TL: Yuki

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「About the woman I met two years ago, I didn't realize it at that time. That voice, that att.i.tude, it was someone I knew. That woman was the definitely the 《Mad Scientist》Marius Weavery」

「Marius?」

Mad Scientist! The first thing that pops out of my mind when hearing that would be a person who doesn't mind doing human experiments or a person who develops highly destructive weapons without care.

「Umu, however, that person Marius was known to have died already. 」

「Don't tell me, she an undead? However, before I was able to confirm it, she used a teleport gem to run away and I actually thought that she might have been a demon. 」

Dell-san continued drinking her tea while staring at Hanno-san. Hanno-san responded with a nod, while sharpening his looks which was a little scary.

But then Dell-san shook his head, then he signaled by crossing his fingers.

「Well, we still don't know. Marius was an ordinary human who lived in the capital, she also seems to be infatuated with the former king, she was the head scientist at that time……」

After reminiscing the past, Dell-san closed his and took a deep breath, and then who continued talking about past events.

◇Five Years ago――――――

The former king Triora Foa Eresbell was afflicted by an illness, but even if that was the case, he was splendidly doing his job.

「Please don't give up, it's not yet the time to end it」

This was a conversation between the former king and Marius, but then one day the king suddenly died. At that time, Marius was doing a certain research, but then she was arrested on a certain day by the knights who raided her inst.i.tute.

「My studies are meant for the King, it's not meant for anyone else」

This is what she confidently declared to the knights who raided her laboratory. It might not have been wrong for her to do so, because of her regrets in being able to save the king.

「This is, to become undead, to be able to transcend death……Marius, you――」

At the time before his death, the former king might have unconsciously whispered something to her, and it was something that shook her so much because it might have been something that the king wouldn't have ever talked about.

It was a directive for her to research medicine in a secret laboratory that would be able to give him eternal life but she must do so without using any sacrifices, and this boosted by her admiration and longing for the previous king.

Although she had a character that is quite difficult to approach, Marius was still deemed to be the most prominent scientist of the kingdom, but because of the king's dying wish, she started to delve into a dangerous path that she should have avoided at all cost.

That is, the human experimentations using dangerous chemicals.

At first, her research aimed at pursuing eternal life as its goal. However, the time it took to gain results was very long and the research itself was very time consuming. She doesn't want to waste such precious time when the king's life is nearing its end.

That's when she started watching the opposite side of things, which is creating an undead with its own established knowledge consciousness and memory. With that in sight, she wouldn't mind if the king died because she would just need to revive him at a later time.

The research went smoothly, but the last steps did not go well. There were many cases that were recorded in her research diary about frustrating and less meaningful results.

The current king Carnelius Foa Erresbell immediately took control of the knights after the king's death and ordered to raid her laboratory. When they arrived at that place which was located underneath the city, the place was so miserable that they don't even need to look for evidence in order to arrest her.

The special units that were a.s.signed to Marius confronted the raiders in order for her to escape the raid. But it was a futile escape because she was caught and was caught by Vanil Mirth who was vice deputy commander at that time, and her arrest was successful.

The Special Forces were also easily suppressed and without much resistance which is actually quite strange knowing the strength of the unit.

After that, in order to prevent a scandal that would expose a weakness for the royalty, an execution was held in secret. Even though it was not really a problem if information about Marius and the laboratory was revealed, they still made sure that her disposal along with her laboratory was done in secret and all information about it was buried in darkness.

「I was one of the people who attended the execution of Marius.  Not only am I acquainted to her after, but I am one of the people that she personally knew」

After finis.h.i.+ng his story he continued drinking the cold tea and sighed, right then Hanno-san leaned a bit and asked.

「If that is so, does it mean that Marius was able to complete the medicine」

「After studying her research diary, she didn't have any significant results…… however, it would be better to a.s.sume that she was able to succeed」

「Then master, is the reason why you called us related to the matter?」

「That's right, I want to a.s.sign an official request to the 《Undead Hunters》, that is to hunt down and subjugate Marius if found」

「What about me?」

「Toto-dono, I would also like to ask for a request. If something happens in the capital, I want you to immediately respond if possible」

「Oh, umu」

I wonder if he's planning to do something, no, that's probably the reason why he was asking me.

