Chapter 148 A Troubled Restart
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had just pulled Kurokou—my Black Luster suit—and the prototype for the Special Ability fuel flamethrower, Melphlas Spintail, out of my Inventory. My plan was to burn down the filthy dumpster of a dormitory infested with the bastards who had tried to sexually assault Tatia. Unfortunately, Ichika, Dahlia, and Tatia herself immediately dog-piled me, successfully pinning me down.
I tried to force my way forward, relying on the suit’s power assist, but it was useless. Not only was my base Ability lowered by the side effect of Sublimation of Existence, but Dahlia’s pure physical strength was simply greater than mine, even with all my equipment active. My legs wouldn’t budge.
”You can’t possibly win against three of us, can you!?” Ichika cried out.
”The hell I can’t, you idiot! I will win!” I yelled back, my voice raw.
Ichika insisted it was impossible as I continued to strain forward, but I voiced my intent to break free anyway. It felt like a truly low-grade, dirty exchange, but I couldn’t afford to care. Though I wasn’t moving forward as a matter of fact, I absolutely refused to give up.
”It’s alright, my Lord!” Tatia said from beneath me.
”…Are you sure?” I asked.
”They only saw my underwear, so it’s fine!!”
”I’m going to kill them,” I growled.
Tatia’s words poured fuel directly onto the fire of my heart. I desperately wished that Kurokou would respond to my rage and activate some kind of ‘super mode,’ but since it wasn’t equipped with such a function, its output naturally didn’t increase. The only thing that did respond was my own body, which could push past its limiters in a burst of anger, though the backlash would be severe. Even if I did, however, I didn’t think I could shake off all three of them.
Finally, they managed to pull me down completely. Dahlia’s Magic Device control ability promptly stopped Kurokou and stripped it off me. Then, Tatia threw her own weight on top of me, settling the matter and effectively locking my body in place.
”What the—”
”I had to remove your resistance to prevent you from fighting. Please don’t struggle, master,” Dahlia stated flatly.
I ground my teeth. Not only had my status already dropped due to the level reset, but I was facing Dahlia, whose status had reached its cap. Of course, I never had a chance to begin with, but now even the slightest possibility had been snatched away.
”…Tatara-dono, why are you so angry about what happened to me?” Tatia asked quietly.
She was pressing down on my shoulders, her position covering me completely, which left her generous bust right in front of my face. It was distracting, making it look as though her cleavage itself was doing the talking.
”…What they did to you is unforgivable,” I answered.
If I reflected too much, the initial anger would reignite, and I knew that my affection for the three of them would curdle into pure disgust. I was consciously trying not to remember the faces of the other two besides Tatia for this exact reason.
”The anger is still there, but at the same time, I still have affection for you three… That’s why I got angry when they tried to defile Tatia.”
”…You have a difficult nature, Tatara-dono,” she commented.
”I’m well aware of it.”
”No, you’re not nearly aware enough,” Tatia countered, a hint of weary exasperation in her voice.
Her words, combined with the forced physical stillness and our exchange, slowly brought my temper back down. My head began to chill out.
”…My apologies. I’ll hold off on charging in right now. However, I am going to report the attempted rape by the Knight School students to the City Mayor, including the information you just gave me.”
”Yes, that is perfectly fine,” she agreed.
Hearing that, Tatia moved off me. Ichika and Dahlia also stepped away, and I was free.
I sat up, called out to Cipher, quickly wrote a letter, and ordered him to deliver it to the City Mayor immediately. Cipher nodded once and then flew outside. With any luck, he’d return with a reply. I knew this was their busiest time, but I couldn’t imagine anything more urgent than this. Especially since it involved military intervention from a hostile nation—it was a case that certainly warranted the death penalty. Though the evidence might be insufficient, if the Foreign Affairs Chief did their job, we might get the necessary proof to mobilize our homeland’s military. If there was royalty within the inspection team, this information could potentially lead to the addition of an elite squad to their guard. At the very least, personnel far more suitable than the individuals in ‘Whirlwind’ who weren’t accustomed to anti-personnel combat would arrive.
