Chapter 12 : The Hero Maeve’s Recommended Easy and Fast Travel Route

“Is this money no longer usable?”

We’re heading to the land of prophecy using a magic circle.

Since that plan hadn’t changed, Dominicus and Maeve started talking with people dressed in splendid robes.

Thanks to that, I was able to hold Maeve’s bag and talk comfortably with Rian, the village chief of Moonlight Haven.

“That’s right, Lady Purpure. The Solvenusian that the Hero has can no longer be used.”

“But it’s gold.”

Gold coins are, after all, made of gold.

Their absolute value never completely changes.

Actually, I don’t even know why the villagers called them ‘toys.’

“That’s right. The Solvenusian that the Hero has is genuine, so its value hasn’t changed.”

“…Are there fakes?”

“Haha, you’re paying close attention to this old man’s words.”

Rian stroked his white beard.

“About 20 years ago, a certain wizard magically duplicated Solvenusian and created fakes. There were so many that it became difficult to tell which was fake and which was real.”

“So that’s why they’re called toys?”

“That’s right. There’s even a strange curse on them, so not only merchants but even ordinary citizens avoid them.”

I grabbed a shiny Solvenusian and held it up.

When I was doing well, I felt great thinking that this one coin was a big blow to the hero.

Now it’s become a complete bomb.

“I’m curious. What kind of curse is it?”

“I heard it’s a curse that turns it into dust and makes it disappear.”

If a million-won check suddenly turned into dust, even street kids would hate it.

I understand why the villagers rushed out and got angry.

“Then can Grandpa Rian exchange it?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t just exchange Solvenusian.”

Then maybe it’s possible in the city we’ll reach after using the magic circle?

Maeve boasted that it was a huge and sparkling city.

“Purpure! Rian! We finished talking!”

Maeve appeared with a scroll in her hand and spoke in a lively voice.

“Was the problem resolved well?”

“Yeah, we talked it out. They’ll take care of various complicated problems, so we just need to move for now.”

“Is it real this time?”

“It was real from the beginning!”

Maeve stroked my head and took the heavy bag.

Anyway, this is goodbye to Moonlight Haven, where the spicy noodles were really delicious.

It was a bit scary when the villagers rushed out and said something at the end, but it was a good place.

I jumped off the big chair and grabbed Maeve’s pants.

“Oh, right, Purpure, this is Lena, the wizard.”

While we were leaving Rian’s house and heading to the magic circle, Maeve introduced me to a woman I’d been seeing for a while.

The wizard, Lena, who wore a very long and fluttering black robe, waved her hand and greeted me when she saw me.

“Awawa…”

I instinctively tried to cover my horns with my cloak, but I didn’t need to.

Lena gave me a pretty smile. It wasn’t a fake smile, but a motherly smile that subtly showed affection for a child.

“She’s the one who manages the magic circle operated by the Empire.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Purpure.”

“Aren’t you scared of Purpure?”

Lena looked at Maeve and smiled.

“For us, the story of the Hero and the Demon Lord is something we only see in fairy tale books.”

“Th, the Purpure in that fairy tale must have been very scary!”

I was very successful, you know?

“Hehe, well. She looks like a very cute little demon girl to me, so I don’t know.”

How are they teaching kids about the demon lord these days?

Don’t they know it’s a terrifying being that can turn people into plump, squishy creatures if it wants to?

It can amplify people’s desires and make them its subordinates

“Awawa?!”

I was just wiggling my hands! Lena stroked my head without permission.

I really can’t believe it.

Have demons and humans really become friendly?

“Let’s talk after we move to the magic circle!”

“Where are we going with the magic circle?”

When I followed Maeve into the building, I saw a magic circle that felt a huge amount of magic that made it a little hard to breathe.

It was only called a building, but it was just a bare ground with walls and a roof.

“We’re going to Seraphis.”

“I know where that is.”

It’s like flying into the heart of the enemy’s territory.

Hmm, but considering that even a wizard like Lena strokes me instead of hating me…

And my successful days are just an old story from 200 years ago from the perspective of these people, right?

At least I don’t think I’ll be dragged somewhere as soon as I arrive.

“Seraphis is a place where there are many people who are prettier and kinder than Saint Dominicus.”

“It’s not good to simply call the sisters’ appearance pretty.”

“But it’s true.”

Maeve spoke in a lively voice and stepped onto the magic circle first.

Dominicus followed, and I grabbed their pants and quickly followed.

The world might be softer than I think.

“I hope you have a good pilgrimage, Hero.”

“Thank you, Rian! Let’s meet again soon! Let’s see each other in a month, not 30 years!”

Maeve raised her hand and shouted.

