Chapter 85: Departure
At the time when the three countries were exchanging information about Ren. The person in question was being carried by a horse-drawn carriage down the main street of the capital. Riding with him are Luna, Rin, Shizuru, and Ralph. The driver is Ralph's follower.
"I never thought we'd be leaving today."
Inside the carriage, Shizuru continued to complain.
"How many times have you said that?"
"Because I haven't even prepared a change of clothes."
"You don't actually need any clothes, do you?"
"...That's not true."
No matter how much time passed, Ren's perception of Shizuru didn't change. However, these days, Shizuru can't complain strongly because he obviously has his own reasons.
"Be patient a little bit. If the attack becomes clear, it will cause a lot of trouble."
"But we are the ones who were attacked."
It's the other person who is in trouble when it went public. Shizuru didn't understand Ren's thoughts.
"When I say troublesome, I mean that I don’t want to spend time on unnecessary things. Besides, if they knew that we had returned the favor, they would be wary of us. What if they prepare a more serious attack?"
"But……"
It's a long trip ahead. Shizuru is worried about the fact that she only has one pair of clothes.
"Don't worry about the clothes. Those who join us later will prepare it."
"Join us? Ah, you mean Kou."
"Yeah, Kou and the others."
"Others?"
"Did you forget those children? They will join us with Ralph's followers, all packed up."
"That's right."
"And there are others."
"......So it's a woman."
Shizuru narrowed her eyes and stared at Ren reproachfully.
"There are women, but the meaning is different from what you're saying."
"I wonder? It's the prostitute, isn't it? That maid is also suspicious. Who else?"
Shizuru bends her finger as she imagines the shadows of women around Ren.
"Hey, who's that finger?"
On the third finger, Ren reacted. Other than the prostitute and Emily, Ren had no idea who it was.
"That woman from the guild."
"Mion-san? Why Mion-san?"
"The atmosphere is suspicious"
"You know..."
If there is a sense of suspicion between Ren and Mion, it is because what they are talking about is all suspicious. It is totally different from a relationship between a man and a woman.
"Ren. It's that Mion."
"Eh?" "I knew it!?"
Ren's words were interrupted by Luna, who tried to deny it openly. He looked through the window and saw Mion standing next to the street, waving at him.
"It's exposed. Mion-san, you're scary."
"If you don't want to see her, we can just drive away."
"Nobody said that. Let's stop."
"Yeah."
Ralph gave instructions to the coachman through the small window and the carriage stopped immediately. Mion, who saw it, quickly approached. Ren got out of the carriage and greeted her.
"How did you figure it out?"
"I knew you would be leaving the capital soon, and that you would be sneaking out. So it would have to be at night or by carriage, right?"
"No, with just that."
"Well, that's the trick."
"Trick... so? You went all the way out here to say hello?"
What kind of trick, he thought, but there was no way Mion would tell him even if he asked her about it. She stopped wasting time and said what she wanted.
"That's part of it, but I have a favor to ask you."
"Eh?"
"It's not a request. There are people I want you to take."
"Behind you?"
Three men were lined up behind Mion. All of them had fearless faces, and one could tell they were adventurers just by looking at them.
"Yes. They lost their job. I felt sorry for them, so I'm asking Ren to take them in."
"...Ah, so that's how it is."
After taking a good look at the three of them, Ren finally noticed it. It was the first time he had seen their faces, but he had seen their eyes many times. They were three guild soldiers.
"That sort of thing."
"I thought you promised not to punish them."
"We're not punishing them. Guild soldiers are the private army of the guild leader."
"I know that."
"When the guild leader leaves the guild, the guild guard leaves the guild."
"Eh?"
This was also the first time Ren had heard of it. He thought they would be able to continue working as a guild employee.
"Usually they're hired by the next guild leader, but they have some problems."
"So you want me to pick them up?"
"Aren't you the king? Feed at least three people."
"...Ralph?"
Although the three of them had it coming, Ren was also responsible for what had happened. Ren could not be indifferent.
