Volume 7 - Prologue

Part 1

Royal Capital Seven Wall, Sixth District Inn 《Phoenix House》──

The rain that started falling a little past noon continued on until night.

Raindrops hit the large window.

The light of the candlestick that was placed on the side table swayed, and the shadows of the people in the room danced.

The young Elven girl was asleep on the bed.

She was the princess of the Greenwood Kingdom, and was currently in the middle of running away, Shera L Greenwood. Her complexion was pale, her expression was pained, and her breathing was rough.

「Haa……haa……」

The High Chief Priest, Lumachina Weselia, was beside her, giving her a long prayer. She was able to manifest a 《miracle》 that was able to make an injured person who was on the verge of death have a complete recovery.

However, Shera’s complexion remained poor.

「……」

「How is her condition?」

When Diablo, who had entered the room, called out, Lumachina cast her eyes down and shook her head side-to-side.

「She still has a fever. It hasn’t gotten worse though.」

Having entered the room together with him, the young Pantherian girl──Rem Galeu made a suggestion.

「In that case, she should get better if she gets some sleep. Also, I will look after her. Lumachina, it would be best for you to get some rest. You have duties at the Church as well, don’t you?」

「……Yes.」

Leaving Rem in Shera’s room, Diablo and Lumachina returned to the common room.

Part 2

The inn that Alicia Cristela the State Knight had prepared not only had a room for every person, but even had a common room that could be used by everyone.

Rose the Magimatic Maid stood alongside the wall.

On the sofa, Horun the Grasswalker gazed at the window. As if she were thinking about something.

Needing to return to the Grand Chapel, Lumachina put on her overcoat.

「Diablo-sama, it would seem that the emotional burden is the cause of Shera-san’s fever. I should have cleansed the disease, and cured her body as well but……On top of the fatigue that accumulated on our journey up until now, with the recent matter.」

Certainly, after having departed from Faltra City about two months earlier, although they had physical rest in between, it was a series of mental strains. They had even experienced scenes where their lives were in danger many times.

And then, there was the news of her father’s death.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

「I guess it can’t be helped that she’ll be staying in bed.」

「I am terribly sorry. For how the my timing of informing everyone was inappropriate……」

「Do not mind it.」

It was the news of the death of a parent. Unless there were some huge circumstances to it, it isn’t a matter that should be hidden.

「Shera-san, she might say that she wants to temporarily return to the Greenwood Kingdom. But with that body, there is the risk that she will push herself too hard.」

Since Lumachina had been traveling with them for a short while, they could be healed even if it was a serious injury or an illness. The High Chief Priest was also the greatest Healer in the Lifelia Kingdom.

However, since she had regained her real power in the Church, she would have the role as the supreme leader of it from now on. She could no longer travel together with them.

Diablo nodded.

「We will stay in the royal capital for a short while.」

「Please do that. If there is a change in her condition, go to the Church immediately. I will hand you this.」

Lumachina handed him a silver holy symbol.

Although it was the size of a decorative brooch that went on the chest, when he tried holding it, some weight could be felt. It was like a lump of genuine silver.

「This is?」

Part 3

Horun returned to the sofa.

Having taken off her overcoat, Lumachina sat down on the opposite side from her. Diablo sat down next to her.

「I will allow it, talk.」

「……Y, yes -ssu.」

Maybe because she worried over this quite a bit, Horun’s rabbit ears were restlessly twitching about, and sweat appeared on her forehead.

Horun was a Grasswalker. They were a race that had rabbit-like ears and tails, and their physical appearance wouldn’t change from being like that of a child even when they became adults.

That being said, she was an actual child. She was still twelve years old.

The black-dyed leather 《Master and Servant Choker》 was fitted on her neck.

The 《Master and Servant Contract》 where Diablo was the master and Horun was the servant had bound them together. The servant would level up depending on the master’s strength. As she was now, she was a level 80 Thief.

Putting it plainly, she was strong. She wasn’t a Class that specialized in battle, but even so, she was probably stronger than a normal soldier.

As compensation, when the master dies, the servant would also lose their life. It was that sort of contract.

Lumachina quietly awaited her words. Probably having grown accustomed to confessions and consultations, she was really calm.

Diablo was secretly nervous.

He was bad with talking with people from the start. Now on top of that, with the other party having a serious look, he thought “I can’t make a careless response” and had a cold sweat run down his back.

*Gi* Horun bit down her back teeth.

She took three deep breaths.

Suddenly, she got down from the sofa, and got on both knees on the floor.

Placing both hands on the ground, she lowered her head.

「Please -ssu! I, I want to go somewhere to study magic -ssu!」

「What did you say!?」

Diablo unconsciously raised his voice at the sudden “request”.

Horun was startled and her body started trembling.

「U, up until now, I have been completely in your care, and I feel guilty about this -ssu……B, but, I……as I thought! I want to become a Magician just like you -ssu, Danna!」

It was an unexpected aspiration.

Even though she had paid such a large compensation, and had finally become a high level Thief, to think that she had an eye on a different path.

However, having no signs of surprise, Lumachina nodded.

「Before……when we had talked about how there were schools for magic even in the royal capital──You had signs of holding interest. Are you really thinking that you would like to take lessons?」

「Yes. So, you noticed -ssu ka, Lumachina-san.」

「Horun-san, it is because I knew that you admired Diablo-sama.」

「That’s, I do think that I can’t become strong like Danna -ssu……But, I……」

「Want to become a 《Chemical Element Magician》, right?」

「……I might be laughed at by other people though -ssu kedo.」

In this other world, when speaking of 《Magicians》, it would normally be about 《Summoners》. Summoned Beasts were considered to be superior. It was because although it was lacking in firepower, it was safer.

The research on Chemical Elemental Magic hasn’t advanced at all, and was believed to be weak and useless.

Lumachina shook her head left and right.

「We who know about Diablo-sama wouldn’t laugh, you know?」

「Thank goodness -ssu. Ah, but……um……I……」

Horun peeked over and turned her gaze towards him.

Lumachina also made a worried looking face.