Episode 25

“Let me organize the story. In other words, all of you came here to hear the voices of the dead through that power called necromancy.”

“That is correct. We learned of the existence of these Hidden-World Ruins from Luke-san’s colleague.”

A total of eleven people sat on the ground and talked. This space, where they could let go of their weapons and speak honestly――Invalid Room――was magic greatly removed from the thinking of mages up until now, and it was one step toward the peaceful world without conflict that Glanz wished for.

“I see. Necromancy in ruins that appear in response to special mana, huh. I can still understand the principle behind your actions after learning that, but his objective is a little unclear…… I especially don’t think there should be any reason to fight.”

“Zeke seemed to not want us to go deeper into the ruins. That was probably the reason for the battle.”

“Hmm, I wonder what’s in the back? I have absolutely no idea.”

They considered the events so far and Zeke’s objective, but no convincing answer came out. Everyone here had some connection to Zeke, but perhaps there was no one who could touch his true feelings.

“……I think there’s something he wants to hide.”

Van murmured quietly.

“That’s why we have to confirm it.”

“You were the Sword Saint’s grandson, were you not? ――Would you still want to know, even if that was the worst possible truth for you?”

Aktor’s sharp words. Everyone’s gazes gathered on him.

“Aktor-nii-sama, what exactly does that……”

“Oops, Mister Wiseman said it too, but now is not the time to compare answers. It would be meaningless unless he is present, wouldn’t it?”

Aaron, who had been lying spread-eagled, interrupted the conversation.

“I don’t think you would be convinced by our words either.”

“By ‘our,’ you mean the people behind the scenes know something. ……You really are scary.”

“You are as hard to read as ever.”

“So are you.”

Aaron and Yorn. The conversation between the skilled, and Aktor’s meaningful words. Van’s heart was disturbed by an indescribable impatience.

“To return to the topic, how will this necromancy in question be handled? If the method of using it is unknown, is it not meaningless?”

“……He said he didn’t know. We’ll deal with it when it happens. ……Long time no see, soldier mister.”

“So you are the girl from back then after all……”

Simon and Atri. The two seemed unlikely to have any point of contact, but they had met in the past. Simon, who belonged to the Lagias Domain’s private army, and Atri, who came from a farming village in the Lagias Domain. It was their reunion after around five years.

“You’ve grown. ……Back then, I’m sorr—”

“It’s all right.”

“……I have no complaints about my life now. Because Zeke and you soldier misters helped me, I have the present.”

“I see. Then I have nothing to say.”

Atri smiled faintly, and Simon quietly let a smile spill out. They too had met because of Zeke.

“……So what do we do? When this magic comes undone…… are we really going to fight this time?”

“If the story about necromancy is true, then there’s no reason to fight anymore. I want to know the truth too, after all.”

“In other words――a ceasefire agreement. Wonderful!”

Aaron stretched one leg straight while still lying down.

Those who knew Aaron accepted it as his usual behavior, but Van and the others, at least, were somewhat wary.

“You’ve got some nerve saying that after acting like an ally and betraying us……”

“It isn’t good to drag the past around forever. We humans learn from our failures.”

“……This is getting nowhere. From our side, we have no reason to fight. I promise this in the name of the Astera Ducal House.”

“Understood. Van-san and the others are fine with that as well, yes?”

They all had various thoughts, and their intentions flickered in and out of view. But in the end, their opinions were aligned.

With Van’s words at his back, Luke ran toward the depths of the ruins. Considering Van’s position, it felt painful. Even so…… this role alone was something he could not yield.

(There are traces of battle. This mana belongs to Zeke.)

He ran down the stairs while refining his mana so that it could develop into combat at any time. There was no sign of monsters in the Hidden-World Ruins. But if Zeke was fighting some kind of existence, he needed to be careful enough.

(Are you fighting alone again?)

He had heard the story from his father, Brink. That Zeke had subjugated the poisonous dragon basilisk for the sake of a child he did not even know. That he had made a special medicine without seeking compensation and had published the refinement method to the Apothecaries Association. Because of that, Luke had lived on without losing his life.

(It was all thanks to you.)

Zeke had begun adventurer activities, saying it was to earn money. Saying he had no use for small fry, he did not take low-ranked requests and chose only high-difficulty ones. ……But Luke knew. Difficulty and reward did not necessarily match.

If vicious monsters appeared in a farming village, the amount that could be offered as a reward inevitably fell. Compared to requests from towns or nobles, it was certainly inferior. Even so, Zeke accepted and completed requests without clinging to the reward. He had repeated that many times. To save as many people as possible.

(What do you mean, “to earn money”? All of it was for someone else’s sake.)

There had also been times when he forcibly dragged out Lagias private soldiers, saying there were not enough hands. He often scorned them as disposable small fry who did not cost labor expenses. But Zeke had never once used them up.

The Lagias Domain was dangerous, with more monster damage than other domains. While paying the utmost attention so the private army would not be injured, he selected requests suited to each person’s ability. He had given them combat training so that no one would have to die.

(You would insist that everything was for your own sake. But…… if I think even a little, I understand. People don’t gather around a self-centered person.)

Because of his position as a Lagias, Zeke too was hated without exception.

Luke had asked Brink about Lagias as well, but he had not told him the details. Brink did not know everything, but if Luke wanted to know the truth, he should confirm it with the person himself from his own mouth. He had advised Luke to become someone who could gain trust.

