Did you send Arclial? I'm not so sure about that, Mr. Littoral.
"Just in case. There's a good chance that some of the people pursuing Ceraes are skilled.

　Rahite looks at me with a puzzled look on his face. I know what you mean. Throwing in Arcreal is one of our trump cards, and it's not something we can use easily.
　Arcreal is the most capable of fighting among the bastards we've found. He possesses a talent for 'battle'. He is said to be a genius in battle, comparable to Yugra who overpowered the Demon King as a hero. Nektokhar says that if it were a pure battle, he would be able to compete on equal terms with the brave Yugra.

"Ceraes is a talent we want, though. But it would be premature to let the world know of his existence.
"It's not just for Ceraes. Morari and Jastet are also important to me. Morari's talents are especially useful. If you've ever worked with her, you'll understand.
"Well, the presence of ...... transference magic is useful in keeping the location of the base unknown.

　Taze, Garne, Mejis, and Quama are all searching for us. The fact that they haven't even been able to get a foothold so far is largely due to Morari's transference magic. There is still a possibility that we will be tracked down on foot. Losing Morari would be a blow to their future actions.

You never did like to play your trump card first, did you?
It depends on the trump card. Arcturial's strength is so overwhelming that everyone has to admit it, but it's not a panacea.
"I agree with you there. It is important not to give the opponent time to deal with it. However, throwing in Arcturial is not a one-time measure. If they know what he is capable of, they won't be able to make easy moves, right? It can also have a deterrent effect, so it's not just a bad thing.
"That's true. But I think the problem is that he was sent there alone. Because he's--

　As if to interrupt the conversation, the door of the room was opened. What emerged from the door was the rumored Arclial himself. He is smiling innocently as usual.

"I'm home! I'm home now, Ritual! What, Raheit's here too?
"Of course he's here. Unlike you, I'm not the type to do manual labor. I prefer to avoid combat as much as possible.
What, are you still upset that you lost to Archbishop Ucka?
No, I'm not. It's true that I let my guard down and I admit my defeat. There won't be a next time.
You do care.
So, Arcturial, how'd it go?
No, he got away!

　Raheit lets out a very heavy sigh. I'm starting to get a headache too.

...... for a full report.
"Well, I was on my way to the rendezvous point like you said. Then, a humanoid demon in a butler's uniform interfered. That thing was pretty strong.

　The word "demon in a butler's uniform" reminded me of the purple demon lord's men I met in Kuama. That's probably it. The fact that he was able to fight a demon far beyond the normal unique class and remain unharmed is quite impressive.

You said the demon bought you time.
That's right. I'm not sure what to do. It ran away when I was about to run out of magic power to regenerate. I chased after it and arrived at the rendezvous point. And then they were all killed.
Does that mean Morari and Jastet were killed too?
Yeah, it's pretty impressive that they can beat Jastet too! That's why I was so excited to fight, but then they threw a poisonous smoke screen and everything, and when I cleared the smoke, they all ran away! I was able to catch a glimpse of the Blade of Annihilation.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea. I'm sure there were a few more skilled people there.

And you came back without any results?
"Don't hold your breath, Lahite. Don't be so sure, Rahite. We picked up Ceraes and his disciples. Now they're hiding them near the border.
...... Where are Morari and Jastet?
They were taken. Nice work, guys!

　Raheit's problem was that Arcreal was incapable of doing anything but fighting. In the event that you're looking for the best of the best, you'll be able to get the best of the best. ......

It's my fault for thinking that Jastet would be able to use you to his advantage if I let you join him.
I should have at least sent you with the Morari. I should have at least sent you with Morari and the others, but I was on another mission and time was of the essence.
What do you mean, I was on my way right after the last mission?
I'm not going to ask you to be resourceful. I'm not asking you to be resourceful. ...... If they're there, they're probably in Quama's castle right now.
I suppose so. It's a 50/50 decision whether to interrogate them there or move on to Taze or Garne in case we make a rescue attempt.



　I have those two undergoing special training. I'm sure they won't say anything detrimental to me. .......

"Then shall I go to Quama Castle now?
"Please don't. If we attack the country head on, it will strengthen the unity of the other countries. If we do that, it's not like this country won't cooperate.
"Oh, I see.
...... I'll inform Mr. Ritual and Mr. Nektokhar. I'll let Mr. Nektokhar know you're coming. You're going to retrieve Cellaes.
Yes, please.

　Rahite leaves the room, looking as if he doesn't want to be here a moment longer. Rahite, who is the embodiment of stupidity, is the worst match for the meticulous strategist Arcreal. In my case, I'm used to partying with idiots like Gladna. The direction of the idiot is different, so it's not perfect.

"So I'm going to be on call for a while after all?
Yes, you are. I'll let you know when you're ready to go, but for now you should rest up.
...... I'm sorry, Ritual. I'm sorry I made your job harder.
Don't mind me, I'm used to it.

　Arclial looks apologetic, but it's clear that he knows he's going to get a lot of grumbling if he doesn't apologize first. This kind of person will not be improved by a few words. I also want to avoid wasting effort.

