Chapter 181: Devised Decision, the Desert’s Dream

Translator Note:

Almost didn’t make it in time! This one was longer than usual. I will be going back to regular schedule. Every 3 days there will be a new chapter.

Also, I will be implementing a sponsored chapter system. The past release spree to thank donations was way too haphazard, so this one will be a lot more comfortable and actually reliable, lol. Sponsored chapters will be marked as so and will be released on Sundays.

With this, I can properly thank donators! Thank you for all your support everyone.

Enjoy the chapter!!


“Next time, I am looking forward to the discussion on setting up a stall.”

“I will think about it. I do consider Lily-sama as an important customer after all. Today I don’t see the hero-sama though. Well with this, I will be taking my leave. Thank you for inviting me.”

“I will believe in those words.” (Lily)

I return the greetings of Princess Lily who went through the trouble of seeing me off at the teleport formation, and announce my departure.

From what I have seen, I don’t feel like putting a store in the Empire, but I didn’t voice out my rejection.

After giving the egg of Lancer to Grount who was rampaging and had to calm down, I returned to the capital when evening had come.

I didn’t expect a superior dragon to get angry when touching the topic of age. Because you know, they are dragons that have been living for hundreds to thousands of years, and reincarnating. In essence, they live forever, so I thought they had lost the concept of age already.

Its blaze, roar, tail, and the magic that utilized the advantageous desert terrain; she rampaged quite a lot.

After I incapacitated her, I was finally able to speak with her.

I apologized to Grount-san once again, and when I spoke with her, I learned that she is actually a dragon with an age comparable to that of an adult woman.

When living for long, their personality stops changing at some point in time depending on the person, probably.

If things like Oba-san, or Oba-chan which are related to age are not mentioned, she is actually quite the gentle one.

Regarding my studying of the dragon society Root mentioned, I thought he was referring to the Sand Sea.

Its appearance was a mystifying white desert, and that sand must have drunk quite the amount of blood from people as well, so it is some kind of stage where the history of hyumans and dragons has developed.

The other superior dragons have kindreds or people that serve them, so Root probably intended to show me those kind of things.

I wasn’t the only one who thought that his actions were of bad taste; Grount was also angry at Root.

It is great that nothing serious happened.

By the time I returned to Ruinas it was already dark, but Tomoe and Shiki had finished packing and were waiting for me. And so, we were now returning just as planned.

Tomoe and Shiki who were mimicking me by lowering their heads, lift them up the moment I lift it as well.

Now then, let’s head back.

“When you have any business, please contact Rotsgard. If there’s something our side can prepare for you, we will happily do so.” (Makoto)

“Please do give us a call. Well then, take care in your journey.” (Lily)

I couldn’t see any expectation from Princess Lily’s face.

I think she had some sort of reason when she had me meet the hero, but…Tomoki is not here right now. I just can’t read the actions of Gritonia.

They probably have some sort of complicated objective that isn’t related to defeating the demon race in the war.

When that time comes, it will be made clear.

At the very least, I slightly understand how the Empire views us, so the standing I will be taking has been decided.

In that point, I think it is a high plus for me in coming to the Empire.

Enveloped by the teleportation light, the scenery changes.

Let’s quickly move and leave Robin. If we do that, we can return to Asora without worries.

When we return to Rotsgard, next will be the place of the Demon Lord-sama huh.

I will be going to Kaleneon for a bit and meet with Rona, was it.

Tomoe knows the meeting point.

Talk about Kaleneon will definitely come, so it seems I will have to put that into order as well.

For me, that’s a desirable outcome.

Anyways, it was a tiring visit to the Empire.

I want to quickly go back and sleep.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“I see. In that case, you don’t know what business Raidou had in going to the Sand Sea, right?”

“Sorry. He traversed through the desert at a baffling speed, so I was unable to follow him…” (Ginebia)

“I don’t think Grount will do anything, but the connections of Falz are really a mystery. To think that he is acquainted with a superior dragon. He told me that he had some business in the Sand Sea, so let Raidou do as he wishes, but for him to take such actions was outside my expectations. I have been one-upped.”

Receiving a report that the Kuzunoha Company had begun their teleportation, Lily called Ginebia to her room and asked about the details of the situation.

Even so, she only added a bit of information on top of what she had already reported when she returned. So the gist of it didn’t change much.

She lost Raidou at the desert and doesn’t know what he did after.

At the long distance, a loud sound rang out but it soon calmed down, and Raidou returned after a few hours.

Just in case, they are already trying to make contact with Grount and confirming her safety.

It was an abnormal situation.

“Tomoe and Shiki; those two followers of his were also lost from sight near the castle. The other party was not Limia or a demon race but a company, and yet, they really played us good.” (Lily)

“… Lily-sama, what do you think of them?” (Ginebia)

“The Kuzunoha Company? Right… they are an unknown factor. A bunch that I can’t tell whether they are allies or enemies. Regarding Raidou, from what Tomoki-sama says, he is a Japanese; in other words, an otherworlder.” (Lily)

“An otherworlder?! T-Then, is that person also a hero like Tomoki-sama?!” (Ginebia)

Ginebia was chanting her disbelief with an expression that didn’t hide her shock.

“It’s not sure. Tomoki-sama and Limia’s hero Hibiki appeared after receiving an oracle from the Goddess. But there have been several number of otherworlders that were not the case as well.” (Lily)

“This is the first I have heard of this. To think that there were people like that.” (Ginebia)

“Lorel has been hiding them from the foreign countries after all. It seems like they have taken in their customs you know? Have you heard about the Wise?” (Lily)

“Wise? If I remember correctly, it is a special rank in Lorel for people that possess special knowledge.” (Ginebia)

“Is how the foreign countries take it. In reality, it is Lorel giving special privileges to the otherworlders. That’s a Wise. Right now there’s not a single one, but there have been descendants from them, and that special knowledge is made as knowledge unique of that country.” (Lily)

“…”

“Anyways, Ginebia, good work today. You can leave now. Get a good rest.” (Lily)

“Understood… Excuse—” (Ginebia)

“Ah, you can’t go to Tomoki-sama’s place today either, got it? Please let him be alone for now.” (Lily)

“?!! U-Understood.” (Ginebia)

Seeing off Ginebia, the smile of Lily’s face was erased.

