Chapter 140
“Ughhh.”
Letting out a groan, Daphne tilted her head back and let her arms and legs hang limply.
Then she recalled the Imperial Treasury.
It had truly been filled with rare treasures.
And yet, despite that, there had not been a single item that could be called a divine relic.
‘Even the Grand Duke’s household has a divine relic.’
The White Lion’s Lantern.
It was something Heros had given her.
Looking at the lantern resting on the bedside table, Daphne slowly blinked.
—<There’s a group that’s collecting divine relics, and the Emperor is opposing that group.>
Just as she had told Shio, Daphne was convinced that the Emperor had another enemy.
Those who stole and gathered divine relics…
Those who were carrying out some sort of plan.
Who were they?
Lani?
Was that green-haired bastard involved?
As she retraced her thoughts, Daphne remembered the mercenaries who had once tried to steal the White Lion’s Lantern.
If she investigated those guys, wouldn’t she find out where the divine relics were being sent?
Pressing a hand against her forehead, Daphne let out a deep sigh.
“Every time I solve one problem, another appears. And just when I think I’ve solved that one, yet another shows up. I never get a chance to rest.”
“Doesn’t that just prove how exceptional your problem-solving abilities are, Lady Daphne!”
Teiti, who was fanning her from beside her, exclaimed.
Daphne slowly turned her eyes toward him.
More precisely, she looked at his bruised bluish eye.
“What happened to your eye?”
“Ah!”
Touching the bruise around his left eye, Teiti gave a bitter smile.
“Mr. Artson…”
“What?”
Daphne’s eyes widened.
“He hit you? You? *You?* That damned reptile bastard actually dares?! Is he asking to die?!”
Oh my…
She’s this worried about me.
I’m actually a little moved…
“He touched my slave! Is he asking to die?!”
…Nope.
Not anymore.
Right.
I’m just a slave.
Teiti smacked his lips.
“No, really, you don’t have to get so angry. I’m fine.”
“Hm? You’re fine?”
This time, Daphne looked even more shocked.
“A petty little coward like you is saying you’re fine after getting beaten up? Are you sick? Is something wrong with your mind? Did something happen to your head?”
“……”
“My goodness. You must have injured your head. That’s why you’re saying such ridiculous nonsense. Wait here. I’ll call a physician—… No, wait. You’re the physician?!”
What exactly am I to Lady Daphne?
Teiti reflected a little on his own life.
‘I’d better keep myself together from now on.’
“Lady Daphne. Please calm down.”
Teiti grabbed Daphne by the shoulders as she looked ready to charge out of the room at any moment.
“I hit him more.”
“…Huh?”
“I hit him much more. A lot.”
“……”
Daphne blinked blankly.
Wait…
So…
An elf…
Beat up a dragon…?
Daphne shouted toward Artson, who was crouching in the corner of the room with a blanket pulled over his head.
“Hey. Bluey.”
Artson flinched before slowly lifting his head.
“…What. Why?”
“Move your head. Let me see your face.”
“N-No…! I-I don’t want to! No!”
“Oh?”
Judging by that reaction, Teiti really had beaten Artson up.
Good grief.
Who would have imagined such a thing?
Daphne let out a hollow laugh.
“A dragon getting beaten by an elf. You’re a disgrace to dragonkind. Don’t go around calling yourself a dragon anymore. Just say you’re an intelligent reptile.”
“Hey! This is all your fault! Shio sealed my power because you ordered him to!”
“Well, whose fault was it for running around causing trouble?”
“Grr…! You…!”
Artson pulled the blanket tighter around himself and tried to get up.
But Daphne was faster as she pulled Teiti toward herself.
“If you take one more step, our elf will bite you.”
“Grrrr… Woof!”
“Yes. So if you don’t want to get beaten up by an elf that’s practically a dog, stay where you are.”
“……”
Perhaps a dragon who made a noble elf bark like a dog was even stranger than a dragon who got beaten up by an elf.
Artson raised his head toward the ceiling and closed his eyes.
It’s so dark.
Just like my future…
How did I end up getting captured in a place like this…?
I’m seriously about to cry…
Watching the sniffling Artson indifferently, Daphne dragged over a chair and walked toward him.
“There is something I wish to ask you.”
Dropping into the chair, Daphne crossed her legs and tilted her head.
