Black Demon King

554 Adventure Life of the New Element Master

Before I knew it, the month had changed.

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of Green Wind Month, which was the month of April.

“—Then, everyone will embark on a quest.”

At dinner, I checked everyone’s quest schedules. This time, instead of going with the whole party, we’ll be going on individual quests.

Probably, the only time everyone embarked on a quest together was to subjugate Chaotic Rim. For now, I had no intention of accepting other Rank 5 dangerous quests. Besides, no monsters of that caliber had been discovered around Sparda.

As for Chaotic Rim, it seemed that he went on a rampage in Parthia just like he did in Valen.

Most of Parthia consisted of grassland, and many centaurs roamed across the vast land. A squad of centaur cavalry archers hunted down Chaotic Rim, but they were at a disadvantage against an opponent who could burrow underground. Ultimately, they failed to capture him.

After the battle, significant damage was inflicted not only on people but also on the monsters in the grassland. Traces of carnage could be seen here and there, and it was said that giant monsters such as Garuda were among them.

Anyway, Garuda was another nostalgic name I hadn’t heard in a while. It seemed like only yesterday that Lily and I infiltrated the creature’s nest. At that time, I received a personal quest to retrieve a stolen heirloom sword…

Well, let’s not dwell on personal memories.

What was important was the whereabouts of Chaotic Rim.

After leaving Parthia, the next destination of Chaotic Rim should be Rune.

Runa was an island nation floating in the Lemurian Sea, a huge inland sea that spread across the center of the continent.

It’s adjacent to Parthia, across the sea…

…In other words, the Chaotic Rim crossed the ocean and arrived in Rune.

Did it dig into the ground under the sea, or did it swim?

By devouring the core of the water-element Pride Gem, he may have absorbed its abilities. In that case, he might not only acquire the ability to swim, but also to move freely underwater.

If he were to somehow acquire a pair of wings to fly in the sky, things would go out of hand.

At any rate, it was difficult to capture Chaotic Rim, who traveled from one city to another on a whim. We weren’t in a position to capture him yet.

It’s frustrating, but I guess I’ll just have to wait for the opportunity to arise.

Now, leaving the Trials aside, let’s talk about the schedule for the individual quests.

“So, Sariel was planning to go on a quest to ascend to Rank 4, but I heard that Kurono has another plan?”

“That’s right, Simon invited me out. I decided to accompany him on the quest and also serve as his bodyguard.”

“Is the dungeon so dangerous that he needs an escort?”

“Our destination is the Rank 3 Dungeon, [Mycenaean Ruins]. However, Simon’s party is still Rank 1, so just in case.”

“Then they should choose dungeons that match their prerequisites.”

“There’s a high possibility that there are ancient golems like Taurus left in the ruins. This time, the main objective is to investigate them.”

As the name suggested, the Rank 3 Dungeon, [Mycenaean Ruins] was a huge city of ruins where the ancient cityscape remained intact. However, more than half of the buildings were in a dilapidated state, and there was little to no attempt of preservation. Nevertheless, since it maintained the minimum form of a city, various humanoid monsters such as goblins and orcs liked to set up nests there.

At the same time, it was also a city full of dangerous monsters, where intense turf wars took place day and night between different races and among members of the same tribe, much like gangs fighting each other.

Still, as expected, many remarkable treasures had been unearthed in the hundreds of years between the time of discovery and the present day. However, other than general riches such as gold and silver, arms, and magic items, things which value and use were unknown at first glance remained almost untouched.

—Yes, for example, a giant, one-eyed statue made of stone.

“I see. If we can obtain the Ancient Golem, it’ll become a force to be reckoned with.”

Above all, the Crusaders will definitely deploy Taurus or a new aircraft in their next invasion. A single Taurus could tear down the great wall of Galahad. If we don’t come up with a countermeasure, Galahad Fortress will surely fall the next time around.

Of course, the Sparda army was also well aware of this fact. According to Will, a research project on ancient golems had been launched. Maybe one day I’d hear from Simon. After all, he was the one who actually piloted it.

“I don’t think we’ll ever find a living aircraft, but if we can get parts that are well-preserved as research materials, that’ll suffice.”

“Well, there are still many aspects of ancient technology that are still unexplored, so appropriate research is—”

“—Sorry to have kept you waiting, Mistress Fiona! Here’s the cheeseburger!”

“Thank you.”

