Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari:Web Chapter 177

This text is a machine translation (MTL). Be warned that the degree of translation error may be higher than usual. This page was created before the updated (July 19, 2015) MTL guidelines and has not been reviewed. For details, see the machine translation guidelines.

Level Drain

Gaelion: “KYUA!”

The sack collapses and the contents fall out.

Recently, Gaelion has acquired some bad habits.

Last time it was ding-dong-ditch, this time it’s the sack rummaging.

I scold him every single time, but he doesn’t stop.

Just when Atlas became more obedient, now Gaelion's acting up.

Also, Firo does the same thing. Even now.

Firo, while rummaging through garbage, would refer to them as treasures.

After all, she is a bird. Gaelion is no different.

Ah, I’m sure the dumpster diving is also going to turn into territorial disputes.

Naofumi: “Ah jeez… look at this mess I have to clean up.”

Out of the sack roll demon bones, ores, and the Zombie Dragon’s core which was previously embedded in the Barbarian’s Armor.

The Zombie Dragon core continues to roll.

Gaelion sees the Zombie Dragon’s core, chases it with his eyes, and starts playing with it.

His reaction is like a cat’s.

This reminds me, Gaelion and Firo both like shiny things.

Didn’t Firo’s eyes also shine brightly when she saw the Zombie Dragon’s core for the first time? They both share the same habit.

Gaelion: “KYUAA!?”

Though I am slightly relaxed by this happy state, I have no desire for this mood.

Let’s end this quickly with a swift scolding.

Paku!

Gaelion grips the core of the Zombie Dragon with his jaws.

Naofumi: “Hey. That thing isn’t yours. Return it quickly.”

I might as well have been talking to the wind; Gaelion pays no attention to me.

The Zombie Dragon’s core is deep in his mouth… Honestly.

Gokkun.

He swallows it.

Naofumi: “Hey! Spit it out!”

I grab Gaelion by the scruff and shake him.

Huh, didn’t the monster seal have a punishment for that?

I try activating the system.

Gaelion: “KYU!?”

Gaelion convulses and writhes with his eyes wide open.

Gaelion: “KYU…… GYA…… KYUUU……”

Gaelion breaks out into cold sweat, his eyes tightly shut and moans as if he's enduring something.

I can hear Gaelion’s whole body creaking.

Naofumi: “O-oi.”

Sadina: “What’s going on?”

Atlas: “There’s a terrible ominous feeling overflowing from Gaelion-chan, is he all right?”

An ominous feeling?

Before I could ask, I see with my own eyes a darkish purple light being emitted from Gaelion’s body…… and the magical power is unleashed.

I recognize this color.

When I equipped the Wrath Shield, Firo was enveloped by the same aura.

Gaelion: “GYAOOOOOOOO!”

With bloodshot eyes, Gaelion roars towards the ceiling.

A breath of magic is unleashed from Gaelion’s mouth and the ceiling is blown away in an instant.

Gaelion: “GYA!”

• Flap*… the sound from his wings reverberates as they begin to expand, as Gaelion leaps high into the air.

Great! I’ll just open the monster seal and activate the punishment.

Opening the monster seal!

But the view for my status window is warped; the monster seal can't be activated.

Gaelion: “GYAOOOOOO!”

Before I call out to Gaelion, he flies off.

Naofumi: “W-what?”

Sadina: “What just happened?”

Naofumi: “Gaelion ate the Zombie Dragon’s core that used to be in my armor. Then this happened.”

Atlas: “Something… wrapped around Gaelion-chan… and then―”

We exit the building and look at the direction Gaelion flew in.

Rato: “What happened?”

The slaves who remained in the village emerged when they heard the commotion.

Taniko: “What? Did something happen?”

Rato and Taniko look in my direction.

Naofumi: “To tell you the truth-”

I explained how Gaelion ate the Zombie Dragon’s core.

Rato: “The core of a Zombie Dragon…… the Count sure has strange things.”

Naofumi: “Do you have any ideas?”

Rato: “I’m not that knowledgeable about dragons. Dragons are a species whose ecology is shrouded in mystery. Though I’ve heard the cores found in other dragons are highly desired… but to make him lose control like this…”

Taniko: “We must chase after him.”

Taniko speaks impatiently. Oh yeah, it’s her precious dragon.

The core of the Zombie Dragon is important for my armor, and in the worse case, I’ll get it back even if I have to fight Gaelion for it.

