Chapter 202 – Homecoming

The weather had not worsened, and there had been no enemy attacks. In the early afternoon, while it was still light, the walls of Sarz came into view.

“It seemed smaller than I had seen it before.

“I guess many things happened… and Myrril-san must have grown.”

The “Nojaroli” snorted with satisfaction when she heard that. No, I mean from a human standpoint.

“Let’s see… Where do you want to go?”

“Why don’t we just leave it at that? Ivan and his men are at the gate anyway. They know who we are.”

I thought it was impossible, but I was too lazy to walk and rode up to the east side of the gate. I dismounted and left my hovercraft about 200 meters away. I waved to the guards as they came out of the gate. The one waving back is Sembeck-san. He is the second in command of the Sarz Guard and he is walking towards us. He doesn’t seem to be getting ready or alert, so Lafan must have already told him about the hovercraft. Or at least something more than that.

“Oh, Takifu. I have heard that you have done a great job.”

“No. It was a hard job, but I managed to make it back in one piece.”

“Since the Battlecry guys aren’t here, they must have been taken by the lord.”

“Yes. As a first-class party, they will be promoted to the territory. If you want, I can at least talk to the lord.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I think I’m better suited for the Sarz.”

I showed him my Adventurer’s Card, walked through the gates, and was about to return to my lodgings at the “Wolf’s Tail Pavilion,” but the story didn’t end there. Sembeck-san called out to us from behind.

“Oh, Takifu. She wants you to report to the Adventurers’ Guild. That witch is a persistent one, so you’d better not run away from her, but go straight to her.”

“Looks like we have no choice.”

“I understand; I will do that.”

After seeing the capital and the territory, the town of Sarz looks small. But I think it’s just right for me, too.

“I feel more at home here.”

“Me too. And the people walking around are more relaxed.”

There was a time when I used to think the same way.

“Well, well, well, Your Majesty the Demon King, Your Majesty the Queen. Thank you very much for coming all the way over here.”

Eh, what’s this?

The moment I showed up at the Adventurers’ Guild in Sarz after a long absence, Haru-san, the receptionist, grabbed me by the shoulders and took Myrril and me to the guildmaster’s office on the second floor. [T/n: Changed Hal to Haru.]

“So, what have you two been up to?”

I was made to sit on the sofa as soon as I entered the room. Of course, I was questioned by a lady with not only a condescending smile, but also a blue vein on her forehead and a smile that was stifled by her indignation.

This Guilmas is beautiful as an elf. But unlike the mass-produced good-looking people of Casemaian, she has a stature, or perhaps a sense of strength, in her face. Indeed, she must be very strong.

“H-ha. I sent Calmon, the adventurer from Sarz, home and made a little tour through the area… and then I’ve done many other things, yes.”

A piercing gaze crossed mine. I don’t feel any murderous or harmful intent, so maybe this woman is “suppressing her anger” according to her standards. She looks at me with a look that seems to emit rays of light, but speaks to me politely in a tone of voice.

“Oh, excuse me. I haven’t introduced myself. I am the guildmaster of this guild, the “Witch of Sarz.””

“Yes, that’s very polite of you.”

No, how am I supposed to react to something like that? Don’t use your nickname before your real name in front of me.

“…I have long heard of the reputation of the most powerful mage in the Republic, Ecla-san… It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time; I am…”

I guess she knows who I am, too. I’ll be honest here.

“I am Takefu Yoshiaki, a merchant who lives in Casemaian in the northern part of the kingdom. In the Republic, I am known as Takifu. This is my wife, Myrril. She is the daughter of Kazinair, the Blacksmith King of Casemaian.

“Myrril. Pleased to meet you.”

“Heh. You don’t deny it?”

“Deny?”

“That you are the Demon King. I didn’t think you’d admit it.”

“I don’t know if I should admit it or not. It’s what people call me. I guess I do not have any other choice but to accept it. I have heard that in the kingdom, beastmen, elves, and dwarves are called demon tribes, so as the coordinator of them, I must be treated as a demon king. It is a name that has been passed down.”

“No, that can’t be true.”

Ecla-san exclaimed softly. No, even if you ask me, I don’t know. It is not as if I told them that they should call me the Demon King.

“Well, that’s all I have to say about myself. Guildmaster, I thought you wanted to talk to me about something.”

