Akatsuki Translations

“I had Akane survey the area around the temporary city. She discovered a hidden underground space with concealment techniques applied, and while monitoring it, she caught some suspicious conversations.”  -Diz

《I heard it~》-Akane

“Akane is amazing.” -Ur

Her versatile body seems to be more suitable for such activities than one would think. Thinking back, Ur also once stuck her shape-shifting self to his face, transformed her, and used her for disguise (though it was to escape from his shitty father’s debt collectors).

“She said that they thoroughly concealed their traces when entering and exiting, making it impossible to identify individuals, but the conversations could be understood.” -Diz

《After finding it, they came about twice, right? They were talking to someone for a long time》-Akane

“To someone. So, what were they talking about?” -Ur

《The first time, they mentioned making something “float” and to “hurry”. They also talked about Diz. The second time was after Nii-tan almost died. “Success”, “cleanup”, “leave no one behind”》-Akane

“…I see.” -Ur

Akane’s explanation was terribly fragmented, but each word was too blatant. Timing-wise, it’s undoubtedly the conversation of the mastermind behind this incident.

“I guess they reached a turning point when that change in Uuga occurred. The masterminds’ objective has moved to the second stage, and this temporary city has become unnecessary.” -Diz

“They intend to massacre everyone here using the city familiar?” -Ur

“They seem to think they can do that, including me. They must have thought it would work. Faking being out of commission was worth it.” -Diz

Diz smiles. It’s a frightening smile. A smile filled with murderous intent towards the those who created this situation.

“You seem confident.” -Ur

“Not really. Honestly, even I didn’t anticipate a city-scale familiar. I don’t know how much of a threat it is. If we ignore the surrounding damage, it’s not impossible to fight, but…” -Diz

“It’s good to have a minimum guarantee, but it’s a last resort.” -Ur

In this temporary city, there are attendants who can do little other than offer prayers to the spirits, and even more helpless Nameless people. If that giant city were to become a familiar and rampage, even Diz would definitely get caught up in it.

“That’s right. So, I want to prevent the completion of the familiar and evacuate the non-combatants beforehand. But the escape routes from this temporary city have probably been crushed. If they want to kill everyone, they’d be in trouble if people escaped.” -Diz

“Is it necessary to secure an escape route?” -Ur

“Yes. But before that, we need to cut off the enemy’s sources of information.” -Diz

Saying that, Diz signaled to Jenna, who was on standby. She disappeared into the back of the carriage and returned after a while, carrying something grandiose.

“Here you are, Ur-sama.” -Jenna

“And then capture the ones we’ve been letting swim.” -Diz

What Ur was handed was an ominous-shaped knife.

“Ur. When you see an opening, stab Kalkara with that.” -Diz

“You want me to kill…?” -Ur

“That’s a magical item for capture. When stabbed, it activates a sealing technique using all of the target’s magical power. Then, they won’t be able to use magic or the power of spirits and will be unable to move an inch. It’s a high-grade disposable item.” -Diz

“That’s quite something.” -Ur

If Diz calls it a high-grade item, it must be considerable. And it’s disposable. It sounded like an exaggeration to want Ur to use it on Kalkara, who honestly didn’t seem to have much combat ability.

But Diz shook her head.

“If a priest who can manipulate the power of spirits resists and rampages seriously, it’ll be a big deal, you know?” -Diz

“Ah…” -Ur

Ur and the others had just been saved by that spiritual power of Echelle.

Echelle’s power that reflected the breath of the “dragon-like” creature that nearly annihilated Ur and the others in an instant. If Kalkara is also a priest, she should be able to use the power of spirits. Indeed, it’s by no means an exaggeration.

“Aim for a surprise attack where there’s absolutely no room for a counterattack. Unlike magic, the power of spirits doesn’t require chanting. If you show an opening, it’s over.” -Diz

“I’ll do my best… Is that all?” -Ur

“No, if possible, I want to capture the ones Akane detected as well.” -Diz

Diz strokes Akane with her fingertip. Akane shyly shook her head.

“Do you have any leads? Akane could only confirm the conversation, right?” -Ur

“The fact that they’re trying to hide their identities so thoroughly allows for some speculation.” -Diz

As a presupposition, the suspects are those living in the temporary city.

And the fact that they’re thoroughly concealing their appearance and trying not to be seen by anyone means that it would be problematic if their face was seen. Considering those conditions, the “Nameless” are excluded from the candidates. There are many of them, and they’re mobile. Those who were there until yesterday may be gone, and those who weren’t there may have flowed in from another city at some point. Even without hiding their faces more than necessary, it’s possible to blend in quickly.

“Then it’s the temple attendants whose identities are easier to determine.” -Ur

“It also brings them closer to Kalkara. It’s easy for them to secretly exchange information.” -Diz

“But there are quite a few attendants too.” -Ur

“That’s where I want to confirm. Ur, were there any suspicious attendants?” -Diz

“How would I know that?” Ur muttered. Ur hadn’t paid any attention to the attendants at all. He had merely formed the impression that they were an unmotivated bunch and had hardly interacted with them.

