Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside - Volume 9 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Targeting the Fairy in Love and the Greedy Cardinal

Zoltan’s harbor was situated a little beyond the river mouth, enough so that the demon lord’s ship couldn’t reach it.

Van the Hero landed in Zoltan’s harbor on a yacht lowered from the Vendidad.

“Is it okay to keep the crew on the ship?” Van asked as he leaped onto the pier.

“Sailors are cowards who will run the moment they touch dry land. A key point when sailing the seas is not letting them off the ship if possible.” Ljubo spoke sagaciously, but his face was pale from seasickness.

“It’s unwise to let them off all at once, but it’s common to let them disembark in rotating shifts.” The masked warrior Esta looked tired as she stepped onto the pier.

“I’ll take care of the luggage.”

Esta’s squire, Albert, dexterously used his prosthetic right hand to unload the party’s belongings from the boat.

A small figure watched lazily from her perch on Van’s shoulder.

“…Hmph.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Humans are unreliable creatures… Except for you, of course, Van!”

Lavender kissed his cheek.

Van the Hero’s party had returned.

“The south seas made for a good trip. Not a lot of people go there, so there were many monsters with high blessing levels.” Van beamed with satisfaction.

There were no scars since he’d restored himself completely with Healing Hands, but his armor showed signs of damage. It would need to be repaired.

“I’m definitely stronger now. I want to see if my strength is enough to vanquish the Hero’s enemy right away!”

“You’ll win for sure next time! Since I’ll be fighting with you!”

Van and Lavender were getting excited. However, Esta, Albert, and Ljubo wore grave expressions.

“Cardinal Ljubo.” Esta’s voice was cold. “Is there any reason to endanger the Hero here?”

“…A warrior out here in the middle of nowhere is surely nothing to him.”

“Do you truly believe that? You saw it yourself, didn’t you? He was on the verge of death. Do you think you or I could manage that?”

“Hmph. Indeed. It is concerning. But it is still impossible to accept that such a mighty warrior lives in this backwater.”

“There is no denying that Van was utterly trounced.”

“Esta, this is an order as your employer.”

“Sir.”

“Look into the identity of the girl who defeated Van. I will restrain the boy until you learn more.”

“Gathering information is not my forte, and there’s little I can do without knowing what she looks like…but I suppose I’m the best one for the job in this party. Understood. Albert and I will look into it.”

“As soon as you can.”

This is fortunate, at least. Van’s less likely to suddenly attack Ruti now. I just have to find an opening to meet with the others, thought Esta. She knew nothing she said could stop Van anymore. It’s pathetic, but I have to rely on them.

Her eyes dropped as she scoffed at herself behind the mask. The self-derision lasted only a moment, though. By the next second, she was looking straight ahead and pushing forward.

Hmmm…

I was disguised as a roadside merchant on the outskirts of the harbor, observing Van and the others.

Van’s blessing had increased by thirteen levels since he’d fought me.

It was an impossible rate of growth for such a short time. Undoubtedly, he’d fought monsters day and night the whole time he was gone, pushing himself to the brink.

I suppose that means I can chalk the gloomy mood coming from the Vendidad up to crew casualties.

Van wasn’t the first to treat his sailors poorly, but I wondered how morale would hold up when it came time for him to sail that vessel around the world to fight the demon lord’s army.

It wasn’t my responsibility to fret over, though. I had to focus on that excitable fairy on Van’s shoulder.

Tisse was watching from a location on the other side of the harbor, and Lavender’s focus shifted in that direction. The fairy had detected a world-class assassin, a feat even higher-level demons couldn’t manage.

Nothing had suggested Lavender was especially wary of Tisse before. If she had been, she would’ve reacted in some way when Tisse joined Van’s group to clear out the hill giants.

Perhaps she was able to see through Tisse’s stealth because she’d met her before. Lavender might have memorized some quality unknown to humans and be able to sense it within a certain range.

What a troublesome ability.

The real issue was the range. Tisse was around three hundred meters from Van’s party. I guessed it had been optimistic to assume that was enough distance. It was best to assume Lavender possessed some incredibly long-range sensory ability, much like the archfay Undine, who had been able to detect me moving through the river.

Lavender might also be curious about Esta and Albert’s whereabouts, so it was better not to let Tisse convene with them.

So…what kind of fairy is she?

I wasn’t a specialist when it came to the fay, but I knew at least a little about most varieties from studying books. There were lots of things about fairies that remained a mystery to humans, so I couldn’t profess to know every subset. Still, there was something uncanny about Lavender that differentiated her from every other fay I’d encountered.

She looked like just a standard pixie, but that was a facade. My gut told me that that wasn’t her true form.

“Will Rit be okay?”

I felt a little worried about Lavender learning of Rit’s existence.

On the evening of the next day, Rit and Danan walked down a road on the outskirts of Zoltan, each of them wearing a cloak with a deep hood.

They didn’t attempt to hide their movements, yet no one noticed them.

They walked without sound and presence. Should a normal person have looked upon them, they wouldn’t have noticed anything there. The only nearby person who managed to catch them was Galatine, a higher-up in the Adventurers Guild who happened to be enjoying steak at a café along the road.

