CH 2

The carriage is heading north.

I sat in my seat and listened all the time.

I can’t see the outside of the carriage at all. This is because a board is struck on the window.

However, the shaking has become stronger since a while ago.

I think we have entered the land in the north where the road was not well maintained.

You can hear the footsteps of the soldiers and the horses as the carriage advance.

The number of escort soldiers is around 20 with infantry and cavalry. It’s more of a watchdog than an escort.

It has been more than 10 days since I left the imperial capital.

I get off the carriage every few hours to eat and take a break.

The food was decent, albeit supervised by the soldiers.

“It would be a problem if you died before arriving at the Demon King’s territory.”

They said.

During the breaks, I was watching the soldiers.

For now, it’s impossible to escape.

Cavalry is mixed in with the soldiers.

When I run away, the cavalry would chase after me, and the rest would go to the surrounding villages and highways. I received such a warning during several breaks. If I ran away, it was a punch line to be caught immediately.

“That’s why I didn’t want to get involved with the Duke’s family.”

I intended to cut all ties with the Duke’s family.

I worked as a civilian for several years. I changed to my mother’s surname and took the exam normally and was hired. At work, I have been in charge of organizing documents and repairing items.

In the empire, civil servants are jobs for those who “couldn’t even be adventurers, military officers or soldiers.”

Others looked down on me and my salary was low, but it was a good time.

I was able to utilize my “alchemy” skills at work.

“It was convenient for repairing items. This skill.”

I confirmed my skill.

“Alchemy”

Purifies, synthesizes, and processes substances.

By combining materials, I can also create new materials and items.

It also has an appraisal ability as a characteristic of alchemy.

There were many broken items in the warehouse at my workplace.

It was my job to manage and check it.

I’ve been doing paperwork and repairing items with my “alchemy” skill while looking at the materials.

It was fun.

I had forgotten that I was from a ducal house

But ──

“The duke still couldn’t let me go”

So he sent me out as a hostage to the Demon King’s territory.

I’m also prepared to escape.

A board is struck on the window of the carriage and the door is locked.

It is possible to escape with my skill.

“Activate ‘Alchemy’ “

I activated the skill.

This is my “alchemy” skill.

I can create new things by using materials such as metal.

When I was eating, I sneaked a spoon or fork while the soldier wasn’t looking. If I have a metal product, I can process it into something else. I can even make a key and open the carriage door.

“But the problem is beyond that …”

It is impossible to bypass the surveillance of 20 soldiers.

If I want to escape, it’s better after arriving at the Demon King’s territory.

The soldiers probably won’t come into the Demon Lord’s territory.

I know it because I’ve been listening to it all the time. The soldiers are afraid of the Demon’s

Human territory and Demon King territory were at war long ago.

Even in a peaceful state now, the demons cannot have good feelings for humans. If not, the empire does not have to send hostages and sacrifices.

Then, when I arrive at the Demon Lord, I should be handed over from an Imperial soldier to a Demon lord’s subordinate.

If I want to run away, that’s the time.

The Demon lord doesn’t even know that I can use “alchemy”. I can take advantage of that.

“I can’t die here. I haven’t done enough ‘alchemy’ yet.”

It’s an unnecessary skill for the empire, but not for me.

It’s a skill that I was born with. What’s wrong with wanting to master it.

Even before I became a civilian, I visited the alchemist’s workshop several times.

I was denied entry because the Duke’s family was pulling strings behind the scenes.

That damn dad was so sick that I hated being in public.

So while working as a civilian, I was saving money all the time.

Someday to open my own workshop.

I intended to make an item that was so convenient that it would change the world with alchemy.

The houses and facilities of the empire are rugged.

A room is full of crevices in the civilian dormitory.

It took a month to get permission to repair a broken window.

The fighting empire doesn’t care about anything else at all.

It should be easier to live if we spend money for the people in addition to strengthening our strength.

“If I could survive this ──”

I will make items that are extremely convenient for my life using ‘Alchemy’.

Then, I will live a comfortable life in a place other than the empire.

I won’t let the empire use any of my items. Or rather, such a country should be destroyed.

I don’t know the strongest military nation in the world.

Someday I will use “Alchemy” and make a world where strength is meaningless ──

“──W, will soon reach the boundary with the Demon King’s territory. Be wary and vigilant!”

Suddenly there was a soldier’s voice.

The carriage stops.

It seems that we have arrived at the destination.

As I waited, the carriage door opened.

Soldiers stood around the door.

“Come here Thor Regus.”

Shaking off the soldier’s hand, I got off the carriage.

Finally, I went out to a large place.

When I stretched and looked around, I saw a black forest in the immediate vicinity.

The highway stops here.

At the end of the road to the north, the forest extends from west to east.

That is the forest on the border between the human world and the Demon King’s territory.

“Is the other side of that forest the Demon King’s territory?”

“…”

The soldiers did not answer.

Everyone is staring at the forest with a tense face.

“Shoot the signal arrow, they should come and fetch him.”

“── Hah!”

One of the soldiers held a bow.

He shot an arrow with a red cloth directly above.

I wonder if that is the signal for “The hostage is here “.

Time passed for a while.

The soldiers are tightly packed around me.

Eventually, a figure appeared in the forest.

“” “Gururu”””

Four Minotaurs appeared.

A demi-human with an ox-head.

