## Chapter 1074 – Ancient Beings

“Ugh, too much effort. I don’t want to go.”

Karin, sprawled on the sofa, said while munching on a snack.

“What, why not?”
“I just want to stay home. I didn’t really want to go in the first place. I don’t like banquets anyway.”
“Well, I’m not particularly keen on it either. Going would just draw attention.”

It wasn’t just me who was invited to the banquet. Karin, Liztina, and even Cloudi, who were all present at the time, were all eligible to attend.

But they’re not going?

“You could at least go and have a meal.”
“Food doesn’t go down well at places like that, you know.”

Oh.

“What about Cloudi?”
“Leaving everyone behind feels a bit off, doesn’t it? Katt, have a good time. You can go alone, right?”
“Hmm. That’s a bit of a shame.”

It seemed like she was staying home out of consideration for the other four. Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just go, take care of business, and come back quickly. I can’t exactly skip the event.

Honestly, going out to eat is a bit awkward if we’re not all going together.

“Then I’ll go, show my face, and be back soon. I’m not really going to enjoy it anyway. I’ll just listen to the story and come right back.”
“Alright.”

And so, I ended up going to the banquet alone.

* * *

The banquet hall was quite extravagant.

I’d say it was a bit bigger than the Vestart family’s banquet hall that I went to trash last time. Three long tables laden with all sorts of food were set up in the center, and there was a staircase and a luxurious platform at the front.

It felt like we’d be picking food from the buffet while listening to the duke or his daughter giving a speech from that platform. All noble banquets feel pretty much the same. But I have to say, the buffet style is really great.

“Boom-pah-rah, boom-pah. Boom-pah!”

There was also an orchestra over there, and servants were bustling around.

“Hmm, the taste is quite good. Not much different from the capital.”
“The chef seems skilled.”
“To be treated like this. Duke Isvant certainly knows the meaning of honor.”

Of course, it wasn’t just them, but also the people invited to the banquet. The Royal Knights, officers of the Isvant Territory Army, mages, and even the big merchants who supplied materials throughout the war were already attending and eating.

“Oh! You’ve arrived!”
“Ah, Commander Barkerel.”

The Brass Holy Knights were also there.

And religious people of other faiths were gathered on the other side, also eating. Judging by their equipment, they were from the Salvation Paradise Assembly. I’ve been indebted to them once, but we’re not that close, so there’s not much of a connection.

But they still have quite a number of people.

“Come, help yourself. It’s very delicious.”
“Hehehe, I will.”

The hosts hadn’t arrived yet? I grabbed a plate and joined the Brass Holy Knights, having a light snack.

“Ah… we finally managed to drive out all the demons. They say they’re no longer visible. The farmers will probably be able to return to their villages soon.”
“That’s a relief.”

Commander Barkerel took a swig of wine with a look of utter refreshment.

“However, I hear that the damage to ordinary residents is quite severe in areas outside of Isvant Territory. I’m very worried about that… The escaped demons might settle in small villages and spread corruption.”
“Oh dear…! Just thinking about it makes me furious!”
“So, I’m thinking of reorganizing and going on patrol to the villages.”
“As expected!!! Commander Barkerel!!! You are so righteous!”
“Haha! Not as much as you!”

I chatted with the religious people of the Brass Holy Knights while filling my stomach. Various holy knights and priests kept asking how I killed the archdemon. Even the senior pastor was asking.

As I spent time answering them, someone shouted.

“Duke Isvant is entering!”
“Oh.”

They’ve finally arrived.

We stopped eating and stood up.

—Thud, thud.

Duke Isvant walked in, leading his daughter, vassals, and escort knights. As they walked onto the platform, everyone in the hall focused on the duke.

Now it’s his time.

“The incident where the demons opened a gate and invaded… was a very serious matter, but thanks to everyone here working together, we were able to repel them with minimal damage. I am very grateful for that.”

Everyone applauded as the duke expressed his gratitude.

