98 - The Visitor
The fortress of the Laurel Kingdom's Nordende garrison. Geel walks through it, drawing the gaze of the people. To be precise, it is Sera who is drawing the attention. It is only natural that she would attract attention, as she is a member of the Demon Race walking through the fortress. In the first place, the fact that she is allowed to walk there is abnormal, but there is a reason for that.
"...If I were to sell you, I bet I could get a fortune."
"Stop joking. Oh, no. The way everyone is looking at me is disgusting, it's giving me goosebumps."
"It's so we can move together. Endure it for now."
There is a collar around Sera's neck. Two chains extend from that collar and are connected to both of her wrists. The setup is that he has captured a demon and made her a slave. Sera had steeled herself for this, but the lewd gazes from those around her were unbearable.
"...I really should have just waited outside."
"And what would you do if that bastard Ray found you?"
"That's..."
Sera's life is being targeted by Ray. The area around Nordende is a dangerous place for her. This misunderstanding was what created this situation.
"Can't be helped. You lot! Stop staring at my woman! I'll kill you!"
Geel shouts at those around them, attempting to make them stop looking at Sera.
"Y-you idiot!"
"What's idiot? Sera hated it, so I made them stop."
"That may be true... but the way you said it..."
My woman. It was these words that left Sera shaken.
"You're the idiot. I thought calling you a slave sounded bad, so that's why I put it that way."
"I see..."
"...What? Have you finally come around? In that case, tonight—"
"You idiot!"
Sera's kick flies toward him, but Geel is not one to take it. He dodges it with ease.
"Don't get angry."
"It's Geel's fault for teasing me."
"I'm not teasing. I don't refuse a woman who comes to me... Finally arriving, eh? I don't know his face, but I'm sure it'll work out."
Seeing a knight approaching, Geel's smirking expression tightens. From the opponent's attire, he can tell they are a superior officer. This was the person he had been waiting for.
"This is Geel-dono. This is a sudden visit, but for what business have you come?"
"...And you are?"
Geel narrows his eyes, questioning the other's identity.
"Ah, my apologies. I am Marius, tasked as the commander's assistant."
"I see... there's something I want to ask."
Geel feels a vague sense of discomfort at the other's attitude, but he decides to finish his business first. With that thought, he gets straight to the point.
"What is it?"
"What is the status of the combat within Nordende?"
"It is proceeding smoothly. Slowly but surely, we are expanding the controlled territory."
"Smoothly... how is the resistance from the Demon Race?"
The answer was slightly different from what he expected. While it is a good thing that it's proceeding smoothly, Geel believes it means Ray hasn't made any moves. That was surprising.
"The resistance is not intense. It seems the demons value their lives, as they are prioritizing escape."
"Any information on encountering the Undead Legion?"
"The Undead Legion... there is none."
"I see..."
He couldn't obtain any information on Ray's activities. If that is a fact, it is a good thing. Provided that it is the truth.
"Is there anything else?"
"...Where are the captured demons?"
Since he couldn't get information on Ray, Geel moves to verify something that has been bothering him.
"There are none. We have killed all the demons we captured."
"Here?"
"...There are cases where that happens."
"I see..."
The answer was the opposite of what he had considered. That is, assuming the man is telling the truth.
"Anything else?"
"...No, that's all."
"I see. Then please leave."
"What?"
There are no towns or villages around, at the very least, he didn't expect to be told to "please leave" in a place like this by the human race. Geel is surprised by these unexpected words.
"...If you intend to stay overnight, I will have a room prepared. However, we are currently in the middle of reviewing our strategy, so we cannot attend to you. Please forgive us."
"I don't need that. As long as I can sleep on a bed, that's enough."
Geel isn't looking for hospitality from this guy. Being left alone is, conversely, convenient.
"Understood. Then I will have you guided, so please wait a moment."
Without offering to guide him himself, Marius leaves the scene. Once that back had receded, Geel spoke.
"What did you think of that man?"
"...He didn't direct a single unpleasant gaze toward me. That was good, but..."
"It's weird, right?"
Marius's attitude doesn't sit right with Geel. It's not normal.
"He completely ignored me. That's weird in its own way."
He had brought a demon. It's only natural for there to be some mention of it. But Marius didn't try to ask anything about Sera. Far from it, he didn't even cast a glance her way, which is simply abnormal.
"I smelled the Demon Race on him."
