Chapter 44 (1/2)
Chapter 44
Translator: Luk2048
Editor: Ghost Ape
Contrary to what my claws looked like, they weren’t really sharp and neither was my grip strength substantial . I was way too pathetic to be called an Evil Dragon Lord, but instead, I was more than suitable to embrace a small child .
The moment I held her, as we had thought, Rēko’s wings vanished and the dragon scales covering her limbs started fading away .
“All right! Even if you die, don’t let go of her!”
After shouting that, Ariante faced Lady Saintess and raised her hand as the signal . Thereupon, the same pool of water, which dragged me in at the inn, had appeared at our landing place . This time its size was more akin to a pond .
“Mr . lizard! Make sure to talk her out of it! Otherwise, my puny barrier won’t be able to hold!”
“Leave it to me! This child will surely listen to―― ngyaaa!”
I hit hard the water surface with my stomach . While focused on protecting Rēko from the impact of the fall, I forgot about my own landing .
Disoriented, my field of vision was filled with sparks . Even so, I didn’t let go of Rēko . When I plunged into the water holding my breath, Lady Saintess closed the barrier’s entrance above my head . Unlike before, I didn’t start drowning . The water level had immediately receded and laid us down on the water covered bottom of the white s.p.a.ce .
“Hey, Rēko . Do you recognize me?”
“… Yes, Evil Dragon Lord . ”
When I called out to her, Rēko responded while still giving me a dumbfounded look . I was glad . It seemed she regained enough of her consciousness to communicate with me .
It was when I loosened both claws in my relief . From the loosened gap the black scaled pattern once again tried to engrave itself on Rēko’s body . Fl.u.s.tered, I right away fixed my grip .
“W-What’s this…?”
“I am ashamed to have shown this disgrace in Lord’s presence . Everything is the fault of my inexperience . ”
Rēko spoke with a kind of philosophic undertone in it .
“Despite this magic power being not more than a miniscule portion of the Evil Dragon Lord’s strength―― I already cannot control it . If it wasn’t suppressed by Evil Dragon Lord in this way, this vessel of mine would soon be reduced to nothing but a wicked demon . ”
Even though she was saying that, in fact it was Rēko herself unconsciously holding back the erosion . I might be repeating myself here, but I never had such monstrous power .
“Look, Rēko . You can’t give up lightly . If you just keep at it, you actually might be able to suppress it easily, you know? I’ll patiently keep you company until you can control it well . ”
“Your consideration of this undeserving one pierces my heart with its kindness . However, a kin’s lack of capability causing trouble for the Head is nothing but putting the cart before the horse . To say nothing of the Lord’s haste to subjugate the Demon King . Needlessly wasting time on the likes of this useless subordinate does not stand to reason . ”
“What’s wrong with you? What happened to your usual pointless positivity?”
Maybe she was feeling down… But she looked too calm for that . Instead of appearing dejected, she seemed strangely detached .
“You need not worry, Evil Dragon Lord . I did not fall into despair . Rather, precisely because I became like this, I realised how I can be truly helpful to you . ”
“I’ve a bad hunch about this, but let’s hear it first . ”
Rēko smiled gently inside my arms .
“―― This time, please enjoy me as your mea―”
“No . ”
I refused before she had finished, so Rēko sulking puffed out her cheeks .
“Evil Dragon Lord, I had not yet finished speaking . ”
“That much was more than enough . Listen here, Rēko . How many times did I tell you? I won’t eat you because I’m herbivorous . ”
“However you should have eaten my soul . Actually the reason I was able to become kin was because the Lord has eaten my soul . ”
“Ah right… Yeah… That was…”
Precisely this careless remark of mine marked the beginning of my ordeal . Although if Rēko didn’t possess some peculiar talent it’d have been simpler . When I was scowling in regards to the past few bitter days, Rēko started chattering in protest .
“I am inadequate as the Evil Dragon Lord’s kin . Still, there is something I noticed during our short journey . It appears that, although just a little, I am endowed with magic power of my own . ”
“Yep, I know . ”
With too much actually .
“As expected of the Evil Dragon Lord, you were aware of it . In that case it makes it simple . If the Lord would eat my soul, it would not only return you the magic power given me as kin, but would allow me, as your flesh and blood, to give you my insignificant power . If I can’t become useful as kin, I want to at least help as your nourishment . ”
“Haaa, Rēko…”
I let out the longest sigh in my whole lifetime . Even so, Rēko still continued .
“As inexperienced as I am, I see no other way to be more useful . Please, let me be helpful as your kin for this last time . ”
“Just why do you judge everything based on being “useful” or “useless”?”
Slightly raising my tone of voice, I brought my face closer to Rēko .
“It was the same when you first came to me . Although you said it’s for help in subjugating the Demon King, what’s the point if you die and won’t be able to enjoy the following peaceful world? Everything comes first and foremost after you, so stop throwing away your own life as someone’s tool . ”
“With all due respect, there is no one who would mourn me . That is why, at least as a tool――”