No Fatigue: 24-jikan Tatakaeru Otoko no Tenseitan - Chapter 46

46. Dialogoue

We turned back on the path that we first went down then came up, and started descending to the inner parts of the nest.
We thought of going through the big hole that the parent firedrake opened, but humans dont consider a space with four still red-hot walls a path.

Looking at it like this, the hole that the offspring firedrake opened towards the outside some time ago looks like childs play.
This one has almost twice the diameterand whats most important, that ones walls started cooling down and hardening within a few minutes.
Indeed, with only this much firepower, it couldnt have made a nest this big yet.
Then again, it has enough firepower that wouldve been enough to kill us instantly without Becks Protect.

This time we descend without using Stealthy Steps, but I cant say we dont feel nervous this time either.
The reason for that isthat the offspring firedrake is following while keeping an eye on us and also, beyond this point is the parent firedrake that Eremia witnessed.

While soaking our Yatagarasu uniforms in cold sweat from the inside, we turned the corner where we turned back last time.
From there its a straight line to the dwellingplace of the parent firedrake.
In the dwellingplace, there were a few bonfires burning.
Its plenty bright even without Dark Vision.
Illuminated by the flickering flames, the large build of the parent firedrake came into view.
Since its too big, we can only see up to its chest from here.
Even with just that its about twice as big as the offspring firedrake.

I felt that someone gulped.
I dont know ifit was Eremia, Donna, Beck, or maybe everyone.

B-big..

Miguel said, almost groaning.

The offspring firedrake makesa gugyaa sound behind us.
As an answer to that the parent firedrake lets out a low sound.
Most likely they were knock and come in signals.

We step into the dwelling place of the firedrake.

Fu-fuwaaa..

Looking up at the parent firedrake, Donna lets her voice leak out.

The parent firedrake had a body height of about 7 meters.
If it extended its head, then it would most likely reach over the fortress walls of Ranzrack Fortress.

Also, there was a wyvern being held in its mouth.
Its mealtime, apparently.

The firedrake spit out the wyvern towards its back and turned its gaze that gave off a feeling of intelligence in our direction.

I was thinking that the fire spirits were restless, it turns out that we had some unexpected visitors.

The parent firedrakes voice resounds in my mind.

Its moving its mouth too, but the words and the way its mouth moves is mismatched, its like Im watching a dubbed foreign movie.

Ca-cannibalism?

Donna said with her hand in front of her mouth.
It was only in a small voice, but it looks like it reached the ears of the firedrake.

Cannibalism? You say some strange things.
These are our livestock.
They are living carefree lives under our protection and in exchange they consent to becoming our food from time to time.

I-is that so.

I whispered as I was taken aback.
I dont really get the feeling of wanting to be protected even at the cost of being eaten, but if Im told that, then I can only answer with an is that so.
I guess cattle and pigs dont run away from humans either.

Well then, humans.
I have to ask you some things.
Me and my offspring migrated here after confirming that this place is far from any human residence.
Why are you in this place?
Was there a community of people nearby?

Yes. There is community of humans living underground in a place not far from here.

Why do you live in an inconvenient location such as this?
I heard that humans cant live a comfortable life without commerce.
If you especially live in a place like this then are you a group of sinful people that were rejected by other humans?

That is

That is exactly the case, but I was at a loss on how to answer.

Fumu..

At the same time as the firedrake mumbled, a surprising Appraise came flying.
I reflexively repel it.
However, the other four besides me didnt even realize that Appraisewas used on them.
Only Eremia stirred a bit, but it looks like she didnt realize what it was that was done to her.
The firedrake must be confirming the Statuses of the four of them, its nodding and from time to time lets out a sound.
If it were a human, it might have been mumbling fumu fumu.

It didnt take long for the firedrake to think it over.

I mostly understand the situation.
You are the most dangerous one.
To think that you would repel my Appraise.
If I underestimate you based on your looks I might have a painful experience.

The firedrake says this while observing me.

Nah, Im a genuine 10 months old baby, just as my looks suggest.

No way, no way!

