TENKEN 462 (2083 words)

Handling Ashwrath 
アースラースの扱い

『....Forrund is!』

Forrund was lying on the ground some distance away. I somehow managed to control my telekinesis as I flew low, occasionally scraping my hilt on the ground, and managed to get close to Forrund.

『This is....』

He makes it, but he's in bad shape. The area from the right clavicle to the right ribs was completely gouged out, exposing internal organs and bones. The left arm was also missing from the elbow up. The ground, which had been levelled by the fierce battle, was stained black by his massive blood loss.

「Uggh...」

But he was still alive. His remaining left lung was moving slightly, and I could hear his heartbeat faintly. I hurriedly continued to use recovery magic on Forrund which was about to be lost his life.

I was really glad that I had recovered my magic power from cannibalizing the Fanatics.

『Forrund! Forrund!』

「I'm fine, now....」

He makes it huh? Forrund raised himself up on his own, still flooding with a lot of blood from the section of his shredded shoulder.

As it was, He immediately produced several magic swords. Then his arm started to regenerate slowly. He must have created magic swords of the recovery and regeneration type. Forrund ability to respond is still amazing.

『You're safe. Thank God』

(It's been a while since I've had a conversation with my dead friend)

Does that mean you almost went to the other side?

While I was recovering Forrund, Ashwrath, who was now able to stand up on his own, was checking on Velmeria's condition. Then he suddenly held up Gaia above her.

『Ashwrath! She's not rampaging anymore! You don't have to kill her!』

「It's fine. Well, have a look」

I can't feel any killing intent. It seems that he is not trying to kill her. Ashwrath held Gaia above Velmeria.

「Smile of the Earth」

As Ashwrath muttered it, gentle magic power overflowed from Gaia and enveloped Velmeria. The dying Velmeria's complexion improved, and the wounds all over her body began to heal. Its recovery power was probably even greater than Greater Heal. It seemed that Gaia had not only the power to attack, but also the power to heal.

It also means that there's a powerful means of recovery for a rampaging Ashwrath right.

「..Ugh..」

「Miss, are you okay?」

「..i....where is this...?」

There was a possibility that the Fanatics would absorb her spirit and she would never regain consciousness, but apparently the worst had been avoided. The Fanatics seemed to have lost their original power due to the damage, and they might not even have the power to integrate other's spirit into their own.

If they could completely integrate their mind into their host, there would be no need for a magic drug to manipulate them. No, Gallus and the others were not supposed to wake up because of that magic drugs......

「You don't remember anything huh. It's all right. Now go back to sleep」

「.....Shyuー......」

Even if she survived, she must have been on the edge mentally and physically. She fell asleep again as if she had fainted.

『Hey, Ashwrath. Does your current recovery technique have any effect on healing the symptoms someone under a magic drugs effect?』

「Magic drugs? No, it one only heals wounds」

『Then how did Velmeria wake up? Isn't she suffering from the after-effects of the magic drugs?』

「Master, maybe it's because she haven't taken the magic drugs for long enough right? She had just been taken, hadn't she?」

『I see』

Although a large amount of magic drugs was used to manipulate her mind, the aftereffects may have been small due to the short period of time it was administered. The amount of magic drugs that accumulated in her body was probably very small.

「......Thanks for the help, you two」

I'm sure he meant what he said. Ashwrath is wounded to the bone. The wound itself has healed, but the drain on his magic and life force has not yet recovered. In addition, the demonization has progressed considerably. The mental exhaustion must be more than we can imagine.

「She was a bit of a strong opponent. I don't know what I would have done without you guys」

『That's our line. If it weren't for Ashwrath, the damage would have been much worse. Well, I wouldn't say the damage was small though.....』

It's a pretty extensive wasteland. Half of the noble's district is probably in this state. I'm sure that none of the remaining mansions are undamaged. In addition, there was no trace of the huge castle that had been standing there as the symbol of the country.

There are also the suicide bombings of pseudo fanatic swords in civilian areas and slums, and the damage done to this royal city must be unimaginably huge.

『Still, we were able to defeat the Fanatics, thanks to Ashwrath』

「Yeah」

「Well, I guess it's mutual then. However, I've gone a little overboard. I'd better get the hell out of here」

『Eh? Ashwrath?』

「I'll take the little girl, okay?」

『Wha-wait a moment! What do you mean?』

Sheathing Gaia, Ashwrath carries the still-unawake Velmeria on his shoulders. He means he's leaving like that? And with Velmeria with him?

But Forrund seemed to agree with him.

「It's for the good of this country」

I don't know what Forrund's words mean. For the good of the country?

「Well, if I do say so myself, this battle caused a lot of damage. I'm not saying that I'm not to blame. But, you see, if a country tries to capture me and bring me to the courts, it won't just end up being this country's problem」

Ashwrath and Forrund explain it to me. In other words, it seems that the existence of Ashwrath is too big of a problem for them.

