394. To Be a Hero or a Bystander

After the whole skirmish that went down in the capital city, I ride the Steel Horse along with Alo and Nightmare and head back to the Alban Mine.
When we got closer, I undo my humanization and let the Steel Horses go and proceeded to walk the rest of the way to the mine.

I’ll need to level up Alo until the big battle comes…… and while I’m at it, I also need to find new members in our group to increase our fighting strength, even if just a little.
I didn’t want to use〖Fake Life〗often since the revived monster might end up having an unsettling personality, but I can’t really afford to be that picky anymore now, can I?
The enemy we’re about to face isn’t going to be like any other I’ve encountered, so I just need strong allies, regardless of their character.

I can’t hesitate any longer.
Seeing that girl, Lieuon, with no skills and almost no ego was enough to light the flames of war inside me.
I bet there’s more cases of that in other parts of the city, and as time passes, they’ll only keep increasing.

That slime is continuously adding more and more casualties without even caring if innocent people spot him or suspect him.
It’s like he doesn’t care if his royal status gets busted and he can no longer play as royalty. It’s as if he’s running out of patience and is rushing the whole process.

That’s why I can’t risk Volk attending the party.
We weren’t together for long, but I’ve already grown fond of him.
He’s a weirdo, and he started out by trying to kill me on our first encounter, and there are times where he makes me wonder if he even understands the situation, but overall, he’s a surprisingly good companion to have.
He really sticks to his morals and I feel safe around him.

At this rate, Volk will be killed.
All the adventurers invited tomorrow for the party, their hard work and effort into making it this far, will only end in them becoming experience points for someone more sinister.
I know this and I’m letting them die.

【“Youre thinkin too much again”】

Partner invades my thoughts.
I turn and look at her to find that she’s giving me the face.

【“If ya have time to think, why not just bust through their door now? It doesnt matter how many enemies there are. Just drag their leader out in the open and that yellow woman will do the rest”】

I’d really like to digress Partner’s suggestion as a simple statement, but she makes sense this time.
It’s true that there are quite a number of rankＣ within the enemy walls, but it should be nothing compared to the hell I experienced in the Abyss nest.
As for the three knights…… even if Alo and the others struggle against them, I’m sure that with Volk’s help they’ll still stand a chance since he’ll be at the scene too.

But…… that’s just naive thinking.
Reality isn’t as simple as that.
There are too many uncertainties and the risk of Alo and the others being exposed to grave danger is higher.

Like Partner, I also want to go and assault the palace this instant and beat down that slime for good.
But, the stakes aren’t just mine this time now.
I’ll only put Alo and the rest at risk, and if I lose, the Demon King will get away again.
If I tackle this poorly, it could mean the death of me and possibly the Saint.
And when that happens, that slime will reign supreme.
The stakes are just too high.

【“Youre getting ahead of yourself”】

Partner shakes her head and utters a long sigh in the form of a low growl.

When the mine begins to appear in sight, a dragon is seen perched on top of the cave entrance and looks down on me as I get closer.
I immediately recognized it upon first glance in the distance.
It’s one of Lilyxila’s spirit servants.
It’s the〖Holy Dragon of Salvation〗, Seraphim.
I don’t see Lilyxila anywhere, nor do I sense anyone else, so I guess this means she only sent her spirit servant here to relay a message.

That also means that Lilyxila has already arrived in Alban.
Meaning she’s all set up for the big battle that’s about to unfold tomorrow.
It’s just that…… I need to tell her about our winning chances before that happens.

【“You’re finally here, evil dragon. The saint has already arrived at the Alban capital. I came here to inform you that”】

Seraphim tells me with her〖Telepathy〗.
So Lilyxila really did just send her here as a messenger.
Seems like the〖Spirit Servant〗skill still functions rather well even in a significant distance.
Such a convenient skill to have.

【“Tomorrow is the day the princess of Ardezia will allow the adventurers she invited to enter the royal palace for the party. That Alphys woman will also infiltrate the party in disguise. This is the one and only time when the usually concealed princess will make an appearance in front of her guests. If you seek to strike in discretion, this is your chance. Patience is key. The Saint told me that she will leave any further action from that part on to you, evil dragon”】

Seraphim speaks in a condescending tone.
Lilyxila aside, both Alphys and Seraphim talk as if they’re looking down on me.
Maybe because Ouroboros is an evil dragon that toys with life and death so they’re not that accepted to the holy folks.
Oh well, either way, I don’t think Alphys nor Seraphim will step out of line that goes against the Saint’s mission.
This’ll be an awkward collaboration, but…… as long as we reduce the number of casualties, I guess I won’t mind.

But nevermind that…… I still need to talk to Lilyxila over the plan again.
I close my eyes and droop my head.

