Chapter 101 - The ones left behind

Chapter 101 - The ones left behind

「You said that there was a doll in the things you lost? Whereabouts did you lose it?」

「Ye, yes. If that’s the case, then the guild should have stored it. But Ms. Ariante, that dragon…」

「It’s like a pet dog, don’t mind it.」

Capital of Granard, the main branch of the Adventurers guild.

Investigating the case of the doll from before, Ariante spoke with the female employee at the guild about the location.

But before that, the guild was in a clamorous state since a silver dragon suddenly flew down, with everyone was in a state of nervousness.

Though he was surrounded, Doradora stuck his head into the main entrance and objected to Ariantes conversation.

「Hold on female knight. I don’t remember becoming your dog. Although I intend to repay the favour for the training, I haven’t fallen so far to become a lackey to a human. You ask why? Because I’m the tyrant dragon of tempests-」

「Then you’ll be my disciple.」

「Then that’s fine.」

「If you’re done then wait over there. Even if people look like they want to kill you, don’t lay a hand on them.」

Doradora then sat down like a dog by the roadside on standby.

「Yo-you’re amazing Ariante. To be able to tame such a dragon. I heard that dragons have a lot of pride so it’s hard to make them submit…」

「It’s not as if it’s really a subordinate of mine. He’s just throwing away his pride and following me of his own accord. More importantly, hurry up and take out the doll.」

The employees made strange faces since the main goal was just a simple doll after her riding in on a dragon.

But, they could tell that this was an unprecedented situation so they didn’t ask anymore questions and went into the backyard.

Luckily, the employee wasn’t lost for direction and came back quickly.

「Are you talking about this?」

What was handed out was a simple rabbit doll.

No, that should be right. If it was something that could be seen as strange at first glance, then the employees of the guild would have already seen through it’s true identity.

「Pardon me.」

So Ariante took off her gauntlets.

Just like the time when she shook hands with Rēko and Raiotto, she activated her special technique as soon as her bare hand touched it.

Mind reading is originally not the true use of this magic.

However, compared to most normal detection magic, it’s considered powerful. To display it’s true power, some conditions are required but- even so, it’s still an unbelievable magic.

It’s something that she hadn’t even revealed to Revendia, it’s Ariante’s trump card.

Thanks to the result of her most trusted magic, a thought flowed through her hand.

「Demon King Army- Commander-Revendia-Defeat-Confine-」

If one had investigated normally, it would seem as if it had no magic stored and looked completely normal from the outside.

However, Ariante could feel a massive amount of magic power thriving inside.

「Ariante?」

「Sorry for the trouble. I’ll be taking this doll.」

Coming out from the main branch into the front of the guild, she jumped onto Doradoras back.

「It’s a big jackpot. Swiftly return to Perudona. Gather the specialized mages and have them break the barrier.」

「Are you saying that Revendia is inside that doll?」

「I fear so- Now hurry up and fly. It’s behaving well right now but I don’t know when it’ll start rampaging.」

It was currently focused on holding Revendia’s group inside, so it’s consciousness must also be in there with them. Thus, its main body had lost its ability to move.

However, if due to some incident it regains consciousness, the situation will immediately become a harsh battle. It needs to be taken care of before that could happen.

「Fufu, with this, I can now be someone who Revendia owes a favour to. I never thought that I would rise up so far in just a few weeks since I began training. It must mean that my latent potential was higher than I ever expected… I sometimes fear my own genius… The next generation Evil Dragon could be me…」

「Stop talking crap and fly faster. If you can’t even understand the situation, then you’re worse than a packhorse.」

「Worry not, female knight. I will soon become much stronger than you, but I will remember the favour for the training I received.」

‘Should I smack him?’ thought Ariante in her heart.

But, she would lose her transport if she inflicted needless damage here. So it was decided that the training a few days later will contain a lot more punch - concluding as such, she calmed her anger.

After a while, Doradora finished feeling exhilarated and started flying happily.

The capital of Granard became smaller and smaller and beyond her sights, grass plains spread far.

During that time, Ariante continued to touch the doll and tried to pry into the situation inside.

「Have you found anything?」

「The liquid magic membrane is thick, it’s certainly a large barrier… To have deployed such a large barrier for two weeks, the demon’s main body should also be exhausted. Although they’re a Demon King Commander, it should now be weaker than even you.」

「Are you saying that someone of that caliber is containing Revendia?」

「…There could be cases where that’s possible. Yeah, anyone could lower their guard.」

In reality that guy probably didn’t lower his guard at all. The power of his kin is close to being invincible but her incredible imagination is an aspect that’s very worrying. It comes down to the completion of the barrier, it could be possible that they don’t even know they’re in the barrier.

-At that moment.

The flow of magic power felt from her hand suddenly changed.

The finely built magic power of the barrier, in just a moment, lost its balance and started to collapse.

