episode_0133

The next day, we gathered at the Kubele Adventurer Guild and started to move busily.

Algot used his connections scattered all over to gather information about the situation in each city.

We also needed someone to scout the situation of the Demon Lord’s army.

Although the narration provided information about the Demon Lord’s army, it was not yet useful to the people.

Therefore, while evacuating the refugees from the capital city with Kubele, we needed someone to scout and report on the Demon Lord’s army.

“I’ll go, senior.”

As we gathered at the guild to share our plans, Sylphy, carrying a large bow on her back, stepped forward.

With her sharp eyes capable of hitting targets from a long distance, she seemed confident in scouting.

It might be fine to send her alone to observe and monitor from afar, but I wanted to add one more person.

My gaze turned to the head of the goddess, Stellania.

Currently, Algot, Sylphy, Stellania, and the saint Selena were gathered at the guild.

It would have been nice to have Mariel as well, but she seemed to be resting after doing something strange and groaning in pain.

I wondered if the magic I requested would be made properly…

Anyway, I spoke to Shari, the ghost I had been following around lately.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“…?”

“Would you like to go with Sylphy and help her with what she’s doing?”

Shari was a ghost.

She could only show herself to the person she wanted and could fly around ignoring all terrain, making scouting possible.

However, Shari had a childish side, so she couldn’t go too far to scout alone.

Since Shari always needed a place to return to, she needed someone to go with her.

If it was Sylphy, there should be no problem as they had become acquainted at the Velfork Mansion.

At my request, Shari nodded slightly and floated from Stellania’s head to stick to Sylphy.

Stellania asked me, “Yunoa, I understand that you want to save the people of the capital city, but… what should I do?”

Stellania had returned to her ordinary lady-like appearance.

When she was in the human realm, her long hair floating in all directions and fluttering around as a goddess seemed burdensome to her.

She had performed her role well in the Kubele speech, but she still seemed doubtful about being called here when she had no power as a goddess to do anything.

“Goddess, please show yourself to the refugees when they arrive and say some kind words like a goddess. Just like what you did at the mansion.”

Stellania had to be a compassionate and trustworthy goddess to the people of the kingdom.

I wanted Stellania to appear to the refugees arriving at the capital city in that image.

To people who had to leave their homes and settle in a strange city as refugees, the care of a goddess would be a tremendous source of strength.

As she showed more and more good aspects of herself to people, our power would grow stronger.

“Refugees will already be appearing. But whether other cities will accept those refugees is another issue.”

Algot unfolded a map of the kingdom and spoke.

The next target of the Demon Lord’s army was undoubtedly the kingdom’s capital city, Pifnel.

Of course, with the neighboring city in such a state, the people in Pifnel would have also heard the news and gone into a panic.

Many people would have already left the city to seek refuge.

However, the current situation of the kingdom was truly chaotic.

Numerous cities were moving as if they were individual city-states, solely for their own survival.

In such a situation, accepting a large number of refugees would be a significant burden.

Algot predicted that other cities would not easily accept the refugees already appearing in the kingdom’s capital city.

“Even though we are from the same kingdom, it seems like we are treated as if we are from different countries.”

“That’s right. In this atmosphere, it’s difficult to cooperate with each other.”

“Hmm.”

“When I first heard Yu Noah’s plan, I thought it was an absurd plan. To take in refugees from the capital city while the Demon King’s army is right in front of us, it seemed like a plan with no time and nothing to gain.”

Algot continued to speak as he looked at me.

“But today, upon reconsidering, this seems to be the only thing we can do. Kubele is a bustling trade city with vast forests and abundant resources. Moreover, refugees are already coming out of the capital city. Even if we are late compared to the Demon King’s army, if we can save even a few refugees who have already escaped from the capital, we can significantly reduce the sacrifices. It’s also difficult for other cities to take in refugees.”

“Um….”

“Yu Noah, you must have thought of this plan when you looked here yesterday, right?”

No.

In fact, it was more like a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Based on the narration, I thought that if we could somehow save the people, our reputation with the Goddess as our patron would also increase.

Honestly, I hadn’t considered the complexities of the situation, as Algot had mentioned.

“Well then….”

After a few more discussions, we finalized a concrete plan.

Sylphy and Shari would go to the burnt city where the Demon King’s army was staying to investigate their movements.

