Chapter 89

After Ril and the others used Unification to return inside my body, I went back to the inn.

I had a feeling things would have gotten complicated if I’d stayed there any longer, and anyway, I just wanted to relax on a bed.

It was already evening, so Alice had likely already returned to the inn.

“Welcome back, Ryu.”

Just as I thought, Alice was already there.

“I’m back. How did things go on your end?”

“Great! I submitted the report properly, and I might even get a huge bonus.”

“That’s good to hear. Things are settled on my end, too.”

I let out a sigh as I sat down on the edge of the bed.

I was exhausted today, though in a different way than from actual combat.

“Um, where are Aoi and the familiars?”

“They’re at a different inn right now. Probably relaxing at a place that allows monsters.”

I gave her a vague explanation.

I mean, she’d never believe me if I told her they were inside me.

“I see. …Actually, Ryu, I have a question. How much do you know about the Hero?”

“The Hero? No, I don’t know much at all.”

Truthfully, I knew quite a bit, but our conversations had only ever been as friends; I didn’t know much about her official activities or things like that.

But why was she asking? Was she trying to recruit me or something?

“Actually, at the meeting earlier, we learned that the Hero is searching for a missing friend. We’ve been tasked with helping the search, so I’m gathering information.”

“A friend? Don’t tell me the Sage is missing!?”

Is Taiga missing!?

“No, it’s not the Sage, but another friend. Do you happen to know anything?”

“Know anything? This is the first I’ve heard of it…”

Another friend? I didn’t know about anyone else.

Based on the stories I’d heard from Thea about her life as a Hero, the only ones who came to mind were some young recruits, but I didn’t remember any names… Mostly she just talked about the Knight Commander, the Mage Corps Commander, and that Priestess lady…

“Sorry, I really have no clue.”

“I see. I’m sorry, of course you wouldn’t know. My apologies.”

“No, it’s fine. By the way, what kind of person is it?”

“Well, according to the Captain, it’s a childhood friend who happens to be a Tamer.”

Hm? A childhood friend who’s a Tamer?

No way…

“Their name is also Ryu, so I wondered if it might be you, Ryu.”

Ah. That is definitely, absolutely me.

Thea is looking for me? Crap, this is bad. Really bad.

Since Ril carried me off, it wasn’t surprising that I was considered missing, but I never imagined the Hero herself would be leading the search.

I figured some knight order or another would be looking for me at most.

Does this mean no matter how much I run, we’re going to collide eventually?

Ugh, what should I do?

How am I supposed to explain that I’m alive and well—and somehow got incredibly strong?

“But they said that Ryu has almost no combat ability, so it’s clearly a different person, right?”

“Y-Yeah. I think I’d remember if I’d met someone with the same name as me.”

“That’s true.”

We shared a bit of a laugh.

Alice’s laugh was normal, while mine felt a bit dry.

Seriously, what am I going to do?

“By the way, Ryu, do you have any plans for where you’re headed next?”

“Hm? Well, next is a trip to see Dowal Crown for some personal business. I need to have him maintain my weapons.”

“Could I come with you?”

“Eh? No, I mean, is that okay for you? You said your job is perpetually short-handed, didn’t you?”

Doesn’t she have sudden work, or a teammate getting injured and needing backup, or something like that?

“It’s fine. Everyone follows people who might hold important information; it’s what we do.”

“I don’t have any grand information.”

“We’re looking for information on the Fenrir and the Garuda. You know something, don’t you?”

I mean, I know a lot. They literally raised and trained me.

It would be weird to say nothing at all now, so I decided to give her a warning.

“I don’t know about the Garuda, but I know the Fenrir. But if you’re planning on meddling with them, don’t. They aren’t something humans can handle.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. They’re way too dangerous. If you intend to pick a fight, I won’t say another word.”

“Come on, at least tell me where you saw them.”

“I absolutely will not. Are you okay with that? Even if the lives of many people are snuffed out because of that information?”

I spoke with a hint of a threat in my voice.

I tried to make her understand what would happen if that information got out.

Sure enough, Alice looked a little frightened.

