8-13. The Viscount and the Scroll Workshop

Satou's here. Sometimes I miss my students day where I get my speed and capacity cut down during programming using integrated development environment because I'm doing it while reading mnemonic binary conversion list.
I don't want to go back to that time though. Technology must progress after all.


◇


Hooked nose, wrinkled brow, well-cared mustache, and properly swept-back deep blond hair. I can feel strong will from his eyes overflowing with vigor.

Is he really the brother of Toruma?

I can see Toruma's father standing beside him. He looks somewhat old, you wouldn't think that he's still 34 years old.

"Thank you for saving Toruma."

It's weird. Even though I'm being thanked, it feels like being scolded by my boss.
That was Toruma's brother, viscount Hosaris Shimen.

"I'm sorry, Satou-dono, my brother can only talk like this."
"How rude. Toruma, what's wrong with the way I talk."

His words itself are normal, but the way Hosaris talks feels like a stubborn master who's scolding his poor pupils. In fact, I can feel Arisa radiating drooling-like presence. I can't help but feel that she's leaking gleaming aura that's unusual.

My biggest concern, that is the permission to visit the workshop, is given without problem.
I'm also alloted to the the first in line, though maximum priority is impossible, for the promised matter about scrolls as compensation for Toruma's dagger.

"Is that so, you've got into troubles with his highness Sharlick, sir Pendragon, you have to be careful. His highness tends to easily settle disputes with violence."

According to Hosaris-shi, the prince is also regarded as a troublemaker in the royal capital. About 10 years ago, he laid his hands on the daughter of a lord who had been decided to marry (someone else), in no time at all, one earl territory was on the verge of rebelling against Shiga kingdom. This matter was also the reason for the cancellation of the engagement between lady Ringrande and the prince.
Originally he should have been confined in a remote monastery, or rather a royal villa away under the pretense of recuperating from sickness, but he could be forgiven if he succeed as a holy knight due to his excellent swordsmanship. The bad rumor didn't die out even after he had become a holy knight, but it seemed that he hadn't caused any big problem like he did with the territory lord before.

How could they gave that kind of human a holy sword.


◇


"So then, the ink made from the dew on the fireflies lily~"
"We certainly will be able to operate the bestowal stand with precision using that ink, but how much do you think it is."
"But aren't Dragon Scales and Drill Powder that Jung-san's mentioned impossible to get~"

I can hear people's voices beyond the open door on the hallway.
They're probably the scroll craftsmen whom Hosaris-shi has called.

"Master, welcome back."
"Hosaris-sama, welcome back!"

An obese middle-aged man to the point of overweight, and a freckled bespectacled little girl with short ash blond hair welcomed us in the room. The woman who's a gnome isn't beautiful by any measures, but she can't be called ugly either.

"The one here is Jung, the workshop manager. Despite his looks, he's the expert of scroll-making in Shiga kingdom. The girl over there is Natalina. When it comes to creativity, she's the best in the workshop. They will meet sir Pendragon's expectation without fail."

Creative, in other words, she produces strange scrolls that won't sell, and use money like they're growing on trees for the sake of inventions. She's certainly suited for my purpose.

After introducing the two, Hosaris-shi leaves the room followed by Toruma. He's entered the room just to greet them, so there is no problem.


◇


I show list of scrolls that I want to Jung-san for him to confirm their feasibilities, but the ones that contain advanced level magic aren't possible after all. 
Moreover, they won't accept magic that are used by criminals, and spy like [Fake Patch], and [Unlock].

The crime related things are no good even though the battle related ones are okay huh.

And yet, [Through Eyes], and [Mana String] that can be used to open lock depending on its usage are alright.

In order to create a particular scroll, the person who finishes the scroll has to be able to use that particular magic skill, so [Gravity], [Shadow], [Mind], and [Ghost] magic are impossible.
'Then, you can make [Space] magic?' is my expectation, but it seems the they can only make [Space], and [Destruction] scrolls at only elementary level.
As for holy magic scrolls, they can't be made mainly due to religious reason. It's technically possible huh.

"Hey, chevalier-sama. I understand that you're a collector, but even if you use the magic in this list, none of them will produce any good result you know? Is it really okay?"
"Natalina, use polite speech a bit better."
"Eh~ I'm using it properly right? Chevalier-sama."
"They're a bit broken, but I'm an upstart myself, so if it's difficult for you to use polite speech, it's alright to use normal speech."

When she hears that, Natalina-san says, "You sure? Yay." while banzai-ing, and Jung-san knocks her head.
I promise that I won't complain even if the effects of the spells line-up in the list turn out weak. They have half of the spells in stock, so half of the request are complete.

"These are some strange spells aren't these?　They're easy but it's awfully inefficient. I don't think they're at elementary levels, but it'll be hard to use them due to the long chants."

The spells in this world are like [Spaghetti Source] seen in programming. They're like assemblers in the era where there are only powerless CPU long ago, interwoven like puzzles. That's why it was extremely hard to analyze them, to the point that I was suspicious that it was deliberately obfuscated.
Therefore, when I was making my own spell, I modularized the spells into functions in accordance to the paradigm of structured programming. As the result, the spells had became extremely readable, but it also introduced disadvantages; the chanting became longer, and increased MP consumption. The traditional spells have probably been optimized after going through long years.

"You can't make them into scrolls?"
"Ah, that thing is alright. They're a bit strange, but it doesn't seem like they're deviated from nature magic, so it feels like I can somehow do it."

Natalia-san used poor polite speech until the end, probably because Jung-san was glaring at her.

"Then Chevalier-sama. Since it'll need some times to prepare the stocks, would you like to look at the workshop in the meantime?"
"Yes, by all means."

I take Arisa along to visit the workshop. The workshop is in the basement of the viscount's mansion site, there are many guards who are on the lookout vigilantly. All the guards are higher than level 20, and they have skills that are composed for spy prevention like [Sharp Eyes], and [Surveillance].

The workshops are divided into numerous small rooms for handling specific processes. Therefore, there are only a few people who knows the entire process. It looks inefficient, but since it's important to hide the technology, it's quite thorough.

It seems that the scroll's papers are made in another place, their appraisal results describe them as [Scroll Blank Sheet, Second]. From the two's conversation, I understand that the ink needs fine powder made from magic cores. The reason why the viscount went to the royal capital was to purchase magic cores with high purities. Looks like you'll need magic cores from level 30 or higher monsters to create intermediate level scrolls. When they show me the cores for the manufacturing, the red tinges on it looks a bit deeper in color compared to the cores from armored newt back then.

"We make inks in this room."

Jung-san slightly opens the door to show the inside, looks like they can't let me enter. They're making [Ink for Scroll, Shell] here. I understand the materials in general, but one of them is [Ink for Scroll, Second]. This is quite tough.

Even though it's called making scroll, they need more than just writing the spells in the exclusive paper, many processes are required. For that reason, I have to wait 2-4 days for the readily-made ones, and add 1-2 days in the case of order-made ones.

The spells that are in stocks are as follow:

Nature Magic: Flexible Shield (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Flexible Armor (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Through Eyes (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Mana Transfer (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Mana Drain (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Break Magic (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Magic Hand (Intermediate)
Nature Magic: Magic String
Earth Magic: Polish
Earth Magic: Mould
Water Magic: Remove Poison (Intermediate)
Water Magic: Aqua Heal (Intermediate)
Water Magic: Water Heal
Wind Magic: Canopy

They're mostly sample products without recipient. It seems the oldest one is from over 100 years ago.

They're one gold coins for three elementary level scrolls, and two gold coins for one intermediate level ones. The original ones were going to cost me three gold coins, but since I permitted them to copy the spell, it became one gold coin instead.
These kinds of negotiations are Arisa's forte, but when I considered that she would firmly demand sexual harassment as her rewards, I thought that it'd be better if I just paid them more.

Even though there are plain magic like [Polish], and [Mould], among the stocks, I'm happy. With this, I won't need to create sand mould or wood model for casting.

I was looking for multiple small shield magic that Raka used during the fight against the demon in Gururian city--I was taught that it's called [Multi Mana Scale]--in the stocks, but I couldn't find it.
I consulted to them if they could make it, but since it seemed to be an advance level nature magic, it was not possible. It's unfortunate.
They told me the anecdote that it was originally developed to reproduce the multi small shields the wild boar king used in nature magic, but I couldn't say to them that it needed more work as compared to the real thing that I had seen. Or maybe, it could be equal if the skill level is high?

The order-made ones are as follows:

Nature Magic: Light Stun (Original)
Nature Magic: Remote Stun (Original)
Nature Magic: Sound Record (Original)
Nature Magic: Photo (Original)
Nature Magic: Magick Sword (Original)
Water  Magic: Liquid Control (Original)
Wind Magic: Air Control (Original)
Lighting Magic: Electronic Control (Original)
Fire Magic: Fireworks (Original)
Light Magic: Fireworks Illusion (Original)

Space Magic: Clairvoyance
Space Magic: Clairhearing
Space Magic: Telephone

Life Magic: Soft Wash
Life Magic: Dry
Life Magic: Bandage

I've limited the power of stun type magic for inter-personal matters. The recording and photography are for recording and taking photo during the sightseeing. The control type ones are for when I'm making magic tools. The other ones than these are too plain and minor that they don't usually make them in scrolls.

The through eyes is not for making clothes look to be transparent. I'd have thought so if I was in my teens, but its use is for observing the states of things during creation of magic swords.

Magick Sword is a magic that produces a transparent straight swords. The idea came to me after I saw the painting of Yamato-san in the museum. Transparent swords are truly fantasy-like.

In reality, magick sword was supposed to be an intermediate magic, but it seemed that it had touched Natalia-san's heartstring, it was treated like the other original magic.

In the end, the matter about scrolls that were slightly over my budget at hand was balanced out.

When the workshop tour is over, Jung-san tells me about the expected date for the completion of the scrolls. Since the person who can use space magic just happens to be present, the [Clairvoyance], [Clairhearing], and [Telephone] can be done in three days, while [Air Control] will be done in five days. The other magic are after those. The people who can use life magic are particularly in vacation for the tournament, so the work will start after the tournament has ended.

