Chapter 270: Dark Reunion

After the battle, I had returned back to the main camp.

Armia is by my side now.

Thinking of reporting that victory has been achieved for the moment, I announced my arrival and opened the door.

There, I found Seras, Qir and Armia, standing around the table with the map spread out.

It didn’t matter if they knew the location of the main camp now.

Thus, we have lights illuminating our area.

Once again, Seras confirmed the current situation.

[The remaining soldiers in the enemy army don’t seem willing to fight anymore. Even those who remain have begun to retreat. A few people who appeared to be from the 2nd Cavalry were ready to put up a thorough fight, but Gio and the rest of the Leopard Light Army took care of them. They won without any problems due to the difference in numbers.]

Yet to fully grasp the situation, Armia asked.

[What’s the situation with all flanks now?]

[The left flank, led by Niko-dono, has gathered up the surrendered enemy soldiers and is currently heading here. The right flank, comprised of Roa-dono’s army, is also on its way here.]

Crossing her arms, Qir kept her gaze down to the map.

[Gio-kun and the others would be staying on the front lines for the time being, right?]

[This is something Gio-dono suggested...... That we should still be wary of the Mad Emperor’s side. Speaking of which, in regards to that Mad Emperor’s forces————]

Seras glanced at me once before she continued.

[It seems that they are pursuing the remainders of Alion’s retreating troops. Death to anyone who doesn’t surrender, or so they appealed to them...... However, since it would be difficult to manage a large number of prisoners, it seemed like they would like to leave managing some of them to us...... What should we do about this?]

Seras posed the question to everyone in the room.

Qir and Armia’s eyes turned to me.

[No, I don’t think I am the one who should decide for this matter. It would be better if King Zect or Liese decides the treatment of the prisoners.]

[Hmmm~~ Buuuuut~~ I wanna hear about your opinion~~]

Fidgeting, Armia said.

[......................]

Even now, I’m still trying to grasp the character of this Lamia Knight......

For the time being, I’ll give them my suggestion.

[We aren’t in a situation where our help is really needed right now, right? In that case, you can just tell them that “we’ll take care of it” or “we’ll look into it”.]

There are magic words whose meaning can be tipped over at any time at one’s convenience.

[If they intend to press something unto us, those prisoners would probably be one of their cards they’ll use for negotiations.]

[I see~~. As expected of “Milord”-kun, you’re really reliable.]

[You’ve done well this time too, Qir. Even though you aren’t used to it, you were able to command a large-scale battlefield without breaking down until the end.]

[Right~~? As expected of this Qir-sama——— is what I’d like to say, but it’s mostly thanks to the Princess Knight-chan. I really learned a lot from her.]

[I- If I could be of any help...... It would be my honor.]

Hearing her words, Qir puts a hand on Seras’ shoulder.

[And on top of that, she’s also this humble~~? Geez, she’s so lovely that I wanna eat her.]

[Q- Qir-dono......]

Perhaps, because the two of them had spent so much time together in the main camp......

They seemed to have grown quite close to each other.

[You too, great job over there.]

The one saying words of appreciation to me was Armia.

[Since I’ve made use of your forces, I can’t really brag about it...... But well, I’ll gratefully accept your words of appreciation.]

Thereupon, the tone in Armia’s voice changed.

[......I’d like to thank you for Niko-dono’s matter too. Thank you.]

[She’s...... strong. Even after that happened, she came back to the frontline and took out one of the enemy Cavalry Captains.]

[Fufun♪ She’s one of our country’s Four Warlights after all!]

[That’s what you said, but aren’t you also one of them?]

[In this war, you see, I wasn’t able to play any role at all! However, the cause of this is you sending me to the rear, so I won’t apologize! Never!]

Puffing out her chest, Armia proudly stated.

At that moment......

[Doris-sama!]

A messenger came rushing in.

It looks like they’re bringing an urgent message.

However, the Divine Beast has already been secured.

If there’s anything else of note——–

[Someone who appears to be that human has been found!]

Yasu Tomohiro.

With a glance, Seras confirms my reaction.

The messenger dropped to his knees though, as if he’s reporting a blunder.

[It’s just...... my apologies! I was instructed not to approach carelessly if he’s discovered...... b- but his upper body was found sticking out of a sack......]

