Master and I rush to the nearest town while carrying Alstroe and Higan who are both unconscious. Upon arrival, we promptly ask for the best in the town can accommodate and immediately heads there. 

Laying both of them on a separate bed, Master begins to examine both of their conditions. I can only watch worriedly as master try to take the situation in his hands.

After half of an hour, master only sighs at the thing he can only do. He beckons me outside to talk.

We stand side by side in the luxurious inn’s hallway. Master hasn’t said anything yet, but I can feel the tension coming from him.

He contemplates for about ten minutes while we stare at the empty air.

“Both of them are out danger.”

“Thank goodness…”

“But… the effects of the curse that man cast to them are so powerful that I don’t know how long would it last. It is an unknown magic to me, so it’s most likely an arcana magic. The only way for me to ease Alstroemeria's and Higanbana’s pain is to cast sleep magic to them.”

“I see… thank you, master. It’s good to know that they are not in danger. I am thankful too that you are safe… what happened to you anyway?”

“…”

“…”

“Those two that I fought are beyond me in leaps and bound. No… they are not specifically powerful but…”

“But?”

“The Emerald Dragon, Arcana of Pride as he introduces, nullifies magic or disperse it to the very base returning the mana into the air. I am a dragon the strongly relies on magic but my physical strength as a dragon is not lacking. I know that I can fight him head on…”

“…”

“The problem is… the demon kin girl from the oni clan who introduces herself as the Arcana of Lust…”

“Why?”

“While the emerald dragon nullifies my magic, she uses nasty spells that drain the enemy of their main vital energy components.”

“What is that?”

“Magical Energy, Stamina and Physical Strength and she temporarily transfer it to herself.”

“So… with that tactics… Master was defeated.”

“Yes… But… the man that you fought… was the most dangerous among all… and that’s my miscalculation. To take down Alstroemeria like that…”

“Alstroe, however strong she is, she is still a human, Master.”

“Say, Asagao. You know who that man is, right?”

“Ah…”

“You do?”

“I…do know him… very well…”

“And that kind of man… is tailing after you.”

“Yes…”

“Asagao…”

“…”

“I don’t care whatever relationship you have with that man but… you could have told us that a man that dangerous is on to you.”

“I…”

“If you had told us something, we would have an options or strategies to deal with them. You’ve just put us in jeopardy because of you keeping it all to yourself. I hope you learn a lesson from this.”

“Yes…”

After that, master took off somewhere. His word stings me at the sore spot. In conclusion, it’s basically my fault that we ended up like this.

Yes…It’s my fault…

No one else is to blame but me…

Because I keep hanging around them that they became Nil’s victims too. And… I feel like I am partially culpable of Nil’s actions. My very interaction with him that day should be clear to me that whatever he does, I am partly responsible for it.

If Alstroe and Higan would keep getting hurt like this, it’s better for me to be alone… I have to face Nil all alone. I have to struggle to reach him and… put an end to him.

These thoughts repeatedly swirl inside my mind that I didn’t notice hours passed and I was standing here for I don’t know how long.

I enter the room where Higan and Alstroe are resting. I take a peek on their sleeping faces.

In Higan’s countenance, even while at sleep, is still enduring the pain Nil delivered to her frail body. How many bones were broken, how many ounces of blood did she cough, and how many screams did she let out during Nil’s one sided beating?

On the other bed is Alstroe-nee. Terrified, trembling and scared. She is not invincible. She is still a girl, a human, a person with feelings. Her past that I caught a glimpse encompasses of her memories of the time she was thrown out by her own parents at such tender age. Even though an idiot, she ends up growing up to be one of the nicest around.

Do I really want to endanger these two people that I hold dearly?

Do I really want to drag them in my problem just to get hurt like this again?

With all these in my mind, I have come up with a decision.

.

.

.

“Asagao, what’s the matter?”

“Master, there is something I want you to do.”

I came up to master as soon as he arrives at the dining hall of the inn. It seems he investigated the parameter of the town and set up some magical detectors to warn us of hostile enemies.

“Master in the recent of events, I have sorted out my inner thoughts and came up with a single conclusion.”

“Asagao, I trust this isn’t something stupid or absurd.”

I look at master straight in the eyes full of seriousness. Master just stare back with a heave of sigh.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Ok… tell me…”

“…Please… return Alstroe and Higan back to the beast capital.”

“I knew it… but that’s more absurd than I thought… but in a case… it’s sensible to do in your perspective. But if I were them…”

“I know. But on how things are now. I don’t want them to go through that again. Even you master…”

“I’m going to ask you firmly one last time. Are you sure about that? I will do as you say and I won’t tell if you are making a wrong decision or not because I don’t have anything to say at the very least.”

