The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 174

“Welcome back. That was quicker than I expected.”

“…Did you get a favorable answer?”

When I returned, Annie and Alice, who had been holding down the fort, asked me.

“Yeah. It said it would take us.”

“Oh! That’s great news!”

AI-chan, who had also been on standby, seemed happy.

“Annie, what kind of medicine can you make with dragon’s blood?”

“Hmm? Some amazing potions.”

“Will those sell?”

“They’ll sell for 100 gold coins.”

Whoa.

Dragons are seriously incredible.

“I see, I see. Since the dragon will give us its blood, go ahead and make and sell them.”

“Um, what kind of deal did you strike with it?”

“In exchange for taking us to the Demon Continent, it asked for food. As payment, it’ll give us its blood.”

“Ah, I get it now… So sparing the dragon and keeping it alive is the right move, huh…”

I thought the same thing.

If you kill it, that’s the end, but keeping it alive and taking a bit at a time seems like the smarter approach.

“That’s the plan. We’re heading to the Demon Continent tomorrow night. I’ll go with Leanne.”

For now, getting to the Demon Continent is the main goal, and since it’s nighttime, we’ll head back right after arriving.

“I want to go too! I want to ride the dragon!”

Apparently, Lily wants to come along.

“Alright, then it’ll be the three of us.”

I’ll leave AI-chan behind.

“Understood. So, we’ll wait until tomorrow night.”

“That’s right.”

Well, you guys are on standby until the morning, but you’ll wait for me anyway, won’t you?

Good folks, they are.

“About what happens after we arrive—basically, we’ll use Leanne’s teleportation, like last time, right?”

Depart, teleport back home with Leanne in the evening, then return the next day to where we left off and continue onward.

“Yeah. The dragon said it’d drop us off somewhere remote, so let’s go with the same approach as before.”

“Got it. Then we’ll be on standby.”

Annie nodded, lay down, and crawled into the kotatsu.

Alice did the same, leaving only her face peeking out as usual.

“Master Yuma, I will return to the royal capital’s guild. I will come to pick you up tomorrow.”

“Oh, I’ll head back to the guild too and report to Jeffrey.”

It seems Leanne and Pamela are returning to their work.

“Alright. I’m counting on you.”

With a nod, Leanne and Pamela teleported away.

Then, a small kitten emerged from the kotatsu.

“Nya? Nya? Nyaaaa~…”

Tama-chan, tilting its head left and right as if looking for Pamela, slumped back into the kotatsu when she couldn’t be found.

Poor thing…

“—I’m so sorry, Tama-chan!”

A flustered Pamela and Leanne suddenly reappeared.

Lifting the kotatsu blanket, they called out to Tama-chan.

“Nyaa…”

Looking dejected, Tama-chan emerged, and Pamela picked her up.

Though Tama-chan remained still in Pamela’s arms, she was clearly sulking and in a foul mood.

“I’m really sorry…”

“My apologies…”

The two soothed Tama-chan before teleporting away once more.

“I’m going to talk to Layla for a bit.”

Saying this, I stood up, left the room, and climbed the stairs.

Arriving in front of Layla’s room on the third floor, I knocked on the door.

“Hey! Got a moment?”

“Come in!”

Since there didn’t seem to be a problem, I opened the door and went inside.

Layla was lying on her back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing… just thinking how things have gotten troublesome.”

“Is it about the demons?”

“Yeah. Jeffrey summoned me this morning. He gave explanations and requested cooperation from all the clan leaders.”

Looks like Jeffrey is already on the move.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m thinking about it. But well, I’ll probably leave it to everyone’s own judgment.”

Of course, you’d say that.

“Layla, we’re heading to the Demon Continent.”

“The Demon Continent? Planning to strike at the enemy’s headquarters?”

“Yeah. It’s the quickest way.”

“You really… why are you going so far for another world’s country?”

Layla sat up and asked.

“I don’t care about this world. The issue is Leanne.”

“Her, huh…”

“Her teleportation ability is one that thrives in warfare.”

“Logistics, ambushes, retreats, infiltration, assassinations… It can be used for anything and would be a game-changer in war.”

There’s no way the military would just let that slide.

“She doesn’t want any part of that. Apparently, her previous life was all about those things.”

“Hmm… Sounds like a responsibility she was born with, though.”

Coming from Layla, who was the head of a noble family, that makes sense. And well, I don’t completely disagree.

“She’s had enough the first time around. That said, since she’s royalty, she’d probably step up if the situation demanded it.”

“And that’s what you don’t want.”

“How can I protect my people if I don’t act?”

“You’re already treating her as one of your own… Well, I don’t see a problem with it. Nobody’s suffering from it, and if the enemy backs off, the king and the military won’t complain.”

The king probably wants to make use of her teleportation, but he also seems to consider his niece’s life.

Normally, you’d expect him to exploit her to the fullest, but he’s lenient because she’s family.

“That’s why we’re heading to the Demon Continent. We won’t be taking on any emergency requests.”

“That includes them too?”

She’s obviously referring to Natalia and the others.

“Yeah. They’re coming along with us.”

“Well, you’re all in the same party… But seriously, you’ve got a knack for surrounding yourself with women, don’t you?”

“It’s not intentional. I’m just doing what needs to be done as the party leader.”

They don’t take the initiative themselves, after all.

“You’ve overdone it. Thanks to you, Annie, who used to be so independent, has completely gone to ruin. She doesn’t leave your room at all anymore. She’s really let herself go.”

That’s because of the kotatsu.

“That’s not important. Anyway, we’re not participating. Also, you’re staying here.”

“Hmm? Why’s that?”

Layla looked surprised.

“The demons caused a stampede when they took Tretta. It could happen again in this town.”

“Unlikely. They wouldn’t repeat the same tactic in a place where they lost to a giant spider. If they do it, it’ll be further south or in a western town.”

“If they’re targeting the royal capital, there’s a chance they’ll do it here. Annie is concerned about it.”

Not to mention, Pamela is here too.

“Ah, right, right. That one’s got strong hometown pride. Still, you really only think about women, don’t you?”

Most of the people I know just happen to be women. There’s no ulterior motive.

“Shut up. That’s why you’re staying here. I’ve already got the king’s approval.”

“Fine, fine. I don’t care either way—whether it’s an emergency request or staying here. I’ll tell the others, so you do whatever you need to.”

“That’s the plan. I’m counting on you.”

With that, I stood up and decided to head back to my room.