Chapter 67: Paramir (3)

“Ueeeeeegh!!“

“……”

Despite finally entering a newly unlocked area—a truly historic moment—I was unable to properly enjoy the joy it should have brought.

A dimensional gate shimmering with blue light.

But once it became reality, teleportation came with a completely unexpected side effect.

It wasn’t that we arrived at a different location.

I was dizzy.

Nauseous.

For reasons unknown, from the instant I stepped into the dimensional gate until the moment I arrived at the place where the Racial Alliance’s leadership resided, I was too busy emptying everything in my stomach.

“Uegh…!“

“…Honestly. They said they were bringing in the famous ‘Destroyer of Kingdoms,’ but is this really Lord Paramir, the so-called ‘Destroyer of Kingdoms,’ Hecate?”

“Yeah. That’s him.”

“We should let him rest first. Dimensional gate sickness… I’ve only ever read about it in books. This is my first time seeing it.”

“Uwaaa—eegh!!“

I heard an unfamiliar man’s voice, but I didn’t have the luxury of lifting my head to see what he looked like or assess whether he was dangerous.

My stomach churned, my head spun, and I was too busy turning the marble floor into something resembling a savory pancake.

That Return Stone.

A mere disposable teleportation device of a stone had driven me into the worst moment of my life.

“Ueeeeeegh!!“

“…That’s disgusting.”

“Hecate, I’ll clean it up. Just a moment.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Even after throwing up everything inside me, I lay there for quite a while before finally regaining my senses.

Ugh… my head hurts… my stomach is still churning…

“You may rest comfortably. Dimensional gate sickness is rare, but I hear it’s not a pleasant experience.”

Whoever this guy was, his words were surprisingly considerate and refined for someone supposedly belonging to the Racial Alliance—often called the Demon King’s Army.

Even if the look he gave me was like one reserved for a pig wallowing in a mud pit…

Still, at least he was kind enough to speak gently.

“Th-thank you…”

“…You’re welcome. Please rest for now.”

How embarrassing.

I couldn’t lift my head from sheer shame.

The grand epithet Destroyer of Kingdoms wept tears of injustice.

Reduced to a pitiful invalid over a condition called dimensional gate sickness—a disease I’d never even heard of.

Ah, my life.

Starting my first encounter in Heldrasil like this… how would the people here see me now?

“Are you feeling better? My name is Ahin. Though I am lacking, I manage this place—the Barren Sand Castle. Lady Hecate said she was bringing the ‘Destroyer of Kingdoms,’ but…”

“Y-yes. That would be me…”

“……”

The man who introduced himself as Ahin looked at me with pity, like a lone stray dog wandering in the rain, as I still hadn’t fully recovered from the dimensional gate sickness.

Seeing me slumped back in a chair like a dried squid, I couldn’t blame him.

I didn’t want to resent him for it.

I observed Ahin, the young man who said he managed the Barren Sand Castle.

He had black, wool-like curls, tightly coiled.

His skin was a pleasant bronze—whether that was his natural complexion or the result of long exposure to the sun, I couldn’t tell.

His eyes were a light emerald green, and with a high nose bridge, sharp jawline, a broad, masculine chest, sturdy shoulders, and a solid, lean build—even if not quite on my level—it was clear he was no ordinary man.

No, Paramir, you lunatic. Why are you appraising a man in this much detail?

Have things on the Armenial Continent really been that rough for you?

No.

That’s not it.

This is just because of the nausea.

I’m not interested in men!

“So you are indeed Lord Paramir. In any case, welcome to the Barren Sand Castle.”

“Barren Sand Castle?”

“You didn’t know? This is the place where the seven races gather. Unfortunately… in the Human Empire, more people call it the Demon King’s Castle.”

What?

“…The Demon King’s Castle?”

“Haha, that’s what everyone in the Human Empire calls it. Somehow, it just stuck. Funny, isn’t it?”

It’s not funny!

Not funny at all!

