To the Great Plains (1)

『Lilith has reached level 49!』

『Lilith has reached level 50!』

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Several days had passed since the tumultuous graduation ceremony at Luminor Academy.

Originally, we were supposed to head to the northeastern plains immediately after the graduation party to follow Lilia, but given the circumstances, it would have been too hasty to depart right away.

After all, it wasn’t just any incident-a high-ranking officer of the Demon King’s army had infiltrated the academy. Moreover, depending on who they faced, they could summon subordinates stronger than most of the Four Heavenly Kings.

In the end, thanks to Harold and Delond remaining on the island, the situation was resolved without much trouble. But if even one of them had been absent, Oberus might have actually reclaimed this Island of Knowledge.

Naturally, the academy had no choice but to tighten security. After sealing the bridge, they spent about a week identifying and purging the Demon King’s agent who had summoned Lich Oberus to the academy.

“I-I really didn’t know…! I-I was just paid to move it, that’s all…! Aaaah…!!”

-Clang.

…Well, it seemed some of those caught up in the purge were just merchants or mercenaries who had no real connection to the Demon King’s forces.

This just goes to show that you shouldn’t recklessly involve yourself in shady business just because the pay is good. Even in my original world, there were cases where people were arrested as drug traffickers just for carrying packages at airports-how much worse must it be in this world?

Of course, Ethan and I, along with the Hero’s party, the August siblings, and Lilia, had made significant contributions to defeating the undead officer, so we were duly rewarded.

The Hero’s party received gold coins, medals, magic tools imbued with Venari’s spiritual power, and enhanced equipment crafted from Kelton’s bones.

The August Trading Company was granted a 50% reduction in trade taxes for three years and the right to lease a royal-owned building in the imperial capital for five years.

And the Blackwood family absorbed the territories of several eastern nobles involved in the incident-effectively expanding their domain.

Honestly, the rewards were a bit excessive, but given how pivotal Ethan and I were in the battle, it made sense.

…I never expected that the signal device Ethan had planted as a prank would end up being used like this. Still, without it, the battle would have dragged on much longer, resulting in far more casualties and destruction.

Of course, even excluding that, the August and Blackwood families benefited greatly-partly because they had relinquished the boss monster materials to the Hero’s party.

Normally, those materials would have been jointly owned, but since they were given to the future heroes, the families received additional compensation in return.

‘Seeing how they already took down Lich Oberus, they must be quite capable. Even if it was a somewhat unconventional battle…’

This was only possible because Harold and Delond, who would have already been dead in the original story, were still at the academy.

In the original, Harold was killed by the Hero’s party near the end of Part 2, while Chancellor Delond was assassinated by Machart at the end of Part 3. But with Ethan’s redemption and Machart’s early exit, neither event occurred in this world.

Personally, I think it’s best to make use of all available resources. While the original story might have written off overpowered characters for balance, in this real world, it’s not a bad idea to leverage their strength against the Demon King’s forces.

Though socially prominent figures like them can’t operate as part of the “Hero’s party,” luring a Demon King officer into their territory and eliminating them was a brilliant move.

Whether Kyetmajosyegigot planned this or Oberus just happened to invade the Island of Knowledge and they improvised, I don’t know-we never discussed it.

By the way, part of that week-long cleanup included punishing Ethan for his shameless prank.

-Squelch!

“Hngk, hh, kuh…!!! Hah, haah…!!”

“…What’s wrong, Ethan? We’re only on the ninth round-barely started.”

“Hahk, L-Lilith… I-I was wrong… P-Please, just stop…!”

-Slurp.

“You’re barely producing anything now. If it’s this pathetic next time, I won’t count it.”

“…W-What?”

“I was originally planning to go for 40 rounds but cut it in half for you. The least you can do is show some effort. I’ve indulged all your shameless, unreasonable demands-are you really going to ignore your wife’s request?”

“…Fine, got it…”

“Then, before we move to the next round… drink this first.”

“…What is this, Lilith?”

“A tonic made from dried mandrake from the Witch’s Forest. It’s great for stamina, so after drinking this, you should have no trouble finishing the remaining rounds.”

“……”

After punishing Ethan like that, the humiliation from the graduation ceremony was completely washed away. The side effect was Ethan being bedridden for almost a full day with full-body muscle pain, though.

After that, we made a firm agreement not to treat each other like toys anymore. If we ever wanted to engage in that kind of play, it would only happen with clear mutual consent.

As for Kyetmajosyegigot’s question about how Ethan and I exchanged signals, I just brushed it off with, “A married couple shares body and soul as one.” If word got out about how we really communicated… I’d seriously consider cutting all ties and going back into hiding out of sheer embarrassment.

After wrapping up all those matters, a week later, Ethan and I, along with Isabelle and Eris, finally set off for the northeastern territory in a Blackwood carriage.

Originally, Isabelle, now capable of driving the carriage, was supposed to take us to the northeastern plains. But unexpectedly, our group now included an uninvited guest.

“…Eris, right?”

“Yeah! Eris!”

“…We met once before, remember?”

“…Huh? What?”

“Last year. In front of the academy auditorium, with the other kids…”

“Eris was just a baby then, Agnes. Even if she’s an unrivaled prodigy, do you really expect her to remember your face from back then?”

“…Just asking.”

Originally, the carriage was meant for just Ethan, Eris, and me, but today, Agnes had joined us, making it four.

Behind us, the Aurelia Church carriage carrying Saint Celista was following, and further back were the imperial carriages of Princess Seraphine and Prince Antonio.

…Looking at this lineup, it’s obvious-it’s that combination again. The Hero’s party, Ethan and me, with the August family thrown in.

‘I wish we could stop getting tangled up like this. Why do they keep sticking around?’

Well, I suppose Kyetmajosyegigot has his reasons for heading in the same direction as us.

Honestly, I can’t blame him for not following the original story. I’m the one who changed it the most to survive, which inevitably altered the locations the Hero needed to visit.

Though I don’t know why it had to be the northeastern plains at this particular time… Regardless, since we’re going the same way, Agnes fled to our carriage, claiming the other one was uncomfortable.

The only person in the Hero’s party Agnes feels at ease with is Seraphine, but apparently, she’s always caught in a rivalry with Silena over the Hero.

In that regard, our carriage-with me, her closest friend, Ethan (whom she’s somewhat familiar with), and the child Eris-was far more comfortable for her.

“Repeat after me. A-g-ne-ss.”

“A-gyu-na-ss.”

“No, A-g-ne-ss.”

“A-gne-ss?”

“Yes, now say it together.”

“Agyunass!”

“……”

“Don’t get so worked up over a one-year-old, Agnes. Honestly, the fact that she’s walking and talking at this age is already amazing.”

“…I was speaking by this age.”

“What’s the point of competing with Eris, Agnes?”

“Agyunass!”

“…It’s Agnes. You can pronounce it right-you’re just messing with me. Lilith, Ethan, and Isabelle all say it correctly. There’s no tricky consonants or vowels in ‘Agnes’-I don’t get why you can’t say it.”

“…?”

“……”

The way she’s oddly fixated on Eris makes me think Agnes might have some maternal instincts after all.

With that thought, Ethan and I followed the now-extended caravan as it made its way toward the plains.