It would be hard to say that the current Luke had become the person Brink’s words described. Zeke was definitely hiding something. Was the reason he would not talk about it because Luke was not trusted?

(I don’t know. What Zeke is thinking right now.)

In the past, it had been simpler. Since when had it become like this…… No, in truth, he understood. He vaguely knew. In terms of timing――it was when Luke decided to become a knight.

“Come this way. I’ll show you the path.”

From then on, his relationship with Zeke had changed greatly. He did not know the reason. Even so, he felt it.

(Becoming a knight. Was this…… really my dream?)

He had been chasing the dream of becoming a knight since long ago. Seeing his father working as a knight, he admired him. He naturally thought that he too would become a knight someday. ……Yes, naturally.

It was not strange for a young child to admire his parent. It was a common story. As one grew, one’s way of thinking could change, and one could chase a different dream. The reverse was also true. ――Then what was this discomfort? It felt as though his thoughts and actions were being guided. ……Was he overthinking it?

(Let’s stop. What matters is what I want to do.)

He wanted to save his one and only best friend. He wanted to stay by his side. He wanted to be his strength. That alone had been enough. He wanted nothing else. It should not have been an arrogant wish.

Like in the past, he wanted to go out on adventures again, complete requests, let difficult scolding pass by, tease him from time to time, and laugh in the end. That ordinary daily life was more special to Luke than anything.

(Zeke. I don’t know what you’re carrying. But if I don’t know, I just need to understand. If you won’t open your mouth, I’ll force you to talk. You were always forceful, weren’t you? Then I should be allowed to do the same.)

It was all right. Surely it would go well. He had been saved from the brink of despair. This time would be no problem either. ――The answer was right there.

“……I finally caught up, Zeke.”

“What a troublesome one has appeared. Will you be the final obstacle?”

The talisman Luke held――responding to Shupilad’s mana, the tightly shut door opened. “So that’s it,” Zeke murmured softly.

Matching Zeke as he slowly went ahead, Luke also advanced.

How deep underground had they come? Instead of sunlight, the light of ore jutting out from the walls illuminated their surroundings.

The place they reached was a wide space, and at the far end, something that looked like an altar could be seen.

(That is probably connected to the necromancy we came for. But right now……)

“It somehow feels like it’s been a long time. Since when has it been, the last time we talked alone?”

“None of that matters. Why are you here? What happened to Aaron?”

There was no change in his mana. His words were completely flat as well. But deep in his eyes, Luke felt strong emotion.

“Aaron-san is safe. And everyone else too. ……Reinforcements who care about you arrived as well.”

Luke explained that Simon and the others had come to the Hidden-World Ruins. He explained that they were in a special situation because of Glanz and Yorn’s Unison Link.

“Every last one of them does unnecessary things.”

“That’s not something they could do with half-hearted resolve. ――You should understand that too, deep down.”

“Ah, yes. ――In other words, the only one getting in my way is you.”

Zeke placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Would words no longer reach him?

“There are many things I want to ask you. ……Who killed the Sword Saint?”

“What will you do if you know that? What does it have to do with you, a mere knight?”

Luke smiled wryly inwardly at the reaction he had expected. The location was different, but it was almost the same exchange as the original work. It was the scene where Zeke, the villain, was pressed about his evil deeds by Fonsell, a main character.

Van was Fonsell’s childhood friend and had also been close to Masfelt, his grandfather. Furthermore, Fool, Zeke’s father, was also involved in the death of Fonsell’s father. It was truly full of fateful ties.

“It has something to do with me. Mistakes must be corrected. There should never be a case where someone is unjustly punished.”

“Ha, what are you saying at this point? No matter how many evil deeds Lagias piles up, it has nothing to do with you people.”

“Zeke……”

He did not understand why the side correcting evil had such a sad expression. Fonsell was a straightforward knight who followed the back of his late father. He had to be an executor of justice.

――And the protagonist had to continue moving forward. When he learned that Zeke, the absolute evil, did not exist, that pure swordsman would not be able to endure it. ……He could not let anyone pass beyond this point.

“……I went to Samaris too. What happened in that city?”

“You ask nothing but questions. Fine. ……What you saw is the answer. Nothing more and nothing less.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Cold Realm Summoning. The ancient magic you saw during the enlistment exam. That erased Samaris. Are you satisfied now?”

Luke swallowed and widened his eyes.

This was the truth, without lie or falsehood. It did not matter whether it was Zeke or a fake. Because the shadow had been created based on Zeke, and Pariaach had copied it. ……The shadow would play Zeke’s substitute, and the world would denounce Zeke. From now on as well.

“……There wasn’t a single resident of Samaris to be found. That means……”

“You say strange things. ――You already know, don’t you?”

“?! No matter what…… you won’t talk?”

“Words are unnecessary. Only power is needed. That is the rule of this world.”

Luke lowered his head as if enduring something. After that, when Luke raised his face, his expression was filled with resolve.

“It’s different from two years ago. I was no match at all for your sword, your magic――or your resolve. But…… just for now.”

Light was released from Luke, illuminating the dark ruins. It was not merely the effect of simple magic. It shone as if responding to Luke’s strong will.

“I won’t lose even to you. I’ll have you tell me everything that happened.”

“A dying brat has learned to talk big. ――Then show me. Show me your worth.”

Cold air equal to, or perhaps greater than, the light Luke released came from Zeke. The two powers collided violently, as though they were crashing together each other’s justice and evil, convictions, reason for existence, and everything they had been until now.