Volume 2 - CH 127

The large black castle tower came into view.

We are still in the middle of the forest, but the castle tower on top of the mountain is clearly visible from a distance.

As expected from a castle tower with a height of 5-6 stories building.

We didn’t encounter any monsters on the way to this point.

After having hunted and eaten monsters all my life, I felt a little lacking.

I know it’s a little late for that, but I miss the days when I wasn’t able to become a human.

Not that I want to go back to that life or anything, but I feel like I haven’t been able to gain much real-world experience lately.

As for me, I wouldn’t mind if a few more monsters came out.

Since no monsters appeared, we were not self-sufficient, but we had no issues since we got our food from the Kingdom of Garott.

“Oh! I never thought I’d see a castle in this world!”

“Exactly. I thought the same thing when I saw it.”

“Amazing!”

Reizen is excited to see the castle. Uchiage also looked happy to witness such a reaction. Alena was also excited to see the black castle tower, as if it was her first time to visit an Oni’s castle.

As we got closer to the castle, we could see the castle town.

This was the same as the last time I saw it.

Everything is the same as before.

I could see this unchanged city again, because we were able to avoid the war.

We can asume that Asure is defended this village…….

When I think about it, I can truly feel that we did our best. Yeah, we did our best.

It was very noticeable that the horse-drawn cart was going along the road along a dirt road where there were nothing but fields.

It seemed that the Oni working in the fields were showing their faces to check on us from time to time.

Since Uchikage was holding the reins, he was the most outstanding one, and sometimes we heard their voices as well.

The fields are wheat-colored.

I could see some Oni already bringing wood to set up rice stalks, as if the harvest time was already close.

“Uchikage! You’re back!”

With that, that man came out of the field.

It had been a long time since we had seen him.

A black, one-horned, burly Oni with a kimono tied up with a tasuki (a Japanese wrapping cloth) came walking toward us.

“Oh! It’s Den!”

“Ah-huh? How do you know my name? I mean, Uchikage. Where’s White Snake-sama?”

“Ah come on Denden, mah man.”

“No shit, Mr. persistent.”

Yeah, he didn’t recognize me, did he?

Well, it wouldn’t be any fun if he did!

I get out of the carriage, grab Den by both shoulders, and try to make a big smile.

But Den was still tilting his head, so I decided to give him a few hints.

“Den-san ma man. Why do I know your name?”

“Ah? Did someone tell you?

“Nah, I met you once, together with Tenda and Uchikage and others. I think the princess was also with us at that time? Right, Uchikage?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Den kept tilting his head as he was held by the shoulder.

Then he put his hand on his chin and started mumbling to himself.

“The princess, Tenda, and Uchikage passed through here together …… roughly a month ago? The Princess hardly ever leaves the castle,…… and you are not an Oni. So …… was there anyone among them who wasn’t an Oni?　No, the White Snake-sama wasn’t an Oni either. …… hmm? Eh? Huh?”

Apparently, he is starting to get the message.

He’s pretty quick-witted, isn’t he?

I gave Den a big smile once again.

On the other hand, Den’s face turned blue as if his blood had drained from his veins.

“W-h-h-h- white sna- …”

“It’s been a long time! Den!”

Needless to say, we then heard a loud voice echoing through the field.

I thought my eardrums were going to burst.

◆

Under Den’s guidance, we entered the castle town.

He managed to stop himself from going to report to Raiki first, as he had done the last time, and now he was leading the way.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if he reported back, would it?

Good grief.

So now we are on our way to the castle, explaining the castle town to Alena and Reizen.

They had no idea that I was a white snake as we were making our way through town, and everyone had a question mark over their heads when they saw Uchikage without a white snake with him.

In fact, I am here. Yes, I’m here.

“It looks like a historical drama.

“You watch historical drama?!”

“……”

“Understandable.”

I kind of expected that.

I explained to Den about Reizen and Alena.

He was surprised again, but he was able to convince himself that [As expected from Ouren-sama].

Well, I can’t agree with that.

“Hey, Den, what did the Princess and Raiki do after we left?”

“Eeeh…… about that,…….”

Den told us everything that had happened since we left.

He said that the princess had been crying ever since, and that she knew it was not good for her, but for some reason she wouldn’t stop crying.

It took about three days for her to calm down, and until then, the people in the castle were in a state of confusion.

