Chapter 731 – Mother and Daughter and an Important Mission

000

In the end, Cleon had no choice but to walk out of the box with a nervous face due to the pressure hidden behind his smile but saying that he had a favor to ask.

Although her opponent was a retired heresy inquisitor, it was Selena who believed her that she would be in trouble if she ran away.

However, in order to be prepared for the opponent catching him off guard and attacking him without asking questions, he glanced towards the entrance, which could be said to be the only exit of this tent.

“Huh, how did you know? That I made Cleon hide in that multi-subspace chest…?”

However, Selena seemed a little more concerned about the fact that Namiri had found Cleon than about Cleon.

“It’s simple, Selena. The dark magic I felt right before entering the tent suddenly disappeared. But there was no sign that she had used space transfer magic such as a dimension door, so I thought she was somewhere inside the tent.”

She crosses her arms and raises only the index finger of her right hand, speaking like a detective in a mystery novel tired of her reasoning.

＂The only space for a person to fit in here is that chest, and – crucially. Since you were young, you have had a habit of hiding things in there that you think you shouldn’t let me see, right?”

These days, they don’t often bring items like that. She added and smiled.

Selena made a blank expression at her reasoning, which seemed to be completely over Selena’s head.

It was as if Cleon was comforting her as she thought she was downcast due to the shock of having all of her thoughts read to her mother.

“Well, well… I guess that means he knows you, his family, so well, so the reason he’s so glum-“

However, Selena soon spoke with her hands clenched and her eyes shining.

“Wow, something cool is coming…! “My mother is incredibly cool!”

＂Oh hoho~! I can praise you more, Selena~!”

“As expected, you are the iron maiden of steel~! Ohhohoho~!”

＂In Iron Maiden of Steel, steel and iron overlap, right~! It’s Iron Maiden! Ohhohoho~!”

When the sound of her mother and daughter’s laughter resonates, Cleon suddenly breaks into a cold sweat and her head hurts.

Who on earth said she was the embodiment of calmness and suspicion?

Her blood cannot be deceived, she is Selena No. 2, no – she came first and Selena came last, so should I say Selena is my No. 2?

In any case, Namiri’s nature is not that different in the important aspects, and Cleon waits with a stiff face for the two to end their laughter.

… Does the Duke of Regent of the Regent’s Mansion see things like this on a regular basis?

For the first time, Cleon was struggling with himself, trying to develop some sympathy and respect for him.

“Whoa~. Now then, shall we go back to what we originally wanted to say? Cleon?”

Cleon looked back at her with a refreshing smile on her face, adding ‘kun’ to her title.

With this, she thought that if she heard something strange, she would really have no choice but to run away.

“You kept glancing at the exit earlier, don’t worry. Because I have no intention of forcibly capturing them and putting them in torture devices.”

＂… That’s a good thing.＂

She knows that there is no intense hostility towards her.

However, it was difficult to understand her true intentions if you couldn’t see the inner pupils of her crescent-shaped smiling eyes because they were narrow.

In addition, considering her career, Cleon thinks that it is not a good idea to hide her various emotions and murderous intentions in order to approach her enemies without them knowing.

That’s why she can’t relax about her, but perhaps even her own thoughts are visible to some extent to the girl in front of her.

In this regard, rather than calling it a lack of discipline or talent, it would be more correct to say that it is simply a difference in experience.

＂So, the request is…＂

“It’s about exorcising the devil. If what she said is true, it means that Cleon and her royal capital fought demons many times, right? With Princess Amelia.”

She is a simple woman, but the difficulty of her requests changes drastically depending on what kind of devil she is.

If the demon you have to deal with is an overlord class, it may be difficult to deal with it on your own.

Of course, if the overlord or the demon accompanying him had descended into reality, rumors would have already spread to Asteris due to abnormal phenomena occurring around him.

Therefore, Cleon nods his head.

“You don’t have to worry so much. There is only one demon to deal with, and it is like a remnant of a defeated soldier who escaped from the capital.”

＂Defeated soldiers?＂

When Cleon expresses doubt about the word, which is too foreign to be used for a devil, Namiri nods her head, says ‘heavenly car’ and sits down on a nearby chair.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. Did I look too much like an old lady?”

