We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A capable demon race does not concern themselves with trivial matters.
It was a home with a warm atmosphere.
In front of the large fireplace, Grandma sat in her rocking chair, knitting.
The knitted items adorning the walls, carpets, sofa, and even the table were far from luxurious, yet a sense of warmth emanated from them all. Perhaps they were items meticulously crafted by those who frequented Ruilala’s mansion, presented to their Master and now being cherished and utilized.
The furniture and decorations, devoid of the vulgar gaudiness of precious metals, were replaced by wood carvings and handmade items.
“Now, Master. I will prepare dinner immediately, so please relax until then,”
“And to my companions, we will take your luggage. We will guide you to the guest rooms.”
Besides Zobos, the butler who greeted us at the entrance, several other servants worked within the mansion.
And none of the servants seemed to be people serving a viscount-level noble; they were all simple. Rather, it felt as though during the day they cultivated fields or tended to sheep, and in their spare time, they managed the mansion and looked after Ruilala.
Ruilala was also lenient with the people working at the mansion, brushing off minor impoliteness or mistakes with a smile.
“G-Gwahh…!”
“Elnea-kun, what’s wrong?”
Seeing a warm home in an unexpected place, shown by an unexpected person, made me feel incredibly frustrated.
Ruilala, who had been greeting the servants upon her long-awaited return, turned around at my inadvertently blurted-out words.
“It’s not as grand a residence as Elnea-kun’s, but I don’t think its comfort is any less. So please, relax and make yourselves at home.”
“Yes, I will do just that.”
Even though it was a mansion standing alone in the rural landscape, it was the domain of the lord. There were ample guest rooms on the second floor to accommodate many guests, and we carried our luggage up.
Apparently, among the servants taking care of us, there was a mix of humans and demons. Even so, the fact that they seemed to work together harmoniously was a testament to their genuine camaraderie.
“I see,” I finally realized.
The reason Ruilala felt so broad-minded and profound was because she had always been a person with a domestic nature, long before she met us, and had for years engaged in activities that transcended race and master-servant relationships with those around her.
And it was precisely because her beloved villagers were so brutally murdered that she became so enraged and sought revenge.
Ah, what a shame.
If she weren’t such a sword-wielding enthusiast, she surely would have been a wonderful lord.
After dropping our travel-worn luggage in our rooms, we graciously accepted their invitation to relax.
Since the night was expected to grow cold, we gathered in front of the fireplace where Grandma was knitting and chatted happily before dinner.
Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan, along with Nimia and Oz, had already set off to explore the mansion.
“My, my, Ruilala-sama and the magic sword user?”
To Grandma, who wanted to hear about Ruilala and my story, I recounted my experiences east of Dragon Peak.
“That’s right. I was so flustered back then.”
“Elnea-kun, were you truly flustered?”
“Yes, not because I was worried about you, but about our situation.”
“How terrible…”
Grandma was apparently Zobos’ older sister. Her married life was in a distant land, but she returned here after her husband’s death. Now, she seemed to be spending her remaining years peacefully.
Ruilala, it seemed, was busy… especially because of me.
In Ruilala’s stead, as she was often away from her territory, Grandma and Zobos managed the mansion.
“Speaking of which, Ruilala-sama, the Dragon Race’s Wol-dono stayed with us the other day.”
“Speaking of which, Wol is working hard to bridge the gap between our countries, isn’t he?”
“Even though I’m a demon, I must say, he’s very capable.”
“Indeed. His work on repairing the mansion’s roof was incredibly skillful. He also helped with plowing the fields, and oh yes, he seems to have a talent for sheep herding as well.”
“Wol-san of the Eight Great Dragon Kings, what are you doing here!?”
Was it my imagination? It seemed the sole successor of the Eight Great Dragon Kings, besides myself, was being made to do menial tasks for demons.
Well, he has a gentle personality, and probably can’t refuse requests as a form of maintaining his friendships. Perhaps he’s even voluntarily helping.
“Speaking of which, does your territory have any towns, Ruilala?”
“Of course, we do. Why do you ask?”
“No, it’s just that, seeing the lord’s mansion in a place like this makes me wonder.”
“There is a town further west. It’s at the western edge of the territory. There are also vassals to govern the territory there, but I’ve left them to their own devices.”
“Is that alright?”
“Rather, they seem pleased! Officials don’t like coming to the frontier, and they especially dislike coming to the base of the dangerous Dragon Peak. It’s better for them if I, the lord, maintain a presence here.”
