#027. The King's Request (2)
Virgil returned to the inn.
With talkative Sophia having begun a long, drawn-out story, there was no telling when the conversation would end.
He wasn't sure if the Rowen King would think him rude, but with Sophia's appearance, the initiative had passed to Virgil.
He could afford to act leisurely and bold.
"Hmm."
More than that, what a dramatic meeting this was.
The connection he had made in advance was proving helpful.
As he sat in the room reviewing his next plan, a familiar voice came from the hallway.
—My, how do you not get tired?
—Ohoho, one can shop all day long.
—Now I see why you're always scolded by that man.
—What are you talking about! My brother only worries about me, so….
Slam.
The door opened, and Hanna and Ekirna entered.
"V-Virgil, sir!"
Her left hand was full of clothes, and her right hand was stuffed with food.
"You definitely said you'd be late today…."
"You're living the good life."
"Th-that's…."
"Keh keh, just a moment ago you were saying 'my brother this, my brother that,' so why have you gone so stiff?"
"W-when did I!"
"Did you not just do so?"
Ekirna placed the bags she was carrying on the bed next to Virgil.
"I bought some for you on the way."
"Thank you."
"Ah, Virgil, sir. Did you hear the news? Yesterday a rabbit turned the city upside down! They say it's a demon-possessed murderer."
Hanna said, making a fuss.
"Come to think of it, didn't you say something or other about a rabbit yesterday, Sister?"
"Well, I don't recall."
"Anyway, Virgil, sir, you be careful too. With some crazy murderer running around, the world must be coming to an end."
"…Go back to your room now. You too, Ekirna. I wish to rest a while."
At Virgil's dismissal, Hanna turned around reluctantly, and Ekirna obediently gathered her things.
She was quite different from yesterday when she had teased him about the rabbit.
She kept glancing at him furtively.
Ekirna opened the door, was halfway out, then sharply turned back and came inside again.
"Half-human, let's settle what needs settling here and now."
"If you have something to say, say it."
He looked at her with a frown.
"My failure to put you to sleep was entirely due to this taboo. But really, how could a taboo activate even against a sleeping charm?"
"How should I know?"
"Do you die when you fall asleep? Ha... It's unfair, so unfair."
"That's enough. I didn't have high expectations anyway."
"Huh... Anyway, that's not what I came to talk about."
"What is it now?"
"Where on earth did you pick up that child? She learns as if she were a sponge. She may seem foolish on the outside, but inside, I could believe she is a once-in-a-generation mana prodigy."
Ekirna said with a serious face.
Unaware of the player's uniquely fast skill acquisition, the system's assistance, and the memory granted by the status window, to Ekirna, she appeared only as an outstanding prodigy.
"If she were formally taught, it's almost frightening to think how great a witch she might become."
"Given her condition, I don't think it will turn out that way."
"Tsk tsk, you have no idea how immersed that child is in herbology."
"I have no expectations."
"I see."
"What a reaction. Anyway, I think I'll need your help soon, so don't go back on your word when the time comes."
"Very well."
When Ekirna left, Virgil closed his eyes again.
"Hoo...."
He emptied his mind for a moment and feigned sleep.
Time passed, and his sharpened ears caught a commotion outside the inn.
Someone was approaching the door.
Knock, knock.
—Lord Virgil... Are you inside by any chance?
The innkeeper's son's voice.
Unlike before, it was calm and polite.
"What is it?"
—Ah! You are inside! There is an esteemed... u-uh, you didn't have to come up yourself!
The door burst open, and Sophia entered.
Virgil let out a short sigh.
Damn doorknob.
Just when was he planning to fix it?
"Sophia."
"Please forgive my rudeness."
"It's fine."
"Please step aside for now."
"Yes, my lord! Lord Javelin!"
The innkeeper's son saluted awkwardly and closed the door.
"You rest easy too, Lord Virgil!"
Now even respect was visible in his eyes.
Once the door closed, Sophia opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
"Hoo... Why do you keep disappearing like this?"
"I merely vacated my seat."
"May I sit beside you?"
"As you wish."
