Seeker 332

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Chapter 332. To The Castle

It was troublesome to have someone suddenly prostrate themselves on the street.

Even though it was getting late, there were still quite a few people around, and we were attracting attention.

I told her I would listen if she would raise her head, and she thanked me profusely before asking if I could accompany her to the castle.

Apparently, she was a castle servant for the shogunate, an Awakened One (called "Mononofu" in this country).

Since we had no reason to refuse, we decided to walk with her to the castle while listening to her story.

The woman introduced herself as Mikoto.

She also added, modestly, that she was known by the nickname "Sword Saint".

Mikoto-san had apparently been looking for us for some reason.

She had mobilized the castle staff to gather information about people with our characteristics, and upon hearing a report of such individuals in the town, she came running.

The reason Mikoto-san was looking for us was──

"Kushinosuke... Princess Kushina, you say?"

"Yes. The princess said she had encountered incredibly strong adventurers. That's why we have hope, I thought."

"Hope?"

When I asked, Mikoto-san nodded vigorously.

"Meeting you in person has confirmed it."

Saying this, Mikoto-san, who was leading us, stopped walking.

We had arrived at the castle gate.

In front of us was a magnificent castle surrounded by a moat and stone walls, built in a traditional Japanese architectural style.

Illuminated by the moonlight, it had an almost fantastical appearance.

The entrance gate was closed.

Beside it stood an awakened warrior with a naginata, acting as a gatekeeper.

When Mikoto-san called out to him, the gatekeeper used a key to open a side entrance and led us into the castle.

The gatekeeper bowed deeply to us.

"Foreign adventurers, please! If you can defeat the monster Yamata no Orochi, we beg you, please save the princess."

Hearing this, Mikoto-san looked slightly pained.

She told the gatekeeper, "I haven't explained the details yet."

The gatekeeper, looking chagrined, covered his mouth with his hand.

We followed Mikoto-san through the side gate and into the castle grounds.

The garden inside the walls was filled with garden stones, a pond, and pine trees, exuding a serene night atmosphere.

"Is the request you want to make to us about defeating Yamata no Orochi?"

After a short walk, Yuzuki asked Mikoto-san.

Mikoto-san flinched slightly but continued walking without stopping.

"Yes. If you know the situation, this will be quick, but how much do you know?"

"We heard about it from the townspeople──"

I took over the conversation and explained everything we knew.

We passed through a second gate and eventually entered the castle.

"It seems you know everything. So the news has spread even to the castle town."

After I finished speaking, Mikoto-san responded and then fell silent for a while.

We walked down the corridors of the castle in silence.

Following her in silence might have seemed arrogant, but I didn't get that impression.

It looked more like she was struggling to find the right words.

She might be someone who is not good at communication.

Seeing this, I felt a slight sense of kinship with her.

Perhaps noticing this, Kazane spoke up to help.

"I heard that even with the combined power of this country, you couldn't defeat Yamata no Orochi. Do you think we can win if we cooperate?"

After a brief pause, Mikoto-san answered.

"To be honest, I don't know."

Her honesty made me feel her sincerity.

Given that she had prostrated herself so abruptly, she must desperately want our help.

She fully understood the potential danger to us.

And she knew that it was up to us to decide what to do.

Instead, she asked us this.

"May I ask, what are your levels?"

"I'm level 51, Daichi-kun and Hotaru-chan are level 52."

When Kazane answered, Mikoto-san let out an impressed sigh.

"That's amazing. I'm level 51 as well. I thought we might be on the same level when we first met, and it seems I was right. Even so, I pride myself on being the strongest warrior in this country of Yamatai."

"So we're the top four in this country now. If we wanted to, the three of us might even be able to take over this castle──just kidding! We wouldn't do that! Right, senpai?"

"Oh, yeah."

Hearing Yuzuki's joke, Mikoto-san turned back with a stunned expression, causing my kouhai to hastily cover it up.

Mikoto-san seemed completely unprepared for such a thought.

She must be quite desperate.

Well, I hadn't considered it either.

Nothing good would come from that.

Mikoto-san sighed with relief and, regaining her composure, added.

"But if you are that strong, it is reassuring. Even the monster Yamata no Orochi may not be unbeatable. I say this from the bottom of my heart."

After walking a bit further down the corridor, Mikoto-san stopped.

In front of a room separated by a sliding door.

Mikoto-san called out to the person beyond the door.

"Princess. Are you there?"

"...M-Mikoto?"

A familiar voice responded.

Footsteps approached, and the sliding door opened slightly.

"Ah..."

Through the small opening, a girl peered out.

The girl──Princess Kushina, also known as Kushinosuke, saw us and was speechless.