Chapter 13: Prince Kurobuta meets the hero’s companion

　The existence called a hero is accompanied by the presence of trusted companions.

　The royal road pattern of good old RPGs is to join forces with friends and at some point, fight against each other, but eventually deepen their bond and take down a huge evil such as the Demon King together.

Even in "Final Quest", the hero naturally had friends.

　There are a total of seven companion characters. These characters are replaced as the story progresses to form a final party of four, including the hero.

　One of the seven companions is Brad's younger brother Alberto, and another is the twin swordsman Mina Liebert of the cat people, cait sith, in front of me.

"Why do you know my name Nya ...?"

　Do I know you? asked Mina as she glares at Brad warily.

　If a man you meet for the first time suddenly calls your name, it’s natural to be wary. Moreover, from her point of view, Brad is a weirdo who seems to be alone in such a remote dungeon.

"Oh no, that's ..."

　Brad tries to say something in a hurry, but couldn't continue.

　Of course, she wouldn't believe it if I told her about the story of my previous life and the game "Final Quest", but then I couldn't explain how I knew her name.

"... You look like a noble nya, but are you some rich bonbon?"

　When Brad stammered, Mina asked him curiously.

　Brad felt he had to cover it up somehow, so he urgently invoked the skills he had acquired in his days as a businessman to answer.

"Oh, uh, that's right ... my name is Brad ... Fallen. In fact, His Majesty has granted me the rank of Viscount in the Kingdom of Pistel."

　Brad, who has a common name, deceives her with a pseudonym, but Mina nods without any doubt, "Is that so?"

　Probably because his outfit looked like a noble’s.

"But why does a noble bonbon no my name nya?"

"Oh, I'm sorry for surprising you. Previously, my dad was on a diplomatic mission to the cait sith village, and I accompanied him. I saw you at that time and remembered your name because you were such a pretty girl. I was hoping to meet again someday, but it's an honor to meet you in a place like this. "

　Brad spoke smoothly, and in an over-the-top foreign manner, took Mina's hand and kissed it.

　It's a story that's clearly faked, but it should seem convincing because of the talk skills he had in his previous life and his demeanor as Prince Brad.

　”I hope this is enough to cover it up," Brad thought as he looked at Mina.

"Oh, pretty girl!?　Meow!”

　Mina’s cheeks had turned bright red.

　The Cat People have a deep-rooted belief that women should be strong, and there are many strong-minded women who have an overbearing attitude toward men. On the other hand, because of such an attitude, they don’t have much immunity to men because men don’t approach them, and I remember there was a setting where they are rather easy to praise.

There was an episode in "Final Quest" where Mina was praised by the hero and became sloppy, but it seems to be worse than I imagined.

　Well, it seems the fact that Brad became thinner with his beautiful face finally started to show its power, and that Mina was younger than during the game so was less immune to men, also worked positively.

"Well ... if that's the case, it wouldn’t be strange to remember. I see, Nya ... was too cute. I see, that's it."

"That's right. You’re as usual ... No, it seems you've grown up to be even more beautiful than before. I couldn’t help but admire you."

　Mina tried to maintain her dignity as a woman of the cat race, but when Brad praises her further, she could no longer hide her embarrassment. "Ugh ......," she said, turning red and glared at him with tears in her eyes.

　Brad regretted that he had said too much and decided to change the topic.

"So are you guys here to explore? It's unusual for the cat race to be in the labyrinth."

"Kohon kohon huuh, it’s research Nya. Our purpose is to do a preliminary investigation"

　When Mina regained her composure and replied, Brad nodded and asked, "Preliminary investigation?”

"In a month's time, we’re planning to organize a large-scale strike force to conquer Sky Mountain ...... and take down the Cyclops nya. We're doing a survey for that."

　I see, that makes sense.

　The Cyclops is a giant monster that lives in the deepest part of this Sky Mountain and appears as a boss in "Final Quest".

　During the game, he threatened the neighboring cat-human settlements with force and often demanded sacrifices. Eventually, the hero will subdue it with Mina, but that subjugation is four years from now. It seems it’s still going wild for now.

"I see, I've heard rumors about the wrongdoings of the Cyclops, but ... will this be enough to take it down? Isn’t it tough?"

"Hmm? Do you know it well? The cyclops just settled here, and there shouldn't be any misdeeds known outside ...?"

　Brat breaks out in a cold sweat.

　It seems not much is known about the Cyclops yet. I guess it's best not to say too much cause I might fry my own foot.