I don't want to waste my time. You talk like that to me, Rahite, and Nektokhar, but you talk so nicely to Morari and the others.
"That's because of your position. Nektokhar and Raheit are the ones who will walk with me, but Morari are the ones who will follow me. They are under my command, ready to be the foundation of my path. I will accept that resolve, and at times I may even use their lives as tools to destroy them. Then I must respect them to the utmost of my ability as human beings, at least in my words. That's my way of being polite.

　If possible, I want to think of a way to rescue them. But if that doesn't happen, I'll have to make the decision to abandon them. I don't feel good about that.

You don't seem very nice to me, do you?
You don't seem like you'd go under if I tried to use you.
"I see. I see.

　I see.

　After meeting up with Exoik and the others at Quama Castle, we confirmed the details of what had happened. While Eckdoik and the others were fighting with Ceraes to secure the bastard, Duvraeori, who was about to join them, came into contact with a person who called himself Arkreal on the way. Because of the strange atmosphere, Duvraeori thought it was a reinforcement sent by Raheit and the others and entered the battle to stop the rendezvous.
　Arcturial's strength was so extraordinary that Duvraeori decided to join up with Exoik and the others when he had just enough strength left to escape. By that time, the battle was over and Duvraeori proposed to flee from the pursuing Ark Real. They unanimously prepared to flee, with Mixu and Exdoik taking the lead and using various means to escape.

After deploying a smoke screen, Duvraeori took the bastard into his stomach. We got as far as we could before the smoke cleared and I dug into the ground for cover. I dug into the ground and hid, since he hadn't used his detection spell despite the smoke screen. After hiding for a while, I dug into the ground and moved closer to Quama's village.
I was able to secure two of the bastards, sorry .......
You don't have to bow down, Harkdock. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

　I knew that a transference magic user would come to help Ceraes escape. The wizards who were said to be with him at all times. The only thing I didn't expect was a guy who Harkdock says is 'as good as Yugra'.
　Duvraeori is currently sleeping in a room in the castle. He's so badly injured that he's too weak to heal himself. We'll need to call in the purple and give him a special treatment.

"So, Harkdock. In what dimension does it mean to be equal to Seiya Yukura?
"In what dimension does that mean?" "In the same dimension as the Yugura I felt in ......'s Index of the Brave. That's pretty bad.
I'm not sure if it's the same as being a hero, a warrior, or a wizard. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
"Oh, you mean that. I'm not sure what you mean. It's not as much magic as Yugura. That guy's badassness is as a warrior.
As a warrior, ...... he's a bastard with a talent for fighting.

　If you have the ability to generate magic power, detect danger, and grasp space, it is not surprising that you have the ability to adapt to combat. I'm not sure what to make of that. But I have a few thoughts.

"Brother, your expression is lighter than I thought.
They're definitely people to watch out for. But it's not hopeless.
No, no, no, it's hopeless! Even Duvvreoris was no match for him!
If you were completely equal to Seiya Yukura, you would have been wiped out long ago. It is reasonable to assume that the only reason you were able to escape was because he was not capable of chasing you.

　After the smoke screen is cleared, if Arclial notices that Morari and Jastet are gone, he will act to get them back. It's just a matter of quickly finding and hunting down the Ekduiks who are hiding nearby.

Is it possible that he let them go on purpose?
"There are only a few reasons to let someone go when you have a huge advantage. There's something to be gained by letting him go, or there's no reason to kill him. Since our forces are already known and it is obvious from a little thought that the final destination of escape will be Quama Castle, the information is meaningless. As for a reason to kill him, of course there is one since he has already lost his friends.


So the guy's like me, only with one nerve or something like that?
"Maybe. But if he has a talent for fighting, I'm sure he'll be pulled in by it and have a lot of other abilities as well.
"Pulled in?
It's natural that abilities similar to one's own talents tend to grow. For example, Harkdock, your strength is not only your ability to detect danger. It also includes the ability to analyze your opponent using detection magic, right? Wolfe is also quite skilled at not only generating magic, but also at using large amounts of magic in combat. If you have a talent for fighting, your ability to assist it should also be of a high standard.

　But the fact that it lacks the ability to track down fleeing opponents means that even though Arclial is extremely strong against those who challenge it head on, it may be weak at the back of the pack. The difference in specs is considerable, so it will be very difficult to hunt them down in battle.

I'm not sure, but he had a lot of magic power. I'm not sure if that's the reason why I was able to catch up with Duvraeus in flight.
You're probably not very smart either. If he was intelligent, Rahite would be happy to work with him.
Suddenly you're starting to sound familiar. ....... Oh, but if he's an idiot, he's going to get in here!
"I'm sure they'll talk to someone with a brain after they retrieve Ceraes, though. Rithial or Rahite would definitely stop him.
"Well, I guess we're safe for now!

