Chapter 72

As the morning sun illuminated the blue sea, the ship sailed on.

Xiaoming and Lirisha were having breakfast in the first-class cabin.

On the tray were small dishes containing rice, grilled fish, salty seaweed soup, tamagoyaki, and a black paper.

And there were some rotten beans.

While recoiling from the smell, he looked at the beans.

"Can we eat these? They're rotten, right?"

"It's called natto, my lord. It's supposed to be eaten by mixing it with soy sauce and mustard and then putting it on rice."

Lirisha said this while looking at the natto with her monocle.

I pursed my lips and, with determination, mixed the natto with soy sauce and mustard.

The smell intensified.

"Ugh! -- And the slime has increased even more!?"

"That's the right way to do it! It's supposed to be mixed about a hundred times."

I mixed it as instructed and put it on the rice.

The smell was so strong that I pinched my nose and took a bite. Brown threads stretched out.

The smell spread in my mouth, making me suffer, but as I chewed a few times, my cheeks relaxed.

"Hmm! Surprisingly good! Pinching my nose reduces the smell, yeah!"

"Really? Then, I'll try..."

Lirisha skillfully mixed the natto with soy sauce and mustard.

Her beautiful face contorted.

I suddenly had an idea and reached out to pinch Lirisha's straight nose.

"Then, I'll pinch your nose for you."

"Thank you... mmm"

When she put it in her mouth, her brows furrowed slightly, but as she chewed, her smile grew.

"Mmm! It's delicious, Master!"

"Right? Surprisingly good."

"Since it's a fermented food, it's probably good for your health -- then, next, I'll pinch your nose, Master."

Lirisha pinched my nose while I ate the natto rice.

It was delicious, but for some reason, I started to laugh.

My laughter was contagious, and Lirisha burst out laughing too.

We laughed together for a while.

"Pinching our noses while eating, what are we doing?"

"Exactly. There are many other things to try! Let's eat."

We ate the tamagoyaki and fish.

The black paper turned out to be a thin, hardened sheet of seaweed.

Eating it wrapped around the rice gave it a delicious sea flavor.

While enjoying the exotic breakfast, I thought to myself.

"But, this kind of thing might be nice."

"Master?"

"Eating strange foods from around the world and seeing unknown scenic spots. It might be nice to travel and have adventures, not just fight."

"That's true. I'd like to do that someday. Just the two of us, Master."

"If we have time... yeah, when we're young again, we'll definitely do it."

"It will cost money, though?"

"Since Puchi Elixir is selling well, we should have enough money after we're young again -- so let's go, Lirisha."

"Yes, Master!"

Lirisha smiled happily.

I felt joy at her smile and resolved to definitely go on a world trip.

◇ ◇ ◇

By midday.

My ship had arrived at the port town of Kobe in Yamata Country.

To the north of the port, a long mountain range stretched east to west.

Lirisha and I disembarked.

There were many buildings with triangular roofs.

"Well... is this the right one?"

I asked a male sailor near the ship.

Lirisha had already used a simple map of Yamata Country in the cabin to find out where Edgar was.

"Excuse me, but how do I get to the city of Kyo?"

"Kyo? From Kobe, go straight east along the coast until you hit a big river, the Etogawa. Follow the river northeast, and you'll reach the capital of Yamata Country, Kyo."

"Sounds pretty far."

"About a two-day walk. You could take a stagecoach or ride a horse. The station is..."

The man gave detailed directions to the station.

"Thank you."

I thanked him and walked away.

Lirisha walked by my side.

As we headed to the station, people in narrow-sleeved clothing—kimonos—were walking on the narrow roads.

Lirisha's silver hair seemed to attract attention, and everyone looked at her.

Lirisha shyly lowered her head.

"It feels like we're being watched."

"Such a beautiful woman is rare here. She's rare even in the Kingdom of Fortis."

"Master... I'm flattered."

Lirisha blushed and leaned closer, grabbing my arm.

Her cute warmth was comforting.

---

People had gathered in one spot.

A man on a platform was energetically distributing papers.

"Extra, extra! Read all about it! -- Yesterday, a thief broke into Lady Mikoto's castle! They stole a treasure but were caught! It's a big deal because the thief was the top ninja of the Mikawari clan! -- Come on, buy a paper, buy a paper!"

I could hear the conversations of the people gathered around him.

An elderly woman called out while looking at the paper.

"Oh, thank goodness! Lady Mikoto is safe!"

"To cause trouble for such a good ruler is unforgivable. They should be executed."

"True... but Lady Mikoto is kind and probably won't do that."

"This time, it seems they've crossed a line. They might be executed."

"Really? That would be unusual."

Lirisha gripped my arm tightly.

I nodded in response.

"It must be Edgar. Let's go save him. You can become an angel if you want?"

"Really!? Is that okay!?"