Naofumi: “I understand. We have no choice but to call Firo and leave.”

It doesn’t mean we couldn’t just chase after him, but it would be much quicker with Firo.

I haven’t even ridden him yet, but I have to take him down. What kind of dragon is he?

Naofumi: “We need horses to get to the next town…”

Riding on horses prepared by the soldiers, we are off to find Firo.

Halfway there, we meet several soldiers on horses riding in from the opposite direction.

Soldier: “Ah, Shield Hero! We were just on our way to fetch you.”

Naofumi: “What is it? I also have an errand to attend to.”

Soldier: “Princess Melty urgently summons the Shield Hero. It seems something grave has happened to the Shield Hero’s holy bird.”

Naofumi: “What!?”

Guided by the soldiers, we head toward the clinic in town.

Upon entering, Melty comes rushing, about to break into tears.

Melty: “Firo-chan started suffering suddenly. Naofumi. Help Firo-chan!”

Naofumi: “Suddenly telling me to be a doctor… I don't understand because I’m not a treatment specialist, but if there’s something I can do, I will do it.”

Melty: “Absolutely!”

That being said, if it’s a really dangerous disease, there’s no choice but to rely on the Yggdrasil medicine.

The problem is, I only have one left, but if it’s for Firo, then it’s worth using.

I’m reminded of how deeply attached I am to Firo; I will spare no expense.

Naofumi: “Anyway, let me have a look.”

Melty: "Yes."

I enter into the examination room accompanied by Melty and the Treatment Master.

There, Firo lies wearily in her monster form.

Firo: “Uhh… uhhh…”

Around her abdomen, her body is eroded like when I equipped the Wrath Shield.

Actually, it’s worse. It would be better to say that the damage has greatly increased.

Though the erosion is resisting against the influence of the shiny crown of feathers on Firo’s head, the erosion is winning.

Naofumi: “What’s going on here? Can this even be cured by the Yggdrasil medicine?”

Treatment Master: “I'm not sure. Because the magical connotation is so strong, I don’t expect Yggdrasil medicine to have any effect.”

The bewildered Treatment Master answers my questions.

I check Firo's status.

I can determine simple matters such as whether Firo is being invaded by poison or paralysis.

Firo: “Oh, master……”

Firo reaches out to me, groaning painfully.

I touch Firo gently on the cheek.

She wasn’t in her human form, and yet, when stroking her cheek, through painful groans, Firo smiles comfortably and closes her eyes.

I continue with the status verification.

Firo’s status screen flickers many times as though caught in a sandstorm.

No matter how you consider it, it is unusual.

I also notice a big problem while I’m there.

Firo’s level is lower than it should be.

Level down? What is going on?

Multiple possibilities are surfacing.

The problem is that there's only circumstantial evidence for now, so I can’t be certain.

Naofumi: “…Bring in Rato from the village.”

Melty: “Understood.”

After a while, not only Rato, but even Atlas, Taniko, and Sadina come in.

Taniko: “Firo-chan!? What happened?”

The worried Taniko runs up to Firo.

Usually, you side against Firo whose relationship with Gaelion is bad, but now you’re saying you are worried.

Is it because you like monsters?

Naofumi: “Rato, what you think?”

Rato: “If I was to take a haphazard guess, I’d say she’s being eroded by a curse, don’t you think? Will you let me have a look?”

Rato reads the diagnostic notes that the Treatment Master made, and then she begins to medically examine Firo’s body.

Naofumi: “If you can look at the status, you can see that her level is going down little by little.”

Rato: “Level down? Isn’t that a high-ranked curse? So far I’ve never seen anything as terrible as this.”

Naofumi: “I’m willing to bet this has a connection with Gaelion losing control and running off at the same time. What do you think?”

Rato: “I think there’s no doubt. But… is there a matching contact point between Gaelion and Firo?”

Naofumi: “There is, if you assume the core of the Zombie Dragon as the cause.”

Rato: “What?”

Naofumi: “During our encounter with the Zombie Dragon, Firo ate his core. The one I had was only a small fragment.”

In fact, the reason why Firo managed to defeat the Zombie Dragon lay in the decisive moment when Firo ate his core. When we assume that both events are connected, we become more convinced.

Rato: “Indeed, it is reasonable to consider that something is influencing Firo, who ate the core, and Gaelion, who is currently running out of control.”

Naofumi: “I suppose.”

