I returned home and reported to my family.
Lately, I often didn't go into detail whenever I headed out on business trips.
But this time it would likely take a while, so I wanted to explain beforehand.
First, our office doesn't have a direct Teleportation Magic Circle to the Kingdom of Siluone.
So if we go through the office, we'd need to buy a carriage in the Dragon King Kingdom and travel from there to the Kingdom of Siluone.
Last time I moved from the Dragon King Kingdom to Siluone, it took four months.
That was while searching for towns along the way, though, so if we hurried, we could arrive in a little over two months.
Two months.
Which meant four months round trip.
Considering Eris would give birth in another three months, there was no way I could make it in time no matter what I did.
Of course, I could ask Pergius to set up a direct route to the Kingdom of Siluone and that would solve everything.
Zanoba had deep ties with Pergius.
Zanoba would bring in fine paintings and figurines he found at the market, and the two of them would hold little appraisal sessions together.
Apparently, if Pergius took a liking to something, Zanoba would sometimes present it to him.
If they were that close, surely Zanoba could ask and Pergius wouldn't refuse.
Even so, even if that drastically shortened the travel time to under a month,
there was no telling how long it would take to persuade Zanoba once we were inside the Kingdom of Siluone.
I didn't even know what I was supposed to do myself.
If all I had to do was defeat something and come back, that would be simple enough, but Pax wasn't someone I could just defeat.
There was a high possibility that this would end up taking far more time than expected.
"So that's why I can't say when I'll be back."
I made that declaration at dinner.
As usual, Norn wasn't there. It was the same as always, so there was nothing to be done.
Anyway, everyone besides Zenith and Sylphy was present.
I gave them the gist of things, including the timeline.
The one thing I didn't mention was the possibility that the Human God had laid a trap waiting for me.
It was only a possibility, after all.
And I didn't want Eris trying to force her way into coming along.
It was a little cowardly, but it worked—I didn't get any objections.
"I'm fine with it, though," I said.
But all of them turned to look at Eris.
Eris, bathed in everyone's gaze, crossed her arms over her large belly. Her usual pose.
"Fine. Then it can't be helped, I suppose."
Her words were utterly nonchalant.
More nonchalant than Sylphy, who was already starting to panic.
"Hey, Eris, aren't you being way too calm about this?"
"I can give birth to a baby even without Rudeus here."
"But it'll be really hard, you know?"
"I know that. But even if Rudeus were here, all he could do is hold my hand, right?"
"Well, yeah, but isn't that enough..."
Sylphy backed off as she said that.
Looking over, Roxy was nodding along, wringing her hands as if to say the same thing.
According to those with experience, the warmth of my hand was apparently important during childbirth.
"I don't need Rudeus."
Eris said that and pouted with a hmph.
It stung to be told I wasn't needed, but well, Lillia and Aisha would be there.
It was probably true that I wasn't necessary.
"When you come back, Rudeus, just praise me for giving you a fine baby boy. That'll be enough."
Today's Eris was remarkably dry and manly.
She was probably trying to keep me from wavering.
For Eris, that was surprisingly considerate.
I was grateful, but also a little lonely.
Was this how a wife felt when told she could just give birth on her own?
Well, I wasn't the one giving birth, but still.
"Come to think of it, you said you'd already decided on a name."
"Yes, it's a wonderful name. Start looking forward to it from now!"
But that was only the name for a boy, wasn't it?
What if I wasn't there and a girl was born instead?
Would she be given a boy's name and raised as a boy?
"Eris... if it's a girl, how about we take your mother's name and call her Hilda?"
"No way, I'm not giving my kid that old lady name!"
Shot down.
Besides, "old lady name"...
I could picture Hilda crying in the shadows of the grass.
"Now, now, if big sis Eris says so, then that's that.
Like big sis Sylphy always says.
Just support big brother from the shadows, and that's enough."
Aisha's words settled it.
Sylphy was always saying I should let her support me from behind the scenes.
As expected of the senior wife.
Reliable.
I'd be worried leaving Eris behind, but
I had other wives, a sister, and a mother I could count on.
