“...... I feel strong magical power from them.”

So says Claura irritatedly while glaring at the War Tribe through an observation window.

Magical power, is it? Though I only see one magician-like person among their group.

The fact that the Magician’s Guild’s magic soldier project was considered a breakthrough idea tells me how foreign the idea of a ‘magic warrior’ that uses both magic and weapon is to this world.

“I’ve also seen the War Tribe fight firsthand, though from a distance, but I didn’t see them using anything like magic.”

According to Sedam’s memory, what sets them apart is not magic, but physical abilities beyond normal human limits and the unique equipment that they wear.

“...... Indeed, they are warriors definitely not to be underestimated.”

When I evaluate them with [Sense of Adept], I draw the same conclusion as Sedam’s.

The following is the data that I got from the skill. The Head Warrior, which is the huge guy called ‘Leid,’ is [Human / Male / 28 Years Old / Level 21 Warrior]. The warrior with the most eye-catching get-up is [Human / Male / 48 Years Old / Level 14 Warrior]. The single person wearing a robe is [Human / Male / 40 Years Old / Level 10 Priest]. In short, in comparison to the adventurers and knights that I’d met so far, these people are very significantly different.

The Leid guy is clearly an outlier, but the others are all mostly at least level 8 to 10.

Sedam’s level 9 is the highest among all adventurers belonging to the Lelis Adventurer’s Guild. As for the Carbanera Knight Order, it is Lioria’s level 10. When put into this perspective, I understand how the War Tribe is able to fight Shadow Demons.

However, I find it curious how the words ‘Warrior’ and ‘Human’ that I see in the displays are slightly distorted. It is the exact same way how the word ‘Thief’ in Sedam’s display is slightly distorted as my spell forcibly tries to interpret his Ranger profession into D&B form. The profession I can understand. I wonder what it means that this distortion can be seen from their race even.

“And to think they could have forced their way into the castle……”

The castle gates can’t be broken down that easily. But I find it hard to believe that a group of that size came all the way here without thinking things through. I should expect them to have prepared some method. Mora and Claura, the young children…… when I think again about how much danger they all were in, the anger within me bubbles even fiercer.

“...... Please, please pardon my forwardness, my lord. Anger dulls judgment. I beg of you to suppress your heart.”

From her position behind me comes Leiha’s whispered word of caution.

Leiha almost never opposes my opinion. When I look at her face and see how apologetic she looks, I breathe out a huge sigh.

“Fuu……”

She’s right. The people who led mental health talks back at my company had also said the same thing, that “anger is the root of all trouble.”

As someone standing above others, I must control my negative emotions.

“...... You’re right, Leiha. My head has cooled down slightly. You have my thanks.”

“I am unworthy of such words. If there is still some remaining anger, please feel free to take it out on myself.”

“............ I think I’m fine, thanks.”

♥♦♣♠

[Protection], [Mana s.h.i.+eld], [Detect Enemy], [Invisible Demon], [Perfect Resistance], [Mind Wall], [Emergency], [Invisible]. And lastly, [Project Illusion].

I cast every single defense spell that I currently have charged. It is a pity that [Physical Boost] is not on the list.

The more recent TRPGs with well-done systems ban consecutive spell casting, but D&B is old school, and thus doesn’t have an annoying rule like that.

“Ue……”

“Wait a-, come on, get ahold of yourself.”

Though no more than 2 minutes of actual time had pa.s.sed, my Inner World self had descended and ascended that circular staircase 9 times without stopping, so I am understandably feeling a bit fatigued. Claura grabs my arm and supports me when I accidentally stumble.

“Sorry about that. I’m always relying on you so much.”

“...... That’s……”

“Well then, I’ll be off. I’m leaving the rest to you all.”

I direct my voice towards Claura, Sedam, and Leiha, then go out through the side door in the castle gate.

At first, everyone had insisted on accompanying me, but I managed to convince them out of it by saying that I can flee much easier by myself if it really comes down to it.

♥♦♣♠

“I am the castle lord of Jiiteias Castle, the wizard Gio Margils. Oh ill-mannered members of the War Tribe. If you wish to converse, then send forth your representative!”