When we were going home, it was hard to take away Nana who had remained with Mayuna-chan. 8-14. The Night before the Final

Satou's here. Back then, I imagined that auction was like a place where the wealthy were dealing with work of arts and jewelries with outrageous prices. My child's mind thought that work of arts should have been better put in the museum.
Nowadays, net auction is what comes to my mind (if I hear the word), Satou's.


◇


"Did something good happen? Satou-san."

Today I've come to help distributing food. After helping with the distribution for several times, lady Sera has changed her honorific calling for me from [Sama] to [San]. She's calling me like Zena-san is, but I feel shy when she does it. Mia will kick me if I'm acting shy, so I reply calmly.

"Yes, some difficult works has been going well."

Thanks to the many scrolls I've acquired from viscount Shimen's mansion recently, I'm able to nicely make magic swords with casting. That said, it's only at the level of the wooden holy sword I've made back then, so it's nothing but a first step. I can't see the prospect for the forging process.


In the book [30 Standard Circuits for Magic Tools] that I've bought back then, there are various circuits that look usable for making magic swords, so I'm going to attempt them one by one.  There is also this interesting circuit for making airship, but seems that it needs materials from a monster that flies in the sky called Air Fish. They normally fly around over the open sea, so obtaining the materials is difficult.

"Master, some children who misses the food distribution have come, can we do something about them?"
"There were a lot of adults today after all~"

Lulu and Arisa have brought along two dogkin children like Pochi, and three ratkin children. Their ages are about 4-8 years old. Pochi is about to distribute some baked sweets that she's taken from her pocket. Since Lulu has educated her many times, the baked sweets aren't put directly in her pocket, but properly wrapped in a handkerchief.

"Hehen, thanks for it~"
"Bye~ now~ dog girl~"

Apekin children quickly snatched the baked sweets from Pochi's hand and ran toward the alleyway.
Due to the sudden turn of event, Pochi blinks for a while, and then yells "Wait nodesu! Stealing is bad, nano desu~" while running after the culprits.

"Liza, Tama, please."
"Yes!""Roger~"

I ask the two, and they run after Pochi. It'd be bad if she became a lost child.
I ask Nana to take the five hungry children to the stalls nearby and get them something to eat. I remind Nana not to give them something that's too expensive. Nana has a soft spot on [Young Organisms] after all. Well, Arisa is following them, so it's probably alright.

Soon, Pochi and Tama carry the apekin children while holding them overhead. They're tied with rope from somewhere.

"Master, I've caught the culprits nodesu."
"Sinners, to the gallows~"
"What should we do? They'll be dealt accordingly if we hand them over to the authority."

Liza, did you use [Dealt], not [Judged], just now?
I'm too scared to ask her.
<TLN: They both sounds the same, but written differently.>

The two little thieves are saying, "Sorry", "Won't do it again", but they probably don't really regret it. They'll either end up being slaves or beheaded if we turn them over to the authority. Even in the duchy capital, demi-humans criminals are given harsh punishment.
Let's leave making a mess of someone's life just because of baked sweets to that french-bread like person. I forgive them by only flicking their foreheads gently.
The children are holding their foreheads while rolling on the groudn, such exaggerated acting... or it should have been. Pochi and Tama hold their foreheads while looking like it's really painful. Strangely, even Arisa and Mia hold their foreheads.

I tell Liza to untie them, and have them help cleaning-up after the food distribution. The apekin children are helping with the work while calling Pochi, "Ane-san". They don't seem to have learned their lessons, they try to take the baked sweets from Pochi pocket, and get found out by Tama who then obstruct them. Pochi who's angry downs them with her fist, and they roll on the floor like before. Judging from the decrease of their HP, Pochi seems to have properly held back.

"Hey, Onee-chan miko."

Miko? Miko huh.

"What's the matter?"
"The adults are saying something like the demon lord will be revived."
"The end of an era. Everyone is going to die, they says."
"Will everyone die?"

Not only demi-humans children, human children are also encircling Sera with worried faces.
This was a topic that had come out during tea parties too, typical of the demon lord season to be the end of an era, looked like pessimistic views, and downfall were popular to discuss about. In addition it seems that the vibrations from my experiments with Arisa late at night had reached the ground above, and it became a rumor that it might be an omen for the demon lord revival. For that reason, the next day after that, I dug deep for two hours until a very deep layer to do the experiment there.

"It's alright, it won't happen, the hero will surely eliminate the demon lord."
"Nn."
"It's okay~"
"Master will beat down something like demon lord, like ZUBABAN, nodesu."
"Master, you have a serious responsibility aren't you."

Pochi and Tama hug my waist while looking up with sparkling eyes. Lulu says so happily, but she must not have seriously thought so. Only Arisa who knows the truth looks like she has mixed feelings. It's said that ignorance is bliss.


◇


"Good evening, head miko-sama."
"Ara, Nanashi-san. You're elusive like always."

She looks her age when I see her in the duke's castle back then, but for some reason, she looks young in this room.

"I've come here today to ask about the oracle regarding demon lord."
"Ara? You've annihilated it right?　The oracle from Tenion-sama has told us that it's 『Annihilated』."
"It must have been defeated by a passing hero."
"Ufufu, let's leave it like that."

She laughs lightly you wouldn't think it comes from an old woman.
Oops, rather than that, I should confirm it.

"There are rumors among people on the streets that the demon lord is hiding itself in the underground of the duchy capital. Did the temple not announce that the demon lord have been annihilated?"
"I've told his excellency the duke directly, but the 『Annihilated』 oracle haven't come to the other temples, so we can't announce that the demon lord has been annihilated from Tenion temple alone."

Don't tell me, there are other demon lords out there?
I'd hate it if there's something like the great demon lord.

I return the resurrection artifact that has been filled with magic during our conversations to the head miko. I put back the holy sword that has acted as a battery replacement into the item box.

"Thank you, Nanashi-san. I prefer that there won't be a situation where this is needed."
"I'd love that."

When I'm about to leave, I'm given something by head miko-san.

Indulgence.

It's not the same thing as the one for collecting money in the previous world, it's an item that lets you erase one crime that has been etched in the Reward and Punishment. It's not clear what the head-miko intends to do by giving it to me, but since it looks useful, I quietly accept it.


◇


I put on one of the wig that I've got on the downtown, and walk into the night town in Nanashi-style. There are many gentlemen who are walking around in the red district dressed with thin hooded overcoats, so I'm unexpectedly inconspicuous.

My expenditures have increased ever since I've become a noble, so I'm visiting the dark auction that's secretly open during the martial art tournament. It requires a written invitation to enter, but since a lot of nobles who have been sacrificed for the demon lord carry it, I have it in my storage without doing anything.

Since you can employ agents, I decide to dispatch one. The commission fee is one silver coin for each displayed item that has to be paid even if they don't sell. The agent will take 10% charges if the item is sold at higher price than the minimum fee. Since I'm told that items that don't have appraisal's report won't sell well, I have the official appraisal in the auction hall to issue them. There are 10 official appraisals, and even though they all have dark circles under their eyes, they all smile amazingly. It's probably the best season literally. I unintentionally give the person a stamina recovery potion.

I'm going to exhibit medicines and weapons.

The medicine is magic potions with Nanashi sign that increase vitality and partly health.

I realized that they would sell well from the conversations of the family heads old men during the tea parties. It's no different in any world. The raw materials are from armor newt, so I can make them as many as I like, and the market price is also quite expensive. It'll be troublesome if the person who takes the medicine die during the intercourse, so I've lowered the quality to some extent.
I had brought 10 sets with five items per set I made, but they sold at higher price than I expected. I guess I should try making hair regrow and breast enlarger medicine next time.

The weapons are mock magic weapon made from monster's materials, and the result of trial-runs from the magic swords casting. I've got the title [Blacksmith of Magic Swords] when I'm casting the magic sword.

As for the weapons from monster's materials, spears, swords, and bows were selling well among the people who looked like explorers or guards.
People who look like nobles were buying the casted magic swords. That person who's buying it looks a bit familiar. I confirm with AR, he's the military accountant of the duke. The knight who looks like an escort generates magic edge when he pours mana into it. He seems to be quite a user.

He's generously paying 100 gold coins for each, but is he fine spending that much? I'm worried even though it's someone else problem. They're casted from weapons I've got from the thieves' hideout and then melted, the magic liquids are also of common quality, so each of them costs almost zero to produce. Even if the materials are bought, it probably only costs two gold coins at most. The rip-off is only the best part.

The military accountant approaches the agent, and asks if he can provide another 10. Since I can make 10 of it even if I just have one hour, I accept it. The next auction will be held in about three days, so I promise to bring it in the final day.

I get 780 gold coins in total.
It's the sum after the agent's fee of course. The biggest earner is the five casted magic swords that have been sold for 570 gold coins. There are money to be made everywhere indeed.

Since I've made more money than I've planned, I also bid in the dark auction to also reduce the market. Mixed among magic tools, they're exhibiting things like, fallen young noble women, illegal medicines, or medicine to level up. Since the AR tells that the level-up medicine is [EXP +1000], it's meaningless for me. I've bid a drop item from the labyrinth city for 70 gold coins. The price is lower than I've thought, but looks like it's extraordinary even for a disposable item.

It seems that I also have to use the agent for buying things, so I request one. Several magic books and three scrolls. They're things that only appear in dark auction, it greatly smells of crime.

Nature Magic: Fake Patch
Nature Magic: Unlock
Nature Magic: Lock

They're scrolls that have been refused in viscount Shimen's scroll workshop.

The last day is going to exhibit the featured products like, [Princess of the Fallen Kingdom], [Monograph of Ancient Language], and [Air Force Engine of Airship]. Princess of the Fallen Kingdom, she can't possibly Arisa's and Lulu's sister right?


