After I won the "battle" against the demon.
From the guild's investigation in various areas, a conclusion was made that
the great amount of Armor Ants that were secretly breeding had been
exterminated safely.
Most of the Armor Ants that crawled out from the nest charged into water or
jumped from high place to their death. The queens that couldn't move from
the bottom of their nest destroyed their own space and died from collapsing
rocks. At the very least all the nests that were doing parasitism to dungeon
had been confirmed to be destroyed.
Even if by some chance there was an ant that had the cunning to parasite on
dungeon survived, the number would be very few and the adventurer guilds
would never fail to notice them from here on after the information had been
shared.
Like this the massive outbreak of Armor Ants that could possibly become
an unprecedentedly great disaster was taken care of without problem.
It looked like there were cases where some villages or towns that were near
a nest got damaged considerably, but it looked like that loss would be
compensated by the tens of thousands of ant materials that suddenly fell on
their lap. The price for ant materials would drop within the country but,
there would be enough profit to be obtained if the materials were processed
and sold to neighboring countries.
Because of that the tumultuous Armor Ant incident didn't cause any human
casualties and the curtain was closed with the best possible result but…
there was only one troublesome thing.
"My master♥ My master♥ I beg you, please I beg you for your mercy♥
Specifically please tie up my whole body before you mess me up without
any mercy at all♥ If you tell me to lick then I'll lick you anywhere even
your shoes… please treat me like your belonging my master… ♥"
"Wait, Regina, we're in front of the guild master right now giving
explanation so calm down! I'm begging you please calm down!"
The demon girl Regina was too crazy.
In order to suppress the Armor Ants who started to rampage everywhere, I
"got along" with her in order to form Master-Servant Contract between us.
That was good and all, but somehow, it ended up with her acting, like this.
Her queenly attitude when we first encountered her had gone without a
trace. She was clinging on me while begging for "mercy". She did it
regardless of time and place, even when there were other people around.
This was strange no matter how I thought about it…
In the end Master-Servant Contract could only make someone obey an
order that I strongly commanded to them. It shouldn't be something that
could get positivity level MAX & personality change to extreme
masochism like this, and yet…
But, well, nothing could be done about it now that it had happened.
It would hurt my conscience to one-sidedly kill a demon who had been
reduced into this kind of state, so I brought her back to the city.
With the Sunflower of the Wide Sky having witnessing Regina treating me
amicably? when they woke up, it was necessary to give a proper
explanation to the guild…
Fortunately, Regina was able to disguise herself as human by hiding her
feelers and carapace.
I had used Master-Servant Contract to firmly order her "You must never
hurt human other than when it's necessary to protect yourself". We came to
the office of the guild master because there was no more problem with
safety but…,
"My master, what's the matter? Why won't you violate me? Even though
you had ravaged my womb that time without any care at all no matter how
hard I begged you to stop. Where have that brutish master vanish to──"
"Stop talking for a while!"
The safety of my social status was in extreme danger.
I didn't want to use it but there was no other choice.
I strongly recited in my mind for Regina to stop talking.
"Mmf mmf mmfff──♥ (Aa!♥ My master has taken away another of my
free will… ah, aaaaaaaaaaah♥ I'm coming again just from that… ♥"
Regina was still noisy even with her becoming unable to talk, but there was
nothing else to do here but to ignore her.
"…W-well, this is"
The guild master Goudo-san opened his mouth while looking greatly
awkward.
"In the first place there are confirmed cases of demon building friendly
relationship with human due to having matching interest, although the
number is extremely small. You have tamed this demon, and not only that, a
demon who should have high pride and would never abase themselves to
other people is reduced into this kind of state, so it doesn't look like we will
have much to worry about."
"A-ahaha, thank you very much."
I could only laugh to gloss over the matter.
"And, about your absurdity of taming a demon…"
The atmosphere around the guild master changed.
My body stiffened with how terribly serious he sounded.
I formally reported this because it would be bad if I got strangely suspected
or feared but… what would someone who was in the position of guild
master would do after knowing about my outrageous skill?
His decision would also affect my elopement with Alicia after this. I waited
for his words with bated breath.
Then the guild master made a conflicted expression while,
"For now let's keep this a secret among the guild master me and the
Sunflower of the Wide Sky party."
"Eh?"
My eyes widened hearing those words. I asked him with bewilderment.
"Err, umm. Is that okay? It might not be my place to say this but, an affair
at the level of taming a demon normally has to be reported to the country no
matter what…"
"Yeah, normally that's the case. But──"
The guild master showed some kind of hesitation at my question, but then
he spoke firmly.
"You can say that it's my instinct as guild master. For a demon's appearance
to happen at the same time with an invasion from another country, the
incident this time is just questionable. In the first place, it's strange for the
royal family to be reluctant to dispatch Holy Knights to here just because of
a bit of invasion from other country, not when our country's national
strength is prominent even throughout the continent."
"That's…"
I didn't know what to say in regard to the points that the guild master listed.