Wizard Lena smiled, grabbed her staff with both hands, and struck it on the ground.

-Thump!

This magic circle is very delicately made?

It’s drawn large, so people who don’t know about magic might just think it’s convenient and amazing, but the effort put into it is no joke.

Even I, a successful demon lord, can feel the tower of accumulated knowledge.

“Have a good pilgrimage!”

Wizard Lena smiled brightly and struck her staff again.

“What is this! Why does everything Maeve says go wrong?!”

I hit Maeve’s back as she crouched down.

“Ow, ow! Ow! Is, is this my fault?! Did I do something wrong?!”

“It’s Maeve’s fault! You said it would be completely convenient if we moved with the magic circle!”

“Indeed, our pilgrimage plan was set up like that from the beginning.”

Maeve grabbed her shiny blonde hair with both hands and flinched.

“Geez! This is the first time for me too!”

Maeve pulled her hair and made a crying face.

Her usual confident appearance was gone, and she looked like a child who got a zero on a school test.

“Ah… I think I know the cause.”

“Re, really?! Can you fix it? If you fix it, I’ll give you all the Solvenusian in my bag!”

“This is an unfixable problem, so it’s okay, Hero.”

Maeve’s face turned pale in an instant at Lena’s calm words.

“Uh… You can’t fix it? Aren’t you an expert on this magic circle?”

“Yes, so I’ll tell you for sure. If you plan to go on a pilgrimage with Lady Purpure, you can’t use the magic circle at all.”

Lena’s voice was very serious.

“I’m curious about the cause.”

“Hmm… To give you an analogy, this magic circle is like a ship floating on the sea. It carries people and goods on the ship and moves them quickly.”

She’s being so kind with the analogy.

She really thinks I’m a little demon who hasn’t studied magic at all!

“So Lady Purpure can’t use this magic circle.”

‘It seems like it’s because I have such a powerful force!’

“It’s because I’m too huge.”

I raised my arms high with both hands.

“I’m a very scary and powerful demon lord!”

“That’s right. The Demon Lord’s magic is so strong that if you try to use this magic circle, it won’t just break, but it’ll also be bad for you.”

“Uh… Then, what do we do?”

At Maeve’s words, Dominicus and I turned our faces at the same time.

“That’s something the Hero has to think about from now on.”

“Maeve brought me here!!!”

“Gi, give me some time to think! This wasn’t in the plan!”

Maeve trembled.

“Ho, how about this? I’ll go back first using the magic circle and, uh, uhh! Right! There’s a huge carriage powered by magic stones? I’ll bring that!”

“That magic circle can’t be used that often!”

I pointed to the magic circle in the distance with my small hand.

“I know! That magic circle is very complicated! It’s fortunate if the same person uses it once a month!”

“That’s right. That’s why there are still merchant guilds and people who ride ships.”

Why would there be ships if you could use it freely like going to the bathroom?

I remembered a similar magic that came to mind vaguely.

It had so many annoying restrictions that I couldn’t use it in the end.

“Ugh… I’m sorry, Purpure. It wasn’t a problem until now…”

Maeve sighed deeply.

“We have to go back to the land of promise… So Purpure’s memories will come back…”

Maeve was still talking about things I didn’t remember.

But there were emotions conveyed.

Hmph, how foolish! You shouldn’t show such emotions to the terrifying demon lord.

I’ll have to use her thoroughly.

“I have a good idea.”

“What, what is it? Tell me the way, Purpure!”

Maeve clung to me.

“I can read maps. I’ve also been on adventures. Maeve is a hero, so you’re good at adventures, right?”

“Of course! I used to walk around and travel a lot in the old days. Heroes and adventures are one and the same!”

I pointed to the sky and the river with both hands.

“Even in the old days when there were no magic circles, I walked around well.”

I wanted to know this world a lot.

I wanted to know if demons and humans really lived together amicably, as Maeve and Dominicus said.

“Just like we came from the demon castle to Moonlight Haven, we just need to go on a journey to the land of prophecy!”

It’s okay if it’s full of lies.

If we go on a journey, we’ll be able to meet a lot of lost demons, monsters, and traces of the demon army.

And if we’re together for a long time, I can make them my subordinates.

Either way, it’s all beneficial to this demon lord.

“That… That sounds like a really good idea, Purpure! We’re going on an adventure together like in the old days?”

“We don’t even have to walk. We can travel by boat and carriage!”

Maeve nodded and held my hand.

“I’m really glad that I get to go on a wonderful pilgrimage with Purpure.”

Maeve’s eyes, which she spoke softly, sparkled so brightly that I couldn’t say anything.

And so, the pilgrimage of the terrifying Great Demon Lord, Purpure, to return to the land of prophecy began.