I understand why I’m a wanted man.
According to a Knight, there’s a chance the mansion might have a secret passage.
They issued a bounty to make sure they could immediately identify Soma if he tried to escape from the mansion.
From a game system perspective, this is similar to how players get wanted when their standing with a kingdom or city faction drops to its lowest.
In this case, the mansion repelled the Knights on its own, lowering the kingdom’s faction standing and resulting in a bounty.
It’s sad that I can understand and accept the reason, whether it’s for the world’s realism or game logic.
(But knowing the reason, what should I do now?)
My original plan was to get captured by the Knights and meet Maki. However, getting caught in this situation doesn’t seem like the best strategy.
The Knights have a terrible impression of me.
If I were executed before meeting Maki, it would be no laughing matter.
On the other hand, if I remain wanted, I can’t stay in town, and I’ll remain enemies with the Knights’ Order.
As I was pondering this, Mitsuki calmly provided an answer.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Huh? Go where?”
When I asked, Mitsuki’s cat ears perked up.
“This is when you use your connections.”
She declared with certainty.
And so, we left town once more, heading for a certain place.
That place, of course, was…
“Y-You guys…”
The place where a great warrior stood, hands on his forehead, saying that.
And…
“I’ll be troubling you again for a while, Father.”
Mitsuki’s home.
In other words, Hisame Dojo.
Only a few hours had passed since I triumphantly left the dojo after finishing my trials.
I have to admit, I made a remarkably quick return.
“I understand the situation.”
Asahi nodded casually after I explained the general circumstances.
“While it’s true that you’re at fault for what happened in the plaza, a house search and a wanted poster for that incident alone is clearly going too far.
I will officially protest to the kingdom, stating that you were staying at this dojo for the past three days.”
“Really?”
I couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
Mitsuki took an already sleepy Ringo to her room, and I found myself alone with Asahi.
I knew he held a grudge from the trial, and I had honestly admitted to arranging skulls in the plaza, saying, “I did it knowing it would cause trouble to deliver a message to an acquaintance.”
Asahi and I are mostly in opposing positions, so I expected him to refuse cooperation, citing it as self-inflicted trouble…
(Perhaps it’s because the event is over?)
Characters sometimes become different people after an event ends.
Basically, it’s just that the person who sets the NPC’s personality and the person who sets the event dialogue were different, and there wasn’t proper communication between them. I’ve experienced cases where a samurai character who spoke with archaic language during an event suddenly turns into a flamboyant character speaking casually after the event ends.
I haven’t spoken to Asahi much outside of the Hisame family visit event, but perhaps he’s relatively decent when he’s not in an event.
As I wondered inwardly, Asahi explained with a gentlemanly demeanor.
“If your lodging, as a guest of the dojo, was attacked while you were staying here, it is also our fault.
As the master of this dojo, I cannot overlook such a situation.
Furthermore, I like you.”
“Is that so?
Ah, but, “Kongou Toshi”?”
I deliberately brought up the topic, knowing it was unavoidable.
Then,
“I thought about it, but I’ve decided to officially transfer that spear to you.”
“What?”
The answer was completely unexpected.
I thought Asahi would be more attached to it, as it’s a family heirloom of the Hisame family.
“Weapons with power naturally find their rightful wielder.
Upon reflection, I believe you are the only one qualified to wield that spear.”
“I see…”
Should I accept this sudden change of heart?
His attitude has changed drastically from just a few hours ago.
The event may have ended, but conversely, it means Asahi can attack me *regardless of the event*.
If Asahi genuinely intended to kill me, and I had no way of knowing his methods, my chances of survival would be low.
His demeanor suggests he harbors no ill will towards me, but can I truly believe him…?
As I pondered, Asahi spoke with a gentle expression.
“Indeed. If you feel hesitant about that, then you only need to grant me one request.”
“A request?”
I braced myself, fearing something outrageous might be asked. Seeing my apprehension, Asahi smiled softly.
“It’s nothing major.
After all, we’re quite close now.
I’d like you to stop calling me ‘Mr. Asahi,’ so formally.”
“But, that’s…”
I faltered. Was he expecting me to use his given name casually?
