Chapter 142 - 140 A Warning from the Overturned Cart
The next morning
A total of fifty people had gathered to search for Milfe.
They had headed to the Adventurer Guild to begin registering as adventurers.
The fifty people lining up at the reception desk were individuals who stood at the polar opposite of elegance.
"Listen, little lady. We come from the Kieff Country. We were A-rank mercenaries, so we should be able to get A-rank here too, right?"
"W-well, do you have anything to prove that?"
She asked fearfully, but it seemed they had nothing.
There was a sign that a commotion was about to break out, but a man called the Leader arrived and shouted, "Don't cause a scene! As long as we're allowed into the dungeon, that's all we need. We don't care about troublesome procedures, just give us permission to enter!"
When the Branch Manager appeared and said, "Please, please do!", six of them formed one team. It seemed they would divide the work to trace Milfe's tracks. The Leader and the Deputy Leader said, "We'll be waiting for good news from you guys!" and intended to wait at this guild's tavern.
(This is a chance I couldn't have asked for!)
Using [Presence Concealment] and [Concealment], I decided to read the thoughts from behind the Leader, and the Deputy Leader began to speak in a whisper.
"Is that... is that really Milfe? The age difference with a ten-year-old is too great; it'll be a disaster if we're chasing ghosts. Besides, that talk about the treasure sounds fishy to me, too."
"It can't be helped, can it? That person says there's no mistake that she is Milfe. Moreover, they came from the Kieff Country wearing priestess clothing. The age is strange, though. That person has been searching for Milfe for sixteen long years. At this late stage, they probably can't give up."
It seemed they were looking for something like a massive fortune or a secret treasure.
By reading the Leader's thoughts, I learned various things.
The Kieff Country was composed of a collection of powerful clans. It seemed the heads of these clans gathered to decide the nation's representative. Seventeen years ago, Milfe's father was the representative. At that time, that person who was the deputy representative attempted a coup to overthrow Milfe's father, who was also an immensely wealthy man, in order to seize money and power.
However, Milfe's father, the representative, detected the coup early. He hurriedly hid his main assets somewhere. It seemed he intended to use them when he regained power. In the end, he was likely killed. At that time, Milfe's mother, who was said to be a woman of peerless beauty, gave birth to a child and disappeared somewhere.
Recently, one of the representative's close aides was finally captured and confessed under torture, "The location of the secret treasure is written on the pendant of the escaped infant. Her name is Milfe."
Just as the people ordered to search thought, "This is it," the war with Hazard Country broke out.
It was fortunate for Milfe that the orphanage and the church where she had been were left in ruins. The living witnesses had scattered, making it difficult to find her. In the meantime, various places were excavated, but the secret treasure was not found, which seems to have led to this pursuit of Milfe.
(Now I understand. Then, I'll take those fifty people!)
The fact that they split into groups of six was lucky for me as well. I can kidnap them without drawing attention. I'll cast [Sleep], erase their memories, apply a Slave Mark, and then cast [Adrenaline] and [Dopamine] to make them my security guards.
Forty-eight people quietly vanish from the dungeon.
And even the Leader and Deputy Leader vanish while they are in the restroom.
The adventurers were hesitating because forty-eight people had entered.
I was able to explore the dungeon in a state of monopoly. Moreover, I somewhat hoped that I might meet Otfrid again.
(Today's main attraction will be the day of the bees and the ants. The floor bosses are probably a Queen Bee and a Queen Ant.)
The floor bosses... were exactly as I thought.
Then, hearing a "clunk" sound, when I descended to Basement Floor 1, I couldn't help but say, "What's going on?" It was a place like a tropical jungle.
(Last time, it was supposed to be a ruined castle...)
While thinking that, I moved forward with excitement. The first wetland seemed to be a total danger zone, with Man-Eaters and Mandrakes extending their vines to attack. From the river, countless Wild Alligators and Poison Snakes appeared. From the sky, Parrots attacked. For an average adventurer, this is a situation where they'd be killed instantly, isn't it?
[Blizzard]
In an instant-freeze state, this hot area became frozen and cold in a flash, and the Parrots froze and fell. The countless monsters in the vicinity also perished.
(Collecting them is going to be a pain.)
However, it felt like my level was definitely increasing. Once the collection was finished, I headed to the next zone. Something like a coconut flew toward me. Wondering what it was, I looked with [Appraisal], and a tree called Chocola Evil was flying things like seeds at me.
When I cracked one open, there was cocoa mass inside.
"Ooh! A gift from God?"
