Volume 2 - CH 357

Chapter 8-29. Lize’s Cooperation

I asked Lize, who had paid a sudden visit, and Carter, who was catching his breath, what they had to say this time.

To summarize, it was as follows.

First, it seems that Meryl and Satella were acquaintances, and they became friends because they were impressed by the fact that Satella, who was about the same age as Meryl, was a single territorial ruler.

Apparently, they met when they were visiting the Kingdom of Garott.

Then, about two weeks ago, a rumor reached the Kingdom of Salettana that the territory that Satella manages, Bamil Territory, was under attack by the devil.

When Meryl heard this, she protested furiously to her father and asked him to send the soldiers he had as reinforcements, but he refused.

The angry Meryl took Lize and the ever-present Carter and ran away from home all by herself again to come here.

Hmmm, so stupid.

“You reckless fool?! Are you Carter?! You’re Meryl-dono’s bodyguard, aren’t you! It’s a relief that you came after the battle was over, but what were you going to do otherwise!! Were you able to do anything on your own? No matter how much you say your position is that of a bodyguard, what you had to do was to keep Meryl-sama out of the Kingdom of Salettana!”

“I was trying my best, too!”

“That’s not enough to make Meryl-sama get this far, is it!”

Zirnia, who was listening to the conversation, was extremely angry.

I know that no matter how much you are a vassal or a subordinate, if your boss is doing something wrong, you have to point it out to them.

Zirnia must have seen through the fact that Carter was just being a yes-man and came here.

I don’t know much about this Carter or this Meryl, but I know that they have a long way to go to get here.

There were plenty of ways they could have returned as many times as they wanted during that time.

They could have turned back at night on the wagon, or if they wanted, they could have broken the wagon and made it impossible for them to go on.

That last one is a little risky, but it’s better than sending them to a place where there might be a battle going on.

“…. hold on. Oi, Lize.”

[……]

“Hey, could you turn around and look at me. The f- you are doing?”

[……]

“Listen here, you little- ……”

The carriage was not the only means of transportation. ……

That reminds me, she must have been running here with Meryl on her back.

They didn’t use a carriage, or rather, they didn’t bring one with them.

Let’s hit her later!!

“What the hell are you doing, you moron!”

[It hurts! But- but! I’m the only one who doesn’t do anything while everyone else is doing everything they can!]

“Leave Meryl out of this!”

[Meryl’s my number one priority!]

Overprotective!

No, it’s worse than that. What the hell is wrong with her!

But if that’s the case, you know, if she came riding over here on Lize’s back, Carter would have been busy just chasing after her. ……

I guess he couldn’t go back when she was far away from the Kingdom of Salettana.

Therefore, it seems that they adjusted to arrive after the battle by taking as much time as possible to get here.

Carter is certainly doing his best.

Meryl and Lize are probably aiming to come here, so they’re not likely to enter the kingdom of Garott, as they know it, once they’re here.

Meryl apparently flew out without thinking out of rage that her father didn’t send reinforcements and out of genuine concern.

How could such an energetic girl be among the nobility? ……

Meryl is the initiator and Lize is the ringleader.

Carter, who got involved, is the unluckiest of them all. ……

“What a tomboy.”

“Indeed. ……”

It’s a good thing they came after it was all over.

Well, it would have been better that way.

I’ll leave Meryl in Satella’s hands.

I’m sure she’s having a good time talking with her, and I don’t think there’s any problem with leaving her alone.

And there’s Varadim, too.

So I’m going to grab Lize by the scruff of the neck and go some distance away from everyone else.

Houen is busted, so I leave him alone.

Alena and Uchikage, who noticed my action, followed me anyway.

Apparently the others are busy preaching to Carter.

Now, if this is the place, they won’t hear what I am going to say.

“Ah, let me introduce you to Uchikage first. This is Lize. Like myself, Hougen, and Zero Tang, she is from my hometown.”

“So she can take on human form?”

“She can, but this is better. I will interpret for you.”

After a light explanation, I turn to Lize.

I put aside for the moment the fact that she had dragged Meryl into this.

I’m not sure if it’s worth it to lecture her further.

What I want to know is what she’s going to do.

Unless she is going to cooperate, I would like her to go home.

To put it bluntly, she is in our way.

“What are you going to do? I’m planning to go to the Ice Terrace Mountain range.”

[The Ice Terrace Mountain range? For what?]

“To gather information on the devil. So, what are you going to do? If you’re going to stay by Meryl’s side, then get the hell out of here.”

[Come on, don’t talk like that. ……]

“…….”

I’m very serious.

Lize is fully aware that she has no intention of leaving her benefactor Meryl’s side.

That is why I want her to go back.

If she cooperated with us, it wouldn’t be funny if she couldn’t protect her benefactor.

Up until now, I and Houen have often worked alone.

And we have our important friends nearby, and we are strong enough not to fall down so easily.

But Meryl is different.

Without someone to protect her, she could easily lose her life.

But only if they are attacked.

To Lize, Meryl is Lize’s greatest weakness.

If Lize is willing to cooperate fully with our investigation, we have to think about that, too.

“Ouren-sama is right. I don’t know you well, but Ouren-sama is saying this because he is concerned about you. We must take good care of the one who cares about us and says this to us.”

“Oi……, I never say anything like that …….”

Can you please not make it up that I have that kind of personality? Please.

But well, he is spot on about my concern.

We know very well from our actions in that cave that we have no experience fighting alongside my friends, and we also know that it is difficult to leave Meryl, who has been with her for too long.

We are not talking about abandoning someone who owes us a favor and asking them to cooperate with us.

Even though we know about the devil in that space where Lize met the voice of heaven, we can’t force her to cooperate.

[But I cannot just leave you guys alone while you are trying your best.]

“That said, ……”

[Besides, you’re going to the Ice Terrace Mountain range, aren’t you? There are no villages or shelters there, so don’t even think about sleeping there at this time of year.]

“I know. But I have to go.”

[I can help you. I can find the person you are looking for.]

She sounded very confident.

But that would mean she’s going to cooperate with us.

“What about Meryl?”

[As long as she’s here, she’ll be safe. With Satella’s bodyguards, it won’t be a problem.]

“…… you’re either a loyalist or a heartless one. ……”

[I’m not being unreasonable! I have a hard time with that! Let me be of some help to you.]

I look at Uchikage.

His expression did not change, but he gave a small nod.　

“If that’s what she wants, isn’t it good?”

“Sigh, I suppose that’s true too. This is her decision.”

[Besides, I’ve met the devil who lives there.]

“Pardon ……?”

[I told you I could be useful, didn’t I?]

This was the moment when I realized that Lize’s confident statement had the meaning of such a thing.