Chapter 18: Arrival in Alphares

The hero’s third request didn’t require her help. Or rather, it didn’t require her direct magical assistance.

Thud…

The body of the giant spider monster, called the Great Web, collapsed.

“Request complete. Good work, everyone.”

“Phew…”

Unlike the previous jackal and wolf request, this time there was only one target. And the hero’s party was stronger in small-scale battles.

Moreover…

“Rui, these shoes are amazing!”

“They are! I just ran lightly, but it felt like I was moving as fast as Raphilia!”

She had given them the shoes she had been preparing. Shoes custom-made with formulas tailored to each individual, just like the gloves.

Fortunately, the reviews were positive.

“Hehehe, you’re welcome.”

“Rui, your shoulders are getting higher…”

“Now that I think about it, our mage seems like the type who would dance well when praised.”

After a brief discussion about the successful request, the heroines started complaining. Fortunately, not about the shoes, but about the Great Web they had just fought.

“It’s a little sticky…”

“Ahaha, well, we were covered in webs.”

She seemed to have realized the true purpose of this request.

‘Was this a deliberate fanservice scene by the author?’

The three heroines were covered in spider webs.

“…”

The hero was desperately trying to avoid looking at them.

“Everyone, go wash up in your rooms.”

She hadn’t been hit by any webs, thanks to her position at the rear and her robe. She could easily buy them time to wash up.

‘The Great Web’s ferocity will be helpful.’

The monster had made a mess of the surrounding area, so there was no need to worry about attacks from other monsters or wild animals.

“Oh, really?”

“Then should we take turns washing up?”

“No, just go together. I can be alone for that long.”

The three heroines’ faces brightened. They thanked her and entered their rooms using the keys she had given them.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…Aren’t you going, Hero?”

“Huh? Me?”

She was about to wait for the others while gazing at the sky, but strangely, the hero didn’t enter his room. He was also covered in spider webs. No, he was covered in webs and sticky fluids, so he must be even more uncomfortable.

“Yes. Go wash up.”

“But I can’t leave you alone in this forest…”

She sighed at the hero’s stubbornness.

“Hero, you smell.”

“…?!”

“It’ll be fine for ten minutes, so go wash up.”

“O-okay. I’ll be back soon.”

Perhaps he didn’t like being told he smelled. The hero was startled and hurried into his room. Four doors were left floating in the air in front of her.

She took out her pen and marked a spot in the sky with a golden dot.

“Hmm, about five days.”

She had made preparations for any unforeseen circumstances during the Twilight Fortress episode. About five days remained until ‘it’ arrived. She wanted it to move faster, but it was a delicate matter.

‘Let’s review the plan.’

The Twilight Fortress. One of the important episodes the hero’s party would experience in the western part of the empire, centered around a mysterious structure that appeared near the major city of Alphares.

‘It’s practically a siege.’

The battles the hero’s party had fought so far were mere subjugations, mostly one-sided, with minimal casualties. But this time was different. Numerous adventurers, mercenaries, and Alphares’ guards would participate in the battle. And countless monsters would pour out of the Twilight Fortress.

War. The hero’s party would experience war at the Twilight Fortress.

‘More importantly, it’s where the hero’s party first encounters a powerful demon.’

The hero’s party had encountered demons before. But most of them were around the same level as Akturas, the demon she encountered in Intrell Village.

However, at the Twilight Fortress, they would meet demons whose individual strength rivaled the hero’s party members, and because of them, the party would be scattered.

‘To preserve the party’s strength… I have to avoid that scenario.’

Even if she prevented them from being scattered, the potential for growth wouldn’t disappear.

“Hmm.”

She had a plan, since she still intended to follow the story as much as possible.

“Rui, I’m back. Everything alright?”

Was there a significant difference between how long it took men and women to wash up? The hero, who entered his room last, came out first. His hair was still damp, indicating he had rushed.

“Yes, everything’s fine.”

“Um… I don’t smell, do I?”

“I was joking earlier.”

“Aha…”

She sighed, stood up, and took a towel from her subspace. A clean one, of course.

“Sit down.”

“Uh? Oh…”

She started drying the hero’s hair, adding a pressure point massage, just like Raphilia had done to her.

“Hero, have you heard anything about the major city of Alphares?”

The hero, who usually didn’t know where to look, gave her a serious expression.

“Yes. The frequency of monster appearances has increased dramatically… I heard the higher-ups in Alphares are anticipating the appearance of a demon.”

Hmm, it seemed the higher-ups weren’t incompetent. Count Alphares was probably leading the charge. Thanks to his foresight, they were able to gather a large number of reinforcements.

