Chapter 84

“Do you really think they won’t do it anymore?”

Alice asked me a short while after we left Black Fang. It was a natural question, of course, but at this point, we just have to trust them.

“Who knows. They didn’t seem like such bad guys to begin with, so they’ll probably be fine, don’t you think?”

“Is that ‘intuition’ again?”

“Yeah. But they seemed to be capturing Elves purely to bolster their combat strength; compared to the others, I’d say they’re in the ‘better’ category.”

The documents I just received even went so far as to politely list the reasons for purchase. It seems that before they were handed over to the other underworld guilds, the Elves weren’t treated all that poorly, and the reason for acquisition was indeed listed as “reinforcement of military power.”

“You’ll get exhausted if you doubt everything. If you draw the line at a good spot, it’ll be fine.”

“Is that how it works?”

“That’s how I see it.”

“Well, next time, you’ll be helping us.”

“I know.”

The “next time” she meant was cooperating in the crackdown on the corrupt nobles. Tonight, we had only slipped in to liberate a small portion of the Elves and Spirits; apparently, they plan to recover the rest head-on by using the national knight order. They intend to use this incident to round up almost all the crooked nobles in one fell swoop.

Personally, I wondered why they didn’t just kill those guys regardless of the “crackdown,” but it seems the Intelligence Department’s policy is to judge them strictly according to the law. Hearing things like that makes me realize more and more that I’ve developed a “monster mindset.”

When I asked Alice what would happen to the nobles involved in this case, she said they’d likely face stripped status and exile, or even capital punishment. Apparently, possessing “unregistered” slaves is a much heavier crime than owning legally purchased ones.

“Still, I don’t think there’s much I can actually do.”

“The knight order will handle the raids. Our job is to catch any nobles who try to flee.”

“I feel like that’s also the knights’ job.”

“There are some troublesome nobles, you see. Some have hidden tunnels built into their manors, and in the worst cases, some even have teleportation circles ready.”

“Man, those must be some wealthy nobles.”

Teleportation magic is certainly convenient, but it’s a finicky art that requires calculating altitude and various other factors to be used safely. If the math is off, you could fall from the sky or, conversely, end up buried alive. Since teleportation-type magic can only be performed by mages of considerable skill, commissioning and installing one requires a massive amount of gold.

“Thanks to that, we’ve had a rough time. We’ve had to have mages calculate their destination to find out where they went, then run around like crazy to chase them…”

“Ah… I get the idea, so let’s stop before you get depressed,” I said as I handed over the documents.

If they were spending money on Elves, they probably wouldn’t have the budget left for a teleportation circle.

“Let’s go home and sleep for today. Tomorrow’s going to be a struggle to get the Elves back, too.”

“Ah, I have to deliver these materials to my seniors before returning to the inn, so please go on ahead.”

“Oh, is that so? Well then, goodnight.”

“Goodnight to you too.”

After parting with Alice, I returned to the inn—and was shocked. For some reason, Ril, Karin, Ouka, and Tiamat were all gathered in my room.

“What’s going on? You didn’t send a telepathic message, so you startled me.”

“It’s been so long since we’ve spent time with Ryu, so we just came.”

“Papa, pat my head~”

“Has Ryu been a wicked husband who neglects his wives?”

“Give me a break! I know I haven’t been able to pay much attention to you lately, but I didn’t expect a sudden raid like this.”

“Master Ryu. Everyone has been very lonely. Please, forgive us.”

“I mean, of course I forgive you, and it’s partly my fault so I don’t mind—but Alice is coming back soon, so I can’t spend that much time with you, okay?”

I said this while patting everyone’s heads just in case. I mean, I want to flirt and cuddle with them too, obviously. But I am technically in the middle of a job.

“Actually, we obtained a skill to solve that.”

“My big sister, me, Ouka, and Tiamat all learned the same skill.”

“The skill’s name is ‘Unification’! With this, we can stay with Ryu always!”

“Wait, I don’t have a skill like that?”

“It is a skill acquired solely through our hearts’ desire to be with you, so it likely has nothing to do with you, Master Ryu.”

Is that how it works? Even so, “Unification”… what kind of effect does it have?

“So, how does it feel now that you’ve used it?”

“We haven’t used it yet; we’re going to use it now.”

“Hey! You’re doing it right now without even testing it?!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It won’t harm your body.”

Ril, in her wolf form, lunged into my body?! A ripple like water formed on my skin, and she slid right in.

“Whoa! Is this really okay?!”

