358. [INTERMISSION] THE HEROES
“Ishida-san,” Wada Haru, a hero who specializes in tanking, called out to the light hero.
“Yes?”
A sword met the shield. Haru was thrown a few steps back. “What are we doing exactly?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, when the demon lords are beginning to make their moves, we’re still here,” Haru raised his hands with the golden buckle shield to intercept Ishida’s strike.
“We’ll be heading out to the front lines soon enough.”
The two were training out in the courtyard. They had been sent back to the training dungeon to train just two weeks ago. With newfound strength and their enhanced equipment, they cleared the dungeon in record time– one week.
Because of their massive success, they had been given a period to recuperate.
It was also at this time Her Highness Alytia was planning her escape. When the explosion happened, a nation-wide emergency was declared. The heroes were dispatched to investigate alongside the most well renowned investigators and detectives..
However, the only conclusion they come to was..
It was a demon’s doing.
The heroes departure had been hastened because of this national crisis which Alytia had caused. There were concerns that the heroes were still immature, however, it is during times like these that the hero should be sent out to face a brave new frontier.
They can’t delay any longer. Alytia may be in danger.
“What do you think sensei is doing right now?” breathing hard, Haru asked.
“Who knows really. Perhaps he’s already on the demon’s tail.”
“Do you think we really have to slay all the demon lords? They aren’t all bad, are they? Like that one we met last time, she had a pretty sad story.”
The topic will still float up every now and then. As someone who has some knowledge of isekai, Ishida was weighing the side of humans and demons. It could very well be that the demons were of a good nature, and that the kingdoms were merely overreacting.
Of course, there was input from their sensei which they needed to consider too.
“Sasaki-san, Wada-san.”
“Heya, we’re back.”
“You two have been working hard.”
“Hey, hey~”
“Reina-san, Takahashi-san, Nagushi-san, Chiba-san, what brings you here?”
“We heard the news, so we came to join. We’ll be headed straight to Toren Kingdom, right?’ Sakurai Reina, the leader of the Pigeon Pipe party said.
“That’s His Majesty’s plan.”
“Isn’t that where the demon lord went?”
“I still don’t think they killed her, there’s definitely some shady business going on.”
“That’s why we’re going there to investigate it,” Isihida said.
“When will our departure be?”
“Later this evening,” said Haru.
“It’s quite rushed. Could you slot in a reserved carriage for us?”
“I’ll tell Commander Peter about it.”
“If we’re going to Toren Kingdom, is there anything we should prepare for? Like bombs or poison?”
“I don’t think those are necessary. We have everyone here, and it's not like we’re headed into dungeon anyways..”
“Hey, have you seen Aoki-san and Takata-san anywhere?”
“Aoki-san and Takata-san? I’ve not seen them around the guild at all. What happened?”
“They didn’t come join us during the dungeon expedition, I thought they were with you girls.”
“Did they go to explore other kingdoms?”
“Eh, seriously?”
“Wait! Don’t we still have a communication scroll we got from them last time?”
“That’s right! Takata-san gave Miu-chan the scroll from last time.”
Ishida and Haru looked at each other.
===
“They’re not picking up.”
A communication scroll is a troublesome magic tool which you need to keep a close eye on. Unlike a phone which would ring whenever someone called, the communication scroll would glow blue on the receiver's side.
As for the initiator, the scroll will begin to burn. If the receiver doesn’t pick up the call before the scroll from the initiator’s side disappears completely, the session would be considered a failure.
Thus why it is normal for merchants to leave the scrolls under the care of their secretary– the secretary would need to put the scroll somewhere obvious.
Even then, many times they would miss the timing.
“How much longer can the scroll last?”
“Another few minutes.”
Half had already burnt away.
“Pick up already..”
“Don’t tell me something happened to them..”
“There’s no way.. right?”
“Who knows really. They were last seen with the demon lords right?”
“And it’s some really shady stuff too.”
The scroll burst into flames.
