"Takatsuki-sama"(Nina)
"Makoto"(Lucy)
When I returned to our table, Nina-san and Lucy spoke to me with faces of amazement and worry.
So these two with good ears heard it, huh.
"Takki-dono, I heard that you were rude to Princess Sofia…" (Fujiwara)
"I messed up, Fuji-yan." (Makoto)
"Takatsuki-kun, eat something sweet and calm down." (Aya)
Sa-san recommends me a cake
There's even this?
"That's unexpected. To think Takatsuki-sama would get so angry." (Nina)
"But you know, even though they brushed him aside when he pleaded so desperately 2 years ago, they forgot about it, and carefreely told him to become their ally. Of course he would get angry!" (Lucy)
Lucy is emotional, but she always takes my side.
I am grateful for that part of hers.
"Takki-dono, are you going to leave Makkaren, and move to Highland?" (Fujiwara)
Fuji-yan said sadly.
"I don't know yet… I don't have anywhere in mind after all." (Makoto)
"Then whenever you go, I will go there."(Aya)
I look at Sa-san.
"What are you making that weird face for? I am the one who has nowhere else in mind aside from being at your side, Takatsuki-kun." (Aya)
With a face of Isn't that obvious?', she gulps down her wine.
Donuts and wine don't go together.
It's unhealthy, well... I think she will be okay.
"Hmm, Highland, huh…" (Lucy)
"We won't going there."(Makoto)
"Hm? Why is that takki-dono?"(Fujiwara)
"Well simple that's the most dangerous place for Lucy, sa-san and me."(Makoto)
"They said that demi-human there and elf is treat badly"(Makoto)
"That's right!!! Takatsuki-sama, Highland is a human supremacist culture. It is a country that's difficult to live in for an elf like Lucy-sama, and beastkin like me." (Nina)
"I will not choose that option because it will be bad if sa-san being find out."(Makoto)
"That's right takki-dono, If a lamia like Sasaki-dono were to be exposed, it would be out in an instant. You would definitely be pursued." (Fujiwara)
"I see… Now that you mention it, if Highland were to discover my religion, it would be bad…" (Makoto)
"""It is bad in any country."""
"...."
Why the three of you sync in...
Beside Sa-san, she is eating happily after all.
"All thought it's sadden that I will never meet Lucas-san,Mary-san,Boss, Emily-san,jean and the people of makkaren."(Makoto)
"It is still something I need to do... If I will be chased away in water country."(Makoto)
While I was pondering what should I do...
I heard my shinigami...
No,no,no I heard the voice of sakurai-kun.
"Hey there, that just now was quite the disaster, wasn't it?" (Sakurai)
"Right... it's all thanks to that knight and the princess"(Makoto)
"You can join in the sun knights order if you want you know? I will helped you"(Sakurai)
I feel like if I'm near to you all the death flag will follow me...
So I'm not...
"Don't wanna."(Makoto)
"Well, leaving that aside, need something, Sakurai-kun?" (Makoto)
"Right. Actually, Great Sage-sama said she wanted to meet you, Takatsuki-kun…or more like, the Spirit User." (Sakurai)
Everytime I follow him, I end up in disaster.
"W-Wow! The Great Sage-sama that rarely shows herself in front of others! Nice, Makoto." (Lucy)
Lucy is getting happy as if it were her.
"Hmm.... Can I skip it?" (Makoto)
It's really sounds like a death flag.
"Takki-dono…the Great Sage-sama is the 3rd most influential person in the Sun Country. It would be best if you were to accept it…" (Fujiwara)
Hearing that it's sounds like a final boss...
"Makoto! Don't be selfish." (Lucy)
"Alright, alright, I will go BTW. Do I have to go alone?" (Makoto)
"No, she said it is okay to come with your comrades too." (Sakurai)
"Okay, Lucy and Sa-san, let's go together." (Makoto)
Lucy jump in joy and Sa-san is unwilling to go there and said it's a pain.
We get up from the table and prepare to leave.
We were led by Sakurai-kun to the camp of the Sun Knight Order.
"What kind of person is the White Great Sage, Lucy?" (Makoto)
"She is the greatest mage of this continent. You already know that, right?" (Lucy)
"I don't know in detail just what kind of person she is." (Makoto)
In the classes of the temple, we were simply taught that she is a mage with influence in the Sun Country.
"The first Great Sage-sama is a hero that fought together with the Saviour Abel against the Great Demon Lord 1,000 years ago. The person we are meeting is the 15th generation." (Sakurai)
Sakurai-kun explained.