No doubt about it, the barrier is being broken from inside.

「…Is it the little girl kin?」

Has Rēko realized and started to break down the barrier?

「Doradora, return to the ground. Revendia might be coming out.」

「Kuh, if it was delayed by just a minute, I would have gotten a favour from Revendia…」

Doradora started to fly down unwillingly. If Revendia came out with his original size, with only Doradora supporting them in the air, they might crashland.

By the time they safely landed on the ground, Ariante threw the doll on the ground and drew her sword.

「It might resort to its last measure, put your guard up just in case.」

「Of course.」

Doradora also started to glare at the rabbit doll.

However, it didn’t seem like it was needed. The barrier started to break down and the magic power leaked out but it’s presence was extremely weak.

As soon as Revendia comes out, Ariante or Doradora could easily finish it off.

「Haha, I made it in time.」

Despite the fact that no one was here in these plains, a voice rang out from behind them. Ariante, who was wielding her sword, instantly ordered Doradora.

「Look after the doll! Don’t let it get away!」

Then she turned around, directing all her killing intention towards the owner of the voice.

「The doll you’re speaking of, is it this? How horrible. She has a name - is called Sousou, you know? Furthermore, she is a glorious Demon King Commander— No, now that it’s some to this, she’s become a former commander.」

Wrapped around in black cloth, a man wearing a white mask appeared.

The mask had no holes for the eyes and nose, instead, in their place were X marks.

No, more importantly, his hands were holding the doll that should have been on the ground behind them.

「What happened to the doll, Doradora!?」

「Apologies, it disappeared as soon as we heard the voice… I had no time to stop him.」

「Who the hell are you?」

Ariante pointed the blade of her greatsword at the mysterious man.

「Don’t mind me, I’m not anyone suspicious. From this point onwards this Sousou was determined to be “Useless” and removed from the Demon King Army. There’s no need to be so secretive, as a former comrade, I’ve come personally to finish it off.」

「The Demon King Army-」

Ariante clenched her teeth… now of all times, it had to be at this time.

「But from the looks of things, there appears to be no need for it. It appears that my true master has already defeated Sousou. As a kin, I express great admiration.」

「True master? Kin? What are you talking about?」

「Ahh, I apologize, I am one of the pillars of the Demon King Army but at the same time I am Lord Evil Dragon Revendia’s kin.」

「Revendia’s?」

I never thought that this would be the Demon King Commander who’s crazy in the head, spoken of by Doradora.

In that case, the circumstances are in our favour.

「Inside that doll is Revendia, you don’t need to needlessly make a move, hurry up leave it.」

「Ahh, of course. Look, it seems like they’re coming out.」

The space in front of the doll started warping.

The next moment, Rēko and an unknown white haired girl popped out, most likely the daughter of the officer from Granard.

However the figure of Revendia was not seen.

「Little girl kin! Where did Revendia go!?」

「You’re that female knight…? What are you doing here?」

「Just hurry up and answer me!」

「I don’t know what you’re talking about but the Lord Evil Dragon is right here. He is watching over me from a land far away while I accomplish my mission.」

Ariante made a serious expression.

It’s as the Hunting God said. Rēko didn’t think that the Revendia in the barrier is the real thing, but only an illusion made of thought.

「Raiotto also isn’t here.」

However, to the words spoken by Rēko, Ariante became surprised.

「Raiotto? He should still be in Perudona.」

「He was in the barrier and undoubtedly the deal one.」

Ariante didn’t know what was going on. How did Raiotto, who should be in Perudona, break into the dolls barrier?

「In that case, Lord Revendia is having a one-on-one duel and has remained behind. If that’s so, then we shouldn’t intrude.」

The only one who was still calm was the self proclaimed kin.

He whispered into the ears of the near dead doll.

「Sousou, you’re no longer needed by the Demon King Army. A useless good for nothing. Lord Revendia also doesn’t even have you in his sights. You will never gain anything that you desire. Dying here like a stray dog suits you well-」

Towards the continuous insults, a change appeared in the doll.

The magic power that was weak and frail, turned into thick and powerful magic power and the leaking holes were stopped. It’s apparent that it started breathing a new life.

Not sure what had happened, is it a demon that gains power when it gets insulted?

「With this, the preparations are complete. From now on, I will not make a move. How about you people also enjoy the show?」

「Enjoy what?」

Ariante asked with anger filling her eyes.

「The moment Lord Revendia performs the execution by his own hand. Inside this barrier, I have sent that foolish boy in with my means. The one who was said to have fought Revendia and had been acknowledged, that sort of unbelievable, completely fabricated sort of hero—’s descendant. That sort of sin, only by having Lord Revendia use his own claws can he be forgiven. Don’t you think so?」

Laughing with a delighted voice, the self-proclaimed kin raised the doll in his hand for everyone to see.