Chapter 63-67 (1/2)

Translator: Luk2048

Editor: Ghost Ape

I believed it was worth asking her, but I didn't believe we were qualified. After all, our last meeting ended with Lady Saintess being violently thrown by Rēko. I had no idea what happened to her after that, besides even if we met her we'd only scar her even further.

”Well Rēko, that was on my mind too, but Lady Saintess must be busy one way or another, so we can't just go and make her listen to our problems whenever we feel like it. Also now that I think about it, we're banned from entering that town.”

After saying so I turned to Rēko, just to realize I was too late. Rēko's figure had already disappeared, leaving behind only a whirlwind that blew up a cloud of dust.

Looking up at the distant skies I could see Rēko's figure, fluttering her black wings and heading in a straight line to Lady Saintess' town.

”Noo! Rēko! Return quickly!”

It was already a distance where I could only see a dot, but I still clearly knew, mainly by intuition, that Rēko turned to me and clenched her fist as if indicating she understood.

No, not that. Not ”Capture Lady Saintess and return quickly”, but I simply wanted you to come back right now.

”… Aah, I can't see her anymore.”

”Sir Evil Dragon, just where exactly could Lady Kin be headed to? Did she go in pursuit after that demon?”

”Not really, no. There's a person, an acquaintance of ours, who might be well-informed about spirits, so――”

”Eh, for reals? That's Evil Dragon Lord for you, impressive connections.”

Sheina came close, rubbing her hands in an ingratiating manner. Saying frankly, her secretly smiling expression was that of a small villain.

”Ah, but don't expect too much. She might not know anything, and there's also no guarantee she'll come in the first pla… well, even if she refuses Rēko will probably bring her along anyway.”

Sure enough, like a bird of prey holding tightly its spoils, Rēko came back after a few minutes with a person's shadow suspended mid-air. The person's figure with swaying aqua coloured hair―― Lady Saintess wasn't particularly noisy. However, that was because she fell into a daze with her mouth hanging open, as if her soul was forced out.

”By all means Evil Dragon Lord, interrogate her as you please.”

After landing on the ground Rēko solemnly said in an unsettling manner.

”Ah, excuse me, Lady Saintess? Are you okay? I'm really sorry for bringing you here so suddenly.”

”M-Mr. Lizard…? This is…?”

Before giving Lady Saintess a reply, I first had to take care of Rēko, who already has wordlessly drawn her dagger after hearing how I was called.

”It's fine Rēko. I didn't tell you yet, but I recognize Lady Saintess' strength despite her looking like this. She has all sorts of vexing and annoying points, but she's a brave warrior that challenged me one-on-one fair and square, you know? We're already comrades after fighting once. So I don't mind at all if she calls me a lizard. Okay?”

”I see. If Evil Dragon Lord says so I'll let it slide.”

Maybe because she calmed down after she got on the ground light was gradually returning to Lady Saintess' absentminded eyes.

”Ahem, that's right! Me and Mr Lizard are best pals that experienced a death match together. So, what happened? I was really startled when Lady Rēko came so suddenly――”

Haizen, Sheina and everyone present immediately raised a commotion cornering Lady Saintess.

”You survived a fight to the death with Sir Evil Dragon…?”

”Awesome! You don't even look much older than me!”

Sheina probably couldn't compare to Lady Saintess' actual age, but I decided to not mention anything. Thus, once she repeatedly garnered praise from all sides her stupor from just a while ago seemed to disappear somewhere, and her face quickly began to turn smug.

”I don't understand what's going on, but it looks like there's a lot of people who realize my value here! Ah, but still, I can't immigrate, okay? After all I've a town that waits for my return.”

”Ah, I don't really care about that, so could you talk with that child?”

Since she was getting carried away, Sheina cut her off and dumped the spirit on her. Lady Saintess, who suddenly had the feral child forced upon her, stared in puzzlement while embracing the spirit.

”Erm, what's this about Mr. Lizard?”

Once she inquired clearly looking for help, I lowered my voice and said close to her ear.