“Yes, I do. I saw the half-cleared Roses. It took me three days, but I broke the curse. When I told McKin that there was a monster running around in the area, I kind of screwed him over, but he backed off.”

“I’m sorry to have bothered you with all this. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about curses and such, so I can’t answer your question.”

“That’s not important. The one that blew up the city. What was that?”

Well, here they come.

“It’s something like… a special magic tool, isn’t it?”

“There was no magic reaction. The curse that contaminated the city of Roses was an old, cheap magic scroll. Judging by the traces of the text, it’s of imperial lineage, so it’s not yours. It’s just that thing that blew everything up.”

Oh no. The witch seems more competent than expected. All I can see is a future in which, if she keeps on coming, things are going to go horribly wrong. I don’t know what the outcome will be…

“That’s why I said ‘kind of.’ It does not have a magical answer… but it is something like a magical tool. I can’t give you the details because it’s a trade secret.”

“Ah. That’s the biggest problem.”

What do you mean by that? Stop it, you’re setting me up. You’re all over the place, and I feel like I’m jumping through a minefield.

“It is your business. What, where, how far, and how do you want to do business? Looking at what happened to the people who bought it, I can’t just stand by and watch it expand into the Republic.”

“What are you going to do? Kill him?”

Meeting the witch’s gaze directly, Myrril-san laughs.

“First of all, whether I can or not, let’s put that aside for the moment. It is my intention to determine who is an enemy and who is a friend, who should be killed and who should not be killed. I’m not saying that I’m going to deal with the situation in such a way that no one is going to be dissatisfied. Only a politician should worry about such things. If you are a guildmaster, you must act the same way.”

“Hmm. So what?”

“In the Republic, we are ‘seventh-rank lowly adventurers.’ The guild master must have some reason to report us, right?”

“You’re a very secretive person, aren’t you?”

I’ve been quiet, so I’m not the same as Myrril. Basically, I agree with Myrril-san. I don’t want to completely deny that my motives depend on my mood, but I don’t like the idea of going around killing anyone and everyone.

“The second half of this long-term expedition was requested by Lord McKin of the South. Have you heard anything about it?”

“In writing, several times. Kelbo from the Central Territories has reported to me several times.”

Kelbo…? Was it Merlot, the Chairman of the Council? I don’t know how, but it must be some kind of magic. So the reports from the territory and the capital were delivered to the witch before our movement? That alone tells you how important a person she is.

The “small talk” I just had did not include the rough stuff in the capital, but the sister’s eyes told me that it did. She’s a pretty girl, so I’m really scared when she stares at me.

“Yes, many things have happened. Yes.”

“It seems so. You destroyed the northern and eastern territories and the imperial fleet, freed Cassmeer and Hagwai, and had a banquet with grilled meat from the sea serpent.”

“Mmm, that was really delicious.”

Mir-san, please don’t tap dance in the minefield. There’s a blue vein on Ecla-san’s forehead.

“Besides, you destroyed the Bandit Guild and the Mole to get out of the way. So I wanted to ask you once.”

“About our purpose?”

“Yes. The little boy Ivan was so afraid of it, I don’t even want to tell you how much I threatened him.”

“No, don’t bother threatening him. There is no need for that. I’m just enjoying a quiet winter vacation with my wife.”

The witch’s face became as expressionless as a Noh mask. Did she think she was being mocked? She shook her head and sighed.

“If it is true, you are mad if you expect me to believe it.”

“I agree with you there. But at least I tried. I stumbled from the beginning, though, and stayed busy. Now that I’m finally back in Sarz, I’m hoping to take it easy tomorrow.”

“I hope you do.”

Whether it was persuasion or interrogation, it seemed to have served its purpose or given up, and Ecla-san leaned back against the sofa, ready to let us go.

“Guildmaster, may I?”

I heard hurried footsteps, and Haru-san called out to her at the same time as she knocked. I had a bad feeling about this pattern of being interrupted just when I was about to be relieved. I had a bad feeling that big trouble would be reported and I would be sent on a blood and smoke extermination tour anyway.

“Sure.”

With Guilmas’ permission, Haru-san opened the door. Taking advantage of the momentary gap in the door, a huge shadow that had been waiting behind her jumped right in front of Ecla-san.