Editing Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 2 Record.1

==Record.1ː Where Will the New Party Go==

===1===

The town of blazing cliff, Jio.

The Great Volcano of Galia had gas steam out from its crane even at this point. And the town located just beneath it. The town would be surrounded in intense heat even in winter which made it feel like the middle of summer due to the steam and the terrestrial heat from the volcano.

At the large auditorium located at the centre of the said town.

“I’m so bored……”

It was Kyelse who was sitting on the chair in the guestroom while she put on a bored expression and had candy inside her mouth.

——She was a girl with sacred atmosphere.

Her emerald eyes which had a deeper colour than the ocean and her silver hair which had a shine of a pearl.

Not only she had those fascinating features, but even her appearance was adorable like a fairy which would appear in folktales.

Even though she was wearing clothing of an adventurer, the only word you could use to describe her transparent-like white skin and slender body would be charming.

She might have a charming appearance of a fairy from folktales. However, her true identity wasn’t a human but a Dragon.

To top it off, she was a Princess of the “Heavenly Silver Dragons” which was known to be the oldest Dragon species. Not only were they feared by the other Dragon species, They were the strongest superior beings which were not only feared by their fellow Dragon species but feared even from all the living creatures of the Earth, the Goddess of the Heaven, and by the all of the historical Demon Kings of the Underworld.

''……But, even though she was supposed to be a legendary Dragon as such. ''

''……Right now she was on her chair and repeatedly saying that she was “bored” as she sighed in front of me. ''

“Ren, do something funny for me.”

“Funny as in?”

“Like singing or dancing. Humans are supposed to be good at doing them.”

“……Not possible since I have bad ears for music.”

The one who gave such answer was a boy with light brown hair.

Ren E Maxwell.

His messy hair which was simply cut and his deep blue-eyes.

Even though he had a moderately well-structured face, there were still childish features on it.

Though his height was average among his peers, he would considered small among other student knights whom he would be competing against as someone who is aiming to become a {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} which is full of solidly built men.

“How about you take a walk inside the town together with Fear-senpai and Elise?”

“I don’t like people that I don’t even know taking a peek at me.”

The Dragon Princess said that with an unpleasant face.

The Heaven, the Underworld, and the Earth——. Dragons were considered the absolute king of the Earth among the three worlds, but they were famous for being very cautious despise their overwhelming strength.

“Instead I can only wonder how Elise and Fear can confront the humans so naturally. To begin with, if others find out that the Archangel and the previous Demon King were acting this way, then it would affect the reputation of the Heaven and the Underworld…… And just imagine if we go out right now. It’s obvious that we will be surrounded by the humans in no time and it would cause a stir.”

“……Well, we had just fought Achendia.”

One of the Five Great Disasters who was once the subordinate of Elise who was a former Demon King and also the candidate of being the Demon King herself appeared at Earth to rebel against the current Demon King.

That was none other than the “Demon General of Blaze”, Achendia.

The location where the Great Demon such as her showed up was none other than the Great Volcano of Galia which was located just front of this town. It was okay till the part where Ren and the party defeated her and fended her off to the Underworld.

The problem started after that.

It started two days ago. In other words the day right after defeating Achendia.

The unknown party which was Ren and the girls defeated one of the Five Great Disasters ahead of the well experienced and famous parties. The news obviously spread among the residents of the town of the blazing cliff but also to the parties that gathered to this town in order to defeat Achendia as well as the world where Ren and the girls had their name draw attention.

“I also went outside just earlier. Since I couldn’t barely move due to my wounds and fatigue. I wanted to move my body since I was feeling well today.”

“Now that you mention it that was a quick return. How was it?”

“I had myself surrounded by lots of people the moment I stepped foot outside. They asked for a handshake and autograph. ……And what they all asked after that was “Are you related to Eleline?”. Obviously I would run away.”

“Give it up. That is your fate.”

Kyelse took out her second candy stick.

“You resemble him so much that even I mistook you for him.”

