■ Return to the Capital □
The next day.
As it was my last day in my hometown, I made an extra effort to roam around outside.
There were still many people I hadn’t met due to the short schedule of three nights and four days.
Knowing that it wouldn’t be possible to visit everyone on foot, I gathered people around my age at Timmy’s tavern and treated them to a big meal.
Indeed, there’s no easier way to gather people than offering free food.
Of course, Helen, whom I had met the previous day, was also among them.
Thud!
“Wow! Amazing, Caldlasth!”
“Brother! You’re so cool!”
Showing off the bomb drink-making skills I had learned in my past life, I took control of the drinking party. Helen, standing in a corner, gestured to me with an uneasy expression.
“Drink! Drink!”
Casually gesturing and offering drinks to those around me, I approached Helen, curious about what was going on.
Despite being at a drinking party, Helen asked me with a serious expression.
“Is what I heard yesterday true?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“That you’re the Demon King’s envoy, Partarth.”
“Ah~ that?”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Of course, it’s a lie.”
As I said that, I showed her a business card I took out from my wallet.
“I’m a well-known mage in the capital. I met him once for work-related reasons. I just made up some nonsense. People who cling to power are usually weak against greater power.”
“…Really?”
Only then did Helen’s tense expression soften slightly.
It seemed she had been quite troubled by what I had said yesterday.
Although we were childhood friends, her husband had died after being forcibly conscripted to fight against the demon tribe.
Since her life had started to go downhill because of that, it was understandable that she had negative feelings toward the demon tribe.
After hearing my answer, Helen wiped her face with her palm and said.
“Sorry. I guess I was too sensitive. You were just trying to help me.”
“No, it’s understandable. Your husband died in the Human-Demon War.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
I awkwardly shook hands with Helen, who was smiling uncomfortably.
Although I felt uneasy about lying, sometimes the truth is better left unknown.
“By the way, I don’t see the wives.”
“Ah, I deliberately didn’t call them. They would’ve bombarded me with questions.”
“Good thinking. The others were subtly waiting for their chance.”
Helen joked as she patted my shoulder, then hesitated before asking.
“If I had stopped you from leaving the village that day, what would’ve happened?”
I knew it was a meaningless question, but I played along.
“Hmm. Maybe I would’ve married you and taken over your father’s shop.”
“Haha, you were always a bit smarter than most.”
“A bit? I’m way smarter than that. The merchant world lost a great talent.”
As I joked, Helen nodded in agreement.
“Honestly, I think so too.”
“What’s done is done. So, shake off the wounds of the past. For your own sake, and for the sake of your future children.”
Hearing my words, Helen looked at me with a bitter smile.
“I’ve changed so much, but you, Cal, haven’t changed at all.”
I shrugged.
“Not at all? I’ve probably changed a lot in ways you don’t know. Humans are like that.”
People always change.
Whether due to external or internal factors, no one remains the same from beginning to end.
Just as a hero who set out to defeat the Demon King with a pure heart fell to lust, the young man who left the village dreaming of becoming a great figure is now a pawn of the Demon King’s army. That’s life.
I held the beer mug Timmy handed me at the counter and said.
“Let’s toast to a bright future.”
Helen clinked her glass with mine, her face reminiscent of her youthful self.
Though she had gained weight and become a full-fledged neighborhood aunt, her smile was still beautiful.
After lunch with my childhood friends, I decided to return to the capital with my wives who were waiting at home.
Neigh!
“Good, good.”
I affectionately petted the golden-haired horse that clung to me.
It was Gold Roger, the offspring of Gold Run, the horse I used to ride. Like its father, it was large and strong, making it suitable for pulling carriages.
“Take care on the way up, Caldlasth.”
“Yes. I’ll contact you when we arrive in the capital.”
Though I have no major complaints about this world, one inconvenience is the lack of telephones.
Unless you’re a mage, the only way to communicate with people far away is through letters.
‘That reincarnated guy from the past, instead of making useless things, should’ve set up telephone infrastructure.’
True to his otaku roots from Japan, he left behind a bunch of niche things like hypnosis magic but nothing practical.
Though I grumbled about it, I already knew that with the current level of magical engineering, creating a telephone system comparable to the modern era was a distant dream.
Perhaps in the highly magical elf kingdoms or the scientifically advanced dwarf kingdoms, it might be possible.
“Father, thank you for everything.”
“I’ll come back again.”
“Um… take care.”
In turn, Barnett, Ozma, and Dorothea said their goodbyes.
Surprisingly, Dorothea gave a normal farewell.
That girl, she does know how to respect her elders.
“No, I don’t just attack adults!”
I felt reassured seeing Dorothea puff up in anger, and then I turned to my stepmother.
“Um…”
Startled, she straightened her back.
“Yes. What is it?”
I scratched my cheek and said.
“It’s nothing much, but please take care of Father. He may seem tough on the outside, but he’s actually a sensitive man.”
My stepmother burst into laughter and nodded.
“I already know that.”
“Then, I can leave him in your care with peace of mind.”
I smiled as I said that, then boarded the carriage first.
The others followed, taking their seats one by one.
As before, Barnett was the only one sitting in the coachman’s seat.
Clatter!
The carriage slowly began to move.
Waiting for the right moment, I leaned out the window and shouted.
“Father! I know you’re happy with your new wife, but take it easy! Your bones will wear out!”
Father’s face turned red as he ran over.
“The whole neighborhood can hear you, you lunatic!”
Afraid of getting hit, I quickly ducked back into the carriage and banged on the wall.
“Barnett! Full speed to the capital!”
Knock knock!
“Demon King, your guest has arrived.”
“Let them in.”
Creak!
With the Demon King’s permission, the head butler Seneca opened the door to the office, and a blue-haired woman in Eastern Continent-style robes strode in.
“Long time no see, Demon King.”
“Yes, did you resolve the matter you went to handle, Gabriel?”
“Of course. What do you take me for?”
With her disheveled blue hair, reptilian yellow eyes, and shark-like teeth, the Demon Dragon General Gabriel smiled confidently.
“Since ancient times, dwarves have been good friends with dragons. Especially when a Dragon Lord like me pays a visit, they should come running with open arms.”
The Demon King Nero responded incredulously.
“I don’t know when dragons and dwarves became friends.”
“Hahaha, let’s not dwell on such trivialities.”
Gabriel, unfazed by the dwarves who would’ve cried tears of blood if they heard her words, changed the subject.
“Why did you call me?”
The Demon King Nero chuckled and pulled out a letter from his desk.
“I’d like you to deliver this.”
“…You want me to be a messenger?”
As Gabriel frowned in displeasure, the Demon King nodded confidently.
“Gabriel, the fastest in the Demon King’s army, you’re the only one who can do this. And we can’t let such a valuable asset go to waste.”
Gabriel tilted her head.
“Valuable asset?”
“I’m talking about Lord Partarth.”
At those words, Gabriel’s face lit up instantly.
“Partarth!”
The Demon King Nero smiled wryly at her sudden change in demeanor and explained the mission.
“Originally, I planned to leave him there until Oz was fully stabilized, but we’ve received intelligence that the elves of the Great Forest are starting to move. I’d like you to bring Lord Partarth here as soon as possible.”
Hearing the Demon King’s request, Gabriel nodded excitedly, like a puppy on a snowy day.
“Of course, I’ll do that! I’ll go and bring him back right now!”
“Ah, Lord Partarth is currently on vacation…”
Bang!
As Gabriel dashed off, the Demon King Nero watched her retreating figure wistfully, then sat back at his desk and elegantly sipped his tea.
‘Good luck, Caldlasth.’
