Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 199: "Handshake"

"Hi, can I have a word?"

I give a small nod.

I knew he'd be here by now, and the timing couldn't be worse.

Aspizal smiles and sits down next to me. I don't really care, but since you're so close, could you please sit a little further away?

"About sometime. May I hear back from you?"

"I can take it on condition."

I was going to say no, but then things changed.

Aspizal's eyes widen slightly at my reply.

"I was expecting you to refuse, so I was surprised by your answer. And? What are the conditions?"

"Let me check first. What exactly do you want me to do?"

"First we have to cleanse Darzain. They have to decide whether they want to follow me or my father. Then we will dispose of the people who refused and break off relations with Tcke. But it's difficult to destroy them because they don't operate in this country alone, but we should be able to at least make them unable to operate in Urs Laguna. After that, we need to do something about the Gnosis..."

I shake my head.

How greedy is too much?

Aspizal smiles at my attitude, knowing what I'm thinking.

"So we'll just have to get rid of Tuke. That's about it, roughly?"

Well, it's not a bad deal for me either.

The Tuke's are a threat to me.

In addition to not knowing who they are, it is obvious that they would get involved if they had the chance, so they want to crush them and clear the air.

Aspizal looks at me and urges me to talk about that side of the story.

"Firstly, I'm joining forces with you guys temporarily, not as a subordinate. Secondly, non-interference with me from now on. Lastly, I need something from you."

"I don't have a problem with the subordinate thing. I don't want to tie you down from the start. As far as non-interference is concerned, I don't mind as long as you leave a window."

"A window?"

"Yeah.If something happens, don't you think it would be more convenient if we could contact each other?For the future, you know?"

Sure, it's not so bad if I can make a complaint if they do something over there.

I mock myself for sounding like I'm the complainer when I hear that much.

"So... what's the last thing they want me to prepare?"

"...... Oh, that's the thing..."

I utter my last request.

"...... I see. I understand what you're saying. It's a fruitful story for us too, and I'll be ready for it. ......"

After listening, Aspizal nodded broadly.

But there was a problem. I can understand that point somehow.

"Is it ...... time?"

"Yes. I'll do my best to hurry, but I think it will inevitably take some time."

"Can you make it?"

"I'll make it. Don't forget your promise."

"Okay."

Aspizal smiles and holds out his hand.

I take his hand and shake it.

Now the insurance is in hand.

Frankly, I'd rather not have to use it, but Fatima just told me I'm being too optimistic.

I should assume the worst.

"Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get moving, shall we? First of all, we have to go back to Urs Laguna, but how are we going to get back there?"

To a certain extent, that's fine, because there's no reason to keep it hidden anymore.

In any case, they've already seen us.

"You've seen it too, the land dragon. I rode it here."

"Ah, that big earth dragon. I've seen it before too, but it looks very different. The arms are very thick. Or did you do something to it?"

You're very perceptive.

That's why I don't like dealing with people like this.

"I'll leave it to your imagination."

...and I just shrugged my shoulders.

Aspizal stood up, saying that the conversation was settled without any further questions.

"All right. I'll talk to Azusa and tell her to move over there."

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"Then I'll let Hieda know that I'm leaving here."

"Well, when we're done with each other's business, we'll meet up outside the temporary tent on the south side of town."

We nodded to each other and each walked off in different directions.

After a short search, Hie was easily found.

I thought it would take a while because he was busy moving around and didn't stay in one place, but it was quick once we got to where the people were gathered.

I approached them, vaguely thinking that someone like that naturally attracts people.

"Hieda-san."

When I called out to him, Hie turned around with a somewhat tired look.

"Oh. Roe, thanks for all the work you've done for us. And? What's up? What's happened?"

"Sorry, we've got to get back soon."

"...... I see. ...and? When are you leaving?"

It's a surprising reaction. I thought I was going to be told to stay behind.

"You're strangers. It wouldn't make sense to ask you to stay and help, would it?"

He cowered his shoulders and added that he had guessed what I was thinking.

"Thank you for saying so. We'll be leaving shortly after."

Hieda gave a small nod as he said this.

"...You seem to have a reason. Anything I can do to help?"

"Just a feeling."

"I see. You are a benefactor to me and my country.Next time you come back, I promise to host you as my guests."

Benefactor? Don't joke about it.

I've just paid the price for what I've done. Besides...

Considering the circumstances around me, I couldn't bring myself to owe him a favor.

"After all, when you've caused so much damage, it's enough not to be called a war criminal."

Frankly, Hie shakes his head in denial.

"No, there was no other chance to finish him off other than that one time. You just didn't miss that chance. That's why I say of the three of you, 'Heroes who saved the country by killing the monster'."