"Hmm, but even if the 1st was great, that doesn't have anything to do with their descendants." (Aya)
Sa-san says something sharp.
Please don't say that in front of the person herself, okay?
I thought the same though.
"That's not it, Aya. The Great Sage-sama has the [Inherit] Skill." (Lucy)
"The power of the 1st has been handed over in each generation. That's the reason why she is called the continent's strongest." (Sakurai)
"Huuh, I see." (Aya)
So she is inheriting the power of the legendary mage as it is?
That sounds cheat.
While we were talking, we arrived at a giant tent.
A ringing sound echoes inside my head.
(Ma…ko…to. Makoto! Stop…don't enter…that place! …Damn it!…) (Noah)
Noah-sama? What's the matter?
(Meeting her…is…) (Noah)
What's going on?
This is the first time the communication has been this choppy.
Now, I feel really uneasy here...
Should I not go?
But that will be more problem.
"Great Sage-sama, it is the captain of the 7th division, Sakurai. I have brought the Spirit User, Takatsuki-kun." (Sakurai)
Sakurai-kun's call is directed to the inside of the tent.
When Sakurai-kun comeback he said the Three of us is allowed to go.
That's why my uneasiness increase.
◇◇
"Excuse the intrusion…" (Makoto)
The inside of the tent is dark, and there's magic lanterns floating in the air.
It was overflowing with things making a pseudo-passage that led deeper inside.
At the end of that passage, there's a small mage in white robe sitting on a giant sofa.
Should we go there?
"Come closer. It is hard to speak from there."
Despite her title, it was the voice of a young girl.
I got a few meters closer to her just as she asked, and I could now see the pure white hair that was hidden within her white hood.
It certainly is the White Great Sage.
"I am the apprentice magician, Takatsuki Makoto. The ones here are my comrades: Lucy Walker, and Sasaki Aya." (Makoto)
"Nice to meet you." (Lucy)
"Hello." (Aya)
"Fumu."
The Great Sage-sama walks over to us and looks at all of us.
Her red eyes that felt like they pierced through me were testament to her insight.
She has a pretty little girl face, but there's a ghastliness to it that makes my back shiver.
How old is she? I don't think she is as old as her appearance states.
"You, you are the half of an elf and demon, huh", she says while looking at Lucy.
I was shocked.
I look at Lucy.
She stiffened in place.
"You there are a Lamia, huh. Moreover, on a level that can be designated as a Calamity. Interesting."
The Great Sage grins.
This is bad!
This person has the Appraisal Skill!
I looked at Sa-san, and it seems like she didn't understand the situation and was dumbfounded.
Kuh, this is bad.
Demons and monsters are hunt targets!
I should have listened to the warning of the Goddess!
"Don't get so on edge. You helped the Light Hero boy, right? Spirit Users in this day and age are rare. I wanted to meet you. Moreover, your comrades are quite the bundle of unique traits."
The Great Sage still had that grin.
…Does that mean she doesn't mind that they are a demon and monster?
"Looks like I scared you. Sit here. I will at least pour some tea."
No... Even if you said that anyone will be wary if you just casually told they're secret...
There were old-looking chairs around a round table that also looked pretty old.
"You sit here."
I was told to sit by her side.
While she's using her floating magic pouring us a tea
Pantries that suddenly appears using teleport.
She's really a great sage.
"And so, what business did you have with us?" (Aya)
Sa-san was already munching on the pastries.
Hey, show some restraint!
"I told you already, didn't I? I was simply interested. I heard about this Spirit User that managed to drag out the Taboo Dragons with Monarch Magic. From my calculations, I predicted the Light Hero Boy would take 1 month to finish this task."
"I heard that if you helped, it would have ended in an instant." (Makoto)
I remember the words Yokoyama-san said.
"That won't serve as training. The Great Demon Lord will be reviving. Having the Light Hero getting troubled with 2 mere Taboo Dragons would be problematic."
I see.
So she purposely didn't help.
"By the way…the red haired mage over there."
"Y-Yes?!" (Lucy)
Lucy seems to be nervous, she is not speaking much.
"You, have you noticed that your body is being burned by your own mana?"
"Eh?" (Lucy)
Lucy had an expression of surprise, and me too.
"Did you think that was your constitution? That body heat of yours is the result of your mana running out of control, you know?"
"W-What should I do…?" (Lucy)
"I will give you this. Put it on."
The Great Sage gave Lucy a bracelet that was lying around.
"An item that calms down the flow of mana. It is an item that's worth the price of a house. Treat it with care."