”…For now, Tatia, you should commute to the Knight School from this house for a while.”
”Are you sure that’s alright?” she asked.
”It’s a damn sight better than staying under the same roof as guys who attempt rape. Even the teachers should realize that if they deny this, the Judicial Department and the Defense Department will conduct an immediate, forced inspection.”
I couldn’t trust teachers who had fostered a generation that engaged in student activism, but they should at least have a minimum of common sense. Though, it would certainly be easier for me if they screwed up their judgment here.
”In that case, I will gladly accept your affection,” Tatia said.
”The guest room is occupied, so use Ethelena’s room.”
”But that’s…”
”She’s not here right now, so it’s not a problem.”
”…Understood.”
I considered the room I had lent to Yohira, but it didn’t have a proper bed. It didn’t seem right to make someone who wasn’t used to it sleep on a futon, so using Ethelena’s room was the more rational choice. If I had a little more land, I’d build a separate annex for guests, but unfortunately, all the surrounding land had houses already built on it. I had a feeling more residents might be moving in soon, though.
”…Speaking of which, Tatia, I want to ask you something.”
”What is it?”
I stopped Tatia as she was about to head for the Hinokiburo, the cypress bath. There was one thing I needed to know.
”Did you seriously not consider that I might refuse your request for help, especially since you hadn’t apologized?”
Tatia gave a wry smile at my question. It wasn’t the look of someone who had trusted in a partner.
”I was prepared to be turned away at the door. I thought you might not even acknowledge me, like you didn’t acknowledge me in the dungeon that day.”
”That would be a normal response, sure.”
”But… given how few human connections I have, I couldn’t think of anyone else but you.”
True enough. I suppose I was the only one left by elimination. Maybe I should encourage Tatia to interact more with others. If she had been acquainted with the vigilante corps squad leader or vice-chief, she might have been able to rely on them.
”…Then why haven’t you apologized to master?” Dahlia interjected, cutting into the exchange between Tatia and me.
She asked because Tatia still hadn’t apologized, I assumed, with the implication that she was trying to let the matter slide. Though, even if Tatia apologized right now, there was a good chance I wouldn’t genuinely accept it.
”A correction, Dahlia-dono. It’s not that I won’t apologize, but that I cannot.”
Tatia’s reply was difficult to parse, and Dahlia looked perplexed. Tatia hesitated slightly, then began to explain.
”I still don’t completely understand why Tatara-dono was angry at that time. To apologize in that state would only be pouring oil onto the fire of your anger. That is why I cannot apologize yet.”
I see. Tatia understood me in her own way. She had correctly anticipated that if she apologized without considering the reason for my anger—if she only did it to be forgiven—I would likely abandon her. There was no lie in her words. In fact, wasn’t it the case that Tatia couldn’t lie to me at all?
”…However, I do realize that there are some things I must apologize for, even if not everything.”
”…And what are those?” Dahlia prompted her.
Tatia turned to face me and bowed her head.
”My sincerest apologies for the time when we, your companions, didn’t believe your words, and when we surrounded you and subjected you to callous remarks… I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
She had finally apologized. I could doubt her words, but I felt they were sincere. After all, if that particular setting was still in effect, Tatia shouldn’t be able to lie to me specifically.
”…So, Tatia, you think I was angry because my companions didn’t believe me, and because I was surrounded and mocked by a group of people for being a virgin?”
”A refusal to accept the truth… an act that closely resembled betrayal coming from someone you trust, and I believe being surrounded and attacked by a group is an unforgivable act for you, Tatara-dono. The mockery of your past life as a virgin shouldn’t have been the core issue at that time. However, the fact that we, the people who were supposed to believe you and walk beside you, doubted your words—and even went so far as to deliberately seek out and make such comments—that is what I know triggered your anger.”
