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058 Eliminating
Lesser Demon Jamil
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Translator : PolterGlast
The Lesser Demon
Jamil's presence was sinister and dangerous, so I quickly located it. Its body
was as huge as a two-story building, so I didn't think it could go very far
into the castle, but it seemed to be advancing by destroying ceilings and
walls. What a muscle-brain.
I heard the commotion
and realized that the Lesser Demon Jamil was fighting. Its opponent was
Barukan. As expected of Barukan, he was single-handedly dominating the Lesser
Demon Jamil. Level 42 was no joke.
"I'll provide
support," I said. Barukan, fighting, skillfully nodded his chin, keeping
his gaze fixed on the Lesser Demon Jamil.
I jumped and cut off
one of the Lesser Demon Jamil's wings.
"GYAAAAAH! YOU
AGAIN!?" it roared.
"Your plan to
stop the Duke with golems was good, but you're a fool to have forgotten
Barukan-sama was here," I taunted, crouching low to avoid a wide arm
swing.
As its attention
shifted to me, Barukan cut off its remaining wing.
"YOU FILTHY
HUMAN!" it shrieked, opening its massive mouth and spitting out a
jet-black breath attack. I leaped far back to avoid the breath. But Barukan
didn't budge.
The Duke was behind
him, so Barukan took the breath attack head-on, sacrificing himself.
Sacrificing oneself to protect one's master is something I could never do. For
that, I truly respect Barukan.
Barukan was damaged by
the corrosive breath, his body corroding. Yet, he still attacked the Lesser
Demon Jamil—it was nothing short of impressive.
"Lin, go!" I
commanded.
"Yes! Holy Lance
Summon!"
"What!?"
(The Duke and others)
While the Duke and
others looked surprised, Barukan continued to corner the Lesser Demon Jamil
without stopping his attacks. Lin then attacked with her holy lance.
"GYAAAAAH!"
the demon shrieked.
"YOU!
THAT!?"
Lin's holy lance
glowed faintly pink, and pink particles scattered every time she swung it. It
was like cherry blossoms falling in a flurry, a truly beautiful light.
"Lightning
Lance!"
"N-NOOOO!..."
the Lesser Demon Jamil screamed. After taking the Lightning Lance attack, its
HP dropped to zero, and its body turned to sand.
"Lin, well
done!" I praised, patting her on the shoulder.
"Barukan!?"
Barukan knelt on the floor, using his sword like a cane to support himself,
gasping for breath and in pain. The corrosive breath from earlier must have
been affecting his body. It was the price he paid for protecting the Duke.
"Father!"
Aegis exclaimed.
"Silence!"
Barukan commanded, gesturing to his eldest son who was about to rush to him.
"But—" Aegis
began.
"Do not leave His
Excellency's side! It is not confirmed that all enemies have been vanquished
yet!" Barukan insisted. I felt like I had witnessed a true knight in
Barukan. Prioritizing one's master above all else, even when facing certain
death, is not something everyone can do.
"Call a priest!
Hurry!" Zaigen ordered the priest to be called.
"Barukan. My
apologies," the Duke said.
"There is no need
for Your Excellency to apologize. This is my own failing. I was not
sufficiently trained," Barukan replied. I thought this was supposed to be
a touching scene, but even then, Barukan's muscle-brain tendencies showed.
Would training allow one to resist corrosive breath?
A knight gave him a
potion, restoring his HP, but Barukan's HP continued to drop. Potions couldn't
remove the negative effects of corrosive breath. Soon after, a priest arrived,
and Barukan's corrosion was purified.
A priest is useful.
They can use Heal, but for corrosion like this, a priest's Cure is necessary.
Perhaps I might learn it if I continue to raise my Reincarnated Hero job, but I
don't intend to count on that.
To be honest, Rosalina
can change to a priest. She has defeated 100 monsters with her bare hands,
after all. But she probably wouldn't want to change from Battle Master, and I
have no intention of forcing her to change.
***
The knights, soldiers,
and civil servants would probably be up all night dealing with the debris and
golems from the castle that the Lesser Demon Jamil had destroyed. The Duke and
Zaigen didn't tell Honorary Baron Footscythel's party to clean up the
aftermath. However, we were ordered to wait in a room inside the castle, so we
didn't return to the mansion.
Since I couldn't take
a bath, I wiped my body for the first time in a while. Rosalina, having become
a soldier, was resting in a room with Lin and Solidia. So it was just Anneliese
and me in the bedroom. I had dismissed the castle maids, after all.
We wiped each other's
bodies, and I realized that the rough slave collar was gone from Anneliese's
neck. Of course, I wouldn't wipe her if Anneliese disliked it. But Anneliese
herself offered to wipe my body. I wondered if this was okay.
"Anneliese, your
skin is so white, fine, and soft," I commented.
"It's nothing
like that..." she demurred.
"It is. I said
so, so it's true," I insisted. I hadn't even seen soap since reincarnating
into this world. Yet, Anneliese's skin was not dull in the slightest; it was
beautiful.
