Chapter 26

After witnessing the teacher defeat the Black Death Dragon, I worked with Ines to use a combination of purification magic and wind magic to dispel the miasma – and after a while, we were finally able to move around the area again.

Until then, we had been unable to move at all while protecting the horses that were pulling the carriage – we had been watching the teacher’s battle from a distance.

It was a battle that could only be described as terrifying.

The land where the Black Death Dragon rampaged was gouged out, and the ground shook with a thunderous roar every time its claws, which were wildly slashing at high speed, were deflected, shattering into pieces.

It was hard to believe that this was a battle between a human and a dragon.

A one-on-one duel where neither side took a single step – and in the end, the one standing was the human, even while protecting the boy behind him in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation.

– Who would believe such a story?

Surprisingly, after the battle, the teacher brought the boy he had saved and walked over to us as if nothing had happened.

"Teacher! Are you alright?"

"Yes, I’m fine."

"But, but you’re covered in blood –!"

When I got closer, I saw an amount of blood that made it a wonder he hadn’t bled to death.

There was no way he could be fine.

We needed to start treatment immediately.

"Yes, about the blood? It’s nothing. It will heal on its own – or rather, it’s already healed."

"But, but that’s impossible – Teacher, we need to treat you –!"

I rushed over to treat him, touching his body.

But... I couldn’t find any wounds.

"Really healed? Not a single scratch –"

"I told you, I’m fine."

It was truly unbelievable.

It seemed that the teacher wasn’t even feeling the effects of blood loss.

The miasma didn’t seem to have left any trace in his body at all.

It was hard to believe, but that was the fact before my eyes.

"Sorry – you really seem to be fine."

"Yes, not to brag, but I’m quite resistant to poison."

The teacher laughed as if it were nothing – but it couldn’t be that simple.

That was definitely miasma.

Not just a deadly poison, but an ultimate poison that could even erode the earth.

A terrifying substance, almost a curse, imbued with the magic of a dragon.

To be hit directly and still be so calm –.

– No, there was one possibility that came to mind.

The strangely serene aura emanating from the teacher now.

I had seen something similar before.

It was the same kind of aura that the former teacher, Saint Sain, had shown me during my training days – which means.

– Does the teacher also have the ‘Holy Aura’?

It is said to be produced by a body and mind honed to the point of being called a saint, capable of purifying everything it touches and instantly healing any wound.

However, unlike a skill that can be easily acquired, it is the pinnacle of a heretical training that involves overcoming many deaths, a level that only a few saints in history have ever reached.

Even Saint Sain, who is called a “living legend” in the clerical community, took over forty years to fully master the ‘Holy Aura’.

This person has already mastered it –?

And at this young age...?

– No, it’s possible with Mr. Noal.

Just how much of a person is he –!

"Rinne, rather, could you examine this child? He looks a bit pale."

As I was still frozen in shock, the teacher placed his hand on the shoulder of the child standing next to him.

This child, I remember –

"– I’m fine, really... I’m fine..."

"But, you look quite pale."

The teacher’s words made me realize.

The characteristics of this child.

I couldn’t see from a distance when the teacher went to help, but – could it be –

"It’s always been like this... I’m a demon, after all."

"I see."

Indeed – this child is a demon.

Pale skin, silver-tinted light purple hair, and red eyes –.

A race that has been the enemy of the Misra Kingdom for a hundred years, called the ‘enemy of the gods’ and feared worldwide for their ability to control monsters.

I had heard that they were almost extinct.

"– So, this child is indeed a demon, is he?"

"Yes, that’s right. You figured it out, Rinne."

"Yes, I had the knowledge."

The teacher seemed to know this as well.

If so, did he go to help knowing this?

"Teacher, what do you intend to do with this child – from now on?"

"I want to take him with us on the carriage – is that alright?"

I was a bit surprised.

Demonic races are considered dangerous and are often recommended for extermination in many countries.

Even if we help him here, what will happen afterward –

"…! Is it alright? This child is a demon, and the monster he was with just went on a rampage –"

"That’s true, but we didn’t suffer any damage, did we?

It’s unfortunate that the nearby wheat fields were damaged – but rather, we ended up taking away his job.

I was thinking if there’s something we can do to help."

I was surprised again.

He said he hadn’t been harmed, but the teacher was clearly damaged – yet he was acting as if everything was “nothing.”

"Job…? What was this child doing?"

"He was transporting those poison frogs to the city."

"The Black Death Dragon to the city!?"

The teacher called the Goblin Emperor “just a goblin” and the Black Death Dragon “poison frogs.”

For someone as strong as the teacher, there might not be much difference between a Black Death Dragon and a poison frog, but it’s different for us.

If a Black Death Dragon appeared in the city, the people living there would surely not be safe.

– But this boy must not have been safe either.

What was this boy –?

"By the way, you said you were doing it as a job – who was the client?"

In response to Mr. Noal’s question, the demon boy shook his head and looked down.

"…I don’t know… I wasn’t told."

Saying this, the boy fell silent. Ines stepped forward and spoke to him.

"It’s not good to hide in this situation… If you tell us honestly, it will help us."

The boy shuddered slightly at Ines’s strong words and said, as if gauging the other’s reaction.

"…I really don’t know… Just somewhere in the Magic Empire… We were raised that way."

The boy’s frightened eyes and attitude.

I had suspected it, but – it was definitely true.

– This child is a “slave.”

Slavery is not common in the Kingdom of Crease, but it exists in other countries.

This child is probably a disposable young soldier, taking advantage of the weak position of the demonic race.

The Magic Empire is involved in such things as well.

"Then, do you have a place to go? Can you go back on your own?"

"…I don’t know… I was brought here with my eyes blindfolded… I don’t know how to get back…"

"In other words – you can’t go back even if you want to."

