Breakfast included conspicuous amounts of various meats and unsurprisingly our waitress today was not Delilah. Halfway through our meal however,
"Umm Carlton?" Delilah called to him almost shyly.
"Y-yes!" Carl jittered but still looked at her with a somewhat straight face.
"I'm sorry about last night," Delilah bowed embarrassed.
"N-no problem. Enjoy your day…."
And that was disappointingly all. Sayuri and Alicia were confused but through an agreement with Carl earlier, last night's mishaps would never be talked about again.
We left the inn to explore the town. It was still early in the morning and by our schedule we had until about midday till we should leave. As I was in charge of money the Heroes looked to me expectantly. They had been taught the value of things already so it should be fine, though I'd still need to look out for them. I handed them all a small pouch like I had given to Carl last night. Originally Carl had already taken his share but because of the entertainment factor I decided to give him more.
Pranx had a population in the low hundreds and was mainly a farming community. It wasn't a key destination for merchants to pass through but due to some larger towns being around the area and Elsbeth State being close by it still had a decent amount of visitors. As such one would expect the townsfolk to be quite lively, however as we walked the streets it was the opposite. The townsfolk avoided the traveling merchants selling their goods but those who ran stores were insistent to sell theirs. The worse part was the atmosphere, there was a strained desperation hanging in the air and throughout it hopelessness.
The Heroes and I came to a general store. My arm was tugged and when I looked down a small girl with pleading eyes was staring at me,
"Mister would you like to buy some flowers?"
I smiled softly, "See that man there," I pointed to Carl, "I bet he'd buy some flowers."
She nodded enthusiastically and did the same act to Carl. He immediately bought them all. The fact that they were simple wild flowers you could pick up outside of town didn't even matter at all. Sigh, I'd really have to watch how much money I gave him.
"What!? This price is outrageous," Alicia complained to the store owner. She was holding up a kitchen knife. On the other hand compared to Carl we had someone else who was a bit too keen to bargain.
"Metal prices are up at the moment," the salesman replied. "I'm sorry but any cheaper and I won't be able to live."
"No way! Halve it."
"H-half? I'm sorry miss but that won't do."
Before Alicia could supply a counter offer Sayuri stepped in, "Excuse me, how about if I buy this. Would you give us the knife for half?" She was holding a hair tie. I was surprised at how well made it looked. The price was still way over what it should be.
"Ah, I guess I can do that."
Sayuri smiled and paid for the items. As soon as she did I noticed a slimy presence behind us. It was Mr Parcel the town's loaner. He was being followed by the same men as last night. The little girl who sold Carl flowers blanched and ran off at full speed. The store owner's fists tightened.
"Mr Harner, as I told you yesterday, interest has increased. Now do you have the money or not?" he spoke to the store owner and completely ignored us.
"Yes I have enough now…." He regretfully handed over the money that Sayuri had just given him and more.
"Thank you and I'll see you next week," Mr Parcel counted the money with a grin and wondered away.
The store owner's hands flew to his face in a cry, "How am I going to make next week's payment?"
Gary who had been just looking around turned to him, "Why are you even taking his crap?" His words were blunt.
"Do you think we all haven't thought of that? Without his money our families and us would have died from that sickness!" the store owner replied angrily but then his tone became defeated, "Besides those three men are A rank adventurers and are his personal guards. We'd never stand a chance."
"And what sickness was this?" I asked curiously.
"It was mana bloom."
"That doesn't sound that bad," Alicia smiled at the name.
I shook my head, "No, it's actually really bad. It's called mana bloom because of the final stages where the victim's mana will literally bloom from their body causing death. The sickness itself lasts a few weeks and slowly drains the person's mana supply, if it nears zero, it blooms. The medicine to counter it isn't really medicine but a concoction to revitalise mana supply and as you should know because everyone's mana supply is unique, whatever's given needs to be made specially. The cost to hire an alchemist to do so is no small amount."
At my explanation the Heroes shifted awkwardly and finally Alicia raised her hand, "How does it spread?"