The moment she sat beside him, Sophia began speaking.
"Why are you here? What reason did you have to meet the Rowen King? I missed y- no... What in the world was the identity of that guard captain last time?"
"Calm down, one thing at a time."
Virgil began a brief explanation.
Starting from how the Blood Cult had targeted Javelin, that he had come here to root out the Blood Cult that had infiltrated Rowen, and that to do so, he needed the Rowen King's trust.
"Really... what in the world are you? Are you perhaps a messenger of the gods?"
"It's nothing so grand. I am merely a Demon Hunter who came to aid the Rowen King."
"Speaking of which, the Chief Steward is waiting downstairs. Shall we go at once?"
"Let's do that."
As Virgil rose from his seat, Sophia grabbed his cloak.
"Wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"It's just...."
Just as Sophia was about to say something, someone knocked heavily on the door.
Bang, bang!
—Virgil, sir! Someone is waiting outside!
Hanna's urgent voice.
To Virgil's ears, Ekirna's voice came from beside her as well.
—Keh keh, I can't tell whether you're slow-witted or quick on the uptake sometimes.
Virgil looked at Sophia.
"Next time."
"Yes...."
Sophia made a disappointed expression.
When Virgil opened the door, Sophia and Hanna's eyes naturally met.
"It's been a while."
"It has."
A chill flowed between the two.
This time, Sophia's gaze turned to Ekirna.
At the sight of her exuding seductive grace even while standing still, Sophia's eyebrows twitched.
Sophia glanced at Virgil and asked.
"...Who is this?"
"Don't you know?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Ekirna greeted her first.
The two had certainly crossed paths several times in Javelin, but back then, Ekirna had not looked as she did now.
"I am Epi, employed as Hanna's teacher."
"I am Sophia, Lord of Javelin."
"Oh my. Please forgive my rudeness. So you were a lord."
"It is quite all right. Please raise your head."
Sophia wasn't one to flaunt her position, but for some reason, she wanted to right now.
'Hmph, how adorable. You've grown so much.'
A pleasant smile hung on Ekirna's lips.
"Shall we go now, Virgil, sir?"
As Sophia looped her arm through Virgil's, Hanna quickly raised her hand.
"I-I want to come too!"
Virgil shook his head.
If she followed and participated in the quest, she would surely gain a lot of experience, but here she had to hide the fact that she was a witch.
In Rowen, it was more convenient to move alone.
"You focus on learning herbology well. That is how you help me."
***
They entered the royal castle by carriage.
A completely different treatment from when he had bribed the royal guards to meet the Chief Steward.
Guided along, they arrived at their destination.
It was not the great hall he had visited before, but the king's audience chamber.
Though small in size, its splendor was no less than that of the great hall.
"His Majesty will arrive shortly. Please wait a moment."
The Chief Steward left, and Virgil, left alone, reorganized his plans.
Ever since he had become unable to sleep, his obsessive nature regarding plans had grown even stronger.
Shortly after.
The door to the audience chamber opened, and the King of Rowen entered dressed in light attire.
His clothes were simpler, but his dignity remained.
It befitted the name of Rowen's protector.
"Hehe, to think I failed to recognize such talent and treated you poorly. I am truly sorry."
He welcomed him with a relaxed smile, unlike before.
"I see you again, Your Majesty."
"I hope you aren't offended?"
"I am fine. I am used to such things."
"Hmm, I suppose so. When this commission is complete, I shall personally stamp my seal and grant you impeccable status. Yes, I shall speak with Sophia and have it stamped jointly. Savior of Javelin and friend of Rowen. How does that sound?"
"Very well."
"Hehe, a taciturn friend indeed. By the way, do you have a family name?"
Virgil's true name.
Vergilius van Diabolu.
(Vergilius van dĭábŏlu)
He possessed the family name Diabolu, but had no intention of revealing it.
Even searching through his excellent memory, he could recall nothing about this man.
There might be complicated circumstances, so he decided to hide it for the time being.
Thus, once again, he chose a very convenient excuse.
"We Morhains are kin of nature, so we do not use family names."