She understood the exact reason I had been furious. It was surprising, yet at the same time, it was a logical result of having honed her deductive and reasoning skills during the era when she could only perceive human speech as noise. I wished she had managed to deploy that insight sooner, but she was likely dragged down by Ethelena and Yohira. It was a shallow judgment born from her lack of experience in dealing with people.
”…I accept your apology. You’ve truly come to understand me well.”
”Even so, my desire to be your knight has not changed… My Lord,” Tatia said, her voice laced with a little fear as she used the title.
I didn’t reject the title. If she could apologize correctly and from the heart, then I could forgive her completely. I inwardly chided myself for being so easily manipulated, but I wasn’t the type to hold onto anger for long, it seemed. I decided that Tatia deserved my forgiveness. Once I made that decision, the anger simply couldn’t resurface.
”Sorry for calling you back, Tatia.”
”No, I… I never thought I would be forgiven,” she admitted.
”I know. I’m surprised by how quickly I forgave you, too. But listen, there probably won’t be a next time.”
I was able to forgive her this once, but if the same thing happened again, I would judge the person based on everything, including this incident. Humans made mistakes, but I couldn’t forgive someone who repeated the same offenses. It was a trait that likely stretched back to my previous life.
”Yes. I will engrave it upon my soul and my pride. I will never again harbor betrayal or suspicion toward you.”
”…I think you should at least hold some doubt, though, right?”
”Towards you, who trusted my words without question or hesitation?”
Was the immediate, unquestioning trust I’d just shown now binding Tatia? I wondered what kind of mess I was making.
”You should at least hold a little suspicion. I might be brainwashed by someone someday, too.”
”Then, did you consider just now that I might have been brainwashed?”
”Even if the lie was a result of brainwashing, I judged that it was better to believe you and get hurt than to doubt you and suffer irreparable loss. That’s not blind faith.”
”No, I think that is exactly what blind faith is,” she countered.
How rude. It was a calm, calculated judgment that acting on belief, even if it turned out to be meaningless, was better than not preparing and facing an irreversible outcome due to disbelief.
Besides, I had another reason to trust Tatia.
”…It can’t be blind faith. Tatia, you shouldn’t be able to lie to me.”
”Not ‘will not’ lie, but ‘cannot’?” she clarified.
Exactly. Not ‘will not,’ but ‘cannot.’
”Tatia, a knight’s oath is heavier than you think. Especially one that the world’s law recognizes,” I explained.
”…Is that also knowledge from your previous life?”
”It is.”
This was one of the forgotten details of the original story’s world: the knight’s oath. Perhaps because they swear fealty to their lord before God, a knight could not lie to their designated lord. Smart, or rather cunning, individuals might intentionally withhold the complete truth or use vague language to mislead, but fundamentally, they could not speak a direct falsehood.
”Tatia’s words are guaranteed by the world itself. That’s how I know your apology is sincere.”
”Then, I too can judge from my association with you that there is no deception. You showed me no lies or evasions when I accepted this accessory. You could have, but you honestly told me what you couldn’t say… That is why I believe in you.”
Our opinions seemed to run parallel with no clear resolution. It was best to drop the matter for now.
”…At Ichika’s request, I decided we’re going to defeat the boss of the 70th floor. We’ll challenge it tomorrow. What will you do, Tatia?”
”I will go. I am your shield; it is my role to defend you against all hardships and difficulties.”
”I see. Understood.”
Should I have Tatia undergo Sublimation of Existence as well? If we defeat the boss first, her level cap will be freed up to 70, although it will temporarily be capped at 60. Should I postpone it? Given Tatia’s role, the fact that her HP and Mana aren’t maxed out is quite painful. The required number of materials is high, and it might be safer to keep her at level 50 until the student movement is over. Furthermore, having her challenge a dungeon floor with a lower-than-initial status after a level reduction would be too dangerous. It would be safer to focus on ranking up her skills, like Tsubame-gaeshi (Swallow Reversal), while she levels up naturally.