I can make chocolate with this! There, if I catch the fruit with a giant net made of Wild Spider Thread and position it so they fall into my Magic Box bag below, I could get a massive amount.
They fly toward me one after another like cannonballs. It's at a level where a direct hit to the head would definitely kill you.
(It won't be inexhaustible, right? But maybe I'll let them shoot until they run out?)
Since it was a rare chance, I thought I'd set up a barrier and take a little nap, so I decided to wait for them to finish shooting.
Even after waking from my sleep, they were still shooting, so I used Instant Movement to move to a visible location and hurried ahead. Fortunately, they seemed to still be shooting toward the net.
After that was a reward zone named after the fruit zone of pineapples, bananas, mangoes, and citrus fruits. Looking with [Appraisal], it was indeed so. There were also many coffee beans, black pepper, sugarcane, and Spado potatoes and Patata, so I carefully dug them all up with earth magic and collected everything.
After passing through the reward zone, it was now a scorching lava zone.
(What is this...?)
Countless red dots spread out so much that I could tell the whole thing was an enemy. What was there were [Fire Lizards].
[Blizzard]
Freezing them instantly makes it cool, but collecting the corpses... was a huge task.
As far as the eye could see, there were corpses of Fire Lizards with body lengths of about 2m to 4m. I couldn't tell if there were tens of thousands of them.
(This isn't a place where ordinary adventurers can come with swords or bows...)
The gap after the reward fruit zone was too large. If one had an inventory like mine, it would be possible to bring back a large amount, but with the heat of this scorching hell, everything would be ruined, and I thought it would be tough if attacked by a massive number of monsters.
Then I realized something. What if I defeat the floor boss here? What if the cocoa mass fruit disappears? Since that would be a problem, I decided to collect them in a hurry.
After collecting all the monsters, it was finally time for the floor boss.
(A fire monster or a plant type?)
While thinking that, when I opened the door, what was there was the [Dark Crimson Lion].
Its eyes shone silver, and its body hair was gold, but it had two sharp horns, fangs, claws, and a tail that was close to purple; it was a monster that resembled an eerie lion.
(This looks stronger than the previous Hornfang Rex.)
The speed was also incomparably faster.
Even for me, if I didn't use [Swift Gale], I wouldn't be able to keep up with the enemy's speed. As expected, magic is sealed.
I used [Presence Concealment] and [Concealment], and since its nose seemed good, I threw something smelly, which made it flinch.
Its body was covered in hair, and blades didn't pass through easily. It used its long tail like a whip, attacking from behind as well. It was not easy to dodge the horns, fangs, and claws.
"That hurts... you bastard!"
I had changed into armor to attack, but its claws were tearing through. The enemy was desperate too. I repeatedly targeted the neck and head with hit-and-away tactics, gradually cornering the enemy. It also tried to capture me by freely extending and retracting its claws.
When it grew weak, I thrust my sword into its brain, and it gave a death rattle. I was covered in wounds as well, but I applied Heal and repaired my armor with Revive.
(I don't really know how much time has passed here, but I managed to level up and, for now, I've gathered research materials. I'll try making chocolate in the Academy's laboratory.)
After collecting the Dark Crimson Lion, I headed toward the Academy.
The fifty people I captured were in a state of panic when they woke up.
"Where is this? Who am I... and what was I doing?"
"You too? Do you know me?"
Regias spoke to the fifty agitated people.
"Didn't you all volunteer yourselves, saying you wanted to become the security guards here? Don't you remember? Well, fine. Training begins now!"
Every day, they were made to run on the sandy beach while carrying sandbags and were given special training in swimming. They were told they would be trained for at least one year, and for some reason, they were a group of masochists who were happy about it.
On the other hand, Windam had been facing a string of misfortunes since I left.
People gathered at the Military Affairs Bureau after Windam told them, "We're having a meeting!"
"Excellency Windam! You say a fort, but have you decided where to build it? If it's decided, please tell us the reason!"
"What about materials? Personnel? Budget? Isn't this exactly the same as when it was the Northern Fort? What do you intend to do?"
The Military Affairs Bureau Chief, the Deputy Chief, the Materials Section Chief, the Engineering Section Chief, and the Accounting Section Chief—the five of them—were looking at Windam with cold eyes. Then the Military Affairs Bureau Chief spoke.
"You probably think of us as nothing more than tools, don't you? How many years have you been with me? Besides, you've asked me my name and position many times, haven't you? Try saying my name!"
