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[Abyss Walker Countermeasures Meeting]
The search for Abyss Walker utilizing the knight order continued thoroughly for the next week, but no one other than those two was seen.
Receiving the report from Meiss, Lloyd had lifted the blockade of the city because the safety has been confirmed for the time being.
At the same time, it was decided that the search for Abyss Walkers in the Demon Forest would be a permanent request to high-ranked adventurers belonging to the Adventurer’s Guild of Youg Hannotes.
The city where the blockade was lifted once regained its calm.
However, the air in the city remained heavy due to the appearance of the creatures that made them feel the resurgence of the Abyss Walkers.
Meanwhile, I was called to Lloyd’s mansion.
Currently, a meeting for Abyss Walker countermeasures is being held with Lloyd as the chairman.
The attendees are Linus, Gawain, Noelia, Meiss, Adventurer’s Guild Master, and me.
“Half of the knight order continue to devote themselves to the search in the Demon Forest, and the Adventurer’s Guild also requested the high-ranked adventurers to participate in the search as the priority. However, currently, there are no report of discovery other than those two.”
The Knight Captain Meiss was reading the report that came up.
“Is that mean that there were only those two who were hiding in the Demon Forest for 20 years after the Great Invasion?”
“I think the possibility of that is low. The Demon Forest has a large number of monsters inside it, but adventurers entered there quite often with the purpose of subjugating the monsters, so I think it is unbelievable that they haven’t been discovered in the past 20 years.”
Meiss denied the guess from Lloyd.
I agree, if it were a specimen who were strong to that degree, I think their battle with monsters would be a fairly flashy one, so I don’t think that battle wouldn’t be found by adventurers who entered the Demon Forest.
That’s why, I wondered if they might have recently appeared in that area.
“Are they not specimens that newly crawled out of the Abyss Hole? In the last Great Invasion, they also crawled out of that hole, right?”
Listening to Meiss’ report, Gawain said so.
“However, in the last Great Invasion, there was an omen, you know. Perhaps you remember that before the Abyss Walkers crawled out, a mysterious pillar of light rose from that big hole. There was no omen like that this time.”
This time, Lloyd denied Gawain’s opinion.
Such a pillar of light rose before the last Great Invasion occurred, huh.
The adults in the village where I was in did not say anything about such a thing, so it was my first time hearing it.
By coming into contact with the information I heard for the first time, I realized once again that this was the front line in the Great Invasion 20 years ago.
“Come to think of it, that’s right. I was engrossed in forging swords, so I don’t remember much, but I feel that the people of the city were saying something like that. If that’s the case, where did those things came from?”
In response to Gawain’s question, Arnold, the Guild Master who had been silently listening to the discussion, raised his hand reservedly.
“With all due respect, there is something I need to say. Actually, there is a general meeting of Adventurer’s Guild of the cities in all over the Kingdom… In the last general meeting that I participated, I heard some rumors, it seems that this Abyss Walker-like specimen has been sighted in various places. But the Adventurer’s Guild of the other cities seems did not attach much importance in the report and didn’t do a follow-up investigation…”
“W-what! Why did you not bring up such a story so me!! When did you heard that story!!”
Hearing Arnold’s report, Lloyd’s complexion was dyed in red.
“Y-yes. It was about half a year ago… also, so far, there have been reports of the seldom seen Abyss Walkers brought to the Adventurer’s Guild of various places, but all of them were reported by newcomer adventurers. Therefore, it was brought up at the general meeting, but wasn’t emphasized… But this time, I got a bad feeling because I received the report from an adventurer who survived the Great Invasion, so I immediately reported it to Lloyd-sama…”
“Moron… if we heard such a story since half a year ago, we could have done more. It can only be said as a blunder that stems from your carelessness.”
“P-please forgive me. I didn’t think that the Abyss Walkers could still be possibly exist. I’ll take responsibility for this blunder and I’ll resign from my guild master position.”
Reprimanded, Arnold had a pale face, shrunk his body and bowed his head.
Seeing Arnold’s appearance, Lloyd waved his hand annoyedly.