"In a place like this eastern island country, news won't reach the kingdom. They say 'traveling shame is to be forgotten.'"

"Yes, I understand, Master!"

Lirisha frowned and nodded firmly.

We paid for a horse at the station, cast recovery spells, and gave Puchi Elixir while riding as fast as we could.

◇ ◇ ◇

A refreshing afternoon breeze blew through the city of Kyo.

In the courtyard of Mikoto's castle, a direct interrogation was taking place.

Edgar, tied up, sat on a mat laid on white sand.

Inside the castle, behind a hanging curtain, sat the slender and beautiful man, Mikoto.

A man in a kimono with a sword at his waist questioned Edgar sharply.

"Azuma! Where did you take Mikoto-sama's family treasure, the glowing orb? If you don't tell me, I'll whip you again!"

Edgar's back was torn, and blood seeped through his clothes.

"I've made up my mind. Execution is fine."

"You insolent!"

The man struck Edgar.

The dull sounds of the blows echoed in the courtyard.

Edgar was hit repeatedly.

Then Mikoto spoke.

"That's enough. We need him to talk."

The man stopped and bowed to Mikoto.

"I apologize!"

"Perhaps we should make him want to talk more?"

From behind the curtain, Mikoto leaned back and pointed with a closed fan.

"This man left the country to revive the princess of the Mikawari clan. Bring the princess here."

Edgar's face changed. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"Wait, the princess has nothing to do with this!"

"See? He looks like he wants to talk."

"Of course, Mikoto-sama! I'll bring her right away!"

The man ran out of the courtyard.

Mikoto chuckled from behind the curtain.

"Since you sent her far beyond my divine reach... who asked you to commit such a crime? Should we capture those people as well? What do you think, Azuma?"

"The princess... the princess has nothing to do with this..."

"Currently, the only one who can revive the dead is the witch Cordelia in the Kingdom of Fortis. I don't think she did it, but perhaps your accomplice is nearby?"

"Damn—!"

Edgar, with his messy hair, opened his eyes wide and bit his bleeding lip.

—How does someone from this distant country know! Is it true that they have divine blood!?

Then, an old man in red robes brought a child into the courtyard.

A cute princess in a kimono with a lovely pattern.

The old man said with a stern look.

"Mikoto-sama, I have brought Princess Nova."

"Thank you, Akage."

"Azuma!"

The princess, seeing the injured Edgar, scattered tears and called out.

She was about to run to him, but Akage held her back.

Blood dripped from Edgar's bitten lip.

Mikoto, fanning himself, said from behind the curtain.

"Now, Azuma. If you don't talk, not just your life, but something more precious will be taken. Right in front of you... after she was just revived... Akage."

"Yes!"

Akage instantly drew a knife and pressed it to the princess's slender throat.

The princess, tears in her eyes, called out to Edgar.

"Why, Azuma! Why did you do this!"

"Princess, I'm sorry...!"

Edgar's face contorted in pain, and he hung his head.

Mikoto, with a sinister smile, pressed on.

"What are you doing, Akage? Don't kill her yet. Cut off his fingers one by one until he talks—"

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Just, just spare the princess—!"

Edgar, on his knees, pleaded desperately.

The man with the sword kicked Edgar and forced him to sit.

Mikoto, with a chillingly beautiful gaze, looked at Edgar.

"Very well. If you tell the truth, I'll spare the princess's life."

"Yes... I'm sorry, Mr. Alex."

"Hmm!? What!?"

Mikoto, fan in hand, leaned forward in surprise.

Edgar, facing forward, spoke clearly.

"The person I sent the orb to is Mr. Alex, the former hero who runs the potion shop Puchi Elixir in the capital of the Kingdom of Fortis!"

In response to Edgar's strained voice, Mikoto's voice cracked.

"What!? What did you say!? -- Kill him. Kill him now!"

"Yes! ...Be proud that you will die in front of Mikoto-sama!"

The man beside Edgar slowly raised his sword.

Edgar closed his eyes tightly and extended his neck.

"Princess, Mr. Alex. I'm sorry."

"No! Azuma!"

The princess's scream echoed in the courtyard.

Startled pigeons flew into the sky.

Their shadows passed over Edgar.

"---Forgive me!"

The sword was swiftly brought down, gleaming in the sunlight.

---Clang!

"Ugh!"

The man who was supposed to bring down the sword was blown away.

A single-edged black sword was embedded in the white sand next to the fallen sword.

Mikoto, startled, knelt.

"What is this—Ugh!"

Mikoto, behind the curtain, staggered and fell.

His slender body convulsed.

Then, in the courtyard, white wings spread, and a silver-haired angel descended, carrying a man.

Thank you for the bookmarks and ★ ratings!

I'm a bit busy with book publication work.

I'm reading the comments, but my responses might be a bit delayed.

The next chapter will be updated tomorrow.

→ 73. The End of the Demon King, Mikoto, and Edgar