Igni: “Kurara, I have something I want to discuss with you.”
Kurara: “.......what…..is it?”
It was the evening. Igni’s group walked into the room of the inn where Kurara’s group was staying, and Igni faced Kurara as he spoke to her.
Kurara: “Is it…..about our date…...earlier today? ….I’m sorry…..I played…...with your feelings….”
Lilly: “DーDate?!”
Surprised, Lilly suddenly shrieked the word awkwardly and looked between Kurara and Igni multiple times.
Igni: (Has Lilly never been on a date before?)
..…....says the man who just went on his first date today.
Igni: “No, I don’t care about what’s already past. But I have something to discuss that will affect both of us in the future.”
Kurara: “.......our future?”
Igni: “There’s a way to stop the [Demon King’s Realm]’s expansion without having to rely on the [Saint]’s power.”
As soon as Igni finished saying this, the entire room jumped up in surprise.
It’s likely that everyone in the room is an Elf or an Elf ally.
Kurara: “Let’s…...discuss this…...privately….Lura, Lilly…...please…...prepare a…..room.”
Lura: “Yes, please wait a moment.”
With that Lura went out of a room and came right back.
Lura: “Looks like there was already a room ready. Lady Kurara, Igni, right this way.”
The two follow Lura out of the room.
Behind Igni is Alicia and Yoori with worried expressions.
Lura: “Right this way.”
And Lura opens the door, and they sit on the sofa that was inside. Kurara also carefully found and sat on the sofa.
Kurara: “Could you…….elaborate……?”
Igni: “First, I want to confirm our premise. The [Demon King’s Realm] continues to spread because the [Demon King]’s body is overflowing with Magic Power.”
Kurara: “.......yes…..you are correct….”
This is not something you have to confirm normally.
If you were born in this world, anyone would know this fact.
Igni: “If that is the case, then why doesn’t any country try to dispose of the [Demon King]’s body?”
At Igni’s question, not only did Kurara tilt her head, but Lura and Lilly as well.
They all have, “Why are you asking such basic questions?” written across their faces.
Kurara: “......you cannot……..dispose of it…….the reason being…...the [Demon King’s Realm]’s monsters…..are strong…..and…...you can’t get near……..the [Demon King’s Castle]........where the……[Demon King]’s body…….is said……..to reside.”
Igni: “Yeah, that’s right. But in other words, if you can reach the [Demon King’s Castle] where the [Demon King]’s body is laid to rest, then there is a possibility that we can do something about this situation.”
Kurara: “......that, is true…..”
Kurara could not understand where Igni was going with this, and just agreed to his logic for now.
This is just a rehash of a theory that has been discussed many times over.
And of course, it has been tested many times as well.
But all of it came to an utter and complete failure.
Hence, it was just an empty, impractical theory - an improbable fantasy.
Igni: “That’s why I’ll go.”
Kurara: “..........come again?”
Kurara tilts her head once again at Igni’s words.
Kurara: “.....what……..are you saying……?”
Igni: “I’ll go to the [Demon King’s Castle] and dispose of the [Demon King]’s body. That way, the infection spreading throughout the territories will stop.”
Kurara: “Igni…….you are……...misunderstanding…….”
Igni: “Misunderstanding?”
This time, it was Igni’s turn to tilt his head.
Kurara: “Yes……….after watching you…….today…...and during the.......fight....at the..... [Tournament].......you are…….indeed strong…..”
Kurara struck the ground with her sword, and her abundant chest waivered.
Kurara: “And……..youth and drive…….are good things……..but….you must……..not get swallowed…….by such…...what you are……..attempting…...is futile….”
Igni: “Ohhhhh, that’s right.”
Igni let out a small whisper.
That’s right. He must say it or it won’t be understood.
ーーyes, it’s that easy.
In Igni’s mind, a memory begins to flow.
<<<<>>>>
That was when Igni was first taken to the [Demon King’s Realm].
[Grandpa! Why did you bring me to the “Demon King’s Realm”?! I’m going to die here!!]
At Igni’s screaming protest, Lucas just casually smiled and chuckled quietly at him.
[Oye, Igni. You are still young.]
[.........yーyeah….?]
[That’s why you must look 5, 10 years down the road.]
