Akatsuki Translations

While Ur and Shizuku are negotiating with Jain and others, Rock and Lynne are on standby. They can’t venture into the dungeon just by themselves, and it would be foolish to plunge into the dungeon without the information about it that could be obtained from Jain.

So, they are on standby, but Rock was killing time. There are few entertainments in the “temporary city”. It’s natural since it’s just a gathering of “Nameless” who have fled here during the city’s construction. Now, the 【Great Eagle of Dawn】 is open for business and there’s some liveliness, but still, it’s nothing compared to the scale of a city’s shopping district.

Too many people would attract monsters, so it can’t be helped. That’s why Rock was bored. He was just idly watching his companions without doing anything in particular.

『…What are you doing, Lynne? 』-Rock

However, he couldn’t help but speak out as Lynne, the subject of his gaze, was doing something quite strange. Right in front of Rock, Lynne was gripping her giant staff and waving it around, engraving a magical formula into the ground.

But it looked more like swordsmanship training, or practice swings, than aiming for the completion of a magic spell… She is a magician, after all. It was completely unclear what she was doing.

“It’s White King Formation training.” -Lynne

To Rock’s question, Lynne answered while wiping sweat from her forehead. Rock tilted his head in confusion.

『Wouldn’t you normally call that sort of thing research? 』-Rock

“Training. I’m training my muscles to engrave the White King Formation more swiftly.” -Lynne

『Guess its more of a training thing than I thought. 』-Rock

Rock was amazed. Such a strange magician she was.

『Can’t you just improve that sort of thing by researching magic? 』-Rock

“I’ve already taken my research as far as it can go. I’m still refining it, but dramatic changes don’t just happen.” -Lynne

Lynne’s words were heavy. The technique brought by the White Witch had been trained for hundreds of years. It was a practice that never ceased. This included simplification, the invention of cheaper versions, and research in various other areas. It wasn’t a problem that could be solved with a day or so of research.

If there’s still room for improvement, it would be in Lynne’s own physical body. It’s a simple matter, but if Lynne can engrave the magic formula faster, then the completion of the 【White King Formation】 will also be quicker. Her physical abilities have been improving with the exploration of the dungeon and the absorption of magical power, but just increasing strength isn’t enough. Constructing the magic formula, the construction of the 【White King Formation】, requires delicate techniques with the tip of the staff.

After such a thorough explanation, Rock responded with a mixture of admiration and amazement,

『That’s tough… 』-Rock

He simply expressed his thoughts. Of course, he had more to think about and comment on, but even Rock, who indulged in pleasure, hesitated to make light remarks to a woman who had clearly committed her life to the study of the 【White King Formation】.

“It’s tough… What about you?” -Lynne

『Hm? Me? 』-Rock

Lynne stopped her training for a moment and turned to face Rock.

“Do you have a goal or something?” -Lynne

『Not really. 』-Rock

Rock stated this quite frankly.

『For me now, this life is like a dream seen after a long sleep. There might have been some regrets in my previous life, but I don’t have clear memories of it. Besides, I don’t even know if ‘I’ am a continuation of my former self. 』-Rock

Rock, having been resurrected by a heretic and powerful necromancer and given a bizarre body, fully understood his unstable state. He knew that his current self and the self that had perished might not necessarily be one and the same.

『If nothing is certain, then isn’t it better to enjoy the present? HAHAH! 』-Rock

So, Rock lived for the now. He didn’t dwell on a vague and uncertain past. He was hedonistic and practical.

『As long as I stick with my master, I won’t be bored! Plus, I get a little pocket money. 』

“…I see.” -Lynne

『Do you find that strange? 』-Rock

Lynne shook her head.

“I can’t laugh at others for their eccentricities, my own goals are not exactly normal.” -Lynne

『HAHA! Let’s get along well, as fellow eccentrics! 』-Rock

Rock laughed, and Lynne smiled a little too. They were comrades who would entrust their lives to each other. Building a relationship of trust was important.

“Well, speaking of that, your master and our leader are the same in that regard.” -Lynne

『Both aiming to slay dragons, right? Is it even possible? 』-Rock

“I’ve never seen a dragon directly, so I can’t quite grasp it. Is that amazing?” -Lynne

『I’ve only seen a baby dragon briefly once myself… 』-Rock

Rock recalled that scene. The fight between a baby dragon, not yet fully grown, and Diz, and his own vague memories as a knight. It was “otherworldly.”

