The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 38. *Bleeerghhhh*

38. 38. *Bleeerghhhh*

Thanks to the arrival of the rescue team, the situation in Umbrella rapidly improved.

The shortage of supplies was resolved. And with the arrival of additional personnel, the reconstruction of the town began.

As a result, there was nothing left for me or the other adventurers from Avantale to do.

Except for a few volunteers who chose to stay, the outside adventurers withdrew.

You could say everything was resolved—except for one remaining problem.

Apparently, the reward for defeating the demon can’t be paid for a while.

Umbrella’s guild used all of its funds for soup kitchens, wages, and paying every adventurer who helped with the Slime extermination.

As a result, there’s no money left to pay us.

Since I was the one who called them all here, I can’t just take the reward while everyone else goes unpaid.

So we’ll be waiting until the guild resumes normal operations to get our payment.

After returning to our home, I sprawled out on the sofa.

Even Felice—who usually never shows a single lazy bone—seemed utterly exhausted. She was lying on the opposite couch just like me.

“Once we’re back home, the fatigue really hits…”

“Yeah. I totally get that feeling.”

We were too tired to move.

Mother Slime, Abiros… fighting all of that at once—it was like the exhaustion was only catching up now.

“W-will Umbrella… go back to normal…?”

Zain murmured from the corner of the room. For some reason, she was sitting there.

She still seemed shocked that a fellow demon caused such a catastrophe.

Without getting up, I replied where I lay:

“It’ll go back. Everyone believes it will.”

“Mm.”

“Everyone in Umbrella was so determined to show Zain the town fully restored.”

“Yeah…”

Zain’s voice regained just a bit of energy.

Come on, you’re a demon—don’t sulk like that. You’re way too gentle for a demon.

No wonder she cried her eyes out when we left.

The chaos of our departure was still fresh in memory.

The townspeople rushed to the gates shouting their thanks to Zain. And Zain—tears pouring from one eye—cried alongside them in a massive sobfest.

Well, Avril cried the most, but still.

The dumbfounded expressions on the soldiers watching all this? Priceless.

*Thud. Thud.*

Heavy footsteps echoed through the house.

That sound—it’s Grannaughts.

They’re back!

“I AM NOW HOME.”

“Welcome back.”

“Welcome home.”

“W-w-welcome baaack!”

Grannaughts, having entered the living room, froze.

Probably taken aback by the state we were in.

“WHY DO YOU ALL LOOK EXHAUSTED?”

They let out a puff of steam from their body as they said this.

Well, they didn’t know what had happened. So I guess that’s fair.

While we were desperately fighting, they were probably reading books in the library the whole time.

Wait, where’s Silk? Why are they alone?

I propped myself up and asked:

“Where’s Silk? Didn’t they come back with you?”

“THEY STILL HAVE BOOKS THEY WANT TO READ. ALSO, FELICE—RECEIVED A LETTER FROM YOUR FATHER.”

“From my father?”

Felice took an envelope from Grannaughts.

She broke the seal stamped with the Flareheart family crest and pulled out several sheets of stationery.

“What does it say?”

“*Sigh*... He’s pleading with me to come home, says the engagement’s off. Also, he said if there’s someone I love, I should bring them to meet him.”

“Y-you’re not… going back, right…?”

“Of course not. I’ve already introduced him to the person.”

“…?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

Zain suddenly yelled, 

“S-SO DENSEEEEE!!”

Even Grannaughts crossed their arms and nodded.

What the hell is ‘2V’? Is that some new magic spell?

My brain’s at capacity, okay?

“Hey, Grannaughts. Wanna go out somewhere with me soon?”

“WHERE TO?”

“The south. Just the both of us. Let’s talk a bit.”

“…UNDERSTOOD.”

With effort, I got up and left the living room.

◇

In the basement of our home is where we keep all the magic tools and weapons we’ve collected.

Some are cursed, sealed in boxes plastered with talismans—pretty dangerous stuff.

The rarer and more dangerous items are stored even deeper, in the back of the storage room.

*Rumble… rumble…*

I opened the thick, heavy metal door.

Inside was a glittering room lined with rare magical tools—this was the previous owner’s hobby room.

The rest of the home had tasteful design. But this room alone screamed “rich guy excess.”

Still, I kinda liked it. So I had no complaints.

At the back of the room was a wall-embedded safe.

Not once had I let any of my companions look inside.

This was *my* personal safe.

I turned the dial to unlock it.

How long had it been since I opened this?

The last time must have been right after I bought this home.

*Clack.*

I turned the knob and opened the door.

“Been a while…”

Inside was a single one-handed sword.

A plain, ordinary-looking blade—something you could find anywhere.

It had no special powers, wasn’t cursed, not even particularly fancy—just forged from rare metal.

—No.

In a way, you *could* call it cursed.

This sword contains almost all of my former sword saint skills, sealed within it.

More accurately: it’s the key to unlocking those sealed memories.

By drawing this sword, I can remember all the sword techniques I could previously use only in fragments.

As I reached for it, my body trembled.

My heart raced. And a cold sweat broke out.

My vision blurred.

“Haah, haah… God, this sucks. My past self is stronger than I am now…”

Up until now, I managed with support.

Using fragments of skills and experiences left behind by my past self.

But after facing a soon-to-be Demon King and a demon, I realized I needed a stronger trump card.

This sword is one of them.

I’d always known this day would come.

With trembling hands, I reached out.

Grasping the scabbard, I pulled the sword from the safe—it felt heavy in my arms.

Sitting down, I held the sword close.

I gripped the hilt and calmed myself.

Time to draw it—

“Ugh.”

*Bleeeeeghhh.*

Glittering vomit sprayed across the floor.

“Not… yet…”

I gripped the hilt again and put all my strength into it.

*BLEEEEEEERRGHHHH.*

*SPLAAAATTER.*

“*Haaah, haaah*... okay…Let’s stop here for today. One step forward.”