Magic Gems Gourmet Chapter 117

Chapter 117

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 117 – Loyalty and the King

As Ain mentioned, the first thing he did was go to the flower shop.

There were few customers who would buy flowers in Baltic… but the selection of flowers was not bad. The price was a bit higher than in the Royal Capital, but it was bearable.

After that, they went to a tavern for high-ranking adventurers and bought some food and drinks.

Dill wondered what Ain wanted to do but kept quiet and continued to accompany him.

“Let’s go then.”

After these few words, Ain began to make his way out of the city of Baltic.

Was there anything nearby? Dill, who had been quietly accompanying him for a while, finally opened his mouth and began to ask where they were going.

“Ain-sama? Um… Which direction are you going?”

The weather in Baltic was much more pleasant than when they came last year.

Although it was late at night and there was a slight chill in the air, it was much easier to walk than when it was snowing.

“I think someone will be here soon to show us around.”

“A guide…? When did you ask for a guide…?”

The sound of buzzing insects and the swaying of trees in the wind.

In such a quiet forest… Ain just went on and on.

“Um, Ain-sama. There is a limit to how far you can go.”

If they continued, the number of monsters would increase. And the monsters, stronger than those near the city, would appear and attack at night when visibility was poor.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. We will have a reliable ally coming our way… and if you speak rumors, you’ll know what I mean.”

——What was he really going to do about it?

The only question was that Ain never gave a definite answer.

Still, seeing Ain standing still for the first time in a long time, Dill was on high alert, just in case something was about to happen.

“Long time no see, Marco-san. You’re here, right?”

As Ain said this, a small bird flew away from the trees in the forest. A strong wind blew through for a moment, blurring the vision of Ain and the others.

“…You noticed it well.”

Marco appeared with exactly the same appearance and voice as when Ain was taken away before.

Dill was so overwhelmed by Marco’s presence that he forgot to draw his sword, perhaps because it was the first time he had seen him.

“There, there, no need to be afraid. I’m not here to harm you, I’m just answering the call.”

“Are you the living armor Ain-sama told me about?”

It was a shame that he really didn’t have a face. It made him think that Marco would have greeted him with a friendly face, in addition to his soft manner and tone of voice.

“I’m sorry it’s been so long, but… Can I ask you to escort me to the castle?”

“——I see. Have you achieved the vessel?”

Marco quietly checked Ain’s condition.

“There are still many things I don’t understand. But I think everything will be alright now.”

“I understand. Then I will be responsible for leading you to the Demon King’s castle.”

“Ain-sama!? Are you going to the Demon King’s castle?”

Dill finally understood.

He had always wondered where they were going after such a late-night visit.

But he had never thought for a moment that the destination would be the Demon King’s castle.

“I bought a lot of things for this. Take good care of them, okay?”

“The monsters won’t attack you. I’m here too… and most importantly, there’s another reason why they can’t attack.”

The last line of Marco’s speech was drowned out by the shaking of the trees.

“…What do you intend to do when you reach the Demon King’s castle?”

Let’s prepare ourselves at this point.

Should I stop him as an escort? Dill thought so. However, Ain even called the living armor Marco, and it was too late to say anything.

If he advanced with a strong hand, he would not be able to defeat this living armor.

Should I accompany him on the side of the road like an adult? That was what Dill was thinking.

“Well, I guess the main purpose is to visit the grave. …Marco-san, it’s on the castle grounds, right? ——…The cemetery where the Royal Family is buried, you know.”

Winter Baltic Investigation.

When he reached the former Demon King’s territory with Lloyd and the others.

The castle in the Royal Capital—the White Knight’s castle—was built so similarly that it felt like a duplicate of the Demon King’s castle. Ain had certainly confirmed this with his own eyes.

＊＊＊

“Oh, by the way, Marco-san. In the back of the castle? I don’t know, but is it true that there’s a big swamp there? I heard that it is covered with a terrible poison.”

The road to the former demon king’s territory was much easier than the last time.

Ain and Dill noticed how wonderful the absence of snow was.

“This is another… very unusual place you seem to know. Yes, it is indeed.”

“Approximately how far away is it?”

