Chapter 292: Natural Enemy (1)
"I was informed earlier that 『Pandora´s Hero』has arrived in Comer"
A man"s voice echoes in the darkness. It was not possible to identify where he was from the voice.
"Oh......is that so. I thought it would take a little longer, but that"s excellent"
Upon receiving the man"s report, Cardinal Bataille stops working on the paperwork. On the desk, a magic tool that issues a light illuminates Bataille"s face.
"Is it okay as it is?"
"What is this?"
"By the order of Bataille-sama, we are just watching over the hero and Satou"
"Are you dissatisfied?"
"No, there is no such thing"
Contrary to the words, the man"s voice contained the feeling of doubt, 「Why?」.
"Don"t worry, the hero and the devil king have been incompatible since ancient times. Just because you are around, Satou will do whatever he want without doing anything"
"Will 『Pandora"s Hero』 fight Satou as expected?"
"Kuhahaa. If they don"t fight, that"s fine"
No voice came back from the darkness. However, Bataille felt that the person was upset even if he couldn"t see it.
"Did you not know? I"m often said to be 『Behind Priest』,『Bloodthirsty fanatic』and『Hound of the Irigamit cult』, but I don"t like the elaborate plots that were originally made. As the Cardinal of the Holy Country Jardalk, I can"t deny that I"ve been messing with my hands for the sake of the country and for the cult"
It"s a little from the darkness, but there is an atmosphere where the air is loose.
"And folk gra.s.s also wants easy-to-understand poetic justice. If Satou doesn"t fight 『Pandora"s Hero』, Olivier"s capture plan is fine"
"As you say"
"But even if Olivier could successfully lure Satou, the Order of the Holy Knights led by Barash wouldn"t be left unharmed. Olivier scratched the 『Devil King Advent Plan』 that I had been working on for many years from the side. Irigamit will not punish us for doing this much. But it"s better to prepare. What"s the reply from Besier?"
"I received a reply from Tamos-dono that he would see you"
A reply came back from the darkness with another man"s voice.
"Hmm. You don"t have to bother to reply to Tamos, I can answer it by myself. He"s still a roundabout man. What about the human resources I asked for?"
"Currently, we have secured three people. All of them have powerful unique skills that can release 『Temptation』and 『Fascination』"
"Umm, okay, but I want at least five people"
"Understood"
Bataille resumes his paperwork, perhaps because he was happy with the report from his subordinates. The sound of a light feather pen running echoes in the room.
"One point of bad news"
"Say"
"Ansgar Foddo was chasing his whereabouts, but apparently he escaped to Comer City. However, he was injured, so it is only a matter of time before he is caught"
"Capture him alive and recapture Stella Foddo"s corpse"
"Leave it to me"
A slightly messy sound mixes, mainly because the light feather pen running smoothly was put in extra force.
"If Stella didn"t betray me in the first place, Olivier wouldn"t have scratched the 『Devil King Advent Plan』. Because of the abominable 『Evil Eye』that was born by the saints, from any faction. Even though I picked up the place that was estranged, I will give back the favor"
Bataille unpleasantly puts the light feather pen on the desk. And with a jug on the edge of his desk, he just pours water into a crystal gla.s.s.
"More than anything else, I have a feeling for the human pillar Satou, etc. It"s a ma.s.s-produced product that can"t draw the blood of a saint, but after all it can"t conceive a child"
Bataille drinks up the water, muttering that it is abominable.
"No, No. As I get older, I get angry. But no matter what the circ.u.mstances of Stella, it"s true that she betrayed me as Cardinal. Betraying me. Stella knows well that it is synonymous with turning the blade to the Holy Country Jardalk. Sin is sin, and atonement is not against us
"Be sure to get the corpse of Archbishop Stella and bring it to Bataille-sama"
"Umm, I rely on you"
Multiple signs disappear one after another. Bataille, who remained in the room, stared at the darkness for a while and then resumed his paperwork.
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"Yuu~, are you angry?"
"I"m not angry"
Yuu casually returns to Nina who asks terrifyingly. From the morning, Yuu has been in a bad mood since he returned from the orphanage in the slums yesterday. It hasn"t changed since he came to the Adventurer"s Guild. As a proof of that, the adventurers who usually flock around Nina and others don"t approach, perhaps because of Yuu"s mood.
"Eh～, you´re definitely angry～"
Having said that, Nina was looking at Marifa who seemed to know the situation, but Marifa was just crazy and useless. From that figure, the figure that is usually called by adventurers such as 『Ice Eyes』, 『Cold Blood Queen』and 『Ruthless Princess』 with an ecstatic expression is also a fragment. You can"t feel it.
"Tsk, what"s with Yuu"s b.a.s.t.a.r.d. If he wasn"t so angry, I would be able to get closer"
"Hahahaa. Well, he is so angry. If there was Lalit, I wonder what would happen. Lalit is better at controlling the party and clans than he is with scouting skills. Other clans want to recruit him"
"That Lalit can"t even dive into the 『Bewitching Tree Garden Labyrinth』"
Adventurers who were watching Yuu and others in the distance talk. Comer City´s Adventurer"s Guild is still thriving, with many adventurers coming and going.
