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 149 Mushoku Tensei
 
 Rikarisu Town.
 
 Lots of memories here.
 Even now I remember it like yesterday.
 My life as an adventurer in Begaritt Continent started here, filled of memories with Ruijerd and Eris.
 But in the end we were chased out, leaving only bad memories behind...
 But the experiences I gained here are good.
 It's here I learned not to overthink the situation, or try to do everything by myself.
 
 We hike down the slope and head towards the edge the crater until we reached an entrance.
 Just as before, here stands a pair of guards.
 Back then, in order to sneak Ruijerd in, we came in disguise..
 
 "Hey, it's guarded.  Is that a problem?"
 "No.  Cities in the Demon Continent basically welcomes everyone in."
 "But doesn't the security feels rather tight right now?"
 
 As Cliff said, the guards looks quite alert.
 Jet black armor, full face helmet.
 The armor looks sharp, omnious.
 When I was at Rikarisu, the guard weren't so well equipped.
 The equipment has changed over the years, I suppose.
 
 "Halt."
 
 Just as we are about to enter, the guards stops us.
 
 "What is it?"
 "No, that woman over there..."
 
 The guards stare at Elinalise.
 Cliff steps in front of Elinalise as if to shield her.
 Elinalise looks unfazed.
 
 "What wrong?"
 "... What?"
 
 The other guard pull out a piece of paper.
 Then look back and forth between that and Elinalise.
 
 I sneak a peak, drawn on it a succubus like beauty.
 Tall, big breasted, long wavy hair.
 It wasn't colored, but Elinalise shares some similiarities.
 But, the chest is off.
 
 "Not her."
 "Ah, nope."
 
 With that say, the guards put away the paper.
 
 "Excuse me, proceed."
 "Something happened?"
 "None of your business."
 
 I left quietly after I was refused.
 
 "Looks like they're looking for someone."
 "Yeah."
 
 There's an escapee somewhere in town?
 Well, nothing to do with us.
 But we should be careful.
 If we wander into an alley somewhere and meet a murderer, that'd suck.
 
 "Well, now what?"
 "Let's go to the Adventurer's Guild and exchange some money."
 "Got it."
 
 After a simple exchange, we follow the road ahead.
 
 "Wow, amazing..."
 
 Cliff exclaims as he see the nearby open market.
 
 As usual full of life.
 Merchants and adventurers of various races.
 Lizard-like magic beasts ridden back and forth.
 
 But the going on is the about the same as markets around the Magic City Sharia.
 Merchants and adventurers arguing, residents wandering to and forth.
 A begger asking for charity from a merchant and gets kicked aside.
 Same sort of things everywhere you go.
 Even Cliff should be familiar with this sight, but seeing various race mixed together might be refreshing.
 Must be different.
 
 However, a little unexpected.
 Black-clad soldiers are everywhere.
 Whenever they spot Elinalise, without a pause they'll take out some paper.
 Then, obviously someone different even from afar, they never came for questioning.
 
 "Cliff-senpai, your wife is rather popular."
 "Eh, Ehh... Is it alright?"
 "As long as Elinalise-san hasn't done anything here before, it should be alright."
 
 With that said I stare at Elinalise.
 She shrugs.
 
 "Nothing I feel guilty about."
 
 Elinalise looks unfocused.
 Definitely did something she felt guilty about.
 
 ---
 
 The Adventurer's Guild is same as always.
 At worst, it has deteriorated slightly by the ravages of time.
 No, I remember it was always like this.
 
 All eyes on us when we entered.
 How nostalgic.
 Last time after a short act, we had the place in an uproar.
 Thankfully Ruijerd soon got in the act an we avoid a mess.
 
 Soon everyone lost interest.
 A party of Long Ear Race and Human might be exotic, but a few rare specimens don't deserve the attention.
 
