Ch.55Dragon Clan and Demon Clan (8)

Dragons and Demons (8)

Was it because she had already betrayed the organization? The woman from the Eye of Truth was cooperative with Esmeralda.

The other two companions lying on the floor glanced at the woman and then just sighed.

Fortunately, there was no outburst about her being a traitor or anything like that.

“Well, actually there’s no loyalty we need to uphold. We were scholars who joined because of what we saw on the surface.”

The woman, who introduced herself as Melody, said she hadn’t known what the Eye of Truth really was when she first joined.

“Is this bastard laughing?!”

“Eek?!”

After Lug burst out laughing, saying the name Melody didn’t suit her, he got punched in the jaw again.

With a more refreshed expression, Melody explained her situation and that of the two men to Esmeralda.

They had believed it was an academic organization and had even taken tests to join, but it turned out to be a group that originated from dragon worshippers, making them feel like they’d been duped.

“Well, still, trying to kill someone just for seeing this seems a bit much, don’t you think?”

Esmeralda pointed out their wrongdoing.

“It’s the Hero’s fault for entering a restricted area without permission in the first place. As I said earlier, entering ruins without authorization is no different from being a thief.”

“Just stop making excuses and apologize.”

Of course, her point was valid.

However, continuing to attack even after realizing she was a Hero was different. Attacking someone knowing they weren’t a thief meant they were willing to sacrifice others for their own safety.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Good. I’ll let it go. Thanks to you, we’re finding our way well.”

Esmeralda didn’t want to punish ordinary citizens when she was already dealing with a demon spy.

Of course, she wasn’t entirely without guilt herself.

As Melody had pointed out, Esmeralda entering the ruins without permission was essentially a criminal act.

“By the way, if we keep going this way, will we meet up with the other scholars? You’re not planning to gang up on us, are you?”

“Haha, while meeting up is our goal, that won’t happen. As long as Tina is present, we wouldn’t dare touch you, Hero.”

“I guess Tina has some status?”

“Of course, she’s the successor after all.”

“…Related to dragons, I presume?”

Esmeralda asked naturally while hiding her bitter feelings.

“I’m not sure about that. But she’s certainly qualified to be our representative. She’s a genius, after all.”

“A genius?”

Tina?

Esmeralda recalled her friend but then shook her head.

Could it be that even her somewhat sloppy appearance was just an act?

She felt a deep sense of betrayal.

Though considering she herself had been acting in front of everyone, she wasn’t in a position to judge.

“She always says she has good intuition and disarms the traps in the ruins. And that’s not all! She solves countless difficult problems that no one else can solve just by glancing at them once. If that’s not genius, what is? Of course, her extreme genius means she can’t give detailed explanations, but that’s a minor flaw.”

“Uh, well…”

“That’s what makes her so human and amazing. A genius with room to grow—it gives me goosebumps.”

Esmeralda was confused.

Isn’t that exactly how she always is? It’s not genius; she’s just guessing correctly based on her intuition like usual, right?

“Ah, be careful of that trap. It’s already been recharged.”

“What a terrible ruin.”

“You can glimpse the wisdom of dragons.”

Esmeralda clicked her tongue at the fact that triggered traps could regenerate, but Melody praised it as something remarkable.

Scholars will be scholars. Their curiosity about the unknown is almost annoying.

“And since the structure of the ruins changes in real-time, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to find their way out once they enter. Only we can find the path.”

“Ah, yes… I’m counting on you.”

Esmeralda responded halfheartedly.

She was too tired to do otherwise. Though she had been unconscious for 8 hours, that was due to her poor physical condition, not because she had slept well.

Moreover, having to fight three scholars had left her utterly exhausted.

‘I wonder how they’re blocking surface thoughts… but it’s awkward to ask.’

Esmeralda remained vigilant about the scholars’ surface thoughts that she still couldn’t read.

She hesitated to ask because if they themselves didn’t know the method, she would only be exposing her ability.

Besides, judging by how they talked, they seemed to enjoy gossiping, which made her reluctant to ask directly.

“By the way, you fought quite well. How did that happen?”

After much deliberation, Esmeralda asked indirectly.

For people who claimed to be scholars, they had considerable combat ability.

Of course, if they said it was strength gained through training, she wouldn’t have anything to say.