◇

After I've recharged myself in the pleasure quarter, I mass produce magic swords in the usual open space at the interior part of the underground labyrinth. Since I got tired along the way, I also made many spear and halberd type ones. The production cost of halberd is high, but it's also the most expensive in the dark auction, so I make them. There was a circuit for changing mana into electricity written in the standard magic circuit book, so I added it to the halberd afterward. It seem that the users can get electrified if they put wrong amount of mana into it, so I've also added a protection circuit on it.

>Title [Blacksmith of Magic Weapons]


Even though I've used Deodorant to erase the trace, they still find out that I've gone to the pleasure quarter. Women's intuitions are sharp even though they're small.

It seems that the king will also attend the tournament's final tomorrow.
Moreover, lady Ringrande and the prince are going to do an exhibition match before the final. If a disturbance is going to happen, it's either during that match or the wedding.

The prince and his cohorts don't seem to be in contact with the [Wings of Liberty]. It seems the earl's mansion from before has been discovered, the members' number have been halved. The people who have escaped from the hardships are hiding in the sewer. 
Since it looks like they'll be decapitated if they're captured, they have no choice but to enter it and can't come out. If possible I want them to make it into their dwellings and live their remaining life quietly please. 8-15. The Day of the Final

Satou's here. There's this famous quote from Shakespeare, "To be, or not to be", but I thought that it was a quote from some battle manga character until after I had entered high school, such was my dark past. Everyone has ever misunderstood something right.


◇


Today Tama has been acting strange since the morning.

Just when I thought that she's walking randomly in the room, she quarrels with Pochi, then Arisa, or rather, she clings to them and rolls on the floor.

"What's wrong? Tama."
"Nn~? Something is itching~"
"Pun pun nanodesu!　Today's Tama is strange nodesu."
<TLN: "Pun pun" is an onomatopoeia, kind of like hmph, but cuter.>

Oh? Pochi looks unusually touchy too.
Tama thrusts herself on my lap which has Mia sitting on it as if she's pushing her, and then she's snuggling on my lap. I wonder what's wrong? It's rare for her to cut in by force.

"Chevalier-sama, are you not going to watch the final match today?"
"Yes, I've been asked to make the feast for the celebration of the final, so I'm going to go to the castle after a bit."

I hear that several nobles have asked the duke's butler. Only upper nobles are allowed to participate in the balls and banquets that the king will attend for the next several days, I can't participate on them. As expected they can't say that I have to cook on the balls and banquets I won't participate in.
In that regards, the celebration today isn't only attended by the winner and nobles, but also the martial artists who have participated in the main matches, and influential people of the duchy capital, so I've been asked to make several dishes like on the ball before.

Since the king seems to be attending the final today, lady Karina and her brother are also going to attend.

It looks like Tama has calmed down after I gently brush her back, she's sleeping with difficult face.

Right at that time, the duchy capital shocks.


◇


It was not an earthquake.
It was like an active sonar from a submarine, a signal from search magic was passing through once.
However, the power was not ordinary.

"What was that? Just now?
"Signal?"
"Some kind of bell sound has come nodesu!"
"Master, ready for battle."

Not only me, it seems that half of the members have perceived the signal earlier.
The reason why Tama has become emotionally unstable is probably because she's sensed the antecedent.

Liza has started equipping the new equipments I've given her the other day. Slightly later, Pochi and Nana have also began to change. My eyes are happy, but I can't keep watching it, so I ask Lulu to put a partitioning screen before Nana.

"Tama, change your clothes too."
"Aye~"

According to the map, demons have appeared. They're in the sky above the arena.
The arena is populated with 20 people who are higher than level 40, in addition to lady Ringrande, the prince and his companions. The demons have picked the wrong time. They probably would be eliminated before I could intervene.

"What's happened?"
"It's the demon again."
"Eh~, again~"

Really, I wish they learn some self-restraint soon.

Arisa and the others are also changing to the new equipments I've created the other day. It's thinner than Liza's, but they're all matching white leather. I've replaced everyone's weapon except Liza's with casted magic swords. They look quite different from the ones I've sold on the auction before, and the inscriptions are carved with 'Satou Pendragon'.

Looks like the demons can use [Summoning Magic], [Mind Magic], and [Fire Magic]. They likely will summon various things if they're given time, so let's dispose of them quickly.

After a bit of time has elapsed after everyone's began changing, the sound of duchy capital's alarm, the town bell, begins resounding.


◇


The nobles' houses on the duchy capital have underground shelters in preparation of demons' attack. These shelters are built abnormally strong for the sake of the nobles' own safeties. The ones that are in the upper noble house have the same strength as the outer wall even.
A bit later after the alarm have rung, a maid of this mansion comes to lead us to the shelter.

"Arisa."
"Hoi, hoi~"
"Please take refuge to the underground shelter with everyone. I'll send you a signal if it gets truly dangerous, I want you to immediately teleport to the underground labyrinth with everyone if that happens."
"Aye aye."

I guess this is alright for the anti-demons measure.
I'm asking Liza and the others to deal with another troublesome thing.

"Liza."
"Yes!"
"The carriage of lady Sera is being chased by villains. Go with Mia and Nana by horses to protect her."
"I understand."
"I understand, master."
"Nn."

It seems that all members of the wings of liberty are trying to kidnap lady Sera.
I can go help her directly, but it'll be troublesome if some strange flag gets raised, so I'll leave it to Liza and the others. They should be able to handle it with their strengths. Since lady Sera seems to be escaping toward this mansion, I teach the general route to Liza and the others.


◇


I go together until the duke's castle, refuse to enter the shelter, and go out.
I change into Nanashi, silver masked hero version, and go toward the arena.

For the time being, I activate the new magic [Clairhearing], and [Whisper Wind] to grasp the situation. The focus is the arena where I'm going.

"'Demon, no demon lord, your fate is over now.'"

This voice, it's the prince. It is a level 71 demon, but it's not the demon lord you know?

It's chaotic there, but precisely because it's the final of the martial arts tournament, a lot of domestically influential and powerful people are there, so they haven't been overran it seems.

"'Brave warriors, let's cooperate together to subjugate the monsters. Magician, prioritize supporting the warriors with reinforcement magic over attack magic.'"

This voice is lady Ringrande's.
I guess the demons have summoned monsters as their soldiers, people beside the prince are fighting them. Among the monsters that have been summoned, there are more than 10 with upper level 40. Looks like explorers, knights, and martial artists are cooperating together to fight the high level monsters. The clamor that I can hear is very lively. They probably really like the fighting.

"'Barrier, put up the barrier defense.'"
"'It's no good, the escape passages are collapsed, we have to secure the way out.'"

I thought that it's strange the nobles aren't escaping even though the king body-double is going, so it's because of that. Clairhearing and Whisper Wind are convenient.
I guess the passages for general audiences are fine, people are rushing out from there. There doesn't seem to be anyone who dies from getting trampled. Since most of them seem to be hot-headed people, the worry is needless.

Using Sky Drive and Ground Shrink, I go to the top of one of the spire near the arena, and stand there.
There demon has two heads, yellow skin, and two water buffalo-like horns on its shoulders. Since it has two heads, I wonder if that means it can use magic simultaneously like the golden wild boar-head king.

I want to tell "Read the air" to lady Ringrande and the other skirmishing people, but since there are people I know in the arena, let's quickly clean this up.
First, I guess I'll defeat that important looking upper demon with [Laser] of light magic.

As if waiting for the decision, the space is cracking and a ship is appearing.

While producing ripple of lights as if coming out of water surface, a silver streamlined ship that looks like a space ship appears.
A man wearing blue armor--the hero, Hayato Masaki, is standing on the bow. I'm told that he was level 61 when Arisa met him, but he's level 69 now.

"'The great me, has arrived!'"

I wonder if that words are laden with provocation skill, the flying monsters are heading toward the hero.

"'Hou, hero Hayato, are you prepared to die by appearing in front of us?'"
"'Don't think that I'm always going to be the old me! I'll have my revenge today!'"

I can end it in an instant with [Laser] now. But it's hard to shoot it.

"'Fall back you dog of Saga empire!　I'll prove that hero is not the monopoly of Saga empire.'"

It's the prince. You should've leave it to him.

"'<<DANCE>> Claiomh Solais'"

The <<DANCE>> earlier seems to be some kind of password. Claiomh Solais leaves the prince's hand while shedding blue light, and assails the yellow-skinned demon. Oh~ the picture that I saw in the museum back then doesn't seem to be an exaggerated lie.

Ah, it's repelled.
Claiomh Solais sure is weak.

"'The holy sword will cry, prince. That demon is the chief executive of the great demon lord of old--golden wild boar-head king. The highest class demon who has survived for several hundred years. You should withdraw if you don't want to die. <<SING>> Arondight.'"

After receiving the password from the hero, Arondight that he's holding is furiously shedding holy light.
I wonder if there are passwords like that for the holy swords I have?　I've become able to read explanations of magic tools thanks to the book of magic tools, but it only has magic tools from the present day written in it, so I'm still not able to read the holy swords'. If it's just passwords, I probably can decipher it, let's check it out when I get some free time.

The hero's companions who have appeared from the ship put reinforcement magic to the hero. Out of curiosity, I use [Clairvoyance] magic, but I shouldn't have done it.

A priest-like beautiful woman of loose fluffy-type kyonyuu casts reinforcement magic. The mole under her eye looks good.
An archer-like long ears-kin woman is intercepting monsters approaching the hero. One arrow splits into 10 along the way and swoop down the monsters. Judging from the red light that it had let out, it was probably a magic arrow.

The monsters that have escaped the archer's attacks lands on the ship, but they got quickly eliminated by a light warrior, and a twin-sword warrior. Those girls also of ears-kin. A tiger ears-kin, and a wolf ears-kin. The tiger ears has ponytail, and the wolf-ears has short hair, they're both beautiful women with well-shaped breasts.

The last one is a beautiful woman with enormous breasts and luxurious blond hair holding a long cane. She seems to be comparable to lady Karina. She's doing something drawn-out, and begins chanting a spell.

In short, the followers are all glamorous beautiful women.

Riajuu, go explode.