That was information both Majolica and Kaizer had given him when he had his adventuring experience.

It was lonely to just walk, so he asked Marco about the swamp.

“It’s a ten minute walk from the castle. But it is a very dangerous area… I think it would be best if you didn’t go there.”

“Is the poison that strong?”

“It is. Even Sylvia-sama and the others had avoided that area…”

It seemed to be an outrageous poison, but Ain was optimistic. After all, if even Ain could not withstand it, who else could?

“It’s that strong, huh? Thank you for telling me about it.”

“No, no, if it’s something like that, I’m happy to help you as much as I can.”

Dill, who had been alarmed at first, but Marco’s behavior was sophisticated.

He seemed to lead Ain with a natural flow, adapting each step to Ain’s speed. If there was a place where it was difficult for him to walk, he would casually offer his hand, a gesture that was a perfect example of a royal knight.

“We will soon reach the city. Shall we go straight to the castle?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Very well. Then let me show you around.”

In a few hours, it would be completely dark. As summer approaches, the sun rose earlier and earlier. If they were to return to the Royal Capital in the shortest possible time, it would surely be late at night.

“The atmosphere has changed a lot since winter.”

“I agree. …I wish I could have seen this view as well, considering how busy it must have been in the past.”

Of course, the castle town in the former Demon King’s territory had no light source other than the moonlight. Therefore, with its silence, it was nothing more than a dark and lonely castle town.

“(What kind of eyes does he have…?)”

Dill, who saw Ain looking at the cityscape, was struck by the striking expression on his face.

He looked as if he had given up, but he had never given up hope… It was hard to put into words, but he had such eyes.

——And as they got closer and closer to the Demon King’s castle. Marco opened his mouth as if he had trouble saying it.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?”

Hearing Ain’s answer, Marco stopped in his tracks.

The castle was only a stone’s throw away, and it was only a matter of time before they walked through the gates. The closer Ain looked, the more he saw that the castle in the royal capital, the White Knight, was similar to the Demon King’s castle.

“You have to pa.s.s through a room on your way to the graveyard.”

“I see, but what about this room?”

“Even if you go into that room, you will not be defeated. But I must tell you something.”

Hearing these words, Ain guessed.

“As you probably guessed. It is a special place… created by those ‘people,’ so please be careful.”

“…Yes, I understand that it is different things.”

——The meaning of Dullahan’s wish and what happens when they leave the Demon King’s castle…

“Please don’t stop and just make your way through this room in silence…Maybe once you’ve endured it, you won’t have any more problems.”

“Oh, I understand. I’ll try to be strong.”

Seeing that something was beginning to disturb the atmosphere, Dill also became numb and opened his mouth.

“Ain-sama? I’m sorry, but I was wondering if you could explain it to me so that I can understand it…”

“It’s just that it’s a room that was built by people in the past and might be filled with poison.”

He lied to Dill again.

He felt bad about it, but he had come this far, and there was no going back.

Dill would certainly come to stop him if he told him what kind of room it was.

“I see… poison, then there is no problem.”

Despite some misgivings, he still had faith in Ain’s absolute resistance to poison.

“You two. We will enter the castle now, is that okay?”

Before they knew it, they were already at the gates of the Demon King’s castle.

Ain and Dill just stood there quietly, watching the scene unfold before them.

“Then let’s go, Dill.”

“Yes…! I’ll be with you.”

They braced themselves for the last time, feeling strong for what was about to happen.

Marco, who had been watching them, heard their answer and led them into the castle.

＊＊＊

The two finally entered the Demon King’s castle, and Dill, in particular, looked surprised.

“Is this the same as the… White Knight?”

Ain had expected this, but he was still surprised, though not as surprised as Dill.

He was beginning to feel the feelings of the first king of Ishtalika… was it that much of a resemblance?

“Then come this way. I will lead you to the place where I can accompany you.”

“Please do. …And Dill? Dill, I want you to wait outside the room. Um, how about you, Marco-san…?”

“I am, yes… I’ll wait for you here in the hall when I’m done showing you both around.”

——That was convenient.

There was no telling when the situation might turn out to be as bad as he feared, so this would ensure Dill’s safety.

