343-337 Rumors of demon swarms and bandits




 When we moved into the nearby labyrinth of Glandle, adventurers were waiting for us, desperately battling a group of giant gorillas and ogres.
 It seems that the adventurers are injured and outnumbered, and it looks like they are about to be swallowed up by the swarm of demons.
''Join us ... the injured will be treated with a single silver coin.

 When I called out to confirm whether or not I was going to join in, at about the same time, multiple laser beams flew from behind me and blew the demons away.
 The ground rises like a needle mountain to skewer the demons one after another as they chase after it, and a rain of ice spears rained down from the sky to annihilate the demons in an instant.
 I had no choice but to buy the adventurers' recovery.

 The adventurers were stunned by the fact that he suddenly appeared and intervened in the battle, but as soon as they found out that he would be able to recover them, they began to move.
''........Are you really saying that you can recover for a single silver coin?
 One adventurer asked me to peek, but even if we accept money here.................oh, yeah.
You can also collect the magical stones of the demons we defeated without a single silver coin. We don't need anything other than the magic stones, so you can do whatever you want with the demon corpses.
 Then they were even more alarmed, and the adventurers sat back down to be ready to move if and when the battle came.

'Who the hell are you guys?'
 Oh, you don't think that's a kindred spirit, do you? No, I'm an adventurer in equipment and attire, right?
 Why are we so wary of you?

'It's just a wise man and his group but haha, it looks like some people are dying, so I'll take the liberty of treating them.
 As expected, I decided to act with the thought that I would regret it if I couldn't heal the lives I could save without being alerted.
 Even if the adventurers try to attack us, we have the spirits on our side.

 I'll color my middle heel to make it visible to adventurers who appear to be seriously injured, and I'll fly my heel to adventurers who are injured to the extent of bruises and broken bones.
 The adventurers tried to escape from the recovery magic I suddenly released from me, but I made it into a tracking type, so they received the recovery magic on their bodies one after another to recover.
 The adventurers who had been receiving the magic with strength at first found that their wounds were gone, and gradually they were surprised and cheered from everywhere.

''Could it be the real Holy Change........sir?''
'It's been a long time since I've had that street name. As I said before, I'm a wise man now. For that matter, may I have you take the magic stone?
'Yeah, I'll take care of it. Just unlocking the magic would be helpful.
 Then the water and earth spirits heard the adventurer's words, and the water and earth spirits released their magic.
'Wait for me.'
 With that, the adventurers began to dismantle the demon's corpse.

''Luciel, is there no need to hurry?''
Yeah. I wanted to know why they were so alarmed. Do the water spirits have any idea what's going on?
I don't know what's going on except that the number of demons in this area has been increasing lately. The only other thing I can think of is that there are frequent conflicts between people. Do you want to gather information?
'No, I'll ask those adventurers. And I'd like to know what's causing the increase in demons.
 As we were talking about this, the adventurers brought a magic stone and I received it and decided to ask a question based on the water spirit's story.

''I'd like to ask you a few questions, but is it true why you were wary of us earlier and the rumor that there has been an increase in demons in this area recently?''
'Yes. First of all, the reason for my caution, it's been happening more and more often these days that they come up to me when they can do recovery magic and it's bandits.
Isn't that so? But then, won't word spread quickly and the Adventurer's Guild will ask you to take them out?
''That's why some healers, like Saint Hen-sama, recover properly. That's why I was wary because I didn't know which one it was.
'So that's what happened...'
 Maybe they're either criminals for creating the bill and guidelines, or they're slaves and doing it on command.

'And whether or not the demons have increased, but it's not that they've increased, it's just that demons have been attacking us in groups like this lately.
 I guess there's a mastermind who can guide or lead demons.
 I don't know if it's a person or a demon race.......

''What's the Adventurer's Guild's opinion on that?''
Highly ranked adventurers are on the hunt.
Okay.
 The Adventurer's Guild must know that the demon race has appeared.
 Maybe the only people who know that information are the guild's executives and high-ranking adventurers.

''Hey........you really don't want a demon corpse?''
I have something I'm about to do, so let's cleanse it once before I do.
 I activated the purification wave without a chant.
 Then there was no one suffering in this place.
 Apparently, the demon race isn't hiding in there.