“Please master… Do it…”

“After that, what are your plans?”

“After that?”

“You have given thoughts about the matter at hand but after that, what are you going to do?”

“…I don’t know…”

“Is that so? Then I’ll suggest that we head to the fairy continent to see my friend I was talking about.”

“We?”

“You are someone Violetta’s acquaintance. She’ll be angry at me if I don’t keep you safe at the very least.”

“Right…”

I… haven’t told anyone about it yet… Master and the others still believe the lie that I said back in the demon capital…

After our conversation, we immediately left the inn with a carriage with bed overlays inside it carrying Alstroe and Higan.

We travel a bit far away from the town we are from to avoid any unwanted attention since master will transform into a dragon to carry them.

“Ok Asagao, let’s create a makeshift saddle so you guys can ride in my back easily. Do not worry as I can fly a month straight without sleeping.”

“Eh?”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“…”

“Asagao… don’t tell me…”

“Master… just them… I am not coming…”

“YOU!”

Master grabs me furiously by the collar of my shirt and lifts me in the air. His face shows that it’s really mad.

“YOU DAMN BRAT! I WAS CONFIDENT ON THIS THING THAT YOU BLURTED OUT AND THEN YOU WILL SAY YOU WON’T COME?!”

“M-master! I…I can’t breathe…”

“NOT ONLY YOU ARE KEEPING SECRETS FROM US! YOU PUT EVERYONE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER BY KEEPING IT ALL TO YOURSELF. I DON’T CARE IF YOU KEEP SECRETS FROM ME. BUT HAVE YOU CONSIDERED ABOUT THESE TWO FEELINGS AT ALL? I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME, BUT IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO ALL OF YOU, I WON’T BE ABLE TO ACCEPT IT TOO. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WALLOWING ON THAT BATTLE? I HAVE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE CAN AVOID LIFE THREATENING BATTLE LIKE THAT! AND NOW, YOU ARE TELLING ME THIS SHIT!”

“M-Master…I—I...!”

Master throws me into the ground after ranting and shouting at me. But… I can’t go… I really can’t go with them… I don’t have the face to show to Izuna too after what happened to her daughter.

“Master… I...”

“Shut up. I will tolerate your action or request one last time, but promise me one thing.”

“…”

“In my estimation, it will take me more than three days to fly while carrying these two on my back because I have to take care of their conditions along the way and I have to use magic continuously to keep them safe. After that, the aftermath in my arrival at the beast continent which I need to talk to Higan’s parent as you said earlier and to the extent, let Alstroemeria rest there too.”

“I… understand… so—“

“So! I want you to turn back and go to the town we were before, rent the same inn, and stay inside the town until I arrive again! Promise me you will not leave the town, Asagao.”

“I promise, master. And thank you, for bearing with my selfishness. Please, protect them…”

“Haaa… why are you such an illogical brat.”

After making the saddle designated to hold two people while sleeping that’s filled with blankets and bed , Master told me that he is going to use magic to keep the saddle and the makeshift bed intact and there is something he told me that he can modify weather in a small area that he’ll use to keep them warm.

With these conditions, they won’t encounter much problem while travelling. He will constantly check on their conditions and cast sleep on them if necessary. I feel relief. Magic is really convenient if you can use so much like master.

After the brief preparation, master transfers Higan and Alstroe to the carriage-like saddle that was built on his back with magic. He then looks at me.

“Asagao… you better head back to that town. Stop using idiocy as your specialty.”

“Ok… please go now…”

Master flaps his enormous wings creating a torrent of the wind around us. He glances back at me and then he looks at the sky again. 

He starts soaring to the sky in a steady manner. In a moment, they become a tiny dot in the sky.

“I… have to get back immediately…I don’t want to anger master…”

I start walking through the grassland of the demon continent.

I don’t want to break my promise to master. He trusts me so much after all. He knows I can protect myself. But even so, I don’t have any time to waste being in a daze here. We really haven’t traveled that far. I think I can get to the town in thirty minutes.

There was no one around. Come to think of it. It’s been a while since… I am alone. It’s not that really sad anymore. I feel like this loneliness is peaceful in its own way. I can clear my mind like this and think more of the things important to do without interruption.

Yes… loneliness… From now on… I have to distance myself from people.

Master told me that he is willing to take me to the fairy continent… but afterward… I need to find my own path to walk down to.

.

.

.

I have arrive at the town and rented the same inn. I am in a one-bed room. I already checked the bed. It’s soft and comfortable, but I don’t feel like lying in it. Instead, I just sit in one corner hugging my knees. I feel… much safer… even if I am alone…

“What are you saying Asagao?!~ I am here for you!~”

“Eh?!”