＂No, I don’t care… The story of the devil who became a defeated soldier. ＂

In response to Cleon’s words, which seemed to be urging him, Namiri spoke with her chin resting on her desk.

＂He was originally a member of a devil worshiping organization hidden in the capital, but after you left the capital, that organization disintegrated. Because their leader has disappeared.”

“They are the remnants of Astarote.”

When I heard the story, I could immediately understand what the organization was and who the missing leader was.

To Cleon’s words, Namiri replies, “Well, I didn’t hear the name of the organization,” And continues the story.

“So, we have figured out that the direction the escaped devil was heading to is towards the Eastern Country. However, the church’s temple, which must be moved for this kind of work, is closed for unknown reasons and is not showing up. It is difficult to invade the eastern country by sending in the kingdom’s army or the noble’s private army because it would infringe on the sovereignty of the eastern country.”

Cleon nods his head as if he understands Namiri’s words.

In other words, the person who can be active in this type of work is an adventurer with a certain degree of freedom of movement.

“If you can solve this safely and bring me evidence of exorcising the demon, I can completely trust you, and it can serve as evidence to prove that you are innocent. Then… It will be helpful in returning to the capital. Isn’t that right?”

It’s exactly what she said.

The charge hanging over Amelia is that she attempted to overthrow her kingdom using her demonic powers.

And Cleon is one of those who kidnapped such a criminal and escaped. Likewise, Cleon, a member of the black devil family, is accused of collaborating with demons.

If they leave behind an undeniable track record of exorcising the devil, the image of them collaborating with the devil can at least be washed away to some extent.

＂It’s a good idea, mother!＂

“Well, I don’t completely trust Cleon-kun yet, and to some extent it’s also a test.”

I respond happily to my daughter’s praise by saying, hehe,” But then say my true intention with my mouth.

And at the same time, he says this to drive a wedge in Cleon.

“But it’s also true that we don’t have much time. The Five Elements Festival is right around the corner, and I can’t stay here for long. What I can give you is… Just one day from now. It’s 24 hours. Can you do it?”

＂2, 24 hours!?＂

When asked to find and exorcise a demon within this vast Eastern country in one day, Selena raises her voice as if she thought “That’s impossible!”

However, Cleon calmly thought about something for a moment and nodded.

“If it’s a quest with a time limit, I’ve done it a few times before.”

＂Huh? What is the performance? “

＂So far, I have never failed such a request.＂

“You can be quite lucky… No, there is a saying that luck is also a skill.”

It seems like you can tell by looking at his eyes that Cleon’s actions are not arrogance or bravado.

She also opened her eyes slightly, looked into Cleon’s eyes, and answered with a smile.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Oh, you can’t take Selena with you. After all, she is here as an envoy. She is not allowed to leave Asteris on her own.”

“I know. From the beginning, we planned to do it with just our party.”

When Cleon answers like that, Namiri nods her head.

With that, the conversation between the two ends.

When Cleon tries to take a step to leave the tent, Namiri calls his name as if she had forgotten.

“Ah, that’s right, Cleon.”

＂… Yes?＂

“Aurelia was worried. Although she could never say it out loud. You can tell just by looking at the facial expression.”

Aruru’s mother, the duchess of the Tromeiya family, and a woman who secretly supported Amelia in her role as a Saint Princess.

Cleon answers, remembering her as her most reliable allay even when they were in her royal capital.

“Please tell Amelia that she is safe too.”

“I? Oh, hoho!”

Namiri smiled for a moment at Cleon’s words, and then she started talking.

“Of course. If Cleon’s army safely defeats the devil and returns. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

At the mother’s grumpy attitude, seeing Selena put her hands on both of her waist and puff out her cheeks, Cleon nodded her head as if it was okay, and soon left the tent where the mother and daughter were.

And once she confirms that Cleon’s appearance has disappeared, Namiri talks to Selena.

“I don’t think it’s bad.”

＂It’s not that bad… I don’t think it’s something you would say with all your grumpiness.＂

“Well, should I say that it is the fate of an adult woman to want to be grumpy to a cute and honest young man?”

The words of a woman who was said to be the best among the Inquisitors and that she could not do anything without a sadistic constitution had a different weight.

“Then are you grumpy at your father too?”