No problem at all. I'd let them shoulder the burden.
"I wish I could go too, since I'm worried about Rudeus going alone!"
That was the opposite.
I was the one who was going to be worrying, wasn't I?
Well, this time it really was going to be a bit dangerous.
Depending on the situation, I'd be flying straight into a trap set by the Human God.
Wait, thinking about it that way, I was starting to feel anxious.
Was I really going to make it back alive this time...
No, no point dwelling on anxiety.
Do what needed to be done, deal with enemies with everything I had.
Adapt on the fly. That was all there was to it.
"You look worried, Rudy."
While I was thinking, Roxy spoke to me.
She was cradling Lara in her arms as always, her sleepy eyes gazing at me.
"Well, yes. This time... it might turn into a war."
I deflected with that, and Roxy looked up at me with a serious expression.
"Honestly, I feel like I bear some responsibility for this as well."
"Huh? Why?"
"I was the one who tutored Prince Pax when he was young."
Come to think of it, Roxy had been in the Kingdom of Siluone for quite a long time.
"But being one of his tutors doesn't mean you taught him everything, right?"
"No. But his personality became twisted during my tenure."
It wasn't Roxy's fault.
Nobody would turn out rotten after receiving Roxy's excellent lessons.
I could say that with certainty.
Or I wanted to, anyway—but I didn't know Pax that well myself...
According to Orsted, Pax had enough capability to become king even through a coup, so it was possible Roxy's education had made him slightly dumber than he otherwise would have been...
No, that couldn't be.
There was no way that was possible.
After Roxy's teaching, even the lowest scum could become somewhat decent.
It couldn't possibly be Roxy's fault.
The cause lay elsewhere.
"It cannot possibly be your fault, Master."
"...Rudy, you may not have noticed, but when you call me 'Master,' your eyes get a little weird, you know."
What?
Seriously?
No way.
The whole reason I called Roxy "Master" was because I respected her.
Creepy eyes? What nonsense.
True, we had done a teacher-and-student roleplay recently, but that was meant as an accent to enrich our harmonious married life, not born from any ulterior motive.
A false accusation.
"I do have my misgivings... but at this point, if I went, it would only make things worse, wouldn't it?"
Roxy said that while glancing briefly at Lara.
Lara was looking at me with a drowsy expression.
She stared at me intently, as if she had something to say.
Roxy seemed to be wrestling with something.
Perhaps, if not for the children and the school, she would have wanted to follow me to Siluone.
"No, it really isn't your fault, Roxy."
I said that for now.
Whether Roxy would have become Pax's tutor if I hadn't reincarnated—I couldn't say.
But in the end, Pax staged a coup and became king regardless.
Moreover, there was a high probability the Human God was pulling strings behind the scenes this time.
Even if the education Roxy gave him differed from the original history, it shouldn't have changed things that drastically.
So the current situation wasn't Roxy's fault.
"Pax was manipulated by the Human God."
"Still... no. You're right. I understand."
Roxy still seemed to have something on her mind, but she let it go.
When you learned your student was doing something terrible, of course it would bother you.
I glanced at Sylphy.
She wasn't my student.
But I was the one who taught her the basics of magic. And I'd taught her all sorts of other things too, I think.
If, after the Teleportation Incident, instead of going to Ariel, she had used the magic I taught her to commit murders and robberies—
What would I think?
Would I feel that I'd taught her wrong, that I bore responsibility, that I wanted to stop her, wanted to make her listen?
"Um, Rudy? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how back in the day, Sylphy would do anything I said."
"What's with the sudden sentimentality? I still do what you say, you know! The other day you kept pushing even though I said it was embarrassing and I ended up..."
"Let's not talk about that in front of the kid."
"Oh, right."
Lucy, sitting beside her, was looking back and forth between my face and Sylphy's.
A what-are-you-talking-about expression.
Adorable.
But it was still too early. Too early to know the back-and-forth of nighttime wrestling.
Let's wrap up the meeting after the final punchline landed.
"Well then, everyone, please take care of everything while I'm—"
"Ahhh! Aaahh!"
Suddenly, a crying voice rang out.
