Translator: Luk2048
Editor: Ghost Ape
"What did you come here for? I'm not planning on making up with you, you know?"
After retreating inside the barrier first, Lady Saintess studiously put on an angry face.
I'm aware he's not an enemy after getting rescued just a while ago. There was also his achievement of lending a hand when fighting Lady Rēko. However, it doesn't matter; after all I haven't got a proper apology yet.
I intend to never ever forgive him―― Unless he really insists, then it's not like I can't make an exception and allow him to work as a member of the guard protecting the town. Being able to work as a subordinate of an illustrious Saintess, this dragon will no doubt shed tears of joy.
"I've no intention of making you reconcile with me. I only want you to hide us for a while."
"W, what's with this convenient for you story! You won't persuade me with that!"
"I think I paid off my gratitude in advance. Saintess, it appeared to me like you were struggling with a demon just a moment ago?"
"Muu… That's not true. That was a piece of cake."
Offended, Lady Saintess turned the other way. Yet there was a lot she was curious about, so her gaze returned to Doradora while still sulking.
"By the way that 'we'… What's going on with this boy? Also hide you say, did something happen?"
"It'd be a long story, but… very well. I'll start with the reason of why I decided to call myself Doradora."
"Ah, it's okay. I don't really care much so you can omit that part please."
She refused politely, but Doradora ignored her request and started narrating the crux of the matter. Since she couldn't care less, Lady Saintess played around by scribbling pictures on the ground.
"―― And that's why."
"Must've been hard―"
Of course she wasn't listening.
"Since it's like that, I decided to start from the scratch and become strong. So I've accompanied that red-haired female knight and reached the town of Peryudōna where the capable humans gather."
"Uh-huh, Peryudōna right? We're arranging for my water to flow there one of these days! Should I tell you all about it?"
"Let's hear it next time. Now's not the time for that."
What shamelessness. I can't believe it, he talked all he wants and won't listen to what I want to say. It may be too soon to take him in as a subordinate after all. Let's start off by making him plough fields like an ox.
Doradora groaned as if struggling with a bitter memory.
"It was a trap, in a nutshell. That despicable female knight, by making use of the lie that she'd take me in as an apprentice, she managed to lead me onto her own ground, to her town. The moment we arrived I was met with an array of attacks from those adventurers…"
―― It's a dragon! A dragon came!
―― It's okay! Compared to that Evil Dragon it'll be a breeze!
―― Les' hunt it down and turns it into reconstruction funds!
―― Ah, I'll assist in subjugating it so could you sell me its heart?
"… That cruel female knight only said to me 'Survive for now' and went away leaving no explanation. What else could it be other than a trap?"
"It cannot be helped. You've done so much wrong after all. But if you want to atone and wipe out that stigma no matter what, then become a follower of this pure and selfless Lady Saintess devoting herself to this world and its people――"
At that point Doradora lowered the gold-haired boy to the ground.
"However I still had it good. Considering my past of swinging around my power as the Dragon of the Fierce Winds it's a matter of course. The problem is this brat."
"Did he do something?"
"I found him by chance at the city's outskirts when I was running around and countering the bunch of adventurers glaring at me, trying to escape. This brat is―― Similarly to me, he was getting the crap beaten out of him, surrounded by adventurers…"
"Eeeh, something so horrible?"
Doradora deliberately inclined his head and continued.
"Probably this brat is a demon set up in a trap just like me. I'm worried why he has absolutely no magic power, but it's likely it was sealed so he couldn't strike back and was getting tormented to death. To take for an opponent a demon so small and weak he couldn't possibly do any evil, how inhuman…"
"Wow, so there are demons like that too. He's even more human-ish than that long-haired demon from before."
"I decided to side with humans in order to become strong, but after suddenly going through something like that my resolve weakened. Just before I ran away I've picked up this brat from pity towards a fellow companion. Saintess, you too originally were a demon. As one bearing the same stigma, please shelter us for a short while from those fiends."
"Weeell, I certainly was a grand water demon feared as the symbol of dread in the past, so it's not like I don't understand the sorrow characteristic to demons…"
At that time a pained voice rang out and the boy dazedly opened his eyes.
