Episode 347: I will tell God (5)
Did they continue their journey north without rest? The incident happened at the time I was put in charge of watch duty.
“Get up.”
I woke up my sleeping companions with fireworks lighting up the night sky. I don’t know what that thing was, but it wasn’t a presence that could be ignored without waking it up.
The scarlet light source was approaching quickly, leaving an aurora-like trail in the sky. Whether it was a coincidence or a deliberate move, it went exactly in the direction we were in.
“What’s going on…”
“A creature that I don’t know if it’s friend or foe is approaching. “Be prepared just in case.”
“Yes yes! Archmage, wake up!”
“You too, wake up.”
“Yes… ugh.”
Maybe it’s because of fatigue, but everyone can’t move.
I left it to the Inquisitor and Daniel, who quickly came to their senses, to keep the rest of the team awake. The approaching speed of that flame was beyond imagination, so anyone had to be prepared to take their time.
Grumble!
[I didn’t get as far as I thought.]
However, my efforts were useless in another way. The huge flames that dyed the night sky red, and the birds made of those flames, were not hostile to us.
[Rather…yeah. You are a human being who harbors a devil. I heard the story.]
Is it a phoenix? I adjusted my sword and held it as I looked at the mysterious creature whose feathers were all on fire. It doesn’t seem to be a hostile creature since it doesn’t attack right away, but you never know.
[You who embrace evil, put away your sword. Suffering does not harm you or those behind you.]
“….”
Anyway, more than half of the people behind me are weak (relative) ordinary people who are unable to save themselves.
“Evil adventurer! what happened!”
Would I have continued to hold my sword while chewing on the Phoenix’s words? The Inquisitor came rushing out from the tent on the woman’s side. He was not even wearing leather armor properly, let alone sea dragon armor, and was only holding a mace.
“A beast from time immemorial….”
[Are you an agent of God?]
“Ah, hello!”
The Inquisitor, who finally confirmed the existence of the Firebird, widened his eyes without hostility. The tone of the Firebird that recognized the Inquisitor was also very polite.
Even if you look at it while rolling over, it doesn’t look like it’s going to attack right away.
“hmm.”
If you do this, you can feel at ease. Even if the situation goes wrong anyway, the Inquisitor has the ability to deploy a defense shield.
I sheathed my sword in such an accident. Good luck! It was at that time that the firebird, which was only flapping its wings and holding its position, increased the size of the fire.
I reflexively reached for the hilt of the sword, but the sight of the scenery made me pull my hand away. The swelling fire engulfed the giant bird, then died down and fell to the ground.
Grumble!
Five colors of light were scattered through the heat melting the snow. Again. It was the light emitted by the clothes of a being born from flames and the sound of shoes.
[You say, Suzaku, Phoenix, Phoenix, etc. Whatever you choose, call it whatever you feel comfortable with. Go doesn’t care.]
and object head.
I took a quick look at the being that had flame-like hair but was dressed in clothes that looked like a humanoid. I don’t know that Biryuho can imitate a human, so there’s nothing particularly new about this, but…
My eyes returned to the red-faced son-in-law. Regardless of its cool appearance, at night it is just a walking light source. I tightened my fists to avoid being rude.
“I see an ancient being that has existed since the beginning of time.”
[You who exercise your will on behalf of God, your devotion is endlessly honored.]
Meanwhile, the Inquisitor and Suzaku exchanged greetings with each other. I didn’t feel the intimacy typical of acquaintances, but the friendliness was greater than the awkwardness typical of meeting for the first time. I completely relaxed and stepped back.
“what?”
“Suzaku has come to visit.”
“…this morning?”
At that moment, the former Meister stuck his head out of the tent due to fatigue. It looked like he had woken up in a hurry because his glasses were crooked.
“You crazy human being! “Don’t step on people!”
“The solar plexus…”
…It looks like it really popped out in a hurry. I felt pity for the victims who had been trampled by the Meister through the open gap. My pity was even greater because I was once mauled by a dog while I was sleeping at a friend’s house.
“…Are you okay?”
“No…”
The victims, including the tail and solar plexus, trembled while holding their hands on their respective parts. It was a pain I could empathize with. That really hurts….
“Why are these guys acting weak?”
“Regardless of the fact that it was a discriminatory remark, if your solar plexus was stepped on and you were fine, you wouldn’t be human.”
“Tell them to overcome it with spirit.”
He said he wouldn’t be able to overcome it with his spirit alone… I stared at Meister for a moment at his outburst of anger and then immediately shook my head. It wasn’t made of a material that could be repaired.
“So that’s what I need…”
[Yes.]
“Old being, are these all the pieces of your heart?”
However, while we were holding the comedy concert, the Inquisitor continued his conversation with Suzaku. After the addition of the Archmage, whose appearance I don’t know when, the quality also improved.
