237 - Who Was Abandoned?
After rescuing Marianne-san and witnessing the moment Erhart's love ended, I headed to the inn.
Naturally, I couldn't just send Marianne-san home as she was, so I took her to the inn, and it was decided that she would stay nearby for a while for her own safety.
Leaving guards behind, I sat in the room I had rented, holding and gazing at the white mask. It was a Sweeper's mask, and it seemed that each branch had its own characteristics.
Monica, who was preparing my drink in the room, took one look at the mask and spoke.
"You have no taste. Pure white, of all things."
She criticized it.
"The point is to hide your face while intimidating the opponent, right? Anyone would be terrified if they were attacked in the dark by someone wearing a mask like this. More importantly, is the poison alright?"
The Sweeper attacker's poisoned knife.
Monica had taken the hit, but she remained composed. The wounds on her body and clothes had already returned to normal, making me realize once again that she was an outlier of existence. When I only see her disappointing side normally, I almost forget, but Monica is also an automaton.
"...It's here. The chicken coward has finally entered his 'dere' phase. First, he pretends not to be worried, but then he shows concern once they're alone. Oh, what a tsundere! Monica is so happy that she's tempted to brag about the current situation to the other pieces of junk, complete with footage and commentary."
Since it was the usual Monica, I felt relieved.
"Sigh, I see. So, what about the poison those guys were using?"
Pouring tea into a cup, Monica brought it to me. As I took a sip, Monica began to talk about the poison.
"It has an immediate effect, but it doesn't seem to leave residues in the body, making it difficult to detect. Incidentally, it's also the kind that makes the cause of death hard to identify. I'm impressed they could create something like this."
Monica was praising the Sweepers regarding the poison.
"Would it have been dangerous if it were just Miranda and Eva?"
"I won't say they would lose. However, they would have let many escape. They probably only finished off one or two... something like that. Furthermore, there's a possibility that one of them might have died."
Even for those two, who had repeated their growth several times in a short period, there was a high possibility of casualties. Sweepers really are troublesome.
It was a saving grace that the Sweepers were targeting Marianne-san and weren't mindful of us. Thanks to the successful surprise attack that took advantage of that opening, it was practically a complete victory.
"It would have been dangerous if they had seriously sent Sweepers from the start. Why didn't they send them in from the beginning?"
I felt that if they truly intended to finish me off for sure, that would have been the more likely approach. Considering assassination and the disposal of bodies, the Sweepers should be more experienced.
The one who answered that question was the Seventh Generation.
"Liel, it's not guaranteed that the opponent has many people capable of becoming Sweepers. Beyond just skill, one must investigate the person's personality and other traits before hiring them. I would not choose someone as a Sweeper just because they are strong. Do you understand? You have effectively crushed seven of the opponent's irreplaceable pawns."
Six white masks were placed on the small table. I held one in my hand; among the eight attackers, only one had escaped.
I hadn't thought Tanya-san was a Sweeper, but now that it was mentioned, I felt that her position had been somewhat unstable compared to the others.
Looking back, there were parts that made sense.
Monica asked me.
"Chicken coward, what did you ask Fidel to do at tomorrow's merchant conference?"
I looked at Monica's face.
"Make them acknowledge our base as the location for future activities. I've decided to have him handle the negotiations for that. Well, if they say they want to go to a place with nothing like that, they'll probably agree. I'll have Ludmila-san support us in that direction as well. As for Eliza-san and Glacia-san, they'll proceed with the port development as planned—oh, right. While I'm at it. Let's have the guild dispatch some staff. We'll need the guild's know-how for the management of the labyrinth there in the future."
I decided to take the guild's know-how from Beim as well.
The next day.
Heading to the guild headquarters, I spotted Ludmila-san walking with Fidel-san.
Surrounded by knights, Ludmila-san seemed to be in a great mood.
Only Fidel-san had a complex expression when he saw me. I had asked Vera to explain to him afterward that it was a joke. Despite that, he didn't look happy.
While I was struggling to understand Fidel-san, the Seventh Generation spoke.
"...He probably wanted to see his grandchildren. Liel, your problem isn't settled. Vera seems to have confessed to Fidel later that it was a joke, but Aria doesn't know that fact. You chose the wrong option."
Mireia-san also spoke in a tone more serious than usual.
"Liel, you will have to pay the price for your failure. You must learn that if you don't put out a fire while it's small, it becomes a disaster once it flares up. ...Though, I do want to see it flare up."
The last part was the usual Mireia-san.
Ludmila-san approached me.
"Liel, I did exactly as you said. So, you'll pay the price to me, right?"
With the eyes of a carnivore looking at me as if I were prey, Ludmila-san demanded the price.
"Aha, ahahaha... The price? Look, I rescued you from Larc, didn't I?"
Watching the exchange between Ludmila-san and me, Fidel-san muttered.
"As I thought, you are an enemy. Laying your hands on women other than Vera..."