"You woke up brat. There's no enemies here. It seems you went through a greatly terrifying ordeal…"
"Hnn…? A dragon… but it's not that one… a different dragon huh… whatever, let's sleep. Hm?"
The boy who was trying to fall asleep, in the next instant gasped loudly and opened his eyes wide. His eyes looked dead like a rotten fish but they steadily regained their light.
Before long he yelled out in surprise and jumped to his feet, then like a vigilant lion he sharply surveyed his surroundings and instantly drew back.
"W, Where the hell's this?! Or rather, a dragon?! Maybe you're that evil dragon's henchman――?"
"Calm down. There's no humans aiming for you here. I'm your ally."
"An ally…? I see, you want turn me into that kin thing like Rēko was…?"
The boy that kept his guard was glaring at Doradora while baring his teeth. Lady Saintess was intently observing this behaviour, and before long she spun her neck――
"Eiyaa."
And she threw the water ball she created on her palm at his face hitting right on the mark, leaving him dripping wet.
"Hee-hee, you've got bad eyes Mr Doradora. As you can see I threw the demon repelling water at him and he's not suffering. This child's not a demon but human!"
"… Who the hell are you? It can't be, are you that Evil Dragon's ally…?"
The boy turned his gaze full of hostility towards Lady Saintess, whereas she hurriedly retreated behind Doradora's back. His body already looked worn out beyond belief, but he still clenched his fists and tried to poise himself for Doradora.
"What's going on, Saintess. Is that not one of our race?"
"Yes, there's no doubt he's human."
"But, then why was he getting beaten up by adventurers? … Ah, I see."
Almost simultaneously to Doradora, Lady Saintess reached an identical conclusion.
"―― In that case you're one of those criminals?"
"Like hell I am!"
The boy's bellow of denial was terribly quick.
Translator: Luk2048
Editor: Ghost Ape
"… So that's how it was brat. You also were bound to that girl by fate…"
"Aah, the real Rēko may be a bit weird but she's not evil. After becoming the Evil Dragon's underling she was made into an accomplice of evil, even though there's no way she wanted it…"
Lady Saintess was listening with a triumphant look on her face to the long talk between the gold-haired boy and Doradora.
The narrated content was a tragic story of a 'young girl turned into an Evil Dragon's kin', but Mr Lizard already told me the truth of the matter.
This feeling of superiority is exquisite.
If the truth were to spread Lady Rēko may go berserk so revealing it to others was strictly prohibited―― this is now nothing but a distant worry. The reason is naturally the coaching in wickedness performed by this grand me; the majority of the Evil Dragon's power should've already transferred over to Mr Lizard. When that happens the reason to go berserk will disappear.
That leaves the question of timing - when exactly should I give it away. It'll surely give them a real surprise. And then they'll no doubt be in admiration of this Saintess' information gathering skills. The winner in this information age will be me, the Water Saintess. You all can tremble before me.
Just when she was pondering while grinning to herself Doradora abruptly brought up a topic.
"However Saintess, there's something I don't understand. It looked like the one who stopped that kin girl from destroying this town in the prior battle was Rēvendia. My memory may be vague so… is that what happened?"
"Uh huh regarding that, it's actually――"
There's no helping it. Let's reveal it right now―― Just when she began talking, Lady Saintess unexpectedly realized a certain truth and shut her mouth.
Thanks to embarking on the path of evil Mr Lizard will soon really turn into an unrivalled Evil Dragon. It's not wrong to say that he's weak at the current stage, but before long that fact will become nothing but a false rumour. When that happens naturally I'd be the one criticised by everyone telling me that I'm blind despite being a Saintess.
I won't allow that. That absolutely cannot be allowed to happen.
Lady Saintess choose to change her plans in just a second. She decided to go the route of self-appeal by putting Mr Lizard who would soon become a genuine Evil Dragon to practical use.
"That was because Lady Rēko, who was not yet used to controlling her magic power, has gone out of control. Mr Lizard just admonished her…"
"Mr Lizard?"
Doradora's and the boy's voices had overlapped each other. Lady Saintess inclined her head deeply and continued with an expression brimming of confidence.
