episode_0028

…It was my mistake to expect things to be easily resolved.

I sighed as I looked at the thick, glossy, and smooth tail of the dragonian swaying.

“Sigh.”

When has anything ever been solved easily?

Even the few things that were resolved easily brought about bigger and heavier events because of them.

All the tasks I’ve tackled so far have been nearly impossible, haven’t they?

Of course, it’s hard to say that I’ve completely resolved them yet.

Feeling my forehead heating up, I brought my hand to it.

Yeah, no wonder things seem to be resolving too easily.

But then…

“Are you scared of me?”

Why is this woman picking a fight with me?

Isn’t there an issue with the logic here?

Having experienced the great escape in Daelim, I did get a bit stronger.

Fleeing from the south to the west, I took the first steps into the power called “magic.”

If controlled properly, I could definitely unleash tremendous firepower.

However, compared to my party members, I could confidently say that my strength was not even as much as a claw’s worth.

Why is she picking a fight with someone like me who doesn’t even know the basics of combat?

Wasn’t she the crazy one who only goes wild against the strong?

As I stood still with a firm expression, the dragonian began to mock me with a sneering face.

“Pfft! Seems like all the rumors about the witch were just baseless gossip, huh? They said she’s an existence you should never mess with, but I didn’t expect to be this disappointed.”

“There’s no need to fight. How about we just take this girl with us instead?”

“Hmm… Is that okay? Oh, looks like you two are quite close.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Giving her a cold glance, the dragonian chuckled and pointed at the girl with his hand.

“Last night… That’s what I mean…”

“That’s enough, thick smooth tail.”

“Oh my, such an aggressive tone? Didn’t want to reveal something embarrassing?”

As the dragonian’s mockery ended, he raised a fierce aura while attacking her.

The dragonian greeted him with a smile full of joy.

…What exactly happened last night?

Seeing the girl willing to risk her life to hide something, it doesn’t seem like a normal situation.

Am I the only one who thinks that way? My party members have been giving me suspicious looks.

“Was there really nothing last night?”

“Really nothing?”

“Given how boldly that perverted guy is trying to hide something, it doesn’t seem like a typical situation. Tell us the truth. Maybe something happened behind our backs…”

“Are you crazy, Inspiration?! Why would I do something like that with that guy? Do you seriously believe that lizard’s words?”

“But the circumstances are too…”

“That’s enough. If you say more, Inspiration, I’ll split your boasting head in two.”

Threateningly, the dwarf, Stroheim, clenched his mouth shut.

…I understand that the girl has some secrets.

But if the girl did something shady, she did it. I can confidently say that I didn’t do it.

Even though she’s a pathetic female creature who gets excited with just a touch, she wouldn’t have taken advantage of me while I was asleep, right?

Shaking my head vigorously, I insisted on my innocence to the group.

“I didn’t do anything, I really just slept. Besides, I’m not the kind of woman with exhibitionist tendencies, am I? When would I have done something like that while you guys were sleeping?”

Just imagining a scene where a man accuses me makes my head shake involuntarily.

But secretly having a relationship in the open outdoors?

“Impossible.”

Did I watch the brutal battle between the battle maniac and the possible bug enthusiast with a fake laugh like that?

Suddenly, the draconian burst into laughter, dealing a severe blow to my mental state.

“As expected, your swordsmanship is as awkward as it was yesterday!”

“What?”

“Exactly, swinging without confidence. Doesn’t it resemble when the witch was clinging onto you last night?”

…When did that crazy woman see me to start gossiping?

As I blankly shook my head, the suspicious gazes of my companions once again turned towards me.

Well, why?

Seriously, damn it.

Just had a simple conversation and went to sleep, that’s all.

Despite my unjust gaze for explanation.

“When the witch pretended to sleep and flailed around wildly, you couldn’t even touch her. Ha… How hilarious it was to hear you mess up the prayers.”

