Chapter 1055 – From Interest to Excitement
000
Track and trace, a small echo echoing in the forest where water droplets have begun to fall at a level that cannot be ignored.
Cleon’s shouting could have been heard far enough even in the quiet mountains, but fortunately it did not reach the inside of the cave where Yuni was.
If she had heard Cleon’s scream, she would have rushed out and found him.
Would it be better to say that I am glad that is not the case?
Cleon looked surprised in front of her, but said, ‘Please tell me the situation’ ─
They explained who they were and why Cleon raised her voice to a woman who looked like Laila, but was the exact opposite of her in everything.
“… Indeed. Your acquaintance and I are so similar?”
“No. If you say we resemble each other, we are alike. But if you say no, should I say no… Maybe you will deny it, but…”
Cleon seemed to have calmed down a bit from her calm voice, and was able to regain his composure and speak.
Apparently, she was a little excited because she thought that if she encountered the guardian, it might lead to a battle like before, and that came out in her voice, which seemed to be the reason for the loud noise.
… No, let’s be honest.
Sasha from before was also a little embarrassed because she looked a little more mature than him-
The woman in front of her, no matter how hard she tried to be nice to her, didn’t she turn all the things about Lila that she cared about into the opposite?
In other words, it was like a completely opposite dish made with the same ingredients.
However, when we talk about her, she is a person who is calm and collected, and knows how to listen to others’ stories first, unlike Laila, who is impatient and has high pride.
If it’s different up to this point, isn’t everything really different except the color of her hair?
You might want to say that, but the magic she used and the voice she heard were enough to make Cleon think of that red-haired girl.
“Hehe. You’re a fun person.”
Perhaps sensing Cleon’s gaze, she smiled slightly and covered her mouth.
“…”
She doesn’t seem to be very wary of this area.
Seeing her attitude that seemed incomparably harmful to that of the other Guardians I met today, Cleon’s wariness towards her was slowly softening.
She slowly lowered her head and lowered her waist and lifted the hem of her skirt as Cleon let go of the sword she was holding at her waist.
“I’m late in introducing myself. I am the guardian of this mountain.”
“… As expected.”
The equipment on her eyes was the same as the one worn by the guardian who resembled Sasha earlier, so she had already expected it.
“Today, my colleagues were in disarray in each mountain, and I think I know why. It probably happened while you and your colleagues were exploring the Four Dragon Mountains.”
“Even on other mountains…?”
That means that the expedition party had contact with other guardians.
“… Are the humans who met the other mountain guardians safe?”
Maybe, she might be able to hear her answer from herself.
When Cleon thinks so and asks the guardian, she quietly nods her head.
“Yes. From what I heard, they failed to draw it into their territory… Then I heard them say to the guardian on the mountain that it is better to be careful.”
After hearing that story, Cleon was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
To be honest, their power was greatly limited within this mountain.
That’s probably the situation not only for yourself, but also for the forces on the expedition team.
When she met with the guardians, she thought that if a situation arose that could not be resolved through conversation… It might be difficult to get through it safely.
As expected, they were stronger than she had feared.
“Are you relieved?”
“Ah… Thank you for letting me know.”
Cleon conveys his intentions of pure gratitude to her.
But there was a problem.
Now she knows why they came to this mountain.
Go to Jade Dragon Mountain, defeat your companions, and through there you will enter the underground ruins.
Since she was no different from what she declared, Cleon would have had to assume a battle with her.
However, from her ladylike attitude and unfazed appearance, I was confident that she would not attack us suddenly.
“…”
However, she also knew very well that it was all just her own guesses and predictions, so Cleon kept her mouth shut and spared her words.
Because she didn’t know what would upset her and ignite her fighting spirit.
If the woman in front of her was not Lila… But similar to Kuon or Amelia, she would have been able to open up her feelings a little more.
I guess because the bass is Lila…
However, seeing Cleon so nervous, she smiled faintly once again.
“You don’t have to be that nervous… The person in front of you is not the original guardian, but an alter ego. We, the guardians, can only operate near the entrance we are in charge of.”
“Is that so…”
However, Cleon remembers what the guardian in the form of Sasha did earlier.
She ignored everything, such as the rock wall of the mountain, and used a magic arrow that was able to pierce it by aiming in a straight line.
