Shinka no Mi (Shiranai Uchi ni Kachigumi Jinsei)

“Haaaa!”

“Kishaaaa!”

I ―――― Zakia, swung my sword against the creature that was attacking in front of me.

The creature that received my blow was cut off from both sides of its body, and it disappeared without a trace.

Having defeated the creature in front of me, I turned my attention to the next one and saw Orphee, my vice commander, being pushed by the creature.

“Guh!”

“Shaaaaa!”

“Orphee!”

I quickly run up under Orphe and slash down the creature as it is, then I hold Orphe and step back once.

“I,I’m sorry......”

“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. But...... how long is this going to last ......”

“......”

It’s already been days since these creatures began appearing from this castle.

One day, His Majesty the Emperor stopped showing up, and at the same time, something strange happened to this city.

Even if I wanted to meet with His Majesty immediately, that Helio guy would block me from doing so and I couldn’t move.

We also had fallen into some kind of hypnotic state because of Helio, but perhaps because we had lifted it, Helio became wary of us.

Of course, there have been many times when I thought I would slice off Helio right away.

However, he cleverly uses his magic to deceive our eyes and get us out of his way.

That’s probably because he has such an ability that he’s called the 『Phantom Demon』.

And it’s not just that Helio guy who hinders us.

The other soldiers belonging to this country also got in the way of us, the second unit.

Originally, we in the second unit, which consisted of commoners, were hated.

However, I never thought that we would not be able to cooperate in this abnormal situation in the country.

At first, I thought they were being brainwashed by Helio like the rest of us, but ...... apparently, that’s not the case; I guess that’s their nature in the first place.

At any rate, we, the second unit, continued to fight to defeat the creatures that suddenly appeared in front of us.

Fortunately, these creatures cease to be active and do not appear at night, so we can rest at that time.

Nevertheless, we were unable to move because we have to be always on guard that they might appear at night someday.

“Originally, I shouldn’t be doing this, but......!”

While slashing down the attacking monster, I spat that out.

We, who have continued to fight the creatures here, have not fully grasped what is happening here.

It seems that the other soldiers are ignoring the situation and taking the townspeople away, but I have no time to interrogate and stop them.

I knew that if I left here, the city would be overrun with these creatures, which would then attack the people of the city.

“Damn it! Do we have no choice but to fall down without knowing why......!?”

No matter how much rest they could get at night, the soldiers of the second unit were already at their limit in this situation where we have to always be on alert.

No matter how much we lamented, the current situation remained the same, and we just continued to defeat the creatures that were attacking us.

◆◇◆

“So this is the castle......”

After I finished listening to Soshaku-san, I immediately arrived at the castle.

However, the place gave off a strange vibe.

“What the......? There’s hardly any sign of people here either. ......”

Just like when I first arrived in this city, the castle also had become an eerie building, somehow devoid of any signs of life.

If a castle is this magnificent, there are likely to be a lot of people who should work here, but ......

For the time being, as I tried to search for the heroes from this building and attempted to look for presences with more focus ......

“――――!”

“Hmm? Somehow......is there a fight?”

I heard the sound of someone fighting inside the castle.

Speaking of which, Soshaku-san also said that monsters were coming out of the castle, so I wonder if it was the soldiers of the second unit who are fighting those monsters?

As I headed toward the sound of battle, there, as I expected, was a soldier fighting a creature.

However, there was also an unexpected being there.

“Wha!? Tha,that’s!”

What the soldiers were fighting, were none other than the monsters that the Demon God had created before.

However, that demon god should have surely been extinguished due to my status...... so why is it here?

Nonetheless, the difference from that time was that these creatures seemed to have been weakened to the extent that even a soldier could defeat them.

Nevertheless, as long as it was a creature created by the Demon god, I cannot just sit back and watch.

I immediately activated the Seiichi magic 『Judgment』.

Then, even though it was inside the castle, dark clouds emerged overhead, from which a series of pillars of light poured down one after another.