"If they're not hero candidates, Ren can do whatever you like. Adding three people doesn't make a difference."
"Is that so? Then, alright."
"Is it okay?"
"It's okay. I'll allow them to accompany me... but what about the three of them?"
"That has been confirmed. I told them where they were going and what kind of place they were going to."
"I see."
Even if they don't risk accompanying them to Nord, they should be able to make a lot of money as adventurers with their abilities. Ren, who does not trust people, is becoming more and more wary.
"They were originally adventurers too. Aren’t they interested in the new place?"
"I see……"
Mion senses this and follows up, but that should not make him less wary. Mion knows this too. She did not want to say anything more about them.
"Well, good luck. And take care."
"Ah, yes"
Mion left the place with very simple words at the end. It was as if she would see them again tomorrow. Ren had no idea that this was the custom among adventurers who might die at any moment. As an adventurer, Ren was still young.
"……Name?"
"Bull"
"Bear"
"Fox"
In response to Ren's question, they each give their names.
"It's clearly a fake name."
"No, it's not an alias. We gave up our real name a long time ago."
"...Then, I won't ask you why"
There is no doubt that it is not a good reason to not ask.
"We'd be more grateful for that."
"Three people... can't ride."
"If you let us know your destination, we'll follow you."
"Forest of No Entry"
"At the nearest entrance?"
"Yes"
"I understand"
With that, the three of them disappeared into the crowd. Ren returned to the carriage without paying any attention to them. The people watching inside looked more worried.
"Is it okay?"
Ralph asked on behalf of the others.
"I would be worried if they follow us. I can't trust them. Which means?"
"You mean can you trust them?"
"We'll see. For now, let's see if we can get to the forest without incident."
He had told them where they were going. If they have bad intentions, they might do something on the way. It is more likely that they are not directly involved, but some other country.
"That's a risky plan."
"Not really. Their loyalty is strong. They'll do whatever they're told by the people to whom they owe allegiance."
"I don't understand."
"I've been with them all the time on the escort request. I'm not saying they're absolutely fine, but I've made sure of that."
The question is how this loyalty will grow within them, but Ren did not say. If he did, it would only cause continued worry around him.
"Shall we try it on top of that? Well, it's fine."
The carriage started moving again, slowly making its way down the main street and eventually exiting out of the gate. The four years of his life in the capital came to an easy end on this day.
◇◇◇
It takes about five days to get to the [Forest of No Entry] from the capital. Naturally, they had to camp along the way. The place of the camp is decided, and for Ren, it is a place that he has visited many times.
And for Shizuru, it is a place that she must have visited at least twice on her way there and back in the past.
"Heh, this is how camping is done."
Shizuru sat down near Ren, who was doing some light after-meal exercises while saying so.
"You've been here before. You must have experienced it before."
"That's right, but"
She had experience in camping. But she had never experienced preparing it. When she came here before, everything was done by the people around her.
"If you have nothing to do, go to sleep"
"But."
"...Because I won't."
"Eeh?"
"Why are you surprised?"
Ren is surprised at Shizuru's reaction to the words he uttered while thinking that it was not possible.
"I haven't done it for a long time."
"You did, right?"
Shizuru must have been doing the act. The other person told Ren about it.
"......That's because Ren told me to try other men."
"I didn't say that."
"Could it be jealousy!?"
Shizuru was pleased with Ren's annoyed reaction, but it can't be true.
"It is a fact"
Ren was annoyed because Shizuru lied about something he didn't say.
"...Stingy"
"Why is it stingy?"
"But Ren didn't do it too, right? Don't you want to?"
"…………"
Without answering Shizuru's question, Ren started doing push-ups.
"...You didn't, right?"
"…………"
Ren just repeats push-ups silently. For some reason, Shizuru is sensitive to this kind of attitude. Her face becomes stern as she looks at him.
"Who were you having s*x with!?"
