61

“…!”

Galahad’s eyes filled with delight at Hamel’s answer.

“I knew it would be so!”

He grasped Hamel’s hand, still wearing his gauntlet, and said.

“Let us help. I have men with me.”

“What is your strength?”

“Two knights. About twenty soldiers. If you include those hesitating, I can bring more.”

Hamel nodded calmly at the answer.

“That’s sufficient. Sir captain, do you know who the demon is?”

“No. That is…”

Galahad trailed off as if hesitating.

There was probably someone he suspected.

Perhaps it might be the same person Hamel had in mind.

He hesitated, then continued in fits and starts.

“…I can’t say for certain, but I felt something off from one day. Guards or servants would be absent for days and the lord would insist it was fine. And…”

“Those who returned days later seemed the same, but they would have no memory of the time they were gone.”

Galahad widened his eyes and nodded at Hamel’s words.

“Exactly!”

“The demon we must face is Carnosa Vinea. Those who disappeared and returned are already creatures left as mere shells.”

“My…”

Galahad squeezed his eyes shut.

His mustache trembled.

But soon he opened his eyes, clenching his fist as if steeling himself.

“This is my failing. I’m ashamed I couldn’t do anything as things grew like this. Kill me if you must, but tell me what to do.”

“Facing the demon is my duty. Commander, prepare what I instruct in the banquet hall.”

“Tell me and I’ll do anything.”

Galahad’s gaze shone with resolve.

Perhaps even without Hamel he might have moved soon enough.

Hamel calmly told him what to prepare.

Galahad asked back, puzzled.

“Is that all?”

“It’s enough.”

At Hamel’s answer, Galahad struck his full-plate chest with his palm and replied.

“I’ll prepare without fail.”

“Please do.”

Hamel nodded, then confirmed one more thing.

“Captain, do you know why this festival was held?”

“Hm? Isn’t it a celebration for the countess’s recovery?”

“Outwardly, yes. But if a demon is involved, there must be a real motive.”

Vinea has not yet fully swallowed this region.

There must be a reason Vinea called together knights who could be a threat.

After a moment’s thought, the captain spoke cautiously.

“I don’t know the reason, but I know the prize for victory.”

“A prize?”

“Yes, I’ve heard the lord prepared the Eternal Fruit. They say it cures any illness and raises one’s swordsmanship a level. Hard to believe, but even half the rumor would be worth coveting.”

“…I understand. Then I’ll see you shortly.”

Hamel exchanged greetings with Galahad and parted.

Standing for a moment to collect his thoughts, Hamel finally seemed to understand.

“So that’s it.”

Hamel grasped why Vinea held the festival.

A fruit that heals disease and grants strength.

As far as Hamel knew, there was only one explanation that good.

‘Contract with a demon.’

In other words, Vinea held a contest to choose her apostle.

An apostle that can only be made one at a time should be as strong as possible, and a contest winner is essentially proven in skill.

‘She intends to feed the contest winner a fruit imbued with her essence to make them an apostle.’

Even if not the winner, turning participating knights into Trents would strengthen her forces.

‘Two birds with one stone.’

Hamel nodded, slightly impressed.

Had it gone according to its plan, it would have grown into a force even a knight order would struggle against.

In any case, Galahad’s help added one insurance.

Reducing its power even slightly was a meaningful achievement.

‘Then where to next.’

Hamel continued walking.

---

A little later, Hamel stopped at the annex where Rupert and his knights were staying.

Because they couldn’t billet more knights inside the inner walls than the garrison, the knights were staying here.

As Hamel approached, one of the guarding knights stopped him.

“Lord Gilmore, what brings you here?”

There was a slight edge in his tone.

It seemed to be the effect of the contest’s outcome.

Hamel answered calmly.

“I’m here to see Sir Rupert.”

“If it’s Sir Rupert, he isn’t here now…”

“I came knowing he was here. I already set an appointment, so please tell him I have arrived.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

Reluctantly, the knight called another guard to relay the message.

Watching quietly, Hamel let out a light sigh.

The reason the knight said ‘Rupert isn’t here’ was likely because Rupert’s condition was not good.

Was he deeply depressed from losing?

Or perhaps extremely angry.

Hamel waited, guessing at Rupert’s state.

“…What’s the matter?”

“…”

Hamel was momentarily at a loss for words as he saw Rupert appear.

The corners of his eyes were red.

He seemed deeply stung by the loss.

“Did you cry?”

“…!”

Rupert flinched at Hamel’s question, then glared and spoke.

“Are you trying to mock me?”

“Not at all.”

When Hamel shook his head, Rupert glared a moment longer then slumped his shoulders helplessly.

He looked so pitiful he might as well have been a wet puppy.

“I cried out of shame. I was arrogant.”

‘…Hm?’

Hamel was slightly surprised.

He hadn’t expected Rupert to be reflecting on himself.

He thought perhaps Rupert wasn’t as insolent as the rumors made him out to be.

At least he accepted his defeat.

As Hamel pondered, the moment continued.

“So why have you come to see me?”

Rupert asked again, somewhat calmed.

Hamel nodded and spoke.

“Because of our previous promise.”

“You mean to ask me to trust your words.”

“Yes.”

Rupert looked at Hamel for a moment, then nodded.

“Tell me.”

“…!”

It’s time.

Hamel clenched his fist tightly.

Then, at a pace neither fast nor slow but clear.

He conveyed the current situation to Rupert.

“…What is this.”

Rupert found it hard to believe after hearing everything.

At first he looked at Hamel with a bewildered expression as if he’d heard a joke.

But seeing Hamel’s expression, he realized Hamel was sincere and became confused.

Even so, Rupert nodded at Hamel’s request to stand on his side.