Seeing Rit, he stopped eating for a moment. But after a moment’s consideration, he chose to return to his meal. He decided there was no way that Rit of all people would do this without good reason, and that it likely concerned the Van problem causing a stir in town. It was best to leave her to it rather than act unknowingly and disrupt the plan.

Galatine trusted Rit and her comrades enough to entrust them with Zoltan’s future.

“I’ll have some wine, please.”

“Sure thing.”

A cheerful waitress brought out a bottle of red.

Galatine chose to forget about the two figures he’d spied until he was needed, content to listen to the wine pouring into the glass.

Rit and Danan entered an alley.

“Sneaking all around us, masking your presences. Are you trying to tick me off?”

A small fairy waited for them there with her arms crossed.

Danan whistled. “Went just like you said it would.”

“That’s how it goes with people who are confident in their strength.”

Rit smirked from within her deep hood.

Separating Lavender from Van had proven a challenging obstacle to overcome. However, Rit had taken advantage of Lavender’s scorn for most humans.

How would someone react upon realizing people were snooping around them covertly?

Rit would keep on guard and investigate those looking into her. Lavender thought little of humans, though. The concealed figures were no different from annoying flies buzzing around. She would shoo them away, and if they proved particularly annoying, she’d swat them. Either way, her response always involved confrontation.

“I should warn you; I’m in a bit of a bad mood. Stomping a few ants might make me feel better.” Lavender’s tone was no bluff. Her words were entirely honest. It wasn’t out of the question for her to attack at any moment.

Rit didn’t falter, however. “Right, and without Van around, you can even get serious.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m a Spirit Scout. I have the ability to control spirits… I can see that your little body is nothing more than a shadow of your true nature.”

“Ohh…” Lavender’s expression changed.

“Your true nature is a wild, gigantic power…the sort of presence that would terrify people.”

“Say another word, and I’ll kill you.” The air around Lavender warped.

“Hey, hey. That aura reminds me of a dragon lord.” Danan stepped forward to cover Rit, but she held out a hand to stop him.

“Which leads to the next question,” Rit continued.

“What?”

Rit hoped for a proper conversation, not a one-sided speech.

She and Danan were dealing with a nonhuman who wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter someone or break laws if she so desired.

Almost like the Hero…, Rit thought wryly.

“Why is a being so powerful, one who sees humans as so little, masking her true nature and pretending to be a little fairy?”

“…”

“If you didn’t sense some worth in people, then what does it matter if they’re terrified of you? Why do your utmost to hide your strength?”

Lavender seethed murderously, but she had yet to lash out. She glared at Rit, waiting for her to continue.

“It’s because you love Van.” Rit answered her own question in a clear voice. “Knowing that your true form is frightening to humans, you adopted one closer to the common human perception of a fairy so Van would love you.”

There was a crackle.

“Here it comes!”

No sooner did Danan get the words out than an argent bolt struck in the alley, leaving scorch marks on the pavement and walls.

“Lightning Bolt? That’s some pretty strong magic.”

“She’s a fay with an affinity for electricity, I guess.”

Danan and Rit had dashed up the walls to avoid the lightning.

“You’re the ones who attacked Van the other day.”

“Oy, don’t phrase it like he’s the victim,” Danan spat as he and Rit leaped down to the ground. “It turned into a fight because he tried to brainwash everyone in Zoltan.”

“Everything Van does is right.”

“Huh?”

Lavender didn’t appear to be joking.

Her expression indicated she genuinely believed that.

Rit braced herself.

“Your name is Lavender, right?”

“Don’t ask pointless questions when you’ve already gone snooping around.”

Magic power gathered in the little fairy’s body.

Danan readied himself for the next attack.

“Lavender! I want to talk with you!” Rit shouted.

“I don’t have any interest in speaking to you. You can just die now.”

Sensing a furious pressure from above, Danan prepared to grab Rit and run toward Lavender.

However…

“I’m in love, too. I want to talk about love with you!”

“Eh?”

Lavender stopped moving.

We’re past the first hurdle…

For the first time, the fairy expressed some interest in Rit as an individual instead of viewing her as another faceless human.

Now Rit could finally begin a proper discussion.

Sensing the wind spirits that had gathered in the sky disperse, Rit exhaled in relief.

We’re in uncharted territory now. I’ll just have to think on my feet as we go.

Rit and Danan were on the first floor of the tavern where Van’s party was staying.

“Is that man the one you love?”

Lavender pointed at Danan, but Rit smiled and shook her head.

“No, I run an apothecary here in town with the man I love.”

“I’m just protection. I’ll drink at the next table over, so you two can talk about whatever you want.”

“I thought so. You look like someone who wouldn’t understand love.”

“Well, you got me pegged.” Danan grinned as he took a seat. “Hey, miss, can I get a beer and some skewers?”

“Sure thing.”

This was a comparatively cheap tavern. The food was the same sort found in the working-class part of Zoltan instead of the Central style more common downtown.

Rit was a little surprised that Van and his comrades would stay here, but set that aside to focus on Lavender.

“So, what is your name?”

“My name is Rit.”

