Chapter 17

I'm sorry for the delay in posting yesterday.

"Take him away."

"Huh!"

Taran was led out of the king's chamber by the castle guards. As he left, he looked utterly exhausted, with no trace of vitality in his face. It was as if he had been thrown from the peak of happiness to the depths of despair; it was no wonder.

"---In the end, he didn't have much useful information. What is that black-robed man thinking...?"

"Yeah... What did he intend to do by getting close to me?"

From what we could get out of him, the black-robed men were trading partners of the Taran Guild. The Taran Guild deals with a wide range of goods, from food to sundries, and is known for its quality, which is trusted by many residents in various countries. However, that was just the surface. Behind the scenes, they were also involved in the drug trade, supplying it to important figures. The black-robed man was the one providing those drugs. It seems they were deeply involved in magic research, and the drugs were a byproduct of an experiment that happened by chance.

"Creating drugs through experiments... Well, experiments that can turn people into this state can't be good..."

I pulled back the hoods of the brown-robed figures lying on the floor. Their heads were covered in lumps, their cheeks discolored in places, and one eye was swollen and half-protruding. They were probably ordinary people at one point. Now, they were unrecognizable...

This was the result of the black-robed men's experiments. Taran didn't know the details, but it seems they were attempting to create biological weapons.

I gently replaced the hood. I don't know who these people were originally, but I doubt they would want to be seen like this even after they passed away.

"These guys... Whether they're biological weapons or not, their power is real."

"I'm sorry, if we could have captured them alive, we might have gotten more information..."

Iedes and Lily, who were standing next to Desus, said this. If even they had trouble capturing them, these guys must be quite formidable. If they were mass-produced, they could be a significant threat.

"It would be a problem if we tried to capture them and got injured. We should be glad there were no casualties."

Desus spoke to the regretful duo. The king's chamber was a mess, but Desus, who cares about his comrades and subordinates, was probably more relieved that there were no human casualties.

"We can't just leave these guys lying around... Blood, can you take care of it?"

"Yes."

Blood said he would bury them and carried the brown-robed figures out of the room.

"That's better... Hmm? What's wrong, Setsu?"

"...No, it's nothing."

Desus, worried, asked me as I stood there, deep in thought, looking at the brown-robed figures. What I was concerned about was the organization that created the brown-robed figures. I couldn't get any information about the organization's name or size from Taran, but the "Master" mentioned by the black-robed man before he left was troubling. Also, he said "as expected" when I burst in.

It seemed they had anticipated my return to this world. They had even used Taran to propose marriage to Desus to bring me back.

(There's a contradiction... but we don't have enough information...)

"What's wrong, Setsu?"

When I started thinking again, Leviath, who was standing next to me, looked worried and peered at me. Luri, standing next to her, had a similar expression.

"Really, it's nothing... I'm fine."

I didn't want to add to their worries when I didn't have enough information. I smiled to show them there was no need to worry.

"Anyway, Luri, don't you have something to give to Desus?"

"Oh! That's right!"

To change the subject, I reminded Luri of her original purpose. She frantically searched her pockets, found what she was looking for, and ran to Desus with it.

"Here! This was entrusted to me by the old man!"

"Oh... This is..."

Desus took the item she offered. It was the black brooch I had given him in the past.

"Yes, it's definitely fixed. Thank you, Luri. Why did you bring it? What happened to the old man...?"

"Ah... He was sick... and he's gone."

"...I see, I'm sorry to hear that."

"No, it's sad, but I'm okay now."

Luri smiled. Her smile was still a bit sad, but not dark. It seemed she was genuinely recovering.

"But I'm really grateful. When the brooch I got from Setsu broke, I was devastated..."

"Eh!?"

Huh? I didn't tell Luri that?

"That was me. I even engraved your name on the back."

"Eeeeh!? Who are you, Setsu!?"

Why is she asking me this now? I mean, I was summoned from another world...

Hmm? Oh, right!!

"I haven't told you my true identity yet!"

"Setsu is the hero who stopped the war five years ago..."

"Well, I wouldn't call myself a hero..."

"To us, Setsu is not just a savior of lives but a savior of the country!"

Desus, for some reason, butted in with a proud face. While that might be true for them, it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

...But when you put it that way, it does make me feel like all the hard work I put in, which changed the landscape, was worth it.

"Setsu was amazing... After all, he defeated that demon-like hero---"

"Desus."

"Ah... Right, sorry."

I stopped Desus, who was getting heated up. Luri didn't need to know any more than that. I didn't want that story to be known either.

"Anyway! We should give Luri a reward!"

Desus changed the awkward atmosphere. Luri, suddenly back to business, hesitated before speaking.

"N-no! I already received the payment with the request..."

"It's fine, right? If they're offering, take it."

"Even you, Setsu!?"

If the Demon King himself is offering a reward, there's no reason to refuse...

"Receiving more than the agreed payment... as a merchant..."

I see, she thinks she doesn't deserve it. She may look small, but her thinking is mature.

"Heh, you're being so formal, kid. Take what you can get."

I walked up to Luri and patted her head.

She looked incredibly dissatisfied. This is fun.

"Grr... I'm thirteen, you know..."

"You're not an adult yet."

In this world, adulthood starts at fifteen. Drinking is generally allowed from that age, though whether people follow that is another matter. Incidentally, marriage is allowed from seventeen. Getting married right after adulthood can lead to financial ruin because you can't work properly.

"Even you, Setsu! You're not that much older than me! I don't want to be treated like a kid by someone like you!"

"Sorry, kid, but if you count my past life, I'm over thirty!"

"Counting your past life is cheating!"

