Chapter 41 - A Better Next Time (6)

"Why does your complexion look like that, sir?"

"He's not badly injured, so don't worry."

After cleaving a portion of the sea, I sprawled out just like the black-stained waters. Not actually throwing up was the best I could do. Though even without throwing up, I drooped heavily like a wet rag.

"Then what was...?"

"It's the only clue we've gained."

Still, the slash I unleashed played its part. Even though it blew away the Inquisitor's barrier, it also cleanly sliced apart all the attackers aiming for the boat.

In addition, it didn't stop there, and when it parted a section of the sea, I managed to catch a glimpse inside...

"What is... this? A beast? A demon?"

"That, too, is something we will gradually figure out from here on."

I still didn't know. Whether what I saw inside was a reef, an illusion from the water's reflection, or something else entirely.

However, the only certainty was that if someone told me to get on a boat in the future, I would rather choose to stay up for three days and nights straight.

"Then will we stay here longer?"

"I think we'll have to for today, at least."

I tried not to pay attention to the Archmage, who was glancing at my complexion. The moment I acknowledged him, I'd have to throw a fit to match my concept, so it was better to just feign ignorance from the start. Especially now, when I didn't even have the energy for it.

'I freaking hate seasicknessss.'

'How does the nausea not go away even after getting back to land?!'

"Demon Knight, are you all right?"

I kept my chewed, busted lip tightly shut and looked down at the Kimchi Dumpling.

Was it because I had no leeway thanks to the seasickness? Between wanting to pat that worried round face and tell him I was fine, and my concept's language telling him to piss off because he was annoying, both options rolled back and forth on my tongue.

"If I'm not all right, what difference does it make?"

"... T-That's true, but..."

"Piss off."

In the end, my concept was the victor.

Telling him to straight-up piss off felt a bit harsh so I tried to soften it... but thinking it over, the character I'd assumed had a pretty nasty personality. It probably would've been fine to just say it out of nowhere. Although it wasn't a great look from my true self's perspective.

Enduring the dizziness, I turned my steps toward the forest. If I had my way, I'd be groaning in a bed right now, but if I did that, the pride I'd already shattered on the boat would evaporate without a trace.

And if it evaporated, I'd be in danger of getting smacked by a mace again. *Sob. *

"Come back by evening!"

'I don't care. The Demon Knight is going to sleep in the forest.'

* * *

"Let us go to Gruh Telz immediately."

'I was going to sleep in the forest, but...'

"Normally, I would suggest we rest, but this matter is no ordinary incident."

I had just found a sunny spot and lit some bug-repelling incense—which was in the gift bundle I received. Before my back even touched the rock, the Archmage, accompanied by DeB, sought me out.

It was far too early a visit for them to have figured something out.

"It could be an incident on the scale of Tatara... or perhaps even greater."

Was it fortunate that I hadn't fallen asleep yet? Or was it unfortunate that I couldn't rest even a little bit?

At least my seasickness had faded.

"Is it a demon?"

"It might be something similar."

CLENCH.

Listening to the Archmage's reply, I pulled out the two-hander I had planted in the ground and strapped it to my back.

"Lead the way."

Ordering him in a coercive, commanding tone was a bonus. Even though my insides had been weeping for a while now.

'Phew, still, I can't cry... I'm... an adult before I'm a Demon Knight...!'

I exited the forest, pointlessly spouting nonsense in my head. I had judged that pulling an all-nighter would be better than taking a boat, but suddenly, it turned into a day where I was doing both.

"Then let's hear it. You said it was urgent, so we came to find the Demon Knight first, but what on earth is this about?"

But it seemed DeB hadn't actually heard the reason for the urgency either. As we exited the forest, DeB interrogated the Archmage.

"Did I not explain it yet? I apologize."

"Forget the apology and just tell us."

"Hmm. The Inquisitor needs to hear this too, so let's head back first and have a proper discussion."

Unfortunately, the explanation was delayed further. The Archmage likely didn't want to repeat himself multiple times, but from our perspective, it wasn't a good thing.