When he couldn't say it, the five said, "Dealing with a fool is a waste of time! Let's go back!" and left. The five were talking loudly in the hallway.
"Father was great, but being Minister of Military Affairs just because of bloodline. Thinking that such a fool is above us makes every day a pain!"
"Is that okay? That's lèse-majesté, you know?"
"Who cares! By tomorrow, he's a fool who will forget everything!"
"True, as a human being, he's finished, isn't he? Because he has no heart!"
"Exactly! He's just the son of Klaus-sama. He's got nothing but women on his mind! Before long, he'll probably forget his family's faces and names too, won't he?"
Laughter echoed in the hallway.
It was frustrating to be made a fool of, but everyone hated Windam, who couldn't even recognize names or faces and called everyone only "you" or "sir."
(At this rate, I'll be castrated...)
I hurriedly consulted the Materials Section.
"Excellency Windam? How much budget will be used? First, please consult with the Accounting Section!"
When I went to the Accounting Section...
"What about the arrangements for the people who will carry out the construction? That comes first, doesn't it?"
When I went to the Engineering Section...
"It's strange to prepare only people when there are no materials. First, go consult the Materials Section."
I grew angry at this endless loop of being passed around.
Then I noticed they were whispering and sneering.
"He's a real fool, isn't he? Does he think he can do his job by making bureaucrats his enemies?"
"It's fine because he's just a decorative fool son, right? The man himself is difficult because his pride is so high. The Grand Duke family will end with his generation."
It wasn't that Windam lacked ability.
Rather, if it were administrative work, he was quite excellent, but because he couldn't remember names and faces and occasionally took an arrogant attitude, he was disliked and his evaluation was distorted. Because he was disliked, he wasn't taught important things, and he was made a fool of for not knowing them.
Every night, Windam spent sleepless days haunted by nightmares.
'In the end, he's just a second-generation. A decoration should act like a decoration!'
'Does he have any merit other than being the son of Klaus-sama?'
'Castrated? He'll probably be welcomed by the women of the world, won't he?'<'You fool! Don't act so high and mighty! You useless piece of trash!'
He couldn't see the faces of his subordinates, and when he woke up, sweat was pouring from his entire body.
Hearing such voices, he couldn't sleep, screaming in his quarters in the middle of the night. This wasn't something I had shown him. He was being driven into a corner on his own.
Windam was suffering, on the verge of going mad.<
(I am alone... abandoned by my parents, abandoned by my wife... and even Aristo and Shivans have left me... my subordinates have abandoned me as incompetent... Why is this happening? Someone, help me!)
On Aristo's side, he was in the process of making a comeback.
"I've finally realized that I was wrong. I should have realized it last year when I was punched by Shivans. I hated being told by those around me, 'Because you are the heir to the Grand Duke family,' at every opportunity. But without realizing it, I was using that status..."
He was telling Kate and Aria.
"It's not too late. I'm glad you realized!"
Aria said, and he smiled a little.
"I was arrogant. Even though it was what I was supposed to hate the most... I had arbitrarily decided that I could remember the names and faces of those close to me, but nothing else. That was a mistake! If I try my hardest, I should be able to do it! Shivans said, 'You mustn't run away saying you're sick.' He was absolutely right. I was a person who didn't even try to consider or understand other people's feelings."
When Kate said, "It's going to be hard to regain trust from everyone, you know? Even Shivans-kun said that losing it happens in an instant!", Aria and Aristo nodded.
"This time, I was presented with 'disinheritance and castration' by Grandfather. Even if I am disinherited, I want to be able to live with my head held high! Though I hate the castration part."
When Kate and Aria laughed, Aristo said, "I want you to teach me."
"How can I be more close to people? They say to be kind and gentle, but that's a difficult thing, isn't it? I wonder what Shivans is doing? I've started wanting to see him!"
When Aria said, "You're called a devil, you know? Isn't that a far cry from being kind and gentle?", and laughed, Kate said, "They say that experiencing many painful things and failures makes you kind to others, but I wonder if that's true? I've nearly died twice, but I don't feel like I've become kind and gentle. It's difficult."
"Anyway, I'll do everything I can! I want to live up to the expectations of Aria, Kate, and Shivans, who supported me!"
When Kate worried if the relationship between Aristo and Aria was okay, Aristo thought for a moment and said, "I'll tell you something honest," to which Aria responded, "Go ahead."
"I have absolutely no desire to embrace Aria. I don't know about the future. But being stepped on is exciting!"
"What a coincidence! I don't want to be embraced by Aristo either! Though I don't know about the future. I do like stepping, though! I'll step on you again!"
