I-I-I've brought some tea for you!
Thank you.
You needn't be so nervous.
I-I-I'm not nervous...
E-Enjoy!
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Chapter 8
Take this sword, my lord.
It's been a long time, Scholar.
And what brings you here today?
I'm delivering balance sheets and other documents.
I realize they're normally sent by ship,
but I wanted to see you personally.
So I came in person.
I-I'm not sure how to respond to that.
Very well, Scholar...
Why not put on some other attire?
H-Huh?
Retaking Bright Light Island
has paved the way for many new trade routes, and many counterfeiters...
Y-Yes.
But only a fool would be deceived by them.
When I was younger, I had a bad experience like that...
U-Um...
I'll wait as long as it takes.
I've come to see the real you.
W-Well...
That's enough.
You can leave.
B-But...
He's already seen through it.
I'm sorry...
I didn't mean to deceive you, but...
I know.
Appearance plays an important part in negotiations.
Some kind of illusion magic?
I'm impressed.
It didn't fool you at all.
No, that was just intuition.
And in most similar matters, one's intuition is correct.
More importantly,
it's good to see you again.
You finally acknowledged it.
You didn't seem at all surprised, so I thought you'd forgotten.
I'd never forget you, Hero.
I was the guy dumb enough to get excited over fifteen gold pieces.
Yes, that speech turned quite a profit.
Thank you.
That really irritates me...
I'm relieved to see you doing well.
I think you've changed a little.
You used to be more aloof, more obsessed with perfection.
It's the island.
Have I changed that much?
You seem a far more formidable foe now.
What a coincidence.
I was just thinking the same thing.
They say when you encounter
something big, something your experience and knowledge
can't handle, you change.
And, Hero, with your appearance now, I'm certain about this.
That you can change the world?
Yes.
Come to think of it, you haven't fulfilled our contract.
Oh?
You said when I returned,
you would treat me to a banquet with lots of hot busty girls.
Ah, that's true!
When shall we hold it?
Now.
What?
Where are we?!
A deep breath or two will help...
The teleportation sickness.
One more time.
I never thought I'd experience teleportation magic...
For some reason, rainbows appear in this region, at night.
I was told it has to do with magnetic fields,
but the explanation was too complex for me.
We can have our banquet here.
I've dispatched him to tell the demons to ready some drinks.
Demons?
Then is this...
Yes, the Demon Realm.
I decided to believe in you because of your words.
So I've brought you to her world.
Then, she's...
A demon.
That is Gate City.
Until recently, thousands of soldiers occupied it.
The place that demons retook, after the commander fled?
That's a lie.
The human merchants are still there, and they're still in business.
Could I get some drink over here?
Where are we?
Within Gate City.
It isn't safe enough
to reestablish contact with the Human World, but it's peaceful, isn't it?
Those merchants are from my Alliance!
Right now, it's the only place in the world
where humans and demons coexist.
A population of approximately 32,000.
Larger than the Lake Country's capital.
The Demon King has recognized it as neutral territory,
and it's governed by a local body.
A third of the representatives are human.
Actually, I'm a representative for the demons.
For the demons?
As her representative.
Why do this?
It's a very dangerous thing to do...
Because I'd be lonely...
If went back to just being a hero.
My lord!
My lord, I have come in answer to your call.
I swear on the pride of the Fire Dragons
that we will give your guest the finest banquet possible.
Um... Go easy on us, okay?
You should drink.
Refuse her drink, and she'll bite off your ear.
That's horrible!
You have to ensure the cup is overflowing, or it doesn't count.
Now, gulp it down.
Oh, my... Wait a moment.
I don't even care anymore...
What do you think, Merchant?
Of what?
The boobs... You know, her boobs.
Well?
Oh, yes. Understood.
Pretty nice...
The rainbows are amazing at this hour.
Yes.
What's your opinion of Gate City?
An orchard where the fruit is made of gold.
I see.
Then, with my authority, I shall sell it to you.
You can do that?
Yeah.
And in return?
Merchants always view things in terms of loss and gain.
Yes.
That's why people call them
stubborn or greedy monsters who are only interested in profit.
But when I look at her, I think that may not be true at all.
That the merchants,
thinking longer and harder than anyone about loss and gain,
may be the first to find
what cannot be expressed in loss and gain.
Hero...
I want you to show it to me.
That's my price.
Did you see her?
Yes, at the Outer Library.
Was she awake?
No, but I managed to leave a message.