“Hmm, Rit, huh…?”

Lavender looked her up and down openly.

Her asking my name means she has at least a little interest in talking.

Rit watched Lavender’s eyes while she considered how best to begin.

Hmm…

After looking into Lavender’s eyes momentarily, Rit decided to change course a bit.

That little fairy shape is a pretense; she’s a being far older and more powerful than humans. Best not to lie, even by omission; she’ll see through any tricks immediately…

Rit looked her straight in the eyes.

“Rit is just a nickname. My full name is Rizlet of Loggervia. I was a princess of the Duchy of Loggervia, which lies far to the north.”

Danan’s brow twitched slightly.

He didn’t expect me to reveal myself. We’re dealing with an enemy, after all. But I don’t have a choice.

Fortunately, Danan’s reaction was so minor that only one of his comrades would have noticed. His eyes remained fixed on the wooden mug of beer the waitress brought him.

Lavender leaned toward Rit.

“A princess, huh? I’ve read human stories about them. So is your lover a prince or a knight? Or is he a commoner you ran off with?”

“A knight from a foreign land… I gave up my royal life, and we live as commoners in this town.”

“Right, if it’s for love, then you don’t need anything else!” Lavender said excitedly.

“You feel the same?” Rit asked.

Lavender nodded without hesitation. “Of course! I’d sacrifice anything and everything other than Van and myself!”

Both Rit and Lavender were in love, yet their thoughts on the matter were wholly different.

This was to be a battle of words in place of swords or magic. And just as a feint would not work against a vastly superior opponent, Rit couldn’t fool Lavender with lies or misdirection.

“Hey, what is your lover like?”

Rit grinned. “He’s kind, gallant, cool, and cute. His smile is wonderful. I love the way he blushes and gets a little awkward when I cling to him. And I also like how serious he gets during an important job, but I also enjoy his relaxed expressions when he takes it easy.”

“All a bunch of likes. Then is there any part about him you hate?”

Lavender’s eyes had a judging gleam—a dangerous sort of look that indicated negotiations might break down depending on how Rit answered.

Still, she didn’t balk.

“No. I love everything about Red.”

“But he must have faults.”

“Yes, my Red has his faults. Yet I love everything about him. I want to be with him forever, even when we’re old and gray. Until the very end. Is that the wrong answer?”

Lavender stared at Rit briefly before her small face broke into a satisfied smile. “No, you pass! I’ll listen to your story!” Lavender raised her hand and shouted, “Mead and salad! Two each!” The little creature knocked her little hand on the table while demanding food.

She was a rude customer, but since she looked like a fairy, it probably came off as adorable to most.

The other tavern patrons burst into laughs.

Rit didn’t find it amusing, however. Her heart was just as hot as when she held her swords in the thick of battle, but she did her best to remain coolheaded.

The victory condition is convincing her that leaving Zoltan without fighting Ruti is the best thing for Van.

Rit would have to battle Lavender’s feelings with her own.

The fairy’s affection was single-minded.

“Human love stories are wonderful, so why can’t real humans live that way?”

Lavender’s wings fluttered as she sat on the table. She drank from a small, handmade mug that she filled by scooping the mead out of a deep plate set in front of her.

Rit was drinking, too, slowly, so the alcohol didn’t dull her judgment.

“If you’ve fallen in love, you shouldn’t ever leave your beloved. You should’ve gone with him, regardless of his little sister.”

“It’s true. After they left Loggervia, I cried. And there were many nights I regretted not following after them.”

“Exactly!”

Rit left out that Ruti was the Hero, but she did tell Lavender about how she and Red had fought together in Loggervia, their parting, and that they’d met again and opened a shop in Zoltan.

Lavender clearly enjoyed Rit’s story, at times pressing her for more and always offering her own thoughts.

“Love is more blissful than anything! So if you fall in love, that feeling should be more important than anything else. Friends, your homeland, your family, anyone else’s happiness—even that man’s little sister. Your feelings are more important than all else. Destroy the world for them. That’s true love.”

Lavender had grown talkative, and as Rit conversed with her, she gradually got a sense of what the fairy desired from the Hero.

Just a little more, and I think I might understand completely…

“But you know, without me letting him go then, I don’t think it would be possible for us to have the relationship we do now.”

“Hmm?”

“Back then, Red and I lacked the capacity for something more. Had I gone with him, I don’t think it would’ve been as fulfilling as the love we share today,” Rit stated confidently.

She took careful note of Lavender’s expression. Because they were both women in love, there were certainly some similarities. However, Rit also understood there was a fundamental difference in their perspectives.

Lavender appeared unsatisfied, but then her face brightened, as though she’d found the solution to a troubling problem.

“I get it. You weren’t really in love yet in Loggervia!” Lavender spoke with as much certainty as Rit.

“You think? But I loved Red back in Loggervia, too.”

“But you love the current Red, right?”

“I do.”

“Then doesn’t that mean you didn’t love the old Red?”

“…How do you figure that?” Rit did her best to hide her rising irritation.

“Because the old Red and the current one are different. If you care about the present one, then it means you didn’t feel anything for the old one.”