"That's right, by Mr Lizard I mean the Evil Dragon Rēvendia. I ultimately suffered defeat, but the fact still stands that I've once fought a fierce battle with that Evil Dragon Rēvendia. He praised my strenuous efforts and recognized me as an equal, at the same time allowing me to call him casually. The reason why Mr Lizard stopped Lady Rēko, his kin from going berserk was because if he didn't, he feared I might step up and confront her directly――"
While continuing her explanation, Lady Saintess suddenly felt flustered in her heart. One could say there was not even a shred of enthusiasm in the gazes of the two listening to her words. Instead she even felt a bit of pity.
Strange. Originally they should've really got into the record of how my evenly matched battle with the Evil Dragon unfolded.
Doradora closed his eyes while the boy looked up in the town's direction.
"Don't push yourself Saintess. I know you're strong but you couldn't possibly be a match for that Evil Dragon. No need to feel ashamed of defeat. Trying to smooth things over is much more shameful. Live strong, chin up and walk forward…"
"The reason why Evil Dragon bastard didn't assault this town must be because he wants to make it into his territory one day…"
There's a limit to being rude. Why don't you guys just obediently believe what I say? What a let-down. Although I did dramatize it somewhat, but me and Mr Lizard going through an equal matched battle is a full-fledged fact.
That was when the boy said "Now that I think about it" and began talking.
"I got the gist of the circumstances of this dragon over here, but what about you? He called you a Saintess or something… Could you be this town's clergy?"
"Yes, you were listening well! I'm the guardian deity protecting this town of Seiren! You might not believe me with Mr Lizard, but saying frankly I'm stronger than that Mr Doradora over there!"
"Aaah, I got it. You are an amazing person."
Even though this time she said the truth, the boy only looked at her with unconcealed sadness in his eyes. No matter how one looked at it she was mistaken as a pitiful person.
"Mr Doradora! Don't stay silent and explain please! Tell him how amazing I am!"
"Sorry but I don't remember losing to you."
Lady Saintess' face dyed red from her anger.
Did he really forget how he was sent back without breaking my barrier countless times in the past? Since it's come to this I guess I should just leave him unable to move inside the barrier―― Just when she was in the middle of considering her options, the boy let out a long sigh turning his back to them.
"Well whatever, I'm going back. I need to hurry up and return, the penalty for running away is freaking scary."
"Wait a minute boy. I was able to understand that it's the human's style of tempering trainees but… You serious? You'll die, you know? Or maybe you're into things like that?"
"Say that I like it one more time and I'm gonna send you fucking flying. It's obviously to become strong."
Hearing these words, Doradora heaved a deep sigh.
"I see. The reason for humans being able to excel us and become strong is because their thirst for power thwarts even the fear of death. In that case, I also must abandon my attachment to life…"
"What the hell are you saying?"
"Climb onto my back brat. My bad for hindering your practice. I'll send you back as quickly as possible. And then, I'll try challenging those adventurers once more."
"Nah it's better if you don't. I think they know no mercy when fighting demons."
"I won't become as strong as possible if I value my life. To fight that Evil Dragon, this little recklessness is a par for the course―― Right, brat?"
The young boy held his breath as if shocked, and eventually he wordlessly climbed on Doradora's back. It seemed like for some reason a strange sense of fellowship was being born, but the left out Lady Saintess found it only to be unpleasant.
"Well then Saintess, stay well till the day we meet again."
"I've no clue who you are miss, but see you later―"
Doradora spread his wings with a snap and flew away.
Those two will no doubt go through many beatings in the name of their training. By all means, please let them suffer. It shall be their divine punishment for making light of this Saintess.
Just when sulky Lady Saintess was diving back into her waterway, it suddenly hit her.
―― Come to think of it, I revealed to that long-haired demon before that Mr Lizard is weak. I wonder if it's going to be okay?
She worried for around ten seconds, after which she decided it surely would turn out fine. Feeling completely refreshed, she dived into the waterway and just like that returned to her temple's spring.
Translator: Luk2048
Editor: Ghost Ape
It was immensely peaceful. Already three days had passed since Haizen sent the letter to the so called home country.