Seeing my reaction the guild master added "Well, it's not like I'm
suspecting the royal family though…" and,
"In any case my instinct is telling me that it'll be better if to put this matter
on hold for the moment. As expected I'll have to tell someone like the
feudal lord the truth, but for the time being I'll give an explanation to the
surrounding area that we successfully compromised with the demon. It
doesn't look like there is any reason to doubt you who are so naively honest
that you even reported something like this anyway. The guild will have to at
least do some monitoring over that demon but, I think there won't be any
problem as long as she doesn't harm any human."
"…Tsu, t-thank you very much!"
The guild master grinned mischievously. I patted my chest in relieve.
If the matter about Regina and me got reported to the country, I'd have to
make up some excuses before getting out of here while covering my track. I
was already resolved to do just that, but the guild master's unexpected
decision made me felt heartfelt relieve.
Thus, the story of how I tamed a demon became a secret that was only
know by very few people including the Sunflower of the Wide Sky. Alicia
and I would be able to continue spending time in this city Gretona just like
before.
About the discomfort that the guild master harbored toward the country,
there were a lot of things that I myself was still concerned about but… for
now we could relax.
And speaking about remaining problem that still hadn't been solved,
"Fuu♥ Fuu♥"
There was only how Alicia got triggered by Regina and now she was
caressing my thigh nonstop with the face of a girl who was all hot and
bothered I guess…
"L-look here Alicia. The case of Regina is being overlooked for now but,
my status plate has become really bizarre so, I want to prioritize checking it
out for a bit before──"
My persuasion was meaningless.
The moment we returned to our inn, Alicia didn't even waste time to take
off her clothes and dragged me to the bedroom.
Regina who couldn't talk & couldn't go wild in the inn got locked out from
the bedroom using Sacred Defense.
And then,
"AA───────────────────────────!?"
I was feeling guilt toward Alicia because of how I "got along" with Regina,
so I couldn't go against her too insistently and like that I got devoured by
Alicia for the whole day.
.
I didn't know how long I would be able to stay together with Alicia.
But for the time being it looked like our life of elopement in order to
respond to her feeling would still continue for a while like this.
.
At the same time we still didn't know at all about the disquieting movement
that would shake this kingdom──no, this whole continent.
* * *
"Haven't you find the Sacred Knight yet!?"
A majestic voice resounded angrily through the audience hall that was filled
with grand designs.
The voice's owner was the king of Spermaria Kingdom that Erio and Alicia
belonged to.
And then kneeling in front of the king were two Sacred Knights who were
counted among the strongest within the country.
Erio's father Duke Scarlet.
Alicia's father Marquis Blueaiz.
The two men who were at their prime bowed their head in order to display
their deep loyalty. The king of Spermaria yelled even more vehemently
toward them.
"In the first place how could you allow the Sacred Knight to run away from
home! In addition her whereabouts are still remaining unknown even after
more than a month has passed… are you two really searching for her
seriously!?"
"We are ashamed. But when my son obtained that abnormal Gift, this
humble servant was also pressed with the need to deal with that country in
regard to the banishment of my son because it can affect the church's
reputation… to think that the Sacred Knight would leave the capital during
that time, it was something that I couldn't possibly predict. In addition the
disappearance of the Sacred Knight is something that we can't possibly
announce publically, so the search need to be done by very few personnel
and carried out with extreme cautiousness──"
"Enough with the excuse!"
The excuse from Erio's father, Duke Scarlet was cut off by the king.
"The Sacred Knight is the highest class of Holy Knight that is the symbol of
the church. In addition the leader of the church, the exalted Priestess of
Oracle strongly wished for Alicia Blueaiz to study abroad in her country. In
order to strengthen the ties between our country and the church, the Sacred
Knight has to be dispatched to the headquarters of the church in Holy
Theocracy Romalia as emissary of friendship as soon as possible! Bring
back the Sacred Knight here immediately!"
"…Yes, as my king command."
Duke Scarlet and Marquis Blueaiz replied to the king heated lecture with a
hard tone.
.
After they left the audience hall.
Duke Scarlet and Marquis Blueaiz paid attention to the surrounding while
walking side by side.
"Still, I was already faintly aware that my daughter is harboring feeling
toward your son, but to think that she would suddenly run away from home.
It was a splendid act even for my daughter. She will definitely become a big
deal in the future!… Just like my wife…"
"This isn't the time to speak easygoingly like that. The Sacred Knight
running away from home in elopement is an unheard-of severe problem."
The large man who praised his daughter while his voice trembled slightly
nearing the end, Marquis Blueaiz was commented by Duke Scarlet with an
exasperated tone.
But his exasperation immediately turned serious. Duke Scarlet spoke with a
low voice.
"Even so… as expected the king's policy feels strange somehow."
"…Umu. So you also think so."
"Yeah. I can still understand if he only asks us to bring the Sacred Knight
back. That's the natural thing to do."