“Couldn’t you say that I loved the Red from back then, but here in Zoltan we both grew to love each other even more?”

“You can’t. Love isn’t something that develops. Love is a beautiful, blissful, perfect thing. The moment you are in love, you know it would be fine if time stopped and that moment continued forever. Love isn’t true otherwise.” Lavender made her argument without a trace of doubt in her voice.

“…”

Rit didn’t accept that. This was the essential difference.

“Lavender, do you not want Van to change?”

“Of course not. I love him.”

She loved him, so she wanted him to stay as he was. That was what Lavender desired from the Hero. So long as he obeyed the impulses of his blessing, he would remain the same.

I understand what Esta told us better now. Lavender constantly approves of everything Van does while rejecting Esta’s suggestions, because she loves Van as he is presently. She doesn’t want Van to grow, but that’s just forcing her love on him.

Rit pitied Lavender.

She affirmed everything about Van and supported him always. She’d gladly throw away her life for him, in all likelihood. And even as she died, she would be happy to be of use to him.

It was a completely single-minded love, but it was one-way, and Lavender didn’t truly love a real person. She cared for the ideal figure of Van she’d created. It was a love that was complete only within her mind.

“More mead!”

Lavender happily imbibed while listening to Rit’s story.

“You know, I’m grateful for the love I’ve known. Because I’m completely happy.”

“‘Happy’?” Lavender stopped drinking to eye Rit. “Love is a happy thing, so it’s only natural you are glad now.”

“But when I was with Red in Loggervia, when I wasn’t in love by your definition, I was happy then as well. From the bottom of my heart.”

“You told me you worried and cried a lot, though.”

“My love in Loggervia was painful and difficult, but now it’s an irreplaceable memory…one of my dearest!”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

Lavender shrugged indifferently. She didn’t seem interested in understanding Rit’s feelings.

Still, she didn’t outright reject my views. I failed to land a finisher, but it could serve as a useful opener later.

Rit’s final step was to explain her goal.

“You know, Lavender…”

“What?”

“Van is the Hero, so he’s going to keep fighting lots of scary enemies.”

“Yup! He’s so cool!”

“But there are some really, really powerful creatures in the demon lord’s army. Being the Hero isn’t enough to guarantee he’ll win.”

“I know that.”

Lavender didn’t look particularly taken aback by Rit’s statement. That wasn’t surprising, but seeing the fairy so unmoved left Rit a little unsure about what to say next.

“…The Hero doesn’t feel fear and can’t abandon suffering people. So he can misjudge when best to flee from an unwinnable battle. Legends of previous bearers of the Hero blessing detail times when the Hero chose the wrong time to retreat and fell into danger or lost comrades.”

“True, Van has shades of that quality.”

“In one story, the Hero skirted peril because an ally advised they pull out…although that ally died fighting in the rear guard.”

The tale was a myth, not documented history. None could speak to its veracity. Before Ruti, many people had believed the Hero blessing itself was a legend.

Regardless, it was clear that the story of the old Hero who had lost a comrade could easily repeat itself with Van. And just as Rit expected, Lavender nodded in agreement.

“Lavender, what would you do if Van insisted on staying to fight but there was no hope of victory? Could you save him even if it meant going against his wishes?”

Lavender stared into Rit’s eyes for a few moments before grinning and shaking her head.

“I’d support Van.”

“But he might die.”

“I love Van. It’s more important that he remains himself than anything else. And if he died for it…”

“What would you do?”

Lavender spread her arms and beamed. “I would die with him! I would love Van to my last breath. There’s no happier story than that!”

“So that’s how you feel.”

This is all I can do for now.

“Lavender, I have a request for you.”

“A request? Nope, nope. I don’t take orders from humans other than Van.”

“I understand, but this is for him.”

“Hmmm. Really? It was a tiny bit interesting talking with you. Go ahead and ask, then.”

Lavender put her mug down on the table and focused on Rit. Her smile was gone.

Danan, still at the next table over, got ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

Rit kept a calm demeanor as she spoke. “I want you to tell Van that he should leave Zoltan.”

“…”

“The girl that Van wants to fight is very strong. Van might lose and die.”

Lavender didn’t get angry. Whether Van the Hero was the strongest didn’t matter to her. The fairy kept silent and listened.

“This isn’t a battle worth risking his life for. If he wins, his blessing level will increase a bit, that’s all. The result would be no different than if he fought some monster or members of the demon lord’s army.”

“That is certainly true.” Lavender nodded. “But I refuse, of course.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

“Hah-hah! Good! I thought I might have to kill you to get you to back off!”

Lavender understood that Rit’s reasoning was correct from a logical cost-benefit standpoint. However, Lavender’s goal was to love Van as he was in the moment. She’d never try to change his mind to spare him from danger.

That’s enough for now. She’s not someone I can convince in a single meeting. It’s enough that I conveyed my intent even though we’re at odds.

A giant monster that couldn’t be slain in one battle might still go down after multiple fights.

“Then before we leave…” Rit raised her mug.

“Oh, I know this! It’s a strange human custom! But aren’t you supposed to do it before drinking?” Lavender raised her little cup anyway.

