episode_0130

It had been two days since Kubeul declared herself as the Goddess of the city.

Surprisingly, the atmosphere of the city was not much different from before.

People were still focused on their own tasks, and adventurers came to the guild to receive requests.

There were people who came looking for Algot, who had moved his workplace to the mayor’s residence to meet the Goddess, but he rejected them all.

Well, the place where the Goddess resided was currently Mariel’s mansion, which was being used as a demon shelter.

At this point, two days later, the “Judgment” set up by Milaia in the capital kingdom would have already been activated yesterday.

What could be happening in the capital kingdom right now?

Kubeul was so curious that she couldn’t sleep because there was still no news related to it.

“Have there been any updates on the situation yet?”

I went to the mayor’s residence to meet Algot and asked.

“It’s only been a day. Even if we try to spread the news quickly from Pifnel to Kubeul, it will take at least three days.”

“Is that so…?”

“Why do you seem so anxious?”

“I don’t know… I just feel like we’ve caused something huge…”

Honestly, when I stood on the platform and spoke to the public with the Goddess, it didn’t feel real.

In fact, Kubeul had to appoint Algot to the position of mayor, as they couldn’t leave the mayor’s seat vacant after scaring off Milaia.

Even though it was just a temporary mayoral position, if they didn’t have the support of the citizens, it wouldn’t run smoothly, so they tried to create a justification…

After declaring Kubeul as the Goddess of the city, and while the Goddess Stellania was watching over, I became the hero personally chosen by the Goddess.

“If all the key figures of the rebellion are really dead, what will happen to the capital kingdom?”

“Well… we’ll have to see how the situation unfolds, won’t we?”

“Indeed.”

“The news that Kubeul has become the Goddess of the city had started to spread slowly to nearby towns and cities.

On the other hand, the capital kingdom of Pifnel was in great turmoil.

The underground king who had succeeded in the rebellion and his followers were all found brutally dead, unrecognizable.”

At that time, while talking with Algot about the story for which there seemed to be no answer other than spending time, a welcome narration delivered the most needed information.

Milaia’s trap had successfully been activated…

So, the capital kingdom must be in a state where no one is in charge.

Although news hadn’t reached Kubeul yet, it might have reached the cities close to the capital.

The cities close to the capital were the first to accept the surrender of the rebel forces.

But now that the situation had changed, what choice would they make?

It was only a matter of time before the events in the capital and Kubeul spread throughout the entire kingdom.

“I’m surprised at how much work there is to do as the acting mayor.”

While pondering various thoughts, Algot said to me.

“Are you very busy?”

“It’s not overwhelming, but I can’t help but neglect my duties as a guild master.”

“By the way, how is the guild…?”

“Tina is helping with the operations now. If there’s anything important, report it to me.”

It wasn’t easy for a guild master to take on additional responsibilities.

Unless they completely abandoned the guild duties like Philston did and only did what they wanted, it was inevitable that they would be busy.

However, Algot was not the type to neglect his duties like Philston, so I could trust him.

“Meanwhile, another crisis was looming in the chaotic kingdom.”

Once again, the narration came through.

Huh? Another crisis?

“One of the direct subordinates of the Demon King, Bloodstain, was assessing the kingdom’s situation and preparing for a large-scale attack.

He had chosen the closest route to launch a sudden attack on the capital kingdom of Pifnel.”

A demon attack.

Come to think of it, I had strangely forgotten about it lately.

After the hero died, the demons thought it was their chance to attack recklessly, but it didn’t happen.

In fact, after that trash hero died, there was never any news of an army of demons or monsters attacking.

But to be preparing for a large-scale assault… Was the calm before the storm?

Moreover, that big musclehead was once again leading the army at the forefront.

I briefly closed my mouth and waited for the narration to say something more.

But as expected, the narration remained silent like a ghost.

“Hey, Algot. Where is the closest route from the demon realm to the capital of the kingdom?”

“Huh? Why do you ask…?”

“Just because the demon realm seems a bit quiet these days.”

“If it’s the closest route… Let me check the map for a moment.”