 We head to the front desk, and exchanged some Asura coins with Demon Continent ones.
 Around 100 Green Mineral Coin worth, but I collected it without double checking.
 Back then, I'd check everyday the content of my wallet, even if there's only one or two pieces left.  I have really changed.
 No, just a tad more affluent than before.
 
 Also we issued a request to the Adventurer's Guild for Kishirika's whereabout.
 
 "Petite girl, purple hair, bondage wear, self-proclaimed Great Empress of the Demon Realm, in particular habitually laugh like a maniac."
 
 Since it's a search, ratings are low, but reward is high.
 I stick the request on the job board.  Suddenly I noticed at the edge of the job board, an aging petition from the Fedoa Region Search Group.
 The search group at Milis has already been disbanded, yet this petition still remains.
 The contact person is still Paul at Holy Kingdom of Milis.
 At this rate, wouldn't someone end up traveling all the way to Milis for nothing?
 
 I return to the front desk and change the contact to Alphonse at the refuge camp.
 They probably will still accept refuges there.
 Although my residence could work as well, but honestly I don't want to take care of people I don't know.
 
 "Well, we're done here."
 "Now what?"
 
 After Cliff asked, I spend time thinking about our next moves.
 Of course, we shouldn't just sit around and wait.  Better if we do some digging ourselves.
 We'll spend a week here collecting information.
 Look for help and do leg work on our own, search carefully.
 Ultimately the Adventurer's Guild job request is just a safety net, in case we missed Kishirika somehow.
 
 "First, collect intel."
 
 I check my surroundings.
 A man walks up towards us.
 A horse faced man.
 I remember this guy well.
 It's he that trapped us.
 It's all his fault that we got kicked out of the city... well, not all.
 I know as well, back then we broke the rules.
 
 "Yo!"
 
 The horse faced man - Nokopara - just like before, come chatting full spirited.
 To a guy like him, making conversation with new faces are part of the job.
 Despite what I think, the person he's greeting is not me, but Elinalise.
 
 "Long time no see!  You and Roxy split up?"
 
 Elinalise looks at Nokopara in surprise.
 Not long after, probably when it finally clicks for her, she claps her hand.
 
 "Ah, from Roxy's old party."
 "...Eh?"
 
 Roxy's old party?
 What?
 
 "Rudeus.  Please help translate.  This is my... no, Roxy's old buddy."
 
 Elinalise pushes me to face Nokopara.
 8 years ago.
 The guy that cling onto us.
 
 Roxy's old buddy.
 Old party member.
 In other words, he was clinging on to Roxy too.
 Why have I never heard anything about this?
 
 "Oh, I am Nokopara.  Do you understand me?"
 
 He doesn't remember me from back then.
 It can't be helped, after 8 years, I have grew up quite a bit.
 Nokopara has grown old too...  well, I can't really tell.
 How horse face looks when older, I can't really tell.
 In turn, Nokopara probably can't tell human apart either.
 
 "Yeah, Nokopara-san.  I understand."
 "Rudeus, he should be quite familiar with the situations in this town.  Why not ask him to help collect information for us?"
 "..."
 
 This guy is good with intel, that I know.
 He's very observant of others.
 In that case, he should come in handy for us.
 We were once pushed into a corner by him.
 But we shamed him in public as well.
 He might still be holding a grudge for that.
 Instead of coming clean, I'm better off hiding my identity and take advantage of him.
 
 "I am Quagmire.  Nice to meet you."
 "Ah, Quagmire huh... Oh?  Have we met before?"
 "No, that's impossible."
 
 If Eris is here, she probably did kick his ass.
 But I'll let bygones be bygones.
 He never did realize that Ruijerd is a Supard.
 And it was our misstep that caused the situation.
 Besides, now is not the time to dig up the past.
 
 "We're looking for someone.  Will you assist?"
 "... How much you got?"
 
 He pisses me off.
 Well, I wouldn't want to do work for free either."
 
 "2 Green Mineral Coin.  4 if you find her."
 "4!?  D-done!"
 