What should I do.
Should I clean this up while being like Toruma by not reading the mood.

To shoot, or not to shoot, that is the question. 8-16. The Day of the Final (2)

Good grief, what a farce.

Even if the king is attending, why do I absolutely have to do a mock battle with the prince?
Moreover, the prince is using the holy sword, Claiomh Solais. It's a sword that embodies the [Invincible] Shiga kingdom.
<TLN: Remember, the one who was supposed to do the mock battle with the prince is Ringrande.> 

There's no way I can win.

The person who holds the holy sword Claiomh Solais must never lose. That is because doing so means suggesting that the invincible Shiga kingdom is defeated.
Losing is not permitted even if it's just a fantasy.

Although, even if I don't deliberately try to lose, the prince should be slightly stronger than me if we exclude magic. 
I can't win unless I use my trump card. If I use it, I would undoubtedly kill the prince. As expected, that's bad.

Aah, this is depressing.


◇


I can hear people from the audience seat cheering my name. There are also cheering for the prince, but isn't it because of the [Prince] title I wonder.

I'm wearing the magic armor Chaftar that I've got when I became the hero's follower, while shouldering the lightning great sword I've got from when I was a labyrinth explorer. The armor grants the same effect as physical reinforcement magic to the person who's wearing it. I can produce mana shield and magic for blocking sniping if I put mana into the magic circuit.

I enter the circle for the match.

Right when the match starts, I invoke the mana shield. Following that, I put mana into the lightning great sword, and activate the lightning edge.

I feel a bad premonition before I can add up physical reinforcement magic, I jump to the side.

A firebolt goes through where I was.

Firebolt Wand?
<TLN: I've just found out that the author uses "Wand" instead of "Cane" to translate 杖 , so I'm going to use that from now on. Might revisit older chapters to correct it but it'll be a PITA...>

That's not a military weapon.
It's not something that you should use without chanting you know?

"Nostalgic right? This is the thing you've made in the school after all."

The prince attacks while drawing blue trails with the holy sword.
What speed.

The legend that states the holy sword (Claiom Solais) user flies in the sky might be true.

I ward the holy sword away with my great sword.
Heavy. My wrist is really hurt.

The lightning clad on the great sword transmitted to the holy sword, and got uneventfully scattered away in the air.
Even though he would have fainted or paralyzed if he had used a normal sword.

Returning the favor, I swing the great sword to the prince's legs.
He invokes the defense film (Barrier) of the holy knight armor and block the great sword.

As expected of the equipment of the kingdom's strongest, the holy knight.

This time I'll entrust my armor to block the prince's sword, and focus my attention to attacking.

Executing Heavy Blow skill. The aim and accuracy are lower, but right now, I need might.

Executing Magic Edge skill. I don't usually use it since it's a waste of mana, but there's no meaning in preserving mana right now.

The great sword is tinged with red light.

Executing Sharp Edge skill. I don't want to kill the prince, but if I don't fight with the intention to kill, I won't be able to penetrate that armor's defense.

"Furious Whirlwind Blade"
<TLN:Senpuretsuha>

I shout the technique's name even though there's is no need to do that. 
Looks like I've been infected with Hayato's foolishness.

I was sure that it'd be blocked, but it easily breaks the armor's barrier.
This is bad, he'll surely die if I don't stop.

I managed to stop the blade before the prince received a fatal hit.
However, the prince doesn't miss my unstable posture.

I was splatted to the arena's ground like a ball.


◇


Cheering, screams, and jeers.

It seems I've lost my consciousness for an instant.
The prince shoots pursuing firebolts rapidly. Are you trying to kill me?

It appears that his swelled pride is hurt because I stopped the sword earlier. The prince's eyes have scarily turned bloodshot.

I chant Quick Burst to destroy the firebolts.

However, our fight ends here.

Summoning circles are formed in the sky.

Thatisdangerous.

My intuition tells me the danger as if my head is split.
I begin to chant Break Magic magic. Not good, the prince hasn't realized the summoning circle in the sky. He only looks at me.

I stop the chanting in order to avoid the prince's attack.
I shouldn't have stopped the blade earlier if I knew that it'd turn out like this.

I wasn't able to stop the summoning.
A yellow-skinned demon appears from there. That presence and coercion, it's unmistakably an upper demon. The vibration from the massive body, taller than five meters, that lands on the ground almost makes me fall.

Hayato said this before.

He had only ran away from a demon once.
At that time, half of his companions sacrificed themselves in order to let him escape, he said so while looking so frustrated. I couldn't believe how that absurdly strong Hayato could lose, but I understand now.

That's an order of magnitude different.

Is a demon lord even stronger than that?

It's impossible.
Absolutely impossible.

My soul, not reasoning, is screaming. I want to immediately escape from here now.
The words that helps me keep my heart that was on the verge of breaking comes from an unexpected person.


◇


"Demon, no demon lord, your fate is over now."

Prince, how are you not able to measure the opponent's strength. He doesn't seem to be bluffing. If, at this time, I had any interest in a man who can bluff to a person with absolute strength, I might not had canceled the engagement.

The demon lord tilts its head to the side, and looks at the prince's sword interestedly.

"That sword is Claiom Solais right? A descendant of Yamato eh."

I wonder what's the some kind of howl sound I hear when the yellow-skinned demon is talking. It's the other head of the demon that's chanting.
In order to interfere with the summoning, I throw Quick Burst to the yellow-skinned demon.

It's no good.
The demon casually defends against the weak elementary magic with its hand.

I need more more than speed!
I execute Chanting Shortening and chant Explosion. It probably won't make it. However, I won't let this spell go to waste.

When the yellow-skinned demon complete its chanting, monsters begins appearing from the magic circles that are formed on the ground. Centipedes, scorpions, praying mantis, and even two-horned beetles.

It won't be easy fighting them while dealing with the yellow-skinned demon. The magic Explosion just now didn't give it much damage too.
Oh right, there are the participants of the main match and their friends still. Let's leave the monsters to them.

I call out to the warriors on the place using amplification magic.

"Brave warriors, let's cooperate together to subjugate the monsters. Magician, prioritize supporting the warriors with reinforcement magic over attack magic."

The people who have been fighting the monsters separately begin to cooperate together.
They're veterans. They probably won't lose to monsters as long as there are chances.

A centipede monster is attacking. The prince is also being attacked by a rhinoceros beetle monster.

"Fumu, the hero isn't here after all de~su. The souvenirs that I've brought have no meaning then."
<TLN: The demon is saying desu in katakana, which means death.>

While grumbling, the yellow-skinned demon casts reinforcement magic to the summoned monsters.
I'd have been able to use powerful magic if only the prince could take care of the front.

"That's strange de~su. The blue and the red should have butted in with this much uproar."

This centipede is strong. My sword can't cut it well. If only Hayato and those girls come at this time.

"Ahaha~ Onee-san, you're having a hard figh~t."
"Don't look away, let's go help the prince."

Leilas-dono of the Shiga Eight Sword, and the holy knight boy head toward the prince to assist him. The boy cuts one foot of the centipede as a parting gift.
I defeat the centipede with three consecutive explosions when its attention has turned away. The chanting was long, but since Explosion has Stun and Knockback effect, I was somehow able to do it.

Leilas-dono blocks the yellow-skinned demon's Inferno by using a great shield. He's amazing. He was probably using magic too, but I didn't think that there was anyone who could withstand that much attack beside Hayato.

"Hou? That's a nostalgic shield. How about this then?"

The demon throws white flame that easily pierced through the great shield of Leilas-dono in high speed.

I cannot let him die. The front will collapse if he dies.
I choose one option from among my selfish thought.

"O great Parion, please grant my selfish wish to summon the hero! I am the follower, follower of the hero Hayato, Ringrande."

It is not a chant.
It's a prayer for the god Parion. I don't know how much of my life span decreases with this prayer, but I'll give 10, or 20 years of it than letting my hometown gets violated.
The talisman of divine gift on my chest is shining in respond to my prayer.

Now, come, Jules Verne.

Carrying the hero, to the battlefield! 8-17. The Day of the Final (3)

<AN: This is from the hero's POV, a bit before lady Ringrande's POV chapter.>

"Hey, hey, Hayato. Where do you think the demon lord will appear?"
"Dunno, don't ask me difficult things. To quickly go to where the demon lord appears and defeat it. That's my job."
<TLN: Hayato refers to himself with ore-sama. A particularly pompous way to do so.>

Tsk, Maryest, she can't not know me.

"Ahaha, that's really like hero-sama."
"Can't be helped right. Seems that it's first time the oracle is all over the place."

Rusus the cat ears, and Fifi the dog ears carefree-ly said so.
I know, you girls are on my sides. I touch the ears of the two who bend themselves toward the captain' seat I'm sitting on. It feels really great. We've been together for five years, but it's taken me three years before they let me touch it.

"If I have to reasonably guess the place, it's probably around the labyrinth city, Selbira of Shiga kingdom, or the revived labyrinth of Kubooku kingdom."

The priest, Loreiya, calmly tells her prediction. Since the secretary, Nono, and the magic warrior, Ringrande aren't here right now, I can only really talk with the witch, Meryest, and Loreiya.

Loreiya is hugging my head from behind. Her breasts on my head are heavy. I off-handedly push the breasts aside. Loreiya looks so happy even though I did it in cold-heart.

Breasts are just nothing more than lumps of fat. I don't understand perverts.

"Hero-sama is also stoic today eh."

That doesn't sound like a line from a clergywoman.

Ah, why do my party have nothing but jigglyjiggle.
Isn't it fine to have one little girl at least. There's a taciturn girl, but she's 23 this year on top of having E cup. If there's a taciturn little girl, I'll whisper love to her anytime.

Haa, the girl with middle-schooler-level flat chest who seemed to be a soldier of Shiga kindgom that we saved recently was quite good. If we had just met five years earlier, I'd have absolutely proposed her.

"Hayato, the regular contact from Nono in Selbira has turned up, 『Peaceful and Dull』 she says."
"Is that so."

