Chapter 40

Chapter Six Garnahazza 1 Leonard looked for his next job. This town was even farther west than Gastan, near the front lines of the conflict. The local tavern was a magnet for adventurers and mercenaries alike, creating a clamor of activity. Amid the hustle and bustle, a lone man approached Leonard. “Are you Leonard? I’ve heard you’ve been slaying demons across the land.” The man was plump and had the sort of round face that made him look like he was smiling without his having to move a facial muscle. “Yeah, that’s me. And you are?” “My name’s Ralph. I’m looking for someone to do a job. Not just anyone can do it, though. I need someone with proven skill.” Ralph gave an affable smile. Posting a job in the tavern made it impossible to designate a specific adventurer. This was why some clients, like Ralph, recruited people in person. Not too many people did this, however, given the hassle. “All right, cool, but you know our services don’t come cheap, yeah? We have a spotless reputation for getting the job done, but our clients are never happy. You sure you don’t wanna try someone else?” Leonard’s mouth lifted into a self-deprecating smile. “Well, you know how it is. There aren’t so many adventurers who can actually fight these days. I’m looking for people you can count on, even if it does mean coughing up a bit extra.” “That so? But can you really afford us?” Leonard scanned Ralph from head to toe. Although his clothes weren’t shabby, they didn’t give off the appearance of wealth. He looked like the sort of ordinary townsperson one would find anywhere. “I’m just a go-between. The client is someone else. I’m obliged to introduce them to competent adventurers. You understand what I’m getting at, yes?” It was fairly common for clients to have go-betweens. Wealthy merchants and people of influence needed others to do the smaller jobs for them. “I catch your drift. So what kind of job is it? Gotta ask that first, right?” “It’s a bit of a long story. Could we go somewhere else? This place isn’t bad, but it’s not ideal for talking. I know a good spot. We can borrow a room there and have a nice chat. I’ll cover the fee regardless of whether you take the job. You’ll get a night of free drinks and food without having to lift a finger. Not a bad prospect, eh?” Ralph was a slick talker. Between that and his jovial expression, he had a way of getting past people’s guards. “Yeah, that doesn’t sound too bad at all. But are you sure about this? You do know I’m the type who loves eating on someone else’s tab, right?” “That’s the kind of people we’re looking for. It’s a bit of a difficult job for folks with scruples.” And with that, Ralph ushered Leonard out of the tavern. He took Leonard to another pub used by powerful and influential merchants. With its neat and trim exterior, it was obvious at a glance that its patrons required wealth and self-confidence. Ralph opened the door without a hint of diffidence. The furnishings were of uniform high quality, and although there weren’t many customers, they were all dressed very nicely. This probably explained why Leonard received so many suspicious looks when he first walked in, as if he were some bloodthirsty animal. They soon lost interest in him, however, when Ralph came in with a smooth greeting, prompting smiles in return. Ralph seemed to be very familiar with the place. After he had finished chatting with the patrons, he booked a small room and showed Leonard to it. There was a table and two chairs inside. An employee swiftly brought over some alcohol and food, placing the tray deftly on the table. Then they closed the sturdy-looking door quietly and slipped away as if to say, “You can have your secret talk now.” Leonard took a gulp from his cup without batting an eye. “So what’s this job about?” he asked without any preamble. “Shall we discuss it after we’ve had some food? I’m feeling peckish, you see,” said Ralph. And so they ate their respective meals over small talk. By sharing his own life story first, Ralph very skillfully coaxed Leonard into talking about himself. Then, bit by bit, the conversation shifted into a more probing direction. “I see,” said Ralph. “You have a point there. A society can’t function without money.” The man was good at keeping the conversation going, agreeing at the right points, and showing the reactions and expressions the other person wanted to see. “Yeah, and that’s why we ask for fair compensation, but other people just don’t get it. Gives us a bad reputation,” Leonard replied cheerfully. Ralph lowered his voice slightly. “By