Chapter 393
393 – Deferment of Deadline
As I look at Luon’s status in a daze, her father, Modi, walks up to me anxiously.
“W-what’s the matter? Is there something about my daughter…?”
My reply gets stuck in my throat and I bite my lip. I don’t know what to say.
“U, uu…”
It is Miria’s moan that breaks the silence. Ah! She’s returning to consciousness faster than I expected. I bow my head to Modi, then urge Volk, Aro, and the nightmare with my eyes.
“Sorry, but we don’t have enough time, so we’ll be leaving now. Thanks for all you’ve done for Miri-…for that girl. Thank you.”
I one-sidedly announce our departure, and head for the exit. After a moment’s delay, Volk, Aro, and the nightmare follow me.
“…Wh-where am I?”
I hear Miria’s voice.
“A-ah, you’ve woken up. You…err, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the street. That person helped you up and brought you to my house.”
Modi directs his words to Miria, but his voice steps up in volume part way through. He’s probably telling me that I should at least let her see my face.
“I-Is that so? I’m a little confused… I remember talking to someone from the royal castle, but… Thank you for looking after me. Umm, I’d like to thank those people too…”
I don’t want to stop. However, as I put my hand on the door, I glance back against my better judgement. My eyes meet Miria’s. Her pupils widen slightly.
“Umm, have we met before somewhere…?”
I say nothing in reply, and exit Modi’s former apothecary.
I think as I walk down the royal capital’s street. I’m already nearly out of magic power thanks to humanising. If I’m going to return, I should be leaving now.
The agreement with Lilixira was that, three days after we parted, in other words tomorrow, I am to rampage in the castle and expose the princess’s true identity. However, the Demon Lord is much stronger than we expected. The royal castle has become the slime’s stronghold. The Three Knights who are holding leadership roles are probably all B+ rank… From a human’s perspective, they’re all monsters that could each be called a catastrophe on their own.
It’s doubtful whether we’ll be able to fight them with just me, Aro and the others, and Lilixira and her familiars. To put it bluntly, Lilixira was naive in her outlook. I need to somehow get in contact with her and take some time to prepare our war potential.
Aro is the same B+ rank as Thermal… She also has a skill to nullify status conditions skill. As long as she can raise her level enough in time, she should be able to fight the [Poison Ruler].
I also need to get Lilixira to understand that it’s no longer at a point where she can be concerned about appearances. If she could bring soldiers from the Holy Kingdom, the advantage of the huge numbers of slimes in the castle should disappear. Once that happens, me and Lilixira can deal with the slime that is the biggest problem.
Probably, in this battle… Even if things go that well, we only have an fifty percent chance of winning. At the time that slime fought me as a B- rank, it was just a D rank. Now, even at the lowest possible estimate, it’s above B+.
The later we are in acting, the more the slime’s victims will grow. Countless adventurers will die and more tragic victims like Luon will be created. However… If we rush, we can’t win. I would like nothing more than to go to the castle right now and tear it apart, but I’ve used up all my magic power by walking around the city, so I probably couldn’t even kill the Three Knights, let alone win a rematch with that slime. That is the reality.
I need time to prepare. Tomorrow would be too soon. Only once we’ve fully prepared can we drive the Demon Lord into a corner. That is the only viable option.
Once Lilixira hears my information, she’ll definitely change her judgement. There shouldn’t be a need to force her.
Having decided my path, I nod to myself… But then suddenly, I feel a bad premonition. There’s something I’ve overlooked. That’s the feeling I’m getting. What am I missing?
“…Volk, when is the princess’s party?”
I ask Volk spontaneously. I feel like the princess’s party has something to do with whatever it is I’ve overlooked.
“It’s tomorrow though… Do you plan on stopping it? I understand the danger from that man from earlier. However, for me, that’s perfect. If they’re planning on preying on me, then I’ll just prey on them. Most of all… The legendary Master Fencer I’ve been searching for might appear…”
“Tomorrow… huh.”
Probably, all the adventurers present there will be killed.
“Could I persuade you to not go? Were you to lend a hand… I imagine you could just about fight one of the Three Knights. To put it bluntly, the Demon Lord is far more powerful than I expected. I want to take more time to prepare.”
Volk’s stats are a match for B+ ranks. Because of his straightforward fighting style, he might be weak to opponents who fight in a more underhanded style, but should still possible for him to put up a good fight.
“Sorry, but I can’t accept that. No matter what they intend, they are opponents who have valued my swordsmanship highly and are challenging me. In addition, when the enemy is troubling an entire country and committing heinous deeds, my conviction won’t allow me to flee.”
“…”
Knowing they’re all going to die, can I abandon the slime’s victims tomorrow? Am I really okay with that…?
“If you’re worried, do you want to come? Each guest is allowed one attendant. If it’s you then… When the Demon Lord shows up to the party, you might be able to break their neck before they put their guard up.”
An attendant is allowed? I thought for sure they’d only allow the invited person so the disturbance of their disappearance would be minimised, but… No, is it the opposite? Do they want to erase whoever is closest to the target so that they don’t get more persistent nuisances like Luon?
After getting lost in thought a bit, I shake my head.
Against the slime I know, a surprise attack like that won’t work. It’s cowardly, after all. Besides, it probably has way too many regeneration skills for a single surprise attack to mean much.
“I’m…going back to the Great Alban Mine. Tomorrow, I won’t be coming here.”
“I see. Then, today might be our last. I’ll go get the steel horses. You should ride them back.
Volk says, then turns his back to me. I stare at him as he walks away.
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