The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 189

189

Even now, when I close my eyes, it sometimes comes to mind.

Link, Link, Link…….

The face of the giant uncle, smiling innocently like a fool.

“Avavavat!”

Aki was the one who scurried through the explosions covering the lemon tree forest and clung to my leg.

Looking down at him, I was lost in strange thoughts.

Was this how I felt when I saw things from Link’s perspective?

“You did well for your first real battle.”

“Puu.”

The person to ask about that is nowhere to be found now. Since there is no one to share memories with, all I can do now is guess…….

“Let’s hurry.”

It’s been half a day since we entered the island area, and these islands look strange no matter how you look at them.

Every village we passed only had old people. Their fear of outsiders was so strong that I couldn’t even try to talk to them.

And also, it felt like something ominous was watching…….

“You are……”

It was around then that I felt the gazes of the villagers.

It was quite surprising since it was the first village to try to communicate first.

The villagers also had expressions mixed with bewilderment, fear, and wariness, so I had to raise both hands to make my intentions clear.

“I didn’t come here to harm you. I’m sorry that the village has become like this.”

“No, it’s not…… If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would have happened to us by now……”

A stocky old man, covered in blood, replied on behalf of the village.

“My name is Dos…… I’m the village chief of this village…… Cough, feel free to call me Fish Slayer……”

“Slayer?”

As I cautiously took a step back, a woman with a sickly impression smiled even as she coughed.

“It’s different from the Slayers…… It’s, it’s one of our village’s ways of life……”

“……?”

“My name is Linda…… I’m such a good cook that I used to be called Disgusting Slayer……”

Almost as if on cue, the villagers, their wariness gone, began to introduce themselves with proud voices.

The village’s strongest shepherd is Wolf Slayer. The village’s best seamstress is Needle Slayer…….

The reason Dos is Fish Slayer is because he catches fish incredibly well…….

“I, you see, the net…… Cough, once I spread it out, fish just pile up like mountains! I wish I could show you……”

Why is it? Looking at that ridiculous naming, Link’s pure laughter came to mind.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Instead of that huge physique or combat ability, could it be that his foolish innocence has been passed down to his descendants?

“But there’s no space here to take care of sheep, and it’s a cliff to go out on a boat to catch fish.”

“This place wasn’t originally our village…… We are, direct descendants…… We lived in Linkland……”

Direct descendants…….

Fate really plays funny tricks. To think they are direct descendants of that Link…….

Once again, I felt a voice coming from that distant past. Link, Link, Link.

“Normally, I would have told you to run away before those Slayers caught you. To think you defeated that monster Spiela, just what are you……”

“I’m Rain. This guy is Aki.”

“Aki is Aki!”

“By the way, there are no young people in this village either. I wonder where I can find them, hmm.”

“Young people?”

I was planning to meet Miria before catching the Dragon Slayer.

“All the children and young people have been dragged away by those bad guys……”

“Dragged away? Why?”

“Are you looking for someone?”

“There’s a girl named Miria. She uses a funny nickname called Goblin Slayer. Do you happen to know her?”

At that, the villagers’ eyes suddenly widened. Dos blinked his surprised eyes.

“Miria? You said Miria?”

“Yes, I definitely said that. She had blonde hair and jade-colored eyes.”

“Is she a friend?”

“Friend? Hmm, strictly speaking, I guess so.”

“Did you all hear that? This handsome young man says he’s Miria’s boyfriend…… Hahaha……!”

When did I say that?

Before I could even refute, smiles bloomed on the old people’s faces, and they began to bombard me with questions.

Not knowing why, I blankly closed my mouth, and Linda smiled and explained the reason.

“What a coincidence…… This village is our Miria’s hometown……”

What surprised me even more than that was the introduction that Dos gave next.

“And this Linda you’re talking to is the mother of Milea and Miria!”

This person is Miria’s mother……?

Turning around in surprise, Linda smiled even through her painful cough and bowed politely.

“Although I’m her adoptive mother.”

At that moment, the murmuring voices instantly quieted down at the words that came from somewhere.

A strange yet somewhat familiar voice, in the silence as if cold water had been poured, everyone’s attention was drawn to what appeared…….

I unconsciously let out a hollow laugh and called out that name.

“Miria.”

Even though her sweat-soaked hair was sticking to her face, her serene beauty was so clear.

As expected, this girl reminds me of Rista. She makes me feel the same heart-fluttering feeling I felt when I saw Rista.

Compared to Rista, her expression is too dark and cold though.

“Aung?”

Not recognizing her because it had been so long, Aki tilted his head, staring at her.

“Look at this. Aki has grown a lot, right? Aki, it’s Miria. It’s been a while, so you don’t remember─”

Having run a long distance, her face was slightly red, and she was out of breath. The girl I met after about 5 months shouted out of the blue.

“─Why are you here?”

Even so, I can’t say something like I came to see you or I came to help you, not like Rista or Friede, I’m too embarrassed.