"Hmm, the more I hear, the more fascinating that place becomes. I must visit it at least once before I die."
"You will not regret it."
"Then...."
The Rowen King leaned back comfortably on the sofa and continued.
"Shall we get to the heart of the matter?"
"Speak, Your Majesty."
"Before that. There is something I wish to show you in detail."
"What might that be?"
"Bid them enter."
He spoke loudly toward the door, and someone entered.
A red-haired man.
It was the Third Prince, Luke.
"Father, you called for me?"
The Rowen King looked at Virgil without acknowledging his greeting.
"I have heard that Demon Hunters are greater experts on demons and monsters than even Paladins. Is this true?"
"It is."
"Then please have a look at this boy."
Virgil and Luke's eyes met.
"Tell me, is there a demon inside this boy?"
"Father! How could you!"
"Hush, be quiet."
"......."
Luke clenched his fist and glared at Virgil.
As if challenging him to look.
Virgil met his gaze impassively and opened his mouth.
"A demon? That's preposterous."
"Is that so? You may leave now."
"...Yes."
Luke trudged out of the audience chamber.
"Tsk tsk, it would be better if he were possessed by a demon; at least then he could be fixed...."
To think he had lived receiving such treatment.
Virgil clicked his tongue softly.
"Now I would like to hear the details of the request."
"Very well. Hmm... where to begin... Do you smoke?"
"I quit."
"Remarkable."
The Rowen King put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it with a magically operated flint.
"Hoo...."
Ash-gray smoke further shaded the Rowen King's face.
Then a voice as dark as his expression flowed from his mouth.
"I have a daughter. She was the child I cherished and loved the most.... Hoo...."
As if recalling a memory he did not wish to remember, the Rowen King pressed his temple hard.
"It was about three years ago, I believe...."
***
Four years ago, the plains before Rowen.
"Luke! Hurry up!"
An underage girl ran.
Transparent, white skin and brilliantly shining hair.
In her clear, blue eyes, the figure of the Third Prince Luke was reflected.
The two siblings' features looked exactly alike.
"Sister! Wait for me!"
"What man is so weak! Run faster! Or we'll lose to our brothers again!"
"Damn it!"
Luke kicked off the ground and ran faster.
In his eyes, the quickly fleeing wild boar came into view.
"Damn! If only I had one more arrow!"
The arrows were all spent, and his sister's bullets were only loud and kept missing.
Chasing the boar, they eventually arrived at the Witch's Forest at the edge of the plains.
"Ha... I have to catch that thing...."
As Luke lamented, the girl patted his shoulder.
"Give it up now. Father told us never to enter this place."
"Hoo...."
Luke let out a deep sigh, then spoke as if having made up his mind.
"Sister."
"What."
"You've seen a witch before, right?"
"Often. Why?"
"Anyway."
"We saw them together, so why ask?"
"Did they look dangerous?"
"Not really."
"I knew it, right?"
"Stop babbling and let's head back."
"Heh heh...."
"Ah... Don't do it, seriously. You're dead meat."
"Tee hee...."
Luke took a step into the Witch's Forest.
"Hey, you crazy bastard! Father will scold us!"
"What? Crazy bastard?"
His eyes widened sharply, and then he dashed into the Witch's Forest.
"Luke! Hey! Damn it!"
The girl reluctantly followed him inside.
And so the two of them got lost.
"I'm hungry."
Luke clutched his stomach.
"You're hungry at a time like this?"
"Shut up."
"We're dead now."
"It's fine. The knights are probably looking for us by now."
"No."
"What."
"We're dead when Father finds out."
"Ah...."
Recalling the image of the Rowen King roaring at them, they trembled.
"No, Sister. Everyone in Rowen knows Father loves us two the most. Nothing will happen."
"Then we'll get beaten to death by our brothers."
"Ah...."
The two fell silent again.
This time, the girl spoke first.
"Would they hit me too, even though I'm a girl?"
"The eldest brother might."
"Ah...."
"Sister."
"What."
"Should we just live here like this?"
"...Just shut up."
Time passed, and the day grew dark.