The light accurately pierced through only the monsters and annihilated them as they were.

“Nah!?”

“Thi,this magic......”

Hmm? A’re? These soldiers look somehow familiar. ......?

I was too preoccupied with the monsters to notice it, but to my surprise, the people fighting were those soldiers who had once ordered the closing of the school at Barbador Magic Academy.

When I looked closely, I can also see their leader, Zakia-san, and his eyes widened as he saw me.

“You are......”

“E,erm......it’s been a while.”

I greeted him with caution, thinking that he might offer me another match, but for some reason, Zakia-san’s expression was completely different from before, as he bowed his head with a calm expression.

“......It’s been a long time. And also, for your assistance, thank you”

“N,no! That’s......”

“And even though I wasn’t in my right mind, I’ve caused you trouble before. I’m sorry about that too.”

“Eh? You weren’t in your right mind......”

Surely, I thought that was his true nature. Or rather, I think that people in this world basically take their hands out on things before they listen to the story!

We,well, I wouldn’t say that to his face.

Then, as if remembering something, Zakia-san turned his sharp gaze to the castle.

“No. We can’t let our guard down yet.”

“That is, is that because of those creatures?”

“Ah. One day, all of a sudden, they began to emerge from this castle. For now, they stop appearing at night, but they would suddenly appear in this castle without regularity. That is why we cannot be distracted even for a moment. If those creatures were to be released onto the city, it would be disastrous.”

I see......as I thought, it was just as Soshaku-san had said, it was the second unit led by Zakia-san that was holding back the invasion of the monsters at this place.

However, because of that, he doesn’t seem to know about the incidents that were happening in the city...... No, maybe he knows it, but he can’t afford to devote their strength to that side.

As I was thinking about such a thing, Zakia-san, who was on guard, tilted his head.

“......Strange. Normally, during this time period, monsters would incessantly appear, but......”

Inside the castle, after I released 『Judgment』 and wiped out the monsters, there was no sign of the creatures reappearing.

After a few moments of vigilance, but with no signs of any particular creatures emerging, Zakia-san lowered his level of vigilance and dropped his sword.

“......For some reason, the monsters seem to have stopped showing up.”

I’m not sure, but it’s highly possible that my release of 『Judgment』 may have had some sort of effect.

But I have no way of confirming that...... Well, if they say that they have stopped appearing, then that’s good for the time being.

“Come to think of it, how did you get here? Right now, this city is supposed to be completely cut off from the outside world by a strange barrier, though ......”

“Erm...... I didn’t feel any particular barrier, but basically, I just passed over the wall!”

“......As for you, I have already experienced firsthand that you’re an existence beyond my comprehension. I’m not really surprised, but...... even if you could get in and out of this city so easily, why did you come here?”

“Ah......”

They were being attacked by a monster created by that Demon god, and I couldn’t help but jumped in to help, but ...... on second thought, it was not a good idea to appear in front of Zakia-san like this, was it?

My objective is to recover the heroes who are the strength of the Kaizer Empire, and even though Zakia-san was not in his right mind at the academy, there should be no doubt that it will lead to a decline in the strength of this country.

So, I wonder if it’s a good idea to tell the truth to Zakia-san......

Then, perhaps seeing through my inner conflict, he opened his mouth with a somewhat miserable look on his face.

“......Rest assured. As long as you don’t aim at the former emperor, Alf-sama, or harm the people of this town, I won’t condemn you for whatever purpose you came to this land.”

“We,well then...... actually, I’m here to take the heroes who should have come back to this country.”

As if my words were unexpected, Zakia-san’s eyes widen.

“What? The heroes? Why? I don’t know what to say, but even though they’ve earned the title of being heroes, they’re just children. Although they had the aptitude, they have not been trained sufficiently by His Majesty and his subordinates. I don’t know what country you’re from, but you can’t count on their strength even if you bring them back, you know?”

“No! It’s nothing like that...... To tell you the truth, I’m from the same world as those heroes.”

