My body was tossed about.
My brain was shaken.
My rapidly moving vision and flickering consciousness.
Regret and sadness.
And questions swirling around in my chest.
I’m at the mercy of my body and mind, and I don’t know what’s happening to me anymore.
Tell me, Mother.
Why did you look like that, why were you in that place?
Why didn’t you come with me?
Tell me, Alba.
What do you know, and what are you hiding from me?
Why didn’t you tell me anything?
Tell me, father.
Did you know that mother was living in a different form?
Did you know, and didn’t tell us?
No one will ever tell me the truth.
Shouhei and I, we’re not told anything.
I don’t know what’s going on anymore.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
I found myself in the wilderness.
“… What the hell?”
I don’t know how to break it down and understand it.
I don’t know where this wilderness I’m in right now is, or where I was until just now.
Was that white girl I met really my mother?
For a while, I couldn’t muster up the energy to stand up, and I savored the feeling of pebbles rolling around on the ground.
I wonder if people’s thoughts freeze when they are in a situation they really don’t understand.
I had no idea where to start thinking.
I slowly got up, sat up, and looked at the sky.
There was not a cloud in the sky, and the moon was bright and full.
I’m under a small group of stars that I can clearly see.
“You’re awake, aren’t you?”
I heard a voice.
It was a female voice.
I couldn’t even react to the sudden voice, which would normally have startled me.
I looked around and saw only one large rock.
There it was, on a rock as tall as I was.
“Hmmm, it’s just a human being. I waited all this time to wake up, but nothing interesting seems to be happening. I’ll ask you anyway, who the hell are you?”
A rather pompous voice emanated from the silhouette on the rock.
I looked at the silhouette for a while.
The backlight of the moonlight made the shape vague, but as my eyes got used to it, the shape gradually became clearer.
“… Snake?”
It was a snake.
It was a black snake with a bright red jeweled charm on its forehead.
The eyes of the snake caught me straight and did not let go.
The red eyes swayed, and I felt as if I were being sucked in.
“Hmm? Wait a minute? What’s going on inside your…? How can you live with that? Oh, I’ve seen that technique before. Oh I see, he’s related somehow. This is going to be interesting.”
What is this snake talking about?
I mean, why is the snake talking?
Give me a break.
My brain, which has a limited capacity, is already full to the brim.
I’ve had enough of incomprehensible things.
I want to see Jaja and Nana.
But for now, I’ll reply back.
“…Hey, where am I?”
I asked the snake as I sat on the ground.
One important thing at a time.
If you’re an idiot, be an idiot and don’t panic.
“Is this it? We’re near the ruins of a shitty old place called the Tomb of Dailan.”
The royal tomb…
Ah, so the place where we were originally headed.
Good. It’s not like we don’t know the place at all.
As long as I can meet the people of Dailan and get in touch with Prince Atol, I’ll be able to manage somehow or another.
“I’ve been sent here all of a sudden. Oh, I forgot. My name is Kazamachi Kunpei. May I ask for your name?”
Yes, it’s important to introduce yourself.
The relationship changes a lot depending on whether you can call them by name or not.
“Name… my name, huh. In the past, I was called ‘the last one’. It’s been changed a few times since then, but nowadays it’s mostly ‘mother’, I think.”
“Hmm? No, I don’t really understand. That’s not a name, is it?”
“I never really cared about names. Oh, but it’s still better to have a name. Hmm.”
The snake began to move.
It dexterously climbed down the rock and came to me.
It stopped once and started again.
This time, it slowly circled around me. Her gaze alternated between my face and my chest.
It was an unpleasant gaze.
It was as if she was licking me, probing me.
It was looking at me with great interest, but it was just a snake.
It’s not a big snake, about the size of a viper.
“It’s his magic, right?”
“Eh?”
The snake pointed at my chest with its neck, and made one quick movement that scared me a little.