“Do I really……?”

Ren sighed while in astonishment and stared at the side of his face which was reflected by the window.

His appearance. He was neither a handsome that everyone would look at or was he a giant who would pressure people around him just by walking. Ren knew that very well.

But if you were asked to give one description of him——

The Sword Emperor Eleline. Only his appearance resembled the legendary swordsman.

The strongest swordsman in history to be the only one to be give the title of “Brave Hero”.

Obviously against the humans but even against the superior beings that rules the three world—— The Dragon of the Earth, the Angels of the Heaven, and the Demons of the Underworld. He was unbeaten against all of those and battled them hundreds of times. Even after that, he ended the Great War which was endangering the whole world to meet its end.

That was three-hundred years ago.

Now there were statutes and portraits of him made around the world where people honoured his achievements.

Ren who had an exact resemblance to such Brave Hero had just defeated one of the Five Great Disasters who was placed in the highest rank among Demons. There was no way other parties wouldn’t pay attention to him.

In other words people would think——


Is he the reincarnation of the Brave Hero?


“Well, it’s fine. I was already used to people calling me the Fake Brave Hero anyway……”


For Ren himself, he could only feel complicated at this situation.

Fake Brave Hero.

Though he was compared to Eleline at all the opportunity there was due to his appearance, the reality was cruel.

His potential at swordsmanship which could not be compared to the Brave Hero in the past. He was called the “Fake Brave Hero” at the Holy Fiora Journey Academy at which he was enrolled at where both his classmates and the instructors were astonished with him.

“Don’t let Fake Brave Hero thing get to you. I am the one training you. You will be able to take down the current Demon King of the Underworld and the Goddess of the Heaven in no time.”

“I reckon that is already beyond the capabilities of what a human can do……”

Kyelse who had a very serious look.

Ren could only shrug his shoulder with a bitter smile at her who was acting as such.

“By the way, about Fear-senpai and Elise, aren’t they a bit late?”

“Hmm. They certainly are. Even though they said they were just going to go and get the reward for defeating Achendia.”

“I guess there are some procedures they need to go through. ……Oh, speak of the devil.”

The auditorium’s passage which was divided by the door.

They could hear the sound of a small skipping noise from the very end.

“I’m back!”

The door opened and the one who entered the room was a dark-skinned girl.

She would appear to be exactly around ten-years old. What stood out was her twin-tail hair which could look as either black or brown depending on the light shining on it and her reddish-brown eyes filled with curiosity.

“Oh my, that was amazing! It seemed like the news of us fending of Achendia has been going around so everyone came for either a handshake or an autograph.”

“Did you respond to them?”

“Yup. Humans are indeed amusing. Back when I was doing a Demon King in the Underworld, they would just break down in fear at seeing me. Now they are welcoming me.”

The former Demon King Elise.

She was none other than the master of the Underworld which is the world underneath.

She resigned her post after losing her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago. But she succeeded in reincarnating her body exactly ten-years ago. She revived with her memories and a fraction of her powers.

“Elise, where is Fear-senpai? I thought she was with you.”

“Sorry to keep you all waiting.”

The door opened once again and the one who entered was a beautiful blonde girl.

Fear Nesphilia——. She had gentle eyes and kind smile. Even the white clothing she was wearing spoke of her sweet and noble atmosphere.

Just like Kyelse and Elise, she was also not human.

She was the highest ranked Angel that served the Goddess of Heaven directly. She was the strongest Archangel whose strength was said to surpass that of the Goddess in terms of battle.

——The Dragon Princess Kyelse who governed the whole Dragon-species.

——The former Demon King Elise who was the previous master of the Underworld.

——The Archangel Fear who stood at the very top of the Angels that ruled the Heaven.

All three of them were the legendary Three Great Princesses that was led by the Brave Hero Eleline.

