Are you acquainted with the Dragon God?

I mean, I know you...

　Kikyou put his mouth close to my ear and told me the situation in a whisper that only I could hear.

He used to be the weakest among the color dragons. He was bullied by his fellow dragons, so he fled to Lingshan, where his mistress lives.

　At that time, Kikiou took pity on the crying red dragon and took care of him for hundreds of years until he gained enough strength to not be ridiculed by his fellow dragons.

　In other words, Kikyou was the dragon god's foster parent.

''By the way, Koyatsu also says he's now a god, too. It's indeed a pity to tell the truth to those who believe in it, so can I ask you not to tell anyone about this?

Uh-huh. Okay.

Thank you. Then he is a god too. He's been betrayed by the one who grants him some of that power, and he's having trouble finding a place to be angry.

　While saying this, Kikiyo looks at Luca, who is on his knees.

　Since Luca didn't stop me from attacking her, the Dragon God-sama said that he would take away Luca's power as a dragon priestess.

　As for me, I was willing to accept her ceasing to be a dragon priestess if Luca couldn't be hurt.

　The resurrection that Luca can use, which can even heal objects, is useful, but that's not why I married her, because that's not why I married her.

　Even if she is no longer a dragon priestess, Luca is still Luca.

　If she wants to stay by my side, I want to continue to protect Luca with all my might - that's what I thought.

''The red dragon says that he will take away that girl's priesthood out of anger, but the mistress can see that the daughter has a strong faith in the red dragon. It would be a shame to let her lose that faith. Therefore, will you leave it to the mistress to settle this situation?

　If Kikyou, who is also the Dragon God-sama's nurturer, can do something about it, I'd like to ask him.

''Can you do me a favor?''

I'm on it. Mr. Hurt.

　With a bewitching smile on his face, Kikyou moved away.

　Then he approached Luca, who was bowed to the ground and crouched down before him.

'Luca, you said?'

Yes, sir.

Keep your head up.

Yes.

　Kikiou looked straight at Luca, straight at him.
　Luca was mesmerized by Kikiou and couldn't take his eyes off of her.

　Looking at the flow of magic power, it seemed that Kikiou was trying to read Luca's thoughts.

''Hmm. You have a deep faith in the Red Dragon. And yet, the reason you couldn't stop Harut-sama this time is because you were so surprised that you couldn't move your body?

Yes, sir.

So it's not your fault.

''But, but it's true that I couldn't move to help the Dragon God!

You're right. You are not a bad person, but your heart was weak. As for the fact that you had a deep faith in God, but were not equipped with enough mental strength to stop those who would harm him, you should be punished.

　Suddenly, Kikyou raised his arm and dropped his fist on Luca's head.

''Huggyu!''

　Luca holds his head in pain.

''From now on, train your mental strength as well and develop the ability to protect what you need to protect.''

Okay, I understand.


And you're the one with the problem.

　Kikyou now turns to the chalk.

'Hee.'

　Unlike Luca's time, killing intent was leaking out of Kikyou.

''I took the liberty of reading your thoughts. You are the cause of this commotion, aren't you?''

Oh, yeah?

　With his head bowed, Baiya was trembling.

''Face up,''

Yes, baby.

It's going to hurt a lot more than Luca's, okay?

''Higiu!''

　Kikiou's fist bone swung down on the top of Chalk's head with a louder sound than when he hit Luca.

'I know you were happy that he, my beloved, was desperately trying to protect you. The concubine was touched by your thoughts and sympathized with you a bit. But...

''──?''

　Kikyou tugged at both of Chalk's cheeks.

''To your mentor who taught you to fight, deeply regret what you've done.

Go, go, go, go!

　Hakua speaks with tears streaming down her cheeks, but I can't understand what she is saying because she is pinched by Kikyou on both cheeks.

　Maybe it's 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry'.

　However, Kikiou removed his hands from both of Hakuba's cheeks as if he was satisfied with what Hakuba had said.

　The nine-tailed fox is a race that is sensitive to the thoughts of others.

　He could sense that Hakua was sincerely remorseful.

　He smiled and gently rubbed Hakua's cheek with his hand before standing up.


　Then he began to speak to the dragon god-sama, who was still on his knees.

''The two of you are deeply remorseful as such. The punishment is meted out by the mistress. I forgive you both, don't you?

Eh, no, but...

What is it?　Two naive girls are crying and begging for forgiveness, and you won't let them?

But because of them.

Are you holding a grudge against me for not being able to help the two little girls?　When did you become such a coward?　Is that really why you're a god?

Okay, okay.

　Raising his voice briefly, the dragon god was unable to say anything back to Kikyou.

''And to have a single human race beat up your god's body until you can't move... it's shameful.

'Yes, that's Halt's fault!　How can a creature that interferes with even the letters of God be a mere human race?

Well, that's true.

　In a very quiet voice, Kikyou muttered.
　Perhaps the dragon god didn't hear him.


''For now, shut up. I'll beat that feckless guts back.''

　Kikyou reaches out to the dragon god.

''Wait, you're not going to do a-(a)re, are you?

　He must have had an idea of what she was going to do.

　He got up in a hurry and tried to escape from the scene.

　But ...

　Kikyou's hand was quicker to touch the dragon god's head.

　In the state of being about to get up to escape, the dragon god's body was frozen as if time had stopped.

''Ki, Kikyou?　What the hell did you do to the Dragon God?

'Oh, it's no big deal. I trapped him in a mental space where he had to keep fighting against an enemy that was as strong as his current self. Well, it's not the red dragon's fault this time, so I'll let you out in about ten minutes.

Oh, yeah...

　Even though it's enough, I think it's going to be pretty hard to keep fighting an enemy of equal strength to me.

'A day in the spirit world is about a minute here, though.

Hmm?　What did you say?

　Kikyou was saying something in a whisper, but I didn't hear it.

''Hmmm, it's nothing. Harut-sama.''