"If there is a Sea Dragon in the West Sea, then there is the Yukkwi in the Chiria Great Forest."

After muttering to me that we would have to go to Bigabol's territory, the Archmage exchanged a few more words with the Chief of Bigabol.

And what followed was this current explanation.

"It is one of the primeval beasts. According to the literature, it is said to look like a snake wrapped around a turtle. Of course, it has vanished somewhere now, so it cannot be seen."

Hearing "Yukkwi," I thought it was an abbreviation for "land ghost," but apparently it meant "land turtle." Add in the fact that it looks like a snake wrapped around a turtle, and it sounds exactly like a Black Tortoise.

"However, even if the Yukkwi is gone, there is a being that inherited its blood. Namely, the Mountain Lord. It is also a being that the denizens of the Great Forest revere and respect."

Around that point, I received a strange impression. A Sea Dragon—since it's blue, it might as well be called an Azure Dragon—and a Black Tortoise meant that the primeval beasts were likely motivated by the Four Auspicious Beasts.

The problem was that this was the south.

C'mon. If it's the Black Tortoise, shouldn't it obviously be in the north? The setting is completely botched. It's not like it was shoehorned in later, so why place a Black Tortoise in the south?

By that logic, the Azure Dragon, meaning the Sea Dragon, had its direction wrong too.

"The Mountain Lord lays an egg and dies in a fifty-year cycle, and it is known that the next generation's Mountain Lord hatches from the egg, tears its parent's flesh to eat, and inherits its power."

On a separate note, I'd heard of this reproduction method somewhere. Did all primeval beasts carry on their lineage like that?

It was a really great reproductive method for getting your bloodline cut off.

"As a result, the Mountain Lord's power doesn't usually get exceptionally stronger or weaker between individuals... but strangely, they say this current Mountain Lord developed the 'ability to eat mana'."

I had been making all sorts of internal retorts like that, but I stopped my train of thought after hearing those last words.

I wondered why she had suddenly changed her opinion, and this was it.

"Furthermore, the scene of this current Mountain Lord's birth... was similar in format to the quest we took on this time."

In the meantime, the Archmage tactfully beat around the bush, leaving out words like 'demonic energy' or 'demon'.

We had moved back inside the building for the conversation—the Chiefs were currently working to clean up the aftermath of the rebellion—but it seemed to be a measure taken in consideration of the risk of words leaking out, as well as the fact that the denizens worshiped the Mountain Lord.

"We'll have to verify whether those words are the truth, but if it's correct, we absolutely cannot back down."

However, I wasn't so dense that I couldn't understand just because she beat around the bush a little.

"Of course, since there were rebels mixed into the envoy, I do wonder if a rebellion has already broken out in Bigabol's territory as well... but for now, the legitimacy lies with us. Even considering that we have to lend a hand in suppressing the rebellion, being able to meet the Mountain Lord with a just cause by using the Chief of a tribe as a bridge is a sufficient benefit."

This opportunity, just as the Archmage said, wouldn't be good to miss.

Whether it was contacting the Magic Tower again, helping suppress the rebellion, or meeting the Mountain Lord to investigate this and that. The same applied even if returning to Hudelen was becoming increasingly distant.

The Magic Tower would take care of our party's suspicions, and it was certainly more efficient for us to do the work only we could do. Of course, efficiency aside, I did feel like the scale of the quest was blowing up again... but at least this side gave fair compensation.

"The cause of the rebellion."

However, no matter how good the opportunity was, this had to be made clear.

It was true that the rebels struck me first, but how was I to know if that was just his individual mistake or the overall stance of the entire group?

Based on my life experience, in times like this, rather than jumping up and down yelling, 'That guy hit me!', it was better to quickly figure out whether the person who attacked me was the only crazy one, or if their whole organization was crazy.

That way, I wouldn't blow a precious opportunity, or I could learn in advance which places I absolutely needed to avoid later.

"Hmm? Ah. Did I only mention that there was legitimacy without telling you the cause?"

Yep. So please spit it out already.

