Chapter 93

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"Then, I'll take my leave here."

Indulging in a second cup of tea, Ain was guided near the tent.

Naturally, as night fell, the spring weather vanished, and the temperature, which made one feel genuinely cold, caused goosebumps to rise.

"You should not approach the vicinity of the Demon King's Castle yet. ...When you have grown, you can come then."

"To Maruko's mansion too?"

"...Yes. Therefore, the investigation in this area should be conducted in regions other than around the Demon King's Castle."

"No, wait, that's a problem. Because we must obtain the clue to 'that thing'..."

It's completely meaningless.

That means we can't investigate the area around the Demon King's Castle, where important clues might remain.

"Excuse me, but... did you come to this land just to investigate those beasts?"

"A, ah, yes, but... Is there something wrong with that?"

"Hmm. Information doesn't always get passed on..."

Maruko crossed his arms, appearing to think.

In the past few hours, I feel we've become quite close.

...It's a strange thing for the captor and the captive to become friends.

"If you only want the clue to them, it's best to go south."

"S, south!? —Are you serious? South is on the opposite side of the continent..."

"I see. You really don't know anything. Then let me inform you."

Maruko turned and looked south.

When he looked south, the Demon King's Castle was behind him.

"After the Great War, they headed south and set sail from the human port there. So if you want to follow their trail or find clues, going south is the best option."

"...Is that true?"

Recalling the incident with Euru.

On that continent, red foxes are treated as guardian deities.

I couldn't help but wonder why they were seen there, but now it's clear.

"I don't know what they were thinking. But they secretly prepared a ship. —Always thinking so far ahead. That's why they are a truly remarkable race."

"Remarkable...?"

"Yes, indeed. They supported the king with their superior intellect, standing close to the king. Not to love... love, love..."

From the disconnected conversation, he suddenly knelt on the ground.

Then, he drew his sword and thrust it into the armor.

"Uaaaaaah!"

This didn't end with just one thrust, but two, three... ultimately, more than ten times, he repeatedly stabbed it.

"Ha... ha... Did you see...?"

"—Yeah, I saw. Is that the effect of the curse?"

Breathing heavily, Maruko turned to Ain.

Though it's called a curse, I'm still surprised by its lingering effects.

"...I'm just incompetent. Even after hundreds of years, the curse of that woman remains. So, I'm sorry... Can we end this conversation here?"

"Sorry. I understand what you meant. It's okay... Thank you."

The curse that made the Demon King go berserk.

Its effects also influenced those who served the Demon King, including the venerable Maruko, who still bears its influence.

"This place, where the curse remains, is dangerous. But in other lands, the curse should not remain. So, please be at ease."

"Ah, got it. Then next, I'll head for that southern port."

The important destination turned out to be nearby.

Though many investigations were planned in the former Demon King's territory, obtaining new clues so easily left a sense of anticlimax.

"One last thing, can you tell me?"

"...Of course."

Maruko bowed like a butler, waiting for the next words.

"I think many people have come to investigate over the years. Why didn't you harm them?"

From Maruko's perspective, they might have felt like intruders.

The Ishtarika investigation team entered without permission and conducted various investigations. It's hard to imagine anyone feeling good about it.

"...Because I was repeatedly ordered by the king."

"The Demon King's order...?"

"Yes. It's more like a single command that the people here must always follow."

Saying this, Maruko reminisced about the past.

The atmosphere softened, and he seemed like a gentle old man, enveloped in a calm and kind aura.

"Can I ask...?"

"Yes, of course. ...I will tell you. The promise was—"

Ain heard a rather cute "promise" from Maruko. It was so charming that it didn't feel like a request from a Demon King at all.

After hearing the Demon King's words, Ain parted ways with Maruko. As they parted, Maruko said, "I am the old me. Please use me," and gave him a gift.

---

As the surroundings gradually brightened, and the sun was about to rise, Ain walked alone toward the tent.

His mood was complex, reflecting the shock of learning various things.

The ruins of the former Demon King's territory.