At first the reply was supposed to come immediately―― But it appeared like it wouldn't come any time soon. Of course Haizen was modestly saying that, 'Most likely the opinions on how to welcome the Evil Dragon Lord are divided.'
In other words, there had to be a heated dispute going on between the bigshots whether they should invite or reject me firmly. To cordially welcome the highly infamous "Evil Dragon" as the trump card in subjugating the Demon King, or consider the possible risk that inviting the "Evil Dragon" to one's country could bring and instead maintain their distance. If they were to welcome me, what etiquette would it require. If they were to keep their distance, what means would be necessary to avoid spoiling my mood. It should be something along these lines.
"Hnnn―… I don't want to cause too much trouble so we'll wait for a bit longer and if there's still no reply, let's leave by ourselves, I guess. Once we do that they'll be able to take it easy, saying 'The Evil Dragon Lord didn't wait for the reply and set out on a journey somewhere.'"
"I see, as expected of Evil Dragon Lord. The puny humans' political issues aren't even worth considering, is that right? Moreover we must step on the road to domination and defeating the Demon King as soon as possible."
"Yeah, but let's wait a little more, okay? I want to let off some of the exhaustion here that piled up lately."
While saying so, I was busy lying in rapture inside Haizen's guest room. The smoke rising from my joints was due to moxibustion, a therapy made possible due to medicinal herbs mixed by the medics. It supposedly works like a charm for all kinds of illnesses caused by aging and moving too much, like arthritis or stiffness.
Thanks to the medicine given to me by Ariante my figure appeared like that of my youth, but for some reason it felt like my stamina didn't really return completely. It seemed like the bill for living confined for many years wouldn't be settled that easily.
"As a matter of course. After all the Demon King's subjugation is possible only thanks to the Evil Dragon Lord's strength. Curing this fatigue is nothing else but the first step to ruling over this world."
"Thanks for putting it that way. Oh right Rēko, could you massage the area around my shoulders this time?"
"Certainly."
Rēko was giving me a massage by hitting my shoulders with the edges of her hands. She insisted that she also had to do something for me when I was receiving moxibustion treatment so I asked her casually, but it turned out she was really good at it.
That's when the sound of doors opening could be heard.
"Ermm Evil Dragon Lord, I've brought papa's literature you wanted…"
It was Sheina carrying in her hands a pile of books. On her back was the spirit placed in a baby backpack. She was carrying the spirit around close to her hoping she'd get attached, but it seemed to have yielded no effect yet.
"Oh yeah, thanks. Could you leave it on the hallway right outside the room? As you can see I'm having moxibustion now, so if you were to leave it inside it'd stink of smoke."
"Evil Dragon Lord is currently relaxing. You can stand back."
Pat pat pat, when my shoulders were chopped finely, a sound of satisfaction mixed with a hint of drowsiness inevitably leaked from my throat. For some reason the gaze of Sheina holding the books turned puzzled, fixedly staring at my slacken face.
"Hnn? Something happened?"
"Ah no, it's nothing really. I'm leaving them outside the room."
For some inexplicable reason these past few days Sheina's state was odd. I felt like her attitude became restless ever since that demonstration of all my darkness with Lady Saintess. Most likely I must've scared her. Once I rest a bit more we'll leave, so please don't worry too much.
"However Evil Dragon Lord, are those documents really necessary? Since it was written by human hands, apparently a number of forgeries is present among them. I can recite all of Lord's 5000 year long life myself if you only so desire."
"It's okay Rēko. It's important to be aware of how am I perceived by humans, you know?"
Above all I think even those forgeries would be more realistic than Rēko's delusions. It seemed like there were various theories passed down by humans on how "Evil Dragon Rēvendia" ought to be, so I wanted to pick out one that was written in the most moderate style as the official version. And I wanted to stick to its setting from now on.
"Incidentally Evil Dragon Lord, I've already looked over all of those volumes so please use me freely as a catalogue substitute. I'll make sure to select the most suitable book."
"Eh? Really? Well then, among all of them how's the one written in the most amicable style about me?"
"Let me see…"
Rēko became quiet for a while as though searching through her memory.
