Chapter 200: The Four Heavenly Kings of Something

―――― The 32nd day of training.

「The Demon King’s army is… invading Tazarnia…?」

Weerel, who’s helping Joseph’s work in the government office in the castle, said so quietly without changing her expression. She has very stiff facial muscles and is often mistaken for being expressionless and emotionless, but she’s quite surprised even if she looks like that.

「Umu, I got a call from the border fort this morning. They say that a group of monsters have appeared from the coast and are attacking the surrounding fishing villages. Adelheit has no territory that touches the seaside, but there are reports that suspicious shadows have been seen in the sea in other countries. It’s almost certain that the Demon King’s army has begun to make a serious move.」

「The calling for the alliance… will be earlier…?」

「Maybe. However, Tazarnia is also an ally of ours. We don’t have time to wait for the call. If it’s Tazarnia, it would be easy to dispatch the knights in the name of a friendly army. First, we will have to get the knight leader Nell to organize an expeditionary force――」

「――Mage Prime Minister Joseph… I want to go…」

「What?」

It’s rare for the shy Weerel to come up with a suggestion to head to Tazarnia on her own. Moreover, her expression does not change, but her eyes are sparkling.

「But, you have to learn my work…」

「I’m the next mage prime minister… but at the same time, I’m also the hero of Adelheit…. The titles are enough… and I want to achieve actual results while I can… so that I won’t be called as someone who got the titles from your influence…」

「… And your real reason is?」

「I want to see the sea and fish…」

Weerel is interested in the monster that came out of the sea. The reason why she likes to use water magic is because of the clear blue sea she saw when she traveled abroad with her mother as a child. Weerel, who had never been outside of Adelheit before, was impressed by the magnificence of the sea in front of her and became conscious of water. From then on, her talent, which was originally excellent, blossomed further. Her magic was praised by those around her as if it were an actual living creature, and now it has evolved into something that even Joseph praised highly.

「Hmm… well, what you said is reasonable.」

And then, Joseph’s treatment of Weerel, which was originally soft, became even softer. It’s a good thing that she is not a selfish person, but in some cases, Joseph is just a doting grandfather.

「Then, we’ll have to get the hero companions ready. It’s a complex feeling, but their abilities are the real deal.」

「Yes… If I’m together with Haruna-san and the others, I can rest assured…」

Weerel, who can’t wait for it, has already begun to pack her luggage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

「「Hero expedition?」」

「Y-Yes. That’s what Mage Prime Minister Joseph has proposed…」

When I was relaxing in my former house that was set up in the courtyard of Nell’s mansion, Canon, who seems strangely nervous, came with the story about the expedition. What’s up with him? He seems uncomfortable, unlike his usual self.

「I understand about the expedition. Chinatsu and Therese are at the knight headquarters, so I’m sure they have already heard about it. By the way, what’s with that suspicious behavior? Is that some kind of illness?」

「N-No! I mean, this is the mansion of Leader Nell, isn’t it? It’s impossible for me to calm down!」

「Even if you say a mansion, it’s only on the premises…」

「Even so, I’m still nervous! Leader Nell seems like a person who keeps a super atrocious monster at the back, so I feel the pressure more than in a dungeon… In fact, I’ve heard a rumor about it…」

「… Haha, there’s no way that’s true.」 (TLn: Deris says it in katakana, which shows that it’s an obvious lie.)

「There is!? Ahh, no, I haven’t heard anything! Really, I haven’t heard anything that would make things inconvenient!」

He was called a young nobleman when he was a student, but now he’s like this. He’s also doing errands for Joseph… I can see how harsh Nell’s special education is and how excellent Goddess Chinatsu is that she can keep up with it.

「Ahaha. Canon-san, there’s no such an atrocious monster in this mansion~. Even if there is, it’s just Gatekeeper-san who completely repairs the broken training ground.」

「Eh, is that so? Really? Oh my, haha. Actually, I always thought that it was just a rumor. As a senior knight, I can’t show my uncool appearance to my juniors!」

Canon, Haru in front of you is the same generation as those juniors of yours, but are you okay with it? Also, as for your appearance, I think it’s too late.

「Huh? But, was there such a gatekeeper in this mansion…?」

「Ahh, Canon-kun. So, what about the departure time, meeting place, and other important things? This is more or less a hero party appointed by the country. He can’t just make the meeting time the same as the departure time, right?」

Just change the subject already. Nell’s mansion is healthy. There’s nothing suspicious.

「Ah, I’m sorry. Because of the crisis of our ally Tazarnia, it’s urgent that the departure is tomorrow. It seems that he wants the hero party to come to the castle now.」

「Now, huh… It’s really urgent, isn’t it?」

「It seems that the Demon King’s army, which had only been confirmed in the southern part of the large country 『Crocus』, has finally appeared in Tazarnia. It seems that Mage Prime Minister Joseph is in a hurry because of that.」

The Demon King’s army, huh. At the surface, it was only confirmed in Crocus. The previous goblin army that suddenly appeared on the western border, and the orc army burned down by Nell, we’ve already found out that they were also sent by the promising newcomer of the Great Eight Demons, Hund Lind the 『Domination Craver』. I’m pretty sure his main force is monsters that live under the sea. I guess that’s why he was using other races against the inland country Adelheit.

Ah, I remember now, I wonder if that Dinbellar guy is doing well? I was a little surprised to see that he was an octopus when I took off his mask, but he ended up providing us with a few ingredients for the barbecue. No one questioned the fact that seafood was being served there, and they ate deliciously. He said that he’s one of the Four Heavenly Kings of something. Well, judging by the name, he must be some kind of executive. Canon, as a man who grilled and ate one of the executives of the Great Eight Demons, you can boast to your juniors now!

「The Demon King’s Army, huh? I wonder how strong they are?」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

「Hmm, as for the executives, I think they are as strong as that stone giant. I think the current Haru can win in a one-on-one fight.」

「The stone giant… it was a formidable opponent~」

If so, I think the party can have a good fight if the Four Heavenly Kings of something are together. Ah, but, I guess it’s impossible for Dinbellar to come… Well, the situation would change if Hund himself come, though.

「Deris-san, you know well about it, huh? Could it be that you’ve heard it from Leader Nell before I came here?」

「Y-Yeah, something like that. Well then, take Haru with you now.」

「Shishō, are you not coming?」

「If you are always accompanied by your guardian, you will set a bad example as the companion of the hero. Now, go.」