It was apparently a Dragonewt soldier who found him.

[B- Bearing heavy injury, he looked very exhausted...... and unable to remain indifferent, the Dragonewt soldier who found him gave him water and food......]

Pausing for a moment, the messenger gulped.

[F- For doing as we please...... Please accept our apologies! H- However...... When I saw him myself, even I——— that is just......]

From what John Doe told me, I already know Yasu’s condition.

The person who found him is a Dragonewt soldier.

Yasu had been together with the 6th Cavalry.

And it was the 6th Cavalry that treated Niko and the Dragon Light Army like that.

They must have felt sympathy for him.

Or rather, it’s not hard to see why they would feel pity for him.

As a member of the Dragon Light Army, they must have felt that they couldn’t overlook his state.

[How is he? Is he sensible enough?]

[Y- Yes...... But he’s only able to mutter responses. It was just a really soft murmur though...... Expressing his gratitude.]

Gratitude huh.

[Alright. Would it be possible to move him?]

[I think it’s possible.]

Getting close to the map on the table, I pointed to an area.

[That human...... Can you bring him to this location?]

▽

“Report back to me when the messenger from the Mad Emperor arrives”

I left them with those words.

I also gave a few other instructions before leaving the rest to the people of the Faraway Country.

Liese also said that she would come out to the main camp once.

With the way she is now, she should be doing well now.

Getting on Slei, I departed along with Seras.

My destination is, obviously, to where Yasu Tomohiro is.

Incidentally, my current appearance is that of the Leopard King.

[That person is Milord’s......]

[Yeah, a human from the same world that I used to be.]

[I wonder what happened to the Heroes who remained with the Goddess?]

[......That sh*tty goddess would cut them off at a moment’s notice. She didn’t seem like someone who would discard not only me, but others as well.]

From what John Doe said......

Yasu was given the task of recruiting or disposing of the Fly King by the Goddess.

However......

“If it didn’t seem like he’s any way useful, they can get rid of Tomohiro Yasu.”

That’s what the Goddess told John Doe.

Perhaps, Yasu may have done something to John Doe and the others that made them judge him useless.

[Milord.]

Understanding her call, I responded.

[———–Yeah.]

I could see several Dragonewt soldiers.

They’re over there huh.

▽

As soon as we arrived, Seras and I dismounted.

As soon as Seras saw Yasu though......

[......This is......]

Seras held her hand over her mouth and turned pale.

She seemed to be at a loss for words.

It doesn’t seem like she can speak any more than that.

Leaving her at that, I turned to a nearby Dragonewt soldier and asked them to explain the current situation.

Looking like they’re finding it difficult to explain things, the Dragonewt Soldier spoke.

[......A little while ago, he lost consciousness. However, it seems that he isn’t in a life-threatening condition anymore. Perhaps, he may have been relieved to hear that, as the human lost consciousness......]

[Did this human say anything before he passed out?]

The Dragonewt soldier responded.

Compared to what I had heard beforehand though, there wasn’t much new information.

However......

[That he is a Hero from Another World...... That is what he said before he lost consciousness.]

The Dragonewt soldier said, before looking at Yasu again with some traces of astonishment on their face.

This must be the first time they’ve actually met a Hero from Another World.

Well, even though they don’t know about it, they’ve technically met one a long time ago.

[.......................]

Even so———– He revealed himself to be a Hero huh.

However......

[This guy...... certainly is in quite the horrible state.]

Yasu’s state was nothing short of miserable.

He doesn’t look any different from a worn-out rag.

Thereupon, the Dragonewt soldier who was treating him distressingly explained.

[His hand...... as you can see, had three of its fingers amputated. All the nails from both hands and feet had been peeled off...... And the tendons on his right arm have been torn to shreds. Unfortunately...... I think it’s too late to treat that arm. Also...... In some places, his flesh had been scraped off. It seemed like those areas had been healed though. However, the shaved area on his right ear......]

Once his words were cut off, the Dragonewt soldier’s expression twisted as he continued.

[And...... these tiny round scars that scattered around his right eye......]

It seemed like he was repeatedly stabbed by something that looked like a needle.

From what I see, it seemed like they’re making him feel fear by telling him that they’d stab him in the eyeball huh.

[However, it seems that he escaped blindness. It’s just that, ummm...... These wounds look rather creepy......]

