Heroes and Machine Girls Looking at Profiles - Chapter 74



74 – Why Me

To be honest, I was extremely agitated.

I tried to keep it as inconspicuous as possible, but inside I was probably heartbroken.

That’s right.

Even Siella, a former member of the warrior party who had been with me for almost as many years as I could count, did not recognize me.

Her hair has grown a bit longer, her beard has grown a bit, and she is even wearing a mask that covers the entire upper part of her face.

Even though I thought those three years didn’t even care about me in the first place, even the mercenaries I met during the trip and had a long relationship with didn’t recognize me.

…Maybe being thought dead has some influence.

But honestly, I couldn’t quite remember who that girl named Celicia in front of me was.

But you recognize me?

I was confused as to what had happened, but I somehow hid my feelings.

“…The warrior Hans is dead, why do you think that?”

“Well…That’s right…I guess I should say that the way I walk and the movements are the same as I remember…”

What is that?

It’s a bit scary.

“Well…If not, I’m really sorry!”

“Ah…No, it’s okay. I’m sorry for forcing you to drag me here.”

It is dangerous.

I felt like I shouldn’t get too involved with her.

Zeke glanced at Rune, and she nodded her head and stepped behind her.

After lowering her head and checking on the women leaving, she left the prison camp with Zeke Rune.

… Without even realizing it, I was touching and checking the mask on her face again.

Celicia and Frederica were members of the warrior party.

They were joined by Katia, a member of the warrior party that had just joined not long ago.

And while they were living in captivity together, Selicia suddenly started chasing a man and they joined him.

I was caught, but fortunately I was released without much trouble.

“…Celicia, is that really the hero Hans?”

“Well… I’m not sure. The size, the gait… The smell seems similar…”

The first two parts were okay, but in the last part, Frederica was unable to properly manage her facial expressions.

…I knew that the child got strange whenever the story of Hans the Hero came up, but it was hard to get used to this.

In such an awkward atmosphere, Katya opened her mouth.

“…It could be right.”

“Eh?”

“What?”

At Katia’s words, both Selicia and her Frederica looked back at her.

Katya tilted her head as if thinking for a moment, then answered.

“Isn’t there the blue-haired woman who was following that person?”

“Uh…Yeah. He was like an escort…He was very strong.”

“…I never thought it would move that fast.”

The woman is wearing a hood, so all that is visible is blue hair.

But she was incredibly fast and strong.

They didn’t know that they would overpower the three of them in an instant and take them away.

While I was thinking about that, Katya spoke.

“Apostle of the Goddess”

“What?”

Celicia was surprised by Katia’s words and asked back.

Apostle of the Goddess.

She certainly heard the rumor that after she and her Frederica were taken prisoner, she appeared on the battlefield and attacked the warrior Kenji.

“I saw it nearby at that time too. The atmosphere was similar.”

At the time, on the battlefield, the goddess’s apostle was emitting a soft light, so her face was hard to see.

And this time, she had her hood on, so I couldn’t see her face very well.

I couldn’t see either of their faces, but because of that, I was able to understand them without unnecessary prejudice.

Katia Balthazar.

She is the daughter of the captain of a pirate fleet who operates as a private pirate for a kingdom in the western part of the continent.

She grew up among the outlaws of the sea, and she has been fighting since she was a child.

Because she was like that, I could tell through her instincts.

The Hood’s guard who subdued them, and the Apostle of God who attacked the warrior Kenji on the battlefield.

The two are the same being.

“…At first, I didn’t know why an apostle of God was acting as a guard, but if that person is Hans the Hero, it would explain.”

“Is that so…?”

“…But if that person is the hero Hans, then why is he in a place like this?”

Looking at the exit of the prison camp he left, Frederica continued.

“And why did you attack the hero Kenji?”

“Well…”

Katia had nothing to say to Frederica’s question.

As the atmosphere became heavier, Selicia opened her mouth.

“There may be… Circumstances.”

“Ejaculation?”

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“Well…I can’t deny it.”

A situation where the warrior does not take the side of humans, but rather takes the side of the demons.

Considering the rumors that have been circulating everywhere recently, it may be true that something is happening.

However, there was no way for them to know for sure.

“… I think it is a facility of the Goddess Church that was said to have been attacked by a cult of fanaticism, probably a historical site.”

That was what Frey, who came to the tent where I was staying with her subordinates, said. She asked to be notified when information related to the ruins came in, but she didn’t expect it to arrive so quickly.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, they said it wasn’t opened to the public until the excavation work was completed.”

Frey said while looking at his subordinate standing behind him.

A woman wearing a black outfit nodded her head.

Frey continued her words.

“…Currently, the Goddess Church has dispatched the Holy Knights to recapture the attacked ruins.”

