“I’m home, Melt.” (Shizuma) “Wa! You scared me… Shilent really has presence, huh?” (Melt) “Yeah… I’m acting so the image doesn’t crumble, but honestly, I’m pretty nervous myself.” (Shizuma) When I returned home, Melt was drying her tail with a bath towel. A freshly-bathed fox, huh. “Melt, once your tail dries, I’d like to have a bit of a serious talk. Until then, I’ll go take a bath myself.” (Shizuma) “A-A serious talk… Got it…!” (Melt) —————- The source of this content ɪs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝕟𝕖𝕥 “Am I…just meddling?” (Shizuma) You can’t see inside here from the outside. That was the point. Pretty luxurious, if I say so myself. I stretched my legs out in the wide bath and thought about what lies ahead. “…I’ll use the bell to teleport straight into the castle. If possible… I’ll mow everything down in order, starting from the castle gates.” (Shizuma) But that was just one way to attack. How to trample, how to disable their functions; that was all I considered. Numbers don’t matter. Honestly, I think I could just unleash my skills recklessly from outside the city and wipe it out. But that would cause too many civilian casualties. In that case, the only option is for me to strike directly at the castle. Most of all…if I defeat them one by one, the last ones waiting will be Isaka and Inami. The final conclusion won’t be settled as Shilent, but as Shizuma. “…Even if I capture the king and his close aides, the problem is still the ‘collaborators’.” (Shizuma) The ones who outsmarted Killcrawler, destroyed the Underside by some method, and managed to escape. The ones with the technology to modify and strengthen monsters, and even apply that to humans. The ones with collaborators inside Lindblum, with enough organization to build a hideout atop that mountain. Clearly, they’re a far more troublesome existence than Golda. “…They’re also the ones who found and stole fragments of the Core that controls the artificial dungeon, aren’t they?” (Shizuma) I still don’t know what kind of opponent they are. But I’m certain they’re the ones who instigated this war and lured others into summoning from another world. …At the very least, they are my clear and undeniable enemies in this world. “…Guess I’ll get out now.” (Shizuma) “I made the syrup extra strong this time since you said it’s a serious talk!” (Melt) After the bath, what she handed me was a dark-colored cola. …Melt, are you just finding excuses to keep making it stronger? “Melt…you’ll get fat, you know?” (Shizuma) “I-I won’t get fat…! Ah, but the syrup’s running low, so could you make more for me next time?” (Melt) “Haha, sure. It’s simple enough that anyone can make it.” (Shizuma) Maybe… I don’t need to carry such a heavy burden after all. Melt is a strong girl. Both physically and mentally. Didn’t she once say it herself? That “revenge is a privilege for those who can afford it.” More than hatred or resentment, she had the resolve to accept protection from the very nation she despised in order to survive. “Melt. Only I, as Shilent, will take part in the war. Using the Dungeon Core of the Dreamhill Great Forest, I’ll teleport straight into that forest. Then I’ll…crush the nation directly.” (Shizuma) “…Right, you did defeat the Dungeon Master there.” (Melt) “That forest belongs to no one else. I’ll make it only for you and me. That’s fine, right?” (Shizuma) “Hmm… maybe we should share it too? That forest originally belonged to everyone in the country. Before it became a dungeon…merchants used to come, and hunters would go there for game. After it turned into a dungeon, the monsters got too strong and only a few could enter though…” (Melt) “…Then I’ll try to make it so that at least no one can enter your village.” (Shizuma) “Yeah, please do that. That place…is full of memories. Everyone’s gone now, but the memories are still there.” (Melt) I felt the urge to embrace her. Hearing her speak so casually like that, I wanted to hold her close. “Melt. Is it okay if I destroy Golda?” (Shizuma) “Will you kill lots of people who have nothing to do with it?” (Melt) “…I’ll kill the soldiers who obey the nation.” (Shizuma) “Will you kill the king too?” (Melt) “I’ll capture the higher-ups alive and bring them back here. I want to interrogate them. And of course…if there’s something you want to ask them, you can ask directly. If you want, you can deliver the punishment with your own