“Moshi, moshi?”
“””Takata-san!!”””
“Long time no see, everyone.. anything?”
Takata Sayu’s holographic display was seen wearing a bathrobe.
“Where are you?”
“Me? I’m in the Elven Territory.”
The students breathed out a sigh of relief. She was safe.
“So you went to the Elven Territory after you were released? How is it over there?”
“Where’s Aoki-san?”
“Yeah, yeah. Why are you in a bathrobe?”
The holographic-cum-magic display only showed Takata in one colour, that is blue. Yet everyone could tell her face was quickly becoming red. She gripped the robe at the part which barely covered her breasts.
“U-Um well..”
“Sayu-chan, are you talking with someone?” Kaito’s voice was in the background.
“I should’ve just let it burn!”
“What’s going on?! Takata-san?”
“I-I w-was just about to.. enter the hot spring with Kaito! What is it? Quick, tell me.” Takata was panicking.
““Hot spring?!””
“But you’re sitting on the bed?”
“Why not just tell him to show his face, it’s been a while since we last saw him.”
“B-B-But..”
“Why did you lock the door huh? W-W-Why are you wearing that?!
“AH?!! Don’t look!!”
Plop, Sayu fell on the bed.
“Huh? You’re not wearing anything underneath?!”
It was chaos. The heroes looked on with dead fish eyes. Was Sayu about to temp Kaito? It looked like it.
“We’ve done something evil haven’t we?”
“I agree.”
“Damn raijuus go explode,” Haru said in vexation.
“You’ll get your turn soon, I’m sure of it,” Ishida patted Haru’s shoulder with a wry smile, recalling the vicious noble girls who always flock to his side,
“Ahem,” Sayu coughed. Trying her best to look poise by folding her legs together, it only made her look sexier.
“Yo, how’s everything over there?” Kaito was as casual of an airhead as ever.
“We’re doing good. Thank you, you?”
“All’s good.. somewhat.”
“We’re doing fine here.”
“Seriously, where are you two?”
“It’s a.. big mansion, or palace. This is our room.”
“Just the two of you?”
“Yup.”
“””...”””
“Wh.. ouch?! Sayu?! Stop.. stop!!”
“Let’s get straight to the point, we’re going to begin traveling to Toren Kingdom beginning this evening..”
“Oh, Toren Kingdom? Do you need anyone to pick you guys up?
“Pick us up? You’re in the Elven Territory, aren’t you?”
“The Elven Territory is pretty close to Toren Kingdom. Plus, I know a friend or two in Toren Kingdom right now who.. mff.”
“Good luck with that! Is there anything more?”
Sayu covered Kaito’s mouth, substituting for him. The heroes found that action very suspicious.
“Then are you aware of the recent happenings in the empire?”
“I don’t think so?”
“Her Highness Alytia’s disappearance.”
“Did someone call.. eh?! W-Why is Kaito already here?! Sayu-chan!!” Alytia’s voice was heard in the background.
“H-He came in him by himself! I couldn’t stop him!!”
“Ouch! Sayu!! Alytia! Help! Help!!”
“””...”””
“T-This pervert!”
“You deserve this!!”
“I did nothing!!”
“Her Highnes..”
Before Ishida could put in another word, the communication scroll had expired.
“””...”””
“What was that?”
“I thought Her Highness Alytia passed away.. I didn’t think she’d..”
“Love crosses boundaries, as they say.”
“We didn’t even get the chance to ask them about the Elven Territory..”
“There’s something waiting for us at Toren Kingdom,” Ishida came to a conclusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Before this they were allying with the demon lords, correct? If we go by deduction that can only mean that..”
“The friends Kaito was talking about it them?”
“Correct.”
“They look like they were having fun though.”
“I want to get a boyfriend already..”
“Ah shit, Aoki-san’s so unfair!!”
So was the chaos before the trip towards Toren Kingdom which.. would soon play a major role in changing the outcome of this age old demon-human conflict.