Looking over, Lara—who rarely cried—was weeping in Roxy's arms.
She was reaching her hands toward me, tears streaming down her face, crying out.
"Bwaaaah! Aaaah!"
"Lara, what's wrong? There, there..."
Roxy tried to comfort her in a panic, but Lara wouldn't stop crying at all.
This might have been the first time Lara had cried this intensely.
Perhaps she couldn't bear the heavy atmosphere any longer.
She looked at me, reached out her hands, and cried desperately.
"Rudy..."
"Yeah."
I took Lara from Roxy and held her.
The instant Lara was in my arms, she stopped crying abruptly.
She gripped my shoulders with all her might, clinging to me like a cicada.
Had she sensed that I was going away somewhere?
If she'd cried because she didn't want that, then it was a little touching...
She'd never done anything like this before.
Maybe the different atmosphere this time had made her sense something.
"Well then, Papa's going to go away for a little while, okay? Be a good girl for me."
Anyway, at least she'd stopped crying.
I patted Lara on the back a few times, then went to hand her back to Roxy.
I tried to hand her back.
I couldn't.
Lara wouldn't let go.
She gripped my robe and clung on with the strength of a stag beetle.
"Noooo! Aaah!"
When I tried to pry her off, Lara cried out in protest.
Did she really want to be with Papa that badly? That made me happy.
When you're toddling along, once Papa comes back, we'll take a bath together, okay?
"Here, Roxy. Take her, please."
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Letting go or not—she was still an infant after all.
I peeled her away easily enough and returned her to Roxy.
"Nyaaaah! Gwaaaaah!"
The instant she was separated, Lara let out a death-crow scream.
A roar on par with Eris.
She didn't usually cry this loudly.
I felt kind of bad. Like I was abusing her.
"So, while I'm away..."
"Nooooo! Baahhh! Maaahhh!"
No, Papa, don't go.
That's what it sounded like.
It truly tugged at my heartstrings.
But I had to go.
I had to go to save my best friend.
"Bwaaaah! Aaahh! Aaahh!"
I glanced over. Lara's face was crumpled with tears, and she was reaching out toward me with a haunting expression.
I'd never seen Lara like this before.
The rest of the family were also looking at Lara with bewildered expressions.
"There, there... I wonder what's wrong. She's never done anything like this before. Lillia-san, do you have any idea?"
"No, I've never seen anything like this either..."
Roxy was trying to comfort her too, but to no effect.
I was starting to feel a little anxious.
Wasn't this... abnormal?
Was it really okay for me to go like this?
Lara had been chosen as the Holy Beast Leo's savior.
I didn't know how she was supposed to save the world, but maybe she possessed some special ability.
Like foresight.
Or perhaps the ability to sense when someone was about to die.
Wait... so was I going to die?
"Aaaahh! Bwaaaaah!"
Her anguished crying rang out.
It unavoidably stirred anxiety in my heart.
"I understand, Lara."
But then, one person lifted the wailing Lara up.
She raised her to eye level and looked her straight in the face.
"I will go with you and protect Father."
The radiant figure said that.
Just one sentence, and that was all.
Lara stopped crying instantly.
---
Roxy was coming with me.
I tried to stop her.
This time it was genuinely dangerous.
It was highly likely a trap set by the Human God.
If it came to a fight, Roxy would be a liability.
Pergius's Aerial Fortress didn't allow entry for the Demon Race.
Roxy's dream was to become a teacher—if she took several months off without advance notice, she'd probably be fired.
Was it really okay to just casually drop everything because a baby had cried?
With a slightly firm tone mixed in, I tried every argument I could think of to refuse Roxy's accompaniment.
But Roxy didn't bat an eye.
"If it's a trap, then Lara crying makes sense now, doesn't it?"
"I may be a liability in combat, but I could be useful for other things."
"If you won't let me come along, I'll just take a separate route there."
"Being a teacher was indeed my dream, but not a dream worth trading for my husband's life."
"Calming our daughter is a mother's duty too."
Each rebuttal came instantly, and I was thoroughly outargued in the blink of an eye, left with nothing to say.