The one who suddenly appeared, interrupting the flow of the conversation, was Hitsugi. After getting accustomed to controlling [Maximillian], she had been enjoying her maid life to the fullest.

With deep remorse, I gave Hitsugi a maid outfit as promised. Since she could only move through [Maximilian], I had to custom-make an extra-large maid outfit that could be worn over the gigantic armor.

I stared at the stylish, dark blue fabric and frilly, pure white apron that fluttered over the jet-black armor.

…No matter how I look at her, she was just a pervert wearing a full plate mail and a maid outfit.

“The iron plate is hot, so please be careful not to burn yourself.”

…Yet sadly, these days, I’ve grown accustomed to such a pathetic sight. A black-armored maid striding around the mansion as if she owned the place, cleaning and doing the laundry while humming along, had already become an everyday sight in our household.

At first, Fiona also had a cold attitude, saying, “What a pervert.”

Regardless, Hitsugi still worked hard for some reason. After a while, Fiona started ordering her around as if we had just hired another handy maid.

“I’d like a refill of my drink. Iced café au lait.”

“Of course! What about you, Master?”

“I’ll pass.”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.” Said Maximilian, fluttering her apron and long skirt as she headed for the kitchen.

As expected, no matter how many times I saw it, it still looked pathetic… Oh, well. Hitsugi seemed to be having the time of her life, so I had no intention of stopping her.

“Cheese sure is tasty.”

As she cut into her piping hot hamburger steak, drizzled with melty cheese and dripping with meat juices, Fiona seemed delighted. Then, she gracefully brought it to her mouth.

That cheese hamburger was the second dish. The first was the hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce that I was still enjoying.

In the kitchen, Sariel was probably baking the third and fourth dish that would be served from now on. She inherited Shirasaki’s secret recipe, and with the overwhelming support of me and Fiona, she was completely in charge of the kitchen. Therefore, Hitsugi’s role was to serve the meals.

Contrary to her appearance, Hitsugi could handle all the housework, which was the basic duties of a maid, with ease. She was good at cooking as well. All this time, I thought she was just an escort maid, so I complimented her.

“Hehehe, mama taught me how to work as a maid, that’s why I’m so good at it!” She boasted.

Wait, what do you mean ‘mama’?

Since the source of the curse was the grudge of the escort maid, wouldn’t that mean Hitsugi was the one in charge?

No, the [Evil Eater] was transformed into a cursed weapon due to Vulcan’s grudge, but he couldn’t be said to be an actual person. If anything, it was just a mixture of his grudge and the residual thoughts of [Chaos Eater], which were used as materials for weapons, becoming a single curse.

—I see, the process of the escort maid’s transformation from grudge to curse could be said to be the birth of the ego known as ‘Hitsugi.’ Also, as I continued to use her, it seemed like her will became stronger and more established. As time passed, she had become more and more talkative and assertive, which was proof of her growth.

Well, there were many different types of curses, so that logic didn’t apply to all of them. However, at least as far as Hitsugi was concerned, she could certainly be considered the “daughter” who would carry on the legacy of the escort maid.

“While you are away, we can just leave everything to Hitsugi.”

“No, it’s my armor, I’m bound to wear it.”

“Is that so?”

Not good, Fiona only saw [Maximilian] as a maid. I had to prove through my actions that it was a powerful ancient armor with amazing performance hidden in it. Otherwise, I could see that someday, even I, who wore the armor, might be treated like a maid.

I have to avoid that at all costs!

“By the way, what quest did Fiona take?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just a matter of procuring materials that are needed in the workshop.”

“A gathering quest?”

“Yes, something like that.”

A gathering quest sounded nostalgic. Someday, if I could free Daedalus, I wish to gather lily grass with Lily in the Fairy Garden.

***

There existed a place called the Southern Galahad Abandoned Mine. The southern part of the Galahad Mountains once flourished as a mithril mine. However, as there were only a small amount of reserves, the period of prosperity ended within ten years. In fact, it happened more than a hundred years ago.

That place, which had mine shafts that led all over the mountain like an ant colony, wasn’t far from human settlements. Fortunately, it hadn’t been turned into a dungeon. On the contrary, those kinds of places, hidden from the public eye, tended to become strongholds for rogues.

Even now, there was a band of rogues secretly living in the Southern Galahad Abandoned Mine.

“Excuse me, Boss, there’s an item that needs your urgent attention…”

“Huuuh!? Can’t you see that I’m trying to enjoy my dinner with Vivi!?”