”Aah, I'm sorry that no one explained anything. It seems like this child is a spirit. But it's like we can't reach a mutual understanding. And so, if it's you who has turned from a demon to a G.o.d, we wondered if you could understand spirits' feelings that are in between the two.”

”I see! After all I'm the only one reliable!”

Pyoon, Lady Saintess perked up her ears that were a bit too long to be called common. Then she enthusiastically picked up the spirit high up into the air, saying,

”Come now Ms. Spirit, open your heart to this pure Saintess of abundance, in other words me!”

『It became higher.』

”Don't be shy, it's okay. There once was a time when I also was a rascal, so it's not like I don't understand your feelings…”

『The ground approaches.』

”Lady Saintess, you're dropping her due to all your boiling enthusiasm. Moreover headfirst.”

Back on the ground, the spirit simply resumed her meal crunching on a rock. Seeing that, Lady Saintess' conclusion was,

”―― Yup, I've no idea!”

”I figured.”

”Thinking about it now, from the moment I was born I always wanted to drown or help the humans, I don't think there ever was a period of indifference like this. In short I became aware just now, but it means that a time when I was a spirit doesn't exist!”

I see, I guess it meant that look-at-me types couldn't turn into spirits.

”That's enough. You've served your purpose, you can go back now water demon. I've finished the preparations for your return.”

”Rēko, don't call spinning your arm around and getting into a throwing posture as return preparations.”

Just when I was about to instruct Rēko that we have to send her back normally, Lady Saintess raised the spirit once again.

”However, demons and spirits are born in the same way - from the humans' wishes. It's just a guess, but, even though this child might not be a chatterbox like me, didn't everyone pay attention to her anyway? I think that's why she's so my-pace and doing things at her leisure. But her environment changed suddenly, didn't it? Maybe the reason she's so hungry is because the attention receded and in turn the magic power became not enough…? The stones around here seem to contain a bit of magic power, probably something like a precious metal ore. So I think she's eating that to replenish her magi――”

With serious faces Haizen and Sheina put their hands on Lady Saintess' shoulders respectively and solemnly dragged her away as potential reference material.

Translator: Luk2048

Editor: Ghost Ape

”Well, you see, the beings known as demons and spirits are fine even without eating food. They can live as long as they replenish magic power.”

The tavern's tent turned into a hastily made interrogation room, but the taken away Lady Saintess didn't seem dissatisfied, instead she had the same look of triumph on her face as before. In reality it was an investigation filled with impatience and a sense of urgency, but Lady Saintess perhaps misunderstood being surrounded by a crowd as them fawning over her.

”Ooh… What exactly is the replenishment of magic power?”

Haizen skilfully encouraged Lady Saintess without cutting her off, even though he should've had some own prior knowledge about it, most likely to make her speak more freely.

”Well, let me see… For example, demons attack human settlements, right?”

Everyone nodded with grave expressions. I remembered the fight when Rēko first awakened. If at that time the Kuragari wolves hadn't come, I might've safely went back to my cav―― No, it wasn't possible anyway. It'd have absolutely turned out like this one way or another.

”That sort of thing is basically a way to turn humans into a source of magic power by preying on them. Looking at it like that it doesn't differ from carnivores living in the wild. Still, the ones replenis.h.i.+ng their magic in such a simplistic way are mainly low-cla.s.s demons.”

At that time Lady Saintess stared off into s.p.a.ce. She might've recalled the times when she spread the bottomless swamp right in the middle of the plains but n.o.body fell in.

”But you see, there's a separate method of magic replenishment for stronger demons.”

”What kind?”

”Ahem! That is『doing nothing.』The terribly strong demons cause dread amongst humans even when they keep quiet, right? When a lot of such thoughts gather, this in itself becomes a powerful source of magic power. Trying to trap and drown humans in a bottomless swamp is after all nothing but the act of a second-rate demon. The genuine first-cla.s.s ones earn magic power effortlessly.”

Saying proudly, Lady Saintess brazenly puffed out her chest. Sheina sighed wistfully with envy written all over her face.