No one in the family backed me up.
It wasn't that they thought it was fine if Roxy died.
Rather, when they heard it might be a trap set by the Human God, they'd had "that explains it" written all over their faces.
After they scolded me for hiding it, Eris insisted on going too, and while Sylphy held her back, she seriously brought up whether she should go along as well.
Everyone was anxious about Lara's abnormal behavior.
Was it okay to send me off alone?
Was I really going to be fine?
Wasn't this what they called a premonition?
Was something going to happen to Rudy?
The one who gathered these worried women together was Roxy.
She declared that she would go as the representative.
With those words, Sylphy and Eris backed down.
I wanted to praise Roxy, as expected of her, but it was complicated.
I had my own reservations too.
I was the type who liked to keep precious things safe.
Roxy was a treasure I wanted to lock away in a safe box if I could.
But Roxy had her stubborn side too.
If I forcefully refused her here, as she herself had said, she'd just take a separate route to the Kingdom of Siluone.
In that case, it was better to let her come along.
Having her nearby would make it easier for me to protect her.
Still, I was anxious about this too.
Against the Human God's trap, I had no help from Orsted.
I hadn't figured out how to bring Zanoba back either.
The future was bleak and full of uncertainty.
And yet, Roxy was willing to come with me.
The person I respected most in this world was going to be at my side.
Nothing could be more reassuring than that.
---
The next day, preparations for the journey to Siluone began.
I'll skip over the travel essentials.
First up: Zanoba's equipment.
I couldn't afford to let Zanoba die, same as myself.
So I pulled out several pieces of equipment from the office armory for Zanoba.
First, the heavy full-body armor I had thought I'd never wear myself.
It had an enchantment that nullified fire.
A mana-imbued item.
Perfect for Zanoba, who was especially weak against fire.
Though saying it like that made Zanoba sound particularly vulnerable to fire, most humans were weak against fire.
Then, weapons.
According to Orsted, there was no weapon in existence that could withstand use by Zanoba, the demigod of superhuman strength.
No matter what legendary sword it was, in Zanoba's hands it would snap after just a few swings, like a twig.
So I decided to make a club specifically for Zanoba.
A stone club, hardened solid with my mana.
Design-wise, it looked like a baseball bat carved straight from rock.
The weight was tremendous—inverse to its appearance, a grown man couldn't lift it by himself.
Zanoba picked it up with a pinch of his fingers and wielded it like a twig, but a swing from this would kill just about anyone.
It truly was like giving a demon an iron club.
Since Zanoba was powerful but frail—slow on his feet—I also prepared support equipment for that.
That being a mana-imbued item:
The "Indiscriminate Catch Net."
I didn't know the principle behind it, but the moment it was thrown, this net would autonomously track its target as if it had a mind of its own and ensnare them.
With Zanoba's superhuman strength behind the throw, the target would be instantly dragged to the ground and pulled within reach of Zanoba's fists.
Those three items were what Zanoba would fight with for the time being.
Aside from his distaste for the full-body armor's design, Zanoba was satisfied.
I also prepared some equipment for Roxy.
Obviously, I couldn't afford to have her die either.
Her protective gear needed to be solid.
That said, Roxy wasn't physically strong, so she couldn't wear heavy armor like Zanoba's.
Giving a seasoned fighter unfamiliar equipment would actually be more dangerous.
For now, I gave her a ring that activated a barrier-like shield against physical attacks, and a collar that would substitute for her once if she received a fatal wound.
Her staff and robe stayed the same.
That was all for Roxy's equipment.
My worries remained.
But all I had to do was protect her with everything I had.
I didn't know what kind of trap awaited, but I'd trained enough for this.
Regarding the school—Zanoba would drop out, and Roxy would take a leave of absence.
Since having Roxy fired wouldn't do, I had Zanoba write a formal letter, and the arrangement was that he would bring her back as a court magician of Siluone.
The school protested.
The headmaster and Zanoba sat across a table from each other in a formal discussion.
It showed just how valuable Roxy was to the school.
Of course she was.
I'd do the same if I were headmaster.
