Academic City (2)

We have hunter certifications.

That means we have permission to enter restricted areas and can use dangerous zones as shortcuts.

Well, since it’s outside city limits there’s no one monitoring and some foolish people who don’t value their lives act that way too.

The important thing is this.

We can traverse these paths without any danger.

“Oh, there are demon bastards even in places like this. Hm? Must’ve been comfortable living where humans don’t come?”

“Gah!”

And such criminals swarm in places like this.

Ones I found based on my vague memories and future events.

These bastards don’t need any mercy. The mere fact that they remain in my memories proves they’re among history’s worst scum.

“Well, let’s ask just in case. What have you been up to until now?”

What I’m dealing with now isn’t a half-demon but a demon. Those with no human elements remaining.

There are two prerequisites for a half-demon to become a demon. One is simply letting time take its course.

Since demonic energy gradually burrows into the flesh, eventually the entire body becomes dyed with it.

When that happens, the half-demon becomes a demon.

And the other one…

“Wonder how many people you killed to become a demon already. Hm?”

That’s killing humans.

Demonic energy sprouts from despair. That’s why demons drive people to despair to create half-demons.

Wasn’t there such a farm at the Ryan barony too?

But what if instead of allocating that despair to create half-demons, you devour it yourself?

What if you plant those seeds in your own body rather than others’ flesh?

The demonic energy increases proportionally.

Naturally, the speed at which that energy corrupts the flesh accelerates too.

These bastards gave up being human and hunted humans to achieve that.

“Gak! Grgh…!”

“Ah, sorry. I guess I don’t really want to hear it after all. Not like killing and burning people is something to brag about.”

I strangle the bastard’s neck with chains.

This one was quite vicious.

A pervert with the strange compulsion to always burn people after killing them.

If left alone, he would surely kill countless people.

“I’d like to make this more painful and drawn out, but consider yourself lucky I’m not alone right now.”

It’s not good for the kids’ emotional development.

I lift the bastard’s body into the air with the chains.

Then I wrapped new chains around all parts that could move – wrists, ankles, everything.

It’s quite a convenient power. Good for both attack and defense, and there’s no better weapon for restraining.

Though it has the drawback of carving sacred marks into my palms that bleed each time I use it, it’s still a good power even considering that.

Clank.

Because I can inflict such clear terror slowly, surely, like this.

Bang!

I slowly pull the trigger in front of his face. The bullet made of holy power pierces his heart.

I wanted to start with his limbs and carve fear into him, but just this much for now.

“…That makes five?”

The journey from Rubia toward Arcanum.

Just the ones we’ve encountered number five. Though we plotted this route, it still seems like more than other places.

Of course, half-demons and demons are everywhere. So when I say there are many, I mean criminals bad enough to remain in my memories.

“Must be getting close.”

To the academic city Arcanum.

It’s strange. That the most criminals gather around the most powerful being.

That’s how territories work.

The border between the Empire and Arcanum isn’t a line but rather a region between them.

In other words, this path we’re traveling is a dangerous extraterritorial route.

Neither the Empire nor Arcanum pays attention to this place. Well, it’s originally a magical beast zone that only hunters traverse anyway…

But it still feels wrong to ignore a place where incidents keep happening.

“Phew…”

I watched over the spot until the half-demon’s corpse completely disappeared.

Though I put a bullet in his heart, these bastards are tough after all.

I decided to stay and keep watch while having a smoke until I could confirm he properly died and vanished.

I check on the situation with the rest of our group.

This is a criminal den. We chose this route planning to clean it up thoroughly while we’re here.

Of course, that means shortening the time spent here is natural.

I caught the leader so the kids should handle the rest well.

“…”

When you stay still like this, you can hear various sounds.

The sound of Titan’s hammer striking the earth. The sound of spears cutting through air. And something a bit different mixed in.

“Heeheeheehee!”

The sound of that crazy girl kicking something after losing it again.

We have four companions. Two combat personnel among them.

Of the remaining two, one is a doctor and one is a patient.

But there’s something that’s been bothering me lately about this structure.

Claire, who still hasn’t escaped the guilt of killing a person.

Actually, this might be better. No need to rush into a thorny path.

Though her talent is regrettable, living as a normal priest rather than combat personnel like a paladin or templar is also an option.

That would surely bring more happiness.

“…”

But would that be possible for her? She probably hates demons no less than I do.

Since they drove her family to death’s door and put a noose around their neck.

She’ll probably stand on the battlefield again like before.

If so, she needs to overcome it.

