WM – Chapter 371: Sasaki Aya – Part 2

※There’s a small tidbit in this afterword, so be sure to check it out.

—Setekh, a high-ranking officer of the Demon Lord’s army who possesses the Demonic Eyes of Petrification.

It’s been several years since we last met in terms of the timeline, but it feels like even longer.

For obvious reasons…because I went back a thousand years into the past.

I heard about Setekh through Cain, but we never crossed paths back then.

“Hey, you’re looking well.” (Makoto)

“You too. The magic you wield has changed remarkably, Apostle-dono of Goddess Noah.” (Setekh)

Changed remarkably?

His eyes are covered with cloth, so he shouldn’t be able to see me.

“Can you actually see like that?” (Lucy)

“Your eyes are covered, though?” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san asked curiously.

“All things turn to stone when I look directly at them. But there are things one can perceive without using sight. That young lady there is beloved by the Fire Spirits. And you, Apostle-dono, are…loved not just by the Water Spirits but by many others as well.” (Setekh)

Setekh spoke with interest.

“Did you always see Spirits this clearly?” (Makoto)

Last time we met, he didn’t seem particularly knowledgeable about Spirits.

“Cain-dono taught me. He said the key to befriending Spirits is to persistently talk to them. At first, they wouldn’t listen to me at all, but now I get along well with the Four Cardinal Spirits.” (Setekh)

Just as Setekh said, the Spirits around him were happily dancing.

It’s probably the same method I taught Cain.

…And he’s even better at handling Spirits than Cain is now.

{Hey, Makoto. This demon is one of the Undead under the Immortal King, right? So how is he able to use Spirit Magic?} (Lucy)

Lucy poked my back.

{Now that you mention it…} (Makoto)

I hadn’t even thought about it until Lucy pointed it out.

Spirits don’t take to the undead.

(Setekh-chan isn’t an undead.) 

(Eh? Really, Noah-sama?) (Makoto)

Goddess Noah’s voice reached me.

(Back in the Demon Forest, he was an undead, though.) (Makoto)

(But because you went on a rampage a thousand years ago, the future changed.) (Noah)

(…What?) (Makoto)

Just like that?

Well, yeah, I did do a lot back then, but…

“Something wrong, Apostle-dono?” (Setekh)

Setekh sensed my confusion and spoke up.

It is to the point that it makes me question if he really is blind.

“N-No, it’s nothing. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask…” (Makoto)

I was about to ask about the demon I was searching for…about Sa-san’s sister.

(Hey, hey! Makoto! Setekh-chan doesn’t seem to worship any particular god, so recruit him to our side!) (Noah) 

Noah-sama cut into the conversation.

(Wait, seriously!? He used to be a high-ranking Demon Lord executive! Are you sure about this?) (Makoto)

(Of course! If he has no faith, recruit him aggressively!) (Noah)

(Won’t the Sun Goddess Althena-sama be mad?) (Makoto)

(Hah! Who cares!) (Noah)

Our Goddess-sama is fearless.

Besides, I’m the one who defeated his master, the Immortal King Bifrons, alongside the Holy Maiden of the Sun, Anna-san.

By all accounts, I’m his master’s enemy.

There’s no way he’d just agree to convert.

(Well… Might as well try.) (Makoto)

I made up my mind and spoke up.

“What is it you wanted to ask?” (Setekh)

Setekh ended up asking me since I suddenly went silent.

“Actually… My Goddess is telling me she would like you to become her follower.” (Makoto)

“…Huh??”

Three voices overlapped in surprise.

One was Setekh.

The other two were Lucy and Sa-san.

“Makoto, what are you saying all of a sudden!?” (Lucy)

“Takatsuki-kun, what’s going on?” (Aya)

My companions looked bewildered.

“Uh… Apostle-dono, that is…quite the abrupt invitation.” (Setekh)

Setekh seemed just as confused.

(See, Noah-sama? You made things weird.) (Makoto)

(Makoto, you just blurted it out too suddenly. Try to make it sound better.) (Noah)

The Goddess and her believer passed the blame back and forth.

“Well? What do you think, Setekh?”

Oh well.

Might as well push a little harder.

“Hmm… The Goddess that Cain-dono worshipped, you say. He certainly tried to recruit me before…” (Setekh)

(Cain… I bet he was pushy about it.) (Makoto)

(Oh, he was.) (Noah)

(I figured…) (Makoto)

So, I’m starting from a bad impression, huh?

{Makoto, aren’t you supposed to be asking about Aya’s sister?} (Lucy)

{How long is this talk going to drag on?} (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san poked at me from both sides.

Yeah, it doesn’t seem like it will be possible to continue this topic.

“Alright, let’s put this discussion on hold for now—” (Makoto)

I was about to drop the recruitment talk when…

“Understood! I shall become a believer of Goddess Noah!” (Setekh)

Setekh agreed just like that.

“…Really?” (Makoto)

“Yes! When I think about fulfilling the wish of the late Cain-dono, there’s no way I could refuse!” (Setekh)

Ooh!

Cain’s efforts finally paid off.

Thanks, Cain.

“So, is there some kind of procedure?” (Setekh)

“Uh…” (Makoto)

He caught me off guard with that question.

Noah-sama!

What am I supposed to do next!?

(I was watching, so you don’t need to do anything. He already agreed, so it’s done.) (Noah)

(That counts as conversion…?) (Makoto)

My Goddess-sama is terrifying.

(I’ll grant him my divine protection soon. Just tell him that.) (Noah)

(Got it.) (Makoto)

So half-baked…

Maybe I should talk to Sofia about setting up a proper process for this.