“When I’m done, I’ll be back in the hall.”

“Very well. Then let us go to the place you want, we will be there shortly.”

Then Marco started to lead Ain and Dill again.

“Dill? No matter what happens, you can’t come into the room, okay? I’ll be fine… is that clear?”

“I know I should probably stop you… but I understand. But please don’t do anything reckless…”

“I know, I know! I’ll be right back, just wait.”

Although it was a relief to see Ain’s usual expression on his face, it was not so peaceful to be inside the castle, which had a completely different atmosphere from the castle in the Royal Capital, even though it was the exact duplicate of the castle in the capital.

The smell of old carpets and dust. The windows were steamed up, and you could not see out. The chandeliers showed no sign of being lit.

To top it off, there was no sign of life. Maybe they were the only people in the castle, but they had never been in a castle with such an atmosphere before, and it was impossible to tell them to relax.

“…Can you two see it?”

After a short walk, Marco stopped.

He pointed in a certain direction and said to Ain and Dill.

“…That door?”

In that direction was a heavy carved wooden door. And it was chained with nails, giving the impression that it was sealed with something.

The chains were just for decoration, which seemed contradictory.

“I’m going back to the hall. If you need anything else, please come to me immediately.”

“Thank you for the guidance. Dill, can you wait here?”

Ain points to the side of the door a little further down the hall.

“Yes, I understand. Then, Ain-sama, please take it easy and come back, okay?”

Dill nodded and followed Ain’s order.

“I understand. If anything happens to Dill, just call out loud, okay?”

“Hahaha! I’m not sure why it’s so heartbreaking for an escort to scream so loudly… but I understand. If anything happens, I will call Ain-sama as well.”

Hearing Dill’s answer, Ain nodded in satisfaction and began to take a deep breath.

“Oops and… Dill, can I have something we bought in the city?”

He couldn’t forget that. Ain, who had been in a hurry, remembered just in time.

“I have a complete set in this bag. …But, Ain-sama, whose graveyard is this?”

Dill asked and handed the bag he was carrying to Ain.

Meanwhile, Ain took the bag and made a gesture as if he was lost, saying aloud, “Um…”

“…Perhaps the royalty… of this place?”

“The royalty of this castle…? But I think the Demon King’s magic stone should be in the capital…”

“Well, it’s all a bit unclear, isn’t it? …Then I’ll go, I’ll be right back, just wait here.”

Then, before Dill could say anything, Ain finally entered the room.

“… It’s pitch black.”

Ain immediately closed the door he had opened, thinking that he shouldn’t let any influence escape.

“But I was told not to stop.”

Marco warned Ain. Ain obediently followed the advice and went straight to the back of the room.

The room was constructed so that no light could enter, and there was not even a single window. Yet somehow, the room was dimly lit, and he could see a large door at the back of the room.

Ain slowly moved his feet forward, one step and then another. …Then, the effects he had feared began to take hold.

“…What is this smell…?”

Suddenly, a certain smell began to fill the room.

Unfortunately, the smell was familiar—the smell of “bodily fluids” that every human being had.

“What the h.e.l.l was that?”

Ain continued to move his legs frantically, trying to escape the thickly spreading aroma.

——While doing so, the scene in front of him suddenly changed.

“…..!”

As Ain was stunned by the change to a room that looked like a prison made of stone, he began to faintly see the figure of a woman.

“Who are you…!”

He drew his sword and was alarmed, but there seemed to be no need for him to do so.

Looking at the girl, he realized that she was a girl of Ain’s age.

She had sooty dark red hair and thin clothes that look like rags with mud all over them. Upon closer inspection, chains like the ones at the entrance are wrapped around her arms and legs.

“What’s going on here…?”

He moved his feet with a worried look on his face, but the distance between him and the girl did not increase.

Still, he looked at her to see what was going on and realized something he didn’t want to notice.

“No way… right?”

He noticed that the girl’s hair was dirty and that there were enormous amounts of bodily fluids on her tattered clothes.

She twitched occasionally but never got up.

“Y-you… What are you doing here?”

He moved his body vigorously as if running away but still could not get close to the girl.