“Here’s hoping that we’ll be able to chat in peace again sometime. Cheers.”

“This not-quite-a-promise, not-really-a-prayer thing is weird, but cheers.”

The two of them finished their drinks in one go and stood.

The riding drake racetrack at the north of town saw a lot of gambling. The drakes running weren’t racing thoroughbreds. They belonged to knights and were usually ridden into combat or used as beasts of burden. They weren’t trained for this sort of competition.

Thus, it wasn’t rare for a drake to pitch a fit and stop running before reaching the finish line. Races held on weekends were mostly for raising prize money distributed to offset the high costs of maintaining riding drakes. So even though people gambled on them, most spectators just watched without getting too attached to any single outcome.

If someone saw the drake they’d bet on stop partway down the track and buck the jockey frantically trying to get their mount moving again, they’d laugh. There was no point in getting upset and wasting one’s ticket.

One outsider in attendance was not so easygoing, though…

“Damn it all! This is rigged! Give me my money back!”

Ljubo clenched his ticket as he shouted.

I couldn’t help but think he’d be an annoying customer if he ever visited my shop, but I was also a little relieved. Ljubo was a worldly sort, making him far easier to work with than a zealot.

“So how do you want to approach this, Red?” Yarandrala asked from beside me.

Our goal was to convince Ljubo.

He was in the middle of a hideous display unbefitting a cleric, but he knew he could cut loose a bit this far from Central. Simply put, this was his genuine personality.

“His judgment will be worse when he’s annoyed. Let’s go now.”

“Got it.”

Yarandrala and I approached Ljubo in disguise.

He shouldn’t be able to see through nonmagical alterations.

“Your Eminence.”

Ljubo spun around upon hearing my voice. He glared at me with eyes a little bloodshot from the excitement.

“What do you want? I’m off today! If you need me, then save it for tomorrow!”

I hadn’t known the Hero’s party was entitled to days off, but I resisted the urge to comment on that.

Maybe I’m the weird one for assuming there was no room for leisure… I probably shouldn’t dwell on that too much.

“The truth is, we have a little tidbit for you, Your Eminence.”

I spoke with the voice of Waverly, a thief whose identity I’d assumed before. The voice should be foreign to Ljubo, and the real Waverly was in prison.

“What? I’m not interested!”

Still caught up in his indignation, Ljubo turned away to watch the drakes lined up for the next race.

This man hardly wanted for money, but he probably enjoyed increasing his fortune anyway. Such a desire better suited a lord or merchant than a holy man.

“Don’t be like that.”

“Leave me be!”

Thud!

Ljubo shoved me away, and I fell to the ground without resisting.

“Hmph!”

After sparing me a brief look, Ljubo smirked and departed.

“Red, are you okay?”

“Of course.”

There was no way that would hurt me.

After standing, I waited a bit before pursuing Ljubo.

“Feh, they all look awful!” Ljubo grumbled as he observed the riding drakes assembled in the waiting area.

Discerning whether a normal riding drake was suited to racing required a different sense and knowledge than determining which of a group of race-trained drakes were better or worse.

“Your Eminence, I would recommend number five.”

I approached Ljubo while pointing to a drake that had just let out a big yawn.

“You again?”

Ljubo glared at me, but then he looked at the drake I pointed to.

“It looks a little fat to my eyes.”

“You shouldn’t judge by racing drake standards. That one’s a serious drake, and it has stamina. For this track, where the drakes don’t know their jockeys or the pacing for a race, those are the best traits to have.”

“Hrmm…”

Hearing that, Ljubo looked closer at the drake.

“Are you not going to bet on it?”

“Of course. I’ve already placed my bet.” I pulled a ticket from my pocket.

“Hmph… Well, fine, then.”

Ljubo headed over to buy a ticket.

Seeing that, Yarandrala whispered in my ear.

“Red, is this all right? If this doesn’t work out, we’ll miss our opening.”

“I was a vice-captain of the Bahamut Knights, remember? I have an eye for riding drakes. Just wait and see,” I responded confidently.

I wasn’t lying. That drake was my pick for this race.

But I was the only one who knew that Mister Crawly Wawly was standing on its head, brimming with confidence.

That riding drake was his friend.

“Hah-hah, that was a good win.” Ljubo was in a great mood. He didn’t seem to be on guard at all as he followed after us. “The sweet drink of victory is best savored with flair. If you bring me to a dirty little hole in the wall, I’ll have your nails ripped off,” he added with a laugh. I got the feeling it wasn’t a joke, however.

For now, I maintained my ingratiating smile.

“We’ve arrived, Your Eminence.”

After a little walk, we reached the mansion where Rit used to live.

“Hmm? This looks almost like a noble’s manor. Is there really a bar in a place like this?”

“Yes, we have an exquisite collection of liquors prepared.”

“Ohhh.”

I’d expected to put in more work to convince Ljubo, but he entered without hesitation.

“That’s quite the confidence…”

It spoke to his belief that he could deal with anything that might happen. Ljubo didn’t carry a weapon, but I knew he had an item box in his pocket. No member of the Hero’s party was weak.

After bracing myself, I followed Ljubo inside.

