Chapter 510 – Planning and Forgiveness

000

While Cleon and Cuon were outside, Sasha, Amelia and Emma were playing with the baby griffon ‘Gonzalez’ in the garden.

It’s only been two days since hatching from the egg, but it’s grown quickly, and it’s already surpassed a large dog and reached a level comparable to that of a large wolf.

Now, if you rush towards a person’s arms, it has become enough weight and size to knock a person over with its weight her.

“Are you really okay?”

Illenu, Emma’s guardian, looked at her with concern.

It seemed that the pub was closed today, so I was able to stay awake during the day.

Of course she’s worried, maybe something bad will happen to Emma while she’s playing with the griffon? She would be doing

Sitting across from her was Lyla, who was reading a book.

“You don’t have to worry too much. That griffon is smart enough to know how to control his strength. It’s unfortunate, but it’s probably because he was born from a modified mother.”

A griffon that has been modified by Laplace and can use freezing magic.

For him, it would have been necessary to have enough intelligence to understand the magic formula.

So, it would be better to say that Griffon has the appearance of a ‘Griffon’, but inside his head he has more intelligence than most apprentice wizards.

“Then I’m glad…”

“More than that, I’m more amazed at how quickly they grow. If it continues at this rate, it will quickly grow to the size of an adult… Then wouldn’t it be too small to grow in a garden. ..”

Lila holds it on her chin and looks out at her garden her.

Then, he mumbled while making eye contact with Griffon, who felt the gaze directed at him.

“If we want to move to a bigger place-like the royal palace of Beauty Flame Princess… I’m sorry for Sasha.

As soon as Lila’s words finished, Griffon’s body stood still.

Then, the griffon suddenly crouched down.

“Go, Gonzalez? What’s wrong!?”

“Where are you sick?”

When Sasha and Amelia look at the griffon in bewilderment at his strange behavior his, Layla also gets up and approaches him, perhaps noticing something unusual about her.

“What’s wrong? Did I eat something wrong?”

“Oh, no… Except for the horse meat jerky I gave you earlier… Are you sick to your stomach?”

“Kiu… Ki…”

The two of them couldn’t help but put on a troubled expression as they looked at the griffon, who shook her head in response to Sasha’s question of her.

What the hell made Griffon do this all of a sudden?

From the outside, it looked like it was trying to protect itself from something by curling up as much as possible.

“…Even if it’s something scary-“

After thinking that far, Lila covers her mouth at what she said a moment ago.

“… I mean, did you just look at her lips and understand that when she gets bigger, she might not be able to grow in the garden?”

“Ki…”

Laila couldn’t look straight at Gonzalez, who was looking at her with her troubled face her, even because of her guilt her.

“La, Mr. Layla. That story just…”

Sasha looks up at Lila, with her griffon on her face just like her griffon her.

“Ah, no… Judging by how fast Gonzalez grows, he’ll grow bigger than most horses or cows in a little while. If that happens, the garden inside this mansion is too small. So, can’t you grow it in a wider area? I’ll have to look for a place. It’s just what I thought I was doing.”

When Layla said that while dropping her shoulders in an apologetic way, Gryphon only shrank herself again.

“Go, Gonzalez. If you try to force yourself down like that, you could get hurt somewhere.”

Sasha patted the back of the griffon while talking to the griffon.

“R-It’s just as Lila said. I don’t know how far Gonzalez will grow at this rate… If he grows bigger than his mother his Griffon, this garden will be rather cramped…”

Amelia nods her head as if there is some truth in Layla’s words in her.

“That’s… That’s right…”

Sasha couldn’t help but nod her head there.

“Ki!?”

She seems to be saying that even Sasha can’t handle herself, so Gonzalez screams in surprise.

“Oh, no! I want to be with Gonzalez. But, unless I use magic, it’s impossible to make my enlarged body smaller…”

“Kiu…”

As if Sasha’s sincerity had been conveyed, Gonzalez lowered her head as if downcast.

“Mr. Griffin, can’t you use magic?”

At Emma’s question, Gonzales tilted his head and closed his eyes for a moment.

Searching his mind his, several imprinted spells inherited from his mother his popped into Gonzalez’s mind his.

If there is something in it, magic that can reduce the size of one’s body…

‘There was one thing!’

I thought of Gonzalez and spread my wings.

“Ouch…!”

Thanks to the wind that flutters and unfolds, when Lila steps behind her.

As the griffon’s mouth opened, she could see that magical powers were gathering within it.

“Eh, magical power!? No way, are you trying to use magic?”

“Uh uh uh what are you doing Mr. Layla!?”

Layla is confused and Sasha is confused.

Amelia sets her sights on Layla after she calmly deploys her own magic her to create a barrier for her.

Layla then quickly pulled her Emma and Sasha behind her, and she spread her barrier as if to protect everyone and her mansion her.

Then flash! A flash of light burst out as if to blind everyone.

Lila, Sasha, and Emma cover their eyes and close them.