The four of the youth group retort with perfect harmony.
You all sure get along well.

Also, the small one that is hiding there.
If you dont mean any ill will, then show yourself.

The eyes of the firedrake are gazing in the direction of Melby, who is currently staying on my shoulder.
Oh boy.

..what should we do?

Cant be helped, I guess.

After I nodded Melby showed herself.
The one who was surprised by Melbys sudden appearance was not the firedrake, but the four of the youth group.

Im Melby. A fairy, as you can see.
Due to reasons, Im traveling with Ed currently.

F-fairy-san!?

Donna looks startled and she is looking back and forth between Melby and me.

You still had an ace in the hole like that, huh, Fellow Believer Orochi.

Miguel said.

Sorry about that. She was with me since before I was taken toYatagarasu , but the top brass of Yatagarasu cant see her apparently, so I had her stay hidden.

The top brass cant see fairies?

Eremia said like she was surprised.

I should say that as expected of a dark elf, Eremia looks like she knows about how Evil people cant see fairies.
Looking at her expression, it looks like Donna also knows about it.

At any rate, fairies arent able to hurt people, so she cant help with the Sacred Duties of Yatagarasu.
I thought it was best to have her hide her presence to avoid troublesome situations.

Even I think it sounds very much like an excuse.

I get it now.
When Fellow Believer Orochi was talking to himself from time to time, it was youtalking to Melby-san, right?

Eremia said like she came to understand something.

Sorry, Eremia.
That was merely me talking to myself.
Since Im speaking with Melby with Telepathic Communication.

Nevertheless, we generally dont attack human children indiscriminately.

Ah, we know that.
This time it was our fault for stepping into the nest without permission.
Even though it was unavoidable, I also apologize for hurting your child.

I answer like that as our representative.

Those are the words of someone who is accompanied by a fairy, there is no need to doubt it.

After saying that, the firedrake looked away from me and focused on the four youths one after the other.
Miguel is glaring back as a bluff, Eremia and Donna cast down their eyes, and Beck has closed his eyes to better endure the dread.

Fumu. I cant sense an evil presence from any of you.
The name Yatagarasu appeared, so I thought you were the same as those people, but maybe you are from somewhere else..?

The firedrake mumbled and went silent to ponder.

But in those words, there was a surprising detail.

Firedrake, you know about Yatagarasu?

After I asked back like that, the firedrake said while observing my expression.

you dont look like you are feigning ignorance.
Of course, I cant say that I can perfectly read the expression of someone of a different race either.

What Ed said is true.
If I testify like this, then the wise firedrake-sama should be aware of what that means, right?

The firedrake let out its voice while digesting Melbys words.

Fairies dont lie, was it.
I cant doubt the words of the small one, but the truth of the situation cant be concluded by whether its a lie or not.
There are people that cleverly deceive others without telling any lies.

You are very cautious, huh.
Even when you have overwhelming power at your disposal.

you who is accompanied by a fairy.
We have enough reason to doubt.
If you want to clear my doubts, then accept my Appraise.

..very well.
However, please keep the information about my Status to yourself.
Also,you will let me take a look too, right?

Hooh. You can not only repel it, but even use it yourself, you say.
Very well, do as you will.

The firedrake and I use Appraise on each other.
Hidden behind me, Melby also uses Appraise on the firedrake.

Gurururo!

This is!

The firedrake, who apparently had successfully taken a look at my Status is shocked, but first, lets take a look at the result of my Appraise.

Agnia EigelnheimScorching Dragon,Master of the East Ridgeof Vulcano Peak
Age 566 years old
Level 111
HP 33997/33997
MP 2692/2852

Abilities
Flame Breath
Acid Spray
Flight
Passive Detoxification
Passive Strong Immunity
Passive Regeneration

Skills
Legendary Class
Spirit Magic
Appraise
Telepathic Communication
Protect

Master Class
Dragon Language Invocation9
Breath Magic
Howl
Dragon Fighting Techniques
Flying Combat
Fire Elemental Magic
Toughness
Object Moulding
Discern
Mana Control
Mana Detection
Physical Magic
Mental Toughness
Healing Magic

General
Fire Magic
Mana Perception
Farsight
Dragon Scale Defense
Dragon Claw Techniques
Dragon Limb Combat
Night Vision
Intimidation
Earth Magic
Command

Attention of the Fire Spirit

Blessing of the Dragon GodBlessing of the Dragon God, Shutrabilm. Medium supplement to the acquisition and learning speed of Skills related to dragons. Medium supplement to the growth of abilities.