“What, are you pouring?”

Yarandrala had changed into a trim bartender outfit and stood behind the counter set up in the building.

“She’s a pro when it comes to drinks,” I responded, sitting down next to Ljubo.

Yarandrala flashed a gleaming smile and bowed.

She’d once led an armed merchant fleet, after all. Sure, her goal was hunting pirates, but the merchant fleet’s primary business had been hauling and selling cargo. Yarandrala had picked up a lot about alcohol during that part of her life.

“Hmph, well, give me your best drink to start with.” Ljubo scowled.

The manor was stocked with many high-class wines, brandies, whiskeys, and other popular liquors that could be found in Zoltan. But those were only there in case Ljubo requested a specific drink. Our first choice was something quite different.

“Then how about this wine?”

“Hmm? Serving a wine that hasn’t been bottled…”

Ljubo’s face twisted further upon his seeing that Yarandrala was pouring red liquid from a leather pouch.

Wine quickly oxidized, and its flavor deteriorated when exposed to the air. It was normal to bottle wine fresh out of the cask and seal it with a cork.

“The aroma is quite good, but a wine kept so crudely couldn’t possibly appease my palate.”

Presumably, the only thing keeping Ljubo from standing was the first-rate aroma coming from the glass. Ljubo raised his cup to observe the drink’s color.

“The shade is good. I see. The appearance certainly rivals that of a high-grade wine.”

And then Ljubo emptied the glass in a single gulp.

“Mrgh, hrmm…” Suddenly, he went stiff.

Yarandrala smiled, knowing it had worked.

“To think there was such a delicious wine in this backwater!”

Ljubo made no effort to hide his shock as he sniffed the remnant fragrance from the glass.

“The attack is so simple, yet there is a subtle complexity to it. There’s an unmistakably strong fruity mellowness to it, but, hmmm… I detect a sophisticated balance between the richness and tartness. It leans sweeter, but the aftertaste is clean and refreshing. And the alcohol asserts itself without being overpowering. The texture is like a luxurious silk, and more than anything the intensity of the aftertaste reminds me of an elegant lady-in-waiting who casts off her dress and dances unrestrained in the forest! This is a truly wonderful wine!”

Ljubo was off on a rant.

I’d heard he loved to drink expensive alcohol. Acquiring some fairy wine had proven the right choice.

This was what I had gone to Undine for the other day. I figured someone who had spent his entire life with the church would never have tasted something prepared by the fay before. Fortunately, the plan worked, and Ljubo was surprised.

“Then please, have a second glass and enjoy it with this fish-based dish.” Yarandrala placed some oden in front of Ljubo. Oparara had made it for us this morning.

“This is fish?”

Ljubo cocked his head while eyeing the cake made of pounded fish and chikuwa.

“It is made from grated fish.”

“Hmmm.”

Ljubo had a dubious look on his face as he bit into the chikuwa. “Mrgh!” His eyes widened.

“It pairs excellently with wine as well.”

At Yarandrala’s suggestion, Ljubo took a sip of the wine after swallowing the chikuwa.

“Hah-hah. This is why I always find myself traveling away from the church. You’d never find such magnificent wine and food at the Last Wall fortress.” Ljubo nodded to himself in satisfaction while taking another bite. “This rich soup and the red wine are quite the serendipitous pair. It’s common for alcohol and dishes from the same land to go well together, but to think a food this different would partner so excellently with this wine. I must admit…this is a combination even I find satisfying.”

The cardinal enjoyed his meal in good spirits.

The fairy wine and foreign dish had moved him, and that was enough to rob him of his presence of mind. Naturally, the alcohol helped, too.

We can’t let him get so drunk that he forgets where he is, though. It’s best to get him right at that spot where he’s suggestible but lucid.

I watched Ljubo carefully while Yarandrala and I offered him more wine until he’d had just enough.

I think that should do it…

Approaching the cardinal in disguise, leading him to Rit’s old mansion, and plying him with food and drink were all to ensure I began the negotiation from as advantageous a position as possible.

Such was the tactic of one with no special skills or magic. Put another way, I had to resort to this, or I’d never succeed.

Something similar had happened a while back, when I’d slacked off on my research and messed up an application to sell anesthetic in Zoltan. I only got approval thanks to Rit’s connections, and I wanted to believe I’d learned from that error.

“Are you satisfied with our offering, Your Eminence?”

“It was pretty good. So, then, shall I head out?”

“You should rest a little longer, at least until you are no longer impaired from the drink,” I said while passing Ljubo a glass of water.

“Hmph, letting the buzz fade would be a waste.”

He wanted more wine, not water.

He had finished the last of the fairy wine, so next was a premium wine that could be bought in Zoltan.

“Ahhh, this is heaven.”

He swirled the glass of red wine as he said that.

That’s not something a man of the cloth should be saying.

“What’s with that look? Do you doubt a cardinal of the holy church’s words? The Lord Demis created wine, so what problem is there in finding the divine in alcohol?”

It was an absurd statement, but the ease and confidence with which he said it was almost enough to make me believe him.

I guess this is the charisma of a man who’s fought his way to the top of the continent’s biggest organization.