the way, Leonard. Just between us, how do you think the warfront is going?” “Oh boy, don’t even talk about it. The human side’s got no chance of winning. We can only hope that humanity doesn’t end in our lifetime,” Leonard said offhandedly. “I thought that’s how you’d see it. It’s persuasive coming from someone who’s actually fought demons.” Ralph nodded repeatedly. “Well, yeah. The demons are stronger than humans—that counts for both physical and magical strength. They’re smarter than us, too. Plus, they’re all united under the Demon Lord. Meanwhile, the humans are divided into different countries. We’re stuck dealing with our own petty problems instead of getting things done. It would be weirder to think we can win.” “Yes, that does appear to be the direction things are going, sad as it is to say.” “…Does that have something to do with the job?” Leonard inquired, dropping his voice. “You’ve said you’d do anything to earn money. Is that correct?” Ralph asked instead of answering. “Yeah, anything for the cash. Nothing matters more in this world than money. You can even buy lives with it. If you’re willing to pay the price, that is.” Ralph placed a small leather pouch on the table. It made the dull clink of metallic objects bumping against each other. “This is the advance fee. Think of it as the funds you’ll need for your preparations.” Leonard tilted the pouch on his palm, causing the gold coins to slide out. “Now we’re talking. So…what’s the job?” “Murder.” Darkness brewed in Ralph’s affable eyes. “…Doesn’t sound pretty,” Leonard said in a low voice. “So who’s the mark?” “The Hero.” “The Hero? Who is the Hero?” Leonard frowned in bemusement. “We don’t know yet.” “I don’t see where this is going.” Leonard’s expression was turning severe. “Think of it as insurance. As you’ve said, Leonard, the human side is in dire straits. The Demon Lord’s victory is probably a sure bet by now. But one point of uncertainty remains, and that is the Hero. My client is working under the assumption that the Demon Lord’s army will win. We can’t have anything overturning that at the last minute.” “You want me to betray humanity and kill the Hero?” There was a cold gleam in Leonard’s eyes. Ralph, however, was unmoved. “You’re an intelligent man, Leonard. You see the writing on the wall. Why don’t you think of it as making the best of a bad lot? There are more people on this side than you’d think, including noblemen and big-time merchants. Think about what happens after humanity loses. That’s what every smart person is doing.” Then Ralph whispered, “You’re not the only one.” He was attempting to erase any guilt Leonard might have felt. Given humanity’s looming defeat, it was a difficult invitation to resist. “If you join this side, your life will be spared even after the Demon Lord’s army wins. And if, by some chance, humanity wins, then we can just keep a lid on these dealings. What do you think? It’s a low-risk, high-reward venture.” “I see, I see.” In an instant, Leonard drew his sword, pressing it against Ralph’s neck. “You underestimated me.” Even then, Ralph showed no agitation, although a bead of sweat started to fall from his forehead. “Was the advance fee not enough?” he asked. “No, I can’t trust you to guarantee my life.” “…What do you mean?” With the blade pressed up against his neck, Ralph’s voice trembled ever so slightly. “You need to guarantee the demon will spare us. That’s my condition. I can’t trust you otherwise. I mean, the guy above you is a demon, right? Those folks have a lot of pride in themselves, just like knights in that sense. They don’t tell lies, not like humans do. But if they’re using you as a go-between, then things might get lost in translation, so to speak. Who’s to say you didn’t just make up that promise? I need to talk with this demon directly. All bets are off otherwise.” “Talk directly with a demon? No, I—” “It’s Berzera. Right?” “…H-how do you know that name?” Sweat was pouring down Ralph’s forehead now. “Remember how I survived Malika? Of course I’d know the enemy general’s name. The Demon Lord’s at the top of the demon pyramid, but it was Berzera holding the reins during the invasion. If he’s the one you’re in communication with, you don’t have to worry about being discarded after the fact. Do I have it right?” Ralph was certainly a more daring man than he looked, given he was in the process of calmly betraying all of humanity. Upon hearing Leonard’s words, however, he began trembling violently. He knows his stuff about demons, thought Ralph. Leonard was, in fact, right on the