[What about the treatment for his wounds?]

[Y- Yes...... The treatment of his wounds, including stopping the bleeding, is almost completely finished. Even if we didn’t treat the wounds...... those wounds itself have been treated well.]

The Dragonewt soldier gloomily said.

Thereupon, as if they had made up their mind, the Dragonewt soldier asked.

[......Ummm! This treatment, a- as I thought———]

[Yeah. This treatment was probably also done by the Sixth who wounded him.]

[That is...... W- Why did they......]

It seems that the Dragonewt soldier find it difficult to understand.

Well, it may be difficult for the people of the Faraway Country to understand this.

[......................]

They themselves had tormented him.

However, for them to “enjoy” it for a long time, they have to take other measures like stopping him from bleeding.

They weren’t aiming to kill him, but to mentally drive him to a corner.

The treatment was given to him so that they could continue torturing him......

Yasu had originally been a lanky guy, but the Yasu I’m looking at now is even thinner than before.

I could also tell from the smell.

As for how they had treated him———- It’s something simple, something one could easily tell.

Those Six Cavalry bunch......

[......Tsk.]

They really are......

They really have bad taste.

[And then, there’s this device......]

Holding “it” in both hands, the Dragonewt soldier asked me for confirmation.

A seemingly restraining device made of a steel-like material.

It looks like a mask that covers the lower half of the face.

[The human there didn’t seem to be able to speak until I removed this......]

[I see.]

He wasn’t able to speak with that.

In short———- It was a device so that he couldn’t speak out his skill name.

It’s to thwart that activation condition.

They won’t have to worry about being struck by his skill as long as they have this installed.

With this device, they would be able to disable any Hero’s skill that requires one to utter the skill’s name.

This type of skill is as good as disabled if you get hit in the throat or vocal cords after all......

[Ummm, Leopard King-sama...... Before he fainted, I- I’m unable to stay indifferent...... We’ve given him water and some watered-down provisions...... M- My apologies! Even when we don’t know if he’s an ally or an enemy, w- we arbitrarily decided to——–]

He seemed like he’s about to continue, but I stopped him.

[I already heard about that from the Dragonewt soldier who came to report earlier...... You don’t need to worry about that. When it comes to Heroes from Another World that has been on the Goddess’ side, I also had some things I want to ask...... so if he were to die, that won’t be possible.]

With a grave expression still on her face, Seras asked.

[In that case...... Would he be brought into the door as a prisoner?]

[......I guess so. For the moment, bring him into the door———– .]

I casted on Yasu.

While my skill is in effect, it should keep him from waking up for several hours.

Thus, he won’t wake up while they’re carrying him.

Picking up the mouth restraints, I spoke to the Dragonewt soldier.

[You’ll have to reattach these restraints on him. You can put them back on him after you get him inside.]

[W- We’re reattaching this?]

[Yeah.]

[Y- Yes......]

It must have seemed like a ruthless act for the Dragonewt soldier.

I had told him to reattach the restraints that must have caused Yasu so much pain after all.

However, no one knows what will happen in the future.

After he wakes up, he may use his skills and suddenly go berserk.

In that case, the victims would be the people of the Faraway Country.

I want to reduce as much risk as possible.

[I heard that before he lost consciousness...... he expressed his gratitude?]

[Ah, yes...... When I offered him water, it was very faint...... but if I’m not mistaken, I heard him say “Thank you. I’m sorry”.]

[..........................]

“You’re just a lowly E-rank, you have to be respectful to this A-rank me.”

“You’re annoying, Mimori! Die! Go away!”

“Then, live with your hardest in this short time that you’re going to live, Disposal Hero-kun.”

Yasu Tomohiro’s words when he rejected me in the previous world.

Yasu Tomohiro’s words when I was being disposed of.

I can’t seem to connect these two.

The Yasu Tomohiro laid down here———– He’s already finished.

He’s exhausted.

He’s in agony.

That’s what he looked like.

I was certainly surprised by his transformation just before I was being disposed of.

It’s not that I didn’t have some thoughts about his attitude towards me at that time.

However, seeing Yasu earlier......

The thought “serves you right” hasn’t popped within my mind.

Of course, the desire to hurt him any more than this...... never popped in my mind.

The only thought I had in mind was......

