Chapter 26:
Brought into my Unfinished Game World
The table fell silent as everyone processed this revelation. The conflict was more complex than any of them had realized.
Dave floated quietly, turning over everything Bolg had just revealed. Queen Mia had never mentioned any of this - the failed diplomatic attempts, the murdered representative, the demons' desire for acknowledgment rather than simple conquest. She had presented the situation as a straightforward threat to be stopped.
But then again, Dave reminded himself, their goal wasn't to stop the war. They were heading to the Horizon Canvas for their own personal reasons. The larger conflict between demons and humans was tragic, but it wasn't their responsibility to solve.
Alpha seemed to be having similar thoughts.
— This changes things, doesn't it? he said quietly.
— Not really, Dave replied. We're still going to the same place for the same reasons.
Bolg looked between them with curiosity.
— You are heading to the Horizon Canvas as well? What are you trying to accomplish there?
— That is our business, Suzaku replied curtly.
— I trust him, Kuria interjected, looking at Suzaku with gentle reproach. I see no reason to hide our intentions. He has no reason to go back to be sacrificed, so what harm could it do?
Bolg nodded gratefully at Kuria's words.
— She is right. I would never return to face that fate again. I was simply curious about your mission. The Canvas lies just beyond the Demon Lord's domain, heavily guarded by his elite forces. You would have to pass through our entire territory and then get past guards specifically chosen to protect that place.
Kuria looked at Alpha, who nodded his permission for her to continue.
— Alpha is a life bender who needs to access the Horizon Canvas to enhance his abilities, she explained simply. And he also hopes to... well, to acquire a proper face for himself.
Bolg's red eyes studied Alpha's pixelated features with new understanding.
— I see. That would indeed require the Horizon Canvas' power. But the journey will be incredibly dangerous, especially for someone the Demon Lord specifically wants to capture.
— We are aware of the risks, Suzaku said quietly.
Bolg fell silent for a moment, clearly thinking something over.
— If you are truly determined to make this journey, he said finally, I might be able to help you avoid some of the worst dangers. I know the patrol routes and guard stations throughout the demon territory.
Suzaku's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
— What do you gain from this?
Bolg looked directly at her, then shifted his gaze to Alpha.
— I gain nothing, he said simply. It just feels like the right thing to do.
He continued looking at Alpha's pixelated face.
— Besides, you do not seem to want to harm my people. You are going there for your own purposes, not to wage war against demons. So there is no actual treason involved in helping you avoid unnecessary conflict.
Alpha seemed touched by the young demon's reasoning.
— You would really help us, even after everything that happened?
— You spared my life when you could have killed me, Bolg replied. That deserves something in return.
Suzaku was quiet for a long moment, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she spoke with obvious reluctance.
— Fine. You can guide us through the demon territory. But I will be keeping a close eye on you the entire time.
Bolg nodded solemnly.
— I would expect nothing less. I understand your caution.
— Good, Suzaku said firmly. Because if you betray us or try to lead us into a trap, I will not hesitate to finish what I started on that aeronef.
Bolg's red eyes met hers directly.
— I give you my word that I will not betray you. My honor means more to me than any loyalty to those who would sacrifice me.
Kuria smiled warmly at this exchange.
— Then it is settled. We have a guide for the most dangerous part of our journey.
At that moment, Bolg's stomach let out a loud, prolonged growl that echoed through the tavern. The young demon's face flushed with embarrassment.
— Oh my! said Kuria cheerfully, immediately flagging down the tavern maid. We need dinner for everyone, please! Ale for the adults and a nice glass of milk for the young one here.
— I do not need milk, Bolg protested quickly. I am perfectly capable of drinking ale like everyone else.
Suzaku's hand moved casually to her side, small flames dancing around her fingers as she gave Bolg a look that could melt steel.
— You will drink your milk and be grateful for it, she said with a sweet smile that was somehow more threatening than her earlier fury.