After all, out of the two ways to make a person angry, the first is stopping mid-sentence, and the second is...

Well, yeah.

"Sir Archmage!"

Still, thanks to not going too deep into the forest, the beach came into view soon enough. The Inquisitor was pacing outside the village, leading five horses.

"I prepared them as you asked, but..."

"You did well. We shall depart immediately."

"Yes."

Perhaps knowing that I had nothing to pack, the Archmage immediately urged the party forward.

It seemed to be incredibly urgent. Even back in Tatara—though I hadn't known what was going on at the time—we hadn't moved this hastily.

"What on earth is going on?"

"Something has happened to the Sea Dragon."

First, we mounted our respective horses and gave the signal. The five horses shook their heads and began to gallop along the road.

"Isn't that something we were already expecting?"

"Expectation and certainty are somewhat different. Moreover, if the Sea Dragon itself has been corrupted, wouldn't the situation become much graver?"

"What?!"

"Are you saying... the Sea Dragon has been corrupted?"

At that remark, the two seemed quite surprised. I, however, was rather relieved.

'I thought it was something serious. I figured there was going to be an attack in Gruh Telz, but if it's about the dragon, it's a relief.'

Because I've been prepared for that for a long time.

Ah, of course, it wasn't like I had expected and accepted it because the exact same event happened in the original work. It wasn't that there weren't similar events at all, but honestly, raid backgrounds were all pretty much the same...

There's something massive? But it's neither an enemy nor an ally? Then they'd just slap some corruption or whatever onto it, and it'd end up as a raid anyway.

Rather, what I was worried about was seasickness... but could I really stop the game from opening a raid? I had no choice but to just accept it.

"Look at this."

Meanwhile, the Archmage took one hand off the reins and pulled something out. It was an object with a bone-like texture, its cross-section sharp as if it had been splintered.

"What is this?"

Since we were on horseback, the two received it directly to check the item. I didn't bother taking it, but even if I did, I doubted my current judgment would change.

"It is a dragon's tooth."

"A dragon's..."

"And it's also what the Demon Knight killed earlier."

I almost slipped for a moment. Those water lizards I killed were these teeth?

"This is what we saw earlier?"

"Yes. They are commonly known as Dragon Tooth Warriors."

Whether teeth turned into water lizards, or water lizards reverted back into teeth. I could easily understand that much. I'd encountered that kind of lore plenty of times.

However, what I was focusing on was the guess that those things would likely appear as mob spawns in the Sea Dragon fight.

Whether they appeared as a mob pattern during the boss fight, or as a gateway hurdle before the boss fight, whatever the case.

The fact that you could obtain a material called 'Dragon's Tooth' by killing them was quite tempting, but dealing with those kinds of spawns was still a hassle.

"How did you know this?"

"The moment I injected magic, it reverted to its original form. It's a characteristic of Dragon Tooth Warriors. I contacted the Magic Tower and verified it through their records, so I am certain."

Around that point, the Archmage changed the subject. As if the Dragon Tooth Warriors themselves weren't what was important.

"However, Inquisitor. Did you not say that, while it may not have been demonic energy, you felt an unholy presence from these?"

"Yes. Even now, I still... Ah!"

"As you have realized... the Sea Dragon may have been consumed by that unholiness."

"Wait, does that mean... the cause of all this is really the Sea Dragon, Sir Mage?"

"You are right. Moreover, the entire Western Sea could be ruined in the future. That is what it means for the Sea Dragon to become corrupted. However, the question is why on earth the Sea Dragon has been tainted..."

'Well, either the demon worshipers did something, or the laws of nature went awry and it just happened by coincidence. I don't think it's a very important detail.'

'No matter how deep the lore attached to a raid gets, how deep could it really be? Above all, not many people care about the background lore for stuff like this. I mean, I occasionally dug into it when I needed it for my roleplay concept, but still.'

"If we kill both the cause and the result, it will be resolved."