 Ah, too much.
 It's been a while, I completely forgot about the situation here.
 Ah, oh well.
 
 "It's an emergency."
 "Oh.  If it's for Elinalise, I can do it for half."
 
 Nokopara turns up his nose and smiles to himself.
 
 ---
 
 After I provide Nokopara the info on Kishirika, he said "we'll get in touch in half a day" and disappeared in the crowd.
 
 "I'm surprised you held back."
 
 Watching Nokopara leave, Elinalise speaks up.
 
 "Eh?"
 "I remember now.  That guy tried to shake you down before."
 "Wow, you even know about that."
 "When I came by this town, I caught wind of it.  Apparently Nokopara tried to shake down [Dead End] and almost got killed.  But I don't think Roxy heard of it..."
 
 Elinalise knows.
 Well, no reason that she wouldn't.
 A Supard showing up in town would be big news.
 
 "It's just an unfortunate event."
 
 Things were going so well that I got carried away and fell on my face.
 The way Nokopara takes advantage of others disgusts me, but I'm no saint myself.
 Since Nokopara doesn't realize who I am, it's just as well.
 
 "Anyways, I don't plan on settling the score with Nokopara. But if he crosses us again, that's a different story."
 
 What's past is past, but I am not that generous.
 Cross me again, and I'll make sure that's the last time.
 
 "Say, Nokopara and Roxy in a party together, what's up with that?"
 "Ah, about that-."
 
 I feel a little troubled after hearing the story of Roxy and Nokopara.
 Ah, such a nice guy back then, yet look at how he turned out.
 
 ---
 
 Lots of stuff to get done in half a day's time.
 First is securing accommodation.
 This town has plenty of inns open for adventurers.
 Simple inns for rookies, and ones for high ranks.
 
 This time we selected one for high rank adventurers.
 Picking a high class inn mostly for its security.
 It's a little pricey, but since prices are generally low at the Demon Continent, it wasn't very painful.
 
 On the way there, we walked pass "Wolf Claw Inn."
 That's the place we stayed in long ago.
 
 By chance,  we passed by three young rookies, chatting as they walk out of the inn.
 It's a little late to head out for work right now, so they're probably going shopping.
 Say, the other adventurers that lived here back then... Kuruto and people, what are they up to now?
 Because of my misjudgment, one of them died.  How are the other two doing?
 No.  It has been 8 years already.
 They might already be dead.
 But if we can meet again, I'd like to talk about old times with them.
 
 Oh yeah.
 I should go meet with the P-hunters.
 Jalil and Veskel, right?
 The petty criminals that specialize in lost pets.
 Although I'm not looking for a pet this time, but Kishirika is basically an animal.  Maybe they can find her.
 
 "Before that, let me drop by this place I know."
 "As expected of Shishou to be so well connected."
 "I just know a few people."
 
 Thinking about that, I head towards P-hunters' pet store.
 
 It should be around here somewhere.  Following vague memories of the area, I went ahead.
 My memories are dubious, and the city changed.
 Even though, after spending so long in the area, and following the landmarks, I can still recognize this place.
 
 The location is the right, but the store has changed.
 It's a butcher's shop.
 A guy with hedgehog head looks after the store.  I went to check it out.
 
 "Welcome."
 "I remember this was a pet shop once.  Do you know what happened?"
 "Ah, Jalil?  That guy's dead.  Got killed 2 years ago taming a magic beast."
 
 Eh, he died?
 Seriously?
 
 "And Veskel?"
 "Veskel?  She left a year ago.  With Jalil dead, she can't do work no more."
 
 Veskel is gone too.
 Really, Jalil, dead?
 I know that the Demon Continent is a cruel place, but hearing an old friend has died is still rather depressing.
 
 In the end, he did betrayed Ruijerd.
 Even so we'd work together once.
 I'd like to remain as friends.
 
