Monster no Goshujin-sama

6. Compass and Keys

Six.

The information conveyed by Mr. Gordon through magic tools for distance communication was incredible.

I immediately asked my companions to gather together and set up a place for discussion.

"... Sachiya Shimiya and I betrayed each other and broke into the deepest part of the cathedral church? The aim is the destruction of the 'cornerstone of the world'?

Telling the story, Gabella opened her eyes.

"Is that what this is about?

"Mr. Gordon would not be a liar of this nature"

Kato says calmly.

Gabella snorted as she fumed.

"Is that true, too? But if it's true, and there's been a raid, isn't it too late to hear from you like this?"

"No. If it was too late, you wouldn't even be able to talk like this."

Lily went in.

"If the 'cornerstone of the world' is destroyed, this world will not disappear far away. I wonder if there's anything strange about it.

"I see, that makes sense. But then... what do you mean?

And I answered Gabella, who leaned on her neck, and made a good inquiry.

"Technically, it seems that what was hidden in the basement of the cathedral was the door leading to the 'cornerstone of the world' vault"

"Hmm? With the door?

Gabella tilted her neck more and more.

"I don't know, what's the difference?

"It's not a room, it's only a door there... it was a magical tool called 'The Door of the Other World', he said. Ahead, there's no direct access to the storage area. They say we've been flown into another world. You can't reach a place that rests on the 'cornerstone of the world' without going through the other realms"

"Are you saying you were still ready? That's a tough one. No. Is it natural to prepare for the survival of the world?"

"They get to the storage area immediately if they enter by regular means, but if they don't, it's going to take them three days to break through, even if it's a brave man. It's just that the Shrine Superintendent said he was with some other transferees, so it would be sooner. It was a story that if we did poorly, we might get there by the end of the day."

I don't think there's any respite.

Let me snort, and I continued.

"The only person who knew the truth about the world was Gert, the high priest, besides Harrison, even in the Cathedral Church. But Gert died in battle trying to inhibit Shijiya Jingu. Harrison, who tried to save Gert, was also attacked, even though he was badly injured. He said he took his life because he was accompanied by Asahi Kazu, who noticed the absence of Shinto Jingu, and soon took charge of the Cathedral Church, but he can't move properly"

"... oh my God"

Apparently she understood the first of the circumstances, and Gabella looked like she had chewed up a bitter bug.

"So why don't we just stay in charge of the herd?"

You were right.

Due to the destruction of the cathedral and the little damage done to the neighboring inhabitants, the imperial capital is in an unspoken mess.

The death of Gert, who was the head of the great clergy, and the wounding of the head of the Knights of the Diocese, are too painful.

Nevertheless, thanks to their sacrifice, there is also the aspect that the purpose of the Shrine Superintendent was thus conveyed.

Otherwise, I don't think I'm about to break the 'cornerstone of the world' or anything else, and there was a chance I might have been delayed in responding.

Harrison couldn't shake it because he found out it was a crisis of literal world survival, and he contacted me.

But there are some things that don't fall on my heart.

"Harrison is now giving instructions to Mr. Gordon from the hospital bed. On the matter of Shichiya Jingu, he asked for help by releasing information exclusively to the expedition."

"Have you already asked the expedition to cooperate?"

Rose raised a question.

The expression was a terrible surprise.

"For one thing, I don't know what Harrison's thinking. If the expedition is cooperating, isn't there enough fighting power? It doesn't seem necessary to bother asking us to cooperate."

"There I was wondering too"

Rose has the best opinion.

We have accumulated strength in this world, but we cannot compare it to an expedition.

I don't think you're helpless, but if the Expedition already has a formula to help you, you're not strong enough to dare beg for help where you're hostile.

But apparently Harrison is serious.

"I also need to hear the stories around it..."

I just said, there's been a change.

I turned my eyes to create a unique twist of magic.

It was a sign of the transfer of the 'Circle of Fairies' that was becoming familiar.

"I'm home."

The magic twisted, the space distorted, and Shimazu-san appeared smiling.

Nevertheless, the expression is slightly stiff. I guess it's because I understand the situation.

Mr. Shimazu had three figures with him.

One is a bald-headed big man, Gordon-Caville, vice president of the Cathedral Knights.

One is Kojiro Nakatsuki, the leader of the expedition, a young man with a righteous face.

And the last one.

I called out to the man of full creation who had left his body in a wheelchair.

"I didn't expect you to face each other so quickly."