I quietly outlined my future policy in my mind, then left Tatia and the others to rest. As soon as I was alone, thoughts of Ethelena and Yohira threatened to surface. If I let myself dwell on them, I’d fall into a deeper gloom, and the anger would reignite, possibly leading me to hate them. Taking a deep breath, I reset my thoughts, shifted my consciousness, and cast ‘Sleep’ on myself to ensure a deep rest. I had learned the spell formula while making the sheath for ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ (Agave), and now I could use it on myself without issue. I forced myself into a deep sleep, shutting down all thought.
I woke up the next morning from a sleep so deep I hadn’t dreamed, annoyed by the sliver of sunlight hitting my face through the gap in the curtains. I got up and headed to the kitchen. As soon as I started preparing breakfast, Ichika came in.
”Good morning-degozaru (to you), Master,” she greeted me.
”Good morning, Ichika. And Cornremu, good morning,” I replied.
”Ta!” Cornremu chirped.
I greeted Ichika and Cornremu while continuing my preparations. Since there was leftover pork from last night’s cutlets, I decided to make ginger pork. I told Ichika I’d make fried eggs for her, and she accepted after a slightly disappointed expression. Okay, I’ll make scrambled eggs tonight.
I mixed the marinade with sugar, mirin (sweet rice wine), sake, soy sauce, and grated ginger. I sliced an onion into half-moons, and used the pork, which had already been sliced for the cutlets yesterday, simply trimming the sinews. I dusted the pork with potato starch and threw it into a pan where I had melted lard. Once the surface of the meat changed color, I tossed in the onions and cooked them together. When the onions turned translucent, I added the sauce, coating the pork and onions while reducing the liquid. The potato starch on the meat thickened the sauce slightly, which helped trap the meat juices and improved the eating experience. I wondered if I should have mixed in some grated apple—Albard-san’s apples had a nice balance of sourness and sweetness, and they would have worked well as a substitute for the sugar and mirin.
Seeing the sauce perfectly coat the meat and onions, I transferred it to a plate. I had prepared enough for everyone, but then I realized I had made portions for Ethelena, Yohira, and my Mother-in-law, too. My heart ached at the thought that they weren’t here, and Ichika noticed my state and quietly came to my side. I knew I would likely never be able to beat this good-wife-kitsune.
Ichika had prepared miso soup with shredded cabbage and a mound of shredded cabbage on the side. The rice, which she had set the night before, was cooked right on time. Finally, I placed a freshly fried egg on top of the ginger pork, completing a delightful breakfast. Perhaps it was a bit too luxurious for a morning meal?
”…Tatara-dono, is this much indulgence acceptable for breakfast?” Dahlia, the Acting Head of Family, inquired.
”We’re entering an exploration today, so we need to fuel up,” I replied lightly.
While she called it luxurious, I thought it was necessary to eat this much before entering an exploration, or my HP wouldn’t last. I had to be careful not to overeat, though, as that could increase my chances of dying. Tatia seemed a little hesitant about the heavy dish for breakfast, but she looked satisfied by the deep flavor of the soy sauce and the savory sweetness brought out by the mirin and onions. She was enjoying her meal, wrapping the shredded cabbage in meat and breaking the egg yolk to mix it with the sauce. I’ll omit Hinagiku-san’s food review—I don’t want to get hungry while I’m eating.
Once everyone was finished, Ichika and I cleared the dishes, and the four of us left the house. We were leaving the Acting Head of Family to supervise the idiot, but the bastard and Hinagiku-san would serve as guards… They will, won’t they?
After checking in at the reception, I led Tatia away from the usual entrance and toward the area near the return apparition spot. Ichika and Tatia looked confused, but Dahlia understood what I was about to do and looked excited.
”Um, Tatara-dono?” Tatia started.
