Chapter 23

T/N: The author has officially hybridized Unicorns and Pegasus. The species here is basically a winged unicorn.

Also, if it wasn’t clear, brackets [ _ ] will be used in animal speech as opposed to the “ _ “ that are used for human speech. (because in Japanese they use 『ありがとう』that type of brackets for animals and this type for humans 「だが・・・！！」)

Anyway, I’ll be needing thug speech lessons, it seems. They didn’t teach me that at school. I’m sowwy :’(
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Chapter 23
To stand up, to ascertain and to divide the pros and cons.

I can’t forgive them.

I can’t forgive those people.

Those who wounded the still young baby Unicorn.

And those who have the intention to deceive others.

My feet are directing me to the highway from earlier. (T/N: she’s going there as a human.)

When I arrived at the highway, they were there. ‘They’ are, of course, the Prince of Alvina’s party and the messengers from Tiruzoto country.  The messengers’ group is definitely the ones who treated the Unicorn with cruel eyes. Obviously they have many people, more than the lined up ten-odd people from Alvina country; they have about thirty people or more. And an adult Unicorn stood there next to them.

How sublime it is! With angel-like wings, a horse that crosses the heavens. But from my eyes it feels a little blurry when looking at it. I wonder if it’s because, as Timo said, Unicorns are things that should not be touched.

The Unicorn’s expression was tinged with melancholy, and was somehow in a languid state. Is she worrying about her child?

It seems I was too slow to arrive by a step. The Prince’s side has already been attacked by the Unicorn on orders from Tiruzoto’s messenger, everyone is laying on the ground. I don’t know what the light attack is like but there’re people with burn holes on their clothes. The messenger’s people are also wielding their weapons in hand and may pounce on them on any second.

“Why…”

The Prince’s face was distorting, seemingly in despair.

“I didn’t think the prince of a country would come out so obediently for such a thing. Was he raised to be so naïve that he won’t doubt people? Hah, how laughable!!”

The man who looked like the leader approached the crouching Prince, pulled out his sword and swung it downwards.

“LeBlanche…!”

“Lutoria!?” (T/N: omgnooo)

In a flash, the Captain protected the Prince with his body and received a slash to the right shoulder, falling to his knees.

— Wait, you over there!! Watcha doin’ to the Captain!!

“Damn, stop time properly, you creature!” (T/N: he says ‘omae’… that can’t be TL’d so I made into ‘creature’.)

This time he hit the adult Unicorn. On top of it, he hit it quite strongly as it was left staggering.

“Hey quit it. Won’t His Majesty get angry if it gets a large wound? In the best of cases…”

“Shuddup I know! We will be given a reward just by bringing these guys’ heads, right? It’s a surprisingly easy-peasy mission, huh.”

It’s not enough with the child, to think they even use violence against the adult Unicorn. So cruel.

I wonder if these people truly worship the unicorn as the Holy Beast of their country. As Timo said, it is just being used, but even so I cannot stay still and do nothing.

… I can’t watch as the Unicorn, as well as everyone, get killed. And I want to strike this anger into something. I’m just growing angry in a strange calmness. It might actually be good to let my feelings explode and turn violent here. But if I do so I may involve the Prince’s party in the damage.

I just do the things I want to do. Yes, I’ll do what I want to.

I’m just that kind of selfish, Dragon.

For example, even I lose the place I belong to, even if I can’t stay in the castle anymore, even my friends, if I have to sacrifice everything, I have to step forward now.

No, I want to step forward. That’s what I meant. For everyone, there is a point which they will not wish to yield. There’s not even the need to compare the two options.

Because at this rate, everyone will die. The Prince, as well as the Vice-Captain, the group from the First Knight Corps, and Lance, Stefanos, and the Knights who I recognize from the dormitory too — Also, the Captain.

I don’t want that. I absolutely don’t want that.

‘It’s because I want to eat them’, these feelings are not that simple. I had plenty of opportunities and chances to eat them, but didn’t because I didn’t want to lose my job, and because I made the country’s issues into an excuse. I was also running away, however I could have eaten them at anytime I felt like it. And I could also have fled the country and go somewhere else afterwards.

The reason I didn’t do it, it’s just, — because I did not want to lose them.

I have the habit of eating other humans, but will I not eat them, and, did my view of them change?

