79 — Whereabouts of The King Fragment
～ Part 1 ～
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Afternoon. As initially assumed, the negotiation progressed smoothly.
It seemed the adventurers could also more or less predicted the common ground for discussion. First, concerning the return to the Old Continent. This was easily settled under the condition of handing over Wogan’s person. The place Rezbon and the others used as their base was Zelneus, one of the 3 adventurer self-governing territories on the continent. It located northwest of Werneus Kingdom which was their original destination. This was also convenient for Kyousuke and the others.
According to Rezbon, a high-speed magic vessel the adventurer guild prepared would arrived at this New Continent within the next 3 days. It also meant that joining up with Karasuma or Kumosaki group who seemed to be captured by the blood clan, would have to be done before then.
Concerning the cooperation in this search, they disapproved as expected. The Time World Desert was vast, it wouldn’t be easy to search for merely 2 or 3 monsters. In addition, in the desert lived powerful wild monsters such as lesser demons, as well as the possibility of stirring things up with the blood clan.
“Speaking of which, the blood clan asked you to cooperate, what becomes of that?”
“We keep delaying our response. They haven’t come urging us either.”
What the blood clan requested of Rezbon was the capture of Hakuba and Inugami. The fact that they didn’t come urging probably meant they weren’t searching for them very earnestly. Therefore the request, and the monsters under the blood clan hadn’t been sighted either.
There was nothing better than being able to escape the continent without ever encountering the blood clan.
But currently, Kumosaki and Shokuzura might still be here on this continent, the blood clan’s stronghold as well, might be here somewhere. Thinking about that, they couldn’t just completely ignore the blood clan.
“I can’t really recommend it.”
Sitting next to Rezbon, Filhana leaned forward and said so.
“You said to look for your friends who got captured by Red Moon. But 3 days is too short for that.”
Even Kyousuke understood that much. However, everyone in the class will return together, that was the promise everyone decided on. No matter what, he didn’t want to positively break that.
How would everyone else feel? Would they think drier than Kyousuke? Even if he glanced at them, everyone was silent, not trying to say anything.
Seeing Kyousuke in that state, Filhana sighed a little.
“Can’t be help, then. Let’s tell you some special information.”
“Special information, you say?”
Showing surprise at Filhana’s words wasn’t Kyousuke, but the magician Wogan who sat some distance away.
“The Empire has dispatched several investigators — including the Dial Knights — in order to search for the activity bases of the blood clan. As a result, the New Continent is all but white.”
It seemed Rezbon and the others also heard this for the first time. Rather, their shock was greater than that of Kyousuke.
“Wait, Filhana, they are also here on this New Continent?”
“I have no idea if they are, or were here. Was it the 4th seat, I wonder? Anyway, the fact that the New Continent isn’t the stronghold of the blood clan is already all but decided information in the empire.”
Furthermore, Filhana raised up a finger.
“If the 4th seat of the Dial Knights is still investigating the New Continent even now, Utsurogi-san shouldn’t stay here for long. Because something like trippers turned monsters by the blood clan are only investigation targets for the empire.”
The adventurer self-governing territory was one of the few lands where the empire’s rule didn’t reach.
In addition, the southeastern part of the Old Continent, the Neus tri-state area of Werneus Kingdom, the adventurer self-governing territory Zelneus and Zelga Gladiatorial Principality was surrounded by the precipitous Beast King mountain range in the north where it bordered the empire, it was difficult for the empire’s hand to reach.
Escape from the lawless domain of the New Continent and take a breather at the adventurer self-governing territory. Then gather their comrades at this tri-state area where the empire’s rule didn’t reach, that was the most stable plan.
Or so Filhana had been saying.
Was that really the truth or just some random speech?
Kyousuke wanted the proof that her words wasn’t a lie. But there was no mean to acquire such a thing.
Thinking calmly, Filhana shouldn’t have any reason to spout lies.
“…Even so, I want to find Karasuma at least.”
“Fumu. That’s certainly true. How about it? Rezbon.”
“In 3 days, is it…”
Questioned, the one-armed, one-eyed adventurer looked up to the ceiling.
“If it’s only that crow tengu, then we can cooperate.”
The words he said was surprisingly proactive.
“But please don’t expect too much. As you can see, we don’t have much spare energy. I said it just now as well, but this desert is too vast to find a single monster. We can still make some prediction if that Karasuma guy willingly return, but…”
Kyousuke was silent. Would Karasuma willingly return? It was a difficult question.
He wanted to think it wasn’t a final breakdown. But the incident revealed the existence of the ditch between them. The inferiority complex Karasuma had been carrying, Kyousuke, as expected, couldn’t feel it until now.
Until just a few days ago, they should’ve been able to talk familiarly.
But, would that Karasuma really feel like returning? As expected, Kyousuke couldn’t tell.
“Speaking of which, Karasuma flew toward the foxfires we saw at the edge of the desert last night.”
Hakuba cut in from the side.
“Foxfires? Fire, flames? Certainly, if it’s suspicious light, then we also saw it. Rein.”
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s southeast from here. It looks like it was heading into the desert.”
“Then, we shall try searching that route for a bit.”
While the adventurers had been talking, Kyousuke looked at his right arm.
Wristbone of the devil. When he saw this, Karasuma had jokingly muttered a famous line from a certain video game. Kyousuke was surprised that Karasuma also played games, Karasuma answered: Of course I do.
