Part 5
Jin massaged his chest as he gave a sigh of relief when he had seen Kuro Usagi’s arrival.
“What a relief. With Kuro Usagi around, there wouldn’t be anything to worry even if she were to be up against a hundred of them all by herself.”
“…….I don’t mind you feeling relieved. But wouldn’t it be better to learn how to depend on your own strength to solve the problems?”
Percher who had returned from her task made a dig at Jin.
Jin’s expression turned fearful for a second before straightening up.
“You are right. I can’t always rely on Kuro Usagi……I will have to work harder.”
“……Yep. You can take your revenge after a hundred years and rest in peace then.”
The unbridled way of speech caused Jin to smile weakly as he slumped his shoulders.
“Let’s go, we should also make a move.”
“Where to?”
“To give our greetings, of course. The Communities that will be arriving for the Convention will not only be of the Masters. There are also many Communities that have come hither for the latest information concerning the Masters’ decision, so we must use this opportunity to build some reputation for ourselves.”
“Oh, I see.”
Percher having understood the significance, walked with Jin towards the Territory of [Salamandra]—where the towering Palace stood.
— Little Garden, Outer Gate Number 54545, [Kouen, City of Brilliant Flames] was surrounded by three Outer walls and that was the method utilized to divide the Residential areas.
The Outer wall was where the elite squads comprised of the lesser dragons set up their encampments.
The Second wall held the residential area, stage area and also the workroom districts.
While the third wall held the dormitories to house important guests as well as the hotel facilities.
And within the inner wall stood the Palace of the Community to which an endless mountain range could be seen in the distant backdrop.
The number of people who held special talents in [Salamandra] were few but they were a clan that managed to increase their cohesiveness and strength through the maintaining of the lesser dragon bloodlines.
The main force that holds the power of flight—Lesser Dragons of the Winged type numbered to a rough count of four thousand.
The count of Salamander humanoid dragons easily exceeded that by ten times. Whether it was in terms of the scale and the strength of the personnel, [Draco Greif] Alliance that were similar in standing as [Floor Master], would not be able to be compared to them.
Normally the personnel would have been deployed to various sectors to act as a defensive measure against Demon Lords but with the upcoming Convention of the [Floor Master]s, a total of two thousand four hundred Winged Dragons were lined along the two inner walls.
The warriors of the Winged Dragon squadron possessed vermillion scales that were comparable to the strength of steel and their large bodies did not lose to the large type Eudemons in size.
Their focus on unity and numbers formed the extreme end of the spectrum when compared to the [No Name]s that focused on a few elites.
Jin looked from the corner of his eyes to take in those Winged dragons’ appearances while giving them a sharp and stern eye.
(They did have this level of firepower in their possession after all. But yet only a few of them had appeared in the [Rise of the Fire Dragon] festival. Of course, it can be understandable that they might have been a little careless due to the presence of Shiroyasha-sama to grace the event……)
But, it was more believable that [Salamandra] had contacted the Demon Lord Alliance for that would make the puzzle fit.
It’s only that… this was a hard to accept truth for Jin.
(As I thought, I should try to get Sandra and Percher to discuss—)
“Jin, look up.”
“Eh?” Hearing Percher’s voice, Jin looked up.
A figure whose face was hidden by a hood was falling towards Jin’s head from the palace courtyard.
“Hey…Wait…What’s happeni….!?”
Jin was squashed onto the pavement of the Palace without any sort of explanation.
*Ka Cha!* The neck seemed to have given off a fatal dull cracking sound. And Percher walked over leisurely to look down upon Jin.
“……Tch!”
“Clicking your tongue?! Why did you click your tongue?!”
“Clicking my tongue to express a curse upon seeing my master’s safety, isn’t that the normal thing to do?”
Percher answered, not even the least bit perturbed by his question.
Although Jin wanted to retort to that, the person who had fallen on him interrupted his thoughts.
“……Jin?! I’m …I’m really sorry! Are you hurt?!”
The fellow that was wrapped up by the hooded cloak had pounced onto Jin. The impact caused the shaft on the back of Jin’s head to hit onto the sharpest cobble on the walkway, but he didn’t have the time to care about that now.
Clutching the back of his head in pain, Jin shouted:
“San…Sandra! You…Why are you in this get-up?”
“I’m off to investigate something and had to take on a disguise to get out of the palace. Jin, want to come?”
Sandra’s beautiful red hair swayed as she tilted her head as she asked while looking at him with irises that were pure and innocent.
Jin couldn’t help but continue to clutch his head.
“I…I say, Sandra. You are the North Side’s [Floor Master], you shouldn’t be going out simply without telling others. Moreover, the Convention for the Masters will be hosted soon, you know?”
“Nn. That’s why the three of us have decided to solve the matter before the start of the Convention.”
“No, that’s not what I meant……”
—three of you? Jin tilted his head as he closed his mouth abruptly.
Now that he recalled about it, there had indeed been the sounds of three landings. Jin’s attention shifted away from Sandra to accost the two others who had remained silent behind Sandra.