“Holy Knights…”

Goddess Holy Knights.

During the war, I fought with them several times.

They mainly focused on the defense of facilities or villages, so there was less need for joint combat in the latter half of the year when it turned into an offensive…

Anyway, they are very strong.

Not only do they wield divine power, but their weapon handling skills are at the level of top-class knights, so their strength in battle while recovering and strengthening themselves with divine power is astounding.

Relics, fanaticism, Holy Knights.

I had to go, but it seemed like there would be many conflicts in many ways.

I decided to go out the next morning, and Ortrinde and Zikrune gathered in my room.

While talking about the policy from tomorrow, Zeke Rune raised his hand and asked a question.

“But master, what on earth do fanatics do?”

“Uh…Well, I don’t know much about it other than it’s a cult…”

The cult of fanaticism is a group that has been a problem several times during the war against demons.

During the war, there was a time when they approached refugees under the guise of providing relief for war refugees and suppressed those who were using them to secretly perform religious ceremonies.

…At that time, the Holy Knights, who had been focusing on defensive warfare, also switched to the offensive and took the lead in suppressing them.

“…All I know is that the current empire is connected to the cult of fanaticism…And that the hero Kenji is a hero summoned by the cult.”

“That hero? Uhm…”

G-Crune tilts his head.

If you think about it, she has fought the hero Kenji herself.

When I looked at her because her reaction was strange, she immediately shook her head.

“No, it might be a mistake. I’m sorry.”

“Yes.”

Well, there’s no need to ask until she’s sure.

For now, the priority is on the historical site rather than the cult itself.

…Rather, what is at that historic site?

If it is Valkyrie who is there, then the eldest daughter Brünnhilde, who has already been released from the seal and is active, is excluded.

Then there are four people left.

Helmbigge.

Waltraute.

Six Daughter Schubertlaite.

Eight daughter Grimgerde.

I was wondering who among these people was, and as if reading my thoughts, Ortrinde answered.

“Master, the Valkyrie there is probably Schubertleitle.”

“What?”

“… The location of the ruins is close to the ruins I was in. She was the only sister who was active near her at the time.”

“Ugh.”

Six Daughters, Schubertlaite

When that name came out, Zikrune’s expression scrunched up as if he was disgusted.

At her rare reaction, Rune looked at her.

She reacted as if she really disliked it.

“…Gikrune, you don’t get along very well with that sister named Schubert…?”

“Ugh… I guess we don’t get along… It’s a bit subtle…”

Zeke Rune frowned slightly at her and answered as if he was disgusted.

“Schwertlaite-san… She… Doesn’t have a very good personality…”

“Huh?”

I have a bad personality.

I wondered what that meant, but she answered as if Ortrinde was supplementing from her side.

“Well… That kid is a bit… Mischievous, I guess.”

“I don’t think the prank is a bit harsh, Sister Ortlinde.”

…Six Daughter Schubertlaite.

I couldn’t even imagine what kind of person he was.

“Thank you so much for saving me, traveler.”

In the basement of the ruins, she met a woman who introduced herself as a combat weapon created to fight demons.

When the woman saw her hero Kenji, she said she would be able to break his seal.

As a test, she had her warrior Kenji release her, and as soon as her warrior Kenji placed her hand on the device that bound her, she broke free from within her walls.

… It was such a strange device that it was impossible to tell what type of magic was used.

Iola looks alternately at her, who is relaxing her body after coming out of her walls, and at her hero, Kenji.

In the meantime, the woman inside the wall moved from her spot and approached the other wall.

Then, she placed her hand on the wall and the wall began to open.

“Ah, it’s still there. I happened to be low on ether, but it worked out well.”

There, a great suit of armor was prepared.

And next to them are two stylishly decorated daggers.

Even though both were left in the same place for a long time, they showed no rust at all.

After seeing that she had put on her armor and even had her dagger at her waist, Iola approached her.

“You…So…”

“Please call me Chevel.”

“Yes, Mr. Schubel…You said you were born to fight demons, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When the red-haired woman nodded her head, Iola smiled.

I don’t know what happened to her, but if she is a combat weapon to fight her demons, then she is in good hands.

Because we have just entered a war situation with the demons.

“…We are now at war with the demons. The time has come to demonstrate your power. Please fight the demons with us.”

Not only is the significance of his birth a battle against demons, but he also has a motive.

I don’t know the extent of her combat power, but if it is an ancient weapon that is strictly sealed in a place like this, it can be expected.

Thinking like that, Iola smiled and held out her hand.

She also smiled brightly.

Of course, I expected her to join hands and help.

“Why me?”

That expectation came back with a completely unexpected answer.