—Clap, clap, clap.

The duke continued, receiving applause as he specifically thanked each group, one by one.

“And Paladin.”

Then, the duke pointed at me.

“The one who defeated the archdemon. Paladin, you have achieved a great feat. Your contribution is immense. If it weren’t for you, Isvant would have suffered even greater damage. I sincerely thank you.”

All eyes turned to me in an instant.

“I simply did what I had to do.”
“What a truly humble Paladin.”

Applause erupted again, and the duke expressed his gratitude and said that he had prepared a reward for me. I’m quite looking forward to receiving it when I leave.

Like that.

The duke’s turn ended, and his daughter stepped forward.

—…

A sense of tension filled the hall.

The daughter looked over us all.

“Greetings, warriors!!! And mages!!!”

—Booming!

She burst out with her voice.
She’s still the same.

“Thanks to your fierce help!!! Isvant has been saved!!! Honestly, we couldn’t have done it alone!!! We were able to end this so quickly because we all worked together!!! You all know how powerful those demon bastards are!!!!”

—Booming!!

It was a voice that sounded like real thunder, without exaggeration.

“And perhaps this won’t be a special event anymore!!! Do you think the demons who invaded once won’t invade twice!!! This kind of thing will keep happening!!!!! Then!!!! It will be very dangerous!!!!!!!!!!”

The daughter expressed her gratitude to us almost to the point of straining her voice, fiercely criticizing the wickedness of the demons.

“Ugh… ugh…!”
“Ugh… the voice…”
“Too loud…!”

Soon, people began to suffer, covering their ears and crouching down.

Typically, priests, mages, and merchants did so, and the knights stood politely, but they were sweating as if trying to endure the pain. The holy knights also just smiled at the daughter with their upper lips bitten.

I suddenly wondered if all the glasses would shatter and looked at them.

“Oh.”

But I couldn’t find a single glass. They were all using pewter mugs. Did they prepare this on purpose? Commendable.

And I looked at the windows, which were all open with something added to them.

The defenses are thorough.

But.

—Crash! Crash, crash!

It seems there was no way to prevent the chandeliers from exploding.

“Aaaaaah!!!”
“What the heck!!”
“Evacuate!!!!!!”

As the chandeliers shattered, people scattered in panic. The servants who had to clean it up were already groaning on the floor. Damn it, they’re just ordinary people, so their resistance is so low!!!

What the hell is this, you crazy bastards!!!

“T, this! Why is this happening…! It was fine when we tested it last time!!!!”

The flustered daughter shouted.

“I, I think it’s because you raised your voice louder than when we tested it, Miss!”

One of the vassals answered while lying on the floor.

She was so excited that she shouted louder than during the rehearsal.

“Damn it!!! I can’t believe it! Anyway, clean it up quickly!! It would be a disaster if the guests got hurt!”
“Y, yes…”

Looking at him, the duke was also sitting down, being supported by his escort knight.

There was such a happening.

* * *

“Anyway! Now I can formally thank you!!!”

It was when the chaos had mostly subsided.

The daughter approached me and thanked me in a very loud voice.

“Our Barbarian Paladin is truly the pride of Isvant, the pride!!! Now, quickly say that this place is your spiritual home!!!”

With a booming shout, the daughter, expressing her joy maniacally, grabbed my wrist.

“Hahaha!! You’re absolutely right, Miss! This place is as good as my hometown! Hooray! Isvant has overcome this difficulty! I’m happy too!!”

Isvant is indeed my spiritual home.

However, it doesn’t seem like it can be the home of my ears. If I lived here, I’d probably lose my hearing soon. I’m very worried about the ear health of the servants hired by the Lord of Isvant.

“I’m very proud too!!! Ooh-hohohohohoho!!!”
“Hahahahahahaha!!!”

—Crash!

The sound of glass breaking was heard again from around as the daughter laughed.

