Published at 7th of December 2022 06:26:32 AM
215 – I Shall Run Through the Hell of Mine Own Choosing (Part 1)
「Sir Fellow! What in the world is this report…!」
We are in a conference room.
The people sitting around an oval-shaped table are, more or less, very important people.
I have my usual smile plastered on my face, facing the person that called my name.
This meeting is a debriefing of sorts about the investigation of the Original Dungeon which was entrusted to us.
「Exactly as is written there. The investigation of the 24th Original Dungeon was completed without a hitch. We collected not only valuable data but several treasures were retrieved as well. Regarding the Spirit's trial, as per our prior contract, those who underwent the trial have the right to their spoils. As for the rest-」
「I don't give a damn about that!」
Officially recorded Magic Tools are thoroughly kept track of.
In addition, even if a person had ownership of a Magic Tool, they do not have the permission to use it, except for Dungeon Clears and Defenses, and special cases.
In these modern times, they are essentially treated as antiques.
One may have been able to acquire them through money, connections, or pure luck, but they are not allowed to use them.
To the point that if, for example, there was some sort of criminal act done which was impossible for ordinary people, Magic Tool owners along with certain Jobs or races will be suspected.
After all the Magic Tools found in this investigation are recorded, ownership of them will be approved for Lady Margret's and my company.
Some of them could prove to be dangerous if misused, but both she and I shall strive to ensure that never happens. We stake our pride on it.
Although, they would probably prefer handing over dangerous Magic Tools to Lady Margret, who is a Normal that built trust through the business that has been passed down for generations.
I am a Majin, after all.
Except for the inevitable, it is best to avoid trouble.
They perceive my actions as “Discriminating.”
The fact that they are aware of this is the reason why Magic Tools are such a big deal to them.
「Then what appears to be the problem?」
「Isn't it obvious?! The Black Sorcerer Lem!」
「…What about him?」
「Excessively superior Black Magic! Abilities on par with that of a Demon King! Unthinkable amounts of stored Magical Energy well beyond his years! In addition to that, he has the divine blessing of a Spirit! Not to mention that he is far too close to all manner of Heroes!」
Other people voiced their agreement.
Its details are hidden to ordinary people, but the Demon King Castle is also a Dungeon. They pay their staff well, and there are those here who are privy to the fact that Lem is working there as Lemegeton.
「He is the closest possible friend of the 4th ranked Flame Hero Fenix, highly praised by the 1st ranked Wind Hero Aerial, close enough to the 99th ranked Silver Hero Nicola that she'd dress up as a Monster to cooperate with him, and the 95th ranked Undefeated Hero Ellie even helped with the Defense as a party! It doesn't end there! The Water Hero Wraith publicly declared that he wants him in his party and now, the 2nd ranked Jet-Black Hero Ex is indebted to him…! Don't you dare tell me you don't know anything about this!」
A different person from the one before spoke up.
「He made considerable contributions to the investigation and Clear efforts of the Original Dunge-」
They wouldn't hear the end of my sentence.
「Enough! The question is how large of a threat he will be once he becomes an enemy of mankind!」
I suppose only those who know Sir Lem could say how ridiculous of a notion that sounds.
In order to protect a country, I suppose those in power must first doubt everything.
It's a sad fact that there are those who failed as an Adventurer or as a Monster, mainly those who awakened to a combat-related Job without attaining any other Aptitudes, and stoop to becoming criminals.
It would be too late once they've experienced an unthinkable incident.
For example, if you give them the option of becoming a part of the Knight's Order, will they become knights who serve their country, or will they grow resentful of the viewers who didn't appreciate them?
There is an agency that exists to keep a watchful eye on the movements of Adventurers or Monsters. The big wigs of such an agency are surely in this conference room as well.
「He has the support of many Demi-Humans as the Demon King Army's Chief of Staff, and he also has close ties with several superior Adventurers. How much trouble do you think this guy would be if he were to turn evil? He is powerful on his own, but in the unlikely event that a person he has deep ties with lends a hand with performing a crime, it'll be a crisis!」
The Spirits governing the four major elements are mankind's allies.
Beings that lend their power to Humans in accordance with an ancient oath.
If a contractor were to fall to the dark side, the contract would become null and void.
