Volume 4 Chapter 16: Mystery

Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”

In complete darkness a great throne stood, alone illuminated by light.

There, sat something that looked like a human, but made of a black mist.

Softly changing between shapes, the black mist went through a number of forms, like a humanoid, or winged animal, and thenーー

「It’s Kokaku. You already arrived, right? Lord of Purple Winds Ammit. My knight.」

A voice resounded.

A bit high, well-projected voice.

Then, a silhouette appeared before the throne where Kokaku sat.

「Yes, I am here, Kokaku-sama.」

Ammit, the one that replied to Kokaku’s call, had an appearance of a human with well-toned muscles that also possessed some insect-like features——An insect-man.

From a certain part on his ant-like head, Ammit emitted a grating voice.

「I have been waiting for this, Kokaku-sama. I came to report on the progress.」

「Yes, I know. Is it going well?」

「Of course. Thanks to having plenty of time to train after being dispatched to this land I now can freely control the power that Kokaku-sama bestowed upon me with lord rank.」

Ammit said looking at the right arm.

The skin on it was a mix of black and purple color and was one size larger than the left one.

「ーーYesterday I repelled a human and a being that appeared like a local god, who came too close to our purple storm. By now they probably already withered away and died.」

Ammit said with a smile.

「I learned how to use this power. What’s left is to move according to plan and destroy ruins left by gods and then the city.」

「Is that so? Fine then…… But don’t lower your guard too much? I heard that the rumored carrier is in the City of Raging Sands.」

With those words Ammit’s expression turned serious.

「Is that about ex-dragon knight, Axel, the Flying Carrier? The one that managed to defeat rakshasa Bane-sama, one of the four great lords?」

「That’s right, I don’t know how he managed that, but he took down my equal, Bane.」

「To think there is someone capable of defeating him…… The immortal Bane……」

Yes. In interpersonal fights he possessed a matchless strength.

On top of being unkillable as long as he stays on the ground, he had a poison that was very effective against organic matter.

Though his regenerative power would weaken with distance from earth, he still was strong in close combat and had a sturdy body.

And yet, he was defeated.

「That was unexpected. But even so, he sacrificed himself for the plan, so he should be satisfied. 『I hate the City of the God Tree for they dwell on the tree instead of the earth. That’s why I infiltrated the place.』he said, genuinely delighted. The other three seem to be pretty motivated as well. ……Anyway, beware of the carrier, Ammit」

Being told so, Ammit nodded with respect.

「Yes. Of that, I am careful, but…… Our base is quite far away from the town where they are staying. It is not a distance that would allow for a random encounter. So, for now, I think this is not a problem. In the first place, as long as I keep creating purple storms with the power you gave me, I should remain completely unseen for them. No matter what kind of powerful abilities he has at his disposal, as long as he cannot see me, they would not hit me.」

Ammit carefully touched the right hand.

「Since I learned to control this power, I can keep creating purple storms almost all of the time, with the exception of only a short moment. Mere humans cannot find me among sands and winds.」

「Hmm…… Fine then. Stay vigilant and proceed with the plan. If by some chance you see that you are capable of defeating him, you are free to do so. On that occasion, you shall receive an even higher rankーー Power and commendation.」

Ammit’s eyes shone when he heard those words.

「Yes……! But for now, I will focus on making myself useful with the power that I already received.」

「Yes, that’s good. ……However, the dragon knight hero…… No, right now it’s the carrier’s party, huh. Just how did they defeat the rakshasa…」

Thinking about it still provides no explanation. And…… And there is another incomprehensible point.

That’sーー

「The ex-dragon knight, Flying Carrier Axel. ……Why is he just some lousy carrier now?」

Carrier is a beginner-tier job.

For a previous hero it’s an incomparably lower job.

「I think there is a possibility of it being a pretense, an act. Though I don’t know which part of it, him previously being a hero, or now being a carrier.」

「Since he has a transportation bag there is no doubt that he is currently a carrier. …… We are still yet to confirm whatever he is lying about being a hero previously or not, but…… Suppose he is a real thing, why would the hero Axel, that completely disappeared after the war, run around as some carrier……?」

In the end we come back to the same question.

「The gods, that bunch that only laughs observing the world of mortals, I can’t imagine them taking a job of a dragon knight from such a useful pawn as a hero……」

「After all, if the gods don’t approve of it, then even the job change itself cannot happen.」

Beings with great power have a higher probability of amusing gods. So it’s hard to think that they would so easily diminish that power.

And yet, this is what happened.

「There are humans somewhat close with gods, for them it might be possible to have a bit of their prayers answered…… But even so, the gods are not so generous as to let go of such a good tool as a hero.」

「Just what did he do? Could it be that he threatened gods?」

「A human? Doing so would mean only death. Since he is still alive, that is unlikely.」

There is a power gap between gods and humans.

A tremendous one.

「Yeah, I don’t get it. ……Asking the person in question would be faster, but……」

That is the fastest way to find out. Howeverーー

「……He surely would not answer so easily.」

It’s exactly as Ammit just said.

I don’t think that he will give an honest answer.

「……But, I’m still curious. I guess we should continue our own investigation, including the collection of information on the heroes. Ammit, my knight, I entrust the matters over there to you.」

「Yes. As you will it, Kokaku-sama……!」