The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#378 - speech

Important discussions that will determine the future direction of the city.

This is neither a threat, nor does it have any other meaning; perhaps it's just Anastasia speaking from the heart.

It's precisely because I immediately understood this that it had an even greater effect than a threat. I sensed her resolve and determination, which indicated a clear direction.

"Although I wasn't invited, can you take me along?"

"Of course. Even if you didn't say it, Mr. Natsuki, I would have made sure you came along."

It's not that Natsuki Subaru sees something happening and has to get involved, but rather that the matter has now fallen upon his head, and he has to obtain more information.

So, Anastasia dismissed Julius, and the three of them went to the conference room on the second floor of the city hall.

Zunzun casually sat down on a chair.

"So, what do you want to ask?"

"You're really getting straight to the point."

For a merchant, they wouldn't be so direct. Instead, they would first find a pretext to build rapport, look for openings, or please the other party, and only then would they casually reveal their thoughts and achieve their goals.

"Although I don't mind following the steps, there's no time now."

"You're right. Then, let me ask frankly—Zunzun, are you a Crimson Demon?"

"That's right."

Faced with the question, he didn't prevaricate or quibble, but admitted it openly.

Now that he had defeated the Archbishop of Lust, Anastasia and the others would definitely not suggest handing him over to make the Archbishops of Sin retreat. On the contrary, they couldn't be happier to defeat all the Archbishops of Sin.

But what Zunzun was curious about was—

"How did you know?"

Anastasia's assertive tone made him curious. After all, besides them, any person in the city could potentially be a Crimson Demon. Why was she able to pinpoint him?

The reason given was very simple.

"It's just the application of the process of elimination."

"…I see."

This woman casually said something terrifying—that she had completely grasped the identities and origins of everyone present, including everyone in the entire city.

Even Natsuki Subaru felt a chill down his spine.

Even if this was Anastasia's base of operations, being able to do this to such an extent was enough to show her control over the city.

At the same time, he also noticed something unusual.

"Beatrice-san, is she an artificial spirit?"

"…I see."

She gave up struggling.

The fact that Beatrice was an artificial spirit created by the Witch of Greed herself was unknown to anyone outside the Emilia camp. Yet Anastasia found out about it anyway, making one marvel at how terrifying merchants who live by information can be.

"Ah, yes. Beatrice is an artificial spirit, one of the Witch Cult's targets."

She didn't hide it either.

"Probably, there's no one in the city besides me who's carrying an artificial spirit, so the Witch Cult definitely wants Beatrice. Honestly, aside from her somewhat special birth, she's nothing special except for being super cute. Why they want her is also a mystery."

"Me too, ah. It's strange, no one even knew about the Crimson Demon thing."

Zunzun was also curious.

He had intended to ask the Archbishop of Lust for the reason, but that guy didn't say anything except for lewd jokes, so Zunzun got angry and killed her.

"So, saying that—"

Natsuki Subaru looked at the girl wearing the fox scarf and said with a feigned fearful expression: "Knowing these two pieces of information, Miss Anastasia wouldn't want to hand them over, would you?"

"Of course not! We won't listen to a single one of the Witch Cult's demands!"

"Oh, oh…"

"If we hand them over, the result will definitely be the city being flooded. We absolutely cannot let them succeed in that!"

The pressure released by Anastasia made Natsuki Subaru's hairs stand on end. After feeling this pressure so closely, he finally realized the true nature of the intense emotion she held—an endless rage that had never been extinguished beneath her cute appearance.

And the reason she was so angry was that, not long after Zunzun and the others left, an Archbishop of Sin wrapped in bandages all over his body ran over to launch a sneak attack.

"—And so, in order to allow us to retreat safely, Mr. Kirika Taka and his mercenary group stayed behind to hold the rear, and after we were safe, we also sent people to look for traces of them, but…"

Zunzun thought of the person he met on the top floor when he returned to the merchant guild. Presumably, he was the reinforcement Anastasia sent to look for them.

"Being helped means owing a favor. Debts must be repaid; this is the pride of me, a Kararagi merchant, and it is the obligation of someone who has obtained the name of Hoshin."

Her determination was strong and stern.

Anastasia was confirming the Witch Cult's demands with Zunzun and Natsuki Subaru not because she wanted to sell out her friends to survive, but because she intended to protect them and fight the Witch Cult to the end.

Now that they had clarified the Crimson Demon and the artificial spirit, they had more resources to put elsewhere. But the immediate priority was how to revitalize Water Gate City.

Thanks to the Archbishop of Wrath's authority through the broadcast, the people in the city had lost confidence and fallen into a vicious cycle of decline and despair.

"Therefore, we need to convey the news of the Archbishop of Lust's defeat to the people in the city as soon as possible. But we have to spare manpower to go to the shelters…"

"What are you talking about?"

A strange smile appeared on Natsuki Subaru's face as he pointed to the ceiling with his good hand.

