Chapter 29

29. The Jester, the Hero, and the Parrot (11)

The puzzle in front of us is a sliding puzzle.

You move the pieces using the empty space to match the shape or numbers.

It's a basic puzzle, one that could be called the essence of puzzles.

I moved the pieces at a rapid pace.

"Zero, you shouldn't move so recklessly. The more you do, the calmer you need to be..."

"Hehe, isn't this a fun puzzle? I couldn't let you have all the fun, senpai."

"This isn't something you can do for fun... eh...?"

Rodelin couldn't finish her sentence.

The completion rate of the puzzle was steadily increasing.

After completing about 90%, she crossed her arms and muttered.

"Hmm... the last part is the problem. I need to change the order of the three patterns..."

"Zero, this is...!"

In response, Rodelin's hands became busy.

Actually, it's easy. If you keep rotating the three patterns, they will eventually align.

Click.

Clunk.

"The door opened!"

"Y-Yes, senpai, hooray!"

Luna and Raymond cheered.

Rodelin smiled awkwardly and waved at them.

"Zero, I'm sorry. Actually, you solved the puzzle..."

"Hehe, it's fine. I really didn't know. If it weren't for you, I would have given up."

"Hmm, giving up is a bad habit. Let's use today as a starting point to improve."

The warm atmosphere didn't last long.

Because another door appeared in front of us.

"Is this a quiz this time?"

The door was covered in demonic script.

On its right side were three levers of different colors.

If the first trial was a puzzle, the second trial is a quiz.

It would be an easy quiz if we could interpret the demonic script.

"Blue, gray, and black levers."

"The problem written on the door... I'm not sure. There are words like 'white' and 'black'..."

Perhaps she was thinking of the demon archaeology class.

Rodelin started to sweat.

"This is difficult. We need a scholar proficient in demon archaeology..."

"Pull the lever that matches the color resulting from mixing white and black in a 9:1 ratio."

"Ah, so that's the problem. Then it should be gray...?"

Rodelin turned her head sharply towards me.

I also turned my head to face her.

A surprised expression, different from her usual stern look.

It was cute.

"Zero, do you know demonic script?"

"Hehe, I have a personal interest. I know a little, just a little."

Actually, I'm a master.

Well, even without the skill, it wouldn't have been much of an obstacle since I already knew the answer.

"R-Really? I was just lucky."

Rodelin tilted her head, as if something was off.

When we pulled the gray lever, the door opened with a heavy sound.

At the same time, everyone except me shuddered.

"Magic...! There really are demons!"

Rodelin grabbed my collar and pulled me back.

What? Everyone felt it except me?

I'm completely isolated.

"Everyone, stay here. I'll take care of it quickly."

"Really? You're going alone, senpai?"

"Luna, demons aren't that strong. At my level, I can eliminate them in one strike."

But everyone knew.

That Rodelin was lying.

"I'll fight with you!"

"I understand your feelings, but waiting for reinforcements is the best chance for survival..."

"We're also academy students! You said it yourself. This kind of trial is nothing for Andwood Academy students!"

"Luna..."

"I, I'll do my best! I might not be much help, but..."

"Raymond..."

Oh, this is so dramatic.

I'd prefer to be left out...

"Everyone, thank you. Zero, I'm sure you feel the same way."

Huh?

"I forgot for a moment. You all passed the rigorous entrance exam and are proud academy students."

Hey, are you not hearing me?

"Let's go together. But the front line is my responsibility."

...Hmm. I don't have a choice, do I?

Well, I was the key to this strategy, so I wasn't planning to sit this out anyway.

"What about Raymond's weapon?"

"Hmm, there's no choice. He'll have to use my scabbard."

Raymond, who exchanged 1 gold with my grandmother.

He currently has no weapon.

He couldn't have imagined we'd be on a demon hunt.

"Raymond, use this."

"Huh? But then Zero will..."

"Hehe, I have my own weapon."

I handed my sword to Raymond and reached into my pocket.

Subspace. A long object gradually appeared.

Everyone's eyes widened, even the parrot's.

Because...

"Mop...?"

"Hehe, yes. A very large and good one."

"..."

No one responded to my boasting.

They just gave me strange looks and whispered among themselves.

Why? This is a really good weapon.

"Though I don't need to ask, I'll do it out of courtesy. Why did you bring that out now?"

"Hehe, that's a secret."

"..."

Luna shivered and tried to say something.

But she held back, realizing it wasn't the time.

Someone grabbed my hand.

It was Raymond. He was crying.

"Because of me... you're sacrificing yourself. What have I done to deserve this..."