She was able to call Raidou and central people of the company to the Empire, but the objective they were aiming for was practically a blank.

For her, this is not a pleasant result.

Lily didn’t think that with just this conversation she would be able to take in Kuzunoha Company. But even so, she wanted to get information about them, and if possible, she wanted to attract at least one store from Kuzunoha Company into their Empire.

If she could make them place a store, they would be able to analyze the products, and it would make it easier to make contact with them.

To go to Rotsgard every time there’s business is something not that desirable for Lily. Also, currently the chances are low, but if Raidou closes the store in Rotsgard, they would have to go to Tsige which is an outrageously remote region.

They may pick up when contacting them, but it is certain that it will be inconvenient.

(The most that was accomplished was… Tomoki meeting with Raidou huh. In that point, it resulted just as planned, and the part about Raidou being an otherworlder was unexpected, but a favorable result. Otherworlder. Even so, I don’t feel the power of the Goddess from Raidou. It might be related to why he is not a hero.) (Lily)

In this occasion, Lily learned that Raidou was an otherworlder, a Japanese.

That forced deduction of Tomoki that was almost like a false accusation was easily proved right by Raidou himself.

(An unsightly appearance uncharacteristic of hyumans, and he is not a demi-human. Tomoki probably said this haphazardly with this as basis, and yet… I see, that his close aides were not flustered by this, it is possible that this may be a lie. It is certainly true that there’s few plusses in revealing his own background at that moment. Tomoe and Shiki have quite the sharp minds after all. But…is there a merit in lying about being Japanese? If his relationship with Tomoki is just as I predicted, then it is safe to assume that Raidou has no will to be taken into the Empire.) (Lily)

“Fuh…”

A small breath leaked out from Lily’s mouth.

Walking, she had left her room, and was now heading to the room of Tomoki.

After the talk with Raidou, Tomoki had shut into his room and was alone without even taking his meals.

Because he himself wished to do so, his party members were unable to enter, and Lily also prohibited it.

(First I have to confirm with Tomoki huh. And with that, I will know what Raidou did. I might also be able to tell the depth of his power.) (Lily)

*Knock* *knock*

After a gentle knock, Lily confirmed that there was no reaction.

“… Tomoki-sama, it is Lily. The Kuzunoha Company has left. Please tell me about what happened the other day.” (Lily)

“Lily, right now I can’t meet you. Please let me stay alone for a bit, just a bit more.” (Tomoki)

A weak voice.

“Just what in the world happened? They are guests I invited. If Raidou did something, that is my sin as well. Tomoki-sama, I implore you, please let me into the room.” (Lily)

After that, Lily flattered Tomoki and thoroughly comforted him.

That state of self-depreciation from Tomoki is a state that Lily is familiar in dealing with.

After a while passed, the door that silently opened was proof of her expertise.

“… Please enter, Lily.” (Tomoki)

“Tomoki-sama… just what in the world happened? Being this depressed!” (Lily)

Changing her Noh mask expression into one on the verge of crying, Lily shows Tomoki worry with her whole body.

Entering the room, Lily sits beside Tomoki who is sitting at the bed. She kindly listened to the story between Raidou and Tomoki while giving signs of comprehension.

Being attacked by surprise, he tried to fight back, but being unable to, he received his threats and violence, is what Tomoki said. That he was unable to obtain Tomoe.

(Tomoki says this. In that case, not only did the valkyries not pose any threat, Tomoki himself was completely defeated by Raidou. The attack that made Sofia retreat can’t be used indoors, and his combat equipment was at its minimum at that moment, so it can be one of the reasons. Just that, Raidou himself didn’t seem to have anything resembling a weapon. Maybe he is a magician, or it might be that he has trained as a warrior. From what I hear of Tomoki, it might be reasonable to consider that it can be both of them. A magician with a trained body huh. A troublesome type. Also, even if he wasn’t at his best, to be able to overwhelm Tomoki, he is a more troublesome existence than I originally thought.) (Lily)

Lily analyzes Raidou from the story of Tomoki while chipping off the dramatized parts.

Contrary to her action of holding Tomoki’s hand gently, her mind was cold and composed.

(Adding to that, he has Tomoe, Shiki and Mio. His three close aides have out-of-boundaries strength. If only they had the thought of slaughtering the demon race, it is at a level that I would want to abandon this thing and change it for him. Is it because my patronage is weak? No, that’s not it. I don’t think that Hibiki will move according to my plans at all, and looking at Raidou’s behavior towards demi-humans, my hopes of pulling him in are thin. Doing war is actually the best situation. Because we can go around killing without any hesitation after all.) (Lily)

Lily was thinking about pulling in Hibiki or Raidou, but she soon erased that thought from her mind.

Even if it’s possible, it would still be an hindrance in her own plans.

“Tomoki-sama, Raidou is the owner of frightening power, right? What should we do? Should we try pulling him into being our comrade? If Tomoki-sama so wishes, I…” (Lily)

“That guy Makoto… are you telling me to lower my head to him?” (Tomoki)

“… It is only for your sake, Tomoki-sama. If he turns into an enemy, it might turn everything into a mess. If it is okay, Ginebia, Yukinatsu, Mora, and I can endure a bit of the burden.” (Lily)

She doesn’t know if Raidou wishes for women.

No, since he directly spoke with Tomoki, she understood that the chances of that are low.

If she were to think about it calmly.

“Lily…” (Tomoki)

“Also, if we bring Kuzunoha Company to our side, as a result, Tomoe will be brought to our side as well. It will also grant your wish.” (Lily)

“Tomoe!” (Tomoki)

“Yes. Then, I will quickly send a subordinate to—” (Lily)

“You can’t!!” (Tomoki)

Tomoki shouts at Lily who was about to stand up.

“Tomoki-sama?” (Lily)

(Right. There’s no way you would be able to stomach something like that. As a hero, you wouldn’t be able to stomach the existence of Raidou. If it’s Hibiki, it would be possible to do it with a smile though.) (Lily)

Lily laughs from within.