''Oh, really, Holy Change-sama is amazing.
''This is still an S-class healer approved by St. Schuler's Church, you know. More importantly, since you've been injured, you should at least rest for today. Then if you get another chance.
Oh, thank you, Master Holy Change. I'll spread the word about you.
"I didn't treat you all for the fame, so...
 And I don't want any more street names to be added to the list.
 If that's what you wish, you walked away from the place where the adventurers were dismantling the demons.

 Then, when I was quite a distance away from the adventurers, I was approached by Lydia.
''That Luciel-sama, if you could, would you be able to resolve this matter?''

 Thinking it was unusual for Lydia to make a suggestion, I nodded because I was curious about it too, and decided to rely on the water spirit.
''Water spirits. Do you know if there is a bandit hideout or demon tribe nearby?
'I don't know if there are any demons in the area. But we can find out if there are people nearby.
 The water spirit muttered something and a puddle of water appeared on the ground.
 The puddle then shows an image from a bird's eye view of us.

''Awesome ... how can you do this?''
'Now you don't have to explain all of this to me. I'm doing the same thing right now, so just wait.
 As the water spirit waves his hand, the image of the puddle slides and switches.
 However--''
'In case you're wondering, I looked at the caves and forests nearby, but I didn't see any places with lots of people gathered or huge swarms of demons. 
 If the water spirit can't be found, isn't the bandit hiding in the vicinity? Or..........

''Can you keep an eye on all the adventurers you saved earlier?
I could do that, but why?
I wondered if it was possible to lead all those demons from a distance. Besides, if you do your research beforehand, when the time comes, you won't have to be suspicious.
Well, okay, I get it.
Thanks. I'll make it up to you next time.
 I feel bad for overworking the water spirits, but I want to nip the trouble in the bud as soon as possible.

''Thank you, Luciel-sama, Water Spirit-sama.
Don't hesitate to tell me if you need anything else.
You're the contractor, you can't be shy.
 Lydia needs to have more confidence as well.
 The water spirit seems to think so as well.
''Yes.''
 That's when Lydia nodded.
 A strong hot wind blew and a man with a bright red head in a bright red coat appeared.

'Ho. I heard that mother was rescued, but I didn't expect the great spirit to come to my rescue.
 Apparently, this figure is a fire spirit in human form.

''I've caused you the most trouble.
I could not be the mother I was meant to be. I am so sorry.
No, I'm not. You've done your job well. Thank you so much.
You are too kind.
 When the fire spirit lowered her head, the spirit queen hugged the fire spirit.
 Then you can see the fire spirit's body trembling in small increments.
 I realize that there is a world that only spirits can understand.

 A few moments later, the fire spirit moves away from the spirit queen and looks at me with her bright red eyes.
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. I thank you.
As I've been telling everyone, if I could have given back any of the blessings I was given, that would have been fine.
'I see. I swear to you that I will be there to help you in the future if anything else happens.
Yeah, I'm counting on you.
 You have a very honest personality, even though I thought you were hot and bothered.
 I think you're the most sane of all the spirits.

''So, but why are there so many Great Spirits gathered here?
''It's the Spirit Queen's wish to see the Great Spirit, and the Light and Dark Spirits are my companions as before. The Water Spirit and Earth Spirit have a little favor to ask, so I'm asking them to come with me.
I see. It looks interesting. In the meantime, are you going to meet the Wind Spirit this time?
 It's like he's following me, which means he's enjoying himself.
 But I don't have anything in particular to ask the fire spirit to do.
I'm planning on it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get a direct transfer to the magic city-state Nerdal, so I'll have to go through the holy city of Surur.
Okay. In that case, I'll go with you.
May I ask why?
'I've got Fleurna over there. I haven't seen her in a while.
 
 You're not afraid to take all these spirits with you? Well, if something goes wrong, the Spirit Queen moves.

All right. But I don't suppose you can take care of the men and women in charge of this place? I've heard there's been some strife lately.
Of course. And spirits are not allowed to act privately. They can't move without destroying the nature or causing miasma.
So.....
 Obviously, the other spirits are exercising their power in private, though.
 I'm sure that if they turned back, Forenowar and the others would turn away or look away.
'Luciel the Wise, what's up?'
''Oh~ If I can, I'd like you to make a summoning contract with Lydia. It's definitely inevitable that I'll have to fight the evil gods, so I need some strength.
Hmm. Defending the world against an evil deity is synonymous with defending it. I will gladly help you.
 Then Lydia succeeded in making a summoning agreement with the fire spirits as well, and we were a collective transition to Yenis to pick up the War Maiden Holy Knight Squad before heading to the Holy City.