Im the one who wants to be shocked.

The reason why we couldnt interfere with the Breath before was because the firedrakes Spirit Magic Skill is higher level than mine or Melbys.
We could interfere with the breath that happened right after we fell to the bottom of the chasm, but the second breath that served as a warning was probably modified in some way with Spirit Magic so we couldnt interfere with it.

I see itnow. You were Atrazenec-samas apostle.

Oi, dont spoil it!, is what I was thinking, but it seems the other four didnt hear it.

It seems she is relaying the Telepathic Communication through Spirit Magic.

Melby explained it to me like this.
I see. That way you can send your voice to even those that havent learned Telepathic Communication.

Atrazenec-samas apostle is together with a religious organization that worshipsthe Evil God?
I imagine you have probably infiltrated it.

Something like that.

I also start talking with Telepathic Communication.
Since I was able to confirm that the firedrake also has Telepathic Communication.

This firedrake-san is not an evil being.
It can see me too and looking at it withFairys Eyesshe has pure soul.

If Melby says that much, then its probably alright to trust her.

These children have been abducted from various places by Yatagarasu.
Then in the Crows Nest in the headquarters of Yatagarasuthey underwent a brainwashing education and were made to swear their loyalty to the organization.
Currently Im trying to undo their brainwashing while accompanying them.
Of course, I dont plan on lettingYatagarasuexist either.

I briefly explain our situation to the firedrake Agnia.

..fumu

The firedrake thoughtfully nodded, then turned to all of us and said.

In that case, I should tell you about it.
There were some people that were trying to abduct this offspring of mine.
Also, in some of their Statuses it was shown that they were members of Yatagarasu.

It cant be!

Judging from how Eremia said this, it seems this time shesaid it so everyone could hear it.

This combination of Telepathic Communication and Spirit Magicis extremely useful.

One doesnt have to be a dragon to use it, all you need is Telepathic Communication and Spirit Magic, so Melby and I can also learn to do it if we practice.
When we get back to the Nest its special training time with Melby.

Perhapsthe reason why your child has learned Stealthy Steps was because of that?

I thought it was because it was targeted by humans that it learned to hide its presence, but

No, this offspring of mine liked hide and seek from the beginning.
Although its rare for a dragon, it seems he has an aptitude to hide his presence and sense others.
In turn, he is weak with Breath in spite of being a dragon.

Saying that the firedrake smiled bitterly (I think).
There was a gentle light in the gaze of Agnia as she looked at her child beside her.

But even with a Breath that powerful, its still classified as being bad at it among the firedrakes, huh.
In exchange for that, this offspring dragon has the talent to become a scout, if it can erase its presence with the huge body of his and get in close proximity, then its many time more problematic forhumans than a normal firedrake.

Even so, there are some daredevils that try to attack you, huh?

I thought the same.
However, those humans all had outstanding abilities.
It would have been dangerous for this offspring of mine alone.
After I hastened there and brought down few of the humans they retreated veryskillfully.

Among those, was there a man named Gazaine?

GazaineI dont recall.
It wasnt a fight where I had the time to memorise the results of Appraise.
There was even a devil user amongst them.

Devil user?

Umu. I have lived for a long time, but this is the first time Ive seen one too.
Judging by how he was using multiple medium level devils from the north pole, he must be quite a powerful practitioner.
I dont think that was his full power either.

Does that mean that he had energy to spare even when going up against the over 500 years old firedrake, Agnia?

What about the others?

There were a few people with member ofYatagarasuwritten on their statuses and Ive killed about half of them.

