"Well first, let's take a sit. You are recovered to a certain extent right?" (Makoto)
The magic power recovers when you are resting after all. I only made the darkness eat
his magic power. I haven't obstructed his magic power regeneration.
For a full recovery, only the person itself would know, but if it's to the level where one
can stand and talk, even I can tell that from looking.
"…fumu, what will happen to me?" (Lich)
The skeleton obediently stands and talks. However, he hasn't taken out his weapon,
the cane. Is the weapon made out of magic power like his garment?
"I want to ask you a number of things and I want you to answer them. That's all"
(Makoto)
"After that there will be no need for me, is that what you are trying to say?" (Lich)
"Eh? No way. I won't need anything else, but I won't do what you think I will do. I will
just have you return" (Makoto)
My words made Lich's face turn disturbed. Well, even if I say "face" it's actually a skull
though. I am just guessing from the light of his eyes and his mouth that's opening up.
"You are thinking of releasing me after bringing me to your main stronghold?!" (Lich)
"That's right. Well, since we have guaranteed your safety, let's begin with the talk"
(Makoto)
I give a sidelong glance to the desk and table and urge Lich.
I lower my hips and invite him to take a sit. Tomoe and Mio are standing by my sides
and staying in standby.
"First of all, let's present ourselves. My name is Misumi Makoto. Here it would be said
as Makoto Misumi. And then there is the blue haired one, Tomoe, the black one is Mio.
The two of them are my followers. You can call them companions as well" (Makoto)
I explain while mixing a wry smile.
"What do you mean by 'here it would be said'?" (Lich)
"Let's leave that for later. Now it's your turn" (Makoto)
I push aside his statement with my hands.
"As you can see, I'm a lich" (Lich)
The undead concisely reveals his own race. No, I already know that.
"Not that. I want you to tell me your real name" (Makoto)
"I don't have a name. My name is Lich, that's it. I have already forgotten my memories
of when I was a person, and even if I had my memories, that name wouldn't be fit to
call me with" (Lich)
Is that how things work when you turn into a Lich? I don't know anyone like that, so I
don't know at all. Something like, "One of my friends has become a Lich~" is not that
good anyways. Maybe he doesn't want to call himself with his family name?
"I see, then Lich-san right? Sorry for the rudeness but, are you male? Female? You see,
I can't tell the gender by looking at the bones" (Makoto)
"No, just Lich is fine. There is no need to add –san. You are the winner, so there is no
need to be thoughtful with me. And also, I am a man, didn't you notice?" (Lich)
"Heh~, I was interested in which one you were. Then Lich, it may be sudden but…"
(Makoto)
"You said your name was Makoto-dono right? I may not have the right to say anything
but, is it fine to say one?" (Lich)
"?… Go ahead" (Makoto)
He probably meant that he is aware he is a prisoner. I wonder what he will say now.
"I don't mind if you limit yourself to things you can say. Can you let me ask you one
thing in exchange of answering your questions?" (Lich)
If it's only the things I can say, then there is no need for me to refuse.
"Fine" (Makoto)
"I thank you" (Lich)
"Then, the first one. Why were you in the forest ogres' village?" (Makoto)
"For the sake of my research. I, who wanted to transform from a person to Graunt,
went to where I saw a chance, the forest ogres' village, and dug up their long lost
power. For the sake of that, I hid in the body of one of them" (Lich)
The forest ogres' power to transform people. Then, he was the one that awakened that
power from the perverted Shishou?
Tomoe narrowed her eyes and made a light "Hoh~" from admiration.
"What do you mean by Graunt?" (Makoto)
"It should be my turn to question, but okay. I was only permitted to question after all.
Graunt refers to a higher race of the hyumans. It is written as an existence that
surpasses hyumans in everything. I am looking for the path to become one" (Lich)
I see. I don't really understand that well, but it seems that there is another existence
in this world close to hyumans, I suppose? But the relation is totally that of ruling, if
that isn't the case, it would turn into a pretty severe war state.
In this world I have heard of demons fighting with the hyumans, but I haven't heard of
any fights with hyumans and Graunts.
