“What happened to the man who tried to take revenge on the capital?”
“Ha ha...ha ha ha...” He laughed. “He failed. He used his mana and life energy to gather ten thousand monsters, but he still failed spectacularly. From my research, his monsters were decimated by an A-rank party of adventurers, and he was killed by the king. Unlike me, he was unlucky.”
He was saying this all like it was a letdown, but he kept smiling the entire time. I really wanted to tell him, “Your luck turned against you the moment I showed up.”
Instead, I asked, “Wasn’t he your research buddy though? Weren’t you close?”
“We only cooperated with each other because the methods we were using to achieve our goals were aligned. We were never ‘buddies.’ We had entirely different goals, after all, so we decided not to interfere in each other’s business.”
If they were both doing the same research, there was still one thing that didn’t add up.
“You said that it took him a bunch of mana and even his life force to control his monsters. It doesn’t look like you’re using much.”
I hadn’t been all that interested in knowing at the time so I didn’t remember the details, but the king had said the same thing, that the other guy had used up all his mana and his own life energy in order to control the monsters.
“I’m not so driven to revenge that I’d kill myself. I mean, if I die, I couldn’t be with Seleiyu.”
He looked at me like I’d suggested something ridiculous.
“Then how are you controlling all these monsters?”
That was the part I didn’t get. He was kind of haggard, but he was still lively. Or maybe he just had tons of mana?
“Ah, that’s simple. I’m controlling the bare minimum of monsters and keeping the commands eassy. If I run a tight ship, I just need to supplement my mana with outside sources. You understand now, young lady?”
Okay, I got the first two points. But what about this other mana source? Was he using other people’s mana...or a mana gem? Suddenly, the puzzle pieces snapped into place.
“The mana gem...”
“Yes, how astute of you.”
The man seemed surprised.
“It was indeed a mana gem. I drew a magic circle on the gem so I could invoke simple commands.”
As he said that, the man suddenly pulled up his robe.
“You embedded a mana gem into your body?”
There was a gem in his chest, right around where his heart would be.
“If you kill me, the command will be canceled and the little brother will be attacked by the monsters. Call it insurance.”
So that was why he’d been monologuing like that. He knew that once he explained everything, we wouldn’t be able to attack him.
“By the way, there’s another mana gem hidden in Yufaria that matches this one. If I die, or a few hours after the sun rises, the monsters will march toward the other mana gem in Yufaria.”
“…?!”
“If you come with me, Seleiyu, then I’ll tell the young lady where the other gem is hidden and let her collect it.”
Seleiyu gritted her teeth as she thought.
“If you want revenge on my father, aren’t you being too generous? I don’t think there’s any benefit to you if you tell us where the gem is.”
“No, I’ll tell you. I really will. So what will you choose? Come with me, or die with all the others?”
Seleiyu looked over the horde of monsters. “I’ll go with you, so please tell us where the gem is hidden in the town.”
“Seleiyu?!”
“Yuna, once you know, you must tell Father.”
“You can’t be sure that this man will tell the truth.”
“Either way, you’ll be able to still leave, Yuna.”
“Ha ha, I do like a clever girl. Now, why don’t you start by removing your clothes?”
“Huh?! Why do you want me to do that?!”
“I can’t have you carrying around hidden weapons. Once you are finished undressing, put this around your neck.”
The man produced something from his item bag and threw it toward Seleiyu. Something that looked a whole lot like a collar fell to the ground.
“I know you can use magic. This magical device will suppress your mana.”
Seleiyu started to reach toward the collar, her hand trembling.
“Seleiyu, don’t pick that up.”
“What do you mean by that, young lady?”
“Exactly what I said. He’s not going to tell us where the mana gem is.”
“That isn’t true at all. I will tell you.”
“You’re talking about the one in the lake, right?”
“…?!”
That perked him right up. Now I was sure. I didn’t need any other information from this guy.
It must have been the same mana gem I’d picked up at the lake yesterday. This guy was the one who’d thrown it in there. The suspicious guy in the hood—it was him. That where I’d seen him before.
Now that I’d cleared all that up, I pulled my bear onesie out of my storage. Since this was an emergency, I pulled it on over the uniform.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Yuna?”
Uh, legs in first… Oof, my skirt was riding up inside the onesie. But that didn’t matter right now. If my onesie were see-through, everyone would have seen my bear panties. Luckily, it wasn’t.
“I’ll repeat myself. What do you think you’re doing?”
One arm in. Ugh, the uniform was getting in the way.
“Is this a practical joke?!”
“It’s not a joke...”
This was really uncomfortable with the uniform on.
Yick...
Finally, I pulled up the bear hood.
“What are you wearing?!”
“They’re bear clothes,” I said.
Okay, I was finally whole again. I was safe, no matter what happened.
“What could have compelled you to dress as a bear now, of all times?”
“Because now I can smack you around, slay all the monsters, and save Keith and Seleiyu.”
I pointed my bear puppet at the man.