Chapter 364

364 – Father

I can only think that the conflict over territory between monsters and humans is a charade. Most likely, God’s Voice intentionally drove the divine skill holders, the Demon Lord and the Hero, into conflict so that they would destroy each other.

Like me, the Hero had God’s Voice. If it’s the same person behind both of ours, then they’re advising both humans and monsters. No matter how I think about it, they would have to be intentionally inducing the sacred skill holders to fight one another.

However, now that I know there were the Six Great Sages, there’s a possibility that there’s a different person behind my God’s Voice and the Hero’s. The Human Great Sage and the Monster Great Sage could be each manipulating those who inherit their powers in order to wage a war by proxy… That theory might be the most consistent with what I’ve been told.

However when I remember the Hero’s confusion in his last moments, I can’t help but have doubts. It seemed he was cut off from God’s Voice. Right after that, his [Human Realm] skill passed over to me. To me, that whole situation looks like we were two pawns made to clash so that the survivor could be chosen.

I can’t even be certain what it is that God’s Voice is scheming, or what my place in it is. It would be one thing if I was being sent out as a Demon Lord candidate from the start, but it’s not like I had a sacred skill at the beginning.

The candidate to be my father, Dragon King Eldia, also has [God’s Voice], so are they simply laying claim to all monsters that look like they might be strong…? There’s too little information, so there’s not much use in thinking about it here. If the Hero had only been someone who could be reasoned with, we could have exchanged information.

I return my focus to the world around me to see my partner staring up at me from point-blank range. Startled at her closeness, I rear backwards.

…Oops. Sorry, I got lost in thought a bit.

“Gaah?”

『What are you worrying about?』

That is… It seems I let myself get absorbed in stuff that wasn’t relevant and forgot where I was.

If I get carried away thinking about other matters right now, it might be Eldia in a bad mood. Plus, if my thoughts get picked up with [Telepathy], things could get complicated. I’ll think about all this again once I’ve calmed down. I’ll also need to decide what to do from here. So that when the critical moment comes, I don’t act halfheartedly.

『What are you pondering over? Conversing with your fellow is fine. However, if you have something to ask, then you may do so.』

With a thump, Eldia stamps his feet down. Something I want to ask… There is something, yeah.

『Oh?』

That is… I was wondering if, outside of this island, you might have a son?

As I ask, Eldia’s eyes open wide.

『My sons? Regrettably, all seven were killed by the sword of Hero Miia five hundred years ago.』

The sound of Eldia grinding his teeth together rings out as he emanates bloodlust. I-it was a sensitive topic… I guess it was a sore spot. D-did Miia-san set out to subjugate the Dragon King along with his seven children…? From the name, were they a woman? She sounds like she must have been quite the active person.

…For that matter, does this mean I’m totally unrelated to him…? Well, if what he’s has said is true, then since he’s been staying on this island ever since he received his divine revelation, it’s a bit hard to imagine how he could have a connection to my hatching in a completely unrelated forest. In the end, it’s only a matter of a similarly named title skill.

『Recently, I copulated with an island-wandering flying dragon that passed by, although I do not know if a child was produced. What of it?』

A-an island-wandering flying dragon…?

『That kind of dragon does not stay in one place. They are fickle and uninhibited. She unexpectedly appeared one day and unexpectedly disappeared another. The day after she said she would leave this island, there was already no sign of her. As I have sworn to hide in wait on this island for the arrival of the next Demon Lord, she was not one I could ever be compatible with. In the first place, such a low-rank dragon is of little consequence.』

Eldia says with a slight note of annoyance. He might be feeling a bit lonely. Suddenly the image of him searching the entire island for the flying dragon crosses my mind.

I quickly look away from him… As I thought, this dragon, Dragon King Eldia, is my father. But that’s not something I should say. Should the Demon Lord reappear, Eldia will serve them. He’s someone I could imagine becoming my enemy. He’s not someone I should get involved too deeply with.

In truth, it might be best to try and kill him now while his guard’s down. However, I’m not able to do such a thing. There’s a chance the day that we become be hostile never arrives and he will remain on this island indefinitely.

I focus strongly on my desire to return home so that Eldia picks it up. I Then look at Aro and the others to tell them that we’re leaving. Aro looks at me bewildered, while next to her, the nightmare dashes towards the stairs. Eldia is taken aback… Treant-san, who was cautiously keeping position near the stairs, deftly climbs up with its roots.

『Oh? Are you leaving already? There is much more that I know… Besides, I still have not heard anything about you?』

Still crouched down in the depths of the ruins, Eldia stretches out his head.

Sorry, but I’m still exhausted from the battle against the three guards of this place… I’m going to head back to our nesting hole and rest for a little bit.

『Hrmm… That’s right, I suppose you wouldn’t have a name. One day you will serve the next Demon Lord with me, so being nameless would be a poor fit. I shall grant you a fitting name. How of it?』

…Sorry, but I already have a name.

『O-oh… If you had one, then why did you not give it…』

Eldia retracts his head. With a glance back and a slight bow, I leave the ruins.

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