Vol. 3 - Ch. 123 - Katariona Heads out to Search for Clues about the Dog Spirit Komataro
The Falsely Executed Marquis’ Daughter Wants to Live Peacefully with Fluffy GodThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
They say that an ayakashi has recently appeared in a place called Yanzhou, two hundred kilometers west of the capital where the Lord of the Land resides.
The ayakashi are said to be like the monsters of the Kingdom of Findalia.
This monster demanded that a young girl be offered as a sacrifice or else it would destroy the land.
Of course, there was no way that we could agree to such a demand. The next night, a horrible-looking monster appeared and took away all the crops and livestock.
When the monster left, he said, "Next month, offer me a living sacrifice. However, do not reveal this to Komataro of Shinano."
"So I sent officials to look for Komataro as soon as possible, thinking he would be the key to exterminating the monster. But we discovered that Komataro was a dog spirit sent by the gods, but we have no idea where he is."
As a messenger of the gods, perhaps only those possessing great power can see him. I've heard that there are very few people in Hinoshima who are capable of using magic.
"I heard that an exchange student who can use magic arrived when we were in trouble. Isn't there something called 'detection magic'?"
" I have detection skills," I replied, "However, I have never met this dog spirit called Komataro, so it would be difficult."
I've never met this Komataro. So it'll be difficult to find him without knowing what kind of magic power Komataro has.
"Next month, the Hinoshima Confectionary Fair will be held. If you can find Komataro, I'll give you an all-you-can-eat pastry passport and a limited-edition pastry voucher as a reward."
"I'll do it!"
The ones who responded enthusiastically were Tojurou-san and Leon. Why are these two so susceptible to sweet things?
"The cat talked? Well, I guess its not surprising considering he's a cat from a magical land."
Despite his usual blank expression, Rokujou-sama cast a curious glance at Leon, the talking cat.
"Rokujou-sama, these people are our guests of honor. I don't think it's a good idea to impose our country's problems on them......"
"Even Sister Kiku would utilize someone if they were capable, wouldn't she? Doesn't it Kiku also give her seal of approval to the competence of those ladies?"
When Kikuno-sama tried to admonish him, Rokujo-sama flooded her with a flurry of questions. He's unexpectedly quite shrewd, isn't he?
"Their abilities are indeed quite impressive, but ....... I can't help but think ...... if anything were to happen to these people......."
"I'm here, so don't worry!"
"I'm here too!"
Caught up in the allure of sweets, Tojurou-san and Leon proudly puffed out their chests, resulting in a glare from Kikuno-sama.
"Where does your unfounded confidence come from? If something should happen, an 'I'm sorry I got injured,' won't cut it."
"Don't worry about that. Was it Komataro the Dog Spirit? I'd like to meet them."
I nodded my head in agreement with Chris.
"I appreciate Kikuno-sama's concern, but I will accept it at my own risk."
I want to meet a fluffy dog, and I'm interested in the confectionary fair.
"If that's what you both want, ....... Then I will be responsible for accompanying you."
"It's settled. Then, I'm counting on you all."
After Rokujo-sama left the room, we discussed the search for the spirit dog Komataro.
We decided that tomorrow we would gather information and as soon as we had a clue, we would go to the land of Shinano.
For the record, at the banquet set up for us, Tojurou-san's siblings called me "relative Yuri-chan" and were very affectionate.
The next day, in order to gather information, I came to the waterfall near the Lord's Palace with Tojurou-san and Leon.
Chris is working with Kikuno-sama.
"What information can you find here Tojurou-sensei?"
Normally, isn't information gathering supposed to be about searching for documents or asking around?
"There's someone here who may know a lot about that kind of thing."
He took a deep breath and shouted towards the waterfall.
"O--i! Old Man Ryu! I know you're here! Come out!"
After a moment, the waterfall pool rose up and something long and big came out in a flash.
"You don't have to shout to be heard! N? What's this? Is that Hikoshiro? You have returned."
A long, snake-like body with deformed limbs. And in his grip was a round pearl.
It resembles the features of the Dragon God of Hinoshima, which I learned about some time ago.
"I came back yesterday. Long time no see, Old Man Ryu. I'm glad to see you haven't dropped dead yet."
"Hmph! You are still a nasty little brat. I'm the Dragon God, I can't be killed by anything!"
The Dragon God turned his golden eyes to Leon and me. His vertical pupils, characteristic of reptiles, flared open.
"What is this? Is the cat a demon in disguise? But you have a pure air about you."
"Who's a demon! I'm a god like you. Don't be so rude!"
The dragon god's long torso twisted to look at Leon.
"M-! Are you a god of another country like Kikuno? How daring of you to trespass into the land of eight million gods."