Among them there was one that had abilities that stood out from the rest of them, maybe that was that Gazaine you were asking about.
Other than that, there were a few black robed mages that looked like followers of the devil user.
They were also outstanding mages by human standards, but they failed to defend against my Breath, so about half of them died too after all.
Also, other than the few medium level devils that were summoned by the devil user there were a few hard to explain ones.

Hard to explain ones?

How do I say it, they had an abnormal presence.
They gave off a presence different from monsters or people.

Didnt you Appraise them?

Of course I did.
But, the result of Appraise was entire illegible.

Huh.? The result of Appraise, illegible?

As you also possess the Appraise Skill you probably know, but Appraise is when you send a faint amount of mana with detection purposes, called ping, towards the internal mana of the target, and by analysing the response from that you make conjectures about the information of the target.
The precision and depth of this analysis and conjecture rise together with the Skill level.

Hooh, so thats how it worked.
So then, I thought it didnt use any MP, but it turns out it just uses a faint amount of mana, huh.
I guess then, when that mana gets noticed by Mana Perception or Mana Detectionis when the Appraise getsexposed.

However, on those hard to explain ones the analysis and conjecture didnt work at all.
The Status screen was filled with garbage information, and even that was changing with the passage of time.
I havent seen a being like that so far in my entire life.

Indeed, you can only describe that as hard to explain.

Were those ones strong?

No, I didnt fight with those ones that much.
But, from crossing my claws with them I dont think they are that strong.
Of course the other ones that were there were considerably skillful, so only compared to them.
Thats right, you, who is accompanied by a fairy, if it was you, you could win against them, even if it wouldnt be an easy victory.

Unexpectedly weak..maybe.
If we look at it in light of the standards of this world, then to a normal soldier or adventurer it would be a dangerous opponent, so I think its fairly strong..
Nnn, they are really hard grasp.

If thats the case than does that mean that the ones who attacked your child was a group of 15 or 16?
A few Yatagarasu emissaries, the devil user and his followers, few of the hard to explain guys.
You said that those people tried to abduct your child, then got half destroyed by your counterattack, then retreated.
When did this happen?

It will soon be about month ago now.
After that attack I brought this offspring of mine and left our nest at the ridge and started looking for another place suitable for a new nest.
And so, this was the place where we arrived at, but to think that it was right next to where the headquarters of those people was, I cant help but feel the irony of fate.
The proverb that says that the God of Fate is a cynical being might perhaps be the truth.

The firedrake Agnia lets out a sound.
She is probably laughing, but when this huge body that we have to look up at lets out a sound like that it doesnt sound like its done by a living being.
Donna even flinched.

Does that mean that you gave up your nest?

Is there something strange about that?
We are a race that soars in the sky.
We create transient nests, but as opposed to humans, we are not tied to a plot of land.
If it becomes hard to live somewhere, then we just change or residence to somewhere else.
There is no need to voluntarily keep living in a bug infested house, right?

I see. So they dont even really care about those people.

Then again, there are humans that revere us.
They are our dependents that, in exchange for our protection, serve us in minute matters that arent fit for the claws of dragons.
If those people dont give up on abducting this offspring of mine, then the ones that danger will first befall upon will be our dependents that serve us.
There is also such a reason for our departure from the East Ridge.

Wont your dependents think that they were abandoned?

When the nest settled, I planned on sending this offspring of mine.
These days they are most likely busy with preparing for the migration.
Incidentally,

Agnia turned his black eyes towards Miguel.

Eh? M-me?

Miguel is flustered, but even I was caught by surprise by this.

You are a descendant of my dependents, the Zkornash people, right?
So why are you then a dog for a heinous organization like Yatagarasu?

Wha-.eh?

Answer.

Kh.wh-what the hell, all of a sudden!
Dont look down of Yatagarasu!
Im a Holy Emissary serving the Evil God-sama!
I heard that those Zkornash people chased my mom away anyway!

Miguel answers with a red face.

As I thoughtit was true, huh.

