“The wizards are gathered here, so please wait a moment.”
The two young heirs quickly headed in one direction as they entered the manor.
When they stopped, we were in a place that looked like a warehouse… full of wizards. Across from them was a white mound I couldn’t clearly identify, and the floor was covered in many intricate magic circles of unknown purpose.
I had no clue what I had just walked into.
“Could I ask for your attention? I have a favor to ask—”
“Huh? What? Oh, it’s the young lord… Gasp! Sir Demon Knight!”
“What? Did someone say Demon Knight?!”
“The owner of this corpse?!”
Why the hell were they acting like that? Had their passion to turn me into a test subject been reignited?
“Wait, calm do—!”“Sir Demon Kniiight!”
“Uwaaargh!”
Why was Leon, usually the calm and composed young lord of this manor, losing his cool like that? And what was going on with the wizards? With that in mind, I slightly raised my hand.
The [Arcane Spear]s that had appeared midair let out a small creak before slamming into the ground right before me, forming a sort of fence. The wizards barely stopped right before it.
“If you cross this, you die.”
The wizards, having come to a screeching halt, quickly formed a neat line a good distance away. Their coordination was almost like that of a well-trained military unit.
“Sir Demon Knight!! Please, give us just a small part of the Skyflow Tiger’s corpse!”
“Don’t listen to him! I have no intention of being so shameless as requesting it for free! I’m more than willing to pay a fair price, so please give some to me!”
“Sir Demon Knight!!!”
“Sir Knight!!”
Of course, as soon as they got a safe distance away from me, they collectively began pleading with me again. At least now that they were a bit further away, I could better understand what they were blabbering about.
From their words, I realized they weren’t interested in my body or anything. That was a relief. Really.
Now, why were they trying to get my permission to take part of the Skyflow Tiger’s corpse?
I reflexively looked toward the two noble heirs.
“Ah, have you not been informed yet?”
Just then, the young lord of Ednium, who was currently being held by the young lady of Camborough—in a princess carry—after being kicked and tossed aside by the wizards, spoke up.
“Well, although that Demon took some parts, it was decided that what remains of the Skyflow Tiger belongs solely to you, Sir Demon Knight.”
His face turned bright red, though his answer was well composed. Thanks to him, I could grasp the situation a little better, though I still felt a bit uncomfortable.
I’d thought all of the Skyflow Tiger’s corpse had been taken by that intruder, right?
And if some of it remained, why would they give it all to me? I was pretty sure others who had participated in this raid deserved their fair share as well.
“All those who participated in the subjugation forfeited their rights, saying they weren’t qualified to receive anything. So it was decided that everything should be given to you, Sir Demon Knight, as you made the greatest contribution.”
If I could say there was any luck on my side, it would be that Young Lady Camborough was a very perceptive person. If not for her, I would have no other choice but to guess the reason for this.
“For reference, the corpse is over there, and thanks to the Archmage’s spell, no one but you, Sir Demon Knight, can approach it.”
So that was why this seemingly ordinary warehouse was filled to the brim with wizards. It was all because of the Skyflow Tiger’s corpse.
“Sob, please, just a single hair!”
“Sir Kniiiiight!!”
On a different note, the Archmage sure was an extremely wise person.
A spell that prevented anyone but me from getting closer. If she hadn’t cast that, the Skyflow Tiger’s corpse would surely have been stripped bare by now, with not even a single hair remaining.
Fssssssh!
Well, even if that didn’t happen, it wouldn’t really have mattered much in the end.
“Y-Your hand!”
“Are you alright?”
I looked at my half-melted glove and exposed palm.
As I expected, a fresh burn mark was engraved on it. It was proof that I would never be able to use this thing.
It seemed the Temple had thoroughly Purified it yet again… Of course, I could just artificially corrupt it, but I didn’t see the need to go that far.
At the end of the day, most of it was just flesh and guts, so what was the point? I was neither a chef specialized in monster parts nor an alchemist.
