Let This Grieving Soul Retire (嘆きの亡霊は引退したい)

Kechachakka Munk, a member of the Emperor's guard,

judged as unsuspicious based on how incredibly suspicious he looked,

was actually just as suspicious as he appeared.

He was a member of the Fox.

He's safe.

What the hell is going on here?!

It's the Fox. There's no doubt about it.

I can't say it might be Sitri's fault.

Even under pain of torture.

Well then, how are they controlling the dragon?

When will this attack end?

Don't worry.

I'm sure it will end soon.

Sir!

Th-They're coming in incredible numbers!

Really?

Even for us, this might be too many.

Guess we've got no choice.

Puny human?

It's fine.

I have this.

It holds one of Lucia's powerful spells.

Aspiration Manifest! Wait...

I forgot to bring it.

It's no good...

I'm so relaxed, it doesn't even feel like I'm in danger.

They're coming, honestly!

Oh, this is really bad.

They must not be spoken.

They are the posthumous names of those who were cursed.

They must not be forgotten.

It's a sign that they will eventually rise up to be the strongest.

"Grieving Souls."

This is the heroic tale of Krai Andrey, the leader of the invincible party,

who fascinated both gods and demons

in an absolutely normal and mundane tale overflowing with love and peace.

Hey, puny human!

You! Why do you look so pleasantly relaxed?!

Hey!

"The Nine-Tailed Fox Wants to Move in the Shadows."

Episode 22

The Nine-Tailed Fox Wants to Move in the Shadows

Let This Grieving Soul Retire

Huh?

Is this a priestly barrier?!

I didn't know you were a priest, honestly!

I'm not.

The only person who could raise a barrier this powerful...

is Ansem.

Right!

Um...

That's...

an offensive spell with an enormous area of effect.

Counter Cascade, eh?

His skill is on the level of Abyssal Inferno.

Thank goodness.

Sheesh, talk about being late.

You!

Is this why you picked Counter Cascade?!

Huh?

No. I just believed in Telm...

and everyone else.

Why are you trying to act cool, honestly?

If you already knew, why didn't you say something earlier, honestly?

The Fox!

So this was their doing!

"Fox"?

But they seem different from before.

Is that an impostor?

You're saying they got away?!

I did sense that my attack connected, though.

Either way, puny human...

What did you mean earlier when you said they were an impostor, honestly?

An impostor?

Huh?

That's what he said when he saw that Fox earlier, honestly!

Do you know something?

Um, well... Did I even say that?

You!

How... dare... you... fool... around... honestly?!

Right now, keeping His Majesty safe is our highest priority.

We were lucky to have no casualties this time,

but if these kinds of attacks continue...

Your Majesty, Counter Cascade is right.

Continuing this journey is entirely too dangerous.

Father?

It can't be hel—

Just one moment.

You worm! You dare interrupt His Majesty?

It's fine.

Let us hear it.

If nothing else, Sitri was responsible for the frigid dragons.

If we go back now and all this stuff comes out, it'll be the worst.

Krai!

Come visit me, okay! Just eight times a week is enough!

...visit me ...sit me ...it me.

Sitri! Come back!

Back! Back! Back! Back!

I gotta do whatever it takes to keep her out of jail.

This is the time to push forward.

Are you serious?

A pack of frigid dragons is like a light jab.

Our forces right now are more than enough to face them.

We've got Telm here, too.

If we retreated now, it would be like admitting defeat to our enemies.

But the Fox is controlling the dragons!

No, there won't be any more dragons.

What?

Do you have any proof?

There won't be any more dragons, because no more dragons are coming!

I'm certain of it!

Absolutely certain!

No matter what anybody says!

No more dragons, period!

Full stop! End of story!

No means no!

I don't know where she's listening from,

but surely Sitri got the message.

Thousand Tricks.

I would never have expected him to...

be able to raise such a barrier!

But the real problem lies ahead.

Was that directed at me?

And what, he wants to continue the journey as is?

I suppose that's fine.

All I can do is dutifully follow my orders. The plan proceeds!

"No more dragons are coming," he says?

I guess he made that statement knowing how much mana this Rebellion Sphere consumes!

I'll show you!

You just say whatever comes to mind, don't you? Honestly!

It turns out frigid dragons aren't weak to fire after all.

Seriously, stop screwing around, honestly!

Just calm down...

And when the hell are you going to stop riding on my horse, honestly?

Go get on your own flying carpet, already! Honestly!

I hear you, but look.

Carpy won't let me ride him.

Take this seriously. Like when you made that barrier.

If you did that, even I would think more—

K-Kris!

Wh-Wh-What the hell do you think you're doing, honestly?!

Huh?

Carpy is...

Carpy is gone!

Who?

Stop running away from these weaklings!

There've been so many dragons.

Isn't this a bit too much?

Right.

I suspect this is the Fox's doing.

My guess is that they used some kinda relic. Just like they did with the frigid dragons.

The orcs,

goblins,

and others...

seem to be running from that land dragon.

Sweet, I'll cut them down!

Luke, only cut the dragon.

Not the monsters.

Huh? But why?

Krai said that no more dragons were coming.

Which means that the dragons are the only ones he no longer needs.

I see.

So leave the monsters alive and only cut the dragon.

That's good training.

I'm getting excited!

I summoned so many, so why are the dragons not coming?

I was ready to make Thousand Tricks eat his words.

H-He's not here?!

It's a pack of monsters!

It's huge!

There's orcs!

And goblins!

And other things!

Where are...

my dragons?!

There, there, there, there.

You're always causing such a stir.

What if something serious happened while we were gone, honestly?!

It'll be fine.

Whoa.

Oh, my.

Krai Andrey!

Well, looks like there weren't any casualties.

You bastard!

How and where did you—

Sir!

Later!

But... mumble mumble...

Hey.

Follow me.

This was done using high-level ice magic.

The lingering traces in the air suggest an enormous spell was cast, honestly.

This feels like Lucia.

She's so dependable.

Maybe this is because I said no more dragons would show up.

Even Sitri understood.

First, there was the attack yesterday,

and now we find another dragon.

What do you make of this, Thousand Tricks?

I wouldn't worry about it too much.