"No need to say"
This answer is a word of affirmation. Even if he doesn't feel the need to hide it that much, it's still a bit careless of Ren.
"I knew it! It's that maid, right!?"
"Yeah"
The intuition is very sharp in Shizuru, who lives her life as a woman.
"Why did you put your hands on that woman? I wasn't beside you at that time, so if you say you have no choice, I'll forgive you."
She doesn't care about facts. Shizuru wanted Ren to say that.
"I don’t need your forgiveness. Who cares about that in the first place?"
And there was no way Ren would do what Shizuru wanted.
"......I, as the King's guard, should always be aware of His Majesty the King's affairs."
Shizuru has no right to accuse him of cheating. So Shizuru immediately tries to use her position as a king's guard as an excuse, but it is not an excuse at all.
"No, a king's guard doesn't care about the king's relationships with women."
"...I care about what I care about, regardless of my position."
In the end, she finally opens up.
"Anyway, not for a while. Especially not today."
"Why?"
"Because it's a full moon"
"......Ah, I see. It's so beautiful."
Shizuru looked up into the sky and admired the full moon in the night sky for a while. The stars are beautiful in the night sky of this world, but the moon has a different beauty than in the original world.
"……Hey."
"What?"
"Isn't the moon beautiful?"
Saying this, Shizuru stared at Ren's face.
"...I won't say it."
"...Chee."
Shizuru's intentions were easily seen through by Ren. Regardless of Ren's feelings, Shizuru is desperate to get him to say he likes her. She believes that her repeated efforts will move Ren's feelings. Although there is no basis for this.
"Don't think about trivial things and go to sleep"
"Why wouldn't you do it when it's a full moon?"
Shizuru is not the type of person who will sleep when told to sleep. She turned another question to Ren.
"I decided to spend time with Rin. Rin on a full moon night gets a little excited, so I want to calm her down."
"Luna-chan too?"
"Luna is also energetic on full moon nights in a different sense from Rin. Luna is more likely to be out somewhere."
"I see... hey"
"What?"
"I'm thinking of changing my name."
"Huh?"
This was something Ren had not expected.
"I thought I'd take this opportunity to get rid of my original name. What kind of name do you think is best?"
"I don't care."
"Hey! Think about it a little!"
Shizuru is getting irritated by Ren who doesn't react the way she wants.
"Then... Zuru."
"...I don't like it"
"Shiru."
"I don't like it more"
"What? I thought about it."
"You're not thinking about it at all"
"I'm thinking properly. You're the only one complaining. All the children were happy."
"Children……"
She tries to remember the names of the children. Ai, Mai, Mii, Kai, Kei, etc. Shizuru gave up on asking Ren to come up with names. She had originally thought of some names.
"…How about Yue?"
"No"
An immediate answer. Without a pause, Ren refused.
"Why?"
"That's no good"
"Because all the women around you are related to the moon. Luna's name comes from the moon, right? Rin's name is different, but her image is like the moon."
"It's because of the color of her hair, isn't it?"
Rin's name has nothing to do with the moon. Their names are just Ren, Ron, and Rin.
"That’s right, but… and Kazuki-san too."
Shizuru also doesn't care about the origin of Rin's name. It is the name of Kazuki that makes her obsessed with the moon.
"......And that's why you're obsessed with the moon?"
"Yes. It's Chinese for [quiet moon], or [jìng yuè]."
"You know how to pronounce that?"
"Because I had looked it up in Shizuru. It's normal for it to be Yue."
"...Then why don't you make it Shizuku instead of forcing it to be Chinese?"
If Shizuru wants to stick to the moon, she could stick to it. On the other hand, Ren is not particular about it.
"Shizuku, huh..."
"If you don't like it, go with something else."
"Then call me Shizuku."
"...Shizuku"
"Yes"
Shizuku, aka Shizuru, replies happily to Ren's call. For some reason, Ren never complains about this kind of pampering attitude. It is not limited to Shizuku alone.
"I'm Moon now, too. I'm going to go tell everyone."
