Chapter 158 – Wings, Again.

Chapter 158 - Wings, Again.

“Translator: Anargya”

“Editor: GhostApe”

「I think it’s good if you guys retreat back in for the time being.」

All of the soldiers nodded to my proposal.

The escapee has returned, so there is an option to catch him again. But the opponent we are talking about is a demon that can escape any prison he is put in. I don’t know what will happen if I just invite him in thoughtlessly.

The guards here probably did not know that Ria is Kami-sama herself, but they seemed to have the sense of danger to not put an unnecessary strong person inside the cathedral.

「Wait a sec, everyone. I’ll talk with him.」

Yoro-san is a demon, but he can understand words very well.

I carried a big piece of hope in my heart that that was the case, and walked out from the big door a bit.

Before I even called him, Yoro-san waved his hand with a cheerful smile under his helmet.

「Oh, isn’t it the Dragon. Seems like the misunderstanding with the people here has been resolved. If you don’t mind, can you vouch for me so I can get inside?」

「E, errr… I feel bad, but it will be hard to do that.」

「Why? Even though I bought souvenirs… the sake is mine, though.」

「Well because you destroyed the prison, remember? Everyone is wary of you because of that. I know that you are no a bad demon, but it is impossible to welcome you inside for now.」

While hiding Ria’s identity as the Shrine Maiden, I talked about the situation as honestly as possible. If this didn’t work, I’ll have to start worrying about the fight that will happe—

「I see, so I’m off limits. When I think about it, it is true that I just went and broke out of the place at my own convenience. It’s not good even if I went back in myself huh.」

Ah, my eyes blinked in surprise.

He withdrew more smoothly than I expected.

「Di, did you really understand? You won’t force yourself in, right?」

「Have I ever turned back on my words?」

「Maybe not, but what would happen if you ran out of control…」

「I won’t barge in without permission like some small fry.」

Come to think of it, he’s right. I got to know Yoro-san when he asked me to accompany him into the capital because he doesn’t have the permit. Yoro-san is strangely disciplined, even though he could have just broken through the capital barriers.

「Th, that’s true. You don’t really break the rules.」

「That is correct. I, who is absolutely strong, won’t stoop down to evil ways.」

I’m relieved that I succeeded in persuading him. I turned back and passed through the big door entering the cathedral. The soldiers are still a bit nervous, but the whole Yoro-san situation should be okay for the time being.

「Well Rēko, shall we go and see Ria just in case?」

In addition to Yoro-san, there is also the fake kin whose current location is unknown. It is better to be nearby where she is.

When I asked a soldier to guide me to the Shrine Maiden, they looked a bit bitter about it, but they didn’t refuse, probably because the Cardinal said something about me.

We followed his lead and went up a spiral staircase leading to the upper layer of the cathedral.

When we looked from the outside before, there was a spire that was protruding from the roof of the cathedral. Our destination is probably there.

The top of the building. For a Shrine Maiden—it is a reasonable place to worship the original God.

「It’s right here.」

After climbing stairs to the point that I lost my breath, we finally arrived at a door leading to the spire.

When I look down, it is high enough that I started feeling sick. Even though I am quite comfortable when flying now, I still feel scared when my viewpoint is so high even though my feet are touching the ground.

「Rēko, let’s go in and say hello for the time being.」

「Yes.」

Leaving the soldier to look out in front of the door, we went inside the spire. Inside, there is another spiral staircase, though not as long as the previous one.

After going up the spiral staircase for about two laps, we finally see the door leading to the Shrine Maiden’s room.

I knocked on the door.

Without reply, the door slowly opened.

「Umu, a visitor. Please come in—ah, it’s you guys. What a coincidence.」

It was Yoro-san who opened the door from the inside.

「……eh?」

「Oi, you. Why are you here? Evil Dragon-sama has just turned you away a bit ago. Are you trespassing?」

I stood still while looking at Yoro-san. I can’t even stop Rēko, who begins to show hostility.

「Stay calm. I did not enter without permission. I was told that I am not allowed to enter the cathedral, so I was searching for the Shrine Maiden from the window.」

「From the window…」

I repeated his words like parrot. Well, this place is technically not inside the cathedral building, but it is still a gray zone. He said that he is not going to stoop down to evil ways, but he is clearly doing it right now.

「So, when I looked through the window of this tallest tower, I found her right away. Then I asked if I could join her inside.」

“Kui~”, Yoro-san pointed to the inside of the room with his thumb.

There is a figure of Ria enjoying the steamed bun with tea inside.

「Ufufu, this bun is delicious, Armor onii-san. Thank you for your blessing…」

「Looks like it is the correct answer to buy a souvenir. My judgement was perfect.」

「Seems like it…」

It is true that as long as the owner of the room permits it, it is no longer considered trespassing.