Rato: “Then confirm it with Gaelion. I feel like that's not the end of it, somehow.”

I verify Gaelion’s status.

As expected, just like Firo’s status window, as though obscured by a sandstorm, there are a lot of things which could not be read.

However…

Naofumi: “His level has skyrocketed.”

It is visibly increasing.

Gaelion’s level which was 35 has become 45.

…It’s exceeded the class up limit.

Atlas: “Umm… I feel an ominous force is flowing out from Firo-chan.”

Naofumi: “We can see that.”

Atlas: “No, I don’t mean that.”

Atlas points her finger at something.

Although there’s nothing there.

Rato: “Atlas-chan can see things that are not visible to the naked eye. She might know where the force is moving towards.”

Naofumi: “Hmm…”

There is enough possibility.

She has a surprisingly useful ability.

The problem is the supposed destination in which Firo’s life force is flowing.

It’s the same direction that Gaelion flew in.

Naofumi: “Is it possible for Firo to vomit out the core?”

Atlas: “That's impossible. Using my magical power of perception, I can see the core circulating throughout her entire body.”

I verified Firo's status.

To recall Raphtalia and the others to chase after Gaelion… at the speed her stats are decreasing, we don’t even have two days.

Firo's level is quickly dropping to one no matter how I slice it.

No, it’s still better if it gets to one and stops. Worst case scenario, she might die.

Atlas: “Also, I can see some additional force leaking out from Naofumi-sama.”

Naofumi: “What?”

I check my own status screen.

There's no noticeable change.

Atlas: “That一 it’s from around your left arm.”

Where I have my shield attached.

It's coming from the shield… I let the shield absorb half of the core fragment.

Does that mean the shield’s ability is decreasing?

I check the list again to confirm, but there are no abnormalities for now.

Rather, I let out a sigh of relief.

What was I supposed to be angry about again?

…I sense danger.

Naofumi: “For now, locate where the Battle Instructor is having the training camp and give instructions to return. We are chasing after Gaelion immediately!”

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough time.

Atlas steps forward full of determination.

Atlas: “Naofumi-sama, there is something I would like to try out for a bit on Firo.”

Naofumi: “What is it?”

Atlas: “I would like to suppress the leakage of Firo’s force, even by a little.”

Atlas goes to Firo's side and puts a hand on her chest; she affixes both hands lightly.

Firo: “Mm… ah…”

Firo moans painfully while opening her eyes and slowly gets up.

Firo: “It became a little bit lighter.”

Melty: “Firo!”

Melty runs up to Firo.

Atlas: “I think we’ve gained some extra time.”

Naofumi: “Well then… A carriage…”

Shit. There aren't any vehicle mounts.

The other Filo Rial is out peddling.

Do I have to rent a Filo Rial in town?

Naofumi: “The pursuing party will be me, Sadina, and… Tani… No, you and Rato will――”

Firo: “The one who will draw master’s carriage is… Firo.”

Firo declares with a strong will in her eyes while being supported by Atlas.

Melty: “Firo-chan is no good! You have to stay still.”

Naofumi: “Yes. You rest quietly in bed.”

However, Firo shakes her head in refusal.

Firo: “Noー… Firo is absolutely going together with master.”

There is none of the usual vigor, but she takes a step forward and insists to follow at any cost.

…If she was made to stay here, she would certainly come chasing.

She is very stubborn.

Naofumi: “Well, if anything happens, I’ll leave you in a clinic. And then, I’ll get something else to pull the carriage.”

Atlas: “Naofumi-sama!?”

Naofumi: “Atlas, you'll also be there to suppress it, right?”

Atlas: “Ye- Yes!”

Naofumi: “Good.”

Melty: “I will go too!”

Melty declares even though she is on the verge of breaking out into tears.

Ah, her best friend is in a pinch. She insists on coming by any means necessary just like Firo.

I ignore the declaration of the princess.

Naofumi: “Do not act rashly. You are a princess.”

Melty: “Being a princess comes second, Firo-chan is my friend!”

Naofumi: “I see.”

…Firo was throwing a tantrum about wanting to protect Melty before.

Firo has a good friend indeed.

Naofumi: “We are setting off to chase after Gaelion. The soldiers of the castle must hurry and notify Raphtalia and the others.”

Everyone: "Yes!"

Thus, we let the stubborn Firo overdo herself and left on a carriage.

Translator Note

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