Chapter 116

“Gal Dragon…”

“Araya seems… to be fine.”

Pallas, who was taking care of Araya’s condition, looked at the enormous golden beast that was quietly hovering in the air, despite its massive size.

“Araya’s kin.”

“It’s Pallas.”

“Yes. Pallas. Head toward the original city wall.”

“…What do you mean? Are you telling me to leave Araya here?”

“Does your presence here help Araya regain consciousness?”

At the words of the Gal Dragon, Pallas bit his lip and looked down at Araya in his arms.

A mere movement could result in catastrophic damage from a giant’s blow.

Despite facing a fist containing enough power to reshape the terrain with a single strike, Araya was definitely not in a good condition.

However, despite the tremendous force that would ordinarily crush whatever was before it, Araya remained unscathed except for the fact that her limbs were intact, and she was coughing up black blood from internal injuries.

Even the golden robe that Araya wore was surprisingly undamaged.

‘Life-imbued armor.’

The defensive technique that weaves armor to protect one’s body using extremely refined mana created by Araya.

That had saved Araya’s life.

“…I have no reason to leave Araya’s side.”

“No. You must move toward the city wall.”

“Why?”

“The barrier that protects this city will soon be breached by the giants outside. At a time when the capital is at a disadvantage, if you were to withdraw your power, many will die.”

At those words, Pallas raised his head and looked at the sky.

The High Elf could still sense the immense presence covering the city.

“The barrier seems to be intact.”

“I don’t have time to explain in detail. From now until Araya awakens and recovers, I must face that large monkey.”

Pallas’s gaze turned toward the giant Terato, grappling with his mother, El Prigion.

“The choice is yours. But I wonder if you will be pleased to find that you wasted a precious opportunity here when Araya wakes up.”

“What do you know about Araya!”

The Gal Dragon flew into the air once more, ignoring Pallas’s words and soaring toward Terato.

“…Damn it.”

Pallas scowled and cursed.

“Hey…”

A timid voice came from beside him, drawing Pallas’s attention.

“What is it, human?”

The human facing Pallas flinched under his fierce aura but took a deep breath and spoke.

“My name is Kyle. Honorable Elf. Outside, a giant battles our mother goddess, and a beautiful and divine golden beast flies around the city. Seeing the troubled expression on your honorable face, I can tell it is an urgent matter.”

“…What do you want to say?”

“Please leave Araya to me, and follow the words of that divine beast toward the city wall.”

Kyle said with a face full of determination.

“…On what basis do you ask me to entrust my sister to you?”

“Ah, honorable one. I suspected you were extraordinary, but it turns out you are Araya’s brother.”

Even though he clearly heard the Gal Dragon refer to him as kin, Kyle tried to flatter Pallas in an ambiguous tone.

“There is no human in this city or country who does not venerate Lady Araya.”

Then Kyle proudly placed his palm on his heart.

“Moreover, I was the first human Lady Araya met when she came out of the forest into our world. Though I am of lowly origin and lacking in ability to assist by her side, I have endeavored to help in my own realm.”

Pallas watched Kyle, who smiled with a gentle expression, quietly recalling being called the first human to meet Araya.

For a moment, Pallas remained silent before finally speaking.

“What is your name?”

“Oh, it’s Kyle. Honorable one.”

“There’s no need to add ‘honorable’ at the front. Kyle.”

“I apologize.”

“I will only ask one thing, Kyle.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Do you like Araya?”

At Pallas’s words, Kyle froze for a moment as if turned to stone.

The confident look on Kyle’s face suddenly turned crimson.

Stuttering, Kyle looked at Pallas’s serious face, gathered his thoughts, and spoke earnestly.

“I am sinfully in love with her. Every single day for eight years.”

From being a rookie peddler to becoming a man capable of taking responsibility for someone.

As Pallas observed Kyle’s face, he stood up, still cradling the unconscious Araya.

Looking at Kyle as he hurriedly stood up as well, Pallas spoke.

“I entrust her to you.”

“Oh! Yes! I will dedicate my life to taking care of Lady Araya.”

“You should.”

As Pallas extended his hand to hand over Araya, Kyle carefully received the unconscious Araya as if she were a treasure of great worth.

Araya felt very light and emitted a pleasant fragrance.

“Watch over her eyes closely. They might be gouged out.”

As Kyle held Araya and stared blankly at her face, Pallas growled.

“I’m sorry!”

“…I don’t know if this is the right thing to do. Did I hear you say Kyle? If anything were to happen to Araya, I would hold you accountable, as well as every human in this city. Do not entertain foolish thoughts.”

“Of course! How dare I…!”

Though Kyle felt as if he couldn’t breathe under the heavy aura, he managed to respond.

With a worried expression, Pallas glanced once at the unconscious Araya’s face and bit his lip before swiftly disappearing from Kyle’s sight.

“Hyah… I thought I was gonna die.”

“So young. I can’t even speak in front of that person.”

“Isn’t he just a madman running around with money stacked up, rejecting even the most beautiful maidens?”