hands.” (Shizuma) I was telling her that I’d leave that in her hands. Both the questioning…and the right to decide life or death. “I’ve already got permission to capture them alive and leave the rest up to you. I’ll entrust it to you, Melt.” (Shizuma) “…That scares me. I don’t know what I’d do if I stood in front of the king, and that terrifies me.” (Melt) “But I think it’s something you need too. I won’t ask you to decide right now, but I’d like you to make up your mind before the war ends.” (Shizuma) “…Alright. It really was…a serious talk.” (Melt) “What kind of talk did you think it would be?” (Shizuma) “…I thought you were going to scold me for turning more of the garden into a pond…” (Melt) Wait, it was too dark to check last time, but…did you actually expand it even more after that? …At this rate, Melt’s going to end up running a shrimp farm business. The next day, Melt said “I’ve got a promotion test at the General Guild today!” and left the house early in the morning, leaving me with nothing to do. Come to think of it, the General Guild also told me I needed to collect my accumulated rewards. “It’s been a while since I went to the guild in this form… Guess I’ll go.” (Shizuma) Now that I think about it, I’ve never really taken a proper look around Lindblum while in the form of Shilent. I have always gone straight to my destination…never to eat out, never for an outing. As expected, passersby looked a little surprised, but since this city is full of mercenaries and adventurers, and since my face wasn’t as haggard and villainous-looking from sleep deprivation as before, I wasn’t feared too much. I eventually arrived at the General Guild, but… “We’re so sorry!!!! If only we had reported faster to the proper authorities, what happened yesterday wouldn’t have happened! Shilent-danna**, how could we ever apologize enough!” Sigurt-san apologized with a spine-bending 90-degree bow. Ah, you mean about yesterday! It’s fine already! “It’s fine. I even got to see something valuable inside the gates. Plus, I managed to take care of my business there.” (Shizuma) “No way… you actually stormed the castle!?” (Sigurt) “Who said anything about storming in. I just had a little chat.” (Shizuma) “A-A chat…?” (Sigurt) You’re absolutely misunderstanding something here! “Anyway, I’d like to collect the rewards that have been piling up for me.” (Shizuma) “Understood. It’s been several months, so it’ll take a bit of time. Could you please wait in the lounge?” (Sigurt) The General Guild, being general, means that nearly everyone in the city has reason to visit it at least once. That’s why it’s always crowded with people every day, even now in the morning. Normally at this time, adventurers and mercenaries should be out on requests, but as I heard before, they’re currently restricted to local requests only -no expeditions. So it’s become common for them to finish simple missions by noon, return for their report, and then head out for lunch. Well, there are a lot of people who take requests that take until evening, but I’ve heard that younger or newer adventurers often come back around this time. “Man, we got a ton today! Guess that means no other newbies are taking them.” “But this’ll probably be the last for this year. The river creatures will be heading to the mountaintop lake to pass the winter. We’ll need to find different requests starting tomorrow.” “Still, we earned a lot thanks to Melt-chan this year! Maybe we’ll even be promoted to Topaz Rank next year! I’ve been feeling great lately too!” “Hmm…that’s strange. I’ve been in great condition too. Haven’t gotten sick at all recently. Even when I fell into the river the other day, I was fine.” “Ah, me too! My mom caught a cold, and my dad and sister got it too, but somehow I didn’t.” I overheard those familiar voices while waiting in the lounge… Those three newbie adventurers again. If they’re talking about Topaz Rank, that means they’re finally leaving the newbie stage. A good sign. “Shilent-san, please come to the counter.” I went straight to the reception when I was called. The three newbies ended up lining up right behind me. “Thank you for waiting. This here is your reward for the investigation request, the guard mission, and the subsequent resolution of the problem. In addition, here’s the reward for your recent subjugation request, including a captain’s allowance, plus your share of the monster