Chapter 2 (1/2)
Translator: Luk2048
I haven't eaten anything since noon, so I was thinking it'd be nice to eat some fresh green gra.s.s while watching the banquet bonfire. However, my stomach is supposedly full of sacrifice's soul, so I'm just sitting here not eating anything. Being idly illuminated by fire, I revisit today's events.
—— I wonder, have I done something wrong?
No, even when I reflect on it, I don't think there's anything to blame me for. The main reason I've fallen into this state of affairs is this sacrificial girl acting abnormally crazy. I faced Rēko, who was sitting seiza-style on my back, and while maintaining as much dignity as possible, I said:
”Hey, Rēko. I'll wage war on the Devil King alone, so you may stay at this village and protect it.”
”What are you speaking; kin are those who share the fate of their Lord. If Evil Dragon Lord intends to cross blades with the Devil King, I will carry my duty as one of your sharp nails.”
Why is her loyalty so uselessly high? I could flee if I could just abandon the village.
Nevertheless, despite her being so terrific, it seems her body can't keep up with the enormous amount of awakened magic power. Since a while ago, the weight balance on my back was crumbling and her head kept clumsily falling down, probably because of drowsiness.
”How about getting some sleep? You don't have to force yourself to stay awake.”
”As your kin, I couldn't sleep leaving lord unattended…”
”You've just became my kin, so there's still a burden on your body. It'll be a problem if you force it and ruin your physical condition. It's an order, sleep.”
”Then, as you wish.”
Suddenly, the weight on my back collapsed with a flop sound. Sly means are necessary to make her listen, but it increasingly deepens her wrong a.s.sumptions, so it feels like I'm falling into a vicious cycle.
At this time a man in his prime, who looked like a banquet manager, drew near us.
”Evil Dragon Lord, how are you feeling? From this point forward the village's traditional dance will take place, I hope you can enjoy it.”
”Ah, yea, I'm enjoying it.”
”I feel honored! I made the performers dance with the preparedness for death as an appropriate ceremony for the beginning of Evil Dragon Lord's war, so if it's not to your liking please behead them at any time.”
”Ee… It's okay, I've no such hobbies.”
”Wow! As expected, in comparison to the Devil King, Lord is full of compa.s.sion!”
”Being more merciful than the Devil King, couldn't you give me a better compliment…? By the way, about this girl called Rēko.”
I lowered my back and showed her figure.
”I-Is there anything you are dissatisfied about?”
”It's fine. It's not like I've any complaints, really. Look, if I disappear there will be no one to protect this village, right? I was thinking of leaving this child here as insurance, so wouldn't you guys also help persuade her? She doesn't listen and says stubbornly that she wants to come with me.”
”I'm extremely grateful for your consideration! However, that girl has already been offered to you, Evil Dragon Lord. If she's to be of a.s.sistance in subjugating the Devil King, by all means please take her with you. While we, men of this village, will protect it…”
I intently gazed at the man with my trained power of insight. I see, even though he's saying that, in his heart he's scared of Rēko. I guess rather than receiving a monster attack, raising inside the village the same existence as the monsters is far more troublesome.
However, she's an ordinary human. Though there's no doubt she's scarier than some s.h.i.+tty monsters.
”In that case, there's someone I'd like to speak with. Where's your son?”
There was no need to use my power of insight here. The man in his prime and the rebellious young lad Raiotto had the same golden colored hair, his clothes were similarly first-cla.s.s. Just from these conjectures I could guess their parent-child relations.h.i.+p.
However, maybe because he made a wrong guess why I called for his son, his face quickly turned pale. He threw himself on his knees and hit the ground with his forehead.
”I-It is true my son had made a terribly discourteous blunder towards you, Evil Dragon Lord. But please, I beg you to at least let him live. In exchange, I'll prepare as many other sacrifices as you'll desire, that's why…”
”It isn't about anything disturbing like that. I just want to have a little chat with that child. From what I've seen, that child seems to be the closest to Rēko, so whether I take her with me or leave her here, it'd be better to understand her character more thoroughly, wouldn't it? Oh, but it's going to be bothersome if he rages, so let me meet him while he's restrained with a rope.”
If he rushed at me again, this time I wouldn't be able to hide my weakness. The lad's father was clearly distressed, but in the end he shrugged his shoulders giving up.
”In that case, this way please. He's locked up in a barn.”
”You didn't have to worry about it that much.”
The place I was led to was a shabby looking stable entrance. He must've provoked considerable anger from the villagers to be stuffed into such a place despite his high social standing. Or they might be just trying to show me his repentance.
”Oh, what's happened Holy Dragon Lord? Priest, you've also came. Did you, after all, decide to sacrifice your son for the beginning of the war celebration?”
A person appeared from the stable's shadows, as if lying in wait. Looking closely at his face while hiding my astonishment, it was the village chief I met earlier.
”T-That's not it. Evil Dragon Lord said that he only wants to speak with him.”
”However, he made such a discourteous blunder. Surely you don't expect he'll get out unscathed. Holy Dragon Lord, that child is the heir to our village's priest family. He has his rough sides, but his soul is polished with prayers. If you do get tired of the banquet, by all means please enjoy him as your dinner before the war.”
”Chief…!”
”It's the priest's duty to use their body as pillars when necessity arrives. Besides, how can a foolish child, who pointed his weapon at the Holy Dragon Lord, live? Wouldn't being eaten and becoming Holy Dragon Lord's flesh and blood fulfill his long-cherished desire?”
I was standing awkwardly between the two adults quietly arguing. I've no intention to eat him even if they begged me.
When I cleared my throat, both the chief and priest became fl.u.s.tered and stopped their verbal fight.
”In any case, you two may retire. From here on, I want to speak only with Rēko and that lad.”
”Yes, as you wish.”
Showing feelings of mutual hatred, they left in separate directions.
”Hey, wake up Rēko. Inside the barn is that lad Raiotto, wouldn't you bring him outside for me? My frame is too big to enter.”
”Understood.”
Although she was sleeping a second ago, she jumped with a quick movement and landed lightly. The way she's abnormally lively following orders is scary.
When Rēko standing before the door slowly stretched her hand out, despite her not touching it, the latch started coming loose making a creaky ”gii—” sound. Don't open it eerily like that, just normally is fine, is what I thought from the bottom of my heart.
The moonlight flowing through the door revealed to me the lad's figure, with his whole body being wrapped in ropes.
”Raiotto, foolish human child. You'd better be grateful that you got off with just this light punishment for opposing the Evil Dragon Lord.”
”Hey, Rēko! What are you saying, open your eyes!”
I agree, please open your eyes right now. I felt strong sympathy towards the lad.
Rēko easily picked up Raiotto over her shoulder, who was bound like a caterpillar, and carried him outside the barn. He was struggling, though before the superhuman strength of the maiden whose pupils were s.h.i.+ning pale blue like a dragon's, resistance was completely futile. She threw Raiotto rolling on the ground.