When I return to the
mansion, I'll make soap. I also want to make shampoo and conditioner. But while
I've made soap in science class, I don't have the knowledge to make shampoo and
conditioner. For now, I'll do what I can. There are also things I want to do
with skills, but I can't do those now. I'll take my time with them when I get
back to the mansion.
***
The next morning, the
65th day since my reincarnation, the debris in the castle had mostly been
cleared. Despite being severely damaged, the castle's sturdiness, which didn't
collapse, was truly impressive.
Entering the Duke's
office, I met the Duke and his staff, who all had dark circles under their
eyes. I, on the other hand, had slept soundly with Anneliese as my body pillow.
Hehehe, don't envy me for being able to use a beautiful girl as a body pillow.
"I am very satisfied
with last night's events. Although the castle is in this state, fortunately,
there were no casualties. We can rebuild the castle, but not people. Moreover,
the demon is completely annihilated. All of this is thanks to Honorary Baron
Footscythel. I thank you," the Duke stated. I understood that the Duke's
words of gratitude were sincere. When challenged with such humility, I found
myself on guard.
"No, I didn't do
anything significant. More importantly, is Commander Barukan alright?" I
asked, concerned for Barukan, who wasn't present. Although the priest had
treated him and his status ailment was gone, he was still in a very dangerous
condition.
"Barukan is
leading the knights from the front. I told him to rest, but he wouldn't listen
to me. He is a troublesome one," the Duke sighed.
"I don't know
much about Sir Barukan, but that sounds just like him," I replied. The
muscle-brain was a muscle-brain today too. That's how it goes.
"The demon was
possessing Baron Venue," the Duke began to recount the full story.
According to him, among those executed was Baron Venue's sister. She was a
well-known woman among nobles, having married three times and being widowed
three times. If all three husbands were elderly, their deaths would be
understandable, but her partners were all healthy-looking male nobles in their
twenties. This meant she had poisoned her husbands to obtain their wealth.
During the Shardina Bandit Gang incident, her record card was checked, and it
was discovered that she had poisoned her husbands. Although it wasn't directly
related to the Shardina Bandit Gang, she had to be punished once it was
discovered. Baron Venue had apparently insisted until the very end that his sister
had done nothing. His sister seemed to be a genius at manipulating men's
hearts, even her brother's. His sister's execution was her own fault, but Baron
Venue resented the Duke for it and apparently contracted with a demon.
"Demons creep in,
sniffing out the darkness in people's hearts. Honorary Baron Footscythel's
house should also be careful," the Duke warned.
"Yes. I will be
careful," I replied. I'm not thinking that if one creeps in, it's a chance
to hunt it and get an Orb.
"Now, this time,
the demon was not just repelled, but subjugated. Who is that female cat
beastman soldier of Honorary Baron Footscythel's house?" the Duke asked.
That's what it comes down to, huh? I was prepared for it, so it's fine.
"She is a soldier
of our house named Lin. Her job recently evolved from Lancer to Lance
Saint," I explained.
"Such important
matters should be reported immediately, Honorary Baron Footscythel," the
Duke admonished, a frown appearing between his eyebrows. Don't look at me like
that, it's scary.
"Her evolution
occurred just before the award ceremony, so I intended to report it after the
ceremony," I explained. I remembered Gandarvan telling me to report it. I
hadn't forgotten. I just intended to report it after the ceremony. And saying
it happened "just before" isn't a lie. How far "just
before" is depends on the person, after all.
"Since this is
your first time reporting, I will overlook it, but from now on, you are to
report promptly. Understood?" the Duke commanded.
"I will," I
replied. That's good, good. Now, let's go home.
"And now,
regarding the reward."
"Eh!?" I
exclaimed.
"Don't make such
a displeased face. I would have given you the Order of the Peony, Third Class,
just for repelling the demon. This time, having subjugated it, I will bestow
the Order of the Chrysanthemum, Second Class. The castle is in this state, so
there will be a slight delay, but keep that in mind. Of course, this applies to
your subordinates as well," the Duke continued. Right...
I didn't really need
the medal, but it was good that Gandarvan and the others would receive medals.
"And also, about
the orb you acquired from the demon," the Duke said, gesturing with his
eyes. A civil servant brought over a tray with an orb on it.
"That belongs to
Honorary Baron Footscythel, but our house wishes to purchase it. What say
you?" he asked. The orb was a valuable item that granted the unique skill
Spirit Summon. I really wanted to keep it, but since the Duke was saying this,
I probably had no choice but to sell it.
"Understood. Your
Excellency may take it," I replied.
"Very well. I
shall prepare the highest possible compensation," the Duke stated. The
highest possible compensation... I'm scared to ask what kind of compensation
that is. Should I say it's fine if it's just money now?
"We will discuss
the compensation later. You have done well today," the Duke said.
"Yes. Then, if
you'll excuse me," I replied. I couldn't say anything. I'd quietly whisper
it to Zaigen later.
After leaving the
castle and doing some shopping along the way, I returned to the mansion before
noon. Even so, Mondark and the others had prepared lunch without panicking.
They had even prepared the bath. I took a bath before lunch and soothed my
fatigue. Baths are great. A bath with Anneliese is incredibly healing. Is this
heaven?
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