"Don't we have that?"

"You mean…the broadcast?"

Anastasia wasn't an idiot; she quickly understood what he meant. Since the Archbishops of Sin could use the broadcast to bring anxiety to the people in the city, then they could also use the broadcast to soothe people's hearts.

The saying that the quality of a tool depends on the user is perfectly exemplified in this situation.

“Well, it seems I've arrived just in time.”

The muffled voice carried a hint of surprise. Although his face was hidden by his helmet, one could sense the complexity of his expression.

“Even if you're all looking at me with such enthusiastic eyes, I didn't bring any gifts, you know.”

“Al!?”

Appearing at the conference room entrance was Al, who had acted independently before the assault on the City Hall and whose whereabouts had been unknown since.

Anastasia stared at him with sharp eyes.

“You're back quickly.”

“Strictly speaking, I can't really call it a return. But I'm still a little embarrassed to be back halfway. I apologize for showing you all my old face. It's not like I wanted to come back.”

Al's actions, to put it nicely, showed concern for his master; to put it harshly, it was desertion in the face of battle.

While everyone else was risking their lives to fight the Sin Archbishops, he left, claiming he would only be a hindrance. Even Natsuki Subaru went to face the enemy.

The atmosphere in the conference room became tense.

Natsuki Subaru felt that they couldn't start fighting amongst themselves at this moment, so he immediately interjected, “Al, there's a lot to talk about, but I'm really glad you're safe. I was worried you might have been swept away by the flood.”

“…When the flood came in, I happened to be in a high place, so I was very lucky. And I also happened to bring a message for you, brother. In other words, I'm a messenger.”

The thick-skinned Al shrugged and said this in a light tone, not reacting to the glares.

Natsuki Subaru frowned.

Given the current state of the Water Gate City, being told he was a messenger was initially confusing.

“A messenger? A message, from who at this time?”

“From your most important princess, brother.”

“Emilia!?”

Natsuki Subaru never expected Al to say this, and he opened his eyes wide in surprise. After confirming the truth of the matter, Al slowly delivered the message.

“The bride before the wedding is waiting for the Prince Charming to come and rescue her.”

Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru gasped.

Because the Lust Archbishop was defeated by Zun Zun, she did not transmit the 4th broadcast—that is, the Greed Archbishop's wedding. Natsuki Subaru and the others were unaware of it. However, before this, the Greed Archbishop had mentioned inviting them to attend.

“Emilia…”

Natsuki Subaru clenched his fist.

He now wished he could rush over to save her immediately, but he didn't have the spare strength to do so. What he should do now was—

—The broadcasting room on the top floor of the City Hall.

Behind them was the broadcasting equipment, already adjusted. As long as they used it, they could transmit their voices to every corner of the city. But now, there was still a crucial question.

“Who should speak, and what should they say, to uplift the people of the city?”

Broadcasting from the City Hall, to bring hope to the people on the streets and dispel the unease lingering in their hearts. The most suitable person to take on this important task was—

“Miss Anastasia?”

“Saying this myself is a bit… you know, but I don't think my speech would have such a big effect. It really feels like admitting my own inadequacy, which is annoying.”

Anastasia shook her head.

The others didn't understand her reason for refusing.

She was not only a candidate for the royal selection, but Water Gate City was also her base of operations.

Her reputation and prestige in this city went without saying, and there were only a few in the country who could compare to her.

“If we're only talking about popularity, I certainly have an advantage. If that's all it took, I'd be happy to speak my mind. But, you should all understand that my name doesn't have the power to dispel the unease brought by the Witch Cult.”

“But…!”

“Natsuki-san! Rather than me, there's someone more suitable here, isn't there?”

As he was about to speak again, Anastasia interrupted him and looked at someone in the crowd.

A handsome young man with black hair and red eyes.

“…Zun Zun?”

That's right, there was also Zun Zun!

Although he wasn't well-known and Water Gate City wasn't his base of operations, he was also a candidate for the royal selection, and more importantly, he had just defeated the Lust Archbishop. If he himself were to announce this news—

“Subaru can do this too, right?”

“I'll pass.”

Natsuki Subaru quickly waved his hand.

He had certainly accomplished many feats, such as defeating the White Whale, the Sloth Archbishop, and the Great Rabbit, but that was already a year ago.

In addition, the news of defeating the Lust Archbishop, who had caused trouble in Water Gate City, would be more encouraging than the news of defeating people who had already died.

“This matter is yours and yours alone, Zun Zun.”

“Is that so…”

Zun Zun looked at the expressions of everyone present and found that they were all approving and encouraging.

“I have no choice. I'm going.”

His eyes lit up with a red glow.

Seeing Zun Zun eager to try, looking like he wanted to make big news, Anastasia and Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but twitch their lips.

“For some reason, I have a bad feeling.”

“Me too.”

—Please don't cause any trouble.

The two could only pray inwardly.