parts that have already been sold. Altogether, it comes to 277 large gold coins.” “That’s a good sum. Weren’t the proceeds from the monster parts divided evenly among my team members?” (Shizuma) “Of course. Each of them received 15 large gold coins.” “…Even after dividing, it’s still this much. They must’ve fetched quite the price.” (Shizuma) “Yes, indeed. A trading company specializing in exports bought them for a high sum. Apparently, the wing membranes of rare dragon species are especially valuable.” Oh…just the wing membranes, huh. Must be some specific demand for them. I accepted the familiar barrel-shaped trunk containing 277 large gold coins…about 14 million yen. “S-So much money… I’ve never seen such a fortune right in front of me…” “Wow… What do you even use it for…” The three newbies behind me couldn’t help but react honestly. So, I decided to tease them a bit. “Heh, what do you think? Maybe I’m secretly plotting to overthrow the nation, using this to buy weapons.” (Shizuma) “S-Sorry… We weren’t trying to eavesdrop!” “Don’t worry, I was joking.” (Shizuma) …Uh, receptionist lady? Why do you look pale and mutter “I knew it…!”? No, seriously, it’s just a Shilent-style violent joke! “Ah! Kash! Rikka-chan! Grant! And…for some reason, Shilent!” Just then, Melt came down from the second floor, calling out happily. Well, our relationship must already be obvious to the higher-ups, since we’ve taken subjugation missions together. Might as well let it be known openly now. “Melt! Why were you upstairs?” (Kash) “Hm, were you called for something?” (Grant) “Um…are you acquaintances with him?” (Rikka) Melt came running down, smiling brightly. “Shilent is Seimu’s friend, and a fellow member of his brigade. He’s an amazing adventurer! He’s even Sapphire rank!” “No way!? Sapphire…the Hero rank!?” (Kash) “I-Is that true!?” (Rikka) “I see… Then the earlier reward makes sense…” (Grant) Yeah, letting it be known is better at this point. That way, tragedies like yesterday won’t happen again. “I don’t think of myself as a hero, but I’ve contributed in my own way. I see, so you were Melt’s acquaintances.” (Shizuma) “Yep. They’re the ones who taught me how parties work, and how to handle requests.” (Melt) “I see. So Melt, if you came down from upstairs, does that mean your promotion test is done?” (Shizuma) “The written exam’s done! Normally there’s also a practical exam, but I was exempt!” (Melt) “Hoh… Well, that makes sense.” (Shizuma) “Apparently, a lot of people recommended me!” (Melt) Hmm…yeah, no need for a test. Melt’s strong enough. “So then, is the result out?” (Shizuma) Melt smirked with a “heheh” and walked past us to the counter. “Miss receptionist! Give me my new guild tag, please!” (Melt) “Fufu, here you go, Melt-chan. Congratulations, you’ve been promoted to Ruby Rank. You’re officially a first-rate adventurer now.” “Yay! Now I’m on the same level as Seimu!” (Melt) “That’s great news. If Seimu were here, he’d probably treat you to a celebratory meal.” (Shizuma) “You can treat me too, Shilent, you know?” (Melt) Melt’s eyes seemed to say, “Celebrate it!” …Yeah, it doesn’t have to be Seimu. A celebration’s a celebration. “Whoa! Melt, already Ruby Rank!?” (Kash) “As expected… She was recommended straight to Emerald when she joined.” (Grant) “Oh yeah, I forgot about that…” (Rikka) Yeah, that’s easy to forget. “…Perfect timing. I just got a good chunk of money. Melt, I’ll treat you. Eat whatever you like. And you three greenhorns…come too. It’s a friend’s celebration, no reason you can’t join.” (Shizuma) “A-Are you sure!?” (Kash) “Ah, uhm… We’d be honored.” (Rikka) “That’s a generous offer…but are you really sure?” (Grant) “It’s fine. Easy come, easy go. Let’s pick a place with a rich menu… You can eat whatever you want.” (Shizuma) “Whoa! That’s Sapphire Rank for you, so generous!” (Kash) Something is good too once in a while. I haven’t been to the Adventurers’ Den in a while. And I know war is about to start. That’s exactly why, for now, it’s okay to enjoy myself. “Shilent, thank you!” (Melt) “Yeah. I’m in the mood for a feast too. Let’s eat plenty, Melt.” (Shizuma) “Okay! Winter’s coming, so it’ll be our last chance to enjoy fatty meat. Let’s eat lots today!” (Melt) I felt something warm deep inside my heart. That must have been Shilent’s own feelings. And so, I spent the last moratorium before war peacefully…waiting for the declaration of war.