What needed to be returned was the noble dragon’s heart, and the reason it had to be returned was because the noble dragon’s mission was directly related to the safety of humanity, and the exact reason we needed the Inquisitor was because she was the only one who could put the torn heart back together. .
[No.]
“Then how do they…?”
[I’m thinking about it. The owners of the pieces recovered at high prices have already reached the end of their lives, but the owners of the remaining pieces are still enjoying a long life. [You cannot arbitrarily determine their life or death.]
There are still pieces that need to be recovered, but only if the pieces are in a living person.
I understood why Suzaku hesitated. It was unfair to say that you should die immediately because your ancestor committed a crime. It’s like that from a very human perspective, but it may be different from the perspective of an ancient beast, but whatever.
[Be prepared rather than that. Go has no time.]
“Yes?”
[I will give you a ride north.]
“Oh yes!”
In fact, we had to pack up before we could decide what to do with the pieces. We had no choice because we were told that the fastest vehicle in the world would take us.
“I thought the horses would reject it.”
[It’s okay since Go gave permission.]
“Ah…”
We somehow crumpled our luggage into the bag and got on Suzaku’s back. The back was wide enough for even a horse to climb on, so there was no problem with width.
Chi-ik!
“Ugh!”
“Are you okay?!”
“…Okay.”
If it weren’t for me, who was physically unable to touch Suzaku, there probably wouldn’t have been any.
[…this. Suffering has no ability to limit the power of purification. I guess you’ll need a special move.]
“Wow, then what should I do…”
[Is there a large piece of cloth? If you get into it, I will take it with you.]
Are you a stork that brings babies? Are you going to fly holding a bag full of humans?
“I wonder what will happen if we use two tent cloths… just wait a moment.”
“hmm. Just in case, let’s put another one on the bottom. “If it’s torn apart in the sky, there’s no answer.”
“yep.”
But there was no particular way. A bundle that looks like a bun and dumpling was born under the hands of Deathbringer and Meister.
“…Are you okay?”
“well.”
The holy power filter really only filters holy power. I swallowed my sadness and put my feet into the bundle. It looks like it was fastened meticulously, but will the fabric hold up?
“If it tears, it won’t be their mistake, it will be a problem with the material, so it’s okay.”
I don’t know. it will work out somehow. I motioned to Daniel to quickly go up. Is this really okay? Daniel had that look on his face, but I couldn’t give him any more confirmation. I just gestured again.
“…If it seems dangerous, please pull the rope at any time.”
“okay.”
I put my face into the hole the meister gave me and waited a little while, telling myself not to feel stuffy. Soon after, I felt the fabric floating. Suzaku grabbed me and flew up.
“…hmm.”
It feels like lying in a hammock. A hammock with just a support beam on top and a few hundred meters in the air.
Now that I say it, this is really dangerous. I scratched my head at the new realization. Even a horse rides on Suzaku’s back, so why am I the only
one…. ‘Damn devil….’
[Why am I staying still?]
‘You bastard whose very existence is evil….’
What do you do if you stay still? The place you stay still is someone else’s body. But. Anyway, he is a guy whose every inhale and every exhale is a nuisance. I closed my eyes, letting out my anger as naturally as breathing.
No matter how fast I moved, I would have to fly for several hours, so I decided to get some sleep in the meantime.
[you.]
“…?”
[If you don’t mind, could I have a chat with you?]
But as a new voice echoed in my head, all my calculations came to naught.
“…Is it Suzaku?”
[You can refuse if you feel uncomfortable.]
“No, I don’t mind. Just… can you hear my voice?”
[Don’t worry. Go’s ears are better than they look.]
Birds certainly have surprisingly good hearing, but…
I stopped comparing Suzaku to ordinary animals and focused on the reason Suzaku was talking to me. Honestly, there wasn’t a single reason I could figure out.
“What are you trying to talk about?”
Or is it still that way? Are you trying to argue with the devil inside me?
[Have you ever received anything from the Sea Dragon and the Six Ghosts Biryuho?]
Ah. It’s just because of the beads.
It was only then that I remembered the items I had placed beyond my consciousness. Since the effect is passive and very few people recognize this entity, it doesn’t come to mind unless it is mentioned directly. It was my defeat.
“okay.”
[…Right. If so, did you receive it when you were watching their end?]
“…How do you know that?”
[He always keeps his ears open for news from his comrades.]
“That’s surprising.”
All other ancient beasts have individualistic tendencies. Suzaku, who lives among humans, seems to be different.
[What’s surprising?]
“Everyone I met seemed to have no interest in each other, so I thought you would too.”
[…I see.]
“So you were curious about that?”
[okay. Even if he was corrupted, he was once a comrade.]