"Luke, do you see that?"
"What."
"That."
"Huh?"
They saw fruits dropped on the ground at regular intervals.
"It's a trap."
"It is indeed."
"Let's follow it anyway. Meeting anyone is better than just sitting here."
"Suit yourself."
The two picked up the fallen fruits and went deeper inside.
A small hut came into view.
It looked exactly like the house of the witch from the fairy tales they had heard ad nauseam in childhood.
Smoke rose from the chimney, so someone was definitely inside.
"Ah, there!"
At the spot Luke pointed, the wild boar they had been chasing was eating the fruits.
"What, it was the witch's pet?"
"As expected, an ordinary wild boar couldn't have dodged my arrows so easily."
The two approached the hut.
"Is anyone there?"
After waiting a moment, the hut door opened, and a young woman walked out.
Everything but her mouth was hidden by her robe, but it was clear she was an extraordinary beauty.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, hello. I am the King of Rowen's—"
The girl blocked Luke's words and stepped forward.
"We are children who work in Rowen; we got lost while running an errand. If it isn't too rude, might we know how to leave the forest?"
"Hmm, very well. Come inside."
At the invitation to enter, the boy and girl hesitated.
"I thought your meal would get cold if you left and came back. Besides, your stomachs are clamoring for food, no?"
Just as she said, their stomachs growled incessantly.
"Then just for a moment... Hehe."
As Luke tried to go in, the girl grabbed his clothes to stop him.
She spoke in a small voice.
"Hey...."
"...Sister, it's fine... Weren't you the one who said witches aren't dangerous?"
"...That's true, but...."
A fragrant, savory scent of food wafted into the troubled girl's nose.
"Ah... It's meat...."
"Are we going in?"
"Well...."
"It's fine, it's fine."
Luke pulled the girl into the hut.
The inside of the hut was ordinary.
To the two of them, who often visited shops run by witches, it was a familiar sight.
If there was anything remarkable, it was that a carpet dyed deep purple covered the floor, and beside it, a large cauldron was boiling.
The fire heating the cauldron was also purple, which was quite mystical.
"Now, eat up. Let's leave right after we eat."
The witch ladled soup into a pure white bowl and placed it on the table.
The soup was appetizing, piled generously with meat and well-mixed vegetables.
If one had to point out a flaw, it was that the bones in the soup were too large.
When the boy and girl only stared without eating, the witch smiled brightly and tasted the soup first.
"Mmm, the seasoning is just right today."
Reassured by her actions, the boy and girl began to eat the soup.
After that, both of their memories vanished completely.
***
"This is what Luke told me. After that, the two children were found in the city sewers. I wouldn't have recognized them if I hadn't looked closely. Fortunately, they woke up after about a week, but... Luke became unable to use mana, and my daughter...."
He stubbed out the burnt-out cigarette on the table.
"She became a completely different person. As if possessed by a demon. I tried everything I could. I called priests and boiled every medicinal herb recommended, but nothing worked."
He rose from his seat and stood before a large window.
Virgil turned his gaze as well, and beyond the king's silhouette, he saw a tall spire and a massive furnace burning brightly below it.
"What could I possibly do after that?"
He pulled another long cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.
"The princess was locked in the tower."
He lit the cigarette with the flint.
Fwoosh.
"I had no choice but to catch and burn every last witch."
"......."
"Don't look like that. I'm not asking you to catch the culprit. I must catch the culprit with my own hands."
The reason the witch hunt began in Rowen.
Virgil knew who the culprit was.
That woman was at the end of Rowen's main quest.
However, that must not take priority.
If he did, his plan to forge Rowen and Verner into a complete alliance would crumble.
Virgil's goal was to build a force that would aid him, not to hunt the Blood Cult's black mages and build fame.
If he did that, he might meet a miserable end in this perilous world, unnoticed by even mice or birds.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"Ah, forgive me. Then what is the request you wish to entrust to me?"
He asked again, pretending to know nothing.
"Hoo...."
Pale smoke scattering into the air.
The Rowen King looked at the towering spire with listless eyes.
"Please, kill my daughter."