 "I took over the shop from Jalil.  Do you know her?"
 "Yeah.  We met."
 "Well then, let me give you a discount."
 
 I also asked about Kishirika, and as pay, bought some Great Land Turtle jerky and left.
 Great Land Turtle meat still taste as disgusting as always.
 
 ---
 
 For a half a day, we busy ourselves in collecting intel.
 
 Collecting intel by hand is not particularly efficient.
 Particularly because I'm the only that speaks the Demon God language.
 So basically, only I could ask around.
 
 If only Roxy was here.
 Still, searching a town, one or two persons won't make much of a difference.
 When it comes in intel, let's count on the expert Nokopara instead.
 With those thoughts I continue to ask around...
 
 "Petite, purple hair, bondage wear, self-proclaimed Great Empress of the Demon Realm, habitually laugh like a maniac.  Have you met that girl before?"
 "Ah, that kid.  I have.  But that was almost...  a year ago."
 
 Turns out I got a lot of responses.
 Unexpected.
 Truly unexpected.
 With this, maybe it won't be too long before we find her.
 
 "Score!"
 
 Cliff raises his voice happily.
 As if we already found her.
 But Elinalise shakes her hand.
 
 "But no one saw her recently?"
 
 It's true.
 They're all "about a year ago."
 Well, some also said "about half a year ago."
 Maybe she have left already.
 
 In that case, we should start asking "where did she go?"
 
 Rikarisu Town sits on the north east ocrner of the Demon Continent.
 For the next time, she probably would head south west.
 There's a mountain range to the south west, in that case maybe... No, this is Kishirika after all.
 
 Not that I know Kishirika very well.
 But I got a feeling she's capable of anything.
 If she doesn't follow the roads,t hen who know where would she be.
 
 "Let's go check in with Nokopara."
 "It's only half a day, I doubt even he could have found much..."
 
 Regardless, we head back to the Adventurer's Guild.
 We picked a table, and just when we about to grab something to eat, Nokopara shows up.
 
 "Yo.  Waited long?"
 
 Just as he left, he came back smiling, full of energy.
 No, I can't tell how happy is horse face.
 But he seems pretty happy to me.
 
 "Sorry I have yet to find the person, but I got some intel for you."
 "What to hear?"
 
 Only half a day for the eagle to land.
 Basically, we already know all the information Nokopara found.
 
 But as expected of Nokopara, he was able to summarize all the most common sightings, as where she was last spotted.
 Not bad for half of a day's work...
 Rather, as part of his daily routine, he knows all the right people to ask.
 Then based on what info is needed, he pick the likely candidates to ask, something like that.
 That's talent too.
 
 "Demon Lord-sama seems to be looking for Great Demon Empress as well."
 "Demon Lord?"
 "Yeah.  About a year ago, the Demon Lord from the adjacent territory traveled here."
 
 Apparantly Demon Lord currently resides at the center of Rikarisu Town, at Old Kishirisu Castle.
 So all the black-clad shoulders are all her personal army.  Riders too, basically her private guards.
 
 "Don't tell me that Demon Lord is Badigadi?"
 "No, not Badigadi-sama.  It's Atofe-sama, older sister of Badigadi-sama, a very terrifying Demon Lord."
 
 Badigadi has a sister?
 A black amazon?
 
 "Really scary?"
 "Ah, she's a Demon Lord that fought in the Laplace Campaign, after all.  If you accidentally offend her, she might execute you on the spot."
 
 I can't imagine when Badigadi is so easy going.
 But if that's the case, then I should probably avoid her.
 
 No, if she is related to Badigadi, then she might also be immortal too.
 If she has lived since a long time ago, then maybe she know of the cure to Doline syndrome.
 I should try to get an audience with her and ask...
 Whether she will see me is another question.
 
 "Say, has Badigadi returned?"
 "He has yet to return... Hey, watch your language when you talk about the Demon Lord-sama."
 "Apologies."
 
