Mushoku Tensei (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter 10.2

Rudeus

THE DEMON WORLD’S Great Emperor Kishirika Kishirisu nibbled on the doughnut I’d brought her while tears poured down her cheeks. “Does something so delicious really exist? I cannot believe it…!”

Aisha had done me the favor of creating this, aided by the fresh eggs and sugar we’d secured from the Holy Country of Millis. Apparently, Nanahoshi had told her about it; through Aisha’s own diligent study, she had managed to recreate it. It was a simple matter to gather the necessary ingredients, since our house cooked up a lot of fried foods anyway.

“I struggle to fathom this… Perhaps the entire reason I was born was to savor the flavor of this delicious creation!”

It had been a long time since I last saw Kishirika, and at first she had been in a wretched mood. Now she seemed perfectly fine. Ah, the magic of doughnuts! I had actually asked Roxy to sample it as well before bringing one here, and it had been incredibly effective. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look that happy before. Sadly, that meant I’d lost to a doughnut.

No, no, I assured myself, I’m the one who established the route for these goods to come here from Millis. In that sense, I was the one who had created that smile. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I am making your daughter happy, just as I promised. I mean, they were also Aisha’s doughnuts, but still. Roxy’s reaction proved that doughnuts were super effective against demons.

“Ah…”

However, just as mana is finite, so too was the magic—or rather, the number of doughnuts. Upon eating twelve of them, Kishirika regarded me with great sorrow. 

“Is this really all you have…?”

“Yes.”

There was a long silence.

“If you give me more, I will grant you whatever you desire. How is that?”

“Those are precisely the words I wanted to hear.” I flashed a smile at her.

Kishirika’s eyes widened in shock. She wrapped her arms around her body protectively. “Khh… So it’s my body you want after all. No matter how delicious the food you offer, this body belongs to Badi. But after treating me to something so sumptuous, I… Khh!”

“I’m currently upholding a vow of abstinence, so no need for that,” I told her.

“Really? Abstaining too much is bad for the body, you know.”

“Well, if I find myself unable to resist any longer, I will ask one of my wives instead.”

“Wives? Oh, that’s right. You’re already married. My, but you children of men do mature quickly…”

Regardless, I hadn’t come all this way for chitchat. There was something I needed to ask her. Rumor had it that Kishirika would give a reward to those who brought her food, which was why I’d procured these doughnuts from Aisha.

“First, Lady Kishirika, I would entreat you to use your power to inform me where Geese is.”

“Oh? Geese, you say?”

I nodded. “Yes. His most defining features are…” I went on to describe the finer characteristics of the man, including what I believed to be his true name. It was the one he had signed his letter to me with, anyway.

“Hm, yes, yes. I do feel like I have heard of this person before… Wait one moment.” 

She used her eye, while cream still liberally stained her lips. Her eye spun in place, almost like a slot machine, until it changed to the one she intended to use, stopping suddenly. This particular eye was known as an Eye of All-Seeing. With it, she glared into the distance, scrunching her face.

“Oh? Hm… This is… Ah, yes, that looks delicious.” She muttered to herself as she continued her scan of the far-off distance until at last, she froze. “Found him.”

That hadn’t taken long.

“He’s at the eastern end of the Northern Territories, in Biheiril Kingdom. There, in the depths of a forest, he seems to be speaking with someone. My, but the man does have the face of a villain,” Kishirika remarked before snickering. She leaned a bit further in the direction she found him, compelled by curiosity. “Now, let’s see…who is he speaking with… Hm?” Her expression instantly clouded over. “I can’t see him anymore.”

Kishirika’s expression suddenly turned deadly serious as she closed her eyes. She leaned her head back, letting her eyes rest for a few moments. It was only several seconds later that she finally opened them again.

“This sensation…yes, I know it. Your current enemy is the Man-God…correct?”

Gone was the jovial and mischievous atmosphere she usually had, replaced by something more solemn and reserved. Still, I answered her question honestly.

“Yes.”

“And if you’re fighting the Man-God, that must mean you have aligned yourself with the Dragon God?”

I hesitated for a moment before saying, “Yes.”

“Hmm…” Kishirika folded her arms and lowered her head, taking a pensive pose. After several seconds, she glanced back up at the sky, like a thoughtful soul might gaze right at the moon. Granted, it was daytime outside and sunny to boot, with nothing but a few clouds streaking through the otherwise empty blue. “And Atofe, you have aligned yourself with this boy?”

“Yeah.”

“So that’s it. This must be destiny, I suppose.”