I don’t think it’s going to attack me because I’m talking to it and it’s talking to me, but the way it looks scares me.
“Which one is it?”
I don’t have any magic tools.
“It’s a multi-layered sealing spell on its heart. It’s a thin, yet very sturdy sealing formula. Even the secret formula has been carefully woven into it. I don’t know how you can live with that. There’s no way that the current demon race can handle that kind of magic. I’m sure it’s the work of that cheeky rat.”
“Heart? Rat… you mean Alba Germain?”
I still don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do remember the word rat.
As far as I know, he’s the only rat that seems to be able to use magic.
That elusive rat with a big attitude, and who is probably causing me the most trouble right now.
It’s Alba Germain, the Dragon Doctor.
“Oh… is that what he calls himself now? A man who comes from the dawn and is softer than mud. It’s a nice touch of irony, just like him. I’ve decided on my name.”
The snake then tautened what seemed to be its chest, though I couldn’t tell where it was.
“Clay. From this day forward, I am clay. Clay End. It’s also interesting to follow in his footsteps.”
Clay. Clay End.
Clay? Is that English? I think it means clay or mud.
What’s ‘End’? I think it means end in English.
“Well, let me take a closer look, shall I? I’ve pulled you all the way out here. I dragged it all the way out here. There’s no way there’s nothing.”
Pulled?
“What do you mean by pull?”
“Hm? Well, that’s, fufu.”
Clay laughed proudly at the sound of my voice.
“You were trying to use the transference magic circle in the tomb, right? I’ve been curious about it for a while, and I’ve been exploring it. The moment it was activated, there was a reaction I hadn’t seen before, so I tried to interfere with it a bit. We can find any number of holes in a magic circle like this. At least for us.”
“Ha?”
Wait, wait, wait. What are you talking about?
Clay chuckled in response to my questioning voice.
Just the sight of that incredibly disgusting smile sends chills down my back.
“You were supposed to fly right into my sleeping quarters, but you went somewhere else on the way. Where did you go? You’re not the one who has the ability to counteract my magic, are you? Be honest with me. I’m not going to hurt you just yet.”
Oh no.
Something inside of me is telling me to stay away from this guy at all costs.
The first time I met Aoi’s mother, Yule, I felt something similar, but this is completely different.
At that time, I was frightened by the overwhelming power that Yule possessed. I couldn’t find any way to deal with the power that was beyond my control.
Now, it’s different.
I’m just genuinely scared.
My instincts told me that the little snake in front of me was an abomination, formed only of evil.
It was nothing short of terrifying.
The back of my throat instantly dried up and sweat began to pour out of my body.
My legs began to tremble, and I gave up on standing.
I want to run away, but if I move even a millimeter from here, something terrible will happen.
I can’t even move a muscle as I stared at Clay.
“Hmm? What are you scared of? You’re so cute. Don’t worry. I’m not going to take it and eat it. Maybe.”
It’s smiling.
Smiling so delightfully.
What’s so funny?
Stop it. Please don’t smile.
A smile is supposed to be more beautiful.
Jaja, Nana, Aoi, Rouge, Mikuma are all so cute when they smile.
That smile is an affront to those beautiful smiles.
Stop it! Don’t smile!
“That’s enough. Stupid snake.”
I heard a familiar voice.
My strength returned to my body, which had been in a state of paralysis.
I hurriedly searched for the figure.
I found it.
It was standing proudly on the rock where Clay had first been, with the moonlight behind it.
“Can you please stop that mind-polluting magic? It’s freaking him out.”
Just a few moments ago, the thought of his voice and figure would have irritated me, but now I’m fine.
A staff larger than his body.
The triangular hat that seemed to completely hide his face.
The slightly dirty robe.
I feel relieved just by looking at him.
“Mmm-hmm. Fufufufu! Hahahahahahahahaha! Well, well, well! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you! Huh! Poor little rat!”
Alba Germain was there.
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