Whereas Rēko nodded as though she grasped something,

”So that's why Evil Dragon Lord doesn't eat people carelessly. You can only eat them once, but if you make them live long time you can squeeze out feelings of awe infinitely…”

”I simply like gra.s.s though.”

”I see. Not only humans, but Evil Dragon Lord also drums fear into all beings of nature, even plants. As expected, Lord makes sure to bleed the dread dry even from a roadside gra.s.s… All creation trembles in fear of Evil Dragon Lord…”

”Then I wonder whose strength exactly gains from this kind of fear that I've been feeling lately.”

Lady Saintess, who proudly spouted forth a torrent of information, pointed her finger at the spirit eating a stone in the corner of the room.

”It's true this child is a spirit and not a demon, but both have a lot in common. The gold mountain mesmerizes humans, so they inevitably bathed it with their attention. Throughout many years it must've been an environment with no lack of magic power for her.”

”But she turned out like this in the morning.”

Haizen turned around to the spirit with a hint of panic. She was still carefreely masticating on a rock.

”After all with this figure she can't collect the thoughts of awe as a golden mountain. Well… nevertheless, just what circ.u.mstances could make her turn out like this? It's hard to believe that she suddenly became like this.”

As far as I knew, spirits seldom revealed their figures as physical ent.i.ties. They melted in the world as one with nature, so it was extremely rare to find a person who even heard a spirit's voice.

Then Sheina raised her hand.

”Excuse me teacher. What's likely to happen if we leave her like that?”

”Teacher? Did you just call me a teacher? Please call me that some more!”

”Lady Saintess, I get it that you're happy, but could you stop walking on air and answer the question properly?”

Disregarding Lady Saintess, who was persistently demanding to be called a teacher, Rēko muttered quietly under her breath after fixedly observing the spirit.

”If it goes on like this she'll eventually vanish.”

It was a bombsh.e.l.l of a statement. Everyone left Lady Saintess aside and instantly gathered around Rēko. Sheina was the first to express her disbelief.

”Disappear? The spirit will? You for real, Rēko?”

”I'm certain. Most likely this human-like form is a puppet container created by demons. The real mountain had to be spatially compressed and sealed inside this puppet as the spirit's source of magic power. However, the energy consumption is abnormally quick. Like this the spirit will vanish along with the gold mountain in under a month.”

She said it with a nonchalant look. I already didn't intend to ask for the grounds of her claims, because they no doubt were about right.

”It's extremely hard to tame a spirit using normal means, so they must've went with a strategy to imprison it in a disposable puppet and brainwash into going on a rampage. Of course the brainwash part ended up as a failure.”

”Then Rēko, can you bring back the mountain sealed inside this―― puppet with your power?”

”I'm able to gouge and return the s.p.a.ce where the mountain is sealed, but it'd require of me to destroy this doll. At that time I'd be unable to guarantee this spirit's safety.”

”Yeah, we want to avoid that.”

All the soldiers were making a fuss, saying ”As expected of the Evil Dragon and his kin, what a high-level conversation…” but I've simply became numb to Rēko's remarks.

”So we really have no other option but to capture that demon and make him turn it back to normal, huh. Rēko, can you still catch him?”

”With no effort.”

”Even though I'm the one asking, I'd have preferred you struggling a bit.”

Just when I thought she was going to promptly sprout wings and fly off like she did when kidnapping Lady Saintess, it turned out I was wrong. Rēko extended her left arm into the empty air――

And she deliberately bent s.p.a.ce.

No one spoke a word towards the sudden development. Only Rēko, as though beating on a slit drum[1], thrust her hand into the warped s.p.a.ce and ransacked inside with a rustling sound like scrounging through a box full of toys.

”Evil Dragon Lord, I caught him.”

When she forcefully pulled her arm, only the purple long hair was dragged out of the s.p.a.ce vortex. No doubt the hair was swaying because the body on the other side of the vortex had to be struggling frantically.

”Ermm, Rēko, this skill is?”

