Chapter 1 – Entering Lachmaheim
We have received the branch of the King Tree from the king of Norcheim.
Led by Erune, I was able to safely go out of the city
It was a good thing that I was able to hide from the vision of the people around me.
After that, we joined with Fran and the others and left Norcheim.
We then headed for the last country – to Lachmaheim.
“However, how long should we keep this up?”
I am now made to sit on this wooden crate that substituted for a desk inside the carriage.
Erune volunteered to drive the carriage in my stead, so here I am now.
As a knight, she knew how to handle horses, but it seems she’s good in handling carriages too.
In fact, the carriage only shook a little, so it’s quite comfortable.
However, Cecil’s voice pulled me back to reality when I was about to have such thoughts.
“Allan-sama, are you listening!?”
“Oh, my bad…… I was enraptured by Cecil’s face, so I…..”
I flattered her with a smile.
“I see, so you weren’t…… Don’t even try looking at me like that, I will not forgive you even with such a face!”
She hit the desk with slightly angered look.
On it was the written information about the upcoming Lachmaheim.
“That’s right. We shouldn’t be careless, this is the Demons we are talking about”
Effie joined in from across the desk.
She, having considerable knowledge about the Demons, is now playing the role of a lecturer.
“Sigh. Okay, I will listen attentively this time”
“Then please do so at the start!”
Though Cecil said so, she tried to explain it to me once more.
“First of all, what kind of race are the Demons?”
“How are they different from us elves and humans?”
“Some of their tribes are very different in appearance and some are almost identical”
With that said, she browsed over the documents.
Then, there was a picture of a big pig-nosed man who seemed to be over two meters in height and a man with a lot of muscles with horns protruding his head.
“The left is the Orc tribe and the right is the Ogre tribe”
“I see. From their looks, I do not want to fight them from the front”
“That’s a given. Both are more powerful than the elves in fact.”
Cecil added to my answer.
“In addition to this, there are a number of other tribes that make up the Demons”
“Oh, so it is some sort of Union?”
I’m not sure if it’s because the countries we have been to before were basically single-race countries.
Even Bivnaheim who are tolerant of other races have very few elves and spirits.
“They vary in appearance, but they all have a common characteristic of having a strong sense of fighting spirit, and in order to balance them, their combat capabilities are also high”
“It’s like they were created for battle. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can really get along well with these fellows.”
“But Prince, you are one of them, aren’t you?”
“Ah, I was just speaking half-mindedly. It’s about time I miss my home.”
I drop my eyes on the documents again.
“So, what else to watch out for besides their eagerness to battle?”
This time Effie answered to my question.
“Well, it’s their magic”
“Magic……. so these demons can also use magic too”
“Yes, and also influenced by their traits, they center at attack magic”
Her face became more serious than I have ever seen before.
Certainly, I can also use magic, but if it’s more powerful or not, I can’t be sure…
I also used magic like producing water as substitute for a tap, it was also capable of blowing people away by just giving it enough power.
It is easy to imagine what would happen if it was replaced with a pointed ice spike, hard rocks or a mass of flames.
“… I do not want to eat a direct hit if I make a mistake”
Even if my physical abilities are high, my skin is not as hard as a rock.
This made me even more to avoid fighting against the wizards of the demons.
If you now understand how fearful the demons are, then you should be careful from now on”
Seeing I nod at them seriously, Cecil and the others smiled, as if satisfied with my response.
Though I appreciate that you are worried for me, this over-protection is a bit embarrassing.
Then I heard a voice from the front of the carriage. It was from Erune.
“Guys, are you done?” We will reach Lachmaheim soon.”
“We are already here? It’s quite early”
When I got out of the carriage, I went up to the coachman’s seat where Erune is.
From there, A big city came in our front view.
But it’s only been a day since we left Norcheim.
“The Country of Demons is close, and it is one of the main reasons Norcheim is always prepared for a war”
“For sure. From this distance, it will take only a day for the demons to reach them.”
If the Demons’ physical abilities are similar to the Elves’, they can certainly do that.
Also, it would be impossible in just one day to gather soldiers from all over the country.
So that’s why Norcheim has been vigilant till now.
“But it’s strange, there are no guards at the gate”
Effie, who followed me, said so while looking at the city.
“Well, we can’t stop now that we are here. Let’s get closer”
Following my suggestion, we neared to the gate then stopped the carriage at a large warehouse nearby it.
There is also a place to tie the horses, so this place also served like a parking lot.
“For now, let’s go into the city and gather information as possible.”
We then headed to the gate.
“There’s no one there after all”
“There is no one in this direction either”
Cecil and Fran have also gone to a somewhat like a barracks, but every one of them is inhabited.
If so, let’s enter without reserve.
Once we opened the gate, we entered through the front.
Then I stared at the unexpected scene. Beyond the gate was a very ordinary city.
Though it’s a bit desolated, Demons are coming and going normally.
“What the, there isn’t anything wrong after all?”
Feeling like a heavy load was removed from my chest, I went out of the way to tour around the city.
“Wait, Alan-sama! It’s dangerous to go alone!”
“It’s alright, I don’t feel anything rogue nearby”
The residents seem to be interested, but they also seem to be avoiding us.
The Demons, too, seem to have a lot of women and children and even elderly people.
As expected, not every one of them are strong-willed or eager to fight.
On the contrary though, I don’t see adult men that much.
“I wonder what the men are doing.”
“Allan-sama, would you like me to look into it?”
“The atmosphere is quite different from what I heard. Let’s find out.”
When I said so, they also nodded.
At that time, I noticed that a female demon was looking at me in the corner of my vision.
She wore a really revealing outfit. Is she a prostitute or something?
When I thought so, she waved her sleeves and gave me a signal.
She seems to be asking me out. She’s a pretty beautiful woman, and her chest is big for my taste.
It wouldn’t be bad to know what the female demons are like, right?
Did the other side notice the thing at which I was looking, too? She tempted me further by drawing her chest towards her.
Everyone else is looking around and facing the other directions, so it seems that only I can see her.
“…I was so busy with the alliance as of late. It wouldn’t be bad to let me play once in a while”
“Allan-sama, did you say something?”
“No, nothing?” I’ll try to meet some people and gather information”
That’s how I got away from them.
“Allan-sama, are you going alone?”
“There are only women and children around here, Cecil. I’ll try to do some research on my own”
I persuaded her with a plausible reason.
Cecil thought my story was reasonable.
“All right, I got a chance. I’m out now.
“Ah, Allan-sama!”
“I’ll return by nightfall”
Shaking off from the restraints of Cecil, I went towards the alley where the prostitute was.
Because I have been doing group actions recently, I’ll play as much as I want for the first time in a while!