"I want to ask your reasons for wanting to become a Graunt, but let's hear what you
have to say first" (Makoto)
Maybe I was affected by his behavior, I use natural and polite words to continue the
conversation with him.
"Then, let me ask two things as well. Wasn't your name Raidou? And also, you say you
are a human being, but human beings are an ancient race from the hyumans. Why can
you say so confidently that you are one?" (Lich)
Ah~, human being is a figure of speech. Strictly speaking, I am kind of a hyuman as
well. But my body specs are enough for the Goddess to call me a human being after all.
Wait, the Goddess should know about my parents and yet, why does she call me a
human?
I notice the flickering of Lich's eyes that were as if probing me, and I return my mind
that had been drowned in thoughts back to reality.
"Raidou is the name I used when I registered in the Adventurer Guild, and it is my
alias, something close to a lend name. Well, you can just take it as a fake name. The
name Makoto Misumi that I said a while ago is my real name. About that human word…
I can only tell you that that's how the Goddess calls me. Even I don't understand my
own details" (Makoto)
"The Goddess called you that?! Is that even possible?" (Lich)
"I can only tell you that it is indeed true. Leaving aside if it would truly serve as
evidence or not, I can't speak the language called, common language. It seems that it
is because I haven't received the blessing. But in exchange, I received the ability to
speak with inhuman beings. That's the reason why I am able to talk with you without
any problems" (Makoto)
"Now that you mention it, we were talking so naturally that I didn't notice at all.
Leaving aside if it works as evidence, I certainly received my answer. If you have any
other questions, please continue" (Lich)
Hm, it seems that for now he intends to answer my question in good will. Maybe it's
only because the other side wants to ask more questions though.
Let's ask about the reason for wanting to become a graunt.
No, before that, there is also that matter.
"Before entering battle with me, you murdered one of the forest ogres right? If I
remember correctly, that man that called himself the son of one of the elders. I
remember Lich saying something about "that woman" to him that was on the ground.
Can I ask what the meaning of that was?" (Makoto)
That's right, the only victim in that battle. That was the guy who Mio and I said had a
bad complexion.
It was also a person that the AkuaEris combi were worried about. What was his name?
Wanda? No, it was Adonou.
"That guy huh. To think that you remembered a single word that I said, it seems I was
underestimating Makoto-dono completely. I don't feel bad about using him as if
pulling the hand of a baby. That guy was a spy you know?" (Lich)
"Spy?" (Makoto)
I unconsciously repeat the word.
For a spy to infiltrate the forest ogres' village, just who and for what reason?
"That's right, a spy, no wait, a maneuvering member might be more proper. That fellow
was doing diplomacy in midst of the forest ogres, doing exchanges with other races.
But at one point, he got the sympathy of one power and began moving in a way that
the forest ogres would benefit them" (Lich)
If he was in a post where he could constantly negotiate with the races from outside, it
is certainly easy to increase the number of times they meet. Were they guys that
discovered the existence of the forest ogres and had an eye on their combat power?
The aspect of Adonou-kun may have served as a sign for them. It created doubts in AB.
"…When you said, "that woman", were you referring to the power that was behind
him?" (Makoto)
"That's right. This may be a bundle of answers you were looking for. That woman
refers to a demon race general. There is no need for me to say who is the power behind
it, it's the demon army" (Lich)
Wow. The demon race that is supposed to have their main base in the northern part
of the continent, has even extended their hands to the border of the world. Isn't this
information pretty dangerous?
Ah, but the ones that were in Shen's gate were also of the demon race. Those were
probably not people that were traveling to train as warriors, but were most likely
people related to the demon army.
"…She is a woman I can't come to like. It seems that she send 5 soldiers at the depths
of the wasteland and all communication with them was lost. They seem to be hurriedly
gathering war potential. Because war seems to be coming soon after all" (Lich)
5? Maybe, can it be? Are they the ones?
"Is it okay? For you to be answering so much" (Makoto)
"I am not a member of the demon race, so I don't mind. This is just a petty grudge I
have. Didn't I tell you? That that woman had a personality I didn't like" (Lich)
"Thank you very much. Then, go ahead, your turn" (Makoto)
"Well, I have two questions I want to ask at the same time, so please go first" (Lich)
He is an unexpectedly faithful person. Maybe he was a scholar in his past life.
