"...Reset...?"
Adelio's voice echoed hollowly through the quiet hut.
The three words [Great Sage] had mentioned earlier were confusing enough, but the word "reset"—something he had not heard in nearly hundreds of years since reincarnating into this other world—was truly the last thing he had expected.
'...What the hell got reset? And what do "angel," "failure," and "eighth" even mean?'
Adelio had promised not to question the recorded data before hearing it out, but he could not stop himself from instinctively asking back before reason could catch up.
He frowned slightly and questioned [Great Sage], but she only replied in the same flat tone that she did not know.
"Answer. A promise is a promise. Also, as I said earlier, the words in this recorded data are data I possessed even before I was born through Master, so I do not know either."
[Great Sage] made it clear that asking was pointless anyway.
She fell silent after that, but Adelio spoke to her once more.
"...Then what exactly are you asking me to do with this? If even you don't properly understand it, then even if you ask me for help, there's no guarantee I'll be able to do anything about it."
If it had been information that had appeared even once in the novel, things would have been simple. But if it was information closely tied to the [World], then even Adelio could not uncover it.
After Veldanava, the [Creator God], vanished, the [World]'s laws had taken root so deeply that no one could control them anymore. Even the [Ruler]s and [Arbiter]s who had once been close to him could not interfere with them.
"If those words really are tied to the system... to the [World]'s laws, then whatever it is you want from me, it's not something I could ever solve alone."
"Relief. There is no need to worry. I will assist Individual Name: Adelio as well."
"...What?"
The frown on Adelio's face shifted into bafflement, and just as it was about to turn into open disbelief, [Great Sage]'s voice rang out again.
"Answer. What I mean by the 'favor' I ask is that Individual Name: Adelio help me uncover what this information ultimately means."
Apparently deciding there was no need to drag it out any longer, she finally revealed the favor she wanted from Adelio.
"Normally, I should first ask Master for her opinion and act according to her choice, but this request is an exception."
Originally, the [Skill] known as [Great Sage] was meant to act only according to its master's orders.
But this time was different.
It was because of the "remnant" left behind in her by the great mage from thousands of years ago—the previous holder of [Great Sage], who had possessed [Great Sage] as an [Ultimate Skill] from the very beginning.
"This recorded data carries an order along with it: it must be investigated as the highest priority, no matter what."
[Great Sage], reborn through Rimuru, did not know of the remnant hidden deep within herself.
And yet, like an animal following instinct, she understood one thing.
That this command left behind by that remnant had to be fulfilled, no matter what.
"So cooperate with me. As I told you when I first proposed it, this will surely be of help to Individual Name: Adelio as well."
[Great Sage]'s will was firm.
Just as everyone has something they absolutely want to accomplish, this was the one thing [Great Sage] most wanted to achieve.
She still could not remember the one who had left this command behind, nor even their name.
Even so, carrying it out was the very reason a being called a [Skill] existed.
A servant who obeyed its master's orders, or a partner who fought beside its master.
The fate of a [Skill] was always one of those two things.
"..."
The same was true for Adelio and [Odin] as well.
That was why Adelio could understand what [Great Sage] was feeling as she tried to see this request through.
"...All right."
And so, he accepted.
He still had no clue what any of this information meant, but neither could he simply leave it alone.
Trusting in [Great Sage]'s cooperation, he accepted her request.
Not long after Adelio and [Great Sage] finished their conversation,
several [Hobgoblin]s summoned by the [Kijin], along with [Goblin Lord] Rigurdo, entered the hut.
"Lord Rimuru!!"
As usual, Rigurdo found Rimuru melted into a limp puddle after expending a huge amount of magicules. He quickly ordered the [Hobgoblin]s to guard the hut, then turned to Adelio, who had been watching from the side.
"Hmm... Sir Adelio... do you intend to remain here?"
Perhaps because Rimuru had specifically told him to treat Adelio especially well, Rigurdo asked as politely as he could—even if his voice was still thunderously loud.
Adelio seemed to think for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"No, I should head back to the hut where my companions are staying too. I'll be going now."
"I see! Then please, make yourself comfortable while you are here!"
With a kindly smile that did not suit his massive muscles at all, Rigurdo bowed at a perfect right angle.
...
Slide...
Receiving Rigurdo's almost excessively formal farewell, Adelio stepped out of Rimuru's hut. He glanced back at it once more from the corner of his eye, then started walking.
Just as he had told Rigurdo, he was planning to return to the hut where his companions were staying.
"...Were you waiting for me?"
That is, if not for the people waiting for him.
Tap.
"..."
Lingering near Rimuru's hut were two oni, one red and one violet.
The two [Kijin], Benimaru and Shion, each carrying a longsword and a greatsword respectively, were glaring at Adelio with two fierce pairs of eyes as they waited for him.
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