"Hmm? You don"t look at me"
"It"s nothing unusual to be new. This is Comer city, right?"
"That"s right......"
The man is attracted to a young human who has entered the Adventurer"s Guild. The slender but well-trained body of blonde hair, the forehead guard and the sword hanging on the waist in light armor are gems that can be recognized as a work at a glance. The same goes for shoes and decorations and the shield, which is slightly visible from the back, is probably comparable to other equipment. Nevertheless, what he wore on his arm was a steel gauntlet and a sword. Immediately, fledgling adventurers against the youth make warlike eyes and provocative gestures. Contrary to the way of walking, the center of gravity and the calm expression, mid-career adventurers find out that the young man is not the only one, betting on who he is, and start predicting. The young man glances at the surroundings a little further from the entrance and goes straight to Yuu. That alone predicts that something interesting will surely happen to those in the Adventurer"s Guild.
"That black hair, I wonder if you"re Yuu Satou. I heard that I could meet you if I went to the Adventurer"s Guild and I wanted to come here"
Youth――Roy Buom speaks cheerfully. However, the att.i.tude that Yuu took is disregard. He"s staring at one point and he"s always thinking. However, despite taking such an att.i.tude, Roy has an unpleasant look on his face.
"This is rude. My name is Roy Buom, who is still called a hero"
Roy calls himself with a smile. Nina opens her eyes and Lena shifts her gaze slightly from the book she was reading to Roy. Marifa is still fluttering beside Yuu.
"Yeah! I got it!"
"f.u.c.king"
"Ah, I don"t think I"ll call myself that soon"
"Is that the『Thunder Hero』?"
"Rumor says he"ll swing his sword faster than thunder"
At this table, you can hear the loud voices of happy and regrettable adventurers. Roy wonders what they"re going to make so much noise about.
"The guys at the table over there know who you are. The guys over there were aware that you were a hero from the beginning and were betting when you would call yourself a hero"
Even if Yuu explains, Roy can"t keep up with his thoughts for a while.
"I......were you betting?"
With an incredible look, Roy sees the adventurers making noise.
"What a rude person!"
"Don"t get so angry. I was surprised, too. I don"t think I"ll be proud to be a hero as soon as I meet him
Yuu speaks plainly without looking at Roy.
"I don"t mean to brag about being a hero. Besides that, I want to talk to you"
"I don"t want to talk to you"
"Why?"
From the bottom of his heart, Roy was surprised at why Yuu refused to talk to him. Roy has never been turned down. Especially since he became known as a hero.
"Yuu, no! It"s so cold. Hero, my name is Nina Leva"
Nina urges Yuu to introduce himself, but Yuu doesn"t change his att.i.tude. Then, the book that Lena was reading is closed and she rises from her chair.
"......I love magic, I"m loved by magic, master all magic and how am I called, super genius magician Lena Forma"
No matter who called it, Lena was just calling herself. When she raises her cane and takes a determined pose, some adventurers get excited and make a noise with 「Oh!」 and are warned by the adventurer"s guild staff.
"I"m sorry. I don"t know, but I think it"s a famous magician"
Lena is ashamed when she is told that Roy doesn"t know her, even though she claims so in a cool manner. The laughter heard from here and there makes it look like Lena"s cane is quivering. When Lena sits back in her chair, she wears her hat deeper than usual and she resumes reading as if nothing had happened.
"What about this girl?"
Roy, who had a gentle look at Lena, then turned his eyes to Marifa.
"Th, That......even if you ask me my name"
Marifa doesn"t seem to be interested in Roy at all, she glances at Roy with icy cold eyes and she immediately begins to flutter again beside Yuu. Some adventurers hear voices such as 「It serves you right」 and 「Indeed older sister」. Roy regains his mind and waits for Yuu"s words.
"How long have you been here?"
"I gave my name. It would be polite to give your name too"
"Why do I have to give my name to someone who called me on his own?"
Yuu, who has been in a bad mood for a long time, hasn"t been blatantly hiding his emotions since Roy appeared. As if Roy"s existence itself was unpleasant.
"Why are you so aggressive? I apologize if I do something that bothers you"
"I? I, I mean, y, you are never any less old than me because of that aspect, are we? When you came in with a go-through exposed side, I thought some boy was lost"
Roy, who is often loved by the king of a country, is shocked by Yuu, who reveals his disgust. And――
(Wh, What a bad-mouthed boy!)
The first encounter between Yuu and Roy. The impression of each other was the worst.
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Author note:
Besier: Top of Holy Country Jardalk´s intelligence organisation Hana Blossom
Tamos: Big-wig of Holy Country Jardalk´s intelligence organisation Hana Blossom