Even if she were a living weapon, she thought that if the woman in front of her had power that was comparable to hers, she would be dangerous no matter where she met him.
[Really an alter ego~?]
At that time, Galatea, who was hanging around Cleon’s waist, must have voiced her suspicions.
“What’s wrong? Galatea.”
[A clone is usually an illusion made of magical power, right? But why do you use something like a flame shield when walking in the rain? The rain will pass through anyway, so you won’t feel anything.]
“…!”
Hearing Galatea say that, Cleon gasped and said, ‘Hot’.
It’s exactly what she said.
If we were to say that she was a magical alter ego that moved like a terminal of her main body, it wouldn’t have mattered if she got caught in the rain. Why?
“… Can I check one thing?”
“Yes. What is it?”
When Cleon asked her a question in a slightly nervous manner, her guardian nodded and asked Cleon back.
“If the person in front of you right now is an alter ego… Why are you wearing a flame shield to avoid the rain?”
And, Galatea will ask her the questions she presented, putting them in her own words.
Then the guardian remained silent for a moment, then quietly raised the corners of her mouth.
“Hehe… Ahaha!”
And, the sound of laughter bursting out.
The laugh was close to the evil laugh that came out when Lila was sure of her victory.
Cleon follows his instinct and quickly moves his hand to Galatea’s handle.
“I never thought you would care so much and question it… You are calmer than I thought… I would say you are very attentive.”
The one who told her was Galatea, who was hanging around her waist, but Cleon must have glared at her without saying anything else.
However, the Guardian spoke without changing his softened attitude in the slightest despite Cleon’s attitude.
“Please don’t stare at me like that. I wasn’t trying to catch you off guard or deceive you. This body is really an alter ego, but… It’s just a type that has all of my senses connected to my main body.”
As she says this, she raises her hand.
Then, as the shield of the burning flame weakens a little, water droplets fall through it.
I could see it bouncing when I touched it on her hand.
“A magical alter ego in human form capable of physical interference…!?”
If Lila finds out, she’ll probably be shocked and upset.
By strongly compressing magical power, it is possible to create objects with shape and mass.
The magic arrows Sasha uses are like that, and the magic barrier she likes to use is also like that.
However, that only involves creating a form through magical power.
In order to create a complex object with magic power, you had to have that much magic power, completely understand the internal structure, and be able to picture all the parts moving at the same time in your head.
If you could create anything with magical power, how ridiculous would this ability be?
But what if.
If there were a wizard who perfectly understood the existence of ‘humans’, which have a more complex structure than any other object that exists in the world.
And if that wizard has an absurd amount of magical power at the same time.
Rather than creating a scarecrow-like alter ego that simply copies the appearance, it may be possible to create another version of yourself that is no different from a living human being.
Of course, this is only theoretical, and if such a thing were possible, it would not be possible unless the dragon had a similar amount of magic power.
─ In other words, the woman in front of her is like that.
[What do you want to do… Cleon…?]
How do you do it?
The first answer that came to mind to Galatea’s question was ‘retreat’.
Maybe it’s a negotiation.
No matter how much Cleon he was, I wanted to refuse to engage in battle with such an opponent when he was unable to demonstrate all of his skills.
But, can you escape from her just by running away?
Thinking about finding the right answer among the limited options floating around in your head.
At that time.
What stopped Cleon’s thoughts was the ‘hand’ that warmly wrapped his own hand.
When Cleon glanced down, he saw the guardian holding his hand gently.
“… Hehe♡ There’s no need to be nervous. Even if you stand this close and hold hands, nothing will happen.”
She will speak in a slightly excited voice.
Of course, Cleon was taken aback by her actions, but before she could remove his hand from hers, her hand moved first.
“If not… What you’re worried about is this…?”
At the same time, she grabbed Cleon’s hand and brought it towards her own chest.
And without even thinking about it, he made Cleon stick his hand into the valley created by the curved dress.
“!?”
Cleon was so embarrassed and shocked that he couldn’t even think of asking what she was doing.
‘After all, isn’t this guy Lila!?’
While thinking that, at the same time…
If Lila had the ‘physical reserve’ like her Kuon, she was somewhat regretfully convinced that she would do something similar to what she was doing right now.
