We were driven back from the dungeon by a carriage. It was already well past noon, and the sun was setting. It had taken up most of the day, but considering we had entered two dungeons, I thought that was still pretty quick.
When the Raven Warriors mourned for the warriors in the Southern Dungeon, they gathered their bones and armor together to create a tomb for them. Thus, it took some time.
I think it’s a success as an exploration. My level went from Level 18 to Level 19, and I defeated two bosses. The skill 『Divine Protection of the Medicine God』 also gained a new ability called 【Spear of Sigris】.
“We’re almost there.”
I muttered upon seeing the white wall outside the carriage’s window.
The base of the Raven Warriors was located outside the royal capital. But it is surrounded by a magnificent wall, and three tall towers protrude from the inside.
The carriage stopped in front of the moat, and then we crossed the bridge that was lowered down. The carriage proceeds slowly through the gate. Under the tower, which I could see from the outside, a girl dressed in white is waving at us.
“Oniichan!”
Lu……
Next to her is Mother. Both of them are dressed in white robes. I am used to seeing mother in her hospital uniform, but as for Lu, I didn’t recognize her at first.
“Let’s get off.”
Before Felix-san said those words, I was already jumping out of the carriage.
“Welcome back.”
“I’m back.”
After exchanging a short greeting with my mother, I looked at my sister’s clothes.
“I’m back, Lu. You look good on this outfit.”
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to buy new clothes for her, so her being able to wear different clothes feels fresh.
“Did you get it here?”
“Y-yes…… Oh and, I’m practicing using magical power.”
“But are you really fine staying up like this?”
“I’m fine. Geez!”
Lu smiles wryly. Her sky-blue eyes blinked, and her hand pointed to the entrance to the tower.
“More than that, there’s something she wants to tell Oniichan.”
Pauline-san, who was holding her staff, bows to us. Her white attire was similar to Lu’s, but her high hat stood out.
“Oh…… I see.”
My throat moved.
I am about to hear about what had happened yesterday. About my father. Gideon. And those slave traders.
There were so many things that I want to know.
“Rion-san, please come this way.”
Led by Pauline-san, I entered the building.
I said goodbye to most of the Raven Warriors who entered the dungeon with me, and Felix-san was the only one left to accompany me. We were led to a room with only one circular table. There were many chairs around it.
When I saw the next person who came in, I greeted her.
“Mia-san.”
“Oh~”
Mia-san replied with wide eyes. Her red hair, tied like a cat’s ears, swayed slightly.
Mia-san looked at Pauline-san with her mouth tilted.
“……I see. So, this is what it’s all about when you suddenly called me out.”
“Yes. I would like you to listen to my side of story. If we can come to an agreement, that is.”
Agreement……?
I wonder if Mia-san was also negotiating something with her.
Pauline-san cleared her throat.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. As a member of the Temple of Odis, I apologize for the delay in my explanation.”
Pauline-san excused herself and gestures towards the exit of the room. Then the door closed. Maybe soundproofing magic was used or something. This room is really a closed space now.
“First of all, I would like to thank you.”
Pauline-san looked at me and narrowed her eyes.
“Especially Rion-san. Without you, the royal capital would have been destroyed much more severely. And—”
Her mouth trembled.
“We apologize, but it can be said that we are responsible for the appearance of the monsters from the Eastern Dungeon and the torment of the nobles that Rion-san suffered.”
I tucked my chin in. An important talk is about to begin. There was a weight to it. Both Mother and Lu are also nervous, and their expressions are tense.
“Let’s talk in order. Let’s start with your father. Rutger-san, the adventurer who was helping us.”
I had expected it, but I was still surprised. My mother’s eyes widened as well.
“Y-you mean he was a member of the Raven Warriors?”
I asked, but Pauline-san shook her head slowly.
“No, I mean as collaborators. Our group members are limited, and it’s better for our investigations if people don’t know we’re involved. That’s why we sometimes ask skilled adventurers to help us.”
Father was an adventurer who took a job from the Raven Warriors then.
“Of course, we did not put the name of our warrior group in the request. We pretend that it is a request from an ordinary merchant, noble, or researcher. We’ll give them a reward and have them investigate the dungeon on our behalf.”
Certainly, if the bad guys suspect that someone is investigating them, they will surely erase the evidence. In that sense, there may be ordinary adventurers who are accepting requests from the Raven Warriors without even realizing it.
“Speaking of which……”
The receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild also said that she had hardly seen the warrior corps. Perhaps they rarely work under the name of the Raven Warriors.
“Father was more accomplished than an average adventurer. A level 50 adventurer is hard to replace. Many warriors have been helped by father. Probably.…”
Pauline-san smiled wryly.
“Rutger-san may have been dimly aware that his client was a member of the Raven Warriors. We continued to ask for his help because he was a brilliant person, and the members of the group respected your father.”
Pauline-san turned her gaze to us. We all looked at each other.
“He…… didn’t say anything.”
“I didn’t know that either.”
“I see. So he kept it a secret until the very end……”
Pauline-san looked down. When she looked up, I felt that the will in her green eyes was strengthening.
“The Raven Warriors are chasing a certain group since the previous generations.”
Her voice seemed to be a little lower.
“They’re slave traders.”
It reminds me of Gideon. His purpose was to enslave me.
“They gather slaves with different skills. Slavery itself is prohibited in the Kingdom of Asgard, and I heard that they treat them particularly badly. Some are found when they’ve become invalids. You may wonder what happens to the slaves they abducted right? Sigh. Due to the nature of the situation, even the Raven Warriors can’t keep track of them all.”
Even in the fight with Skoll, there was a woman who seemed to be aiming at me. She also talked about Lu.
So…. they were the enemy.
“This one is particularly threatening.”
Pauline-san placed a pouch on her desk. It looks a lot like the one I picked up from Gideon.
The contents are like charcoal. It was black, but sometimes it glowed red, as if it’s still hot. It looks dangerous and eerie, yet it is also beautiful enough to draw you in.
“We confiscated it from Gideon’s Warburg House. It’s said to be ashes.”
Mother retracted her hand.
“……Ashes?”
“It is an ancient relic from the mythical era, and if you sprinkle it in the dungeon, the seal of the monsters inside will be greatly weakened.”
Mother and Lu exchanged confused glances at each other.
Mia-san’s expression didn’t change but she leaned her elbows on the table as she stared at the pouch. It may be that her judgment is still not final.
I noticed Pauline-san’s gaze at me, so I spoke up.
“I heard from Gods that it was the ashes of a titan.”
“……I see. Titans……”
Pauline-san’s tall hat tilted as she looked down. I suddenly wondered.
Does she know the real myth?
That the Gods almost lost, and there were titans involved, not just monsters.
“Hey, can I ask something.”
Mia-san tapped on the table. The corners of her eyes are already drooping……
“There’s so much to ask and it’s a bit confusing. So, you mean they are not just slave traders?”
The princess mumbled as if she had been knocked out of her wits. Then she cleared her throat loudly.
“T-there’s no doubt about that. Perhaps their purpose is to ‘redo’ the apocalypse.”
At that moment, I could feel the gold coin vibrating.
『Rion』
It was Solana’s voice.
『It’s about time for us to show up. Is that okay?』
I nodded.
I then placed the gold coin on the round table. The palm-sized gold coin reflects the light from the window. The carved goddess was smiling gently.
“Oniichan, is that……?”
Lu asked anxiously. I smiled at my sister and then called out to the Gods.
“It’s okay…… Wake up.”
Now, it’s a face-to-face meeting between the Raven Warriors and the gods.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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