done anything significant in Spada yet. We shouldn’t have committed any crimes warranting a pursuit.”
“Is that so?”
Fiona took a step closer.
Unbeknownst to everyone, her attire had transformed into a jet-black witch robe. When had she changed? And when and from where had she drawn out her long staff, now firmly clutched in her hand?
“If you withdraw from Spada and never come back, I’ll pay you a substantial reward in exchange for letting you go here.”
“Is that so?”
Two steps, three steps. Fiona walked right past the body of the boss she’d just incinerated, closing the distance.
“How about 30 million in cash?”
There was no answer. Had she been too stingy?
“50 million, I can prepare it right away.”
Silence returned.
“80 million, just give me a bit of time, I could manage that much…”
Still, no response.
“1 billion! Plus, you can take whatever you want from here, no restrictions!”
A life cannot be bought with money. In the worst case, even if everything here was lost, Fahren still had their headquarters intact. It would be a considerable loss to lose all the funds invested in their incursion into Spada, but if it allowed them to escape this critical situation, it was a cheap price to pay.
“W-What do you think…?”
“I came here to capture you, not to earn money.”
That was an answer laden with despair.
Impossible. Adventurers don’t move without their bounty being their primary motivation.
No, there is another reason one might act regardless of reward.
“…Did I do something to incur your hatred?”
“No, I hold no grudge against you. We’ve just met.”
“Then why—!”
“I want a fairy. A ‘bad fairy’ like you, who wouldn’t pose any issues if sacrificed to a demon.”
The negotiation collapsed. In reality, there had never been room for negotiations to begin with. It was a futile endeavor akin to begging a famished wild monster, saying, “Here’s some money, so please let me go!”
To survive, one had no choice but to escape. Vivian’s response was swift.
“—‘Flash’!”
A dazzling explosion of light, utilizing the proprietary light magic of the fairy clan, erupted through the room. Even those who reflexively shut their eyes would swiftly become disoriented, as the brilliant white light flooded the indoor space.
“‘Light Arrow’!”
Without regard to the risk of the room collapsing due to the abandoned mine’s structural integrity, she unleashed an attack spell that could be released swiftly and in mass. Even if it could only slightly blind or briefly hold her opponent back, that was enough.
As she scattered dozens of light arrows behind her, she turned and dove with all her might into the hidden escape route prepared in the room, only to find a hard, rocky wall blocking her way.
“Ah, ugh…”
The flash had blinded her. The light arrows were meant to thwart her. Yet, all those were merely intentions.
Fiona, showcasing a fraction of the supreme power befitting her rank 5 status, had cornered Vivian without caring for her resistance, limiting her options with just a single ‘Rock Shield’.
Standing before her was the silent black-cloaked witch, blocking her path.
“Rest assured, you are a valuable experimental subject, so I won’t kill you.”
Thus, the pitiful fairy was captured by the witch and grasped by her shimmering wings like a child holding a butterfly, bringing an end to her blood-stained life as a thief.