“It’s clear that the ‘enemy’s’ goal is to turn the Dragon-Devoured city, Uuga itself into a familiar. In that case, while excavators like the White Serpent who search for magic stones in the upper layers can be left alone, it must have been undesirable for you guys to head deep down and investigate the dungeon.” -Diz

It’s an extremely large-scale magical ritual. They should have wanted to eliminate as many uncertain elements as possible.

“At first, when the flying dragon appeared, Rock and Lynne were targeted first. Well, that’s probably why.” -Ur

If the flying dragon is a type of familiar that’s an “imitation of a dragon,” the intention of targeting Ur and the others first is clear. Physical elimination, even if they couldn’t kill them, they may have intended to make them afraid by having a dragon-like being attack them and make them withdraw from the matter.

“The dragon’s sudden attack on you guys happened right after you arrived here. Maybe they wanted to drive you away quickly. Their impatience is showing. But using a ‘fake dragon’ just for that is a bit sloppy in terms of how they play their cards. No, maybe they have few cards to play in the first place.” -Diz

Diz, still lying down, taps the wall of the carriage with her fingertips, making a dry, pleasant sound. And gradually, gradually, the outline of “that person” who had no form or shape comes into view.

“And despite finally using that familiar, it was repelled by Ur and the others. They must have been surprised. If they were cautious of me, the Hero, then the adventurers guarding me were also something else.” -Diz

“Something else.” -Ur

“They hurriedly withdrew the familiar and returned it to the core of Uuga as a guardian. They lost the means to directly eliminate Ur and the others. They must have been in trouble.” -Diz

With a high-pitched sound, Diz stops snapping her fingers and turns her gaze to Ur. The light of her clear, golden eyes was beautiful.

“Ur, after the battle with the dragon, were there any attendants who approached you guys? Interference from their side. Regardless of the reason, was there anyone who came and told you to stay away from here?” -Diz

“–Ah.” -Ur

In Ur’s mind, the face of the attendant who sympathized with Echelle, comforted her, and then out of kindness urged her to give up surfaced.

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The time returns to the present.

“【Soul Demon Seal】” -Ur

Ur stabbed the knife he borrowed from Diz into Kalkara.

Honestly, since it looked completely like a knife and stabbing it into someone seemed like it would create hesitation, he stopped thinking and simply swung it down.

The knife stabbed straight into Kalkara’s heart. Surprisingly, there was no sensation of cutting through flesh at all.

“–Eh?” -Kalkara

A voice that seemed uncharacteristically dumbfounded leaked from Kalkara’s throat.

At the same time, the handle of the knife sticking out of her chest as if it had grown there pulsated in a dark red color. Immediately, the glow of the technique spread out like a band and then converged into her body.

The sealing technique of the knife had activated. Kalkara, who had widened her eyes in surprise, fell to the ground with a thud, unable to move an inch.

“Wha!?” -Kalkara

“Ka-Kalkara?!” -Echelle

Echelle let out a surprised voice, but Ur ignored it for now. It wasn’t over yet.

“【【【Sing, O Earth】】】” -Shizuku

Shizuku had already finished chanting. She released a gravity magic that binds the target to the earth.

It was slammed into “Kalan,” who until now had been caring for Echelle, even offering a place of exile, and now, the moment he saw Kalkara’s sealing, had made a gesture as if to run away.

“Gah!?” -Kalan

With the sound of his own body creaking, he was stuck to the ground. However, that only lasted for a moment. The shock disappeared from his face, and the gentle smile he should have been wearing until now vanished.

“Ngh, ugh, uuuaAAHHH!!” -Kalan

Where did he get such strength? Despite the considerable load, he stood up while his body creaked. And he ran towards Shizuku, the caster.

“–Don’t underestimate me! You mere adventurer!!” -Kalan

What flew out of his open mouth no longer had the impression of a gentle, good-natured man. There was anger at the attack against him, the ugly hatred of a criminal still trying to struggle in the face of his exposed crimes. But,

“Yes. I’m not underestimating you.”  -Shizuku

Shizuku gave Kalan a lovely smile that didn’t read the atmosphere of the place at all. For just a moment, Kalan was discouraged by her beautiful smile. And with that moment, everything ended.

“Yeah, good work Shizuku.” -Diz

The door to the room was suddenly kicked open. The one who appeared from the door was a golden girl. Kalan, who was preoccupied with trying to cancel the magic cast on him, was probably too busy just reacting. His arm reaching out to Shizuku was dancing in the air the next moment.

“Huh?!” -Kalan

“Sorry, but I’ll be rough. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.” -Diz

The golden one, who in no time, had drawn her crimson sword and swung it, smiled. In front of that smile, Kalan shouted with all the hatred he could muster.

“HEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” -Kalan

“Yeah, I know.” -Diz

Countless scarlet flashes dashed.

The heretic who wore the skin of a servant of the Sun God became incapacitated without being able to demonstrate any of his true abilities.