"It's nothing much. The traditionalist factions opposed to the idea of ending isolationism and interacting with the outside world simply tried to kill the young Chief before those ideas could spread any further."

Ah, an ideological conflict.

"In that regard, even excluding a face-to-face meeting with the Mountain Lord, it's something worth lending a hand with. The Great Forest has adhered to a closed-off attitude for far too long. We have accommodated the Great Forest's isolationism out of respect for them... but no one knows the future, right? I understand their desire to preserve their traditions, but there's no harm in having at least a minimal exchange of technology and knowledge. Tradition, too, requires power to be protected."

Certainly, it was true that you had to know in order to prepare. There were countries that had been thoroughly battered because they maintained isolationism and didn't realize how far foreign nations had developed.

However, it was also true that once change began, it was easy for the pulse of tradition to be severed...

But even so, trying to persuade people with swords instead of arguments and evidence was a bit much. I guess it couldn't be helped since it was a world where human rights were less developed...

Hmm. Mmm.

Ah, I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm young. I did think opening up was better, but you never knew if that would hold true in the future.

From that perspective, I also wondered if this kind of ideological issue was something a third party, namely an outsider, shouldn't meddle in.

But simply standing by and letting casualties happen was also definitely a problem...

On top of that, I was already tangled up in the situation. And in all of history, ideological conflicts were an inevitable flow.

"That's none of my business."

On a separate note, it really pissed me off that I had to be the one caught in it and had no other options.

"True, since it is not your matter."

"What will you do if the Mountain Lord is a demon."

In the end, ignoring the discomfort of interfering in an ideological dispute, I turned my attention to another aspect.

This, too, was an important part.

Not only did it eat mana, but it had gone through almost the exact same birth process as the demon that hatched at the Magic Tower? That meant this current Mountain Lord could be a demon.

Even if it was a regional faith, as long as it was corrupted, my concept would never tolerate it. I deliberately rendered the Archmage's efforts to beat around the bush moot, and quietly glared at her.

"... Wouldn't our response change depending on the situation?"

It wasn't a response my concept could be satisfied with. 'We must kill it' and 'Let's decide based on the situation' clearly meant different things, didn't they.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, I am serious."

"Are you saying you'll tolerate a demon right now—!"

"It merely happened to be born that way, so isn't it too wrongful to conclude that it must die on that pretext?"

Oh, what moral words.

"... Hah, did you suddenly get an urge to become a saint? Harboring compassion for a demon?"

However, this was a statement that went against the world's setting.

If she was going to say something like that, she should have said it earlier. She'd had a 'demons deserve to die' mindset up until now, so why all of a sudden...

"I clearly—"

"If it is right to kill it because it was born harboring demonic energy. Must I kill you too?"

"...!"

I was reflexively struck speechless. How could I carelessly flap my lips when those words perfectly sniped the Demon Knight's setting?

"Demons must be killed. Yes, it is right to do so. However, if everything that harbors demonic energy is a demon, then not only the Mountain Lord, but you become a demon as well."

The Archmage even cast a glance at my right arm as she said that. I instinctively pulled my right shoulder back.

"Yet, neither we nor anyone you have encountered thus far considers you a demon. It is because you are not swayed by demonic energy and are walking the right path."

Certainly... that was correct. In that case, her saying to assess the situation meant...

"That is exactly what I wish to say. If the Mountain Lord has lost its reason and is causing harm to its surroundings, it will become a problem that must be resolved, just like the Sea Dragon. But from what I've heard, rather than causing harm to its surroundings, this current Mountain Lord is ruling the land with reason, just like the previous Mountain Lords."

Right. It meant deciding after confirming the possibility of coexistence.

"So wouldn't it be fine to at least see if coexistence is possible."

This was a point that not only my concept, but my actual self hadn't kept in mind either. Since all the guys who showed up harboring demonic energy so far had been enemies, you could say I'd subconsciously formed a prejudice.

I naturally assumed this Mountain Lord would be a boss monster too.

But... hmm. At this rate, there was definitely a possibility that it wasn't. No, rather, was there a higher chance of it being an ally?

