Chapter 85 – Hoffman

Dense clouds covered the sky, hiding both moonlight and starlight. The leaves on the trees rustled as the wind blew through the forest, but there was no sign of life and not a single insect could be heard. Suddenly, with a bang, four flames were born, illuminating a huge magic circle that covered a clearing in the forest. On all four faces, the flames danced in candelabra located in the north, south, east and west.

“Please answer my call. You, he who cries out for souls at the end of the underworld. The one who is born of the flesh of the dead, an abominable evil spirit…” A living voice echoed in the forest. An old man was reciting a spell in front of the magic circle. As he did so, the pattern of the magic circle began to glow red. The air vibrated, and the shadows of the surrounding trees glowed like flames. “…Answer my call. Come. I open the door to the underworld and summon you here now…”

The red light of the magic circle shone brighter than ever. A gust of wind and the roar as of thunder echoed in the area. Immediately, the vegetation that was moved by the wind was devoid of any life.

“Who summoned me?” echoed a voice as if roaring from deep within the earth. Floating in the center of the magic circle was a skeleton whose bones bore no trace of skin or flesh. Its size was enormous, exceeding the average height of a person. It had no body below the pelvis. “Answer me, who summoned me?”

The red light in its eye sockets flickered and the skeleton asked again. If death were to be incarnated, would this not be its appearance? However, the old man who summoned it did not seem to fear it and opened his mouth as he took a step towards the summoned wraith.

“It’s been a long time, Ruff.”

Just that one sentence. But with that one sentence, the skeleton… the shadow robe that Ruff wore shook. One could not make out the expression of a skeleton, but if it were a person, it would have an expression of disgust.

“Oh… oh… that voice, you’re… no… you are…” Ruff bowed his head as he lowered his posture. “No way, I was summoned by you into this world, thank you very much. So, are those three here too?”

“I’m not sure about Lurie and Dan-kun, but Freudin’s strength was greatly reduced in the battle between the Demon King and the Brave, so he won’t be able to do anything for the time being.”

“I can’t believe that even Freudin-sama… So, the Demon King’s successor is…”

“That’s why I summoned you. I have high hopes for you.”

“Ooohhh…” Ruff’s voice trembled with a hint of joy. “I’ll regret saying this, but what exactly is this about?”

In the past, when Ruff saw the old man, no, his superior, he had not been in this human form.

“Since I was manifested in this world, I have taken this form. It is unexpectedly convenient.”

“I see. Then why was I summoned this time?”

“I intend to make a contract with a certain mage, and I want you to be his guardian.”

“A mage… he’s a human, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I know it’s humiliating for you to be used by a mere mortal, but I wish you could give in on this.”

“Please… don’t worry about such an insignificant being like me. If that is your command, then I, Ruff, will be with this human.”

“I thank you very much. Ruff.”

“By the way…” The red light in Ruff’s eyes brightened again. “How would you like to get rid of those inferior beings that have been watching us? I will eliminate them as soon as I receive your order.”

At that moment, a terrifying aura that glowed like flames spread. The trees that barely touched the aura rotted.

“Yes, I know you just arrived in this world. I have another job for you, but I think it would be good for you dust off your bones with these people.”

“Understood. I’ll try to live up to your expectations.”

◇◆◇◆◇

The wind brought the smell of death. The trees of the forest, which were so important to the elves, withered and rotted in an instant. But now was not the time to grieve for the dying forest. It was necessary to return to the village as soon as possible and inform the elven capital.

Noticing something strange in the forest, Liesbert led his village warriors and set out. While tracking the evil presence, he found a man standing in a slightly open area. An older man with white hair mixed in. He was dressed in a tailcoat, which was said to be worn by those of noble status in the human world. In front of his eyes was a huge magic circle, which flickered with an eerie red light. In the center of the magic circle, as the red light began to overflow, a skeleton dressed in a black robe appeared. It was not a high-ranking demon that had been granted negative life force, nor was it an immortal demon. The miasma it gave off was so thick that it distorted the background.

“Ah, that’s…”

“A demon? What a mess…”

“Hey, human, how dare you bring such an atrocity into our territory!”

“Liesbert-sama, let’s show them what we’re capable of!”

“W-Wait! D-D-Don’t rush…”

What the elven warriors saw, however, was the pale face of Liesbert, the village leader and the most experienced warrior in the village. His teeth were shaking uncontrollably, and they could hear the sound of them rattling. The voice he raised to control them was weak, and his hands trembled. An incredible sight. Liesbert was a brave and fearless warrior who had earned the respect of his people. He was the only experienced warrior left in the village, which had lost many of its old and powerful warriors in the war against the demons. A great hero respected by many of the elven warriors who had followed him here.

