Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 14 - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: 41

14-41 . Wyvern Kingdom (8) The Fake Apostle

◇

A priest with white robe walks toward us in the open space which has been quieted down by Sera's magic . It's the fake apostle .

I cannot see the fake apostle's visage since their hood covers until the nose . The long hair spilling from the hood is blue colored .

--Is the fake apostle not a reincarnated person?

The fake apostle doesn't use healing magic at the injured people even while looking at them sorrowfully .

The fake apostle stops about 10 meter before us .

I think they want to be outside the range, but it's already within the range of Macho Warrior and the prince who have Flickering Movement .

<TLN: 'They' as in gender neutral they as it is on the raw . >

"--You're hurting soldiers and commoners . "

The fake apostle said in shaking anger with a slightly husky voice .

Still angry even after getting the [Erase Evil Effect] and [Calm Field] huh, it seems the fake apostle needs more calcium .

"Huuh? Who the hell are you?"

"Be careful, he might have some plans . "

Macho Warrior who heard the fake apostle's muttering scowled, the prince warned him while holding the Dragon Fang Spear .

Looks like the prince has regained his composure with Sera's magic earlier .

I'm glad that he's returned to his intellectual staff officer-type character .

"Military that doesn't perform civilian control is merely a violent organization . "

The fake apostle arrogantly said words that sounded like some superficial knowledge .

I think civilian control is no different from violence .

Moreover, does this world even have the concept of civilian control?

Somehow, I have a bad feeling that we can't have a talk, let alone persuading the fake apostle .

"A mere violent organization is the same as Yakuza--"

The pair of eyes inside the hood are shining purple .

"Oy, I've a bad hunch . "

"Are you telling the truth? Your hunch is something that can't be disregarded . "

Macho Warrior muttered, the prince looked sour .

"Become salt with my 『Infinite Salt Maker』!"

--Oy oy .

I reacted late since I was distracted with the skill's name which sounded familiar .

White fog sprout out from below the fake apostle's feet that are shining purple painting the surrounding white .

The white Tsunami swallows weeds, bushes, and rocks while leaving white objects behind it--they're probably things that have turned into salt .

Apparently it's a skill that turn anything, regardless if it's organic or inorganic, into salt .

According to AR reading, the fake apostle's MP has decreased, so it's probably a type of skill that consumes MP .

"This is baad . "

"We're withdrawing--Sir Pendragon too, quick!"

Macho Warrior and the prince quickly made the strategic decision of retreating .

The speed of salt-turning wave is accelerating, but they should be able to evade it with their physical ability .

"--Tei . "

I took out a small palm wood chip and threw it at the fake apostle's face . Of course I perfectly held back .

With a thud, the fake apostle's face was hit and they fainted .

The salt wave isn't stopping even after I've defeated the fake apostle .

" . . . . 　■■■ Divine Light Wall"

Sera invoked an advanced level magic, a glittering light wall appeared .

The salt wave that touches the wall scatter into light purple and blue sparks .

It seems she has [Chant Shortening] like her older sister, Lady Ringrande, her magic invocation is faster than I thought .

Even Arisa was surprised to see her learning advanced level magic of both [Holy Magic: Tenion Belief] and [Light Magic] despite being level 43 .

The experiment to see whether skill given through [Gift Orb] could level up appears to be a success .

◇

I thoroughly drain the fake apostle's MP with [Mana Drain] .

In addition, I tied the fake apostle with [Thorn Foot] rope to prevent MP recovery .

"Viscount-sama, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm okay . "

Soldiers came running out of the checking station .

It seems Macho Warrior and the prince are staying in the station .

"Satou-san, I'd like to treat the injured people, may I?"

I check the positions of the agents on the map .

Other than the wounded one who got left behind, the agents have split into three groups in different locations with a pair in each group .

"Yes, no problem . "

I consented Sera's request and asked the captain to guard her .

I also asked the soldiers to watch over the fake apostle .

Using nature's call as an excuse, I walk to a bush alone .

There's something that needs to be taken care of before interrogating the fake apostle .

"--Tama . "

"You called~?"

Bounce, ninja Tama in pink hood appeared from my shadow below .

I was just muttering alone, 'I'll call Tama with Unit Arrangement', but she appeared by herself instead . . . .

Apparently Tama's Ninjutsu can do the same thing as shadow magic's [Shadow Portal] .

I squat down in the bush and display a map with [Illusion] magic in front of Tama .

"This is our location, these ones over there with the red points are the suspects . "

"Aye aye sir~"

I was still in the middle of my explanation, but Tama dived into the shadow and then screams occurred from among the refugees .

"Viscount-sama! Something seems to be happening over there . "

"It's fine, it's just one of my subordinates . "

I replied 'it's okay' to the soldier who call out from the opposite side of the bush .

