Dream Life

March 3.

We arrived in Rickadale just before sundown. More forcible than going, they were all so tired that they could breathe on their shoulders and even open their mouths to a hundred million robbers.

Gladys, a second-degree adventurer who saw how it was, sounded worried.

"What's going on? I've never seen you guys exhausted before..."

I couldn't answer that question right away. I was so tired. After about ten seconds, I squeeze my energy and answer.

"... I had a terrible enemy. Around where I went to investigate in September..."

"I'll kill Fei Long (Wyburn) instantly. Are you so afraid of the enemy? I don't know what to say about Evil Dragon."

Evil Dragon is the most dangerous monster of all.

Tough flesh and sharp nails. Robust dragon scales that even play magic. Braces that even melt steel armor. It is said to be a being that embodies death, flying with huge wings and impossible even to escape if found.

"I think it's more dangerous. Honestly, so much so that I think it's best to get out of here...... you just won't get away with it. He will destroy the world..."

It was the conclusion I had come to after thinking about it for the past two days.

I'd rather not say too pessimistic words to get Gladys, who is supposed to be a second-degree adventurer, but instinctively fear has pounded my mouth.

"So much so... So, who are you, the enemy?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I'm looking at a horribly powerful winged demon-like man. I was able to follow the Great Demon, so I'm pretty sure I have the power of a Demon General (Arch Demon). But he felt so powerful..."

Gladys, from my words and expression, hesitated to hear any more and went to rest.

"Get some rest today. It makes me pessimistic to think I'm tired."

"No, I'm going to go to the guild now. We need to get this information across quickly..."

My words were blocked by Liddy.

"Let's take the day off. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to the guild first, and it won't change."

The Beatrices seemed to have the same opinion, nodding at Liddy's suggestion.

"Okay. I'll be first thing tomorrow morning."

I dived into bed that night without even drinking.

Because the more I drank, the more I wanted to drink.

(There's no way I can beat that guy... how can I...)

Such thoughts turn glum.

Still, I could sleep after midnight from fatigue, but I wake up before dawn. There is no fatigue left in the young flesh, but the spirit is not weary and the back of the head is heavy.

I don't even train in the morning, which is my usual routine, and head to the dining room at the time of dawn at night. The same was true of the Liddies, no one was training and more and more of the air was wrapped around them.

After breakfast, head to the Adventurer Guild branch. It's still early, and the adventurers are neglected.

"I have something to report to the Branch Manager," he tells the receptionist.

He asks me back, "Is it the Branch Manager?" but I immediately acknowledge that our expression is hard.

"Okay. I just got into the branch manager's office, so I'll check it out."

As the staff headed back, they heard the adventurers they saw "what happened".

"I saw something a little shitty. I think the guild will announce the details."

Details were not given because my head turned from yesterday at dawn overnight. However, it is a small village and the story leaked to Gladys will soon spread.

He goes through the branch manager's office, sits on the couch, and the branch manager who sees our expression cuts out, "What happened?"

So I explained what I saw and felt in this survey.

When he finishes the explanation with enough, the branch manager thinks with a sinister face. After about thirty seconds of silence,

"… report to the General Headquarters. A powerful demon-like being in a first-degree equivalent demon. That alone sucks, but there's even a demon in the Lockhart family that you're frightened of. But there's no evidence they're headed this way. Crusaders, of course, won't be sending out scouts"

All I could say was, "Really?" to the answer as expected.

"What are you going to do? I don't think so, but we're not going on our own crusade."

"I'm worried, to be honest. Because I can't fathom it. At the very least, I don't think the demon-like can handle it..."

Until I got back here, I talked to Liddy and the others many times, but I stayed inconclusive.

"Is that demon-like man really a wing demon? I'm not so familiar with it either, but I've never heard of a demon clan like Kaum or Lax who followed a great demon (Greater Demon) and used first-degree equivalent demons. Instead, if there was such a guy, the western side of Aquila would be the land of the Demons"

That's what I'm wondering, too.

East of Aquila, the demons live in a land called the Eternal Darkness (Kwaedam Tenebre). And it has invaded the Kaum kingdoms of the south and the Lax kingdoms of the north for about a thousand years now, and during the great invasion eighteen years ago, it has been attacked to near the traffic stronghold of the Kaum kingdom, Barbezy.

At that time there was talk of the Winged Demons attacking a powerful fort called Fort Toa using demonic demons. However, it is said that the demons in the demonic system were mostly the weakest demons (imps), with only a few winged demons (Lesser Demons).

After the Battle of Fort Toa, a massive battle took place on a land called Acree Chain, but at that time there was no appearance of the Winged Demons or demonic demons.

For this reason, it is believed that the Demons are also difficult to use many demons and that there are various constraints.

