Translator: Nox

46 - Marquis Maron

Episode 46

When I first opened my eyes in this world, I was locked in a cage, blankly watching people throw stones at me. Sometimes they splashed dirty water, or threw things more dangerous than stones.

The Order knights escorting me at the time were all unpleasant, but if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have fallen into the canyon in one piece.

No, come to think of it, being thrown into the canyon in the first place was unpleasant.

"So this is where it was."

I nodded, looking at the stone sign that read 'Enif.'

"I remember from here. I woke up in a cage being escorted by the Order. I was confused about who I was back then, but thinking about it now, it's infuriating."

"Did they hit you?"

"The cage was really sturdy."

I grinned as I answered, and Reikart sighed briefly.

"Even if your hair has changed, be careful. Someone might recognize your face. Using a fake name isn't enough to be safe."

"Nagging."

"Hayley!"

"You have to say Zeus! Enif is right here!"

The sun was shining brightly, but the wind was quite cool. Autumn had arrived. We parked the wagon above the canyon in the direction of Enif and waited for Rango.

Reikart asked me as I examined the horses, wondering if they had been exposed to Magical Energy.

"If Rango reveals that the Order is creating Fake Holy Knights, are you going to tell the world?"

"No."

"What? Then why are you investigating?"

"To tell her."

"Tell who?"

"The protagonist."

Reikart knew who I was referring to when I said 'protagonist,' so he tilted his head and asked.

"Asta Rosa? Do you trust that princess?"

"I do."

Ha, Reikart scoffed in disbelief.

He thought of me as 'a uniquely lonely Wizard, completely united by distrust of humanity, who turned his back on the world.' So he asked how I could trust a princess from another country whom I had never met until recently.

"What's the reason? Because that woman seems stupid and kind?"

What should I say?

Should I tell him how Asta is a protagonist who makes righteous choices in the original story? Although she was addicted to 'my people' due to a lack of affection, Asta was never a villain. In my opinion, she wasn't very selfish either.

In the first place, risking your life to fight Demons to save the world isn't something anyone can do.

"Because she's different from me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Because she makes different decisions than I do."

I didn't know how to explain it, so I just blurted out whatever came to mind, and Reikart asked with a rather serious face.

"Can the princess defeat the Demon that appears in the Kasnatura Forest of Water?"

"I don't know."

I can't make hasty assumptions because I don't know how much the original story has changed.

When I told Asta, whom I met in Grandis, about the second Demon that would appear in the Floodwood, I couldn't help but hope that this world would flow as close to the original as possible.

That way, even if I was stuck living in Maron Keep, I could prepare for the future and feel at ease.

Please, Asta.

Save the world! My angel!

"There's the Demon Marquis!"

Oh, crap.

Even if this is a remote canyon, if you shout 'Demon Marquis' like that, I can't live in peace because I'm scared.

"Snowbeast Assassin Rango!"

You know what? Let's die together, you bastard.

* * *

A bonfire crackled and flared in a small clearing above the Contamination boundary, in the canyon.

I was grilling and eating the chicken that Rango had taken out. He said he bought it in Enif, and it was seasoned, so it was very delicious.

"Once you hear what I've done with the money I received from you, Marquis, you'll want to give me more."

"You might want to take it back."

"I've become a member of Princess Asta Rosa of Kasnatura's party."

"What...?"

I stopped eating the meat and stared at Rango with a face that looked like I was about to choke.

"The princess knows me as a disgraced priest. A righteous priest uncovering the secrets of the Order! And then she subtly hinted. It seems the Order is taking children with Divine Power and making Fake Holy Knights."

"You're crazy."

"Crazy, right? So that princess said that if it turns out to be true, she'll bet her honor and make the Order pay for their sins."

"Asta did?"

"She was really angry, you know?"

Well, she's the protagonist. I nodded, agreeing to myself. If Asta recognizes that fact, the causalities of this world will gather and begin to help the protagonist. Then the Order's secrets will soon be revealed.

Rango grinned slyly and said.

"And there's more."

"What else is there?"

"Let's talk while we eat this."

Reikart handed me a warm cup of tea. I said I didn't want to drink it because it was hot, but he insisted. He said it was good for my body.

I reluctantly sipped the hot tea and asked Rango.

"That's all I asked you to do, right?"

"Asta Rosa asked about the evil Wizard Hayley."

"What? Asked who!"

"Cyril Vandision."

Rango grinned. His white eyes narrowed, and a perverted laugh escaped his red lips.

"That bastard probably can't even sleep at night now, right?"

* * *

Two days after Enif began preparing for the appearance of the Demon, Asta learned that this was the last city the evil Wizard Hayley had visited before being abandoned in the Contaminated Zone.

"Is there any way to get the judgment or evidence, or related documents to see?"

"Princess, you seem very interested in that woman these days."

"I'm curious."

"I'll try to find out as much as I can. But there are many people who get angry just by mentioning her name, so I don't know if I can get proper data."

Rango overheard the conversation between Asta and her maid. Then, thinking this was the perfect opportunity, he attached a person to the maid and informed her of the evil deeds Hayley had committed.

Of course, he also informed her that Cyril and Michelan were the cause of her committing those evil deeds.

"...I see. I understand why she became a public enemy of the Three Kingdoms."

"Right? I've only heard rumors, but I didn't know she was such a dangerous person. I heard she grew up in a remote orphanage in Kasnatura. Where on earth is that?"

"Still..."

Suddenly, Marquis Maron, whom she had met in Grandis, came to mind.

Asta knew what that name 'Maron' meant. A castle towering deep in the Contaminated Zone. Was it the name of a Demon follower who ruled that land a hundred years ago?

For some reason, she had a feeling that the mysterious black-haired woman was deeply connected to the evil Wizard Hayley.

"Where's Cyril?"

"Young Master Vandision arrived a little while ago and is having dinner downstairs. He insisted that he didn't need to come, but seeing as he followed you all the way here, he must really love you, Princess."

"Don't say things like that."

A faint blush appeared on Asta's cheeks and quickly disappeared. She received a hood from the maid, draped it over her shoulders, and went downstairs.

Cyril was just finishing his meal and getting up.

"Asta, did you come to greet me?"

"How did you know? Let's go outside and take a walk. The weather is very nice."

"That's the best news I've heard all day."

Cyril had a bandage on one arm. She heard he was attacked in Grandis, but he didn't tell her who or why.

Asta placed her hand on Cyril's outstretched arm and went outside with him.

Enif was a trading city for farmers built on a wide plain. If you went outside the city, you could see beautiful wheat fields in any direction, making it a popular tourist destination.

The two climbed onto the city walls and looked down at the vast wheat fields.

"It's beautiful, isn't it."

"It is."

"I still can't believe that Demons will appear in a place like this."

"Asta."

Cyril gently stroked her hand and said.

"There's no need to listen to that kidnapping scammer. Demons will not appear here, and even if they do, you will not have to step in yourself."