“What, I heard it was dangerous, so I came. You look fine.”

“Dangerous? Me?”

“Aren’t you?”

“You’re the one who’s in danger! Do you know where this is? If the Dragon Slayer finds out you’ve come here…….”

“Miria, this person is─”

It was then that Linda tried to mediate this conversation.

The bushes behind Miria rustled, and three children appeared.

All of them were equipped with standardized light armor, and all of them had no expression on their faces. The kids said with expressionless faces.

“Miria-nim [term of respect], an emergency summons has been issued for the Slayer executives.”

Something was strange.

Not only their expressions but even their voices had no inflection? It wasn’t like a voice device implemented with magic.

“Reports have come in that mages from the Magic Federation Special Task Force have appeared in various parts of the island. The executives are to gather on Island 3.”

The emotion that flashed across Miria’s eyes as she looked back at those children for a moment was…… an unbearable pain.

“What are those little kids?”

As I tried to take a step towards them, Miria held out her hand. Along with a voice as cold as frost.

“If you go northeast, there’s a boat I came on. Take it and leave this island immediately. With your skills, breaking through the encirclement won’t be a problem.”

“What?”

“Leave now. Didn’t you understand? I’m an executive of the Slayers. If you’re here, I’ll have no choice but to fight you. So go.”

An executive…… What’s that supposed to mean?

Did Cora lie?

If it’s true, why did she have such a painful expression? When she briefly looked at Aki just before kicking off the ground and leaving?

Linda said with a sad smile.

“She didn’t mean to be cold on purpose…… She was just worried…… She used to be a really bright child……”

Linda, who was struggling to cough, collapsed. Supporting her thin body, I narrowed my eyes.

“I should have heard this from Cora before coming here…… What the hell happened on this island?”

“Cora?”

As soon as I brought up that name, Village Chief Dos approached with a surprised face.

“Did you just say Cora?”

“Yes. She was the one who brought me here. We got separated along the way because of some things.”

“I see, so she’s safe…… Gods, thank you.”

Dos, who let out a sigh of relief, slumped down. I later heard that Cora was Dos’s granddaughter.

“Her parents died during the Slayers’ attack. So I raised her like my own daughter. I thank you.”

“That’s what I want to hear. What the hell happened in the last 10 years? And what’s with the Slayers’ attack?”

For a moment, I felt the sea shake. The chattering voices of the villagers subsided. As if they had heard something they shouldn’t have.

Everyone exchanged glances for a long time, and then Linda raised her hand as if seeking the villagers’ approval.

The fact that I was Miria’s friend, that I had defeated the Witch Slayer, and that Cora had called me seemed to have completely quelled their wariness.

“Since you said you’re Miria’s friend, I, her mother, will explain it to you…… Although I don’t even deserve to be called a mother anymore……”

I wonder if Miria thinks so too?

There was no resentment or hatred in Miria’s expression as she looked at her broken father’s belongings.

I raised my hand to Linda, who was about to open her mouth to say something.

“Let’s hear the story later. Right now, it’s important for you all to take refuge from this place.”

“Yes……?”

“Please tell the people on the other islands to hide somewhere too.”

At that, Dos raised his eyebrows.

“What are you talking about? You should leave here quickly as Miria said. If they find out you made the Witch Slayer like that…….”

“It’ll save them the trouble of finding me. I’m going to follow Miria right now.”

“I don’t understand. Just what are you trying to do……?”

Ever since I entered this island, I’ve been hearing a voice, or rather, a hallucination, coming from somewhere.

Link, Link, Link.

Maybe that voice is the voice of Link’s soul conveying to me.

‘Because I promised.’

What do I want to do?

What did I come here to do?

Did I just come to find Zernyx? That’s not it.

– A, a child, if I, have many, Rin, will, keep, stay, with, me. I, have to, teach, her.

The words that Link said back then, the heart contained in those words, felt like it was permeating my body.

【Memories of the day I looked at the dawn of the New Year with Link on my shoulders.】

It’s late, but.

I came too late, but.

I take a light breath, put my hand on my chest, and convey my heart.

“I will destroy all the Slayers and save you.”

When I said that.

Far away, somewhere in the promised place, it felt like I had called out the name of Link, who had been waiting for me all along…….

“There he is!”

“What is that guy!”

Perhaps they heard the explosions and roars, the Slayers who had been waiting in various parts of the island rushed over, but they were immediately annihilated under the Heavenly Fire.

“My heart, my heart is really grateful, but why are you……?”

Because that’s what Rista would have done, because that’s what Friede would have done, because that’s what Kies would have done.

Until now, I have always excused my own heart whenever I did any good deeds.

But in this story, in this story involving Link, I don’t think I need to do that. It’s a story that I decide and I accomplish.

“Because that’s what Archmage Rin would have done.”

At that moment, I felt like I had reached out and grabbed Link’s hand, who had been waiting for me, across the distant time of 300 years.

