Chapter 46

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Man, I feel relieved! I’m really glad that Gazelle and Felix believed what I said! No, really, it feels great to not have to keep secrets from them! Well, it’s not like I could reveal all my secrets…

After all, I still can’t talk about things like this cursed sword. But I’m sure the day will come when I can tell them everything, including that, right? Yeah!

As I thought about such things, I, who had been ordered to stand by in the rear, was teaching the alchemists of Menonu City how to concoct the Elixir. The alchemists were initially skeptical, but when I sprinkled the Elixir they had made as a test on a wound on my arm, and they saw the wound heal almost instantly, their eyes widened in surprise

“This… this is…! What an astonishing effect!”

“I thought potions were unparalleled elixirs but isn’t this Elixir already beyond an elixir and more like a divine medicine!?!?!!”

“Not only does it heal, but it can also cause status abnormalities in monsters…”

In this country, there seemed to be paralyzing drugs and poisons that could cause status abnormalities in monsters, but their effects weren’t as strong, and it would take longer time for the status abnormalities to occur. So, seeing the Elixir, which worked instantly, the alchemists’ eyes sparkled intensely. And now, they were wholeheartedly focusing on concocting it.

Fortunately, there were no problems with the Elixir’s ingredients that I had been concerned about. Menony City was originally rich in materials needed for mass-producing potions. In addition, there was a research facility to improve the efficacy of potions, and the materials needed for Elixir concoction could be obtained from there.

…Having said that, the Elixir’s ingredients aren’t cheap!

Elixirs are considered the ultimate rank SS all-purpose medicine in this world, so the difficulty in obtaining the ingredients and their prices are insanely high… One of the reasons why the alchemists were initially skeptical was probably because of that. I can understand their feelings.

Back when I was playing “Change the World,” I was reluctant to use Elixirs, and after the final boss battle was over, it was common to still have several of them left…

“How did you learn the method of concocting this divine medicine…?”

While teaching the Elixir concoction method and supporting the alchemists, a young man hesitantly asked me a question. At that question, my inner self felt the blood drain from my face.

Oops! I hadn’t thought about how to explain that to them! What should I say? Uh, umm— “I just learned this medicine’s concoction method from someone else. So, I can’t really answer the details…”

“Is that so? And who would that be?”

He’s probing there!!!! Uh, um, who did I learn it from? If I think about someone I can rely on…

“I’m a member of the Black-winged Knights. Originally, it was Gazelle, the commander of the Black-winged Knights, and Felix, the vice commander, who discovered potions. Does that make sense to you?”

“I see! So not only potions but also such divine medicines were discovered by those two! Then, it all makes sense.”

“Actually, this medicine was still in the experimental stage and wasn’t supposed to be put into practical use. The ingredients aren’t cheap either… But the situation is what it is right now. So, I’d like you to keep the matter of this medicine confidential. You understand, right?”

“Of course!”

Phew, good! It seems he’s convinced. It’s not like I’m lying, right?! It’s a well-known fact that Gazelle and the others are my superiors, right? Right? It’s not a lie, is it? I’ll apologize to the two of them by prostrating later.

“Sorry, somehow the story became that Gazelle and Felix were the ones who discovered the Elixir…” I wonder if they’d understand if I said that?

While thinking about how to explain it to the two of them, I decided to leave this place for now. If I stayed in this room any longer, I might let something slip when questioned again, and I needed to deliver the additional Elixir that had been synthesized to the knights fighting at the city gate.

I stuffed the additional Elixir and potions into a cloth bag, left the lab, and rode a horse towards the south gate. …To be honest, I wanted to head straight to Gazelle and Felix and fight alongside them. However, there was no helping it since they had strongly urged me not to. Though frustrated, I have no choice but to do what I can.

By the time I arrived at the south gate, the situation had improved considerably from before. Visibly, everyone’s expressions had changed. Instead of the tragic expressions they had just moments ago, their eyes were now filled with the light of hope.

“Oh! It’s you, Takumi-kun!”

“I brought additional Elixir and potions.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Takumi-chan! Man, this Elixir stuff is amazing! Not only does it heal our wounds instantly, but it also slows down the monsters’ movements considerably!”

The members of the Black-winged Knights, who received the additional Elixir and potions, were covered in minor wounds, but they still returned a smile to me.