“What a terrible thing…!”

…When Ain started to think about what to do, it was about the time when he started to think about leaving the room and calling Marco.

He started to hear a mumbling voice coming from the girl.

“…I-it…hurts…”

Thinking it was a cry for help, Ain raised his voice.

“You’re alive…! What are you doing here… I’ll help you now!”

The girl’s face lifted in a relaxed movement as if she recognized Ain’s voice.

Although Ain could not see her expression through her long hair, he thought he caught a glimpse of her eyes.

“Wait a moment! I will ask for——”

Ain turned and was about to leave the room. Just as he thought that…

“Hey… do you love me?”

“——!?”

The girl who was supposed to be in front of him disappeared, and her voice was heard in his ear.

“What are you doing right now…?”

Ain, not knowing what the h.e.l.l had happened, shook his head from side to side and back and forth, trying to look for her.

But no matter where he looked, he couldn’t see her.

“G-gone?”

He shook his head again to check his surroundings. Not only was she gone, but so was the stone prison he had seen earlier.

“…Is that some kind of curse now?”

He checked his whole body, checked his palms, and touched his face.

On the contrary, he noticed that nothing had changed in his mood, and he wondered if it really was a curse.

Looking ahead, Ain was relieved to see that there is an exit just a few steps away.

“Hah… what a terrible and unpleasant sight.”

Why was that girl treated like a toy, and what did she want?

He didn’t think it was all because of the Red Fox’s curse, and the mysterious aspect remains.

Just by walking out of one room, Ain feels extremely tired.

“Let’s move on for now…”

He’d discuss that later.

Thinking about making Dill wait, Ain stepped forward again and headed for the door.

＊＊＊

Over the horizon, he could see the sun beginning to rise in shimmering rays.

A cool breeze blew softly, greeting Ain, the first visitor in a long time.

“The gra.s.s is beautiful, even though no one should be here.”

Beautiful gra.s.s grew all over the cemetery. How did they keep it so neat?

“I can’t believe they kept this place the same. His Majesty the First, the source of your thoughts… I can understand that.”

After muttering this, Ain continued.

The construction was similar to the Royal Cemetery in the Royal Capital, but only the number of tombstones was different.

There were only five such tombstones in the Demon King’s castle, two in the foreground and three in the background.

When Ain saw the tombstones in the front, he knew that the answer he was looking for was there. He was convinced.

“…It is a real pleasure to meet you, isn’t it? His Majesty the First.”

As if in answer to Ain’s voice, a strong wind blew through the air for a moment.

“You wanted to sleep in your hometown, such things are so normal…”

Stepping carefully on the gra.s.s, Ain went to the desired tombstone.

“Let’s go ahead and pay our respects.”

He opened the bag and took out the items he had bought.

He had bought more than enough to place them on the other tombstones as well.

“Excuse me.”

Ain started to do what he learned from Sylvird, just like in the cemetery of the Royal Capital.

“…..”

The more carefully he could perform each of his gestures, the more stable Ain’s mind was. It continued to run smoothly and without any particular delay and soon moved on to the final act.

“After all, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”

Raising his sword to his chest, Ain completed the process.

Then, unlike in the royal capital, Ain’s sword shone softly.

“Let’s take a look at the tombstone.”

Saying this, Ain shifted his gaze to the tombstone of the first king of Ishtalika… and the words carved on it.

“What happened and why it was like this… There is so much I want to know, but thanks to this, I finally understand a little bit more”.

The tombstone was inscribed in the ancient Ishtalika language.

“Son of Cain and Sylvia. Marc von Ishtalika, the second king of Ishtalika. Sleeping in his beloved homeland Ishtalika.”

——It was probably written “the second king” because it was something he could not compromise on.

Only this letter seems to be engraved more deeply than the others.

The first king might have been the demon king Arche.

“I guess I’ll just have to ask those two…”

He wished they would tell him honestly, but only the two people inside Ain could likely know the details of the story.

“The story of Ishtalika… What the h.e.l.l, this is more than just a mere 500 years. Ishtalika has existed for much, much longer.”

The former territory of the Demon King. The name of the place was Ishtalika… and it was the birthplace of the first king. That was what he meant.

