Viscount Horace Bingham, Lord of Koatotemites. With his mushroom-cut hairstyle, he was a cheerful man who brought smiles from the first impression. Though he appeared young, he was the head of Koatotemites without the “acting” title. Since this was the Count’s territory, I assumed he was his subordinate.
With a gentle smile, he seemed a bit delicate for a lord, but the prosperity of Koatotemites was likely due to the magic stones and his leadership.
Even before we could properly greet each other, Orietta was told not to laugh at his hairstyle. People are not always what they seem.
“Viscount Horace Bingham, subordinate to Count Cordemias. I have heard of your recent exploits, Baron Shin.”
“Mercenary, White Lily Corps, Captain Baron Mikael Sin. Most of this success is thanks to this Alchemist, Orietta.”
“You’re the Dragon Slayer?! For someone so small, you’ve accomplished great things.”
It seems Orietta has gained a title as well. With this, the White Lily Corps now has four members with titles, and I can imagine Priscilla getting angry, asking why she doesn’t have one.
In reality, Orietta’s accomplishments are significant. She tripped the Sand Dragon, and she was the one who ultimately severed its head.
All I did was lead Christine’s Army and manage to scratch the Sand Dragon. Christine was happy, but many of those who fought alongside us perished.
Well, I suppose it’s fine since they died thinking of Christine. Even the injured were smiling at Christine, staring at her… even with their arms gone.
Without much further ado, we were led to the Viscount’s study and seated on plush sofas. Wealthy lords certainly have different amenities. The sofas were large and soft, and the tables and furnishings looked expensive. Even a portrait of himself hung on the wall. He used to have long hair, didn’t he?
“Without further ado, Baron Shin. What is your assessment of this monster advance?”
It’s helpful that he gets straight to the point, this “Mushroom.” I explained my knowledge as a mercenary regarding the monsters’ inexplicable actions, suppressing my laughter.
The adventurers’ heads displayed at the North Gate. Retreating even after destroying the East Gate. The Harpy bombing raid on the North Gate. And the absence of Trolls and Orcs when the Sand Dragon attacked. All of it was militarily illogical.
“Can’t it just be that they are monsters?”
It’s said that monsters don’t fight rationally, but that doesn’t explain the heads at the North Gate or the Harpy bombing. Both require motivation and tactics. Can monsters truly engage in such sophisticated warfare? I felt an urge to voice an outlandish thought.
“Perhaps… this is a kind of demonstration? Waiting for the Zivil Village’s bull-chasing festival to end, placing heads at the North Gate, and then launching a military action against Koatotemites while the adventurers were gathered. The destruction of the East Gate and the Harpy bombing also seem like displays of power. As for the Sand Dragon, it approached within two hundred meters of Koatotemites City. It had no need to get this close when it could unleash magic stones.”
I blurted out everything I had been contemplating about the monsters’ behavior. If I said something so absurd to the other members of my unit, I’d either be laughed at or stabbed. Even if I told the field commander, I’d likely be met with scorn and dismissed as useless.
Besides, with this Viscount, it would probably be dismissed as a joke. A sophisticated and witty conversation between nobles, and he has a mushroom for a head. I figured I could get away with it.
“If… if what Baron Shin says is true, a demonstration, who do you think would do such a thing?”
“Demons…”
That would be terrible. This is the northern edge of the Empire, but to reach Nordland, where demons reside, one would have to cross two countries: Harmonia and Rothfar.
We haven’t received any reports from Harmonia yet, but the report from Rothfar mentioned nothing about demons. There was some mention of military activity, but we thought something had happened in the Sandrine Great Forest on Rothfar’s side.
“Damn, you figured it out. I didn’t think you would. When did you figure it out?”
“Eh!?”
“Eh!?”
My “Eh!?” came first. My words were baseless, perhaps even arbitrary, bordering on a bluff. I couldn’t think of anyone other than demons who could pull something like this off. I never expected them to confess from the other side just because of that. My “Eh!?” was one of disbelief.
The second “Eh!?” belonged to the Mushroom Viscount. He was surprised that even though he confessed, he hadn’t actually been discovered. His “Eh!?” was one of astonishment.
“You were a demon, Viscount…”
“I let it slip. I could sense the aura emanating from Baron Shin even from inside the mansion, so I thought you had come to kill me.”
Am I really emitting an aura? Could it be due to sleeplessness? If so, my current aura must be pitch black.
I left my usual short sword and shield with a servant. All I have is the Orietta Knife I carry at my waist, and my Super Vibration and my pride, Godspeed.
“Then, please die.”
I unleashed my Super Vibration to its fullest, drew the Orietta Knife, and lunged at the demon. Just a step away from reaching top Godspeed, a sharp pain shot through my chest. Christine!?
“You’re so hot-headed. And she has an interesting power, does she stop hearts…?”
As I clutched my chest in pain on the table, I turned to face Christine, who glared at me as if she intended to kill me.
It was the most terrifying look I had ever seen. I felt like my heart might stop just from being gazed upon. I certainly couldn’t toast to those eyes.
“Christine… san…”
“I’ll tell you. I’m the one who summoned the monsters here. As if I were controlling her. I also did the Sand Dragon bit, impressive that I can control such a large creature, isn’t it? And that you two killed it so easily, you’re quite something.”
“You bastard…”
Christine’s power intensified, overwhelming me, even faster than my heart-pounding Super Vibration. The sharp pain rendered me unable to move.
“One more thing, I’m sending the remaining Trolls and Orcs this way too. I wanted to watch the massacre in Koatotemites from here, but it’s a shame. Since we’ve been found out, I’ll be going. Lastly, I think I’ll take this girl with me.”
The demon beckoned, and Christine walked resolutely towards him and stood before him. He gently touched her chin, tilting her face up, and leaned in as if to kiss her.
Godspeed!
My heart stopped, my knife swung wide. My desperate attack could only manage to get between Christine and the demon. As my consciousness faded, I saw Orietta raise her hammer at the demon, and Christine rushed to my fallen body.
“Too bad for you, good effort. It would be inconvenient to have witnesses, so I’ll give up on her. Do your best with your remaining strength. And you can die now. See ya~”
Orietta chased the demon towards the window, while Christine placed her hands on both my cheeks and sobbed. This is troublesome… I don’t know what to say to a crying woman.
I can’t even call out to her anymore… It can’t be helped… I’m a mercenary, I thought I was prepared to die.
I never imagined dying like this… I thought I’d be cut down, die of a heart attack, be sliced in half by a laser, be stabbed, dried up from blood loss, or crushed by a hammer.
That’s good… This is as expected. It’s like a manga artist whose series ends abruptly. Death always stands beside me, wielding its scythe.
My vision went dark, and I died as if falling asleep. If only I could have died in the arms of a girl.