“Ahh, her hands are starting to sweat…”
All of Cleon’s children’s songs are passed down to her.
“But can you feel it…? My heart is pounding so hard that it doesn’t stop beating.”
Just as she said, her heartbeat was transmitted to Cleon’s palm, which entered between her valley.
But it was created from a different emotion than Cleon’s.
Expectation, exaltation, and something else.
“I wonder why… This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a person enter the mountain without fear. It’s the first time I’ve encountered someone I like you.”
“──.”
Her voice resonates within the protective shield.
[CL─ON… SPIRIT─]
Galatea’s voice is getting farther away.
I know what Galatea is trying to say.
The guardian’s voice was mixed with magical power.
This is the type of voice that interferes with people’s minds.
‘I’m sorry… Galatea. But I think it’s a little late to realize it…’
This isn’t about her suddenly changing her mind and using it to harm Cleon.
Probably─ it was from the beginning.
From the time we first met her, she agreed with me while listening to her explain the situation.
Little by little, she continued to mix in her faint magic without anyone noticing.
Now, I just increased the concentration at once.
Her eyes are blurring.
“Let’s play a game with me…”
In her world, it was a feeling that only she and the person in front of her were left.
“You won’t be able to refuse…♡”
001
“… It’s late, Cleon.”
As if she was a little worried about Yuni, she turned her gaze towards the outside of the cave – towards the entrance.
The rain has already begun to fall heavily, and even if he brought back the branches, it would be too humid to use them as firewood.
“… Maybe something happened…!?”
Soon after, as she tried to get up, as if she was worried, a voice called ‘tsk tsk tsk…’ From above her head.
Laplace was resting, hanging upside down, just like a bat.
“Well, what’s funny!?”
“Ah. I’m sorry. Come to think of it, I guess I didn’t tell you. This area is the territory of the guardian of Mt. Guirong.”
“!?”
Uni would be greatly embarrassed by Laplace’s words.
The guardians showed a relatively gentle attitude toward themselves, who originally lived in the mountains, but tried to exclude all outside intruders.
It was clear that if we met Cleon, it would definitely lead to a battle.
“Why, now…! Could it be on purpose?!”
“Ah… I wonder if you even noticed. Yes, I intentionally made the magic swordsman encounter the guardian of this mountain.”
Laplace would open his mouth so wide that it would tear.
“For my plan, those two had to meet.”
“The idea of collaborating with Cleon to fight the returners was, after all, a deception!?”
“Deception?”
He speaks in response to Yuni’s questioning.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something. My plan is only to destroy my old comrades.”
“Then why-“
“It is necessary for that goal. The Flame Witch, the guardian of this Ghost Dragon Mountain…”
Uni would look at Laplace as if she couldn’t understand.
Then Laplace sighs.
“Of course, all guardians deal with humans with their own principles and laws. Some of them are gentle, but most of them push their own self-righteous beliefs. If you carefully consider the conditions, guardians do not necessarily become enemies. And the beliefs held by the witch of Gwiryongsan Mountain are…”
Laplace closed his mouth for a moment.
“The idea is to change your attitude depending on how much the other person is worth studying.”
“…?”
“That witch, like us returnees, seems to be closer to a scholar to begin with. When she encounters an ‘unknown’ being, she first wants to understand it. Then, she makes contact with it and makes a ‘contract’. Literally a witch. Like.”
“Contract…?”
Laplace paused for a moment in response to Uni’s question before answering.
“Yes. Converting the ‘unknown’ resolved through the intruder into time – in the meantime, even if they are in this mountain, we will not interfere. In other words, now, no matter what kind of trouble we go into the returner’s mansion in this mountain. She. As long as we don’t go to the ‘entrance’ to the underground ruins, she won’t interfere with us.”
Then he adds:
“Someone of us had to do it. He would be the best. Because then she wouldn’t die so easily… And at least to her, he would have been the most interesting of us.”
“… In other words, you are not denying that you were driven out as a scapegoat…!”
Yuni still looked at Laplace with angry eyes.
However, Laplace smiled dryly and said ‘haha’.
“Isn’t it a personal sacrifice for a greater purpose?”
He did not show any attitude of reflection.