Meryest and Loreiya have predicted that Selbira is the most suspicious. Even though Nono are with escorts, it might be dangerous to leave a non-combatant like her there. 

"Will someone change place with Nono to Selbira?"
"Eh~, I don't wanna. I want to be near Hayato."
"Right~ we'll fight better if Hayato is near right."

Stress will likely pile up if you're in the labyrinth city without being able to go into the labyrinth, Rusus and Fifi will likely snap and assault the labyrinth.

Half an hour later, the regular contact come from Seina who has infiltrated into Yowok kingdom.

"I'll read it loud. 『The poor small country is also peaceful today. I'm bored~』."

It looks like she wants to change place too like Nono, but the only one who can do infiltration among our members is only Seina the spy. Let her endure it.

Personally, I want the emergence to be in Yowok kingdom. That kingdom has done a great crime of sacrificing my honey for reviving the labyrinth after all.
<TLN: He said my honey in english.>
Not noticing the downfall of Kubooku kingdom since I kept diving into the hero labyrinth is a bitter mistake. 


◇


"Isn't there a regular contact from Rin?"

It's not like that punctual Ringrande.
The underground labyrinth on Oyugock city should be inactive,  so the demon lord can't possibly appear there. There must be something wrong with the oracle, but since it's the birthplace of Ringrande, and there's a wedding of her little brother going on, it's just right for her to have gone there.

"Hayato is really forgetful~"
"True. So, what does he forget?"
"The regular contact time is changed to afternoon since Rin has some business isn't it."

Tsk, Rusus and Fifi, you're just as forgetful.
Right huh, she complained about fighting against the stupid prince of Shiga kingdom on the regular contact yesterday.

Right at that time.

The Control Orb in front of the captain's seat is flickering intensely.
It seems that someone has used the Talisman of Divine Gift. No, looking at the situation, it's Ringrande, no mistake 'bout it.

"Everyone, take your position."
"Mary, who's used the talisman."
"Wait a bit--it's Ringrande."

As expected huh.

"I'll wait at the bow. I'll leave the steering to Wyni."
"Leave it to me."

I shoulder Arondight and rush to the bow.


◇


Coming out of the dark grey space, the ship appears in the original world.

Alright, let's say the usual line.

"The great me, has arrived!"

Umu, it feels good.

The monsters flying in the air are coming to attack the Jules Verne after taking my provocation.
Maryest reports with the speaking tube.

『Ringrande is safe. The enemy is--』

Meryest is hesitating.
You don't have to say it, I didn't think that that guy is here.

The one over there is the fated opponent.
I met it three years after I had been summoned as a hero. Our party that I thought to be invincible was utterly defeated by this yellow demon. If my companions didn't sacrifice themselves, I might have been killed by this demon.

However, I'm not the same as back then.
I'll show you directly.

I will not hesitate, I'll use my full power from the start.

Activating my unique skills, [Strongest Lance (Nothing cannot be Penetrated)], and [Invincible Shield (Nothing can Penetrate)], and lastly, [Infinite Regeneration (Endless Healing)]. I can only use Infinite Regeneration once in a month, so I've been reserving it for fighting the demon lord, but I'll lose if I hesitate here against that guy.

I'll leave the small fries to my companions, and devote myself to fight the yellow bastard.

My companions go down from the ship and the ship submerges into the dimensional gap with auto pilot. We can't lose the precious ship here after all.

"Fall back, you dog of Saga empire!"

What? The stupid prince huh?
Looks like he can use the holy sword of Shiga kingdom, but you'll make it cry y'know. It's pitiful for the holy sword if you use it like that. Looks like he can at least use holy verse, but he can't pull out the holy sword's power.

I'll have you witness, the guy who can truly use the holy sword!

"<<SING>> Arondight!"

The blue light of the holy sword is more intense than ever.
I activate Flying Boot and plunge to the yellow demon.

Today, Arondight is somewhat different! 8-18. The Day of the Final (4)

<AN: Continuation of Hayato's POV>

I wonder how many times we've exchanged blows with sword.

To be matched by the yellow demon that's supposed to be the magic type, my confidence is shaken y'know. I don't know what kind of magic the demon use, but it's using magic edge on its elongated nails, it's troublesome. To grow back again no matter how many times I've broken it is too much of cheating.

When I look with appraisal, the difference between my level and the yellow bastard is only a little.
Yet, why can't it reach.

I block the yellow bastard's flame attack with [Invincible Shield], and penetrate its barrier with the [Strongest Lance]-powered Arondight. However, the power is getting shaved by scaly barrier that appear around the demon.
Whenever I damage the demon even a little, the three orbs that are floating around it heal the demon immediately. I've tried destroying the orbs earlier, but the demon summons another one whenever I break one.

I'll be gradually pushed back if this continues.

"Hayato, please don't fight alone, we're a team you know."

Dang, I've gotten too heated.
Maryest is right, if we cooperate there's no way we can lose even against a strong enemy.

Fortunately, most small fries on the opposite of the arena seem to have been eliminated by the warriors of Shiga kingdom. I didn't know since I rarely went to Shiga kingdom, but the warriors of this kingdom can't be made light of. The monsters had been separated away from the yellow demon along with the buff before I knew it, since they weren't approaching each other, a considerable distance had opened.

It's as if someone is adjusting it.

I've thought such thing unintentionally.
Ridiculous. Even if they're small fries, those monsters are of upper level 40. If there's someone that has strength to do such thing, I'd scout that person into our party.

The two monsters near us are also being dealt with by my companions.
Rusus and Fifi are in charge of the centipede. It seems to be a hard fight, but it'll be over since Ringrande has come to assist them.
The two-horned rhinoceros beetle is flying around, but Wiyaryi is restraining it as to not get close.

"Wiy, I'm leaving that monster to you. Rusus and Fifi will help you soon, so please stall for some time."
"I understand Hayato. Please leave it to me."

No, Wiyaryi, I wanted you to reply that you could defeat it. Why doesn't she understand even though she's an archer.

"Is the strategy briefing over alreadyes?"

I was wondering why it didn't attack...
I'll make you regret that composure.

"Hayato, please buy us some time for the spell."
"Understood!"

Before I can attack with Arondight, the yellow bastard attacks with flame.
I block the white flame with the holy shield strengthened with Invincible Shield. I couldn't block them all, but Loreiya can always heal some minor wounds.

"As expected, really as expected deesu. To defend against <<White Inferno>>, you've improved desu. Hero is interesting after all desu."

Rusus and Fifi are helping Wiyaryi after defeating the small fry.

"Ringrande, Loreiya, we're starting the chanting."

The three girls use Talisman of Divine Gift to start the forbidden spell chanting.
The talisman has many convenient functions, by synchronizing chanting, the power and precision of tactical magic can drastically jump.

Mary intends to defeat the recovery orbs all at once huh.
However, if you use the tactical magic of forbidden spell here, it'll leave a scar that can't be ignored in this city.

"This is strange desune. Why isn't the blue and the red coming desuka?"

The yellow bastard looks puzzled.
I block the attack of the slightly absent-minded demon with my shied. I feel that this is my chance, but I can't leave the back now.

"Well, it's fine desu. The damages from hero and the others feel good, but it's about time to let the hero have the taste of fear and despair desune."

"Fuhn, you M bastard!　Making me feel fear you said?　Try if you can do it!"
"Well then, please accept the souvenirs desu. Please taste it to your heart's content desu."

In order to anticipate the demon's attack, I gulp down the acceleration potion. I have nothing more once I use this, but I've got a really bad feeling. I drink the bitter liquid. The effect comes out little by little, the movement of the surrounding gradually becomes slower.

A gigantic summoning circle appear high in the sky behind the yellow bastard.
You think I'll let you do it easily!

"<<SING>> Arondight, <<PLAY>> Tunas."
<TLN: Play as in playing musical instrument, especially string's.>

I recite the holy verses of the holy sword and the holy armor.
Rousing my mana, magic power (Energy) is being produced as if overflowing from the core of the holy armor, the philosopher's stone. And then, that vast power flows into the holy sword.

The preparation is complete before the yellow's bastard finishes with the summoning circle.

"<<Shining Blade>>"

Finishing move should be shouted after all.
Swinging Arondight with subsonic speed, I turn the blade of light toward the summoning circle.

Shiing.

Tsk, that bastard threw one of the healing orb up in the sky and warded off Shining Blade.
I swing the remaining Shining Blade, but this time the demon uses the monster's corpses below to intercept it.

The fight was futile, and the summoning had been completed.

"What..the heck."

A whale is flying in the sky.
It's a gigantic monster bigger than 300 meters in length.

"G, great monstrous fish?!"
"Lies, the one that the golden wild boar king used, that?"
"The legendary aerial fortress isn't it?"

The three people who've stopped the chanting let out voices of shocks.
The great monstrous fish, despite the somewhat silly name, it's a level 97 monster.

I couldn't believe it and rechecked many times.

However, there's no mistake about it.

"We can't withdraw no matter what the opponent is. Wiy, Rusus, Fifi, call the Jules Verne back to the surface, I'll permit you to use this as the main battery. Take Arondight, and go."

We've hidden the precious dimensional submerging warship to protect it from harm, but it seems that's not to be. I'm sorry to the emperor, but it doesn't seem like I can keep my promise of taking the warship back safely.

If we use the ship's main battery in the downtown, it'll certainly become catastrophic.
The hero's name will probably be ruined, but there is no other way to defeat that monster. I hand over Arondight that will become the core of the main battery. I take a spare magic sword from the infinite stowing (Inventory) in its place.

"That's some nice fear node~su."

Damn you yellow bastard.
You'll only keep that conceit for so long. The time when Rin and the others finish their chanting will be your last.

I wonder what the great monstrous fish is thinking, instead of looking here, it's staring hard at one corner of the arena. I don't really understand, but this is favorable. That yellow bastard might have unexpectedly failed the summoning, and could not control it.

"However, the hope mixed with the bitter taste of fear, quite satisfactory desune."

Hope huh. It's fine to think about pleasant things right?