As expected, as the father of his daughter, he seemed to have certain feelings toward me. However, he also possessed the face of a merchant—.
"I proceeded with that matter exactly as you said. In the discussion with the guild executives that's about to begin, it's been decided to abolish the labyrinth subjugation requests and simultaneously establish a guild branch in Beim. With this, I've fulfilled my promise."
It seemed the labyrinth to the south of Beim would remain under Beim's management. Apparently, it was highly valued because it was relatively easy to conquer and produced monsters that didn't appear in the labyrinths managed by Beim.
"However, it's been decided that your party's adventurer qualifications will be revoked. You're quite hated by some of the merchants and guild executives. Considering future relations with Banseime, it's been decided that you all are exiled from Beim as well."
I nodded upon hearing that.
The voice of the Fifth Generation came from within the jewel.
"In other words, you'll be teaming up with Celes. Now, what happens from here... will you become Celes's pawn, or will Banseime invade? Either way, Beim needs to be destroyed once."
Ludmila-san looked at me with an amused expression.
"You're quite unfazed. It's as if you knew. Then again, it would be troublesome if Liel remained an adventurer forever. How about it? Why not come to Cartaphus and take the throne?"
With a wry smile, I spoke to Ludmila-san.
"I'll stop by soon. I have my own business to attend to, after all."
And so, I headed to the conference room of the guild headquarters where I had been summoned.
In the conference room where the guild executives sat in a row, I was speaking passionately.
"I fought risking my life at Redant Fortress! Not only that, I've contributed greatly to the guild until now! What do you mean by an exile disposition! Furthermore, the incident in Cartaphus, and my comrades were attacked while I was away. Is this the guild's way of doing things!"
The assembled guild executives looked at my face with annoyance. It was true that I had worked hard for the sake of Beim.
However, from their perspective, I was the culprit who created an unpleasant situation, and during the attack on Marianne-san, precious Sweepers were defeated by me.
The merchants' discussion had already concluded, and my punishment had likely already been decided. Yes, the guild executives had no decision-making power whatsoever.
I was taking advantage of that to appeal how hard I had worked.
Well, to put it simply—.
"Are you cutting off the hero who fought risking his life? Moreover, you tried to attack and erase him, right? I won't forget this, I absolutely will not forget this! ...That's the vibe, right?"
—The Third Generation explained it with great enjoyment. Not only the executives, but there were also staff members to keep records and a fair number of related parties present.
The executive of the Southern Branch was staring at me as if he wanted to glare me to death. The executive of the Western Branch had a pale expression and was looking down.
The executive of the Northern Branch was looking at the executive of the Eastern Branch and Tanya-san.
The staff members accompanying the other executives were likely Sweepers. However, compared to Tanya-san, they felt somehow inferior.
The executive of the Eastern Branch spoke.
"...Isn't everything exactly as you think?"
Making a statement that could be taken any way, the executive of the Eastern Branch looked at me with a serious expression.
From the guild, the revocation of adventurer qualifications for me—and my entire party—was announced, and the current labyrinth subjugation requests were canceled.
From now on, the labyrinth would be utilized, and I would be removed from the subjugation.
And, it was treated as a forced eviction from Beim.
"I can't accept this. Could you explain the reason? Oh, that's right... actually, about yesterday, I helped an acquaintance who was being attacked. They were a staff member I'm indebted to. Because of that, one of them escaped, but they were wearing characteristic masks."
At that point, I took out seven white masks. When I placed them on the desk in front of me, bloodlust was released from the surroundings. It was the Sweepers behind the executives.
The executive of the Southern Branch stood up.
"You! Time and time again... as I thought, you were connected to the Eastern Branch! This time too, the Eastern Branch's—"
Just as he said that, the executive of the Northern Branch cleared his throat.
"...If a staff member was attacked, we cannot leave it alone. Understood. We shall take these masks. However, this is Beim's decision. There is no change in your punishment."
The executive of the Southern Branch muttered regretfully.
"Playing the hypocrite..."
The Seventh Generation seemed pleased. As expected, the hatred for adventurers was considerable.
"You lot, you seem to be trying to cast us aside to embrace Celes, but that is a misunderstanding. It was we who abandoned you, and trying to embrace Celes is also a mistake. She is not that kind of person."
—A monster.
The figures like fairy tales that appear at the turning points of history, as the First Generation had said. Inheriting the blood of Agrissa, who was such a monster, and possessing a jewel filled with will, Celes was spreading death in Banseime as a beauty who brings ruin to nations.
Beim did not accurately understand this.
Their perception was that it was just one of those common stories. They believed that Celes was running wild and that the scale would remain as it is now.
She will not be satisfied with this level. Even if I told them to understand that, it would probably be impossible. Only those who have seen Celes can understand. Once you see her, an ordinary person would be captivated.
I left the scene after receiving the punishment from the guild.
—Banseime.
In the audience chamber, members of the royal family were lined up around the room.
