※Some scenes contain brutal depictions of battles with demonic beasts.
I hate my lack of physical strength.
I wasn’t used to walking for a long time, even more so on the mountain path. My soles were filled with rocks in no time at all and already broken.
I tried my best to keep up so that Garris wouldn’t notice me, but the difference in our stride length was so significant that I ended up trotting.
My stamina was depleted, and I was having a hard time keeping up with him.
After a while, Garris noticed that I was walking while enduring the pain in my legs. Thus, he carried me on his back.
[Chika] “I know I don’t have to apologize here, but sorry for the inconvenience.”
[Garris] “I’m the one who forced you to come here. Don’t apologize.”
“Am I heavy?”
“No, not at all?”
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Garris’ pace never changes, as if he doesn’t feel my weight.
This mountain path, lush with trees, seemed to go on forever.
“Is it okay if I ask you a few more questions?”
“Huh? If there’s something you want to know, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
“Why are the dragon tribes so reluctant to interact with other tribes?”
“Hmm, I don’t think it’s a pleasant story. Is that okay?”
“No problem. Please tell me.”
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Garris let out a big sigh before talking.
“First of all, the power we dragons have is too strong. If it’s a one-on-one battle, we are unbeatable. Especially in dragon form, our strength is comparable to a single military unit. This excessive power of ours that might upset the power balance in the human world seems to be the first reason. However, the current number of dragon tribe members has decreased, so it shouldn’t have such a big impact on the world.”
“Certainly, if the dragon tribe members who turned into dragon form attacked, you could easily destroy a country… We humans are also decreasing in number, but why are the dragon tribe numbers decreasing as well?”
“That’s related to the second reason. A long time ago, dragon tribes were also hunted by other tribes.”
“Hunted…?”
“Do you know that we have a dragon sphere in our chests? This is the source of our life and is said to contain tremendous magical power. With one of these, you could have more than enough money to spend in a lifetime. It was said that there was no end to the people coming after this.”
“But, I don’t think a strong race like the dragon can be hunted down so easily…”
“Of course, We won’t lose that easily. Well, it seems that some of them specialized in dragon hunting skills and were called our natural enemies, but they are only a few. It’s not easy to defeat a dragon tribe that has come of age and gained a certain amount of power. But they can’t give up on the dragon sphere. What do you think those people are after, then?”
Advertisement“Is it perhaps the dragon tribe’s children…?”
“That’s right. I don’t know how they were able to do that without being caught by the parent dragon’s eyes, but the young dragon tribe members, who weren’t even adults yet, were kidnapped one after another and cruelly slaughtered. If their dragon sphere were taken away from them, they wouldn’t be able to survive. Of course, the dragon parents were furious and retaliated, and it was said that we were on the verge of an all-out war.”
It’s as if I’m listening to the history of the human race.
However, humans were not strong enough to retaliate.
“Did it not end in war, after all?”
“According to the records, it didn’t happen. The leader of the dragon tribe at the time seemed to think that if a war broke out, either the dragon tribe would perish or the other races would be destroyed, so they were doomed either way. Well, the parent dragons who couldn’t stand it went out individually to retaliate, but they were killed and our numbers dwindled even further.”
“So that’s why your country became a closed country, with no interaction with other tribes…”
“Apparently, Dragnea was established as a nation composed entirely of dragon tribes at that time. They probably thought that no fool would attack a place where dragon tribes lived in groups. Before that, dragon tribes were said to have lived all over the world.”
“It’s certainly not a very pleasant story. To think that the dragon tribe was also a victim… We humans are in the same position…”
Advertisement“That’s what it is. I guess the dragon tribes back then never thought that even the human tribes would also decrease. Because of that, fewer and fewer children were being born.”
Hm? What does this have to do with anything?
But, even though he was walking with me on his back and talking to me, Garris wasn’t out of breath at all.
He was moving along the steep mountain road next to the stream at an incredible speed.
“Are there any deep relationships between dragons and humans?”
“Oh, dragons are powerful, aren’t they? That’s why the best partners for having children are human tribes with their high magical powers. Of course, as long as they have sufficient magical power, it doesn’t have to be from the human tribe. Also, for some reason, many of the dragon tribe’s ‘pair’ are humans.”