As a result, I couldn’t open my eyes properly until the mana spewing out in front of me calmed down…

Finally, when the sight returns-

“Kiu!”

With a familiar cry, Layla and Sasha widened their eyes at the sight of the griffon appearing in front of them-

It was something like a scream that didn’t consist of words.

001

It must have been that such a voice had not been heard outside, but Herti and Calia were doing their job as always.

And, beside her, Lionel was wearing clothes that were different from the clothes he usually wears at the store.

Unlike usual, when he is wearing armor, he is a mercenary who is in charge of escorting Hertie and the Merchant Company at the Dark Dragon Company.

“This is the plan to deal with the ‘remnants of the empire hiding in the brothel’ that was delivered from the beauty dyer today.”

After hearing Calia’s explanation, Lionel could not help but frown a little at the word “Remnants of the empire” While expressing his absurd expression his.

“No way, I thought you would come up with the idea of ​​setting fire to the brothel. That old fox thought quite a bit too.”

“Yes… Besides, it seems that Cleon-sama is also participating in the operation.”

When the name Cleon was mentioned, Hertie put on a worried expression.

“It’s okay if he’s that. He’s better than most adventurers. I guess I can help the officials today in preparation for anything that might happen?”

Calia nods at Lionel’s confirmation.

“Whoa. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to work with the guys on active duty.”

“There’s no such thing! My father is the legendary mercenary, ‘Lionel Lionel’.”

“…Thank you. For comforting me like that.”

When Lionel smiles wryly, Herti mumbles, ‘I’m serious, not comforting…’.

And- Lionel’s visit to Sanghoe today wasn’t just about brothels.

After hearing another explanation from Calia, Lionel nodded his head again.

“I understand the route roughly. It seems that the envoy from the kingdom needs an escort.”

“Yes. To the end, it’s just for etiquette. It’s okay with the soldiers of the royal palace- but this time, we want to take care of ourselves in many ways.”

“…Is it because of him?”

Lionel put his hand on his forehead as he pictured Cleon in his mind.

When Herti nodded as well, Calia continued to speak.

“This time, the delegation will come from a different ducal family than usual. Of course, the purpose is to find Cleon-sama and his party her. …And- Amelia-sama too.”

“I knew they were precious guests, but I never thought they would be like that.”

Looking at Lionel, who smiled wryly with a troubled expression, Hertie put his hands together.

“…Please, father.”

“Ah, if it’s your request. Besides, escorting isn’t the whole reason for using me.”

“That’s right. The part where the escort begins is ‘the point of crossing the border.’

At Calia’s words, Lionel nodded his head once more.

“If that’s the case, then I’m better suited than the soldiers under the Duke of Beauty. I understand. But…”

As Lionel said that, he looked at the list of envoys he had received, and then he narrowed his eyes a little.

“How did you get this list? It must be top secret even in the kingdom.”

“I had help from a number of sources.”

When Hertie smiled and lifted her finger, Lionel looked at her and let out a small sigh.

“It’s better not to deepen your relationship with the guys in the shadows. Hertie.”

“Dealing with the shadows is something I have to do as the head of the Dark Dragon Firm.”

At Herti’s words her, Lionel licked her lips again and glanced at Calia.

Calia gasped at his gaze her and averted her gaze her, clearing her throat.

“Even Calia can’t win against your foolishness.”

“That’s not true. I’m always for Herti-sama’s sake…”

“Really, you two have a lot of worries. There’s something more important than that, right?”

As Hertie puffed her cheeks, Calia nodded her head and pointed to a part of the list Lionel was holding.

“…This-“

Lionel also saw that part and his expression his became serious.

“No way, he’s coming too. I can see that he’s serious.”

While saying that, what was written behind Lionel’s frown was a title, not a person’s name.

It was [Drake, the Dragon Knight].

002

Until the sun went down, Cleon and Quon wandered around the brothel.

After spending time alone with the two of them to the point where their legs hurt a little, the two returned to Tamamo’s mansion again.

“…Are you back?”

Tamamo is tense with a slightly tired expression.

She was sitting somewhere, in the same spot with a lonely face.

“…Could it be that you’ve been sitting there all this time?”

“Um… I didn’t know how to do it. …I wanted to go inside, and I’d prefer not to. Both my thoughts were crossed.”

Although Tamamo said so, she must have never actually gone inside.

“… You’ve been patient. If Kuzunoha saw Tamamo-sama while she was thinking about it, it would have interfered with her rational judgment about her.”

“That much… I guess. That much… “

Tamamo’s dark expression grew even darker at Quon’s words in her.

“…Anyway, the preparations to enter the Tower of Dreams are complete, right?”

“Hmm. I’ve already attached the ignition points to the necessary locations. I gave an order to evacuate even the parts that could be damaged. Through Riomes, I told the royal palace and the Sanghoe that the Poltuk subjugation plan would proceed.”

“Did you say it’s better not to send government troops?”

