Kays Translations

Chapter 8: The Strongest Onmyoji, Questioned

　It was still early in the morning.

　There was a man walking quickly through the empty alleys of the imperial capital.

　The man stops at the end of the alley and quietly opens the lid of the wooden box hidden in the corner of the garbage pile.

　Inside was a pigeon.

　The man carefully caught the pigeon and put an anklet from his pocket on one of its legs.

　He then released it into the air with both hands.

　When the pigeon determines the direction it should go, it flaps its wings without hesitation and moves away from the imperial capital――――.

　Suddenly, a hawk flew up and attacked it in mid-air.

　It held the struggling pigeon in its tough talons and flew off in an unexpected direction.

　The man's eyes widened at the unexpected misfortune.

　It is not uncommon for carrier pigeons to be attacked by birds of prey.

　But of all places, I would say ---- on this occasion.

"Tch... damn"

　The man who curses.

　Behind him――――I called out.

"I used to think that the best time to fly pigeons was early in the morning."

　The man turned around in surprise.

　He was in his mid-twenties, a man who looked like he could be anywhere. His featureless face is hard to impress.

　I guess this is what I'm looking for.

　I say with a smile.

"You're a spy on the demon side."

"...... what are you talking about out of the blue? I don't know who you are, but you want something from me?"

"I have a lot of things I want to ask you about. Like the contents of the secret letter you gave the pigeon."

"Secret letter...? That's a slip we sent to the Rodnea branch. Thanks to that hawk, we’re resending it.  It's time for the Grand Master to go to work. Excuse me, boy."

　The man looked annoyed and looked away.

　As he walks towards me, he casually pulls out a knife from his waist, as if he were taking out a work tool.

　The next moment, his steps turned into a sprint.

　Before I knew it, the tip of the knife was pointing at me.

"That kind of attitude won't help."

《Wood phase――――The art of vine-binding》

　Several thick vines grew up, splitting the cobblestone pavement.

　As soon as they touched the man, they coiled around him and tightened their hold on him, turning him into wood.

　With a groan, the knife fell out of his hand.

"Shit, uh... well, I get it."

"I got your inside story. You're the informant, right?"

"Ah, there shouldn't be anyone here...!"

"Humans, you know. It was very difficult to gather information from the shikigami that was released all over the capital. Thanks to that, I didn't sleep well and had a bad headache. But I think it was worth it because I caught one of you. Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

　The man looks at me like he sees something incomprehensible.

"Seika Lamprog...Oh, what in the world are you ......"

"I knew you'd at least know the faces of the contestants. And while you're at it, why don't you tell me what you were going to report?"

　The man distorts the corners of his mouth.

"Ha, I should confess?"

"yes"

"Are you going to torture me? I don't always speak honestly."

"no"

　I float a piece of Hitogata in the air.

"Let's ask your soul"

《Calling――――Awakening Satoru》

　What was pulled out of the phase was a monkey-like apparition.

　Only his face strangely resembles a human being, with a grim, creepy smile on his face.

　The man looks at the apparition that suddenly appears with an eerie look on his face.

"What is this..."

“‘What is this monster? Was this guy a summoner?’”

"Heh..."

“‘You say you speak our language? More importantly, did you just read my thoughts?" Gehaha ......"

　At Satoru's words, the man's face turned pale.

　Yes.

　Satoru is a demon who can read people's minds.

"Let's start with an interrogation. First, who's above you?"

"... why would I tell you such a thing?"

"Gehahaha... 'It's the Bol Bofis decisive ... Black, His Excellency, Fort... Forest...'"

"Really? Then who's above that?"

"'I don't know, I don't ...... know ...... el, Edentrada the Great Vulture ...... forecast. Dangerous, Courageous ......"

"The noise is terrible. Please think about it in spoken language a little more. Just in case, I'm going to ask you, but are you sure they're from the demon race?"

"''...... Yes. That's right. that's right...'"