"Huh? You can tell that?"
Sera knows nothing of a "demon smell." In the first place, demons are a multi-species race. There shouldn't be a common scent. Her knowledge on this is not wrong.
"It's not that he actually smells. I just feel it somehow."
"...What kind of intuition is that?"
Geel is just abnormal.
"But he said there are no demons here. Even if I brought one along..."
Perhaps they are trampling the captured demons before killing them. But his intuition tells him that's not it.
"Is he hiding the fact that they've captured demons?"
"Why would he need to hide it? From me, who is bringing a slave?"
"True..."
If this were Sieg, he might hide it. But why would he need to hide it from Geel, who appears to be bringing a demon he made into a slave?
"Is he hiding something else... are there demons here who aren't slaves? But for what reason..."
"...Are you okay?"
Even while thinking it's impossible, the feeling of anxiety grows. Sera herself has no need to fear demons, but she is worried about Geel.
"Was the choice to stay a mistake... but if we leave now, we'll never find out anything."
He has a bad feeling. However, if he runs away now, the truth will remain unknown. Geel feels that would also be a bad thing.
"...Take off the chains when we sleep."
If something is happening involving demons, she will act. That's what Sera thought.
"...Yeah. Chains would just get in the way of me holding you. I don't have a hobby of taking a woman's freedom before embracing her."
"You really are... even at a time like this..."
Sera is exasperated by Geel's joking. Along with that, she feels the anxiety that had been tightening her chest fade. Geel's stupid jokes are useful. That's what Sera thinks in her head, but in her heart, she finds Geel reliable. If it's the two of them, they'll manage. That feeling spreads through her heart.
◇◇◇
If it's the two of them, they'll manage. This thought she felt during the day, Sera would have to deny before a single day had passed. The collar that was removed before sleep. But by the time she noticed, it had been put back on. Normally it should be easily removed, but now it is firmly fastened to her arm and won't come off. Moreover, one of the two chains extends to Geel's arm. This is a massive blunder that cannot be summed up as mere carelessness.
"...Why are you restraining us?"
The person who restrained Sera and Geel is before them. Her appearance is no different from a human, but she is a woman who exudes an atmosphere that makes it clear at a glance that she is a demon.
"Because I cannot kill you."
"Are you... of the Lilith race?"
"Yes, I am."
"Why would a member of the Lilith race do such a thing?"
Though the species differ, they are both demons. There should be no reason to be restrained without cause. Sera asked for the reason.
"Because you are in the way."
"In the way?"
"Yes. To be precise, rather than you, it's your companion."
"...What do you mean by 'in the way'?"
It's natural to direct hostility toward Geel, a human. However, this place is a fortress of the Laurel Kingdom army. Sera cannot understand why Geel alone would be considered an obstacle.
"In order for us to live peacefully, that person is an obstacle. I think killing him would be faster, but there's a slight issue."
"...Is this on that bastard Ray's orders?"
Geel, who had been silent with a displeased face, finally spoke. The reason a demon would keep him alive. This was the first thing that came to mind. If that were the case, he couldn't stay silent.
"No, it's not."
"...Then why don't you kill me?"
"Because I don't know if I'm allowed to kill you."
"...I see. I'll change how I ask. You know Ray, don't you?"
The opponent wasn't lying. Geel realized his way of questioning was poor.
"Yes. I know him."
"As I thought... so you're waiting for Ray's instructions?"
"Yes. I had heard your name. And that there was a possibility you would visit this place. I was told to send you away, but it didn't go well. Naturally... you know."
Even if she had captivated the heart, she couldn't control it completely. She had given Marius instructions to send them away, but that ended in a great failure.
"I didn't intend to stay long."
"But you felt the suspiciousness of this fortress and tried to investigate. That's why I decided to restrain you."
The unnaturalness of Marius's response had caused Geel to have doubts. This was the failure.
"...What are you doing here?"
"Do you think I'll tell you that?"
"...Why are you acting with Ray?"
"I won't tell you that either. I restrained you because I don't want to give you information, you know?"
She had no intention of answering whatever Geel asked. She wasn't so foolish as to think that simply chaining the two of them together would eliminate the worry of them escaping.
"Even so, I want you to tell me. What is happening in Nordende?"
In Geel's stead, Sera posed the question. Regardless of the current situation, she was concerned about the state of Nordende.