Today, Myzel, the father of Liel and Celes, was not present, and Celes was sitting on the throne, eating from a plate of fruit held by the Crown Prince.
Crossing her legs, she put a piece of fruit in her mouth with a voluptuous movement that didn't seem like a girl who was about to turn fifteen.
The ministers lined up around her, and the knights of the royal guard, were captivated by Celes's appearance.
It was an abnormal sight.
And the most abnormal part was the girl who was curled up at Celes's feet, serving as a footrest. Her name was the former Saint of Zain, Remis Zain. Now she was just Remis, but she was dressed in the attire worn by a Saint and served as Celes's footrest.
However, her expression was still happy.
"Ah, I can feel Celes-sama's body temperature on my back. My goddess..."
Celes laughed at such a Remis.
"Oh? Is the Saint who was everyone's idol satisfied being my footrest? You have no pride."
Remis spoke while blushing.
"Yes. I am satisfied. I am a woman suited to be Celes-sama's footrest!"
Having been kicked out of Zain and drifting to Banseime, Remis didn't feel like the arrogant girl she once was.
The one being shown this was a merchant from Beim.
(W-what. This... no, the atmosphere is just a bit strange. I'm surprised the former Saint of Zain is here... more importantly, what is that thing nearby?)
Near Celes, there was a monster wearing a collar and connected by a chain. However, the merchant had never seen such an eerie monster. Moreover, it seemed as if Celes had tamed it.
Then, Celes noticed the merchant's gaze. She rested her elbow on the armrest and placed her cheek in her hand. As her beautiful blonde hair flowed smoothly, it looked to the merchant as if it were sparkling.
"Are you curious about this? These guys are... the former High Priest of Zain and his companions. Since they brought in something interesting, I had them experiment with their own bodies. Amazing, isn't it? An experiment to obtain the power of monsters that was researched a long time ago... it wasn't a success, but they had been keeping it hidden."
Seeing those monsters that were originally human, the merchant was shocked.
"I-is such a thing possible!?"
Celes laughed.
"Isn't it possible? I actually made them drink it. Right, Bart?"
The red-haired youth attending by Celes's side had blue eyes. He was wearing a tailcoat and spoke to his master in a disrespectful tone.
"You're the one who forced them to drink it, Celes-sama. Well, they were happy in the end."
Beside them, a girl with excessively long black hair was sitting on the floor, her hair covering her eyes so they couldn't be seen. In that state, she was staring blankly into the air.
It was eerie. That girl looked very eerie.
At the abnormal sight, the merchant felt that something was wrong. However, it had already been agreed in Beim that the way to reach an agreement was by approaching Celes.
Celes tilted her head.
"So? What business does a merchant from Beim have with me? I won't forgive you if it's a boring matter."
The merchant man spoke.
"Yes. We of Beim are a trade city. Until now, we have lived in an environment without a lord as a free city. We wish to offer our greetings to Banseime, which has become our neighboring country. There is nothing we do not handle. We would like you to favor us in Banseime as well. This is a greeting for that purpose."
Celes smirked while looking at the merchant.
"I've seen the goods you brought. There were various interesting things, and I might buy something. Even so, Beim, huh... Remis, that's where those pieces of trash who kicked you out are, right?"
She lightly raised her foot and brought it down, and Remis felt pain. However, her expression immediately became one of joy, drooling.
"Yes! They are the hateful opponents who kicked us out. But now, I don't care about such people. Because I have Celes-sama!"
Then, Celes seemed pleased.
"I see. You're cute, Remis. I'll let you be my footrest for a while."
The merchant thought.
(Does she really have some feelings toward her brother? She called them pieces of trash.)
The merchant told Celes happily.
"In that case, please be pleased. That adventurer named Liel, it has been decided in Beim to kick him out in order to value the connection with Celes-sama. Beim, for the sake of Celes-sama—"
Just as the merchant spoke that far, Celes stood up, stepped over Remis, moved in an instant to the front of the merchant, and kicked him away.
Kicked all the way to the entrance of the audience chamber—the merchant couldn't understand what had happened.
However, Celes spoke.
"You compared... you compared me with that piece of trash? You chose me over that piece of trash? ...I won't forgive you. I absolutely will not forgive you. It's a declaration of war against Beim! I'll smash it to pieces. Just who told you to compare me with that garbage? How unpleasant!"
Celes had a bitter expression. It was an expression as if she had remembered something. She had no composure and made no attempt to hide her irritation.
(H-he kicked me, the envoy... and a declaration of war? Just what did I get wrong?)
The surrounding ministers and knights raised their voices. No one opposed Celes.
"Celes-sama, let that role be mine!"
"No, I shall burn Beim to the ground for you to see!"
"Judgment upon Beim, which has committed an insolence against Celes-sama!"
And then, as the merchant spat blood from his mouth.
"...I haven't had a meal today yet."
Celes said that and looked at the former-human monsters she kept as pets, who had not yet been given their feed for the day—.