Miguels full name is MiguelMittelt.
He got his family name from the middle name of Scarlet, Moria Mittelt Zkornash, who I met in the Adventurers Guild in Fauno City.
Also, Moria-san said that she is looking for her son, calledMiguel.
With all those conditions being fulfilled, I thought it was impossible that it would be someone else with the same family and given name.

Your mother was exiledI see, your mother is that red haired twin sword user.

Wha-..You know my mother!?

Your mother was exiled after committing a taboo of my dependents.
I dont understand it, but I hear that beings that herd together have laws and systems that serve to protect the herd.
Its unfortunate, but nothing can be done about it.
In fact, the ones that hated your mother was a portion of the priests, others liked her dearly.
Your motherher name was Moria, I think.
Moria was an excellent warrior, so much so that she was tasked with guarding this offspring of mine.
Members of the herd tried to get Moria to stay, but Moria herself accepted the proof of her sin and decided to leave the herd.
I was greeted by her before she left the herd.
She was holding a newborn baby in her arms that time.

Was that

Donna let her voice out.

It was most likely you, red haired young boy.

I never wouldnt have thought that the firedrake and Miguels mother knew each other.

In that case, I cant keep that to myself either.

Miguel, I have met your mom too.

Hearing my words, Miguel looks at me surprised.

Or rather, it seems that Moria-san partnered up with my mom and they were working as adventurers.
Moria-san said even now, that its her fault that Miguel disappeared.
She is searching for Miguel even now.
When I was abducted from Fauno City, Moria-san was also there in Fauno City.

Mom wasshe was there that time, huh

When the mansion of Viscount Chrebl in Fauno City was attacked, the youth group was also there.
In other words, at that time, Moria-san and Miguel were in the same town.

If your mission as an emissary is more important than your bond with your mother, then I wont say anything.
However, your mother, even when she was branded as a criminal, she always faced her sin head on.
I dont think that you, who has the blood of Zkornash in you, couldnt do the same.

The firedrake, Agnia, said this and she sent a meaningful gaze at me.
I get it now, she knew about his brainwashing, so she tried to shake things up from her position as a third party that knows about Miguels past.
As expected of someone that lived more than 500 years, she is quick witted.

Well then, with all these circumstances it turns out this place wasnt a suitable place for a nest either.

..are you going away?

If you say that Yatagarasu is the enemy of Atrazenec-sama, then how about I burn down the den of those people? Crows Nest, you called it?

The one who reacted to the firedrakes words was Donna.
Donna stepped forward in front of us and shouted with both her armsspread out.

You, you cant! Everyone is still there!

However, those are the comrades of the people that tried to abduct this offspring of mine?
You cant really blame me if I decided to incinerate them to exact our revenge, right?

Th-that was they probably had some kind of reason for that!

Young girl of the beast people, then I ask you, what kind of reason could they possible have to be forgiven for trying to take away this innocent offspring of mine by force?

Uh..that is

Eremia stepped forward to switch with Donna, who was at a loss for words.

Evil God-sama, at times, orders us to do some things that seem evil at first sight.
However, that must be because of deep, special circumstances.
Firedrake-sama, please, would you believe in those special circumstances of Evil God-sama?

Who would believe that nonsense other than you people?
To begin with, if you say that people that are doing something that looks evil at first sight arenot evil, then that means there is no evil in this world.
There are some cases where the outward appearance masks someonestrue nature, but in general, its normally accepted that an evil appearance is the result of an evil true nature, right?

B-but.Evil God-sama..

Why is there a need to treat that Evil God as the only exception to this?
If there is a logical reason for that, then try and say it.
The Evil God is an existence that has given power to countless evil people and monsters and oppressed good people.
On what basis is he worthy of your faith?

Th-that is

Eremia is biting her lips, looking vexed.

If you dont have a basis which is enough to persuade me, then its just a waste of time.
I will burn down that Nest of yours and make this place our new dwelling place.

Even if you dont do that, we could all get along

Donna says, almost crying, but

Get along, you say? How could we get along with the people that tried to abduct this offspring of mine?
My nest and the Crows Nest is mutually exclusive.
Furthermore, since Yatagarasu is worshiping the Evil God, Monguenes, as someone who has received the Blessing of Dragon God-sama, I have to burn that place down after all.