But um. I’ve thought about this before, but I think I’m misunderstanding something.
I thought about Suzaku’s words for a moment. Should I say this or not? It wasn’t a long agony.
“For your information, I’m saying this because I think I’m misunderstanding something. Biryuho is definitely dead, but the sea dragon and six ghosts are alive.”
[…?!]
“Ah, maybe the sea dragon has reached the end of its life. But he was definitely alive when he broke up with me. The same goes for the Six Ghosts.”
[…I’d like to hear the details.]
There’s nothing that can’t be done. Finally, I gently told the story about the Sea Dragon and the Six Demons of the Mountains and Lake Biryu. Because it was generally related to corruption, Suzaku looked a little displeased while listening.
Rather than hating me, it was a feeling of pity for the fallen comrades and displeasure toward the fall itself.
[…is that what happened?]
And when the story reached its end, Suzaku’s voice became much more cheerful than when it started. I felt like I was hearing good news for the first time amidst the layers of misfortune.
[thanks. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known the true truth.]
Naturally, his voice towards me became softer. It wasn’t a bad thing. If he treats me favorably, there will be fewer attempts to harass me in the North.
[Okay, at this point, I will also give God’s blessings to that orb.]
But I didn’t ask for anything like this, did I?
[Do not specify. You, who helped Go’s friends, deserve to receive Go’s protection.]
If this had received the power of Biryuho, wouldn’t it have become a bead blessed by all of the Four Gods?
I felt both the regret of a gamer for not being able to collect the set and the feelings of an ordinary person grateful for unexpected luck. Even though I didn’t know what Suzaku’s divine protection was, it was a joy I could feel because at least it wasn’t bad.
“…I’d like to say thank you.”
[This is what Go will tell you.]
Anyway, Suzaku laughed and asked for the marble to be taken out. I thought it wouldn’t work in this position, but Suzaku’s ability was better than I thought.
Even during flight, he concentrated his power and melted it into a bead in a way that did not harm me. A scarlet color was added to the blue beads. Perhaps because of my mood, my son-in-law felt warm.
[It’s done. You may retrieve it.]
“…What protection did you give?”
[No cold can harm you, and ordinary flame and heat will never melt your skin.]
“…Oh.”
Since the sea dragon gave heat resistance, I thought without thinking that Suzaku would give him complete cold resistance. But who would have thought that he would even give me the protection of nullifying fire itself.
[I tell you this, protection is limited to ordinary flames. Demonic flames, flames mixed with divinity, and flames containing magical power cannot be controlled even by the divine protection.]
“That alone is enough.”
I have no desire to resist divine or demonic powers. I feel like I’ve received an incredible gift just by nullifying ordinary fire.
I thanked him once more for that.
[If you like it, that’s fine. I was worried because there wasn’t much protection that could be granted due to your constitution.]
“Constitution…? “Ah, you mean the devil.”
[I know it wasn’t your intention. However, it is true that the power of purification is meaningless to you who will deal with demonic energy.]
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
Ugh, Magi has purification abilities? If that were the case, it would only be like magic becoming magical power, but it’s the same whether it exists or not. I nodded at Suzaku’s wisdom. Suzaku made a very correct decision.
[Hmm.]
“…Why are you doing that?”
[It looks like something happened to the wire. I tried to come out as secretly as possible… but I guess I got caught as expected.]
“…Your light is so brilliant that it cannot be hidden, so there is nothing I can do.”
[I’m glad you said that.]
It wasn’t meant as a compliment, but it was true that I expressed it in the best way possible, so I didn’t add anything.
[For now, I will drop you off and return to the front lines. Also, like this time, I will try to lose as much weight as possible. You continue to ascend towards the end of the world as before.]
“Yes.”
[There is no need to convey your words to others. Since I already told you.]
“…When?”
[If you live among humans, you will quickly develop the skill to communicate with multiple people at the same time.]
…What the heck.
I was amazed at the most capable creature among the ancient beasts that had ever appeared. I was worried about what would happen if Suzaku was also destined to become corrupted, but it was all for naught.
“…I hope you stay healthy until I see you again.”
[…are you worried about Go?]
“Just because it’s an ancient beast doesn’t mean it can’t get hurt.”
[…yes. haha. Many beings overlook it, but it is true.]
Now that things have come to this, I hope that Suzaku will remain as a colleague forever without corruption. It’s so scary to think that this reliable being could collapse.
[You who shine brightly despite embracing evil, please keep my friend’s heart safe.]
“It is something that must be done. “Don’t worry.”
[okay. If you do so, I will trust you and come back.]
Suzaku, who came down to the ground in an instant, easily put us down and headed south again.
In the meantime, we passed two cities. It was the moment when we skipped a journey of about a month and a half.