As I read in the book, he really has a cow-like head.

They had a macho body and is 2 meters tall.

it’s my first time seeing one, so that’s a minotaur.

“──── They came out. The savage demi-humans.”

The soldiers were trembling and watching the Minotaur.

“Are you serious?”

I involuntarily spoke.

The Minotaurs didn’t look savage at all.

They have no weapons. They held their hands above their head, to reduce the tension.

Every time an imperial soldier whispered at the Minotaurs, he looked down sadly.

“They don’t look savage in my eyes at all.”

“Chi”

“Shut up. Your just a sacrifice?”

The soldiers did not answer.

It seemed that they were pushing the role as to who would talk to the Minotaur to each other.

“……enough”

I pushed the soldiers away and stepped forward.

In order to escape, I need to catch the opponent off guard.

To do that their first impression of me needs to be good.

“My name is Thor Regus from the Dolgarian Empire.”

I gave my name to the Minotaurs.

“Thank you for welcoming us? I’m sorry, I don’t know what to do from now on. I’d be happy if I could talk to the representative.”

“── You, talking without permission …”

“Then, do you want to take turns?”

When I whispered, the soldiers reluctantly stepped back.

“… I’m sorry. I’ll come immediately.”

Suddenly, I heard a voice from behind the minotaurs.

From behind, a petite figure appeared.

Her long silver hair swayed as she slowly moves forward.

“Welcome to the Demon Lord territory, Thor Regus-sama”

What appeared was a girl in a maid outfit.

She has white skin and long silver hair tied with a ribbon.

Pointed ears pop out from between the hair. Is she an elf?

“I have been ordered to serve as a guide, my name is Mabel Refrain. I welcomed you in the name of His Majesty the Demon King.”

“Thank you for welcoming me. My name is Thor Regus.”

The elf girl, who called herself Mabel, bowed deeply.

The Minotaurs also did the same.

I returned the greetings like an aristocrat.

In response, the elf girl Mabel and the Minotaurs also bowed again.

They were polite.

It didn’t look like they had come to pick up hostages or sacrifices.

“──I must be dreaming. He’s approaching demihumans without weapons.”

“──Is he crazy? The other party is under the control of the Demon King.”

“── I guess he gave up. He’s not going to live long anyway.”

Behind me, the soldiers were trembling.

Everyone is holding their sword in their sheath, ready to be drawn out anytime.

“They’re welcoming us over there. Do your work as an escort.”

I said the soldiers look over here,

“── You don’t know anything. Elves are magical users who can blow away a few people with a single blow.”

“── Minotaur has superhuman strength. They can easily squeeze a person’s head.”

“── I can’t communicate to those savage guys over there. How do I even get closer … “

──They muttered in a whisper so that they couldn’t hear it over there.

“You’re saying that they are savage??? “

These guys locked me in a carriage ──

Except for meals and toilets, I didn’t get to go outside──

And now they’re trying to hand me over to someone they’re scared of themselves.

── Moreover, They don’t even listen.

At least the people of the Demon lord’s territory listened to me.

“My companions have been rude to you. I apologize in their stead.”

I stepped forward a few steps and said.

“The eldest son of Duke Regas of the Dolgarian Empire, Thor Regus. At the behest of His Majesty the Emperor, he will join the Demon King’s territory. I don’t know anything about your country’s rules, so it may be rude, but please forgive me. “

The elf girl’s hands wrapped around my hand.

It was a cool, smooth hand.

She opened her violet eyes and nodded,

“It’s the first time I’ve received such a greeting from the empire!”

She smiles gently at me.

“Thank you for coming all the way to the far north to our Demon lord Territory, Thor-sama. Let’s get along well from now on”

“Yeah, that would be great”

I decided to take a look at the situation for the time being.

The fork, which was turned into a metal block by “Alchemy”, is in the left and right pockets.

I can use it anytime. I can always run away.

“Th, Thor Regus. As a messenger sign the documents!”

I heard a tense voice.

Looking back, next to the carriage, the captain was beckoning me with documents.

Am I the messenger?

I guess they can’t call me a hostage in front of the Demon Lord’s people.

I returned to the captain and quickly signed the paperwork.

“Get a signature from the creature too.”

“From Mabel Refrain-san?”

“… Why can you touch that creature?”

The captain had a deep blue face.

“Don’t you know the power of magic used by elves? Why can you easily approach that creature?

“Isn’t there a treaty with the Demon King?”

“Can you believe what the creatures of the Demon King territory say?”

“I’d believe than more than the subordinate of a parent that kidnapped his own child.”

The captain did not reply to my words.

He just silently pushes the documents.

I couldn’t help it, so I gave the document to Mabel Refrain and she was happy to sign it.

“This completes the delivery of the messenger.”

Mabel bowed deeply at me.

“From here, we will enter the forest. I think it will be difficult to walk if you are not used to it, so we have prepared an assistant. If necessary, they can carry it with you.”

As she claps her hands, large figures emerge from behind the trees.

There were four Minotaurs. A total of 8 people, including those who were here before. Behind the elf girl, in a row. They formed a huge wall.

“Hi, Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

The captain pulled the papers out of my hand,

“This completes the delivery of Thor Regus! May the treaty between our Dolgarian Empire and the Demon King territory be kept forever!”

“” Excuse me !! “”

The soldiers rushed away from the Demon King’s territory.