Stop it, it's embarrassing.

And hero is the furthest thing from my vocabulary.

"Oh, yeah. Well, that's why we'll leave from here."

I felt uncomfortable, so that's all I could say.

"Oh. Thanks for everything, man. See you again."

I lightly bumped my fist against Hieda, who came at me with a fist, and left the scene.

What a refreshing guy he was.

After all, do great people have to be that bold?

I mocked myself for thinking it was impossible for me, no matter how hard I tried, and headed for the meeting place.

Aspizal and Yonomori were already waiting there.

"...I've heard about you. Please take care of me for a little while."

Yonomori was subtle, but seemed to have no objection to teaming up.

"Oh, and sorry to be so quick, but..."

"I've already made arrangements for the things you asked for. As soon as they're ready, I'll have them sent to the Oratorium."

"Sorry."

When I say this, Yonomori gives a small shake of her head.

Now it's my turn.

"Savage."

The Savage, who had been hiding nearby, broke his invisibility and appeared when I called out to him.

"Oh, that's amazing. Hey, can I touch it?"

As soon as Aspizaru saw Savage, he asked me with a twinkle in his eye, so I gave him permission if only for a moment.

Savage is disgusted by the sticky touch all over his body, but it's like a form of entertainment.

I told him to bear it and ignored him.

"Did you come here on this land dragon?"

"Yes, I did. And you'll have to cross the forest on it on the way back."

It's faster than a carpet.

"Well, does that mean the three of us?"

"Yeah."

When I said that, Savage turned his head up slightly as if to say, "What?".

Yonomori stares at Savage.

"I'm sure I could straddle it, but what about you guys?"

What are you talking about? Me and Aspizal will get on with it, but you're going to be carried by Savage, you know?

Savage's cheeks twitched slightly, but I ignored it.

"Well, let's get going, shall we?"

Savage folds his knees to get into a comfortable riding position when I call out to him, Aspizal straddles him like he's been waiting for me, and I ride behind him.

"Um... me?"

Yonomori points to herself.

I poke Savage lightly on the head and reluctantly pick up Yonomori.

Yonomori screams in surprise, but I tell her to hold on to it without a care.

"Savage. You have one month to cross the forest. Can you do it?"

He replied that he couldn't, but ignored him.

"Go."

Savage let out a sigh, kicked the ground and leapt. He kicked further in the air and accelerated.

He flies towards the forest with arrow-like speed.

"Oh, oh! Wow, this is amazing, Azusa, this is amazing!"

"Hey, how fast is this going? I mean, I'm scared and afraid! Put me down~!"

As I watched the excited Aspizal and Yonomori desperately clinging to Savage, I wondered with a faraway look in my eyes when I would be able to have a carefree journey.

It's another beautiful day.

A blow from a thick arm like a log gouges the ground heavily.

The impact scattered stones and mud around the area and struck everyone present.

I - Heidi - quickly protected my face and got through it, but small pains hit my body when I was hit by a pebble or other object that was not protected by my protective gear.

Heidi checks her surroundings with a frown of pain on her face.

There are six of us who went through this request together with me.

It looks like all of them are safe.

"Is everyone safe!?"

When I call out to them, they reply in various ways.

"Yeah, I'm okay..."

"I have aches here and there, but I'm fine."

Once I'm sure everyone is safe, I look ahead.

A huge monster - a urushidae - roars and throbs menacingly at us as we look at it.

It has short but thick limbs and a generally rounded shape.

Normally, these monsters do not come down to human settlements very often, but not at this time of year.

In this season, when winter is over and spring has just begun, the Ursidae awaken from hibernation and appear to attack people with an empty stomach.

For this reason, requests for escorting or killing them are often made at this time of year, but the dangers are so great that adventurers below the blue level are not allowed to take on such requests.

In fact, the Ursidae are strong monsters.

Its log-like arms can crush a human body with a single blow, and its thick fur scatters the power of magic and repels blows.

Blades work, but it is difficult to penetrate them without using heavy objects.

If you have enough firepower to break through the defences, there is no problem, but few have enough power to finish off a urushidae with ease.

If you want to kill them safely, it is recommended to challenge them with five to ten men.

However, there are many stories of adventurers who, greedy for rewards, challenge the Ursidae with a small number of men, only to be beaten back.

This time, I took part in a joint quest of two parties, but as it was the first time for all of us to take on the Ursidae, we were not very good at working together, let alone at getting the job done.

Apart from me, there are six of us: two sword-bearers, one axe-bearer, one bow-bearer and two wizard-witches in the rearguard.

