A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

Chapter 148: Beautiful

***Arc 7 One Who Bare Their Fang on Reason, Chapter 148 Beautiful***

Kreisharana was a peaceful land.

The atmosphere is rich in magical power, which is why there are so many magical beasts.

Of course, there was a lot of damage due to that, and it can be said that the environment is harsh even though there is a rich harvest.

However, the presence of magical beasts is also a shield against external enemies, and thanks to them, there have been no wars for the past several hundred years, and peace has been maintained in this mountain.

Lila, who was born fifteen years ago as the daughter of her chieftain and has lived in this land, also loves Kreisharana.

There is nothing new or different about this life, and it is hard to say that there is no boredom in it.

The life on the plains, as described by the imperial state people, is rich and full of various things ――although she admires the splendor they describe, she also feels that this was good enough.

The grudges spoken by the elders――the hatred of war still spoken after 500 years.

For this peaceful land to remain peaceful, it seemed an unavoidable sacrifice.

She spent her days giving gratitude to the fruit of the mountains and the Holy Spirit.

One day, she would marry and raise children together with her beloved partners, and everyone will weave a peaceful future together.

Days so boring and without change.

But she understood the preciousness of these days, and knew that it was a tranquility that should be protected and preserved.

A small world closed off from the outside world.

From the Kreisharana, where time seems to have stopped, more and more people were descending to the plains.

Kreisharana was slowly heading toward destruction.

But not today, not tomorrow, not dramatically.

That's why tomorrow will be the same as yesterday, peaceful days will continue as usual.

Lira thought so until just a moment ago.

"It seems difficult to reach the dragon's dwelling place by the end of the day if we had to go this far through the forest. Krische thought it would be much closer.”

The fire was out and dusk was falling.

The silver-haired girl――Krische stopped and looked back.

Lira nodded nervously.

Her body was not even tied up. Lira's griffin, Larnell, was also walking normally.

But the girl thinks that's enough.

She tried several times to escape, and each time she gave up.

Her purple eyes――every time she looks into them, her body stops moving as if refusing to run away.

She could use magic. She had a certain amount of skill in martial arts. She also had Larnell with her.

Even so, her body understands that she cannot run away from the girl.

"...Even demonic beasts fear Yagernauss-sama. People cannot live in such a land."

In the first place, the Holy Spirit is a creature of a different rank from people and beasts or animals.

Even the most vicious demonic beasts will not approach the Holy Spirit.

Naturally, there are no beasts around it, and it is unable to obtain its daily sustenance.

"Ah I see"

She was guiding the girl in this way, breaking a taboo, in the faint hope that when she saw the Holy Spirit, she would understand how reckless what she was about to do was.

No matter how strong she was, the Holy Spirit was of a different caliber to begin with.

Even if she were a hunter who could easily kill even a Suiko, one look at the Holy Spirit and you would immediately understand that it would be impossible for her to fight.

"Krische-sama is, why is Krische pointing your blade at Yagernauss-sama?"

"why?"

"You said that what you want is the heart. …a myth is nothing but a myth, and it’s not like Krische-sama us doing this terrible thing to make a name for yourself right?"

It was not that there were no such people.

Every few years, such people would come here.

Arrogant people who overestimated their own power.

Or those who come here to prove that there is no such thing as the Holy Spirit――that it’s only an idol only spoken of in myth.

But at least she didn't think this girl was that kind of person.

Her arrogant words about slaying dragons and the ability to convince that arrogance.

On the contrary, her demeanor was soft and she seemed quite calm.

The same was true of her appearance yesterday when she was happily cooking, and the way she loved the horse and Suiko was also gentle, making her seem somewhat mentally young.

Even after she threatened Lira, she did not act roughly, but was very considerate.

When he saw a fruit that seemed unfamiliar to her, she asked what it was and what kind of food was served here, as if she was on a sightseeing trip.

The fear and wariness she had felt when she was confronted with the blade gradually faded away, and she was able to afford to ask a few questions.

Lila was a little nervous as she waited for her answer.

She would probably rest here today.