Shizuku stood up happily. Her feet came to a halt as she headed for the tent where the others were.
"Rin-san?"
"Sorry to interrupt."
"N-no……"
Even though she looks frightened, Shizuku can't take her eyes off Rin. The red glowing eyes bewitched Shizuku's mind. The blood-red lips seem to waver in Shizuku's eyes.
Fear and at the same time, a raging sexual desire.
"R-Ren"
"I won't hold you. Today is Rin's day."
"But, I..."
"Get away from here. It'll pass."
"Ren-sama"
Rin's eyes did not seem to reflect Shizuku already, and she jumped into Ren's chest without any concern at all. Ren took her in his arms and hugged her.
They just hugged each other, their hands moving to caress each other's cheeks or go around each other's back. Even so, Shizuku's arousal was building up as she watched.
Feeling fear that she might not be able to maintain her sanity, Shizuku managed to suppress her feelings and left the scene.
Even though she no longer felt the presence of the two, her heart continued to beat wildly for a while. Suddenly remembering the magic training, she started it and finally calmed down.
"That was not good. Rin-san in the full moon is dangerous."
When she remembered Rin's condition, a strange excitement came back to her heart.
"I can't believe I want to be held by Rin-san. Or do I want to hold Rin-san?"
Shizuku begins to talk about her ridiculous fantasies.
"......How could Ren not want to hold that Rin-san?"
In the end, this question was stuck in her head.
◇◇◇
Around the time Shizuku calmed down, both Ren and Rin were showing signs of calming down. After exchanging kisses that were just a slow and light touch, they let go of each other.
"……I'm very sorry"
"What?"
"For some reason, I, who should be the one seducing you, lost myself and sought Ren-sama."
It was the day of the full moon when the effects of charm were at their best. But instead of charming him, Rin has lost herself for some time. The reason for this is unknown to Rin.
"No need to apologize"
"But... I still can't give it to Ren-sama."
When the excitement subsides, Rin becomes severely depressed. This is always the case.
"No, it's fine"
"Um, never mind me, just her."
Shizuku instead of herself. Rin says this because of her guilt toward Ren. She doesn't need to feel guilty.
"It's okay"
"But, just to make Ren-sama endure it."
"No, like I said."
Rin is more depressed than usual because of Shizuku's presence. She cannot be held like Shizuku. It's because of this inferiority complex.
"Please go to her and vent it without minding me. I'm fine now."
"No, Rin, um, you see."
Seeing Rin's depression, Ren tried to talk, but he hesitated and couldn't speak.
"What?"
"I've been too embarrassed to tell you until now."
"Yes"
"That's, I, you see. Because I'm venting on my own."
"……Yes?"
"Your power in the full moon is amazing. Just touching your body over your clothes or being touched. I got so excited. I self-destruct?"
"Self-destruct?"
Unfortunately, this analogy didn't work for Rin. Once again, Ren had to think of a roundabout way of saying it.
"Like I said... I'm always in a situation where I need to change clothes... my underwear..."
"Ah... I'm sorry!"
Rin's face, who finally understood the meaning, turned bright red.
"Don't apologize. I'm more embarrassed."
The same goes for Ren.
"...Shall I wash it?"
"It's even more embarrassing. Anyway, there's nothing to worry about. I'm satisfied when I'm with Rin. I wanted to say that."
"I see... I'm happy."
Ren's words lift Rin's spirits.
"Ah, wait a minute. I'll calm down for now. Yeah, I'll do it."
"But... I'm happy."
Contrary to her childlike attitude, Rin's charm is in full swing again.
The vampire's charm is the power of instinct to preserve the species. If they find a person they like, they will show far more power than usual toward them, and their hearts will not stop seeking it.
This is the reason why Rin becomes strange on a full moon. It will be a little while before they learn about this.
◇◇◇
After several encampments, the group arrives at the entrance to the [Forest of No Entry].
