[WN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 8 Chapter 19 [Re-Translation]

This is a re-translation.

Volume 8 Chapter 19

 

Shina, who had left Nozomu, approached her target in a straight line. One was an elderly elf, a blood relative. The other was a young elf with a handsome face like an actor's and hair like golden thread.

 

"It has been a while, Shina."

 

"It has been a while, Triforium-sama."

 

"Stop with such formalities. I am as good as your parent."

 

Triforium Root An old elf who was Shina's great-grandfather. He was one of the elders who governed the elven refugee village and a person whose position was such that he could participate in this opening festival. He was the only remaining blood relative to Shina, who had lost all her close relatives, and was also her guardian.

 

"It has been a while for you too, Laurus-sama."

 

"Yes, it has been a while."

 

Laurus Folium. A young elf who had come to this Arcazam as Triforium's attendant. Of course, he was also an influential person, enough to participate in the opening festival. His position was that of a negotiator between the elves and other races. For the elves, who had been driven from their hometown in the great invasion and had to live in another land, negotiations with other races were indispensable, and therefore, this young elf was playing a very important role.

 

"It is a little noisy here. We are going outside."

 

After saying that, Triforium turned his back and began to walk without waiting for Shina's reply. Laurus and Shina followed in silence. The three of them left the great hall and headed for the garden of the guesthouse. The garden, illuminated by the moonlight, was lit with magic lights for illumination, and a quiet wind was making the hustle and bustle of the great hall echo faintly.

 

"That dress suits you very well."

 

"Thank you very much. This dress was a gift from a friend's father, so I believe my friend is also happy."

 

Laurus offered his compliments with a meltingly beautiful voice and a smile. But Shina, while returning a polite bow, did not move her expression an inch. At Shina's business-like response, Laurus had a wry smile.

 

"You're the same as always. I'm your fiancé, you know..."

 

In fact, this Laurus was one of the fiancé candidates who had been assigned to Shina. Since the great invasion, for the elves, whose entire race had been in decline, creating the next generation was an urgent task.

 

"Laurus-sama, it is true that you are one of the fiancé candidates, but it has not been formally decided. And besides, I have no intention of deciding on a partner yet."

 

At Shina's stiff reply, Laurus raised both his hands as if to say, "Good grief." It seemed he was used to such an attitude from Shina. The one who had frowned at such an attitude from Shina was Triforium.

 

"Shina, I will say it again. Return to the village of our brethren."

 

"I must humbly refuse. I have something I must do."

 

As he had been opposed to Shina's coming to Arcazam from the beginning, the tone that Triforium directed at her was harsh. On the other hand, since Shina had also anticipated such an opinion from her great-grandfather, she immediately showed her intention to refuse. Triforium, who had heard Shina's reply, had an expression that could be taken as either exasperation or irritation.

 

"You still say that? What can you do alone!?"

 

"I am not alone. I have friends whom I trust and can entrust my back to."

 

"Friends? Trust? Other races?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You believe in other races, who play with words and hide dark schemes behind their smiles? Ridiculous."

 

Triforium dismissed Shina's words. From an elf's point of view, other races, with whom they could only communicate through the roundabout means of words, and whom they could not understand, were not worthy of trust. That was Triforium's thought.

 

"Triforium-sama, they are a race that finds it difficult to live with the spirits. It cannot be helped."

 

Laurus, who was in attendance next to Triforium, advised, but at the edge of his words, a barrier to the human race was mixed in. The reason why elves were so stubborn towards other races was largely due to the fact that there was an existence nearby that they could understand without exchanging words, the spirits. If one were to grow up in an environment where such an existence was by their side from a young age, then other races, who could only use the roundabout means of words and, on top of that, could not fully communicate their intentions to each other, would look inferior. Furthermore, if one had the experience of being deceived by a scheme, then that thought would become even stronger.

 

"However, isn't it because of that thought that we lost our hometown?"

 

"..."

