We set out from the Royal Capital the next morning.
In the end, we never found any trace of the Great Swordsmaster Nidorg. Deciding there was no point in searching further, we gave up and moved on to our next destination.
Our goal was the Sage Empire of Ritz, a neighbor to the Kingdom of Lastana.
While Ritz had less territory than Lastana, Nyau insisted their military power was comparable.
Beyond that, she emphasized that it was a nation that poured an immense amount of effort into the research of magic.
Apparently, the individual who held the title of the 9th Seat, the Great Sage, resided within the Sage Empire of Ritz.
We concluded that there was a high probability the Demon King Army and their dragons would target the Sage Empire of Ritz next.
The reasoning was simple: it was the largest nation in the immediate vicinity of Lastana's Royal Capital.
Thus, our plan was to reach the Sage Empire of Ritz ahead of the Demon King Army, rendezvous with their military, and prepare to intercept the invasion.
Once our preparations were complete, we mounted our horses and pushed steadily down the highway leading toward the Sage Empire of Ritz.
"It seems this village hasn't been attacked yet, yes," Nyau remarked as we looked over a settlement we passed along the way.
"It's getting late. We should probably stay the night here."
"Understood, yes."
While I felt the urge to reach the Sage Empire of Ritz as quickly as possible, the sun was already setting. Traveling any further in the dark would be dangerous.
We headed to a local tavern to find some dinner.
"It's quite a commotion in here," I noted.
The moment we stepped inside, I realized how noisy the tavern was.
Everyone was locked in heated debate, their eyes filled with a grim intensity.
"It might be best to listen in, yes."
"You're right."
With that in mind, I decided to strike up a conversation with the people nearby.
"Did something happen?"
"Are you lot adventurers?"
"Yeah, something like that."
We were both armed with a sword and a rod, so it was only natural for them to assume we were adventurers.
"Then have you heard anything about the Demon King Army?"
"I know they brought down the Royal Capital."
"I... I knew it. So those rumors were true!?"
As expected, the source of the unrest was the Demon King Army.
"Is it also true that the Hero is dead?"
"Yeah. That’s true as well."
"Dammit! If the Hero is gone, who's left to stop the Demon King!?" the villager shouted, slamming his fist onto the table.
We spent some time listening to the rest of the villagers' stories.
Apparently, a survivor had managed to flee the Royal Capital. Word had spread through him that the capital had fallen and the Hero was dead.
At first, no one had believed the man’s story. However, his sheer desperation eventually gave the tale a sense of grim reality.
The final confirmation had come when another person burst into the tavern, claiming they had personally witnessed the Demon King Army on the march.
With these two testimonies, the threat had become undeniable. The villagers were now arguing over what their next move should be.
"For now, let's try talking to the survivor from the capital and the one who saw the army," I suggested.
"Nyau thinks that's a good idea, yes."
With Nyau’s agreement, I immediately approached the individuals in question.
"Hey, are you the one who escaped the Royal Capital?"
"Yeah... that's right."
The man was dressed as a soldier, but his gear was in tatters and he was covered in wounds. His appearance alone spoke of the life-or-death struggle he’d endured to escape the capital.
"We're gathering information on the Demon King. If you're able, could you tell us what happened?"
"What's the point of gathering information now...?"
"They say that to defeat an enemy, you have to start by knowing them."
When I said that, the soldier began to study us with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
"Looking at you two, you're carrying some rare equipment. I take it you have the skills to back it up?"
Nyau might have looked like a mere child to a casual observer, but a trained eye could see the quality of her gear and gauge her true strength.
"Very well. I'll tell you what happened at the capital."
The soldier began to recount the Demon King Army’s assault.
However, since I had witnessed the destruction firsthand in a different timeline, I didn't gain much in the way of new information.
"Do you know anything about the Great Swordsmaster Nidorg?"
"Ah... that man is surely dead by now. I saw it myself. I saw Master Nidorg charging valiantly into the horde of demons."
"I see..."
As I feared, it seemed almost certain that the 10th Seat, the Great Swordsmaster Nidorg, was dead.
"One more thing. Does the name Ageha ring a bell? A young girl?"
"...No, sorry. I haven't heard that name."
"I see. Thank you for telling me. It helps."
"I'm just glad if I could be of use to someone."
"Oh, that's right! As a thanks, please let me treat your wounds!"
Nyau stepped forward and used healing magic to tend to the soldier’s injuries.
"If you stay still for a while, they should heal completely, yes."
"Ah... thank you, little miss."
After receiving the soldier's thanks, we stepped away.
The only real intel we’d gained was the unwelcome confirmation of Nidorg's death.
Next, we decided to speak with the other person who had spotted the Demon King Army.