Even for me, casually addressing someone who is likely old enough to be my parent felt difficult.
However, Asahi seemed to read my internal conflict and shook his head.
“Ah, I seem to have misunderstood.
I didn’t mean for you to call me by my given name, but rather, I thought there might be a better way to address me.”
“A better way?”
“Indeed. From now on, please refer to me as follows.”
Then, with a refreshing smile, he said:
“‘Father-in-law’.”
Ah, so this man is Mitsuki’s father. I realized this with a mix of emotions.
However, I have no intention of marrying anyone at the moment. If I were to marry, it could have dire consequences for the world.
I thought of dispelling Mitsuki’s feelings by explaining that she doesn’t have feelings for me, but my sixth sense warned me that this path was dangerous, so I decided to get out of the situation with a seemingly cool line:
“I’m sorry. I’ve decided not to marry until I defeat the Demon Lord.”
However, this isn’t a lie.
I’m genuinely afraid of the curse, so I can’t marry as long as the Demon Lord exists.
In fact, I shouldn’t.
“I see, so that’s how it is.”
Perhaps sensing my sincerity, Asahi nodded gravely.
“Then, when you set out to defeat the Demon Lord, tell me.
I will prepare the best support, and perhaps make preparations for a wedding ceremony as I send you off.”
He still hasn’t given up!
Moreover, it feels like I’ve been trapped by my own words!
I was shocked but still had some room to maneuver.
Before he could delve deeper, I hastily changed the subject.
“Speaking of the Demon Lord, Mitsuki avoids the Demon Lord’s castle. Is there a reason for that?”
This had been on my mind since the Game.
In the Game, the reason Mitsuki wouldn’t approach the final dungeon was likely a developer convenience to make the final boss fight easier. I was curious about the reason in this world.
Asahi pondered my sudden question for a moment, but without making me wait long, he answered.
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve been telling her about the horrors of the Demon Lord’s castle since she was a child.
I often spoke of the Demon Lord as an enemy we must one day defeat.”
“Ah…”
The Demon Lord’s castle is far to the north.
It’s located inside a volcanic crater, past several high-level areas.
Simply reaching the mountain is a challenge, but the real ordeal begins after finding it.
The mountain where the Demon Lord resides is vast and tall, but its center is hollowed out like a crater.
The Demon Lord’s castle is in this center, so after climbing the mountain with great difficulty, one must descend into the crater.
While I described it as a crater, the slope is quite steep. If you slip, you’ll fall straight to the bottom, risking death from terrain damage.
What’s worse is the bottom of the mountain.
A bubbling pool of blood spreads out, instilling fear in anyone who sees it.
The Demon Lord’s castle stands as if piercing out of this pool of blood, making it a grim place for a child. It’s no wonder Mitsuki developed a phobia.
“I see, so that’s why Mitsuki…”
“Are you two gossiping about me?”
Just as I was comprehending, Mitsuki returned.
“Ah, you’re back.
The talk is settled.
I will cooperate with Soma.”
Mitsuki’s cat ears twitched as if to say “Of course!” then she turned to me.
“So, what do we do now?
It will take some time to clear up the misunderstanding, but for today, my…”
She seemed to be about to say something, but Asahi interrupted her.
“I saw it the other day, Soma’s weapon seems to be in dire need of maintenance.
Mitsuki, please take him to our workshop.”
“Workshop? You have one?”
I couldn’t help but interject. Come to think of it, the durability of my Shiranui and Wakizashi is becoming a concern. If forging is possible, it would be a godsend…
“Preparation for battle is also part of battle, that’s a teaching here.
Our workshop is fully equipped, not just for forging but also for magic-related matters.”
“Really?!”
“Yes… Mitsuki.”
Asahi called out to her again, and Mitsuki grumbled, her cat ears drooping slightly, but nodded.
“…Yes. I’ll guide you.”
“Thanks, Mitsuki. I appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem. It’s for your sake.”
When I said that, her slight displeasure seemed to subside.
Mitsuki might have had her own plans, but honestly, the workshop was more pressing right now.
I asked Asahi to resolve the misunderstanding with the Knights’ Order once more and headed to the workshop with Mitsuki.
