Chapter 27

The memento sword and the memento holy seal. Well, these items should be called the remains of that Undead Knight Leader.

What's strange is that these are not classified as equipment items.

Despite clearly being a weapon and an accessory, these items cannot be equipped.

Well, you can hold and swing them, but since their performance as weapons is not displayed, they are treated as non-equipment items.

"A memento, huh... So, this is an event where we have to deliver it to someone, right?"

"Well, it doesn't seem to be an item that players can use, and we don't have anyone in mind either."

As they looked at the items I displayed, Kumiizome and Rino gave their opinions.

Most likely, they are correct. If these are called mementos, they should be delivered to the appropriate person.

The problem is, who that person is.

"The daughter and the captain..."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"Yeah, the Undead Knight who dropped this item... Shreid, I think. Before he died, he said he wanted us to tell his daughter and the captain that he was sorry."

At my words, the four girls widened their eyes.

Well, in a normal life, you wouldn't have the opportunity to hear the last words of someone you're about to kill.

While feeling a bit of suspicion and a slight urge to kill the old man, I shrugged and continued.

"I don't know where the daughter is, but the captain must be the leader of the knight order. If so, it should be easier to find him."

"But, if he's a captain, he must be a person of some standing. Can we just meet him so easily?"

"I don't know, but this weapon itself seems to prove Shreid's identity. If we show it, he might listen to us. Besides—"

I glanced at the battlefield from earlier.

The demon's corpse had already disappeared, but the bodies of the five—no, five knights were still there.

Since items appeared without touching the corpses as usual, I didn't do anything special, but it's strange that the corpses are still there despite the drop items.

Anyway, leaving those monks out in the open is not right.

"I want to take them to the knight order. That way, it should be easier to get through the story."

"Well... I agree, but how do you plan to carry them?"

"That's the problem."

As a worst-case scenario, we could leave them here and have the knight order collect them later... but since this is a boss area, we don't know what will happen if we leave them.

While pondering this, I picked up Shreid's severed head and, on a whim, pressed it against the inventory window.

The four girls looked at me with shocked expressions as Shreid's head was easily absorbed into the inventory screen and became an owned item.

"...I didn't think I could put corpses in there, even though I did it myself."

"Corpses are apparently treated as items... I didn't know because I always disassembled them."

"Well... at least this way we can carry the corpses, so it's all good in the end."

Nodding at Rino's words, I put the other corpses into the inventory.

The other knights seemed to have completely turned into undead, but the situation wouldn't change.

Taking them to the knight order would give them peace.

Regardless of the various paths they took to their deaths, they should all be treated with respect after death.

I used the skill slot expansion ticket I obtained and was ready to go.

"Then, let's move forward."

"From here on, no one has ever been. Hehe, I'm looking forward to it."

Agreeing with Kumiizome's smiling words, we started walking down the road, passing through the stone pillar area.

The same compacted earth road we came on. It must have been busy with people, but the boss area has made it completely deserted.

The sky is still overcast, but the clouds are gradually thinning, unlike when we came.

If this continues, the sky should clear up after a while.

By the way, Kumiizome was operating the window while walking.

She seems to be writing on some bulletin board.

When asked if it's okay to post the battle footage, it's not a problem since she's done it before.

Ignoring her, we continued, but the road looked different from when we came.

"We don't see any zombies."

"Maybe it's because we defeated that demon?"

Indeed, the sudden appearance of zombies around here was likely due to that demon.

If so, it makes sense that the zombies stopped appearing after defeating him.

By the way, I can't sense any story from the zombies' lives.

I don't know how they differ from the Undead Knights... they disappear when touched, and there's no information on where to take them.

They might just be enemies prepared by the developers with no backstory. Well, it's probably better not to worry about it.

"Hey, Rino. The capital is ahead, right?"

"Yes, according to what I heard in Riblum, that's the case."

"I'm looking forward to it. It's my first time seeing a real castle!"

"Is it really a 'real' castle, though?"

As the four girls chatted, the capital is indeed ahead on this road.

According to the information on the memento sword, this country is called Alphasia.

I don't know much about the country's characteristics yet, but it's certain that the capital is the largest city.

I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also a bit anxious.

It's a completely unknown area, formed by a different cultural structure from Japan.

With its own power and organizations, I need to be careful about how I conduct myself.

"Let's visit the knight order when we get to the capital."

"Right. We need to do that to deliver the memento."

"I wanted to look around, though—"

"Ku-chan, you can do that later. Besides, it seems to be a series of events—"

"Something might happen if we take this there."

Well, I don't know what will happen yet.

Anyway—

"Let's take the mementos and corpses and be careful not to be treated as criminals."

"Hehe... Rino, it's up to you."

"Sure, sure, whatever."

Rino nodded with a wry smile at Kumiizome, who looked exasperated and passed the task to her.

Indeed, it's troublesome.

If they start making unreasonable demands, it will be a hassle, and I should be careful with my attitude.

Then—sensing something, I looked up.

"Hmm, enemies?"

"...Onii-san, didn't I say this before? How can you notice things before we do? You don't have the 'Danger Sense' skill, right?"

"Since they're showing hostility, it's dangerous not to notice."

Avoiding Kumiizome's resentful gaze and looking up, I saw four birds flying towards us.

They are quite large—likely birds of prey.

