The sound of something I’d heard many times before collapsing with a thud.
Next came the murmuring voices of the soldiers who had been watching from a distance.
Watching the smoke from the cigarette I held in my mouth waft upwards, I glanced around and felt like a police officer observing a bomb from afar.
They clearly lacked the personnel to deal with the situation, and could only focus on ensuring no harm came to the citizens, a testament to their dedication to duty.
As someone who had recently faced a bomb-like entity, my feelings were a bit complex, but their reaction was understandable.
It was understandable.
“Hey.”
“Hii!? Don’t kill me!?”
For some reason, just talking to them elicited an excessive reaction.
Even now, I was just looking at them and talking, though perhaps my eyes were a little droopy from exhaustion after the battle, but I certainly wasn’t projecting any hostility.
“Master, your expression is rather grim.”
“Unfortunately, that’s how I was born. Get used to it.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult, you know. It’s quite commanding, I like it. The eyes of a warrior.”
“You’re the first to say that.”
I suspected they were afraid of my combat power, having just defeated the golem I was using as a chair.
In fact, when I’d been accosted at the Adventurer’s Guild, I’d had this same lazy expression, yet they’d still bothered me.
So, my eyes probably weren’t the issue.
As Himik pointed it out, I found myself responding curtly to her surprisingly positive assessment.
“Speaking of which, I needed a charm stone, but can I take this?”
Not as a way to hide my embarrassment, but my original purpose for coming here was to gather materials for my wedding.
While I had gotten caught up in trouble and taken a considerable detour, even bringing a fallen angel with me, my true objective lay elsewhere.
I had almost given up on obtaining fabric or jewels in the current situation, but then I realized I might be able to get a charm stone, a stone that prayed for family safety.
“Was the meaning of the golem’s magic stone a cardinal rule?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It certainly wasn’t about food.”
“I’m not that fixated on eating.”
“What about sweets?”
“Separate stomach.”
“That’s enough to answer my question.”
“Hmmph.”
A cardinal rule is a word that signifies an unchangeable law, giving an impression of being strict and rigid. Conversely, it could also represent a determination to protect one’s family.
It wasn’t a bad thing; in fact, I thought it might be acceptable.
Whether or not I’d use it would likely depend on consultation with Suella and the others, but bringing it back as an option wasn’t a bad idea.
In any case, I needed to wait here until someone arrived.
There was no harm in admiring the magic stone to pass the time.
While chatting with Himik, who had followed me, I reached for the armor near my left chest, the area where I sensed the origin of the magic power I had felt earlier.
“I’m not sure if it’s intact since I definitely felt like I sliced through it, but it costs nothing to look.”
I slipped my fingers into the cut I had made and applied force.
My muscles bulged, and my body, enhanced by magic power, slowly but surely bent the armor, exposing its contents to the open air.
“Golems are surprisingly high-tech.”
As the contents of the golem were gradually revealed, my heart was half curiosity and half anxiety.
While it wasn’t true that if something happened once, it would happen twice, anything was possible in this world.
Based on my encounter with Himik, I cautiously removed the armor, wondering if it might be a manned golem. However, the contents were far from what I had imagined. Seeing the sight, I felt relieved and let out a wry smile at my own overcautiousness.
It had a structure resembling electronic circuits, which had been severed by my sword, presenting a sorry sight. Other than that, it was mechanical and lacked any fantasy elements.
Only the red magic stone, situated at its center, exuded a touch of fantasy.
“It’s quite large.”
Considering the power needed to move this colossal body, it was an understandable size. However, when it was nearly a meter in diameter, there were no words other than “large” that came to mind.
Even split in half, I could still feel immense magical power emanating from it.
Indeed, it was a remarkable item, capable of causing a catastrophe if this magic stone went berserk.
“Well, this should be enough.”
I picked up the magic stone, which had been shattered into pieces about the size of a bowling ball.
I certainly didn’t want to keep such a massive object at home, so I took this more manageable size, though it was still quite large.
The magical power I felt from it was substantial, and I judged it to be sufficient for its purpose.
“Is that your war prize, Master?”
“Something like that, and oh, the timing is good. It’s earlier than I expected.”
As I emerged from inside the armor, Himik’s gaze shifted to the magic stone in my hand.
Answering her question along with her gaze, I tucked the magic stone under my arm, jumped off the golem, and Himik slowly descended, floating.
As I landed and looked ahead, my welcoming party had arrived sooner than I had anticipated.
Following the sound of clashing metal, a group in full armor approached us.
“Are they enemies?”
“Who knows? All I can say is they aren’t hostile yet.”
I could feel tension from the approaching group, but no hostility. However, based on our previous conversation, the possibility of engaging in combat wasn’t zero.
But it seemed my concerns were unwarranted.
“Supervisor?”
“Yes, that’s me. Honestly, can’t you go anywhere without causing trouble? I rushed here after hearing from my foolish younger brother about the discovery of a fallen angel, only to find you.”
“Hahaha, sorry.”
The armored group stopped about five meters in front of me, then spread out to the sides, revealing a presence I hadn’t expected.
My cigarette slipped from my lips.
Someone had arrived who left me no room to worry about such trivialities.
The fully equipped Supervisor, this was the first time I’d seen them like this, and their aura was different.
Instead of their usual suit, they wore black full-body armor without excessive ornamentation.