The entrance was almost in sight and the three former guild soldiers who had been moving apart had joined the group. The reason for this was that it was better for them to show up early so that they would not cause unnecessary worry. First, the three of them crossed one of Ren's hurdles.
The group drove their carriage directly into the campsite near the entrance. As usual, there were several tents that appeared to belong to adventurers. Ren and the others prepared to set up camp by choosing a spot away from the tents.
All they had to do was set up their tents. With Ren and the three former guild soldiers, it didn't take long to set up camp. All that remained was to wait for the others to join them.
"How long are we going to wait?"
Shizuku always asks questions. Others just follow Ren's instructions faithfully and would not question the details.
"The last one is probably the armor craftsmen. Three days at the latest?"
"I see. And what about the others?"
"They will appear soon. I told them about our arrival."
"Told them?"
After arriving at the campsite, they just pitched their tents. She had no recollection of anyone that would send a message.
"Ah, it's sooner than I thought."
At Ren's voice, everyone in the place turned their gazes toward Ren's gaze. They saw a beast running towards them.
Its appearance grows as they watch it.
"What!? Fenriswolf!?"
As a former adventurer, Bull realizes that the approaching beast is a magical beast.
"No! It's Ron!"
"Yes?"
"My magical beast. You've seen him, right?"
"...He's that big?"
"He grew up so suddenly. I couldn't keep him in the church capital, so I brought him here."
Ron's puppy-like charm has completely disappeared, and he has changed into a body much larger than a human. It is a figure that makes one feels instinctive fear.
Ren alone doesn't feel it at all.
"It hurts. If you're going to bite, go easy on the bite."
Just like when he was little, Ren let him bite his finger without hesitation.
"Ren!?"
"What?"
"You're injured! I'll heal it immediately!"
It's not the same as when he was small. Ren's finger, bitten by Ron, is bleeding quite a bit.
"Yeah, later. Looks like Ron hasn't had enough yet."
"...Doesn't it hurt?"
"Of course, it's going to hurt."
"So why would you let him bite you?"
"Because I like Ron. It's an expression of affection for Ron."
"...Won't it cut your finger off?"
"Of course not. Even Ron knows that. He's pretty smart."
Ron prefers Ren's blood. It looks like a bad injury, but it's not that deep, just a lot of blood flowing. It's not as bad as it looks.
"Really?"
"You want to give it a try?"
"No"
"It's not about biting your fingers. It's about how smart he is."
"Ah, okay."
Shizuku agreed as long as it didn't hurt, but this was premature.
"Then Ron. You can let go. You can impregnate her."
Ren says something outrageous. And knowing that Ren is usually serious, Shizuku's face turned pale.
"No!? Stop!? I absolutely don't want that!?"
"He can't do that, right? Ron is smart enough not to."
In fact, Ron didn't even move.
"He just doesn't understand it, right?"
But Shizuku doesn't think that's proof of how smart he is. Even if she thought so, she should have kept quiet.
"...Ron. As a punishment, lightly drag her around."
"Eh? Eh!? Ah, nooooo!"
As Ren ordered, Ron grabbed the hem of Shizuki's clothes and started moving around. Not at full power. Light enough not to hurt. Just like Ren said.
"Ron, you can stop."
Hearing this, Ron dragged Shizuku up in front of Ren and let go.
"...I thought I was going to die."
"That's an exaggeration. You just got a little dirt on you, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I was scared."
"Ah, it looks like the others have caught up."
While they were fooling around, another group came. The group surprised Shizuku, Bull, and the others in a different way from Ron.
Several carriages were moving forward in a line. Dozens of people were walking around them. Some were dressed in knight's armor, and others in monastic garb.
The carriages line up next to the carriages brought by Ren and the others. Soon, two people who looked like a knight and a nun walked toward Ren from among them.
"It's been a while. Ren-dono."
"It's been a long time. Ren-sama."
"Yeah. You both look fine. Are the others okay?"
"Yes. No problem."