What part of this is supposed to be funny?!

The Demon King’s Castle?!

I knew the Racial Alliance was often referred to as the Demon King’s Army.

But I’d always assumed that was just drunken tavern talk—human prejudice toward a coalition of non-human races.

Nuance.

There’s such a thing as nuance.

I genuinely thought that was all it was!

At least, that was the impression I’d gotten from everything I’d seen and experienced so far.

Just looking at Lady Hecate was enough to realize that Heldrasil, the Racial Alliance, was worlds apart from the image of a ‘Demon King’s Army.’

But still…

The Demon King’s Castle?

Sure, Lady Hecate did say, “Would you like to meet Hader, the master of Heldrasil?”

But dropping me straight into the heart of the Demon King’s Castle?

So this means I followed Lady Hecate here, completely dazed, smiling stupidly, and walked right into the core of the Racial Alliance—

No, the Demon King’s Army?

This is a scam!

The Demon King’s Castle, the Demon King’s Castle!

No one told me that!

“That expression.”

“Huh?!”

Lady Hecate returned, having briefly disappeared somewhere.

At her side stood a middle-aged man with his eyes covered by black cloth.

A massive frame.

Muscles bulging as if they might burst.

Ahin looked like an excellent warrior, but this man was on another level entirely.

It was like someone had increased his character model size by 1.5 times.

Is he really… human?

The middle-aged man with his eyes covered approached me.

Could he even see where he was going?

“So you’re the ‘Destroyer of Kingdoms,’ Lord Paramir? A pleasure to meet you. I’m Hader. Make yourself comfortable. I hear you suffered from dimensional gate sickness. Looks like Ahin already cleaned up—there’s no smell.”

“H-ha ha…”

Hader.

Hader…

The man named Hader looked like a bandit chief dressed up in dignified clothing.

The kind who’d guzzle rice wine straight from the bottle, keep flirtatious women in his arms, and throw feasts every time he appeared.

That kind of stereotypical bandit chief.

So.

So.

This man’s head carried a bounty worth exactly ten times mine—ten thousand platinum coins?

The terrifying monster rumored to turn people back into black soil just by looking at them.

In a game, he would’ve been the final boss—or perhaps a hidden boss of similar standing.

Facing Hader, even though my nausea hadn’t fully subsided, alarm bells began ringing throughout my entire body.

Dangerous.

This well-built middle-aged man was nothing like the unassuming neighborhood uncles you’d see in any random town.

Ziiiing…

The ominous warning ringing from deep within me was not something to ignore.

“Once the Human Empire places a bounty on you, there aren’t many places left for you to go. Make yourself at home. Our Racial Alliance always welcomes those hated by the Human Empire—as long as they’re not utterly heinous criminals.”

Hader extended his hand.

Before I realized it, I was shaking it.

Hader.

Leader of the Racial Alliance—or the Demon King’s Army—that opposed the Human Empire.

From the man with his eyes covered emanated not just physical strength, but the presence of something vast and unseen—like a colossal serpent coiled deep within an abyss.

“Dimensional gate sickness! Hahaha! In all my years, I’ve never heard of such a thing! That’s hilarious! Truly hilarious! To think someone so capable and so amusing would come to our Alliance! Today is a very good day indeed!”

“Haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha…”

What a voice.

He looked like a bandit chief, yet held the awe-inspiring position of leading a multi-racial alliance—and he was astonishingly relaxed and down-to-earth.

“…”

I subtly rolled my eyes toward Lady Hecate.

She showed not the slightest interest in us, as though she were simply waiting for this tedious moment to end so she could reclaim her freedom.

Standing beside Hader, she almost looked like a captured under-elf princess.

Yeah.

I really think I’ve been scammed.

Maybe the Human Empire has a point after all.

Hader continued laughing heartily.

Even real bandit chiefs probably weren’t this loud and boisterous.

This didn’t match my image of a Demon King at all.