Algot rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a map from the desk.

Then he traced the path leading to the kingdom’s capital with his finger.

“Depending on where they’re coming from… But if they simply want to attack the capital quickly, it would be this way.”

“Hmm…”

The kingdom is separated by a large mountain range to the west.

Between the mountain range, there were several gorges, and passing through those gorges would lead to a place called the ‘Ownerless Land.’

The place Algot pointed out was one of those gorges.

The Rambat Gorge.

If Bloodstain passes through the Rambat Gorge to target the kingdom’s capital, there is only one city in the middle.

The Rambat Gorge was located where the mountain range bent towards the kingdom, making it closer than other places.

“Don’t worry too much. There are no signs of demons attacking yet.”

Algot folded the map back, put it in the drawer, and said to me.

Due to recent events in the kingdom, people’s attention has shifted away from the demons.

After the hero died, the demons became even quieter, which made it even more so.

It’s difficult to worry about outside matters when there’s a fire inside the house.

But the narration informed me that the demons would invade the kingdom.

And that giant musclehead again…

“Is the kingdom’s defense system functioning properly to detect these signs?”

I asked Algot.

The kingdom is currently in a chaotic state.

Usually, when there is a large-scale invasion of monsters, the kingdom issues a call to arms from the capital.

The royal palace has been occupied by rebels, and even the rebels’ key figures have been killed by Milaia.

In the midst of this chaos, can the kingdom detect the demons’ invasion in advance?

“I don’t know…”

Algot realized the intention behind my question and fell into thought for a moment.

And after a while, he answered.

“I’m not sure.”

***

Mariel’s mansion.

Today, the demons under protection were praying in front of the goddess Stellania.

“Alright, I will now distribute the holy body.”

After the prayer ended, the saint Selena distributed the holy body to the demons from the basket.

Seeing that, I suddenly remembered the last time I ate that and my stomach turned sour.

“Why do you distribute the holy body?”

“It’s a means to feel the presence of being in the arms of the goddess. The opportunity to receive and eat the holy body is only available while the goddess is present in this world.”

Saint Selena said with a serious face.

But that… It’s just crushed oatmeal clumped together with Stellania’s saliva…

However, the demons seemed happy to put the holy body given by the saint into their mouths without hesitation.

“Would you like to have one too, Yunoa?”

“No, thank you.”

When Selena offered me the ‘holy body,’ I immediately refused.

Today, I had business on Mariel’s side, not here.

“Ugh… Guardian 3 is broken! Ugh! Not enough magic! Not enough magic! If I don’t summon Yunoa more!”

As soon as I entered Mariel’s laboratory, I heard a very suspicious statement that I couldn’t just ignore.

What… Summon me?

“Miss Mariel.”

“Eek! When did you come in! You! You should knock before entering a grown woman’s room!”

“I think I just heard someone talking about summoning something.”

“Ugh… Actually, I used up all the magic trying to create Guardian 3. Oh! Perfect timing! Can you recharge my magic a bit!”

“So, is the modification of the magic charger done?”

“Well… not yet… I’ve been busier than I thought.”

Mariel said hesitantly.

Mariel’s high-capacity magic charger drains magic to the point of unconsciousness for a week with just one touch.

Until it was properly fixed, she had refused to recharge magic through the charger.

“But still… can’t you recharge my magic through me? Fill me up with your magic again!”

“That’s not difficult, so I’ll do it. But I have one request.”

“Huh? What request?”

Mariel widened her eyes and looked at me.

Although I never really thought about it because she was such a weird person, Mariel was quite beautiful when I looked closely.

『Yunoa, who was evaluating Mariel’s appearance in this situation, was truly a pervert.』

The narration entered as if it had been waiting.

Now I can somewhat predict what’s coming.

Don’t be jealous.

Anyway, there was one reason why I visited Mariel’s mansion today.

“Miss Mariel, do you remember the promise to make a proper magical tool… Is it still valid?”

“Eek!”

Mariel made a strange sound as if she doubted my words.

She clearly forgot…