The dilemma of having to kill some people to save others.

Maybe because I’m thinking about this, my tobacco tastes especially bitter today.

So when I put out the barely smoked tobacco, the half-demon’s corpse I killed had also turned to dust.

“Let’s head back.”

And during all that long time.

The sound of Claire’s gun never rang out once.

*     *     *

Before long, we were able to arrive at the academic city, Arcanum.

Since we came straight here from Rubia without stopping at intermediate villages, it became a longer journey than expected.

If we hadn’t used shortcuts, it would have taken twice as long as now.

We cleaned up half-demons along the way too…

Now only the main stage remains.

-Next!

-Purpose?

-Show proof of identity!

There are many magicians in the academic city.

Of course, magicians aren’t the only ones here. Since it’s where authorities from each field gather to research.

But that’s precisely why there are many magicians.

They must be smart, and if they learned magic for self-defense, why would they bother learning physical weapons like swords and spears.

Perhaps because of that, this city has no guards or patrols.

-Next!

What greeted us at the main gate was a golem made with magical engineering.

-Purpose?

-What is it!

“Tourism.”

And beside it was a homunculus created through alchemy.

They automated most tedious tasks to reduce work. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re lazy. As scholars should, they must be focusing on their studies.

-Show proof of identity!

I show the ID issued by the hunter’s guild.

Not the ID you can get just by passing a test, but one the hunter’s guild evaluated and issued themselves. Kruud made it for us.

Since traveling with Lilia who has no ID would likely cause trouble. While at it, we got IDs issued for our whole group.

-Confirmed. Entry permitted.

-Next!

Thanks to that, things went smoothly.

“Are those strong?”

“Not as much as you’re hoping, so don’t worry about it.”

Titan showed interest in their strange appearance, but it’s fine. They’re products of magical engineering whose capabilities can’t be fully gauged by appearance alone.

Who would know if I claim they’re weak? Unless you’re the one who made them, there’s no way to tell.

“What?! No way!”

“…”

“How strong do you think our Lovely is?! Don’t act like you know if you don’t!”

“That’s right! Our Friendly too!”

Right, unless you’re the creator…

The ones who jumped in having fits were two men who appeared to be an alchemist and a magician.

Don’t tell me these crazy bastards were watching over their creations the whole time?

“Then I’ll give you a chance to prove it.”

“That’s our line! You green monster! There’s a dueling arena for ignorant ones like you!”

“One punch from our Friendly will turn you into minced meat!”

Are these guys really as smart as they’re supposed to be?

Who’s going to guard the main gate if you take away the golem and homunculus serving as guards? In Arcanum where they don’t even accept IDs not approved by high institutions, what nonsense is this?

“Great! Then my golem can be stationed at the main gate now!”

“Finally it’s my machine’s turn! Hey! Get lost quickly!”

“No…”

I had no idea being a main gate guard was such a popular position.

Is there even a waiting list?

This isn’t a place to show off toys.

“Hey! Fuck yeah, a duel?! Just need to go out now right?!”

“Woohoo!”

The quiet city suddenly becomes bustling. Scholars who had been shut in focusing on their studies come running out helter-skelter creating a huge crowd.

What is this even?

“…What a lively city. At least we won’t be bored while we’re here.”

“It’s quite different from my image.”

“Heeheeheehee! A fight! A fight!”

Seeing our crazy girl get caught up in the boisterous atmosphere, those people over there must not be in their right minds either.

I thought it would be a more dignified place. After all, aren’t they educated people? Most educated people I know held high administrative positions.

And most of them tend to be mindful of their conduct.

They certainly weren’t the type to hold festivals of madmen like this.

Ah, excluding the Pope of course.

“Alright, alright! Move aside! The duel between Lovely and Friendly vs the orc warrior begins now! Tickets are 20 silver!”

The situation progressed at lightning speed.

The empty dueling arena filled with spectators and preparations completed for the duel between the two scholars’ inventions and Titan.

Finding myself swept up and seated in the VIP section with organizer privileges, I could barely grasp the situation.

“Please help yourself.”

“Ah, yes…”

Well, it’s fine. Since they’re not causing trouble and this has become an official event, letting them do as they please is good too.

With this many people, finding someone should be that much easier.

Who I need to find is Ilina Crowley. Though charging straight into the palace would eventually create a chance to meet, I don’t want to do something that crazy.

Castian Crowley is a monster whose depths can’t be fathomed.

Barging into a place with someone like that, even with the status of an apostle, saying I want to meet his granddaughter?

I’d be lucky not to become an experimental subject.