Tomoki who can’t stomach having someone above him, would never be able to allow Raidou to ‘come’ to the Empire.

Then, what should she do?

That’s Lily’s objective.

Using Raidou, she will lead Tomoki into reaching a decision he once hesitated to take.

For the current Tomoki, this will probably look like the web of a spider suspending in hell, is what Lily imagines.

And that image was not that far from the truth.

“I don’t need someone like that. I am a hero. I will bring down the demons and the Demon Lord; an existence that reigns over the world. It doesn’t matter if he is Japanese as well. Like hell I will rely on that guy.” (Tomoki)

The hero’s duty-or at least that’s the title the Goddess has given to them-was to defeat the demon race, that’s all.

The last part about reigning was something that Lily had taken her time to imprint in Tomoki’s mind.

“… But he is strong. At this rate, he might become an obstacle.” (Lily)

After this, she only needs to slowly lead him into it.

Lily was calmly leading him into a decision.

“Then I just have to get stronger. Right, there’s no need to hesitate huh. That’s all there’s to it.” (Tomoki)

“No way. Tomoki-sama is even using that power that chips away your very life to fight against the demon race. Just what other kind of power are you aiming to have in that body of yours?” (Lily)

The new power that Tomoki obtained.

Lily heard that this is a powerful magic that can defeat in one hit the person considered the peak of this world, the Dragon Slayer.

It has quite a large range, and without any decay in strength, it activates at its highest output; a shining flame. Moreover, if by chance the target survives, it will inflict a special poison. In a war, it is a power that is scarily effective.

It has the price of chipping off Tomoki’s life, so it is something that can’t be abused, but Lily is sure that he would be able to use it without hesitating when in need.

For Lily, this new power of Tomoki gave her incredible joy. But because of this reason, she was troubled by the possibility of Tomoki obtaining a new power. No, accurately speaking, she was scared of the risk that comes from the acquisition of a new power.

He has obtained a spell that shaves off his own life, so she is most likely scared of the possibility of gaining another power that might affect his life.

“Lily, about what you said before leaving to Rotsgard, you can still prepare it, right?” (Tomoki)

“… Tomoki-sama, that’s poisonous to the body. It is something involved with the Empire’s research team that does body modification to go against the demon race. I think that there’s no need for Tomoki-sama now that you have obtained such a splendid power.” (Lily)

“No. In the end, even my charm was useless with Tomoe. But… if it’s not enough, I just need to increase it. She is a dragon. Then if I get a dragon element in me like Mora and make it one with my power, I will be able to obtain a charm power that even she can’t go against! Also, if I obtain the aptitude for more powers, it will also affect my attack power. Any elements that will make me stronger, place them all in me!” (Tomoki)

“Tomoki-sama, you can’t! Even if you defeat the demon race, what would be the point if you don’t have life remaining by the time you will reign? Please take care of your life.” (Lily)

“… I will win. At the war and everything else. If it doesn’t end in my complete win, there’s no point. I don’t want to live by lying to myself anymore. I…will do whatever I wish and live without any regrets! I will crush Raidou and the demon race. I will make Tomoe mine. Like hell I will give up!! Lily, if you are not going to cooperate, I will do that method even if it’s without you. I will definitely reach it!!” (Tomoki)

The eyes of Tomoki were filled with a dangerous light.

“For you to be…this cornered…” (Lily)

Lily faces away and trembles as if overcome with emotion.

“Please. I know it is conceited of me after rejecting it once already, BUT please lend me your strength! I wish for power. This is the first time I have tried so hard. I don’t want to give up!!” (Tomoki)

“…”

“Lily!” (Tomoki)

“Under…stood. Please rest for today. I will do the preparations.” (Lily)

“Thanks! Thanks, Lily!” (Tomoki)

“If you feel anything out of order in your body, definitely tell me please. Okay?” (Lily)

“Got it. I will show you that I can definitely bring victory to the Empire!!” (Tomoki)

“I will be waiting for that day with my whole heart. Well then, please rest Tomoki-sama.” (Lily)

Receiving the words of Tomoki with her back, the princess that had an expression as if resolving herself to a heavy decision, turned around and lowered her head.

A while after she left his room, Lily returns to her own room with her grave expression still plastered on her face as she walks the corridor.

The state of the princess that showed it was not a trivial matter had spread through the castle, and it created several speculations.

And then, when she returned to her own room which she had security increased around, and threw herself to her canopy bed facing up.

Covering her eyes with her right arm, her mouth crooked into a smile.

“Kufufufu… ahahaha!! Just how gullible can he be?! Even if we win the war, Tomoki has already lost his peace and his time for enjoyment. Good job cutting his last remnant of hesitation. Raidou, thank you. If I just bring out your name, the Tomoki from now on will thoroughly desire power. You have done at least this much, ufufu.” (Lily)

The monologue of the laughing princess continued.

More power to Tomoki.

More pain to the demon race.

A big fire will fall upon this time of war.

As if charmed by Tomoki- no- charmed by war, the princess repeats her crazed laughter.

“… Really, an ideal hero. We were really destined to meet each other, Tomoki. It is not Raidou or Hibiki but you who will be the hero that grants my wish. That’s how it is… that’s how it is, right Goddess?” (Lily)

Just once, she whispered coldly with blank eyes as she gazes at the distance.

After that, she continued her loud laughter for a while, and in time, she had gone to sleep.

◇◆◇◆ Makoto’s Dream ◇◆◇◆

<Two Makotos will be showing up. But you are already acquainted with this anyways.>

Uhmm…

A desert huh.

I certainly did go to a desert today.

Returning to Asora with Tomoe and Shiki, I received a report about the Empire’s hyuman body experimentation and its use in war, information about the Valkyries, and also about the research of guns.  

I did ask them to investigate the atmosphere of the city, but the two of them really did get quite the deep information there.

There was one point that was in my mind.

The guns.

Princess Lily who had heard about this concept from Tomoki was zeal in recreating them.