I was in a bit of despair that my earlier persuasion had ended in vain, but I shook my head to focus on the present.

「Th, then Yoro-san. Didn’t you just come to say hello? You gave her a souvenir and all, so there nothing you need to here anymore, right?」

「That is right. I just came here in order to give some souvenir to the Shrine Maiden girl.」

Thank goodness. But as I was about to exhale in relief—

「However, I have not finished my original objective yet. A duel with Enka—my rival, and a God who is mimicking the appearance of a Shrine Maiden girl here.」

Rēko immediately sprung into action when Yoro-san finished his sentence.

Pulling the dagger out from the scabbard, she slashed at the speed of leaving even the sound behind.

However,

「Don’t get in the way. I’m not giving up this chance.」

Yoro-san caught the slash with his right arm covered in armor. No trick or magic is used, but he is still able to completely stop Rēko’s attack from the front.

Of course, Rēko didn’t give up that easily. She immediately pulled the dagger back, and rushed at Yoro-san.

「Lass, I’ll remove you from your seat for a bit.」

Yoro-san suddenly threw something at Rēko.

It spread out in the air, it’s the cloak that Yoro-san always wore.

And suddenly, Rēko disappeared.

She should have slashed the cloak with the momentum of her rush, but she disappeared as if she was sucked into the cloak.

「Rēko!」

「My cloak has the power to connect spaces, so I just flew her to some place.」

Yoro-san said so, and put on his cloak again.

Come to think of it, Yoro-san used to store gold nuggets and liquor bottles freely with his cloak. Did he forcefully move Rēko away with that power?

「Well then, Enka. Now is the time for the long awaited rematch. Fight against me. Such a stupid appearance does not suit you.」

「Y-yoro-san!」

I stop Yoro-san who is trying to walk up to Ria.

If one looks at it, she is withdrawn to the corner of the room, looking frightened by the sudden situation. Judging from the Cardinal’s story, Ria herself is not aware that she is Kami-sama’s alternate personality.

If that truly is the case, it means that the fear that the girl “Ria” is feeling right now is real.

「What?」

「F-forcing it is not good. I understand that you want to fight, but you need to consider the condition of the other party.」

Yoro-san tightens his lips slightly.

「Ahh, that is true. It would be an ideal duel if we both hit each other with all of our might.」

「That’s right!」

「But I can’t do such generous thing.」

The magical power from Yoro-san’s body swelled explosively. It is a powerful magical power that covers not only this cathedral, but the entire capital.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open.

Church soldiers that heard the voice and commotion flowed in.

「Protect the Shrine Maiden!」

「That armored man is a demon!」

They tried to attack Yoro-san all at once, but to no avail.

「Freeze.」

With that one word from Yoro-san, everyone suddenly cannot move as if their limbs are bound. He did not use any magic to make them obey, but just pure intimidation.

The mighty magical power and presence of the existence that was once called the Demon King has more than enough intensity to immobilize any adults.

「What will you do, Enka? I am not going to stop this fight. How long are you planning to run away.」

「E-enka…? That is, that is Kami-sama’s true name isn’t it? Do you have something to do with Kami-sama? Please wait. I’ll call him right away…」

Ria, who still doesn’t understand the situation fully, desperately begins to pray on the spot.

And the result is…

『Mountain has come.』

With her hair glowing gold, an extremely objective statement came out.

Apparently Ria reproduced her most recent possession, the person possessing her is by all means, my acquaintance.

Yoro-san is silent for a while when he sees Ria(with Spirit-san inside), but soon spreads his palm toward her.

「I don’t know what drunken madness possessed you, but I am not going to fight it. Then, I’ll make a situation where you have no choice but to come out.」

Magical power began to converge on Yoro-san’s hands. It’s the same phenomenon when Rēko shoots a slash of light.

No. If that hit her—

I moved my legs in a hurry.

「Eat this.」

A ray of lighting shoots from Yoro-san’s hand. The ray destroyed everything on it’s path while dying the surroundings white. It pierces the wall of the spire and extends far to the sky.

If that had hit directly, it may have killed even God.

If it hit directly.

「……l-l-looks like I made it in time.」

It was fortunate that Yoro-san took a long time to attack, and that it was Spirit-san who possessed Ria.

The gold mountain’s spirit will help me with its power. And with that power, it is possible for me to imitate Rēko’s “Shadow Twin Wings” and fly.

And thus,

「Dragon, you bastard—to think that even you would get in my way.」

Now I was flying in the sky with Ria(with Spirit-san inside) on my front leg.

Just outside the spire’s window, with Yoro-san in front of me.