”I started thinking about a more efficient way of seizing opponents when I was tasked with bringing Lady Saintess over here, and this is the new skill I came up with.”

”Is that so… Still, from now on before you attempt a new skill discuss it with me first.”

Me keeping her in check was becoming more and more futile. When she pulled her hand even further, this time a freshly severed Mr. Adonis' head appeared from the s.p.a.ce. It was a genuinely grotesque image.

”I was wondering what's going on since the subs.p.a.ce has appeared so abruptly, but after all it's the Evil Dragon's doing…”

”That's right. Now, spill how to return the spirit back to normal. As long as you do I'm going to let you go.”

”It's useless. I told you I'm a disposable p.a.w.n.”

For some reason Rēko scowled at the triumphantly smiling demon.

”I see, you're also a puppet.”

”Exactly. Only a duty of sealing the spirit in the puppet was bestowed upon me. From the beginning I had no other information.”

”Then connect me to the executive you contacted before. I'll ask him directly.”

”No use. I've been told that I no longer can be used since my ident.i.ty was leaked to the Evil Dragon and expulsed just a while ago. The communication magic must've been blocked by now. I'm already nothing but a stray doll.”

Unwittingly I've become overwhelmed with sorrow.

”Evil Dragon Lord, it doesn't look like he's lying.”

”Yeah, even I've noticed that he's giving off a terrible air of melancholy.”

”Come now, kill me.”

”You be quiet for a moment. Stop tenaciously boring into my heart any more than that. Rēko, you can release him already. We can just pull him in when we need something again.”

”Understood.”

Plop, after making sure Mr. Adonis' head was thrown back into the subs.p.a.ce, I crouched down in worry. It didn't seem like we'd be able to gain any particularly useful information. However, if we left it like that, both the spirit and the gold vein, everything would disappear.

”It's hopeless, with my brains I can't come up with even the slightest hint of――”

『The mountainside[2] became fertile.』

”Eh?”

The spirit abruptly dropped the rock she was holding onto. Sitting down like an adorable animal, she started s.p.a.cing out as if she was content.

”It'd be troublesome if she disappeared along with the gold, so I imparted her just a little of my magic power. For the time being she should be fine for the next 300 years.”

On the other hand, 'for the time being' I've decided to cry myself to sleep.

Translator: Luk2048

Editor: Ghost Ape

”Somehow, recently I feel like an idiot for considering things so seriously.”

”Maybe you're tired? After all Mr. Lizard is quite a grandpa, right?”

We were on the bank of a small river, the water gently babbling below. I went on a stroll by myself in search of a place to nap and sulk in the area, but Lady Saintess came with me, even though I didn't invite her.

Because Rēko saw through the spirit's present condition and even supplied her with magic power, everyone stopped really paying attention to Lady Saintess anymore since she had completely served her purpose. It seemed like it became dull, so she clung to me who entertained her with conversation.

”By the way, listen to this! To tell you the truth, I've advanced since then! A construction to draw a large-scale waterway from my town all the way to Peryudōna has begun. Don't you think that water sprung forth by me being used in a town where top notch adventurers gather is amazing?”

”Aah, now that you mention it Rēko mentioned something about that town's deteriorating waterway facilities.”

Lady Saintess was garrulous enough to convey clearly just how much she wanted to talk about it.

”Ah, of course the place I belong to is my current town. But I'd be hard pressed to refuse if I were to be told I'm needed. After all as a Saintess I should do my best to respond to a voice seeking help.”

”Quite earnest, aren't you?”

”Ehehe not at all… I still have a long way to go. If one day the whole country were to wors.h.i.+p me… that would be great….”

”I think it's better if you don't go too overboard. You're likely to mess up after all.”

Still, she was so virtuous that it seemed unthinkable that she was once a demon. From what I gathered she was quite the bonehead during her demon days so her true nature didn't particularly change much, but just how deep that town people's faith had to be to change a demon into a G.o.d.

Thereupon, a question sprouted within me.

”Hey Lady Saintess, can I ask you something?”