by Hiro Ainana
The cavern was just wide enough for one large ship to pass through, while the main current of the river took a wide detour around the mountains and merged on the other side.
As the tour guide had explained earlier, this was one of the most famous sightseeing spots in the Shiga Kingdom and was especially popular as a honeymoon destination for nobles.
I found out later that Miss Ringrande, too, had boarded the ship in order to take the shortcut through the harsh Grapevine Mountains.
“Oh my, I apologize. I would hate to disrupt anyone who’s never seen it before. Might there be a seat for me as well?” Miss Ringrande said. I saw Miss Karina’s eyes dart furtively toward the three-seat sofa where she’d been sitting.
I tried not to meddle too often, but it might be good for Miss Karina to make a new friend.
“Lady Ringrande, if you please, the spot next to Lady Karina is open. Why don’t you have a seat there?”
“Is that all right?”
“Y-yes, of course! H-h-have a seat.”
Obviously unbothered by Miss Karina’s stammering invitation, Miss Ringrande sat down lightly on the sofa.
Watching the situation unfold with a grin, Sir Ipasa interfered even further.
“Rin, would you mind scooting over a little? I’d like to sit and look at the Dreamglow Cavern, too.”
“Ah…certainly. Pardon me.”
Miss Ringrande drew close enough to Karina that their shoulders touched, causing the latter to turn red enough to boil.
Miss Ringrande chatted with her in a friendly tone, but Miss Karina could give only short responses like “Yes” and “That’s right.”
Fortunately, Miss Ringrande didn’t seem to take any offense.
If this continued, I might have to help Miss Karina work on her interpersonal skills a bit more when we arrived in the old capital.
“All right, everyone, please close your eyes for the moment. Don’t open them again until I give the word, if you wouldn’t mind.”
As we perched on the sofas, we all followed the tour guide’s hushed instructions. She sounded like a veteran staff member at a theme park.
The suggestion to close our eyes was probably to help our vision adjust to the dark inside the Dreamglow Cavern.
“Our batfolk navigator Meru will be steering the ship for the captain as we pass through the caverns.”
After the introduction, a batfolk woman gave a bow. It was the same lady who was in charge of patrolling at night. I’d assumed she was a guard, but evidently she was a navigator as well.
I surmised the switch was because a batfolk person’s echolocation would make it easier to proceed in the dark of the tunnel.
“Sound echoes inside the Dreamglow Cavern, so please refrain from making any loud noises.”
At this warning, Tama and Pochi covered their mouths with both hands. Because they were covering their noses, too, I shifted their hands downward so they wouldn’t suffocate.
There was a docking station in front of the tunnel’s entrance, and a small boat left it to enter the cavern just ahead of our ship. As it did, it flashed a signal light to the other end of the tunnel.
After a few short moments, another light flashed back in response from the end.
Then, the small boat left the tunnel, and our ship folded its sails and proceeded inside. The tunnel was wide enough for only one ship; the signals must have been for traffic control.
I felt a warm breeze from the tunnel. It was like the kind of thing you’d find in a fairy tale where the tunnel leads into the stomach of some enormous beast. But of course that wasn’t the case.
Instead, the ship advanced into the passageway safely, and the light from the entrance gradually dimmed.
Now, I was the only one observing all this with my eyes cracked open. Everyone else obediently kept their eyes closed as the guide had instructed.
Thanks to the “Light Intensity Adjustment” skill, I was able to adapt to the darkness right away. Now, that was handy.
Whoa!
As my eyes quickly adjusted, I was met with an incredible scene.
Although she couldn’t have sensed my inner surprise, the tour guide chose this moment to give the signal.
“Now, everyone, please open your eyes slowly! Welcome to the famous Dreamglow Caverns of the Orcs!”
Though I’d been a step ahead of everyone else, it really was a sight to behold.
From the ceiling of the cavern down the walls on either side, luminous moss emitted a pale light in all the colors of the rainbow, creating a mystical gradient that enveloped us. The exposed crystals flecked across the walls reflected the lights, adding extra variety to the scene.
It was like a painting that brilliantly captured the starry sky.
That alone would have been beautiful enough, but there were also countless firefly-like lights flickering and dancing in the air.
I’ve seen decorative lighting before, but this really takes it to the next level.
“Sparklyyy? Floatyyy!”
“Amazing, sir! Master! Look, it’s ’mazing!”
Sitting on my left and right, Pochi and Tama grabbed my sleeves and shook them vigorously. They seemed to be a little overstimulated.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it…”
On the carpet, Arisa and Lulu gazed at the fantastic display as if their souls were leaving their bodies.
Though I don’t think they were doing it on purpose, the way they were both grabbing my legs was a little painful.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it? It’s so very lovely. Truly…”
Watching the lights dance in the air, Mia murmured almost deliriously. That was more talking than she would usually do in a whole day.
After a dull thud, I turned to see that Liza had dropped her spear against the back of the sofa.
The sound brought her back to her senses, and she quickly picked it up again. For a moment, everyone else turned toward the source of the sound, but the tunnel quickly stole their attention again.