The demon boy nodded at Mr. Noal’s words.

"That’s the case – is it alright? If possible, I want to take this child to a safe place."

Hearing this, I finally understood the teacher’s intention.

The teacher, knowing that this child is a demon – is trying to help him.

Knowing that he is a being that should be opposed to all, he is trying to save him.

– I am ashamed of my own small-mindedness.

How could I have called myself a royal?

I was being very cowardly just because the child was a demon.

My father always advised me, “Don’t be swayed by knowledge or rumors; believe only what you see with your own eyes.”

I don’t think this boy is the evil being I’ve heard about.

What I see is just a lost child.

– If I can’t save this one child, what kind of royal lineage do I claim to belong to?

"Ines… I also ask you. Can you let this child ride with us?"

"Princess Rinneburg, but now –!"

Ines’s gaze was going back and forth between me and the demon child.

She seemed to be hesitating.

Her job is to protect my safety – I understand that. But –

"There’s still room in the carriage, and it should be fine if he rides. Is there a problem?"

In response to Mr. Noal’s words, Ines made a bitter face.

"Indeed, there is room in the carriage – and normally, someone like him would be taken in by a military person like me.

But it’s difficult to take him with us in the current situation. To begin with, demons are not allowed to enter the Misra Kingdom – it’s best to leave him here."

Ines’s words make sense.

This child would normally be captured as a prisoner.

If we take him to Misra, we might be held accountable.

We could make an excuse to enter the kingdom to turn in a bounty, but –

I don’t want to do that, and the teacher would surely not allow it.

"Even if we leave him in a city along the way – it will be difficult for this child to survive on his own… It might be better to part ways in a place where he won’t attract attention."

"Then, how about going back to the capital?"

The teacher’s suggestion surprised Ines.

"Mr. Noal, that’s –"

As Ines was about to say something, the demon child suddenly collapsed and put his hand on the ground.

"…You… are from the capital…!?"

"Yes, that’s right. It seems we can’t take you with us, but I thought it might be a good idea to send you back to the capital for now."

"…No… it’s not possible…"

The boy held his shoulder and started to tremble.

"What’s wrong, are you cold?"

"…No… it’s not that… It’s not possible to go back… it’s not possible."

"What do you mean?"

"…That man said… we were pawns to draw soldiers away from the capital…!"

Indeed, this boy was part of a diversionary tactic to draw forces away from the capital.

My brother’s prediction was correct.

It seems the Black Death Dragon’s rampage in nearby cities was prevented, but –

Similar situations are likely unfolding elsewhere.

"Then, we must return even more urgently."

"No… that’s not it…!! It’s dangerous…!"

"Dangerous?"

"…I heard that man say… the biggest one is going to the capital… and if that happens, ‘the city will be over’… I heard him say that.

…‘It’s a spectacle that can’t be compared to the Black Death Dragon’… he was laughing…!"

"What are you talking about?"

"…That’s why… you can’t go… you’ll definitely… die…!!"

The three of us looked at each other.

The boy was crouching and trembling.

"Ines – let’s return to the capital immediately. Teacher, is that alright?"

"– Yes, I don’t fully understand the situation, but it doesn’t seem like we can leisurely continue our journey."

"…W-wait. I can’t agree…! I –"

"– Ines"

I interrupted Ines’s words.

"– I know. You were told by my brother, weren’t you?

If something happens to the capital, take me to Misra and seek asylum."

"Princess Rinneburg… why do you know…?"

"– I can guess without being told.

I am his sister, so I can roughly guess what he would think."

"If that’s the case, why –"

"I thought it might be for the best.

My brother is not the type to give orders without thinking.

There must be a reason I don’t understand."

"If that’s the case…!"

"But – it’s different now.

We have information from this boy.

We need to return immediately and report it.

The capital is in danger."

"…Princess Rinneburg.

I understand your feelings.

But please, think only of your safety.

Lord Rain must have made a difficult decision…!"

"Then – what will I achieve by running away? You know the fate of the ‘demons’ who lost their country. I don’t think we should run now."

Even if we run – we will likely end up with the same fate.

At my words, Ines crouched to the ground and looked at the trembling demon child.

"– I understand. Let’s go to the capital. But, Princess Rinneburg, please don’t leave my side – as a ‘Divine Shield,’ I will protect you with my life."

"Thank you, Ines."

"…By the way, what’s your name?"

The teacher called out to the trembling demon child.

The boy looked up and whispered.

"…Lolo…"

"Lolo, huh… that’s a short and easy name to remember."

The teacher laughed, as if joking.

Then, he asked the boy.

"Lolo, what will you do? If you’re afraid to come with us, it might be better to part ways here."

The boy seemed hesitant but whispered, trembling.

"…I’ll go… with you…"

It was a surprising answer, given his previous behavior.

"…I might not be able to do anything… but… it’s probably… my friends… who are doing this."

"I see."

The teacher fell silent, as if thinking, and turned around.

He looked at the remains of the Black Death Dragon, occasionally showing a sad expression – and quietly shook his head.

– The teacher must be thinking about the boy’s background and feeling pain for him.

I was so preoccupied with my own worries that I didn’t even notice.

The four of us quickly got into the carriage.

As Lolo said, there is likely a great danger waiting for us in the capital.

I am worried.

But – perhaps, with this person, Mr. Noal.

He might be able to break through this difficult situation.

I can’t help but have such expectations.

– No, my role now is not to run away.

I must deliver this person – this character who seems to have stepped out of a hero’s tale – to the capital.

Even if – it costs my life.

"Ines, as quickly as possible."

"– Yes."

We drove the carriage in the opposite direction of the path we came, heading towards the capital.