“Good! Very good. ‘Destroyer of Kingdoms,’ Lord Paramir. The fact that you came here suggests you’re at least somewhat inclined to work with us, wouldn’t you say?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

I kept a bit of distance.

No matter how much trust I placed in Lady Hecate, that was that, and this was this.

A multi-racial alliance.

It sounded nice, but even the Human Empire—largely composed of a single race—was riddled with problems everywhere.

And here, not two or three, but seven races gathered together?

The problems within this Alliance were likely seven times worse—or more.

Hader nodded at my response.

“I understand. Our Alliance doesn’t have the best reputation outside. Still, wouldn’t you consider giving us a chance?”

Hader spoke smoothly.

It didn’t suit him, and yet it did.

An old man where harmony and discord somehow coexisted.

He looked like a bandit chief, but apparently he wasn’t leading the Alliance by drawing lots.

“Of course, we’ll respect your opinion, but if not with the Alliance, there really aren’t many places left for you to go.”

He wasn’t wrong.

There was already nowhere within the territories of the Human Empire and its allies where I could rest easy.

“…As you know, the Human Empire is no easy opponent. Too formidable for an individual to stand against. I’ve looked into the incidents you’ve caused so far. Very impressive. Destroying a kingdom single-handedly—that was a masterpiece if I’ve ever seen one. Remarkable. Truly remarkable!”

“Hahaha…”

“And aside from toppling the Kingdom of Bers—”

Hader went on to recount my past deeds, even ones I barely remembered myself.

Murder.

Destruction.

The annihilation of armed armies and organized groups.

Culminating in the solo destruction of an entire kingdom.

Everything he mentioned were things I’d done since falling onto the Armenial Continent.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call them my footprints.

Even the formidable leader of a Racial Alliance that stood against the Human Empire didn’t seem to know much about the earliest events after my arrival.

Which meant he didn’t know everything about me.

Not that I knew everything about myself either.

In any case, his information about the more recent past—especially after the fall of Bers—was remarkably accurate.

“The Kingdom of Bers had long been plagued by unsavory rumors. Calling it a kingdom was generous. Even if it hadn’t been you, it would’ve met its end eventually. So accelerating that fate isn’t something I’d call a problem, Lord Paramir.”

“You think rather kindly of me, considering this is our first meeting.”

“My ‘eyes’ are accurate. Aren’t they, Ahin?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Haha…”

Hader praised me without hesitation.

In any case, the leader of the Racial Alliance didn’t seem displeased by the fact that I’d destroyed a kingdom alone, nor did he treat me like a troublesome time bomb within the Alliance.

Whether that was magnanimity, confidence in his so-called ‘eyes,’ or the belief that he had means to easily subdue someone like me—

Who knows.

I didn’t particularly want to know.

Whatever his true intentions, the way Hader presented himself wasn’t bad.

A bit overwhelming, sure, but at least he was engaging in a rational, person-to-person conversation.

“…Impressive. I didn’t think you’d know that much.”

I understood that he’d done extensive research on me.

Perhaps even excessively so, but fine.

If he were trying to recruit someone like me without thorough preparation, that would’ve been disappointing.

“If you join us, Lord Paramir, we’d be truly reassured. Heldrasil welcomes you.”

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Hm? What is it?”

I was tempted—no denying that.

Maybe I really am easily swayed.

A few enticing words, a bit of kindness, and my resolve starts to crumble.

Still, you don’t cross a stone bridge without checking it first.

My price tag wasn’t exactly modest.

I might be a Swordmaster in name, but nodding immediately and saying, Sure! Got it! would sting my pride.

Hader’s proposal to join Heldrasil wasn’t bad.

Especially since he hadn’t tried to coerce me with blades or magic staffs.

But.

Before agreeing, there was one thing I needed to confirm.

“If I were to join… would I belong as the human ‘Paramir’? Or, since the leader himself is extending such hospitality, would I be joining the Racial Alliance—”

“As a ‘weapon,’ a Swordmaster, under your direct command?”