“I see now that a few exceptions you mentioned yesterday were about spouses and ‘pair’.”
“Yeah, we dragon tribe’s members are only allowed to leave the country when we are looking for a ‘pair’ or a companion. However, as far as I know, in the past hundred years or so, only one person has been able to find a partner on that journey. Well, maybe we are indeed a species on the verge of extinction.”
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Although I could only see his back, I was sure he was smiling self-deprecatingly.
“Alright, the sun has set, so we’re going to rest here today. It’s about two or three days until we get to the country.”
Garris stopped walking in a slightly dim cave next to a waterfall.
After dropping me off, Garris started setting up the camp.
All I could do was eat and sleep around the bonfire these days, so I couldn’t help him in the slightest.
It was Garris who made the bonfire, took the fruits and fish for food, and roasted them.
I feel a little ashamed of my uselessness.
I asked the rest of the stories as I watched the oil dripping from the river fish being grilled on skewers by the fire.
The flames illuminate the faces of me and the fearless Garris.
“Earlier, you said that in the past hundred years, very few people have been able to find a ‘pair’ or a companion, right?”
“Here, this is already baked, so eat it.”
“Thank you.”
I took a small bite of the skewered fish Garris gave me and savored the meat.
Although it isn’t well seasoned, hunger is still the greatest condiment.
It had a bit of a smell, but it was very delicious.
“But your brother was able to find his ‘pair’, right?”
“Oh, that’s… He didn’t find it outside (the nation).”
“Then, how?”
“Ah, this is also a secret of the tribe, okay? I shouldn’t tell you this, but oh well. This is a secret spell, passed down only to the head of the tribe, but it allows one to summon one’s own ‘pair’. Its effect is not limited to this world but also extends to other worlds.”
I almost dropped the fish in my hands.
Summoning from another world…maybe it has something to do with me coming to this world.
I asked Garris, who was eating fish one after another, oblivious to my condition.
“Um, your brother summoned a ‘pair’, right?”
“Hmm? Yep.”
“Is that ‘pair’ from this world? Or is he from another world? What about his race?”
“He is a human from another world.”
My heart skipped a beat.
And my hands became sweaty and damp…
“Do you know what kind of world he comes from?”
“If I recall correctly, Yuki said that he came from Earth’s Japan. By the way, Yuki also has the same black hair and black eyes as Chikayuki. Even though it’s a coincidence, it’s unusual.”
Wait, this is more than I can handle.
Earth, Japan, black hair and black eyes… I was already beyond shocked, but what did Garris just say…?
Yuki…no, I don’t think it’s possible, but I can’t get that possibility out of my head.
A slight tremor ran through my entire body, and unpleasant thoughts started to run through my head.
If Yuki that Garris mentioned is Yuki-kun that I know, then was it Yuki-kun who was summoned as a ‘pair’’ and I mixed up in that incident?
Did I spend those hellish days just because I got caught up in a selfish summoning?
In the first place, even if Yuki-kun was summoned, did he intend to be there?
I wondered if he was forced to come here like I was.
If Yuki is Yuki-kun, I could imagine why he is in a coma…
Why should I be informed of these facts now?
While not knowing whether to be angry or sad and unable to control my mixed emotions, I spoke to Garris.
“Garris-san, I have found a reason why I absolutely have to meet your brother and his ‘pair’. Starting tomorrow, I will walk as much as possible, but I need to get to Dragnea as soon as possible. Will you indulge me, Garris-san?”
Garris, who was biting into the fish, stared at me with a blank expression.
“That’s great for me, but what happened suddenly? Is there a reason?”
“I will tell you about it after we arrive at your brother’s place in Dragnea. So, please take me there as soon as possible. Please.”
“A-ah. Got it.”
Will I be able to forgive them if all my assumptions turn out to be true?
＊＊＊＊＊
*Douglas’s POV*
We proceeded along the mountain path on foot as the continuous flight with Pewton had reached its limit.
Dragnea’s location is at a high altitude, and to get there, we had to travel along unmaintained mountain roads, which took us a long time.
“You guys, don’t push yourself too hard. Especially Paris, let me know as soon as you think you’re at your limit.”
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience…”
It’s not that Paris is weak by any means, but there is a vast difference in physical strength between him and the rest due to race.
However, I’m more worried about Gail.