''……And they are standing in front of me. ''

''……This is a gathering of the legends which even I can’t believe what I am seeing. ''

He was taunted as being the Fake Brave Hero at the Holy Fiora Journey Academy. But they called out to him who was being avoided by his peers and also gave invited him to go on the journey to find the Encore with them.

“Ren? Something wrong?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. I was just thinking for a bit.”

Ren replied to Kyelse who was staring into him by waving his hand gently.

“By the way, Fear-senpai. How is the procedure going?”

“It is all done. They will be rewarding us for defeating Achendia. By the way……”

“Ren, are you interested in hot spring?”

“Hot spring? Hot spring as in those hot water which is coming out from the ground?”

“Yes. This town is located in just front of the volcano. So there are several locations where the water underneath has been heated by the heat of the magma and the hot springs are also the tourist attractions of this town. Hot springs have the effect to heal wounds to the degree that there is terminology such as ‘hot spring cure’. From what I was told, they said we could book the whole hot spring to ourselves if we are going.”

“Hmm, are you perhaps very knowledgably about hot springs, Fear-senpai?”

“There are no girls who does not like bathing. That would be the same for both the humans and the Angels.”

Fear already had a small bag with her changes when she was saying that.

“Kyelse, apparently they sell an excellent sweet known as hot-spring manjuu. They are popular with its moderate taste of sweet and they sell out every day so quickly.”

“……Hmm. I cannot ignore that.”

Kyelse stood up immediately.

“Let’s go, Ren. This is a good occasion. There is something I need to tell you. If we can rent the whole place then I can simply tell it to you as we bath in the hot spring.”

“Hold on Kyelse. I am curious to what you want to tell me, but what do you mean by bathing in the hot spring……”

“What is it?”

“I mean it’s a hot spring. Even if we are going to talk, you know……I am a guy. Guys and girls will be bathing in separate hot spring so——”

“You do not need to worry.”

The blonde Angel winked with a naughty smile.

“The hot spring I booked was obviously the mixed-bath one.”

“……Mixed bath?”

“Yes. So the boy and girls who aren’t wearing anything will be inside the hot spring comfortably and gracefully……”

“Wait!? Huh, a mixed bath!? You are kidding right, Fear-senpai?”

“Fufu, I am looking forward to it.”

Fear grabbed Ren by his arm and started walking without his consent.

“Let’s get going. The front of the auditorium will be full with people wanting to meet us, so let’s leave quietly from the rear exit.”

“What I’m concerned is regarding the mixed bath——”

“You need to experience everything new.”

“That’s not the problem, hey!?”

Ren had his arm locked by Fear and had himself dragged through the passage.

===2===

The bathhouse covered in white steam.

What laid past the flooring made up of duckboards was—— natural bedrock which had formed a bathtub and milky-white hot water which had filled the bathtub.

“Wow, it’s so big! It’s so big that I can swim in it!”

The one who was making her way through the bathtub was Elise in her swimsuit. The navy-blue one-piece swimsuit she was wearing was something new she had just bought from the counter of the bathhouse.

“So this is the open air bath. It’s interesting that you can get the whole view of the Great Volcano of Galia from here.”

That was Kyelse who had sat on the bedrock and was eating the rumoured hot-spring manjuu.

She on other hand was wearing a white one-piece swimsuit with frills on them which had a design as if she was wearing a skirt from her waist down. She wasn’t showing much of her skin even though she was wearing a swimsuit. Her swimsuit had excellent design where she could just walk out of the bathhouse if she wanted to.

''……It’s fine till here.''

''……But there’s a problem with the last one. ''

“Hey, Ren. Don’t stay in the corner and look away. How about you come more to the centre? We did get to borrow this place to ourselves.”

“N-No, I’m just fine over here……”

“Don’t say that. Here, your big sis will wash your back for you.”

The splash of water echoed.

Ren could sense the presence of someone walking slowly towards him from behind.

“Alright, I’ve caught you, Ren.”

“Fear-senpai!?”

Ren couldn’t stop himself from saying that since the blonde girl had hugged him from behind.