“That Lani or whatever his name is. That worthless creature.”
“…Yeah. What about him?”
“Besides the wraiths, did he have contact with any other organization?”
Daphne was convinced that Lani was deeply connected to the organization stealing divine relics.
However, Artson didn’t seem to know.
Tilting his head to one side, Artson blinked.
“Hmmm. I don’t think so. No… I don’t know. I wasn’t that close to him.”
But Daphne didn’t accept his answer at face value.
Noticing her suspicion, Artson shouted,
“I’m serious! He didn’t like me, and I didn’t like him either!”
“Then why were you always together?”
“Because he did interesting things!”
Artson shouted while stamping his feet.
“I mean, it was fun! Whenever I stayed beside him, humans would bring him things on their own and praise him. Do you know how hilarious that was? Watching those idiots was entertaining, so I just stayed beside him. That’s all!”
She proudly declared it without the slightest trace of guilt.
Meanwhile, Daphne’s expression darkened.
She looked like someone wondering how on earth she was supposed to reform this fool.
“Slave Number Two.”
“Yes, Master.”
Teiti hurried over and answered with his hands folded together.
“You are to stay glued to that thing from now on.”
“Huh?”
Ignoring Teiti’s question, Daphne stared directly at Artson and spoke.
“If you have eyes, watch how humans live. If you have ears, listen to the conversations they have. If you have a mouth, ask about the things you’re curious about. Since this slave will be beside you, it should be easy enough.”
Artson frowned deeply.
“What is that supposed to… What even is that? You expect me to change just because of something like that? You really think that’ll happen?”
“You won’t know unless you try.”
“Hey. You’re funny. What if I run away?”
Artson laughed mockingly.
Daphne slowly rose from her chair.
Then she walked over to Artson, who was leaning against the wall.
“Bluey.”
“My name is Artson!”
“Yes, Bluey.”
Artson was about to explode in anger at Daphne for constantly changing his name.
But somehow, Daphne’s presence felt different this time.
He involuntarily hesitated.
Ah…
Why is she looking at me like that?
It’s terrifying.
Artson instinctively leaned back.
“Do you want to run away from me?”
Daphne’s light green eyes slowly scanned every part of Artson’s body.
Her gaze was filled with killing intent, like a snake examining its prey.
“If that’s truly what you want, then go ahead.”
“……”
“Please.”
“……”
“By making an example of you, I’ll be able to scare that Red One.”
“……”
“So run away.”
Artson swallowed hard.
Right now, his power had been sealed by Shio.
He was nowhere near as strong as before.
And Daphne…
Even if her strength as the Calamity had weakened…
She was still strong.
In his current state, he couldn’t defeat her.
Then what should he do?
There was only one answer.
“I won’t.”
Flatten himself completely.
“I’ll stay here forever. I promise!”
Artson forced a servile smile and bowed his head before Daphne.
Watching him, Daphne smiled.
You should have done that from the beginning.
☆☆☆
The next morning, Daphne began her day with Anne and Anna helping her get ready.
“Aww, our young lady is adorable again today.”
“You’ve put on a little weight, so you look much healthier now. You should keep eating plenty.”
Really?
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Daphne slowly turned her head from side to side.
*‘Well, at least I don’t look like someone who’s been starving anymore.’*
When she had first entered this body, it had been an absolute disaster.
Compared to then, this was perfectly acceptable.
“I shall eat breakfast with Hero today.”
“Oh my, really?”
Anne asked.
“The Master knows about it too, right? Then shall we head to the dining room immediately?”
“Hero doesn’t know. I just decided it.”
“…Pardon?”
Anne and Anna looked slightly bewildered.
What exactly was a promise?
Wasn’t it something decided through mutual agreement?
In Daphne’s case, it wasn’t a promise at all.
It was practically a notice.
The two exchanged glances.
Then they awkwardly laughed and straightened Daphne’s clothes.
They decided not to think about it any further.
“Then shall we head to the Master’s office first?”
“Let us.”
“Yes, Lady Daphne.”
Guided by the two of them, Daphne left her room.
She didn’t particularly want to talk with Heros.
But there was only one reason she was looking for him.
‘I need to investigate those mercenaries who tried to steal the divine relic.’
That was why Daphne sought out Heros.
However—
“They’re all dead.”
“……”
Huh.
This isn’t good.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