But that isn't the problem.
Not only will the Hero receive a massive decrease in combat ability, but if they were to become the ally of a Black Sorcerer, the immense support that Heroes receive from the masses would…
Even so, even if it is a one-in-million chance, there are many of them.
The impact on society will be immeasurable.
To doubt is part of their job. That's fine. Not only is it perfectly fine, but it's also healthy.
However, no matter how secretive you try to be, rumors will always leak out somewhere.
It's not uncommon for things to develop into something more troublesome if there are actual personnel involved.
This is close to the tragedy of that time with the Ex party.
The Jet-Black Hero Ex and the Knight Lord Arthur both received a divine blessing from Spirits outside of Four Great Spirits.
They caused a commotion when they debuted, but the people grew interested in them once they saw how good they were.
I believe what kicked off their popularity was a certain research institute asking for their cooperation.
There are still many mysteries surrounding the Spirits, even now. Other than the Four Great Spirits and their fragments, they seldom appear before us.
They believed that they could learn something that could help improve future relations with Spirits.
In the blink of an eye, the rumor spread and there were countless people flocking to them, all wishing to gain a divine blessing from a Spirit as those two did.
They could only talk about what had happened to them, but some of those who had not been as successful as they had hoped were slandering them and spreading rumors that had no basis in fact.
It happened to the other members as well.
Such as the rumor that the Wizard of Foresight Merlin is able to use spells of various elements at such a high level because she used heretical sorcery to force Spirits to obey her.
Or the one about how the Transcendent Mordred didn't have special ancestry but was actually a monster born from Human experimentation.
Another about how the odd way the Absolute Guardian Galahad acts as a shield is weird, maybe he tinkered with his Avatar to cheat so it can't get damaged?
Even if the information is not true, it can spread, and the number of people who fall for it can be enormous.
Being special does not guarantee that person's happiness.
The people around them do not always celebrate their specialness.
It's possible that completely unrelated people could view the things that he gained as a result of him living an earnest life as dangerous.
Normally, this would be the time to let my talents shine and coerce them all somehow.
But it looks like that won't be needed today.
I play with words and persuade people by presenting the benefits because that's the only way I can achieve my goals.
In this world, there are those that can solve things without resorting to such dull methods.
For example…
「Pardon me.」
…those like my father. Yes.
He entered the conference room like he owned the place.
Just how strict was the security in this facility leading up to this room?
To him, none of it mattered.
He didn't even need to harm the guards.
If he decides to go somewhere, nothing and no one can get in his way.
No one would dare disrespect him by standing in the way of the King.
All the weak can do in the face of overwhelming strength is cower in fear.
The air in the conference room changed completely.
No one spoke a word.
Everyone is conscious of every breath they take, doing their best to not offend the King in any way.
Pressure that makes them forget their position and draws out their basic instincts.
The strongest Demon King Lucifer had full control of the scene by simply being there.
A natural-born king.
「…This appears to be a place for absurd discussions about him.」
「Oh, Father, what a surprise. By him, do you mean Sir Lem?」
I immediately make a supplementary comment in the form of a question.
Naturally, my father ignores it and does not respond.
However, his silence is enough of an answer to everyone else.
Enough for everyone to understand that this is about Sir Lem.
「He is my disciple.」
Only when they heard those words for the first time did they realize that my father was lacking his right horn.
「He is merely a man who wishes to simply live the life of a hero with all his heart. That is all that boy wants.」
My father took one step forward and that was enough to cause several of them to fall off of their chairs.
「If anyone connected to any of you tries to interfere even once… every single one involved will not even live to regret it.」
I'm sure that his words were engraved into the very soul of everyone in this room.
Most of them could only tremble in fear.
「B-but…! W-we can't afford to not do anything in the face of someone even slightly s-s-suspicious…!」
…Incredible.
The person who managed to stand up must possess a strong sense of belief.
「So it seems.」
Said my father, somewhat happily.
Indeed, my father did not come here simply to threaten people.
He released his usually suppressed Magical Energy to force them all to experience first-hand the power that he possesses.
「By some impossible chance, for argument's sake, he happens to stoop to evil deeds…I shall take care of him. That is the duty of a master, after all.」
Chapter end
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