There were also its bones and leather, but… Well. If you wanted to make a weapon out of these bones, they would have to be carved from the whole bone. But would any of the bones actually be large enough to make something like a longsword?
And the leather? The only thing I could make with that was clothing.
And as for clothes… Even putting aside whether this white tiger leather would suit my character’s style, they would tear and wear out too easily, so it would be pretty meaningless.
I mean, just from what I’d experienced so far, I could confidently say that was the truth. I often bought new clothes to escape my life as a single-outfit man, but other than sleepwear, none lasted for even a week.
I doubt they would make much of a difference, either. Maybe if I was fighting against trash Mobs, but Bosses could easily tear through them.
I hardly ever got hit by anything that wasn’t a Boss Mob. Just looking at my past battles, I had only been seriously injured twice by something other than a Boss—once in the Tatara sewers and once by the waterfall in the Great Forest.
I was a bit offended that I wouldn’t get a single rare item for all the hardship I had gone through, but… what was the point in dwelling on it, right?
“What is the most valuable part?”
I mean, right? Even if I decided to change my equipment, it wouldn’t make that much difference.
“Pardon?”
“Starting with the claws, then the tail…”
So, there was only one conclusion I could come to.
I’d sell it. My wallet was getting rather empty, so this should at least help me out.
Slice!
Of course, I would first pay the young lady her due.
“Huh!”
“Y-You damaged it.”
I chopped off a forepaw with the sword I always carried. I had no idea how much this would fetch, but I was betting at least a million.
“This is my payment.”
“…!”
I tossed the front paw toward the young lady of Camborough, forgetting for a moment that she was still carrying the young lord of Ednium.
I realized my mistake a step too late…
Thud!
“Urgh!”
“Wah!”
The young lady threw the young lord toward the wizards without hesitation and caught the tiger’s paw.
It nearly covered her entire body.
“…Are you sure I can take this?”
“I don't want to owe anyone anything. Do whatever you want.”
Technically, Young Lord Ednium would be the one to connect me with Lord Bergard… but they were lovers, after all. Seeing how they were willing to risk their lives for each other, I doubted this would ruin things between them.
“I will never forget this favor.”
“No need.”
Besides… this wasn’t just compensation for that. It was intended for the remaining victims. Though it probably wouldn’t amount to much.
…Still, I couldn’t give them everything. I also had my own needs to take care of. Helping others should come after helping yourself, right?
“Ah, right. You, there. I have a favor to ask of you.”
Anyway, the young nobles did their part by bringing me here. It wasn’t all that difficult.
As she waved the tiger paw and called out, “Is anyone willing to help me contact another city?” volunteers lined up before her.
Meanwhile, the young lord of Ednium, who had just been abandoned by his lover, seemed incredibly sad.
* * *
“Erm, mister… Mister?”
Earlier, around the time the Demon Knight had just been brought to the manor’s storage room by the two noble heirs…
Deathbringer, holding a new longsword he had prepared as an apology and a gift—since the Demon Knight had broken his sword again recently—was making his way to the Demon Knight’s private room. The Archmage had bought it with her money, and both the Inquisitor and Berserk helped by selecting it with their discerning eyes.
“Why can’t I hear anything from inside…?”
However, strangely enough, there was no sign that anyone was inside the room. That was quite disconcerting.
“Erm, mister, may I come in?”
The fact that he couldn’t feel any presence inside filled Deathbringer’s mind with all sorts of thoughts. He hurriedly opened the door and went inside.
“H-He’s gone…”
What greeted him was a disheveled blanket pushed to one side and an empty hanger devoid of clothes. He could clearly tell from the sight that the owner of this room had left.
“Madam Archmage!”
He immediately headed to the dining hall, hoping the other might be there.
“…The Demon Knight has vanished?!”
But he wasn’t. Seeing Deathbringer like that made the Archmage’s face darken as well. If someone who had just woken up after sleeping for ten days suddenly disappeared without a word, anyone would react like that.
Especially since the Demon Knight recently…
“Did you check the bathing house? He… does enjoy bathing quite a lot, right?”
