Chapter 131

「What about the demon that you met some time ago? You’ve become friends, haven’t you . 」

Certainly, Rusty was a demon, but she was such a good girl that you wouldn’t think that she was demon .

Moreover, it seems that she wanted to become a “champion of justice”, and her beliefs were the exact opposite of that of Mahiro’s .

She may become someone who we can depend on, but there was a problem in asking Rusty to guide us .

「I know that you guys dislike Latisneil… . Maa, sorry, but rejected . 」

I think that these people just don’t want to go the long way round .

While thinking that, I made eye contact with Akira and nodded .

I continued off of where Akira left off .

「Of course, we considered that as well . However, according to Rusty, she said that she could guide us if it was around the demon king’s castle, but she doesn’t know much about the demon territory because she rarely went out . 」

Akira told me that he wanted me to ask Rusty if she could guide us around the demon territory, and I asked her just now when I saw her .

When I told her that we had something to do in the demon territory, and asked if she could help us, she smiled and shook her head .

『I am, what is called, a sheltered daughter . I was born and raised within the demon king’s castle! I have never left the castle, and have never seen the demon territory either! That’s why I ran away from home like this…!』

『Then, how did you come all the way here?』

『That’s, …I flew here!』

『Eh…?』

I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but I knew that Rusty didn’t lie .

It seems that she really had not gone out to the demon territory before .

It seems that when I gave this answer, the other two people agreed as well .

「Then, what’s the condition?」

At the hero’s words, Akira, for the first time, hesitated .

On the other hand, Kurou turned towards a different direction, not listening to the conversation .

「Aah, …that’s . 」

When I looked at Akira who turned silent, his eyes were wandering around and it seems that he was thinking of a way to deceive us .

It seems that he didn’t intend on telling us .

「I’m just helping him with something small . Kurou is aging and I’m helping him with something that he can’t do anymore . that ‘s why, there’s no need for so many people . …no, just me is good enough . 」

Akira declared this .

As soon as I saw the look on his face that showed that he was somewhat concerned about Kurou, I knew that it wasn’t a lie .

However, he just didn’t mention the heart of the matter .

「Is that so, then we we will depart first . I want to meet up somewhere, but which place is good . 」

「If that’s the case, then wouldn’t somewhere near here be good? It’s near the demon territory, yet it is also within beastmen territory . 」

I heard the hero and Zeal discussing it as they spread out the map .

As I listened to them while peeking at Akira, there seemed to be some hesitation in his eyes .

『Forced Sleep』just put him to sleep, but it wouldn’t solve his problems .

There’s no doubt that the cause of Akira not getting enough sleep was Kurou’s condition .

「…forget about that place . 」

Kurou, who was turned away, joined the conversation after seemingly having come to a decision .

「Why? If it’s here, then we can take action at any time, and is the closest place to the demon territory, you know?」

When Zeal said that, Kurou gave a sigh, as if it was troublesome .

「…go . 」

「Eh?」

When I unconsciously said that when I heard the words that he muttered, he had glared at me at the speed of sound .

If it’s someone who originally had a terrible look in his eyes who did that, then it was seriously scary .

「Like I said, the old woman is there, so I don’t want to go . 」

I thought for a moment about what he was talking about when he said “old woman” .

Was he talking about his grandmother .

「Amelia, the old woman that Kurou is referring to is his mother . 」

Akira quietly whispered that to me .

I see, I nodded in comprehension .

No, but why was Kurou’s mother still alive .

Kurou aging meant that he would son reach the end of his lifespan, so it was impossible for his mother to still be alive .

When I looked towards Akira, wondering what he was talking about, he had looked at Kurou with a wry smile on his face, so our eyes did not meet .

Akira knew that Kurou’s mother was still alive?

「Aside from that, there is an uninhabited hut to the west of that place . A long time ago, we turned that into the party’s safe house, so there should be various things there . 」

Those words made me surprised .

Come to think of it, I’ve heard a rumor that during the fifty years that they spent investigating the demon territory, they established many safe houses, effectively carrying out those investigations .

「Then, we’ll have that be our meeting point . 」

The mystery revolving Kurou deepened, but with this, the course had been roughly decided .

Recently, it seemed like we’ve been involved in troublesome things, so if possible, it would be nice if we could travel safely .