Either way, it was an opinion I had no choice but to acknowledge.

"Who knows? Perhaps there might be a way to remove... that which the Mountain Lord harbors? And if there is, it might be of help to you."

It's just that my concept was the problem.

If I said 'We still have to kill it' here, I'd have to die first, and if I said 'I'm convinced,' it would be out of character.

"... I know it will be hard to accept. However, please understand... that you were the one who first showed me the possibility of coexistence. Do not be too hostile toward the Mountain Lord."

Ah, I'm really in trouble. What do I do about this?

"You, how dare you..."

Unable to easily choose what reaction I should take, I huffed as if drenched in anger. It was a dilemma.

KNOCK KNOCK.

【Um, the Chief has invited you to dinner...】

Fortunately, the god of timing helped me. Salvation had descended so I could gloss over it without answering.

Though I didn't know what it meant.

【We will be out.】

The Archmage lightly answered the voice we heard, and looked back at me.

"Has this much time already passed. It seems it is time to eat dinner."

Her sky-blue eyes reflected me gritting my teeth.

"... The Chiefs have invited us, but if you wish, it is fine to eat here. I can go in your stead."

Ah, um. I kind of hate being alone, though.

I panted heavily in response to words that clearly meant 'I will give you time to think'. Accepting it would be out of character, so I had no deciding power.

"Then, I will do so."

Ah, whatever. I'll just eat quickly and go to sleep.

The Archmage left the building alone.

White Wind let out a sigh at the communication from the Archmage.

She had no complaints about the message telling them to come and pick up the mana-eating snakes, since the party was in a situation where they couldn't return to the city to hand them over.

Additional elements had been discovered, and they couldn't return to the city because they were investigating them, so how could she harbor any complaints? The demand for an additional fee for it was also something that rightfully needed to be paid.

However, to discover a being that not only ate mana, but had an identical birth process to the hatched demon.

"Bring me information on the Great Forest. Especially information on the Mountain Lord."

And it just had to be the Mountain Lord. Of all things, the Mountain Lord.

"The Mountain Lord?"

"Yeah."

If it leaned in a positive direction as the Archmage had said—like the Demon Knight, knowing how to distinguish right from wrong based on reason, and doing the right thing—there would be nothing better. The Mountain Lord could communicate with humans, and if it was a subject that could communicate, investigating it would become much easier.

But what if it wasn't? What would happen if it wasn't?

"We're about to lose the business connections we barely managed to forge."

There were so many materials that could only be obtained in the Great Forest; misfortune truly strikes all at once.

Materials were one thing, but with the possibility of a clash with the Temple looming, there was nothing good to come from causing discord with the denizens of the Great Forest either.

"And I'm at my limit making up excuses for the Hero."

Stalling for time by claiming it helps with analyzing divine power and developing technology only works for a day or two.

Not seeing those two faces around, the Hero's party was slowly starting to feel a sense of incongruity as well. At the latest, they would come tomorrow morning to press for their whereabouts.

"What do you want to do now?"

She spoke as she turned on the communication device she had briefly turned off.

—... What do you mean, what do we do. We have to tell them.

—Even now, the Temple is trying to meddle in every little thing, and you want to hand them an excuse first? I'm against it!

—There are no eternal secrets. Right now, there are people taking advantage of this phenomenon, so wouldn't there be others elsewhere? This problem isn't something that can be solved by hiding it.

—I also agree with Smashing Hoe. It's better to just say it now and prove our innocence.

So that was it. Fierce White Wind narrowed her eyes into thin lines.

With the weeds surrounding the Magic Tower mostly cleared out, and the nest along with the demon that hatched from it handled, there was room to bury the mistake their Hudelen Magic Tower branch had committed—though whether a result forged by the passage of time could simply be brushed off as their mistake was debatable.

If they brought up the story of the Great Forest's Mountain Lord on top of this, the Temple wouldn't even know what the Hudelen branch had covered up. As for the Archmage and Demon Knight, they could just make up an excuse that they were sent to gather precious materials.