"No idea actually. It's random, pops up here and there. It is quite rare however. If you're worried about catching it don't be. You four have more than enough mana to last the time limit and if you focus you'd be able to regenerate more than you lose."
"Very few of us here had enough money for even a few treatments," the shop owner began, "Then Mr Parcel came and offered us a loan. At first we refused but as the symptoms were getting worse we had no choice but to accept."
Unable to do anything other than buy a few more things we left. As we walked around the town we witnessed more of Mr Parcel's collections. All of them went the same way, despair written on the victims face and Mr Parcel's Guards grinning behind him. He was like a leech sucking the life from the town itself and all the while he had a smug smile permanently on his lips. It must have been the eighth or so time we saw him shake down another resident when Carl finally stepped forwards to say something. Honestly I was surprised it had taken this long. It was getting to the point that I thought Sayuri would step in first, Alicia and Gary however had no intention to interfere.
"Excuse me can I have a word?" Carl called to him bluntly.
"Oh?" Mr Parcel looked at Carl with a smirk, "I've seen you around a lot today. What, want to take a loan?"
"I'd like you to stop."
"Stop what? I'm simply collecting what is rightfully mine," he let out a sickening smile as his guards crept closer.
"Can't you see what you're doing to this town?" Carl didn't back down.
"I saved this town kid," he poked Carl in the stomach. Carl didn't flinch.
"Don't you already have enough money?"
"There is no such thing, money is power! Isn't that right boys?" he turned to his guards who laughed.
"That it is boss."
"See? It doesn't matter that they've already paid the cost of the medicine. An agreement is an agreement and a contract is a contract and money is money." He stared straight at Carl provocatively.
"You…." For a second I though Carl would snap but he just frowned, "How much money is left?"
"Ha! Are you thinking of paying it off? 113 gold ones."
I unintentionally let out a cough of surprise. 113 gold!? Just who did they buy the medicine from? With the money from the King we could cover maybe three quarters of it. Of course I had plenty of money for my own purposes but it was mostly demon side currency.
Carl scowled, "If they've already paid off the expense can't you spare them?"
"You sound just like the Mayor," Mr Parcel spat annoyed. "Look I'm not breaking any laws here and it wasn't me who made the town sick. In fact I should be treated as a saviour! I'm just raking in the rewards for my kindness!"
A mumble came from behind me, "No you're human scum," it was Alicia whose expression had gone dark. Only Gary and I heard her. Still, she simply watched.
"And what if I just kicked you out of town?" Carl threatened darkly, quite unusual for him.
"You want to try it?" The three men drew their weapons.
"You really think that'll save you?" Carl began to raise his hands in preparation but I pulled them back.
"That's enough," I stared at him till he backed down. I turned to Mr Parcel, "Sorry for the trouble we'll be leaving."
"Tch, all talk and no bark," he walked off with his guard.
With him out of sight I finally let go of Carl.
"I could have taken them," he stood firm angrily scowling in the direction they had gone.
"Probably but that's not the point. Just what were you going to do when you kicked him out? How do you know he wouldn't just come back?" I held my gaze.
"If we showed him our symbol then-,"
"Then what?" I lowered my voice seriously at him, "We save a town from debt but a person like him with connections and money. He could easily spin a web of lies against the Heroes. It'll happen eventually but we at least need more of the people's support."
"So we should just let them suffer?"
"He hasn't broken any laws."
Sayuri moved beside me, "Dave I don't like it either."
"People like him should rot," Alicia snarled and Gary wide eyed tried to appease her.
"It's not like Dave likes it but we can't just dish out our own justice, right Dave?" he said.
"Exactly. It's best if we just leave."
Carl's fists tightened but he nodded. With all of them facing away from me I sighed. This was all leaving a bad taste in my mouth but it wasn't like I could do anything drastic-, hang on. If I left the Heroes feeling this way it would cause negative outcomes later and although this me couldn't do anything, I'm sure my other self could definitely do something. Fufu, it was about time for us to meet for real anyway.
"Hang on a second I'm just going to the bathroom," I said and left them.
"You're back again?" my father said as soon as I appeared.
"Yep but this time I'm going back out in more formal attire," I said as I walked to a nearby cupboard. "Hmm? Where's my mantle?"