I, after this fight is over, will go visit the orphanage. I absolutely won't die until I get to the paradise of little girls. Taking a bath together, sharing a bed together, the dream spreads.

"As long as the great me is a hero, hope always exist y'know."
"Laughable desune."

I didn't notice it.
The summoning circle that has summoned the great monstrous fish remains in the sky.

That's right, I shouldn't have not noticed the meaning of it.

From the summoning circle that hasn't disappeared even after the summoning is over, great monstrous fish begins appearing one after another.
Including the first one, there are seven of them.

I see, you guys are my death huh.

Hey, Parion-san.

Your world is too hard y'know.





<AN: Next Chapter is from Satou's POV>8-19. The Battle in the Arena

Satou's here. It seems that they served whale meat for the school lunch a long time ago. I had eaten the meat of the whale that was stranded ashore on the coast when I was visiting my grandfather's house, it was really delicious.
Although that's something from a long ago, so it might've been glorified.


◇


In the end, I lost the timing to attack when I was hesitating.
For the time being, I guess I should ensure that no one dies.

I move from the spire to the audience seating on the arena.

The duke and the king body-double--are still having a hard time.

Alright, let's use that here.

There's this [Magic Hand] among the magic I've acquired recently. A nature magic user who has become able to use intermediate level magic is sure to acquire this magic.
It's probably easier to understand if I say that the effect is close to the so-called psychokinesis. It seems magicians use this magic to reach place where their hands can't, scratch their back, or rub their own shoulders.
Unskilled magicians can only exert the same level of power as theirs with this [Magic Hand], so there's rarely any magician who use this in a fight. Following the mastery of Nature magic skill, the number of hands I can deploy at the same time with [Magic Hand] have also increased just like with magic arrow. Similarly, if someone who excels in mana manipulation uses [Magic Hand], it can reaches quite far. In my case, I can extend 120 hands to around 500 meters each.
It seems that even among the magicians in the world, one that can skillfully use more than two hands is quite rare.

Innumerable [Magic Hands] smoothly extend; it seize three monsters who block the way of the duke and his companions, and throw them away to the arena.

The handling is a tiny bit difficult.
Before long, I get the [Magic Hands] to hold swords, and fight like a thousand-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon).

The duke's escorts are surprised to see the monsters suddenly removed, but it seems they prioritize getting the duke escapes rather than investigating the cause. There are some people looking for the person who have removed the monsters, but no one notices me. Apparently, this is thanks to the skills I've learned during the infiltration mission before.


◇


Now then, it seems that the people who can't fight monsters have finished evacuating.
Of course, I didn't only watch the evacuation as it happened. I was doing work of catching people who got left behind with [Magic Hand], and throwing them to the escape passage.

The monsters near the hero's party and the yellow-skinned demon are a pain. Thanks to the provocation the hero has done in the beginning, the monsters always go back to him no matter how many times I've thrown them away.
I decide to leave two monsters who are particularly stubborn to the hero's party. That tiger ears person, and that wolf ears person will probably defeat them.

There are six monsters remaining.
It'd be nice if the prince and his cohorts help to exterminate the monsters, but for some reason, they're going towards the yellow-skinned demon, so the number of monsters aren't decreasing. Such inefficient people.

The Eight Shiga Sword man has left the battle, maybe because the damage he's incurred from the yellow-skinned demon in the beginning is big. Really, how cowardly.
The battle-maniac boy was fighting amusingly against the yellow-skinned demon, but he has fainted after receiving an attack from the demon's tail. The stomach portion of his armor is dented, but looking at his HP, it doesn't seem to be a wound that'll kill him, so it's probably fine to leave him alone. Looking at his position, it doesn't seem like he'll get caught up in a ranged attack anyway.


◇


"Yasaku, be more prudent with big moves. We don't know if the other people will fall apart. Preserve your stamina."
"Baro, you're just too rigid. It's time to decrease their number with a bang now."
"Hey wait, Yasaku, and Tan, save the chattering for later."
"That's right, if you don't keep your guard up, it'll be dangerous."

The party fighting the War Mantis seems to be fine. A heavy warrior, a magic warrior, a magician, and a priest carrying a pole arm, it's a party with good balance.

Of course, there aren't only party like that around.

"Sir Hoen, I will take care of this, so please stand back."
"What's this, Sir Muzuki, I won't let you be the only one who does great deeds here!"

The knights are compromising to each other in front of a pill bug-type monster.
These two are of lower level 20s, but since their knight retainers are high leveled, they'd be fine.

I wonder if it's okay to take that out here?

No-one-is-looking right?

I use [Stalagmite (Toss Stone)] in secret.
It's an elementary level earth magic, but since it hits the (monster's) weak abdomen from below, it pierces through it, quite helpful. Even though the pill bug is left hanging in the air by the stone lance on its abdomen, it's still alive. The monster's remaining HP is only around 20%. As for the rest, the knights can just rush in and attack from position where they can't be counterattacked, and it's history. Even though they were having a concession earlier, what a calculated bunch.

The next party seems to be a mish-mash.

Even though there are two shield users, they don't seem able to use provocation skill. As the result, the monster aims for the attacker, and the rear guards devote themselves to heal the attacker instead of casting attack magic.

"Kyaa"
"Sosona! Gerca, fix your posture. Don't let Sosona's sacrifice go to waste."

One member of the party got kicked by the cricket type monster and launched into the air. Still, sacrifice you said.... Isn't she still alive?

That's a girl of fairykin I guess?
She's been thrown up around 10 meters high into the air. She had probably protected against the attack with magic, but her HP is rapidly decreasing to below 10%. I catch her in the air with [Magic Hand], and pull her here. Along the way, I use [Magic Hand] to make her drink a not-for-sale potion.

I've made it somehow.
After her HP has recovered to around 90%, I lay down the girl on the audience seat. I've wanted to see her closer since it's the first time I've seen a Leprechaun.

[Magic Hand] is truly convenient. I'm afraid that it'd turn me into a degenerate.

I stealthily invoke 10 Remote Arrows, and snipe at the cricket's leg joints from behind.
They seem to be surprised with the sudden support fire, but with this, I can probably leave them unattended without problem.

This party seems to be the one struggling the most. Even though the other parties are struggling, they're fighting while staying alive. Sometimes they need help, so I absorb mana from the monster while I'm observing the hero's fight.

◇


That yellow-skinned demon seems to be a companion of the ojaru and nari demons from before after all. If I tell it that the demon lord has been defeated, I wonder if this demon will be docile for the next 66 years?

Nevertheless, the three orbs floating above the yellow-skinned demon sure are great. Even if the hero and his party dealt great damage to the demon, the orbs immediately recover it. I wonder if there's a way to summon the orb written in the demon summoning book from the other day?　After checking it with my AR, it seems they're called Cure Orbs. I've searched for it, but there's nothing about it written in the demon summoning book. How unfortunate.

Oh?
The crisis perception is warning me to something high in the sky?

There's a summoning magic circle over there.
I don't know what will be summoned, but it's fine to just immediately get whatever POP out of it from here alright?

And then, the thing that comes out of it is--

A whale?

It's flying in the air, and about 300 meters big, but it's unmistakably a whale. I don't think even the blue whale grows this big though?

The monster's name seems to be Great Monstrous Fish.

Any Japanese who sees it for the first time must be saying, "A whale flying in the sky", it's just how the etymology goes.

The hero and his companions look surprised.

Of course they would be.
I mean, when it's that big, I can't imagine just how many meals you can make from it.

If I seriously make yamatoni from it, I wonder how many I could make?
<TLN: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/大和煮, essentially beef boiled with soy sauce, ginger, and sugar.>

My eyes met with the great monstrous fish's eyes unintentionally.

Well hey, demon. 
You can do it if you try after all!

I had almost danced in joy reflexively, but it wasn't only one.

There are another six of it coming out of the summoning circle, terrific.
I've waited more after that, but it seems to be the end. There may be more coming out, so I'll stop myself from destroying the magic circle.
<TLN: Sorry, it was 'including' not 'excluding' on the previous chapter, so there are 'only' 7 whales.>

◇


Now then, since I mustn't damage the meat when I demolish the whales, I decide to shave off their heads with Laser and put them into the storage immediately. I actually wanted to demonstrate Excalibur sharpness for it, but since they're too big, it just won't reach.

A single Laser shot is weak, so decide to use it together with Condense.

The power of a single laser shot is weak, but I've become able to shoot multiple shots after I've leveled up the skill level. When I unify them into one with Condense, the power and the convergence will be increased.

I simulate the Laser trajectory by using Space Grasp and Radar together. The exposure time was going to be slightly insufficient, so I decide to shoot it like an ON/OFF consecutive pulse laser.
I can use the magic consecutively just fine, but it'll take some time, and I don't want them running back to the summoning circle.

Flash, and it smells as if a coffee is nearby from the ozone. The pulse laser strokes the whales on its track, and shoots out beyond the cloud.

Alright, cleared in one blow!

It'll be catastrophic if those gigantic masses fall down, so I promptly use Ground Shrink and Sky Drive together to get close to the whale meat that have began falling, and collect them into the Storage. The whale meat feel hot, I don't know whether because it's been roasted, or because the flesh and blood have evaporated.

It's fresh from the oven.
<TLN: Can also mean "Pleased with myself".>

Even though they've been burned with Laser, there are still a lot of body fluids splashed around. I've heard that blood won't come out from wounds burned by Laser, but I wonder if it's just a hearsay?

It seems that I'm the only one who's puzzling over such thing.
The Arena that had been wrapped in tumult until now has become quiet before I knew it. 

Umm~, whales are delicious and all, but I think you shouldn't eat them.

>Title [Great Monstrous Fish Slayer] Acquired
>Title [Phantom Technique User] Acquired
>Title [Light Technique User] Acquired
>Title [Sky Chef] Acquired8-20. The Battle in the Arena (2)

Satou's here. It's said that the three major desires of man are sleep, appetite, and sexual desire. That's why it can't be helped that I lost to the appetite and did something careless. However, I plan to do my best as to not lose to the sexual desire. Since it's said that lolicon is one of the seven big crimes.


