The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon

Chapter 97 - The Evil Dragon truthfully explains his schemes

「Raiotto, now that I think back on it, you and I made good rivals. We fought each other for the only seat as the sacrifice to the Lord Evil Dragon back in those days… You who exhausted all means to exile me to outside the village, and I, who returned to the village without fail. Only during those times of mutual competition could I have polished my sacrifice-power - and due to that, I could become the kin that I am today.」

「Sacrifice-power…?」

The question mark above my head coincided with Raiotto’s at the new term used by Rēko.

「Hey… Rēko?」

「Raising my sacrifice-power and leading me to a level where I could become a suitable kin, I thank you. However in the end, the Lord Evil Dragon has chosen me. That fact would never change. Even if you complain about it after all this time, it’s troubling. Even if you took me back to the village and tried to become a kin in my stead, nothing will change.」

「Rēko? Hello?」

Raiotto waved his hands in front of Rēkos eyes to determine if she was still sane. Unfortunately it didn’t appear to have much effect.

「I understand your regretful feelings. Those feelings of despair over not being chosen by the Lord Evil Dragon… It’s as if I can see the phrase “Loser” appearing on your face.」

「Huh…? Ahh! The hell is this?!」

It seems Raiotto noticed the ink on his forehead after it had been pointed out, using his sleeves to wipe away the shameful brand.

During that moment, Rēko coughed and returned to her former bearing.

「As this is the case, Raiotto, behave and return to your homeland. From now on if you walk further on the path of being a sacrifice, maybe someday if the Lord Evil Dragon is lacking in hands he’ll start recruiting more kin. Wait for that chance. Oh, of course I won’t move from the seat of the head kin…」

Raiotto’s expression had already turned to stone.

It was not as if he was angry or sad, that’s simply the face of one who couldn’t process what’s going on.

「Wait a minute Rēko. Allow me to organize my thoughts. You’re saying I wanted to be the sacrifice to the Evil Dragon?」

「Did you not exile me, who was the candidate for sacrifice and then tried to hide that act? I can’t think of any other motives for doing so.」

「I think there was a more pure and beautiful motive though…」

From his eyes, sparkling tears could be seen.

Raiotto then slowly collapsed to his knees and started trembling.

「How could this happen… The Evil Dragon could even change her past memories by brainwashing…」

「Ah, it seems like my sins increased again. Well, I don’t care anymore.」

Of course, no one heard my despairing whispers.

Although Raiotto fell into grief, he slammed his fist onto the ground and stood up.

「But even so, Rēko. You should still have the heart of a human remaining inside. That’s why you’re trapped in this barrier, seeing such peaceful scenery, you’re still hesitating…」

「Barrier? What are you talking about.」

「Listen well Rēko. This isn’t the real world-」

Sheina and I moved.

Sheina flicked her fingers and activated her sound magic to make Raiotto’s voice disappear. Using that opening, I jumped towards Raiotto and pulled him off Rēko.

「What’s wrong Sheina?」

「Ah- sorry, you see, I’m also someone who wants to be a kin but failed right? I wanted to have a conversation with him as a fellow failed candidate, may I borrow him for a bit?」

「Fuh, do as you like… But don’t pour salt over his wounds. That is the very least amount of mercy you should show to a loser.」

While Sheina was distracting Rēko, I dragged the struggling Raiotto into cover behind a building soundlessly.

After drinking the potion and with my shrunken appearance, I originally wouldn’t be a match for him but the spirit has got me covered.

Even without Sheina’s orders, just being in contact with the spirit gives me benefits from its magic power.

After distancing ourselves under cover, Sheina’s magic was unraveled and Raiotto voiced his complaints.

「Ba-bastard, what are you doing!」

「Sorry, I’m really sorry but could you wait for a while? We also have complicated reasons for doing so.」

「What kind of reasons… Sorry but I also can’t take things slowly. If Rēko stayed too long in this barrier, the Evil Dragon will abandon her and put her down.」

「Abandon… put down…?」

Those were largely words that had no association with me.

「Yeah, this is a world that imitates the peaceful world that Rēko desires right? That’s why Rēko can’t escape so easily…」

「Well, I can’t say that this isn’t a sort of peace that she likes.」

「The Evil Dragon will also think that she has lost her qualifications to be a kin for being trapped in here.」

「You see, I don’t know anything about killing or whatnot but currently we are trying to not stimulate her too much while slowly revealing the truth to her.」

I had carelessly spoken my thoughts and hurriedly closed my mouth.

Luckily, Raiotto was caught up in his own speech and didn’t hear what I said.

「That’s why I will definitely take Rēko out of this barrier. If possible, I’ll take her all the way back to Perudona and hide her with my master- by the way.」

At this moment, Raiotto looked between Sheina and me.

「I forgot to ask but, who are you? Now that I think about it, the daughter of an officer from Granard went missing here, too.」

「Ah, that should be me. This here is a replacement for a pack horse, Mr Dragon.」

「Pack horse, that’s right, I’m a pack horse.」

I tried to appeal my harmlessness by swinging my tail around. Raiotto believed me without any doubts.

「As I thought… By the way, where’s the Evil Dragon? From what I heard, he should be in this barrier, watching Rēko to determine if she has what it takes to escape.」

「Who did you hear that from?」

「Sorry, I promised not to say.」

I don’t know who but another troublesome lie was added in.

If Raiotto somehow told Rēko about the truth, she might get angry and go out of control.

「…You see… The real Evil Dragon Revendia is no longer here. He has long escaped from this place.」

「So that was it… sh*t.」

Raiotto gripped his steel sword. If my identity was revealed, I don’t know what would happen.

「In that case, even more reason that I can’t take this slow. Before the Evil Dragon recovers, we need to get out of here.」

「You don’t need to bother with that, Revendia or whatever his name is said that you don’t need to hurry at all. He ordered Rēko to “leisurely spend your time on whatever and then escape.” In fact this time should be spent leisurely.」

「The Evil Dragon ordered such a thing? What the hell is he plotting?」

I’m extremely troubled here.

And with using my brain cells until it overheated, I let slip some of my real intentions within my excuses.

「Mr. Revendia sometimes wants to let loose and refresh himself by going to the hot springs and eating at stalls while strolling leisurely.」

Raiotto had the expression of being struck by thunder.

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