【“…… Hm? What seems to be the problem, evil dragon?”】

About what you said…… I know this might not be a good time, but I’d like to delay……
Then, when I tried to relay my thoughts to Seraphim, I suddenly realized what the bad feeling I felt before was. The feeling that I forgot something very important.

Wait, let me think for a second.

【“Hm?”】

I begin to think deeply.
According to what Seraphim just told us, our plan is to attack during the party, which means we’ll be getting other adventurers involved.
And from what I heard in the city, Meltier is also invited to the party, and we know that she is currently accompanied by Millia.
I almost forgot about that part.
The whole Thermal uproar kinda made me forget.

I was under the presumption that the slime only wanted experience points and interesting-looking skills from strong adventurers, and that’s why it bothered me why the “bring one extra companion” was implemented in the first place, until I went to the conclusion that it was just to silence any close companion who would come looking for them.
I should’ve thought about this when Volk told me about it.

Meltier is invited to the party…… and she’s taking Millia with her.

That Meltier…… why’d she have to take Millia with her of all people.
Now Millia’s in danger again.
Alright, it’s settled, I don’t have time to wait around anymore. Guess I’ll go along with the Saint’s plan and join in the assault tomorrow.

But wait, Millia was just suddenly approached by Thermal.
I’m not sure now if she would even want to go to the palace with such a character in tow.
She might just decide to stay behind after what happened to her.

But then…… but then…… knowing that girl, she might also go too out of worry for her friend.
Reuniting in this city was already a surprise in itself, so I can’t stop thinking of unthinkable things now.

【“You appear to be worried about something……”】

Seraphim looks at me as if inspecting something.
〖Telepathy〗can be used to not only share your thoughts someone else, but can also hear other people’s thoughts.
If I relax, all of my thoughts will be snooped out from right under me.
Although, from how I’ve conducted myself, I bet few of my thoughts have already surfaced. Might as well share.

You see, there’s someone I know who might also be attending tomorrow’s party, so…… I can’t stay still.

After sharing my genuine thoughts, I look away.

【“…… Is that so”】

Seraphim stops looking at me with suspicion.
It must be because my thoughts match with what she snooped out of me.
Man, people with〖Telepathy〗are hard to deal with.

…… It’s too tiring to always hide my thoughts to them all the time.
If they’re gonna read my thoughts in pieces anyway, might as well just be blunt about it to spare them the trouble.
We don’t have time to be suspecting each other anyway.
Cooperation requires trust and the best way to earn trust is through honesty.

Anyway…… Seraphim’s business here as a messenger is done.
She then takes off to the skies back to her master.
I stared at her figure in the sky deep in thought.

I begin to feel ashamed of myself.
This has suddenly turned into a serious matter for me. I thought about setting aside my personal feelings for this mission, but…… that’s not possible anymore now.
Why…… why did Millia have to get involved AGAIN?!
Maybe I should’ve warned her not to go instead of walking away from the pharmacy shop in silence. Or better yet, I could’ve taken her with me out of the city and far from the party.

As I wallow in my own shame while staring at Seraphim’s flying figure, I hear a “gra~a” right beside me.
I turn to face it. Partner is seen laughing at me.

【“Look at you worryin over a human girl. That human is probably worryin about you too. C’mon, cheer up. Its not like you to worry about who to save. Just go out there and save everyone”】

But, it’s not as easy as that……
With our current fighting strength, it’ll be hard to break in even with help from Alo and the others.
I’m also contemplating on whether I should bring them with me……

“If Ryujin-sama is going, then I too will go!”

Alo declares right at my face.
Nightmare also follows suit by spitting a web over Partner’s head and reeling herself up on her.
She has no intention of cooperating with me, but will come too if Partner is going.
Treant also runs towards us from the entrance of the mine to greet us and wants to come with us too. He must’ve overheard my thoughts with〖Telepathy〗or something.

But Treant, you do know that……
You’re overall slow, and you can’t even hide your appearance so it’ll be difficult for you to approach the capital city……

【“I will lay down my life for you, my lord”】

T-T-Treant spoke?!
Treant, who obtained the skill back at the island of the edge of the world, finally used〖Telepathy〗!
Me, Partner, and Nightmare all watched Treant in a daze.
Treant became shy and turned around, trying to pretend as an ordinary tree.

Alo doesn’t seem to be surprised and is just watching our reactions.
She must’ve been secretly having conversations with Treant without our knowing.
I don’t see the point of why they had to keep it a secret though.

“Gra~a!”

Partner suddenly comes in and gives me a headbutt.
H-Hey! What was that for……?!

【“Make up yer mind already! Your gloomy thoughts are even rubbin on off on me! It even shows in yer face!”】

P-Partner……!

You’re right.
If I don’t do anything, Millia, Volk, and many more will die.
Saving as many as I can is better than saving only a select few.
Tomorrow, I’ll settle my score with the slime.