By the time we arrive, it’s already over.
The invaders have all been neutralized… Are those three of the people that were summoned with me? They’ve been detained, and the others killed.
I look at the throne, and see Chris along with others, and breathe a sigh of relief.
Kotori on the other hand, is standing next to the three that were detained, with a gloomy expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
“W-well…”
When I turn my eyes to Kotori, I also see a face I recognize… Or rather, a mask I recognize. Appraisal confirms that it’s a slave mask.
Hikari clenches her fists tightly, and I pat her head lightly while looking at the other two.
I honestly don’t remember them very well, but Appraisal tells me they’re otherworlders.
“Sora, can’t we do anything about it?”
Kotori asks about the slave mask.
Ignis once told me that it’s possible to remove it by force, but it’s risky. Back when Hikari was the one wearing it, I didn’t have much choice.
Naoto reacts to Kotori’s voice, and his eyes feel earnest somehow.
According to Kotori, those two had a senior and junior relationship in a company in the old world.
I try casting Recovery, knowing it probably won’t work, and unfortunately, there’s no effect.
It’s a spell to cure status ailments, but it’s something to be used on people, not objects.
Do we have to go to Elesya to either find someone to remove it, or kill the one who put it on? The kingdom does seem like our best bet, but…
“I don’t think we can do anything about it here. Do you know who put this on her?”
Naoto says no.
In fact, when I ask him why she’s wearing the mask in the first place, he says she was injured when demons attacked, and she was already wearing it when they met up again to join this battle.
They did ask about it then, but were told that it’s a magic item to boost physical abilities.
“I guess we still need to go to Elesya.”
Does that mean we’ll be officially joining the demons against mankind? The real issue is that I think we’ll have to do something about that kingdom. Especially since once they know they failed to defeat the demon king, they’re going to perform a summoning again.
Which means more victims.
“Ignis, what do you demons do when you beat back heroes?”
“…We also suffer losses, so we prioritize getting back on our feet. But this time, the other side hasn’t yet learned that the hunt has failed.”
“Why?”
“Because the heroes aren’t dead.”
Ignis says that when the heroes are dead, the holy sword transports itself back to where it came from. That’s why they didn’t kill the heroes.
“So you bought some time.”
Also, apparently humanity was too weak this time, so they suffered less damage than usual.
There are quite a few dead demons outside, but it’s still less than usual.
“Anyway, put these heroes in jail. We will need to work out a plan.”
Says Ignis, but something feels off. It feels like he’s putting on airs… But it really is just a feeling.
“H-hum, can we talk?”
Mia comes over while I talk to Ignis.
“Is everything all right over there?”
“Yes, Chris isn’t really hurt, and the demons here are all in perfect health.”
Says Mia with a smile, who apparently didn’t get to do anything.
I guess the demons guarding the demon king are in that position for a reason.
Now that I think about it, all the demons here except Ou have two horns. The ones outside all had one… Could it be that the more horns they have, the stronger they are?
“Sora, about that mask…”
“The slave mask?”
“Yes. There were people wearing them in the ruins, and outside here too, right? Looking at it more closely, it really does give me a bad feeling.”
It makes sense, because it’s a cursed item in a way.
Not to mention that Mia can use holy magic, and more importantly, she’s a saint. I tend to forget that.
“But we can’t take it off forcibly, so there’s nothing we can do right now.”
“Are you sure that’s all right?”
I turn to Hikari, but I don’t even know if wearing it for a long time causes harm. I look at Ignis like I’m asking for help, but it feels like he doesn’t care… Wait, no, I get the feeling that he’s on alert. But what is he being so cautious about?
“I don’t know either, to be honest. We might have to go to Elesya to look for clues.”
“Yes… Sora, I have a spell I want to try. Can I?”
Says Mia, and she approaches Kaede before I can even answer.
On the way there she peeks at Ignis, looks at the holy sword on the ground near Naoto, and then looks at Kaede.
“C-can you help her!?”
Yells Naoto, and Mia turns back to me with a troubled look on her face.
Is she wondering what to say, because she doesn’t know if it will work either?
“I-I don’t know. But maybe…”
Is all Mia says, before she silently raises her hand.
A minute passes. Then another. I see her gulping, and finally, I see magic energy fluctuating.
Then Mia says something, but I can’t understand it.
That’s a first. All this time, everything I read or heard was translated automatically, but I didn’t understand a thing Mia said.
Is it because it’s magic I can’t use? No, it can’t be. When Chris uses spirit magic, I can understand the words she says, even if I don’t know exactly what it means.
Those thoughts are interrupted by a loud, cracking sound.
I turn to where the sound came from, and see the slave mask splitting in two, and literally vanishing before hitting the ground.
“S-senpai!”
Naoto yells as he tries to approach the woman, despite his restraints, but my eyes are now fixated on Mia.
Mia’s body is radiating light, and covered in magic energy that’s practically overflowing.
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Thanks for the treat.
Does this mean she’s getting a power boost or something maybe becoming some kind of true saint