Krische, who was unloading her luggage from the horse's back, glanced at Lira and pulled out a knife.

Then she threw it into the bush ahead.

A dull sound and a small scream——hiding there was a small rabbit.

Krische picked it up and put it in front of Suiko, ‘here is your meal’.

It was after that that she answered.

"Krische heard that the dragon itself is a beast with strong magical power."

Then she took the smoked meat from the back of the horse, cut it into pieces, and handed some to Lira.

"It looks like a bat-like winged lizard. But it's as tall as a fortress, and its scales are as hard as ore. If you let out a roar and emit light, you can destroy a mountain and even a city in a single breath."

Krische bit into the smoked meat with relish, and then plucked a nearby fruit.

She cuts it into pieces with a knife and hands some to Lira.

Lira shakes her head, and Krische puts it down in front of Larnell with a troubled look on her face.

Griffin's diet was fine. If he had to eat only fruit every day, his body would be damaged, but there’s no problem going without eating meat if it’s only for a few weeks.

"The creature called a dragon in folklore is certainly an amazing creature. It was said that the Dragon's Maw was split into two due to the dragon's roar that was released at that time, but it is not an impossible story when looking at the cliff section and the exposed strata――Although there are dramatizations in the myth, but Krische thinks generally what was written down was the truth.”

"...Dragon’s Maw"

A war once took place between the Vagsarid clan, the predecessor of the kingdom, and Kreisharana.

It was a place that was considered to be an important base.

Kreisharana stopped the kingdom's invasion with Griffin, and the blood of many warriors was spilled there.

Despite the bravery of the warriors, Kreisharana was eventually defeated by a flanking attack through a cowardly betrayal——it was a place that even children in Kreisharana know.

Lira knew the name, of course, although she had never seen it.

"If that's the case, it's probably pointless to lead an army. It's a beast with enough power to easily destroy a city, so it will only be useless deaths. It's true that it's a very amazing creature."

"... Even though Krische-sama understands that much, why?"

"If that's true, then the dragon's body is a wonderful source of magical power."

‘Krische wants that body’, she continued.

"……body?"

"…Dragon blood and flesh are said to have the power to heal illness. Krische doesn't know the reason, but it's surely due to the enormous magical power that dragons are said to possess. Humans unconsciously have the power to protect themselves from miasma with magic, but Krische believes that perhaps there is something in the flesh and blood of dragons that amplifies this power."

Her long eyelashes swayed sadly, and her once inorganic purple eyes swayed from side to side as if tinged with color.

"... If Krische’s guess is correct, it could be called an all-purpose elixir. Even if Krische’s guess is wrong... Krische can produce it by using the enormous amount of magical power created by the dragon's heart. that's why……"

‘That's why Krische came to kill the dragon’, she continued.

It was as if she was saying that to herself.

"Krische-sama... are you here to save someone?"

The girl nodded.

Seeing that, Lira lowered her eyebrows thinking that was the reason.

Like the people who seeks the Holy Spirit for the sake of fame.

To help someone who is dying――people like her, who have learned the myth, have visited this mountain many times in the past.

Kreisharana would not allow this, and the warriors continued to eliminate those who did so.

To protect this closed world so as not to incur the dragon's wrath.

"I know that Krische-sama is incomparably stronger than the warriors of Kreisharana. Still, I don't think Krische-sama can match Yagernauss-sama."

Lila said that even though she knew she wouldn't just give up.

"…The myth that Krische-sama knows is not just a fairy tale. There isn’t a single exaggeration in it. Yagernauss-sama is exactly like what Krische-sama knows according to the myth."

"... If it scales as small as ore, Krische can pierce through it. If it's as big as the myth says, it won't be possible to catch Krische at close range. Once it can't fly anymore, that's it."

She replied as if it were an undeniable fact.

Her words exuded absolute trust in her own abilities.

"The magic power mixed with the atmosphere here is especially high, so Krische will probably be much less fatigued than on the plains. It doesn't matter if it's a whole day, or how a few, or how much time it takes until Krische kills it... if it's Krische, Krische'll definitely kill it."

