“Are there any... recommended teams? For forming the Hero’s party.”
After Beatrice left, Constantine walked back in.
So Esper tentatively asked him if he had any suggestions for party members.
After all, he was someone who had been acknowledged by half of the Holy Sword.
Though, on second thought, she herself was only at this level despite being acknowledged by the entire Holy Sword, which felt a bit disappointing.
Constantine thought for a moment.
“The Holy Spirit Knights.”
“...”
Esper regretted asking.
The Holy Spirit Knights were an entire military force of the holy light attribute.
From the Grand Commander down to the lowest apprentice knight, everyone released something equivalent to poison to a vampire when they fought.
Daily training required releasing holy light, morning prayers required releasing holy light, and even grace before meals probably required releasing holy light.
For a proud vampire to stay with them would be like a block of ice thrown into a pot of boiling oil. It wasn't a question of whether she would melt, but how many seconds she could last.
Esper's lip twitched.
“Are there any other options?”
Constantine's expression grew slightly displeased.
“The Holy Spirit Knights are one of the most elite subjugation forces on the continent. Every official knight is Rank Four or above, and I...”
“You are Rank Seven. I know.”
Esper interrupted him.
“But I don't need that many people.”
“Subjugating the Demon King is not a one-person job.”
“I didn't say I'd go alone. I said I don't need that many.”
Constantine's brow furrowed deeper.
“You are the Hero. It is only natural for the Church to provide you with the best resources.”
“Yes, I know. But I really don't need the Holy Spirit Knights. The journey to subjugate the Demon King isn't a military campaign. A knights order of several hundred people marching around would make our presence known to everyone before we even reached the border of the Demon Realm.”
“And what about supplies? Are you going to use Vow Power to make bread to eat? Furthermore, under the Evernight Barrier, can Holy Spirit Knights even defeat the Twilight Hunters of the Demon King's army?”
This excuse was made up on the spot. But Esper thought it wasn't a bad one. At least it made sense on a tactical level.
But Constantine seemed to catch a blind spot.
“...A Rank C adventurer from a peasant background actually knows the name of the Demon King's royal guard?”
“Pfft—cough, cough, that was... His Holiness just told me that earlier.”
Constantine fell silent for a few seconds, eventually seeming to accept this explanation.
“...What kind of team do you want?”
“Small. Fewer than five people. Strong fighters. And preferably with fewer people from the Church.”
“Fewer people from the Church?”
“Yes.”
“Your reason?”
“Subjugating the Demon King is a matter for the entire world, not just the Church. Having people with different backgrounds in the party will make it easier to get support and intelligence from various factions once we reach the border of the Demon Realm.”
This excuse was also made up on the spot. But it was better than the last one.
Constantine leaned back in his chair, seemingly deep in thought.
“If you insist on a small party... the Church will need at least one representative.”
“You?”
“I am the Grand Commander. The order cannot be left without a leader.”
Esper's lips twitched, almost laughing again. However, she suppressed the untimely amusement this time.
“Then who will the Church send?”
“That depends on His Holiness's wishes. But if it is a small party...”
Constantine's fingers stopped tapping as if he were scanning a list in his head.
“...His Holiness will likely send the Saintess.”
The Saintess.
...Just by her title, she sounded extremely holy.
“What is... the Saintess like?”
Constantine closed his eyes.
“...I have been stationed at the border for many years and do not know much about the Saintess... You can ask someone else.”
He doesn't know...?
“I see. What about other factions?”
“Hmm... I do not have much contact with factions like the Mage Tower or the Empire. Most of my close acquaintances are fighting on the front lines. However, if you need non-Church members, you could choose people from the Adventurer's Guild. There are quite a few high-rank adventurers stationed at the guild headquarters in Avalon. There are at least twenty who are Rank Five or above.”
“Are there any who don't use holy light?”
Esper often wanted to slap herself for speaking too quickly.
Constantine's gaze fell on her face.
“...Who do not use holy light.”
“Yes. Like... those with a physical combat style. I'm personally more used to coordinating with close-range fighters.”
Esper's expression was calm and her tone was natural, but her palms were sweating.
Constantine thought for a moment.
“Yulia Wagner. An S-Rank External Member adventurer, former Roundtable Knight, and disciple of the Sword Saint. For bringing shame to her master, the Sword Saint cut off one of her arms and expelled her. Later, the Emperor stripped her of her granted name. She currently operates as a freelance adventurer. Her strength is recorded as Rank Seven.”
“The reason for her expulsion?”
Constantine's jaw tensed, a shadow of gloom passing over his square face.
“...She intentionally loses when fighting others.”
“...Throwing matches?”
Esper nodded.
Making a living by throwing matches in the Capital of Knights, where honor was paramount? Tsk, tsk, tsk.
“...If it were that simple, the Sword Saint wouldn't have gone so far as to cut off her arm.”
“...?”
Constantine spoke with some difficulty.
“She makes a contract before every battle stating that the loser is at the complete disposal of the winner.”
“...?”
“...And she basically only fights massive male monsters.”
“...”
Esper decided not to imagine the scenarios she probably shouldn't be imagining.
“What about other than her? Any other recommendations?”
“Landon Colen. An A-Rank External Member adventurer, with magic reserves at Rank Six, specializing in hand-to-hand combat. His martial skills easily rank in the top three among everyone I've ever met.”
“...And what is wrong with him?”
“I haven't even said ‘but’ yet.”
“You can skip that part.”
Esper sighed, rubbing her temples.
“...He is currently wanted by the Empire for tearing several Named Knights apart with his bare hands.”
So that was why he was an External Member?
“Wait, tearing them apart?”
“...Yes. He also said something rather terrifying at the time. Do you want to hear it?”
“What was it?”
“‘Interesting, so this is what a Named Knight feels like!’”
“...”
Esper stopped thinking.
A lunatic.
“Aside from these two, are there any other options?”
Constantine shrugged helplessly, seeming rather exasperated by the eccentricities of these high-rank adventurers.
“From my perspective, I don't have any other recommendations. However, if all goes as expected, the Empire, the Mage Tower, and Esperfite will each recommend one person for the Hero's party. You can make your decision then.”
“I see... Thanks.”
Esper nodded, turned to open the door, and stepped out into the corridor.
The corridor was much dimmer than the reception room. The Holy Sword hovered behind her, its gray aura subtle but bright enough to light her path.
Though a vampire had absolutely no need for anyone to dispel the darkness for her.
Esper grumbled inwardly as she walked down the corridor toward the temporary room assigned to her at the compound.
She was thinking.
The party to subjugate the Demon King.
It couldn't have too many holy light users. It couldn't have too many people from the Church. It had to be a small party. They had to be strong.
And then, a vampire posing as the Hero would lead a carefully selected team—one that wouldn't accidentally burn her to ashes—across the entire continent to subjugate a Demon King she had known since she was six years old.
Esper pushed open the door to her temporary room, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.
The room wasn't large, containing only a single bed, a desk, and a chair.
She lay down on the bed and turned her head to look at the Holy Sword.
Esper still didn't understand why it had chosen her.
“...Why on earth did you choose me?”
the girl murmured.
Rate on N.U.