　I thought that would be the case, given the unique title in the name, but I guess I was right. Well, Cordell was also an interloper of the demon tribe.

"Where was the carrier pigeon supposed to go?"

"'Llewick. Lou ...... demon territory. Commercial resources of the city located in the east-northeast, near the imperial border, and in the suburbs...'"

"Okay, okay, don't think too much."

　But you were planning to fly the pigeon directly to the demon territory. It's a long way, but if it's close to the border, I guess it's possible.

"So, as for the content, ...... I'm pretty sure it's about a hero born on the human side."

"'Yes, yes, how do you know about the birth of the hero? That's right, from the demon side, from the side of the demons, from the spies? Humans with limited knowledge. How far?'"

"Don't talk about me. Give me the name of the hero you were looking up."

"'...Mabel Crane'"

"Why ...... do you think that girl is the hero?"

"'The year of birth matches the year of the ...... oracle. The gender and hair color also match the oracle. And she is strong. She is from a magic academy,  but a year ago, there was a report that there was a child who appeared to be the hero. The assassins sent by the spy disappeared. There is a discrepancy in the timing of the enrollment. But there is also the possibility of information manipulation......"

"Hmm? You've suddenly become very honest. What else?"

“‘There are rumors that Mabel Crane is a hero, and there are rumors circulating among informants. The source has been traced to a servant of Baron Crane.’”

　Hmm, I see.

"What else did you write down?"

“‘Officially, she was adopted by Baron Crane six months ago. The head of the family claims to be the granddaughter of his former teacher, but there is no proof of this. The entrance examinations are available at .......""

　The man discloses information about Mabel, which he must have researched.

　The information is all bland .......

　Maybe it's the face-to-face information that was dared to be leaked. Including the rumor that she is a hero.

"Finally, what do you think the chances of Mabel actually being the Hero are?"

"'About 10%, of course. Up to 20% if she wins the tournament, huh...'"

"So that’s how it is. Do you think there is a high possibility that there are other candidates...more likely to be kept secret by the empire?"

“‘I’m watching, I’m watching… plus everyone is wary of the possibility that the hero is still out there, buried and unexploited, as people have already made them a thing of the past. Merchants, farmers, and slaves .......""

　It's true, depending on your birth, you often grow up without ever having been exposed to a sword. Especially if you are a woman.

　If the empire is aware of the hero's existence, there is a high possibility that they are hiding it.

　If they haven't figured it out, chances are high that it's buried somewhere.

　It's unlikely that she would conveniently show up at a tournament like this, but the conditions are right and she's strong, so we can't ignore Mabel, like .......

　It's a reasonable way to look at it.

"Okay, this is enough. Thank you very much. Thanks to you, I know what I wanted to know."

　The vines that had held the man up were rotting away.

　The helpless man knelt down on the cobblestones. He has a pale face...but his eyes roll back with a look of determination, his hand reaching for the fallen knife.

　But just before he grabbed it.

　Satoru stood right in front of him.

　I can't see much from here, but ---- I'm sure his face would have been contorted in anticipation.

"Well done, Satoru."

　I tell the demon.

"Here's your reward. You can eat it."

"Wha...!?"

“‘What!? Eat!? You've got to be kidding me.’”

　Satoru's head swelled several times.

　With its wide-open jaws, it swallowed the man in one gulp.

　The shape of a struggling person passes through the throat and fits in the stomach.

　The man is still flailing around inside it.

''Stop,'' ''let me out,'' gehahahahahahaha,'' ''I'm in pain,'' ''I'm scared,'' gehahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

　Before long, the movements become dull.

　Satoru's swollen belly suddenly collapsed. His gigantic face has also shrunk in size, reverting to the appearance of a small ape.

　He no longer looks as if he has just eaten a human being.

　Satoru turns around and looks at me with a creepy smile.

"'It's pathetic' 'It couldn’t be helped' 'It was too dangerous to leave him behind.' Gehaha"

　I glared at Satoru with thin eyes, and told him in a voice that was filled with magic.