“This is just too much.”

That was the only emotion———- that gushed up within me.

▽

I told the Dragonewt soldier how long it would take for to be deactivated.

I’m unable to use the same skill consecutively.

However, it can be used again after some time.

Well, if I wanted to keep him restrained for a long time, I could just cast

on him in between.

Though I say that, I’m not really sure I need to use that semi-permanent combo for the current Yasu———

[If I find the time...... I’d like to talk with this Hero once. If he shows any intention of attacking, I’ll be responsible for restraining him with my Sorcery.]

In that situation though, I’ll bring Seras with me.

Yasu was dispatched by John Doe.

That means, Yasu shouldn’t be as troublesome to deal with as him.

Even if he tries to attack us by surprise, Seras and I should be enough to deal with him.

[Well......]

I turned my gaze towards Yasu, who was being carried on a stretcher made of wood and cloth.

[With the way he is right now...... I suppose I don’t need to have such apprehensions.]

[L- Leopard King-sama!]

Changing places with Yasu as he was carried away was a Centaur.

[Reporting!]

I was thinking that it was about time——–

[A messenger from the Mad Emperor has arrived!]

They have finally arrived huh.

[I- I bring upon his message as is! According to Mira’s messenger———

“Just after the end of this great war, your army is exhausted and is probably busy dealing with the aftermath of the war. Therefore, it’s likely difficult for your country to make a quick decision on how to deal with our country for the moment. Therefore, I would like to set a deadline for a response until the evening. The appropriate place for our negotiations would be outdoors. The location is preferably halfway between the two camps, but we could follow your specifications. Our army will “deal with” the remnants of Alion’s Thirteen Cavalries, and camp at the aforementioned location to rest and clean up after the battle. If there is no response by the deadline, we will withdraw our forces. In that case, however, please understand that we still intend to renegotiate”.]

The Centaur then looked at us, as if asking for a decision.

Finished listening, Seras broke the silence.

[It seemed to me that they’re conceding quite a bit to us but.....]

[If the reason why the Mad Emperor wanted to secure the Divine Beast...... was that he wanted to negotiate with the Faraway Country, this concession is understandable. I’ve heard that Mira has declared war on Alion and has already sent troops to Urza. If that’s the case, their aim is probably this country’s forces, hoping for an alliance against Alion.]

And then, there’s also the possibility of them aiming for the Forbidden Race———- the Forbidden Curses that they could make use of.

In other words, he’s calling upon Alion’s enemies.

That also includes those who were enemies with that sh*tty goddess.

The existence of the Forbidden Curses could be considered as the trump card of those against the Gods.

If they knew about it, it wouldn’t be surprising if they’re aiming for the Forbidden Race.

[A- Also......]

It seems like that wasn’t the end of their message.

[“If possible, we’d like to have Fly King Berzegia-dono be present too.”]

[ ! ]

Surprised, Seras turned towards me.

As if trying to surmise my reaction, the messenger also looked at me.

[U- Ummm...... I was told that it was during the battle that he learned of Fly King-dono’s existence here...... A soldier from the Faraway Country mentioned the Fly King Squadron, and a Mira soldier who was out scouting apparently overheard it...... a- and they just learned that you’re on the Faraway Country’s side......]

As I had expected, not everyone is able to switch names while always being aware of how I first introduced myself.

Some people would inevitably slip up.

Especially under the extreme conditions of war, it’s no wonder that they couldn’t be completely conscious about this.

In response though, I tried to confirm something with the messenger first.

[What did Qir and Liese say?]

[Qir-sama wanted to ask for your opinion about this first...... while Liese-sama said that “she would like to go back inside the door and discuss things with everyone, including Fly King-dono and Seras-dono”.]

It’s not impossible that the Mad Emperor will surprise attack us.

However———-

[At any rate, some of the army corps have been fighting hard and need to rest. Even if we were to go to war with Mira, they wouldn’t be able to fight properly without rest.]

Most of all, if they wanted to make an alliance, this would be a matter for the Faraway Country.

It’s not for me to decide.

However......

[....................]

If they wanted to ask for my advice, I suppose I should respond.

[Alright. Keep the defenses up here, while we go back inside the door for the time being.]

The next chapter will be updated on November 5th (Friday), around 9:00 pm.