"Hm, even if you say that, what I would want to ask you about would be regarding the
reason you want to become a Graunt. And after that, I also have a favor to ask of you"
(Makoto)
Though I feel like he doesn't want to answer.
"Hngh, that is… a question I can't answer. I am sorry. Then, about that favor?" (Lich)
See? Well, this was only my personal interest after all. At any rate, to say "I can't
answer" in a situation where it wouldn't be strange to be killed at any time.
"I take that you are a person with deep knowledge in magic. I will pay the price, so I
want you to yield some of those magic books to me" (Makoto)
That's how it is.
I am already feeling the limits of learning from Ema-san's aria and spell list. If possible,
I want to put my hands on other knowledge.
Also, the language that Lich used was a language I hadn't heard before. He most likely
has a lot of books. I don't mind if they are basic stuff, I want some of them.
"…Are you making fun of me?" (Lich)
"Eh?" (Makoto)
"Makoto-dono was able to form such an abnormally efficient magic. It was an aria that
surpassed mine by leaps and bounds in efficiency and in length of words. When you
can even use such a thing, what is it that you want to know about my spells and
knowledge?" (Lich)
Oh, he got in a pretty bad mood. The red light of his eyes were fluctuating less, how to
say it, it felt like they were sitting.
Nonono. I didn't have that intent at all okay? I only wanted new book you know?
Tomoe seemed to not be able to hold it in and made a "bufu" sound. What are you
laughing for?!
Mio also seems to find it funny, her shoulders were trembling.
"N-No. I honestly just want to learn. My magic book is only a paper long after all"
(Makoto)
"…Wa?" (Lich)
"Like I said. My magic book is only one paper! I just want some new ones!" (Makoto)
"…Then, what are you trying to tell me? Was that spell's aria also written in the paper?
Are you telling me that you obtained a piece of a forbidden spell book?" (Lich)
"No, it is something that I asked to be written for learning sake, it isn't that big of a
deal. If it's fine with you, I can give you one of the same. That's right, how about
exchanging books?" (Makoto)
I just have to ask Ema-san to write one more. Isn't that super profitable?
"I don't mind, if you are fine with it, I will accept that negotiation. Though I think I
would clearly be the one benefiting from it" (Lich)
Oh, it's a done deal now.
"Then, now comes the questions I wanted to ask. The first one, you already answered
half of it, but I want to ask again. What was that spell that you used to defeat me? Just
what in the world did you do for my magic power to be eaten?" (Lich)
Ah, he must be talking about the thing that intelligent people wouldn't understand
huh.
"That spell is made purely out of darkness attribute magic. The original target was the
spell's wisp, then Lich, I just designated you" (Makoto)
"…I don't understand what you are trying to say" (Lich)
"Didn't you say the specialty of darkness magic a second ago?" (Makoto)
"Absorbtion… no. What I said? Eating magic, do you refer to that?" (Lich)
"Yeah, that's right. That's the answer" (Makoto)
"But isn'tit meaningless to use magic power on a spellthat has already been activated?
If you try to scatter a magic like that it would end up in excess use of magic power.
Moreover, a magic power that is clad on a user, to use only darkness to erase it would
make the effectiveness even lower" (Lich)
"You are right" (Makoto)
"At the very least, I estimate it would be from 10 times to 15 times more. It would only
be a waste to do that" (Lich)
"Yeah, it was a waste" (Makoto)
"…Is Makoto-dono an idiot?" (Lich)
"What a wicked tongue (lol) you have. However, the reality is that you lost" (Makoto)
"Doing whatever you wanted, wasting magic power as if pouring water and were even
able to eat the magic power that I had already composed" (Lich)
"Yep, that's right" (Makoto)
A strange silence breaks out. This is the first strange atmosphere since this talk began.
But this is all true though.
"Fu… fu fufufu. Hahaahahahahahahaaha!!" (Lich)
He began laughing for some reason? His bones were going *karakara but I couldn't
retort because his laughing sounded as if he had broken.