And she wasn’t hugging him gently. She had hugged him so tightly that their body was touching each other a lot and she was leaning her body down towards him.

The two parts of her body that was touching his back.

It was soft, yet had overwhelming size where it felt as if it carried weights in them.

“I-I keep on telling you, Senpai! You are always doing this on purpose, aren’t you!?”

“Oh? What do you mean? I have no clue at what you are talking about.”

The Archangel who started to glue her body towards him even more as she started to chuckle.

“Hey, get away from Ren, you lecherous Angel.”

Kyelse’s astonished voice.

The Princess of Dragons who was sitting on the bedrock started to glare at Archangel while putting her hand on her hip.

“Are you trying to seduce Ren regardless of where you are?”

“It’s because Ren is just too adorable. His face turned all red and he was looking away from me.”

Fear had joy in her words.

Her black halter-neck swimsuit which exposed a lot of her back. And the amount of fabric covering her body part was minimal. It was indeed a design which had a good contrast with her glamourous body.

The fact that her swimsuit suited her means that was how much Fear had an amazing body. Though it was too stimulating for Ren, who was a boy around that age, to handle.

“Ren? Here. Isn’t it about time you look this way? You are wearing a swimsuit as well after all. There is nothing we should be bothered about.”

[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V2_Non-colour_001.jpg|thumb]]

“Then I would have preferred if you did something about that posture……”

She had enough cleavage to begin with but the blonde Archangel made it appear even more obvious by bending her body towards him. And that was something she was doing on purpose, so she didn’t even try to hide her cheeky smile.

“I don’t have a body which I am ashamed off at being seen.”

“I meant that I can’t face you.”

Ren turned around as he sighed.

Fear’s lecherous body was too stimulating even with her swimsuit. The only fortune bestowed upon Ren was the fact that the steam and the hot water made her figure slightly obscured when he looked towards her.

“Oh yes, the hot bath is indeed great. It feels as though it would heal my wounds from three-hundred years ago.”

Fear, who had a towel around her head to keep her hair from falling, sat inside the bathtub with water up to her shoulders.

“I feel as if it was cleaning both my body and soul. If only I had some great alcohol with me then this surely would be a paradise on Earth.”

“Fear, you sound like an old person——”

“Did you say something, Elise?”

“N-Nothing at all!”

The former Demon King waved her hand and played dumb when the Archangel approached right in front of her immediately.

“It wasn’t me. I think Ren said something like that.”

“Lies!”

A scream-like shout came out from Ren’s throat.

''……It appears an age-related issue would be a taboo for Fear-senpai.''

''……Even Elise became that scared. Kyelse won’t say it either.''

The girls’ right in front of him were the legendary Three Great Princesses that fought in the End War three-hundred years ago.

However, Kyelse had just woken up from her long sleep recently. And her actual age was only sixteen years old in human age. So that means she was a year younger than Ren.

Elise who was the former Demon King succeeded in reincarnating herself ten years ago.

To put it simply, her current form was that of after “reincarnation” and hence her actual age like her young appearance implies was that of a ten-years old.

Among these girls——

The only one who had been living without any changes for the past three-hundred years was the Archangel Fear.

''……It’s true that they say Angel’s live for a very long time.''

''……Even Fear-senpai looks like she’s about eighteen-years old.''

Even so, talking about her actual age was a taboo.

Ren didn’t know Fear’s precise age and he didn’t even have the courage to ask her.

It became a daily procedure where Elise who knows about that uses it to tease Fear and gets scolded for it.

Then.

“Ren, how are your wounds?”

The sound of water splashing could be heard.

Kyelse who was in her cute white swimsuit approached him while having the hot water come up to her hips.

“This is a good occasion. Show me your arm. And your back as well.”

“Eh? H-Hey!?”

The girl went behind him and started to take a good look at his back.

“What is it?”

“Ah, well……it’s kind of embarrassing.”

Ren was also wearing a swimsuit. But having a girl around his age take a look at his upper body and arm at a bathhouse like this would indeed make him feel shy.