Kishirika wasn’t being her typical silly, joking self. In fact, she seemed more like a sage. What in the world was going on with her? Had someone slipped something suspicious into those doughnuts?

“Lady Kishirika, do you mean to say you know the Man-God?” I asked.

“Yup. The two of us have a bit of a history. Frankly speaking, I would like to avoid ever getting involved with him again.”

I tilted my head. “A history, you say?”

“Nothing that remarkable. Just that a mere 4,200 years ago, he manipulated me and Badigadi. He was after Laplace’s life.”

Four thousand and two hundred years ago…? She was referring to the time of the Second Great Human-Demon War, right?

“If I recall correctly, that was when the Fighting God battled against the Dragon God,” I said.

“Sure is. Badi donned the Fighting God Armor to protect me and faced off with the Demonic Dragon King Laplace.”

I gawked at her. “Wait…Badi as in His Majesty, Badigadi?” 

My shock was immeasurable. 

Did this mean Badigadi was actually the Fighting God all along? Orsted had never told me anything about that, though I felt as though I had heard something similar somewhere before… Ah, Randolph, I think. So what he said was true? At the time, I couldn’t determine whether he was talking about the same guy or not.

“It’s been a long time since he lost the Fighting God Armor… But if Badi shows up, best be careful. He still feels indebted to that rotten Man-God after all this time. He may end up being your enemy.”

After a long pause, I nodded. “All right.”

Badigadi was such a cheerful, bright man. I didn’t want to fight him if I could help it. Still, I had to make a mental note that he might end up on the other side. If at all possible, I hoped he would forget whatever debt he felt and join our side instead.

“Well, since you have Atofe on your side, I doubt Badi will be a match for you in his current state. I’d ask you to spare his life if you can help it, though,” said Kishirika.

Badigadi was Atofe’s younger brother and Kishirika’s fiancé. Family, in other words. Demons were rather quick to let go of grudges from my experience, but not so magnanimous that they would stand quietly by as their family was murdered.

“Very well,” I agreed. “Although, he’s not one to be easily killed in the first place anyway.”

“No, he’s not. The immortal demons’ strong point is their tenacity.” As she spoke, Kishirika snuck a glance at Atofe. The latter was posed proudly, but I had a feeling Kishirika wasn’t exactly complimenting her. “And also…come just a little closer.” She beckoned me with her hand.

I obeyed and leaned in. She cupped a hand to her mouth, presumably to whisper to me. “Bring your face a tiiiny bit closer.”

“What is it?”

“There, take this!” She suddenly thrust her fingers into my left eye. Indescribable pain shot through the entire socket.

“Gaaaaaah!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, trying instinctively to pull away. She grabbed me by the hair, pinning me so I couldn’t run away. I was using my Magic Armor—the Version Two—so where could I run?! This freaking hurt!

Oh, wait, I know what this is. Maybe it’s fine not to run.

“Oh? Decided to behave yourself, have you?”

I willingly let her do her work. It was painful, to be sure—a throbbing, splitting pain assaulted my entire brain. This had come without warning, and she was digging around in my eye socket, but at least I knew what she was doing. I had been through this before with my first eye.

“There, finished,” she declared, finally yanking her fingers out.

The intense, overwhelming pain remained, and I could see nothing out of the eye she had fiddled with. This was no reason to panic, however. I knew from past experience that it wasn’t permanent.

“It’s my personal policy to reward a person with an eye whenever they treat me to something delicious,” Kishirika explained.

I said nothing in response.

“This will be your second eye.”

I pressed a hand over my left eye as the pain slowly receded and knelt in front of Kishirika.

“I’m not the least bit concerned with this battle of yours, but I do have a bit of a bone to pick with the Man-God after what he did. That’s why I’m giving this to you as a parting gift.”

I lowered my hand from my eye. My vision doubled. It was a jarring sight, as if I was holding the palm of my hand over one of my eyes, giving me two different things to look at once. Boy, this was gonna cause some headaches.

“It’s an Eye of Distant Sight,” Kishirika informed me. “All it allows you to do is see in the distance, but it should prove useful.”

An Eye of Distant Sight, huh? I gave it a spin by closing my right eye and focusing mana into my left. It worked the same way as my right; by adjusting the amount of mana I used with it, I could gaze into the faraway distance.

I glanced down, and my vision passed through the fortress all the way to the entrance, where one of the black knights had removed his helmet to scratch the top of his head. I moved my head and focused mana into the eye again. My vision flashed, soaring through the sky, staring far off into the distance. It was almost like a camera with a zoom function.