“That thing is a mass of pure power. It’s a monster wolf that can tear through and devour anything. Whether you’re using monster materials for gear or whatever else, to it, it’s all just an annoyance. It’ll rip through it easily.”

“Um, even Mithril?”

“I don’t know about that specifically, but I saw it easily eat a turtle-type magical beast that looked incredibly hard. Even though it had retreated into its shell.”

She seemed to tremble slightly at those words.

“If that had been a human, how many dozens—no, hundreds—would have been torn apart?”

“You saw that? The part where it was eating the turtle?”

“That’s why I survived. I only managed to escape because the beast I assume was a Fenrir was busy eating another monster. I’m small compared to that turtle and I had no power, so I was just ignored—that’s probably more accurate. Tell the Hero. It’s better not to lay a hand on it.”

I finished my piece there.

If that’s enough to make Thea reconsider, then great. If she still won’t stop, I’ll have to step out in front and stop her myself.

“…I’ll tell the Captain. That it’s too dangerous and the mission should be cancelled.”

“I’m counting on you, seriously. It’s no joke if you try a forced breakthrough and everyone ends up dead.”

At least I’ve warned them.

If they still go through with it, I wouldn’t mind standing on the monster side to fight them.

“So, what about you, Alice? We were talking about whether you’re coming along or not.”

“I’m coming. It sounds interesting, and it looks like I’ll get to eat some delicious food.”

“…You aren’t just after the food, are you?”

“No. It’s for work.”

She cheered up a bit at the end, and we called it a night.

‘Now then, what should I do?’

In the middle of the night, after Alice had fallen asleep, I held a meeting with Ril and the others.

‘The Hero is targeting Ryu, huh? I’ll kill her, obviously.’

‘That’s way too extreme. To be blunt, me and Thea meeting isn’t a problem in itself. The problem is all of you.’

‘This Hero’s hatred for monsters is quite extreme. Lady Ouka and I would likely be in danger since we are dragons.’

‘And it looks like they’re after my flames, right Papa?’

‘Yeah. Good grief, who’s the idiot who blabbed about Ril and Karin?’

‘I shall remain quiet this time around.’

‘I’d appreciate that. Everyone, please stay as low-profile as possible while we’re in Dowal Crown. Well, I can’t say the same for Tiamat, since I’ll need her help with forging the new blade.’

‘Understood.’

We talked in broad strokes and came up with a plan against Thea.

We couldn’t exactly show monsters to someone who hates them, so we had to act with caution.

‘Should we tell Dowal and the others to keep quiet?’

‘Based on what I’ve heard, wouldn’t it be better to let Lord Dowal focus entirely on the task of processing my claws? He seems to be the type who can’t be stopped once he gets fired up; perhaps we should make use of that.’

I see. That might actually work.

‘We’ll have Dowal tell the rest of the country. That’ll be faster and more certain.’

‘Papa, can I not come out of Papa while we’re in Dowal Crown?’

‘I’d feel safer that way. But if you really want to come out, just let me know. We still need to be careful, though.’

‘Then I’ll stay inside Papa. It’s big in here, so I’ll stay.’

‘Sorry about this.’

‘No problem!’

That just left Ril…

‘I’ll stay inside Ryu this time as well. I want to see for myself exactly what kind of person this Hero is.’

‘Got it. Thanks, Ril.’

‘Ryu, please be careful.’

Yeah.

Alright, everyone except Tiamat will be inside me, so that should be fine. Now I just need to think of an excuse.

‘Ryu, I have a report as well.’

‘Ulu. That’s rare, you contacting me.’

‘It’s quite important. Azi Dahaka is about to be resurrected.’

Are you serious?

Talk about a pain, having this happen now.

‘It can’t be helped. Even I didn’t think he would hatch this early.’

‘Is there a chance he’ll come bursting out of me when he revives?’

‘That will be fine. I won’t let him interfere with you, Ryu, no matter what.’

‘I-I see. I’m counting on you.’

‘Yes.’

She’s incredibly reliable, but man, I hope things don’t go south.

Dahaka’s resurrection overlapping with a reunion with Thea… I have no idea how this is going to turn out.