"Ms. Roxy was originally a court magician of Siluone. Last time there was a bit of trouble and she left the position, but her abilities are more than sufficient. We intend to welcome her back as a court magician of the Kingdom of Siluone once more," Zanoba declared with an air of arrogance.
Roxy countered with a roundabout protest: "I really don't want to become a court magician, you know."
The headmaster sided with Roxy, insisting, "Ms. Roxy's person belongs to our Magic University."
After about an hour of discussion, Zanoba conceded.
The understanding was that since Roxy was involved in this affair, she would be taken along, but once her business was finished, she would be returned to the university...
First making an outrageous demand and then compromising.
A classic negotiation tactic.
This way, she'd be able to continue teaching when we got back.
Next, I secured my own equipment.
My equipment was basically the same as always.
Magic Armor "Unit One," "Unit Two Modified," and the gatling gun.
It had been quite a while since I'd used
Partner
lately.
I felt bad about it for Eris, but she'd said, "If you have something better, just use that."
I wish she'd treasure our memories more.
They were supposed to be our memories from when we were ten... I suppose the past was meant to stay in the past.
I still remembered the feeling of her chest from back then, though...
For now,
Partner
was carefully displayed in my room.
Maybe I should give it to Sylphy?
Unlike Eris, Sylphy was still using the staff I'd given her as a present.
If I gave her
Partner
too, wouldn't she be happy to use it?
But giving a gift from another woman to yet another woman—how would that come across?
Sylphy was using something Roxy had given her, though.
Anyway, I'd be fighting with my usual small Magic Armor "Unit Two Modified." Only when a powerful enemy appeared would I bring out the large Magic Armor "Unit One."
I'd be fine. Even if a strong foe appeared, I'd been training for this very moment.
I could do it.
The large Magic Armor "Unit One" would be disassembled and transported, then reassembled on-site.
The Human God knew about the Magic Armor, and to keep him from countering it, it was best to keep it hidden.
Unlike the "Unit Two Modified," I couldn't exactly walk around wearing it. Destroying a giant robot when its pilot wasn't inside was textbook strategy.
Equipment was ready.
All that remained was transportation.
So Zanoba and I went to pay a visit to Pergius.
---
When we arrived at the Aerial Fortress, we were led to what seemed like an expensive room.
A room I'd never entered before.
It was like a hobby room.
Paintings lined the walls, and palm-sized figurines sat on the shelves.
Everything displayed here was a cut above the other exhibits in the Aerial Fortress.
The works in the hallway looked "expensive," but
the works in this room were "well-made" or showed "exquisite taste."
Proof that quality and price didn't always correlate.
"This room is amazing."
"Oh? Master, is this your first time here?"
When I murmured that involuntarily, Zanoba looked surprised.
"Yeah. I'm usually in the guest rooms or the garden..."
"This is a place that only those Pergius-sama has personally approved may enter."
Silvaril, standing at the entrance, told me sharply.
As if to say, "You, on the other hand, are not approved."
I'd been thinking lately that this person didn't really like me.
More precisely, it was the Orsted standing behind me that he disliked.
"Silvaril. Kindly refrain from speaking as though Master were somehow beneath me," Zanoba said, turning around without looking at him.
At least face the person you're addressing.
"However, the one Pergius-sama approved and ordered me to guide to this room was Zanoba-sama alone. Today, for some reason, I was told to bring both of you, but..."
At Silvaril's calm words, Zanoba turned around like a ghost.
"Indeed, by the time Master met Pergius-sama, he had mostly stopped making figurines, so I understand why you'd think that. However, Master's works are profoundly deeper and more magnificent than anything my knowledge could compare to."
"But Pergius-sama..."
"Rudeus Greyrat is my Master.
His knowledge may be less than mine or Pergius-sama's, I cannot say.
But without my Master's words, the Zanoba Siluone recognized by Pergius-sama would not exist."
"..."
Silvaril fell silent.
I got the impression his expression was somewhat unamused.
Though I couldn't tell behind that mask.
I was used to being propped up by Zanoba, but that last part really struck a chord.