What’s wrong with my view having changed?  That’s what’s good about humans.

I’m living by killing them and eating them, but for me humans are not just food. It’s contradictory, but for me they are important and irreplaceable existences.

I stepped forward.

Bypassing several collapsed Knights, as if bouncing through; I also pass by the Vice-Captain’s side.

“Why…  is Miss Vito is here!?”

The moment I entered the Vice captain’s sight.

Why is the me who is supposed to be at the castle here? The answer is simple. Because I flew over.

But nobody knows I’m a Dragon and it’s cumbersome to explain. Various gazes fall on me from behind, but I ignore them unapologetically.

At the moment my attention is fully in the things in front of my eyes.

When I walk up to in front of the Captain’s eyes, who was being supported by the Prince, I crouch so as to match his line of sight.

“You, why are you here…”

The Prince and the Captain as well were surprised by me being here.

Well I’m also surprised, since the Captain is a heroine character to the end. What does he feel at being protected by a girl? …But it’s fine. Because including that, all of it, I like it. (T/N: qwjhbdqwkjkwebkjhbqkwjd!!!!  (///>w

“Vito …?”

My gaze is glued to his blood dripping shoulder, and I naturally extend my hand as if I’m being tempted. Staining my index and middle fingers with red blood, I brought them to my mouth, licking them.

Delicious. But at this moment I won’t think of indulging in eating him even if he’s delicious.
Raising my hand again I scoop up his long bangs. My eyes meet widely open surprised black eyes. It’s a very pleasant sight.

Although the Captain opened his mouth as if he really wanted to say something, I intercepted him before he could say anything.

“I, am not letting you die — definitely.”

No matter how many times he faces danger, I absolutely won’t let him die. I don’t want to let him die.

I rose up slowly before turning around.

Walking two, three steps forward, as I face the messenger from Tiruzoto and his group, they were only frowning a little at me who came out so suddenly. I wonder if they think that I’m just a little girl.

But for the time being they are not saying anything in wariness. Ignoring them, I directed my gaze towards the Unicorn.

“Hey, whose will are you following?”

I ask the Unicorn in front of my eyes. The Unicorn was surprised that I suddenly spoke to it, however it neighed in a low voice.

[Because it is Our mission.] (T/N: Unicorn refers to itself in a majestic way.)

“I’m not asking that. I want to hear what your own will is. Your mission, is it? Your responsibility, is it? Such things were selfishly decided by someone in the past, and are selfishly forced upon you, aren’t they. I won’t become your miracle (T/N: wild guess – 私は貴方が不思議でならないよ) . You have wings that can fly like I do, yet you are entangled from yourself in invisible chains. You have a sharp horn to fight back with, but you don’t wield it and simply continue to follow after the humans. ”

[…Thou, ought not to know a thing about Our situation? For which reason can thou say such a thing.] (T/N: watch me fail at ancient speech.)

“I truly don’t know. So I’m asking you. If you are following your own will, I won’t say anything further, as I don’t have the qualifications to do so. However, I, can’t help but getting angry at the people who are treating you this way. Just know that.”

The Unicorn fell silent.

This won’t do, like this it’s certain that I’m going to burst in anger. I’ll end up imposing myself onto her. I take a deep breath in order to calm myself down.

“Hey lass, what are you saying from a little while ago? Are you touched in the head?”

Watching from the side my words propably look like nothing but a monologue, but to me the man’s words are nothing but noise.

“Don’t be noisy. I don’t have the time now to be talking with you.”

“This guy …!?”

Saying that brusquely, as his face becomes a bright red he pulls out his sword, and he brands it at me. I thought this from the time I first saw him, he’s too hot-tempered.  Shouldn’t people who become messengers be capable of making decisions more calmly. To send this type of people, it seems they didn’t take the option of talking from the beginning, as I expected. By thinking that, I feel like the Prince is pitiful.

— It can’t be helped, however I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it or not.

I adapted my throat to a Dragon’s for a little while, took in a deep breath, and let out a roar as much as I could. (T/N: wild guess again~思いの限り咆哮をあげる。)

Was it because my neck is smaller than when I’m a Dragon, but my tone of voice was higher than normal, yet is seems it went well.

The earth, the air, making everything shook, it was such a powerful roar.

