Shinka no Mi (Shiranai Uchi ni Kachigumi Jinsei)

“It’s here”

The place where Zakia-san brought me was a palace separated from the royal castle, so I wonder if it was a royal villa. It was a place like that.

Even though it was in the same castle, there was a possibility that the creatures might appear again, so it would be better not to leave the place too much, but that is where the soldiers of the second unit, except for Zakia-san, came.

『Please leave this place to us, Zakia-san, and take him to Alf-sama!』

With such a feeling, they sent us off.

……I,it somehow feels like a flag, but it should be fine.

There are expensive-looking vases and other things laid down around the area, and considering the current state of the castle, this place is well taken care of.

When I was looking around the castle like that, we arrived in front of a certain room.

“We’re here”

Then, when Zakia-san prompted me to go inside, I found a single bed with a large canopy.

And in the center of it, a single, elderly man was quietly sleeping.

He’s breathing, but his face showed little vitality, and he looked emaciated and ready to die at any moment.

“……This, is the former emperor, Alf Dia Kaizer-sama.”

“This person……”

“Please…… please save Alf-sama……!”

I nodded at Zakia-san’s desperate request.

For the time being, based on Zakia-san’s story, it seems that he has collapsed due to a curse, but I activated 『Advanced Appraisal』 and checked his condition nonetheless.

Then, I found the notation 【Eternal Sleep】 there, which is the same one that Ranze had received before.

There was no doubt that he was cursed.

If so, what I would do is quite simple.

As I immediately held my hand over Alf-sama, I activated the reversal magic 『get well』. …… Well, it’s wonderful that I don’t have to chant the spell!

When I activated my magic without having any problems, its effects were immediately apparent.

“Wha!?”

When my invoked magic disappeared as if permeating into Alf-sama’s body, to my surprise, Alf-sama’s face became lively, and on top of that, he seemed visibly rejuvenated.

However, although this magic could not do anything about his physical deterioration caused by sleeping for so long, there is no doubt that he has definitely become healthier.

Zakia-san’s eyes become wide open as if this is the most incredible phenomenon that has ever happened before his eyes.

And ――――

“Hmm……a……whe…….where, am I……?”

“Alf-sama……!”

Zakia-san hurriedly rushes to Alf-sama, and Alf-sama, whose consciousness is gradually becoming more clearer, turns his gaze to Zakia-san.

“Zakia, huh……”

“Yes…… I’m Zakia, sir……!”

“……It looks like…… I made you worry. Sorry”

“No…… for just His Majesty to wake up like this, I……!”

It seemed that this Alf-sama was really someone important to Zakia-san, and he forgot that I was there and shed tears quietly on the spot.

As for me, I had only heard about this Alf-sama from Soshaku-san and Zakia-san, but I honestly felt that if they cared about him that much, I was glad to have helped him.

Zakir-san seemed to be deeply moved for a while, but eventually, he seemed to have calmed down and turned his gaze toward me.

While Zakia-san was calming down, Alf-sama seemed to have recovered a little strength to the point where he could speak, and he turned to me in the same manner.

“Seiichi-kun. I owe you a debt of gratitude that I cannot repay. Really …… I’m really thankful……!”

“N,no! I too, am glad I could be of help!”

“……Judging by Zakia’s look, it seems you were the one who saved me. Let me say my gratitude too. Thank you.”

“No, no, no! Please raise your head! Besides, you are still recovering!”

Ranze-san, whom I had previously released from the same curse, bowed his head before too, but it’s bad for my heart to be bowed upon by a member of the royal family.

In my haste to grab Alf-sama down, I realized that I had forgotten to tell him that the curse had been reversed.

“Ah, that’s, I forgot to mention one thing, but Alf-san’s curse hasn’t disappeared.”

“What!? I,in that case, His Majesty is……!”

“Aaaaaah, it’s different, it’s different! The magic I used didn’t cancel the curse, it reversed it!”

“Reversed? In other words, what do you mean?”