“Very well. But we need clear evidence.”

“For example…”

“When the demon’s identity is clearly revealed. I’ll give notice, but don’t expect other knights to help unless the circumstances are clear.”

“That will do.”

Hamel answered calmly.

He didn’t explain the exact methods, but he was confident.

“Then, when the time comes, I ask for your aid.”

“Very well.”

Leaving Rupert’s grudging farewell behind, Hamel exited the annex.

Time had passed and a blood-red sunset stained the horizon.

About an hour remained until the feast.

As he measured the time, Hamel met a familiar face.

“Miss Rena.”

“I’m back.”

Two children peeked out from behind her as she greeted him.

“Hansel, Gretel, thank you for your hard work too.”

“Hehe.”

The smiling children’s hands were covered in dirt.

Rena was no different.

Hamel brushed the dirt from their clothes and asked calmly.

“Is what I asked for ready?”

“Is this enough?”

Rena handed over a container she had been holding.

Hamel looked inside for a moment and nodded.

“Yes. You’ve worked very hard.”

In truth, now that he had some idea of Vinea’s true form, it wasn’t strictly necessary.

Still, with this they could identify the opponent.

With this, preparations to catch it were complete.

He had waited a long time.

Now it was time to hunt.

---

The leather drums beat rapidly.

Dudung dudududung.

Torches lighting the square were lit one by one, and soon the whole town was bright as day.

The joyous songs and heat of the crowd were almost palpable.

“It’s begun.”

Hamel gave a short nod at Daniel’s murmur.

As he scanned the banquet hall, he stood before a cask marked with the promised blue sign.

Hamel bored a small hole in the oak barrel and dipped in some of the liquid to taste.

A numbing saltiness filled his mouth.

‘Good.’

Galahad had prepared as promised.

Some of the barrels scattered around the hall bore the mark.

Salt alone, as a purifying agent, is effective against demons, but saltwater is particularly lethal to plant-type demons.

Such preparations would have been difficult without Galahad, a man of the manor.

He had fulfilled his role with this alone.

Hamel quietly went to his prepared seat and sat.

Beside him were Daniel and Ono, and Rena with the children.

As he’d asked of the lord, the seating had been arranged.

Hamel slowly surveyed his surroundings.

Among the excited crowd he noticed some who were slightly tense.

They were Rupert and his knights.

Fortunately, it was subtle enough to go unnoticed unless watched.

They wore somewhat thick clothing, underneath which were likely thin chain mails.

Their expressions were skeptical, but given the prior warning, when things happened they would stand and fight on Hamel’s side.

At that moment, with a blare of brass instruments, Edmure the lord appeared.

He appeared with his family and crossed the square to take his seat of honor.

At the lord’s arrival, the noisy atmosphere quieted and eyes focused.

Tristan, passing by beside Hamel, gave him a small wave.

Hamel responded with a slight bow.

Tristan smiled broadly and took his seat.

Just then Edmure the lord smiled kindly and began to speak.

“Thank you all for attending this feast. May honor be with you.”

““May honor be with you!””

The crowd responded in unison, raising their cups high.

It was at that brief moment of commotion.

Hamel quietly spoke to Lena at his side.

“Now.”

“Yes,”

Rena reached under the table and carefully took something out a moment later.

What she took flew up into the air with a flutter.

Hamel’s eyes followed it for a moment and he flinched at the completely unexpected turn.

‘…This is.’

Hamel, stifling a cough, nodded.

It was fortunate he noticed even now.

With this, the pre-work was complete.

Just then the lord nodded and continued.

“Then, before the main feast, we shall hold the awards ceremony.”

At the lord’s gesture, a servant brought out a plate.

The unexpected object caused some murmurs among the people.

“What’s that…”

“Hm?”

It was natural—on the plate lay a perfectly ripe bunch of grapes.

The lord rose and spoke in a solemn voice.

“This is the Eternal Fruit. It cured my wife’s incurable illness.”

The crowd seemed surprised, as if they’d heard the story before.

Some, already aware, sighed with regret.

“The Eternal Fruit? So the rumor was true?”

“Ha…”

The lord took the plate himself and called the winner.

“Daniel Tirian, knight of Hybern, come forward.”

At the call, Daniel rose from his seat.

He exchanged a brief glance with Hamel and walked solemnly to stand before the lord.

As Daniel stood before him, the lord held out the plate and said.

“They say if a knight eats the Eternal Fruit he can surpass his limits. Today we will see it with our own eyes, Sir Daniel.”

“…What are you saying?”

In response, Edmure spoke low but clearly.

“I’m speaking of the birth of a Sword Master.”

“…!”

Aghast expressions spread across the gathered faces.

Among those called knights, there was not one without ambition in their eyes.

“…”

Daniel calmly accepted the plate Edmure offered.

He stared at the grapes for a moment, then—

—snap—

He suddenly grabbed them and hurled them away.

“Huh?”

At the unexpected act, the crowd simply stared, dumbfounded.

The grapes Daniel threw landed squarely in Hamel’s hand.

A short silence fell.

The lord’s face contorted and he unleashed a thunderous roar.

“What insolence is this…!”

No, more precisely, he intended to.

But at Hamel’s next action, the lord fell silent.

—sizzle—

Hamel placed the grapes in his hand and offered a short prayer.

Then a fierce blue flame erupted and consumed the grapes.

“…”

An unbelievable hush fell over the square of thousands.

Amid that abyssal silence, Hamel held the burning grapes and spoke coolly.

“Unfortunately, we will not witness the birth of a Sword Master today. Instead, something far more interesting…”

Hamel slowly drew the sword at his hip.

His eyes glinted with a keen intensity.

“I will show you a demon hunt.”