Before walking through the gate, Seiya gives me a brief rundown of what we’re going to do in Ixphoria next.
“First, we’re going to scout Termine Kingdom. Cave Along would be safest, but there is only so much information you can collect underground. That’s why, although risky, we’re going to shape-shift into beastkin and walk the streets.”
Seiya transforms into a dog-type beastkin, since they’re relatively common and won’t stand out. I, on the other hand, get turned into a fish-person—as expected. Compared to Seiya’s sharp Doberman-like appearance, my entire body is completely orange, like that of a goldfish. At least it beats having a tuna head…I guess.
“Incidentally, the Bunogeos puppet I left in Galvano is designed to say, ‘Do you wanna dieee?’ if anyone tries talking to him. That should buy us a decent amount of time, but defeating Grandleon in three to four days before anyone notices would be ideal.”
Seiya stops speaking, then sends an earth serpent through the gate. Only after making sure our destination is safe do we finally depart. We arrive in the wastelands around Termine Kingdom and start our journey toward the castle in the distance. The castle gradually comes into view the closer we get. A massive wall surrounds the town encircling the castle. Nevertheless, it’s falling apart all over, making it virtually useless.
The moment I step into town, I am overcome with a sickening sensation. This must be the Dark God’s power. I guess that means we won’t be able to return to the spirit world as long as we’re in Termine. Seiya, assuming the form of a dog-type beastkin, gives me a look that clearly means, From here on out, you are not to speak any human language. I silently nod in response.
Seiya and I walk down the ruined city’s filthy street. Not much remains of the houses around us, but beastkin seem to be living in them. It looks like there are even beastkin using the human-made buildings to do business, just like in Galvano.
Out of nowhere, an offensive stench assaults my nose and makes me sick to my stomach. I look in the direction of the smell when…
Mn…!
I instinctively want to scream. A burned, headless human corpse is hanging from a chain connected to the edge of the roof.
“Yummy, yummy humans! Best human meat in Termine!”
A lizard beastkin fans the dead body with a paper fan. Next to him are dried human arms, legs, and organs lined up. It looks like a scene straight out of hell. I’d rather be in Galvano in spite of the slavery. This place is far, far worse. In Termine, humans are regarded solely as food. I look away, but Seiya approaches the shop.
“How much?”
…?! You’ve gotta be kidding me! Is he really gonna buy that?!
I’m taken aback, but it looks like he’s just trying to gather information, rather than actually buy anything. While asking the price, Seiya naturally learns that they still use the same currency the humans used to use in Termine. Their conversation progresses even more.
“Oh? So you two came all the way from Galvano, huh?”
“Yeah, we traveled here because we heard you could freely eat humans. They’re more expensive than I thought, though.”
“Humans are costly. If you want an all-you-can-eat setup, then your best bet would be joining the Beast Emperor’s unit.”
“‘The Beast Emperor’s unit’?”
“The elite soldiers who work directly under Lord Grandleon. They’re guaranteed a good life, if you know what I mean. They’re even allowed to go inside the palace. They say you can receive an even higher level of Dark God’s Blessing if you pray at the Dark God’s temple in the palace.”
“Oh? You don’t say. So how do I enlist?”
“They run trials every day at the plaza. All you gotta do is defeat your opponent and prove your strength.”
I thought that Seiya would head straight for the plaza, but he walks into the shop next door instead. Inside, the bearlike shopkeeper is eerily arranging skulls to sell. It looks like an item shop. The shopkeeper smirks when he sees Dog-Seiya.
“Yo. How about a Dark God’s Amulet for the road? It’s the shop’s best-selling product. Just holding it will grant you a minor Dark God’s Blessing.”
Strange letters are carved into the black stone slab, which Seiya stares at with great interest until he eventually pulls out his money pouch.
“I’ll take a few.”
“Heh! Pleasure doin’ business with ya! How many ya want?”
I swallow my breath.
S-Seiya! You know we’re in enemy territory, right?! Someone’s gonna get suspicious if you try to buy a thousand!
Seiya nods as if he can feel my eyes burning a hole in him.
It looks like he’s figured out what I was trying to say! Thank goodness!
“I don’t mean to be a cheapskate, but…I’ll just take thirty for now.”
…?! That’s the opposite of being cheap! I’m sure this was Seiya doing his best to lower the amount, but that’s still too many! …Wh-what’s going to happen?! Surely beastkin and humans perceive things in different ways! But maybe it’ll be fine!
The bear-type beastkin frowns.
“You’re not being cheap at all! In fact, nobody buys that many! ‘I’ll just take thirty for now’? Ha-ha-ha!”
Ahhhhhh! So it was too many!
The shopkeeper’s loud voice could even be heard from outside, causing beastkin passing by to stop in their tracks and stare at us.
Ack! So much for trying to not stand out!
“Very well. I’ll take five, then.”
The bystanders make a short fuss, but Seiya ends up purchasing five. His next stop is the weapon shop next door. Right as he walks in, a frog-headed beastkin wastes no time before recommending a creepy sword with a reddish-black blade.
“Welcome, ribbit. Could I interest you in a sword that sucks the life force out of humans? Perfect for when you’re in the mood for some dried human, ribbit.”