“If you take the responsibility for this blunder by resigning, it would only cause confusion in the operation of the Adventurer’s Guild. Your blunder this time could also be blamed on me as the one who appointed you. Redeem your blunder with work.”
“Y-y-yes!”
“But on the other hand, hereafter, give me all the stories related to Abyss Walker, even rumors.”
“Understood. I will do my best at work.”
For the time being, Arnold’s dismissal seems to be canceled, but according to his story, Abyss Walker-like figures were being seen all over the Kingdom.
So that means that it is unlikely that the two we found in the Demon Forest is the last of them.
“In that case, that means that there may be a certain number of this new species in the Kingdom.”
Listening to Arnold’s story, Gawain thought out loud with his arms crossed.
“I’ve already conveyed the King of what was happening with fast horse…perhaps the nobles of the Royal Capital would band together. In particular, the Prime Minister and the Commander of the Royal Guard Knight Order of the Radcliffe’s family father and son pair may crush the report. They would hate it if I expand my powers with the countermeasures against the Abyss Walkers.
“Radcliffe family, huh…I would also advise the King, but if the Radcliffe family going in the opposite direction, it seems that Lloyd-dono’s report wouldn’t be reported.”
A dark expression appears on the faces of Lloyd and Linus who raised their voices.
Speaking of the Radcliffe family, they were the noble who supported Alfine when she became a noble after receiving the title of Sword Master.
Afterwards, they gave her the job of the swordsmanship instructor of the Royal Guard Knight Order.
But Alfine hated Gile.
I met him about three times, and he seems to have a quite unlikeable personality.
However, I think it is not the time for a power struggle in a situation where the Abyss Walkers may overflow again.
I wonder if the aristocrats of the Royal Capital have less fear of Abyss Walker.
“Well, it seems that the Kingdom can’t be relied upon. On this occasion, perhaps I should mass produce the Intelligent Sword that I made and made them learnt the Spell Sword~.”
“Gawain, that’s too early! Don’t be hasty! If it’s just Frick’s, I can still cover it with my authority. To mass-produce things that violate the law of the Kingdom, you have to get the approval of the King.”
Mass produce the intelligent magic sword, huh…
I see, in case it can use magic by itself like mine, even a swordsman who can’t use magic can use the Spell Sword, huh.
“Kingdom’s approval, huh~. If that new species is wandering around, you can’t afford to wait for something like that. If the intelligent one is no good, we just have to come up with a way to enclose the magic, right? In that case, the Kingdom can’t complain, right.”
“Haa!? What kind of sword would that be?”
Gawain began to say something strange again.
A sword that encloses magic in magic stone, or something like that, what kind of sword is that.
I wonder if he will start to make a ridiculous magic sword again.
“It seems that we can devise a technique to enclose magic in the magic stone used for the trigger of the magic, see. If we can do that, we should be able to grant the sword an effect similar to the Fire Weapon that Linus made.”
“Hou, my Fire Weapon, huh? Since its safety has not been confirmed yet, if Gawain-dono’s sword can be completed first, I would like to give priority to that. In that case, the Kingdom is unlikely to move, so it might be better for you to make preparation for making them.”
“Fumu, there is no law that prohibits you from making a sword as long as you don’t make it having intelligence after all. If that is the case, I’ll give you the permission and funds.”
“Making a sword with Lloyd’s money, huh~. If possible, I want a workshop in the mansion~. Yasuba’s hunting ground is too far after all~.”
With an unnatural voice, Gawain conveyed his wish to return to Youg Hannotes.
Annoyed expression floated on Lloyd’s face at that proposal, but he wanted a weapon that could be used against the Abyss Walkers.
“Ku! Taking advantage of the situation…it can’t be helped. I’ve preserved your previous workshop properly, so don’t cause any problem this time! Meiss, hand him the key later.”
“Understood.”
“Yahooo! I’ll take you up on your words~.”
Gawain smiled grinningly, but seeing the situation, it seemed certain that he had been banished away to that area due to his poor behavior.