"... Your extremism occasionally makes me doubt you, but I suppose you might be right this time."

The Mage shook his head with a grave expression.

"It would be best if we could purify the Sea Dragon and bring it to its senses, but depending on the extent of the corruption, we may have to kill it."

Right on cue, a system window covered my vision.

「❖ The Rot Washed Ashore

∎ Find a way to approach the Sea Dragon

∎ Find and purify the source of the unholiness」

Thanks to that, I could be absolutely sure. Good. Whatever the cause was, a fight with the dragon was guaranteed.

"Then we must pick up the pace."

'But putting the fight aside, how am I going to endure the seasickness? Hah, future me, you're gonna suffer.'

* * *

Did the village chief say it took her son six days to reach the city? Riding on horseback, half a day was plenty.

Even if we couldn't stop the moon from rising, that is.

"Since the situation is urgent, I believe it would be best for us to split up immediately. Although I have contacted them in advance, I will need to explain the details in person."

Listening to the Archmage's words, a sudden thought struck me.

'Come to think of it, 'Legend of Heroes' had a Magic Tower in addition to the Temple, right? But why didn't I see one in the previous city?'

"Therefore, I plan to head to the Magic Tower and request personnel..."

"I will head to the Temple. Could you share a piece of the tooth?"

"Of course. I leave it to you, Inquisitor."

'I don't know. It's not like I'm in a position to ask either.'

Putting my doubts aside, I uncrossed my arms. It was because DeB and I were the only ones without anything to do.

If I followed him to the Temple, demon-related issues were bound to crop up, and there was no way DeB would follow the Inquisitor alone.

Accompanying the Archmage to the Magic Tower didn't seem like it would have much meaning either.

'Honestly, it's true. What's the point of me tagging along to request personnel? I'd just be watching. It's not that I don't want to watch, but...'

'Ah, right. I have to consider the fact that the Archmage previously discussed methods to seal me. If the Mage is coming up with a method, would he really use the Temple? He'd use the Magic Tower's research facilities.'

'That's enough of an excuse not to get close. If I had followed him obediently, I might have been misunderstood instead. Phew. That was close.'

"And you..."

*'Even if I have nothing to do, I still don't want to be ordered around!' * I desperately racked my brain. It would have been convenient if the quest gave me some kind of directive, but it seemed completely inactive.

'In that case, the thing I can do—well, the thing it would be good for me to do is...!'

"If you are going to suggest the Adventurer's Guild, keep your mouth shut. I am not so ignorant as to miss something like that."

'Since I'm the only pure adventurer here, what else is there besides the Adventurer's Guild?'

"Right. I leave that place to you."

'The problem is, I don't know what to do once I'm there. Do I just need to grasp the current trends? No, wait. Should I tip off an official about the incident? So they can rally adventurers immediately?'

"Then I'll just tag along with you, Sir Knight. It's not like back-alley folks have any business interfering here anyway."

"Piss off."

"Are you confident you can explain it all by yourself, Sir Knight?"

'Ouch, getting hit by facts hurts. If she's going to explain it in my stead, my true self says thank you, though.'

"Then let us go and tend to our tasks at once. Ah, let us gather at the Adventurer's Guild once we are finished."

"Yes! See you later!"

While the Archmage spoke, I turned my back to the moonlight and glared at DeB. Naturally, DeB just whistled and casually ignored my gaze.

'At any rate, you can't beat a Thief's shamelessness.'

"..."

FLUTTER.

'Still, I can't give up on looking cool.'

I broke away from the spot first, before anyone else could even set off.

"I said let's go together."

However, after taking a single step, I realized something.

'This is my first time in this city, so I don't know where the Adventurer's Guild is.'

"By the way, sir, have you ever been to this city before?"

*'... I should have dumped DeB on the Archmage no matter what!' * I clamped down on my endlessly wavering eyes for now and quickly mentally drafted the upcoming scenarios.