『It wasn’t about being strong or having incredible magic. That was something else. 』-Rock

“Even the 【White King Formation】would have a hard time?” -Lynne

『No, on the contrary, I think Ur is counting on you precisely because he has seen a dragon. That’s not something you can defeat with orthodox methods. 』-Rock

Hearing Rock’s words, Lynne gripped her staff more tightly. Her expression was hard to read from the outside, but Rock could feel a burning determination from within her. Some might feel burdened by expectations, but it seemed she was the type to turn expectations into strength.

『Well, it seems like a tremendous struggle awaits. It won’t be an easy path. 』-Rock

《That’s right~…》-Akane

Huh? As the two turned around, Akane, the spirit-bound sister of Ur, was floating in the air with a troubled expression.

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“Akane-sama” -Lynne

『What are you doing, Ur’s younger sister? 』 -Rock

《Work》-Akane

Akane spoke in her childlike voice.

At the moment, she resembled a fairy, like an elegantly dancing butterfly. She seemed to favor this form, though she looked a bit weary now.

“Work, you say?” -Lynne

《It’s Diz’s work. 》-Akane

“Has Diz-sama awakened?” -Lynne

《No, she’s sleeping. 》-Akane

Lynne tilted her head, wondering if Akane had overheard them talking before falling asleep, but it didn’t seem like it.

《She’s sleeping, but awake. 》-Akane

“What does that mean? Is that maid, Jenna, acting on her behalf?” -Lynne

《We’re connected. 》-Akane

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” -Lynne

Akane’s explanation was intensely sensory. Ur had explained it before, saying it’s because her spirit sensations and human sensations are intermingled. Akane tried hard to explain for a while, but eventually gave up with a 《Well, whatever! 》

《Any~~way~~, it’s Diz’s work. I’m busy. 》-Akane

“Shall I help you?”  -Lynne

《Nnnnnnn~, help Nii-tan. 》-Akane

『You like your brother, don’t you? 』-Rock

Rock chuckled, but Akane’s expression wasn’t bright.

《My brother keeps doing reckless things~. 》-Akane

『For your sake, right? 』-Rock

《That’s why I don’t like it. 》-Akane

『Ah, I see. 』-Rock

Feeling sorry and uncomfortable about the fact that one’s real brother is suffering and struggling for their sake is natural, especially when you care deeply for them.

Akane isn’t just a child who takes protection for granted. Rock understood this and realized his earlier words were mistaken.

『If you feel pain because Ur is being reckless, then it’s not really ‘for your sake.’ Ur is being reckless for his own reasons. Worrying about it is a loss. 』-Rock

《That’s why I also do what I want. 》-Akane

『I see. A pair of selfish siblings, eh? HAHAHA. 』-Rock

Rock and Lynne had initially thought it was just sibling love when they heard about Ur’s situation. However, it seems to be a bit different than that.

《I’ll do my best before my brother dies~. 》-Akane

Clearly, they did have a good relationship.

“By the way, what exactly is your work?” -Lynne

《Mmnn~ Monitoring. 》-Akane

“Surveillance?” -Lynne

Lynne asked again, surprised by the unsettling words coming from the lovely fairy-like figure. Akane nodded.

《It seems like something is about to happen soon~. 》-Akane

“Something like what?” -Lynne

『… Hey』-Rock

Lynne, who had been focusing on Akane, was a bit slow to respond to Rock’s call. She belatedly realized that his tone carried an evident tension. When Lynne turned around, Rock had drawn his bone sword from his waist and was “looking up at the sky.”

『Is that it? The ‘something’ you mentioned? 』-Rock

Seeing “it,” Lynne realized what it was, having seen it for the first time.

Despite being in a city where detailed threats were kept secret, she recognized the form that was naturally talked about. The gigantic wings covering the sky and sun. A huge mouth with fangs that seemed to swallow everything, a long tail that ensnares its prey, and both feet with sharp claws.

“— Dragon” -Lynne

A pitch-black dragon had descended upon the “temporary city” in the sky.