What? Was his reasoning blown away? I think that just by being made out of pure
bones makes him have a lack of it though.
Ah, he stopped.
"Don't mess with meeee! Brat, are you stating that you are the incarnation of a spirit
or something like that?!" (Lich)
"Shut up cranium. You dare call Waka brat?" (Tomoe)
"To put Waka-sama on the same level as a petty spirit, should I disseminate your whole
body and use it as bait?" (Mio)
When I thought that Lich had stood up at the same time as he let out an angry voice,
the next second, his movements had frozen over.
Leaving aside if that was actually a vital spot, Tomoe's unsheathed sword was pointing
at the neck of Lich.
Mio was already at his back and from his cervical vertebrae to his spine, she was
holding her closed folding fan and creeping it.
How fast, isn't their teamwork perfect? Since when did they train?
Their eyes were pretty scary, but they were not snapped yet. For now they were
pulling their attacks.
…Maybe they are also repressing a lot of pent up things? Uh, chills are running down
my back.
In any case, we can't just leave the situation like this.
I urge both of them to separate.
"Well, I apologize for the rudeness of my followers" (Makoto)
After apologizing, I wanted to invite Lich to take sit once more, but before I could do
that, his back fell down with a *su ton. Instead of calling it sitting, it was more like he
fell down and the chair was coincidentally there.
"You!" (Mio)
It seems that Mio was angered once more by that action and was going to move. But,
as expected, it wouldn't be brushed out as a joke so I restraint her. I am truly happy
that you think so much of me but…
If possible, I want you to point that anger at enemies or evil intent and not at this
impoliteness. I would be happy if you could take a lot of things in a composed manner.
"Waka, may I?" (Tomoe)
"Tomoe huh. I want you to stay obedient for a bit though?" (Makoto)
"No, it has to do with the magic book matter" (Tomoe)
That huh. Isn't the talk already over? I will have Ema-san write a copy and give it to
him. And in exchange, I will have him lent me a number of magic books. What's the
problem in that?
"What is it?" (Makoto)
While holding a bit of my irritation, I ask for her to continue. Right now I want to calm
down Lich though.
"I think that instead of asking just for a few of them, you could take them all. For
someone like him" (Tome)
"? Hah?!" (Lich)
Don't go saying things that could cause a reverse effect! Can't you see that Lich is
surprised?!
"What, I think that he would happily hand them over" (Tomoe)
"You, can't you just keep silent-" (Makoto)
"No, Waka. I think that what he wants to know, I probably know it. I am sorry for the
late words but if you can give this Tomoe full power, I will show you that I can grant
Waka's wish and more than that" (Tomoe)
"…Really, are you seriously saying it?" (Makoto)
This one has a lot of previous offences after all. And her anger a second ago also
reminded me a bit of Mio.
At the time of the forest ogres you were pretty cold and yet… I seriously don't know
the point in which Tomoe gets angry.
At the time when she unsheated her sword as well.
When it is not related to history dramas she really becomes quick tempered. Even
though they did a lot of worse things compared to Lich's impoliteness…
Don't tell me that they will be doing it like the Marine Corps where they use a sweet
poison to train right? Well, there is no way that would happen.
Generally speaking, even if someone is sweltering, I am somehow able to endure it,
but if there is an evolution even worse than that pervert, I would die. AB are on the
plain side. Especially the crazy one.
Is there a reason why she wants to recruit them so much? I thought that she only
wanted to have ninjas, but could it be that she still has something in mind? After all,
the person may be my follower, but she is still a dragon. The time she has spent alive
is on a completely different level.
It is still too early for me to understand all of her thought patterns and have her obey
me. Regarding her hobby, I amusingly understand her though.
"Of course. I am Waka's follower. I wouldn't step into betraying Koumon-sama, and
even in a million years I wouldn't kill master. I am a person that would follow her
Shogun to the bitter end. So please" (Tomoe)
Tomoe lowers her head.
…If you go that far.
I nodded and entrust her the continuation. Tomoe may talk about something that I
don't know about. With that expectation in mind…
Now, how does Tomoe pretend to negotiate with Lich?
"Thank you. That skull over there, no, maybe I should call you Lich. You want to know
about the graunts right? In short… wouldn't that mean you know of other worlds?"