'Try one more time to ask why she's following me and if she didn't hear me tell her to piss off. It's not too late for that timing. But is she the type to actually leave if I do?'

'Second, admit that I don't know. That breaks character, so there's no need to even consider it.'

'Third, just wander around with her tagging along. Is this really the only path left for me...? Still, it'd probably be better to try the first option before accepting that final outcome, right?'

"Oh, you are?"

However, before I could even turn around and open my mouth, someone called out. Because it was the night streets and no one else was wandering around, I couldn't even delude myself into thinking we weren't the target.

"Aren't you the Demon Knight! I didn't expect to see you here!"

"Someone you know?"

'No, I don't know him.'

Furrowing my brow, I examined the person approaching me. He looked like someone I'd seen somewhere before, but then again, he didn't. Still, the scales tipped far more toward 'I don't know him,' so who the hell was he?

"Who are you."

There was no way my concept would like a situation where someone else knew me but I didn't know them. Adopting a rather unfavorable attitude, I asked.

Rather than being surprised by that, the other party just laughed out loud, saying, "Uhaha!" His mouth opened between long-grown sideburns, revealing yellowed teeth and a tongue coated in a thick white film.

Sometimes... no, often, the detailed aspects made me suffer, and now was exactly one of those times. *'Brush your teeth, man. Even I buy expensive salt and willow leaves to maintain mine every day.' *

'DeB didn't use to do it either, but started quietly copying me when she saw me taking care of it.'

"You don't remember? Well, from your perspective, I suppose that makes sense. Still, it makes me a bit sad."

'In the midst of all this, it seems we really do know each other. I sure don't, though.'

My eyes narrowed.

"You know, in Tatara, when you tried to go into the sewers and I tried to stop you, giving you a potion. I saw you in front of the burning house too. Weren't you also there when I explained things to Sir Archmage?"

'Um, ah, aah. Aaaah!'

Now I remembered. Honestly, it wasn't a perfect memory, but I managed to get a vague grasp of it.

'So, you're the guy who gave me an antidote before I lost my mind, right?'

"Are you sure about that?"

DeB subtly asked me. As a Thief class, she would be quite sensitive to this sort of thing. The world had its share of disguises and camouflage, and a Thief knew that best.

"So, what is your business."

In response, instead of saying I remembered him, I treated him with an incredibly rude attitude. That alone would have been enough for DeB to roughly understand.

"I wouldn't call it business, I was just glad to see you. I owe you my life, after all. Oh right, did you receive the gift? The folks who owed you gathered this and that to give you. I just left the items behind and departed, so I hadn't heard any news."

'More importantly, this guy. He talks a bit too much.'

"I saw him receive it just fine, so don't worry."

"Oh, really? That's a relief. But you are...?"

"I'm someone who ended up traveling with Sir Knight for a while."

"I see. I guess he's no longer traveling with Sir Archmage or the Inquisitor."

Perhaps seeing my twitching lips and the corners of my eyes—acting, of course—DeB stepped up and began responding.

Naturally, there was no need to tell him every little detail, so DeB didn't bother elaborating on the rest of the party either.

"Ah, sorry. I've talked too much. If you just arrived, you must be in a hurry to find an inn. Or are you looking for a tavern?"

'Wait. Wouldn't this guy know the location of the Adventurer's Guild? But wouldn't it break my concept if I asked him?'

"If that's the case, I could recommend one."

"Ah, we're fine. We'll be heading to the Adventurer's Guild."

'DeB! Couldn't you have asked him for directions while you were at it?!'

"At this time of night? Did something happen?"

"Well, I guess you could say that."

"I see..."

*'As expected, there's no way she'd ask for me.' * I swallowed my tears and turned around.

"Ah, wait. The guild relocated its building, so you won't be able to find it if you go to the old location. May I guide you there?"

'But a coincidence like this triggers right here?'

'Just as I was about to wander around because I didn't know the way, a guy who owes me his life shows up and naturally points the way without me breaking character?'

"... Lead the way."

'Snowballs are the best!'