“Perhaps that’s what they call putting the right person in the right place?”
Knowing Ruilala, she might not be very interested in managing her domain, just as she doesn’t seem particularly attached to it.
So, she might be leaving it to her retainers as long as it is governed?
As we were having a pleasant conversation with Grandma and Zobos, a tantalizingly good aroma wafted from the kitchen.
The cheerful voices of young girls also could be heard, so they were undoubtedly sneaking snacks.
It must be almost dinner time, judging by the rumbling in my stomach.
However, around this time, a commotion erupted outside the mansion.
Zobos went to the entrance to investigate the disturbance. We were all startled by the sight of the man who rushed in breathlessly.
“Lord, please help us! Bandits…!”
The man, who seemed to have escaped for his life, his clothes were dirty, stained with blood in places, and his legs bore numerous wounds. The man, clearly a demon to my human eyes, pleaded with Ruilala.
“Beyond the mountain…”
Apparently, if you go a little north from here, there is a mountainous area, and beyond that, a village that conducts trade. The man and his neighbors were on their way to the village to shop when they were attacked by bandits.
Being a demon with strong legs, the man was able to escape. He managed to return, and upon hearing of the lord Ruilala’s return, he rushed to her immediately.
“Hey, Ruilala. Do bandits often appear?”
“Yes… they might have increased recently.”
Ruilala quickly prepared herself in response to the man’s plea.
“You see, with the Giant Demon Lord gone, things have become chaotic, haven’t they? The repercussions are reaching even here.”
Perhaps because it’s a frontier, it becomes an ideal hiding place for ruffians?
As Ruilala rushed out with her sword in hand, I followed.
“Elnea-kun, you should relax here. You’re a guest, after all.”
“No, I’ll help too. I’m always indebted to you.”
There aren’t many opportunities to repay Ruilala for her usual kindness. So, I want to help in any way I can.
Ruilala readily accepted my offer. And so, we both rushed out of the mansion.
I used Spatial Jump to catch up to Ruilala, who was already ahead.
Speaking of which, Ruilala can keep up with my continuous Spatial Jumps without any issue. Even now, Ruilala was running at full speed to guide me, who was unfamiliar with the area.
The man who had rushed into the mansion was nowhere to be found. We had asked Ruiseine and Madrine to attend to him due to his injuries.
“Where did the bandits attack?” I wondered. It seemed there was only one road leading to the village in the mountainous area. Thus, we proceeded towards our destination.
We arrived at the mansion before sunset, but as we chatted, dusk deepened. The sun was setting beyond the western land, painting the sky in layers of crimson and indigo.
Even with Spatial Jump, the mountainous area to the north was quite far. After all, I hadn’t seen any northern mountains on our walk from Nimia to the mansion. Nevertheless, Ruilala ran tirelessly to respond to her people’s plea.
Eventually, before the sun completely set, we entered the mountain path.
“Elnea-kun, let’s proceed cautiously from here. Since there is only one path, the mountains are deep and provide an excellent hiding place for bandits.”
“Understood!”
It was crucial not to let our guard down as to where the bandits might be hiding. From the entrance of the mountain path, I concealed my presence, preparing for an ambush. However, Ruilala advanced heedlessly, not even bothering to quiet her footsteps.
“Hey, demon over there, didn’t you say we should proceed cautiously!?”
Helplessly, I followed, making my way through the dark mountain path. However, unlike Ruilala, I didn’t walk with my presence so openly revealed. I used Spatial Jump to traverse the branches of the towering trees, scanning for any nearby presences.
In the densely wooded mountainous area, even the starlight beginning to twinkle in the sky barely reached. Nevertheless, eyes imbued with Dragon Energy could see through the deep darkness, and a sharpened spirit could sense presences from afar.
Crossing mountains, traversing valleys. As we proceeded along the mountain path, now fully enveloped by night, Ruilala’s steps slowed.
“This is it. The cart is scattered here.”
Beyond the thick bushes lining both sides of the path, a cart lay overturned, showing signs of disarray. Broken pots and damaged goods were scattered about. They were likely items they had made during their farming breaks, intending to sell them at the village and purchase daily necessities with the proceeds.
“Oh my, this is terrible.”
Even in the night darkness, illuminated only by faint starlight, Ruilala seemed to see the dismal scene. She sighed as she examined the ransacked cart. I, meanwhile, observed from a nearby tree branch.
Then, the bushes rustled.
“Tch. What the hell, we’ve got cold and waited in ambush, and only small fries show up.”