”I’m going to use a new magic tool… Oh, and everyone, make sure you touch me, like when we made our escape,” I instructed, cutting off Tatia’s question.
They all touched me, and once I confirmed it, I activated the returner’s receiver. It picked up the resonance wave from the marker I had left in the dungeon, triggering a small teleportation gate. Instantly, a hole opened up in the space before us, and through it, we could see the exact spot where I had stopped my previous exploration.
”Master, this is a simple teleportation gate, so it works differently than your Teleportation Crystal,” Dahlia warned.
”If you knew that, you should’ve told me! That’s embarrassing,” I retorted.
”I wouldn’t pass up a chance for legitimate physical contact with master,” Dahlia returned, attempting to rope the other two into her plot. “I’m sure the other two would agree.”
I glanced at them, skeptical, and they quickly averted their eyes. Well, I guess that confirms it.
”…Fine. I’ll ignore it this time,” I conceded.
A palpable sigh of relief seemed to sweep over them. I urged Dahlia to lead the way, and she stepped through the teleportation gate first, followed by Ichika and Tatia. I was the last to pass through, and the gate closed immediately after me. So, Dahlia leading was indeed because the gate shut once the receiver-side passed through. I’d vaguely considered that might be the specification, confirming that the City Mayor and I thought along similar lines regarding system design.
The solemn atmosphere of the dungeon seemed to overwhelm Tatia, who was setting foot here for the first time. However, she quickly regained her composure and changed her Equipment. Once I confirmed her preparations were complete, we descended the stairs.
Ichika volunteered for the scouting role and led the way with more skill than Ethelena usually did. Her magnificent Concealment was almost enough to lose sight of her, truly befitting a NINJA. Her Movement was far lower than Ethelena’s, though, so I’d have to supplement that with an item later.
We followed Ichika, and after peering around a corner, she sent us a mental warning. I caught a glimpse of her tail puffing out slightly, signaling a high level of caution. There was definitely a Rare race ahead.
I approached cautiously and peered around the corner: sure enough, it was an Angel race. And this one was far superior to a mere Ninth Rank Angel. It had a pair of white and a pair of gray raptor wings on its back, and a crescent-moon halo above its head. It wore shining armor, but no cloth was visible underneath—naked beneath the armor. It was a bizarre choice, but the armor itself was woven from the Angel’s own Mana. This beautiful entity, with its rich, flowing golden hair, was a Rare race of the Angel people, known as a Sixth Rank Angel or an Angel of Powers (Nō Angel).
‘That Angel looks pretty strong-degozaru, doesn’t it?’ Ichika’s mental message came through, steady but stiff, betraying her realization of the strong enemy ahead.
‘Well, it is genuinely strong, but it’s a lower rank than the one we fought before. It’s not an unbeatable enemy,’ I sent back.
The truth was that a Sixth Rank Angel that had lost its reason inside the dungeon was still relatively weak. Angels that retained their reason and intellect were a threat unto themselves. Even with similar Physical Ability, their fighting capability—created by the Goddess of Light to protect humanity—was superior to all others. Sieve, the female Angel we fought on the surface, wasn’t trying to kill us initially, so she was holding back. That meant even with her holding back, we still barely won with a full-scale assault.
There was only one problem, though—
‘Six of them is definitely too many, Tatara-dono,’ Tatia’s mental message said.
‘A national crisis if Angels of that rank congregate in those numbers,’ I replied with a hint of resignation.
The enemy surpassed us in combat ability and outnumbered us. True to form, Tatia’s Probability Inversion skill was working overtime today.
‘Ichika and I will take out two from the rear, and Tatia, use charge on one for a quick fight. That’s the plan.’
‘Master, what about me?’ Dahlia asked.
‘My apologies, but I need to prioritize my level-up, so please provide support. I don’t think Tatia’s defense will be breached, but my current, reduced level defense is questionable.’
