Chapter 73
I thought it was a fire in the house next door.
But it wasn’t just the house next door. Reinhardt realized that the fiercely burning flas had spread to his own precious ho.
‘Hell will appear in a few months?’
What kind of place was hell?
It was a place so horrific that the evil deeds of warlocks seed like child’s play.
Demons were a di a dozen, and the three great demons, including Agrio-s, would erge with glee to break and shatter the world.
Then everyone would die.
Everyone in this world would surely die.
From now on, it was no longer soone else’s problem. Reinhardt himself would be included among those countless deaths.
“I will help.”
“……What?”
“I will help. I will. So that the Paganoa Knights can carry out their operations more smoothly. But as I said before, the scope of my activities is limited to the eastern part of the Empire.”
In the end, Reinhardt had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and step forward.
Because stopping the world’s crisis was the sa as extending his own lifespan.
“No, no. That’s enough. The eastern part of the Empire. So, centering around Serigel where you are currently staying, Sir Reinhardt……”
“Is that really enough?”
“Recently, most of Paganoa’s operations have been conducted in the far west of the Empire.”
At Miya’s words, Reinhardt understood the situation.
The far west of the Empire was, in any case, on the opposite side of Serigel.
In the end, the more attention was drawn to Serigel, the easier their operations would beco.
“Very well. I will help. I will actively seek out and eliminate demons. To be precise, it would be warlocks, not demons.”
“If you could do just that, we would be satisfied. Also, if you ever need it, any support will be provided unstintingly at the order’s level.”
“If such a mont cos, I will request it. More importantly.”
Reinhardt changed his attitude. From now on, it was ti for him to ask questions more actively.
“Are the operations successful?”
“They are.”
“If they all succeed, no, not all, but if most of them succeed, can the situation you just ntioned be postponed further?”
“Yes, we can definitely postpone it. Perhaps for a few years, or if we’re lucky, even a few decades.”
“But that’s not all, is it? You wouldn’t focus solely on postponing the impending crisis, would you?”
Miya Luxpenber nodded her head.
“Right now, we are just trying to put out the most urgent fire. The Paganoa Knights, the mages of the Floran Academy, and as you also know, Sir Reinhardt, the high-ranking priests of each order are also with us in this cause.”
“When you say you are with us in this cause.”
“It ans we are moving towards the common goal of strengthening the boundary between the two worlds and completely severing the connection with them.”
That’s right. There was no way such a crisis would strike so soon.
Reinhardt felt a great sense of relief after hearing Miya’s explanation.
The developnt company had its own thoughts.
It ant that they had designed it so that as the user cleared quests, nurtured companions, and fought enemies, they would naturally be able to prevent the crisis of humanity.
‘Then I’ve received a quest of sorts now. A main quest of sorts. One that I must complete.’
To draw the demons’ aggro.
To draw their aggro and help the main forces of humanity accomplish what they needed to do.
I could do that much, anyti.
Even if it was more than that, I could do anything to survive.
“I understand. I will do it.”
“Thank you, Sir Reinhardt.”
“And if it’s the far west of the Empire, is that where the Palma Mountains are located?”
Reinhardt said, recalling the map he had seen in the ga.
The Palma Mountains.
A rugged mountain range surrounding the far west of the Empire that did not permit humans.
“Yes, it’s an operation conducted in the Palma Mountains. I can tell you the details if you wish, Sir, but……”
“In the end, it’s an operation to reduce the warlocks’ power, isn’t it.”
“That’s right.”
“Then that is fine. I just wanted to clearly know the form of the impending crisis. And also what response we humans are preparing for it.”
“Was that a sufficient answer?”
“Yes.”
The crisis was right around the corner.
But they weren't letting their guard down and were responding successfully.
That was enough for Reinhardt. Just the fact that he wouldn't die soon allowed him to focus on living in the present.
“More importantly, if the attention has been drawn to , then warlocks will soon co looking for .”
Swoosh.
Reinhardt said, turning his gaze.
Jenkins, who was still wearing a smiling expression, nodded his head.
“They will, Sir Reinhardt. But considering the feats you have shown so far, they won’t be difficult opponents, will they?”
“If they are of similar skill to the ones I have faced, it will not be difficult. But Serigel will be in danger. The citizens living here know nothing.”
“Among the news I must deliver to you, Sir, is that very information. All warlocks who co here will target the citizens of Serigel first, not you.”
“……Did the demons command it so?”
“Exactly. You know, don’t you? Agrio-s, Nepas, Morganes. They have figured out exactly what kind of person you are, Sir.”
He always puts others before himself.
He possessed a strong sense of justice as a knight, and his devotion to the Empire was like the clothes he always wore.
That was why the demons had conferred as such. That they needed a hostage.
To break the will of Knight Reinhardt, they had to threaten the values he held dear.
“I cannot condone such a situation.”
“But of course. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? So that you do not have to experience such misfortune. As you know, Sir, warlocks are not that strong. Neither am I. You know that, right?”
Jenkins was right.