(Tomoe)
?!
What?
What did Tomoe say just now?!
"?!!!" (Lich)
Lich clearly shows he is disturbed by the mention of the word other worlds. But that
was the same for me.
"Hohoh~. Bull's-eye huh. You aren't actually the first one talking about graunts after
all. There are two types that have arrived at the existence called graunt. The first ones
are the heroes that sought for power. For them, they pile up achievements and get
recognized by the Goddess and spirits, and get reborn as their dependents" (Tomoe)
So when you become a dependent of the Goddess or a high spirit, you become a race
called graunt huh. I didn't even know about the word graunt before so I would
certainly not be able to answer him.
But then, what does other world…
After Tomoe stared at Lich's disturbed face until satistifed, she once again connects
the words she stopped midway.
"And the other is, the people that know that this world isn't the only one out there.
Questers, is probably what I should call them. From the small seams in this world as
well as the records of numerous visitors that have come in the past, people that were
originally not supposed to know about the existence of those worlds, some of them
ended up travelling to them" (Tomoe)
"!!"
Lich was staring at Tomoe as if wanting to eat her. To the point that it would make you
wonder if he could kill people with his gaze. Incredibly intense eyes that could not
compare to just a few moments ago.
"You most likely thought like this. Graunts, being a high race of hyumans, were power
bearers that could actually travel through worlds" (Tomoe)
"T-That's right! If it's a graunt, I can certainly travel the worlds. I can surely move to
the world I "want"! Am I right?!" (Lich)
Lich's words were like a broken dam, with one breath he said it all and poured it onto
Tomoe. Even so, Tomoe's profound look wasn't affected at all.
I understood that there was no opening for me to enter in between these two's
conversation.
However, I heard words I couldn't let go.
Traveling through worlds. Moving through the world you want.
That… could it mean that I would be able to return to the world I had given up once,
the world where my family and friends are in?
"Wrong" (Tomoe)
Tomoe, what do you know? I am of the same sentiment as him, I want to know.
"W-What did you say?" (Lich)
"You must have researched a lot of books, legends, and documents. I don't know how
long you have lived and how much you must have pumped yourself into in order to do
that, it is hard for me to even imagine it. And then, you decided on your ideal graunt"
(Tomoe)
"??"
"Just like I said a few moments ago-ja. Graunts are the dependents of the Goddess and
the ones that follow her, reincarnated ones and also the ones who traveled through
the worlds… no, people that traveled through the cracks of the worlds" (Tomoe)
"???"
"Don't you understand? In short, graunts are existences that were made anew, a word
that points out a superior "one". It's not a race, nor do they have the power to travel
through worlds-ja yo" (Tomoe)
"Aaah?!" (Lich)
"While in their hyuman body,they found seams ofthe world in the past and researched
on their own, and a number of them threw themselves into it. The ones that halfbakedly jumped into the world seam, some of them saw the other world's seam as if
looking through a kaleidoscope and returned to this world. When they did so, their
existences had changed into what is called graunts. I don't know what they saw, but
they just left a number of books without telling any accurate details and died
prematurely" (Tomoe)
"Then, what about the ones that didn't return?" (Lich)
Lich's words were as if he wringed them out. I don't know if he actually wants to know,
or maybe he doesn't want to know.
"If they were able to go to the other world, then they are living as graunts. In the case
that that person died before it happened, his hyuman flesh would separate and scatter
away. If they were able to change to the other world, it may be possible that the
Goddess would know through that world's God, but the things that happen after the
person was thrown into the seam, aside from Gods, there is no one who would be able
to know. There are exceptions, but that is probably something that is not related to
you" (Tomoe)
"…No way" (Lich)
"People are living beings that look at what they want to look at-ja. They see the
fragmented information and connect them in a way they desire. That is something no
one would be able to blame. Including your conjecture about the graunts-" (Tomoe)
"Ex… ceptions. That's right, what about the exceptions?! What kind of situation does
it take?" (Lich)
"..." (Tomoe)
Even though Tomoe's words were stopped midway, she didn't get angry. She must have
felt sympathy as it was just as she predicted would happen.