Duke Scarlet vigilantly paid attention to his surrounding using his skill
while continuing with smaller voice.
"But even if it's to strengthen our ties with the headquarters of the church,
the Holy Theocracy Romalia, to suddenly send away the Sacred Knight to
another country like that is… it's simply strange no matter how I think
about it."
Normally it wasn't that rare for Holy Knights of other countries to study
abroad at the Holy Theocracy Romalia.
By studying abroad in that powerful country that was also church's
headquarters, the Holy Knights would train diligently in mind and body,
obtaining the strength and nobility that were worthy for knights who would
protect their country. Studying there would also serve as a great status
symbol.
But… the study abroad would only be done after the Holy Knight had
grown to some degree. And only when the person in question strongly
wished for it. On top of that there was also a need for a strict agreement
between countries to be signed for it. Immediately sending out a hopeful
candidate that would become powerful combat strength in the future for the
national defense to study abroad in another country, even if that country in
question was the church's headquarters was simply out of the question.
Furthermore, the church felt somewhat strange during these several years.
And if they could speak further, even the talk of the highest leader of the
church, the Priestess of Oracle wishing for the Sacred Knight to study
abroad also sounded suspicious. That honorable personage had been falling
sick for many years and not only she hadn't shown herself in public for a
while, even requests to have an audience with her had been all refused
without exception.
Then she suddenly wished for the Sacred Knight to study abroad at her
country like this.
There would be no end to it if they kept bringing up the suspicious matters
like this. Marquis Blueaiz rubbed his chin while opening his mouth.
"…As I thought, this started since the king welcomed his queen from the
holy theocracy. Since then his majesty's behavior was becoming stranger
and stranger each day."
"…Don't speak something like that so carelessly. It will cause international
problem."
Duke Scarlet chided Marquis Blueaiz for his speculation.
But Duke Scarlet never said anything that actually refuted that speculation
before he continued.
"In any case… in hindsight it might actually be convenient that my son and
Alicia are completely cutting off contact and going off somewhere in
elopement. With our position, there would be a limit if we try go against the
king's order to shelter Alicia."
"Umu"
"Even so, as expected I'm worried for the two of them. No matter what
even the church won't overstep the kingdom's knight order to openly search
for Alicia but… just in case I'll monitor the movement of the church within
this country. If they take action I'll disturb them within limitation, and I'll
make arrangement for spy to notify us if it looks like they have grasped
Alicia's whereabouts. It's irritating that the number of people we can share
this concern with is limited but… while we're able to buy time like this I
hope those two… I hope the Sacred Knight Alicia will be able to grow
stronger to protect herself."
Between Erio and Alicia, it was actually Erio who was bestowed with the
perverted Gift who was growing rapidly and obtaining strength to protect
themselves, but his father couldn't possibly imagine that even in his dream.
The two fathers were secretly scheming to somehow outwit the people who
were showing suspicious movement and contact their children.
* * *
"What's the meaning of this?"
Late at night, in the west great forest.
A woman's voice echoed inside the nest of Armor Ants that had become
completely empty.
"I can still understand if the queen who I evolved into demon got
exterminated, but for all the Armor Ants to be annihilated before they could
ransack this country…? Just what in the world happened here? Or perhaps,
there was some kind of defect with the evolution acceleration's technique?"
The blond haired beauty was idly floating in the air like a ghost as she
spoke in bewilderment.
Her voice was filled with the irritation that her plan failed. Magic power
was whirling aggressively around her.
But before long that beauty switched her line of thought as she shook her
head.
"Well, doesn't matter. There're still other ways to throw this country into
chaos, and it'll still be some time in the future before we move to break
down this country for real. I don't know who did this but, they can enjoy
their sweet victory for now. More importantly now…"
The ghost-like blond beauty said that before vanishing like air.
And then her figure next appeared right above a blond haired beauty who
was sleeping on a luxurious and gorgeous bed. The ghost got pulled toward
the body of the sleeping beauty and their figures overlapped.
Then the blond haired beauty who was sleeping like the dead until then
opened her eyes and marched through the palace as though she owned the
place. And then she arrived──at the bedroom of Spermaria's king.
The beauty slipped to the side of the king who was just about to sleep as
though it was only natural and whispered her voice sweetly into his ear.
"Say dear king? Have you found the whereabouts of the Sacred Knight?"
"O, ou ou. My beloved wife. About that, my servants are moving really
slowly even now. Can you wait a little more for that?"
"Be quick okay? The Priestess of Oracle is waiting impatiently for her at
my home the holy theocracy after all."
The blonde haired beauty──Spermaria's queen displayed her peerlessly
beautiful smile.
──Find her quickly you dumb pig.
──Hand over the shitty brat who got bestowed with something like Sacred
Knight quickly.
──We have to kill the human's greatest fighting strength before she can
grow and harm us.
The queen didn't show that thinking at the slightest on the surface. She
continued to chirp with her sweet voice at the king who kept making an
expression of someone with his sanity robbed away.