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Chapter 192 – It’s Not My Fault

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“TRANSLATOR: Anargya”

“EDITOR: GhostApe”

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The silence is a little awkward.

I don’t know if we are in a good relationship or not, as the one floating next to me is an executive of the Demon King Army, who is not exactly friendly.

If I could frankly have a conversation with him a little more, maybe I could brighten up this place.

「Umm… Kyo-san. What is your favorite food?」

「Ahh?」

「Well. Isn’t it boring to just walk silently?」

「Why do I have to get used to you… I don’t do small talk.」

「Then, how about shiritori?」

「Do you think I’ll say “Ok, let’s do it”?」

What a moody person.

I want to get out of here quickly, but the dark space never ends. The floor illuminated by “Kyo” reflects only a small amount of light.

I tried scratching the ground with my front legs to try digging a hole, but it was totally unresponsive.

「Is this mud?」

「You said that this place is your own heart already… There is no substance on the wall or the ground. Everything is a scene that reflects your mental state.」

「Hmm… Then, if I thought “Become a vegetable field”, would it become a vegetable field instead if this darkness?」

「Try it if you can.」

「Eii.」

I tried to think about it, but the surroundings remained dark as usual. It would be nice if some mushrooms or bean sprouts grew in the dark, but that is not the case.

「It is that masked demon that dominates here right now. There is no room for your psychology to be reflected.」

「Does the fake kin’s heart look like this?」

「Don’t know.」

To the floating “Kyo”, I casually asked him a question.

「By the way, what kind of feeling is Rēko’s heart that you looked into before?」

「Don’t remind me.」

The soul-like thing trembled to endure the fear. Maybe it’s a trauma. I felt a little responsible, so I left it alone.

「Well, my intuition says that it is mixed with various demons besides the masked demon. RIght now, a huge amount of magic power is flowing in your body. That’s probably the reason.」

「Is it the magic power from “the fear of the Evil Dragon” that was believed in the world?」

「Besides that. A lot of demons have been collected under the false lie of the Demon King Army. The magic power of those demons is also collected within you.」

「Eh? Why?」

「Because you have defeated the Demon King――in other words, the Demon King Army is also defeated, and many of the demons in the world got sucked into you.」

Does that mean that the reason Doradora-san is weak is because his magic power is sent to me?

「But we’re in trouble. I don’t think we can find an exit in this messy place.」

「…That’s why.」

「Yes?」

「That’s why, you said it yourself that this place is the reflection of your heart.」

「What about it?」

「That! is! why! That means that there is no exit even if you look for it in the dark clouds! If you want it, make it!」

“Kyo” yelled as if he couldn’t stand it.

I was so surprised that my body jumped up, but I smiled a little.

「What. So you’ll help me after all.」

「Noisy! I was frustrated because you are so dull… Make it quickly.」

「Understood! Come out, Exit!」

Silence.

I imagined a gate leading to the outside, but not even a light appeared from the total darkness.

「…Why, I wonder?」

「Your mental power is not enough.」

「But I tried it with all my might.」

Then, “Kyo”’s soul approached my nose.

「Then, should I possess you? When trapped in darkness, people tend to show their true nature. The spiritual power born from the abyss will be incomparably stronger than the usual…」

「Ah, then can I rely on you?」

「Hesitate a bit, you coarse lizard.」

「But you will help me, right?」

「I’m telling you, I’m not going to add some extra care for you. Consider that there is a possibility that you’ll fall into the darkness and lose your ego.」

「Please be gentle with me.」

「Listen to people when they are talking.」

“Kyo”’s soul flared up as if frustrated, before wrapping my whole body.

――Now, expose your true nature.

――Spit out your ugly heart.

The nostalgic whisper of the devil that I heard some time ago fills my heart. I remember his former work, even though he was screaming back then.

I have monopolized a delicious tree.

――So it’s about this degree.

However, unlike before the whisper did not stop.