Just that she was unable to solve the problem of spontaneous discharges and its size. In the end, the result was that they were able to recreate a handgun and rifle that Tomoki knows of,  which requires a high amount of magic power. It couldn’t properly shoot a metallic bullet.

If we take it from a different perspective, a somewhat skillful magician would be able to utilize this weapon for self-protection.

The cost doesn’t match its performance and its usage in real scenarios is still low. Or more like, it just turned in a rare weapon.

Tomoe said that there’s practically nothing to expect from its combat performance in the future.

From the victims of the spontaneous discharges, she set her sight on gunpowder and has changed her plan into utilizing them as bombs and its utilization.

In this world they can use magic power to increase its power, but it is a tool that can be used even by normal soldiers and civilians. At the current state, it is actually taking form.

She is truly tenacious.

Explosives and hyumans.

I don’t think that’s a good combination.

If you ask me which one I think is more dangerous between guns and explosives, it’s something I can’t judge yet.

But well, this is just my impression from the report I received about the Empire.

—-

Right now, I am looking at a desert.

It is not the white sand sea.

I was sleeping at Asora after all.

I see.

In other words, this is a dream huh.

This time it is a quarter-view huh. How complex.

“Even in this world, the moon of the desert is beautiful. What do you think?”

A voice.

Low and masculine.

It sounded like the voice of a man at the prime of his life.

“Hah… is that something you should say at this moment, Makoto?”

Makoto?

Does that mean, it is me?

?!!!!

Eeeeh?!

When I follow the voice and look, there were two shadows at the desert’s night.

“Is it because it doesn’t compare to the one of the White Desert? It is sad to say but, I haven’t gone to the deserts of Earth. It is certainly true that someone like me shouldn’t be saying this huh.” (Manly Makoto(lol))

… A beard.

My wording of ‘boku’ has turned into ‘ore’, and I have a beard.

This… just who is this Raidou-san?

“Are you an idiot? This is a desert you created yourself. That’s why I am telling you what in the world you are saying.”

“No matter who has created it, a desert is a desert, right? Tomoki.” (Makotwo)

Tomoki.

Ah, certainly.

It is Tomoki.

There’s plenty resemblance.

Yeah.

“You go talking about people being crazy, but you know, you are the one that is the craziest. Would you normally go changing a country into a desert? And with only one hit of a magic spell.” (Tomoki)

“Tomoki, didn’t you also use a spell that copies nuclear bombs? I think that’s also inhumane you know. It is plenty into the madness territory.” (Makotwo)

“Don’t put me in your same level. Mine has a demerit of shaving my own life, and I use it with the objective of instilling fear in my opponents. If they surrender with that one attack, it is possible to avoid needless deaths in the war.” (Tomoki)

“…That’s your way of putting it. That power of yours was unnecessarily accelerated by the madness of Lily. And that…has made it impossible to return everything to how it originally was.” (Makotwo)

Things about nukes and creating deserts, what a dangerous conversation.

It was like that at the last dream where senpai appeared, but these dreams are way too violent.

I…do I have a dangerous ideology?

Maybe I just haven’t noticed it yet. Am I tired?

“Can’t return? Hyumans had to destroy the demon race. Because Hibiki died an early death, the weight of it all came onto Gritonia. If you are wailing about the acceleration of the war, go blaming that incompetent Hibiki.” (Tomoki)

“Senpai huh. That person too, if you or I were to go help her, there was a chance she would have been saved. We could have avoided her dying helplessly against Io.” (Makotwo)

“Stop the ‘if’ talk. At that time, we had to increase the defense of our own country. This was Lily’s decision as well. Also, don’t go assuming things. If I hadn’t picked your dying self from the border of the world, you wouldn’t even be existing right now, you know?” (Tomoki)

“You really bring out quite the old talk. About that case, I am actually grateful you know. Travelling through that desert for more than one week, I who was prepared for death, was given shelter by you guys. Looking back, I might have been happier if I just died at that time though.” (Makotwo)

“Keh. And yet, you did quite the big thing. What’s with this? Is this how you repay your benefactors?!” (Tomoki)

“It’s not like I went against your orders, right? This was Lily’s will. That’s why I haven’t gone against you until now. That’s if you didn’t give me any orders that would bring me harm, that is.” (Makotwo)

“… ‘Obtain Lorel’, is what I told you though?” (Tomoki)

“That’s why, I accomplished such an order that makes one question the sanity of it, and obtained it, right? This is Lorel. Do whatever you want with it. The people, history, knowledge; everything into dust. No, I turned it into sand, but this is without doubt Lorel Union.” (Makotwo)

“What happened to the Valkyries that were with you?” (Tomoki)

“Sadly, they became sacrifices.” (Makotwo)

“So you killed them?” (Tomoki)

“What a bad accusation. They were just dragged into the plan and died, that’s all.” (Makotwo)

I-Incredible.

From their conversation just now, this desert is all Lorel Union?

And this is something I did with some sort of magic spell?

That me in the other dream clearly used Sakai in a different way than me. No, even if I say that the person there was me, it still feels incredibly weird.

“What about Yukinatsu who infiltrated first?” (Tomoki)

“Who knows. If she escaped, she should be somewhere; if she couldn’t escape, she died. In wars, people die. Enemies and allies alike.” (Makotwo)

“Even so, there’s no war where it is fine for allies to shoot the back of allies.” (Tomoki)

“Hoh… These are not the words I expected to hear from the man that killed all the emperor candidates and the parties that supported them, and turned into the next emperor.” (Makotwo)

“The emperor candidates and the ones following them were the minority though!” (Tomoki)

“You had already charmed almost all the other people after all. The people that remained were the loyal retainers that weren’t bewildered by it. That charm of yours won’t make what you did right.” (Makotwo)

“… The citizens, bureaucrats, and the army as well; they were wishing for my enthronement.” (Tomoki)

“That’s also the charm. I don’t know why you made me increase the power of that charm and why you depended on it.” (Makotwo)

“… What did you say?” (Tomoki)

Uh.

What this me just said… I actually think the same way.

Why is this guy so stuck into charm?

This may be a dream, but the Tomoki that I met at the Empire was also dependant on it and seemed to be using it frequently.