That's not it.

This is my real weapon and a new strategy to tackle the demon's fragment.

"I'll protect you. I'll definitely protect Zero, so don't worry!"

Raymond, looking genuinely moved, shed tears.

I whispered to him.

"Raymond, hold the sword in your left hand."

"Huh? Why, why?"

Because you're...

left-handed.

Actually, Raymond didn't know he was left-handed.

He just followed the other kids who held their swords in their right hands.

He even fooled around with enemies and allies in the middle of the episode without realizing it.

He's pure evil by nature.

"Hehe, trust me. We're best friends, right?"

"Y-Yes! We're best friends, so I'll fight with my left hand even if I die!"

Everyone was ready to fight.

Rodelin was at the front, and the rest were behind her.

'Actually, I want to set up a formation...'

I solved the puzzle and the demonic script.

It's fine now, but if the situation ends, Rodelin will start to suspect.

Thinking about the new 'strategy' I created, Rodelin's suspicion will only grow stronger.

So, I'll set up the formation and share the strategy during the fight.

'It should be fine if I pass it off as good eyes and brains.'

With Raymond added to the plan, this should be okay.

"Let's go. Everyone, stay focused."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Bang!

Rodelin, who was regulating her breathing, kicked the door and charged in.

We followed her.

"Left and right, no abnormalities! Front is...!"

Everyone saw it without needing to be told.

A pitch-black sphere that could blind you, with pulsating veins on its surface.

Just looking at it makes you feel nauseous.

"An egg?"

A black egg. The bottom was stained a dark red.

Similar to the erosion we saw in the textbook.

"Erosion!"

Rodelin's statement confirmed it.

At the same time, the black egg convulsed violently.

The veins tore open, and a large eye appeared.

A being created during the erosion experiment.

The demon's fragment revealed its form.

* * *

Parrot's Diary #3

One day while playing with Luther.

"Ah, right. You've never been there, right?"

"There?"

"The Tomb of the Holy Sword. Where the hero fought and fell to the great demon."

Hero.

The being people call a hero.

I was interested. Luther's dream was to be a hero.

"Let's go! Let's play! Let's go!"

"Hehe, I knew you'd say that, friend."

We arrived at the place where the holy sword was.

Indeed, it was a bit old but exuded a noble aura.

There's a legend that the hero's sword can't be drawn.

"Maybe one day I'll wield such a sword and fight demons... huh?"

Swoosh.

Luther, holding the holy sword, looked at me.

Don't look at me like that. I'm more surprised than you.

Why... did it come out?

At the same time.

"Aaaaaah!"

The floor disappeared, and Luther vanished into the darkness.

* * *

A pitch-black egg.

Contrasting with it, a bright yellow iris and a long, vertical black pupil.

It looked exactly like the demon's fragment in the game.

'Seeing it in person, it's grotesque.'

The thick veins pulsing periodically made it even more bizarre.

Rodelin didn't charge immediately.

Partly because we lack information about the opponent, but also to devise an efficient attack based on its appearance.

That's the basics of combat.

"An egg... there are signs of erosion around it. We don't need to approach it first."

The opponent, presumed to be a demon, is in the form of an egg.

It doesn't have arms or legs, and it doesn't show any signs of rolling.

This means it can't attack us from there.

"Even if it takes time, it's better to throw weapons."

The others, except me, nodded in agreement.

The demon's fragment scanned us, and a grating voice echoed.

"So, it's mortals again. Your weakness remains the same, as it was in the past and now."

Despite having no mouth, it can speak.

When its eye turned to me.

"Hmm? What are you? I feel something familiar... a human. How strange."

"..."

"I need to explain what happened during my recovery. It's good that you're here. You can sit this out. I'll spare you for now."

Rodelin, Luna, and Raymond glanced at me.

Everyone must have felt it. The familiarity in the grating voice.

'Familiarity.'

Just by saying that, it clearly intended to spare me.

It showed that much familiarity.

Tap.

Rodelin moved to a position where she could monitor both me and the demon's fragment.

An explanation was needed, but she held back. Because...

'This is a new line.'

It means the hidden piece has activated for some reason.

It's not because of the challenge in Episode 1. People often challenge it.

Then...

'Is it because of my trait?'

It might be unpleasant to normal people, but it could be appealing to those with evil tendencies.

'No, it's certain.'

It's coming. The feeling of old, stagnant water.

How to act in front of beings with 'evil tendencies' to achieve a good outcome.

"Hehe, nice to meet you, demon's fragment. 'He' sent me to you."

Then, indeed.

It's best to use it to my advantage.