“I’m just looking at the burns you received from Achendia.”

“Ah, yeah, I know, but……”

“Humans takes time healing compared to Dragons. It would be a serious matter if your wounds get worse and get infected.”

Kyelse simply answered as such with a normal expression.

At her responses——

“…………”

“? What’s wrong, Ren? Why the blank face?”

“I never expected that you would be so worried about me. Thanks for your concern.”

“……I-It’s nothing! I-I just thought that it would interfere with our journey if your wounds get worse. So you should heal those wounds so you won’t need me to worry about you so much!”

Kyelse's face turned slightly red, and she turned around.

Then next moment, she pointed her finger towards the two girls standing in her direction.

“And you two! What’s with those meaningful smirks!?”

“Eh~? Because. Right, Fear? For that Kyelse to act like that towards Ren...”

“Indeed. I set my eyes on Ren first. Since when did you two have such relationship? That’s so unfair.”

Fear and Elise were whispering to each other but made sure their words could be heard.

“Kyelse, even your ears are red.”

“This sure is a rare sight.”

“T-This was due to being inside the hot bath! ……Shut up, just shoosh!”

Kyelse started to scoop the hot water with hands and started splashing it towards the other two.

Just looking at this situation made it seem like the three girls were getting along with each other. Where indeed did their dignity of saving the world three-hundred years ago disappear to?

“Hey, Kyelse. I’m curious to the matter you wanted to discuss with me about before.”

“……Hmm. Very well, then.”

The girl stopped scooping the hot water and turned back around.

She crossed her arms for a while and started to behave as if she was thinking about something.

“What I wanted to talk to you about was where we will be heading from now on. While searching for the Encore, that is.”

The Encore.

The moment Kyelse said that word the expressions on the Archangel and the former Demon King changed.

It wasn’t the expression of when they were playing around. These were their natural expressions which was filled with dignity and wisdom. And eyes filled with overwhelming intensity.


''“—We will award the title and honour of becoming the second “Brave Hero” in history to the one that finds the Encore.”''


The announcement made by the World Alliance Council everyone knew of.

The one and the only “Brave Hero” in history—— the great individual who made much more significant achievements than the other heroes and courageous warriors, the Sword Emperor Eleline.

The man who ended the End War himself by leading Kyelse, Fear, and Elise.

And the memorandum left by Eleline was the “Encore”.

It was the only and genuine historic writing which has the recordings of the “truth” behind the End War which no one had the full knowledge of. It was also the world map which had the recordings of countless number of ancient ruins and the spirit’s territories.

For example, not only can you salvage the rare {{Furigana|“the lost spells”|ANCIENTS}} from the ancient ruins but you can also receive powerful aid from the spirits of the spirit territories. And areas which were known as unexplored regions and sanctuaries since ancient times would often be a mining spot where you can find rare metals which could be used to make powerful weapons.

''——If a fitting person finds the Encore. ''

''——The information recorded in it could mean the seizing of the sovereignty of the world.''

Those who sought for the unexplored regions and sanctuaries were called “parties”. And the Era of Great War for the possession of the Encore that had continued till now for the past one-hundred years. It was the greatest treasure which became the catalyst for all of this.

“Oh yes, I believe you said you may have an idea about where the Encore would be located in.”

Fear sat on the bedrock located at the corner of the bathtub.

“Is it related to that?”

“Oh. You should have mentioned that much earlier, Kyelse. Encore is what Eleline left behind, right? I won’t like it if other humans takes it first.”

Elise sat right next to Fear.

Elise on the other hand was splashing the hot water with her feet like a child. But her serious eyes carried wisdom and she had a more serious atmosphere than usual.

''——For other parties the Encore would be a tool or treasure to make them a Brave Hero.''

''——But it would hold a different meaning for these three.''

For these girls who followed and travelled with Eleline himself three-hundred years ago, the Encore would be the last memory of their comrade itself which he had left behind.