"I can't even say anything about that. But he was a bat-winged man, as the literature says. If I remember correctly, bat wings should have been the hallmark of the Winged Demon Clan."

"That's true... but this information alone will not allow you to request a troop contribution under the Demonic Crusade Agreement. Too little evidence......"

A Demonic Crusade Agreement is an agreement that states that if the Demons invade across the Aquila Mountains, they can request troops from all countries. This agreement is a member not only of the Kingdom of Kaum and the Kingdom of Lax, but also of the Caerm Empire and the Holy King of Lukes. There was also a coalition of urban states, including Periclitle, to which troops were to be dispatched from each country if the city of Periclitle requested support under the agreement.

"I understand that. But if you don't hit something, it's definitely dangerous."

The branch manager nodded, but said nothing more.

Go back to the inn, lie down on your own bedroom and think, but no good ideas come to mind.

I heard knocking on the door as I contemplated hitting a gobble and a turnaround.

"It's Dan. I need to talk to you."

When Dan is invited, he also has a serious look on his face and seems to be worried about this one.

"What's the story?

He didn't answer my question right away, holding his fist tight while sitting in the chair, watching his hand.

When I tried to ask again, I started talking in a slow tone.

"... I don't think we can win alone. So I think we should contact your museum and call for reinforcements..."

Wordless to unexpected suggestions.

"... if it's just us now, we'll be wiped out without paying off a single arrow. But if my predecessors and Mr. Walt came, I don't think I'd lose at least in vain. We just have to do some damage to our enemies to buy time and form a full crusade..."

His proposal was not aimed at winning.

"In other words, if the Lockhart family challenges the fight, other countries will have to move. It just takes time for the country to move. So you're saying that we'll reduce our enemies' power a little and buy them time?

Answer me with a voice that disappears without looking at my question.

What Dan is saying is not wrong.

The Lockhart family has more influence than you think. Als' Blacksmith Guild should originally move, as should the Kingdom of Caum, Periclitle's Adventurer's Guild, and Doctus' Mage's Guild.

Especially if the Kaum kingdom is to have enough demons to do so much damage to the Lockhart family, it will undoubtedly maximize its power.

Then you might wonder if there's a way to ask the Kaum Kingdom and the Mage's Guild for help from the start. But the Royal Kaum Army or the Royal Lax Army cannot be called here.

The periphery of Periclitle belongs to the Union of Urban States, but the Union of Urban States only rents land from the Caerm Empire. It would be unacceptable as an imperial government to have troops from other countries stationed there. Although the only possible method is under the Demonic Crusade Agreement, it was also a discussion with the Branch Manager, but it is difficult to activate.

Another organization, the Mage Guild, but this one doesn't inspire the Empire even if it moves. But the guild magician is basically a research profession, and even in the Raspade teacher class he would lose without giving his original strength if he put a strong enemy like this one in front of him. Although in the case of the teacher most likely forgets the original purpose for another reason, that is, curiosity about the other person.

This means that no army, no Adventurer's Guild, no Mage's Guild can be used in another country.

More than that, I couldn't hide my surprise at Dan's suggestion to protect the world even at the expense of his home.

With that in mind, Dan started talking.

"At least Master Zach should stop moving alone. Because Master Zach could be the hope of all."

"Is that because I was told to protect Luna from the gods?

"There is that, too, but I feel that Master Zach's magic will be the deciding factor. The magic of thinking differently from this world..."

Dan had grown more than he thought since he left us.

"Okay. I promise I won't be impotent. But wait till you ask your father for help. I'm pretty sure it's dangerous here, but that doesn't mean the village's safe."

My concern is that there have been fewer demons around here.

When Vlad Varonos, king of the undead, appeared, the relatively weak demons abandoned their dwellings and descended from the mountains.

This time it's more of an enemy than that.

A stronger second- or third-degree demon could have felt his life in danger and moved. Isn't the dramatic decline in the number of demons around Riccadale telling the story?

If you want to move from this area, it will be the Kingdom of Lax in the northwest or around Periclitle in the southwest. Further south from Periclitle is the village of Tisek, where Luna was born.

Seven years ago, the oak that struck the village of Thysek went north through just outside the village of Rasmore. It's not unlikely that demons from around Riccadale will pass the route the Oaks followed around the village of Rasmore.

I feel a strong resistance to calling the Lockhart family elite in such circumstances.

"I understand what you're saying, but if you head south from here, you'll go around Periclitle. In that case, the Adventurer Guild's total headquarters should notice an anomaly. Whatever it is, there are 3,000 adventurers in that city."

I don't even know what Dan's talking about. But I'm skeptical that the Adventurer Alliance will work.

Certainly there are many adventurers in the woods east of Periclitle. However, the forest is vast and dozens of kilometers to the mountains of Aquila. Unless it's like a demon heading straight for Periclitle, it's not very likely the adventurers will discover it.

