<h4>Chapter 67</h4>


    ‘Hmm? When did they...’


    It seems like Veno can only sense and detect a little more, a little farther than me.


    I know it’s because of Forced Possession Summoning, but still...


    “Comrades... what is the matter? Did something happen?”


    I was wondering if Celes knew these people surrounding us, but I didn’t have to ask to get the answer.


    They all seem to be ncing at each other, not too certain of what’s going on.


    “What a big weing party.”


    “That... is certainly unexpected. This is not normal at all.”


    As Celes spoke, their leader—a member of the clergy dressed in all white—steps up to us. A veil covers their face, so I’m not exactly sure if it’s a priest or a priestess.


    ‘Their equipment is strong in magic defense... I cannot analyze them either.’


    “What is the meaning of this?”


    Celes asks her leader and the clergyman croaks back in an elderly voice.


    “We are here to ask you that exact question, Dragonyer Celes.”


    “Pardon?”


    More so than not being on the same page, they feel a little hostile.


    “What do you mean?”


    “You know full well. Do not feign ignorance!”


    The clergyman points at me while shouting at Celes who seems to be frustrated by the situation.


    “You are standing in front of the dragon, yet you do not y the target!”


    “Wha—?!”


    The atmosphere here is now tenser than ever.


    “What ridiculousness. Do not get carried away with your jokes,” Celes warns the clergyman, “Are you iming Cohgray to be the evil dragon?! You best have proof before making your oundish ims!”


    ‘I enjoy her honest and straightforward character, even if she may be a pawn for the enemies. However...’


    “Here is your proof!”


    The clergyman, along with the mage standing behind him, begins to activate a spell while raising their staves.


    Immediately, a strong beam of light covers us.


    “Gah...”


    My body goes numb as the light hits us, casting a shadow on the ground... but mine depicts a great dragon.


    ‘Hmph... Forced Possession Summoning is getting stronger?!’


    I wouldn’t mind you using your powers right about now, even if it means letting the dragon out of the bag!


    “Yukihisa!”


    “Muuuu!”


    Seeing me in pain, Arleaf and Muu rushed over to support me.


    “Our magic has shown the truth! The dragon is in him! Can you still deny it?!”


    “But... that... no...”


    Celes staggers back a few steps, the color drained from her face.


    “Cohgray, you are... the dragon? How... but you said... then the priest is telling the truth...”


    “Celes...”


    The rest of the troops are as bewildered as Celes. gued by doubt and anxiety, they share nces at each other.


    Especially evident is the man whose mother we saved. He looks like he doesn’t or refuses to believe what is going on.


    “Dragonyer Celes, deliver swift punishment unto Cohgray—no, unto the dragon.”


    The priest, all smug from his achievement, barks aloud while pointing at me.


    “After escaping our magics, that dragon escaped to around the vige of Nisua. There it propagated the disease Bloodflower while simultaneously showing up as a savior and curing those who were afflicted. In the same vein, he feigned innocence while taking part in the crusade against Elbatoxin. He yed the beast and cured Dorimsvoyta so that he may pige the coffers of the guild for the sake of sustaining his fugitive lifestyle!”


    ‘I am absolutely stunned. His imagination would make for a great plot.’


    You’ve got that right.


    But... this guy is way strong.


    I had some of Arleaf’s cooking this morning but still, under his spell, I’m back to about zero.


    This is bullshit.


    I thought I could get strong enough to turn the tables on them, but I don’t see myself getting out of this alive.


    “Now, this dragon has integrated itself to the town of Lif’el and gained the trust of the guild by destroying the monsters underground! If we do not act at once, the lives of countless innocents will be at stake!”


    “Lies and nder! Yukihisa w—”


    ‘Lass! Control thyself! Speak not of me!’


    “—orked this hard for the sake of everybody! Such actions do not deserve such unjust punishment!”


    “Hmph... so you are the girl kidnapped from Nisua. However, you are but a foolish heretic deceived by the dragon’s schemes. Why will you not open your eyes to the truth?! Dragonyer Celes! Do not hesitate! The dragon is standing right there!”


    While the priest angrily shouts at her, Celes stares at me with distrustful eyes.


    But...


    “Good priest! Please listen! Our cherished families have been struck by a curse and that curse originates from a symbol of worship. There is a greater evil who ced the trap on the altar we use for job-changing! The hunt for the dragon is important, but more so is our beloved family who have been cur—”


    “Have you forgotten what I had just said?! Do not buy into the dragon’s charade! Heunched a disease onto Nisua! And you know what happened afterwards!”


    “What happened to my father and mother?!”


    Arleaf snaps back, worried for her hometown.


    “The vige resisted the dragon and so they have been cursed too! Half of the vige have been murdered! It is the same situation your sister is in, Celes!”


    Bastards... they didn’t even spare Nisua from their rampage. They’re the source of it all!


    They must have used Veno as a scapegoat and tried to convert the vigers.


    “Outrageous... then all this was to gain my trust...”


    Now feeling like the victim, Celes begins to draw her sword while not looking me in the eyes.


    “That’s not it...”


    Arleaf squeezes her eyes shut... then points her staff at the priest.


    “Your words are nothing but convenient deception. I shall never forget what you have done to my ancestors! You would be best to cease your dishonesty!”


    Arleaf, and the rest of Nisua, harbors distrust for the followers of the Teachings of the Sacred Yggdrasil—or rather, Saint Yggdrans.


    Given that they cursed the vigers after we departed, there would be no way they could have converted the people.


    “You learn the truth of your people, yet you still side with the dragon?! Imprudent wench!”


    The priest spits his venom at Arleaf.


    “I... and the rest of Nisua trust in Yukihisa, Sir Cohgray’s wisdom. You have done nothing wrong.”


    ‘Lass...’


    Arleaf addressed me by myst name to address Veno while deliberately not calling out his name.


    “Yes, I am a follower of my Lord the Holy Dragon, the one who restored the world tree and sacrificed himself for the sake of man. There may be evil dragons lurking in this world, but I have absolute conviction that Yukihisa hasmitted no such foul and despicable acts unlike yourselves!”