Blame on Both
This chapter starts from Alma Papa's POV
It's been around half a year since we parted ways with Alma and him.
At my age, time flies fast. I remember it like it's yesterday.
....
Actually no, it feels like it's been forever.
Days without Alma feel too long, far too long.
I wanna see my daughter's face once a week at least!
It's been half a year now! Half a year!? How did I manage!
Alma must be in this city too if he's here.
So, we went after him to ask Alma's whereabouts but he started fighting with Black Dragon he was flying with once they left the city.
Can't have a decent talk like this, gotta stop them for now.
"Fumu, you can fight on par with Black Dragon now. You've gotten plenty strong huh?"
"T-thank you..."
『To think you would show up here, present day Sword King.』
"Ufufu, don't forget about me."
『Nuooou!!?』
Black Dragon noticed Lunati smiling behind him and greatly winced back.
It's quite a sorry sight for a dragon, but I cannot blame him.
The one who drove Black Dragon to a near death state in our previous fight was mostly Lunati after all.
『...What do you want. Do you have a reason to get in the way of my fight with this masked man?』
"I apologize for interrupting. There's something we need to ask him."
"H-how can I help you?"
"We wanted to ask Hikaru-san about Alma-chan, do you know where she is?"
"Eh? Aa, A-Alma should be at the council room along with the others now."
"My, so she's at the palace. We should have searched for her presence first thing first."
Shoot, we focused too much on Alma = Hikaru and ended up getting farther away instead.
...Losing my cool from being away for too long from my daughter has been quite the problem.
Just like last time, we could've teleported instantly to Daijel with Lunati's Space Magic but we got so excited and ran all the way there on foot...
"By the way, can you tell us why you're fighting Black Dragon?"
"...Errr."
"You shouldn't pick a fight without a proper reason, you know."
Asked by Lunati, Hikaru-kun faltered.
We could feel extraordinary anger directed toward Black Dragon, which wasn't unlike him at all.
According to him, demons raided the tournament yesterday.
They somehow managed to drove back and killed the invading demons, including a chief-class from this continent's citadel.
But the military guys were doubting the veracity of that report and had him fight Black Dragon as a proof.
...I still don't see his point, but I suppose the fight is sort of a test of strength?
He's strong enough to kill a Demon Chief now huh.
The Demon Chief on the fourth continent we beat, actually that chief got dragged in our marriage quarrel, managed to last for a while before he bit the dust. Goes to show how strong Hikaru-kun is now.
"Fumufumu, I get the gist of things... But that's not the whole story, is it?"
"Come again?"
"Hikaru-san, you've never been angrier before, have you. You must have another reason that drives this fight with Black Dragon, am I wrong?"
『Umu. He kept shouting angrily when I asked, never an actual answer.』
"I believe telling your opponent the reason for your anger before you get them in a fight is only fair, no?"
"...I understand. But I have a request."
"Oh, what is it?"
"Please don't get involved in this fight even after you hear the reason. This problem is between me and Black Dragon."
"Yes, of course."
Umu. We only stopped their battle to ask about Alma's whereabouts. We have no intention to get in their way.
Does he believe we'd stoop so low? If so, that's quite a disappointing misjudgment of our characters.
『Let me ask once again. O Strong of Mask, what are you so enraged about?』
"...Several months ago, during a Hunting Fest at Randorainam, your handler let loose several power magic beasts there."
『Umu, I do recall that. Rana said he noticed some promising individuals... Mwu, I also recall about the existence of a 'Flying Masked Man'. Was that you?』
"Yea. I saved a party that was under attack by a Platinum Cock whose Tame state had come undone."
"Are you angry on that party's behalf?"
"That's partly true yes. But there's another matter I just can't forgive him about."
"Fumu, and that is?"
"Alma was attacked by magic beasts freed by Black Dragon's Handler. She would have died if I was ever slightly late."
『Mwu, who is this 'Alma' you have been referring to? Is she your mate or, or...』
Umu. Okay, I got it.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Lunati, we're having dragon steak for lunch today."
"Ufufu, I'll show off my cooking skill."
~~~~~Flying Masked Man's POV~~~~~~~
Alma's parents are raising their sword and wand respectively with gleaming eyes.
Wait wait wait! This is my fight, I tell you! No, stop!
The two launched an attack on Black Dragon, readily breaking their promise earlier.
I can feel overwhelming powers that makes even Demon Chief in True Demon state seem cute in comparison.
『Mask, you bastaaaaaaard!! What have you spoken to theeeem!!』
"Oh shut it! That's why I told 'em not to butt in!"
『Then how come these two are after my neck!? They're clearly going in for the kill!!』
"I overestimated their patience! Give it up!"
I shooed Black Dragon as he tried to put the blame on me.
I don't think anybody can stop them now....
But man, these husband and wife are just on a whole other level.
Alma Papa cut the stupidly hard Black Dragon's scales using a mere +200 ATK mithril sword like it's made of butter.
Alma Mama shot ordinary offensive spells but the firepower is just weird. She keeps shooting a barrage of spells each of which contains tremendous power not unlike Alma's mana control-buffed spells, incessantly like it's a carpet bombing.
...Guess this is the end of the line for Black Dragon?
『Nugwooooo...!! T-this is a retread of several years ago...!!』
"A retread? We let you off to maintain the power balance between nations. Do not expect mercy this time around."
"Ufufu, I think whole roast should be just as delicious."
『N-no, I am in danger of truly dying...!!』
Hmm, I wasn't trying to kill him for real though.
I just wanted to instill some pain and make him reflect on his actions.
『What grudges do you hold on me! This explains nothing besides shifting mask's position to yours!』
"You're a bad kid for putting Alma-chan in danger."
"Cut and Kill. That's all there is to it. Got a problem?"
"Well, I was brainwashed by that Demon Chief and almost got Alma killed too yesterday."
...Ah, crap. I let that slip by mistake--
"...Fumu, I suppose we have another bad kid that needs spanking."
"Do tell us all about it later, okay ufufufufufufufu."
Hiiyiii!!? Oh crap, they're coming for me too now!
The severity of their attacks turned even graver as they came my way.
I'm sorry, Alma. Today might be the day I die...
Afterward, Black Dragon and I received their 'spanking' together and got beaten upside down within an inch of our lives.
...Welp, at least I made it out alive.