Next, I saw a crater with a town nestled in the middle of it. However, I couldn’t make out the entirety of the town. When I tried to gaze even further into the distance, focusing more mana into my eye, I found my vision could go no further than some mountains. I could make out the detailed patterns on the rocks of the mountain and a Great Tortoise which threw its head up in a yawn, but no further. If there was something obstructing my view, my vision would stop there.

I cut off the flow of mana to my eye, and immediately it reverted back to my ordinary vision. This new demon eye merely allowed me to see far away. It wasn’t incredibly powerful, nor did it seem particularly easy to use. Still, I was already thinking of scenarios where it might be useful.

“The way you are now, two demon eyes should be no difficulty for you to handle.”

I told her sincerely and gratefully, “Thank you.”

“Yes, yes. Well then, Rudeus! Feel free to rely upon me again should you need me! Provided it doesn’t involve the Man-God, I will be happy to help!” Kishirika nimbly released the shackles from her hands then brought the side of her hand down in a chopping motion, removing the ball and chain trailing from her legs. Finally, she yanked off the striped pajamas she’d been forced to wear, revealing her usual bondage-style outfit.

“Farewell, then! Off I—bwah?!” Kishirika had leapt into the air, intending to make her escape, but she face-planted on the ground thanks to the firm grip Atofe had on her ankle.

“Wait,” said Atofe.

“What do you want? You have some nerve, interrupting my smooth exit.” Blood trickled down from Kishirika’s nose. She fixed Atofe with a glare.

Atofe stared down at her, not the least bit bothered. “Do me a favor, too.”

“What’s this? You took me captive for no reason and threw me into prison. I won’t be doing any favors for you. Unhand me. Shoo, shoo!” She slapped Atofe’s hand away, using her other to wipe away the crimson trail trickling from her nose.

Atofe wasn’t one to be so easily rebuffed. She grabbed Kishirika by the collar. Atofe’s grip pulled the tight leather halter top tighter, lifting ever so slightly to reveal her flat breasts beneath.

Ooh! I shook my head. No, I’m Rudeus the Abstinent. I must resist such temptation! Khh!

“Tell me where Al and Alex are. Rudeus needs strong fighters on his side, right? Those two would be perfect for this.”

“What?” Kishirika frowned. “I gave Rudeus his reward just a moment ago and told him someone’s location. I even gave him a Demon Eye as a special extra thanks. I can give no more.”

Al and Alex? I was pretty sure those were nicknames for the two surviving North Gods. Those close to them tended to call them by those nicknames. I didn’t remember bringing it up to Atofe that I had been looking for those two, but they were her family. Perhaps she hadn’t needed any prompting to bring them up.

“Tell me,” Atofe demanded.

“I told you already, no!”

Kishirika seemed disinclined to fulfill Atofe’s request. It was good that I had learned Geese’s current location, but I still knew nothing about what he was scheming. I needed to increase my number of allies if at all possible. We needed all the help we could get.

If at all possible, huh? An idea suddenly came to mind. That’s right. I have this! I suddenly remembered the sinister, skull-shaped ring on my finger—Randolph’s ring.

“Lady Kishirika? My lady, please, take a look at this,” I bid her.

“Hm? What’s this? I feel as though I have seen this somewhere before…and it gives me an ill premonition.”

“Consider it Randolph’s request.”

“Mm… Randolph, eh? I remember now. That was his ring!” Her expression was almost theatrical; all the color had drained from her face. “Now I see, yes. His request, is it? He did certainly look after me. I always wondered why, each time he did so, he’d say, ‘You can repay me for this later. At some point in the future, all right? Kehehe!’ All with that unsettling laugh. Each time I glimpsed that smile, I’d tremble with fear, wondering what vile thing he would ask of me.”

“Do as we ask, and you can consider all of your debts to him repaid.”

Her face lit up. “All of it, you say? Welp, guess I have no choice! Yes, wait just a moment!” Again, she turned her eye to the empty air. It took only a few seconds of searching before she found what she was looking for.

She makes for one handy search engine, I thought.

“I don’t know about Al. He seems to be somewhere in Asura, I think, but the mana there is thick. Or he’s using something to ward off my ability to see him. Either way, it’s all blurry. Alex is walking down a highway. Looks like he’s headed in the direction of Biheiril Kingdom.”

“Is he now? Perfect. Rudeus, when you go to Biheiril Kingdom, seek out a man named Alexander. He should be able to lend you his strength,” said Atofe.

“All right.”

