I thought it was a fire in the house next door.
But it wasn’t just the house next door. Reinhardt realized that the fiercely burning flames had spread to his own precious home.
‘Hell will appear in a few months?’
What kind of place was hell?
It was a place so horrific that the evil deeds of warlocks seemed like child’s play.
Demons were a dime a dozen, and the three great demons, including Agrio-s, would emerge with glee to break and shatter the world.
Then everyone would die.
Everyone in this world would surely die.
From now on, it was no longer someone else’s problem. Reinhardt himself would be included among those countless deaths.
“I will help.”
“……What?”
“I will help. I will. So that the Paganoa Knights can carry out their operations more smoothly. But as I said before, the scope of my activities is limited to the eastern part of the Empire.”
In the end, Reinhardt had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and step forward.
Because stopping the world’s crisis was the same as extending his own lifespan.
“No, no. That’s enough. The eastern part of the Empire. So, centering around Serigel where you are currently staying, Sir Reinhardt……”
“Is that really enough?”
“Recently, most of Paganoa’s operations have been conducted in the far west of the Empire.”
At Miya’s words, Reinhardt understood the situation.
The far west of the Empire was, in any case, on the opposite side of Serigel.
In the end, the more attention was drawn to Serigel, the easier their operations would become.
“Very well. I will help. I will actively seek out and eliminate demons. To be precise, it would be warlocks, not demons.”
“If you could do just that, we would be satisfied. Also, if you ever need it, any support will be provided unstintingly at the order’s level.”
“If such a moment comes, I will request it. More importantly.”
Reinhardt changed his attitude. From now on, it was time for him to ask questions more actively.
“Are the operations successful?”
“They are.”
“If they all succeed, no, not all, but if most of them succeed, can the situation you just mentioned be postponed further?”
“Yes, we can definitely postpone it. Perhaps for a few years, or if we’re lucky, even a few decades.”
“But that’s not all, is it? You wouldn’t focus solely on postponing the impending crisis, would you?”
Miya Luxpenber nodded her head.
“Right now, we are just trying to put out the most urgent fire. The Paganoa Knights, the mages of the Floran Academy, and as you also know, Sir Reinhardt, the high-ranking priests of each order are also with us in this cause.”
“When you say you are with us in this cause.”
“It means we are moving towards the common goal of strengthening the boundary between the two worlds and completely severing the connection with them.”
That’s right. There was no way such a crisis would strike so soon.
Reinhardt felt a great sense of relief after hearing Miya’s explanation.
The development company had its own thoughts.
It meant that they had designed it so that as the user cleared quests, nurtured companions, and fought enemies, they would naturally be able to prevent the crisis of humanity.
‘Then I’ve received a quest of sorts now. A main quest of sorts. One that I must complete.’
To draw the demons’ aggro.
To draw their aggro and help the main forces of humanity accomplish what they needed to do.
I could do that much, anytime.
Even if it was more than that, I could do anything to survive.
“I understand. I will do it.”
“Thank you, Sir Reinhardt.”
“And if it’s the far west of the Empire, is that where the Palma Mountains are located?”
Reinhardt said, recalling the map he had seen in the game.
The Palma Mountains.
A rugged mountain range surrounding the far west of the Empire that did not permit humans.
“Yes, it’s an operation conducted in the Palma Mountains. I can tell you the details if you wish, Sir, but……”
“In the end, it’s an operation to reduce the warlocks’ power, isn’t it.”
“That’s right.”
“Then that is fine. I just wanted to clearly know the form of the impending crisis. And also what response we humans are preparing for it.”
“Was that a sufficient answer?”
“Yes.”
The crisis was right around the corner.
But they weren't letting their guard down and were responding successfully.
That was enough for Reinhardt. Just the fact that he wouldn't die soon allowed him to focus on living in the present.
“More importantly, if the attention has been drawn to me, then warlocks will soon come looking for me.”
Swoosh.
Reinhardt said, turning his gaze.
Jenkins, who was still wearing a smiling expression, nodded his head.
“They will, Sir Reinhardt. But considering the feats you have shown so far, they won’t be difficult opponents, will they?”
“If they are of similar skill to the ones I have faced, it will not be difficult. But Serigel will be in danger. The citizens living here know nothing.”
“Among the news I must deliver to you, Sir, is that very information. All warlocks who come here will target the citizens of Serigel first, not you.”
“……Did the demons command it so?”
“Exactly. You know, don’t you? Agrio-s, Nepas, Morganes. They have figured out exactly what kind of person you are, Sir.”
He always puts others before himself.
He possessed a strong sense of justice as a knight, and his devotion to the Empire was like the clothes he always wore.
That was why the demons had conferred as such. That they needed a hostage.
To break the will of Knight Reinhardt, they had to threaten the values he held dear.
“I cannot condone such a situation.”
“But of course. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? So that you do not have to experience such misfortune. As you know, Sir, warlocks are not that strong. Neither am I. You know that, right?”
Jenkins was right.