"In that case, I have a request! I want to see Aria being embraced by Shivans! That sounds even more exciting!"
"I can't help it... well, I'll think about it if you work hard."
Kate muttered with an exasperated face, "And to think that's what gives him motivation... what a couple with strange fetishes."
In fact, Aristo was working hard.
Even when he was told blatant sarcasm, he would say, "If that's what you think, then I suppose it's true."
"Aristo-senpai, did you really commit rape?"
"Whether I say it's true or say it's not, I know I'll be criticized. But please judge me by watching me from now on!"
His physical training and his reports were remarkable, but when the students who didn't find that interesting sought agreement from Muller through criticism, sarcasm, and jabs, Muller would look at them with contemptuous eyes.
"Are you all in a position to criticize others? At the very least, I believe Aristo-senpai is working hard while reflecting on his past. Do you people, who jump on criticism of others and badmouth them, have no thoughts of your own? You should look at yourselves in a mirror. It's uncool."
Being told this by Muller, the students backed down sheepishly.
Seeing this, Aristo expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Muller!"
"I was the same as them until a little while ago. Someone taught me. That I cannot stay as I am now. They finally made me realize! It's not like I wanted to help you, senpai!"
Aristo thanked the blushing Muller.
At the same time, the Seven Idols dearly loved "Teacher Sera!"
Because she was the daughter of the greatest merchant in this country and had been decorated by His Majesty.
"Is Teacher Sera Shivans-senpai's wife?"
"Ahahaha! I'd like that, but for now, my work is fun. Though I'd hate to stay a virgin forever."
The seven were happy at those words.
"Hey? On the contrary, I want to ask, why is Shivans-sama called a devil? Well, I think the one who opposes him is the fool. Even when I met him, I was a fool and was about to destroy the Cielo Trading Company."
When the seven said they wanted to hear the details and she told them from the time they met, Misuzu said, "Heh! That's amazing!"
"Teacher was Aria-senpai's maid?"
"And in the palace? What an incredible life!"
Rinora and Arina were moved.
"I heard you all had unfortunate things happen to you as well. But in the sense that you were saved by Shivans-sama, we are the same! From now on, if there's anything you want to ask, ask anything!"
The seven returned to their lodging while feeling grateful to Sera.
Four days had passed since I left the Klaus family.
Various reports were being sent to Klaus.
One was the strange incident at the Northern Dungeon.<
"Is this... certain?"
"There is no mistake! Excuse me!"
It was a report that fifty suspicious men from the Kieff Country had come looking for a girl named Milfe. Why the Kieff Country had come looking for a ten-year-old adventurer girl was unknown. The report also stated that those fifty people had suddenly gone missing. The investigation was continuing.
And in another report, there arrived a report describing Aristo's condition, and a report describing the condition of Milfe, a Kieff Country student who appeared to be seventeen.
(If what Shivans-kun says is true, then Otfrid-sama exists. Why has he revealed himself only now? If he has that much power, does he have an aim? And why has he been erased from history until now? What on earth happened to the person who supported the First Generation?)
As Klaus was lost in thought, Windam, who appeared to be in clearly poor health, arrived.
"Father... please help me. I've reached my limit..."
"Did you come all this way just to whine? What is it you want to do?"
As expected, seeing his child in such a broken state, he couldn't coldly push him away and tried to listen, but the words that came out were nothing but complaints and dissatisfaction. He complained that he was made a fool of in meetings and was passed around whenever he went to various departments.
"With such foolish subordinates, nothing can be done in a month! Please, fire them all!"
Klaus looked at the wailing Windam with pitying eyes. Then, once he quieted down, he asked, "Is that all you have to say?" When Windam said, "Yes!", Klaus made him sit in a chair.
"Tell me, Windam? Do you know why Namibia and Kaoz perished?"
"Wh-what are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Just answer me!"
"That's because they rebelled against His Majesty, right?"
Saying that was wrong, he shook his head and said, "Whether it was Ivan or Namibia's eldest son, they perished because they were just like you! If you don't realize that, I won't just disinherit you, I'll castrate you in two and a half weeks!"
"I-I haven't rebelled against His Majesty, though?"
"They didn't perish because they rebelled! They perished because they were just like you! A fool who doesn't realize that cannot be the heir to the Grand Duke family! If you don't realize and improve within two and a half weeks, you will have nothing to do with us and live as a commoner. I will have someone else serve as Minister of Military Affairs."
"Just like me...?"
Saying that, he collapsed.