episode_0295

“What does that mean??”

Eugene Schneider arrived at the rendezvous point with the Red Fox Mercenary Group,

Enjoying only a brief and rough reunion due to the situation,

And then started re-organizing to head straight to Bahad,

When he heard a shocking story from Jeanne.

“It’s just as I said. Mina became a Demon King. Suddenly, a purple ray of light came down from the sky and turned her into a Demon King.”

The story was that Mina had been chosen as a Demon King.

“What? That doesn’t make sense. Are you kidding? Isn’t it just that Mina joined us late??”

Eugene looked around, seemingly unable to accept it.

In the hectic situation after making contact, Eugene Schneider diligently checked the members of the Red Fox Mercenary Group, the blacksmith group, and the children from the slums.

Then, he noticed that Mina was nowhere to be seen, and he casually asked Jeanne about Mina’s situation.

Then Jeanne quietly took Eugene to the corner and carefully told him the story,

Which was so shocking that Eugene Schneider couldn’t help but find it hard to believe.

“No. Priscilla confirmed that Mina became a Demon King. Not only that, but creatures that looked like demons created a warp zone and came looking for her. Saying they came to serve the Demon King.”

Jeanne was well aware that Eugene Schneider was in a state of shock, as if struck by lightning.

So she simply gave a calm, very composed expression and tone, and confirmed the specific situation with an explanation.

“……”

After hearing those words, Eugene Schneider stopped searching for Mina and stood frozen for 5 seconds.

“The children.”

The first words out of Eugene’s mouth were about the children from the slums who loved and followed Mina so much.

As soon as he accepted the reality that Mina had become a Demon King and had left this place, the first thing that came to his mind was the children from the slums who followed Mina so much.

“Marie and Thomas are working hard right now, so the children are much calmer. But after a little more time passes, they will feel Mina’s absence again and it will be a mess.”

The reason Jeanne didn’t tell Eugene about Mina right away,

Was ultimately because of the children.

To the Red Fox Mercenary Group, it was as if a colleague had suddenly disappeared,

But to the children, it was like a family member had disappeared.

Even so, because of the situation, they had no choice but to soothe them and set off for the meeting place,

And tried to prevent the aftermath from appearing during the journey as much as possible.

“But why was Mina chosen as a Demon King? She’s not a demon or a demon hybrid. Even Priscilla doesn’t seem to fully understand the question.”

As soon as she brought up the hushed story to Eugene, Jeanne asked Eugene about the questions that had been boiling up for a while.

Jeanne had also heard from Elizabeth and Priscilla when she went to Enclema that the Eye of the Demon God was deeply related to the descent of the Demon King.

Therefore, the story that the Demon King would descend soon was quite surprising, but not something she couldn’t understand.

But the fact that the subject was Mina was so sudden to her.

That’s why she had no way to explain it to the children.

Because even the elf Priscilla, who had the most knowledge in that field and had been relied on, looked confused.

“It seems that Priscilla didn’t know about Mina’s origins either.”

Eugene, who was looking around at the Red Fox Mercenary Group, whose atmosphere was unknowingly depressed, opened his mouth again.

“Mina’s origins? Mina is from the Sahara Barbarians.”

Jeanne, who didn’t understand what Eugene was saying, tilted her head and reacted to the keyword of Mina’s origin.

“She is from the Sahara Barbarians. But there are many tribes in it. Mina was from a very special and minority Barbarian lineage. Maybe you’ve heard of it from Priscilla? The Mohican tribe.”

To such Jeanne, Eugene Schneider revealed her secret that only he had heard directly from Mina.

In the past, before leaving for the Enclema special quest, he had heard from Mina that she was from the Mohican tribe, which was officially said to have become extinct in the history of the Pedon continent, and that the cause of the extinction was the appearance of a Drake.

“Mina was a Mohican? That Barbarian tribe that has roots in the demons???”

Jeanne’s eyes widened as she heard Eugene’s words.

She had also heard through Priscilla about the story that berserkers were created from the Mohican tribe, a minority barbarian tribe rooted in demons, after goblin subjugation in the Dark Forest in the past.

“I heard it from Mina before going on the Enclema special quest. The last Mohican village Mina belonged to disappeared due to a Drake attack. Mina was the unknown last survivor of the Mohican tribe.”

Eugene Schneider nodded slowly, confirming Jeanne’s reaction.

“I can’t believe it… So that’s why she could become a Demon King…”

Eventually, Jeanne came to understand the background in which Mina was chosen as the Demon King.

‘Was this it, that sense of timing? I felt something big changed in the distance two days ago, and after hearing Drake’s words, I felt an inexplicable impatience, my subconscious was sounding the alarm that I was missing Mina.’

Eugene also understood. That subconscious alarm that rang in him for the past few days, it seemed to be about Mina.