“Setekh, soon you’ll receive Goddess Noah’s divine protection. In the meantime, just pray to her at least once a day.” (Makoto)

“Hmm… I see. This is quite a simple process. Even to become a believer of the Evil God King Typhon-sama, there were more formalities than this.” (Setekh) 

So even the Demon Lord Army had more structure.

I really should think this through.

“Hey, Makoto.” (Lucy)

“Takatsuki-kun.” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san poked at me from both sides again.

“Sorry, sorry.” (Makoto)

I got too sidetracked.

It is time to return to the main topic.

“Setekh, I have one more request.” (Makoto)

“Of course, my dear comrade, Makoto-dono!” (Setekh)

Oh, he suddenly sounds much closer to me.

“I’m looking for a relative of this Lamia girl, Sa-san…” (Makoto)

After a long preamble, I finally got to the point.

◇◇

“Hmm… A stray Lamia that drifted in from the West Continent, huh… If we had a name, we could search more effectively, but all we know is that she is in the Gloomy Forest, right? That entire area has become a slum for the impoverished, with various races mixed together, and there’s little to no management.” (Setekh)

“I see…” (Makoto)

“Hey, Aya, does your sister have a name?” (Lucy)

“No. There were a lot of us siblings, so we never got individual names. Everyone just called the one I’m looking for: Elder Sister.” (Aya)

That’s a problem.

Trying to find someone without a name sounds difficult.

“Give me a moment. I don’t have an address, but we do have records. If it’s from a few years ago, we might be able to find something… Lamia, lamia… Oh! Here it is. A report was filed by the district chief overseeing the Poison Swamp area of the Gloomy Forest regarding a stray lamia. I’ll write you a letter of introduction. Why don’t you try asking there?” (Setekh)

Setekh managed to find a lead among a mountain of documents.

“Thanks, Setekh.” (Makoto)

“Oh, this is nothing. Let’s meet again, Makoto-dono.” (Setekh)

Setekh and I shook hands firmly before parting ways.

Not only did I get a letter of introduction for the district chief of the Gloomy Forest, but also a map of the surrounding area.

I also managed to gain another believer for Noah-sama. Overall, it was a good reunion.

“Makoto, your Goddess is really shameless.” (Lucy)

“Takatsuki-kun, you talked too much.” (Aya)

My two companions had a few complaints afterward.

I was thinking of teleporting straight to the Gloomy Forest, but Setekh gave me a warning before I left.

“Makoto-dono. Unlike Wreath, the Gloomy Forest has poor security, and there aren’t any inns for travelers. I recommend preparing thoroughly before you go.” (Setekh)

In other words, I should treat it like a dungeon where monsters could attack at any time.

So, we stocked up on supplies in town, spent a night at an inn, and then headed out to our destination.

◇North Continent – Gloomy Forest◇

The next morning.

We arrived at the Poison Swamp area of the Gloomy Forest using Lucy’s Teleport.

“So this is the Gloomy Forest…” (Makoto)

“…It’s dark.” (Lucy)

“…It smells weird.” (Aya)

The place reminded me a lot of the Demonic Forest in the Tree Country.

Tall, magic trees covered the sky, completely blocking out sunlight.

A thick, miasma-laced fog reduced visibility.

There was a faint, unpleasant smell in the air. Whether it was from the lack of a sewage system or the poison swamps, I couldn’t tell.

Through the mist, I could make out buildings that seemed to be homes for monsters or demons.

I can see people here, too.

Most of them wore either rags or nothing at all, just wrapping tattered fabric around their bodies.

They were sitting or lying on the ground, barely moving.

The entire place felt shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.

It was the complete opposite of Wreath.

They definitely noticed us outsiders. I could feel multiple unreserved stares on us.

“Lucy, Sa-san, let’s go.” (Makoto)

“Yeah.” (Lucy)

“Okay.” (Aya)

This wasn’t a place I wanted to linger in.

With the information Setekh provided, we headed toward the district chief overseeing the area.

■Comments Response:

>Setekh-san!

>He was a soothing character for me!

-Soothing?!

■Author’s Comment:

Here’s the small announcement.

It is a story I finished just today.

<Magic Girl’s Graduation Trial>
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2425jc/

There’s two points connecting to the characters of Zero Believers.

<1: About the protagonist>

Makima Mahoyo.

She received the divine protection of Althena-sama, and became the Light Magic Girl, Magi Sunshine.

The Light Magic Girl has equivalent power to that of the Light Hero. 

In other words, as strong as Sakurai-kun and Anna-san.

She doesn’t have a Holy Sword though.

There’s no Demon Lord after all (for now).

Makoto-kun did as he pleased in the world of Zero Believers, so the Light Hero didn’t look like the strongest. I wrote this story with that theme in mind. 

<2: About the heroine.>

There’s a heroine showing up called Princess Momogu.

In the story, she is the Magi Charm.

She is actually the reincarnation of the Calamity Witch Nevia-san who showed up in Zero Believers. 

Her memories of that time are completely gone though.

The Moon Goddess Naia-sama will be giving divine protections as well, and it seems like she has been talking with her every now and then. 

It would be troubling for the Gods if a strong person stays for long in Hades and resurrects, so they have them reincarnate quickly for soul purification. It is as the Water Goddess said before.

And so, the people who are curious about a healthy Nevia-san, please go ahead and read <Magic Girl’s Graduation Trial>.

Also, bookmark it and like it if you found it fun!!

Previous Chapter l Next Chapter