“There is a small thing I’d like to discuss with Your Eminence, if I might. Naturally, you are free to continue enjoying your wine in the meantime.”

“Good, good. I’ll allow it. As thanks for the good drink and food,” he answered arrogantly.

“It concerns Van the Hero, whom you watch over.”

Ljubo took that in stride without batting an eye, as though he’d expected this topic to come up. “He is the Hero who will someday save the world. I’m afraid I must ask you to suffer some inconvenience for him.” Ljubo waved his hand lightly.

He’d anticipated a request to do something about Van. This was likely not his first time hearing a grievance about the boy.

Everyone in Zoltan found Van unpleasant, so it wasn’t surprising that people had come to Ljubo with complaints. Undoubtedly, it was too frightening to talk with Van directly, so his guardian was the next-best option.

Zoltan’s peace meant nothing to Ljubo, though. Whatever happened out here wouldn’t alter his standing. The cardinal valued his relationship with Van and Van’s reputation more. From his perspective, the trouble the Hero had caused in Zoltan wasn’t anything to fret over.

“While I will compliment you on the warm reception, I cannot do anything,” Ljubo said as he started to stand.

“Please wait a moment, Your Eminence. We actually wish to convey the danger of the opponent the Hero intends to confront.”

Ljubo stiffened at my remark. “What did you say?”

He typically would’ve dismissed such a statement as specious, especially when it came from a stranger. However, the fairy wine had moved him. Even someone as self-centered as Ljubo wished to do something for the person who had granted him such an affecting experience.

The man wasn’t so foolish as to believe every word without question, but he was willing to listen for a moment.

“Very well. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll at least hear you out.” He sat back down, and I poured him a new glass of wine.

“It is about the being that defeated Van the Hero.”

“Hmmm, you speak as though you know something. Who was this enemy?”

I’d been working out an answer to that question for the past week.

Linking the event to Ruti was dangerous. Hardly anyone saw her using her full strength, but her power was well-known enough that she was the first person people thought of when asked who Zoltan’s strongest adventurer was. Ljubo wouldn’t accept that a B-rank adventurer in the middle of nowhere was so mighty as to best the Hero, though.

I had to cite something more plausible.

“It was a remnant of the ancient elves.”

“Huh?” Ljubo looked dubious. “Don’t be stupid. The ancient elves only left behind those mechanical clockwork creatures. It was a human girl who defeated Van.”

“Naturally, my word is insufficient for one so discerning. Please, this way.” After standing, I glanced at Ljubo’s glass of wine.

“Hmph…”

He drained the glass in one go and followed me to the basement. His gait was just a little bit wobbly.

“It has been some time since it died…so please forgive the stench.”

“‘Died’? Is there a corpse down here?”

I opened the door to a small room in the basement.

“That’s not something to smell after eating.” Ljubo’s face puckered up as a terrible stench wafted out the door.

“It was preserved to prevent decay.”

I opened the lid of a plain casket lying on the floor.

“…An ogrekin? Hmm, but its body is shaped differently.”

“It is a mutant ogrekin.”

Within the coffin was one of the ogrekin that Rit and I had fought in Sant Durant.

“Please, observe the markings on its neck, Your Eminence.” I pointed to the characters printed on the dead creature’s nape.

“Ancient elf script? Did you write that?”

“Not at all. This was written while the monster was alive—before it matured, even.”

“I see…”

“Tattooing a ferocious ogrekin while alive would be difficult. And close inspection should reveal this is no ordinary mark. Some unknown technique was used to embed the color in the deepest levels of the skin.”

“‘Unknown technique’… Then you believe this is the result of genuine ancient elf work?”

“I do. There is an ancient elf ruin in the mountains to the northwest of Zoltan. My theory is that this monster originated there.”

The most convincing lie was one that ran close to the truth. Changing the fewest details possible decreased possible conflicts with reality. A lie would never be uncovered if it didn’t clash with the facts.

“That’s… No, the proof is here before my eyes.”

Ljubo had forgotten the stench, and he leaned in to examine the corpse.

Ogrekin were known to have a link to the ancient elves.

The more the cardinal inspected, the more concrete my story became.

“This is indeed ancient elven writing. And this monster bears different characteristics from an ordinary ogrekin.”

Ljubo undoubtedly harbored suspicions about Van’s defeat. Why would a being capable of beating the Hero to within an inch of his life reside in the middle of nowhere? Such a being surely would have used their power to become wealthy and famous.

By the very nature of Divine Blessings, a mighty blessing had to possess an important role.

Any blessing capable of defeating the Hero ought to be making waves in Central.

Hopefully, an ancient elven reason would make a hardened, experienced cardinal believe otherwise.

“But a human attacked Van…”

“Yes, this ogrekin is just one species the ancient elves altered. While it would make for a powerful opponent for Zoltan adventurers, it’s no match for the Hero.”

“So there’s another kind?”

“Yes, Your Eminence. And that’s what defeated the Hero. Have you heard a report on Queen Leonor’s war with Zoltan?”

“The gist, but I’ve not been informed of the details.”