“N-No, not yet. Surely…”
The Archmage recalled how the Demon Knight had suddenly become much quieter following their battle against the Great Demon Moby Dick.
He had never been a man of many words, but she still felt the difference.
It was as if the distance between them had grown, as if a chasm now lay between them.
“Ah, Madam Archmage. We were actually looking… Huh? Erm, Sir Knight? He finished his bath quite some time ago.”
However, finding this missing person took priority over pondering this matter. The Archmage and Deathbringer lowered their heads at the words of the priest, who had been cleaning the bathhouse.
Their guess had been correct, but they were too late.
“I see. Erm, Madam Archmage.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure if I should mention this, but I think it’d be best I do.”
“What is it?”
“There was a faint trace of blood on the towel that the Demon Knight used. If his wounds have reopened…”
“…Thank you for telling me.”
Moreover, rather than figuring out what to do next, their concern only deepened further. They trudged down the hallway.
“…Is it because Mister finds me uncomfortable to be around?”
“Why would he be uncomfortable with you?”
“Because… I made a contract with a Demon…”
“It was a provisional contract that was forced on you. Besides, it’s been completely undone now, right? All the restrictions have been lifted.”
“That’s true… but Mister doesn’t know that yet. He also avoided talking to me before we went to defeat the Skyflow Tiger.”
The Archmage paused for a moment at Deathbringer’s words. It was true that the Demon Knight had conspicuously avoided talking to Deathbringer during the five days before they went to subjugate the Skyflow Tiger.
And was that all? If she and the Inquisitor were to count how often they talked to him during that period, they could do so on one hand.
That certainly was strange. No matter how taciturn the Demon Knight was, he would usually at least listen to the Archmage.
“…He was probably just confused at the time.”
However, she couldn’t let her thoughts show. While pondering why their bond seemed to be growing weaker instead of stronger, the Archmage put on a kind expression.
“It’s rare for one’s values to change easily, right?”
“…”
“Personally, I think you should focus more on how he chose to let you live despite his confusion and only avoided speaking to you.”
“…!”
“You know it as well, right? If he truly thought you were worthless, he would have cut you down without any hesitation.”
“…That’s true. He always says he’ll leave me behind if I get in his way, but he never actually does…”
“He is a man completely unfamiliar with complex emotions, having never had the opportunity to learn about them nor cared to understand them on his own.”
Fortunately, this was a misunderstanding she could resolve. The Archmage gently explained to him what she had observed.
“I mean, if his goal is to fight the Demons until his dying breath, what value would emotions hold for him? He just needs to sharpen his anger and hatred toward Demons.”
“That’s… right.”
“That’s why he isn’t particularly truthful with himself. He might not even understand his own emotions. He’s never experienced nor learned about them, after all.”
“…”
“So don’t take it to heart. Hatred and discomfort ultimately stem from becoming conscious of another. What’s truly frightening is complete indifference.”
“…Is this based on your own experience, Miss Archmage?”
“In a way.”
She noticed the priest, who had promised to immediately inform her when he discovered where the Demon Knight had gone, come running toward her.
“In my case, it was love.”
* * *
“We have received a reply. They asked whether you could wait another thirty minutes if it’s nothing urgent.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Understood.”
Based on experience, the chances of us departing today were more or less zero, so it didn’t really matter how long it took.
So I just closed my eyes, facing the skilled, tight-lipped wizard. Was it because I could no longer avoid this situation? My complicated thoughts had slowly settled, allowing questions I wanted to ask to surface in my mind.
When was the first time they saw me? What was that character’s mysterious history I could only guess at? When was this existence known as the Demon Knight first recognized as such?
And what was the Demon Knight they had apparently encountered in the past like?
There were truly many questions I wanted to ask.
“You’re connected!”
“Erm, if I may, I’d like to speak first.”
And finally, the connection was made. Since this call had been made in Young Lord Ednium’s name, he was the one who took the lead here.