“Instilling others to have a good opinion of you. That means you are dyeing others into your own colors.” (Makotwo)

“And what about it? What’s wrong with it? Using one’s own charm as weapon is not really something strange.” (Tomoki)

“This is not charm, you are charming them. To plant your own will into others. Putting it in another way, you are just mass producing people that follow your own image. Forcefully instilling deep affection into the minds of others, you make them your slaves. Someone narcissistic like you probably doesn’t pay it any mind, but from my point of view, this is not mutual understanding but masturbation.” (Makotwo)

“Y-You!!” (Tomoki)

“I won’t say that Hibiki-senpai’s charisma is any different from your charm. If I had to talk about personal relationships, the two are practically the same after all. But you grew too dependant of it. As a result, in the Empire there’s only you and your puppets. It became a country of zombies.” (Makotwo)

“Shut up…If I didn’t do that, people like you and Hibiki would be sprouting everywhere!!” (Tomoki)

“So you don’t need people that go against your will huh. I see. My olden question has been answered.” (Makotwo)

“… Talking all high-and-mighty. Then what about you? Lily, she was also one of my slaves. The first woman I turned into a slave. And you who were attached to her and turned a country into sand, what about you? Try saying something!” (Tomoki)

I-Is this a flow where I am in love with Princess Lily?

No, this me?

What a fantasy-filled development.

“Lily was not caught in your charm at all. Even in her dying breath.” (Makotwo)

“… What?” (Tomoki)

“She was only using your power. In the time of the Goddess’ silence, Lily had lost her mother. Unable to eliminate that sadness, unable to accept that reality, she had lived in the political world just like that. Those warped feelings must have made her view the existence of a hero as amusing. The Goddess that goes silent or saves hyumans at a whim, the Goddess that didn’t save her parents. A hero that was given so late. That’s you, Tomoki. Lily was wringing you, using you to slaughter the demon race, and then was trying to turn a mess of the Empire that let her parents die. No, in essence, it was fulfilled huh.” (Makotwo)

“Wring me out? Lily was? You… Makoto, what in the hell are you saying?” (Tomoki)

“If I had met Lily, if I had met her earlier than you, it might not have led her into such a road of madness and sadness. A stupid decision from indecisiveness that led to her death. I can’t lament it enough.” (Makotwo)

“So you go venting on me huh. In the end, you are just getting chained by the past, and completely ignoring the present and the future it will bring!! If you had such power, you would have been able to finish the war a lot more simply. Something like Lily, if you didn’t mind used goods, I wouldn’t have minded giving her to you if you just grovelled.” (Tomoki)

“… Can’t be helped. The moment I noticed my power was when I killed the Demon Lord after all.” (Makotwo)

“…Ah?” (Tomoki)

!!!

Killed the Demon Lord?!

I don’t think this way.

I don’t hold any affection for the princess, and I don’t have any intentions of killing the Demon Lord.

I am not thinking about any of these at all!!

Princess Lily is indeed an older and beautiful girl, and is slightly to my taste but!

“At that moment, I craved power for the first time. While you were pathetically lying down on the floor. The awakening that resulted from this, was neither a grateful thing nor a good timing at all. Because it was already all too late. Just like what you said, I am venting on you, and while at it, picking a fight on that trash Goddess. That’s the only thing I could think of.” (Makotwo)

“The Demon Lord…was killed by me with that spell…” (Tomoki)

“You only made the Demon Lord get serious. While you were comfortably sleeping, I killed them. The Demon Lord, and the demon race as well. And, I will be killing you now.” (Makotwo)

“What are you saying…” (Tomoki)

“If I do that, the Goddess will also come out. If she doesn’t, I will just have to create one or two more deserts. It is like increasing the size of the World’s Border. I wonder how long will that Goddess stay silent for. Looking forward to seeing that.” (Makotwo)

“This world finally finished its battle you know?! Isn’t it natural to create peace from now on?! You, did you go completely insane?!” (Tomoki)

“Having peace after a war, who decided that? Once war is over, another war will occur. Those kind of cases happen too.” (Makotwo)

“…Seriously, I shouldn’t have saved you at that time. Understood, I will be bringing you to hell here. Let me tell you, your spell won’t work on me. It will be one sided, but don’t complain.” (Tomoki)

“While it is night, right? Your immortality is also a power that the Goddess gave you. I don’t care. I will be killing you until morning. Go to the netherworld as the sun rises.” (Makotwo)

Hey hey hey, is it turning into a fight?

But how will this me be fighting? I have a slight interest in it.

Because he has an attack that can create a desert.

Also, I am interested in the sword he has in his hand.

I don’t have any knowledge in swords. But does this me have? If he does, just what kind of sword style will he swing with?

I want to see.

I want to overwatch this.

The previous dream had ended in the middle but this time…

Eh.

What.

My vision is fading.

The two fighting are growing distant.

A change of vision as if being lifted up.

The desert steadily shows a full picture. Ah…

“… Damn it, as expected, a dream. It is a dream I don’t see at the Empire or at Rotsgard though.” (Makoto)

I silently open my eyes in my sleeping face-up position.

“But I had turned into quite the stern-looking old man. He was even saying ‘ore’. As usual, Tomoe and the others were nowhere in sight.” (Makoto)

Also, I was in the wastelands for more than one week, was it?

If I were to totter that much, I certainly could die.

That time I was thrown into the borders, depending on where I stepped into, I might have ended up that way as well.

My back feels chilly just thinking about it.

“Since making archery a habit in Asora, this happened. I know that this is not a precognitive dream, but it leaves a bad aftertaste.” (Makoto)

I can’t go back to sleep, so while thinking that using the bow might not be a bad idea, I was somehow able to get up but couldn’t get in the mood.

I forcefully wrap myself in my blanket and closed my eyes to the dream funnel.

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482 thoughts on “Chapter 181: Devised Decision, the Desert’s Dream

  1. YOOOOOOOSH! FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH YOU GODDAMN BASTARDS! 181 CHAPTERS IN FIVE DAYS IS FUCKIN NO PROBLEM FOR ME BITCHEEEEEEEES!!! I can finally comment and have it mean something!