That great hero was frightened and wide-eyed at a mere human who looked so insignificant.

“Th-That’s… definitely. It’s that monster from back then…” Liesbert’s voice trembled. A cold sweat trickled down his back.

The old man capable of intimidating a demon, who released such a thick miasma. It was a monster that had once single-handedly destroyed the elven troops that Liesbert had led. It did not bother about the elves’ attack, but simply went about killing and then disappeared, as if it had grown tired of it.

Suddenly, the skeleton that had been behind the old man twisted his neck to look at the bushes where the elves were hiding. There was no wind, but something that reminded him of death shot through his body.

“Run… run awa…” however, faster than Liesbert could direct them… “Ah…”

A young elf, who was at the front watching the situation, had his upper half ripped off as if it had exploded. The hot liquid splashed onto his face. When Liesbert turned his head with a clumsy movement, a piece of flesh that still held its shape was attached to a large dead tree.

“Now, Ruff-san. One of the reasons I summoned you is to hunt them down. However, what I need are their corpses. Could you please not overdo it by killing them?”

“Understood.”

The moment Liesbert heard those words, he shouted, “Everyone, disperse and flee!”

Liesbert’s shout was heard as if his throat was about to tear. With that voice as a signal, the elves quickly scattered through the forest and left the area. They were elves, the denizens of the forest. They moved above the trees as if they were running through the meadows.

“I am very sorry. It may take some time to get rid of all the inferior creatures.”

“No, apparently among them was someone who knew me.”

The elf who was giving instructions. While the others focused on Ruff, who had killed his companion, only one person did not look away from the first man.

“Maybe he has seen me before, on some battlefield. Sometimes I don’t kill all my opponents. If so, this is my fault. It’s not Ruff-san’s fault.”

“…I see.”

“The fact that the elves were in this place means that their village must be nearby. When I saw the magic of the forest labyrinth, I had some idea where it was, but it wasn’t enough. Let’s have them lead us there. Just follow one and they will lead us.”

“Very well, sir.”

The old man nodded to Ruff, who bowed his head reverently.

“As I said before, don’t overdo it. I want at least five of them intact. Since they would make good material.”

◇◆◇◆◇

The next day, after finishing the investigation in the slums. Wynn, Leticia and Cornelia visited the Adventurers Guild to inform Paul of the results of their investigation. They hoped to get some new information from the guild as well.

Locke did not accompany them. He wanted to report the results of his investigation to Captain Royce, so he had gone to the Knight School where the Knight Corps was located. He cursed Wynn, who was currently holding a flower in each hand.

As the three of them passed under the guild entrance, they found Paul at the reception desk. He was chatting with a group of several adventurers. Apparently, he was explaining their quest to them.

The reception desk of the eastern branch of the Simurgh Adventurers’ Guild was manned by three people at all times except during the night, but today it was much busier than when they had come here before. The last time they were here, the adventurers were lined up only in front of the young women seated on either side of Paul, forming a long line. And at the moment, Paul was looking over some documents at his leisure, not helping the busy girls, but today, unlike the situation the other day, there were three more adventurers parties.

“This is going to take a while, isn’t it?” Wynn said, and looked around the guild. There was a crowd of adventurers looking for work in front of the quest board where applications were posted. Meanwhile, the tavern attached to the guild was no longer crowded with diners, and several tables were empty. “Letty. I’ll stand in line, so you and Cornelia-san can wait in the tavern and have a drink.”

“Well, there’s no point in the three of us standing in line. I’ll take your word for it, Onii-chan.”

“Right.”

Leticia encouraged Cornelia and headed for the tavern. As Leticia and Cornelia walked through the lobby, the guild buzzed.

Leticia, with her beautiful blonde hair waving in the air, and Cornelia, with her innocent yet graceful appearance, were unique beings in an adventurer’s guild where rough individuals gather. An adventurer of the same age as Wynn, who was lucky enough to pass by the two girls, stood gazing into the distance. This attitude was not limited to just that adventurer but could be seen throughout the guild. Even when Leticia and Cornelia sat down at an empty table, many were watching them. However, some of them looked at the girls differently than the younger adventurers.

These were the veterans of the guild who knew who Leticia was, and most of them just watched from afar. Some of them were very old, but even these looked at Leticia von Mavis with awe.

Some of the adventurers looked familiar to Leticia, and she raised her hand to greet them. She also ordered a juice for herself and Cornelia from the tavern owner, with whom she was acquainted, and exchanged some light conversation. The young adventurers looked at him with envy.

The adventurers’ guild, which had been surrounded by hustle and bustle, had a slightly warm air around Leticia and Cornelia.

◇◆◇◆◇

About half an hour into the line, it was finally Wynn’s turn.

“Hey, Wynn. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Good morning, Paul-san. Looks like you’re busy today.”