"Is that okay?" (Makoto)
I ask in confusion.
Isn't this person a bit too kind?
She won't be demanding a crazy amount of money later, right?
"We are currently searching for strong talents after all. We can't let capable mages sleep. Oi, the lamia there who only eats."
So it's like an investment huh...
This time she looks at Sa-san.
"Yeph?" (Aya)
Sa-san... At least swallow before replying.
"The [Change] Skill that you have is powerful. You don't have to turn into that half-assed human form with bluish skin, you can transform into a perfect human. Not only that, it is a skill that lets you transform into anything. Even a Dragon or Demon."
"Hm? It was taught to me by my sisters as Human Transformation Magic though." (Aya)
"That's a skill that Lamias have. Your skill is above that."
"Hoh, is that so… Thank you very much." (Aya)
That's incredible.
This person gives useful items and advice.
Isn't she a support character?
"So, the problem is you, Spirit User-kun."
"…I am a normal human." (Makoto)
I know that smile...
"Hooh."
The eyes of the Great Sage curved into a smile, and a hand was placed on my head.
Her fingers are cold like Sa-san's.
"Let's look at your Status. It is easier to do Appraisal when my hand is in contact… You have quite the one-sided Stats. Even though they are extremely low, your Water Proficiency is abnormally high."
It is kinda ticklish.
"Muuh…this ain't good."
She suddenly grabbed my head.
"You…are the believer of an Evil God?"
Time froze.
◇◇
""...""
Lucy and I were silent.
Only the sound of Sa-san munching on pastry could be heard.
"No, you are mistaken." (Makoto)
For now, I try to fool her with a smile.
An Evil God believer is guilty no questions asked.
It is the common knowledge of Fuji-yan, Nina-san, and Lucy.
"The believer of the Evil God Noah, huh… You are the second I have met."
The Great Sage is making a complicated expression.
Her small hand is still holding my head.
"No…as I said, isn't there some sort of mistake here…?" (Makoto)
"If I remember correctly, 1,000 years ago…it was one of the 9 Demon Generals serving under the Great Demon Lord, the Forbidden Black Knight."
"Eh? The legendary Hero Killer?" (Lucy)
Lucy says.
What's that?
"Lucy, who is the Forbidden Black Knight?" (Makoto)
"The sworn enemy of humanity that appears in the story of the Saviour-sama. It is said that he is the right hand of the Great Demon Lord, and a legendary warrior that slaughtered everyone except the Light Hero. In the end, he was defeated by the Saviour Abel… That is the Apostle of the Evil God Noah…?" (Lucy)
Lucy who was saying this began to feel anxious.
Eh, what are you doing, Noah-sama?
I didn't hear anything about this.
"But…the Apostle of the Evil God was a lot crazier than you. At the very least, he couldn't hold a proper conversation."
How was he, my Apostle senpai.
"You speak as if you saw him personally." (Makoto)
"Yeah…I have the memories of 1,000 years ago after all."
Is it the so-called Inherit Skill?
"Will you continue being the Apostle of the Evil God?"
The Great Sage-sama asks.
How should I answer this?
"No, as I said…I am not the believer of an Evil God…" (Makoto)
It is getting painful already, but I continue making the same excuse.
"Fumu…well, let's leave it at that."
She let go of my head.
And then, she rustled my hair.
"When you guys come to Highland, come to my place. I will train you people."
Eh? Done?
"U-Uhm…is it okay?" (Makoto)
We are talking about a demon, a monster, and the Apostle of an Evil God.
It is triple the trouble and I feel like it is a red flag party though.
Is she gonna let us go?
"I said this before. I want to get as many talented people as possible for when the Great Demon Lord revives. If you guys turn into enemies, I will take responsibility and end you."
She smiles. Scary.
"We don't have any intentions of fighting the Great Demon Lord though." (Makoto)
"Eh, really, Takatsuki-kun?" (Aya)
Sa-san, why are you making a face as if it was unexpected?
I am not a hero, and I am not that strong.
"When the Great Demon Lord revives, the people will fall into a war with the demons. If we lose the war, everyone will become the livestock of the demons."
"…"
Meaning that we can't run away, huh.
"Spirit User-kun, I recommend you to stop being the Apostle of the Evil God by the next time we meet. Obeying that Evil God will only end in misery."
Even if you say that I will still continue being believer of Noah-sama.
Saying this, the Great Sage-sama lies sideways on the sofa.
In the end, she was a good person who gave us items and advice.
If only the last part of the conversation wasn't there, it would have been the best though…