Chapter 536: Sieg's Secret
"Do you want to go to Mizuho?"
"Yeah, can you arrange a departure? There's a port nearby, so it should be feasible, right?"
While waiting for a ssage from the Empire's mainland at the Duchy, Sieg approached with such a request.
Arranging a ship is not a problem.
Sieg has done enough to warrant that.
If necessary, I'd even provide a guard to escort him.
However...
"May I ask why?"
"Well, things have cald down around you guys for now, right? The reason I ca to the Empire was to return to my original form. If the Imperial Flag activation doesn't allow that, and even Silver can't do it, then I have to think of another way."
"That's surprising..."
"What is?"
"I didn't realize you rembered you were originally human."
"Don't make fun of ! I'm reminded of it every ti I see a beautiful woman!"
Well, I suppose you can't flirt with a beautiful woman when you're in the form of a bear.
However, if you flip that around, it ans when he's not seeing beautiful won, he's getting used to being a bear.
That's just like Sieg.
He has an optimistic personality and values living in the present mont.
He's a textbook adventurer.
"So, have you decided to move on from that form? I thought you liked it."
"I do like it. Most things are forgivable because I'm a bear. But I want to beco a human again soon..."
Sieg frowned as he expressed his feelings.
Well, even the most optimistic guy would probably not like remaining unable to return to his human form.
"I see. Understood. I'll arrange a ship to Mizuho for you."
"Really!? Thanks!"
"I should be the one thanking you. You've helped us countless tis."
"Nah, it wasn't that much. But yeah, there were a few tis when it would've been bad without . You might realize how important I am once I'm gone!"
Facing Sieg, who spoke with pride, I smiled.
I can't tie down Sieg, who is an adventurer.
Up until now, he cooperated with us because I had promised to introduce him to Silver.
However, he didn't seem to find his bear form inconvenient and rarely urged us to hurry. Therefore, I kept postponing it.
There was a calculation behind that.
If Sieg t Silver, he would leave the Empire.
After all, even with Silver's power, Sieg can't return to his original form.
I've never heard of such magic, and even the Imperial Flag couldn't do it.
So, it's probably impossible for Silver too.
That's why I've been postponing it.
But it seems that he's reached his limit.
And now, I have to move this conversation forward.
Sieg hardly ever talks about how he beca a bear. All I know is that soone changed Sieg's form.
However, the thod that changed Sieg's form was not magic. It was closer to the power of a demon.
So, I need to ask him.
"By the way... why Mizuho?"
"Huh? Well, that's because... I thought the Princess of Mizuho might be able to cure !"
"I see. In that case, I'll write a letter of introduction for you."
"Oh, you're being awfully generous..."
"You've always protected my sister. It's a token of my gratitude."
"I... I see... I gratefully accept."
"If you want to return to being human, I'll support you with all I've got. But what should I write? There aren't many techniques that even the Empire can't handle, right?"
"Well, about that..."
"I know the adventurer's code. I understand that the contents of the request must remain confidential. But... the timing is bad. You might be suspected of having ties with demons."
At my words, Sieg falls silent.
This isn't an easy conversation.
Sieg has always stubbornly protected his dignity as an adventurer.
But it's different from the beginning.
"Do I not deserve your trust?"
"Stop joking... Just like you trusted with your sister, I trust you."
Sieg heaved a deep sigh before he spoke.
"This stays between us, okay?"
"Of course. That's why you should speak honestly."
"Hmm... I didn't et that woman in the forest. I brought her there. One day, a request ca to with a personal nomination. The content of the task would be explained once I t the client. The reward was three rainbow coins, to be paid afterward. The treatnt was the sa as an SS-rank adventurer, and I was over the moon. I accepted imdiately."
"That's a suspicious request."
"Right. If they had money, they could have asked an SS-rank adventurer instead of . But, I didn't think that far. I was proud that my spear would match an SS-rank adventurer. And then... I received a demi-human woman from the client. The mission was to return this woman to her birthplace. The client was on the verge of death. He was a renowned historian. It seed he had t the woman during his research."
"So that woman was the key... who was she?"
"Do you know about the Dragonfolk?"
"Yes, I do. They're a race that was exterminated in the war against demons. Apparently, they had considerable power."
"They weren't exterminated. In the Twilight Forest of Mizuho Senkoku, they've been living in hiding. The woman was a child who had been kidnapped when the spell placed on the forest weakened. The researcher sohow protected her, but he seed to have reached his limit. He entrusted the woman to and then passed away."
There's little information about the Dragonfolk.
All that's known is that they were extraordinarily powerful among the demi-humans.
And they fought proactively in the war against demons.
It was written that they were exterminated during the process, but they were actually living in hiding.
Well, that's not surprising.
It makes more sense for them to be hiding than for them to have been exterminated and disappeared.
"So? Did you complete the request, which had no hope of reward?"
"Yeah, I'm an adventurer. Once I accept, I complete it even if there's no reward expected. The woman was targeted everywhere due to her rarity. Sohow, we managed to reach the Twilight Forest... but I was injured in several places. In an instant, the woman pulled into the Twilight Forest and healed . Without that, I would have died."
"So, that healing resulted in this form?"
"No, this form is thanks to the woman's sister's quick thinking. The Twilight Forest doesn't let humans who enter leave. To exit, you need the elder's permission. The elder appreciated helping the woman but said he couldn't let out. That's why the woman's sister changed my form. Because if I was a beast, I could leave. They were having fun when changing my form... but when they sent out, they apologized over and over again. I can't forget their faces even now."
After finishing his story, Sieg let out a huge sigh.
"And... if I reported to the Adventurer's Guild, attention would be drawn to the Twilight Forest. I had no choice but to declare Siegmund missing during a mission. After that, I heard rumors about Princess Zandra, who was knowledgeable about forbidden arts, and ca to the Empire. Even though I knew it wasn't likely she would help ."
"A typical story for you... Do you have any grudges? You helped them, and they turned you into a bear."
"They did it to help . I am grateful, not resentful but. I do want to return to my original form. If I have any regrets, it's only my own weakness. If I hadn't been injured, this wouldn't have happened."
He's quite noble in unexpected places.
Ordinarily, it would be okay to complain about not receiving a reward and being changed into a different form.
Well, he's the type not to complain in such situations, which is why he doesn't complain even when I take advantage of him.
"Good grief... I never thought I'd have a day when you'd make realize how bad my own personality is."
"What, you thought you had a good personality?"
Sieg said with a slightly taken aback expression.
He looked absolutely incredulous.
"You're infuriating. Well, fine... So, what will you do by going to Mizuho? Will they restore your form if you go to the forest?"
"I don't know. I'll think about it when I get there."
"You are..."
Typical Sieg to have no plans...
He's the kind who would et the Empire's princess without any plan.
"Seriously... I'll arrange for a ship and a letter of introduction. I'll tell Orihi to keep it strictly confidential, so you shouldn't stand out."
"I appreciate it."
"Save your thanks until you're back in your original form. It will take so ti, so co up with a strategy in the anti."
"Got it!"
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