– Oh my, Young Lord. I have heard news of your rescue. Truly, an immense fortune for Ednium. –
“Thank you, Lord Bergard.”
– But why the sudden call…? Is there something you need my assistance with? –
“I would say… rather than needing assistance, it’s more of an unusual request.”
He carefully explained that I had asked him to arrange a meeting between us.
Whether because I was one of the Hero’s companions, my accomplishments, or perhaps the Demon Knight’s past, the lord of Bergard readily accepted having a conversation with me.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Expecting this to be a serious talk, the young lord hurriedly left.
– It’s an honor to meet you officially. I’m Julian, Lord of Bergard. I had hoped we would get the chance to talk someday, but I didn’t expect you would reach out to me first. It is truly an honor. –
All told, Lord Bergard didn’t seem like an especially formal person.
That actually suited me quite well. That would make it easier to get what I wanted, after all.
– So… Why did you ask to speak with me? –
“I have something to ask you.”
I murmured, carefully deliberating each word as if I were sighing or letting out a suppressed scream.
“I want to hear more about the matter you spoke of at the meeting, about that time.”
– Erm… Is that all? You should remember all of that yourself. –
“I have no memory of that time.”
– Oh… –
I had considered pretending to remember and slowly getting details out of him, but the information I’d get from that would be very limited. So, I decided to change my approach slightly.
Gaining more insight about the past far outweighed the risk of breaking character.
– Is there a reason…? –
“I don’t believe I need to share my life’s story for you to answer this question.”
– Right, of course. –
The lord of Bergard, Julian, chuckled awkwardly.
– But there isn’t really much to it. A Demon attacked us during combat training, slaughtering the instructors and squires. You appeared and immediately decapitated the Demon. That’s about it. –
“What did I look like back then?”
– Pardon, your appearance? –
Since this connection only transmitted our voices, I couldn’t see his expression, but I could sense that Julian was a bit bewildered by my question.
– Well, this isn’t exactly something I should be saying to your face, but… honestly, you looked a little, how should I put it, mad? –
“In more detail.”
– Yes, you seemed rather insane. Your long hair was completely disheveled, and your face was covered by both it and your clothing, so I couldn’t really make out your expression. Your whole body was drenched in blood and grime and, most importantly, enveloped in jet-black Arcane Power that burned like raging flames… –
“And my clothes, what was I wearing?”
– Your clothes…? I can’t quite recall… but not because I’m dim-witted or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. Most of your body was covered by a tattered, filthy cloak. And you were also too far away for me to see anything else. –
“You couldn’t see what was under the cloak?”
– …Hmm. Ah, now that I think about it, you were probably wearing leather armor, the type that adventurers like to wear. –
I found myself a bit confused there.
Julian’s description of the Demon Knight’s past appearance matched the official game’s character design.
It wasn’t the custom design I had set, but the default look with unkempt long hair, a tattered cloak, leather armor, and so on.
“…Did you see what color my hair was?”
– Your hair color? Not really? As I said, you were quite far away… but I would assume it was the same as now, unless you dyed it. –
“Any conversations?”
– I don't believe you said anything. After beheading the Demon with a single stroke, you ignored our calls and went on your way. You didn’t even attend your honorary accolade ceremony. Don’t you remember any of this? –
I was simply curious whether I had been wearing the same gear as I did now. I never thought I would get this kind of answer.
“…When did this happen?”
– Right. I shouldn’t ask. Rather, did you just ask for the date of that day? –
However, despite my tangled mess of emotions, I still had some questions.
I had asked when this matter happened.
I already knew the Demon Knight’s reputation was pretty widespread even before I started playing. That meant the Demon Knight had existed before I appeared… so it was essential to learn when exactly this happened.
That way, I could pinpoint the timeline of the things I had no memory of and narrow the scope of my investigation.
– It was the year my father passed… So, it was two years ago. Yes, two years ago. –
It hadn't been as long ago as I expected. Only two years ago.
…The Demon Knight’s official setting suggested that he’d been active under that name for at least five years, you know?
My head was thrown into a complicated mess.
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