Meanwhile, I would head towards the kingdom’s capital to inform people that Kubele was offering refuge and safely bring the refugees to Kubele.

Milrea was not present at the discussion, but she planned to accompany me.

Her presence, which almost always followed my words, would always be helpful.

“The refugees in the capital city are in a very difficult situation, as they are numerous and other cities are not accepting them.”

As I was about to set out to the Adventurer’s Guild, the narration provided an update on the current situation.

As Algot had mentioned, it seemed that other cities were closing their doors and refusing to take in refugees.

“And among the refugees trying to escape the capital, there was one important person.”

An important person?

It was crucial information that couldn’t be ignored.

Who could be an important person in this situation?

But the narration didn’t provide any more information after that.

Well, I’ll find out once we receive the refugees.

* * *

“Grr… issuing orders to come back now. What has happened?”

Bloodstain, the Lord of Blood, grumbled with a frown.

Around him lay the remnants of the burnt city swept and destroyed by the Demon King’s army.

Amidst all kinds of gruesome and powerful monsters, an out-of-place figure stood before Bloodstain.

“But it’s true. The Demon King attacked the kingdom without any orders, which angered him greatly.”

“Hmph, if it’s his fate to be swallowed by the Demon King, does he still dare to say such things?”

“You acted too fast. Didn’t I tell you to be patient?”

A man in the attire of an old bishop, Lord Javiel, looked down at Bloodstain with a staff in hand.

There was a significant difference in size between them.

But Javiel was also a ruler in the Demon King’s army.

No matter how much Bloodstain glared, Javiel maintained a gentle expression.

“Grr… how long will you continue to make that unfortunate appearance? Pretending to be human and making me feel uncomfortable in front of me….”

“Are you getting twisted inside? You’ve always been like that since the old days. Obsessed with fighting, you can’t see anything in front of you….”

“Anyway, we can’t go back like this.”

Long ago, even when your kind still existed, they faced the same temptation of the battle before them and ultimately faced extinction.”

At Javier’s words, Bloodstain’s eyes glowed red.

He raised his massive axe, making a sound akin to a bull’s roar.

“…Be careful with your words.”

“Well, the truth is just that.”

“Grrrrr….”

Bloodstain was filled with irritation.

Leading such a large army, they passed through the canyon and swiftly destroyed a city.

Now, the kingdom’s capital was within reach.

However, at that moment, a message arrived from the Demon King Versella, who had discovered the truth.

Without permission, Bloodstain had moved the demon army, and the order was to stop the kingdom’s attack and return to the demon realm.

Javier, who directly delivered this fact to Bloodstain, warned him.

“Continuing the attack beyond this point would directly violate the Demon King’s orders. You should know what will happen if you do so.”

Bloodstain tightened his grip on the axe handle as if he would crush it.

The sound of grinding teeth in anger could be heard.

But Javier’s words were true.

Going against the Demon King’s orders would mean turning the Demon King into an enemy.

Even if they successfully captured the kingdom’s capital, Bloodstain would not escape unscathed.

The Demon King’s power was absolute.

Versella had the most fragile personality among the previous Demon Kings, but still, she was the owner of the Demon King’s soul.

In the demon realm, there was no existence that could survive against the Demon King.

“…But we can’t go back.”

“Is that so?”

“No, I’m not saying we should disobey the orders.”

“Then?”

“Before we go back, we’ll rest here for a while. We’re tired from battle, so we need sufficient rest.”

Bloodstain said.

Javier immediately understood Bloodstain’s intention.

“You… are you planning to wait here for the Demon King to be consumed by the Demon King’s soul?”

Currently, the state of the Demon King Versella was unstable.

Several times a day, she would be affected by the power of the Demon King’s soul and have seizures.

Recently, there were times when she was briefly consumed by the Demon King’s soul, causing a change in her personality.

In Javier’s eyes, it seemed that if a little more time passed, Versella would be completely consumed by the Demon King’s soul.

If that happened, there would be no need for the Demon King to give weak orders to stop the kingdom’s attack.

It seemed like Bloodstain was aiming for that.

“…Are you planning to wait for the Demon King to change her orders?”

“Hmph, if it doesn’t work out, we can really go back. These humans don’t have the ability to resist us anyway.”

“Well… do as you please… I have delivered the message properly.”

With a soft sigh, Javier disappeared, leaving behind Bloodstain and the army of demons in the burning city.