There was no way they could allow other parties who were a complete strangers to get their hands on it first.

After all, the Encore might contain messages Eleline left behind for them.

“Yeah. It’s regarding the location where the Encore is hidden. The humans’ parties have travelled throughout the world for the past hundred years but they haven’t found it yet. So there’s only one possible location left. In other words……'''it would be a location where the humans’ parties could not enter no matter what'''.”

“……As expected. It’s that land.”

“Well, I guess that would be it. ……Hmm, but I don’t have any good memories about it.”

“Same goes for me. That place is a bit……after all.”

The Archangel and the former Demon King nodded at each other after hearing Kyelse’s words.

Both of them had dark expressions. Even Fear who had always put on a smile no matter what couldn’t hide her tone filled with bitterness.

“That’s how it is, Ren.”

“Umm, I totally have no clue about this so-called location even if you say it like that……”

Kyelse turned around at him as if she had said the obvious. So Ren said his honest feelings since he felt himself under her gaze.

The location which is thought to be the place the Brave Hero Eleline hid the Encore.

Kyelse said she had a rough idea about its whereabouts. And it appeared as if both Fear and Elise got a certain idea about it after hearing Kyelse. Though Ren absolutely had no idea.

“Hey, Kyelse. Does that mean you know the actual name of that place?”

“I’m still at a phase where I have a rough idea regarding it. Before I give the details I need a bit more time. There’s a certain place I need to go to before that.”

“So that certain place will be our aim for now then?”

“Re Inferiel.”

“The Valley of the Dragons!? Isn’t that an unexplored area which has every single Dragon species gathered there!?”

It was one of the famous places known as the legendary unexplored area.

Ren still remembered what his instructor at Holy Fiora Journey Academy taught him.

Many parties aimed to journey there. But they had been chased out from there by receiving a warm welcome from the Dragons without any exception.

Only a very limited number of parties were allowed to enter the valley.

“Then its Kyelse’s homeland?”

“Not only was it her homeland but she was a genuine Princess of Dragons who ruled the valley. She was a pure-blooded Heavenly Silver Dragon which was a very rare species, and she was well known for being the strongest in history alone.”

The one who answered was Fear.

“Even the Dragons of the valley would be in joy if their Princess comes back home.”

“I’m not going to go home. ……I’m just going to drop in for a short visit. We will be leaving immediately after we finish our business there.”

The silver haired girl looked up the sky slowly.

The emotion that filled her emerald green eyes was that of sadness despite returning to her homeland, and it caused her to feel a strong sense of complication within her.

“The Valley of the Dragons. Never thought we would be going to a super famous sanctuary of all places. I’m getting nervous already……”

“It’s not a place with that much of a big deal. It just happens to have many of my kind.”

“I’m saying that for a human like me, a place inhabited by Dragons is a big deal.”

The unexplored area where all kinds of Dragons gathered to meet.

Such an enormous sanctuary didn’t even have a precise location on the world map either.

It was made that way to prevent any danger such as having newly formed party recklessly charge in and bring about the worst situation by enraging the Dragons. Only those who had made achievements worthy of receiving the location of Re Inferiel were given the authority to challenge the valley.

“Regarding that location, is it even okay for me to be told the precise location right here?”

“I will tell you as we walk. It’s going to be a long journey. We will go past through the Great Volcano of Galia and we would need to make a turn at the mountain range which is laid past it, so you should expect that we will be walking on foot for more than half a month. You will be travelling while practicing your sword skills hard during then.”

“Half a month? Hey, Kyelse, aren’t we going to use that old tomb?”

The one who said that was Elise who had been silent until now.

“A tomb……?”

“What are you spacing out for? It’s the ruin you told me about. Didn’t you say there was a shortcut Eleline used when he first came to the Valley of the Dragons? I haven’t passed through it myself, but isn’t it quicker to reach the valley by going through those ruins?”

“——Oh, that’s right! Now I remember!”