Hahaha, how about this, old man and young girl---no, no, that's impossible.

"To me, you're both kids..."

"Shut up, you middle-aged woman in a girl's body!"

After living for several hundred years, she still doesn't have a BBA vibe. It's just her tone.

"I don't know what a 'middle-aged woman in a girl's body' means... but I feel incredibly insulted?"

Damn, she's perceptive. As the Demon King, I can't have her sulking because she feels insulted, so I'll change the subject again.

"Anyway, let's decide what to do first, so Luri can accept it more easily."

"I feel like you're changing the subject... but you're right... Hmm, I was thinking of just giving a medal or something, but Luri probably doesn't need that..."

That's exactly what I mean by a "middle-aged woman in a girl's body." If people knew they were just given random rewards, some in this country would cry, for sure.

"Is there anything Luri wants?"

"Me?"

Luri, suddenly asked, looked flustered and at a loss. "What should I do!?" her face seemed to say. I felt bad about pushing her away, so I decided to give some safe advice.

"Just say what you want. It's fine unless it's something ridiculous."

"But... what should I say?"

"Come on, isn't there something? Like... a dream?"

When I mentioned a dream, Luri's shoulders twitched. She might have had one. Before I could ask, she spoke up.

"If it's a dream... I have one."

With that, Luri turned to Desus with determination and shared her dream.

"I want... my own shop."

---

A torch was lit in a dark room. Even with the torches on the walls, the room remained dim, and the floor was hard to see.

In the center of the room was a long table, surrounded by several men and women in black robes. These robes were the same as those worn by the shadow mage who fought Setsu a few minutes ago.

"...My clone was destroyed."

"Is that so? How was it?"

"The man was alive, just as the Master said."

"Haha! I knew it!"

The first black-robed figure who spoke had the same voice as the one who fought Setsu. This man, who was in the demon continent, was a clone created from this place.

The one he was talking to was sitting at the far end of the table. The voice was androgynous, making it hard to tell the gender, and the black robe hid the face and build, making it impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman. However, the unusual aura made it clear that this person was the leader of the group.

"Thank you for checking, Kagerou."

"It's no problem if it's a request from the Master."

Kagerou, the shadow mage, responded indifferently to the words of gratitude. He believed that fulfilling the Master's requests was his duty, and even words of thanks were unnecessary.

The leader, pleased with his loyalty, smiled.

"To think that using the Demon King's predicament as bait would work so well."

"There was a chance he wouldn't come. What was the plan then?"

"If he didn't come, we would manipulate Taran from behind and retrieve the Demon King ourselves."

It was a two-pronged plan to leave no room for error, the leader said nonchalantly.

"Indeed, as expected of the Master."

"Don't flatter me, Kagerou."

As they were talking, a knock was heard. It came from the only entrance to the room, an iron door.

"Come in."

"---Excuse me."

With the leader's permission, a girl with wavy blonde hair entered. She was dressed in an expensive dress, and her cheeks were slightly flushed, as if she were a woman in love.

"I am the First Princess of the Distinia Kingdom, Margaret. I have come to report."

"Hello, Margaret, you're as beautiful as ever."

"S-such a smooth talker..."

Margaret blushed even more and seemed to be in agony. She looked like a woman in love, and for good reason, as this leader was her hero and the hero of the kingdom.

"So? How are the summoned heroes doing?"

"They are progressing well. The 'Holy Sword Bearer' and his companions can already enter the 'Cave of Sorrow.'"

"Hmm..."

The Cave of Sorrow is one of the dungeons in this world. Dungeons have ranks like adventurers, and this cave is equivalent to an A-rank.

"The others can handle B-rank dungeons, so they should be able to reach S-rank soon."

"Great! They'll be ready to use soon."

The leader laughed as if he had just received a new toy. After the laughter subsided, he turned to Margaret, who was looking pleased.

"Thank you for the report, Margaret."

"Leave it to me---Winter."

Winter... the name of the man who was summoned to this world with Setsu and was defeated by him.

After Margaret left, Winter called out to one of the black-robed figures.

"Hey, Shironeko, can you go to the Beast Continent?"

"...I understand."

Shironeko, the black-robed figure, stood up and headed for the exit without asking for a reason, as if she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Wait, wait! I haven't given you your mission yet!"

Winter tried to stop her, as Shironeko was not loyal to him and had a problematic attitude.

"Shironeko!! Show more respect to Winter!!"

One of the figures, a woman, shouted in anger at her attitude and grabbed Shironeko by the collar.

"Luna, calm down. Let Shironeko go."

"Winter..."

Luna, as she was called, glared at Shironeko under her hood but let her go as instructed.

"Shironeko, your mission is to attack Setsu when he comes to the Beast Continent. He'll likely go there after the Demon Continent. If possible, ambush him and capture him alive. If you can't, retreat. You can't beat him head-on."

"...Understood."

"Don't think about running away. If you don't care about your sister on the Beast Continent, that's fine, but---"

"I won't run away. I'll do as you say."

"...Good girl."

Shironeko, who received her mission, quietly left the room. Despite being threatened, Winter sent her off with a smile.

After her presence completely disappeared, Winter gave another order to a different black-robed figure.

"...Kuroinu, follow Shironeko. If she betrays us, you can kill her."

"Yes, Master."

Kuroinu, the black-robed figure, also left the room.

In the now smaller group, Winter was pleased that everything was going according to his plan. He chuckled, a hint of madness in his voice.

"Hahaha... I will surely get you, Setsu.

---My beloved."

---

Next time: Luri gets her own shop

Setsu, loved even by the enemy, is amazing.