CH 218.2

Chapter 218 The Man Who Keeps Running Away

Part 2

What is the qualification to possess an Advanced Compound Sacred Staff? What is an Advanced Compound Sacred Staff? But I am sure Lucia would be even more grumpy if I asked her that.

I thought about it for a while as I endured her stares, but I couldn’t think of a good response, so I had no choice but to open my mouth fearfully.

“………… Why are you taking a qualification exam just before the Supreme Martial Arts Festival?” (Cry)

“!? It is because! Nii-san! Suddenly made me enter! The Supreme Martial Arts Festival!” (Lucia)

No………… I didn’t make you enter the tournament, you know. I was wondering if you would like to watch the game, I wasn’t the one who talked about entering the tournament.

Luke laughed at Lucia who was pouting.

“Hahaha, give it up, Lucia. Even I skipped the Dragons extermination request I was supposed to do tomorrow in exchange for my right to participate in the tournament !” (Luke)

…… Isn’t that really bad?

The swordsmanship school to which Luke belongs often receives requests from the Empire to defeat powerful Phantoms and magical beasts. The reason Luke has slain so many people without being blamed was because the number of times he has slain Phantoms and magical beasts has been slightly higher than the number of times he has cut people.

Why didn’t you say something, it’s not like it was mandatory, so if you had something important to do, it would have been fine if you didn’t come.

In fact, Eva did not come with us because she could not leave the Imperial Capital on such short notice. She said she would come later to support us. That was what you should have done.

Sytry said while *niconico* smiling.

“Me too, I push――Entrusted the lecture I was supposed to do tomorrow to Talia-chan. Well, it is alright since that isn’t my main profession, but it hurts that my research into manufacturing an improved version of Murina is left halfway through.” (Sytry)

“Well, it can’t be helped, right~…… He said to leave right now~.” (Liz)

Liz said this while raising her shoulders. Apparently, everyone was quite busy. And I heard Anthem’s voice from outside.

“Umuuu!” (Anthem)

You guys are on fire. Although, your prioritizing is all messed up.

You know that my invitation was just an invitation left in the wind, but why did Luke and the others so easily accept it?

However, I won’t apologize. Because Luke and the others do not want that.

As if to avoid the subject, I leaned out to the windows. The massive outer walls of the Imperial Capital disappear beyond the horizon. There were no pursuers.

“And what about Eliza?” (Cry)

“Hmmm, Eva said she couldn’t find her. I saw her this morning, though……” (Lucia)

………… It is so peaceful. Then I made a big yawn.

Now it will be peaceful until the end of the Supreme Martial Arts Festival and then we return to the Imperial Capital. We might as well stay in another town somewhere until things cool down.

And then, after thinking so far, I realized something important.

………… It… It wouldn’t be strange if Gark-san and the others came after me, no?

Even Arnold came after me. How can I say that an angry Gark-san and the 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》 will not come after me?

For some reason, I was convinced that I would be safe if I left the city and the country. Moreover, I――I didn’t tell Eva not to talk about it. Oh no.

“Yosh, let’s run…… Lucia, give me some weight!” (Luke)

“We’re a little short on training because we left earlier than we planned~.” (Liz)

“I would like you to do the same for Killkill-kun too. I will be the coachman instead, so he can run too.” (Sytry)

“………… Guys, do you have any idea how hard it is to continuously cast Gravity Magic on a moving target? Gravity is not a Magic that will follow people after you cast it on them!” (Lucia)

The hard-working Luke and the others were having their usual banter. I can’t tell them now that they shouldn’t go with me to the Supreme Martial Arts Festival.

I pressed down on my *kirikiri* aching stomach, and with a much more practiced control, I sent an “It’s bad” message to the Imouto-Kitsune. It’s bad.

§

It’s bad. It’s seriously bad. A smell that made my nose curl was drifting on the wind.

Far ahead, in the direction where the carriage was going――A town was burning. Even I, whose eyesight wasn’t that good, could clearly see the black smoke and the scarlet flame.

I could hear Luke’s excited shouts as he was running outside.

“It’s a Jab1! A Jab is coming!” (Luke)

“This will be good for the economy.” (Sytry)

“I, gave up a Dragon extermination request to come here! Better than a Dragon! Come on, better than a Dragon! Come on! A Dragon that can use swords, come on!” (Luke)

“Luke-san don’t say something so outrageous! The town is burning, you know!? Anthem-san, let’s go ahead.” (Lucia)

“Umu.” (Anthem)

I can’t do it anymore. God, please forgive me.