I don’t particularly like children.
Especially if it’s a child who can’t properly control their reason and instincts.
“Nyahahaha─!!”
Before I knew it, the sky had darkened.
The campfire lit on the ground flickered like a mirage, brightly illuminating the surroundings.
Warm light spreads as if pushing away the darkness.
However, the ruckus of the dragon who was frantically playing beside me filled the space even faster.
“If Binya’s words are true, it’s very likely that the Demon King has attacked the dragon’s nest to expand his influence.”
“…That’s quite a gloomy story.”
“Moreover, the fact that no one has known about this for several years means that the Demon King’s army is moving very cautiously.”
“Why would they suddenly do that?”
“Presumably, the Demon King didn’t want someone to find out about his plans.”
“Who could that be?”
“Yes. And that someone is surely the vampire who slaughtered a large number of demons in the Elm Forest ten years ago.”
The serious conversation we were having while sitting across from the roaring campfire made me momentarily silent, staring blankly at the rising flames.
“The Demon Tribe has fallen once. However, thanks to the Demon King being alive, they quickly regained their strength and rose again.”
“….”
“But the power of the Demon Tribe is not as strong as it once was. I believe that the urgent expansion of power now is definitely for that reason.”
“I see.”
“At this point, I can’t help but be curious about the identity of that vampire. Just how strong must they be to make even the Demon King, who wielded such overwhelming power, tremble….”
No matter what Jerion said in front of me, I didn’t really pay attention.
I wasn’t particularly curious, nor was it a topic that caught my interest.
“Also, I’ve heard that the vampire has been missing since that day.”
“….”
“Even the elves of the Loen Forest, who were under the vampire’s influence, say they don’t know anything.”
“….”
“What could be their purpose in taking control of the Loen Forest and slaughtering so many demons….”
“Don’t take food away slowly. You have sauce all over your mouth.”
“…Huh?”
“And when you’re eating, don’t smile; just eat quietly. Even if you’re a beast, that’s not polite towards the other person.”
Looking back now, it wasn’t so surprising that Binya could speak.
After all, according to the information Priscilla provided, Binya had mentioned her age herself.
“It’s delicious─!!”
As I wiped the bits of meat smeared around Binya’s mouth with a napkin, I let out a deep sigh of frustration.
This is why I don’t like children who can’t properly control their reason and instincts.
I have to take care of everything from start to finish.
Moreover, they don’t even realize when they’re doing something wrong.
“Why am I looking after a dragon instead of a human….”
“Nyahahaha─!!!”
“Tsk… give it here.”
Reluctantly, I took the meat skewer that Binya was holding and placed it all on a plate, feeding it to her one by one.
I wanted to let her eat by herself as much as possible, but it seemed Binya didn’t have enough intellectual capacity for that yet.
“…Did you hear what I said properly?”
“Of course. Even if I don’t look like it, I hear everything.”
“Ahaha… well, that’s a relief, but….”
“In summary, the Demon King is the problem, right?”
“Yes? Oh no… that’s certainly a problem, but what I meant was rather about the vampire….”
“That’s okay. You don’t need to worry.”
I continued speaking softly, my gaze still fixed on Binya.
“The reason we can enjoy this peaceful dinner together now is all thanks to the children working hard for the world.”
“…That’s true.”
“It might be tough for now, but if we believe in and wait for the children, a world where everyone can live peacefully will surely come. So let’s focus more on supporting them rather than worrying.”
“…….”
As I finished the conversation and focused on Binya, I noticed Jerion keeping silent, alternating his gaze between me and Binya.
His eyes were filled with inexplicable curiosity, as if he were watching something wondrous.
“What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit curious.”
“What is?”
“BINya didn’t even spare me a glance, let alone talk when she was with me. Yet, here she is, having conversations and eating well with the nun, so it’s a strange feeling in many ways….”
“I’m quite curious, too. The fact that I spent a whole year with her and didn’t even know her name.”
“No matter how much I asked, she wouldn’t answer….”
With my blunt remark, Jerion instantly drooped his body with a gloomy expression.
From that, I could feel the emptiness and hollowness he was experiencing.
“Were you not informed by the receptionist that Binya could speak?”
“No. All I heard was her age….”
“Who mentioned that age?”
“She said it herself….”
“…Isn’t that proof that she can speak?”
“Ah.”
I could roughly understand why Jerion had been unable to interact even a little bit with Binya for an entire year.
I questioned how he could lead an adventurer’s life and claim to be Aizen’s mentor with such a lack of awareness.