    1. What? 5 days? I caught up in 2 days though. Well it was at chapter 150 to 160 or so during the school teacher ark. Its pretty easy as hell to catch up if you dont have anything to do and juat read your way through it all.

    1. How…DARE you!? What kind of sick depraved scum would spoil such things for other people just for kicks?
      I hope you’re happy with yourself, because probably everyone else is ashamed to even have ever spoken to you.
      You’d better learn what a terrible offense this is and not spoil the chapter that comes after 182!

  2. Paralel time lines based on choices he could make in the past? He fell for Lili there? Seriously?
    Hmm… still he said she is his type… I wonder how Mio would react to that… Also it is obvious that it is a parallel time line, he didn’t know just how strong he was in that line untill he faced the demon lord

    On a side note, his dreams are giving him the Empire’s side of the background, if only he noticed that instead of wanting to watch the kinds of attacks the He over there can use

    1. Well in this we could say He fell in love with lilly because she was not affected by charm and it seems lilly was also in love with him. As he said things that even tomoki does’nt know.
      In this time he did not met Ema and the orcs, He met the empire instead and well shit happens i guess the rest of the story is above this sentence.

  3. thank you Rei-san!! we love you so much omg.

    anyway, what makes this translation special is not only rei san but also the comments. <3

  4. Thank you for the chapter.
    Also, it seems that the parallels are coming to fruition already. While the first dream was negligible, I really hope he does something with the information from this recent dream. I may be alone with this one, but I want him to save Lily from this self-destruction, and Grittonia and Tomo as well. If he talks about her past next time they meet, if she doesn’t die before then, I feel that possibly, along with the cure and resistance against the charm, his fight against the goddess will be much more than just Kuzonoha and friends. Well, that’s just my thoughts anyway.

  5. Ok this has nothing to do with this chapter but I just read one of the extras in spanish, and I want to make sure I understood rigth, it is true what happened with Makoto mother and the demon guy before Makoto parents came to earth. The father actually was able to reconcile with her???

      1. In fact I don´t, I mean YES NTR is my guilty pleasure I hate the rush that stuff gives me. But well it just that it irks a little I always have the same problem with that situation, but it served the purpose to see a new side of the Goddes and its interesting how that information will play in the future.

  6. creo que los sueños no son premonitorios creo que son un modo de mensajes ocultos de lo que esta pasando ya que haste que el sueño paso makoto no sabia de la habilidad de tomoki de ser inmortal a la nocho lo unico que sabia por el lado de tomoe era el encanto ademas el quiere engatuzar a tomoe y va a ser imposible porque tomoe esta bajo un contrato con makoto solo makoto la puede liberar jajaja

  7. Dayum him seeing his alternative version is nice, i wonder how his others versions will be.
    Still shitty fake hero kun is still shitty even in others timelines xD
    In truly need to die. I hope it’s possible to save Lily in a way too.
    Maybe Makoto will create the better timeline this time (one where shitoki dies).

    1. the boat gon3 but i wil just rambling.

      ah so this dream vision is the “gift” from the god?(susanoo & daikouten)(?)

      kuh and princesess lily too bad it is really too bad she meet tomoki before mc, if not both of them will have an easy development (ex: expanding company for mc and training soul, body and mind in preparation for facing goddess for lily) toward their “target” “poking goddess(bug)

  8. With these 2 dream chapter, we now know that Ema is the real heroine!

    Without Ema, Makoto won’t met Shen, Black Calamity, Lich, and Asora never exist, the basic requirement of he being himself.

    On the first dream, Makoto managed to survive by himself on the wasteland, making him the ‘calamity that hate the goddess’. The black knight still live because he never met Raidou, thus, not one of the mutant.

    2nd dream is where he go empire route from the beginning.

    Demi-human/Mamono path is the true route!

  9. this must be what shiva and susanoo did to makoto lol. gave him the ability to see the parallel worlds. pretty fucked up but at the same time gives him insider information that no one would know. like lily’s madness, tomokis nuke power and other shit like that.

  10. Power to dream of parallel universes? Is that the gift left by Susanoo and Shiva? Impressive… but will Makoto ever realize it or will he continue thinking that these are just random and ominous dreams?

  11. Makoto is doing a good job getting on my nerves, he experiences vivid dream unlike normal ones repeatedly and still doesn’t pay attention to its details which answer a lot of his questions, really a perfect retardios …and he’s a LOT cooler in his dreams too

  12. Wow the author got me good with this chapter huh

    I will have to confess that I low key ship Makoto and Lily cuz I saw their potential and the tragedy of it, never thought that the author would do it too even if it in parallel world and as expected, it’s a tragedy lol

  13. Makoto don’t need to see more of that dream, that’s a failure, a Makoto who already awoke, who traveled a different path that reached to a bad end, this Makoto have a myriad of possibilities, friends, subordinates and family that support him, the influence of a failure is just a hindrance.

  14. These dreams must be remnants of the parallel dimensions the 3 gods destroyed. Maybe that’s one of the powers he received from them?

    Dunno how long it will take him to notice that they aren’t just ordinary dreams.

  15. Either Makoto is dreaming of the possible worlds that could of happened that the gods cleaned up or he’s dreaming of the future.

  16. Nai-wa …. Hoping Makoto to learn something from Alternate Universe dream is a wishfull thinking for now …. it takes series of rude awakening to made him realize it’s importance(As shown in previous chapters) …. by the time he begin to start learn from AU dreams, there might be casualities already.

  17. “She was only using your power. In the time of the Goddess’ silence, Lily had lost her mother. Unable to eliminate that sadness, unable to accept that reality, she had lived in the political world just like that. Those warped feelings must have made her view the existence of a hero as amusing. The Goddess that goes silent or saves hyumans at a whim, the Goddess that didn’t save her parents. A hero that was given so late. That’s you, Tomoki. Lily was wringing you, using you to slaughter the demon race, and then was trying to turn a mess of the Empire that let her parents die. No, in essence, it was fulfilled huh.” (Makotwo)

    She is the only one I feel sad for other than makoto in this chapter.