“Err, if you want to check it, I would like you to confirm Alf-sama’s status……”

When I said that, Alf-sama immediately checked his status and his eyes opened wide.

“Thi,this is……”

“A,Alf-sama! What the heck is it!?”

“……Indeed, it was just as the young man said, the curse was gone. However, instead, a ridiculous effect called 【Eternal Health】 has been added as a 『Curse(charm) 』, though……”

“Wha,what was that!? Pa,pardon me!”

Zakia-san also seemed to have checked on Alf-sama’s condition and was stunned.

“Thi,this kind of thing ……”

“A,ahaha…… we,well, the curse has disappeared, so if you can forgive me……”

“What do you mean by forgive you, I have received such a wonderful effect. Rather, I am wondering right now if there is anything that I can give back to you?”

“N,no! Such, please don’t worry about it! Since it’s all just a coincidence!”

No, when I created the magic, it didn’t even occur to me that 『get well』 could actually reverse the curse and get a good effect.

However, just like in Ranze-san’s time, it seems that there would be various problems with the person who governs a country being helped and not giving anything back.

That’s why, Alf-sama has a sour expression on his face.

“But……”

“In that case, if you can make the Kaizer Empire a wonderful country from now on, then that will be fine.”

“What? Speaking of which, what’s going on in this country right now? Is that Sheld running the country well?”

“That is……”

Zakia-san’s expression clouded at Alf-sama’s words, but then eventually, he opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“……The current Kaizer Empire is on the verge of a crisis.”

“What!? What do you mean? Are we being attacked by another country?”

“No…… on the contrary, under the direction of Sheld-sama, we, the Kaizer Empire, are invading other countries and attempting to conquer this world.”

“Nah!?”

“And now, there is something strange going on in this castle, and I wonder what Sheld-sama’s situation is……”

After listening to Zakia-san’s explanation, Alf-sama held his head in his hands.

“What the hell happened while I was sleeping……!”

“……That’s, although we weren’t sure, the curse that caused Alf-sama to have fallen asleep…… it’s very possible that Sheld-sama and that Helio guy had something to do with it.”

“…………I, see”

Somewhere in his heart, Alf-sama seemed to have sensed that possibility, and although he had a sad expression on his face, he didn’t show much surprise.

“And while Alf-sama was asleep, the Kaizer Empire went on a path of decline…… Even if we won wars, the people were growing weary, and the gap between the rich and poor was widening. In addition, unidentified monsters are now overflowing from the castle and causing harm to the people. I, myself, have not been able to ascertain it …… I just followed Sheld-sama’s instructions like a puppet.”

“Zakia……”

“I……if I more firmly…… could stop what Sheld-sama and Helio are doing, even at the cost of my life, this would never have happened ……!”

Alf-sama gently patted Zakia-san’s shoulder, whose face was distorted in frustration.

“No, Zakia. you have done well. In order to save me like this, didn’t you work hard. Besides, that frustration must mean that you’re thinking for the people. In that case, together with me, you should stand up once more.”

“Alf-sama……”

Then, Alf-sama stares ahead powerfully.

“Sheld…… if you only wanted to defeat me and ascend to the imperial throne, I would accept that as my destiny. However! I will never allow this country and its people to be dragged into this! Now that I’m back, I won’t let you have your way!”

“Hah! This Zakia will be with Alf-sama until the end……!”

“Umu! ……Young man. Just as you said, I pledge to make this country good again. But my repayment to you will not end there. I know it will be a long way off, but I promise you, I’ll do something to offer my gratitude to you.”

“Ye,yes”

No matter what I said, I knew Alf-sama would push through, so I just nodded for the time being. We,well, once this whole mess is over, I won’t be going to the Kaizer Empire for a while, and I’m sure Alf-sama will have forgotten about it.

More importantly, now that I’ve finished lifting Alf-sama’s curse in this way, I must go rescue the heroes this time.

I’ve been putting it off for some reason, but the Kaizer empire is so fishy right now that everyone may be in danger.