There was a fear that made even Lila, who knew the Holy Spirit, think that that was indeed possible if it was her.

She was unstoppable.

Understanding this, Lira cast her eyes down.

The warriors of Kreisharana continued to eliminate those who wished for the flesh and blood of dragons.

She who visited this time was also the same――but different.

She was the kind of person who could achieve it with just her power alone.

There was no way to stop her.

If they wanted the same apple, they had no choice but to fight for it.

Kreisharana had done so in the past, cutting off countless wishes with their sword.

This time, the positions have just been switched――or was that also fate?

Just as faith in the Holy Spirit was a non-negotiable one for the people of Kreisharana, she came here with something she can’t yield about.

"... I understand Krische-sama's purpose."

This someone must be very important to her.

The reason for this was not hard to understand, regardless of what she was trying to do.

"Krische-sama has something that cannot be compromised, and I'm sure not even the warriors of Kreisharana will be able to stop Krische-sama. …Therefore, from now on, I will cooperate as much as I can for an audience with Yagernauss-sama.”

"…an audience?”

"Yagernauss-sama is not a heartless beast. That said, I can't say whether Yagernauss-sama will listen to Krische-sama's wishes or not... But first, before Krische-sama' point your blade, I'd like Krische-sama to exchange words first. ”

Lira bowed her head deeply.

"If Krische-sama defeats Yagernauss-sama as Krische-sama hoped, the people of Kreisharana will lose their hearts. If not, once Yagernauss-sama is angered, the village, the kingdom, and everything around it will literally be destroyed. I would like Krische-sama to at least look at ways that prevent that from happening.”

Krische looked a little surprised, but still stared at Lira thoughtfully.

Then she gave a soft smile.

"…Lira is very kind.”

Then Krische told her, ‘I'm sorry,’ as if troubled.

"Krische is happy to hear those words, but... but Krische can't make a promise by swearing on Krische’s name. There's no guarantee that Krische'll be able to keep it, so Krische has no choice but to tell Lira this."

Her facial expressions and words.

At least, it was the best she could do.

Strangely, that vague answer seemed more trustworthy than an assurance of a promise.

Lila nodded as she felt it was literally the best possible concession for her.

"That's fine. …I am Lira Sharana, the priestess of the Holy Spirit, the daughter of Kreisharana chieftain, Alkierence”

Krische tilted her head and smiled thoughtfully again.

"The chieftain’s daughter...so Lira is a princess, right? Does the princess in Kreisharana also work by picking fruit?"

"It's a little embarrassing to be called a princess. In Kreisharana, it is like that. In a diplomatic ritual it has some meaning, but in everyday life, I’m no different from an ordinary woman.”

In Kreisharana, warriors were respected.

The chieftain was chosen through a duel, and his daughter, Lira, although couldn’t be said to be entirely on the same level as other people, she is only the daughter of the chieftain, and there is not much difference in status.

Just as a man is expected to be strong, a woman is expected to be able to obtain many fruits.

Even though she was the daughter of the chieftain, it was believed that a woman who could obtain many fruits would rear good children, and she was expected to work like any other woman.

"It's not much different from the village where Krische lived in the past huh. Even in the northern part of the kingdom, it was a rural area, so the origin may be closer to Kreisharana."

"... Ah, that’s why Krische"

Lira gave her a smile as if she was convinced.

"I thought it was an unusual name for a flatland person. It's a beautiful and good name."

"Ehehe, yes. ……It seems that Kaa-sama named Krische, Krische so that someday Krische could feel as happy as she does.”

Krische also happily smiled at her,

"Kaa-sama was kind and always smiling and seemed very happy, so someday Krische would like to be like that..."

But along the way, the words disappear.

She seemed to be a little worried and thoughtful.

She then looked up and turned her gaze to Lila.

"...But, Krische is different from Kaa-sama after all, it’s no good. Krische is still threatening Lira, who hasn't done anything wrong, to guide Krische."

She then said, troublingly, ‘this is no different from being a bandit huh’.

Then she reached out and caressed Lira's cheek.

"Krische knows what kind of existence dragons are like. Krische knows this is a bad thing. But even knowing that Krische still came here."