◇


Oops.
Even though it's alright since I'm in Nanashi silver mask mode, I might've been a bit too conspicuous.

Now then, wonder how I should deceive them.

No, this might be a good opportunity. I've been doing something like strolling alone incognito in an MMO hunting ground since some time ago, so if I make it really showy here, it might help in making exposing my true identity harder since it'll be different than my usual self.

Fortunately, the blood from the whales have evaporated into mist, so they should haven't seen me.
There's probably no one that can use [Clairvoyance] like me. I've tested this with Arisa, I can sense if someone is using it to see me with mana perception.

For now, let's do something about my voice. "A, aa, a", I alter my voice to be higher.

>[Strange Voice Skill Acquired]

It has to be the most showy one, so I decide to use [White Mask, Halo options attached].
These clothes were made when I was thinking with Arisa late at night with a strange tension, and went overboard. As for the garment, the clothes is white as the basic tone, and colored with gold threads. On top of having needlessly fluttering cloths in the style of miko, the shoulder, chest, and back areas are made to look gender-neutral.
I don't wear a mantle or an overcoat, and equip the usual white smile mask. The wig is the newly made one with long straight violet hair. It's not made from Arisa's hair of course. It's just a dyed white-hair wig.
I use illusion magic to add three shining halo options there that will make afterimages (blurs) when I move. As a bonus, I put bracelets on my ankles that are shining more intense as I move faster. I only need to put [<<Flexible Shield>>], and [<<Flexible Armor>>] and it's complete with this. I leave the title into [Unsung Hero], matching the Nanashi name.
<TLN: The hero here is the 'Eiyuu' one, not the 'Yuusha' one.>

It's a showy gaudy style that I absolutely won't wear when I am Satou.

Since I'm going to intervene anyway, I turn serious, and use Remote Arrows to destroy the two remaining beetle monsters, and the yellow-skinned demon's orbs. I directed the remaining arrows toward the yellow-skinned demon itself, but it could defend against the arrows. Several magic arrows seem to have been burned by the fire magic of the yellow-skinned demon. Using magic against magic is a good idea. I'll try it next time.

"Who's dhere?"
"Who are you!"

The yellow-skinned demon and the hero asked my identity in overlap.
While keeping distances to each other, both of them seem to be wary of me. I lower my altitude and descend to approximately 10 meters above the ground.

"Nanashi."

I utter my name briefly.
Thanks to maxing out Strange Voice skill, I can freely use any voice I want. I adjust the voice while imagining how a voice actress perform as a boy like. It's giving an impression of unknown age and gender.

The crisis perception warns me of the danger from the beautiful women behind the hero. That reminds me, it's been 2-3 minutes since the chanting begins. It's probably some kind of advanced level magic, but judging from this sensation, it's probably not a magic that should be used inside a town.

Not good.
That, I have to stop that.

It's been awhile since I feel this impatient. I cheeks the log just to be sure, it doesn't seem to be from mind magic.
The best way is to persuade the hero to stop them, but the problem is that there won't be enough time to do it, so I'm going to be forceful.

First, I use [Break Magic] to forcefully stop the chanting.

Of course, disrupting magic that's being composed causes the mana from the source to begin overflowing on the surrounding. I've expected this course of events from the result of doing magic experiments during late nights, so I use [Force Barrier (Mana Section)] to protect the beautiful women. It shouldn't be that strong of a defense magic, but it seems to have protected them without any problem.
However, there seem to be feedbacks from the forced termination of the magic chanting to some extents, they fall to the grounds on their knees.

"What are you doing!"
"That magic is too dangerous you know. Sorry, but I've made them stop the chanting you know."
<TLN: He talked a bit like Arisa here.>

The hero rushes to the women while protesting to me, but I give him the explanation after the fact. I changed my tone a bit to match my voice.
After all, f you're a hero, I'd like you to mind the damage to the surrounding a bit more. Please follow the example of Tsubasaman from the rebroadcast a long time ago.

"This is laughable desu. Are you quarreling among yourselves desuka?　You must have used illusion technique, and sent the great monstrous fish back to the summoning gate desune? Your friend has got quite some wisdom there desu."

Huh?　You're going to interpret it like that eh.


◇


The hero's silver ship who seemed to have been hiding in the sub-space surfaced. White light emits from the bow of the surfaced ship.

It loiters for a while, but then after hesitating for a bit, it decides on the aim, and shoots a beam.

Unfortunately, it's aiming at me.

Apparently, they judged me as an enemy since they saw the hero was protesting to me. I curse at those simplistic people in my mind, but I do objectively look like a suspicious person after all, so I consent for a little. The mask probably doesn't inspire me as an ally of justice after all.

I stack <<Flexible Shields>> and block the beam from the hero's ship with it. The Flexible Shield's HP rapidly decreases. Looks like it has about 4-8 times the power of my Laser. Since I can't be blocking it forever, I use [Condense] magic to divert the beam's direction toward the sky. It might have been easier if I had [Absorb Light] of shadow magic.

The ship's bow that's discharging the beam has become red hot, so the attack is probably going to stop soon. The hero is shouting something to his companions in the ship, but it looks like they can't hear him.

"So weak hero! <<DANCE>> Claiomh Solais."

Huh? The prince's here.

After the hero's ship, even the prince judges me as an enemy, and shoots the flying holy sword. I shift my face to the side to avoid the sword, and just before it passes me, I catch the grip, stopping it. The holy sword is going wild in my grasp, but it quiets down immediately after I draw out the mana from it. 

However, prince, you sure looks quite exhausted.

When I was putting the whales into my storage, there were large quantity of parasite looking monsters falling together with the body fluids, that I didn't put into the storage, toward the arena. They were individually weak monsters, but they were falling just right to where the prince and his cohorts were.
I thought that the prince and his cohorts would be fine so I left them alone, but it seems they unexpectedly had a hard time. His armor is partially destroyed, and there are countless scars that look like they've been eaten from monsters remaining on the bare skin. He's doing well, not dying from blood loss.
The battle maniac boy is in more horrible state than the prince, but he's stabbing the monster corpses while laughing loudly as if he's gone mad.


◇


The yellow-skinned demon creates a summoning circle below its feet like it's trying to get away, so I use [Break Magic] to destroy the summoning circle. Next, I destroy the yellow-skinned demon's defensive magic with [Break Magic], but it seems to be multi-layered, it hasn't completely come off with one shot.

I quickly approach with Ground Shrink, and use [Mana Drain] on the yellow-skinned demon to snatch its mana away.

"Gununu! To have my mana easily stolen to this degree!"

The yellow-skinned demon isn't also letting its mana get stolen freely, it's doing various useless resistances.

"You bastard, you must be the true ancestor of the vampires desune."

This time I'm treated as a vampire huh.

For the time being, I continue to use the combo of hitting it with [Break Magic], followed by [Mana Drain]. The demon is saying something, but I noncommittally ignore it.
I can snatch 300 MP with one go. I've thought that it only has 710MP since it's level 71, but it doesn't seem like it's been emptied even after I've deprived it thrice. Apparently, demons have far larger MP pool than human. Its mana finally dried up after I snatch it for 10 times. Doesn't it have more MP than me?

The snatched mana is too redundant, so I charge it into the holy sword that I've just got. At first the sword is the size of a one-handed sword, but it's growing bigger as I put more mana. If Arisa was here, she would have a weird idea while grinning with loose check, no doubt bout it. The expansion stopped after I put around 500 MP. It's become as big as the replica in the museum.

After I've finished tearing off the yellow-skinned demon magic defense, stripped it off its magic power, and shaved 90% of its HP, I throw the demon toward the hero's party.

The hero's sword bisects the yellow-skinned demon that's come into his view without any hesitation. So it can be easily defeated when its defense magic has been broken after all. If I develop a magic that can break multiple magic at once, I can defeat them easily it seems. The yellow-skinned demon was saying, "I demand a restart noDESu", but what exactly did it want to restart was unknown until the end.

The magicians in his party are burning the remains with magic.

The hero steps before me. He's still drawing his sword. Come to think of it, he's not using a holy sword, but a magic sword. Did the holy sword break?

"What is your intention."
"Wasn't it your fated opponent?"
"Fuhn, I won't say thanks."
"I don't mind you know. You'd have defeated it if you had used the forbidden magic right?"

Judging from the yellow-skinned demon's composure, it probably had countermeasures for it, but it'd be boorish of me to retort with that.
However, this tone is a mistake. It's hard to talk.

"By the way, that stupid prince is going to die, you're not going to help him?"

I turn my view toward the prince from the hero's words, he's being toyed with by small fry monsters after seemingly getting inflicted by intoxicant poison. Looks like he's fighting with a dagger.

It seems that the hero doesn't want to actively help him.

I'm also fine with leaving him alone, but I have to eliminate the monsters anyway, so I decide to help him on the occasion.
It'd be faster if I use remote arrows, but let's try using the holy sword that I've just acquired.

"<<DANCE>> Claiomh Solais."

The holy sword Claiomh Solais leaves my hand, and multiplies itself like papers scattering away from a paper stack. It's split into 13 swords with thin blades. The true sword is wrapped in blue light on the exterior.
Aim marks like with [Remote Arrow] are displayed in my AR. I can also set the trajectory in similar fashion it seems. I shoot them at the small fry monsters just like that.

The blade cuts the monsters in successions as they evaporate by the holy light.
They were all around level 20 monsters when I first saw them, but there are some level 50 monsters mixed in before I knew it. It looks like they used skill called [Life Drain] to steal levels from the other monsters and the prince, and then grew up.

I see.

That explains why the prince's hair has become white somehow.

He also didn't have that many wrinkles, and his level should have been in upper 40s, yet it has been dropped to upper 20s now. The battle maniac boy is also like the prince, but he's in considerably better condition than the prince. His level is still in upper 30, and his hair hasn't aged to become white either.

