9-11 The Reaper’s End

The Bernstein Empire publicly stripped Count Rick von Asperald of his title and, in addition, expelled him from the Empire.

The Adventurers’ Guild in the Imperial Capital of Bern revoked Rick’s adventurer license.

On the surface, the Empire apologized for the scandal caused by its noble and paid ten platinum coins each in compensation to me and Antonio.

Even if I received money like a sparrow’s tears, it was a huge deficit for me, but safety couldn’t be exchanged for money.

The children were safe, so even if it was a result where both sides shared the pain with the Empire, that was fine.

I had splendidly fulfilled the victory condition of protecting the children.

With this, the Empire could no longer easily make a move against me and Antonio openly.

In those behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Empire also agreed it couldn’t complain about Margarita-san, her mother and sister, and Aoi-chan who had been in the Empire.

Otherwise, I would kick up a fuss.

They made sure to convey those matters properly.

And I stuck myself right at the entrance to the negotiation room, glaring at them from the shadow of a pillar the entire day.

With both hands on the pillar, showing only half my face and staring with the most suspicious eyes possible.

The civil officials of both nations in the negotiations kept glancing this way, quite concerned.

My bad reputation spread not only across the Kingdom and Empire, but throughout the entire world via a live broadcast.

It was also conveyed that I apparently received the protection of spirits across the world and absolutely must not be touched or involved with.

Looking closely, an incredible number of spirit protections crowded the status on my magic PC.

When I had the magic PC count them, there were over twenty million protections.

Why was that?

They should normally be something extremely welcome, yet they only looked like a restaurant reservation list to me.

Surely there were tons of freeloaders who ate and ran without even giving blessings.

Considering how recklessly they devoured my MP, I suspected there were at least several hundred million spirits.

I even considered blasting away every last one of these blessings with God Discontract. (TN: hypothetical divine contract-severing magic)

Though, well.

“No, that would be a waste. After all, those have already been prepaid.”

If the High Priestess Jessica said so, I couldn’t easily dismiss it.

Damn it.

I’ll absolutely get my money’s worth out of this.

Spirits, I’ll work you for life.

Apparently angering spirits causes great famines and disasters.

They didn’t look like that at all though.

They just seemed like gluttonous fiends… ah, they reminded me of someone—Eriin!

Somehow I felt a bit drained.

Also, for some reason I had the strange title Spirit Demon King attached to me.

Apparently everyone was calling me that.

At least decide whether it’s Spirit King or Demon King.

I don’t mind either.

During the incident Rick caused, the children slept soundly and noticed nothing.

Weren’t beastfolk supposed to have sharp senses?

They were more sensitive than anyone to the smell of food though.

Well, I had tried to block out the commotion as much as possible.

Thankfully I didn’t have to rudely wake them up and evacuate them.

I gave Ars the remaining five platinum coins as promised, but he seemed to like it here and said he wanted to stay a bit longer.

He really was a free spirit.

Now he also had a teleportation bracelet, so he could travel wherever he liked.

Also, Armon and Legg-san, who he once teamed up with, were in Alba.

They seemed like family to him.

They were about parent and child in age after all.

No wonder Armon trusted him so much.

At least more than me.

Well, can’t be helped if they’re family.

During the recent stampede incident, he apparently waited for monsters in Alba alongside them as an active S-rank adventurer.

The two B-rank adventurers planned to dive into some dungeon somewhere.

Probably toward the Empire where there were many dungeons?

They said high-rank adventurers rarely came to the dungeon north of this country.

Since we didn’t know what would happen ahead, I kept the C-rank adventurer unit as is.

My pay was good and high-grade equipment was lent free, so everyone happily stayed.

His Majesty the King was all smiles.

After repelling the Empire’s threat, it was like gaining a big favor from them.

Moreover, it was a public victory close to unconditional surrender, with evidence released to every nation.

“Can’t stop laughing” fit perfectly.

I wondered what happened to the imprisoned Crown Prince of the Empire and the dying Emperor.

I didn’t even go to see—felt like I didn’t care anymore.

The camera pods were retrieved for now since being discovered in the current truce would be very bad.

Antonio thanked me again.

About Margarita-san and the others.

“Come visit slowly sometime. It’s been hectic lately. Margarita’s mother and sister also want to properly thank you.”

“Yeah, someday.”

Aoi-chan was still Remi’s horse as always.

Her new craftworks were apparently going great.

She looked happy when I told her she didn’t have to sneak around anymore.

She was also contacting her family by email using the PC and tablet I lent.

She sent photos and video mail, including pictures with me, so her family felt relieved knowing she was with a Japanese guardian.

She also sent footage of herself smiling together with the cute children.

Her family was quite surprised but happy to see she was safe.

Someday, I’d definitely take this girl back to Japan.

But even the legendary rare-visitor king Takeshi Funabashi couldn’t do that—could I really?

Perhaps the spirits that had grown fond of me this time might be useful.

Well, when that time came, I’d at least give them plenty of bonus magic power.

Around that time, near the Empire’s western border.

Rick desperately hurried toward the neighboring Kingdom of Zaid.

It was a rocky mountain path in a desolate landscape leading to the grassland nation in the west.

It was still somewhat of a road since western expeditions used it.

Crossing this mountain led into the neighboring grasslands.

Rick had reasons not to use the proper well-maintained highway.

On the opposite side lay the Albatross Kingdom he had antagonized, and the kingdom below the Empire wasn’t favorable either, so this was his only route.

“Damn it damn it damn it. That Granburst bastard! If he wasn’t there, this wouldn’t have happened. Why am I suffering like this…”

Rick cursed while trying to cross the western border.

His horse had died along the way from being driven too hard.

His lack of care to even cast healing magic on his important mount suited Rick the Reaper, master of disposable pawns.

Thanks to that, panting roughly, he had to hurry across the rugged wasteland half-stumbling.

“That rare visitor bastard… Someday, definitely…”

“That’s impossible.”

A voice suddenly cut him off.

“Who’s there!”

Rick, now a man hunted by his former Empire, jumped at the sudden voice.

“Me.”

The man stood atop a rock taller than a person.

He looked like a reclusive scholar, a mustached man in a cloak.

“What, Balan! D-don’t scare me. If I don’t cross this border today the Empire will hunt me down. I don’t have time for you today.”

Despite being on the run, Rick relaxed somewhat toward the familiar S-rank adventurer from the same Empire.

Perhaps it was pride shared between S-rank adventurers.

The next moment, Balan silently descended gracefully like a cat.

Was letting him finish speaking kindness toward a former comrade?

The taciturn man’s expression didn’t change as he looked at “it.”

Rick collapsed without a sound.

A bright red flower bloomed near his heart.

Whether Rick understood the meaning of “that’s impossible” in this world or the next—who could say.

The Empire had moved to silence him.

One who knew too much could do anything.

He had been an S-rank adventurer after all.

Even if they had no choice but to expel him, there was no reason to let him become another nation’s power.

They were the kind who casually disposed even of teleportation mages, precious talents numbering only a few in the world.

Thus ended the man called the Reaper, dying under the watch of his former comrade.