"First off all Evil Dragon Lord―― I can say that Lord being born from the darkness of the Netherworld and bringing about the annihilation of the former civilization is the minimum common preceding paragraph among all of the volumes."
"Isn't that too heavy to be considered a minimum? Besides finding something moderate from there would be next to impossible, wouldn't it?"
"Naturally there were books without that account too. However, that part should be the minimum requirement for them to be of any use in Evil Dragon Lord's research. I excluded those vulgar works which wouldn't even take that into account from consideration. Personally I found three books which can be thought to tread close to truth that I can recommend. These are:『Legend of the Supreme Evil Dragon』,『Regarding the True Colors of the Netherworld's Emperor Dragon』and『Kin's Holograph • Record of the Evil Dragon Lord's Demon King Annihilation (still being written)』"
"Please stop putting your own filter on it and just search through everything. Also what's with that last one, the holograph? Clearly it's you trying to write a new chapter in history, isn't it?"
"This is the most recommended biography. It's peerless in regards to accuracy."
Swish, Rēko took out from her pocket a bundle of papers bound with a string. There was something written in tightly packed small characters. No, no more.
"I'm begging you here, please put all of the books as the eligible pick and search one more time. What's the book where I'm written about the most peaceful like?"
"… One of those books. I must say that I had to go through a lot of hardship to resist the urge of burning them all up."
Rēko frowned clearly displeased. Then she slowly unsheathed the dagger on her hip. It was the so called jewelled dagger she received from Raiotto.
"There's a book where this dagger makes an appearance. Based on the contents it's from that village's priest family―― In other words, I believe it might be written down by Raiotto's ancestor."
Translator: Luk2048
Editor: Ghost Ape
"The records of Raiotto's ancestor…"
Frankly I had a bad feeling about this. Raiotto himself seemed like a virtuous boy, but the ones who came up with offering a sacrifice were also that priest family. Which meant there was a large possibility that he depicted me in a bad light.
"But, well, let's hear it at least. Rēko, even the gist is fine so could you tell me what are the contents like?"
"Understood. I won't say the gist but the whole thing without mistaking a single word."
"Amazing, your memory is on another level."
Ahem, Rēko lightly cleared her throat.
"『You shall become my kin. Together, we will defeat the Demon King and put this world into the palms of our hands…』That was mine and the Evil Dragon Lord's dramatic yet destined encounter. It goes without saying that those words deeply moved me, a prestigious sacrifice offered by the village, and left me choked with tears. When we returned to the village the preparations for the feast were already put in order, with me in high spirits due to the granted honour of riding on the Lord's back. Moreover, it wasn't a simple feast. Indeed, since the Evil Dragon Lord made his move the Demon King's death was already set in stone. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that it wasn't a feast celebrating setting out for war, but the offering for the Demon King's death - a living funeral, so to speak. The guest of honour Evil Dragon Lord was devouring heaps of meat and alcohol――"
"I think that's from the wrong record. You're surprisingly pushy with throwing me your top recommendation, aren't you?"
No matter how you slice it, that unmistakably was the previous biography called "Kin's Holograph~" or something. Moreover the depiction practically didn't match the truth. I should take back what I said about her memory.
"It's fine, I didn't make a mistake. It's the so called opening act."
"Isn't that a bit long for an opening act?"
"How about a digested version? I'm able to shorten it to around 30 minutes till the climax of defeating the Demon King."
"Eh? You already managed to write about the Demon King's death?"
"Yes, the Demon King dropped dead like a tattered dishrag. Now I'm in the middle of writing the after story."
"That really makes me curious… But I feel like I'll lose if I ask."
I had a hunch that if I were to hear Rēko's delusions here she'd reproduce them exactly in the future. Firmly resisting my curiosity I returned to the main topic. Once I urged her she began narrating details of the book in question.
"… The text written by the person that appears to be Raiotto's ancestor wasn't written in one volume. It remained as one section in a manuscript that is a collection of multiple dissenting views regarding Evil Dragon Lord. That manuscript is only a crude article, clearly portraying a different person, or rather a different dragon, and the written down paragraphs have no rhyme or reason when it comes to period."
"Could you tell me the depiction of that different dragon?"