“Are you guys members of [Salamandra]?”
“……”
The duo who wore linen hooded robes remained silent. Their height was just a little taller than Jin.
(Children….around our age too?)
Jin appraised the duo with surprise.
Sandra frantically moved to stand before them.
“These… These two aren’t suspicious characters! We have known each other for a year……Well, I would also like to introduce them to Jin……!”
Sandra waved her arms wildly as she tried to explain.
Perhaps it was too unbearable for them to watch her anymore, one of the cloaked figures took a step forward with a sigh while speaking in a voice that sounded like the crisp sound of wind chimes.
“There’s no need to be so flustered, Sandra-chan. That maid-san over there—Percher will help to guarantee our characters.”
Instantly, Percher’s face stiffened.
The duo who wore the linen coats—similar to the heights of teenagers, exchanged a look beneath their hoods before peeling it back to reveal their faces.
“What……?!”
Upon seeing their faces clearly for the first time, Percher’s thoughts seemed to have frozen. The hooded duo turned out to be a pair of teenagers: a boy and a girl.
With a gorgeous and lovely smiling face that seemed like flowers in full bloom, the beautiful glossy black hair that grew to the waistline; and the razor sharp daggers that were hunt on the leather sheathes around her waist, the appearance was just like a beautiful stalk of rose with thorns on its stem. She wore a cute miniskirt and sleeveless top that seemed to suggest the focus on ease of movement, and she would seem to be an ordinary teenage girl with just a look.
“I’m Rin and the guy over here is His Highness. Nice to meet you, Jin.”
Rin said in a crisp chime like voice as she gave a refreshing smile.
“……pleased to meet you. Because of a reason that I cannot disclose my true name, just call me anything you please.”
A white haired teenage boy with golden irises gave a light sigh behind the girl. His get-up was also quite meticulous and the formal wear that didn’t fit him seemed to add a sense of maturity to him.
Judging by the appearance, he should be around the age of twelve.
During the time that the duo had introduced themselves, Percher who had stood behind to wait could already feel the pin pricks of cold along her back while her body started to tremble.
(Rin and ……His Highness? No way right? Why would they be in the Palace of [Salamandra]…….)
She gritted her teeth to hide her rising sense of worry and panic.
The relation she had with them weren’t as simple as knowing each other. These two people were comrades who acted alongside her when she had led the team of [Grim Grimoire Hameln].
And they were the main force of the group temporarily named [Demon Lord Alliance].
(This is bad! If it were just Graiya or Aura, it might still be well……why must it be these two……)
Percher was very clear about the fact that Rin’s Gift wasn’t something that could be escaped from.
She also knew the real strength of the whited haired guy with golden irises who stood beside Rin.
Percher’s back was damp with cold sweat but she continued to hide her faltering in her heart as she wanted to act normally with a returned greeting. But Rin seemed to have noticed her anxiety and grabbed her hand while giving her brightest smile.
“Ara, I’ve missed you a lot Percher-chan! I didn’t think that we would meet up here, right~?!”
“Mhm, Right…….it’s been a while, Rin. And Your Highness.”
“Nn. You look well. With that, I’m relieved.”
“Indeed. But I didn’t expect to meet again in the Territory of [Salamandra]. And at this time as well.”
Hearing the words that were slightly barbed, Percher clenched her mouth shut.
Rin’s tone had been quite casual but her eyes did not reflect the smile on her lips. Her gaze had clearly been one filled with killing intent earlier. In other words, these two had already entered a state of high alert to go into battle at a moment’s notice.
(……this really is the most terrible time to meet again.)
Why would these two be in the palace grounds of [Salamandra]?
Why would they be with Sandra as she tries to escape the palace?
Although there were a load of questions to be answered by having time to think, but the most crucial thing for now would be the method to escape. She was just thinking up of a plan to deal with the situation when she heard the shouts of the Palace guards.
“Oi, this is bad! We can’t find Sandra-sama anywhere!”
“What did you say? Could it be that she ran out again?”
“Not… Not good! Quickly start a search for her to get her back while Mandra-sama is still out!”
A group of guards rushed out of the Palace in search of Sandra. And the plan of going in a disguise to sneak out of the palace just popped in that moment.
Sandra frantically gave them the look.
“Any…Anyways, staying in this sort of place will definitely get us caught by the palace guards! Everyone, follow me first!”
“Eh……Eeeehhh?!”
Sandra pulled Jin’s hand and started to hurry off in a run.
The trio who were left behind by them watched their retreating figures and then—
“Okay, let’s go as well. Of course, Percher will be coming along.”
“……”
“Ah, don’t try to escape oh~! I really did want to see you! Because if you were to escape from here……you would certainly not have the chance to chat with us anymore.”
Rin’s pure and innocent words locked cuffs around Percher’s choices.
Rin’s words were not a simple metaphor.
If Percher really did escape this place—they would really not have the opportunity to speak to each other again.
(……Uu.)
Rin and His Highness were surely up to something but she could only quietly watch the development for now.
Percher gave a quiet nod before leaving the Palace.
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