Despite the 30m separating us, the other party is a group of seasoned warriors wearing strangely shaped armor.

My body is almost about to s.h.i.+ver in the face of a different kind of pressure from facing down an army of Shadow Demons. While suppressing that s.h.i.+ver, I slam the b.u.t.t of my Wizardry Staff against the ground with great force.

“O-, Oh wizard…… I shall be the one to speak with you.”

I had totally expected Leid to come up, but apparently the person in charge is the one in the eye-catching armor.

He boldly walks forward to stand right in front of me, then removes his helmet and face mask.

“I am the War General Kanbelis.”

The man wearing the flashy armor turns out to be a man in the prime of his life with close-cropped black hair. He is completely lit up by [Detect Enemy] in my eyes.

“Very well. I shall hear what you have to say.”

I look straight into his black pupils. I secretly activate the ESP Medal that I’m gripping inside. But to my surprise, he manages to Resist the effects of the item.

Judging by the lack of reaction on his face, I surmise that he hasn’t realized my attempt to use the item. Is he perhaps in possession of some sort of item that increases his resistance against wizardry?

Either way, this is merely one more reason why I cannot let down my guard.

“......Yo-...... You are under suspicion of being a Shadow Demon or a Demonist. It is as we have already told your chamberlain. If you wish to prove your innocence, we will have you a.s.sent to partic.i.p.ating in a ‘trial’ of ours.”

(T/N: Kanbelis was about to use omae, which is a coa.r.s.e way to say ‘you’ (coa.r.s.e to the point of possibly being disrespectful), then caught himself and switched to kiden, which is a much more formal one, used for equals or superiors.)

“I am aware of the fact that the War Tribe is an entire clan who dedicate their all towards fighting against Shadow Demons. However, I hope you weren’t thinking that would suffice as justification for all this. In the first place, what is your reason for thinking me a Shadow Demon?”

If their technique to determine Shadow Demons or Demonists is indeed real, then I would very much like to learn it. But if that technique identifies me as a Shadow Demon, then doesn’t it mean that it’s just a hoax?

“Then we shall explain. In the first place, we War Tribe are the descendants of the ‘Warrior of Darkness,’ who was the ‘Hero’s nakama……”

He begins explaining with much more willingness than I had expected. I can almost hear a note of pride mixed into his voice.

♥♦♣♠

It was a telling with a lot of embellishment and detours, but the gist of it was as follows.

The techniques that the War Tribe use to fight against Shadow Demons were pa.s.sed down from the ‘Hero’ and ‘Warrior of Darkness.’

According to the knowledge pa.s.sed down from the ‘Hero,’ Bleeds emanate from a focal point.

‘Focal points’ are thought to be some sort of pa.s.sage that exists in the depths of a Shadow Demon nest.

Not long ago, the War Tribe’s Miko received two prophecies from their guardian G.o.d. The prophecies said “the focal point shall appear at Mount Foresight” and “the focal point will be a human, going by the name of Margils.”

♥♦♣♠

“I see.”

A silly thought like “How kind and thorough this guardian G.o.d is to even name me specifically.” flits across my mind as I slowly mull over the meaning of the information that I’d just been told.

Incidentally, Mount Foresight is what the War Tribe calls this mountain that Jiiteias Castle is on.

But well, ‘focal point,’ huh.

There is a very high chance that the pa.s.sage within the depths of a Shadow Demon nest is referring to that Door of Wizardry lookalike that I saw that time.

…… Which would give rise to the equation “focal point = pa.s.sage within the depths of a Shadow Demon nest = Door of Wizardry = me”.

Was I actually a Shadow Demon all along?

In the first place, this body was created by The Overlooker based on my requests. At the very least, it is most likely not wholly human.

On the contrary, if the War Tribe’s knowledge or whatever is indeed true, then the next Bleed will occur from me.

I feel the anger that I’d been keeping suppressed inside my stomach dissipating.

This is no time to be angry.

“We have told you everything there is to tell. So, will you a.s.sent to our ‘trial,’ or will you not?”

Exasperated with my silence, Kanbelis presses me for an answer.