The problem is their extremely high flight speed. It's clearly not the speed a normal bird can achieve with flapping or gliding.

■Aerofalcon

Type: Monster

Level: 12

Status: Normal

Attribute: Wind

Battle Position: Air

In other words, they are hawks that can control the wind.

It's a bit unfair that a creature that rides the wind can also control it.

Anyway, it's a battle. The flying part is troublesome, but it will work out.

"Kuon, can you intercept their attacks?"

"Hmm... Yes, that's probably better. I'll protect the back row."

"That's enough. Let's go, everyone!"

I don't have any means to attack from the air. It's more constructive to let the others attack rather than wait for them to come down.

Judging this, I stood in front of the frozen Rino and Hagi.

They are clearly controlling the wind, so it's unlikely they won't use it for attacks.

If they do use wind attacks, it will be time for the Demon-Slaying Sword.

"Hit them, [Fireball]!"

"Hmm, will it work... [Wind Cutter]!"

"...They're too fast, so I'll take them all. [Dark Vortex]!"

Kumiizome's magic directly confronted the incoming Aerofalcons.

Of course, they won't take it head-on. They are agile birds of prey. Kumiizome's fireball was avoided, and Ku's wind blade was broken through without being avoided.

However, the black vortex that appeared immediately after was impossible to avoid.

The two spells had slightly slowed them down, and the swirling black darkness hit them.

"Hmm. Hagi should have attacked first, followed by the others."

"...The front row is too brainless."

*Gulp!*

The black vortex damaged the Aerofalcons and restricted their movement.

Hagi's high magic attack power and the immobilizing effect that disrupted their stance were quite effective.

In this situation where they were immobilized, Kumiizome's attacks would have been easier to hit.

"Next, next! Next, Hagi will attack!"

"That's good, but... they're attacking first."

The black vortex cleared, and the disoriented Aerofalcons appeared.

They were damaged but not falling.

One spell from a group spell is expected. The problem is that their sharp, predatory eyes were all focused on Hagi.

Naturally, Hagi was recognized as the most dangerous threat.

It's difficult to intercept concentrated attacks, even if they come sporadically.

Sighing, I picked up Hagi with my left arm.

"Ah!?"

"Sorry, but I need to move you. It's hard to handle this way."

Holding her like a package with my left arm, I focused on the Aerofalcons.

The Aerofalcons, hovering in place, pulled their wings back and then flapped them hard towards us.

Instantly, an invisible something rushed towards us—

"Demon-Slaying Sword—Ha!"

"Be a bit more careful when—*choke*"

I jumped to avoid the wind arrow that flew towards us and used the Demon-Slaying Sword to cut down the arrow that targeted my landing spot.

Hagi, who I was holding like a package, made a squished sound from the sudden movement, but it was better than taking the attack.

Angry at the failed attack, the Aerofalcons screeched and tried to charge—when Lumina's magic was released.

"——!"

A burst of light was released. The light that had previously been used on a group of zombies exploded in the center of the Aerofalcons, enveloping them in a flash.

While it didn't last as long as the black vortex, it had high power and a blinding effect.

The Aerofalcons, engulfed in the flash, lost their momentum and could only fly erratically.

"...[Dark Vortex]"

Hagi's magic was released again.

The Aerofalcons, whose health was already reduced by the two group spells, couldn't withstand the third group spell and fell to the ground.

As I put Hagi down, she looked up at me with a resentful gaze.

*Skill Level of Demon-Slaying Sword has increased*

*Level of Tamed Monster [Lumina] has increased*

"...I'm grateful for your help, but please be more careful when carrying me."

"O-oh, sorry."

While it was to prevent my hands from being occupied, carrying her with one hand was a bit rough.

I bowed my head to her glare and put Lumina, who had returned, on my head.

It seems she had been accumulating experience points from defeating Geryon.

At this rate, her level will keep rising.

Tamed monsters can evolve when they level up.

How they evolve is also one of the exciting aspects.

"Let's move forward."

"Yes, let's keep going! I want to sightsee in the capital soon."

Smiling and nodding, Kumiizome seemed in high spirits after looting. I chuckled and continued on the road to the capital with her and the others.

■Avatar Name: Kuon

■Gender: Male

■Race: Human

■Level: 13

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 16

VIT: 14

INT: 16

MND: 14

AGI: 12

DEX: 12

■Skills

Weapon Skill: [Sword: Lv.13]

Magic Skill: [Enhancement Magic: Lv.10]

Set Skill: [Dead Point Strike: Lv.11]

[MP Auto Recovery: Lv.6]

[Plundering Sword: Lv.7]

[Identification: Lv.10]

[Life Sword: Lv.8]

[Demon-Slaying Sword: Lv.4]

[Tame: Lv.3]

[HP Auto Recovery: Lv.4]

Sub Skill: [Mining: Lv.1]

Title Skill: [Blessing of the Fairy]

■Current SP: 8

■Monster Name: Lumina

■Gender: Female

■Race: Fairy

■Level: 7

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 4

VIT: 7

INT: 22

MND: 16

AGI: 14

DEX: 9

■Skills

Weapon Skill: None

Magic Skill: [Light Magic]

Skill: [Light Attribute Enhancement]

[Flight]

[Magic Resistance: Medium]

[MP Auto Recovery]

Title Skill: [Fairy Queen's Servant]