Information on events in Zoltan usually didn’t make it to Central. Even the most detailed accounts likely only covered events up to Bishop Shien’s departure, before the fighting broke out.

“This is a report regarding everything that occurred in Zoltan.” I handed Ljubo a stack of papers.

“Thieves Guild documents?”

Ljubo read through the file.

Although the report appeared to be from the Thieves Guild, I’d drafted it specifically to show to the cardinal. There were no lies, but I’d excluded some inconvenient facts while emphasizing some trivial points to misdirect Ljubo.

“Cutting a giant galleon in half?”

“It should still be sitting beneath the water, if you wish to see it.”

“…No, no need.”

He believes me. That’s a good sign.

“I thought the victory was thanks to Veronian Admiral Lilinrala’s efforts.”

“That wasn’t a battle a single galley could win, even when helmed by the legendary captain of the Elven Corsairs. It was the strength of a mysterious humanoid that won the day.”

“Remarkable.”

I’d written of Ruti’s efforts during the fight while minimizing what Rit, Tisse, and I had done to make her feats stand out all the more.

Upon seeing Ljubo’s tense expression, I knew I’d successfully planted the idea of a dangerous being that could defeat the Hero.

“Why did this monster intervene in the naval skirmish with Veronia?”

“I cannot begin to comprehend how a surviving piece of ancient elf handiwork thinks, but…I could speculate.”

“Tell me.”

“As best we can discern, this creature has taken action three times.”

“Three?”

“Yes, Your Eminence. Once against Van the Hero, and another time during the fight with Veronia.”

“And the third?”

“Fifty years ago, when the remnants of Goblin King Mulgarga’s forces attacked Zoltan.”

That part was a lie shuffled into the mix.

Ljubo had no way of knowing what had befallen Zoltan half a century ago, and it would be difficult to investigate the claim. All that was known was that Zoltan had managed to drive back Mulgarga’s band. Of course, Mistorm and her crew were the ones who had actually saved Zoltan back then, but there was no need to tell Ljubo that.

“Zoltan is a peaceful land. Until recently, there was no major trouble here after the goblins were driven off.”

“So this surviving piece of ancient elf handiwork safeguards Zoltan in times of peril?”

“Close, but I believe the truth is slightly different. Take note that it didn’t act during the Devil’s Blessing trouble from a few months back.”

In the aftermath of that incident, Ruti had encountered a contract demon, which brought her to Zoltan. Obviously, she couldn’t have been involved because she hadn’t been here before that, but that was all kept secret from Ljubo.

“I’ve concentrated my efforts on determining how that Devil’s Blessing crisis differed from the other three.”

“I don’t know anything about a backwater so disconnected from the rest of the continent, so don’t bother with the windup, and tell me your conclusion.”

“Essentially, the Devil’s Blessing incident threatened the state of Zoltan because of a potential coup d’état, but the others were massive martial dangers. The ancient elf creation was likely drawn out by the salt dragon attack and judged Van the Hero a powerful threat to be dealt with.”

“I see. Of course. Zoltan didn’t exist during the time of the ancient elves, so perhaps the creature was a guardian to protect this region.”

Ljubo nodded in acceptance.

Great.

“It is quite the powerful warrior in the face of an impending attack on Zoltan. Were forces from the demon lord’s army to land here, the ancient elf creation would surely rise to meet the monsters in battle.”

“That seems likely… So do you mean to suggest Van ought to withdraw for the sake of humanity?”

“Indeed. Your Eminence is rearing Van the Hero to be strong enough to fight the demon lord’s army. However, something so valuable as a piece of ancient elf handiwork shouldn’t be risked for such preparations. Were the Hero to die fighting it, that would of course be a terrible loss to humanity. And it would also be a tragic loss for the ancient marvel to perish.”

Ljubo kept Van from engaging the demon lord’s forces to ensure the boy was strong enough to survive the fight. Hopefully, he’d understand that my argument followed similar thinking.

The problem was whether he would believe me. I’d done all I could to that end. The rest was up to Ljubo.

“What is your name?”

“Me, Your Eminence? My name is Waverly.”

Waverly was the name of one of Bighawk’s henchmen. I’d disguised myself as him in the past.

Rather than create a new persona, it was safer to model an identity after an existing person. There was less chance of an obvious contradiction.

“Your logic is sound… I will advise Van that we should leave Zoltan right away.”

Yes!

Satisfied, Yarandrala and I exchanged a glance. Ljubo looked strange, though.

“Is there a problem, Your Eminence?”

“I will advise it… I will, but…” Ljubo wore a troubled look and shook his head. “Lately, Van does not listen to me…”

“Is Van not the church’s Hero?”

“He is. At least, he was supposed to be. However, Van is closer to Almighty Demis than an average person.”

“But you are the only one who can lead Van where he needs to go, Your Eminence.”

“Indeed… I shall attempt to speak with him. If you learn anything more about this ancient elf creation, let me know. You know where I am staying in town, correct?”

“Yes, Your Eminence. If we discover anything, you will be the first to hear of it.”

“Mmh. I’m counting on you,” Ljubo replied, as though issuing an order to a servant.

This went about as well as we could’ve hoped.