“Don’t blame yourself, Eugene.”

Squeeze…!

When Eugene Schneider was slightly silent, Jeanne grabbed his hand and comforted him.

“This is something that couldn’t have been helped even if you knew in advance. Even if you swung your greatsword, you couldn’t have stopped the light that stretched out from the sky.”

Jeanne knows well that not being able to cope even though he knew it would be the most self-blaming thing for Eugene.

That’s why he tried to leave because he didn’t want to be a burden to the women of Orléans.

“Even while coming here, I thought so. Even though my head is dizzy because I don’t know what’s going on, on the other hand, Drake clearly told you about this situation in advance. I think if it’s you, Eugene, you can create a clue to solve it. You just have to do it.”

Wasn’t Mina a precious colleague to Jeanne as well?

However, that colleague was taken away by something overwhelming.

It would be likely to fall into a helpless and powerless panic state.

But Jeanne eventually soothed the rest of her colleagues and came to the meeting place.

Why was that possible?

It was because of her belief and expectation in Eugene Schneider.

Jeanne d’Arc Dussel Orléans firmly believed that if the descent of the Demon King was true, then Drake’s approach to Eugene would also have great significance.

“Okay, thank you, Jeanne.”

Smile…!

Even though Jeanne herself was in a very difficult situation,

Eugene had a faint smile on his face at the concern for his condition.

‘The boundaries were supposed to become unclear, and they really did.’

On the way to Bahad, Eugene Schneider and the Red Fox Mercenary Group camped out as the day waned.

Eugene, who is on main watch, looked at the burning firewood and recalled Drake’s words.

‘In this case, is it fortunate that I have the seed of a dark greatsword master rather than a hero? If I were a hero, I would have had to kill the Demon King.’

Logically, to end this mess, the Demon King, who received the grace of the Demon God, should be dealt with,

He thought black and white were clear.

But when that Demon King became Mina, it went as Drake had predicted.

Eugene was surprised and relieved.

‘Then, what I need to know now is the seed of the Dark Greatsword Master that I have and the identity of the Hero who will try to kill the Demon King.’

Drake said that the seed of the Dark Greatsword Master had not yet fully ignited.

And I think it may be connected to the birth of the Hero.

Clearly, as the Demon King descended, the reaction of the Dark Greatsword Master’s seed intensified.

“Uncle…”

From behind Eugene, who was organizing the situation with such a solemn heart, a very sad voice was heard.

“Oh, Margaret, can’t you sleep?”

Swish!

It was Margaret.

When Margaret, who was so cheerful, spoke in a dejected voice,

Eugene immediately changed his expression and turned to her.

“I miss Mina…”

Tears streamed down Margaret’s eyes.

She had tried to go to sleep, but the image of Mina leaving came to her mind and she couldn’t bear it.

“I know everyone else is worried… but I still miss her… Sniff…”

The brave child Margaret, so Marie and Thomas, who were worried, calmed her down and comforted her, saying that Mina would definitely return, and that she was okay.

And on the contrary, she comforted the other little ones.

Because she wanted to help the mercenary uncles and sisters who were worried about them.

But the little girl, who is not even 10 years old, knows very well how vague that is.

“It’s okay, Margaret. Don’t suppress your longing. Express it as much as you want.”

Squeeze…!

“Sniff, Uncle Eugene… Sob…!”

Eugene hugged Margaret tightly.

He is proud of Margaret, who is worried about her older brothers and sisters,

He is grateful that she shows him such a sad heart.

Doesn’t that mean that she relies on and trusts him that much?

“Margaret, do you remember? That picnic last time, when Mina, me, Margaret, and the other brothers and sisters said we would go together.”

“Yes… I remember, Uncle…”

Margaret’s steadfast belief created a huge desire for responsibility in Eugene Schneider.

“It’s just been delayed a little. I eventually came back to Margaret’s side like this. So I will fulfill that promise too. I’m confident, this uncle is.”

“Really? Will you really keep your promise?”

“Of course!”

“Heeheehee! I like it! I like you, Uncle!”

It is not a false statement to simply comfort Margaret.

It is a firm determination and a self-whipping.

‘I don’t need Demon Kings and Heroes, or anything like that. I will definitely bring Mina back to our side.’

Eugene Schneider will solve this situation with his own wishes, not the boundaries of the world.

And at that point,

Step, step, step, step,

A fairly familiar footstep arrived at a place passed down from ancient times.

“Oh… indeed…”

The protagonist of the footsteps was Kaiser Antoine, who killed Louis XV, who had the mark of the goddess.

Also, the place he went to was the Paramis Sky Altar, the holy site where the goddess first descended.

“The holy sword has bloomed.”

And at the Paramis Sky Altar, a holy sword emitting a golden aura was embedded.