North God Kalman the Third was headed to Biheiril Kingdom? The same place Geese was? I had to wonder if that could be a coincidence. No, knowing the Man-God, he’d realize Kishirika would track Geese down, right? Then it was bound to be a trap. It just had to be.

“Now then, that’s all, right? I’ll be going now. All my limbs are free, no one’s got their hands on me, right? Good then. I’m off! Fwahahaha! Fwahahahahaha! Fwahaha! Fwahaha!”

Atofe stood there with her arms folded over her chest. Kishirika disappeared behind her, leaving me to contemplate all the information she had given me. Her high-pitched laughter echoed over and over, growing fainter and fainter until it disappeared entirely.

I got the feeling she’d let herself be caught on purpose. She really was like a storm, rolling in and out unexpectedly. Whatever her motives were, this visit had been fruitful. I had a newly implanted Eye of Distant Sight and some very useful information.

***

I parted ways with Atofe and headed back to Sharia. It had been a productive visit; I knew Geese’s location, and I knew that North God Kalman the Third, one of the Seven Great Powers, was also headed to that location. Oddly, neither the Sword God nor North God Kalman the Second’s precise locations were easy to ascertain.

I had a bad feeling about that.

The real question is, what now? If possible, I wanted to decrease my number of enemies while increasing my number of allies. If Geese were to sense my presence anywhere nearby, I suspected he would run for it. The only situation in which he wouldn’t was if he had already gathered a substantial amount of strength on his side. In that case, it was wiser for me to do the running. 

Hmm… Perhaps the most prudent thing would be to scout ahead. I could use that time to seal off his escape, spread out my own units, and find a way to corner him.

It was a shame Kishirika had disappeared so soon. With her, I could have gotten a more detailed report on the situation there. Isn’t there some way I can entice that convenient little search engine into staying in one place for a while? If I made a doughnut factory and shipped its products directly to a hideout I prepared for her, that might work.

I made my way back home as I weighed my options.

“Oh, welcome back, mew.”

“We were on our way back ourselves. What a coincidence.”

Upon returning, I happened to find Linia and Pursena. It was rare to see the two of them here like this. The two were occupying my living room sofa, sitting proudly as if they owned the place. 

No, they’re not the ones looking all arrogant, I corrected myself. That’d be Eris. The two beastfolk were resting their heads on Eris’s lap, letting her stroke their ears. They were completely submissive under her stroking. It was like a harem scene.

“Welcome home,” Eris said. She continued to pet the two beastfolk, unbothered by my gaze.

“Boss,” said Linia, “I’ve got a report for ya, mew.”

“It’s good news,” Pursena added.

Neither of them tried to peel themselves away. In fact, their throats seemed to be vibrating, purring from all the attention. Eris had both of them wrapped around her finger.

“Here you go.” Pursena remained in the same position as she held out a single letter for me.

Not very professional behavior, but I’ll let it pass, I thought.

“A report from the east came in, mew. They said they found someone exactly like that figurine—green hair, a red jewel in the forehead. A Superd. That’s what was written in the support, anyhow, mew.”

“Oh! Really?!” I excitedly snatched the letter and reviewed the contents.

The report was incredibly precise. It recounted the discovery of a foreign merchant making a deal with a man. The man had a weapon: a white shaft with cloth covering the tip. He wore an armored headband over his forehead and was swathed in thick robes with a hood pulled over his head to conceal his eyes. It was only thanks to a sudden gust of wind that his green hair was spotted; it also exposed the human clothes hidden beneath his thick shroud. The man had moved secretively, trying to avoid people’s notice while he bought some medicine. Our informant failed to confirm what medicine he’d purchased, but the man’s appearance matched Ruijerd closely.

“What?” I gasped as I read the final line on the report.

Location of Discovery: Biheiril Kingdom, about half a day west of its second-biggest city, Irel, in a village close to the Earth Wyrm’s forest valley.

Biheirel Kingdom. It was the third time I had heard that same location in a single day. No matter how dense I was, even I realized what was going on here.

“Now I get it…”

Geese, North God Kalman the Third, and Ruijerd. There was no way all of that could be a coincidence. Something was most definitely about to happen in Biheiril Kingdom. No, that wasn’t right. Geese was trying to make something happen.

It was possible this letter was itself one of Geese’s traps. Did he intend to use Ruijerd as a shield against me? Had he already won Ruijerd to his side? I had no idea which one it was, but I would find out. If there was even a possibility that Ruijerd was in danger, then I would go. I had to go. 

The time for preparation was over. It was time for the showdown.