Their smiles encouraged me. After handing them the Elixir and potions, I was about to head to where the White-winged Knights were fighting. But before I could, I caught sight of something at the edge of my vision. There stood a person in black clothing, their face and body completely hidden by a hood.

Next to the person were two red deer. Strangely, there were no knights around this person.

“Tsk…!”

Could it be…a civilian who failed to escape in time?!?! What, what should I do?!?!

But everyone fighting around here seems to be fully occupied with battling the monsters, and it doesn’t look like any of the knights can go help that person…! I have no choice but to go myself! Fortunately, I have my cursed sword with me, so I should be able to manage somehow!

“Hey!” When I called out to the hooded person, he suddenly looked up at me. Thanks to that, I could see the person’s face, which had been hidden in the shadows.

His skin was as white as freshly-cut marble, with eyes as red as fresh blood. The man’s sharp nose and chin were beautifully and perfectly shaped, as if they were a work of art.

Huh…? Wait, I feel like I’ve seen this man’s face before?

But by the time I had that thought, the small bottle of Elixir I had thrown at the man along with my earlier shout was tracing a beautiful parabolic arc towards him. The hooded man reached out gracefully and caught the small bottle of Elixir I had thrown.

Oh, nice catch!

“An Elixir, huh. I never thought I’d see one of these again in this country…”

Hmm? The man, who stared intently at the Elixir, muttered those words. I tilted my head in confusion. Does he know about the Elixir? But the only time this medicine was circulated in Ritzheim was before the method of production was lost in the war…that’s even before the Demon King was sealed… Huh, wait?

“Are you a citizen of the royal capital?”

“Yes,” I somehow managed to nod while sweating profusely on the inside.

The hooded man in black robes stared at me with his red eyes. His face was the spitting image of the final boss – the Demon King – that appeared in “Change the World.”

…I should have realized it when I saw a suspicious man wearing a hood, stupid me!

“…Ritzheim’s royal capital, potions, elixirs… So, it’s finally come to this. Another person from another world has been summoned to Ritzheim…” the Demon King muttered something in a small voice while shifting his gaze back to the small bottle of elixir.

On either side of him, the red deer followed obediently, their heads hanging low.

“…!”

Why is the Demon King here at this time? What should I do!?!? If the Demon King wants to fight, I have the confidence that I’ll be instantly killed in less than three seconds!! It’s not just that. If the Demon King is the opponent, maybe even Gazel and Felix…!

“…Why is the Demon King here?”

“Oh, you know who I am?”

There’s no point in thinking about it! Let’s just go with the flow! I’ll use all the knowledge I have from “Change the World” to somehow persuade the Demon King to leave peacefully!

“Yes. Though it’s our first meeting, I know you. The Demon King – or rather, should I say, the former King of Ritzheim Magic Kingdom?”

“…Oh?”

At my words, the Demon King standing in front of me drew his lips into an arc. Although it was a twisted expression, it looked more like a smile. Then, he nodded satisfactorily, muttered something in a small voice, and turned around to walk out of the city of Menonu through the southern gate.

When he stepped outside the gate, the monsters that had infiltrated the castle also suddenly looked up. The fighting spirit that had been shining in their eyes had completely vanished, leaving them with empty expressions. And, as if following the Demon King, the monsters began to head out of the city.

“Wh-what’s happening? The monsters are suddenly…?”

“Hey! The monsters outside the castle gates are also retreating!”

The knights were all dumbfounded, staring at the retreating monsters. I couldn’t see it, but it seemed that the monsters outside the castle gates were also following the Demon King and retreating.

Thank goodness! Thank you, Demon King, for leaving! Honestly, I have no idea why he left after that conversation!

As he was leaving, I thought I heard the Demon King say in a small voice, “This place is too noisy. Let’s meet again someday,” but for now, I’ll try not to think about it. I’ll believe it was just my imagination!

As the monsters retreated all at once, the surroundings suddenly became noisy. It seemed that there was some suspicion about why the monsters had suddenly left, but still, everyone’s faces were shining with joy.

“──We won, we won! It’s our victory!”

The first to shout this loudly was a member of the knights, and soon all the surrounding members began to say the same thing.

Then, the wave of victory spread from the knights to the members of the militia, and eventually, all the citizens of Menonu loudly sang the joys of victory and survival.

And so, on this day, Menonu City managed to fend off an attack of over 150 monsters, preventing the worst-case scenario of the city’s destruction. And for me, it was the day I finally succeeded in avoiding the destruction event of the Black-winged Knights.

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