Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Rearing (2)
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[⋯⋯So, what are you going to do with that thing?]
“⋯⋯Well, that's how it is.”
[⋯⋯.]
“⋯⋯.”
A heavy silence flowed from Felix on the other end of the communicator.
He had just reported the current status of the Black Whale through the communicator she had given him with instructions to report once the matter was settled.
⋯⋯And along with it, his plans for what to do with it going forward.
[There are plenty of places that raise magical beasts for experiments or as war assets, but calling it 'rearing'⋯⋯]
He could expect enormous backlash.
In a world where even claiming to raise man-eating bears or crocodiles as pets would get you labeled insane, announcing that he was raising a magical beast capable of toppling an entire nation was obvious pandemonium.
But Carlyle’s response to that was consistent.
“Our Blackie is fine.”
Whether they rebelled or cursed him.
Right now, he was in a position where he had to use every means available to save the world.
And when a lump this big rolled right in front of him, was he supposed to just let it go?
No way.
Besides, the Black Whale had a mountain of untapped abilities.
To them, it had only spewed mana, but if it could engage in direct combat with 'intent'⋯⋯
Its power would be beyond reproach as reserve strength for the Hero Party.
[⋯⋯Hey.]
“It’s not like casualties happened because of it now, and if handled well, we could even use it for propaganda, right?”
[⋯⋯.]
“Realistically speaking, if we can just shrink its size a bit, it seems like we could raise it without issues.”
Felix, who had been listening quietly, let out a deep sigh.
[Listen.]
“Yes.”
[If even you start acting like Gray on top of her, I’m really going to struggle.]
“⋯⋯Yes.”
When that person’s name came up, Carlyle couldn’t help but empathize deeply.
Clashing with someone who was the embodiment of recklessness was tough enough, but if he caught it too, the desperation rang clear in Felix’s words.
As expected of the Hero. No one else could draw universal empathy like her⋯⋯
[⋯⋯Still, hmm. It might work.]
“Yes?”
[If it’s just about shrinking the size to control it?]
“⋯⋯I’ll make it work somehow.”
[If it’s like that, we might be able to pull it off.]
Wow.
Was this person a god?
When he asked for what he needed, she magically arranged the means like this. It was incredibly reassuring.
[I’m only agreeing because you asked. Got it?]
“Thank you. I’ll repay the favor somehow later.”
[Sure, I’ll pile on the tough requests, so work hard then.]
“⋯⋯.”
Well, hearing that did bring some pressure.
But after owing a debt this big, cutting ties entirely would be the height of shamelessness.
He wasn’t Gray. He was a perfectly normal social animal.
[⋯⋯I’m right here, you know.]
‘Oops.’
Teasing the Hero too much would bring divine retribution.
As that thought crossed his mind, Felix spoke up as if suddenly remembering something.
[Oh, and. Something dangerous is heading your way.]
“Yes?”
[Handle soothing it on your own.]
And with those words.
Suddenly, the sound of a bomb exploding on the ground echoed from below.
◆
A short while later.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
A dreadful silence flowed atop the Black Whale.
So.
Successfully subduing Blackie without issue was great.
[⋯⋯So we’re fully committing to that name now?]
‘You don’t know anything about our Blackie.’
[⋯⋯.]
Ignore the Holy Sword picking a pointless fight.
Anyway, subduing it without issue was great.
But now he was facing off against a human even more ferocious than that thing.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Seeing Gray staring at him silently from right in front, Carlyle rolled his eyes cautiously.
He wasn’t the only one. Panhima and Vespa beside him were doing the exact same, rolling their eyes.
Even after the three of them had successfully subdued a catastrophe-level magical beast just moments ago, they were now thoroughly cowed by a single human before them.
Honestly, it was justified.
While they had clambered up the rampaging Black Whale’s back in chaos, this person had simply leaped up barehanded.
Moments ago, the bomb-like explosion from the ground had rung out, and she had scaled this height in a single bound.
That alone was reason enough to tread carefully⋯⋯
“⋯⋯Hmm.”
Gray, who had been tapping the floor lightly with her foot, let out a nasal huff.
“You guys caught it on your own.”
“⋯⋯Yes, Lady.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
At those words, Vespa and Carlyle’s gazes met.
‘Is she angry?’
‘Not angry, per se.’
‘She seems in a bad mood, though?’
‘Not to the point of drawing her sword and swinging it⋯⋯!’
Those meaningful glances crossed in an instant.
“⋯⋯How much do you usually read the room that you can even pick up on that?”
It was sharp enough that even Panhima, watching quietly, let those words slip out.
Anyway, their thorough analysis of Gray allowed them to immediately grasp her current demeanor.
Right now, how to put it.
She had something to say bottled up to the brim, but was filled with doubt over whether she should voice it here and now.
“⋯⋯.”
And as he watched her quietly.
