There were only 5 people who were dead? Ah, this is great, so fortunate that everyone who died was from [Salamandra]! If something had happened to my companions, not only you—I will even eradicate Sandra."
"This had nothing to do with Sandra!"
Mandra roared while pulling the saber from his waist.
Izayoi who sat on the desk changed to a dismissive attitude to appease Mandra.
"I say.........I will repeat it one more time. I do not intend to expose this matter. Because of what order, at best is to protect the things that are in contaminated conditions."
"Why do you have an attitude of someone who seemingly knows everything....."
"That's right, I did not pretend to understand. So I don't care even if others help out in your unruly ways. In fact, I am no better. I don't mind conspiracies or even doing crimes. You, who could willingly kill people, only — You better have the heart to do these acts!"
"Gu.....!"
"I base on my own principles to judge what I see as the smell of good or evil but this example is simply rubbish. I have no intention to be dragged in..........but since you want to play, I have nothing to say. I advise you'd better get to know one thing, you definitely have no chance of even swinging that sword towards me."
Izayoi slowly got up from the desk.
His eyes were clearly filled with contempt and anger.
"You say Sandra isn't involved? Because of your planning and what ghostly ritual that had gotten your companions killed. You think you can pretend to look like you don't know anything and just let it get past you? What gives you the big rights to say that to the participants during the victory celebration?
Let's applaud our comrades who had fought honorably?|
Give prayers to those who gave a honorary sacrifice?
Ha! This is really killing me! These kind of words, only someone who had hidden secrets before would—"
"—Indeed know."
'What?' Izayoi's sentence was cut off.
On a closer look, Mandra's hand which held onto the sword was quivering.
"I say........they were indeed informed. Except Sandra, every member in [Salamandra] knew, that the events that led up to the attack on [Salamandra] was orchestrated.....! They understood everything and lost their lives! In the case where they understood everything...........shamelessly lost their lives."
"............"
Was Mandra trembling because of anger? Or shame?
Revealing an expression that defined he had reached a dead end, Mandra started back at Izayoi.
"How would someone like you who is not from Little Garden know.........! Protect the community's flag! Name! Honorary sense! Betrayed by the most powerful successor, with the leader confined in bed.......! In order to support this community that is on the verge of collapse, we have to bet on our own lives! How would someone from outside Little Garden, a mere human boy, understand it all!"
It was true that Izayoi was an outsider to Little Garden.
Bearing such sharp criticism, Izayoi could only look away and fiercely clicked his tongue.
Mandra who trembled with agitation closed his eyes and sheathed back the saber.
"......However, I don't think I can win against you alone. I'm only an Lesser Dragon who couldn't develop to the expectations of my people. The talent that I have cannot even hold a candle to that of my younger sister who hasn't even reached a hundred in age."
He unbuckled his sword belt and placed his weapon on the floor.
"Do it then, your anger is justified. But, hopefully you can just write off this incident ............with just this life of mine."
".................hai."
Izayoi let out a sigh that seemed to be the deflation of his anger.
"What good will that bring? I honestly think that this doesn't really matter. Ahh~ What? Betrayed by the strongest candidate for the heir? Is it that? Was it Sala, the eldest sibling that Shiroyasha had mentioned before?"
"........Yes. It was originally supposed to be Nee-sama to inherit [Salamandra] due to her matured power. But if Otou-sama hadn't fallen sick, the 11 year old Sandra would not have to sit on the Floor Master seat......."
'Ah, is that so?' Appearing to have lost interest, Izayoi turned his back to once again face Mandra.
Yes, supposed to inherit, but did not happen.
Then the result would mean everything right now. Izayoi had no interest to the reason why she left, or also dig into it.
"Well, what's done is done, this is not a matter I should intervene in. If you count in the cost of the damaged town, the one who ended up with the most losses are still you guys, and the one with the most benefit would be us. There is no special need to break things up."
"......Sorry."
Izayoi who had planned to leave stopped his movements because of the apology, probably because of Mandra's bowing behavior that made him unhappy. He turned back and made an offer with a vicious smile:
"No, oh yeah, I should take this chance to sign a contract."
".....Gu...."
Mandra revealed a nervous expression.
Because Izayoi had mentioned that many unreasonable problems, he has no right to refuse in his current position.
Lifting up his forefinger, Izayoi gave a very malicious smile.
"This is what you owe us this time. Not you, but the entire [Salamandra]— From now onwards we will continue to fight the Demon Lords, in the case where something happens to our community........you must be the first to come. This way then I can forgive you."
Without waiting for Mandra's reply, Izayoi turned to leave.
Looking at the figure who strode out of the office without waiting for an answer, Mandra could only murmur to himself:
"—Swearing on my flag. [Salamandra] will immediately rush over if help is needed."
Part 4[แก้ไข]
—Remains of [No Name] plantation.
One month after the incident.
A bunch of people who came back from the boundary wall immediately rushed to the plantation and pleaded Mel to restore the land.
Asuka and the other kids had expectations to see Mel flourish but.....
"Can't!"
Mel shook her head firmly.
Facing water depletion and abandoned soil, with only the sand and gravel, Mel could only see the white flag of surrender.
Asuka once again asked her:
"Can't?"
"Can't!"
This answer was without hesitation. Since the earth faerie had clearly shown her attitude, it was an impossible task for someone without that high of a spirit power.
Asuka who looked apologetic bowed and apologized to everyone:
"Sorry........For making that kind of speech that was filled with expectations...."
"Please........Please don't take it to heart! I am sure that there will be other chances!"
"That's right, Asuka, it will be fine if we continue to participate in other gift games."
Kuro Usagi and Kasukabe comforted the dejected Asuka.
Izayoi grabbed a handful of gravel from the plantation and suddenly questioned Mel:
"I say, Ko-chibi."
"Ko-chibi?"
"Yes, because you are [Super small Mel] so for you it is omitted as Ko-chibi. This is only a hypothesis......but assume if we can have something like soil nutrients, can you break those down to let plants live? For example using remains of wood or the surrounding forest as a base fertilizer."
'Hmmmm?' Mel started thinking. It looks like it was a pretty good proposal.
If it is not starting from scratch, but using other materials to revive the soil, then maybe—
"......Can do!"
"Really?"
"Maybe!