Wh-what’s up with that suspicious-looking sword?! I can’t think of a single thing we could even use it for! There’s no way Seiya’s gonna—
“I’ll take it.”
Seiya whips out his money pouch.
Is he seriously buying more stuff?! What’s he gonna do with all this junk?!
“Shopkeeper, I apologize in advance for being so cheap, but…I’ll just take five for now.”
“Ribbit?! H-how is purchasing five being cheap?! More importantly, what are you going to do with five of the same sword, ribbit?!”
A commotion ensues. Every beastkin, both inside and outside the shop, stares at Seiya. I grab him by the arm and drag him away until we reach an empty street. I thereupon point to the ground in silence. Seiya seems to get what I want to say, so he sends out an earth serpent to make sure there’s no one else around just in case. Then he uses Cave Along to send us underground. Under the dim light of the glowstone, I unleash my pent-up rage on Seiya.
“Everyone’s suspicious of you now! They’re probably even going to start recognizing you!”
“It’s fine.”
Seiya then shape-shifts from a Doberman to a Siberian husky–like beastkin. In addition, he changes me from an orange goldfish into a darker-colored goldfish.
“O-okay, fine! You can shape-shift! That still doesn’t explain why you need all that junk!”
I scream while pointing to the amulets that radiate pure malice, as well as the ominous sword.
“I want to purchase every item and weapon in town if possible. They might come in handy later.”
“Maybe if this were a normal town and we were on a normal journey! But we’re in a city full of beastkin! Those weird items and weapons are useless! A-and could you not use shape-shift on me when we’re underground?! I hate looking like this!”
“But nobody’s looking. Sigh. Women are such a pain in the ass sometimes.”
Seiya mutters to himself but undoes the spell. A bright light envelops my body before reverting me to my original goddess self. I pull out my pocket mirror and check my face.
Heh! Oh my… I am so much more beautiful than a fish! …Wait. That almost sounds like I’m dissing myself!!
“Anyway, Seiya, you have a plan, right?”
“Of course. I’m going to perform the Hexagram Ritual of Retribution to defeat Grandleon. I’ve already conducted a simulation.”
He begins telling me his plan in a disinterested tone.
“First, I’m going to pass the trial and join the Beast Emperor’s squad. From there, I’ll sneak into the palace. There, I’ll place the six barrier stones that Ishtar gave me around the Dark God’s temple, which is the origin of the Dark God’s power. After that, I’ll get ahold of some of Grandleon’s essence, since he’s the recipient of said power. Some fur should do the trick. Once preparations are complete, I’ll perform the Blade Dance of Retribution for three hours within a five-hundred-meter radius of Grandleon. This comes with a condition, though. No one can see me perform the sword dance. Once the blade dance is over, the ritual is complete, thus weakening Grandleon.”
Seiya makes it sound like a walk in the park, but the plan has many components and sounds like a pain in the ass. Especially the last part…
“Um… The Blade Dance of Retribution, was it? Won’t that be hard? I mean, you have to do it near Grandleon for a long time without anyone seeing you…”
“Ishtar said it was the biggest hurdle. Apparently, the ritual will fail the instant I’m seen, and I’ll never be able to use it to defeat Grandleon again. Having said that, I can use Cave Along. It shouldn’t be a problem if I go underground beneath the palace and secretly perform the dance.”
“O-oh, okay! That makes sense!”
“…The only problem…is you.”
Seiya casts a distant gaze at me.
“I’d normally want you quietly sleeping somewhere while I work…but Aria and Ishtar won’t stop reminding me how saving Ixphoria is part of your punishment. So unfortunately, I have to bring you along.”
“Well, excuuuse me!”
Seiya suddenly reaches out to me, and I scream.
“Ah?!”
I brace myself for a punch, but he doesn’t do anything. Instead, something crawls out of the wall, then slithers up my leg and into my dress at lightning speed!
“Eeeeeek!”
The dreadful sensation of it brushing across my skin makes me shriek.
“Wh-wh-what did you do to me?!”
“I hid a few earth serpents in your clothes. After this, we’re going to the plaza to take the trial. All you need to do is stand still, and the earth serpents will defeat your opponent.”
“O-okay… Wh-whatever you say…”
When I look down my top, there are countless serpents wrapped around my chest and waist. My skin crawls, and I look away.
“We might get split up after the trial, but the earth serpents should protect you.”
Uh-huh… It looks like Seiya’s actually thinking about me after all. Maybe he really does c—
Seiya suddenly shoots me a stern glare.
“They’ll be keeping an eye on you as well. They’ve been given orders to bite your jugular if you try speaking in human tongue.”
“What the…?! You’re awful! You don’t have to do that! I won’t talk!”
Paying no heed to my rage, Seiya calmly declares:
“You’re of secondary importance—I mean, if we can even consider you important. The ritual is the priority because it’s our safest, surest method to defeat Grandleon.”
“Hmph! Whatever! Just don’t mess things up!”
“…Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Confidence radiates from Seiya’s body as he crosses his arms. Although I’m lashing out at him, I feel relieved to see him like that.
As always, it looks like he’s perfectly prepared. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. This Hero is the master of working undercover and in secret. What in the world was I so worried about?
Before I even realize it, the fear I felt in the spirit world has subsided.