The damn draconian’s gossip knew no bounds, and unable to bear it any longer, I gathered my magic and approached the draconian.

“Hey, you bastard.”

A fist filled with raw magic struck the draconian right in the back.

—–

“Cough… Agh…”

Looking at the completely incapacitated draconian with a lively gaze, the lizard on the ground cowered in fear.

“Haha…!”

Does she not remember that she started the gossip first?

Pretending to be the victim was truly distasteful.

There are things to say and things not to say.

What?

I pretended to sleep and flail at the sword guy?

I let out a long sigh and slowly walked towards the helpless draconian.

“Hey.”

“Y-Yes?!”

“Who are you to gossip at first sight, huh? You should lie with some restraint. What did I do last night? Say it again.”

One hand gripping the draconian’s horn and the other holding a mithril hammer, waiting for an answer.

Soon, the draconian awkwardly smiled and chuckled.

“Nothing happened.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, nothing happened. So please spare me, I beg you.”

With tears welling up in her eyes, the draconian begged for her life.

Did she turn to the party members to ask about her treatment?

I could see the party members looking at me with bewildered eyes.

“…Clearly trying to cover something up, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Mr. Dwarf. We might have to play dumb too. It seems like we need to look deeper.”

“To threaten someone with such a fine cooking tool… Truly despicable.”

“Can everyone hear this?”

One gossip ends, only to be followed by another, isn’t it too much for allies to treat each other this way?

I looked down at the subdued draconian with a wry smile, hearing her whimpering.

Why is she making such a fuss when I’m not even going to harm her?

Or maybe she has anger management issues that need treatment?

After a long exhale, I released the draconian and asked a question.

“So, are you coming with us? Speaking up? If you help, I can introduce you to a worthy opponent you’ll be satisfied with.”

“Could I possibly refuse?”

“It’s better not to.”

In this situation, one must humble oneself, right?

Narrowing my eyes, I made the offer, and she nodded repeatedly, accepting it.

It would have been better if it started like this from the beginning.

Why fight and gossip about others to feel satisfied?

Anyway, now the Southern, Western, and even the equivalent of the Northern supporters have gathered in one place.

At this point, it might be worth delving into a Western episode, I thought.

“Now, how should we deal with the elves…”

The problem lies with the elves.

If these ladies assist our group, they could become the most reliable companions in the world.

But if they hinder us…

“Hell will break loose.”

To resolve this damn episode, one might have to endure several times the hardships faced by the protagonist’s group in the original episode.

Even after more than ten days have passed, the followers of evil have not shown their faces, leaving a situation where one cannot even fathom what madness they might be plotting.

Summoning a noble-class demon like in the original work might be tolerable, but if something greater is summoned…

At the peak of the worst-case scenario… I truly dreaded imagining it.

Therefore, I once again posed a question to Dragonean.

“Was there anything different in the city, Paradise, from usual? And we have elves chasing us; could you roughly pinpoint their location?”

She tilted her head slightly and slowly replied with a smirk.

“Paradise? Ah, ‘Heaven’? Other than the noisy city becoming quiet every day, nothing much changed.”

“And the elves… Oh, they are really hot on our trail. If we avoid any confrontation, maybe two days, but if we engage, three to four days? That’s how long before they catch up.”

A rumor that by the time we reach Paradise, the elves will catch up, as expected.

In the ominous signs of impending realization, I teasingly flicked Dragonean’s smooth, alluring tail.

…When will I ever find happiness?

When will the dream of living quietly somewhere come true?

I tried to find peace by stroking the tail, but instead of a pleasant sensation, only gloomy thoughts arose.

Thus, I dropped the sleek tail to the ground and shook my head.

It’s okay, I can catch my breath briefly once the Western business is done.

While catching my breath, I decided to slowly figure out a way to part ways with the main group.

For some reason, only scenes of failed separation kept flashing before my eyes, but I resolved to focus on the reality at hand for now.

And so, the group continued towards the city, Paradise, once again, with a new companion.