"...... Don't underestimate the power of my kingdom's secret agents. I've already got a general idea of what's going on here. I've come to investigate it as well.”

"You came to investigate alone nya?"

　Although I proudly presented a reason for my lie, Mina looked at me suspiciously.

　Certainly, it’s unnatural for such a young aristocrat to investigate a labyrinth alone without an escort. Well, brad is a prince of a country and does such things, but that is still strange as an exception.

"Yes, I'm alone. I'm very good at it. It’s not about the number of people you have."

　Brad tells more lies, even though he feels like he's digging his own grave.

　　And immediately said  "More importantly," to avoid being confronted.

"What are the specific circumstances of your village and the cyclops right now?"

. "I don't know how much you know, but he's demanding regular sacrifices from us nya. if we don't sacrifice, he threatens to destroy the village. That's why we were reluctantly doing what he said, but recently he asked us to increase the number of sacrifices nya......his demands are escalating even further."

　Mina clenched her teeth in frustration.

"If it stays like this, the village will eventually be destroyed nya. Since that's the case, it's better to challenge it to a decisive battle while our strength is still strong. That's why, including this preliminary survey, we’re now preparing for subjugation. We’re doing it"

　Looking into Mina's determined eyes, Brad thinks calmly.

In the history of Final Quest, the Cyclops will be defeated four years after the heroes arrive here. And the heroes will not start to move until three years from now at the earliest.

　In other words, the subjugation that Mina and her team are planning for a month from now will definitely fail.

　In the story of Mina herself during the game, it was said that although she challenged it with a large-scale subjugation team in the past, they were destroyed. I guess that's what she meant by strike force. Many of them will probably die or suffer terrible damage.

(But ... I don't think they’ll listen even if I tell them to stop)

　The cat people, a conservative race to begin with, were willing to take the risk. They're already being hunted down, and they probably reluctantly sent out a strike force.

　But even if they wouldn't hear it, I couldn't keep quiet knowing they were in danger.

"I understand your feelings but you should give up on subduing it. The cyclops is really powerful. Even if you challenge it with a large number of people, you’ll only be beaten back."

　When Brad advised her, Mina glared at him with an unexpectedly grim face.

"... What do outsiders know!? Many of my friends have been eaten so far, and if we leave it alone, will continue to be eaten from now on nya. I can’t just watch that happen!?"

"I understand but think calmly.  I've heard that the Cyclops is terribly strong and has monster-like power that’s beyond human comprehension. If you challenge it, not only will you not stand a chance, but you'll only cause more casualties."

　Brad tells her to remind her.

"Even so ... it's already decided in the village nya. We cat people love peace, but we're not stupid. If we're gradually weakened like this, we'll be killed."

　When Mina said this with a strong determination in her eyes, her friends nodded. It seems the decision to challenge the Cyclops was final.

　When Brad decided it would be difficult to persuade her, Mina turned her back, perhaps thinking the talk was over.

"... Well, that's what it is. You don't look very strong, so be careful not to encounter it  or its subordinates nya."

　Mina shrugs and begins to walk with her friends.

　Brad couldn't think of any words to hold them back and watched them leave.

(Maybe it's God telling me you can’t change historical facts so easily...)

　Brad breathes, feeling something like there’s a lump in his chest.

　Even so, Brad is trying to change history for his own life

　He can no longer see how the world will be transformed if he changes all the unnecessary parts. There is a good chance that people who were happy in the previous history will become unhappy. I knew that I had to avoid that as much as possible.

(What's should I do?)

　The cyclops is strong to begin with.

In "Final Quest", you can survive the battle with the Cyclopes at about level 25, but in reality, you can’t defeat it in that battle. After the battle, the Cyclops enters its second form and chases the heroes. This is where Glace, the Demon Slaying hero, appears to save the heroes and finish him off.

　Because Glace was not interested in the title, the honor of "Giant Slayer" was given to the hero, and the hero became famous all over the continent, but without Glace, the hero would have been defeated in the first place.

　Therefore, the actual strength of the cyclops is 25 or more, and even if Mina and her friends who are less than level 20 came together, they can’t defeat it as a matter of course. And even if the current Brad helped here, the result wouldn't change.

(But didn’t they say the subjugation was a month later?)

　The strength of the second form is unclear, but even with that in mind, it wouldn’t be impossible to subdue with a party full of four people of around level 30.

(If you're alone, it's probably more like ......40)

　While murmuring such a thing--

　Brad decides that leveling is the best thing to do, He started walking in the labyrinth in search of his next Orichalcum Snake.

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