* * *

Miria was not heading to Island 3, but to Island 6, running across the long suspension bridge connecting the islands.

– Rin, is coming.

The suspension bridges, which the Demon Slayer personally carved out of stone and wood and wove together with dozens of layers of rope, were famous for connecting the 18 islands like a spider web.

– When, Rin, comes, I, will, show, you, the, island.

In the past, many tourists used to come for sightseeing…….

‘The bastards have built a total of 4 pyramids in the archipelago.’

My sister is being held captive in one of those four…….

The Control Stone must be near there too. The only time I can find it is now, when all the executives have been summoned.

‘Somehow, I have to take away my sister’s control…… and then negotiate with those bastards.’

Right now, my sister has become an indispensable existence in those bastards’ plans, so they’ll have no choice but to listen.

* * *

In the center of Island 3, a huge pyramid soared up, casting an oppressive shadow over the surrounding scenery.

‘That is……?’

Valensidice pursed her lips.

Originally, the island area of Linkland should have been lush with nature, but when did such an artificial structure come to be built?

“Run! I won’t forgive anyone who falls and damages their military gear!”

Brawny instructors stood all around, and boy soldiers in full military gear were carrying out their training according to their reckless whippings.

“Every piece of equipment you’re wearing is more expensive than your lives! Do you understand!”

No matter how you look at it, that pyramid is extremely suspicious. Is there any way to infiltrate that interior?

The Trickster Slayer had already drawn a line, saying that it was impossible to guide me because the secrets of the industry were contained inside that pyramid.

If I could somehow divert attention somewhere for a moment, I could hide in with space interference.

But whether the gods were also carefully observing this absurdity, that opportunity came right away.

There was a merchant group that had come earlier to watch the training process of the Slayers trainees, and the leader of the group suddenly started saying strange things.

“I never imagined that such a thing would be happening under the reign of the dragons.”

“……?”

“In accordance with Article 32 and Article 78 of the Papal Charter, we will arrest and interrogate the masterminds who have been committing inhumane acts here.”

A Master-rank Slayer who was standing nearby suddenly slammed into the ground and spat out blood.

Was it a type of jujutsu? It was certain that he had slammed his opponent down at a speed that was difficult to follow with the eyes.

As a signal, about twenty mages who had been disguised as merchants quickly put on their robes.

Each robe had a pocket watch hanging from it, and the surface was engraved with the Yongon Dirutus [symbol of the Magic Federation], symbolizing the Magic Federation and meaning Special Task Force.

“We are from the Magic Federation Special Task Force.”

And the man who had just slammed the Master-rank Slayer in one blow put an old fedora on his head and smiled brightly.

‘Doran Slade……!’

That guy is really annoying.

Taking advantage of the commotion in which all attention was focused on that side, Valensidice quickly opened a dimension leading to the inside of the pyramid.

The corridor inside the pyramid was lit by dim lamplight.

Unlike the suffocating heat outside, an ominous silence and coldness dominated the inside of the pyramid.

“You don’t have to fight together?”

At Cora’s question, Valensidice shrugged her shoulders lightly.

“We’re not in a position to fight together.”

If we did, the battle would turn into a three-way fight. There’s nothing to gain.

I don’t know how the Special Task Force smelled it out…….

No, can I say that it would be strange if Doran, that monster with such great senses, hadn’t smelled it until now?

“Right now, while the Special Task Force is buying us time, we’ll check inside here.”

The management personnel were hurriedly leaving due to the commotion outside.

Valensidice briefly hid in the shadows.

Finally, when the footsteps subsided, she opened a dimension and moved in one breath to the room at the end of that corridor.

“Paper, paper, paper. It’s just paper.”

“Paper, paper, paper, paper.”

“It’s the perfect space to find information.”

It was a messy room full of all kinds of paper.

There were piles of papers on the desks and shelves, and it looked like a kind of archive.

Most of the data was written in the language of the demi-humans, not the common language of humans. I picked up a sheet and read the title.

“Demon Slayer Training Plan?”

That’s a strange thing to say.

Train a Demon Slayer? How?

“Biocomposition Evol-6 successful, change composition parts according to individual differences…… I don’t know what it means.”

As I was reading a report with a naked human anatomical diagram, I heard a child’s scream from somewhere.

I held my breath for a moment and was about to turn my head back to the report when Cora opened her mouth.

Her face was expressionless, but her voice was low and subdued.

“You saw those kids regenerating their bodies during the day, right? It’s that. It’s the power that comes from transplanting the Demon Slayer’s body.”

“Kasel Rinkan’s body? I’m surprised it hasn’t rotted yet.”

Did Zernyx revive that Demon Slayer too? At that question, Cora shook her head bitterly.

“No, it seems like they failed to revive the ancestor for some reason…… So they created a substitute to receive that power.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s hard for me to explain in words either. You’ll find out if you go to the very top of this pyramid.”