U, uu.but.sniff

Donna started genuinely crying.

There, the firedrake sent me a meaningful gaze.

It seems thats really what she intends to do.
How quick witted is this dragon, really.

Could you wait a moment, firedrake Agnia.
Our comrades are still in Yatagarasu.
When I say comrades, I dont mean all of the emissaries.
Some of those fools that tried to abduct your child are probably mixed in there as well, but there are also those who are just children that believe in the teachings of the religious organization.
If you burn those children as well, then it will be you who committed evil this time.
The parents of those children will resent you.
Even if they were just kidnapped by Yatagarasu and they just happened to be in the Nest by chance.

I see.
You say that a parents love for their offsprings is the same for both dragons and humans.
However, you should be aware.
I cant stand idle when I know that the beings that tried to harm my offspring are this close by.

I understand your feelings very well.
I too was brought to the Nest viakidnapping.
My parents are probably worried sick right about now.
No, it probably wont end up with just that.
Dad and mom are probably looking for me desperately.
So, I can imagine how you feel, even if not completely.

Then what do you suggest?

I will catch those who tried to kidnap your child with my own hands.
Then I will expose their backgrounds and deal with them so they wont be able to lay a finger on your child in the future.
So, would you give us some time?

Fumu..
Ordinarily, I wouldnt even consider what you say, but they are words from someone that is accompanied by a fairy.
Also, uncovering their backgrounds and bringing those who perform despicable acts behind the scenes in Yatagarasuinto the light is something I cant do as someone who is not a human.
Very well.
I will leave this matter in your hands, Edgar Chrebl.

Saying that, the firedrake squinted one of her eyes.
A wink, maybe.

Yes, this series of exchanges was done in accordance with a scenario which me and the firedrake has cooked up, a type of theatrical play.

Agnia is thinking that if Yatagarasu will be crushed without fail, then it doesnt matter if she is the one doing it, or she leaves it to me.
Burning down the Nest is certainly a method that is the least troublesome, but there is a chance of letting those emissaries slip through that arent currently in the Nest.
As a result, there is an undeniable chance that a part of the top brass would survive and rebuild the organization.
In that regard, its a much more reliable way to crush Yatagarasufor certain if I, a human, do it after a secret investigation.

Furthermore, Agnia understood my aim of trying to undo their brainwashing, so she vividly pointed out the outward characteristics of Yatagarasu to those four from a third partys point of view.
That was something I couldnt really do from my position.
No, if the third party was a simple human, then it wouldve probably been denied with the good old deceived by the devil excuse.
However, Agnia is an over 500 years old firedrake, whose power the four of them experienced first hand.
There arent many who are better suited to be the third party in regards to objectivity.

Well then, lets finish this theatrical play.
I understand, firedrake Agnia.
On the name of my great ancestor Chrebl, I will not break my word.

Umu.
Then farewell, humans.
Oh dear, I have to start making another nest again now.

Agnia turned her head all the way up and breathed in deeply.
The high-pitched voices of the fire spirits sweeped over the nesting place of the dragons.

Agnia released a Breath right above.
After the flash of light, that we saw many times already today, lessened and we opened our eyes that were prickling with pain and looked up, we could see the blue sky and the sun.

The firedrake and her child greatly bent their wings, then raised their large bodies up from the ground.
Since we didnt have anything to say to each other anymore, Agnia soared high into the sky and the offspring dragon followed her.

The offspring dragon at the end glared at me and made a Gugyaa sound.
I more or less know what he wanted to say.
Ill remember this!, something like this.
As my reply I lightly took a fighting pose.
When he saw this, the offspring dragon let out a humph through his nose, flapped his wings and followed after Agnia.

The four from the youth group were left behind at the bottom of the firedrakes dwelling place with their eyes cast down, some had a mortified, some a meek expression.

Haaa~. I had no idea what would happen for a time there.

Yeah, for sure.

As I was replying to Melby with Telepathic Communication, I let out a sigh even though I couldnt possible be tired.