 

At Shina's words, which could be called a counterattack, Triforium fell silent. As she said, objectively speaking, that thought could be said to be one of the causes of the elves losing their hometown. They, who could not bring themselves to trust other races, had, when they had been invaded by the demonic beasts, refused any help other than their own until the very end, and as a result, they had been put in an unparalleled predicament even after losing their hometown. It was precisely because Triforium also knew that ending that he was making an expression as if he had bitten into a bitter bug.

 

"Now, now, both of you, calm down a little."

 

Laurus cut in between the two, who had begun to emit a hostile atmosphere.

 

"Triforium-sama, you know that she won't listen once she says something like this, don't you? Shina, you too, calm down. The elder's words are harsh, but it's out of concern for you."

 

At Laurus's words, Shina and Triforium averted their gazes awkwardly. Of course, it seemed that neither had any intention of changing their own opinions, as their beautiful lips were pursed in a straight line. At the sight of Shina and Triforium, Laurus shrugged his shoulders as if to say it couldn't be helped. It seemed that it was not just once or twice that he had come between the two like this. However, Laurus immediately put on a serious expression and turned back to Shina.

 

"However, I agree with Triforium-sama's thought. The current you should not be in this city."

 

At those words, Shina's stiffened eyebrows rose even further.

 

"That's not true. I have regained my contract with the spirits..."

 

"That's a lie. No, you may have really regained it, but at the very least, you can't make a contract with the spirits now, can you?"

 

"...What do you mean?"

 

"It's useless to try and deceive me. Rather, you are weaker than before you came to this city. Perhaps you are in a state where it is even difficult to knead your magic power. The reason is that in today's mock battle, you couldn't even offset a fire bullet of that level."

 

"..."

 

At Laurus's words, Shina froze for a moment, as if her heart had been pierced. As he said, the current Shina was having difficulty not only in making a contract with the spirits but even in kneading her own magic power.

 

"The reason Triforium-sama allowed you to go to Arcazam, even while being inwardly opposed, was because you could at least defend yourself with that magic power. But in such a state, where you can't even knead that magic power, what in the world can you do?"

 

"..."

 

"Is the reason that young man?"

 

"!"

 

Having been hit where it hurt, Shina's face, which was as white as snow, turned pale. The cause of Shina's poor condition. It was because of the Ritual of the Blood Pact with Nozomu. Nozomu's unique ability, the Soul-Sealing Shackles. The powerful unique ability, which could even seal Tiamat, had also affected Shina's soul, which was connected by the Ritual of the Blood Pact, and had significantly reduced her abilities.

 

"As I thought. And from the looks of it, it seems you've even gone as far as the Ritual of the Blood Pact."

 

"...What did you say!?"

 

"I felt it earlier, when you were talking to that boy. The strong contract I felt between the two of you."

 

The words that Laurus continued to speak were further cornering Shina. As expected of someone who was in charge of the negotiation window with other races, Laurus also possessed extremely outstanding abilities. His eyes had clearly seen through the strong contract that had been formed between Shina and Nozomu.

 

"To have done such a rash thing... An elf and a human, on top of being different races, to go as far as the Ritual of the Blood Pact..."

 

"Shina! Do you intend to devote your entire life to a human!"

 

Perhaps his head had begun to ache so much at Shina's action, as Laurus put his hand to his forehead and looked up at the heavens. On the other hand, as for Triforium, perhaps his calmness had already been blown away, as he was pressing Shina while spitting.

 

"...My will has not changed."

 

Shina, who had had all the facts she had wanted to hide exposed, looked down, but she just said a single word of refusal, as if to be stubborn. At Shina's appearance, Laurus let out a sigh and turned back to Triforium.

 

"Triforium-sama, let's back down for today. It seems that it's useless to say anything to her now."

 

"Don't be ridiculous! How can I just leave such an important matter as it is!"

 

Was he thinking that his own blood relative had been disgraced? Triforium was so enraged that it seemed he would turn his malicious intent on Nozomu, who was the cause of all this, if it came to it. In front of such an elder, Laurus, while maintaining his calmness, stated in a nonchalant tone.