So hiding it wasn't really a problem anymore, but...

—Um... I don't care about telling the Temple... but... shouldn't we keep it off... the Magic Tower's internal records...?

—Why? We have to announce it so we can prepare.

—Ah, I agree with that. Do you trust our kids?

—Ah.

"Everyone's worrying about the exact same thing."

That was the problem.

The moment this truth became known, someone inside the Magic Tower would lay their hands on it for experiments. Not under the pretext of preparation, but to satisfy their own interest or desires.

—That's why only some of us were called instead of a full assembly in the first place, considering that.

—Was that it?

—... Atoning Fairy, you need to think a little more deeply about human behavior. Even at that age, are your cause-and-effect inference skills still at a toddler's level?

—You wanna die? Step outside, you bastard.

—You come here.

—You #@$#@#-

"Take your fight to a private channel."

Was that all? There was a chance that there was a demon spy inside the Magic Tower. No, there was a 100% chance.

She didn't know if the demons were aware of this fact, but if they weren't, it would be relayed the moment it was officially acknowledged. Just thinking about the demons taking advantage of this was already terrifying.

—Damn it. Demons are born if mana is densely concentrated for a long time? How is that any different from Demon Realmification. The depths of the ocean are hard enough to explore as it is.

—Demon Realmification. That's a good thought. Could it be spawning demons through the same principle as Demon Realmification?

—If that's really true, we might be able to uncover the principle of Demon Realmification.

—Oh?

Furthermore, there was one fact she hadn't yet told them.

"There's something I should tell you in advance. It wasn't certain, so I put off mentioning it for a moment, but it seems things born from concentrated mana have the ability to eat mana."

—Crazy?

Since they didn't know how the mana-eating snakes were born, and they didn't know what the Mountain Lord's birthplace looked like, they couldn't be certain.

But in all likelihood... things born from mana would be able to eat mana.

"Plus the ability to hide by turning demonic energy into mana."

—Damn it, hey. We didn't have a choice from the start!

Haha. We're screwed.

White Wind listened to the screams of the Great Sages while laughing boisterously. Having already gone through this phase after hearing the news from the Archmage, she merely found it funny now.

"Um, Great Sage. The Inquisitor has requested a conversation. She is asking if you know the whereabouts of the Archmage and the Demon Knight... what should we do?"

Though she couldn't laugh at the news of this visit.

"... What was meant to come has come."

—What, you punk? The price for making fun of us came already?

"I'm gonna step away for a bit. Please come up with a countermeasure for me."

—That, that thug—

CLICK.

Fierce White Wind stood up after cutting off the communication device.

Whether they informed the Temple or not, it was time to confess the truth to the Hero, at least.

Now that they had informed the Archmage and the others and even asked them to fetch it, they couldn't hide it any longer anyway.

Right after filling my satiety to 100%, I placed the completely empty or half-finished bowls next to the entrance. I had communicated with hand and foot gestures that I would leave them here after I finished eating, so this should be fine. Probably.

After that, well.

I leaned against the wall, thinking of sleeping. They say going to sleep right after eating is bad for you, but that was none of my business. By that logic, sleeping sitting up wasn't good for your health either.

「 ▲ Sleep for 1 Hour 00 Minutes ▼ 」

But sleep was desperate right now. Of course, I wasn't so tired that a wave of drowsiness would wash over me and put me to sleep the moment I closed my eyes, like last time.

Still, aside from fatigue, there are moments in life when you just want to sleep. In that sense, I patted myself on the back, telling myself it was a true stroke of luck that the system that instantly knocked me out hadn't broken down.

And the moment I decided how long I wanted to sleep and pressed the button.

Pitch-blackness dripped down like paint and covered my vision.

'Why are you ignoring it?'

The whole world was submerged in darkness.

'When you already know the fact that the time the system froze perfectly aligns with the time you put on the seal.'

Submerged, in darkness.

In a darkness that covered all the stray thoughts welling up.

'I'm reaching my limit.'

Ah, but still, I can't hide the fact that I miss the bed that accompanied me through my 30s. Right?