Alas, it would have been better if I had waited to throw Claiomh Solais for a bit longer.
It should have been good enough for them to survive with their five limbs intact. 8-21. The Battle in the Arena (3)

Satou's here. There's this thing called Tabletop RPG. It's a game where you're role-playing as someone in the game's world, but unlike Westerners, Japanese people are generally shy, so in most matches, they talk in business-like manners the whole time.
I'll say this again, there are a lot of shy people among Japanese.


◇


A birdkin scout comes flying from the opposite side of the arena.

Apparently, the duke forces have finally arrived. Confirming on the map, there are 10 iron golems, and 3000 knights encircling the arena. There are also several mobile forts.

"Tsk, coming here after all this."

I'm saying my farewell to the hero who's uttering cursing words. It'll be troublesome if I don't leave soon.

"Hero, I will have to go soon. I don't want to get too close to influential people."
<TLN: He's using boku to refer himself here, mostly used by polite males, but can and is rarely used by females too.>

I'm sorry, I'm actually already on the side of those influential people.

"I understand that feel. You can probably see it already, but I'm Hayato Masaki. It may be confusing, but Masaki is the family name. You're also a Japanese--no, with that hair, a reincarnated person huh. You're a former Japanese right?"
"Japanese or not, you already know from seeing me don't you?　I'm the [Hero without Name], Nanashi. We might meet again in a battlefield someday."
<TLN: Alright, the unsung hero thing isn't going well with how Satou's using the title for lol. It can still mean either way though.>

Do I regard myself a hero--nope~ it's embarrassing enough that I feel like rolling on the floor. It's like installing chuuni language converter tool in a smartphone.

I'm really glad that I have the poker face skill.

"Wait! Won't you fight with me together? I want you for the battle with the demon lord."

Gross.
At least, please say, "I want your power" instead. Being a homo on top of lolicon is unreasonable.

"Is that a proposal? Thanks for the invitation, but no thanks. The sca~ry onee-sama bunch behind you are glaring after all. Bye then, ladykiller-san."

What the heck is with [Ladykiller-san]!　Someone please stop me. I wonder if it's because I'm aware of my gender-neutral speech, I have become a strange character.
I've cleared the objective of becoming a character that won't be associated with me (Satou), but it's too gross, I'm dying.


◇


The scout unit that have raided the audience seating begin to call out [Yamato] when they see me.

What?

After I look at myself, I understand.

13 Claiomh Solais splits are floating around me like options from old shooting games, or bits.
They probably see it like the picture of Yamato in the museum.

However, wasn't Yamato a big man who wielded two meters long great sword?
As expected, the current gender-neutral look of me can't possibly be likened with him I think. No, when I think again, the soldiers are pretty far away from me, so they probably can't measure my height.

Now then, let's heal the prince's and his cohort's wounds before leaving the stage. If I leave them alone to die here, it'll be like MPK, leaving me with a bad aftertaste.
Since it's troublesome to take the prince and his cohorts buried in the wreckages of the monsters, I put the wreckages into my storage, and then heal them who are left on the ground with water magic. I intended to only heal them for a bit, but they got completely recovered instead. I wasn't able to heal his white hair and aging, but I don't have any interest to help him that far. Have the temple look for it later yourself.
Looks like their destroyed equipments have been stored inside the storage along with the monsters remains, they're half-naked. I feel that's it's pointless, so I put mantles I've got from thieves back then on top of their bodies.

"See you later, hero."
"Ah, let's meet again in the battlefield with the demon lord next time!"

Oops, I forgot to tell him that I've already defeated the demon lord. There's going to be an oracle from the god before long anyway, so I guess it's fine.

I climb several hundreds meters high with Sky Drive, and fly away beyond the sky with the Wind Magic: Air Cannon. When I tried it back then, the speed exceeded 100 Km/H. Let's try to see the maximum speed soon.

To disappear beyond the sky like this, I feel like a hero from Showa era.
<TLN: This time he's saying Hero in English. In this context, he means the superhero in TV kind, and probably Ultraman in particular.>


◇


When I'm up in the sky on top of the duchy capital, I confirm that Arisa and the others have properly evacuated into the basement of the mansion. Sera seems to have been safely rescued too, she's in the same room with Arisa and the others. Looks like the previous earl couple and the employees are all safe too.
I'm glad that lady Karina, and little brother-kun are also safe in the scroll workshop.

I land in a suitable-looking forest.

It looks like I'm being watched by monitoring magic, though I don't know if it's from the hero's companion, or the duke's subordinate. Once I had landed in the dense forest, I used [Break Magic] on myself, and the monitoring got canceled.
I thought that it'd be troublesome if the sky drive got canceled, so I made a landing, but it seems that break magic only affects the designated target magic.

I go back to the duchy capital while flying close to the top of the forest. When I get close enough to see the capital, I descend to the ground and continue moving.

I infiltrate the the duke castle by using the route I've used to sneak into the duke's third son room before. According to the map, it seems that the duke and the king's body-double are in the same room.

Looks like the hero, followed by lady Ringrande, and the imperial princess Maryest, are coming to the castle to have an audience with them. Since I can't find the other hero's companions and his ship, they've probably gone back to the sub-space.

"Please forgive me for the sudden visit."

I've entered the room brazenly, but it seems none of the guards notice me until after I've opened my mouth. Are these guards alright?

The guards are coming from the roof by breaking through it, and from the hidden room.
It's troublesome to deal with them, so I use [Magic Hand] to make them unable to come closer.

"Who are you."
"I'm called Nanashi."

I answer the duke-san question. Duke-san instructs the guards with gesture, and they go back to their hiding places. The head miko-san might have told him about me, but to be in the same room as a suspicious person without guard like this, quite a daring person.
Only the duke's butler remains. If this was a manga, he'd be a dexterous type, but this butler seems to be of domestic affair type.

"I'll listen to your business."
"It's nothing much. I've come here to return this."

I unwrap the cloth while saying so, and hand over the holy sword Claiomh Solais.
Since they asked me how I got it, I told them the course of events honestly. For some reason, they were surprised when I talked about how the holy sword split into 13 when I recited the holy verse.

"This is too abrupt, I cannot believe you."
"There have been several people who can make the sword 『Dance』 by reciting the holy verse, but there were none who could release the true form of the holy sword."

They asked me to demonstrate if I really could do it, but isn't it bad to draw a sword before the king, regardless if he's a body-double?

"You don't need to worry. I've heard the story from the head miko. If the story about you defeating the demon lord is true, then you can kill us even without drawing a sword."

You're awful, duke-san. It is a fact, but you're going to shatter the guards' prides.

Since I've already transfered all the mana that I put into Claiomh Solais to other holy swords, I charge mana into it once again. It's fine with 500MP right.

Not only the duke, and the king, even the hiding guards are also surprised to see the holy sword growing.

"<<DANCE>>"

Just like before, Claiomh Solais splits into 13 swords and floats around my body.

"Ooh, the legend is true after all!"
"Beautiful, that painting truly wasn't an imaginary work."

They're too surprised.
The body-double-san even looks like he's going to go into spasm anytime, scary. Even getting excited should be done in moderation, okay.

Since it looks like they've admired enough, I release the excited state of the sword, and transition it back into one sword. I retrieve the MP that I've put into the sword, wrap it with a cloth and pass it to the body-double-san.

"You can keep holding it."
"Is it fine to do so without getting permission from the royal capital?"

Hey now, body-double-san, you shouldn't say thing like that without getting permission from the real king alright. I vaguely ask if it's alright to do it without the permission from the real king. The duke also nods when I glance at him.

"It is the spirit of the ancestor king Yamato-sama."

I don't really understand, but maybe there's some kind of will left behind?
It's a convenient sword, but it's not like I'm in trouble even without it. Let's make up something suitable as a reason to give it back.

"Don't you need it for the defense of the royal capital?"
"I don't mind, there is another holy sword in the royal capital."

Ah, that casted holy sword huh.
I've made swords with the same technique myself so I know, that sword is weak even compared to Gjallarhorn. It could cope with lower demons, but it probably wouldn't be able to match upper demons.

I have swords already, so I want to refuse, but it seems that once the sword has decided on its master, it will go back to its master if anyone draws it out. Normally, the master is decided with a dedicated ceremony, but it seems the case this time is extremely unusual.

Looks like they really want personnels who can subjugate the demon lord, when I receive the holy sword and the mood becomes hard for me to refuse, the talks about service, peerage, and such comes out. Of course since I don't have any such intention, I gently refuse it. It's already quite enough. I got interested when there was a talk of marrying the princess, but when I heard that she was a nine years old princess who hadn't got a fiance, that interest disappeared. Tell that to Hayato instead.

Since I feel bad for taking the holy sword for free, I decide to trade it with the famous holy sword in Shiga kingdom.

"T, this is, the holy sword Gjallarhorn that was stolen by the demonic man 17 years ago!"
"Ooh! God! The holy sword tempered by the ancestor king Yamato-sama has returned once again to the Shiga kingdom!"

I didn't think that they would be this delighted. It might have been better if I returned it earlier. By demonic man it must be Zen huh.

Since the hero and his party have arrived in the castle, I decide to bid my farewell.

The arena is ruined, so the final is postponed for one month, but a banquet ceremony is going to be held under the pretext of 'Upper Demon Subjugation'. It seems they've decided that the great monstrous fish were just illusions that the demon used.

Late night at that day, I make a casted holy sword the size of one-handed sword modeled after Claiomh Solais in one section of the underground labyrinth. The Claiomh Solais' sheath is among the garbages that I've put into the storage, so I reproduce it with the exact same look.

>[Counterfeit Skill Acquired]

>Title [Holy Swords Blacksmith] Acquired
>Title [Counterfeit Specialist] Acquired


At dawn, I sneak to body-double-san's bedroom and leave the replica on the bedside.
I put a note that says, "I've prepared the replica, please use it as you see fit.", together with the replica. With this, even the nit-picking nobles of pedigree can probably be effectively deceived. If the kingdom protector holy sword went missing, they would find someone to blame even if the duke and the king had given their permissions.

However, I'd have preferred a beautiful woman's bedroom if I had to sneak in anyway.