“Remil, Deadol.”

Kyle looked at the former peddler comrades approaching him.

Individuals who had settled in Pohelrn, gaining influence as city merchants due to their past ties with Araya.

“Madman, you say? I’m now the head of the Peddler Guild. I’m not some rookie anymore.”

“Just because you’ve grown a little, you’re getting cocky.”

Deadol smirked.

“Isn’t it a pure love that hasn’t looked at another woman for eight years? How about a secret kiss?”

“Blasphemy! I dare not even speak of such a thing!”

“Ha ha. I thought so.”

“…Just watching from afar is enough.”

“Truly a saintly and pure love. Wouldn’t you agree, Remil?”

“Indeed.”

Remil chuckled with weasel-like eyes.

“…Are you here to mock me? I need to move Lady Araya to a place where she can stabilize.”

“Ah, certainly. I was out of my mind. But isn’t it Lady Araya? Frankly, is there even a need to guard her?”

“The golden beast said that giants will soon breach the walls. There is no guarantee that Lady Araya will not become a target for those brutish giants. Recently, you have disposed of many giants. If she’s in a state of being unable to regain consciousness, she can be attacked unprepared.”

“Indeed, that’s certainly the case.”

Deadol scratched his balding head, which was starting to show its scalp, with his thick hand as he spoke.

He then looked up at the sky and viewed the chaotic city.

“It’s quite a mess. It shows how peaceful it has been until now. Chancellor Alia has summoned the Peddler Guild and Stonecrafter Guild. All the powerful aristocrats in the city and the executives of each guild are to gather at the Grand Temple. It is most likely related to that long-legged giant causing a ruckus outside and our mother goddess. And she will be there too.”

He then turned his gaze to Araya, who was quietly breathing in Kyle’s arms.

“Originally, I intended to join you at the Grand Temple, but since things have turned out this way, let’s head there alone. Are you planning to go?”

Kyle nodded in response, and Deadol and Remil followed suit.

“We will keep her in the safest place until Lady Araya awakens. Even if this city of Pohelrn collapses, I will ensure Lady Araya’s safety.”

“Don’t think too seriously, Kyle. I don’t know why this sudden mess has come up, but if you think about it, it wasn’t uncommon for towns to suddenly disappear a few decades ago.”

“It wasn’t just 20 years ago. Even up until 10 years ago, it was the same, Deadol. It wasn’t rare for a town we arrived in with goods to vanish a week later due to a monster attack.”

“Ha ha. That’s true.”

Deadol laughed heartily at Remil’s words and patted Kyle’s shoulder as he passed by.

“Wish you luck, Kyle.”

“Yes, to both of you.”

Kyle looked at the figures of Deadol and Remil disappearing down the alley and then glanced down at Araya in his arms.

‘…Blood.’

Kyle wiped the blood from Araya’s mouth with his sleeve.

‘…I will definitely protect you, Lady Araya.’

Even if the giants cross the walls, to a safe place.

Kyle, like Deadol and Remil, soon vanished into the alley.

◈ ◈ ◈

“…You are late.”

“Don’t nitpick. El Prigion. I came as quickly as I could.”

“What trickery are you up to? Gal Dragon. El Prigion.”

“Well, we’ll see.”

Terato looked up at the Gal Dragon, who was looking down at him from the sky, with displeasure and dropped the object he was holding.

It was the branch of El Prigion that had been restraining Terato’s body.

Boom—! Boom—!

The branches torn from Terato’s strength fell and struck the ground.

In addition to the two branches that had just fallen, a considerable number of branches were torn and smashed, lying beneath Terato’s feet.

“Hmph… It doesn’t matter. After all, you can’t stop my steps.”

Having to block a sorcery that doesn’t even affect him with nothing but his tiny claws and teeth, the Gal Dragon felt the pressure.

And while the Gal Dragon briefly left, El Prigion had lost nearly half of its branches.

Babel Terato smiled coldly, as if sensing victory.

With Terato’s foot lifting high, a kick of the giant was directed toward Pohelrn, where even the city wall, which it had boasted of, barely reached his ankles.

But with a thunderous roar, Terato’s body wobbled and collapsed.

“…What the!?”

“A gift. Big monkey. You know what it is?”

“…The sorcery of astral disruption.”

“But I’ve put a bit more work into it. It is an object that is twice as powerful as ours. You will never be able to obtain it. You won’t even be able to get close.”

Upon hearing the Gal Dragon’s words, Terato quietly examined the barrier and ultimately burst into a twisted smile.

“That’s a lie.”

Terato stood up his collapsed body and scoffed at the Gal Dragon.

“You seem rather desperate. The arrogant Gal Dragon.”

Terato’s suspicion was met with silence from the Gal Dragon.

He simply continued to look down.

“My children.”

Terato’s voice echoed.

“The wall that blocks you has been breached. Pillage. Show those foolish creatures the power of the chosen race, the Titans. And bring me what I desire at the end of it. Then the rightful order shall finally be established beneath this star.”

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