Well, someone of essentially princess status probably wouldn’t be in a place like this…

“3 gold on the green monster!”

Probably not…

“Hey! Move it! Can’t you see I’m placing bets here?”

Though there is one person who looks somewhat similar…

“I’m a princess, isn’t standing in front of me a crime of disrespect?”

“Lost. Isn’t that person you’re looking for?”

“There must be some mistake.”

The person I remember had quite a modest impression.

A dignified atmosphere with blue hair and eyes that matched well.

That’s who Ilina Crowley was. And that’s not all.

Always kind to others…

“No, I’m telling you I’m betting! Me! Do you not know who I am?”

Someone who knows how to yield what’s theirs…

“Hey, what’s with these odds? How can you have so little faith in your fellow scholars that it’s not even mouse droppings worth? Hey, from now on bet on those idiots!”

“Booo! Tyranny!”

“If you’re jealous then be born with power!”

She should have been a noble hero…

“Linea.”

“Yes, Lost.”

“You must have mistaken someone else.”

“If that’s what you want to think, I can’t help it.”

Right, thank you.

Seems I’ll need some time.

Time to bid farewell to memories of the past.

*     *     *

As the self-proclaimed princess who resembled Ilina Crowley said earlier.

The odds were overwhelmingly in Titan’s favor.

And as if proving those madmen’s eyes weren’t wrong, Titan was dominating the duel.

“The performance is decent.”

Whether Titan realizes he’s a spectacle right now or not, far from being displeased, he’s putting on a show that would satisfy the audience.

Just looking at what’s happening now shows that.

“Waaaaaah!!”

Titan grabs both of the golem’s hands and pins it down.

There’s no need to do that deliberately.

One swing of his hammer would have shattered the golem.

He’s doing that only because it looks better.

He turned a fight he could end instantly into a spectacular battle display.

“Causing trouble again?”

As I was watching Titan’s performance that wasn’t quite a performance, a familiar face appeared and suddenly criticized me.

“My, what an honor to see such a noble person here. Please have a seat.”

A stern-looking old man leaning on a staff. And the young knight standing behind him like a guard.

People I know.

“Enough. That mouth of yours is still the same.”

“A pleasure to see you, Duke Forys.”

“It’s been a while, Lost.”

“Yes, good to see you too, Sir Allen.”

Edge Forys and Allen Wise.

I thought we might meet given the timing, but we really did.

Whether to consider this lucky or unlucky.

We won’t know until we check.

“That one’s still the same.”

That was what Duke Forys said watching Titan dismantle the golem named Friendly in the arena.

“Aura?”

“Still can’t use it. Though I’d like to see some progress, it would be good if that gentleman over there could teach him.”

“Oh… you mean me?”

“Yes, Sir Allen.”

“I appreciate the words, but I must decline. I’m on official duty.”

Allen shook his head politely. When he refuses so courteously, there’s no way to push further.

Allen probably acts that way knowing this.

Quite an underhanded method.

Come to think of it, with his talent and profession yet disliking such friendly matches, he’s quite a strange person.

“What brings you to Arcanum, boy? What are you plotting now?”

“How could that be? I’m just a simple benevolent priest. Arcanum is merely on the way to the capital Coinur. We stopped by for sightseeing but… I didn’t expect such a rough welcome right away.”

“Coinur?”

Duke Forys frowned for a moment before breaking into a cunning smile and whispering.

“Did the prince Titan want to have a go with Allen?”

“Yes, you got it exactly right.”

“I thought so… tsk tsk, seemed too easy to back down.”

If I hadn’t made this proposal, Titan would probably have stayed in Forys territory persistently pestering Allen.

Duke Forys must know this too. And knowing the Duke Forys I know, surely…

“Just thinking about it is entertaining. I’ll pull some strings for the nomination rights.”

“Thank you. But if you’re getting them anyway, could you get two?”

“Why? Got someone else you want to beat up?”

“Yes, someone named Kruud… He called you a low-life, Duke Forys.”

“I’ll do that. …But boy, how is it that lies are the first thing to come out when a priest opens his mouth?”

It’s not a lie.

At least not in my heart.

Kruud is such a vicious bastard that he might as well have said that and more.

Anyway, Duke Forys readily agreed to my request.

Considering his personality, even if he could do it, he seems like someone who would refuse.

There’s no particular reason really.

“That one is wasting his talent. If Prince Titan has grown somewhat by now, he could be a good influence.”

“I’m sure he will be.”

Edge Forys, since he is Allen Wise’s guardian after all.