Let's say they've captured Ashwrath for the destruction of the royal capital. And make him pay for his crime. But that's the hard part.

First of all, a death penalty is out of the question. If he were in a danger of dying, the mad demonization will just be triggered on its own and cause great damage again. He can't even kill himself.

They can't even enslave him. He'll also be protected by mad demonization. Unless if Ashwrath is willing to serve on his own. But how can a country would use a monster that could go on a rampage at any moment?

If Ashwrath wanted to, he could probably do everythings. But he comes with a super-strong bomb with a time limit waiting until it explodes. If it explodes, it will wipe several cities off the map. And no one knows when the time limit will come. If there is a politician who wants to keep him in his country, he is either a fool or a madman.

Then send them to the enemy? That is also out of the question. They can't let Ashwrath get involved in a war. If they do that, the Adventurers' Guild will turn against them. If the guild, which takes the stance of not being involved in wars, were to use its rank S adventurers to a war, they would do whatever they could to destroy the country in order to save face. Otherwise, the organization pride itself would be tarnished.

No, it was a problem before that too. In the first place, it was difficult to unilaterally accuse Ashwrath of a crime.

This incident, in large part, was a coup d’état by Marquis Ashtner. Many adventurers have lost their lives, and the responsibility for overseeing them lies with the country. Depending on their point of view, Ashwrath's fight to stop Marquis Ashtner's trump card could be said to have saved the country.

If they charge Ashwrath with a crime, the Adventurers' Guild will come to his defense. If the country opposed it, a conflict would break out between the two. It was the country that would lose out.

Furthermore, the neighbouring countries would also react sensitively to the situation. After all, Ashwrath possessed a divine sword. It was not surprising for them to think, for the Kingdom of Kranzel wanted that divine sword.

Instead of reparations. Or to take it away after his death penalty. Whether it was feasible or not, just being told that that was what they were aiming for could have been a lead to diplomatic problem.

On the other hand, what if they put all the blame on Marquis Ashtner and hold up Ashwrath as the hero of the nation's salvation? That's too, will become another problem. There is a possibility that they might think that they are trying to get rank S adventurers into their country.

Rather, this was more of a problem. The fact that they were trying to possess a superweapon could be seen as having some kind of ulterior motives.

After all, Ashwrath was an untouchable existence that was beyond their own power no matter how they handle him. The smartest thing to do would be to stay uninvolved with him. Even the Beast King had left him alone.

The safest course of action for both the Kingdom of Kranzel and Ashwrath would be for Ashwrath to voluntarily leave the country and be exiled.

When a mass destroyer with the nickname of "Friendly Fire" were to roam the world as usual, I guess all countries will respond in a similar way.

If this were anyone other than Ashwrath, this would not be happening. They will be captured and enslaved. No, the normal route would be execution.

In other words, Velmeria was at high risk of becoming one. She was the Count's concubine's child, and she didn't have a lot of power. Moreover, she was the party responsible for the greatest act of destruction. She was not going to go unpunished.

To be honest, I have no ill feelings toward Velmeria. The residents of the royal capital would probably have a different opinion, but all I felt was pity. I think she was just caught in the middle of it, she was dealing with a marquis and a divine sword that had spent forty years preparing for this. I don't think they could have gotten away with it. If Ashwrath was willing to help her, then I was fine with that.

『Please take care of Velmeria』

「I guess this something i have to do. You can leave her to me. I won't let anything bad happen to her」

『I was hoping you'd go see Fran too though』

「That will be difficult. Well, Se you soon then」

When she wakes up, Fran must be disappointed.

『Where are you going?』

「I was originally planned to follow Zelos Reed to the continent of Gordisia. It's the perfect place to hide her daughter, and I'll be hunting demon beast on that continent for a while」

『Is Zelos Reed on the continent of Gordisia?』

「I'm just saying it's highly possible he might be there」

The continent of Gordisia is recruiting talented warriors to fight against the Rank S demonic beasts, and it seems that if you are strong enough, your past history wouldn't be an issue. It is said to be the last place criminals from all over the world flee to.

『I see』

「Then, I’m going? Master, Forrund, see you again」

「Yea」

『See ya』

Although he must not be in his top form, Ashwrath leaves with a firm steps. If it weren't for Velmeria on his shoulder, it would be a perfect picture.

He went to different direction from the gate, but.......Well, I guess he'll find a way.

『Forrund, what will you do now?』

「I'm going to guild master」

『I see. Then I'll go with you. I mean, I'd appreciate it if you could carry me. If i stay like this, I'll looks like a sword that flies and moves on its own』

「Yeah, understood」

His wound finally healed, but he's still dizzy, Forrund carried me on his back and started walking toward the main gate.

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