“That’s nonsense. He must have valued your capability to have handed you this task. And if the things said in this letter is true, then the message carrier would most probably be waylaid by a Demon Lord.”
After all, the masterminds of the previous attack hasn’t been identified yet and if this letter was one that recorded such information, he would have to consider the possibility of it being snatched away while the letter was on its way.
So he decided to entrust his sworn younger brother to accomplish the task for him…
(…However, the reason should not only be that.)
Bull Demon King had left a letter for Shiroyasha to find for her successor at [Underwood].
And coincidentally, she found Kouryuu---Saurian Demon King in this place. This was a clear sign that it was no coincidence and Shiroyasha decided that this was a chance to pull him over to her faction no matter what.
“I still think that it’s quite a surprise to find you living in [Underwood]. Could it be that you had a hand in helping them recover so quickly?”
“Nope. I was just wandering around before deciding to stay here for a while just on a spur of the moment. I totally didn’t help out….oh, wait. The most I did might be to take a disciple.”
Maybe because of guilt, the smile on his face wavered before resuming its usual place.
Pretending not to notice the subtle change, Shiroyasha placed her cup down as she looked up towards the new moon.
“…… Are you the leader of some Community currently?”
“Nah, not possible. I guess you would also know that I’m just not cut out for that job.”
“Your words are too humble. Having meditated for thousands of years at the submarine volcano of the Star Abyss to obtain the spirit level of a Dragon, there should be no shortage of people looking for you to fill that role with that level of spirit power.”
“And that is too troublesome. Anyways, this flag [Great Sage Who Devastates Seas] is too small and can only hold one member, me.” Though keeping his usual smile, he effectively distanced himself from the topic.
Mirth couldn’t be found in that eye of his. Only a clear rejection.
“--- Shiroyasha, though I may not know what you are trying to hint at, I would like to advise you from holding too much expectations. As you can see, I’m one who has abandoned his worldly desires and will not give my utmost in anything. I would like to continue my aimless wandering life. This once is all because of my Onii-san having tasked me this job. I decline participating in anything troublesome.”
“….Really? Then it’s my bad.”
Shiroyasha quietly closed her eyes for a while before getting up on her feet. Since the other party was this determined, talking further would be for naught. Since coaxing wasn’t useful, she would just need to think up another plan. Having this in mind, Shiroyasha turned to leave.
However, at that moment, her eyes were drawn to a curious bruise that could be seen at Kouryuu’s back, just a little away from his lumbar spine section.
“……Kouryuu, what happened to your back?”
“Oh, you mean this? When I tried to stop a fight, a girl managed to land a hit on me.”
He lifted his left arm to show the bruise on his side.[5]
The bruise on his back looked painful and looked blue-black in color. Judging from the severity of the bruise, it was even possible to have one or two fractured ribs.
“Ah, that girl really was quite something. Though she had already fallen unconscious, she was still able to see an opening in my defenses to land a punch way below my armpit. That kind of person can only be called a genius.”
Kouryuu’s voice carried a slight tone of amusement that wasn’t detected in his words before.
And there was only one girl whom the Saurian Demon King had to knock unconscious in the Harvest Festival---
“---Hey, could it be that you laid a hand on Kuro Usagi?”
“Wha? Wait…No, it’s not her! The one that I stopped the fight was between that little lad, Griffith and another short haired girl! Her name was….. Kasukabe I think.”
“What?” It was now Shiroyasha’s turn to be surprised.
From what Shiroyasha knew, just with Kasukabe’s power, she shouldn’t be able to land a hit on Saurian Demon King.
“Kasukabe actually injured you?”
“I won’t use the excuse that it was my carelessness, after all the one who struck first was me. However in that state of losing her consciousness, she retaliated with a punch. And this kind of talent that only appears once in a while makes the lower levels such an interesting place.”
Though he was giving off a dry laugh, the tone was completely different from his forced laugh earlier.
A fierce pride hung on the edge of his mouth--- A smile that was comparable to an earlier time when he was a Demon King seemed to appear on his face.
Seeing that smile, Shiroyasha’s mind was struck by an idea.
(This is it……Even though he has become a ‘floating withered log’ now, it would seem that he still retains the spark that thirsts to battle with the strong.)
Then, there would still be some hope for this man.
As long as she can revive the fire in his heart through battle to feel alive again-----Then, she would just have to send a strong opponent to him.
Facing her back to the moon, Shiroyasha smiled as she walked over to Kouryuu.
“…Oh…Saurian Demon King. I still have another thing that I would like to discuss with you.”