Emerging from the bushes was a demon man. The demon, upon seeing Ruilala, sighed with obvious disappointment.
“We waited for a while, and they said a runner would bring new money… that’s why we hid.”
“Well, he looks well-off. Let’s capture him alive and extort a ransom, shall we?”
“But who’s this rich person in such a rural place?”
Following the first demon, several more unsavory individuals appeared. It seemed they mistook Ruilala for a wealthy country bumpkin. Furthermore, the fact they didn’t recognize the lord Ruilala meant they were bandits from another region. The bandits surrounded Ruilala, appraising her with greedy smiles.
And speaking of which, aren’t the bandits completely off their guard?
Ah, I see. Even if I conceal my presence, there’s still a chance of being discovered if they’re lying in ambush. Conversely, if I act without caution, they might mistake me for a small fry and come out, letting their guard down, just like this. Ruilala’s earlier warning to “proceed cautiously” wasn’t about the bandits themselves, but about not missing the site of the attack, I realized.
Ruilala’s endurance is so great it can make dragons envious. This is a tactic possible only for someone like her, who can remain unfazed even when caught completely off guard.
“I’d like to ask a question. Is this your doing?”
Ruilala, addressing the nearly twenty men surrounding her, asked casually. The men, who had been sizing up their prey with greedy smiles, confirmed.
“Ah, so it is. …How dare you, to my precious villagers.”
“!?”
As soon as the men were confirmed as bandits, Ruilala drew the sword at her waist. Simultaneously, a explosively surging killing intent caused the bandits to falter for a moment.
“Th-this guy…!”
“A high-ranking one!?”
The bandits had made a mistake. Ruilala was not some rich country bumpkin. She was an important confidante of the Giant Demon Lord, and a great demon with the noble title of Viscount, whose parent was a Primogenitor Race.
The bandits, without even a moment to flee, were cut down by Ruilala’s sword. It was rare to see Ruilala wield her sword for something other than her own enjoyment.
Before screams could echo through the mountainous night, the bandits who appeared were all annihilated. I, maintaining my concealed presence as usual, watched from a tree branch. Then, a rat that had remained scurried out from deeper within the bushes.
As expected, the boss-like figure did not come out carelessly like his subordinates, but had been hiding. I hadn’t been hiding with my presence concealed for nothing. I was waiting to capture the leader, who would surely flee if the situation turned unfavorable.
“Wait!”
Using Spatial Jump, I caught the rat escaping from the scene. It was a large rat, perhaps twice my height. I mercilessly struck the rat, who wore clothes and, rather shamelessly, carried a curved sword at its waist, directly in its abdomen. With a single blow, the rat lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Ruilala, I caught a suspect who seemed to be the leader hiding over here?” At my call, Ruilala approached. She looked down at the collapsed rat-like demon.
Without hesitation, she swung her sword down.
“Ruilala!?”
“It’s fine, there’s no need to worry about it. They’re all just weaklings anyway. Capturing alive would just be a burden. For bandits, death on the spot is the demon way.”
“There’s no trial, or chance for atonement?”
“Well, there are… but don’t you think even bandits would prefer not to face torture or slavery?”
“Is… is that so…?”
Ruilala explained the demon way of thinking with a smile. While doing so, after confirming the leader’s death, she returned towards the mountain path. This time, I followed.
“Leaving their corpses here would just be a nuisance.”
With a mumble, Ruilala casually grabbed the bodies of the bandits she had just cut down and flung them deep into the mountains.
“That’s… not very careful!”
Even if they were wicked bandits, I was taken aback by such treatment! Involuntarily, I grabbed Ruilala’s hand to stop her. However, as it turned out, it was a good thing.
“Hey, Ruilala. What is this cloth?”
I noticed a peculiar cloth tucked into the waistcloth of the man’s corpse that Ruilala was about to discard deep into the mountain. The bandits, true to their rough nature, were not particularly well-dressed. Yet, the cloth on their waists seemed of good quality. Furthermore, this man wasn’t the only one possessing the cloth. Upon closer inspection, all the bandits who had been slain carried a piece of cloth somewhere on their bodies. Some wound it around their heads, others around their arms. Exactly where they wore it varied from person to person, but they all had it in a visible location.
“…I don’t know? What could it be?”
Ruilala, seeming intrigued, took the cloths from the bandits and examined them.
“They all seem to be red cloths. Since I’m curious, for now, I’ll take this one back.”
Saying so, Ruilala collected the cloths from the remaining corpses and tossed everything else into the depths of the mountain.
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