"Me too."

Cathedral Knights Commander Harrison-Addington responded with a plundering voice with signs of blood.

We killed each other yesterday.

I could see Lily and the others straining their nerves and setting each other up.

Nevertheless, it should be called unnecessary vigilance.

Whatever you think, Harrison wasn't in a state where he could fight.

Yesterday, the last time I looked at him, he was already full of creativity, but I guess his subsequent encounter with the Shrine Master was fatal.

Even though it hasn't been a day yet, it's badly done, and my face is earthy.

Under his eyes floated the neighborhood, and even the Dead Minister could be seen.

The body, which was bent, could not even wander over in a wheelchair.

Now, we should be able to take him down without suffering... so I can see that Harrison is really asking us to help him.

In fact, only that glance was as good as when we met before, looking at this one.

Tension dominates the place, but Nakatsuki opened his mouth there.

It's been two days, Mashima.

It was a bright voice, like it would make me feel easier just to ask.

"You look better than anything."

He laughs at me frankly.

As always, it was a favorable laugh.

"Nakatsuki-san is listening, right?"

"Oh. That's why I'm here. That's what I'm talking about."

It was this Nakatsuki Harrison who revealed the truth about the world in a limited way.

You can't let people know as much about the truth about the world as possible because of the importance of things.

But if you don't know anything about it, that's gonna cause problems, too.

For example, there is a possibility that the story could leak out of the mouth of the Shrine Superintendent at the chase, and there would be upset if that were different from what we had heard beforehand.

In some cases, the possibility of an operation failing from there may also arise.

At least one person in the expedition who knows what's going on needs to keep his mouth shut.

In that regard, there are no more suitors than Mr. Nakazaki, the leader.

I guess that's how Harrison decided.

This was also convenient for me.

If those who know what is going on with the Cathedral Church are on the expedition, they will not be able to breathe in the proper things.

It is unlikely that the expedition will turn to the enemy more than Iino and Shimazu have on this side, but given the future, it was a good thing that we had insurance.

Conversely, because of that, there are places where I could decide that Harrison is genuinely looking for help.

Things were so pressing.

In front of the crisis, Mr. Nakatsuka also had a serious look.

"Hear of the world's crisis, not if you're just saying so. Besides... that's what my people did. I don't know why you're imitating something that's going to destroy the world, but don't let it go. I'll take care of the Shrine Master."

It was a powerful word.

I've also only seen that strength once in a face-to-face seat.

There is no question about that word.

A brave man with the most powerful sword to shine.

There will be no one else more deserving to move in this situation.

Nevertheless, it's only if I feel that way that I wonder if Harrison bothered to contact us...

As I turned my gaze, Harrison opened his mouth.

"Quick, but we don't have time. Let me get to the point."

"Oh. Right."

It's not like talking to the public.

I decided to hit my doubts on the stand-alone entry.

"Why did you contact me?

"Because it was necessary for Shijiya Jingu to act."

"I don't know where it is. I guess there's an expedition out there, huh?

It was Nakatsuki, the leader of the expedition, who answered that question.

"The only thing we can do is fight. Some are like Shimazu, but he's the exception. Even if they call us brave, we're basically just fighters."

Words that make you despise yourself, in a mild tone.

Then Nakatsuki-san was natural.

I mean, with all that strong power, I guess there's something else at the core for him.

Among the frivolous interactions, it was felt that it was fundamentally different from Warrior and others who relied solely on strength.

"If we don't limit the story to battle alone, the Mashima people will have a wider range of things to do."

"Are you saying there's only one thing we can do?

"You're quick to guess. Exactly."

Mr. Nakatsuki nodded and Harrison, prompted by his gaze, began to explain.

"Shichiya Jingu flew away robbing the" Doors of the Other World "that followed the storage site of" The Foundations of the World ". At least with the" cornerstone of the world "we can find it as a resonant 'compass', but at present there is no 'cornerstone of the world' left in the Cathedral Church"

"Hey, so you're saying you don't know where you're going?

"That's right. Additionally, the other world uses' the cornerstone of the world 'as its' key ', so you can't even get in without it"

"... no 'compass', no 'key'? So what am I supposed to do?

The situation was worse than I thought.

I can't even track him down with this, even in an attempt to chase Shinto Shrine.

If you had at least gone by land, you might have been able to follow me using Lily or Ayama's nose, but if Shinto Jingu flew out of the sky, you'd be fine.

But Harrison shook his head sideways.

