Chapter 97

Actually, I was supposed to update yesterday, but I got the February issue of Comptiq, which was released on December 26th, and I got so engrossed in reading it that I got delayed!!

Man, Comptiq is so interesting!

Especially the new serial "I'm Not the Protagonist!" with the opening color pages is highly recommended!!

Leaving aside the shameless promotion, the manga serialization has started!

It seems that Comptiq also has a digital version, so please check it out even if it's not available at your local bookstore!

"---Hey, you're early."

When we opened the door to the office, Veltaran looked up from his documents and greeted us with those words.

However, I didn't have the luxury to respond leisurely.

I got straight to the point.

"Recilia told me. Is it true that the 'Twelve Dark Ruins' have been cleared?"

...To me, the report that "the ruins have been cleared" came as a complete surprise.

During the first world event, the Great Insect Invasion, the Demon King Brilg attacked.

There, I deliberately went against the flow of the event and managed to defeat the Demon King, who was supposed to escape, right on the spot.

It was a significant achievement to have eliminated the Demon King Brilg, who would have wreaked havoc in later events.

However, at the same time, a crucial clue to the protagonist had also vanished.

It was in this state of mind that I received the information from Recilia.

Regardless of who cleared the ruins, I couldn't just leave it be, and if the person used a weapon like the 'Sword of Radiance,' it was even more critical.

That's why, upon learning that the information was provided by Recilia and that the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild was Veltaran, I rushed to Veltaran to hear the story.

"It's true. ...No, to be precise, we don't know if it's true, but phenomena that can only be interpreted that way have been confirmed."

Veltaran, sensing the urgency in my question, nodded seriously.

However, his response left me with a sense of unease.

"Phenomena that can only be interpreted that way? Wasn't the clearing of the ruins reported?"

Veltaran, in response to my question, said, "Let me explain in order," and leaned back into his chair.

"First, the information that the ruins were cleared came from the Adventurer's Guild in the neighboring region, Neeber."

"Through the guild's communication device?"

Unlike modern Japan, this world has no internet or phones, so information spreads slowly.

However, the Adventurer's Guild has magical communication devices to contact other guilds, and I knew that the guild masters discuss matters like the 'Queen Ant's Defeat' during emergencies.

"Five days ago, a sudden burst of light expanded from a ruin near Neeber, spreading across the entire continent before disappearing. This was confirmed by almost everyone in Neeber. In fact, some residents of this town, Freerea, also reported seeing a light in the west."

"I see."

In the game, no one other than the "protagonist" had ever cleared the 'Twelve Dark Ruins.'

While it wasn't clear what happened outside when the ruins were cleared, it was plausible that a light spread across the world.

"So, when a suspicious party of adventurers went to the ruins, they found that all the monsters were wiped out, and the ruins had been cleared to the deepest level."

"Then, it wasn't the person who cleared the ruins who reported it?"

"Right. So, the information that the person who cleared the ruins was a solo adventurer and used a glowing sword is just hearsay."

"Huh, I see..."

Logically, clearing the 'Twelve Dark Ruins' would be a significant achievement for any adventurer.

If someone had cleared it, they would have reported it to the guild first.

"...I don't want to hear that from you."

Veltaran looked at me with a somewhat exasperated expression.

I had reported to Veltaran that I had defeated the Demon King, but I had asked him not to publicize that it was me.

While it was inevitable to announce that the Demon King had been defeated, I had asked Veltaran to create a scenario where multiple parties encountered the Demon King during the operation, and they managed to defeat the newly resurrected and weakened Demon King with numbers, despite some casualties.

This wasn't about avoiding further fame; it was simply that after fighting the weakest Demon King, Brilg, I realized that we couldn't defeat the remaining Demon Kings with a straightforward approach.

The remaining Demon Kings weren't the kind of opponents who would conveniently have dozens of special items prepared.

Therefore, I wanted to avoid drawing attention that would make me a target for the Demon Kings.

However, it was true that I had caused Veltaran unnecessary trouble by keeping my name hidden.

I avoided Veltaran's resentful gaze and asked,

"Then, do you have any other information about this person?"

"Apparently, he's someone who dislikes socializing. They're trying hard to find out his identity, but they still don't even know his name. However..."

At that point, Veltaran leaned forward over his desk, as if revealing a secret.

"---He's already left Neeber and set off for somewhere else."

* * *

"Brother, what do we do?"

"......Right."

As I stepped out of the guild, Recilia asked me.

My thoughts were still swirling, but I tried to organize the situation.

First, the 'Twelve Dark Ruins' were cleared five days ago.

This was right after we defeated the Demon King, when we were still holed up in the ant nest.

That makes sense; we didn't notice it at the time.

And...

(Come to think of it, the ants seemed a bit stronger towards the end.)

The ant invasion ended with the death of the queen, but the enemies in the nest didn't all die.

We killed ants to pass the time until the rescue arrived, but the ants felt harder than expected.

If we interpret this as the enemies' levels increasing because the ruins were cleared, it fits.

(Next, the 'shining sword' is what concerns me.)

As far as I know, the only weapon like that is the 'Sword of Radiance.'

It's possible that a regular sword with a light enchantment could be mistaken for it, but the likelihood is low.

Moreover, if the ruins were cleared five days ago, after we defeated the Demon King,

that means after the 'Sword of Radiance' appeared to me.

Did our half-hearted triggering of the 'Demon King Encounter Event' allow the 'real protagonist' in Neeber to use the 'Sword of Radiance'?

Is that even possible?

(...In any case, there's no option but to verify it.)

Veltaran said the adventurer had left Neeber.

And there are only two regions accessible from Neeber.

Freerea to the northwest, across the mountains.

And then...

I visualized the map in my head and turned to Recilia, who was waiting for my words.

"Recilia, we need to prepare for a journey."

"Brother?"

To her confused look, I declared,

"---This is our first expedition. We're heading to the capital!"

And so, the fifth part begins!

We're saying goodbye to Freerea Town and moving the stage!

I need a bit of a break, so I'll be posting every other day for now.

The next update will be the day after tomorrow!