Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Satou here. There are always people who want to settle things with brute force. Since there are quite a few even in peaceful modern Japan, it's perhaps inevitable that the proportion of such people increases in another world.

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“What a splendid corridor.”

“It’s just nouveau riche taste.”

As we walked through the lavish corridor of the palace, Ms. Zena let out a sigh of admiration.

The corridor, decorated with things like gold, silver, and ivory, was meticulously maintained and truly magnificent.

The culture here differs from the Shiga Kingdom’s, so as Liza said, it might look like nouveau riche taste, but if you accept that, it’s quite a tasteful decoration.

Only the three of us, Lady Ritdilt as our attendant, and a maid serving as our guide were here.

The Zakuga guards had been removed as soon as we arrived at the palace, confronted by palace knights (templar knights) who were colleagues of Lady Ritdilt.

It was a harsh treatment, but since there was no reason to intervene, I let it be.

While walking and talking with Ms. Zena about the statues and pillar decorations, the maid suddenly veered off the path.

“Hey, where are you going? The audience chamber is straight ahead, right?”

“I’m sorry, but the corridor ahead is, um, under renovation... it cannot be used.”

The maid lowered her eyes, seemingly scared of Lady Ritdilt’s fierce questioning, and gave that excuse.

—Huh?

Bored and fiddling with the map, I noticed there was no place under renovation on the ahead corridor.

Switching the map to 3D and spinning it around revealed nothing either, so I used spatial magic’s “distant vision” to check the corridor.

The result confirmed the maid was lying, so I alerted Liza and Ms. Zena about it using the “tactical communication” magic.

“Under renovation, huh... Probably those idiots Gilzem or Dazelim had a fight in the palace again. Such hopeless fools.”

Lady Ritdilt seemed to believe the maid’s lie.

Maybe the maid lowered her eyes to avoid being seen through by Lady Ritdilt’s “dragon eye” ability.

As we proceeded cautiously down the corridor, I spotted a suspicious figure hiding behind a pillar ahead.

“Yo, long ears.”

From behind the pillar appeared a giant weaselfolk, slim but huge, carrying a three-meter-long sword.

He was number two of the palace knights (templar knights), level 70.

In terms of level, he was as strong as Liza is now.

“Lord Gualba... Sorry, I’m acting under His Majesty’s orders. Let’s spar some other time.”

“I’m not here for you.”

He looked down on Lady Ritdilt and sneered.

“I’m here for that hero’s attendant over there.”

“You dare point a sword at the emperor’s guest?”

“What’s this? Afraid of the hero’s attendant? What a coward.”

—Cheap provocation.

“Lord Gualba! Lord Kuro is a guest of His Majesty the Emperor!”

“So what?! I can’t just walk away when a strong guy’s right in front of me.”

Lady Ritdilt’s protests were brushed off by Gualba with the reasoning of a warrior race.

Being a closed-off nation with no external relations, they probably get away with causing trouble like this.

If you’ve lived in such an environment all your life, it’s understandable to have this kind of personality.

“Maybe your master should call himself not a ‘hero’ but a ‘coward’?”

“You think that’s a provocation?”

If he said any more, Liza behind me would probably snap, so I sneered coldly at him.

“Hah! A servant who doesn’t bare fangs when his master’s insulted is nothing but trash.”

Gualba said discontentedly.

Right in front of him appeared the tip of a demon spear glowing with red fierce light.

“W-what?! When did you—”

Panicking, Gualba instantly teleported backward.

Was the shining hair on his forehead cold sweat?

“Sorry, Master. I’ll clean up this weakling immediately, please wait a moment.”

Keeping my gaze on Gualba, Liza apologized briefly.

I should have kicked Gualba into unconsciousness the moment I sensed he was about to snap.

“Understood. Authorization to engage. Severe injury is allowed but try not to kill.”