Chapter 183: Shiki-sensei once again (1/2)

Chapter 183: Shiki-sensei once again

Merry Christmas! (Late)

This is the first sponsored chapter, and you know what that means, there’s another chapter coming after!

I was actually planning on bringing them out sooner, but with all the events going on, it was pretty hard. And the chapters being extra long didn’t help at all.

Anyways, I still need to edit the next chapter but do expect it!

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This is something i have thought in the White Sand Sea as well but, it seems this world still has a lot more mysterious places.

As expected of a fantasy world.

Being received by Io and Rona, we journeyed together with them for several days.

There would be a blizzard first thing in the morning, but a one-time per day cycle was normal. The attacks of mamonos were splendidly dealt with by the demons.

The mamonos that came out had the same lineup as the mamonos in Kaleneon, so I was contemplating taking them as reference to learn the methods of dealing with it.

What surprised me was the second day at noon.

It was still noon, and yet, when I thought it had become dark, the sky became black in one breath.

By the time we advanced for 1 short hour, it was already night.

The ground had changed into ice at several locations, and it felt as if we were brushing the surface. The blizzard had strengthened, and it made me think that this is a place that hyumans wouldn’t be able to live in at all.

But maybe in this place this was a common occurrence, the demon side didn’t show any panic, and created a barrier against cold just like they did at the first day as they continued their lively advance.

How fearsome is the northern country.

In the end, we advanced through a blizzard in what could be considered an everlasting darkness. A pretty rare to get experience.

At the third day…morning doesn’t come.

Since 5 in the afternoon of the second day, it has been night all the time.

Do places exist where the sun doesn’t come out? If that’s the case, no wonder it is so cold.

At this day, the demon race showed a slightly panicked state.

A type of mamono. If it were only that, it wouldn’t be that out of ordinary though. It seems that the level of the enemy was higher than they thought.

A big-framed lion with quite the intensity. Its body hair is pure white.

I have not heard reports of its sighting in Kaleneon, and this is also my first time seeing it.

Several lion males(or so I think) with imposing mane attacked us.

For males to do the hunting is pretty surprising.

When they jumped at us, I could clearly tell its size.

The demon soldiers that stepped forward served as a measuring tool.

As big as a large-sized one box van.

And it was fast.

The demon soldiers that were hurriedly trying to fix their formation were crunch to death in an instant. It seems there were people that survived, but the people that had come out to my front were no good.

They may be people which I have only exchanged light conversations, but it gives me a sad feeling.

I don’t know if this will serve as a memorial, but I will at least defeat these guys. When I thought about beginning, Shiki’s hand hit mine.

When I look at his face, he shook his head to the sides.

I don’t know why was that, but I decide to overlook the situation for a bit.

In the end, Io and Rona also participated in the fight, and the white lions were defeated.

After that, unexpected things happened multiple times.

Mamonos that were clearly stronger than the previous ones were appearing frequently, and the soldiers that were accompanying us ended up wounded or dead.

The barrier for cold has been maintained and the pace hasn’t changed, but this day made me feel as if I were wounded all over.

Looking back at it, I feel like it wasn’t normal.

Right now we have finally gotten time for a break, and we were resting at the tent that Shiki had prepared.

Rona had prepared a tent for us as well, but we turned down the offer.

We did tell them that we would be bringing the necessary ourselves, but they probably were unsure if we would be able to properly calculate the coldness in these areas. It seems they brought our share as well just in case.

“Shiki, did you foresee that it would be this cold? This tent seems to have an impressive protection against cold.” (Makoto)

“Yes. The demon race territory is a land of intense cold after all. I made this tent so that it can be spread out immediately, and be able to deal with any type of environment.” (Shiki)

“That’s a great help. But you know, it seems the demon race did prepare our share too but, was it okay to decline it?” (Makoto)

“Yeah. Even if it is of lower quality than this, we will be returning to Asora at night to rest anyways, so wouldn’t it be better to accept their good will?” (Mio)

Ah, so Mio also held the same opinion as me.

In that case, it means there’s some sort of problem in it huh.

I see.

Is there a chance that being lend things from the demon side will lead to spying on us?

“It is just that those things were prepared in anticipation that we would be unprepared, also, I don’t want to rely on the things that Rona has prepared.” (Shiki)

As I thought.

“Well, that talk about Rona was a joke, but thinking about each other’s position in this journey, she wouldn’t be able to do anything weird.” (Shiki)

…

As I thought, I’m glad I didn’t say anything.

Would it be okay to ask why?

It kinda makes me hesitate.

“Why-desu?” (Mio)

Naizu-desu Mio.

“Because we are guests they have invited, and Rona has taken the job of a guide by the orders of the Demon Lord. Even if she is like that, Rona is loyal to the Demon Lord, so she wouldn’t do something like abandoning the mission. That’s why, even if we use the tent they have prepared and go back to Asora, there wouldn’t be any problems. Checking the inside of the tent is something that she would definitely not do.” (Shiki)

“Isn’t it fine to just do it without getting caught?” (Mio)

“I am here. She understands that if she were to get caught by me, it would all turn detrimental. And there’s Waka’s power overwatching as well, so that also plays a part.” (Shiki)

Shiki really does know Rona well.