[5 years….ahead….?!]
[Yes, and when you are strong, you’ll be surrounded by women in a tavern.]
[In a tavern……?!]
[Yes, and then, all the women will be asking you this one question. “How did you become so strong?” like that.]
[AーAnd…..?!]
Lucas’ smile widens across his whole face.
[And you’ll tell them, “In the ‘Demon King’s Realm’, like that.]
[WHOAAAAAAAA!!!]
[Isn’t that cool?]
[I’LL BE SUPER POPULAR!!!]
<<<<>>>>
This……..!
THIS IS IT………!!
I’m not in a tavern, but I am surrounded by girls……..!
There’s one that looks like a girl but that’s okay……!
THAT…….IS JUST…...A MINOR DETAIL IN THE END!!
THIS IS THE MOMENT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR……!!
IF I MISS THIS……!
MY DISCLOSURE OF MY TRAINING LOCATION…….WILL BE LESS IMPRESSIVE……!!
Igni: “That’s right. I forgot that I haven’t told anyone yet.”
Igni paused and stretched out the moment as much as possible as he opened his mouth to speak again.
Igni: “I was……..very weak at the beginning.”
Kurara: “.......yes.”
Kurara nodded.
Igni: (Was she also weak in the beginning too?)
Igni: “I could only use [Fireball], so I was excommunicated from my household. After that, one man found me and saved me.”
Kurara: “A…..man…..?”
Igni: “It was my grandfather, Lucas.”
With Igni’s words, the people around began buzzing with astonishment.
Lura: “Lucas…..?! The [Ultimate Light] Lucas?!”
Lura raised her voice in shock.
The [Extreme] of [Light] shouldn’t be underestimated. His fame is known throughout the countries.
Igni: “And with my grandfather, he took me to…….a certain place and trained me to death there.”
Yoori: “TrーTrained……? Where…….??”
Yoori couldn’t hold back his curiosity.
And being asked the question he was waiting for, Igni took a moment to set the tension in the room to its maximum height….
Igni: “In the [Demon King’s Realm].......”
“ “ “ …………………… “ “ “
Silence fell upon the room.
Igni: (HーHUH……?!)
Igni: (Did I mess up my punchline…….?!)
Igni panics and looks around the room at everyone’s faces.
Lura and Lilly turned into stone with startled expressions.
Igni: (I see. They weren’t able to process the news…..!)
Kurara was still trying to determine the veracity of Igni’s statement and sat back deeply into the couch.
Her face was hidden by the blindfold, so Igni could not read her expression.
Turning around, he saw Yoori with his jaw dropped.
Igni: (Looking at him so close, he’s still……...cute…..)
Igni turns his eyes to Alicia……..but he couldn’t read Alicia’s expression.
But she blushed a little.
Igni: (Whーwhy……..??)
Yoori: “I…..I see! So that’s why…….”
Igni: "Yeah, I forgot that I haven’t told you guys.”
Yoori: “No wonder you’re so strong…..! But….it’s still unbelievable! You really trained inside the [Demon King’s Realm]?! I didn’t know anyone could do that…….”
Igni: “It was all thanks to my grandpa that I was able to get strong.”
Igni kindly answers Yoori, but turns back around to face Kurara.
Igni: “During that time, we have gone as close as the [Demon King’s Castle]’s vicinity. This isn’t a lie. You can confirm that with Grandpa…...Lucas if you’d like.”
Kurara: “.......I see…….after you were…….excommunicated……..from the Talcoyz family…...we knew this much……..but…….training in…….the [Demon King’s Realm].......huh………”
Saying this, Kurara let out an exasperated sigh.
Kurara: “If that…...is true…...you may…….be able to…...stop…...the [Demon King’s Realm]......from spreading…...further……”
Igni: “Right?”
Kurara: “.......it may…...be worth…….putting our…...hopes…..in you……”
With Kurara’s words, Igni quietly spoke.
Igni: “That’s why…..I want you to stop pursuing Rose.”
Kurara: “I will……..carefully…...consider…….your words….”
With that, Kurara offered her hand to Igni.
Igni took her hand.
Igni: “Thank you.”
And both, gently but firmly, shook hands.
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