A warlock’s individual martial prowess was nothing special.
Honestly, no matter how many warlocks ca, a strong knight like Reinhardt could easily take their heads and have ti to spare.
The problem was the wide effective range of the abilities they wielded.
They couldn’t harm Reinhardt.
But what about helpless citizens who were peacefully engaged in their livelihoods? What if they targeted people who had never even engaged in a physical battle in their lives?
Black Magic displayed an overwhelmingly effective power.
It was so in Serigel, in Lockfort, and in Romain.
It ant that the problem wasn't solved just because Reinhardt himself was fine.
“The eastern part of the Empire, you know, the places where your influence reaches, Sir Reinhardt?”
“Yes.”
“In all those cities, we will place items that can reduce the warlocks’ influence. Just like you did in Romain, Sir.”
“Do you an to place holy relics?”
“Sothing similar. But it won’t all be holy relics. They can block Morganes’ plague, but they won’t be helpful in blocking Nepas’ explosions. In that regard, the Floran Imperial Academy has promised to lend their strength.”
This was where the previously ntioned cooperative system shone.
Knights, mages, and priests would join forces to prepare a defense system against warlocks.
It wouldn’t be absolute, but it would at least be able to buy enough ti for Reinhardt to rush to that city.
“When will it be implented?”
“It is already being implented.”
“Were you certain that I would accept the request?”
“It is sothing that must be done even if you were to refuse, is it not?”
It was just a minimal asure to protect innocent people.
That’s what Jenkins was saying.
He was clearly a person who moved for the sake of humanity. With Miya Luxpenber’s guarantee, it was certain.
“You.”
Reinhardt said at that mont.
His straight gaze was directed at Jenkins.
“Why did you decide to help humans?”
“Because I am human.”
“But you are a warlock.”
“My head was broken.”
The minds of warlocks were not sound.
They had contacted demons, and it was normal for humans who contacted demons to lose their minds.
“I don't rember the exact trigger. How I ended up on that side, how I felt at that ti, what price I promised the demons, and what was promised to .”
“Are all warlocks in the sa state as you?”
“Well, who knows. That kind of topic is forbidden. We don’t ntion it to each other.”
“Then, what was the trigger that made you change your mind?”
“Because mories of my ti as a human ca back to .”
Jenkins’s smile deepened.
“Before I set foot on this path, I think it was the happiest mont of my life. It wasn't actually that great of a mory, but I had a family back then.”
“……”
“Soone is probably enjoying that kind of happiness right now, right? In this city, in other cities, and well… anyway, I just didn’t want to destroy those things.”
Jenkins was giving a very standard answer.
One I would never have believed in reality.
But because this was a ga world, it was an answer I could trust.
“I apologize for my previous rudeness.”
“It was hardly rude. You didn’t kill , after all, right? I ca to see you, Sir, with the thought that I wouldn’t mind dying today.”
“But……”
“Life is quite hard, you know. For people like us. It’s difficult to strike a balance between the two groups, and the living environnt is generally gloomy. Anyway, this doesn’t seem like the ti to talk about such things.”
Reinhardt agreed.
The weight of the burden Jenkins carried was considerable.
However, it was his own choice, and Reinhardt had no intention of sharing that burden.
“Anyway, I’ll tell the demons this. Knight Reinhardt is a more brilliant human than we thought. If we can just corrupt him, it will be helpful in blocking humanity’s path.”
“Do they trust your words?”
“They do. They don't trust , but they trust their own abilities. They can spot a clumsy lie right away.”
Co to think of it, it wasn't a lie either.
If they corrupted Knight Reinhardt, humanity would lose a part of its strength.
“Anyway, that’s all I have to say. I can’t say anything else, and there’s no need to. I trust that you will understand, Sir… Personnel Officer?”
“Mhm. No, yes.”
“Please continue. I need to think of so interesting tidbits to throw to the demons.”
With that, the important conversation was over.
Both sides had confird their positions, and the negotiations had been dramatically concluded.
What followed was a kind of small talk.
A process of ntioning commonalities, forming a sense of fellowship, and thereby promoting friendship.
“Among the recent operations in the Palma Mountains… oh, by the way, Da Evangeline is there too. She asked to be sure to give you her regards, Sir Reinhardt.”
“How long will the operation last?”
“If it’s the mission Da Evangeline is in charge of, about a week? It’s not that long. It’s a mission that requires slightly more skilled knights.”
“Is Sir Fermil there as well?”
“Fermil, no, Sir Fermil is also carrying out a mission near the mountain range. Not just the two of them, but more than half of the order’s forces have been deployed. Anyway, he said he would definitely visit Serigel as soon as he gets a vacation……”
Light conversation continued.
It was a conversation like a rally of table tennis balls. They mainly asked questions that were considerate of each other and easy to answer.
Then, suddenly.
‘Wait a minute.’
At the thought that ca to him, Reinhardt cut off the conversation and asked a question.
“Miya, then in the end, ‘finding people’ must be your role, correct?”
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