“Did Count Alphares request anything specific?”

“He said it wasn’t urgent, but he would like us to stop by Alphares. He didn’t give us a specific request.”

“I see. You’re done now.”

“Huh?”

“I have to do the front too.”

“Uh, oh…”

The hero awkwardly turned around while sitting on a rock, and she moved closer, drying his black hair with the towel. It took a while to dry his hair with just a towel, without any modern conveniences like a hairdryer.

Still, she finished before the other heroines came out.

“All done.”

“Th-thanks.”

“Ahhh! That’s refreshing!!”

“Raphilia, you’re being too loud.”

The three heroines emerged just then, and their break ended. They mounted their horses and left the forest, heading towards the major city of Alphares.

Black brick walls enveloped in darkness. But strangely, the light coming through the windows was a dusky hue, similar to twilight. Countless screams and roars echoed from within the walls, and the ground trembled slightly.

• Akturas has fallen.

A low voice echoed from empty air within a chamber of the fortress.

“One of the Primordial Roots?”

• Indeed.

“Who was the opponent?”

• The hero’s party.

“The hero’s party? They shouldn’t have been able to detect Akturas’ presence.”

• There’s a new mage. It seems she was the one who dealt with Akturas.

“A variable. But a single addition won’t make much of a difference.”

Chuckle.

An old man’s laughter filled the chamber. The sound was like an old man’s, but the demonic energy it contained was extraordinary.

Rumble…

The fortress trembled from the mere sound of his laughter. The voice in the air warned him,

• Don’t be overconfident. The mage’s true identity is still unknown.

“No matter who she is, she can’t interfere with this plan!!”

Bang!

A wrinkled fist slammed down on the armrest of the throne, and a thunderous sound echoed.

“Our kin will soon be the first to descend, and they will be the most favored and loyal servant. I will proudly present the hero’s head to them.”

Chuckle, chuckle.

The voice in the air disappeared, and the old man slowly sat on the throne. A new mage who had joined the hero’s party, which had consisted of four members for the past year.

This should be interesting.

The old man’s mouth stretched into an abnormally wide grin.

Nicker.

“Whoa.”

Lux suddenly bucked, waking her up.

“Rui, wake up. We’re almost there.”

“Mmm…”

Was Lux’s buck her alarm clock? At Raphilia’s words, she stretched and looked ahead.

A giant city surrounded by white walls. The major city of Alphares. It was right in front of them.

Beep.

She took out her pen and marked another golden dot in the sky. They had arrived a day earlier than expected, perhaps because she had overestimated their travel time.

At this rate… she should be able to account for any variables.

“We need to enter the city and meet Count Alphares. Is everyone alright?”

There were no objections. Even if they were the hero’s party, they still had to show respect to the local nobility. He was a well-regarded noble, so even the other heroines, especially the usually critical Raphilia, nodded readily.

The Alphares Mansion, the heart of Alphares, was located on slightly higher ground. The city itself was built on the slopes of a mountain, so the elevation naturally increased towards the back.

“Hero, we’ve been expecting you. The Count has been informed of your arrival.”

Starting with the guard captain at the gate, news of their arrival spread quickly.

“It’s the hero!”

“Hero~!”

Despite just hearing the news, the citizens erupted in cheers.

“Thank you, everyone.”

The diligent hero greeted each and every one of them. The heroines also seemed to have their own fans.

“Aria! Look this way!”

“Serin, you’re amazing!”

“Raphilia~!”

As for her… well, she had no fans. She hadn’t been officially introduced yet.

“Who is she?”

“Was she always there…?”

Those were the most common reactions. Then, she heard someone call out to her.

“Wow~ is that the mage?!”

But the voice was high-pitched and childish. Like a child’s voice…

“But she’s so young! Is she the hero’s little sister?”

What?

She glared at the speaker. It was a child. She tried to ignore it, but the words kept echoing in her mind. Then, the hero, who was walking ahead, approached the child.

“I-it’s the hero…”

“Hello.”

“Hello…”

“The person you’re talking about is the mage of our party. She’s incredibly skilled in magic. Even I can’t treat her lightly.”

“Aha…”

“So please refrain from calling her my little sister. She hates that the most.”

“Y-yes sir!”

…He didn’t need to defend her, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

After receiving a grand welcome, they arrived at the mansion and met a man.

“Greetings, hero’s party.”

He was a man with a distinctive mustache. He looked like a stereotypical villainous noble from a cartoon. But despite his appearance, he was surprisingly well-regarded.

“I am Weiner Alphares. Pleased to meet you.”

The head of the Alphares family, the lord of this city. Count Weiner Alphares.