They didn’t think that from a little girl’s throat a Dragon’s roar would come out, it seems they weren’t even expecting that I’d let out a battle roar on top of it.

The man dropped his sword and became unable to stand up due to fear. Of course, the messenger who was in the back also became like that.

The ones at the back are too scared to look at me. But, with this they will stay quiet for a little while. I yelled until my ears reverberated with a metallic sound. They aren’t getting in the way anymore.

[Thou, could thou be…]

“Don’t mind my matters.”

I immediately turned my throat back to that of a human’s, and resumed our talk.

“You, the ones referred to as the Holy Beasts Unicorns, have no need to get hurt for the sake of these worthless human beings. Even when, they’ve hurt your child.” (T/N: I believe there was a typo here, くらだない – not a warehouse, may have been written instead ofくだらない, – worthless xD)

Its golden eyes shook.

[No way.]

“They have taken your child hostage, right? … It was fallen in the woods because of the acts of violence of these people.”

[Wha- Bastards, why such a thing!!] (TN: taking liberties with the ‘omae’ xD like, I’d have called them bastards…)

The Unicorn was clearly upset. Its white wings trembling, it was staring at them with wide open eyes.

And them as well, they were flabbergasted and surprised at me knowing something that nobody could have known.

[Is that, true… maybe.]

“Unfortunately. Yet that child is all right, because he is in a safe place receiving treatment.”

“Damn, answer me to my question!”

The man was again angrily shouting at me but I put him in place with a roar once more. But I don’t want to do so too much because my throat is a little sore.

The Unicorn had been silently thinking of something, but it stepped forward one step and stared directly at me.

“I see, …That child, did he say something?”

“He repeatedly called for you. Hurry up and go to him.”

I told the Unicorn the place, and while saying [Sorry] and [Thank you], she shook off the human’s hands and dashed away. If she tried she could have parted with them at any time, but she could not because of them having taken its child hostage. And besides I bet she also had some sense of distrust in her heart towards the humans, or she would not have believed in my words so obediently.

“Hey! Chase after it!!” (T/N: watch me fail at thug speech.)

Some people went chasing after the Unicorn, but at her speed she’ll lose them and, as long as Timo is there, one, two, or several pursuers might be easily driven away.

“You lil’ girl! What have ya’ done!!” (T/N: … bear with me with this xD)

“That’s what I want to say. You guys what have you done to her. You are not pure, moreover you guys who are not even maidens touched the Unicorn, even though it is a taboo. And furthermore using violence.”

“What did you say? Sayin’ that lookin’ so self-important!! The Unicorn is ours!”

Although I’m glaring at them at most it feels like the hateful glare of a young girl. Aah, this is why I hate having a human body at such a time.

“What do we do, one of the few adult Unicorns ran away! What will His Majesty say…!!”

“As if I know! Though it’s fine if we return while bringing these people’s heads, right!!”

“But…!!”

“I am the leader here! Listen to what I say!!

Are they having a falling out now? They don’t have cooperation strength at aaall. Well, obviously they seem like they are the underling of an underling, and what’s more the garments they are wearing were tentatively chosen to look like uniforms but they don’t match at all. Please, I’d like you to send a better messenger since you are a large country. Or, I wonder if they were merely thinking of sending the underlying of an underlying or just someone who served the purpose? If it was like that then I’ll be angry.

“A falling out is unsightly.” (Vito)

“Stop cutting in while complaining, you lowly lass! Letting out that horrid voice…!! I’ll kill ya’ all startin’ from ya’!!” 

“I don’t think you can kill me though.”

“I’m tellin’ ya’ you’re noisy! Shuddup!!!”

The man who was bright red in the face does brandish his sword towards me this time. Some voices calling my name from behind were heard.

I did not avoid it.

From the head to my hip, it slashed diagonally. Because of the momentum it carried I retreated a few steps, but I did not fall.

I tried touching my face with my hands, but no blood is coming out. Instead my skin turned into scales, and then went back to human skin with ‘crackle crackle’ sounds.

“I hurts~…”

I wasn’t cut but the impact was great. Although my skin had been protected by my scales, my insides had remained as a human’s, and received a full blow impact.

As I received a wound to the extent that it would not be strange if I died yet remained unhurt, the man’s face distorted and he retreated back. My clothes had also been cut, but there is no problem because only a little was cut from my under my chest to my hip. The pain is also fine as long as I endure a little.