At Cleon’s words, she also nodded her head.

You may question whether the greater the number, the better—but it is an all-to-many fight.

The Poltuk they have to hunt is short and dangerous.

If ordinary government forces were mobilized in the fight against him, unnecessary sacrifices could be made.

“Yes. That’s fine…”

Cleon also nods to her as if relieved by Tamamo’s answer to her.

All that was left was to wait for the party members to come from the mansion and the time for the operation to approach.

“… Kuzunoha, she hasn’t come out of the room yet, has she?”

Even in the midst of this, Kuon asks Tamamo about Kuzunoha as if she is worried about her.

Tamamo nodded her head with difficulty.

“Maybe, it might not come out today.”

“…”

Kuondo and Kuzunoha wanted her to organize her thoughts as carefully as possible, so she knew full well that she couldn’t be pushed.

But then.

Hearing a groan, Kuzunoha opened her room and came out.

“… Kuzunoha.”

As Tamamo looks at her like that, her gaze her wavers as if she does n’t know what expression to put on.

But within.

She straightened her posture, bowed her head in front of Kuzunoha, and fell to the ground.

“…I’m sorry. Kuzunoha…! I apologize for everything I’ve done to you…!”

Tamamo prayed for forgiveness in a tearful voice.

Watching her head her stuck in the ground not rising, Kuzunoha stares at Tamamo for a moment.

Soon, he turned his gaze to Quon.

“…About what I want to do. I’ve thought and thought about it. What I really want to do.”

“…”

Quon nods her head at her words her.

“I said you shouldn’t be mistaken. You. Now I think I know. What I was mad at, and- what to do.”

“Kuznoha…”

Quon responds to her words with a voice of concern that still lingers.

Then she would gather her mana into her own hands while smiling her cheeky smile her.

She pointed the tip of her palm toward Tamamo.

Cleon sees Kuzunoha like that and measures the timing to stop her.

Quon took Cleon’s hand and shook her head.

“…Quon?”

“…Stay tuned. For now. Maybe- it’ll be fine.”

At Quon’s words, if Cleon decides to trust her too.

In the next moment, the ‘fox-shaped origami’ in Kuzunoha’s hand grew larger with her mana fading.

Then it landed on the ground, and she went straight to Tamamo and looked at him.

“…This is Inari’s food soul…”

“After the memory you erased came back, I tried again and again and finally made it. …I heard that creating food souls is more difficult than any other magic.”

“…”

As soon as Tamamo saw Inari’s shikigami, her tears seemed to flow.

“Those tears…I know very well that your heart is sincere. How much you liked the teacher I liked. Why did you act like that to me? Please tell me the answer.”

Kuzunoha watched her as if she would judge you by that.

If- out of her mouth.

Like ‘for the future of Yohos’.

If a flimsy word like ‘to escape from the present where my own people are being persecuted’ comes out.

Kuzunoha was ready to burn Tamamo at any moment by ordering her food soul.

And-Tamamo was glared at by such Kuzunoha, and she shut her mouth for a moment.

With her head down, we talk.

“…My greed, because.”

“…”

Kuzunoha flinched at Tamamo’s answer and trembled.

“Because I was greedy in vain. I put you in danger, took precious memories from you… Also, I made Inari die… All of that, it’s my fault.”

“——I know that well.”

The next moment, Kuzunoha stretched out her hand while releasing the mana stored in her food body.

She grabbed Tamamo by the collar and pulled him up.

“Someone who knows so well!! Why did he do that!! You idiot!!”

When her exasperated voice her resonates within her mansion her, Tamamo sheds her tears without answering what she is.

“You’re weak. …I won’t forgive you… But, I don’t want to punish you anymore for that. I won’t choose to get my hands dirty by worrying about trivial things like that. “

Saying so, Kuzunoha puts Tamamo down.

Then, he spoke to Cleon and Quon.

“…I’m going to do what I want from now on. But before that, the man you’re fighting against – did you say he was a remnant of the empire? …If you think about the cause, he’s also the one who killed Inari-sensei. It’s one of the causes. The Empire and the Church. It’s a problem.”

While saying that, Kuzunoha approached Cleon and said the same thing.

“Use this power you’ve got to get revenge on him.”

“…I want you to join me in battle.”

To Cleon’s question, she nods her head.

“… Okay. If you want that.”

“…Yes.”

Kuzunoha looked at Cleon’s outstretched hand for a moment, then he grabbed it.

“Kuzunoha. Think about what you will do after that.”

“… Huh.”

At Kuon’s words, Kuzunoha gave her a small snort, then turned her body her to face Tamamo.

Crouching down, a small back crying.

Those backs that look shabby, to the extent that they can’t be compared to when I saw them as children.

The back he once admired.

“…”

Sensing a feeling of tightness somewhere in her chest, she raised her hand and grabbed it.

And. To the touch of water droplets flowing from one side of her eye her.

It was to shake his head.