"『A dragon came to the town's outskirts. It was a dreadful black specimen with a towering body. That was when a brave cattleman came forward and begged the dragon for mercy. Thereupon, that dragon said 'My throat is parched, could you get me something to drink?' Once he drunk milk his stomach broke and he left clearly in pain.』"
That's me. My distant past when my body was starting to get bigger, for some reason was a period where I was blessed with food whenever I went. Since it was human food it didn't suit my picky stomach and I often ended up with food poisoning.
"Conversely there are also some records of the Evil Dragon Lord. For example one called『The black dragon announcing the future certain death』makes an appearance, which I surmise is from the period when Evil Dragon Lord was just born from the Netherworld's darkness. A period when Lord was intimate with the realm of the dead governing the fates of the deceased. Hence it's a reliable depiction."
"Come to think of it, there was that time when I was made to work part-time as a fortune teller. Since I knew jack about it I randomly said something like 'Humans are going to die either way, so how about just taking it easy', but who knew they'd take it that way."
It was a story from my ancient days when I was sold off to a merchant. I could learn neither balancing on a ball nor diving through a ring of fire, so ultimately I was made to put my trait of speech to good use as a fortune teller. I had daily one or two customers at best.
"… And so, here's the portrayal of Raiotto's ancestor in question. In terms of authenticity this one's the same kind as the previous one with milk."
Rēko once again unsheathed the jewelled dagger.
"The geographical portrayal of the village's location or the cave where Evil Dragon Lord lived is exceedingly accurate. What's more it's stated:『A huge build with black scales and azure eyes. The Evil Dragon Rēvendia dwelling inside the mountain's cave, a member of the peerless race of dragons living since the age of gods, is a possessor of magic power equal to all under heaven and earth. He is the ultimate existence focused solely on atrocity and destruction.』―― One can say it's regrettable even, seeing how accurate it was so far. The problem comes after that."
"Problem?"
"That unrivalled under heaven Evil Dragon Lord has fought a battle with the author, a vagrant adventurer. And although he suffered defeat, he still successfully managed to scratch Lord with a single stroke of this jewelled dagger."
"Aah, that's a lie alright."
I could assert that. There was no way I'd be off with just a scratch when fighting a human with a blade. I'd just have been killed instead.
"That's for certain. It's impossible for a human that would point his blade at Lord and live to exist. Much less causing an injury, it's simply outrageous."
"Well, it's like that even with reverse reason huh."
Rēko also reached the same understanding. The 'focused solely on atrocity and destruction' part made it no good for me that wanted something that would stick to moderation as much as possible, whereas the 'scratch' part made it no good for Rēko that wanted to make me invincible. There was no merit in using this view as my policy from hereon. However, I simply became curious.
"So what happened after that?"
"―― Is it fine? Beyond this point the desires of the person that wrote this delusional story are laid bare and continue in full, but does Lord still wish to hear it?"
"I've a feeling I heard a similar story a while ago so I don't mind. Once or twice, it's all the same."
"Was there such story just a while ago?" Tilting her head, Rēko reluctantly continued once I urged her.
"The rest is an extremely simple hero story.『Evil Dragon, who received the first injury in his perpetual lifetime, was under deep impression of the potential humans possessed and decided to ascertain their future with his own eyes. Whereas the adventurer became a priest serving the Evil Dragon, taking upon himself the responsibility of appeasing the dragon.』―― A very 'convenient' story. Evil Dragon Lord's vessel isn't so small as to be appeased by being worshipped. Only small fries like that water demon could be satisfied with this. "
Well, I groaned. Leaving aside the diss to Lady Saintess, there were many contradicting points in that story. However, hard to say it was just a coincidence given that the writer was precise on not only the geography, but he also pinned down my body's characteristic features. In which case there was only one possible conclusion, but saying it would be rude to Raiotto so――
"In all probability this is a scam. Some imposter had to give himself weight, claiming to be a priest. To turn Evil Dragon Lord into a money making dupe, that's some nerve he has. Next time we meet Raiotto I'll make sure to give him an earful about it."
What I held back from saying, Rēko slung openly with apparent vigour to boot.