    I don’t care. I will be killing you until morning. 👈 so badass!

    1. Put it in a perspective, they do have a similar point in common: they both hate the bug. At some point she probably did reveal him things that she never reveal to Tomoki. But there is a big dilemma: Makoto isn’t a hero. Makoto only knows his capabilities after he wiped the demons, so they probably have a hellish time having to please the selfish hero the whole time. Moreover with the Limian hero already gone, making his position even more self-important than now.

  18. Seems like Makoto would have become a worse threat to the Hyumans than any demon lord had he not encountered his subordinates.

    If he hadn’t tamed Mio, she would never have been there to finish off Illim.
    But then, she would never have helped Hibiki and her party to grow stronger, so I’m not sure how exactly that works.

    1. wouldn’t she just have stayed weak? Like, she would have advanced, but not like now, and illum would be alive whiile Hibiki would be a somewhat strong hero

      1. They met that mutated mantis on the way to Tsige.
        The only reason they survived the encounter was because Mio helped them.

        1. the mantis appeared because mid was there, if she wasn’t no mantis.

          But surely Hibiki would have died at the wasteland or when she fought Io, because without mo’s help her team would get wiped in a sec, before MC can be TP to saver her sorry ass

        2. It was said that she died by Io’s hands…, so in this parallel world she died during the stella fortress battle or during the siege of the capital (She fought against Io those times).
          Considering that MC didn’t interfere in fortress battle (apart from stopping the capital’s invasion), she likely died during the second battle. However, this means that this dream and the previous dream had nothing to do with each other (namely, different parallel worlds).

    2. Now that I think about it, this Makoto had feelings for Lily, but he had to live with the fact that she was getting banged by Tomoki every night while she’s getting madder and madder as time passes. That would turn every man EVIL as fuck

      1. That is probably what happened. Even though the trash male hero said he would have given her up to the mc. She was already mentally broken by then. What would have been the point. :/

      1. Not really. Ilum living on does not contribute to Makoto going murder hobo, him not meeting his subordinates does.

        1. It’s not clear whether he didn’t meet Mio in the version where Hibiki and Ilumgand turned against him or whether she just didn’t kill him for some other reason. Either way, Ilumgand being alive might as well have been a trigger that caused Makoto to go mad eventually even if he had met Mio.

          The common point between all his glimpses of parallel worlds is that he lost a loved one. Whether that was caused simply by Mio’s absence or Ilumgand’s presence in the first vision isn’t conclusive.

    1. If Makoto had been summoned first instead of last and appeared in Gritonia, he might have been able to save her from her madness before she went too far.

      Since Makoto isn’t really one to care for justice for people he doesn’t care about, he might have even forgiven her if her schemes had already resulted in deaths of “innocent” people if those innocents weren’t people that he was close to.

      I’m not sure if he would have defeated the demon race for her sake if she wasn’t mad or if he would have been able to convince her to let it go and chosen peaceful exile somewhere staying neutral in the hyuman-demon conflict.

      1. Maybe, well we’re already in the realm of speculation at this point.
        Just that at least the timeline we have now is the best one ^^

        1. Well, the parallel worlds are created by the presence of otherworlders, not by the gods themselves, so there wouldn’t be a parallel world in which the bug only summons Makoto and treats him properly. Well, if she was someone who’d treat him properly there wouldn’t have been an issue that required summoning a hero in the first place.

          1. No not quite right, yes otherworlders do produce them in great quantities but that’s not an exclusive trait it’s something that happens everywhere, just different speeds.

  19. I-Incredible.

    From their conversation just now, this desert is all Lorel Union?
    ———————————–
    I copied this before finishing the chapter with the intention of going
    “Oh, so you totally missed the part where you wandered the wasteland for a week and got saved by Trashmoki so started working with him/Lily/Empire? Totally not meeting Ema or Shen(Tomoe) or Mio unless as enemies at some point we didnt get to hear in this dreamscape.”

    So yeah, kinda happy he did notice and mention that he noticed and how its scary thoughts.

  20. hoped this dream has somewhat connection to the story cuz if not then it’s just a worthless chunk of words

    1. I feel like this is the gifts that the gods were talking about in the previous chapters. Based from the previous comments, this is parralel worlds or different realities. Well you probably know this by now anyway.

        1. I wonder if “cleaning up” is just the gods saying “Yo Makoto mind if you go crazy for us?”

    2. He said he started having dreams after he practiced archery. He was encouraged by the Gods to increase his magic power to be able to use their gift. So I do think the dreams are related to the story

      1. On a related note, I remember Root saying that Makoto will break if he keeps increasing his magic power at the same rate but the three gods are instead encouraging him. Curious what’s the implications of this.

        1. I don’t think there’s anything specific mentioned regarding this in the future so this is just my own assessment and I can post it without making it a spoiler:

          I think Root suspects that Tomoe has some method to “artificially” grow his magic power, so he’s cautioning her from overusing it. What’s actually happening is that having this aggregate amount of magic power from his repeated death-and-rebirth archery practice is what kept him alive under the heavy burden of the origin world in the first place. Root seems to think that Tomoe is pushing his limits, but what he’s doing is raising his limits instead to have “room” for stuff like his ability of comprehension that almost didn’t fit the frame of his soul when he received the common language as its last piece.

          As his power and soul keep growing with his archery practice, he’s receiving visions of the parallel worlds that the gods eliminated when they visited.

        2. I don’t think it’s quite right. I actually think there’s lapses in roots info. Despite the ability he has to gain info. He still can’t get into asora. That means he doesn’t know the mc met those 2 gods and 1 goddess. So he has no clue what took place. Plus those 3 said they want to see what world the mc will bring. They also said they will met again some day. When he lied about not meeting again. He didn’t want to give away the future he sees. It’s on the path of the mc becoming a god some day. And it sounds like they would welcome him when it happens. They might have the idea of having replace the bug goddess as well. Since those 3 clearly don’t like her. Also these visions could be them showing that his friends and waifus are important. And he needs them in his life.

