The Reincarnated Lizardman Wants a Hamburger

The people in the room are shocked by Aila’s shocking statement.

“Wait!? What did you say?”

“Ms. Daria betrayed? Isn’t there something wrong?”

“That’s right! Ms. Daria was so devoted to the Holy Kingdom!”

Although it was expected that something unusual was happening through her appearance, no one could have imagined that Daria would be in a crisis caused by the Holy Kingdom.

Especially Arisa, who had even faced a threat to her life due to Daria’s devotion, forgot to stutter as usual and raised her voice.

“…It’s because of what we did in Astram.”

To be precise, it was because of the incidents that occurred after meeting Kurt’s group and Arisa’s group.

According to the principles, those who first come into contact with the knowledge of the Ancient Empire should not be left alone.

Especially, unlike those who were merely exposed to fragments of the Ancient Empire’s magic or artifacts, those who have accessed the erased history of the Ancient Empire should be dealt with even more strictly.

In that sense, since Kurt’s group and Arisa’s group entered the ruins of the Ancient Empire and accessed the core secrets of the erased history, they should not have been left in Astram according to the principles.

They should have been either judged on the spot or immediately transported to the Holy Kingdom for trial.

However, the people in the room, far from being extradited to the Holy Kingdom, are continuing their adventurer activities peacefully, unaware of the great benefits they have received.

What that means…….

“Come to think of it…….”

When they all visited the ruins of the Ancient Empire for the second time and encountered unexpected secrets of the Ancient Empire, Daria had said that, according to the original principles, their freedom should be taken away and they should be taken to the Holy Kingdom for interrogation.

Of course, at that time, their strength was not enough to handle even Kurt alone, let alone Kurt’s group, but still, according to the principles of the Holy Kingdom, they should have at least called for support from the Holy Kingdom.

But.

‘Then what will we do?’

‘I have thought about that part too.’

‘Don’t worry. I will take responsibility and protect you all…….’

Daria’s meaningful response when Kurt asked what they would do about us who had learned the secrets of the Ancient Empire.

At that time, we thought she had cleared their suspicions with her power…….

But that wasn’t the case.

She didn’t clear the suspicions of Kurt and Arisa’s group; she had overstepped her authority and unilaterally covered up the incidents that happened in the ruins.

And as that covered-up incident became entangled with the Empire’s master, it expanded to a level that could no longer be buried, and Daria, who arrived at the Holy Kingdom, was now reporting all the truths she had concealed and taking responsibility for everything.

“Was that what taking responsibility meant…….”

At Kurt’s words, Aila answered with a gloomy expression.

“Yes. The Holy Kingdom pointed out Daria’s omission of reports and overstepping of authority as the reason for not preventing the Empire’s intervention and began to doubt Daria’s loyalty. As a result, preparations are being made for a trial to strip Daria of her position as a Special Holy Maiden.”

And stripping the position of a Special Holy Maiden does not just mean losing one’s position within the Holy Kingdom.

A Special Holy Maiden is basically a specialist who has delved deeper into the technology and history of the Ancient Empire than anyone else to counter the Ancient Empire’s magic and artifacts.

Such forbidden knowledge cannot be allowed to someone who has been stripped of the qualifications of a Special Holy Maiden.

“…Being stripped of the position of a Special Holy Maiden naturally means that all the information one has accumulated that should not be known will also be erased from memory. And of course, there is no way that rummaging through a person’s mind would have no side effects.”

“Memory erasure…! Such magic, which should only be used in the Ancient Empire, can’t really be possible…!”

Serena, who was shocked and denied Aila’s words, soon realized that the country she belonged to was the Holy Kingdom and stopped speaking.

It was no other country but the Holy Kingdom that collected and controlled the most secrets of the Ancient Empire on this continent, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they possessed such magic or artifacts from the Ancient Empire.