‘――So, sorry.’

Krische said sadly.

"Krische may not be able to keep the promise... but at the very least, Kriche’ll do her best not to hurt the people of Kreisharana. If it’s a promise like that, Krische think Krische will be able to keep it."

"……thank you very much"

"Lira doesn't need to say thank you. It's just a bandit robbing someone but didn’t kill them...Rather, Lira should be angry at Krische."

She was a strange girl.

The girl’s troubled face was a little funny, and Lira couldn't help but laugh.

How could there be a bandit who would say something like this, she wondered.

"... it's too late to say that"

"...?"

"Even if I want to be angry, I can't feel like it."

Lira had mixed emotions.

In order to save the people she loves, that's――the only reason she came here, and she couldn't hate her for that either.

Her wish is, above all, pure.

She had given up, and she was also feeling a sense of regret.

That's what Lira said to her.

"... Let's finish the talk here. Can you tell me about the kingdom?"

"About the kingdom?"

"Yes. Listening to stories outside is my little hobby."

And so they spent the night talking a little about each other.

Krische was interested in the unusual griffin, Lira was curious about the kingdom.

Since they had seen griffins flying in the sky several times, they did not light a fire.

Krische leaned her back to Suikp, and Lira to Griffin.

It doesn't get that cold even at night, so the body temperature of the two of them was enough to keep them warm.

Krische feeds the horse――which was apparently called Bururun――and said to Lira.

"There's a lot of magical power in the atmosphere, but Krische feels some kind of interference. The warmth around here is probably due to the influence of the dragon. Though Krische doesn't know why."

"Yagernauss-sama's..."

"Originally, there should be a lot of snow around here, so maybe the dragons don't like the cold."

The northern part of the kingdom was covered in snow――even though this land in the mountains was quite warm, the temperature was like summer.

"... I've never seen snow before."

"It's fluffy, white and cold. Krische doesn't like it cold, so Krische doesn't want it to snow too much."

Krische untied the muffler that was wrapped around her neck and carefully folded it back.

And put it in the bag that Bururun was hanging, and her hat as well.

While adjusting her slightly disheveled hair, Krische stared at Lila.

A cloth was tied around her waist over simple underwear, and several layers of cloth were wrapped around her breasts.

Her thighs and belly were visible, and from the Krische’s point of view, it didn’t look much different from underwear.

"Are all the women here dressed like that?"

"...? Ah, yes. From my point of view, I can't believe Krische-sama is wearing such heavy clothes.”

"Is it because of the local climate?”

"Well, it is warm after all. Warriors who have to go far from home wear furs on top of their clothing...but they usually don't wear any ornaments.”

She stretched out her legs and looked up at the sky.

"Ornaments are conceited and will become a blade. The beauty of the body does not reach the Holy Spirit. That is the teaching.”

"teaching?”

"Yes. A long time ago, the battle between Kreisharana and the kingdom——the reason why Kreisharana was defeated in the past was because of Kreisharana’s pride."

Lira recalled a story she heard over and over again and pointed to the earth.

"...It was said that Kreisharana used their military power to subdue the tribes around them, and took their property and made it their own. That's why, in the end, they were betrayed and Kreisharana fled to this mountain."

‘It's a cautionary tale’, Lira said with a wry smile.

"If one's heart is absorbed by precious metals and ornaments, the richness of form will grow into greed, which will eventually become conceit, which will become a blade within one's own body. If we spend our time with a pure heart, modesty, and sincerity, even the Holy Spirit will know our hearts. Therefore, rather than desires, we should respect a pure heart and body. ......That is the teaching that originates from the Holy Spirit Covenant with the Holy Spirit, isn't it?"

"Hmm... it's a bit difficult for a cliche."

Krische pondered troublingly.

"Krische is not good at talking about vague things like that. Is it something like if you act like a good girl, good things will happen?"

"Fufu, to put it simply, it's something like that."

Lila chuckled.

"But after all, everyone likes beautiful things, so at festivals, all the women dress up in many different outfits as if they were competing with each other, forgetting the teaching.”

