Ankoku Kishi Monogatari (WN)

He was famous as the God of Gar who protected the people of Gypseal.

「Since that's the case, everything should be okay, Maat. MY Reiji is strong, you know.  I don't know who's the culprit behind this incident, but Reiji can turn the tables on them for sure.」

Maat nodded upon hearing Ishtar nonchalantly claiming Reiji as her man.

「Sure enough, it won't be a big deal if he really is as strong as the rumors say. We'll borrow the power of the one who crushed Labrys, the violent God.」

Maat spoke while bowing to us.

Did this mean we could finally depart toward Arnak?

I had no idea what was waiting for us, but we had no choice but to keep going.

◆The Destroyer, Medjed (Kuroki)

I rode the chimera with Totona, flying beneath a sea of stars.

I looked down from the chimera's back. I could see the illuminated Gyptis Kingdom at night beneath us.

There were pyramids, the symbolic structure of Gypseal, around Gyptis Kingdom. Beside those pyramids was a giant statue of a sphinx.

Pyramids were magic tools used all over Gypseal as barrier generators to protect the countries in Gypseal. The giant sphinx statue beside them was in fact a golem tasked with the job to protect the pyramids.

The sphinx race was only composed of females. Yet, the sphinx golem had the face of a man and was wingless. I didn’t understand why they came up with such a design, but it was truly interesting.

「That's Gyptis Kingdom right, Totona?」

Totona, who was in front of me, nodded upon hearing my question.

「Yes, that's Gyptis. The biggest country in Gypseal.」

As the biggest country of Gypseal, Gyptis also acted as a checkpoint before going to Arnak.

It seems no one was allowed to go to Arnak unless they got permission from the Pharaoh of Gyptis, who was from the sphinx race.

Since it was a regulation, Totona and I went to the royal palace immediately.

We were welcomed by a hail of arrows once we approached the royal palace.

「TOTONA, BE CAREFUL! THE ARROWS ARE COMING!!」

「I know, Medjed. It seems we caused a small commotion due to coming with a chimera.」

Contrary to the panicked me, Totona maintained her composure.

No doubt about it, they must've thought that the chimera was raiding Gyptis.

We had to somehow tell them that we were not their enemy.

「What should we do, Totona?」

「Let's not waste our time trying to give them an explanation and just break through it.」

「Eh?!」

Totona then told the chimera to raise its speed.

The incoming arrows burned to ashes by the chimera's flame before they reached us.

It was a reckless charge.

I was really surprised to know that Totona had this side of her.

The chimera flew above the royal palace and then descended into its garden.

After we landed in the garden of the royal palace, we were surrounded by dogfolk wielding spears and bows, all pointed at us.

「STOP RIGHT THERE, BRAVE WARRIORS! I'M THE GODDESS OF KNOWLEDGE, TOTONA! BRING ME YOUR PHARAOH, MAAT!!」

The moment Totona shouted, the dogfolk warriors exchanged glances.

One of those warriors retreated, he might have gone to call the Pharaoh.

Soon enough, they returned along with a girl with wings on her back.

She had black hair in a bob-cut and wore a golden circlet on her head modeled after a falcon, which reflected the starlight.

The hair on her arms reminded me of the felines.

Her lively gait and expression reminded me of a career woman.

She was the Pharaoh of the sphinx race.

She looked like a woman who was up to the task.

「Long time no see, Totona-sama. I'm really surprised to receive your visit right after Ishtar-sama…」

「Long time no see, Maat. I assumed that Ishtar-sama would come to Gyptis as well.」

Totona descended from the chimera after she greeted Maat.

I followed after her.

「Yes, I just returned after sending her off from Gyptis.」

「I see, we might be able to catch up with her if we go now.」

My current goal was to act as reinforcement to Reiji and Co.

I should be able to stay close to them as long as I use this identity.

Maybe we should go after them to regroup as soon as possible.

「Maat, are we allowed to go to Arnak?」

Totona tried to ask Maat to let us go to Arnak.

「Please calm down, Totona-sama. The road to Arnak is currently filled with danger.」

「I already know about that. But, don't worry about that, Maat. My friend here is really strong.」

Totona gave a reassuring smile as she spoke.