mark. Ralph was acting broadly under Berzera’s orders. There was quite a lot under the man’s discretion. For one thing, the logistics of assassinating the Hero were entirely up to him. Ralph betrayed humanity because he believed it likely the humans would lose, but that was not the only reason. There was an organization of humans who had switched to the Demon Lord’s side, but the hierarchy wasn’t determined by social status; it was by the fruits of their labor. As far as the demons were concerned, anybody powerful and competent could earn themselves a spot. Ralph had toiled for many years as a merchant’s apprentice, only for his master to keep brushing him off because he placed more weight on blood ties than merit. This had disillusioned Ralph with human society as a whole, prompting him to start working for the Demon Lord’s army. The more he accomplished for the organization, the more he rose in rank, and for the first time in his life, he received credit for his abilities. What if the demons have the right idea? They respect power with no strings attached. Such was what Ralph had come to believe, and it inspired him to work even harder for the organization. At present, Ralph had oversight across the entire organization. His standing within the group was even higher than that of the nobles and major merchants. However, given he was a self-made man, there were many important jobs he took entirely on his own. So when he’d heard about Leonard’s reputation, he’d decided to do the investigating and headhunting himself. Ralph despised humanity, so he could not trust others to do the work for him. When Leonard threatened Ralph with his sword, it reaffirmed to Ralph what kind of man he was. His investigations had told him Leonard was “a skilled but moneygrubbing adventurer,” but he also had a sharp mind and was very familiar with demons. Furthermore, after talking with Leonard, Ralph got the impression that he was capable of making logical decisions and that he held a strong distrust for human society. It shouldn’t be a problem if he meets Berzera, was the conclusion Ralph’s scheming mind came to. “Very well. I will make introductions,” Ralph said. “However, would you mind if we arranged the place for you to meet? I believe it will be an area under the Demon Lord’s control.” This was the bare minimum—the one condition he could not compromise on. Although to be more precise, he doubted Berzera would come to a place under the humans’ control if asked. “No problem.” Leonard sheathed his sword, a satisfied look on his face. “My three party members will come with me. I want their lives to be guaranteed as well.” Ralph didn’t think this would be a problem, either. Even if they were skilled adventurers, there were only four of them. They wouldn’t think of something as harebrained as fighting Berzera when they were surrounded by all manner of powerful demons. “What are you planning?” The Prophet appeared in Leonard’s room that night. “You were watching?” “Yes. Is this what you’ve been waiting for this whole time?” “At first, I thought you were trying to pull that same move. Pretend to be the Prophet in order to test me, then try to recruit me into the Demon Lord’s army. Or maybe you’d lure me out and kill me. Either way, I didn’t think for a second that you were the real deal.” There was a rueful smile on Leonard’s face. “Is this what you were aiming for?” “Basically. I’ve been on the lookout for the chance to kill Berzera ever since the Demon Lord’s army relaunched its invasion. How would I get close to him? How would we get to fight him? For better or worse, I’ve got a seedy reputation, so I was privy to the rumors about a human organization working for the monsters. But still, they’re a cautious bunch. I’d heard their base was in the west, somewhere close to the warfront, but I didn’t know exactly where. So my idea was to head west, spreading the not-so-good news about me as I went. Well, okay, the bit about having a shitty reputation wasn’t intentional.” “Do you really think just the four of you can defeat Berzera?” “Do you think we’d turn coat to the Demon Lord’s army?” Leonard’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I don’t. You’re not that kind of man.” “Ralph’s idea wasn’t bad when you think about it. The humans are at a disadvantage. It’s only a matter of time before the Demon Lord’s army wipes out every human country. Besides, it is possible to communicate with the demons. As far as I know, they don’t tell lies the way humans do. If anything, they might be saner than our nobles. They might not