――Don’t underestimate me. Don’t think that you can purify me twice using the same thing.

I can feel foreign matter entering my heart. I’m feeling more and more scared, I’m feeling overwhelmingly scared.

But, at the same time, I can feel it testing me.

――What happened, you’re not going to grow anything?

「That’s right.」

I nodded.

It’s not the same as before. I won’t lose to the devil’s whisper.

「I don’t want to monopolize delicious food now. I want to eat them with everyone.」

With Rēko, Ariante, the Hunt God, the Saintess, and everyone I met during my trip so far.

Therefore, I need to be much more harmless to humans and animals than before.

The darkness of my heart, I won’t lose to it.

「Geez, you’re as creepy as always.」

The soul came out of me talking with a throw something away tone.

「Sorry.」

「I already knew about it. Whatever. Instead, look at your feet.」

When I looked down as I was told, a small light was born on the pitch-black ground.

「What it this?」

「Right now, the words you said might have resisted the darkness a bit.」

「Resisted…just what is this?」

When I looked into the light, there was something on the other side.

『Mountain is mountain.』

An unique voice that I was familiar with.

「Um… Spirit-san?」

『Mountain.』

「As I expected.」

I shook “Kyo”’s body. He swayed side to side without knowing it.

「I originally thought that it would be connected to one of your friends, but is it someone you don’t know?」

「No, I know the person but… why her I wonder. Ah, I’ve borrowed Spirit-san’s magic power a few times, so maybe some of it remains in me? And communication is possible…」

「No, don’t ask me.」

I’m worried.

I’m happy that I was able to talk to someone I know, but Spirit-san is a delicate partner to ask for help here. It’s hard to communicate――that’s right.

「Ah, that’s right. Spirit-san. Is Sheina nearby?」

『Mountain will call.』

「Sorry for the trouble.」

After waiting for a while, the voice changes with a rattling voice.

『Hm? What happened, Spirit-san? What do you need me for?』

「Ah! Sheina! It’s me, It’s me! Can you hear my voice?」

『Eh? Evil Dragon-sama? Eh, what is this? I can hear Evil Dragon-sama’s voice from Spirit-san.』

Seems like I was able to communicate safely.

Good. A lifeline has been created to convey my situation to the outside world.

「Sorry, but I’m in a little emergency right now. Can you get in touch with Airante or Rēko right away?」

『Are you in danger again?』

「Something like that. Can you do it?」

『Yes, yes, wait  a minute. I don’t know about Rēko-chan, but Peryudōna should have a communication line connected to our garrison… hm?』

Sheina makes a dubious voice.

『Sorry, Evil Dragon-sama. It seems like the communication line addressed to Peryudōna is dead. Is it under maintenance or something? That’s funny. These kind of thing usually don’t cut all at once.』

「Is it possible to go directly to Ariante instead?」

『Ahh, it’s okay, it’s okay. When I met her before, I listened to the frequency of Ariante-san’s communication equipment in case something went wrong. I think I should be able to connect to it directly with my magic.』

「Then, please!」

『Okay. I’ll concentrate, so wait a bit.』

It seems that Sheina is concentrating on the other side of the communication. Eventually, there is a sound like something is connected.

「Hello! It’s me, Ariante!? Can you hear me!?」

『Is this Rēvendia??』

She responded immediately.

「Yes. It’s me, It’s me. I’m sorry if I worried you.」

『Where are you contacting me from right now!?』

「Well, from my heart… And from that point, I asked Spirit-san and Sheina to relay and contact you. What is happening to me outside, right now?」

Beyond the communication, there is a terrible sound as if something ridiculously big was destroyed.

「…Ariante? What is that sound?」

After a brief silence, Ariante spoke.

『Right now, you are in process of turning into a real Evil Dragon and is destroying the city of Peryudōna. Get back to normal quickly. Otherwise-』

Escaping reality, I cut off the communication suddenly.

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