But then something strange happened to the princess’s condition.

To their surprise, her amount of magic and magical power had decreased.

Though it was only a slight change, the princess was surprised by this.

She was surprised because her magic power, which had been increasing until now, had decreased.

I heard that a high amount of magic and magical power is peculiar to the Oni and it would be a good thing if she was a little less of a Demonic Oni now.

However, it seems that the reason for the decrease is unclear.

The strongest theory seems to be that it is because she did not use her skills for a while or because she was crying ……. However, it was the first time for the Oni to do so, and they are still trying to understand the situation.

The Oni have been trying to keep the Princess away from the Demonic Oni ever since they found out about it, and have been trying to reduce her magical power by various methods.

However, it is said that the Princess is too lazy to listen to them.

As for Tenda, he said that since his return, Raiki had been teaching him like a Spartan, making sure that he knew everything about the whole castle.

However, he was very satisfied with the report and said that for the first time in a long time, Raiki laughed out loud.

To tell the truth, I find it hard to believe that Raiki would laugh out loud.

Raiki is still healthy and well.

After seeing Asure off, he said, “I can’t lose to a young fella,” and went about making blueprints for the castle and schematic drawings for the karakuri mansion*. (*Trap dungeon/mansion)

Of course, he never misses inspections of the castle town and political affairs, but it seems that he had a hard time only with inspections.

He is getting old, you know.

I wonder how old Raiki is. I forgot.

The Zenki-village is now very steady.

The crops are growing well and the number of houses is increasing.

And there are suggestions to build a new castle again, so it has been decided to build a castle like the one in the village where Tenda and his family used to live in the near future.

However, in order not to make the same mistake as the last time, they have been ordered to establish a castle within a maximum distance of two days from this castle.

If this is the case, they will have to build a village in the form of a branch castle.

The main castle was to be built at a distance from the village, and then a second castle was to be built at a distance from the main castle.

Having two large castles in close proximity is meaningless.

Originally, it would be better to set up at least two branch castles, but Raiki says he will not make the same mistake as last time and he wants them to be close by in case something happens.

However, it would require a discussion with the Kingdom of Garott for that to happen.

There is only one castle near here, the Kingdom of Garott, but even so, talks will be necessary.

I think it’s unlikely that they will be hostile with each other, though.

As I listened to the conversation, it seemed that we had already reached the main gate.

We got off the carriage and this time walked through the castle on foot.

There are still many turning roads, but this is what keeps the enemy from advancing.

It couldn’t be helped.

Ten minutes of walking.

We arrived at the Ninomaru Palace. (2nd palace cmiiw)

Raiki seems to be doing his duties while sleeping and eating here.

The Honmaru Palace is a long way away. (3rd palace)

I have already walked around this area so I remember most of the structures.

So, there was no reason for me to get lost.

However, Alena and Reizen were different, so I decided to go ahead by holding Alena’s hand.

Den stops in front of the drawing room and calls out without opening the sliding door.

“Raiki-sama, Uchikage has returned. And our guest is with him.”

“Come in.”

The door is quickly opened by Den.

Uchikage entered first, and then me and the others walked in.

Inside, an old, white, two-horned Oni dressed in green was sitting on the top seat.

He was still writing something down with a brush, so I guess he was currently at work.

Perhaps I had done something wrong.

But somehow, I missed this place.

Although it was only for a short while, I felt like calling out to him after seeing him for the first time in a long time.

As soon as I entered the room, I raised one hand and called out to Raiki

“Yo, Raiki!”

“Hmm?”

The first thing the maid servant did was to make a move against me when I called out Raiki.

Were you there?

I didn’t notice. ……

But Uchikage stopped her.

After a few moments of looking at me, Raiki’s eyes widened and he took down his brush.

“Wh- what in the….!”

Huh?

That’s not the reaction I expected.

“It’s you, Ouren-sama!?”

…… Hol ‘up! That’s strange!

Hey, I thought I was going to surprise him, but I was the one who was taken by surprise.

Damn it, how did he figure that out?

“Ouren-sama”

“What is it, Den?”

“Did you forget Raiki-sama’s ability?”

“……ah”

I remember when he mentioned that he has a skill that allows him to see the name of the person he’s talking to.

I see …… that’s how it works.

Bohoo.

I was trying to surprise him and failed.