Carlyle’s mouth opened naturally.
“Lady. If something’s troubling you, would you share it?”
“⋯⋯What?”
“If it’s weighing on you that much, it’s surely no trifling matter. If it’s too hard to say right now, that’s fine.”
“⋯⋯.”
“I apologize for handling things on our own like this. But rather than you shouldering everything alone, I wanted to lighten your burden even if just a little.”
“⋯⋯.”
The longer he spoke, the more heat rose to Gray’s skin bit by bit.
“All my actions are to help you, Lady. No matter the concern, please share without hesitation—”
As Carlyle continued, his head lolled forward limply.
Gray had chopped the nape of his neck with her hand chop.
“⋯⋯.”
Why.
This was unfair.
“⋯⋯I told you not to do that.”
Gray huffed, her face slightly flushed.
“Fine. I’m not in a bad mood because you handled it on your own.”
With that, Gray paused to choose her words.
“What’s bothering me isn’t something I want to ask here right now.”
At least, not with people around.
That was the vibe she gave.
And the moment Carlyle saw that, his expression went blank.
Huh.
Was the Lady actually minding the people around her like this⋯⋯?
No, wait, did this person even read the room to begin with⋯⋯?
As that metaphysical dread crept over Carlyle, Gray patted his arm and swallowed her words.
She seemed to be agonizing over whether what she was about to say next was appropriate.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
And the longer that silence stretched, the more Carlyle’s anxiety amplified.
No.
The very fact that this person was agonizing this much sent chills down his spine.
What on earth was she about to say that required such deliberation⋯⋯?
“Hey.”
And then.
The words that followed proved his anxiety was far from unfounded.
“Come to my room tonight.”
“?”
“Let’s have a nice, long talk. Just the two of us.”
“⋯⋯??”
No.
⋯⋯No.
‘It’s not what I think, right?’
[⋯⋯I don’t know what you’re imagining, but remember that thing over there is me. The implications are likely completely different from what a normal person would think—]
‘That’s why it’s dangerous. What if she calls me like that and tortures me?!’
[⋯⋯.]
‘Because I stole her job, she’ll rage uncontrollably—’
[⋯⋯Even so, she wouldn’t do that.]
The Holy Sword sighed in response, then ground its teeth as it added.
[Idiot.]
‘?’
⋯⋯Somehow, it felt like a day where misfortune would strike and he’d get cursed.
But showing an even more intense reaction to Gray’s words than Carlyle was.
Surprisingly, Vespa.
She fidgeted, glancing back and forth between Carlyle and Gray.
She had seemed uncomfortable throughout the previous exchange.
“⋯⋯Um, Lady—”
As she opened her mouth to speak.
“Kyaa?!”
A sudden gust buried her words entirely.
It was due to a massive flying creature rising nearby.
As everyone turned toward it.
⋯⋯A colossal reptile covered head to toe in red scales was there.
The word that came to mind immediately was.
“⋯⋯Dragon?”
Dragon.
The iconic powerhouse of fantasy.
“Everyone—! Are you unharmed?!”
And that dragon opened its mouth in an all-too-familiar speech pattern.
⋯⋯The speech of someone they knew.
“Professor Siona?”
“Ah, uh, apologies. First time seeing me like this, right?”
“⋯⋯.”
First time or not.
This person was a dragon⋯⋯?
‘⋯⋯Then she’s insanely strong, right?’
As with dragons in any fantasy world, in the Demon Hunter world too, dragons were among the apex predators.
They had ruled the Old Continent as overlords until the Empire’s Emperor liberated humans and sub-species.
Hence their terribly poor reputation.
Rule inevitably came stained with blood and violence.
That was likely why Siona hid her draconic nature and went about in human form.
“The situation is so urgent. Well, you all are trusted by Her Highness anyway.”
Siona smiled awkwardly.
Even in her massive lizard form, her expression was clearly readable, which was oddly fascinating.
“More fucked than magical beasts⋯⋯ No, apologies. Extremely important VIPs are arriving, so we must fetch you all posthaste.”
⋯⋯Hmm.
He was curious what human’s arrival warranted casually revealing such earth-shattering info.
But the moment he heard Siona’s explanation, it clicked.
“The 1st Prince and 2nd Princess are heading here now.”
“⋯⋯.”
“They wish to discuss this incident with you all.”
⋯⋯From Carlyle’s perspective too, he could only agree that those were foes more fucked than magical beasts.
◆
-System Message
▶ Trait ‘Hero's Companion’ activates.
▶ Part of the ‘Reformation List’ is updated!
[ ★ Arrogance 80% → 70% ]
▶ Reward granted!
▶ Check the Trait tab!
-System Message
▶ ‘Secret Meeting with the Hero’ event added.
▶ Potential for ‘Holy Sword’ and ‘Hero’ relationship to form!
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