“Ah, that. Actually, when you join the Eye of Truth, most people are taught how to fight. We’re also given magical tools imbued with special powers.”

“…Magical tools?”

“Yes, this. An ornament shaped like a symbol. It helps with physical abilities and mana manipulation.”

“What an interesting item. I wonder if it was made by dragons?”

“It might be.”

Esmeralda was half-convinced as she watched Melody proudly showing off her ornament.

That must be what was interfering with her ability. As evidence, she couldn’t discern its power until Melody identified it as a magical tool.

She should have been able to see at least some characteristics in a magical tool, as she could with Eirene Saintess’s food.

Yet it appeared to be an ordinary ornament, which was suspicious in itself.

‘This is getting more and more suspicious.’

Esmeralda felt like she knew less and less about Tina.

She thought they were friends, but peeling back just one layer revealed a mountain of doubts.

“Ah, there’s someone ahead. By the sound of their footsteps, it seems like two people… It’s unlikely to be the main group. They might be a separate group like us. Should we take a detour?”

At that moment, Melody and the other two scholars tried to hold back Esmeralda and Lug.

The reason was that there were other people ahead. They were eager to warn her now, despite having tried to kill her earlier.

Their betrayal was certainly enthusiastic.

“No, let’s join them. Misunderstandings can be resolved with fists if necessary.”

“I see. As expected of a Hero.”

Esmeralda couldn’t help but glare at Melody, wondering what exactly warranted an “as expected.”

Was she a Hero because she was violent? Or because she didn’t back down?

‘I think I’m getting paranoid because of my recent party members.’

Esmeralda sighed at her miserable situation while gripping her holy sword and turning the corner.

“Ah.”

What she saw was a black, slimy, truly horrific creature.

The monster was so terrifying that all the scholars watching Esmeralda immediately took up combat positions.

“Millia?”

“Huh? Esmeralda?”

That’s right.

It was Millia’s tentacle magic.

Her tentacle magic, which had now become her signature skill, was growing more bizarre by the day.

“Thank goodness.”

“Ah, yes…”

Esmeralda backed away for now.

Her instinctive aversion to tentacles was no joke.

“Have you seen Eirene Saintess by any chance?”

“She’s right there?”

Esmeralda tilted her head and squinted in the direction Millia was pointing.

She could barely make out Eirene Saintess following at a considerable distance.

She must have really disliked the tentacles too. She was purifying each spot the tentacles had touched as she came along, looking almost like someone with OCD.

“Well, at least we’ve reunited.”

“I-if Esmeralda hadn’t carelessly stepped on the trap in the first place…”

“…Let’s discuss that later.”

Esmeralda held back tears at Millia’s passive-aggressive attitude.

Everyone was just picking on her.

She had forgiven all their mistakes, but they were all being too harsh.

“Are you okay, Lug?”

“Thank you for your concern, Millia. It was a happy time.”

“…”

Esmeralda flinched as she watched Lug smiling gently while looking at his palm.

What happy time was he talking about?

Though she didn’t particularly want to know, her ability forced her to understand, and Esmeralda quickly distanced herself.

Once again today, she understood Eirene Saintess’s feelings that she hadn’t wanted to understand.

‘Having his chest touched by Lug… how dreadful…’

Esmeralda thought as she watched Millia tilting her head in confusion, not understanding Lug’s words.

‘Shouldn’t Millia also have her chest touched by Lug at least once?’

The thought that she should suffer the same sexual harassment as Eirene Saintess for the sake of balance.

And there was also a slightly vulgar and selfish hope that with her enormous strength, she might make Lug forget the sensation of touching her own chest.

“…Anyway, could we have a brief meeting among ourselves?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Esmeralda finally came to her senses and gathered Millia and Eirene Saintess in one place. It was time to compare the information she had gathered with what Eirene Saintess’s group had collected.

“…?”

And in the process, Lug was left behind. He didn’t seem to question being left out and just stood still.

The only ones who found this strange scene odd were the Eye of Truth scholars.

While the scholars were staring strangely at Lug, Esmeralda and the Hero’s party members comparing their information were able to reach one conclusion.

“Tina is suspicious, right?”

“Yes.”

“I think so too.”

The final member of the Hero’s party.

They needed to actively investigate Tina.