"I ask of you, please" (Lich)
"There is only one exception I know of, the permission of the Goddess-ja. If for
example, the Goddess opens that gate, instead of becoming a graunt, there is a higher
chance for the hyuman to transfer as a hyuman. Of course, even if I say there is a higher
chance, the success rate is lower than 1 percent-ja na" (Tomoe)
Saying there is a higher chance and it is less than one percent? Isn't that practically
suicide?
Hearing up to this point, I understood that even if Lich eternally wanted to become a
graunt, it didn't mean he threw away being a hyuman.
"Then, that means this one… just what was I trying to…" (Lich)
His eyes looked at the table as if eating into it. I could feel stupefaction in his eyes that
were already lacking in will.
"I don't know what is it you were trying to aim for. Because if you don't want to tell me
I won't ask you" (Tomoe)
"…"
"But you know, you are a lucky one just as Mio over there-ja" (Tomoe)
Mio, without knowing the reason of why her name was called so suddenly, stared in
surprise at Tomoe.
Tomoe, what are you saying? Even though you are the one that ended his pursuit in
such a despairing manner.
"Mio also, isn't that different from you. An existence that should originally remain
unsaved. But in front of you, who is there?" (Tomoe)
"…Makoto-dono right?" (Lich)
"That's right-ja, my master Makoto-sama-ja. What do you think I am? Hyuman?"
(Tomoe)
"…Like hell that is possible. There is no way a hyuman that possesses so much
knowledge can exist" (Lich)
Disinterested. Lich's words were as if they would disappear at any moment.
"Then, what do you think I am?" (Tomoe)
"By process of elimination you should be… a Goddess? Maybe a high spirit? Or maybe
a superior dragon? Hahaha, just how in the world did you guys turn hyuman shaped
and ended up coming to this kind of place" (Lich)
This fellow is impressive. Looking at Tomoe, and thinking about the contents of what
she said, one of the answers he gave from the narrowed possibilities was actually
correct.
As an ex-student, I look up to these kind of things.
"Here, if you are a Lich you should be able to do it, try to guess it from my magic power.
That kind of analysis is your favorite area right?" (Tomoe)
I could feel a presence close to a fighting stance from Tomoe's body and she was filled
with magic power.
Lich quizzically looked at that state, but in the midst of it, his eyes opened wide. Is it
really possible to tell apart one's race by looking at their magic power?
"Dragon. And it is one that is quite powerful. Don't tell me…" (Lich)
"What an impressive fellow. I am Shen, right now I am named Tomoe though"(Tomoe)
"S-Shen? The mist dragon, that "invincible" dragon?!" (Lich)
Hey hey. He really got it right. And he even knows the name of Shen.
Is it that Lich's knowledge is impressive, or could it be the reputation of Shen's name
that is impressive?
Tomoe was making such a remote place as her dwelling, so I thought that she wasn't
that known. Lich was previously a hyuman so more the reason.
"So you do know. It's that Shen-ja" (Tomoe)
"No way. Why is a superior dragon in such a crowded and unclear place" (Lich)
"I just changed my beliefs-ja yo. I have found a person that was more worth to work
under than the Goddess you see. The things I talked to you about, I think that any
books should have it… well, there is no way they have it, this kind of talk. If it is known
that you can go out from this world, it would become a big chaos. The only people that
know about this are the ones that I told you a few moments ago, and also, disclosing
this is prohibited okay? You would definitely become a purging target after all"
(Tomoe)
"Then, why did you tell it to this one?" (Lich)
"It is simple. I was charmed by you-ja" (Tomoe)
Charmed, as in falling in love? No, there is no way. That's definitely not what she
meant. It is that huh, because he was able to awaken the power of the forest ogres or
something like that.
She certainly did have a look of admiration. Could it be that this is a plan to awaken
the long lost power of the orcs and the lizards?
"Charmed?" (Lich)
"That's right-ja. Hey, you pitiful Lich that has forgotten his name…" (Tomoe)
With a self-satisfied look on her face, Tomoe slowly said each word out as if detailing
each of them.
"Become the follower of Waka" (Tomoe)
And that's what she said.