be averse to sparing some humans if they see the merit in it. In which case, it’s smarter to throw your lot in with the Demon Lord’s army.” “If that’s what you figure, why do you plan to fight Berzera?” Leonard stopped laughing and looked the Prophet straight in the eyes. “Who knows? I might just go against the plan and chicken out when I see a strong old demon in front of me.” “…You didn’t run. It was your fate to die there.” “I see; so you knew where I wound up. That’s why you kept telling me not to head west. You were being a sweetie.” Leonard was unmoved even after learning his grisly fate. “Don’t go, Leonard. Listen to me just this once. Berzera is a powerful demon. There is no shame in running.” “No can do. My party members want this, too. Me and them lived through Malika, but we never moved on from it. It’s not about whether we can win. It’s about unfinished business. I gotta go settle the score. I’m never running again.” “Wait for your chance. It doesn’t have to be now.” “The human side won’t hold out much longer. Am I wrong?” Leonard gazed at the Prophet with calm, tranquil eyes. “That is…” Leonard’s guess was spot-on. The Demon Lord’s army would begin a large-scale offensive soon after and wipe out all opposition in one fell swoop. There was probably a fork in the road, but it had never gone the other way in all the Prophet’s experiences. Even Solon, who had managed to confront the Demon Lord himself, ignored the war as he carried out his journey. “You can’t address everything,” the one-and-only Great Sage had said. The Prophet believed he was right. No person was so all-powerful that they could accomplish multiple things at the exact same time. “Even if you strut your stuff and find a Hero who can actually nab the Demon Lord, it won’t bring back the dead. The refugees we went through all that effort to save are cooked. I spent a fortune on them, you know. So you’re saying the whole thing was a waste?” “It’s nothing for you to be concerned about. Your life and money are the most important things to you, yes? You said it yourself: Money is everything. Yet your actions contradict your words. Why are you attempting to fight, knowing you will die?” “Lemme just get this out in the open. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon. You’re the only one saying I’m gonna die.” “You don’t believe me?” “Oh, I do.” “What?” “I believe you’ll find the real Hero one day. I dunno how many hundreds of years you’ve been at it, but I do know you’ve been putting in the work to save the world. That’s some unbelievable effort on your part. I’m sure it’ll pay off one day.” His tone was as jocular as ever. “What do you know about me?! How could you possibly hope to understand the loneliness I’ve experienced across hundreds of years? Nobody remembers a single thing I did. Nobody. Everyone I journeyed with has forgotten all about it. I am powerless. Even now, you’re not listening to what I’m telling you. You’re going off to fight!” The Prophet’s voice was ragged. This had never happened once throughout the hundreds of years she had lived. “I’ve kind of got you figured out.” “What?” “I’m guessing you’re a woman, you come from a high social standing, and you’re beautiful. Does that sound about right?” Leonard’s tone was gentle and breezy, like he was uttering a pickup line. “…Why do you think that?” “I got the beautiful part from the confident way in which you carry yourself. You never grovel, which I’m guessing is because the people around you have always held you in high esteem. I can’t tell your gender from your voice, but the way you choose your words makes me think of a beautiful, self-confident woman. A confident man would sound more boastful and pushy, but you’re not like that. Also, you deliberately put on this solemn tone of voice, and you seem familiar with how every word you speak is used. I can imagine you had a good education and the social standing that comes with it. That and, well, I guess some of the stuff we talked about. How about that?” The Prophet took a moment to respond. “I am not beautiful. I am a hideous woman who has only ever been a parasite.” “So basically, I was right about everything? Called it. I’ve got good feelers for this kind of thing. Didja know I can spot a beautiful woman from miles away?” Leonard snapped his fingers. “Were you listening to what I said? I am not beautiful. I am past that age now—I have a daughter. Besides, beauty is about more than just outward appearances. I have sent many young Heroes to their deaths. I am hideous. I despise myself. I don’t want to