When I called him, the only answers I got were simple words.
And then he just kept moving forward as if he didn’t even notice us.
We’re closing the distance between us and Chika, who have suddenly slowed down, but even if we maintain our current speed, it will still take us a few days to catch up.
“Licht, you’re good?”
“Yesh, I am!”
“Okay, good boy. If you’re tired, you can just go to sleep, okay?”
I called out to Licht, whose face was sticking out from my chest.
“Daddy… Daddy Gail is scawy…”
“Hmm… Gail is in a lot of pain right now. So, Licht, can you do this without being scared?”
“…Is it because Mommy gone?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Mommy has Licht’s younger brother in his stomach, right? Gail must be worried about Mommy and their child.”
“Lich will pwotect Mommy and my bwoder! Then Daddy Gail will be a kind daddy again!”
“Hm, you’re right. Let’s protect them ourselves.”
Licht is a sweet and good boy.
I never thought that both of my children would be Animus.
I can’t help but feel lonely now that I have to marry them off.
I stroke Licht’s head with a little force.
“Daddy, it hurts!”
“Haha, my bad.”
[Johan] “Douglas-sama, there is a slightly open area up ahead. It is a perfect place for resting, but there’s a good chance that a demonic beast will appear. What should we do?”
“Well, the Pewtons have been walking for a long time. If we don’t let them rest, there will be a problem with tomorrow’s flight. We will rest there and just annihilate the demonic beast that appears.”
“I understand. Then I will take a look at the situation first.”
Johan disappeared without waiting for my reply.
“Theo, are you okay? You’ve never been out of the royal capital very often, so I’m sorry for making this such a rough journey for you.”
“Uncle, what are you talking about? You don’t have to care about me. In fact, it’s been a great experience. More importantly, we need to catch up with Chika-dono as quickly as possible… I can’t forget Hikaru’s crying face when Chika-dono was kidnapped.”
“I see. Well, your body doesn’t just belong to you. So, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Theo’s growth has been remarkable recently, perhaps because he has to protect Hikaru from now on.
I guess I’ll have to admit this now.
Well, I will definitely not forgive him until Hikaru becomes an adult.
As I was thinking about this, Johan returned and told me the situation.
“Douglas-sama, there is a swarm of demonic beasts around the big tree ahead. There are about fifty of them. How would you like to proceed?”
“I don’t have to say it, right? Of course, we’re going to kill them.”
“Yes, I understand, sir.”
“Theo, Gail, you guys will go to the front with me. Paris and Johan, support us from the rear. Licht, you will go to Johan’s side.”
After receiving my words, each of them begins the preparation.
I’m used to wielding two swords, Theo with a thrusting sword, Gail with a large sword, Johan with the dagger for throwing, and Paris uses a staff to amplify magic.
Licht got off my chest and trotted towards Johan.
“Yohyan-shan! I’ll be in your care!”
“Yes, Licht-sama. I’ll protect you well.”
Licht crawled into Johan’s chest as instructed.
“Yohyan-shan is warm!”
“Really? Then please hold onto me tightly, Licht-sama.”
“Okay!”
There should be no problem there.
I called the person I was most worried about.
“Hey, Gail, are you okay?”
“There’s no problem. Just kill everything that stands in our way. It’s simple.”
“W-wait, Gail…”
“We’re running out of time. I’ll go first.”
“Hey, wait!”
I was slightly afraid of the look on his face, which seemed to hate everything that existed in this world.
Even though the other person was my precious partner, Gail.
Without heeding any restraint, Gail rushed forward to the demonic beasts.
“Theo, let’s go after Gail!”
“Yes, uncle!”
Because he used wind magic to increase his leg strength, he’s nowhere to be seen anymore.
We tried our best to chase after him, but it took us a long time because of the bad roads.
However, what we saw when we caught up was a picture of hell.
Gail was standing alone against a swarm of demonic beasts.
But the one who was inflicting one-sided slaughter was Gail, standing alone, surrounded by demonic beasts.
Content warning!
The herd of demonic beasts had become frozen in place and was destroyed by the blow of his large sword.
However, Gail was not satisfied with that and stomped on the beast’s severed head, chopped it up, and kicked it away.
One of the demonic beasts tried to bite his arm, but Gail did not allow it and grabbed its head with one hand, crushing it as it struggled.