The air here seemed to mirror Ain's state of mind.

"Raise your level and come back! ...That's what it means, right?"

Despite coming here with enthusiasm, he was told it was too much of a burden and couldn't come yet.

Though the words were different, the meaning was similar.

"Of course. It's the place where the enemy's leader was, so I expected it wouldn't be easy, yeah."

The true enemy is the red foxes, but for convenience, we'll treat it this way.

I don't want to repeat the Demon King's mistake, so I'll avoid it.

"I also got a mysterious gift, yeah... How should I report this?"

Suddenly kidnapped, and came back with information and a gift!

If I tell this honestly, Lyle and Dill will be more than just surprised.

They might even bet their heads on it, thinking it happened without them noticing.

By the way, the gift is in a wooden box, so I don't know what's inside.

"...Sigh. Well, I'll just take another nap in the tent for now."

Putting off troublesome matters is a bad habit.

I'm aware of it, but it's hard to improve.

This time, I feel relieved because it's not my fault.

"No, wait? Using the Illusion Hand was my fault...? Now, I feel like I'm also to blame."

Thus, Ain walked alone, thinking about what excuse to use...

--- In the end, no convenient excuse came to mind, and he sighed, returning to the tent.

How to explain to Lyle and Dill, how to call them... —There were many uncertainties, but I realized they were unnecessary.

"Welcome back, Ain. So... where did you go?"

"...Hey Dill. Good morning."

"Yes, good morning. So, Ain, where did you go?"

Hmm, he's intimidating.

Long eyelashes, well-defined features. His skin is flawless, but his face exudes a masculine aura.

That's Dill.

Just as a beautiful person can be intimidating, Dill gives off a similar aura.

"...Well, I was invited to the deputy commander's house of the Demon King's Guard..."

His anger was so intense that it was the first time Ain heard him raise his voice.

---

"Dill, you were also negligent, right?"

"...Yes."

As the sun began to rise, Lyle came to Ain's tent.

Ain had asked Dill to call him to explain what happened.

"Still, I was also negligent. ...Ain, I'm sorry."

"N, no, no, no! It's my fault, so you don't have to apologize..."

Why he was taken.

Ain explained this to the two, and their expressions changed when they heard the reason.

They might have realized it if they thought about it. They deeply regretted that this was the reason.

"But in a few minutes, I was planning to search for the Demon King's Castle. So I'm glad you're back..."

Despite the circumstances, Dill was deeply relieved that Ain returned safely.

He was fully equipped with armor and weapons, ready to go.

It was clear that he was at his limit.

"We'll discuss the responsibility later. Now, the information Ain obtained and that... gift, right?"

On the bed was a wooden box, about 30 cm in length, width, and height.

Inside was the "gift" Maruko handed over.

"Father, I don't think he would harm Ain just to cause trouble... Should we investigate it?"

"That's right... By the way, Ain, what did Maruko say when he handed it over?"

"He said, 'I am the old me.' I don't understand what that means."

You're right here, so what does 'old' mean?

It's a very mysterious statement, and he left after saying it.

So, I have no idea what's inside.

"I see. I understand, Ain."

"...Huh?"

"Father? Is that true?"

Dill and I were equally surprised.

I don't understand why he could tell, but Lyle was confident.

"Since it's a Living Armor, it's probably the 'head'... Just to be safe, shall I open it?"

"Ah, yeah. I don't understand, but please do."

Lyle said, "Then," and reached for the lid of the wooden box.

It was sealed tightly, but Lyle's strength made it easy to open.

It looked like it was opened easily.

"...M, 'I am the old me'... It means... himself...!?"

"It seems my guess was correct. Hmm... What a splendid 'armor,' Ain."

The words 'I am the old me' from Maruko. It means it's his former self.

Inside was a helmet, identical to Maruko, who we just met, containing his head.

"Father! Could it be—"

"Dill, observe carefully. I'm seeing it for the first time, but... this is the head of a 'Living Armor.'"

