Chapter 40

"Hey, Ryuga. I've heard all sorts of things about you. You seem to be doing pretty well, huh?"

It was two years after I had formed my party as usual.

While having a meal with the party members in the inn's dining hall, the one who called out to me was Ignis, the leader of "The Fallen Fruit of the Great Tree."

This was nothing out of the ordinary.

His face was smiling.

But I knew.

He was not amused by the achievements of our party, which was nothing more than a newcomer.

This wasn't the first or second time he had come to provoke us.

Although I didn't have any concrete evidence this time, I knew he was plotting to tarnish our reputation.

I, who had repeated my life many times and knew "how things work," wasn't bothered by such things anymore, but the other party members were different.

"Huh? Ignis, are you picking a fight again? It's true that 'Ryuga's Bite' is doing well, but can you stop taking out your frustrations on us just because your party isn't doing well?"

In response to Ignis's words, Faran replied provocatively.

In fact, the reason Ignis's party wasn't making as much progress in the dungeon as they should have was because I was getting ahead of them.

Dungeons that would take a lot of time to clear on a first attempt, I could rush through in the most efficient way.

As a result, not only did we clear the dungeons that "The Fallen Fruit of the Great Tree" was supposed to clear, but we also cleared additional dungeons, significantly surpassing their number of clearances.

Consequently, our party's reputation also far outstripped theirs.

That said, I couldn't afford to slack off.

The lesson I had learned from repeating this cycle was that no amount of money was ever enough.

In response to Faran's words, Ignis finally revealed his displeasure and answered in a low voice.

"Huh? I wasn't talking to you... "

"Oh, geez. Just because our leader is capable, we get picked on by weirdos. It's getting old."

"You... "

"Huh? If you want to fight, I'm ready. 'Spear of Might' here is ready."

When Faran stood up, tension spread through the dining hall.

I knew the capabilities of both Ignis and Faran, and if they fought, Faran would definitely win.

Moreover, I had my own reasons for dealing with Ignis.

After all, I had been betrayed by him when I was part of his party.

But.

"Stop it, Faran."

I called out here.

I knew.

If I didn't stop it here... Ignis wouldn't accept my offer.

"But, Elius."

"Faran. Ignis is a senior who has led his party with the country in mind. Show some respect. Ignis, I'm sorry, my member was rude."

I mediated between the two and bowed.

I knew.

He wasn't thinking about the country at all; he was just an adventurer after the money.

But he was also a man who cared about how others perceived him.

If I apologized in front of others, his frustration would be somewhat alleviated.

"Hey, Elius... Why are you apologizing to such a guy..."

"Faran. Don't cause any more trouble for Elius."

"Alright... I got it..."

Faran looked awkward and bowed his head at Lena's reprimand.

He was weak for Lena.

"Well, if you say so... I guess it's fine."

Ignis seemed relieved but still put on a bit of a front.

The tension in the dining hall eased, and the onlookers returned to their meals.

After confirming that the attention had died down, I spoke to Ignis about the "real business."

"Besides, I had something to talk to you about. This saves me some trouble."

"Something to talk about?"

At my words, Ignis looked puzzled.

He probably didn't have any idea what I was talking about.

"The next mission... You're heading to the dungeon with the kingdom's army, right?"

"How do you know that?"

"I have my sources."

"..."

That's right.

The dungeon "The Fallen Fruit of the Great Tree" was heading to was the same one I had guarded with the kingdom's army and then lost contact with.

And... it was also a dungeon that I had cleared with Ignis when I was part of "The Fallen Fruit of the Great Tree."

The lower-level demons in that dungeon used troublesome magic.

During the battle in the deepest level, we gradually lost control of our bodies.

It was likely that they had spread a colorless, odorless poison in the air.

We managed to defeat them by taking advantage of our numerical superiority... but it would have been dangerous if the battle had dragged on.

In other words, without me, "The Fallen Fruit of the Great Tree" couldn't clear that dungeon... but.

"I've heard that dungeon has swallowed many parties... So, can you take this with you?"

I took a small stone from my pocket and handed it to Ignis.

Ignis took it and held it up to examine it.

"What is this dirty little stone?"

"Calling it dirty is harsh. It may look like this, but it's a valuable amulet."

"Hmm... It doesn't look valuable to me."

"Made by Belas... Does that mean anything to you?"

"Belas! The 'Gray Hermit'? He's been teaching at the training ground recently, I heard!"

"Yep, that's the Belas. I happened to save him, and he gave me this as a token of gratitude."

"I see... Now that you mention it, I can almost feel a sense of dignity in this stone..."

Typical.

Well, this was to be expected.

After staring at the stone for a while, Ignis asked the usual question.

"But... If it's valuable, why are you giving it to me?"

"Just as I said. We're both parties fighting on the front lines against the Demon King's army. I want to cooperate."

"I see, sorry... I might have misunderstood you."

"That's okay. I think a competitive spirit is an important trait for an adventurer."

"Can't argue with that."

We laughed and looked at each other, then I regained my composure.

"Ignis, I wish you luck. According to Belas, if you step on the amulet in a dire situation, you'll receive a blessing... Try it if you need to."

"That's a strange way to use it. But if it's from the Gray Hermit... I'll use it if something happens. Thanks."

Ignis put the stone in his pocket and left.

Faran, who had been watching, said in a disappointed tone.

"Tch, Elius. You didn't have to give such a valuable item to a guy like that..."

"Come on, don't say that."

While calming Faran, I finished my meal.

Yes, it was a valuable item, but it was unnecessary for me... and for Eleine.

That stone was useless for me to keep.

A few weeks later, while having a meal with the party members, Ignis and his team, who had just completed the dungeon, came in.

Ignis ran up to me, barely greeting me, and grabbed my hand.

"Elius! Thanks, you really helped us out!"

"Huh...? What do you mean?"

Faran, surprised by Ignis's sudden change in attitude, asked.

"Well, actually..."

Ignis began to recount the events in the dungeon.

Of course, I already knew what had happened, but...

During the battle with the demons in the deepest level, Ignis and his team gradually lost control of their bodies.

Thinking they would lose if this continued, Ignis suddenly remembered the stone I had given him.

He placed the stone on the ground and stepped on it as I had instructed, and apparently, he regained control of his body.

"Probably a detox or a status recovery effect. The stone itself shattered, so I can't verify it, but..."

Ignis concluded his story with those words.

"Anyway, I'm glad I could help."

At my words, Ignis seemed to think for a moment...

"...Hey, Elius."

"Hmm?"

"Are you really serious about defeating the Demon King?"

"Yeah."

"Then, are you interested in information about a demon?"

"Demon...? You know something? I'd love to know."

"There's a knight from my hometown who lost his right hand in a battle with a demon and went into seclusion. Unlike me, who fled from the demon, he has combat experience. I want to introduce you to him."

"Please do."

And so, the person Ignis introduced to me was "Regan Irving."

Regan, who owed a debt to my father, agreed to my persuasion and became a trainer at the training ground.

The blue text that records the cause and effect is "The One-Armed Old Knight."

Regan, who was basically a misanthrope, would have turned me away if Ignis hadn't introduced me.

In other words, in some cycles, he would be the cause of my death, and in others, he would hold me back.

It was a nasty trap.

So I learned.

To lead the Demon King to his death, I had to move beyond personal grudges.