“Was Ringo alright?”
I asked as we walked, and Mitsuki nodded.
“Yes. She fell asleep as soon as I laid down the futon.
She was on high alert protecting you until dusk.
She must be exhausted.”
“I see…”
She must have worked hard to protect me. I owe Ringo my gratitude.
“By the way, you too, right Mitsuki? Are you okay?”
“Me?
I can handle consecutive battles for about a week without any problems.”
“I-I see…”
It’s clearly superhuman, but it’s too late to comment on that now.
It was so obvious to Mitsuki that she didn’t bother explaining.
“More importantly, what were you talking about with Father?”
She maintained her usual stoic expression, but her cat ears twitched, signaling her curiosity.
When a cat-eared girl says so, there’s no helping it.
“It wasn’t anything major. It’s just…”
I told Mitsuki about my conversation with Asahi. However, it seemed Asahi’s assumption was incorrect.
“Ah. That’s a misunderstanding.
The reason I don’t go to defeat the Demon Lord is because I thought it was my father’s dream.”
“Dream?”
“Yes. My father always said his goal was to produce a Hero from this dojo who could defeat the Demon Lord.
I thought it would be wrong of me to take that away from him.”
So, it was an expression of confidence that she could easily defeat the Demon Lord herself. Whether that’s a good or bad answer, I’m not sure.
But then again, Mitsuki is a member of the dojo, so I think she should just defeat him normally.
“However, regardless of the trigger, I now have a certain aversion to going there.
I don’t really want to go, but if you insist…”
“Ah, no, it’s fine.
I don’t plan on fighting the Demon Lord anytime soon.”
I shook my head. Her reluctance to go to the final dungeon, regardless of her memories, was likely a system restriction. In the Game, Mitsuki simply didn’t approach the final dungeon; there wasn’t really an official setting that she couldn’t go to the Demon Lord’s castle. While there might not be strong enforcement, there’s no need to force the issue.
“Is that so?
Well, if you want to fight strong enemies, you can just head west.”
“…West?”
I’d heard something I couldn’t ignore and repeated the question.
“You don’t know?
It’s said that the main body of the Evil God is sealed in the western swamps.
In recent years, the movement of monsters has become more active, and there are supposedly incredibly powerful monsters that cannot be compared to others.”
“Is that so…
No, that’s right.”
This was information about a place not implemented in the Game.
The hidden boss in the Game was a Fragment of the Evil God, but that was just a fragment.
We knew the main body of the Evil God was sealed elsewhere, and the information that the seal was in the west was indeed present in the Game world.
However, the western Field was never implemented, and attempting to go beyond a certain point resulted in hitting an invisible wall.
The information about the western lands, where the main body of the Evil God, who supposedly stands above the Demon Lord, was sealed, was rumored to be a foreshadowing for the next installment.
(In the Game, there were only rumors, but it never appeared in the Game itself.
If this world is faithful to the Game’s specifications, such monsters shouldn’t exist.
But if it’s faithful to the Game’s settings, it’s not impossible for them to exist.)
This is a contradiction.
I couldn’t determine whether the Evil God existed in this world or not.
(What if the main body of the Evil God, and the powerful monsters said to be there, actually exist in this world…?)
Their movements would be unpredictable, and their strength could surpass any other monsters in the Game.
Well, it’s no use dwelling on it now.
At present, I’m likely no match for the Demon Lord anyway, so improving myself is the best course of action.
“We’ve arrived.”
Just as my thoughts reached a dead end, the destination came into view.
What appeared were various specialized devices placed in individual rooms. A forge for equipment repair, and…
“This one is here too…”
A voice escaped my lips, filled with surprise and joy.
‘Kongou Toshi’ is indeed powerful.
I’ve sealed it in a Cooler Box for now, but with my strength, I can neither withstand its attacks nor destroy it.
However, in this Game world, there exists a miraculous device that can instantly destroy any powerful weapon.
That is the device before me. A giant furnace with three holes.
Above each hole are written the words ‘Shape’, ‘Performance’, and ‘Special’.
“…Weapon Customization Device.”
Also known as a Weapon Synthesis Machine.