"Yeah, I can tell you what I saw."
The villager spoke quite eagerly about the threat.
According to him, he had spotted the army's march on the highway south of the village. He had fled back here in a panic, doing his best to remain undetected.
He reported that the army was massive—composed of over a thousand dragons and more than ten thousand demons.
"Thank you for sharing your story."
"Yeah, don't worry about it!"
"One more thing. Do you know a girl named Ageha?"
"Hmm...? No, haven't heard of her. Sorry I can't help you there."
I hadn't expected much, but as anticipated, this man didn't know anything about Ageha either.
After finishing our meal at the tavern, we headed to the inn.
"Nyau, what should we do about the rooms? Separate? Or..."
"I... I would like to be in the same room, yes!"
Per Nyau's request, we stayed in the same room.
"It only has one bed," I noted as I looked around the room.
I really should have checked the bed situation more carefully before paying.
"We have to share a bed again, yes," Nyau said, looking a bit bashful.
We had already shared a bed the night before, so I didn't think much of it at this point.
"More importantly, let's talk about our plans for tomorrow."
"Y-Yes!"
We sat down on the edge of the bed to discuss our next steps.
"The fact that the Demon King Army was spotted south of here means they'll likely pass through the Town of Natos on their way to the Sage Empire of Ritz."
The Town of Natos was one of the major settlements in Lastana, second only to the Royal Capital in terms of prosperity.
Presumably, they intended to sack the Town of Natos to resupply their forces before moving on to the Sage Empire of Ritz.
"At this rate, if we leave tomorrow morning, we should be able to reach the Sage Empire of Ritz before the Demon King Army does."
Because of their massive size and the detour through the Town of Natos, the army would move slowly. Taking that into account, we could definitely outpace them.
"U-Um... are we not going to help the people in Natos?"
Nyau's sudden question caught me off guard.
I realized then that I had chosen to abandon the people of Natos to their deaths without a second thought.
I had plenty of logical reasons: the odds of victory were higher if we joined the forces at the Sage Empire of Ritz; even if we went to the Town of Natos now, we probably wouldn't make it in time. But despite those justifications, I should have at least considered the option of helping them.
"I'm sorry, yes! Nyau said something unnecessary, didn't she...?" she said, bowing her head quickly.
"No, that's not..."
I struggled to find the right words.
Nyau had absolutely no reason to apologize. If anything, I was the one in the wrong.
"Sorry. It's my fault. I should have thought more about the people in Natos."
"Nyau doesn't think you're to blame, Kiska-san..."
"No, that's not true. Nyau, your feelings are what matter most to me. If you want to go save the Town of Natos, I'll agree to it and do everything in my power to help."
The one truly fighting the Demon King from here on was Nyau, not me. I could only offer her support.
That was why her feelings needed to be the priority. It was my duty to ensure she could fight in a way she believed in.
"Nyau wants to follow your lead, Kiska-san."
"That doesn't help. I want to honor what you want, Nyau."
"...But there's a reason we're heading for the Sage Empire of Ritz instead of the Town of Natos, right?"
"Yeah, there is..."
I nodded and explained my reasoning.
The Town of Natos didn't have a major military garrison. Even if we went, the town would likely fall quickly. It was more strategic to reach the Sage Empire of Ritz, join the Great Sage and their army, and prepare for a decisive battle.
Furthermore, there was a very real chance that we wouldn't even arrive at the Town of Natos in time to make a difference.
"Nyau understands, yes. So, for tomorrow... to the people of the Town of Natos, um... she's sorry, but... Nyau thinks she wants to go to the Sage Empire of Ritz instead of the Town of Natos."
After hearing my explanation, Nyau stated her decision with a look of resignation.
But I could see the agonizing pain hidden behind her expression.
Ah, what have I done?
I had forced Nyau to make the choice to abandon the Town of Natos.
I thought I was acting in her best interest, but I had only succeeded in making her suffer more.
If this was how it was going to be, I should have just insisted on the Sage Empire of Ritz from the start, even if I had to be stubborn about it. The burden of choosing who to save and who to leave behind should have been mine, not hers.
"I'm sorry, Nyau," I whispered, the guilt washing over me.
"W-Why are you apologizing, Kiska-san...?"
As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face.
"That's strange... it's weird, yes. Why are there tears...?"
She desperately tried to rub her eyes with her hands to stop the flow. The sight of her struggle was more than I could bear.
Before I realized what I was doing, I pulled Nyau into a tight embrace.
I just wanted to offer her some small measure of comfort.
Nyau began to sob openly against my chest.
She possessed a heart that was pure and kind to its very core.
And I found that part of her incredibly precious.