Adofu led me towards the execution site.
It looks like everyone evacuated, there’s no one around anymore.
I saw three knights inside a building.
When they saw me, their bodies started shaking and they can’t seem to pull their sword out.
Behind the three knights, there was Ball Rabbit, and….. Nina too.
She looks fine to me. It doesn’t look like she has any injuries too.
Those three knights were probably ordered by Adofu to protect her.
I sigh in relief.
I remember that Adofu’s relatives was with them before, but I think they’ve probably evacuated too.
“…… You’re Dragon-san… right?”
Nina looks up at my face.
Because Partner extended her neck longer, I was forced to lightly put my chin over Partner’s head just to look at Nina up close.
You’re confusing Nina, so stay still.
Well… I guess you’re just as excited as me, huh.
“Dragon-san… thank you so much for everything nya. Even though Nina is just a worthless slave who was abandoned by her parents…… You went through all this… just to save Nina……”
Nina burst into tears and kneeled down before she said anything more.
I hid my nails so I wouldn’t hurt her and lightly pat Nina’s head.
When I evolved into a Calamity Dragon, I didn’t think I’d ever get this involved with humans…… My human-, no, my dragon life is just full of surprises.
…… Well, I better not cause another mess here in Haranae anymore.
Should I just leave here immediately?
“Gru~o?”
I growl at Adofu.
【“What will you do now, Adofu?”】
Ball Rabbit told him via telepathy.
“…… I’m… thinking of asking for penance from the church and letting them remove my Prisoner’s Mark. Since there are also things going on with my family, I plan on leaving this country too.”
Well, I guess that’s the right thing to do.
I’m concerned for Nina, but I also feel like going with Adofu, and also… is it really okay for Adofu to already move around with the knights and the church?
At this rate, everyone involved will surely have to leave, otherwise an uproar would start.
…… But, there’s still a way out of that situation, right?
Worse case scenario… Adofu might get sent to jail again.
“Please rest assured. Even the church won’t dare do anything that would further ruin their figure in front of many people. I plan on transporting Irushia’s body someplace else to properly dispose of it. It was already revealed that the church’s actions were involved in this case as well. They can’t possibly do anything reckless under this situation.”
…… I-I see.
That’s good and all, but hearing him say that name makes me feel weird.
【“Adofu.”】
“Hm?”
【“Name. Irushia.”】
The moment Ball Rabbit finished using〖Telepathy〗, he looks at me.
It looks like Ball Rabbit already knew my name.
…… Or, maybe he read my thoughts whenever the name Irushia is brought up… it looks that way.
Adofu took a few seconds to process it, and when it looked like he finally understood, he makes an expression that looks like he’s seen a ghost or something.
“I always thought you reacted strangely to it, but I didn’t think that would be the case…… I-I see now. So that’s how it was. But, who would give you such a…… n-no, nevermind.”
Hey, now! I used to look more approachable in the past. [T.N: Back when you were tiny and huggable :D]
“…… Still, with the Hero gone, support from other countries will surely be interrupted.”
Adofu says that while looking at a tall building.
It looks like a building related to the church.
…… I-Is that how it is?
I think the aftertaste is gonna end up bad……
“Oh… I apologize. I didn’t mean to say that in front of you. Don’t worry, they only went to the upper echelons of the church. This situation will most likely not worsen.”
Either way, it’s not gonna be easy.
Is this place really gonna be okay?
Even if I show concern for this country, there’s nothing I can do.
I bend my back and let Nina and Ball Rabbit ride me.
“Gru~o~o!”
I roar at Adofu.
“…… Even if you’re no longer here with us, that gate will always be open for you. My thirst for revenge is now lost forever. Thank you, Dragon……no… Irushia!”
His parting words got through even without translation.
I kicked off the ground and flew to the skies.
The buildings are slowly getting smaller by the minute.
I take my eyes off of Adofu who was looking up at me and turned around.
I left Haranae for good.
“…… Dragon-san… your true name is Irushia, right? I think it’s a good name and it suits you. Can Nina start calling you that from now on?”
While flying, Nina calls me out.
Hearing her say “from now on”, I reacted late.
“Gra~a!”
Partner just went ahead and roared for no reason.
Why that…… no, wait… before I deal with her……
I check how Nina’s doing with a glance.
She’s… looking at me.
It seems like she knows which head is really me.
Or, is it because she knew it was me based from my reaction?
“So, um, Irushia-san…… will you stay with Nina from now on?”
That question surprised me that I shook my head.
But, even if I tell her that's not it, I can't lie my way out of this one.
“…… R-Right. I can't keep taking your kindness for granted, can I…“
I’m sure Nina is feeling uneasy from going to another human settlement.
She was enslaved, kicked off a running carriage as bait to a centipede, and was even sentenced to public execution……
It wouldn’t be strange if she got traumatized from all that.
I still have my〖Dragon Moth Scales〗to worry about.
If I bring her along with me, symptoms from getting cursed will surely show up in a few days again.
Besides, I’m pretty sure that I’m bound to encounter more dangers from here on out.
This always happens whenever I move to another place, and there’s also God’s Voice to worry about.
I know it’s bad, but I really can’t take Nina with me.
“…… I’m sorry nya.”
Nina slightly opened her mouth.
“To tell you the truth, Nina already knew. Irushia-san is always thinking of leaving Nina from the start. Irushia-san is also sad from doing this…… Nina can tell from your face…… If what Nina said annoyed you, I am sorry nya.”
…… I see.
Even a monster’s expression can be told apart by humans.
With Nina’s status, we can’t live safely.
Humans should live with other humans.
That’s something that I can never do, so I’m a bit jealous of her.
It’s quite ironic.
Ball Rabbit, translate it to her.
“Pefu?”
There’s another country here that accepts Beastmen near Haranae.
I plan on leaving her there.
【“But… together… with Nina……”】
That can’t be done.
You should know by now.
【“But… but……”】
I also want that.
You can sense the feelings of another to some extent, so you know that Nina is scared at going to another country too.
I also don’t want this, but…… it’s better than having to die.
Adofu recommended that country after all.
So I believe that Nina may actually get to live properly there.
Even you don’t want Nina to die too, right?
“Pefu~u……”
I’m worried for her too.
We’re dropping Nina off to an unknown place after all.
I only know a little bit about Ardezia from Adofu.
I don’t know what kind of future Nina will have in her life there.
It may be irresponsible of me. But, it’s the only way.