“Wha-… What are you-…!?”

” ‘Cause I, am not human.”

I’m human yet I’m not. I’m a dragon yet I’m not. This is me, but this is not my real appearance.

I’m a very ambiguous existence.

Even so I’m certainly here, trying to do things that I myself want to do.

“That’s why I don’t understand what you, as humans, are doing, not do I want to understand them. Much less the war between fellow countries, it doesn’t have anything to do with me. Even if as a result of my actions a war breaks out, it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

Selfish, irresponsible, no matter what I’m called, it’s fine.

I drew in a big gulp of air, then let out a long breath. I was gradually getting tired of talking. From a while ago they’ve been noisy, calling me ‘lass, lass’. If you like lasses so much, should I smile like a cute lil’ girl for you? Either way, I’ll refrain from eating you. Because you guys, look like your taste is truly nasty.”

I won’t think that I have the attribute of a dark stomach at this time. (T/N: WG! – short for wild guess~ xD私って腹黒属性付いてんじゃないかって?、この時ほど思った事は無いよ。)

“Don’t think you’ll live to return home.”

I do not want to be seen too much when I transform into a Dragon. Because it doesn’t leave me with too many good feelings. It feels like changing clothes in public, for example.

But now there was no time to be considering such things.

Because, I’m angry.

It was just, aggravating.

Because they’re excessively selfish.

To let myself be overcome by such anger, this might be the first time.

I close my eyes. My body gradually becomes feverish, and I know that I’m changing. My form becomes large, my skin changes into pure white scales, wings grow from my back, and three horns ended up growing from my head. Thankfully my whole body is covered in light so it is not so grotesque. It is just a white silhouette that becomes larger. It’s like the transformation scene of a Mahou Shoujo, but  rather than a Mahou Shoujo I’m a Dragon. (T/N: mahou shoujo = magical girl.)

“Dr, Dragon!?”

“Damn! Was it true that there was a contract?!?!”

Someone shouts.

If the matter of the ‘contract’ and so on surges up now, I don’t care. It’s fine for them to think whatever they want.

It takes an instant to take the figure of a Dragon.

I inhale a breath, then I began mercilessly vomiting fire. As screams are heard several men who were in front of me become charred black in an instant. There were also several bold humans that tried to challenge me, but such puny swords won’t pass through my scales. I bite their heads off then toss them away.

I crushed those running about trying to escape and breathed fire towards those that had run away farther. I hate the smell of burnt humans. Because even I think it is cruel.

“This, this monster!”

I heard a voice screaming that from somewhere. I got pissed off at it so I directed one more fire in inquiry towards that direction and I couldn’t hear it anymore.

I’m certainly a monster. A creature that can take the shape of those whom it feeds on, killing humans without hesitation. But even so I’m a girl of marriageable age (female). Won’t I feel a little hurt when being called a monster?

To tell me such a thing now, do you have no courtesy? It’s a fact that I’ve behaved properly so far. (T/N: WG~ それほどの行為をしてきてるのは事実なんだし.)

Repeatedly biting them off and tossing them away, trampling over them and breathing fire, the living things are no more, and it suddenly it became quiet.
A few people escaped, and I burned them down on the highway; the blood, as well as the blood covered human corpses were rolling about.

Although things like war might carry a more terrible devastation, but this is still a terrible sight. Who will clear this up? As I ended my rampage I’m feeling hungry, but I don’t plan on eating.

I ended up doing something outrageous if I say so myself.

It’s a thing such that my head may hurt every time I recall this.

But.

— Oh, it was really so refreshing.

__________
Translator’s lair~

Going for male for the Unicorn’s puppy- errrr, cub, errrr, chick. hatchling. baby. Child. Whatever. (What do you call baby horses, anyway?) It’s cause JP is gender neutral, so I can’t tell if it’s a boy or a girl unless I see what color are its baby shoes: blue or pink. Let’s go with blue for now~

I get the feeling this chapter was full of translator’s notes? ….whatever~ xD

I wish to release the next chapter as soon as possible. I was gonna release them together, because, next one is… next one is!! *no spoilers from me~* coughcough. Yet, dese chaptarghs, y u gettin’ longeeehrs!! Either way, I warned you!

Have a nice beauty sleep~