Ch.135Chapter 135

I think everyone has had that kind of experience.

Like when a friend tells you that the problem they picked will definitely be on the test, and you say, “If it shows up, I’ll buy you a meal,” only to be dumbfounded when it actually happens and you lose money.

And since you benefited from it anyway, you can’t even argue and have to listen to your friend’s boasting.

In such cases, I would gladly buy them a meal and even bow deeply in gratitude.

After all, if my grades or GPA improved because of them, wouldn’t they essentially be my life’s benefactor?

Moreover, if the benefit was overwhelmingly great, I would even kiss the back of their hand in appreciation.

That’s how I felt until yesterday.

“Husband, dear?”

I had realized a truth.

Never bet on anything if there’s even the slightest possibility of a plan, however flimsy, coming to fruition.

I had deliberately returned to my room, wrapped myself in blankets, and was pretending not to hear anything.

But of course, I couldn’t ignore a voice shooting directly into my head.

To be honest, I never expected this plan to work so perfectly.

I thought it would be like a typical manga cliché where the villain escapes at the last moment, postponing the resolution for later!

This was an Outer God possessing a divine body, for crying out loud.

It should have been as difficult to capture as a major Outer God!

Who would have thought it would end with one simple click from the Knight Commander!

If I had known, I would have taken an easier approach.

“Are you done with your excuses?”

Just listen to that voice.

That thoroughly lascivious voice!

What do you think this romance-fantasy-brained dragon wishes for?

Obviously that!

She wants me to call her name!

Grabbing her horns earlier was already quite inappropriate, but at least then I could have made excuses.

I could have claimed ignorance and so on.

But calling her name would have clear meaning, and that’s exactly why I called Fiore’s name.

To play dumb in such a situation?

Ah… this is as far as it goes.

Some might say, “You already called Fiore’s name, so why not call The Dragonslayer’s name too!”

That’s precisely the problem.

The problem is that I’ve already called Fiore’s name.

The saint’s words come to mind again.

Major Outer Gods are like noble ladies, extremely possessive.

If I were to do that, I’d essentially be confessing to two people at once, and both would accept.

In one story I read, someone who mindlessly seduced multiple women ended up with just his head remaining, cradled in a woman’s arms.

No matter what, I didn’t want to experience having my body split in two.

By now, Fiore should have calmed The Dragonslayer down, but she wasn’t saying anything.

Could it be that she’s going along with The Dragonslayer’s plan?

No way!

She should be able to stop this!

Don’t give up, Fiore!

You can do it!

“Is continuously calling that weed’s name meant to be a provocation toward me?”

Y-yes.

Since it’s come to this, let’s have a proper fight!

I’d rather become dust floating through the void!

“…Very well. Then first, let’s prepare the bed…”

No, no, no, no.

That’s not the kind of “fight” I meant!

And why would you go to bed with someone who provoked you?

Something’s not right here!

“Tch. It was natural enough.”

It wasn’t natural at all!

It was so artificial that it’s actually scary!

Argh.

My head hurts.

How can I escape this situation?

As I was clutching my head in distress…

“…Dragon girl. Calm down a bit.”

“W-what?! Did you just call me ‘dragon girl’…!”

Then, a voice sweeter than ever before reached my ears.

It was Fiore’s entrance.

Well done, Fiore!

Oh, my savior!

“No, I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

“…What do you mean?”

And Fiore precisely targeted the loophole I had forgotten.

“Wasn’t your name supposed to be unreachable to Tanthyn in the first place?”

“…”

Right, that was it.

Originally, the only Outer Gods who recognized their names were Fiore and The Cook.

There was no way for me to know The Dragonslayer’s name even if I wanted to.

“W-we don’t know that yet, do we? My husband has grown much stronger with that pervert’s abilities.”

“Sigh. Go ahead and try. Ask The Chronicler to inscribe a text for you.”

Phew.

I could feel myself returning to normal after nearly becoming Tan/thyn.

So this is what it feels like to come back from the brink of death.

“Wait and see!”

I felt The Dragonslayer disappear with a “poof” from somewhere in my mind.

Is she really going to ask The Chronicler for help?

It won’t work anyway.

She must hate losing such a rare opportunity so pathetically.

“…What’s the point of helping when you won’t even come when I give you the key to my home.”

I heard Fiore grumbling.

Hmm.

It’s true that with all the recent events, I haven’t been able to properly do anything.

Even my market outing with Asti was cut short because we ran into The Huntsman.

Because of that, I couldn’t visit The Gardener’s park that I had promised to go to later.

Sorry, I’ve been busy.

“Hmph.”

…Fiore.

“Eep.”

When I carefully called her name, Fiore let out a startled sound.

If names require such caution, why do Outer Gods even have them?

“…Only at times like this?”

She’s truly thankful, cute, and beautiful…

“S-stop! Don’t add strange adjectives!”

Though I couldn’t see her face, I could imagine what she looked like.