「Perhaps Marius thought that she was discarded by the former king, the possibility of her targeting the capital for her revenge is quite high. In addition to that, there are people from the top of n.o.bility that is probably connected to her which is the reason why she posses with teleport gems. I have pinpointed a few of them during this few years that I've hidden myself」

「Teleport Gem, is that expensive?」

「You might haven't heard of that before, but a handful of that would be enough for you to purchase a large house with plenty of rooms」

「Uweeeh」

Hmmmm, well, I will be staying in the capital for a while, and he only requested for me to help in case something happens, and if something did happen then I would probably have no choice but to fight anyway.

「As a matter of fact, I have already investigated about Toto, but even though I know about your fighting power I can't make an official request because you are not yet registered in the adventurer's guild. Also, even if you were registered as one, I won't be able to request you directly not unless you are of a certain rank or else my request would be deemed to be something suspicious.」

「In addition to that, you were also summoned by the knights order to be under their watch for the time being, right?」

「Fumu, that's true」

「That's why, I couldn't do anything else but inform Toto about the situation, and if something did happen, just knowing that there will be someone reliable to help would make me feel at ease while I conduct my invistigations」

「What about the knights or the king, you didn't contact them?」

「I've already sent a note to the king informing about the current situation along with report of my survival, specific countermeasure can't be organized because of the many angle of attack that could be approached. That also includes the n.o.bles that are still hiding in the shadows that may also become enemies.」

「I see」

If you have already told them then I also won't be that worried. There are many powerful people in the knight's order after all, like the people I've encountered during the martial arts festival, and with me included, the protection of the capital would be near perfect.

When Dell-san finally finished what he wanted to convey, a moment of silence engulfed the room, then my stomach grumbled.

Oh no, I forgot because I was too distracted by the things that we were discussing, that I was already hungry the moment we arrived in this town. Or rather, I'm actually quite impressed that my stomach didn't grumble when we were still in a discussion, it felt like it was reading the atmosphere.

「Oh my, should I prepare some snacks?」

「Want」

「Fufufu, then please wait for a bit more」

「Hanno, I'll help, it's alright for me to help right, master?」

「Ah, please do so」

Hanno-san and Zanbarsan then disappeared into the kitchen, and the only ones left behind is me and Dell-san. Because I'm a bit bored, so I also wanted to help.

As I was trying to look for something that I would like to do to distract myself, Dell-san spoke to me once more with a serious face.

「Well, that time was really unbelievable,  but looking at you now, I could only think of you as an ordinary girl if not for that encounter」

「Nn, I'm not scary, you know」

「Hahaha, sorry, it's just that during that time I was on my wits end. Please forgive me for that」

「Eh, so it was like that」

「Umu, you see, I could only face 2 of those monsters at most, so if Toto didn't help me at that time I wouldn't have survived.」

『Warwolves you see are clever monsters and specializes in group battles, that's why they are considered a strong opponent. Adding to that is their strong physical ability and good nose which makes escaping almost impossible. That's why they say that if you can't win against them then don't even try fighting them』

「Is that how it is」

All of a sudden, Helvetisan entered our conversation and made a commentary, but because I know that Dell-san won't be able to hear her, I replied to him instead.

So Warwolves were actually that dangerous. I was thinking that I might have stolen Dell-san's prey, but that doesn't seem to be the case and I'm glad that I was able to help.

Now that I think about it, I could ask Helvetia about what Hanno-san mentioned earlier. It was regarding demons and how she could have survived if she was one, so now that Helvetia is around, maybe she could tell me more about it. What are demons in the first place, I want to hear that directly from her.

While we continued having some small talks, Hanno-san and Zanbarsan returned with food called sandwich in hand. It was made out of soft white bread with sliced vegetables in between.

It seems like in this world, bread like this is called《Sandwich Bread》 but in my original world, this was called a sandwich.

「You might be tired from the long trip so stay here for today, though if you stay for a little while longer, I feel like search parties of knights will be organized by the knight commander to look for you」

「Nn, thank you」

I only stayed for a night at Dell-san's place, and then on the next day, I was once again riding on Zanbarsan's horse and was now heading towards the capital.

《Undead Hunting》 will also start their activities immediately, and today, Hanno-san is with us.

The capital was much closer that I have expected compared to the distance we traveled from my village to that place. As expected of a village in the frontier, I guess……

Before we went out of town, Hanno-san quickly got on a horse while Zanbarsan took out the robe she used to cover me then placed me on the horse before riding behind me.

「Well then, shall we go」

Zanbarsan who was riding behind me took the reins while looking at me and was waiting for my confirmation.

「Nn, let's go」

In response to her, I pointed forward as I answered.