Kyelse who had been gazing at the sky for a while suddenly banged her hand together as if she just remembered.

“That ancient tomb. Yeah. I don’t know whether it’s still intact, but it’s worth the try.”

“Right, right! Let’s go! There’s this certain rumour regarding those ancient ruins which triggered my interest, so it had been on my mind for quite some time now!”

Kyelse and Elise nodded at each other.

“……Umm, so you two are saying that we will be going inside certain ruins on our way there?”

Ren crossed his arm on the spot as he gazed at the gesture the two girls were making.

''——The path to the Valley of the Dragons would take more than half a month if you take the normal route.''

''——But it seems like there was a route which happens to be a shortcut.''

“Alright. I will leave everything to you then. By the way, Kyelse. What is our main purpose for heading to the Valley of the Dragons?”

“There are two reasons.”

“The first reason is due to my mistake. I felt it during our fight with Achendia but I am too weak compared to three-hundred years ago. I can’t even compare myself from back then.”

“Y……You are?”

“Who do you think I am? There was no way that I, who am supposed to be the strongest and unbeatable, would have fallen behind to even one of the Five Great Disasters if I had been able to transform to my original form.”

The girl said it with her chest forward while wearing her cute swimsuit.

Kyelse made such gesture after Ren stood there silently.

“……Umm, this will be a basic question but what do you mean by your ‘original form’?”

“Obviously the form of a Dragon. I’m the Princess of Dragons so this human form exists to not frighten the humans.”

“Ah, I get it now.”

Kyelse had always taken the form of girl in front of him ever since their first meeting.

Ren obviously knew she was the Princess of Dragons but he still couldn’t believe her true form was that of a Dragon —— that would be his true feelings.


''“Splendid. As expected of the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of your full strength. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon'''?” ''


It was certainly the same during the battle against Achendia.

None other than Achendia herself asked Kyelse about her Dragon’s form.

“If my memory is right……you can’t transform back to your Dragon form because you were sealed while you were in your human form three-hundred years ago, right?”

“That’s how it is.”

In the past Kyelse used two spells which made it possible for her to transform into a human. That was what Ren was told by Kyelse.

Composition alteration —— to change her body into a “human girl” while maintaining the Dragon’s size.

Space compression —— to compress her size into a human size after composition alteration. 

So basically she turns into ‘a giant human Kyelse who has a size of a Dragon’ and then she changes her size into a human while controlling her height and weight.

However, according to Kyelse, these spells would limit the Dragon’s natural power on herself and hence suppress even the power which she was capable of using when she was in her Dragon form.

“My current form is in a state where the Dragon’s particles inside me are insufficient due to the seal from three-hundred years ago.”

Kyelse made a smirk as if she was laughing at herself.

“And the remaining Dragon’s power still remaining inside me is on sleep-mode. For that reason it made it harder for me to return to my Dragon form even if I wanted to. So our objective for heading to the valley is to awaken the Dragon’s particles sleeping inside me.”

“I understood until that part. By the way there’s one thing that's been bothering me so can I ask you a question?”

“What is it? You don’t have to be that formal.”

''Say it——.''

Ren then said it with a bit of a humble voice when the Dragon Princess urged him with her eyes.

“I was wondering if you would also become enormous when you return back to your original form. Well, like you know, one of the few real Dragons I ever saw was a Wyvern. So I’m curious to find out how a Princess of Dragons would look like.”

“……Well, that would be.”

“That would be?”

“A secret.”

Kyelse made a big smile right as she said that.

“Eh? I’m even more curious now. Don’t tell me you will turn into an insanely buffed up Dragon?”

“T-There’s no way I will! I am still a Princess who rules all the Dragons! My Dragon form would be beautiful beyond words and also elegant!”

The Princess of Dragons said that in a hurry so she spoke fast.

“……Cough. Anyway, if I did return to my Dragon form I would regain quite a bit of strength that I had lost. I said it before but in order to awaken the Dragon’s particles sleeping inside me, I would need to do a ritual in a place where it is the easiest to awaken the Dragon’s power. I would be returning there for that sake.”