“Nyahahaha─!!”
“Good thing I happened to have business with you, Jerion… Otherwise, I might have ended up doing nothing until the end of my life.”
“Hahaha… well, it’s okay. Since I’m here to keep watch, Binya is safe after all.”
“Yes?”
“As you can see, Binya is a dragon, right? So, she is bound to be a target for many people.”
Jerion continued speaking plainly while scratching his head with a slightly awkward expression.
“Especially the fact that she is a young dragon caught the attention of many people. Since she is young, people thought they could easily deal with her, and many rushed to hunt her down.”
Noticing that the topic of conversation was quite provocative, I promptly placed Binya on my lap and gently covered her ears to block out Jerion’s words.
“That’s exactly why I took on this request. While I do adventuring work and understand people’s hearts, still….”
“So, you weren’t originally hired with the intention to hunt her?”
“That’s right. Since I took too long, there were several discussions about changing the contractor, but each time, I drove people away.”
I fell into a moment of silence.
Though it might sound fair and honest at first glance, from the perspective of those directly faced with the situation, it was merely an act of hypocrisy.
That doesn’t mean I can say Jerion’s actions are inherently bad.
It’s just a matter that feels ambiguous when attempting to define some kind of justice.
“That means… this request has already become a piece of paper without effect long ago.”
“That might be the case. It’s still listed as a request, but resolving it now would yield no rewards for anyone.”
Originally, the reward tied to the request was merely a supplementary profit; the ultimate goal for adventurers eyeing this request is the materials from the dragon.
Thus, even if the request disappears, adventurers seeking Binya will continue to appear.
“Are you aware you’re engaging in a very dangerous line of work?”
“I’m aware. I haven’t had a proper sleep for a day in a year, so that alone says it all.”
“You might be managing to get by for now, but later it could become much more difficult than it is now.”
“I’m aware of that too.”
“Yet, do you still plan to continue this lifestyle?”
“I will probably continue for the time being, as long as everyone doesn’t oppose it.”
After finishing those words, Jerion rose slowly from his seat with a noticeably relieved expression.
“Anyway, it’s quite late. I’ll safely escort you back to the village, so let’s get going.”
“You don’t have to rush─.”
“No. This isn’t safe. Aizen would definitely dislike this.”
With that, Jerion gently extended his hand towards me, but I still made no move from my place.
“Nun?”
Even at his call, I didn’t respond, merely remaining silent in my position.
The awkward atmosphere around us lingered for quite a while.
“Is there a problem…?”
────────────
【Skill: Mist of Blood】
────────────
A skill that uses blood to induce hallucinations in an unspecified number of people.
I calmly concentrated my blood, blocking Binya’s mouth and nose as she sat on my lap.
The mist I created quickly enveloped the entire area in a haze, and the gaze of Jerion, who was standing idly in front of me, also began to blur.
“…….”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jerion.”
Before long, Jerion started walking toward the village as if entranced by something.
Moreover, the people hiding ominously among the dense foliage began to reveal themselves one by one.
────────────
【Skill: Blood Transfusion】
────────────
They were visibly thieves.
The fact that they were able to hide perfectly to the point Jerion didn’t notice signifies that they had quite a decent level of skill.
But they had chosen the wrong timing.
“It doesn’t seem like a situation where we can casually talk. I had intended to have a pleasant evening filled with stories about the children….”
“Ohhh….”
“Is Binya’s original home far from here?”
“I don’t know.”
“…Then what direction?”
“Probably that way─.”
We ended up leaving Warrior Village much sooner than planned.
However, having met Jerion and even given him a gift of gratitude, I feel somewhat regretful but not particularly uncomfortable.
I never intended to stay in Warrior Village for too long anyway.
Although it feels somewhat regretful, I’ll save the stories about the children for the next village.
After all, enough time has already passed regarding matters about dragons, and hurrying won’t change anything.
Thinking of it as a side trip might not be so bad─.
“Well then, please return this necklace to me.”
“Nyaha─?!!”
“I no longer have a reason to give this necklace to Binya.”
“That’s not fair─!! You said you didn’t need it earlier.”
“Binya, do you know the term ‘an egg that is neither meat nor fish’?”
“An, egg…?”
Not wanting to explain, I didn’t tell Binya the meaning.
I only briefly informed her that such a saying exists.
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
I had been trying to avoid getting entangled with the Demon Tribe…
But I also can’t leave Binya, who could be hunted anytime, like this.
I feel like I’ve gotten involved in unnecessarily complicated matters.