A warlock’s individual martial prowess was nothing special.
Honestly, no matter how many warlocks came, a strong knight like Reinhardt could easily take their heads and have time to spare.
The problem was the wide effective range of the abilities they wielded.
They couldn’t harm Reinhardt.
But what about helpless citizens who were peacefully engaged in their livelihoods? What if they targeted people who had never even engaged in a physical battle in their lives?
Black Magic displayed an overwhelmingly effective power.
It was so in Serigel, in Lockfort, and in Romain.
It meant that the problem wasn't solved just because Reinhardt himself was fine.
“The eastern part of the Empire, you know, the places where your influence reaches, Sir Reinhardt?”
“Yes.”
“In all those cities, we will place items that can reduce the warlocks’ influence. Just like you did in Romain, Sir.”
“Do you mean to place holy relics?”
“Something similar. But it won’t all be holy relics. They can block Morganes’ plague, but they won’t be helpful in blocking Nepas’ explosions. In that regard, the Floran Imperial Academy has promised to lend their strength.”
This was where the previously mentioned cooperative system shone.
Knights, mages, and priests would join forces to prepare a defense system against warlocks.
It wouldn’t be absolute, but it would at least be able to buy enough time for Reinhardt to rush to that city.
“When will it be implemented?”
“It is already being implemented.”
“Were you certain that I would accept the request?”
“It is something that must be done even if you were to refuse, is it not?”
It was just a minimal measure to protect innocent people.
That’s what Jenkins was saying.
He was clearly a person who moved for the sake of humanity. With Miya Luxpenber’s guarantee, it was certain.
“You.”
Reinhardt said at that moment.
His straight gaze was directed at Jenkins.
“Why did you decide to help humans?”
“Because I am human.”
“But you are a warlock.”
“My head was broken.”
The minds of warlocks were not sound.
They had contacted demons, and it was normal for humans who contacted demons to lose their minds.
“I don't remember the exact trigger. How I ended up on that side, how I felt at that time, what price I promised the demons, and what was promised to me.”
“Are all warlocks in the same state as you?”
“Well, who knows. That kind of topic is forbidden. We don’t mention it to each other.”
“Then, what was the trigger that made you change your mind?”
“Because memories of my time as a human came back to me.”
Jenkins’s smile deepened.
“Before I set foot on this path, I think it was the happiest moment of my life. It wasn't actually that great of a memory, but I had a family back then.”
“……”
“Someone is probably enjoying that kind of happiness right now, right? In this city, in other cities, and well… anyway, I just didn’t want to destroy those things.”
Jenkins was giving a very standard answer.
One I would never have believed in reality.
But because this was a game world, it was an answer I could trust.
“I apologize for my previous rudeness.”
“It was hardly rude. You didn’t kill me, after all, right? I came to see you, Sir, with the thought that I wouldn’t mind dying today.”
“But……”
“Life is quite hard, you know. For people like us. It’s difficult to strike a balance between the two groups, and the living environment is generally gloomy. Anyway, this doesn’t seem like the time to talk about such things.”
Reinhardt agreed.
The weight of the burden Jenkins carried was considerable.
However, it was his own choice, and Reinhardt had no intention of sharing that burden.
“Anyway, I’ll tell the demons this. Knight Reinhardt is a more brilliant human than we thought. If we can just corrupt him, it will be helpful in blocking humanity’s path.”
“Do they trust your words?”
“They do. They don't trust me, but they trust their own abilities. They can spot a clumsy lie right away.”
Come to think of it, it wasn't a lie either.
If they corrupted Knight Reinhardt, humanity would lose a part of its strength.
“Anyway, that’s all I have to say. I can’t say anything else, and there’s no need to. I trust that you will understand, Sir… Personnel Officer?”
“Mhm. No, yes.”
“Please continue. I need to think of some interesting tidbits to throw to the demons.”
With that, the important conversation was over.
Both sides had confirmed their positions, and the negotiations had been dramatically concluded.
What followed was a kind of small talk.
A process of mentioning commonalities, forming a sense of fellowship, and thereby promoting friendship.
“Among the recent operations in the Palma Mountains… oh, by the way, Dame Evangeline is there too. She asked me to be sure to give you her regards, Sir Reinhardt.”
“How long will the operation last?”
“If it’s the mission Dame Evangeline is in charge of, about a week? It’s not that long. It’s a mission that requires slightly more skilled knights.”
“Is Sir Fermil there as well?”
“Fermil, no, Sir Fermil is also carrying out a mission near the mountain range. Not just the two of them, but more than half of the order’s forces have been deployed. Anyway, he said he would definitely visit Serigel as soon as he gets a vacation……”
Light conversation continued.
It was a conversation like a rally of table tennis balls. They mainly asked questions that were considerate of each other and easy to answer.
Then, suddenly.
‘Wait a minute.’
At the thought that came to him, Reinhardt cut off the conversation and asked a question.
“Miya, then in the end, ‘finding people’ must be your role, correct?”