The magical energy in the air is thicker now.
The ancient Demon Kings are restless.
What about the seal?
It's holding, but barely.
If I enter, it will calm down.
Head Maid...
Yes.
If, when I emerge, I am no longer myself...
I swear on my life that I shall slay you.
What?
What's happening, Knight?
In the Lake Country, I received the Spirit's blessing,
and I became a servant of the light.
This sword has long journeyed beside you.
I offer it to you, along with myself.
My sword, my power, my body.
The loyalty and purity of my soul belong to you.
You are the master of my soul, the place where my hope dwells.
Hey, wait...
I won't wait!
Hero... This sword belongs to you!
Just stand up, okay?
The Demon King is amazing.
She is smart, kind-hearted, and she has a dream.
She sees far into the future.
So I shan't ask for you, because you belong to her.
However, I belong to myself.
So if nothing else, I wish to offer myself to you.
As a knight, I have never sworn my sword to another,
so I have never been a real knight.
I shall give my sword to you, and you will be my master forever.
That is the kind of knight I desire to be.
Sure you want it like this?
This is really important to you, right?
It doesn't matter when or where!
I want to do something, too...
If you're leaving for the future, I wish to be near you.
I don't...
I don't want to be left behind again!
I'm sorry.
Take this sword, my lord...
I shall never betray you.
Good.
Reverse it, and hand it back.
Now my blade belongs to you.
And my body and soul, as well.
I feel really fulfilled, somehow!
Um, well...
It comes with a one-week return period, right?
I can get out of the contract?
You really believe that?
Nice job, little one.
You have a good eye!
This is a lovely partridge.
Want it?
May I?
No! You shouldn't take things...
It's fine, it's fine.
But...
Thanks to the Scholar, pigs are plentiful, even in winter.
It's great.
Yeah.
This is the first time we've had enough
to eat in the winter, after paying our taxes.
And we owe a lot to the Head Maid, too.
You do?
She brought us soap and warm clothes.
All the settlers and serfs are grateful to her.
The serfs, as well?
I dislike insects.
She taught us how to make herb baths,
and last winter, no one died of cold.
This village really has changed!
What?
Are you certain of this, Messenger?
You forget your place!
As a faithful servant of the Light Spirit,
you should be well aware that His Holiness is infallible, Winter King.
Mobilize your army.
If they are allowed to escape, you may be declared a blasphemer!
No way!
Is it because of the elections?
I can't believe I didn't see this coming!
Something horrible has happened...
Where is the Prioress?
She's in the Winter Country right now.
Recall her at once.
There's no time!
Partridge! Partridge!
This looks good...
You're a great chef now.
Really?
All right!
Now I won't have to go back to being a serf, right?
Um, and what do you want to be?
Sister, you should be glasses!
H-Hey, now...
I'm sorry to call so late!
Is anyone here?
Is there anyone at home?
The Scholar is a heretic?
The potato is a demon crop.
The new agricultural methods introduced
are evil and go against the Light Spirit's teachings.
And the church has no place in her studies.
Thus, the Crimson Scholar is a heretic,
who must be handed over immediately.
They're using the Light Spirit for their petty schemes!
What do we do?
She won't return for a minimum of two months.
That is why
she left the ring I showed you.
If she were here, I'm sure she'd have some idea.
Why have we received this trial?
I know!
If we use that illusion...
I won't allow that.
However, Hero...
As King, I...
Finish that sentence, and you'll get a face full of lightning.
You can think it.
But if you say it, you've failed as a king.
Therefore, I will take care of it.
Hero...
I'm sorry, but let them arrest you.
And once you're out of the Winter Country, I'll save you.
If you hand her over and she crosses your borders,
they can't blame you for what happens.
That'll take care of it.
Then once again, you'll...
Yeah.
Disobeying the church will complicate things.
Once again, I am forced to leave you alone...
I have two people with me this time,
and the Scholar will be home soon.
And while it may not be in public, you'll see me again, right?
Hell, no!
I'm going with you!
You have a place you must protect.
If I could sacrifice myself in her stead...
Don't get depressed...
I'm used to leaving in the night.
Are we moving, Sister?
Yup.
What about my promise to teach the hunters how to make pie?
Sorry, but...
You could wipe out the Holy Capital's entire army on your own.
She wouldn't let me do that.
Fighting and winning, or defeating and taking.
But that doesn't mean I'll let them take anything from me.
And so,
I'm leaving.
Next Chapter:
I am human.