I wanted to modestly say I just happened to know a thing or two about otherworldly figurines and that I wasn't that impressive.
"I understand. My apologies, Zanoba-sama."
"Think nothing of it, Silvaril."
Silvaril bowed his head, and Zanoba magnanimously forgave him.
I didn't much care what attitude he took with me, though.
"There you are, Zanoba. Welcome."
At that moment, a door in the back opened.
It was Pergius.
Sensing the room's atmosphere, he looked back and forth between Silvaril and Zanoba.
"...What happened? Did Silvaril do something rude?"
"No, Master had never visited this room before, so we were merely discussing that matter."
Zanoba answered with a smile.
Not tattling to his lord—that showed class.
"Rudeus, was it... Indeed, you've never had the chance until now. Well? What do you think of my prized room?"
"It's wonderful. Every piece seems to possess a sense of 'refinement' and 'character' compared to those in the hallway."
"Oh?"
I didn't actually know specifically what made them good, so my words were vague, but Pergius perked up.
"If the pieces outside are first-rate in the general sense, then the ones here appear to be special-grade pieces suited to Pergius-sama's personal taste. Would that be correct?"
"Precisely."
Pergius grinned with satisfaction and settled into his chair.
I'd hit the mark.
My eye for quality wasn't wasted after all.
Look, even Silvaril seemed surprised... or so I thought.
Couldn't tell behind that mask.
Anyway, Zanoba and I took seats as Pergius gestured.
It turned into a three-way meeting.
"So, what brings you here today?
Have you found another interesting figurine, perhaps?"
Pergius asked cheerfully.
Zanoba answered with a bright smile.
"No, Pergius-sama. I will be returning to my homeland today and have come to bid you farewell."
"Hmm..."
Pergius furrowed his brow suspiciously.
He stared hard at Zanoba's face.
And gradually, his expression soured.
During all this, Zanoba was explaining the circumstances behind the summons from the Kingdom of Siluone.
Pergius didn't even acknowledge him with an "I see"—he simply kept his eyes fixed on Zanoba's face.
Eventually, Zanoba finished his explanation.
Pergius opened his mouth after a brief silence.
"...Zanoba. You intend to die, don't you?"
Before anything had even been explained, Pergius said that.
Zanoba looked back at him with a puzzled expression.
"Why would you say that?"
"I can tell by looking at your face. I've seen many a man with that same look."
Pergius said it with a scowl.
I wasn't sure about judging someone by their face, but if Pergius was going to try to stop him, I'd happily go along.
It would be best if Zanoba didn't go to the Kingdom of Siluone.
That way, I wouldn't have to walk into the Human God's trap either.
"And if that were so, what would you do about it, pray tell?"
Zanoba maintained his poker face, and Pergius smirked.
"If you need to fight someone, I'll lend you my power.
The time I spend discussing art with you is precious to me.
If there is an obstacle in your way, shall I eliminate it for you?
For instance... a false king."
"That won't be necessary."
"Ha. I thought so."
Pergius glanced over at me.
Was he looking for me to say something too?
Some kind of eye contact?
But Pergius ignored me and continued his conversation with Zanoba.
"Zanoba... Did this man agree to you dying?"
"No, he merely said he would come along—"
"Oh? And you didn't refuse him?"
"If Master wished it, he could prevent me from going to the Kingdom of Siluone."
When I'd said I would go, Zanoba hadn't strongly objected.
He apparently figured it was pointless to object even if he did.
Well, he was right.
"Rudeus would surely sacrifice his life to protect you, wouldn't he."
"Ha ha ha, whatever could you mean, Pergius-sama?"
Zanoba laughed heartily.
It was forced, though.
"Master has a child on the way and obligations to attend to.
When push comes to shove, he will surely prioritize his own survival."
"So you're the disciple of a man who wouldn't even shield a companion in dire straits?"
"Of course not! But Master is a remarkable person.
He'll protect me while also managing to survive himself!"
I wasn't that much of a superhuman.
Well, whether Zanoba truly believed I was one was beside the point.
Zanoba was brushing off Pergius's words lightly.
The option of not going to the Kingdom of Siluone simply didn't exist in his mind.