Liza ducked her head and apologized, then returned to her characteristic stiff pose; she was clearly embarrassed. Her usual gallant manner was admirable, but it was nice to see her cute side occasionally.
“Master, I lack the vocabulary to describe the scene. Recommend installation of language set two, I request.”
What on earth is “language set two”?
“Don’t worry about that, Nana. Just the word beautiful is enough.”
“Understood, master. Beautiful.”
Nana gave a little sigh of admiration as she gazed at the dancing lights.
It occurred to me that Miss Karina was uncharacteristically quiet. I glanced over and found her gaping in astonishment at the scenery around her, absolutely captivated.
Eventually, the ship reached the exit of the Dreamglow Cavern. Even the length of two miles didn’t feel like nearly enough.
Maybe I can come back to see it again with Zena sometime.
“Goooo, Princess!”
“Captain, now!”
Miss Ringrande attempted to take off as soon as the ship left the caverns, but the knights begged her to spar with them first.
She defeated her opponents with ease, then explained to each of them their weak points and how they could improve.
And now, she was in the middle of her final match, this one against Sir Ipasa.
The difference between the level-55 Miss Ringrande and the level-33 Sir Ipasa was clear, but since it was a practice match, it ended up being a pretty close fight. Miss Ringrande’s flashy techniques were a sight to behold.
By comparison, Sir Ipasa’s swordsmanship seemed plain. However, he was actually very steady and efficient with his movements, so he was surprisingly strong on defense. I wished Tama and Pochi could learn to use a sword like him.
Just watching seemed like a waste. I decided to try imitating him a little.
I fell back from the circle of spectators and copied Sir Ipasa’s
moves, pretending to hold a sword in my hands.
…Hmm.
Trying it out myself clarified the meaning behind things like his stance and center of gravity that I couldn’t figure out just by sight. Pretending I was him myself, I fought an imaginary Miss Ringrande with my nonexistent sword.
> Skill Acquired: “Imitation: Martial Arts”
To my surprise, I acquired a handy-looking skill in the process, so I activated it right away.
With the help of the skill, I found I could copy Sir Ipasa’s movements more precisely than before.
I wanted to keep experimenting, but I had no choice but to stop when the pair’s fight ended. Too bad.
While I was lamenting the end of my practice time, the circle of people opened, and Miss Ringrande appeared. For some reason, she was advancing on me with an unsettling smile.
Please don’t look at me like a lion that’s just spotted its next prey.
“You seemed like you were up to something fun over here. Won’t you be my next opponent?”
“This man was a savior in the defense of Muno City, you know. And he defeated a lesser hell demon in Gururian City without a scratch! Even you might be in trouble if you’re not careful, Rin.”
Sir Ipasa popped up behind Miss Ringrande, supplying extra information that only added fuel to the fire.
“Oh? Sounds like I can look forward to an exciting match, then.” To my dismay, Miss Ringrande licked her lips.
I considered running away on the spot, but this was a rare opportunity to learn from her swordsmanship. I decided to try my hand without giving myself away.
“Master, your fairy sword.”
“Thank you, Lulu.” Lulu seemed anxious as she handed me my sword. I whispered, “It’s all right” and lightly patted her head to reassure her.
The crowd cheered as I poured magic power into the fairy sword. My main goal was to keep the sword intact, not to strengthen it.
I could invoke Spellblade if I wasn’t careful, so I paid close attention to how much magic I used.
“… Light Defense Hikari Bougyo.”
When Sir Ipasa’s incantation finished, white light enveloped my and Miss Ringrande’s bodies.
Guess this is a defensive spell to ensure we don’t hurt each other.
I thanked Sir Ipasa with a bow.
Then, my “Sense Danger” skill kicked in. Letting it guide my instincts, I flung myself to one side to escape.
“Ho-ho. You looked like your guard was down, but apparently not. Why not use that to lure in your opponent and then counterattack?”
As she advised me, Miss Ringrande drew her arm back from her thrust.
With a smile as my only reply, I focused on her eyes and footwork, trying to copy her fighting style.
It was clear to me now why the demon lord I fought claimed that my attacks “rang hollow.”
Using one’s gaze and footwork to tempt the opponent into attacking, then countering while their guard was down seemed to be an effective strategy.
To take full advantage of this opportunity, I tried various feints to see what she would fall for, drawing out new tactics with different actions so I could fully understand her fighting style.
Red sparks flew each time my fairy sword clashed with her magic blade.
The sparks made it harder to track her. On top of that, my radar and log windows obstructed my vision, making me even more distracted.
Just as I attempted to turn off the menu display, Miss Ringrande used my momentary lapse to thrust at my blind spot. I might’ve been able to defend against it, but I was concerned that I might break her sword if I did. I took the hit and awaited Sir Ipasa’s refereeing verdict.
“Winner: Ringrande!”
A chant of “Ringrande! Ringrande!” echoed from all around.
“You’re not half bad,” Ringrande remarked, sheathing her sword as she approached.
A bit of sweat shone on her forehead, and her slightly ragged breath was rather sexy.
I couldn’t help suspecting that Sara, her younger sister, might grow up to be a similarly sensual beauty.