Bolg looked at the flames, then at Suzaku's deceptively pleasant expression, and quickly decided this was not a battle worth fighting.
— Milk will be fine, he said quietly, slumping back in his chair with resignation.
Alpha tried to hide his amusement at the sight of their former deadly enemy being cowed by the prospect of proper nutrition.
As they finished their dinner, Bolg looked around the table with curiosity.
— Since when have you all known each other? You work together remarkably well.
— It has not even been a week, Alpha replied.
Bolg's red eyes widened in surprise.
— Really? That is impressive. I would have expected it to take much longer to coordinate so effectively with the legendary solo adventurer.
Suzaku's expression darkened, and small flames began to flicker around her fingers.
— What exactly do you mean by that?
Bolg looked confused by her reaction.
— I simply meant that working with someone of your reputation for independence would be—
— Her reputation does her justice, Kuria interjected quickly, sensing the tension. Suzaku is exactly as skilled and powerful as the stories claim. That is why we can work together so well in such a short time.
Suzaku's flames died down as she registered that Bolg had meant it as a compliment rather than an insult.
— I see, she said quietly. My apologies for misunderstanding.
Bolg nodded respectfully.
— No offense was intended. Your abilities speak for themselves.
Alpha smiled with quiet pride. He had managed to make himself useful as he intended, even alongside such a powerful mage.
— Actually, Kuria said with a gentle smile, Suzaku and I have known each other for a very long time. We started our adventuring careers at approximately the same time.
Bolg looked surprised by this revelation.
— Really? But I thought Suzaku was known for working alone.
— We often act as a party of two, Kuria explained. I stay behind in a safe position while Suzaku clears the battlefield, then she comes to me afterward to recover. It works perfectly for both of us.
Suzaku nodded, looking slightly frustrated.
— I never understood why people believe I am a loner who achieved everything on my own. Kuria has been supporting me for years.
Alpha considered this thoughtfully.
— It is probably because of your striking presence and the sheer scale of your spells. When someone can destroy entire groups of enemies with a single attack, it tends to overshadow the support work happening behind the scenes.
Dave floated nearby, processing this information. He had never written any backstory connecting Kuria and Suzaku. This was entirely new.
— You know, Alpha continued, I think the world has been filling in gaps in everyone's past. Creating histories and relationships that make sense, even if they were never originally planned.
Kuria tilted her head curiously.
— What do you mean by that?
— Just that sometimes things feel... more complete than they should be, Alpha said carefully. Like there are stories we do not know about yet.
Bolg gave Alpha a strange look, as if he had noticed something odd about the way Alpha had been speaking - almost as if he was addressing someone else entirely. But the young demon kept silent about his observation.
Alpha looked thoughtfully between Kuria and Suzaku.
— That was probably why both of your reasons for accepting this quest were so similar, he said. You both wanted to prove yourselves.
Kuria and Suzaku exchanged a knowing glance.
— That is true, Kuria admitted. We were always underestimated as female adventurers. People assumed we could not handle dangerous missions.
— No woman was willing to fill frontline roles in most parties, Suzaku added. So we had to strategize around a full offense approach to end battles swiftly.
— The beginning was rough, Kuria continued. Especially for Suzaku, who needed to stay safe until she reached higher levels and gained access to more powerful spells.
— I spent months learning to combine basic spells into more devastating versions, Suzaku explained. It was the only way to make up for not having traditional tank support.
— And thanks to that strategy, we slowly ranked up together, Kuria said with a warm smile toward her longtime partner.
Bolg listened to this exchange with obvious respect.
— Your partnership makes much more sense now. You built your fighting style around working together from the very beginning.
Suzaku nodded thoughtfully.
Suzaku stared down at the table, her hands slowly curling into fists.
— It was still not enough to beat one single demon, she said quietly, her voice tight with frustration. We need to coordinate better or else...
She left the sentence hanging in the air, the unspoken implications clear to everyone at the table.
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