Pergius seemed to understand this too.
He quickly lost interest, resting his cheek on his fist and letting out a bored sigh.
"So you didn't just come to say goodbye. You have a request, don't you?"
Zanoba nodded.
"A Teleportation Magic Circle to the Kingdom of Siluone, permission to bring a Magic Armor inside, and... passage through this fortress for my Master's wife, Roxy Migurdia of the Demon Race."
"I'll prepare the Teleportation Magic Circle. Permission to bring in the Magic Armor is granted... but I will not allow a member of the Demon Race into this fortress."
Pergius said this with a grimace.
Almanfi had previously turned Roxy away at the gate.
Pergius did not want the Demon Race inside this fortress.
"Not even as a personal favor to me, Zanoba Siluone?"
"Zanoba Siluone. When you say 'personal favor'—just what do you think you mean to me?"
"A rare friend with whom I can discuss art on equal footing."
"You claim friendship between me, Pergius the Dragon King, and the prince of a petty kingdom like yourself?"
"With all due respect, when it comes to an eye for art, neither rank nor race makes a difference."
Pergius glared at Zanoba.
Zanoba met his gaze without flinching.
Silvaril's intense stare was also directed at Zanoba.
Only my gaze wavered.
Tense atmosphere.
If it were me, I'd be apologizing or making excuses by now.
"Ha."
Pergius tilted his chin up and let out a laugh.
"Very well. I grant passage to the Demon Race."
"I am grateful for your consideration."
"However, I have several conditions."
Pergius then laid out a number of conditions.
Roxy was forbidden from speaking while inside the fortress, from touching anything within the fortress, from meeting with him personally...
Since it was basically fine as long as she was just passing through, I accepted.
"Then, Silvaril. Prepare the magic circle."
"Yes, sir!"
After giving Silvaril his orders, Pergius
gave Zanoba one last look of disinterest.
It was a cold gaze, but there seemed to be a hint of resignation woven into it.
"Zanoba Siluone."
"Yes."
"A shame."
Pergius and Zanoba stood simultaneously.
As Pergius turned on his heel, Zanoba bowed to him in silence.
The sight of Pergius's retreating back looked unbearably lonely, and I was certain it wasn't my imagination.
---
The Magic Armor was disassembled and transported through the magic circle into the Kingdom of Siluone.
After that, it would be disguised as stone lumber by an acquaintance of Ginger's at the Carpenters' Guild and shipped to a warehouse near the capital.
I wouldn't be going that far.
However, I sent Ginger ahead to scope out the situation in the Kingdom of Siluone.
If the claim about an army attacking from the north turned out to be false, it could also serve as an excuse to persuade Zanoba.
That was what I'd thought, but it seemed the Bista Kingdom to the north was indeed showing signs of invasion.
The whole country was in a war mood, with mercenaries and criminals swarming everywhere.
"Prince Pax apparently borrowed ten capable knights from the Dragon King Kingdom and used them to slaughter anyone who opposed him."
Ten skilled knights from the Dragon King Kingdom.
Just ten.
The coup hadn't been carried out by just Pax and those eleven people, apparently,
but there was no doubt those ten knights' efforts were what made the coup a success.
If that was the case, it was possible that was the Human God's trap.
"Ginger, do you happen to know the names of those ten knights?"
"No, unfortunately. I don't have that information... However, there's a rumor that a man with a skull-like face has been constantly at Prince Pax's side lately. And a rumor that he is one of the Seven Great Powers—the 'Death God.'"
"Is that so."
Ugh, one of the Seven Great Powers...
Well, the Dragon King Kingdom probably wouldn't lend a member of the Seven Great Powers to someone like Pax, so it was likely someone else, but I should relay that to Orsted just in case.
A man with a skull-like face.
"If the northern invasion is real, we need to hurry."
Hearing that, Zanoba became impatient to leave.
He announced he wanted to depart immediately.
His tone was the same as always, but I could sense his urgency.
With no excuse to delay, we settled on departing in a few days.
The party would be four: me, Zanoba, Ginger, and Roxy.
Julie would be left in our care.