Chapter 25 – Let’s Kill Snail-kun!

「---by the way, Rize-san. I heard that a strange novel is popular among women these days. It’s about the forbidden love of a cool, popular but beautiful boy lord called Roze, and his bodyguard, Cleiz. Then, a character named Duke Heberheim comes after the boy lord and the three men became embroiled in a relationship.」

「I don’t know but that sounds dangerous. 」

「I don’t know much about it too but it indeed sounds dangerous.」

The day after I released the dragon, which had gone a bit haywire due to over-application of healing magic, I went on an inspection tour of the former Bonclay town with Claus as my escort.

As a competent lord, I should know how the people live. Duke Hohenheim also said, “Be a noble who is loved by the people.”.

…..but then again.

「Kyaaa, it’s Rize-sama and Claus-sama! 」

「Hey hey, aren’t they the motif of the characters in Biel-sensei’s romance novel…. 」

「Shhhh! Promise you won’t say that again!」

I don’t know what’s happening but we’re getting a lot of attention from the ladies today! Hahaha, feels great!

「Claus, since you’re here, why don’t we go to the city and get something to eat? 」

「Oh, that sounds great. However, don’t the maids prepare food at the castle? 」

「I gave all the maids a day off today. I want them to go out somewhere once in a while, especially head maid Belle, who seems to be very busy these days and doesn’t even get enough sleep. There’s no one at home but if you want, why don’t you stay over today? I’ll be the one to cook. 」

「Please do! Rize-san’s food is delicious! I could eat it every day! 」

As I was having this conversation with Claus, the ladies somehow became even more excited.

Yeah yeah, I don’t know what’s going on but it’s good that they’re cheerful.

Ah….it’s a peaceful day in Beibalon.

The people are happy, the food is plenty, and the smell of the sea brought in by the occasional breeze is pleasant.

It really has become a very rich land compared to the past. I hope to continue to live here with everyone and get along well with them.

As I was walking around town with my friends while thinking that---something happened.

「---S-someone, please help us! Our territory is….the Django territoryyyyyy!!!! 」

Suddenly, a shrill cry rang out.

I quickly looked in the direction of the voice and saw several people crying beside a battered wagon.

They must have been riding so hard that their horses had gone limp and had stopped moving.

They are obviously not tourists….Claus and I noticed the anomaly and approached them at a quick pace.

「What’s going on? 」

「Y-you are….? 」

「I am Rize Beibalon, the lord of this domain….you were shouting something about Django. If you don’t mind, can you tell me what happened? 」

When I asked them this as if to appease them, they slowly spoke while shedding tears.

「A-actually, last night….we were attacked by a group of creepy monsters that looked like a mixture of human and dragon…! And the bad thing is, Snail-sama went somewhere with the soldiers of the territory so we, the ordinary people, have no choice but to run away….!」

「I see…..such a thing happened. It might have been hard for you to escape this far.」

It looks like they ran away to survive. When I put my hand on his shoulder, the one who was talking made an even more intense sobbing.

「And then….please listen to me, lord-sama! Those who are bitten by those strange monsters will also become dragon monsters. And among the crowd of monsters, there was a very big one with a very ugly face that looks exactly like S-n-a-i-l-sama…..!」

「W-what!?」

I was astonished by all this incredible information.

…..If it was just a humanoid monsters, I wouldn't be surprised. There are many bipedal monsters such as goblins and trolls.

However, how is it possible that a bitten human will transform into a monster? And there was even one that has a face that looked exactly like Snail….!?

---unidentified monsters that don’t seem to have been born naturally.

---Snail, who somehow left the city with those who could fight, just as they were about to be attacked.

---and the existence of a monster that looked just like Snail and seemed to be the boss.

With all this information, my brain was able to come up with one truth.

I see….that’s what’s happening! All mysteries have been solved!

「Ah, Snail-sama must have been bitten by a monster and….」

「---no, that’s not true. It was Snail himself who started this whole thing in the first place!」

「Eh!?」

My words startled those who had fled from Django.

Well, that’s understandable. Normally, it would be unthinkable for a lord to attack his own land.

But my clear-headed mind can’t be fooled.

「Calm down and listen, people of Django…..the monsters that turned those who are bitten to turn into dragons are definitely “created beings”. Think about it, if such monsters existed in nature, they would have taken over the world by now, wouldn’t they?」

「Y-you are absolutely correct….! But how is it possible to create such beings? There’s no way crossbreeding like what we were doing with fast horses or disease-resistant wheat can produce something like them!」

「Yes, it would be impossible for normal humans to do that but---what if the person involved can use supernatural power called “magic”….?」

「Huh!!?」

Having said that much, the people finally seemed to realize the answer.

Yes---it was easy once they realized.

「I-I see what you want to say, lord-sama! So, the mage Snail-sama was trying to become the strongest in the world by mass-producing monsters that could take over the world while they are under his control! That’s why he went to the trouble of separating the soldiers of the territory to make it easier for him to turn us, the citizens of Django, into monsters!」

「That’s right. It would have been too blatant to have left the territory if the monsters with such abilities were already attacking Django. He intended to turn you into monsters, build up a large army, and use you as a stepping stone to rule the world.」

「Gwu…..Snail you bastardddddddddd!」

The survivors of Django shout in anger.

Yeah, I felt the same…No, I was even angrier in my heart that they were---!!!

「……Snail….you said proudly that you’re on good terms with the dragon….!」

But then, I realized Snail was lying.

To him, dragons were just experimental animals that he needed to rule the world---!

He probably took advantage of the dragon’s adoration for him and took as much flesh and blood as he wanted.

Using it as experimental material, that evil mage finally created the “dragonizing potion”!

And….Snail, who took the potion to become a demon dragon, turned his people into monsters one after another….damn you!

I clenched my fist so hard that it gouged the flesh of my palm. I ordered Claus, who was standing by my side!

「Claus, gather those who can fight now! We’re going to rescue the citizens of Django!」

「Yes!」

「And---look for the dragon with Snail’s face at all costs. I will condemn that evil being with my own hands!」

Yeah, this is the first time I’ve ever been this furious…! I will eliminate that Snail bastard at any cost!

He’s using the dragon who adores him to fulfill his desires, to steal the happiness of his people, and to take over this world….He’s no longer human! He’s a son of a b*tch that shouldn’t be kept alive! I will exterminate him by any means necessary!

「Evil Mage Snail…..I won’t let you do as you like! I will protect the peace of this world!!!」

※He’s the real culprit.