I heard… a familiar voice that sparks my anger…

I promptly stand up and frantically look everywhere… but none…

W-what’s happening?

I sat on the bed…

Maybe… I am just… hearing things because of what we have been through…

“Have been through?!~ You? Hahaha!~ You just played an easy game of charade!~”

“!?”

It’s there again!

When I turn around… nothing again…And I feel like it whispered close to my ear…

Eh? What?

My… body shakes from the bizarre phenomenon that’s happening right now…

He is… here…

“Show yourself Nil!”

"…"

“What do you want?!”

"…"

“Haven’t you hurt people I care dearly enough!?”

“You care dearly? You were just dragging them to your problem!~ What a joke!~”

“!”

NO! I didn’t mean to do that!

“Really!~ Even though there are premises that I am on to you… like… devils appearing, following your group at night?~”

“SHUT UP!”

“Why deny your own faults?!~ That’s so childish!”

“SHUT UP!”

“Did you enjoyed playing with their feelings!~”

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

“Do you think that master of yours will be safe too?!~”

“NO…”

My body… won’t stop shaking… Nil’s voices… are everywhere…

Why…

I can hear his voice… but he isn’t even here…

What? Why? How?

My breathing gets rougher as random ideas and thoughts invaded my mind.

Does Nil have taken control of this inn? Or this town? Or even the whole demon continent?

I don’t know…I can’t take it anymore!

I run out of the inn. I heard the innkeeper calling out to me but I didn’t mind. I just don’t want to be in that room anymore.

.

.

.

After walking out of the inn, I got a bit calmer… I was able to arrange my breathing and got to inhale fresh air.

What the hell…

That madness...

I didn’t want to lie to anyone…  I just wanted to… I want to keep smiles on everyone’s face. It’s not that my intention was bad… even with the King Ashfon… to the heroes… to Edel-nee, Lily, and Violetta. To Higan and to Alstroe, even to master. To the people, we met along the way. Is it bad to wish for everyone to be happy?

Because I was deep in my own thoughts… I accidentally bump into someone…

It’s common sense to apologize for things like this… even if it is an accident.

“I’m sorry.”

“Liar.”

“eh?”

“Fraud.”

“Ah?”

“User.”

“Fake.”

“Phony.”

“Trickster.”

“Deluder.”

“Falsifier.”

“Wait! Please stop!”

“Misleader.”

“Fabricator.”

“Deceiver.”

“NO, I AM NOT! PLEASE STOP!”

Why?

Why are they saying things like that?!

“NO! STOP! I AM NOT!”

The barrage of words does not only come from the man I bump. It comes from everyone around me. I feel like I am in the pits of hell. These people repeated the words continuously.

I feel like I am surrounded. I feel like they are looking at me with disgust… I feel like they are making me feel like I am a worthless person…

Stop…

No…

My body starts to shake again in frantic. I hug myself in both fear and horror of what’s happening to my surrounding. My breathing starts to get rag again and sweat starts to stream down my body.

I can’t take it anymore.

I run again…

I… want a place… I am alone… please… somewhere…

I run and run and run… bumping one person to another… until… I got out of town where there are fewer people…

I… need to keep running… until…I can no longer hear anyone…

.

.

.

I don’t know… how many hours I have been walking… but… more or less… there are no more people around… but… I don’t know where I am right now…

I only have little food at my dimensional storage… and… it’s night already…

I need to calm myself… what am I even doing in the first place?

I am lost… in the cold… with no one around… this is good… I guess…

I found a large tree. I sit down under it and eat some spare food from my storage.

Suddenly… dozens of devils appear out of nowhere…

Eh!? Why…

They slowly approach me, encircling the tree…

What… should I do?!

In myself inquiry… what should I do in this hopeless situation?

No… it still wanted to live longer! Please… not now!

“Ahahaha!~ What a pinch you are in?!~”

“Again… are you… having fun?!”

“Who know!~”

“Where are you hiding, Nil?!”

“Trying to act tough when you are about to die, heh.”

“…”

“No one will save you Asagao!~ No one will save a weakling, worthless like you!~”

“…”

“You want to know why?!~”

“SHUT UP!”

“Because—“

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

“You.are.a.fraud.a.liar.~”

“NO! I AM NOT! SHUT UP! GET OUT OF MY MIND!”

“You are so weak. What can you do?”

I…refuse to die here! I… refuse to break here! I don’t want this anymore!

I had enough!

To hell with everyone! To hell with trusting! To hell with whatever anyone say!

I want to live! I don’t care how! I need to get stronger!

Like an old memory being tapped in the back of my mind… I utter words I have never spoken of before…

[Blooming Thorn.]