This was the first time I saw her making such an expression.

「Sure enough, there's the Hero of Light with his rumored strength who will protect Totona-sama and the others. Had he been even slightly weak, I would have lost it…」

Maat nodded in agreement.

For some reason, the last part of her sentence was akin to a whisper.

「Since you already know about it, let us go to Arnak.」

「NO! NOT SO FAST! PLEASE WAIT FOR A WHILE, TOTONA-SAMA!!」

But, Maat stopped Totona who insisted on going.

「What now, Maat?」

「Are you going to take THAT along with you?」

Maat's eyes became grim.

「Don't worry about this child, it's under my domination spell.」

Totona replied while pointing at the chimera.

「I'm not talking about the chimera, Totona-sama. I mean, the thing behind you.」

Maat looked at me.

「What kind of strange creature is that? It's way too suspicious!!」

「Eh?!」

She suddenly pointed her finger, shouting her suspicion.

「That creature looks too suspicious! That's why even if it's you Totona-sama, I absolutely can't let that creature go to Arnak!!」

What should I do now? I mean, this attire looks really suspicious after all.

Should I take it off?

No, I'm completely naked underneath. Taking this cloth off would turn me from a "Suspicious Creature" to a "Pervert".

Though I could summon the Dark Knight armor to cover my naked body, doing so would instantly reveal my true identity.

If possible, I want to hide the fact that the Dark Knight came to this region, at least until the problem is resolved.

「He's Medjed, my bodyguard. Definitely not a suspicious person.」

Totona lied as easily as breathing.

Thank you for covering for me.

I made a gesture to tell the other party that I'm not a suspicious person.

But, my attempt only made Maat more suspicious of me.

「What kind of suspicious dance is that? My apologies, but I have to make sure that he really isn’t a dangerous person.」

Oh no!

I had no idea about the beastmen’s sensitivity, but any man walking stark naked under a piece of cloth would definitely be labeled as a pervert, beastmen or not.

I almost backed out.

「That movement is suspicious indeed. Is he trying to hide some sort of dangerous item?」

Maat walked closer to me.

I started sweating cold sweat.

「Compilation of Naked Pictures of Elios' Handsome Youth, 13th Edition」

Totona suddenly whispered that mysterious line.

Suddenly, Maat stopped on her track.

「… What… Totona-sama?」

Maat asked Totona with a trembling voice, losing all the previous pressure.

Why did it feel that way I wonder?

She was sweating profusely.

「Just something is hidden in your room. Something that you're secretly using to comfort yourself before going to sleep.」

「WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

Maat suddenly screamed loudly.

Her dogfolk subordinates looked really surprised.

Seriously, what in the world was happening here?

「H-How did you?!!」

She moved so fast toward Totona and asked with a small voice.

「Coz I heard from Nell that your type is a handsome, tall, and slender man.」

Totona spoke with a cool and collected voice.

「Prince~ss. How did you know about tha~t? Please don't spread i~t.」

Maat cried.

「You see, Totona-sama. Even with my status… Talking like that in front of my subordinates is just…」

The heck. This seemingly strict career woman turned out to have such an unexpected side to her.

Maat glanced secretly at my direction.

The dogfolk warriors’ attention was gathered on us.

「I won't say anything, you'll get the latest issues if you let us through.」

Totona whispered again.

At that moment, I saw Maat's ears twitching.

「Cough, I understand Totona-sama. Since you're willing to go that far, it should be safe.」

Maat coughed once and then regained her calm demeanor.

「Thank you, Maat.」

「It's not a big deal. But, as expected of you, Totona-sama. To use my weakness in such a way… I'm looking forward to the latest issue.」

The last part was said in an almost inaudible voice.

Totona nodded upon hearing that.

「Leave it to me, Maat. Well then, let's go Medjed.」

I nodded and then followed Totona.

For some reason, I got this feeling that I had witnessed a backdoor deal.

Yup, it was definitely a dirty backdoor deal!!

Let's pretend that I never saw it.

I rode on the chimera’s back behind Totona again while making such a decision in my head.

The chimera howled and flew to the sky.

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