“Yes? It’s always like this.”

Perhaps it was because he had dealt with so many adventurers in a row, but there was a hint of weariness on his face. As he talked to Wynn, he busily rolled up a stack of application forms and looked at them.

“Paul-san, when I came here earlier, you seemed bored, didn’t you?”

“I guess it was a one-time thing then.”

As soon as Paul said that, the young female employees sitting on either side of him looked at him with accusing eyes for a moment. They were the ones who were busy every day, and if anything, today happened to be a busier day than usual, including Paul. That’s what they were trying to say. Paul smiled bitterly and cleared his throat.

“So, what business do you have with the guild today?”

“I was wondering if there are any reports of what I’ve investigated regarding the kidnapping of a mage, and if there’s any new information in the guild since then.”

Hearing Wynn’s words, Paul raised his face as he stopped rolling up the stack of applications.

“Hmm…. If that’s the case, I’d rather not talk here. I guess we’ll have to go back to using the private room upstairs.” Paul snorted and then indicated the tavern with the thumb of his left hand. “Those two are too flashy to talk in this place, you know, so I don’t think we’re going to have too much privacy.”

And just as Paul smiled at Wynn.

“Will you stop that, please!” Leticia’s voice echoed throughout the guild, and Wynn turned back to the tavern with a start. “Sorry, but we don’t have time to waste on you drunks!”

When he looked, Wynn saw that next to Leticia and Cornelia, was a trio of leather-armored adventurers. All three were still young, perhaps 20 years old at most. One of them approached the table where Leticia and Cornelia were seated and seemed to call out to them.

“Why not? A drink. We just finished a big job yesterday, and we have money. Come along with us, we’ll buy you a drink.”

“Oh, yes. I’ll buy you anything you want. I have money.”

“Come with us, you’ll have a great time, okay?”

Said two of the companions as they sat back in their chairs, still with glasses of alcohol in hand. True to their words, the table they had been at was overflowing with food, and there were already several empty liquor bottles lying around. Apparently, they had been drinking all night at a celebratory party. As their spirits rose, their sexual desires increased, and they got the urge to sleep with a girl. The three of them looked Leticia and Cornelia from head to toe with eyes that didn’t want to miss a detail and a vile grin on their faces.

“If you’re using the guild tavern, does that mean you’re adventurers or something? No, I don’t think being an adventurer is a good choice for such classy ladies like you. Maybe you are the young ladies of a famous family who long to be adventurers?” The drunken young man rambled on, not giving Leticia and Cornelia a chance to interrupt him.

Gradually, he closed the distance between himself and Leticia, who was sitting in a chair, her face grimacing. In contrast to them, Leticia’s expression grew darker and darker.

“That’s it! If you want, I can tell you the story of our adventure. I’m sure you guys have interesting stories to tell too.” Said the young man and tried to put his hand on Leticia’s shoulder.

Paf! Leticia jerked his hand away.

“Hey, hey, did she just shake your hand!”

“What happened to the big words you were saying just now, didn’t they work for you?”

“Shut up, you guys. Shut the fuck up!” he turned and shouted at his two friends who were taunting him from a distance, and pasted a flirtatious grin on his face again. “Hahaha, sorry. Hey, don’t be so rude. Come on, think you’re helping me not to look like a fool and hang out with me for a while. Hey, could you say something to her too?”

Cornelia made a surprised face when the young man turned to speak to her. Having grown up in an imperial palace, she had never experienced anything like this. For some time now, she had been watching Leticia being seduced as if it wasn’t with her. She was surprised when the man suddenly approached her.

“W-well, um…”

Perhaps seeing Cornelia’s confusion, the young man thought he might have a chance, and was about to make some other innuendo when….

It was reported that Kelvin, who had thrown himself into the slums, had come into contact with a man who appeared to be the commander of the army that had attacked a settlement near the Petersian border. There was no certainty whether he could be related to the kidnappings, Marquis Cliffdorf, Viscount Hoffman, and even the Kingdom of Petersia, but while he put her Imperial Highness in danger, he even bowed to the Chief Court Mage and the Court Knights to infiltrate them. He had to get results. Royce opened his eyes and looked around the room. Originally, the office was to be used by a maximum number of ten people in the squad. However, Royce’s squad, which was not well received by the upper echelons of the Central Knights, had not been resupplied and only had four subordinates.

‘In the end, the number of people did not come together…’ Royce smiled bitterly and picked up a sheet of paper.

When he saw the document with Alfred’s signature, he had the impression that the time had come. It was for this reason that Zaunas, Royce and Kelvin’s superior officer, had kept them out of the coup. He also knew that sooner or later it would happen when Wynn came on board as a servant. He threw down the papers and opened the bottom drawer of his desk. Inside was a huge stack of letters. They were all from his wives at the mansion. As he picked up the letters one by one, he let out a big sigh.