The man who screamed so loudly, seemingly about to throw his cup at any moment, was a burly, dark-skinned man.

Silver, close-cropped hair. Distinctive, elongated ears slitted in the middle.

The man referred to as ‘Boss’ was a dark elf. By the way, the subordinate who was scolded by him was also a dark elf.

Half of the band of rogues was made up of dark elves. It would be unusual in Sparda, but considering that they were originally from the neighboring country of Valen, it was natural.

Not long ago, there was a group of Sparda thieves who caused a commotion in Valen, but this time it was the opposite.

“Now, now, Boss, since he went out of his way to ask you to take a look, doesn’t that mean it’s a really good one?”

Someone spoke in a sweet and tantalizing voice to the rowdy boss. However, instead of a dark elf with a curvaceous body, it was a little girl.

Literally.

She was only 30 centimeters tall. She sat on the table, stirring a small cup of mead, like a puppet with elaborate movement.

However, she was definitely not a magical automaton powered by ancient technology. Anyone could tell by looking at the pair of glittering wings sprouting from her back that she was a fairy.

“Huh, really?”

“Yes, that’s right! I even checked it myself. I’ve never seen such a gorgeous woman before!”

“At first, I didn’t have high hopes, but we made a great choice by coming to Sparda!”

“Okay, I got you! Bring her in!”

With a ferocious grin on his face, akin to a carnivorous beast, the boss ordered.

Then, a beauty was taken into the room.

“Oh, she’s…”

Although the boss had seen many good-looking women, that one took his breath away.

It was a human woman. Short black hair as glossy as ink, along with unblemished, pure white skin.

Everyone could see that both her face and body met the ideal beauty standard.

However, what the boss found most attractive were her golden eyes, which had a divine radiance akin to sun revitalizing the earth.

“Hey, Boss, do not let yourself be swayed by her.”

“—Oops, she almost had me there. …This is something else.”

While being glared at by the fairy, Vivi, the boss regained his composure. He seemed satisfied at the high-end beauty who was without a doubt the best among all the women he had dealt with so far.

Her appearance was still the same as when she was captured, clad in a well-tailored white robe. The fabric was either silk or a luxury item with added enchantments. It was obvious from the way she was dressed—and above all, from her refined atmosphere, that she was no ordinary village girl and came from a family with clean reputation.

“Alright, I’ll ship her to my home country. Make sure that she doesn’t get damaged in any way—”

“—You can stand back now.”

The one who flatly interrupted the boss wasn’t his subordinates, but the captured girl. She stood in front of them with a blank expression on her face.

“Oi, what are you guys doing? Did you give her some weird drugs?”

Even though she was captured by rogues, tied up, and taken to that abandoned mine by a bunch of rowdy men, she was wholly unfazed. If anything, the girl seemed sleepy, without any care in the world. The boss assumed that it was the effects of the sedatives.

However, when she suddenly uttered a nonsensical line, he immediately suspected that they used the wrong drug.

What a bunch of fools! How many times do I need to repeat myself!? I said stick to the correct dosage!

Before the boss could scream at them, the girl went on.

“Thank you for the guidance.”

Apparently, she was neither crazy because of the drug, nor was she joking. The men who were holding her captive let go of the ropes in their hands, before quietly walking away.

His subordinates had faithfully carried out the girl’s command.

Then, before he knew it, the rope restraining the girl’s hands came undone by itself.

—No, it was never tied in the first place.

“Damn—! An adventurer!”

The boss wasn’t sophisticated enough to understand the meaning of the situation.

The woman let herself be captured on purpose just to meet him, the boss. It was a standard method of infiltration in entertainment books, but that was the first time he had seen someone did it in real life.

Is she stupid, or is she just that confident in her skills?

The boss glanced around. Besides that woman, no one else in the room could be perceived as a threat. Just outside the room, he could sense the presence of her men standing guard. However, they didn’t seem to be lying in wait for an ambush.

As expected, there was only one enemy, and she was young. Not only did she successfully infiltrate their den, his subordinates were also at her mercy. Nevertheless, her extremely young appearance made the boss look down on her.

What an idiot.

She was just a foolish girl who overestimated her own strength, jumping into the den of rogues all by herself, playing hero.

“Ha, don’t underestimate me! By the time you come here on your own, you’re already our product!”

I’ll crush you with a single blow!