‘For battle analysis, I’d like master to use Appraisal on at least one of them-degozaru,’ Ichika requested.
‘Good point,’ I agreed. It would be foolish not to gather information on a new enemy.
Moreover, despite the effects of Probability Inversion, the floors where the Angel Race appeared were also the starting point for absolutely terrifying hidden boss-class enemies. They were the embodiment of unreasonableness, creatures classified as endgame content in the original game—Angels who had fallen to become Demon Lords, whose strength rivaled even the Undying King. Our luck in not encountering one until now was nothing short of miraculous.
From that point on, we continued to wipe out the Sixth Rank Angels of Powers as if they were common enemies. My level rose steadily, and by the time we passed the 64th floor, it had caught up with the floor number. My Physical Defense Boost and Magic Defense Boost skills had grown significantly from being constantly surrounded, making me quite strong. Continuing to clear the 70th floor like this seemed viable, but the Sublimation of Existence ritual could be delayed since my status wasn’t yet maxed out.
We descended to the 65th floor, and the atmosphere shifted entirely. The area was built with poor light, and the walls, nearly pure black, pulsed and flickered with red, vein-like patterns. The truly troublesome part was that I was the only one standing there. I hadn’t expected a teleportation trap to scatter the party, thinking my luck modifiers would prevent it.
‘Master, where are you-degozaru!?’
‘Master, are you safe!?’
The telepathic messages from Ichika and Dahlia flew to me immediately, and I was relieved to confirm their safety. However, there was no message from Tatia, the one with the lowest level.
‘I’m fine. Tatia, what about you?’
‘Regrettably, I’m in a critical situation,’ came her calm reply.
If Tatia called it a critical situation, an enemy was undoubtedly right in front of her. The enemies that spawned on the 65th floor were primarily kin of the night, but the race varied widely. There could be Succubi like Ethelena, or Demons like Baral-shi. If there was a water source in the area, Scylla and Lizardmen might appear. I had to ask for details.
‘What are you facing?’
‘Probably a Demon Clan. It has horns and wings similar to a bat.’
Those features certainly pointed to the Demon Race. Prominent, visible horns suggested a Rare species: a Supreme Demon. The standard ones were muscular, half-naked, four-armed figures with beards whose magical specialization was determined by skin color. While fearfully inhuman, they were still within my range of acceptable threats. If it was too human-like, we could lose, even with Dahlia present.
‘What color is its skin?’
‘Uh, white… I think?’
White? No, that was highly unusual. Even if the world had new elements and attributes had expanded, that would imply an Ice or Light Attribute Demon Race. I didn’t know of any Supreme Demons specializing in compound attributes, which was extremely troubling.
‘Is it holding a weapon?’
‘Yes, a greatsword held with both hands. It’s quite lavishly decorated.’
A Supreme Demon carrying a lavishly decorated greatsword wasn’t in the original game. Just the combination of characteristics gave me a horrible premonition. The original Supreme Demons carried scythes or staves; the sword-wielding Demon Race fell into two categories: a new Supreme Demon that had been added to this world, or the randomly-spawning stray Demon Lord that was an endgame encounter.
‘I need you to confirm—does it have four arms and is it naked?’
‘No, it’s completely human-shaped and wearing noble’s clothing.’
”Get out of there and run, right now!”
I couldn’t stop the raw panic from escaping my mouth as a shout instead of a telepathic message. The worst-case scenario! The absolute worst-case scenario had been drawn! Pale, beautiful features, noble’s clothing, and a luxurious greatsword—the stray Demon Lord… the Sword Demon Lord, whom the protagonist of the first RPG had once defeated, was the being Tatia was now confirming.
This enemy was one of the top three strongest hidden bosses whose appearance rate spiked on the Demon Race floors in the game Beyond the Deep Darkness. The company that produced the game, on which this world was based, had a tendency to feature past enemies as hidden bosses—Demon Lords or high-ranking Angels—and they were universally powerful. Most were mere shadows created from the world’s remnants.
