It took three months
I stepped onto the Demon Continent again, and felt absolutely no sense of disorientation.
This barren land remains just as desolate as it was a decade or so ago.
Because of my advancements in magic, the range of my detection magic has expanded significantly, allowing me to detect and kill many monsters from a great distance.
Of course, I didn't waste time collecting materials from them; they were simply in my way.
village...?
Calling it a village is a bit too rudimentary; it's probably more like a tribe.
A dozen or so houses were clustered together, surrounded by a rough fence, inside which lay small farmlands.
I'm not entirely sure what's growing in the fields, but it doesn't seem to be crops.
It's probably impossible to grow anything in a place without a river.
Arriving at the entrance of the village
"Stop!"
We were stopped at the entrance.
Upon closer inspection, a boy of middle school age was standing beside the door.
Her hair was blue, which reminded me of Roxy.
"Hello"
I greeted them in the Demon God Language and took out the pendant that Roxy had given me.
"This pendant was given to me by my wife. My wife's name is Roxy, and my name is Rudeus Greyrat. I hope to meet Roxy's parents."
After I finished speaking, the man in front of me widened his eyes.
"What!"
He spoke loudly, strode up to me, and grabbed my shoulder.
That's a bit rude... but maybe because he looks a bit like Roxy, I didn't feel angry at all.
"You, you... you are Roxy's husband?"
"Yes"
Where is Roxy now?
"I don't think my wife's address should be revealed so easily..."
"Quick! Tell me! Roxy is my daughter!"
"Huh?"
Is this Roxy's father?
Before coming here, I had never seen Migurd Race other than Roxy... my lovely daughter Lara counts.
So the Migurd Race's characteristics are consistent... even the men are relatively small.
"Don't stay silent! Where is Roxy?"
"Father-in-law, Roxy is currently in the Ranoa Kingdom."
" Ranoa..."
"Actually, I've wanted to meet you and my mother-in-law for a long time, but I kept putting it off because my child is still too young to understand."
"A child!?! You... you... you..."
He pointed at me, muttering incredulously.
It's not that I can't understand; I'm a father too.
If my daughter suddenly runs away from home one day in the future, but returns years later to find a man...
The man claimed to be her husband and that they had a child.
I would definitely faint from this shock.
"Yes, we are very much in love. May I ask your name, Father-in-law?"
As if accepting reality, he said somewhat listlessly.
" Rowin... you, are you really Roxy's husband?"
"Certainly"
"Are you able to contact Roxy now?"
"Sure, I'm planning to take my father-in-law and mother-in-law to the Ranoa Kingdom. After all, the child wants to meet his grandparents, doesn't he?"
"Uh... it feels a little unreal. Anyway, come with me."
If you had to describe a Migurd Race village in one word, it would be: [extreme poverty].
There were about ten rooms, and their shapes were hard to describe in words; it was like digging up the ground and then covering it with a tortoise shell.
The architectural technology of the Asura Kingdom was much more advanced.
That being said, even if the architects of the Asura Kingdom came to this land where there was no timber to be found, they would be helpless without the necessary materials.
Although they can be seen from outside the village, the farmland inside the village is also neatly planted with plants bearing withered leaves.
It looks withered, is that alright?
Along the way, many Migurd Race stared at me.
If I remember correctly, they could communicate without speaking. Roxy ran away because she couldn't communicate this way.
So they should all know who I am in the channel.
"You just said... you can contact Roxy, is that true?"
"Yes, of course."
"Can you bring her over?"
"Yes, but I'd prefer to bring my parents-in-law back to the Ranoa Kingdom, after all, the Demon Continent..."
The environment is really quite bad.
"I understand what you mean, but... Roxy's mother, she..."
Um?
That tone...
My father-in-law's expression wasn't very pleasant.
Logically speaking, Migurd Race should have very long lifespans.
What illness does it have?
Is something wrong with my mother-in-law's health?
