thefictionvixens Chapter 147 : Return (3)
Chapter 147 : Return (3)
Return (3)
While I stayed a few more days at the Dreistler family, I organized in my head all the things I had learned there and conveyed Grancesia's teachings to Marvin.
When I said I could help by borrowing the power of the Eye of Shimosha, Marvin seemed puzzled at first.
However, once I relayed Grancesia's words to him, Marvin's attitude changed. Now, whenever he had time, he seemed to be contemplating deeply on what Grancesia had said.
"I meant to help, but it seems I only received help instead."
Marvin said this to us, looking apologetic as we prepared to leave.
"No, we received plenty of help."
"Hmm."
He still seemed troubled.
I didn't say anything more to Marvin. It was better to leave things as they were—because that way, if I needed his help later, it would be easier to ask.
'And if something bad happens to me, he'll make the first move himself. Marvin Dreistler is that kind of man.'
"Mersaya, are you ready to leave?"
"Yep."
Mersaya nodded crisply, looking more composed than when we first arrived here.
'Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art really does help with mental discipline, I see.'
... Although she still changed her attitude if she judged someone to be weaker than herself, that hadn't changed.
Still, for now, she at least held herself back until she could be sure whether the opponent was strong or weak.
[It's not good for people to change too suddenly, either.]
'She's a dragon, not a person.'
[Anyhow!]
Well, Grancesia was right. If someone changed too suddenly, it would feel awkward to me, too.
I didn't mind this childish Mersaya, and since she still knew how to keep her distance, I could accept it.
"Marvin, then we'll be off."
"All right."
I gave a light farewell nod to Marvin, and when I gestured to Mersaya, she instantly transformed into a massive dragon.
The people of the Dreistler family, all of whom knew Mersaya was a dragon, cheered and waved at me as I got on her back.
Amongst them stood Kaden, too, looking a bit awkward.
'He wasn't as hopelessly foolish as I thought.'
Still, perhaps because he was Marvin's son, he didn't do anything incredibly stupid. He had his shortcomings, but time would fix that.
"Let's go!"
At my call, Mersaya took to the sky.
If the teleportation magic array had been intact, we would have moved through the Magic Tower, but it was still under repair from being damaged during the demonkin invasion.
I couldn't afford to wait for the magic array to be fixed if I was to visit the domain, handle backlog work, and head toward the Calamity of Labytrinth.
'About ten days left, I suppose.'
Estimating how much time was left until the Calamity of Labytrinth would appear, I looked down at the ground from Mersaya's back as we soared into the sky.
And so, after a month, I returned to the House Vanhart.
Not having any idea who might be waiting for me there.
* * *
When I returned to the domain, the first to greet me wasn't surprising Doris mister or Monet.
It was the Empire's princess, dressed to the nines.
"Clay!"
Riya rushed out to meet me as if she had been waiting the moment I landed on my dragon.
It seemed she'd already heard that there was a dragon at the House Vanhart, so she wasn't particularly surprised to see Mersaya.
"Hik?!"
Instead, it was Mersaya who was greatly flustered at the sight of Riya.
"C-Clay, was there another dragon in the domain besides me?"
"She's not a dragon. Strictly speaking, she's a half-dragon, half-human."
"R-Really? For a half-dragon she's pretty..."
Mersaya hunched her huge body, watching Riya—who was tiny compared to her—carefully.
It was only natural that Mersaya was startled, since the dragon power Riya possessed far surpassed that of an ordinary dragon.
"I heard you went to the Dreistler family."
"Oh, so you know about the Dreistler family too, Riya?"
As I climbed down from Mersaya's neck, Riya came up close beside me and started talking.
"Of course. I visited with my father several times."
Well, for a princess of the Empire, it's not strange to know about the Dreistler family.
After all, the Empire is not just the dominant power of the continent, but also the nation that has produced heroes like Marvin among the Seven Heroes for generations.
"There's so much I wanted to say... huh?"
Riya paused mid-sentence, narrowing her eyes as she watched Mersaya's swarm of shining light transform into human form.
"... Was that one female?"
"Hey, why say 'female'?"
She could just say "woman" instead.
But Riya didn't even glance at me—she stared at Mersaya, now walking over in human form.
At Riya's stare, Mersaya, who had been approaching without a care, suddenly pressed herself right up against my back in surprise.
Riya's pupils narrowed further, slitting like a dragon's.
"To think another strange lizard would appear while I was gone. Isn't one dragon—me—enough for this domain?"
"But you can't turn into a dragon, Riya."
"..."
When I answered indifferently, Riya's face froze.
Seeing her stiffen with a twisted smile amused me a little.