Probably bright red and waving her arms around wildly.

“You’re something else, woof.”

“W-what?”

Fiore’s words were cut short, seemingly startled by Bell’s voice.

…Of course, I was surprised too.

At this point, Bell must have a language tutor or something.

Otherwise, how could she learn such colloquial expressions?

But I had already figured out why Bell was speaking like that.

Bell, walk?!

I raised my voice tone in my mind as if speaking to a dog.

“W-woof?! Walk?! Walk!”

…She immediately returned to her original excitement.

Yes, that’s it.

Bell also played an important role in defeating the divine body.

She even dealt with all the illegal slave traders in Vandre village. If I could reach her, I’d want to pat her head vigorously.

Bell becomes my ally just by taking her for walks.

Maybe I should find some bone-shaped treats that are safe for humans to eat.

…Though I wondered if such things existed in this world.

As I was thinking about this, something suddenly began to be inscribed on the wall of the room.

з҉͉̰̠͈͚͐̅͜͡м̷̡̗͍̪̋̏͛͡е̶̢̲͔̍̉̈́̕я̸̰̟̭̲͉̈́̌̑͢͞ ф̸̨͚͈̣̾̓͊̀̒͡о̸̨̞͙̙͈̉̽̅̒͋͡н̷̡̜̠̎́̿͊̕ о̸͎̯͛̈́̏̒͐͢͠д̸̬͍͓͌̀͜͞и̸̢͈͖҇̈́̀͗н̴̨̦̘͚̩͋͋̊͒͝о̵͎̯̙͊̓̕͜ͅк̶̧̙͕͈̞͎̍̓͆̑͡а҉̨̥̭͖̥̝͊̄͝я̶̧̟̙̟̗̂̔̌͠

Hmm.

It seems she just inscribed The Dragonslayer’s name, but I still can’t see anything.

“Well? Can you see it?”

It looks strangely broken to me.

“N-no way…!”

I heard The Dragonslayer’s voice filled with despair.

Come on, don’t be like that.

It’s not like wishes can only be granted once or twice.

We can share some interesting cultural experiences together.

“…I cannot accept this!”

A voice that made me extremely uneasy was heard.

Sure enough.

BOOM!

Just like at The Gardener’s park, I heard the sound of a dimension being shattered.

I thought the protection of the brazier would prevent her from coming through at once, but that was my big misconception.

With enough power to break The Chronicler’s text, she could easily break through the branch office’s barrier, which was some distance from the brazier.

“W-what’s going on?!”

“I cannot accept this!”

N-no.

Why are you so obsessed!

This doesn’t warrant coming here in person, no matter what!

“Now, husband. Listen carefully.”

“No, if you say it by name, I’ll hear it even less…”

“My name is з҉͉̰̠͈͚͐̅͜͡м̷̡̗͍̪̋̏͛͡е̶̢̲͔̍̉̈́̕я̸̰̟̭̲͉̈́̌̑͢͞ ф̸̨͚͈̣̾̓͊̀̒͡о̸̨̞͙̙͈̉̽̅̒͋͡н̷̡̜̠̎́̿͊̕ о̸͎̯͛̈́̏̒͐͢͠д̸̬͍͓͌̀͜͞и̸̢͈͖҇̈́̀͗н̴̨̦̘͚̩͋͋̊͒͝о̵͎̯̙͊̓̕͜ͅк̶̧̙͕͈̞͎̍̓͆̑͡а҉̨̥̭͖̥̝͊̄͝я̶̧̟̙̟̗̂̔̌͠! Can you still not hear it?!”

The Dragonslayer shouted, raising her voice.

Come on, it won’t be audible no matter how loud you shout.

How could one overcome a realm that’s beyond reach?

Phew.

I breathed an inward sigh of relief.

I thought I was heading to the other world for a moment.

“Sorry, I can’t hear it.”

“N-no way…”

Though I was overjoyed, I spoke with a voice feigning disappointment.

The Dragonslayer’s expression seemed to worsen, but she stubbornly called out her name again.

“з҉̢̛м̷̡̕е҈͜͞я̸̢̛ 폰҈̨̛ о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝”

Yeah, yeah, no matter how many times you shout it, there’s no way I’ll hear…

…Wait?

Is it just my imagination, or did I just…?

“Zmi҉̧̯͔͎̭̜͉͈̩͈̗ya Pon о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝!”

For some reason, the more The Dragonslayer repeated it, the more I felt like I could faintly hear something, causing me to pause momentarily without realizing it.

Unfortunately, The Dragonslayer seemed to notice that momentary reaction, as she stared at me with wide eyes.

“…”

“…”

After an inexplicably silent moment.

The Dragonslayer’s lips curved into a gentle arc.

“Fufu, husband.”

“…”

“I’d like you to be honest with me.”

A gleam appeared in The Dragonslayer’s eyes.

“You heard it, didn’t you?”

…I-I’m scared.