CH 84

“It was destroyed? Good grief, that’s the third one. Third! Good grief… Familiars are not easy to make, you know? Alchemists can easily transmute what they want, but I have to go out and look for suitable subjects.”

I look around. Who’s there? I don’t even see a monster, but I can hear a voice.

I’m on full alert.

“…! Where is it, Hipopo?”

“B-bumo…”

Even Hipopo can’t sense it.

“Kyu.”

Seilook finishes drinking the potion, flies on to Hipopo’s back, and clings to it.

“Ahh… It was supposed to end here. What are you, Master Rust? You are very troublesome. Outsiders like you can be very disruptive.”

Whatever it is, it said my name. I quickly turn around.

There wasn’t anyone there until a second ago, but now I see a man standing in front of me. His face is covered by a hood.

This is a flat wasteland, and I can see nothing around me other than Hipopo’s footprints. There aren’t even rocks big enough for a person to hide behind.

I don’t let my guard down, and decide to ask a question, while preparing scrolls so I can attack immediately depending on the answer.

“I am just an alchemist. You’re the shaman, aren’t you?”

“Shaman! Some people do call me that. Good grief. It’s just like the old shady name incantator. So annoying. You alchemists are a copycat branch anyway. Irregulars. But let’s leave that aside. The main point of contention is you. Your existence is a big problem. You casually destroyed the familiar created to slowly torment the demon killer. And you removed the curse from that annoying stalker girl. And now that dragon! Dragon! It really should’ve been dealt with right here.”

The man keeps rambling.

What’s he talking about? Alchemists are irregulars? And that confirms that the cat-fish was his familiar too. And what does he mean by dealing with Seilook? Was he planning to do something with it?

I loosen my grip on the scroll I have been gripping tightly. I was going to attack in anger after asking that question, but I hold it back.

Attacking while angry only brings down my precision. I don’t know how much of what he’s saying is true, but I figure I should let him talk and get some information.

But there’s so much I don’t understand. I can’t even tell if he’s lying or not because I don’t know what he’s talking about.

“Are you holding back your anger? Oh well. I really should just kill you. You are nothing like Rihalzam, who is drowning in dark emotions and is an excellent prospect for it.”

The man suddenly stops talking.

He’s coming!

I activate the scroll in my hand.