Naturally, all of them are blue adventurers, but I have to say that their abilities are, frankly speaking, not very good.

Originally, the party was made up of two parties of three plus me, so the balance between the vanguard and the rearguard is well balanced.

However, in terms of skill, the three in the vanguard just set out in the dark, and the bow carrier should just be a check and balance, but when I see them repeating ineffective attacks, I can see their intention of actively trying to finish them off.

It is the same for the two Witches, who are all on the offensive with the sole intention of finishing them off, so they are not taking advantage of their large numbers.

The fact that all of them are still in their teens and have risen to the blue ranks shows that they are talented, but they lack experience, and the idea that they want to be admired for finishing the job is also apparent.

If it wasn't in a situation like this, it would be laughable and appropriate for his age, but in a life-threatening situation, it would literally be fatal.

But in a situation where lives are at stake, it's literally fatal...

I was there as a backup, but I can't say that.

Inhale and exhale. And concentrate.

Fortunately, the opponent is only one opponent. The place is open, so the possibility of unnecessary flanking is extremely low.

As for the actions of our allies, they are all at a standstill, so the possibility of them taking reckless action is low, although it's not impossible.

Let's go...

I kick the ground and run.

I make a big move, and all the attention of the place is focused on me.

The Ursidae were seen to be slightly lowering themselves, as if intending to intercept them.

When I got somewhat close, I dropped the magic stone I had planted in my sleeve into the palm of my hand and gripped it tightly.

As soon as a crack appears, the stone is thrown. At the same time, I dropped my gaze to my feet and watched the shadow of my opponent.

The shadow's movement showed that Ursidae raised his arm to strike down the flying foreign object... but he was too late.

The magic stone, reaching the limit of its durability in the air, shatters and releases the magic inside.

A sound and a flash of light spread.

I looked up where I had passed the flash and checked on my opponent.

I saw Ursidae rubbing his eyes and struggling to regain his sight.

There is still a distance between us, but it is enough for me.

I held my arm straight out towards my opponent.

The chain weight I had planted flies off and wraps around Ursidae's neck.

When it is firmly entangled, I reel it back in. My body is pulled back and the distance is shortened quickly.

I swing my arm in the air and unwind the chain.

The chain around the neck comes off and rewinds back to my hand.

I fly with the momentum of my body being pulled and land on Ursidae's shoulder.

I cling to his neck, but I don't aim for strangulation. It's impossible with my arm strength.

I pull out the dagger from my waist and thrust it into his eye, twisting and stirring it when it sinks to the hilt.

The urushidae flailed about in an attempt to shake me off, but I didn't fight it and jumped down with the momentum.

As soon as I landed, I jumped backwards to gain distance.

...I had a good response...

I don't let my guard down until my opponent stops moving.

I concentrate on my opponent's movements and prepare to move.

Ursidae was swinging his arms around for a while, but gradually his movements became weaker and -.

- and collapsed with a ground shaking sound.

I watch him for a while and relax when he stops moving completely.

When I looked back, the adventurers on my side were looking at me in dismay.

"Did you beat it?"

The sword-carrying vanguard called out to me in a fearful manner.

"Somehow. But more importantly, are you guys okay?"

"Yes, somehow, but..."

He says this as he looks back at the others.

Everyone else gets up one by one and walks over to us.

"I'm sorry. I was called in to act as a check and balance, but I shouldn't have interfered."

"No, if Heidi hadn't stepped up, probably a few people would have been killed..."

The other members of the vanguard shook their heads helplessly, but on the other hand, the relatively energetic girls in the rear guard crowded in.

"Great! Heidi-san! No, let me call you sister!"

"I respect you as a woman for killing the Ursidae single-handedly!"

"It's no wonder that you were the only one in your party to make it to the Red!"

Yes, I did. I had risen to the rank of Red Adventurer before I knew it.

I'm Heidi of Anomaly, a third-level Red adventurer.

I'm registered as a party member, but I've been on my own for a long time...

I glance at everyone I fought with this time.

Even though I knew I shouldn't, I couldn't help comparing it to Roe.

I was a little sad that the days without him were becoming the norm.

I'm steadily moving up through the ranks and accumulating achievements, and there are many people who call out to me.

Would you like to join the same party? Won't you start a party with me? Won't you be my wife? Won't you become my wife, sister?

There have been some solicitations that I don't understand the meaning of in the latter half, but I have so far refused all of them.

For me, there is no one else I would rather be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other than Roe.

People around me say he's dead, but why? I have an unfounded belief that he is alive.

Maybe I just want to think so, but -.

"I miss him..."

I mutter quietly in my mouth.

The words are swallowed up by the voices of the adventurers around me, and no one hears them.