“Oh, I still have a great deal to learn. Thank you for your guidance.”
I shook Miss Ringrande’s extended hand as I thanked her.
Just then, she gave a little tug, pulling me closer to whisper in my ear.
“Your black hair and eyes, your features—you’re Japanese like Hayato, aren’t you?”
So she really did know how to recognize a Japanese person.
“Yes, that’s correct.” I answered honestly, then elaborated. “My ancestors are Japanese. The name Satou, which originally belonged to a hero, has been passed down through generations. Though his name might not be listed in the hero records of the Saga Empire…”
This was the backstory I’d been brainstorming since I first learned that Miss Ringrande was a follower of the hero Hayato.
Nothing I said was a lie, either. My ancestors really were Japanese, and I’d used the character name throughout generations of games. And, of course, there was no Satou recorded in the history of the Saga Empire.
“I’m told the black-haired girl who travels with me is the great-granddaughter of a Saga Empire hero, as well.” I waved at Lulu, who was looking in our direction with concern.
“…I see. I thought you might be a summoned hero, but it seems I was mistaken.” Miss Ringrande nodded slowly, ostensibly convinced as she surveyed my group. “Oh? You have a pair of beastfolk children and even an elf—why, it’s the sort of party a hero might have.”
Ringrande smiled pleasantly at the girls.
From what Sara had said, I’d gotten the impression that there was some distance between the two sisters, but as far as I could tell, she was a kind and friendly girl. It’d be nice if they could get along, but I’d rather not stick my nose where it didn’t belong. That only ever led to trouble.
After our match, Miss Ringrande joined us for a lip-smacking lunch of my homemade shrimp tempura. Then she took off for the old capital on her wooden Pegasus with a jaunty wave.
Banquet at the Duke’s Castle
Satou here. It’s always nice to share a delicious dinner with a big group of friends. Personally, I prefer to be involved in the eating rather than the cooking.
“Master, bridge-shaped monster sighted, I report. We should prepare for battle, I advise.”
“Oh nooo!”
“Dangerous danger, sir!”
Alarmed by Nana’s declaration, Pochi and Tama started to panic.
“Calm down, you three. That’s just a special kind of bridge called a drawbridge.”
A hundred-foot section in the middle of the vast area across the river was raised in the air so the ship’s large sails wouldn’t crash into it.
The river was over half a mile wide, so it didn’t look like a very big gap, but in reality, it was similar in scale to the Tower Bridge in London. The architecture of this world was impressive, too.
As I gazed at the drawbridge, my AR display informed me that the moving section was actually a kind of golem. Our curiosity must have awakened the tour guide’s instincts, because she came over with an explanation.
“It’s said that this bridge was created by the gods a thousand years ago…”
She went on to inform us that the bridge pier included barrier posts so that aquatic monsters couldn’t approach the outskirts of the old capital.
Downstream, I could see ten or more barrier posts erected in addition to the bridge.
As the guide talked us through the sights, our ship traversed a harbor docked with numerous boats, traveled up a tributary along the edge of the city, and entered a harbor for the exclusive use of nobles.
The whole city seemed to be in a heightened state of revelry, no doubt thanks to the martial arts tournament going on.
As the ship was being unloaded, I looked up the latest information about the city.
There were a lot of high-level warriors about, probably also because of the tournament. Miss Rin
grande seemed to be the highest at level 55.
I didn’t see any reincarnations like Arisa, people with the Hero title, demons, possessed individuals, or anything like that.
There were still about thirty members of the demon lord–worshipping cult Wings of Freedom left in the old capital: nine in the lower parts of town, fifteen lurking below the castle of a noble called Count Bobino, and four detained in the dungeon of the duke’s castle.
The last two were inside the castle itself: the third son of the duke, who was also Sara’s uncle, and his right-hand man.
Count Bobino himself wasn’t a Wings of Freedom member, but evidently the count before him had been in its upper echelons.
Because the last thing I wanted was another demon lord or the like being summoned, I’d have to report these names and hiding places to the duke under my hero alias.
That being said, most of the members were killed during the demon lord incident I’d thwarted, so I doubted they’d be able to pull off another large-scale plan like that anytime soon. Still, better to be safe than sorry.
“Sir Satou! The carriage my brother sent for me has arrived! I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Tolma seemed to have recovered from before and called out to me as soon as I disembarked.
Amazingly, the carriage behind him didn’t have a horse. Though it was shaped like a normal carriage, it was actually a magic item called a golem car.
A closer look at the wheels would reveal the artificial hands there to turn them. Now, that was a fantasy carriage if I’d ever seen one.
“Did you have plans for where to stay in the old capital? If not, you should stay at our house! With the martial arts tournament going on, I doubt there’ll be many open rooms left.”
“I appreciate the offer, but we’re all right. We’ll be staying in the house of the esteemed Count Worgoch.”
Count Worgoch was the viceroy of Gururian City. After I defeated the lesser hell demon that attacked his territory, the count offered to let us stay in his parents’ mansion here in the old capital.
We waved to the Tolma family as they entered their vehicle, then took our own carriage and horses to Count Worgoch’s mansion.