keep doing this…” The Prophet’s voice became progressively softer. By the end, it was barely above a whisper. “Why should you get hung up about that? Soon as you hit reset, it didn’t happen. They didn’t die. One day, you’re gonna pull things off magnificently and that’ll be that. Besides, those guys became Heroes because they believed in you. There was no deception involved. Hey, maybe some of them caught on to you being a beautiful woman, just like I did. So perhaps they hopped on board because they thought you were worth risking their lives for. Don’t sweat it.” Leonard shrugged. “Do not try to comfort me! You know nothing about my feelings! Even after I have looped, the faces of the dead are still burned in my brain. I dream of them every night. I see them die in agony. Perhaps they are living now because I redid things. But I will always remember what I have done. I can’t pretend it never happened. My sins will stay with me for the rest of my life. Even if everyone forgets about it, I will never forget what I did to them…” The Prophet’s smooth tone gave way to raw, choked sobbing. Every other person in the world forgot her mistakes and sins, leaving only her to carry the weight. With every loop, that weight only intensified. The obligations of her clan, her love for her daughter, and her desire to atone for the fallen had carried her this far, but she could withstand it no longer. “Then I’ll remember it for you. C’mon, it’s not that hard. You remembered all that stuff; you can at least let another person in on it. It’s not that weird, y’know?” “It cannot be done. It is physically impossible. It is the goddess’s—” “Sorry, but I have this condition, you see. I never forget a girl. You’re sticking in my memory—I’ll make sure of that. I’ll prove it to you after you’ve gone and toppled that Demon Lord. Here’s what I’ll say to you: “‘You’re a beautiful lady, just like I thought.’ Now that’s something to look forward to.” “Don’t go, then, Leonard. Listen to me,” the Prophet implored. “Can’t. This is our battle.” “Then let me guide you. I’ll do it however many times it takes for you to succeed. That way you’ll—” “Don’t even try it.” Leonard smiled gently. “Even if you went back six years into the past, we’d never make it to the Demon Lord. I know that better than anyone. Don’t waste your time. Tread your own path. But hey, don’t worry. We’re repeating time right along with you. One of those times, we’ll succeed.” “But that’s—” Impossible, the Prophet wanted to say, although she swallowed the word. “Prophet. Look elsewhere for the Hero. No matter how many times you redo this, I’m gonna make the same choice. Sorry.” And with that, Leonard collapsed onto his bed, signaling an end to the conversation. “Your meeting place will be near the Demon Lord’s territory. The story is that you accepted a job,” Ralph announced to Leonard in the same room in the same establishment. “You’ll be retrieving something of monetary value there. Happens all the time, yes? We actually will prepare the item for you there, and there are noblemen who will appreciate it. That should do as an alibi. Nobody will suspect that you met with a demon.” Ralph snorted. With the world sliding further and further into chaos, he was unable to wrap his head around the nobles who wanted to get their hands on art pieces from fallen nations. “Makes sense,” said Leonard. “I take it that’s where we’re meeting Berzera.” Leonard’s cheeks loosened as he gulped down his wine. “Yes. Lord Berzera will give anyone competent their due. He does not discriminate between humans and demons in that respect. He is aware your party has slain many demons. His respect for your strength is the reason why he agreed so readily to meet you.” Ralph smiled brightly. He had not anticipated Berzera and his cohorts would be so willing to meet Leonard. The deal would have been called off if the demons had shown even the slightest hint of disapproval, at which point Ralph would have had no choice but to eliminate Leonard. He would have been in quite a tough spot. “…They don’t have a grudge against us?” Leonard asked, his gaze dropping to his cup. “Not at all. Lord Berzera is very logical. In fact, he welcomed the prospect of having accomplished individuals such as yourselves join his side. You needn’t worry in that regard.” The demons are good sports, Leonard thought. Perhaps he would find them more agreeable than humans if he tried to meet them on their level. “However…” At this point, Ralph’s eyes turned serious. “…might I remind you not to consider any funny business? As I’ve