However, their appearance did not convey poverty; rather, the armor, which pursued functional beauty, evoked a sense of their role.
I had imagined the Supervisor, who primarily used magic, to be a mage, a rear-guard type. But their equipment was that of a front-liner, shattering my preconceptions.
I had anticipated someone responsible would be sent, but never imagined the Supervisor themselves would appear. I could only offer a wry smile and a forced laugh.
The soldiers’ tension seemed to be directed more towards guarding the Supervisor than towards me.
“So, is that the fallen angel from the report?”
“Yes.”
The Supervisor’s gaze flickered from me to Himik, but they themselves showed no sign of aggression.
Consequently, Himik remained still.
A quiet ascent.
I had assumed there wouldn’t be an immediate fight like with the instructors, but this was an unsettling start in its own way.
The tension was so taut, like a spring coiled to its limit, that any unnecessary stimulus could shatter the atmosphere. A sharp, tense air flowed around us.
The soldiers cowered, fearing they might be caught in a battle at any moment.
“…”
“…”
Himik, who had been cheerfully discussing sweets just moments ago, remained completely silent.
Was it because she could sense the Supervisor’s power?
“Hmph, well, that’s fine. I’ll smooth things over with the person in charge here. File a report later.”
“Is that all right?”
There was no further conversation.
After only a few seconds, the Supervisor casually granted permission for the fallen angel’s existence.
“The existence of a fallen angel can even benefit our military. Especially if it’s a being with a stable mind. Furthermore, I haven’t granted this permission without reason. It is solely due to your achievements in making a contract with that fallen angel. However, if it causes any problems, you will be held responsible. Keep that firmly in mind.”
“Yes.”
The casualness of their demeanor prompted me to ask again, but the Supervisor answered without changing their expression.
I didn’t call out to the Supervisor as they turned to leave, as if the matter was concluded.
If there was nothing more, then that was for the best.
I wondered where the Supervisor was going next, as they hurried away with the soldiers following them.
“Oh, right, Jiro.”
“What is it?”
“You’d better have a good excuse ready for Suella and the others.”
“!?.”
“This woman here is forgiving, but also prone to jealousy. Be sure to return quickly and try not to be completely drained.”
Finally, as if just remembering, the Supervisor turned to me, a smirk on their lips, and teased about what had happened between Himik and me, as if they had witnessed it firsthand.
Caught off guard by the Supervisor’s clearly playful demeanor, I reacted with a genuine startle.
I instinctively knew that the Supervisor saw through everything, not through logic, but through intuition.
Satisfied with my reaction, they didn’t press further, but they had certainly driven their point home.
“Understood.”
So, I could only reply truthfully.
Apparently satisfied with my reply, the Supervisor strode off.
“Master, what’s your relationship with that person from before?”
“Huh? They’re my superior. What about it?”
“We were comrades in battle a long time ago.”
“What?”
“Didn’t I tell you I traveled with a hero? I fought her back then… and I lost. Because of those injuries, I fell into a slumber in the dungeon. The reason she spared me was probably her confidence that she could deal with me anytime once I had dulled too much.”
As the Supervisor departed, I let out a sigh of relief now that the tense atmosphere had dissipated. It was then that Himik, who had been silent, softly broke her silence.
At first, I had responded casually, but her earnest voice, which I was hearing for the first time, made me look intently at her face.
She clenched and unclenched her fists, as if testing her own strength.
Was it due to regret, or because she faced an old rival from her past?
As someone who had met her recently, I couldn’t comprehend the feelings of someone who sensed the current disparity in strength.
“Rest assured, Master. While losing was regrettable, that’s in the past. My only interest now is in unknown sweets.”
“Do you know the word ‘serious’?”
“I do, but what of it?”
“No, if that’s the case, then it’s fine.”
“I see. Speaking of which, Master, look at the sky.”
“Ah, a barrier.”
The people of this world do indeed hold grudges from the past, but they are remarkably good at resolving them.
While there was resentment, Himik’s way of responding with a sense of acceptance was typical of her. As I watched the barrier floating in the night sky dissolve, I felt a sense of relief that we could finally return.
The number of surrounding soldiers had also begun to dwindle.
Through the gaps in their formation, Gray, Mait, and the Guild Master appeared.
I waved to them, letting them know I was unharmed, to show my gratitude for their behind-the-scenes efforts, and they waved back.
“Speaking of which, Master.”
“What is it?”
“Weren’t you planning to resolve this through negotiation?”
“That was the original plan.”
My initial plan was to defeat this golem, break the opponent’s main force, and forcibly drag the person in charge to the negotiation table.
Then, preserving Himik’s strength, I would avoid a witch trial-like conversation, and as for myself, I would offer concessions and settle the matter amicably. But…
“For me, it was fortunate, and for them, unfortunate. My work has decreased, and I can return early according to the revised schedule.”
The appearance of the Supervisor, a being far beyond my expectations, had completely overturned the situation, causing my plan to be beautifully disrupted.
While it meant pushing the subsequent cleanup onto them, the Supervisor likely saw this as an opportunity to exploit interests and financial resources.
I had been put through considerable hardship since arriving in this town.
I had no room for sympathy, even if they were to be exploited to the very end.
“Well then, shall we go home?”
Today’s word: Excuses will be thought of on the way.
This concludes this section.
This chapter is expected to end in about two or three more installments.
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