 

"This is Arcazam. It is not something that we as elves should do, to harm him, who is under its protection."

 

If one were to think about the elf race as a whole, to cause a commotion in this Arcazam would have a hundred harms and not a single benefit. For Laurus, who was in charge of negotiations with other races, the option of harming Nozomu, who was the cause of all this, was not an option in the first place. However, for Triforium, it was his great-granddaughter's crisis. In his current state, where his head was boiling, Laurus's argument alone would have little effect.

 

"Even if we were to forcibly take her back here, she would not be convinced anyway. And besides, Shina herself cannot continue to stay at this academy in such a weakened state. Let's just quietly wait for her to give up."

 

That was precisely why he had tried to persuade him by bringing up Shina's current situation. That for the current Shina, whose abilities had been greatly reduced, it was almost impossible to continue to stay at Solminati Academy. Perhaps Triforium had also been reluctantly convinced by Laurus's words, as he turned on his heel with a stern expression. It probably meant that there was nothing more to say. Although that was proof that Shina had escaped from her great-grandfather's interference, Shina's expression was dark, and she looked as if she were on the verge of collapsing.

 

"Shina. I understand that you have performed the Ritual of the Blood Pact and are trying to serve him, even to the point of abandoning your own dream. As for me, I also think that friendship with other races is necessary for the future of the elves. However, we elves, as a race, are already on the brink in terms of numbers. You should have refrained from such a rash action."

 

The number of elves had been drastically reduced by the great invasion, and the number of adult individuals to maintain the race had been considerably reduced. If, for some reason, there was a large decrease in the population again, it was a situation where even the minimum viable population to maintain the race would be endangered. It was the result of their long lifespan, which made it difficult for the next generation to be born, backfiring. If their numbers continued to decrease, the elf race would disappear from this earth. That brink was, in fact, a reality that was not far off for the elves. Also, one of the major factors in the fluctuation of a race's population is environmental change. For the current elves, the refugee village was by no means an easy environment to live in. To maintain their population, and furthermore, to increase the number of the next generation of elves, the reclamation of their hometown forest was necessary, and for that, cooperation with other races was also indispensable. Naturally, Shina also understood that reality. The reason Shina had dreamed of reclaiming her hometown was not only for revenge for her family but also because of this environmental change and the problem of the minimum viable population.

 

"I thought you would understand, since you came to this city after pushing through the opposition of those around you..."

 

To reclaim her hometown. For Shina, who had been running with that wish for so long, Laurus's words had deeply pierced her chest. Because the reality that her own dream had been closed off had been clearly thrust before her.

 

***

 

Even after Triforium and Laurus had left, Shina was standing alone in the garden of the guesthouse. A further blow was waiting for such a Shina.

 

"Shina, what's wrong?"

 

Mimuru, in her dress, appeared in front of Shina. At the appearance of an unexpected person, a look of agitation ran across Shina's expression.

 

"Mimuru, why are you here..."

 

"Somehow, you went out into the garden with a serious atmosphere, so I followed you... So, what's wrong?"

 

A moment of silence flowed between Shina and Mimuru.

 

"It's noth-" "There's no way it's nothing, right? By the way, I heard the whole thing." "!"

 

At the fact that the secret she had been desperately trying to hide had been found out, Shina was at a loss for words. She bit her pale lips and clenched both her hands, which were wrapped in blue silk gloves.

 

"I thought your condition was strange in today's mock battle, but to think that you couldn't even properly knead your magic power..."

 

As for her, although she had noticed that Shina's condition seemed to be bad, she had probably not even dreamed that it was this bad. Mimuru put her hand to her forehead with a bewildered look and looked up at the sky.

 

"And the cause is Nozomu... Does he know?"

 

"...He doesn't."

 

Hearing those words, Mimuru turned on her heel in silence. Shina, who had felt an unusual intimidating presence from Mimuru's back as she was walking towards the guesthouse, tried to stop her best friend with a frightened voice.