"Yes, she's sick."
"Take me to see it."
Inside the mud house, a blue-haired girl lay on a bed that resembled a stone slab.
She looks very similar to Roxy.
but...
"This is..."
"I don't know what happened. Two weeks ago, I just had a fever, but now one of my hands has turned into purple crystals... I..."
Without hesitation, I stepped forward and cast a healing spell.
Over the years, my healing magic has improved to the Saint Rank, but it has had no effect whatsoever.
What kind of disease is this? I've never heard of it before...
No, don't think about what illness it is, the situation is critical now.
Recalling the scroll that Orsted had burned before me years ago, a thought flashed through my mind, and I activated magic.
Then, about ten seconds later...
A magic circle suddenly began to appear on the ground on its own.
After the magic circle was fully completed, Orsted emerged from it.
The moment he stepped out, my father-in-law was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground.
"Father-in-law, do not panic. This is the Dragon God Orsted, and also... my friend."
Perhaps because he heard me say we were friends, Orsted smiled and nodded at Rowin.
"This... like this..."
After explaining to Rowin, I turned to ask Orsted.
"What kind of illness is this? Can you cure it?"
After watching for a Orsted spoke.
" Magic Stone Disease... I thought this virus had been eradicated."
"The extinct virus... that..."
"Don't worry, although it's an illness that only divine-level detoxification magic can cure, coincidentally, I do know how."
Rokari has finished her treatment. Although she didn't wake up immediately, her condition has clearly improved.
Orsted is proficient in all the magic of this world, which is truly reassuring.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! Orsted!"
Rowin expressed his gratitude in the Demon God Language, tears streaming down his face.
Orsted nodded without saying anything.
I then asked...
"Father-in-law, I have a few questions for you now."
"You say"
"You said your mother-in-law suddenly contracted this disease two weeks ago. Was anything unusual that happened before that?"
Rowin thought for a while
Then he slowly opened his mouth.
A... traveler came to our village.
"Traveler?"
"Hmm... He claimed to be Geese, that he got lost in the Demon Continent, and that he was fluent in the Demon God Language, so we let him rest in the village for two days."
Geese...
That monkey-faced uncle?
What is he doing in the Demon Continent?
What does he look like? What does he do?
"He... was a bit like a monkey, he didn't do anything."
"Good..."
Didn't you do anything?
Geese... Geese...
They inexplicably appeared and helped us while we were in the maze.
He displayed behavior uncharacteristic of a seasoned adventurer when fighting the Hydra.
Now they've reappeared in Roxy's hometown...
Um...?
I turned to look at Orsted and said...
Did you notice?
"Yes, I feel the same way."
"You said before that Lara might be the savior... so everything Geese did before was to prevent Lara from being born..."
"Indeed, but his plan has completely failed. Even this operation against your parents-in-law was probably a last resort."
In short, Geese has disappeared.
Go back and tell Ariel, King Ranoa, and Cliff, who was recently confirmed as the next pope, to keep an eye on Geese's whereabouts.
I suppose they won't refuse my request.
Once we capture Geese and examine his memories, everything will become clear.
"Uh... Rudeus "
"Hmm? Father-in-law, you can just call me Rudeus."
"I was a little distracted earlier, uh... it's just... you and Roxy already have a daughter?"
"Right"
How old is she?
"She's three years old now."
"Oh...! How long does it take to get from the Demon Continent to the Ranoa Kingdom you mentioned?"
"It'll only take five minutes, but my mother-in-law is unconscious, so I can bring Roxy and Lara along instead."
Five minutes!? Just like when you summoned Lord Alster over?
"Almost"
"Well... I'll get ready. Uh, my daughter shouldn't mind here, but my granddaughter is..."
"Don't worry, Father-in-law, Lara is very sensible."
"Oh... um... but I still need to prepare."
In short, Rowin began tidying up the mud house, which already had very little in it.