“No!!! What are the artisans making these days, really…! There’s no tableware left!!!”

Just enduring this far is already top-notch.

I’ll definitely have to buy a few and take them back before returning to the capital. I’ll probably be able to use them easily for decades.

“I can’t say anything like this!!!”

I think it would be fine if you couldn’t.

Anyway, I talked to the daughter like that. I vividly recreated and explained the situation when I killed the archdemon, and while I was talking like that.

“Ah, but Miss.”

I brought up the main point.

“What is it!!”

Let’s get to the point soon.

“You probably know that the heretics tried to open a gate and invade this time.”
“I know very well!!!”

She clenched her fist tightly, contorting her face and gritting her teeth.

“So, what I’m saying is, are you aware that heretics entered the underground waterway last time?”
“Ah! Of course, I know! It was a very unexpected event! I ordered the defenses to be strengthened after that incident!”

Strengthen the defenses?

I didn’t really see anything when I looked.

“Anyway. I don’t think the heretics were hiding there for no reason. Look. The reason they tried to invade this time… as I explained, wasn’t it to steal the archdemon’s soul?”
“Hmm… that’s true.”

The daughter nodded with a serious face.

“So, I can only assume that they were there for some purpose. Perhaps there’s something they’re after underground.”

—Clap!

The daughter clapped once at my words.

“That’s a very natural assumption!!!!! Of course, it’s not like we didn’t think of that! I remember we properly investigated the underground waterway!!!”
“Were there any suspicious points?”
“I remember there wasn’t anything in particular except that we received a report that it was very deep. But that itself is a very suspicious thing.”

That the underground waterway is very deep.

It seems they already knew that.

“Is there any reason for the waterway to be that deep?”
“That far? Isn’t that a slightly strange question?”

The daughter, who noticed that I had been there from my words, said that.

“Actually, I went to investigate on my own.”
“Oh! You did such a thing!”
“Ah, but I broke a few locks while going underground, so I think I should apologize for that.”
“You can break as many of those locks as you want! You had to break them to investigate, of course! So, were there any results!”

The daughter didn’t seem to mind much.

It’s probably because it’s me.

“Ah, Miss. Can I ask you something first?”
“You may!!!”

Then.

“Miss. Why is the underground waterway so deep? When I checked, it was over ten floors underground. It was a very large structure.”
“Hmm.”

The daughter crossed her arms.

“I don’t know the reason. Actually, I thought it was strange too, but I didn’t explore it deeply… I think I’ll have to ask my father about this! He’s over there, so I’ll go ask him! I’m getting interested too!!!”
“Ah!”

The daughter ran to the duke like that.

“Fatherrrrrrr!!!!!!!”

—Booming!!!!

The duke is having a hard time.

The daughter talked to the duke, and soon returned to me.

“Father doesn’t know the exact reason either!!! He was thinking that it might be the remains of an ancient city!!! It seems he’s known that the facility is deep for a long time!!!”

The duke doesn’t know the truth either?

I looked at the lord once.
He raised his hand to me with a tired face.

I also gave a simple nod to greet him again.

Duke Isvant doesn’t know either… No. He knew that the underground waterway was deep, so he seems to have had the assumption that it might be the remains of an ancient city. It’s not a part that I can’t understand.

“So, did you find anything in that underground?”

The daughter asked.

“Actually, there was something special there.”
“Something special…?”

The daughter tilted her head.

And I began to tell the story.

The story of the giant found in the secret space underground.

“What!!!!!!!”

—Booming!!!

“What the hell is that crazy giant!!!! Why are there things I don’t know about in my city!!!! No, a secret space!!!! How did you find it!!!! And what was that giant!!!!”

—Crash!!!

As the daughter shouted in shock, the sound of glass breaking began to be heard here and there again. Is this real?

It seems that what I released was not a story bundle, but a black bundle.

Is her voice on the level of a Crimson Balrog?

All the people doing Kerning PQ are dying, you bastards.