At that point, Kyousuke still didn’t understand him.
From the side, an arm stretched forward and beat Kyousuke’s head.
“Rin…”
“People’s feelings is not something you can understand so easily, don’t think too hard about it.”
“Ah, sure…”
With the talk settled, they were to start searching for Karasuma.
Kyousuke recalled that the adventurers also had someone who disappeared at the same time — Wombat. He wondered if the adventurers were worrying about that guy, but it didn’t feel to pleasant to think about that guy so he stopped.
As initially assumed, the negotiation progressed smoothly.
If the blood clan flaunted the Demon King fragment, the representative of Seria cultural sphere that had been fighting the demons, couldn’t help but swallow the opponent’s demand. But, the blood clan being the blood clan, they were cautious of Seria cultural sphere with its influence spreading till the north of the New Continent, if it was to join hands with the empire and pincer attack them….
Mutual noninterference. That was the common ground.
Most of the exchange of words were carried out by Glen and the lady.
Karasuma was just watching.
When the majority of the negotiation had been settled, the door clacked open. Karasuma’s gaze naturally turned over there. And he naturally was speechless.
“Sink, can we talk for a bit?”
“Ara~ Wombat, what happened?”
Entered the room was a comrade of those adventurers — Wombat the thief.
Karasuma remembered it clearly. How that man tormented Inugami, and then tried to finish her off. Now it was difficult for him to stay so he left, but even Karasuma was emotional enough to feel anger.
Wombat also looked at him, but never showed any particular emotion. He might just recognized Karasuma as a comrade of the other ayakashi.
Spear in hand, the Knight Sink exchanged a few words with Wombat, then she turned back to Glen and said this:
“Glen, Wombat said he’s going to explain the location of the monsters, so I’ll be hearing him out.”
“Understood. Are you okay by yourself?”
“Yes. It’s not like I’m going to head there personally.”
Sink smiled slightly and left the room with Wombat.
After seeing them off, the lady asked Glen.
“Who’s that human?”
“An adventurer. We requested their cooperation. No need to worry, we didn’t tell them anything about Seria or the youkai mountain.”
Glen smilingly said so. Rather, the one whose heart couldn’t calm down was Karasuma.
That man said he would explain about the location of the monsters. He intended to sell Karasuma and the others’ information to the blood clan.
“You said something about monsters’ location though?”
“That isn’t related to you. It’s the monsters we’re chasing. Please inform us if you find any individuals who can talk and is unnatural to this habitat.”
Hearing Glen’s words, the lady’s gaze turned to Karasuma this time. His heart froze.
Suppose the lady wanted to, she could expose the fact that Karasuma was in fact, not an ayakashi of Seria, in that case, Glen could easily guess that he was a student of 2nd year class 4.
I shouldn’t have come here. Karasuma felt his own heart beat getting faster. Sweat felt like gushing out from his body, however, a crow tengu’s body didn’t have a sweat gland. Instead, he felt the breathing through his mouth — his beak, rather — was quickening.
“I see.”
Saying so, the lady turned her gaze back to Glen.
“I’ll tell you if I find anything.”
“My thanks, my lady.”
And that was the end of that topic. Did she seriously believe Karasuma to be one of her ayakashi comrades, or else it simply meant to be a revenge against an opponent she couldn’t stomach. Anyway, Karasuma narrowly escaped death.
And the fortune upon him didn’t end here.
The lady changed the topic.
“Glen, the king fragment you bring to this graveyard belongs to the Demon King, is that certain?”
“Of course. But we’re not planning to send it to the evil god cult you’re fighting or anything. At least not while the noninterference pact still exist.… See?”
Saying so, Glen opened a box placed on a table in the corner.
What he took out was a light purple crystal shining purple. As soon as he saw it, Karasuma felt goosebumps raising on his entire body. The heart that had finally regained its calm started racing again. The crystal released an ominous light, weirdly illuminating Glen’s smile.
“Put that away.”
The lady further narrowed her thin eyes and said so.
“Well, I guess it’ll be serious if this kind of thing is carelessly put into a lesser demon’s body. Even us won’t take it out unless it’s necessary.”
Still maintaining his smile, Glen put back the king fragment in the box.
“What will happen if it’s put into (a lesser demon)?”
When he came back to himself, Karasuma had already mouthed his doubt.
Glen showed a surprised face for a moment, then he immediately changed back to a smile.
“Lesser demons are direct descendants of the Demon King. Which means any individual would be qualified for the king fragment. That is to say, the lesser demon who absorb the king fragment would obtain power rivalling the Demon King…. Well, their vessel is inferior so they won’t last long though.”
The ones who could absorb the king fragment were qualifiers, that is to say, they had to be direct descendants. Karasuma was a little disappointed.
But still, if he had this fragment, he would be able to command the lesser demons. It was tempting. How was he supposed to sneak into this heavily defended place.
Suddenly, Karasuma noticed.
Wombat was going to teach Sink about Kyousuke and the others’ location, which meant they planned to attack there very soon. Karasuma wasn’t sure if they would bring the Demon King fragment out, but if they brought it out, he wanted to rob it somehow. If they weren’t going to take it out, he would snatch it when the defense became lacking.
With his flying speed, he would be able to escape somehow. He should be able to.
This is a chance. A chance to take back my confidence.
Karasuma clenched his shivering hand, and slowly closed his eyes.
The negotiation unfolding between the lady and Glen came to an end shortly after that.
To be continued…
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