  21. Damn…that was a nice chapter, altho naming Tomoki as ‘Two’moki would have made a funny/serious dream/parallel world conversation tho XD

  22. More inane comments from the translator… Bleh.

    Also, “was zeal” should be “was zealous” or “showed zeal”.

    1. The entity in that space wanted to create multiple timelines with abilities that would have been available to “black” individuals, but from what I can tell, neither of the two heroes seemed to have chosen a power that creates other timelines.

      Tomoki just has a spell that creates a nuclear bomb detonation at the cost of one year of his life, and Hibiki seems to have an ability that seems to be a powerup based on others’ perception of her as the hero or something similar to that.

      For a moment, I wondered if the vision from this chapter was caused by Tomoki travelling back and time and preventing Makoto’s early encounters and going there himself, but Tomoki in that timeline still had the nuke as his power. In theory it could have been caused by Hibiki travelling back in time and preventing Makoto from meeting others in the wasteland to prevent him from getting powerful allies like Tomoe and Mio. For some other reason that she caused around that time, Tomoki would have gone to the wasteland and picked up Makoto, and because Makoto’s position was different, he wouldn’t have been sent to Limia by the goddess to save Hibiki from Io. At the time when Hibiki had the chance to obtain a power, she didn’t know that the white action hero suit wearing person and the Devil were Makoto, so she didn’t foresee that changing Makoto’s destiny would prevent her from being saved in that situation.

      I’ve also thought about how Microwave-Makoto could have come to be, and in the interpretation that he didn’t meet Mio, I wondered how that situation could have been caused. Incidentally, the only result I could think of was again caused by Hibiki, travelling back in time to before she encountered the spider and choosing some different course of action that led to the spider not going into the direction she did in the actual story.

      However, as it is, Hibiki didn’t choose a time-travelling power. From what I can tell, the gods don’t seem to be manipulating her thoughts outright, so maybe her unnaturally keen intuition is actually closer to gods keeping an eye on her and nudging her in the right direction so that she doesn’t cause parallel worlds. This is all speculation of course, but it seems to be consistent overall.

      1. To be honest the one offering those powers is the problem. We don’t even know who that being is. Most likely a god. I will guess someone that is in league with the bug goddess. Otherwise they wouldn’t be helping the heroes. If we knew this being, i bet we could figure out which goddess the bug one is. Due to association of named gods and goddess with each other. There has to be a reason why bug goddess is kept un named.

  23. So this dream, is a another world where he didn’t meet Ema, and because he didn’t meet Ema he didn’t meet tomoe, mio and other, except he was saved by tomoki and friends, and from there things happen to this,

    Then in the last one before this dream, it’s when Mio didn’t kill Illumgand and let him live, but I guess the anger swells up again for some reason and I guess shit happens that makes Makoto obsessed with microwaves

  24. I gotta admit. These villains in novels are always so cleche. Come on, the heroes have met Mio and Tomoe who are subordinate to Makoto. How is it that you think you can beat Makoto, especially when he already slaughtered you or all your expectations about him?

    The alternate reality versions of him are so badges, I hope he matures like them but not to be evil. Revenge is one thing, but the massacre of entire nations and races is extreme.

    Looks like Lily just wants to press the pretty red button and watch the world burn. I hope, by the time I catch up with the current chapters, that I can see Tomoki & Hibiki either dead or subordinate to Makoto. Then I want to hear the whole story of the goddess and relish in the torture that Makoto subjects that vile and repugnant goddess to.

  25. I misread the trash tomoki as tomoe.. Damn why those two have tomo in their names geeez. Need to get my eyes check. Lol

  26. Looks like the dreams will be a recurring things for the foreseeable future.
    I’m like 90% sure it has to do with the “present” at this point, no way it’s not related.

    1. Absolutely not it’s just different versions of him working like a what if machine showing what would happen if he didn’t meet a certain person.

    2. It’s not like they’re unrelated, but the visions clearly show premises that are already unfulfilled, such as Ilumgand being alive or Makoto not having encountered anyone in the wasteland.

      So these “futures” that he keeps seeing are definitely not going to happen that way. But they do show the destructive potential that he still has within him.

  27. Wait, he is over 18, shouldn’t he stop calling himself by boku? In my country you are an adult by then I mean

  28. SO THE ANSWER NOW IS HOW DO HE UTILIZE THAT POWER.
    and also this shi* would play a major role in making a ton of filler episodes just like in Naruto with that Infinite Tsukuyomi shinanigans. so it sucks

  29. My guess about this stuff is the 2 gods and 1 goddess wanted to show the mc a lesson. Most likely that his friends and waifus are important to his journey. And without them he would have slowly gone down a dark path. Giving how nasty that world is under the bug goddess. Plus i still think that the mc will become a god. Mainly in what those 3 said. That he bet they will meet again. And he didn’t want to say anything because he wants the mc to operate like it’s a normal life. So the mc won’t try to force things. So normal growth rate. Plus i believe that they will want the mc to take over that world from the bug goddess. She is already on punishment. Which means she is on thin ice already. Plus the mc could end up turning into a creation god, that’s an alternate route as well. But still end up managing that world. It sounds like there’s a good amount of worlds in general. And who knows how many worlds those gods and goddesses had to clean up. So most likely the mc became evil after his mind got warped and there was no one there to help him out. And the pressure of that destroyed his mind. Now for lily, there’s a chance if the mc went to that country over the poser male hero. She could have been saved. But we will never now, because i don’t see that in the cards. It seems that in these other timelines she ends up messed up no matter what. Because she couldn’t handle her mothers death. Also this has to make me wonder how much damage the time the bug goddess slept for over a decade did. I can only guess why she slept. But it did a lot of damage to that world in general. And everything went downhill when she went into that sleep. Things would have been way different if that didn’t happen.

  30. ahhh I just realized. This is the gift that Susanoo left him huh. So he dreams about other parallel worlds or something like that? It was mentioned that summoned heroes go about and crate parallel worlds right?

  31. i think Susanoo’s gift was the shrine tho, and the god’s servant. but may i forgot, but as ia re-reading this, i would remember along the way.

    1. That one is said to be a gift from all gods.

      It was not really specified which one.

      The one inside… I can’t remember whos servant was originally.

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