 Badigadi hasn't come back.
 Who knows where he's wandering the world right now.
 No, he's be gone for 8 years already.
 Maybe wandering the world is a hobby of his.
 
 I summarized the details to the others.
 Zanoba, with a hand to his chin.
 
 "The portrait looks nothing like her."
 
 Now that he said it, that portrait does look completely different from Kishirika as I remember her.
 I knew Kishirika was a kid.
 I didn't notice when I check the portrait, but that vixen looks qutie like Kishirika.
 Maybe once Kishirika grows older, that's how she looks.
 
 Maybe Kishirika has grown in the past few years?
 No, no.
 We have witness reports of that girl.
 In other words, that Demon Lord doesn't know that Kishirika is a kid?
 Oh...
 Maybe Nokopara would know.
 
 "That portrait the private guards have look different from the actual Kishirika.  What do you think?"
 "Demon Lord-sama doesn't concern herself with petty details.  So maybe she thought any age would do."
 "Ah, I see."
 
 Badigadi is whimsical as well.
 Maybe Atofe is the same.
 
 "Then, let's call check with Atofe-sama?"
 
 I declare and get up.
 But Nokopara starts to panic.
 
 "Hey, hold on, forget it.  Atofe-sama is really dangerous.  You're better off not to."
 "No, I must.  I'll be careful to not offend her."
 
 No problem?
 I hope there won't be.
 If something happens, then Zanoba stands guard while I attack.
 Just like with Badigadi, I'll hit and run...
 Then once I find Badigadi, he can mediate for us.
 Well, that'll do.
 
 "If we should meet, then allow me to help."
 
 Zanoba stands up smiling.
 He's a royalty as well, so arranging a meeting should be possible right?
 If that's the case, then maybe we should get Ariel to come instead...
 
 Hold on, maybe like with Perugius, Zanoba is easier to get along with.
 Since Ariel is always thinking about networking, she might get exposed and hated.
 
 "Is Atofe-sama interested in the arts?"
 "Eh? Arts? Em, who knows.  Well, Demon Lord-sama all seem to have those sort of interests."
 
 Badigadi's interests... like what?
 I don't think he has anything of the sort.
 No, he's interested in beer?
 Like really expensive beer?
 Even though Atofe is a very scary Demon Lord, is she's anything like Badigadi, then we might get along.
 
 "Anyways, let's go give it a shot."
 
 With the talk over, Elinalise and Cliff stood up as well.
 
-----
+----
 
 A hour later.
 We stand looking at the castle.
 
 Conclusion?
 Failure.
 
 Zanoba takes her the crest of Shirone.  I translate for him to request an audience with Demon Lord.
 
 "Never heard of that country.  Atofe-sama is busy!  No one is allowed!"
 
 Denied.
 Door slammed in our face.
 Maybe Asura Kingdom or Kingdom of the Dragon King or Holy Kingdom of Milis would be different.
 But Shirone is a small kingdom, so it's impossible.
 It's like expecting a Japanese to know the name of some country in Africa.
 Especially when there were no appointment.
 It's only natural.
 
 "I'm sorry.  My home country lacks the prestige."
 
 Rather than getting angry at the blatant breach of etiquette, Zanoba is apologizing to me instead.
 
 "No, I was inconsiderate."
 "I thought this might happen..."
 
 Zanoba frowns as he said.
 Zanoba isn't much of a patriot, but to hear his country mocked in such a matter, I doubt he'll letit go.
 
 "... Sigh, let's take a break."
 
 Cliff leans after a wall nearby and sigh.
 I still have some gas in the tank...
 
 "True, I'm a bit tired too."
 
 Looking around, Zanoba is sweaty too.
 It might miss, but he's also a indoor type.  A day's exercise is hard on him too.
 I also feel like my head is running slow.
 Let's rest.
 
 "Alright.  Then let's go grab some grub."
 