“Uhmm, Zakia-san. I’m going to go back to the castle again and rescue the heroes, but……”

“What, heroes!? No way, Sheld even dabbled in the ritual of hero’s summoning!?”

Alf-sama, who had never even heard of hero summoning, opened his eyes wide again.

“Yes. I’m also from the same country as those heroes, but they were summoned to this country, and I heard that the current emperor is going to make them do various dangerous things, so I came to rescue them.”

“Say what. If that’s the case, then you have to hurry and save them……!”

“Eh?”

Certainly, there is no doubt that the castle is dangerous right now and I need to go and rescue them as soon as possible, but for some reason, based on Alf-sama’s reaction, it makes me think that the heroes were encountering a more dangerous situation than I imagined.

“Um, what do you mean? By any chance, is there a problem with the heroes?”

“……In the land where this Kaizer Empire stands, there once existed a great power called the Harmar Empire.”

“Harmar Empire?”

Zakia-san tilted his head as if it was the first time he heard the name of this country, but my eyes widened at the name.

This is because the Harmar Empire is the name of the country where Zeanos once served and where the heroes first existed.

I see…… the Harmar Empire fell and the Kaizer Empire was established in its place, so the concept of 『Heroes』 remained in this country in the form of hero summoning.

Is that why Zeanos also told me to be careful of the Kaizer Empire?

As I think about this, Alf-sama puts on a bitter face.

“……The Harmar Empire initially gave its inhabitants the title of hero and created a secret technique to strengthen them. However, while this gave them a powerful force, there was also the possibility that that power would be directed at themselves. That is why, at that time, the emperor of the Harmar Empire created at the same time the secret technique of stealing power from the heroes whom they had no longer any use for.”

“Wha!?”

“Naturally, they will be deprived of their mighty power. The one who was robbed cannot be safe. A hero whose power has been snatched will rot away as if he has finished his duty. That’s why some of the heroes even defected.”

That is probably why Abel and the others fled.

However, his companions were killed by the pursuers from the Harmar Empire, and Abel died too……

“Therefore, the Harmar Empire created slavery bracelets and collars, enslaved those who were supposed to be heroes in advance, and turned them into pawns.”

Those disgusting collars and bracelets were made by the Harmar Empire!?

…… Well, if one simply listens to the story, they can only understand it, but from a third-party perspective, they would, as expected, have the impression that it was a country that was brute in every way. Maybe this is perceived as a good country by the people or something, but at least I, as a third party, don’t see it that way.

“And furthermore, instead of consuming its citizens, the Harmar Empire summoned humans ……. In other words, by summoning a human being from another world and giving him or her the title of “Hero”, they efficiently increased the number of their pawns.”

“It’s a country rotten to the core. ……”

“Well, that’s why you could say that they perished, but…… the Kaizer Empire is actually the one that follows that trend. However, both the hero’s summoning and the secret art of snatching away the power of heroes have been considered inhumane and have been blocked unless a serious problem occurred. Nevertheless…… the fact that Sheld have summoned heroes while I was sleeping means that there is a high possibility that he will also use the secret technique to steal the strength of those heroes.”

“Yo,you mean, if the current heroes are deprived of their power by that secret technique or something, they are going to die……?”

“……That’s what I meant”

Oh nooooooooooo!

I didn’t have time to spare at aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!

Up until now, they’ve been bullying me so badly that I’ve been thinking about putting them off for later, but that’s not the point anymore!

“Nevertheless, the strength of a hero is so powerful that it cannot be drained in an instant, but…… there is nothing better than quickly rescuing them. Zakia, take the young man to the heroes.”

“Bu,but then, Alf-sama……!”

“What, I’ve been asleep all this time. And despite being in such a defenseless state, I’m still alive. If that’s the case, I won’t be targeted anymore. That’s why you should prioritize this young man.”

“……Hah! As soon as I send Seiichi-kun there, I will be right back.”

Zakia-san bowed his head in that manner and turned to me.

“Well then, Seiichi-kun. Let’s go now!”

“Yes!”

And thus, we hurriedly headed to the place where the heroes were.