“What!?”
Emilia was horrified. So the shock just now was caused by that man? Boudica and Silvia were also shocked upon hearing that.
“Huh? Then that thing just now—”
“Wait a moment!”
Silvia hurriedly covered Boudica’s mouth and gave a signal with her eyes to the other children. There must be listening ears around, so don’t make it obvious.
“Ugh! Uhgh…”
Boudica nodded silently with her mouth covered by Silvia. If this gets out to others, the man will be in trouble, and we might lose our bodyguards on the way to the Demon Realm.
If things go wrong, we could even be sued for damages.
‘I saw earlier that one of the bodyguards got seriously injured and was being sent to the school to report.’
To avoid that, it must not be known that the suspect behind this commotion is that man. No matter why they fought, dealing with the incident would tie up our hands as well. Thanks to Silvia’s quick thinking, everyone tightened their lips.
“Ahem… Since we don’t hear any more noise, shall we finish shopping?”
“Y-yeah…!”
Everyone continued as if nothing had happened. In the end, all five of them bought the items on the list together. Fortunately, Rian and Emili arrived, making it easier to carry the luggage to the train. Only after boarding the train did they ask Silvia.
“Do you think the man is safe?”
“I don’t know! Why on earth did he suddenly act like that?”
The silver-haired nun rubbed her forehead with her index finger and sighed. Though it was out of necessity that they kept silent for that man’s sake, the fact that he caused a commotion surely displeased her.
“He must have his reasons…”
She defended him, saying he wouldn’t start a fight without cause.
“Usually, wouldn’t you scold a mercenary in this situation?”
“S-sorry…”
She closed her mouth under Silvia’s sharp gaze. As a mercenary escorting academy students, it was right not to cause trouble elsewhere. But more than reproach, now she just hoped—
“Is he safe?”
She wanted him to return unharmed by any means. Because only if he comes back can they scold him; if something bad happened, that would be a problem in itself.
“Just wait until he returns… I’ll deal with him then…!”
With that determined look, Silvia opened the cabin door.
“Oh, you’re back?”
“…Huh?”
Uncle Eugene was with a man I hadn’t seen before.
“Got it? Our mission period lasts until we board the train back to the imperial capital from the Demon Realm.”
Eugene repeated the mission to the newcomer. The main task was to protect the children’s safety, but also to teach them survival skills.
“Yeah, yeah~ So basically you want me to be the kids’ babysitter.”
The guy still sulked, apparently upset about losing the fight. Though he sounded disrespectful, no one expected him to be courteous. After all, he was an assassin sent to kill us, so resistance was expected.
“Don’t sulk too much. At least I pay you.”
If I wanted to exploit him, I wouldn’t have hired him unpaid. Despite appearances, I pay properly for work. Two silver coins a month is generous compared to other mercenaries. At this, Needle snorted.
“Hmph! Of course I deserve that much for working as a bodyguard.”
‘What the hell?’
This guy’s really cheeky. Is he deliberately trying to provoke me? I ended up smacking the crown of his head with my fist.
“You brat!”
Bang!
The sound of a hammer echoed from his skull.
“Ugh!”
He instinctively covered his head from the sudden hit, and that was the end.
“Hey, man, just accept your loss! Got it?”
“722.”
Needle glared at me instead of answering. But knowing he couldn’t win if he charged, he only glared. If he could have run away earlier, he wouldn’t have thrown a tantrum. N-no, he’s acting up because he can’t escape.
“Sigh…”
Well, I can’t help it, since I dragged him here taking all this into account. Normally, I’d just finish the contract and leave, but due to lack of skill, I messed things up and ended up becoming a servant to the target. I’d be annoyed too.
‘Freelance knights seek freedom.’
They take orders from no one, are controlled by no one. In this world, the only things they can trust are themselves and their talents. That’s the common identity among the diverse freelance knights.
“When this is all over, I’ll give you a bonus and let you go, so hang in there, okay?”
“Hmph!”
Needle snorted at that but, seemingly accepting the situation, calmed down a bit. He looked to be almost thirty, so he should know how to obey sometimes.