“I’m sorry, both of you, but let me just check.”

Apologizing to the two people inside him, Ain went to the tombstone in the back.

He looked at the words on the tombstone.

“…Cain, Sylvia, and finally Arche… all have the name von Ishtalika engraved behind them. I see what that means…”

This was the moment when the research on the first Ishtalika king and the family structure that was the subject of the research was revealed.

“I guess the situation forced him to kill his family.”

Cain and Sylvia must have been in the Demon King’s forces. If so, only Marc, the first king of Ishtalika, went separately. Why was that?

“…But since he returned here and his bones are buried here, I don’t think it’s some kind of clash between friends or a fight that broke out.

Come to think of it, there was no way to know right away.

When Ain finished checking the names, he went to the door to leave the place.

“Oh, excuse me, let me check the last tombstone as well.”

It may seem like an impious act to suddenly come and look at the tombstone, but just for today, please forgive me. Ain repeats the apology many times in his mind.

“Maybe it’s Marc’s… eh, I think it’s Her Majesty’s the first…”

The tombstone looks a bit close to Marc’s tombstone as if it belonged to it.

Ain came closer to check the tombstone for the last time.

“Oh, as I thought.”

The tombstone reads in a few words.

“The second king of Ishtalika, Marc, and his wife, Raviola von Ishtalika. Resting in their beloved homeland of Ishtalika.”

“…I can only a.s.sume that they were born in the territory of the former demon king.”

Where was Ishtalika, where did they live, and where did it all begin?

It was difficult to identify the contents of the tombstone from the words carved on it alone.

“Huh? There’s another carving… what is it?”

After the first line of text, another name was carved in small letters below it.

“I wonder if it’s a maiden name or something? Before she got married.”

The small, evenly weathered letters made it difficult for Ain to read. But after a few dozen seconds, he was able to decipher the letters.

“Raviola Wernstein…?”

The cemetery of the Demon King’s castle was the last of such shocks.

“Huh… is that name mentioned here? Really?”

“She” should have stayed in the royal capital. I have to ask her to show me her detailed family tree… and it became necessary, Ain thought.

“… Let’s go back for now. Dill is waiting too.”

Some questions were answered, and new ones arose.

As a result, there were more things to think about again, but in Ain’s mind… this was the right way to organize it.

＊＊＊

The room in question, which he entered again, was not particularly disturbed, just as Marco had said.

On the contrary, he could walk through the room as usual.

“I’m back!”

“Ain-sama! I’m so glad you’re safe!”

Did I cause him much worry? …But I got something out of it, Ain thought.

“Sorry, sorry. I finished what I wanted to check.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Is that something you can tell me about?”

To be honest, Ain could tell Dill right now. But he wondered if it’s really something he could teach him.

Marc, the first king of Ishtalika, probably did not want the people of modern Ishtalika to know about it, so he slept in a place like this.

When he thought about it, even Ain wondered what he should do.

“…On the water train, okay? Now we have to go back to Baltic first.”

“Y-you’re probably right. I’m sorry… I was a bit hasty.”

This was because the best answer could not be found at the moment.

Ain put the story aside for now. By the time they got back to the train, he would have to figure out how to explain it.

“Then let’s go to the hall.”

“Yes!”

–…He thought, but he had to warn Dill.

“Sorry Dill. Can you do one thing?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“When we get to the Great Hall, no matter what happens, don’t interfere. You must obey me.”

“…Interfere?”

Yes, interfere.

For the last time, he wanted to settle this one-on-one. And he would settle it with the sword he had been taught, Ain had decided.

“Don’t worry about it. And if nothing happens, that would be even better.”

Despite his words, the possibility that nothing would happen was hopeless. In fact, it had already shown itself on the way here.

＊＊＊

“Well, well, well. Have you finished your business?”

“Yes, thanks to you, everything went well.”

The hall where Ain returned with Dill.

While the construction itself was a mirror image of the castle in the royal capital, the atmosphere was by no means dissimilar.

Marco stood alone in silence. For a moment, it was so quiet that he thought he was dead, but then, perhaps hearing Ain’s footsteps, he turned around and looked back.