In exchange, east of the village enters the mountains in a few kilometers. This means that demons are likely to pass through places close to the village.

"Okay. You will see it later, Zach, but including that, I will send a report to your Hall. That's good, right?"

"That's fine. I also think I should tell my father about this situation."

Afterwards, Liddy and I discussed it in a painting of the dining room.

I had no objection to sending my father a report, but I can hardly decide what I should do next.

Sharon pulled up from Rickadale and insisted he should head to Periclitle.

"This village is too weak in defense. If this purpose is to protect Mr. Luna, we should head to Periclitle. On top of that, I think we should take Mr. Luna to the village of Rasmore."

Surely this method would be the safest one. But there are two problems.

"That's the biggest problem in terms of listening to Luna honestly. Besides, I doubt we'll be able to protect them in the village."

"Regardless of Mr. Luna, at least I think the village has stronger protection than here. The first giant (Cyclops) can stop the dragon (Land Dragon) anyway. Besides, the Village Vigilante is as strong as the adventurers here, and they fight for their lives to protect the village. But if the adventurers here think it's dangerous, they'll run away with us."

Liddy and Beatrice are also nodding at Sharon's claim.

"What you're saying is right. But that monster is the target. Even the vigilantes won't be able to move properly. I don't want the village to do that monster before then."

As Sharon tried to argue, Mel had rarely interrupted.

"I share Master Zach's opinion. Only my predecessors can move that normally against them. I'm not sure."

"But just the ground dragon and the cyclops are out of hand. The village can handle at least the other demons."

"But those women and children who are untrained just because they feel that power could lose their lives. I don't want to do that..."

Sharon won't be able to argue with Mel's words either.

There is also the idea of letting the enemy escape when they arrive, but there is no time to escape because there is a Great Demon (Greater Demon) who is also a flying demon in communication using a wolf smoke table. It's hard to keep evacuating around Kilnarek in advance for fear of demons who don't know when they're coming.

"As far as I'm concerned, I want to launch a pre-emptive strike."

Everyone solidifies into my words.

"I can't! I can't believe I'm challenging such a monstrous opponent..."

Liddy stands up and disagrees.

"I'm in favor of a pre-emptive strike, too," Dan says in support of me.

"How could you! You felt that horrible demon, too!" I like Liddy, staring at Dan.

"I certainly couldn't stop trembling either. No, I still shudder when I remember"

"Then why?

"They don't know about us."

"So what? It doesn't matter if you're aware of it or not, it's not going to be dangerous!

So I'll explain to Dan on his behalf.

"That is. The opponent is terribly strong, but has low enemy abilities. If you poke it right in there, you can set up an ambush. I think we have a better chance than to intercept from the front with the magic of me and Liddy and Sharon."

"Do you have magic that works against them when you say you're going to ambush them?"

Until then, Beatrice, who remained silent, utters her doubts.

"I don't know that point about not looking at them. But if he's the superior species of the demonic system, there's a way to do it. Well, it's just a hopeful observation."

Due to the combination of the winged demon-like figure and the Great Demon, I am thinking that it may be the superior species of the demonic system, the Demon General (Arc Demon). However, I am thinking that it is powerful in the difference in digits from the warlords in the literature and so on, and that it is even more so called the top demon king (Demon Lord).

The Demon King is only a legendary being, and there is no record that he has ever appeared. However, it is recognized as an imaginary being that it is not strange to have more than a demon general.

Even if you are a demon called the Demon King, you will not be one whose magic does not work.

There is still talk that the demon generals who appeared before have light attribute magic worked. However, authenticity is a suspicious hearsay level story, and it does not necessarily work reliably.

"Even if we're going to strike out, we should gather some more information. What is the scope of their actions, whether they are aimed at Luna or, if they are, they are aware of their existence?"

Dan proposes to gather information.

"I know what you're saying, but it's hard to find out if you know Luna."

When Beatrice says so,

"I think you can tell to some extent by the way you behave. If you're after Mr. Luna and you don't know where he is, you should send the Great Devil or Demon to reconnaissance in a lot of places. If you knew, you'd be headed there, so if you don't move, there's a chance you won't be able to move under any circumstances."

"You sure do. The Great Devil and the Devil are in the way even if they carry out ambushes. You should figure out what they're doing and then figure out how they're gonna move."

Sharon nodded at my words, suggesting even more.

"You should think about powerful magic. Especially the magic of light attributes."

"Is that supposed to be an antidote?

"Yes. I feel like light attributes are going to work best for that and that demon. There's no basis for that."

Accepting Sharon's suggestion, he decided to explore the movements of the great demons and demons and develop more light attribute magic than the brilliant falcon Brilliant Falcon.