Instead of close friends, it feels more like a *dog and monkey* relationship though.

“Hah… what a pain.” (Mio)

Mio does one sigh.

For these last few days, she hasn’t been taking any satisfying meal at breakfast and lunch after all.

“Also, Waka-sama, I am sorry for stopping your hand a while ago.” (Shiki)

He lowered his head.

It is not really something that requires him to apologize.

I do want to hear the reason why though.

“You don’t need to apologize. But what was the reason? I just thought about helping out for a bit.” (Makoto)

“That’s the reason. That was Rona’s play, Waka-sama.” (Shiki)

“…Eh?” (Makoto)

“I don’t know if she anticipated the numbers as well, but that woman wanted to have Waka-sama cooperate by having a strong enemy attack.” (Shiki)

No no, isn’t that being oversuspecious?

Their allies also suffered quite the bad time there too, you know?

“No well, that’s…” (Makoto)

“As proof, they were properly able to deal with it even without us going out ourselves, right? Deal with everything.” (Shiki)

…

A white lion, snow guardian dog, and a Frost Dragon that had scales resembling ice; it is true that the demons were able to deal with it by themselves.

But would that give enough foundation?

“… I still have a bit more basis. Even in that situation, they didn’t cut off the barrier against cold, and even when the people decreased, they soon rearranged their formation. It could be evaluated as splendid discipline, but for me, it looked like they were reacting in a way as if they had already anticipated it beforehand.” (Shiki)

The barrier against cold was not dissolved even when in the middle of the battle.

They also quickly filled up the holes in their formation.

“Now that you mention it, there were several who were frequently keeping an eye on us while in battle. Rona was acting as normal though.” (Makoto)

I didn’t notice at all.

Within that blizzard in the darkness, I didn’t pay much attention to my surroundings.

I gotta reflect on that.

“Yeah. The demons won’t request for cooperation from their side. But if we are the ones stepping forward to provide it, it would be possible. They would be able to see at least a bit of our side’s power, and it would also create a sense of camaraderie.” (Shiki)

“So you are saying that they already expected the deaths of their subordinates?” (Makoto)

“They must have taken death into account. For the sake of knowing the whole picture, they were prepared to take sacrifices. To the point that even the demon race that hasn’t grasped us completely, is welcoming us as country-level guests.” (Shiki)

That in itself is pointless though.

“For a mere company representative, this degree of reception is too exaggerated as expected huh. There’s two demon generals after all.” (Makoto)

“Yeah. Also, Io’s self-introduction and Rona’s greeting, did you notice?” (Shiki)

That huh.

I also felt something slightly strange from that.

Even so, it is to the level that I wouldn’t pay it any mind unless pointed out though.

“Yeah, something was strange there. Io was acting as if this were our first time meeting, and Rona was frank like the time before the event with the Variants.” (Makoto)

“Exactly. Io wanted to null what happened at the kingdom’s capital, and Rona wanted to imply that her real self was the one before the Variant incident.” (Shiki)

What’s with that.

“A-Are they not feeling well?” (Makoto)

But if that’s the case… It was the right choice not to say: ‘Didn’t we meet at the Kingdom’s capital though?’.

If I said that, it would be like completely negating the expectations of Io.

“The Demon Lord will probably say something regarding that, but I think that it does have that kind of meaning. In other words…” (Shiki)

Shiki cuts his words for a second and narrows his eyes.

“‘We want to wash away the ‘unintentional bad things’ that happened and create a good relationship.’ It seems like the demon race really wants Waka-sama and the Kuzunoha Company. At this rate, when we reach the capital, they might even make a parade for us. Kufufufu.” (Shiki)

Don’t kufufu.

Aren’t you turning into Tomoe, Shiki?

If you enter the dark side, my internal oasis will disappear.

Please spare me from that.

“A parade. If it were a party, there would be worth in it.” (Mio)

“Mio-dono, having a parade without a party is basically impossible. In the ranks of welcoming, a banquet is a basic after all.” (Shiki)

“… Then that’s fine-desu ne.” (Mio)

Not good.

“If we talk about the characteristics of the demon race cuisine, it would be for example; a meat that they leave half frozen and make thin slices of it just like that to eat. Using different flavored ice, they make a variety of iced cuisine. The last time I went there, I only saw to that extent, but they are in such a prejudiced environment, so there should be a lot more than that.” (Shiki)

“Are we going to enter the capital by today?” (Mio)

“No, I heard that today we will be staying the night at a town. The capital will be tomorrow.” (Shiki)

“Eh, ah yeah, I am looking forward…to the frozen cooking.” (Makoto)

I answered unconsciously.