 

"...Wait, what are you going to do?"

 

"It's obvious, isn't it? I'm going to tell Nozomu about your condition. I don't know much about spirit contracts, but this is definitely not good."

 

"! That's not okay!"

 

The moment she heard those words, Shina was driven by a sense of fear that welled up like an eruption. She immediately rushed over to Mimuru and grabbed her hand to stop her.

 

"Not okay? Why?"

 

Why are you stopping me? At Mimuru, who was looking back with a blaming gaze, Shina's eyes wavered.

 

"He has his hands full with Tiamat right now. To put any more burden on him..."

 

"So you're saying I should just stay quiet? You're the one who's kidding, Shina!"

 

Mimuru's rage shook the wavering Shina's heart. For Mimuru, who would honestly and straightforwardly convey her feelings to her beloved, Shina's actions were something she absolutely could not tolerate.

 

"...You're in love with him, aren't you?"

 

"I-In love..."

 

"Did you think I wouldn't know? The fact that the prim and proper elf, Shina, would go as far as the Ritual of the Blood Pact to help him, that's what it means, isn't it?"

 

The feelings of love that she had been harboring in her heart, which had grown, and which she had just become aware of. Her best friend had seen through and had spoken of the feelings that she had been desperately trying to hide. Of course, for Mimuru, the feelings of her best friend, who was inexperienced in love, were far too easy to understand. Because she had been in love with her childhood friend, Tom, for a long time. If you just look at this point, Mimuru had a hundred times more experience than Shina.

 

"I know very well the feeling of wanting to help the person you love. But this is not good. If you stay quiet like this, Shina, you'll definitely regret it."

 

That was precisely why she could not just leave her best friend's mistake as it was. Because Mimuru was thinking that the result of suppressing one's own feelings would be regret, no matter what the outcome. Still, Shina would not let go of Mimuru's hand. Mimuru, who had grown impatient, tried to forcibly shake off Shina's hand.

 

"Shina, that's enough..."

 

"No, even so, I can't."

 

Mimuru's hand, which she had put strength into, froze. A weak lament, so much so that it was hard to believe she was the same best friend who was usually stubborn and would scold her for her pranks like a class president. In the eyes of Mimuru, who had turned around in spite of herself, was the figure of Shina, with her eyes full of tears, looking at her as if she were clinging.

 

"If he finds out about this ritual, it will corner him even more. Him, who is already impatient, having turned his blade on us twice..."

 

Mimuru, who had spent a reasonable amount of time with them at this academy, could also guess at the impatience that Nozomu had been harboring recently, and also about his reckless training. Because he had directly appealed to that white dragon old man to become his disciple, and from the early morning, he had been exuding a deep color of fatigue and the choking smell of blood. At the same time, she could also imagine Shina's bad premonition. To the current Nozomu, who was driven by impatience, the story of "having crushed Shina's dream" would be equivalent to a potent drug. Especially for that kind-hearted young man. If Nozomu were to be taken in by Tiamat again, she didn't know if they would be able to call him back this time.

 

"It's okay, I'm okay..."

 

Suppressing her own dream, and her own feelings of love, Shina smiled. In front of the forced, crumpled, masked smile, Mimuru could only bite her lip.

 

***

 

On the other hand, at the guesthouse, Nozomu was facing a certain person.

 

"Nice to meet you... though I suppose, that’s not quite the right greeting, right? Nozomu-dono?"

 

The noblewoman he had met once before, with Irisdina. Dressed in a navy-blue dress that was wide open in the back, her silky purple hair, which was in a gentle wave, was exuding an unparalleled, alluring atmosphere. A beauty so great that you would never forget her if you met her once. But at the same time, her smiling, beautiful face held a coldness like ice.

 

"You are..."

 

"I am Mekuria. It has been a while, hasn't it? Shall we talk for a bit?"

 

What she had pointed at with those words was the staircase that led to the salon on the second floor. While being directed a gaze that could freeze his spine, Nozomu swallowed.

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