"Your sister took it."
"What!? I told her not to!" I replied angrily, "She can't even use it yet. Tch, where is she? I'm kind of pressed for time here. I'm meant to be in the bathroom."
"That's how you excused yourself?" my father looked at me with a slight smirk.
"What you have a better way?"
"No, I just find it funny," he smiled, "your sister should be annoying Warten."
"Argh… she better not be bothering him." Warten had research to do for me.
"It's because her favourite brother isn't here to play with her."
"I'm her only brother."
"Exactly."
"…."
"Well off you go, you don't want the Heroes to think you have bowel issues."
While inside my castle due to the flow of mana I could only teleport to and from certain places. As such I quickly made my way outside and to the laboratory. Along the way I passed many of my maids and butlers who bowed and greeted me. Because I was in a rush I could only smile at them in passing.
I reached my destination, the door already open. The laboratory was an open room filled with equipment of different sizes and shapes. It was primarily white in colour which made everything else stand out much more. Warten was easy to spot. Well he was easy to spot wherever he was. My chief engineer for magical devices and a friend I had known since I was young. He was several years older than me and came from the ogre race of demons. As such he was bigger than my father at eight feet tall. He was muscular but in a flabby way, after all he was a nerd who didn't like to exercise. With blue skin, short red hair, a solid face, glasses and wearing a stained white lab coat, he certainly was a sight to behold.
"Warten," I called to him.
"Eh? AH! My lord you're back," he scrambled around as he stood up from his seat. "First, it's been awhile."
"Yeah, playing Hero takes a while."
"Did you need something in particular, or are you just visiting?"
"I wish it was just a visit. I'm looking for my sister, she took my mantle again."
"Ah yes, she's in the back," he smiled, "don't scold her too much, she's lonely."
"I know," I sighed and was about to leave but I remembered, "By the way how is the cannon going?"
"Your grandfather is helping create the ammo every day, a test run should be possible within a few weeks."
"Okay, take your time, we have plenty of it. Also don't do any tests without me."
"Yes my lord."
"Then see ya later."
I went straight to the back of the room and through a door. It was the supply room which held various materials as well spare equipment. Sitting in the corner drawing on some paper was a young high demon girl with light brown hair and big red eyes. My little sister… due to various reasons although I called my little sister, she wasn't my younger sister. Still she acted and looked like a child. Over her shoulders was a black mantle with a fur lining that was obviously too big for her.
"Terraostra," I called her name in a low tone. Her full name was Terraostra Dark Eyes of the Autumn Wind. Usually I called her Terra but I was meant to be angry right now.
"Varry!" her eyes lit up as she looked at me. With a full body leap she jumped head first at me. I blocked her with magic. "You're back!"
"Yes but not for long."
"What!? But I've been so bored lately."
"Go play with Alferir or Sebastian, in fact go annoy Tiana."
"Sebastian is busy and Tiana is scary. Alferir is a coward."
"Then what about the others?"
"The Generals are all busy and everyone else can barely keep up." That would be because most the games you like to play require a certain amount of survivability. "I miss Lisanna and Gilda…."
I felt a little guilty but I didn't have time to talk to her right now, "Anyway I'm here for my mantle."
She froze, "W-what mantle?"
"I can see you wearing it," I reached over and grabbed it with a reproachful glare. With it in my arms I prepared to leave.
"Wait! You're leaving already? Can't you stay for a bit longer?" she pleaded.
"I'm busy doing Demon Lord stuff." Looking at her I sighed, she was close to tears.
"At least take me with you."
"No way, you can't even cast illusions yet, you'll be spotted instantly."
"B-but," she cried.
I gently patted her head, "How about this, when I come back next I'll bring the Heroes."
"The Heroes!?" her eyes lit back up, "Like in dad's stories?"
"Yes like in his stories," I smiled.
"Can I fight them?" she grinned fearlessly.
"Ah well… sure…." I'd have to handle that issue later.
"Yay! Then it's a promise."
"See you later then."
"Yep! Don't take too long. Bye!!" she waved and I quickly ran off.