"Many were killed in the human raids, and the women were taken away. People have fled the lands they were accustomed to, wandering in search of a safe place."
"............"
An answer she had expected. But hearing it in reality still made her heart ache.
"Despite that, you can be here. Why?"
Why can a demon, who should be fleeing from the Laurel Kingdom army, be at that army's base? Geel asked the question that came to mind.
"You should know that you won't get an answer to that."
"...Where is Ray?"
There is no way to get an answer other than asking Ray directly. Geel thought that the current situation was, conversely, a chance to meet Ray.
"That too... ah, perfect timing."
"What?"
Geel was bewildered, not understanding the meaning of the words, but the woman's actions told him. The woman walked toward the window. At the window she headed for, there was a bird—likely a crow. An Information Crow of the Undead Legion.
"Now then..."
The woman took a piece of paper from a small tube attached to the Information Crow's leg and began to read. Information Crows were also used like carrier pigeons.
"...Do you intend to meet him?"
The woman asked after she finished reading.
"Of course."
"Is there no lie in those words?"
"It's not a lie to escape. My goal from the start was to meet Ray."
"I see. Then leave this fortress and head north, toward Nordende. In less than a day, you'll find a base—though calling it a fortress is a stretch—that is quite meager."
"...The Undead Legion's base."
Sera knew that place was the base of the Undead Legion. Though it should have been used for only a short period since Ray began leading it.
"Is Ray there?"
"If you don't do anything unnecessary, he might be. Go straight there without taking any detours."
Your movements are being monitored. The woman told him indirectly. By telling him this, she checked him to prevent any unnecessary movements.
"Understood. Right now?"
"That's up to you. But I think it's better if I'm not seen by others."
"...I'll head there immediately."
Not all the soldiers in the fortress had gone strange. He understood that from the woman's words, but it wasn't something to say aloud.
"That would be best."
"...Will I get caught by the detection magic?"
"Is there a need to worry about that? Or do you want to ask why the detection magic doesn't react?"
"Will you tell me?"
The reason was the latter. Why can demons enter and leave the fortress freely? Thinking back, when they visited the fortress, even though the demon Sera was with him, the guards hadn't noticed their approach.
"Ask him. I cannot answer."
"I see... tell me one more thing."
"You're free to ask, but don't expect an answer."
"Why didn't we notice we were being chained?"
It's true that fatigue had accumulated, but no matter how deeply one sleeps, there's no way they wouldn't notice a collar being put on and being chained. Geel was even surprised that he had allowed the intrusion into the room.
"...Fine. I'll tell you as a special favor. There are many things in this world that you don't know. There are plenty of things that can put an opponent to sleep before they even notice."
"...Sleeping medicine. Damn it."
Even so, Geel still felt pathetic. That he had been drugged and didn't notice.
"Would you have noticed if it were poison? Are you sensitive to danger? But that confidence is the same as arrogance. Being sensitive to danger means that if you aren't made to feel danger, you won't notice."
"...Can you kill an opponent without making them feel danger?"
"In fact, you didn't notice. You were tired and needed sleep. Medicine is something that helps with that."
"............"
He wanted to argue that such a convenient story couldn't be true, but the current situation didn't allow it. In a state of being put to sleep and restrained, he could say nothing.
"This is a well-intentioned warning. That is your limit—your limit as a human."
"...Are you trying to say that demons can't be surpassed?"
"What a twisted answer. Even though I said it was a well-intentioned warning. Knowing your limits is not a bad thing. You should think after knowing what you can and cannot do."
"...I see. My bad."
The woman was right. If you believe you can do what you cannot, you won't live long. He intended to keep that in mind in order to win and become stronger, but Geel realized that without even noticing, he had become lax.
"I spoke arrogantly, but we are the same. The current situation is the result of overestimating our own power. That's why... no, this isn't something to talk about right now."
"...Even if it's impossible now, can I hear it someday?"
A slightly different way of speaking than before. Geel sensed the meaning of that difference.
"...You'll understand even if I don't tell you. Provided that things become the form we desire."
"I see..."
Ray is involved in that desired form. Not just involved—Ray is likely at the center of it. Geel thought so. How is that for the Laurel Kingdom? Normally, it's not a good thing. Ray is with the demons. However, the image the woman described, her sincere expression, made Geel feel that what Ray is doing is not an evil deed. He thought that it's because he knows demons much better than before, while directing his gaze toward Sera.