“Dead?”
“Yes.”
“You seem really calm about it.”
“Same to you, aren’t you really calm right now?”
“Yes, but…it’s a shame… Ichirou is the earnest guy, right?”
“Yes, he is indeed earnest and he always works very hard, unlike a certain someone. He is also someone who can cheer up the whole group and makes a level headed decision.”
“I really don’t know much about him though…”
“Well, even with those qualities, his fighting potential is pathetic compared to others.”
“What do you mean? A waste?"
“Somewhat. He trains with the way of the sword, but honestly, he never gets any better. He doesn’t have any good features other than I mentioned earlier. Him working harder than anyone is commendable though, they idolize his diligent nature.”
“You say he is dead, but, aren’t you a bit heartless to berate him like this.”
“There is no point in holding back to someone whether they are alive or dead. Simply, I acknowledge someone for their usefulness. I acknowledge him, but he only made a limited job. I can’t blame him though.”
If my memory serves me right, he is one of the most innocent and naïve heroes in the group. But even with all the qualities of a good leader, he lacks something.
Raw power.
He does have a lot of soul weapons. If I remember correctly, there was five of it. But that’s it. It doesn’t have any special abilities. He is just stronger than an average knight captain or something.
“So, what happened?”
“Right, you need to know it. Everything immediately happened when you left that day.”
“…”
“Devils attacked us relentlessly for three consecutive days.”
“That man…Nil’s doing?”
“You can say that it was his underlings who attacked us and not Nil himself.”
“I see. Please continue.”
Not Nil himself? I knew it…
“In those three consecutive days, we weren’t able to rest properly and everyone’s wills are wavering. But Ichirou is the one who kept the spirit of the others lit up.”
What an enviable guy. He got a good attitude.
“But, there are two people who led the devil's attack.”
“…”
“It was an elf and a dragon kin.”
“Elf and a dragon kin?”
“Yes. Both of them serve under Nil… and they call themselves… Arcana of Envy and Arcana of Pride.”
“…”
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“What?”
“Nothing… I just thought…how generic…”
“It sounds actually cool…”
“Is that so…please continue.”
“The dragon kin who claims to be the Arcana of Pride is called Cr'thgor and the elf who claims to be the Arcana of Envy is called Kran. Please remember that.”
""!””
Oh? The twins reacted. They seem to have heard of the name Kran.
“Casablanca, Hibiscus, do you know of the man name Kran?”
“”…””
“Please…”
“He…he was the previous elven king according to our history books…”
“And… he tried to kill mama too…”
How atrocious. He tried to kill Hinoki?
The incident between the elf and the dwarf…it seems it runs deeper than I thought…
No point in thinking it now. I pat the two on the head.
“I see, you two, thank you.”
“”No problem!””
“So, Priscilla, please…”
“We actually fought them so more or less, I figured out how most of their power works. The dragon kin arcana magic repels and disperses magic. Magicians are rendered ineffective against him. Then the elf…”
“Hmm? What about the elf?”
“He stole Ichirou’s soul weapons.”
“Stole?! But aren’t soul weapons supposed to be inseparable to its owner?”
“That’s the problem… it seems that’s the power of his arcana magic.”
Stealing soul weapons huh… arcana of envy…
“There’s more to this arcana of envy. It seems… he is immortal too…no…he dies…then he revives. I shot him once through his heart but, in an instant, he lives again like nothing happened.”
“Is that all?”
“Their physical strength and vitality topples the norms too, not only that, we were worn out horribly from being attack restlessly. “
Nil seems to be making big moves now. Ichirou’s death is one of the results of it….
What about Asagao? If she becomes Nil’s target…
“So Priscilla, what happened next?”
“Hmmm… at the very last moment, when we are already running towards the dragon capital, they make their final appearance. We can’t fight anymore, and we already spent our supplies and medicines. Then, only him step up…Ichirou Nagasaki. He declared that he will hold them back as we run. That was the last time we saw him alive.”
That’s commendable…
“After an hour… the two are already catching up on us… As we were about to get struck...Lily came out and fended them off.”
“Lily? Ah…”
I was in that city by the sea when we made the plan… it was a good thing I suggested it…hmm… did I?
I don’t remember. But if she made it in time even just to save most of them…no…it was unfortunate…
Didn’t Ichirou like Lily? The irony…
“So…after that?”
“Everyone was taken to the dragon capital. After a whole day rest, I accompany Lily-san to search anything about Ichirou…sadly… all we got is… two mangled legs and an arm. The only thing we can theorize about it is that his body was eaten by magical beasts. That’s all.”
“How did the others take his death?”
“Hm? Of course, devastated, even now, they are still mourning. They seem to have long accepted the reality of death creeping behind us, but to actually experience someone’s death. The pressure is too heavy for them. This is, of course, a trivial matter to me. The same goes for you, Reaper.”
So heartless huh…it’s a comrade that died and you stayed as you are. Well…I really can’t say anything about it myself.
I feel pity for them, but they have ventured this far now, they can’t turn back anymore.
Something common to me and Priscilla-san is another thing for them. Of course, if it’s life of those children at stake, I will not be indifferent anymore. But Ichirou and most of them should now what fighting would entail to.
“I see. Thanks, Priscilla… For now w--!”
“…”
“…”
“”?!””
“Priscilla…”
“I know… it is not as intense as that pretty face bastard, but it’s par with the Arcana sins.”
Pretty face bastard? Ah…Nil…
Well… Nil’s presence isn’t as intense as this. It’s more like… I think I can handle myself…but if their arcana magic completely outclasses mine… then I am in danger…
“Filth, do you want us to face him?”
“Him?”
“This presence, it’s the elf guy.”
“Stop that Priscilla, you are scaring the twins, also… do you think it’s safe for these two?”
“Tsk! Haa…you are right. I don’t want these cuties to see something unruly. So, what do you want to do?”
“Please escape to your portal.”
“You?”
“I’ll lure him away. I do have something else to do. Please… take the twins…"
“”Susanoo!?”"
“Casablanca, Hibiscus, don’t worry, as long as you two are with Priscilla-san, you two will be safe and we will meet again. Also, as you two can see… the Leek City is safe now. I will visit Hinoki too when I have time.”
“”REALLY?!””
“Yes. Please go.”
“”Okay…””
They proceed to enter the portal. The twins look at me worriedly, they are listening attentively to our talk earlier so they now the situation is dangerous.
Even if one Nil’s men try to attack the dragon capital…of course, they won’t…the dragon lord is in there.
There is also Lily-san and Priscilla.
“Filth…don’t you…die on me…ok?”
“Ah…”
SWOOSH
It was her parting words before they disappeared in the portal.
What? Priscilla…can be cute too sometimes…
Now then… these people really love to peep on people from far away...
Right now, I am confident that Hinoki will be safe. If what Priscilla-san told me is true that this is the elf arcana magician… he is the one who tried to kill Hinoki…
It will give me more peace of mind if he goes away from the elven capital…
I shall lure him away from here and travel the mountains of the dwarves.
I wanted to visit Hinoki one more time… Maybe after I find Asagao then…
I run with all my might.
I need him to follow me.
Confronting him would be a bad idea too… if there are more people like him close by to him.
And thus…my day on the run starts.
Until the day the world shook. A tremor that cracked open the ground. A large pillar of light pierces the sky.
The light…it got my attention… I feel like Asagao is there.
I followed it instinctively…
I hope she is safe.