“That’s good to hear… Are you going to Baltic now?”

“It’s almost dawn, and I intend to go straight home. So it’s time for me to leave now.”

Then Ain started to leave.

Dill just followed Ain silently and listened to their conversation.

“Very well. I will see you off on your way.”

Ain prayed. He kept praying that he would be able to leave the territory of the former demon king without saying a word.

“By the way… may I ask you a question?”

Marco calls to Ain as they pa.s.s each other, and Ain stops dead in his tracks.

Marco’s voice, which sounds somewhat cheerful, gives an eerie feeling.

“Oh… what is it?”

Ask me about the cemetery. Ask me about the cemetery. He reminded himself again and again in his mind, but the reality did not go according to Ain’s wish.

“…About the cemetery? If it’s about the cemetery…”

“Oh. No, no, I don’t care about that place. I just want to ask you… how you liked the rooms those ‘people’ made. I’m sure it must have been a wonderful place… I thought so.”

“Hmm, yes… that room.”

He reached for the sword on his hip, gripped the hilt tightly, exhaled sadly, and made up his mind.

“The place was the ‘worst’ I’ve ever seen, I don’t understand the taste of those who made it.”

And then Ain spoke his honest opinion.

“…You shouldn’t say that. I think you might be sick. I would like to invite you to my home… I have many medicines in my bas.e.m.e.nt, and I am sure that with them, you will be able to return to normal.

“Hmm… what kind of medicine is this?”

——Marco-san was already beyond help.

“It’s simple. It just causes a lot of pain and brings you back to your senses. I used it myself until the other day.”

Marco’s limit. When he heard that it had been recently, he regretted that he should have come here a little earlier.

He gritted his teeth and couldn’t help but be annoyed at this unreasonable situation.

“That’s great. But I’m fine… so I’m going back to the city.”

While they were talking, Ain drew his sword from his waist.

He pointed the sword made of Marco’s material at Marco in front of him. He never thought it would end up like this when he made it.

“You must not. For your sake… yes, this is for your sakeeeee!”

Suddenly raising his voice, Marco drew his sword and attacked Ain.

In a situation where he knew nothing about it, Ain would surely have been more confused. But this time, Ain was prepared in advance, so he…

“I won’t let the sword reach me.”

Ain effortlessly blocks Marco’s attack.

“(Even with the sharpness of this sword, I can’t break Marco-san’s sword…?)”

The sound of metal clashing echoes, and Ain and Marco’s swords clash.

“A-Ain-sama…!”

“Dill! Stay away from me! This is an order!”

Ain commanded in a strong manner.

Dill was surprised by the suddenness of the situation, but even more, he could not hide his surprise at Ain’s order.

“Why? Marco-dono is out of control! Then I will also…”

“No…! Marco-san is my opponent, I have to deal with him…!”

After a short moment of fierce fighting, Marco took a few steps back. Ain smiled dryly… as he made a move almost identical to the one he trained in his dream.

“You defended my attack? And with a gesture like the Commander’s?”

He probably hadn’t expected Ain to defend himself.

For Marco, even if it was Lloyd, he was an easy opponent. He didn’t understand how Ain, who was supposed to be weaker than Lloyd, was able to defend himself against his attack.

“Could it be that the Commander was at your side? Then why don’t you praise the greatness of these people? Oh, that’s right! The Commander is sick too? That’s what it means… Commander! I am coming now! Please rest at home, Commander! Oohhh! Ooohh!”

Seeing Marco coming towards him again, Ain smiled at him sadly.

“Even after all that has happened, your sword is still the same, isn’t it?”

“Now! Now, now, now, now, now, now! Please don’t hesitate, I will treat you in my home!”

As if remembering his dream, Ain continued to swing his sword calmly.

As if he was continuing his training, he was silently searching for an opening.

“Why? Why so defensive? …..The Commander is at your side? If so, why aren’t you reciting the wonders of those people? I never thought the Commander was sick too…?”

Speaking of the spirit, was Marco’s spirit dead already?

Marco just cut Ain endlessly while uttering the same line as before.

“——Hahh!”