"...It was the same at the time of the festival in Krische’s village. Krische didn't really understand the word beautiful in the past but"

As the girl recalled, she took a flower decoration from her tied hair and took it in her hand.

"Recently... Krische've come to understand it properly."

She looked at it for a while and shook her head.

Then, with the hair ornament clutched to her chest, she cast her eyes down.

Under the moonlight, her long silver lashes that wrapped her jewel-like eyes swayed.

Her silver hair shone brightly, and her pure white skin shone somewhat dimly.

She was so fragile and beautiful that even Lira, a woman, could not help but admire her.

She had a fantasy-like beauty that it was hard to believe that it was real.

The girl who will destroy Kreisharana was incomparably beautiful.

Or perhaps destruction was such a beautiful thing.

"The beauty of the body does not reach the Holy Spirit――It’s not like I can understand it but”

Lira muttered.

It was half unconsciously.

"... I think it would be nice if Krische-sama’s beauty could be conveyed to Yagernauss-sama.”

The girl raised her face and tilted her head.

She thought for a moment and smiled.

"Ehehe, Lira is being considerate of Krische, right?"

Her purple eyes sparkled and showed a variety of glints.

As if frozen, as if like a snake or beast.

As if the eyes of a mere girl.

"But Krische knows someone much more beautiful than Krische, so it's no good."

"…a beautiful person"

"Yes, She’s called Bery."

The girl said happily.

A whispering, but feverish voice.

"...Krische had received so many things from Bery, and she hadn't been able to repay her at all,...... so if it would make Bery delighted, if it would could Bery happy, Krische would do anything. That’s why, for that reason, but...."

Her long eyelashes shook and she looked down again.

"How troubling. Killing a dragon won't make Bery happy. It might make her feel sad... but even then Krische is still trying to do such a bad thing."

‘Surely the truth is it doesn’t matter to Krische,’ she continued.

"The good and the bad, the law and the rules, the right thing――Krische learned a lot from many people, but surely within Krische, it doesn't really matter. It's good if there are people who like the Krische, and if that person stays with Krische then... that's why Krische will protect them, and Krische can’t then, no matter what kind of bad things Krische do, even if it’s killing dragons, even if Krische need to kill every person on the world, the truth is, it doesn't really matter."

She looked up at the sky and saw the moon.

A chipped, distorted, arcing moon.

It was the moon that bore her name.

"...In the end, Krische only thinks about herself."

The distorted moon was beautiful like a sharp blade, shining coldly at its zenith.

It is not as warm as the sun, but it is what the moon is.

"Krische’s beauty is probably just n ornament, it’s not the same beauty as Bery’s. All of it, all of it, is for Krische own sake--that's what Krische’s heart is all about, and that's why Krische is probably the farthest person from what Lira said is the Kreisharana’s teaching."

Something that is just beautiful.

As if it was only natural, it was born beautiful.

And precisely because it was that way, without being aware of itself――

"... No, at least I don't think so."

Krische looked at Lira curiously, and Lira smiled sweetly.

"The moon is ignorant of itself, and your own beauty is like that. At least, I don't think that Ms. Krische's heart is ugly. …Of course, I can’t say that my wishes and hopes aren’t mixed there.”

She said with a wry smile, and then cast down her eyes.

Dragon is a great being.

Humans are like winged insects in front of dragons.

Dragons have no interest in humans.

Even so, if you show respect and appeal sincerely, they will at least listen to what you have to say.

At least so far, the history between humans and dragons has continued without incident.

And hopefully this time too.

As if praying, she intertwined her fingers and joined her hands.

"…I believe it will be good if it’s that way.”

Krische stared at Lila and smiled softly again.

"...Lira might be a bit of a strange girl."

"S-strange..."

"It seems like Krische is going to rewind what was said but... Lira is in the position of being forced to guide Krische, so it feels a little strange for Lira to say that."

Krische somehow happily,

"But Lira is kind. ……When someone says beautiful, Krische thinks they’re referring to a girl like Lira.”

‘――Krische is glad Krische doesn't kill Lira’, she continued.