It seems ninja Tama's acts ended before long, she jumped out of the shadow with five agents wrapped in bamboo mat .

Everyone is unconscious, maybe because they were being carried inside the shadow space .

"Secured bad people~?"

"Thank you Tama . Do you have any request for the dinner?"

"Yess, hambuurg~?"

"Alright . We're having a hamburg steak full course today . "

After I said that, Tama disappeared into the shadow after happily dancing the [Rejoicing Dance] secret version .

"Th-these guys are?"

"The ringleaders of this case . "

I drag one of the agents back, while leaving the rest for the soldiers to carry .

The captain asked how I caught them, but I answered, "It's a secret . "

They must have interpreted that there were Shiga Kingdom's secret agents lurking .

◇

"--Did I lose?"

The fake apostle seems to have woken up .

"This is a rope that absorbs magic power right?"

I affirm the fake apostle's question .

Since the soldiers are currently busy dealing with the agents and the male refugees, it's only Sera and me who are in front of the fake apostle .

The refugees who had been treated went back to their location .

"Why were you trying to kill the prince and me?"

"P-prince?"

I crouched down in front of the fake apostle and inquired about the reason .

The fake apostle who realized that they were trying to harm a royalty is panicking noticeably .

Looks like they're unexpectedly someone of lower middle class .

"In-injuring the populace, they can die out for all I care . "

Apparently, they decided not to hear it and continue the talk .

"Those people were the ones who kidnapped Silga Kingdom's people and injured the hostages . The prince and his friend only helped their citizens and punished the criminals . "

"H-however--th-there shouldn't be any need to kill them . "

The fake apostle made a forced excuse to Sera's sound argument .

It seems the fake apostle is poor at debating .

Apparently, they didn't have any ulterior motive, they just jumped out without thinking when they saw militant men killing commoners .

Even if they have Unique Skills, I can't believe they survive this long with such a simplistic thinking .

"Those lizards were clearly stronger than humans . "

"Therefore, they should catch the criminals who harmed their citizens without killing them?"

"Th-that's right!"

--Un? The fake apostle said some subtle racial discrimination just now .

The fake apostle agreed to Sera without noticing her cold tone, maybe because Sera looked like she was listening to them .

Sera is kind to the weak, but as a descendant of a Duke house, she's strict to people who disturb order .

"What's the point in that?"

"P-point?"

Sera continued talking to the confused fake apostle .

"Do you know what would happen if they were arrested alive?"

Sera pauses, the fake apostle doesn't speak back .

"Bandits who surrender will end up becoming crime slaves and be forced to work in manual labors, they rarely get executed . "

"Th-that's right!"

Sera shuts up the fake apostle who reflexively spoke during her speech with a cold glance .

Sera has completely taken the pace .

"That is only the case if the bandits injured a commoner . "

"Just what are? . . . . Ah . "

Apparently, the fake apostle realized what Sera wanted to say .

"People who meant harm toward royalty won't end up just by getting executed . Their whole families will be executed for the crime of treason . In this case, it probably would have applied to the refugees . "

Sera might have slightly exaggerated it, but getting all the members executed is a possible discretion of the king .

If I had to say, the stone-throwing at that time would have likely be viewed as a problem, but we can just throw the whole responsibility to the mysterious group [Cannibal Snake] that was the heart of the problem .

"P-people--"

Purple ripples develop on the fake apostle's body .

Oops, please don't rampage in this place .

I could do something about it even if it was a demon lordfication, but I'd like to refrain doing that in a place with this many witnesses .

"--People aren't segmented by class!"

The fake apostle who turned the Thorn Foot rope into salt stood up while saying so .

Objects that have been turned into salt drop down below the fake apostle .

The whirling salt crystals are reflecting the sunlight, glittering .

The too slender upper half of the body is hidden by the flowing purple hair, the lower half of the body is covered by the whirling salt smoke .

I took out a sample of mass-produced mantle from my bag and threw it to the fake apostle .

"--Wear your clothes, you exhibitionist . "

It's a naked body of a beautiful girl who will likely drive a certain group of enthusiasts wild, but since it's out of my preferred range, I don't feel happy seeing that .

I'll gladly appreciate it if it's in five years time .

『Wha, who's an exhibitionist--ueee』

The fake apostle who finally noticed her situation holds her body and crouches down .

She hides herself in the mantle I gave while turnig bright red .

It looks like she was really flustered, she said the last line in Japanese .

Apparently she failed to control her skill well when she was cutting the rope, her wig and clothes turned into salt too .

I look at the fake apostle who's a reincarnated person, agents of a mysterious group, and the refugees who have humans supremacy doctrine, in turns .

Let me see, what will be a good middle ground .

I'd like to settle this and quickly get back to the pleasure trip .