He was like crushing a ripe fruit.
I could see Paris vomiting behind me.
Still, Gail doesn’t stop there.
He swiped down the beasts with a single blow of his large sword, annihilating them all.
He relentlessly pursued the dying, or even dead demonic beasts.
And then, in the moonlight, Gail, fighting in the center of the demonic beasts, was laughing.
He carried out the slaughter with a smile that sent a chill down the spine of those who see it, as if he can’t help but feel that this slaughter is so much fun.
His whole body was covered in blood and pieces of flesh from the beasts, and he laughed while still soaked in blood. The way he fought…
All we could do was stare dumbfoundedly.
The demonic beasts were probably frightened by Gail’s appearance and were already on the run.
But Gail won’t allow that and pursues them one-sidedly.
I come to my senses and run after Gail.
End of brutal description of fights
“Hey, Gail! You’ve gone too far! There’s no need to go after those guys who have lost their will to fight!”
I put my hand on Gail’s shoulder to stop him.
At that moment, I felt a murderous intent.
“Get out of my way!!!”
When Gail turned around, he raised his large sword at me and swung it down.
I didn’t expect Gail to attack me, so I couldn’t defend myself in time.
I was ready to die with the blade looming in front of me.
The next moment, two sharp metal sounds echoed loudly.
“Uncle!”
“Douglas-sama, are you okay!?”
Theo and Johan were able to overcome Gail’s large sword as it swung down.
But that’s not going to last long.
Gail’s eyes were stagnant as he glared at us, and it was clear he wasn’t in his right mind.
“Paris!! Put Gail to sleep!!!”
As soon as I screamed desperately, I heard Paris chanting.
“Give me power under the ancient pact… The Great…”
When Paris’s chanting ended, Gail lost his strength and fell to his knees on the spot.
It seemed that Paris’ magic had worked.
Normally, it wouldn’t have been this easy, but it must have had the most significant effect on Gail, who had lost his mind.
[Theo] “Uncle, what on earth happened to Gail…?”
[Douglas] “I guess this is the path most of Anima took when they lost their ‘pair’… Gail’s current state may not last long now that Chika and their unborn child have been taken away from him.”
[Johan] “Douglas-sama, does that mean Gail-dono is going crazy?”
“Maybe he’s already crazy…”
Both Johan and Theo looked down at the collapsed Gail with somber expressions.
Licht jumped down from Johan’s chest and approached Gail’s face, then started licking him.
“Daddy Gail, is he in pain? Is he lonely? He shouldn’t be! Daddy, help Daddy Gail! He kept yelling for help!”
“Licht? Do you know what’s in Gail’s heart?”
Licht looked unsure of my question, but he kept repeating that he heard Gail screaming for help.
He has Chika’s blood in his body, so it isn’t strange if he has some kind of mysterious power…
We can’t rely on things that have yet to be proven.
Paris came up from behind with unsteady steps.
“I’m truly sorry. I showed you my embarrassing side…”
“No, don’t worry about it. On the contrary, your magic saved us, as expected of the heir of the Ubert family.”
“But I can’t believe magic can be applied to Gail-san so easily.”
“That’s how empty he must be right now… I wonder what to do with him…”
We found a place where no beast corpses were lying around and decided to rest there.
I covered Gail with a blanket and watched him sleep with a look of anguish on his face.
As Licht desperately licked Gail’s face, his expression became somewhat softened.
Hey Chika, what are you doing now?
I beg of you, please stay safe.
I’m sure Gail doesn’t have much time left, and he can’t live without you.
I felt the fear of losing many things I held dear at the same time, so I picked Licht up and let his warmth keep me sane.
The sound of birds chirping in the distance echoed through the forest at night, and silence fell.
TL/N : Long time no see, all! First, I’m sooo sorry for not updating for months . It was hectic irl that I forgot I had this draft, unfinished and unpublished, until few days ago. After this, I’ll try to finished translating the next chapter soon but it might be posted about two weeks or a month later, so there will be slow updates (but I’m not dropping this so don’t worry). Also, thanks for Yoyi21 for giving me ko-fi!! Sorry for not giving a bonus chapter, though, as I’m not done with the next one. So, yeah, that’s it. See you in a month, guys!
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