 We didn't have time for lunch.
 The jerky was lacking as well.
 Well, food here is hard to eat, so I don't have much appetite.
 
 "Shishou, there's an open-air stall there, let's just eat there.  is that alright with you two?"
 
 Now that you mention it, for a while we can smell barbeque in the air.
 Following our nose, there's heavily spiced, the Demon Continent specialty, open stall spicy barbecue skewers.
 With a crowd of... 3 customers waiting in line.
 
 "I don't mind, but eating while standing... isn't that against the rules?"
 "What the hell are you talking about?"
 
 As they argue, Elinalise has already take her place in the line.
 
 "I'll hold a spot.  Rudeus, go setup a place to sit somewhere."
 "Will language be a problem?"
 "For numbers, we can just use our hands."
 
 That's true too.
 There're ways to get around without knowing the language.
 
 Following her instruction, with magic, I setup some chairs on the side.
 Although eat standing up is fine, but since we need the rest, we might as well sit down.
 Although to be honest I don't mind sitting on the ground either.
 
 "I'll line up too."
 
 Cliff and Elinalise line up together.
 I finish with the preparation and sit down with Zanoba.
 
 "Phew."
 
 After sitting down, a day of exhaustion rushed to me.
 But sitting here like this, I start feel like the entire day have been a waste of time.
 We still don't know whether we can find Kishirika.
 Even if we find her, we have no clue whether she know anything useful.
 Rather, I got a feeling the chances that she does is nigh.
 Badigadi as well, although they have long lives, but I think they rarely get ill.
 
 "... Shishou, don't be too hard on yourself."
 "Eh?"
 "Nanahoshi's illness, Shishou don't have to feel so responsible for it."
 
 I'm not responsible.
 Right. That's true.
 But, this is not an issue of responsibility.
 This is what I want to do.
 
 "That's true."
 "But feeling homesick and wanting to go back, I can understand that a little.  That's why I want to help."
 "Really?  I thought you're happy with the life you have now."
 "Of course.  But sometimes feeling nostalgic for home.  That's also true."
 
 Zanoba feels homesick sometimes.
 I thought he only has dolls on his mind, but I guess Zanoba is also someone's flesh and blood.
 
 "... Nanahoshi tries so hard.  Her home is definitely something important to her."
 "The boy she likes, and her family too... They're all there."
 
 Both are ordinary, but both are important.
 Very, very important.
 
 "Both of them are beyond me."
 "For you, it's dolls."
 
 I absentmindedly watch the other two while chatting with Zanoba.
 Cliff and Elinalise.
 Those two have changed so much from when we first met.
 Cliff can't read the mood, but now she's more considerate of others.
 Elinalise too, I'm fond of the time when she was busy chasing after boys.
 If they ever split up, they probably would return to true form in a hurry.
 
 "..."
 
 The customer before Cliff ordered his skewers.
 Probably to ask for change, a beggar in hood and rags went over, but that customer kicked him away.
 Cliff looks angry when he spots this.
 But Elinalise stops him, so no fight broke out.
 
 Cliff is a kind-hearted.  He definitely will get something for the beggar.
 As I expect, he bought an extra skewer and hand it to him.
 The beggar devours the skewer as he thanks him.
 Eat; eat.
 Soon after he finished one, he brazenly begs Cliff for another, so Cliff bought a new one for him.
 
 So moved that he's trembling the beggar holds Cliff's hand.
 Eh?
 Deja vu.
 Say, that beggar, is he thanking Cliff in human language?
 
 In that moment, the beggar suddenly laughs with a voice so loud that can be heard from even over here.
 
 "Wahahahaha!"
 
 Throwing off her rags, she loudly declares!
 
 ""This one is called Kishirika Kishirisu! A.K.A. THE GREAT EMPRESS OF THE DEMON REALM! You have saved this ones life! It's fine if you ask for any one desire!"
 
 I feel dizzy.
 
 ---