“Hmm. It’s reassuring if you are going to regain your powers, Kyelse. Though you are strong enough already.”

“Look forward to it.”

The girl replied in satisfaction.

“And one more. We are not heading to the Valley of the Dragons just to regain my powers. There’s some information which concerns me even though we must find the Encore. This is the information I received from my kind who flew past the sky of the town of the blazing cliff. Ren, it’s that Dragon you saw as well.”

“Ah, that enormous Dragon. So he was an acquaintance of yours after all.”

It was last night. An enormous Dragon suddenly appeared in the sky of the town of the blazing cliff. When they thought it was just circling the sky, it gave a single loud roar which shook the atmosphere.

''……I thought it was an attack by a Dragon right after the Five Great Disaster. ''

''……Though it didn’t feel that way at all. ''

Ren could only describe it as being a roar. But what concerned him was that it went on for roughly one minute. Like words exchanged between humans——

“A Dragon’s language?”

“It would be right to think it that way. It’s not like we can exchange information by using a difficult language like human’s language. But the main point is that the Dragon said a party led by a certain human visited the Valley of the Dragons. By the way, majority of the parties that comes to the Valley of the Dragons are reckless fools so they are mostly chased out. Only a small portion of parties are permitted to enter the valley. This was a custom which was established during the time I was sealed. So I don’t know what is used as a base to determine whether parties can pass or not. However, for this case——”

Her fringe was wet due to the steam.

The Princess of Dragons removed the silver hair glued on her forehead quickly and continued to talk.

“Apparently a human named Shion visited the valley and was searching for something.”

“Do you mean '''that''' Sword Saint Shion!?”

Sword Saint Shion——

The highest rank swordsman whose fame would be equal to the Knight King Zelblight of the “Elmekia Dusk”.

And the party led by him was none other than the “Investigation of the Spirits”.

Despite only being made up of four members, each of the four members were either a swordsman or a spellcaster with the highest rank possible.

They had succeeded in investigating the many sanctuaries and unexplored areas throughout the world. They were also seen as the most prominent party to find the Encore.

“Sword Saint Shion…… He’s a young swordsman who is said to be the Eleline of this era. I have heard of his achievements many times during my stay at the same academy as Ren. It sounded like the achievements he made couldn’t be accomplished by mere luck. So I assume he’s quite formidable for a human.”

“I’ve also heard about him. I think I was told that he had once came to Underworld right after I reincarnated myself. Even my younger brother said he was an interesting fellow.”

Fear and Elise said that as if they just remembered.

''……Sword Saint Shion and his party who even has respect from the Archangel and the former Demon King.''

''……And he appeared in the Valley of the Dragons and was looking for something?''

Ren unconsciously put his hand on his forehead and was biting his lips at the spot.

“I wonder. What were they searching for and what their objectives were——”

“That’s also one of our objectives. I need to do a ritual at the valley in order to awaken my powers and we would get a clear answer if we ask those at the valley directly.”

Kyelse walked through the hot bath.

The girl rested her feet on the bedrock located at the corner of the bathtub and turned around to face him.

“We defeated Achendia and accomplished our mission here in the town of blazing cliff. So our next destination is the Valley of the Dragons. But we will just end up wasting our time if we walk through the roads. We will reach the Valley by taking the shortest route which is going through the ancient tomb. Ren, do not let your guard down!”

“I understand that. But Kyelse, there’s one thing I need to say to you.”

The girl had a serious face.

On the other hand Ren vaguely took a glance at Kyelse’s appearance and——

“If you say something like that while wearing a swimsuit, a cute white swimsuit with frills while at it, I can’t help myself from getting nervous instead……”

“I-It isn’t my fault! This was the only swimsuit with a size that matched me!”

The silver haired girl who turned red due to a combination of shyness and embarrassment turned her back at him to hide her body.

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