But there was one exception.
And that was the Sword Demon Lord, the male character who had been defeated by the first RPG protagonist but still dominated the enemy popularity polls, never falling outside the overall top ten despite appearing in an adult game. He was slight in appearance—a seemingly refined, handsome figure—but was a true martial artist at heart. He fundamentally didn’t harm women or children, but once he recognized someone’s martial prowess, that rule vanished, and he would fight with his full power to kill. The protagonist of the first RPG was forced into a one-on-one event battle and could only win if they were fully leveled. There were no mitigating factors like status reduction; the protagonist was forced to fight an enemy powerful enough to defeat the entire party. His combat abilities were so insane that you’d be instantly wiped out if you weren’t at least level 150, even if the level cap was 200. In terms of difficulty, he far surpassed the other hidden bosses. Winning earned the title of ‘The Human Realm’s Strongest Swordsman,’ and every player had to concede, “Well, if someone with your skill level says so…” After defeating him, the final boss felt like a cakewalk. I had experienced scratching my head after easily defeating the final boss when I’d challenged the Demon Lord. Since the official sources even called the final confrontation a ‘mopping-up operation,’ it was only natural given the true summit battle players had just experienced.
This Demon Lord’s nucleus hadn’t been destroyed when he was defeated, and it was officially stated that he would revive over time. In later games, he was explicitly said to be weakened from his defeat by the first RPG protagonist.
Yet, even in Beyond the Deep Darkness, fighting him was an incredibly dangerous act.
I couldn’t say for certain that we could win, even if we had the final Equipment for the Archangel poster girl and our levels maxed out. His status was purely superior, and all of his custom techniques were high-performance. Charm from Ethelena would likely fail, and Yohira’s Concept Appraisal would only be marginally effective. I suspected that even Dahlia using Fjolnir would be a near thing. If I had to fight him with swordsmanship, I would definitely lose.
He was that dangerous.
‘…He is exceedingly dangerous, then?’ Tatia’s mental message came.
‘Dangerous doesn’t begin to cover it! That is the Sword Demon Lord, who is hailed as the strongest Demon Lord even after being defeated by the Godslayer in the fairy tales! Even Dahlia’s defense could be cut through with one—’
[Oh, you seem quite knowledgeable?]
…Huh?
[I noticed the telepathic exchange just now and decided to intervene. Your companions are safe, but… why are you so familiar with me?]
No way. How could he intervene in our telepathy? This was supposed to be a highly secured, two-way circuit between magic tools!
‘Would you be satisfied if I said I watched your exploits in my previous life?’
[Hmm, I see… A previous life, is it.]
The Sword Demon Lord seemed to be contemplating my words with a hint of understanding, but I was internally sweating cold bullets.
[You are what they call a Reincarnator, then? The world imposes such a cruel destiny.]
‘You seem knowledgeable about it?’
[I, too, was defeated by the Godslayer and am reviving from my Demon Lord nucleus. It is not so different from reincarnation.]
I wasn’t sure if that was a joke, but it was hardly something to laugh about.
‘If I tried to negotiate for you to let us go, would you accept?’
[Hmm… If you are not fit to become nourishment for my sword, I shall agree to your negotiation.]
‘The criterion is for you to see me—that’s the gist?’
[It is helpful that you are quick to grasp things.]
I couldn’t rush to Tatia’s location because I didn’t know where she was. If he imposed a time limit, we were finished.
[Let us say this: this location is precisely in the center of this floor. I shall not impose a time limit, but… if you lose to the rabble, our reunion shall not come to pass.]
‘Ha, bring it on!’ I swallowed the terror that welled up from my core and accepted the challenge from the strongest being.
Notes:
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Cipher – Tatara’s familiar, sent to guard Tatia.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Cornremu – TataraGolem; wears red scarf (*”Ta-!” greetings*).
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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