When Selena asks a question hesitantly, Namiri answers with excitement and a snort.

“He’s not cute anymore.”

＂Father will be sad when he hears…＂

Selena responds as if she didn’t want to hear about her parents’ estrangement in a place like this.

However, as if her doubts still remained, she continued to question her mother.

“… But is there really such a devil in this eastern country? “Is it true that before she came here, she had never heard of a demon who escaped from the capital?”

“That’s right, because I told people around me not to get into your ears.”

When Miri say this as if it were obvious, Selena blinks her eyes and says, ‘Yes!?’ In confusion.

＂Why!?＂

“You’re asking the obvious again. Well, if you heard that story, it was clear that you would run out and catch the devil.”

＂Awesome.＂

Namiri slapped her index finger at her daughter’s forehead, who reacted as if she had hit the nail on the head.

001

“Ha? You met Selena’s mother and received a request from her to exorcise the devil?”

Lila reacts to Cleon’s words as if asking what he’s talking about.

Well, thinking that that reaction was natural, Cleon nodded his head.

＂That, and that demon, must be exterminated within 24 hours, and is located somewhere within the Touhou Country… That’s the end of the information. Is it? “

Cleon nodded in the same way to Sasha, who looked embarrassed afterward.

“… And that demon is the remnants of Astarote?”

Finally, when Amelia says that, there is silence among the group for a moment.

＂Isn’t it unreasonable?＂

When Schrödinger added this, this time Cleon shook his head.

“No, you can. This has happened several times in the past.”

“Is it true… Compared to that, the reactions of other guys besides you are strange?”

As Schrödinger said that and looked around, each member of the group seemed to be deep in thought, as if they were each contemplating something.

“I guess everyone is thinking of their own way.”

“Huh. Well, that’s true, but…”

Lila, who had been unconsciously reacting to Cleon’s words, soon raised her head and spoke as if she had finished thinking.

＂If you think about finding the devil, moving, fighting, and returning, you can’t be that relaxed. When Kuon returns, let’s get everything ready, so he can leave right away.”

“I’ll leave González in the saddle just in case. I recently became able to fly through flight practice, so it will be helpful for navigation in the sky as well.”

“Then I’ll pack my bags. And since it may help you search for the devil, Lila, call me when you use search magic.”

As soon as everyone finishes talking about what to do, they immediately stand up and start moving around busily.

It felt like I was able to work as an adventurer for the first time in a long time, but it seemed like everyone had not forgotten their senses

“Is there any holy water left? If you don’t have it, you have to ask Kuon to make it for you.”

＂There is still a little bit left, but it will not be enough. When will Mr. Kuon return?”

＂Cleon said he had called me as an engraver, so soon…＂

Looking at the group leaving the living room to get ready, Schrödinger stares blankly in that direction and Cleon also stands up.

“See, didn’t I tell you?”

＂Are you a professional? Oh, you were a professional… ＂

Looking at Lailana, who rarely leaves the house, Sasha, who spends her time taking care of Gonzales, and Amelia, who trains day and night, I couldn’t think of them as adventurers.

As soon as I received the request, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of an atmosphere that was a little different from usual as I watched them move quickly.

“Amelia isn’t like that, but she seems to have learned the basics while working as a Saint Princess.”

＂Hmm… Well, okay. So what should I do? Brother.”

When Schrödinger speaks with a slightly excited expression, feeling like he is watching the work of professional craftsmen, Cleon turns to her and speaks.

“Ah. Schrödinger also has an important mission.”

“Also. The only person who recognizes my skills is my brother.”

As she reacted with pride to Cleon’s words, Cleon handed her the most important mission.

002

＂Then, I will come back. Both of them. Please take care of me.”

“Please come back, Master. The two of us will definitely protect the mansion. Don’t worry about Miss Emma.”

Arnia bows politely to the group gathered in front of the mansion.

And next to Arnia, a young Emma was waving her hand to see her companions off.

Arnia, who was in front of the door until the group walking away from the mansion disappeared from sight after seeing them off, soon turned around and entered the entrance.

However, as she stood blankly in front of the front door, looking in the direction of the group walking away, she held her head and raised her voice.

“… Is looking at houses an important mission? Are you kidding me!!”