“By the way…”
Suddenly, he spoke.
“Where are we heading first in the Demon Realm?”
“Hmm?”
His tone suggested he knew quite a bit about the Demon Realm. I had traveled there several times, but my last trip was fifteen years ago. Fifteen years is enough time for the landscape to change, so a guide was needed.
“You know a lot about the Demon Realm?”
“Of course I do.”
Needle smirked.
“My home’s there.”
“Oh, a pioneer settler?”
Those who left the empire and entered the Demon Realm are called pioneers.
Since the empire offers no land, no property, no opportunities, most go to the Demon Realm to plant their flag in this no-man’s land.
‘Of course, it’s no-man’s land because it’s crawling with man-eating monsters.’
They fight monsters and establish settlements. Contrary to popular belief, there are already humans living there. Now, many villages are a mix of pioneers and locals.
“They live in the Demon Realm just because they dislike the empire.”
Some pioneers indeed left the empire out of dislike, especially those from conquered fallen nations due to the empire’s expansion. Others dislike the emperor-centered rule system.
“Whatever the reason, it means you know the routes well.”
“Hmph!”
Needle snorted again.
‘Perfect.’
If what he says is true, we can proceed safely this time. Following the paths carefully built by pioneers means fewer predators. While others wander blindly using maps, we minimize risk by traveling safe routes.
‘I’m curious how much has changed in 15 years.’
Needle might know recent developments in the Demon Realm. Even locals don’t necessarily know everything about their region, but they likely have more up-to-date information than outsiders.
“How’s the movement of the Four Heavenly Kings these days?”
Especially regarding the former demon lord’s retainers from a hundred years ago. The four strongest retainers survived the purge and still hold power.
‘After the demon lord’s defeat, they compromised with the empire to coexist and maintain their territories.’
Demons inherently prey on humans. No matter how human their appearance or language, it’s only a trick to lull prey into complacency.
“The Four Heavenly Kings? What about them?”
‘Those guys?’
I guess people have started calling those fiends that recently. Since they’ve coexisted with the empire for nearly a hundred years, maybe people have begun to accept them as part of daily life.
‘But that’s exactly when enemies strike—when you let your guard down.’
Feeling a little worried, I asked Needle.
“Right, the demon lord’s retainers who were defeated by the hero a hundred years ago.”
“They’re always the same. They stay in their territories and don’t come out.”
“I see.”
So nothing has changed. But even after a century, their lack of special movements was suspicious.
‘I’ll think about that later.’
Moving on.
“Where’s the safest place to go first in the Demon Realm?”
This was crucial for planning our route. Traveling safely first would help the kids adjust. Going straight into areas swarming with high-level monsters would be too dangerous.
“Safe…”
Needle stroked his beard.
“It depends on where you come out after crossing the Great Forest.”
He was right; we had to break through the Great Forest beyond the empire’s border. The Great Forest is a massive green barrier dividing human lands and the Demon Realm. There are many ways to enter the Demon Realm through the forest, with no single entry point.
“So, what’s the safest area?”
“Well~”
Just as Needle was about to answer,
“Just wait until he comes back… I swear I’ll—!”
An angry, familiar voice called from outside the cabin.
Clatter!
The door opened, and Emilia and the children appeared. Silvia, who opened the door, wore a fierce expression. Though I didn’t know what had made her angry, she raised a hand.
“Oh, you’re back?”
“…Huh?”
Emilia, standing among the kids, was dumbfounded. She wasn’t the only one surprised. Silvia raised her eyebrows and looked back and forth between me and Needle.
“…Who is this man?”
Rather than giving a long explanation, I introduced simply.
“He’s a mercenary I hired. His name’s Needle.”
“What? Hired?”
Silvia looked flustered, unable to believe it. Coming back from shopping to find a stranger was indeed startling. Behind her, Rian’s eyes widened at Needle’s face.
“Ah, no, that man is…!”
“Why is that?”
“He’s the one who picked a fight with Uncle Eugene!”
“What!?”