Like Maruko, it has veins, but they are colorless, looking dead. However, since it is actually dead, it's not wrong to say it's dead.

"Living Armors shed their armor once in their lifetime. The armor disappears, but the helmet remains. I never thought I'd encounter such a rare item while alive..."

"Even if I receive such a gift, I can't return the favor... Lyle, is it that amazing?"

"Using this as material to make a weapon. It would become a national treasure."

--- Isn't this too much? I can't understand why he's doing so much for me.

It feels like more than just chivalry, and I can't help but feel he has other emotions.

"The reason is unknown, but perhaps it's because of the weapon you have. He might want to make a custom weapon using this."

"Ain... Do you understand why he's doing so much for you?"

Dill, who felt the same way, asked with a puzzled expression.

"I have no idea. ...He said serving the royal family is his duty, but it feels like more than just chivalry..."

Serving the "Ishtarika Royal Family" is a knight's duty.

Maruko, the Living Armor, said this. But it's more than just a knight's duty.

"Monsters follow the strong. So, since we Ishtarika defeated the Demon King, we might be respected by the monsters' knights."

Lyle's guess made sense, and Ain nodded quietly.

"...Now that you mention it, I feel the same way."

"Yes, that's right... There are monsters like Maruko, so it might be that."

"Monsters' intelligence can't be underestimated. So, Ain, there are not only monsters with manners but also those with new values. That's all I can guess now."

"Yeah... It might be."

No matter how much I think, I can't find an answer. In this situation, Lyle's guess seemed like a ray of hope.

Though I can't fully agree, it's wise to accept it for now.

"Sigh. Really, this place is full of surprises."

Suddenly, the castle gates opened, and we were enveloped in spring weather... Today, we met Maruko, a Living Armor and a venerated figure of the Demon King's army.

There must be a lot of stories to tell when we return to Crowne.

"The information you obtained, Ain, is about the southern port... It's probably Magna, right?"

"Yeah, Lyle. I think it's Magna too. When talking about the southern part of the continent, Magna is the most likely."

The southern part of the continent. The port there is Magna.

There are smaller ports, but Magna has a long history and has existed since ancient times.

When Ain was thinking about investigating Magna early, Dill asked a question.

"By the way, Ain. May I ask one more thing?"

"Huh? What is it, Dill?"

"Excuse me. One more question... Why didn't the Ishtarika investigation team get attacked, which you asked about?"

"Ah, that's it."

The reason Maruko didn't attack the investigation team but only monitored them was bothering him.

In Ain's case, being a member of the Ishtarika royal family might have been a reason to let him go. But for a regular investigation team, it was different.

"I'm curious too, Ain."

"Sure. I'll tell you. The cute promise the Demon King gave to the people here..."

Before the historical discovery, Lyle and Dill swallowed their saliva.

"'Everyone must get along!' He was repeatedly told this."

For a moment, the two had serious faces, but then they showed a funny reaction to Ain.

"...Pfft, hahaha... Ain, is that true? Hahaha! He kept this promise diligently, the Living Armor Maruko!"

"What a remarkable sense of loyalty..."

The two had contrasting reactions.

Lyle laughed at Maruko's seriousness, while Dill nodded thoughtfully.

"Haha... Then, Ain, this knight Maruko is 'the same' as us!"

"Same? In what way?"

Gradually, the smile faded, but Lyle still had a smile.

"The first king's command to 'forbid invasion.' We and Maruko are following this. Don't you think we are quite similar?"

"I see. So, we were also following the Demon King's orders. ...If necessary, we might be accepted in the Demon King's territory."

"A, Ain, that's..."

Dill finally reached his limit.

Ain's words hit a nerve, and he covered his mouth.

"We are similar. —By the way, when we return to Balt, can you introduce me to a good blacksmith?"

Maruko and ourselves are similar. This interesting story aside, we also obtained the important information that they set sail from Magna.

We need to make new plans, but first, we need to deal with this gift.

Using this to make a custom sword for myself.

Ain's mind was occupied with how to use this material.

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