mentioned before, Lord Berzera will not be the only demon in attendance. He will have demon bodyguards, and there will be monsters around, too. They will kill you if you make the slightest wrong move. You will be found out in an instant if you try to give the other humans a heads-up. Don’t think you can worm your way around the safeguards. I hope you can be considerate of my position, too, given that I made introductions on your behalf.” Ralph was a cautious man. Although he trusted Leonard to some degree, he did not fail his due diligence. “Yeah, yeah, I know. The demons have us humans outclassed. They’re smart enough to know if we tip off any other adventurers or the knights, and they’re strong enough to hand our asses back to us if we try to take them on in a fight. No need to tell me twice. Or do I look like that much of a dumbass to you?” “…You do not. Indeed, as you say, the demons are powerful. The humans have no prospect of winning at this stage. I sincerely hope that you act with appropriate discretion.” “Yeah, yeah.” Leonard clapped Ralph’s shoulder. “I value my hide, and I’m always up for more cash. That’s all there is to it. Isn’t that what being human is all about?” We all met up in one of the inn’s rooms. It was a high-end place, with a fancy-looking table and chairs. Sophia cast a barrier, so we didn’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping on us. There was a map on the table. I pointed to one particular spot on it. “We know our final destination now: Garnahazza, capital city of Malika.” My companions stared fixedly at where I had my finger. It was right around there that the fateful battle fifteen years ago had happened. “That’s where Berzera’s gonna be?” Evsei asked. He looked at me; his eyes were slightly bloodshot. “He won’t be alone. Apparently, he’s got friends with him.” “As long as he’s there, that’s good enough for me. I couldn’t give a shit about those other demons.” “It does sound promising.” I chuckled. Berzera’s tagalongs were probably retainers of the Demon Lord, which meant they were crazy strong. It was debatable whether even the four of us working together would be able to beat one of them in an honest-to-God fight. “Sophia, you ready?” I called out. She was still staring at the map, stiff as a pole. “Ready as I’ve ever been. This is the day I’ve been waiting for. I’m so glad our efforts didn’t go to waste.” Behind her glasses, Sophia’s eyes were pointed straight at Garnahazza’s location on the map. I imagined she had a lot on her mind. As for Nina, she looked a little frightened. Which made sense since she was walking to her death and all. “Nina, what’s God telling you? Run?” I asked half jokingly. If there’s any part of you that wants to quit, you should, was what I genuinely thought. I wasn’t going to force her to do anything. It was best for her to follow what her heart was telling her. For a moment, Nina was silent. “…I won’t run. I’m not following God. This is my own free will.” Then she glared at me, though her eyes still betrayed her fear. I probably looked weakhearted to her, trying to lead her astray. I understood how she felt. A part of me was hoping someone would say, “Let’s call it off.” We could pretend none of this had ever happened. We’d run off into the distance and have nice, happy lives. That didn’t sound so bad. It would’ve been great if that was where this was going. But that won’t happen. It wasn’t in our script. Sadly. At some point, I’d gotten older than Luke. I didn’t have any kids, but now I could understand how he’d felt back then. He must have been scared; a part of him must’ve wanted to run away with his family. He might have been a hero, but he’d also been a human being just like any one of us. Except in that situation, you kind of just had to fake it until you made it. Luke must have known how important it was to put on a show of confidence. It was his actions that had led us to this day. There were things he had entrusted to me. Things I had forgotten. A deserter like me could never become the Hero, but I could at least act like one. “Now that stings,” I said to Nina. “You know how I ran without even fighting.” I shrugged. Nina blanched. “I didn’t mean to—” “I’m joking. Relax. But y’know, I’m kind of sad nobody said to give up. This party’s full of psychos.” Evsei and Sophia laughed. Nina’s stiff face softened slightly. “Let’s get going, shall we?” I announced. “Oh, but let me just say this—I ain’t planning on dying. Make sure you’re all packed and ready, you hear? Coming back alive is what all the good adventurers do.”