The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#266 - Temporarily leaving Re:Zero and returning to Suqing

With everything prepared, they once again embarked on their journey.

Natsuki Subaru and the others needed to return to the royal capital to report, but Zun Zun didn't need to, so he, along with Furam and Otto, set off from the street of the Sage's Tree towards the Sword Saint family's territory.

Compared to the Kingdom's long-renowned Sword Saint family's fame, the Astrea family's territory was surprisingly small.

The Astrea territory only had a very small area, merely possessing the village named Hakuli, centered around the Astrea main family.

This Hakuli wasn't large in terms of town size, its main industries being agriculture, animal husbandry, and the area's unique earth dragon industry.

In fact, the earth dragons they were riding were produced in Hakuli.

"Across the Heiklara Plateau, there's also one of the five major cities, Flandarz. It's said that Flandarz is the birthplace of the earth dragon industry, and it has thrived there since ancient times. Hakuli also benefits from this, with many artisans crafting saddles, reins, and dragon equipment."

"I see, Otto, you know so much."

"Because I used to be a merchant, I need to know more information."

Otto was slightly smug after being praised.

But this instead aroused the dissatisfaction of Furam, who was driving the carriage. As a maid who once lived in this town, she naturally knew more than Otto. She kept telling anecdotes about the town as if she was competing, and the three of them passed the time like this.

The carriage, bearing the Sword Saint family's crest, slowly stopped at the Astrea main residence.

Outside the carriage were Felt, full of anticipation, and Reinhard, with a helpless wry smile on his face. It wasn't surprising that they were waiting for Zun Zun here, after all, Furam had already contacted her sister through her blessing.

The only thing that surprised him was the little girl cowering behind Felt.

—Meili.

She was the Magic Beast User who had attacked Zun Zun and the others with the Bowel Hunter Elsa. He hadn't expected Reinhard to release her.

He looked over with an inquisitive gaze.

Reinhard shrugged and said, "This was Felt-sama's request. Considering she might need a playmate of the same age, so I let her out… the two of them seem to be getting along pretty well."

Zun Zun raised an eyebrow.

If Meili could turn over a new leaf, that would undoubtedly be a huge help, but if she was hiding other intentions…

He subconsciously looked over.

"Eek!"

The little girl trembled in fear. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Zun Zun at all, seemingly still traumatized by the murderous aura of the phrase 'I'd rather leave regrets to morality than hidden dangers to life' back in the wilderness.

"Don't worry, Zun Zun-sama, I can still take care of this little matter."

"Since you've said so, Reinhard."

Zun Zun retracted his scrutinizing gaze.

With Reinhard, who could almost be said to be the strongest in the world, guaranteeing it, and with Meili being no different from an ordinary little girl without her magic beasts, there was nothing wrong with letting her befriend Felt, right?

Felt was comforting Meili's emotions. Seeing Felt, who was like a big sister, and Meili, who was like a little sister, they should be able to get along well, right?

"More than that."

Reinhard looked at Otto and said with a smile, "I didn't expect that Mr. Otto would gain the nickname of the Gray Knight on this trip. As expected, there's a reason why Zun Zun-sama thinks highly of you."

"Gray Knight? Me?"

Otto pointed at himself in astonishment.

Reinhard was also somewhat surprised and said, "Could it be that Mr. Otto doesn't know yet? … That's right, you've been on the road the whole time, so you haven't heard. Actually, Mr. Otto has been granted the title of Gray Knight because of his brave and skilled performance in the battle to defeat the White Whale, which has been recognized by the soldiers."

"Brave and skilled or something… hehehe… it's not worth mentioning!"

Otto scratched his head, saying humble words, but the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed, and he was obviously elated.

Thinking carefully.

He had been suffering ever since he became a merchant, either being scolded or bullied. Unlike now, he not only shone brightly but was also granted the title of Gray Knight. It could already be said that he had reached the peak of his life.

But Zun Zun felt that something was wrong.

Titles weren't given out so easily, especially titles with colors, such as Ferris's Blue, Roswaal's Red, Yellow, and Green titles. Only by becoming the best could one be granted a title.

Zun Zun admitted that Otto was a bit impressive, but not to the extent that he would be granted a color title. Ferris and Roswaal's levels were being lowered.

Could it be…

He leaned close to Reinhard and whispered, "Is that old geezer doing good deeds?"

"… You are indeed wise, it was arranged by Macrotoff-sama." Reinhard didn't hide it, saying this to Zun Zun himself.

Now everything made sense.

The old geezer must have felt that Zun Zun's knight—Otto—was an unknown person who popped up from nowhere, and coupled with the original body being a mere merchant, it might lower Zun Zun's status and level, thereby being used as a handle for criticism. So, he urgently made amends and granted the color title.

Ferris and Roswaal were miserably weakened.

Both of them were powerful individuals renowned throughout the continent, but they were being taken advantage of by Otto, they must be feeling unhappy.

"Hey, Zun Zun!"