"No. There's still a possibility"

Hazel's eyes stared straight at this one.

"Takahiro Mashima. Your presence."

"... me?

Harrison let him snort deeply.

"You could have interfered with the 'cornerstone of the world'. No one else can do that."

"... well, I guess so"

Power of the same kind as the function of creating the world.

I can only interfere with the "cornerstones of the world" if I am a contractor for the idiosyncratic "Misty Inn".

"It's Master Gert's will. In the meantime, they said you could be a compass and a key instead of a cornerstone of the world."

"I'm in Compass and Key?

To the abrupt point, all I remember is confusion.

But Harrison seemed certain.

I guess that means I trust Gert, and I guess that's the only thing I can count on.

I'll ask.

Do you have any idea?

"... even if they say so"

I can't think of anything all the time.

But at that time, my voice rose unexpectedly.

Lily on the other side raised her voice, "Ah," and pulled her hem.

"Speaking of which, your husband. When you first arrived in Imperial City, you reacted to signs of magic tools."

"If you ask me... did that happen too"

I was pointed out and remembered.

This is how Lily and I interacted.

- What's the matter, sir?

- No. I thought the signs of magic were amazing.

- Oh, that's the thing. Sure. I was a little surprised. That's the Cathedral Church. That's where the magic tools are.

It was definitely right after I first came to Imperial City in The Fairy Ring, when I was being guided and traveling.

When I looked down at the cathedral from the spire, I remembered the hook.

At that time, I didn't even really care that the Cathedral Church would have reacted to the magic tool as an offering in its possession in large quantities.

But that was a little, wasn't it?

The story is that the 'door of the other world' that was robbed was in the basement of the cathedral.

What if the hook I felt at that time was to sense its existence?

... Sure, maybe it's possible.

At least, it would be worth checking out.

"Salvia"

"Yes, sir"

When I called, the fog unfolded and Salvia appeared fluffy.

"Can you help me?"

"Of course."

There was a distance then too, but not that ratio this time.

Salvia's help was essential.

As I drop my lid, Salvia turns her arm from her back over her shoulder.

My feeling is only due to the ability of the 'Misty Vault', which I gained from my contract with Salvia.

The sharing of our senses, which were magically very compatible, is smooth and allows us to enhance each other's senses.

I sharpened my senses as I heard Nakatsuji exhale.

It didn't take much longer.

"... that way"

Point your fingertips as you feel.

Harrison, who checked the direction, exhaled small.

"It's in the same direction Shijiya Jingu headed. With this one, it's not impossible to find it."

Slight relief was felt in the words spoken.

Mr. Nakatsuki came in and offered his hand.

"Mashima, we are going to go after Shinto to protect the world. I want you to take part in the operation to protect this world."

"If I can't forgive you,

Harrison opened his mouth.

"I'm ready to offer you this neck"

……

It was a serious tone.

That's all, this situation is a stuffed one.

I frowned.

"I don't need your neck. A temporary truce. Not if we're fighting before the world survives."

In addition, the current situation, involving Mr. Nakatsuki, the leader of the expedition, has drastically reduced the danger of Harrison.

Harrison's gesture is almost devastating.

If there was a concern, it would have been enough to make good use of the expedition, but it was also impossible for Nakatsuki-san to get more than the right knowledge.

If this happens, the confusion caused by being gone is more detrimental than the danger of having Harrison.

Also, we can impeach the irresistible Harrison here, but that can only be a mere belly of self-satisfaction.

Anyway, Harrison has a consciousness that he's doing terrible things to us.

I knew everything.

Still, there was something I absolutely had to protect, so I was hostile.

More importantly, it was not through his own fault that he had to do so.

Against the backdrop of the dangerous truth of this world, this is due to the overlapping and insurmountable massive influx of transferees.

In a way, it can also be described as a victim.

Regardless, if you try Kanahiko, who was the biggest victim, etc., it's not the story.

In fact, when I saw your face, I said you'd want to hit me, and I'm not even present on this occasion.

Conversely, he kept me from talking poorly when I was in this emergency because I was really emotional.

I couldn't do anything to make that care go away.

"Let's move faster than that."

Even now, the Shrine Superiors were supposed to be steadily approaching the cornerstones of the world.

I took Nakatsu-san's hand.

"Okay. That's settled."

Nakatsuki-san laughed furiously.

It was a grin directed at reciprocal collaborators.

"We're gonna save the world, Mashima"