"Wait, wait! Old Man Ryu, this guy didn't come here to invade. He's suppressing his divine energy, isn't he?"
Tojurou-san pacified the enraged Dragon God.
"...... I suppose so. There are gods of other nations who sometimes wage war against us, so we need to keep their energies in check."
"Hmph! I will do so without being instructed. You'll be in for a twist when I get serious."
Leon then turned his head away.
"What did you just say!?"
"Try it!"
The Dragon God versus the Forest God (cat). Right now, a fierce battle between gods from different countries is about to begin! I mean! It's not like that!
"Leon, stop!"
"Rio, don't stop me!"
"That was your fault, Leon. You're the one who said and did something that provoked Dragon God."
Leon was at a loss for words.
"You sure have some nerve admonishing the gods, girl."
The dragon god's voice descended from above. I curtseyed and decided to apologize.
"Please forgive Leon's rudeness, Dragon God. I apologize on behalf of Leon as a member of his genus."
"Hou. You are a member of this Cat God? What is your name?"
"My name is Katariona Yurie Grandeur."
"Grandeur? What? Where have I heard that before....."
The dragon god stroked his beard with the hand that wasn't holding the pearl.
"Oh-! I remember now. Two hundred years ago, there was a pair of sisters with that name who came here once."
Leon frowned.
"The sisters were named Marion and Fredericia?"
"Come to think of it, did they have names like that? It was the same name as this lady, ...... Yurie. They look very similar." "I knew it."
Leon let out a sigh.
"Leon, what do you mean? Have Marion-san and Fredericia-san visited Hinoshima before?"
"When they were about the same age as Rio, they disappeared for about a month."
Marion-san was thirteen years old, the same age as me, when she was playing with Fredericia-san and suddenly disappeared.
The whole territory searched for the two of them, but they could not find them, and a month later they came back safely.
Neither of them told us what had happened, so we didn't pursue the matter, thinking they must have had a rough time.
As Leon faced the Dragon God, he narrowed his eyes.
"Dragon God of Hinoshima. Tell me what happened to the two of them."
"There is a shrine behind the waterfall, from which the two girls came out. Here it is."
The dragon god pointed to the center of the waterfall.
"They said they were studying the Transfer Gate and came across this place."
"A 'transfer gate'? That's why he didn't want to talk about it. That makes sense."
The Dragon God told me.
While researching the Transfer Gate, Marion and Fredericia happened to come across this waterfall, which was connected to it. However, when they tried to leave, the magic circle's magic formula was broken, and they could not return.
Having come to the conclusion that they had no other option but to stay here until the magic circle was repaired, the two of them embarked on a life of survival that day.
"Those sisters were very courageous. While the elder sister was repairing the magic circle, the younger sister was fishing or hunting wild boar or deer in the mountains."
It seems that the Dragon God was quietly watching from inside the waterfall pit.
A month later, after they had successfully restored the transfer gate, they thanked the Dragon God and left.
That's when I realized something. 'Could it be that the gate is still connected to the former territory of the Marquis de Grandeur?' I thought.
"May I go and see the Transfer Gate?"
"No problem. There is a path that leads to the back of the waterfall."
I decided to go to the back of the waterfall.
The surface of the cliff was wet with water, and I felt like I would fall if I slipped. But the path was wide enough that I could make it.
When I reached the shrine, a magic circle of "transference magic" appeared.
"Is this ...... still working?"
I checked the magic circle and found that the point on the exit side was damaged. It's been two hundred years. No wonder. The old Marquis de Grandeur is now in ruins.
"The entrance is fine, but the magic circle at the exit is damaged, so I can't use it. However, if I can reconnect the points with the one I was using, maybe I can use it again?"
There is a transfer magic circle that I used when I carried the book out of Marion-san's space in the former Marquis of Grandeur territory. If I can connect the exit side with that point, this 'transfer gate' will regain its former function.
"Oi, oi! We came here today because we wanted to ask the Old Man Ryu something. You can deal with the transfer gate later."
"Ha-! That's right, that's right. So what is it that you want to ask me?"
We went out from the shrine to the front side of the waterfall again.
"Old Man Ryu! Have you ever heard of a spirit dog named Komataro in the Shinano region?
"What? I do not know the name, but I know of a god who has a strong spirit dog with him."
"That's it! Where is this god?"
South of Shinano lies Komane Shrine. The god of the shrine is called Kurikara.
—---- T/N: Ryu=Dragon God (title/name). In this context, I’ll only have Tojurou call him that to showcase their familiarity.
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TL: Ooh~ another dragon! Also, curious to know what Marion-san and her sis did in Hinoshima. Well, hope you enjoyed and happy reading! (≧◠ᴥ◠≦) + ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ❣💕