Felt put her hands on her hips and shouted at Zun Zun, tilting her head, "Where's my souvenir? You didn't prepare a gift for me on this trip, did you!?"

She was clamoring for a gift as soon as she returned, no different from a daughter seeing her parents return from a business trip. Zun Zun and Reinhard exchanged glances and smiled tacitly.

"What are you grinning about there? Where's my gift? Hurry, take out the gift!"

"Don't grab my face, let go, let go! I brought it, I brought a gift!"

Zun Zun was helpless against Felt, who grabbed his face without saying a word, and signaled Furam and Otto to bring down the prepared gift—a small portion of the White Whale's belly—from the dragon carriage.

Seeing this, Felt hurriedly ran over and, together with Meili, carried the White Whale's meat towards the kitchen. She wanted her grandma to make a feast for dinner, to eat White Whale!

Evening.

Zun Zun and the others ate a sumptuous dinner.

Although Grandma's cooking wasn't as good as Zun Zun's, the White Whale's meat was still good, and everyone enjoyed their dinner.

Even the small-time delinquent trio praised it endlessly, and when they found out that they were eating White Whale meat, their mouths were wide open and they couldn't say a word. They probably wouldn't have the thought of running away anymore, right?

After dinner.

Felt and Meili didn't know where they ran off to play, and Zun Zun, who was refused help with washing the dishes, came to the courtyard.

"Zun Zun-sama."

A gentle voice came from behind.

Turning his head, he saw the Sword Saint-sama, who emitted a unique radiance even in the darkness.

"Reinhard."

"Zun Zun-sama, thank you."

He bowed deeply, and Zun Zun hurriedly took a step to the side, dodging the bow.

"Why are you suddenly doing this?"

"You defeated the White Whale, I'm truly very grateful."

Reinhard also had his own difficulties.

Even if he was unaware, the bottom line was that his grandmother was killed by the White Whale because he had taken away his grandmother's blessing of the Sword Saint. Under such circumstances, how could he not be tormented by inner condemnation?

"I heard, you were the one who cleanly cut down the White Whale at the end, right?"

"No, it's just that I happened to be the one who delivered the final blow. If it weren't for Crusch-sama and the subjugation team's restraint, if it weren't for Wilhelm and Ricardo's assistance, if it weren't for Natsuki Subaru and Rem luring the White Whale to the ground, I wouldn't have been able to cut down the White Whale."

This wasn't humility, but stating the facts.

Reinhard also understood his meaning, but still earnestly bowed.

"In any case, thank you."

"… If you insist on doing so."

Perhaps because he felt uneasy about not being able to go to the scene himself, Reinhard was very grateful for killing the White Whale and even bringing it back to eat.

"Then Reinhard, you know the reason why I did this, right?"

"… Yes, I understand very well."

Reinhard wasn't a fool with high martial skills and low intelligence. He knew very well the reason why Zun Zun helped agree to subjugate the White Whale, but even if he knew Zun Zun's purpose, he still expressed gratitude for everything Zun Zun had done.

"Then—"

"I will agree to Zun Zun-sama's request."

Having done so much, if Reinhard still kept Zun Zun hanging, he himself would feel somewhat uneasy.

"Please wait a moment, I'll try to see if I can open a spatial passage now."

"Wait a moment, you haven't acquired the blessing to open a spatial passage yet?"

"Yes, because I rarely use this ability, so I don't know if I can succeed. If I can't, it would really be a headache."

"Hey…"

Zun Zun looked at Reinhard, who had a cheerful expression, and couldn't help but twitch his lips. But when the Sword Saint-sama closed his eyes with a serious face, after only three seconds—

"Alright."

"What's alright?"

"The blessing has already been acquired."

"—Ah!?"

Zun Zun opened his mouth wide, then smiled in relief.

That's right.

What's the point of talking to a cheat?

"May I ask when Zun Zun-sama wants to leave?"

"Now. I don't like farewell scenes, so now is the best time."

"I see."

Reinhard seemed to agree with this statement, but quickly raised another question.

"May I ask when you will return?"

—Never coming back.

Zun Zun wanted to say this, but he estimated that Reinhard wouldn't let him leave if he said that.

That's right.

Since time will stop after leaving this world, then wouldn't it be okay to just say a random time?

"One year, I will return in one year."

"One year? That's a bit long… Although I don't want to agree, Zun Zun-sama also has his own life, and I can't forcefully interfere."

Reinhard reluctantly agreed.

"Please step aside a little."

Zun Zun listened to the advice and moved away from him, then he saw Reinhard's hand moving in the void, and a dark vortex appeared in front of him.

"I can't maintain this passage for too long, please hurry."

"Oh!"

Zun Zun didn't hesitate to raise his foot.

"… I'm leaving."

"Bon voyage."

Under Reinhard's respectful farewell, Zun Zun walked into the dark spatial passage, waving his hand without taking away a single cloud… No, he took away 6 quasi-spirits.