"Hmph, and besides, Mersaya doesn't think of me the way you're imagining. She's just an ordinary dragon."
"Sure."
Riya nodded, looking rather disappointed.
She must regret that she can't take me on her back by transforming into a dragon.
"Um, excuse me."
Just then, Mersaya carefully called out to Riya.
"Yes?"
"Are you really not a dragon...? You have horns too..."
There was a pair of horns growing from Riya's temple—though one was broken.
"Yes. I'm a human, Mersaya."
"Y-You even know my name?"
"Of course."
Though Riya added in a quieter voice, "Not that I knew you were female."
'She probably left that out intentionally.'
Had Riya known, she would have been very self-conscious.
Still, maybe because Mersaya was acting so submissively, Riya didn't get aggressive.
'If it were the old Mersaya, she would have acted up and gotten taught a lesson—glad that didn't happen.'
Having mastered Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art, Mersaya was calmer, and even after learning Riya was a half-dragon, half-human, she kept her composure.
When I patted Mersaya's head in praise, Riya's eyes narrowed again.
"... Still, you seem pretty close. I heard you almost killed each other."
"She's not so bad after all. Just a bit lacking."
"L-Lacking, you say..."
Mersaya muttered in a slightly dejected voice, but since she understood I said it to help, she didn't bring it up further.
"All right, let's go inside for now."
"Yeah, there's a lot to discuss inside."
News about Setram's actions and the strange movements of the demonkin.
And about the new calamity soon to appear near Linken.
* * *
"Young master, are you leaving again?!"
To welcome me back to the domain, Monet prepared a hearty dinner. But when I brought up the subject of the 'calamity' to the household, Monet looked obviously upset.
"I know calamities are dangerous... but you spend too much time outside."
"I have no excuse, but it can't be helped."
"Yes, I know."
By now, Monet also knew what would happen if a calamity was left unattended. Especially with the novel I wrote spreading across the continent, the danger of calamities was now widely recognized.
"I've gotten used to managing the domain too. I really feel like a lord now."
Even Maria offered a comment that stung. It was meant humorously to comfort me, but I didn't take it as a joke.
[Right. What kind of lord spends more time outside than in their own domain?]
'But I can't help it.'
[I understand, obviously. It's just how it is.]
I felt sorry for the domain residents, but if I left things as they were, the world was doomed anyway—what could I do?
"But Maria, you're coming with me this time."
"What?"
"And Monet, you're coming too."
"M-Me?!"
Monet looked completely taken aback, as did the rest of the household.
Especially Doris mister, who stared wide-eyed, frozen in place for a moment.
"H-Head. What help could our Monet possibly be to the young master...?"
"No, Monet might be absolutely necessary this time. She has to come with us."
To get through the Calamity of Labytrinth, I absolutely needed Monet. And as for Maria, she had to stay with me for some time to properly complete the Heaven-Slaying Arms in time.
"... Clay, what about me?"
At that, Riya pointed at herself and asked.
"Riya..."
Of course, I was planning to leave Riya behind.
With Maria gone, I thought it best for Riya to stay and manage the domain.
But I wondered if I was just using Riya too much.
"... Of course, I was going to say you're coming too."
"Oh! I knew it. I always believed in you. Fufufu."
Riya, who had been watching me with some unease, finally beamed and relaxed.
[This time you're bringing every woman along, aren't you?]
Grancesia nagged sharply, sounding displeased.
'It does seem that way.'
If Monet, Maria, and even Riya were coming, it would be my first time traveling with three women.
And if I counted Grancesia...
[H-hey, why am I included?!]
At Grancesia's hurried protest, I took off my ring. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.
'This is tricky...'
Riya openly expressed her feelings for me, but Monet and Maria also seemed to act strangely toward me sometimes.
'I'll think about that slowly, later.'
Now wasn't the time to ponder such matters.
Those issues could wait until the calamities were over.
"Oh, Clay. By the way, your novels are selling really well! So we'll need the next volume soon—did you finish it?"
"I'm almost done. I'll finish it up while I'm staying in the domain."
The novel starring Fabian was nearly at its final arc.
If I wove in recently discovered details about the Calamity of Labytrinth and Setram, it'd be wrapped up.
'The Calamity of Labytrinth and Setram...'
I already had a solution in mind for the Calamity of Labytrinth, but with Setram, I wasn't even sure it really existed yet.
'I need to see Michelle.'
Michelle was a key figure who often worked with Fabian in the original story. If I visited the Atell Family and saw Michelle, there was a good chance I'd find answers.
'And...'
I had to retrieve Grancesia's remains, no matter what.
And that... would become the answer to stopping the war.