‘I’m not sure I’m going to be able to lead a quiet life in my territory for the time being…’

◇◆◇◆◇

“Raymond? Did you say Raymond, the court mage?” Paul, who led Wynn and the others out of the adventurer’s guild tavern, guided them to a private room on the second floor of the guild, shouted in astonishment at the name that came out of Wynn’s mouth when he started to speak.

“Paul-san, do you know anything about Raymond, Viscount Raymond von Hoffman?”

“I don’t know anything about this Hoffman or whatever, but I do know of a court magician named Raymond. It’s not just me. You guys knew him too, didn’t you?” Paul looked at Wynn and Leticia.

Wynn and Leticia looked at each other reflexively, but neither knew him.

“I think I first met the mage Raymond when I started working for Her Highness Cornelia as a servant…” Wynn folded his arms and looked up at the ceiling, pondering. He believed that was the first time he had met Raymond, whichever way you looked at it. He couldn’t remember meeting him before that. As for Leticia, she only knew Raymond’s face from the sketch Locke had brought her.

“When you were there for the first time… that means it was recent, right? So maybe he’s a different person than the Raymond I know…” Seeing their reaction, Paul whispered in an unsure voice.

“Um… what kind of person is this mage Raymond that Paul-sama claims to know?”

“Well… it’s been seven or eight years now, hasn’t it? Wynn, Letty, do you remember the first job we took as a party?”

“Laura-san and Lina-chan. That was the job where we met them, right?” When Wynn said that, Paul nodded.

Cornelia had also heard that story from Wynn before. The story of how Wynn and Leticia, when they were young, had defeated a demon without anyone knowing. The truth was that a crisis had been provoked in the imperial capital. There were even falsified records by the higher-ups who feared their negligence would be discovered.

“At that time, there was a knight and a mage who were sent, right? That wizard’s name was Raymond.”

“No way!” cried Wynn in surprise, and Leticia’s eyes widened.

“You didn’t find out his name, did you? By the way, Wynn was hurt and sleeping, and Letty was being too shy… Do you remember anything about Oort-san and the others?”

“I do remember them.” Wynn nodded, but Letty looked worried.

Oort, Louis and Eliza. These were the adventurers who, along with young Wynn and Leticia and the still an adventurer Paul, went to fight the dog-headed demons. They were a party of skilled adventurers who worked primarily in exploring ruins and unexplored areas; a job that was only granted to adventurers with true skill. After that incident, they left and were never seen again.

“Hahaha… I knew you wouldn’t remember, Letty.”

Leticia blushed when Paul teased her. Leticia, when she was very young, would not be separated from Wynn. While working as an adventurer with him, there were a few people, including Paul, with whom she became close, but basically, she still acted alone around Wynn. No, that hadn’t changed. She couldn’t embrace him with the same innocence as she had then; well, she wished she could, but she shouldn’t. As she thought about it, she remembered the things she had done as a child, and both Leticia’s face and neck turned red.

“In that battle against the demon Veldaroth, it was Oort-san who took the lead. He was the one who talked to Raymond-san most of the time, and it’s only natural that you, who were just children, don’t remember him.”

Wynn was nine years old at the time. It was about seven years ago. Even if he had heard the mage’s name at the time, it was no wonder he had forgotten it. But, even if he had forgotten the name, there was something that bothered him.

“But, Paul-san, I’m sure that the court mage Raymond you’re referring to and Viscount Raymond von Hoffman are two different people.”

The magician of that time… Wynn didn’t remember exactly what kind of person Raymond was, but he must have been in his early twenties. And the Raymond he met at the Imperial Palace was a slender young man, also in his early twenties. It was hard to believe they were the same person.

“Hmm… from what you tell me, he certainly sounds like a different person.” Paul also snorted as he folded his arms. “I heard that, at the time of that incident, Mage Raymond was transferred to a remote territory of another noble, so it might be a different person after all.”

“Um… in that case, why don’t you check the records at the Personnel Office?” Cornelia, who was quietly listening to the conversation, interrupted.

“Personnel Office?” Cornelia nodded to Wynn, who asked.

“Yes. The nobles of the Empire and all those who served the Empire should have been registered with the Personnel Office. I think we can find out if the Court Mage Raymond referred to by Paul-sama is the same person as Viscount Raymond von Hoffman.”

“I see. But I wonder if the personnel office will allow us Knights to see the court magician’s documents… oh!”

“Right. If I request it, I think I can have access to most of the personnel office records, don’t you think?”

As if to say “leave it to me,” Cornelia Lau Root Lemmroussel, the First Princess of the Lemmroussel Empire, smiled.