“Number two, Karin, going in!”

“Number three, Ouka, heading in!”

“I shall join you as well.”

I reached out to stop my wives as they dove in one after another, but my resistance was futile; they all entered. Is this really, truly okay?!

『Heh~ so this is the inside of Ryu. What an incredible amount of mana.』

『It’s so spacious inside Papa!!』

『Still, isn’t this far too much mana?』

『Are you alright, Lady Ouka? I fear the concentration may be too thick for you yet.』

Ah, looks like everyone is safe. Still, is this how you’re supposed to use a skill like “Unification”? I wondered to myself as I flopped down onto the bed.

『I’m somehow holding up! But… I’m picking up the presence of a dragon in here…』

『True… it’s coming from that bright area over there.』

『In that case, let’s go explore inside Papa!』

『Karin, wait up!』

『Lady Ouka! Lady Karin! You mustn’t run off so suddenly!!』

『Tiamat, let’s go before we lose sight of the two children!』

The two guardians are chasing after Karin and Ouka!

That “bright area” they’re talking about is probably my soul, right?

Wait—stop! At this rate, they’re going to run smack into that person!!

Not now, not now!

『By “that person,” do you mean Azi Dahaka?』

No, but there’s another dangerous one! Wait, you can hear me?

『We can hear everything, Master Ryu. So, who exactly is in here?』

…This is bad. My situation is officially critical!

『Oh? Someone’s over there.』

『It’s true! Hey there—!』

They found her?!

『…To think you would use “Unification” to intrude inside Ryu like this.』

They found her—!!

It’s over. My life is over.

『Who are you, Big Sister? I’m Karin.』

『I am Ouka. I sense a dragon’s presence from you; am I correct in assuming we are of the same kin?』

『…Yes. I am a dragon. My name is Ulu, Ryu’s first familiar.』

『…Eh?』

Ril shot me a look of pure sorrow.

This is exactly why I couldn’t tell you—I didn’t want to see that face.

『It has been a long time… our Mother.』

『Stop that, Tiamat. Here, I am merely a dragon. There is no need to be so formal.』

『But…』

『Stiff as always, aren’t you? Currently, I am nothing more than Ryu’s familiar.』

While Tiamat and Ulu are talking, Ril keeps sending that heartbroken gaze my way.

『Ryu…』

Ril, I’m sorry. It was just… hard to bring up.

『When did you form the contract?』

When I was a kid. Way before I met you, Ril.

『I see…』

Crap, the guilt is overwhelming.

I want to make an excuse, but I don’t even know what to say. How am I supposed to handle this…?

『Ril. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ulu.』

『E-Eh? Yes.』

『Thank you for protecting Ryu out there in the world.』

『What? Weren’t you the one protecting him?』

『All I could protect was his mana. I could only do enough to supplement the energy needed for self-regeneration or the energy required for Battle Spirit. However, Ril, you protected him from many things in the outside world. This is my thanks to you.』

Ulu? What are you planning?

『Well, I did protect him in my own way, but…』

『However… I will not yield the position of Ryu’s “Number One.”』

Wait, what?! The atmosphere was so wholesome until just a second ago!!

At that declaration, Ril’s face turned bright red, and she barked back.

『What was that all of a sudden?! It’s already decided that Ryu’s Number One is me!!』

『Our years together are on a different scale, so I wouldn’t be so sure about that.』

『So what?! Ryu used to hug me all the time when we slept!!』

『I’ll have you know that when we were outside, we often took naps together, and I fully enjoyed the sight of Ryu’s sleeping face!!』

『Ryu often praises my hair!』

『I’ve had at least that much from him too!』

…What is this? Why is this turning into a “Ryu Exposure Talk”? This is embarrassing.
They’re getting heated, and all my cringeworthy past moments are being dragged out into the light.

『The scary vibes are gone now, huh?』

『Lady Ouka, if you don’t join in that fray, you’ll never become the legal wife.』

『I think I’d just lose easily.』

Ah… I’m sorry, guys.

I just didn’t think you’d believe me even if I told you she was inside me.

『…Then, as a punishment, we shall stay in here for a while.』

Wait, really? That’s the punishment?

『I agree!』

『Me too!』

Well, if everyone’s happy with it, I guess it’s fine.

『Hold on, I don’t like this wolf!』

『Don’t just say whatever you want! I’m Ryu’s wife!』

Yeah. Let’s just assume Ril and Ulu have become “frenemies” and call it a night.