The timing was the same as in training… so it was not difficult for Ain to find an opening.

“What the…?”

Ain’s attack, which hit hard, deeply wounded Marco’s armor. 

“I see, this is the thing! That thing… yes! Not enough faith, faith in those people… Oh, I’m sorry. I am deeply loyal to…”

Just as Marco was about to say the word loyalty, he stopped himself.

“What is loyalty…? What is… what… Hmm? ——Oh, I beg your pardon. I seemed a little confused, and I’m sorry for showing you an unflattering…”

——He came to his senses! Ain is pleased for a moment.

“So I’ll start from the beginning. Let’s hurry and come to my house!”

He took back what he said before. But maybe Marco lived on a handful of ego.

That’s why he avoided the word “loyalty,” or so it seemed.

“I’m not going, Marco-san. Because… it’s natural for me to feel bad about the red fox.”

With a snap, Marco’s movements stopped.

“… It’s no longer a matter of treatment. It is such a rude statement that I no longer have to sacrifice that body! If this is the ordeal I have been given? If so… then swallow your tears and let me punish you for what you have done to yourself!”

“Marco-san! You must have thought so too! You taught me so much when we were together before!”

While intercepting the approaching Marco, Ain uttered his thoughts loudly.

His voice was full of sadness, but his thoughts did not reach Marco.

“You have memory problems… so I’m going to cure you!”

“No! Marco-san, like me, has strong feelings of resentment! You are not dead yet! So… please come back!”

If not for the self-inflicted wounds he had just suffered, Ain would surely never have found hope.

But now that he had seen it, he was tempted to bet on the faint hope that maybe…

“Ihihiii.. No, no, no, no, no! I will punish and cure you omae… Don’t worry! I will take care of you!”

Marco’s spirit had become so worn out that his words were no longer consistent.

“——Enough. Please, make it easy for him.”

Ain thought he heard Cain’s words in his mind.

Just like Ain, his voice was full of sadness and pain, as if he wanted to run away.

“…I get it. Marco-san… I will be your last opponent.”

He thought back to his training with Cain.

Then, he turned his attention to the power that filled his body and recalled Cain’s sword, which he had shown from time to time.

“The power of Dullahan Cain that can cut even a sea dragon in two with a single slash…”

With his own body and strength, it was difficult to manifest that strength. But he could at least produce an imitation of it and send Marco off with it.

“Let’s go. Marco-san.”

He breathed in deeply…

The old carpet and the dusty aroma were fragrant.

His body felt hot. But there was no discomfort, and he felt a sense of “coming back to normal.”

He felt a sense of satisfaction that he could not put into words, and he felt as if his body was growing larger.

Looking at his hand, every single cell seemed to be shining.

“This must be the vessel that… I heard about last year. That I had it, that’s what it means.”

As he gripped the sword, its vein-like muscles began to pulsate.

It began to glow reddish-black and was enveloped in an appearance even more disastrous than Marco’s.

“The castle is… shaking?”

Dill muttered.

The castle began to shake, albeit slowly. As if responding to Ain’s breathing, it gradually began to throb like a heartbeat.

“Ain-sama…?”

The shaking was bothering him, but he was more concerned about Ain, who continued to fight.

Dill suddenly returned his gaze to Ain and saw that Ain’s appearance was gradually changing.

“What in the world is…!”

Ain’s hair grew so long that it exceeded his shoulder blades. And his height, which should have been smaller than Dill’s, somehow grew into a larger physique.

Although not as tall as Lloyd and Sylvird, Ain had become taller.

It was not only his body that has changed, but his face has changed as well. While becoming as beautiful as his mother, Olivia, he had also transformed into a somewhat more dignified and masculine face.

If it was said that this was the appearance of Ain’s growth, it would be easy to understand his appearance.

“——Kuh!”

The moment Dill blinked for a moment, Ain disappeared from where he was standing, and when he realized it, he was standing right in front of Marco.

“I’m still “incomplete,” but this is the sword I can use now. Marco-san… I will let you rest now.”

When he thought he swung his sword, it was a different stand from the usual Ain.

If he thought he had broken Marco’s center of gravity, he would attack again and again, hoping that Marco would not be able to defend himself.