"There's still a group of armor craftsmen and a group of people from Nord coming from the church capital. The children are with them. I think it'll be three days at the latest, so we'll wait until then. After that, we'll proceed to the next rendezvous point, so we'll wait until then."
"If that's the case, they should be arriving a little early."
Although they came from the capital, Ren and his group were a few days ahead of the others. A man who looked like a knight asked about it.
"We were attacked in the capital."
"What!?"
"Ah, it's a runaway attack by one of the retainers. I don't think there will be a chase, but just in case."
"...Is that so? Understood."
"Ren-sama?"
After the conversation with the knight, a woman who looked like a nun called Ren's name.
"What?"
"Why is she here?"
The nun's gaze is straight toward Shizuku. Her face is pale as she receives her gaze. Even Shizuku knows who she is.
"I'm taking her with me."
"May I ask why?"
"This woman is my comforter."
"...For that?"
"No, that's not all. I will make her do other things. If you don't like it, ignore it. But I don't have the option of not taking her with me."
"…Did Ren-sama forgave her?"
To the nuns, Shizuku is a traitor. That betrayal also killed Kazuki. The nun asked how Ren felt about allowing her to accompany him.
"I will never forgive her. It is not only this woman. Not forgiving just doesn't lead to killing as it is."
"…………"
They know that they, who involved Kazuki, are among the targets that Ren won't forgive. The nun stopped complaining.
"Let me tell you one thing. It seems that Kazuki has decided to lend her strength to this woman. This woman has acquired Kazuki's power."
Ren offered more convincing material. This is an implicit instruction to convince others.
"...As expected of the Saint. The depth of her mercy is beyond my imagination. Understood. I will follow in the footsteps of the Saint and treat her with a heart of mercy."
The nun receives it correctly and makes a statement that acknowledges Shizuku.
"You don’t have to spoil her. However, please don’t look at her with prejudice. If you see this woman as she really is...... well, I'll leave that to you."
"Yes"
"This woman has changed her name to Shizuku. Meaning quiet moon. She is trying to do something in her own way."
"Understood. Then Shizuku-san, nice to meet you."
Treating the past as if it never happened. These words were a declaration of that.
"…Nice to meet you, Friar Seira-sama."
Shizuku also responded to that.
"No need for the friar. I'm just Seira."
"Seira-sama"
"No need for the -sama either."
"But you are my instructor, and you are very strict about etiquette."
"Who are you talking about? The person you're talking about is dead. I'm not the person you're talking about. Even if there are other faces you know, they are not them."
"……I understand"
Hearing Shizuku's approval, Seira left the place.
As an instructor, Seira was in charge of teaching Shizuku the discipline and knowledge of nuns. Shizuku, who had been upset to see Seira's face when she thought she was dead, finally came to understand the situation.
She is leaving behind her past as a member of the Anti-Hero Alliance and is now following Ren. She doesn't know what the purpose of this was, but she understood it.
And the same goes for all the people who are beginning to prepare for the encampment in front of her. It means they are former members of the Anti-Hero Alliance.
"They say it's hard for them to be the only survivors."
"I see……"
"I'm like them, but the difference is that they want to die. That's why they're not afraid to follow me."
"You're going to let them die?"
"I will prepare a place for them to die. It is also a meaningful place to die."
Ren has no desire to stop death. If possible, Ren wants to die too. Now, though, he added a thought of finishing his revenge.
"Will they get angry if I try my best not to let them die?"
"They'll be angry. But you can do it if you want. They can die, but they can also not die."
"I guess so..."
Twenty-two former church knights and thirty-one former nuns joined the group. Ren's group quickly grew to over sixty people.
It was two days later that the group of armor craftsmen, including Kou, and a group of returnees from the Nord, who had accompanied the orphans, joined the group.
When nearly one hundred personnel had gathered, information came to the ears of those who had been following the footsteps of Ren, who had disappeared from the church capital.
But that was as far as it went. Ren's group, which was supposed to have left the [Forest of No Entry], had completely disappeared.
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