“Wha!?”

Not only Zakia-san, but also the other soldiers who were listening around me were surprised by my words.

“Ho,however, if I remember correctly, I haven’t seen a kid like you, though...... Don’t tell me, another country has summoned a hero......? No, that’s not possible. The hero summoning is supposed to be a secret ritual handed down in the Kaizer Empire.......”

“Err...... I was not summoned by another country, but I came to this world at the same time as the heroes summoned to the Kaizer Empire, but our initial summoning point was different. Hence, many things happened, and that’s why I am here today.”

“I’m very curious about that many things though...... the other heroes certainly have some of the best talents in this world, but I doubt that there will ever be someone who would possess the kind of inhuman prowess as you have.”

No matter how I look at it, other people’s perception of me is that I’m someone who has resigned from being human!

“A,anyway! I came to free those heroes. So, do you know where those heroes are?”

“The adult heroes are most likely locked up in the dungeon of this castle, but I don’t know what the heroes who have returned to this country are doing. After all, since I came back to this country, I’ve been busy dealing with the creatures you saw earlier......”

A dungeon, huh...... certainly, Kannazuki-senpai said that the teachers and the other adult heroes were being confined and held hostage, but it seemed to be the case.......

I only heard that they were locked up, but I wonder if they are properly safe? Well, if I go see them, I’ll understand.

“I see...... thank you very much. In the meantime, I think I’ll search the inside of this castle.”

“Wait, the castle is dangerous right now...... No, that advice is useless to you. I can’t see a future where you’ll get in danger.”

“A,ahahaha......”

As I laughed wryly at Zakia-san’s words and was about to head out to explore the castle, Zakia opened his mouth as if he remembered something.

“I,I’m sorry! Can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“Uhmm...... I don’t know what country you’re from, but do you know anyone who can break a curse?”

“Eh?”

“Actually, the previous emperor of this country, Alf-sama, is still laying down under a curse. And a curse was recognized by the public as something that could not be broken ...... it was supposed to be. However, I had heard that the king of the Kingdom of Welmburg had been similarly cursed by a cursing tool, but had been released from the curse. That’s why I would like to have that someone who can break the curse....... No, I can’t say such a luxury. If you know any information about them, I would appreciate it. Originally, I wanted to move first and foremost on removing Alf-sama’s curse, but due to this situation, I can’t say that anymore. That’s why ――――”

“Ermm......it, was me”

“............Eh?”

Soshaku-san also said that the previous emperor of this country was a good person, but he collapsed under the influence of a curse.

At the time, I just knew that it was so, but this is how that previous emperor was ...... Alf-sama, huh? I personally experienced once again that there are people who are trying to help people like this.

“Ple,please wait a moment. You...... are the one who lifted the curse?”

“That’s correct. In a way, I kind of belong to the Welmburg Kingdom.”

Including Ranze-san, I am really indebted to the Kingdom of Welmburg. Thanks to Ranze-san and the others, my father, me, and my loved ones are able to live happily.

“I don’t know if you believe me, but I was actually the one who dealt with that curse.”

“N,no, I don’t mean to doubt you, but ...... is that true?”

“Yes”

When I said so, Zakia-san pondered.

“Yo,you certainly have abilities that surpass our common sense...... No, at this time, this isn’t the place to say such things.”

Zakia-san, perhaps having gathered his thoughts, looked me straight in the eye and bowed his head as it was.

“Please! Please, will you save Alf-sama!”

“Eeh!?”

“......What the Kaizer Empire needs right now, is not His Majesty. There should be no such emperor who torments his people! The person this country needs right now, is Alf-sama. For that reason, please...... I beg you to save Alf-sama!”

Before I noticed it, the soldiers of the second unit, including Zakia-san, were also bowing their heads.

...... If they’re willing to go this far, how can I not respond?

“I understand. Then, please take me to that Alf-sama.”

“......Thank you!”

In this manner, before taking the heroes, I set out to break the curse placed on the previous emperor of this country.