　For Rahite and the others, the most important thing they have to avoid is having their base of operations known. The reason why they sent in the Arcturial was to prevent them from losing Morari, who was a useful user of transfer magic. The miscalculation was that they ran into Duvraeori before the rendezvous. Thanks to Duvraeori's stalling, he was able to avoid a battle with Arcturial and thus capture the bastard. I'll have to have Purple give Duvraeori a word of thanks later.
　As they were talking, Mikus and Lakra showed up. Morari and Jastet are still paralyzed and unable to speak, but they can prepare for it. I've asked Mikus and the others to do so, but judging from their expressions, it's not going to be easy.

"Your friend. The two of them don't have magic seal stones implanted in their heads, but they seem to have a very high resistance to magic that interferes with the mind.
"You mean they can't be charmed or brainwashed? He seems to be a direct subordinate of Ritual, so it seems he's been trained accordingly.
I'm sure. Then it would be a physical interrogation. ......
That's exactly what I'm going to endure.

　I'm not sure what to make of this. I feel like lamenting how weak the interrogation is in this world. Well, I'm sure someone will at least give up some information before being interrogated.

"So you're going to interrogate me like you interrogated Mr. Rahight?
"That's a trick that can only be done when you have a certain amount of information that you can read. It's not suitable for digging up information. I'll see what I can do.

　Besides, you can't switch to "I" right now. It's not a good idea to push the other person into a mental corner in this state. Nevertheless, I can't start until I do, so I'll try as much as I can.
　Later, I went with Mikus to the prison where Morari was kept after the paralyzing poison was removed. She was strapped into a restraint with a magic seal attached, and her hands and feet were locked tightly together. His head is the only part of his body that is free. Hmm, I feel immoral when I see such a scene in my current state.

"Hey, thanks for your help last time.
You're looking good for someone I heard was dying.

　Morari glares at you with hostile eyes. He'll bite you if you get too close, yeah.

"There's a lot going on. I've got a lot to tell you, though.
There's nothing to talk about. Get the f*ck out of here.
You got a lot to say?
Of course not.

　He's giving me a look like, "What the hell is he talking about? I'm sure the guy behind him has a similar look.

"Well, just answer what you want to answer. Let's start with the first question.
So I'm not going to answer--
Are there any foods you don't like?
What's--?
I hate food. I don't want to kill you because I'm holding you for information. You're supposed to feed me.

　I could see some of the venom drain from Morari's eyes. The caution is still there, but he seems to have forgotten how to kill.

"Are you kidding me?
"I'm serious. When you guys captured me, they didn't even feed me. I wanted to show you the difference in how we treat our prisoners. So, what's on the menu today, vegetable soup?
It's whatever you want it to be.
Well, you're the one who gets to choose.
Then put some meat in it. A big one.

　Okay, he's got it. We're on the same page. That's a first step.



I don't know how big we can make it, but I'll tell you. I'll tell you what else... Oh, isn't it cold in here? Do you need a blanket or something?
"Give me .......

　He seems to be disgusted by the content of our conversation. I'm beginning to think it's okay to talk about it if you're going to make improvements.

I'll make arrangements. By the way, Morari, I'm pretty sure you never talk about anything that's not good for Ritual, is that correct?
Of course.
Let's talk about something irrelevant. When you caught me in the cave that was the Scarlet Witch King's base, was it you who attacked me?
It wasn't me. It was Jastet.
That's not a very nice answer. Shouldn't you be lying and saying it was Raheit? Jastet's in jail, too. How do you know I won't retaliate out of spite?
"I don't care.

　"I don't know." "Poor Jastet, well, I'm not gonna do anything to spite him. Maybe. Now that I've had a chance to talk to Morari directly, I have some understanding of his character. Including the previous conversation, I can assume that he has absolute loyalty to Ritual, but he doesn't seem to have much camaraderie with the others. It is safe to assume that this type of person will never divulge important information. We should try to lower their guard gradually, but it may take some time.

"Okay, that's it for today's interrogation. Good work.
You don't like interrogations, do you?
You don't like violence, do you? I'll tickle you if you want me to.
Are you licking me?
No, you've got weak armpits.
...... Get the f*ck out of here.

　Oh, he's got weak armpits, huh? Well, I'm not going to tickle him to get him to confess. I left the jail and analyzed the conversation with Morari in detail, remembering the changes in her expression.

"That was a pretty dumb interrogation, my friend. I thought you were going to do a lot more than that. ......
"Moderation is good at first. Besides, Morali had me moved.
I'm sure you've had a rough time of it since. ......

　I'm sure he's very angry about what happened to me.

"Thanks, Mixu. Thank you, Mixu, for hating me so much. That's enough to make me feel better.
...... I'm sure your friend is, but that's not how I see it.
I don't want you to hurt the hostages with your selfish interrogations. I don't have a problem with a little touching.
"......?

　He taps Mixu lightly on the head and smiles wickedly.

I've got a lot of time on my hands today, and I'd be happy to have a quick chat at your leisure. I don't want you to get carried away, though.
I'm not sure I'm getting the gist of this. ......
Yes, I know from my reaction to the conversation earlier that Morari has weak armpits.
"I see. Well, I guess I'm going to have to get rid of some distractions!

　Well, it doesn't matter if Morari hates the mix. It's just that their opinion of me will be relatively better.

As I said before, be moderate.