“Those who have their memories erased may suffer from headaches, feelings of disconnection from reality, emptiness, depression, and other side effects. The side effects vary depending on how old the erased memories are and how important they are, but generally, the older and more precious the memories, the greater the side effects. Even those who have erased memories from within the last year complain of severe headaches and disconnection, so if Daria undergoes memory erasure…!”

Moreover, Daria has been training since childhood to become a Special Holy Maiden. The period she spent training to become a Special Holy Maiden is longer than the period she didn’t.

If she undergoes memory erasure, her mind will surely be ruined, and she will become a wreck.

That is practically no different from a death sentence.

That’s why she, following Daria, shook off the Holy Kingdom’s soldiers and pursuers who were trying to detain her and ran non-stop to Astram.

Even though she herself is already a subject of the trial and knows that escaping will only deepen her own suspicions.

“I don’t care what happens to me! After all, I am a holy knight who trained mainly in physical strength, not a Special Holy Maiden who honed knowledge. Even if I am stripped of my position and have my memories erased, the damage would be negligible compared to Daria, who delved into knowledge. But Daria…!”

Aila said this and looked desperately at the people in the room.

“Did such a thing happen…….”

“We didn’t know that…….”

Their gazes, meeting hers, were equally dark.

“I know it’s a difficult request. Please come with me to the Holy Kingdom……. Testify that Daria did not betray……. Please save Daria……!”

Aila said this and bowed her head deeply, and soon the room was filled with silence.

“….”

“….”

At the attitude of the people in the room who said nothing, Aila tightly closed her eyes.

She had rushed from the Holy Kingdom to Astram with the sole intention of seeking the help of Kurt’s group and Arisa’s group.

But thinking about it, it was only Aila who was desperate; to them, it was just someone else’s problem.

Originally, the reason they got involved with the adventurers of Astram in the first place was because they were suspected and attacked by them.

Although they became close after several months of adventuring together, asking them to go to the Holy Kingdom, not just another city within the Kingdom of Eustia, based on such a shallow bond, is difficult.

Moreover, testifying to save Daria could mean being held accountable in her place.

Even if Daria’s innocence is proven, what remains is the risk that the responsibility for covering up the reports might fall on them.

‘Was it really an unreasonable request?’

She had come all the way to Astram hoping only for their help…….

Aila felt the hope she had clung to until now disappearing.

At that moment.

“Hmm……. It can’t be helped. First, let’s entrust the ingredients with a long shelf life to the guild’s warehouse and take as many of the remaining ingredients as we can……. The rest will have to be disposed of.”

“No. Are you worrying about food even in this situation!?”

“Then I’ll try to arrange a carriage.”

“Then I’ll pack my backpack.”

Saying this, Kurt’s group left the room one by one.

“…Are you agreeing to help?”

“Isn’t that why you came here hoping for?”

“Well, that’s true but…….”

“Originally, Daria is being tried because of us, right? Then of course we can’t just sit still.”

Kurt said this and left the room to dispose of the ingredients, and Aila blinked like a bird hit by a slingshot at the sight of him readily agreeing to her request so easily.

“Ms. Aila and Ms. Daria are our comrades. There are no party members who would just watch when their comrades are in danger.”

“Well, I don’t really like the Holy Kingdom’s nuns……. But being indebted to such a nun is even worse.”

“Don’t worry! My testimony as the daughter of the Count of Blossom will surely not be easily ignored by the Holy Kingdom!”

Arisa took Aila’s hand as she sat there dazed.

Not only that, but Liche and Yuri were also looking at her with unwavering eyes.

“Ms. Arisa……. Ms. Liche……. Even Ms. Yuri…….”

Finally, Aila couldn’t hold back her tears.

They were the tears she had not shed even in despair and hopelessness while running non-stop from the Holy Kingdom to Astram.

Only, the tears she shed now were filled with emotion and relief, not hopelessness and despair.

That day in Astram, the two adventurer parties decided to head to the Holy Kingdom.

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