Despite being intoxicated, he could channel his magical power just fine. Soon, vast magical power that the dark elf was proud of surged into his body at maximum power. Without needing to chant, a strengthening magic enveloped his well-trained and strong body, boosting his power and speed.

The boss’ class was [Monk]. His battle style was highly specialized in fighting, so much so that he could crush monsters with just his body. It was supposed to instill overwhelming intimidation and despair into the girl in the blink of an eye—

“Wait! That woman is Rank 5—”

The last thing the boss saw was the girl’s hair color, which was supposed to be black, changing into light blue.

“—Did you know about me?”

Before the girl with light blue hair, the dark elf’s brawny physique suddenly became engulfed in flames, as if he had spontaneously combusted, snuffing the life out of him. He died without making a sound.

In actuality, the girl had unleashed [Ignis Sagitta] at imperceptible speed.

She chanted it so quickly, no one saw it coming. And yet, the spell could take down the highly skilled boss, who was Rank 3. The power was beyond the realm of low-class offensive spells.

“Fiona Soleil, the witch of [Element Master] …”

“That’s correct, Fairy Vivian Zoola, the leader of Valen rogues. I’ve come to capture you.”

Since Vivian was working in Sparda, she naturally gathered detailed information about the country, especially on knights and adventurers who were targeting them.

It was no exaggeration to say that woman was the representative of Sparda—the Hero of the Fifth Galahad War. Information about the Rank 5 Party [Element Master] reached her ears without her needing to look into it. Vivian’s curiosity was piqued by the fact that one of their party members was a fairy, just like herself.

If that party were to come after them, they had decided that they would give up on their advance in Sparda.

“W-wait, we haven’t done anything in Sparda yet. Surely, we haven’t done anything bad enough to warrant being wanted?”

“True.”

Fiona took a step closer.

Ever since when, her outfit had changed into a jet-black witch garb.

When did she change her clothes?

When and where did she take that out?

—Within her hand, was a long staff.

“I’ll stay away from Sparda. Never again will I step foot in here. If you spare me, I’ll give you a generous reward.”

“I see.”

Two steps, three steps. In an instant, Fiona passed by the charred remains of the boss, yet she still didn’t stop.

“—How about 30 million in cash?”

No answer.

Was I being too stingy?

“50 million, I’ll have it ready right away.”

Another silence.

“E-e-eighty million, if you wait a bit, I should be able to…”

Silence.

“100 million! As a bonus, you’re free to help yourself to anything you want here!”

Life was more important than money. In the worst-case scenario, even if she were to lose this entire place, she still had a home base back in Valen. Considering the expenses incurred in expanding into Sparda, it would be a significant loss, but as long as she gets to keep her life, it is nothing!

“W-what do you think…?”

“I’m here for you, not the money.”

However, the answer was hopeless.

Impossible.

How can there be an adventurer who doesn’t care about bounty?

—No, there was another reason why people would set out, regardless of compensation.

“…Do you have a grudge against me or something??”

“No, not really. This is our first meeting.”

“Then why—!?”

“I want a fairy. An ‘evil fairy’ like you, who can be sacrificed to The Devil with no problem.”

The negotiation ended with a disaster. In the first place, there was no room for one. It was futile, equivalent to pleading with a starving beast, “I’ll pay you if you let me go!”

The only way to survive was to run away. Vivian’s response was quick.

“—[Flash]!”

A flash of tremendous light exploded. It was [Extra], a light spell unique to the fairy race.

Even if one reflexively closed their eyes, the intense light emanating throughout the room would still disorient them for a while.

“[Lux Sagitta]!”

Furthermore, without considering the risk of the room, set up in an abandoned mine, collapsing, she swiftly shot a barrage of offensive spells. If she could blind Fiona and stop her even slightly, that would be good.

Vivian flew backwards while shooting a multitude of arrows of light. The moment she turned around and tried to leap into the hidden escape route in the room, a solid, rocky wall blocked her path.

“Ah, aah…”

The flash should’ve blinded her. The arrows of light should’ve stopped her in her tracks.

As if to show off the skill befitting the highest-ranking adventurer, which was Rank 5, Fiona ignored Vivian’s resistance and cornered her with a single piece of [Terra Shield].

A witch in black stood silently in front of her.

“Don’t worry, you’re a valuable experiment material. I’ll never kill you.”

And so, like a butterfly caught by a child, the poor fairy’s shining wings were casually grabbed by the witch, and her life as a bloody rogue ended there.