"Don't read my mind, Satoru. I'll kill you."

"Gee...a..."

　Satoru's smile froze.

　I open the door to the phase in front of the cowering demon's eyes.

"Thank you for your efforts. You can go back now. Or do you still want to talk to me......?"

　Satoru jumped into the phase at once.

　I closed the door and exhaled.

"Se... Seika sama..."

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. You scared me."

　I reach over my head and use my fingertips to caress Yuki, who is trembling in my hair.

　Even so. In my previous life, it would have been impossible for me to be taken down by a low-ranking demon...

　A buzzing sound of wings..

　The shikigami hawk had returned with the homing pigeon it caught.

　I take the pigeon in both hands, remove its anklets, and open the folded letter.

　I sigh involuntarily.

"... I should have asked him how to decipher the code."

　I burn the secret letter with fire.

　The pigeon didn't seem to be seriously injured, and flew away on its own when released to the ground.

　I couldn't read the secret letter, but that's okay.

　Now I understand.

　This tournament was held for Mabel to win.

　And its purpose is ---- to take the place of Amiyu, the true hero.

　I thought it was strange from the beginning.

　To begin with, there was no way that the Kingsguard would become stronger with a magical swordsman.

　Strength is about numbers, but when it comes to the military, it is about homogeneity. The same training, the same strategy, and the same actions are required to demonstrate the same strength. There is no need for special skills. You can only have so many magicians.

　Perhaps the empire has grasped the birth of the hero.

　If, as Cordell said, they have interlopers in the demon territory, they can know through intelligence even if they have lost the art of prophecy.

　When Cordell found Amiyu, the empire must have learned about the existence of the hero through the academy.

　That would explain why they did not close the academy after last year's disturbances. Amiyu's birth family is not nobility. If she were to leave the academy, she would be out from under the Empire's watchful eye.

　So for a time, both sides had a grasp of the heroe, but shortly thereafter, only the demon side lost sight of Amiyu.

　This was because I had taken care of the assassin and the informant.

　Recalling the conversation with Galeos, Cordell did not even seem to have given Amiyu's name.

　Maybe he wanted to take credit for subjugating the hero himself, but thanks to that, this set back the information that the demon tribe had to the extent that 'there might be a brave man in the academy'. The reason is that no other demons knew Amiyu's face and name other than Galeos and Cordell.

　And

　Perhaps also the empire learns of that fact through intelligence.

　Luckily, the human side had an informational advantage. However, if the academy remains in the spotlight, Amiyu's existence may eventually become known again.

　If that's the case... then it would be nice to have someone else from the academy who looks like the hero!

　And then have the Kingsguard take him in and distract them from the academy!

　……Yes.

　I'm sure the thought behind it was something like this.

　This would explain the unnaturalness of Amiyu not being selected for the recommendation slot.

"Ah, that makes me feel better."

　I was curious about Mabel's background to be made into a hero, but as expected, it was impossible to find out that much.

　No matter how you look at it, it's a pseudonym, and it's probably because that rust-colored hair is also dyed.

　There is no need to go any deeper.

　I would be happy if she would protect Amiyu.

　Since he shouldn't be the only spy, Mabel will be duly reported. I'd rather have one of them disappear, that would be more realistic.

　Now, when are we going back to the academy......

"Wait a minute. There is a possibility that Mabel is actually the true hero of ...... no it’s not"

　I can sort of tell by looking at her.

　That girl doesn't have as much talent as Amiyu.

※ Vine binding jutsu

The art of binding an opponent with a giant vine plant created by the chi of a tree. The mechanism by which the vine wraps around an object is called contact yielding, which occurs when something touches the stem and the cells on the opposite side grow rapidly. Lignification is the accumulation of lignin in the cell walls, causing the tissue to become very hard. This phenomenon is seen in the epidermis of trees and bamboos, and in vines, such as Fuji and akebi.

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