「Poaching our future master blacksmiths, huh? You're a real heartbreaker, Cyril-san. I might have to give Azul-sama a little heads-up about this, you know.」
「Jii, huh?」
Azul’s attendant, a beautiful woman dressed as a man, called out to me from behind. Her presence-blocking technique was so skilled that I wouldn't have noticed her if I didn't possess wind magic.
「Do as you please. She's probably prepared for that, and she's probably thinking about poaching them again after they improve their skills in Erucy.」
If you’re not able to do this much, you’re not qualified to be a leader. Being a city mayor is not much different from being a mafia boss.
「Tsk, you’re not cute at all. It’s boring if you don't show some surprise.」
「It would be a problem if I were as cute as you, do you know that you have cranberry jam on your lips? That’s from our new crêpe. Were you sneaking out for a snack while working again?」
「Ha wa wa wa…」
Jii hastily wiped her mouth. The crêpes we were selling this time used not only caramelized maple syrup but also jam, made from simmered cranberries and maple syrup.
By doing that, we could prevent customers from getting tired of the flavors, and it also helped save maple syrup by using cranberries.
「Keep it a secret from Azul-sama, okay?」
Jii lightly placed her index finger on her lips. Her gesture was so funny that I had to stifle a laugh.
「That’s why…」
I was about to speak while stifling a laugh, but I was interrupted. Jii had a knife pressed against my neck. I hadn't seen her movements. She used the short moment I relaxed my guard due to our ridiculous conversation. In an instant, as my gaze shifted away, she withdrew a knife with the hand she hadn’t been holding near her mouth and closed the distance with no preliminary movements.
「Did you let your guard down, Erucy’s chief? Do you remember my position? I am Ojou-sama’s attendant, bodyguard, and the captain of Erin's spy unit.」
The knife touched my skin, and a thin stream of blood appeared. Jii was using a knife I had made and sold in Erucy.
「You got me. Was that goofy attitude of yours until now an act?」
「No, that’s my normal behavior.」
I got an immediate response from Jii.
That’s a relief. If that had been an act, I would have become a misanthrope. Jii sighed softly and took three steps back.
「If I had been serious, you would be dead. Don't let your guard down in the Empire. There are even more monstrous beings than me there. If you're careless, you'll die in an instant.」
Jii sheathed her knife and gave a smile.
「Was that an attempt to warn me?」
「Yes, Azul-sama ordered me to give you some encouragement before you depart.」
「That's very kind of her.」
「Well, we'd rather you not die yet. Azul-sama ordered me to be your bodyguard, but I can't really do that. So, I'm giving you this advice.」
「I'll take it to heart. Since you've given me advice, can you tell me about the ‘monstrous beings' you mentioned? Are you talking about Ashno?」
Ashno was a homunculus created by the insane mage Suzina using part of the body of the girl he once loved, Shurano, Yggdrasil, and his own cells. Ashno's name had the meaning of ‘mock Shurano.'
「You even know that name? It's surprising. She is famous as a hero under another name, and her real name should be known only to close people.」
「I know a lot about her. To be honest, I even suspected that you were Ashno in disguise.」
Jii had claimed she had no aptitude for any elemental magic. Such a being could only be a hero. But it was clear that she wasn't a hero. There weren't many exceptional beings other than heroes. Therefore, I had predicted that Ashno, who would be discovered as a High Elf if she used her powers, was pretending not to be able to use them.
The timing of our encounter, some time after my conversation with Ashno, supported that theory too.
「I am Ashno-sama? Haha, that's an amusing joke. No, thank you. Please don't associate me with that person. If you know Ashno-sama, it’s not an issue if I tell you a little, right? I am a prototype of a human, designed to cope with the age when monsters revive. I’m a doll made by Ashno-sama, using her abilities as a foundation.」
「A prototype?」
「Yes, Ashno-sama believed that one day the great barrier created by the great mage Suzina would fail. She made me as a prototype to demonstrate how humans could survive in the post-Erna world. In the end, after creating me and nine others, she gave up on that plan. Her idea was that if the Erna returned and the world was filled with monsters, we only needed to create superhumans. If humans became stronger, there would be no need to worry. It's an interesting concept, isn't it?」
Erna was the power born as a counterforce when using Mana, when it accumulated, it manifested as fearsome beings, monsters. Suzina had created a large sealing spell to prevent Erna from spreading, and Ashno had been protecting it.
「The seal has reached its limit?」
When I last spoke with Ashno, she mentioned breaking her promise. I assumed she meant she would stop managing the seal, but had it already gone beyond her control?
「Yes, it seems monsters will overflow into the world in ten or twenty years. To prepare for that, Ashno-sama is now focusing on researching how to change the world's rules and elevate the strength of people worldwide. When using magic, it distorts the world's physical laws on a small scale. If applied properly, it's possible, or so she said the last time I saw her.」
「What is she trying to do…」
If the seal was really beyond hope, I would have to take action as soon as possible. Even if it meant giving “Me” free rein.
「But if you know Ashno-sama, it's a little reassuring. She values those close to her. Well, either way, be careful. The Empire is a dangerous place. There might be others like me there.」
She waved her hand as she turned to leave.
「Why did you tell me so much?」
「Well… If you know Ashno-sama, it's like we're siblings, isn't it? Even the creepy feeling I get when I see you can be explained if you’re related to Ashno-sama. Well then, good luck.」
「One more thing, Jii. Why are you siding with Erin?」
「To maintain the balance of the world. If there are two heroes in the Empire and no countermeasures in other countries, the Empire will continue to conquer the world with the power of heroes. So, I who could stop the heroes, became the enemy of the Empire… Well, that was the starting point, some time ago, I became friends with Azul’s mother so I decided to remain in the Choline Kingdom while her legacy lived.」
「What about the orphanage?」
「I thought that by showing my weaknesses, that strong-willed girl would feel more secure, so I deliberately created a vulnerability. However, now that has become important too. It's frustrating, isn't it? The more you interact with people, the more complicated things pile up.」
Jii disappeared completely this time. I waved farewell to Jii and clenched my fist. My list of concerns was growing. The Empire was on the path to destruction, and the Erna's seal was reaching its limit. Something was undoubtedly starting to happen in the shadows, and I was unaware of it.
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