“C-Commander… Commander!”

What were those eyes reflecting?

Ain just looks calm and continues to launch pursuit attacks on the startled Marco.

The sound of swordplay, which echoed back and forth, gradually began to lose momentum.

That meant that the end of this battle was approaching… That’s what it meant.

“This is the last time. Marco-san…!”

Marco’s sword was blown away, and his crumpled position brought him to one knee.

And the moment he looked up… Ain raises his sword wide, only to calmly lower it toward Marco.

——Gigiiiiiii…

The sound of metal being sliced through the air echoed through the great hall of the Demon King’s castle. Then Marco, who had begun to collapse from his knees, began to speak to Ain in the same tone as before.

“…You have grown stronger.”

Marco had no face. But even so, the expression he exuded was tangible and understandable.

“Are you sane…? Marco-san, you’ve come to your senses…!”

Ain, while holding the sword, supported Marco’s collapsing body on his own knees.

“Haha… Actually, I don’t remember many of them. Perhaps… I swung my sword at you.”

“Wait! I’m going to get the magic stone somehow now! So be quiet…”

“…It is no longer necessary. I was finally cut down by the Commander’s sword… I am already satisfied with this.”

The voice slowly began to snarl, and every muscle in his body began to lose its light.

“Wait! That’s an order, Marco! …If it is “my order,” you have an obligation to listen to it!”

What in the world was Ain talking about, Dill wonders, even as he watched this dramatic conclusion.

“…But I seem to be at the end of my rope. I’m very sorry, but I’d like to ask for your time…”

Marco’s glimmer continues to get smaller and smaller, just like a firefly glowing. Ain’s eyes kept seeing it, and it was hard not to feel it.

“The Commander is no longer here. So please… with your voice, give me some time.”

Marco struggled to squeeze out the words, whipping his body, which was now only death awaiting him.

——“If… If you have to fight the person who used the sword I just used, give him this last word.”

These are the words that Cain wished for Ain.

To remember that and to keep that promise, he endures the feeling that he is about to cry.

“…Marco, then I shall tell you.”

“…Yes! I, Marco, will obey you…”

Had his body been in good health, he would surely have saluted with a neat and crisp movement.

Marco was unable to do so now. Ain took a final deep breath and told Marco.

“‘…Thank you for your hard work on this mission that has spanned several hundred years.'”

These are the words entrusted to Ain by Cain.

“C-Comman…der…”

Ain has not been told the details of the mission.

However, Marco was finally notified of the end of his mission, one that had taken hundreds of years to complete.

“Fu, fufu.. at the end of the day, there is no happier gift… Well, I’m going to go now… but, for the last time, may I ask your name…?”

It must really be the last one. One must look closely to find the glowing part of Marco’s body.

“…My name is Ain, Ain von Ishtalika. I am the next king, who inherits the blood of the rightful Ishtalika, the second king of the Ishtalika royal family.”

Perhaps his own body has already changed, though still imperfectly.

Ain recognized the physical changes that had just taken place as such.

“Fu, fufu… what a… dignified name. Ah, I was a happy knight… Please, Ain-sama, let me be at your side…”

“Please rest easy. I’ll take care of all your thoughts.”

Ain felt a satisfied smile on Marco’s face when he heard those words.

“May your name… resound to the ends of the everlasting world… Ah, glory to Ishtalika…”

Then Marco’s body became hazy like particles, and just before he disappeared, he dropped a piece of parchment and a magic stone from inside his armor.

Ain took the magic stone and immediately absorbed its contents. Then Ain’s body glowed for a moment, and his hair grew a little longer one last time, so long that now it reached his waist.

“It was incomplete just now, but now it feels ‘complete’…?”

After muttering this, Ain picked up the parchment that Marco had dropped.

“…I see. Marco-san… you have been holding on to this “order” for hundreds of years…”

There weren’t many words on it.

The contents of the order, however, conveyed a great deal of emotion. …On an old, tattered piece of parchment, it reads.

“Protect the royal capital and our home. ——Commander Cain von Ishtalika.”

Marco had simply and foolishly… and sincerely kept that order for hundreds of years.