Is that an ogre?

We returned to the village with Dea-kun perched atop the Black Dragon, Kirigon. Arthur tagged along too.

Oh, about the barrier, I quietly fudged it so we got a free pass. Hacked into the barrier's settings and added Dea-kun as an exception.

Feel free to come and go as you please from now on, Dea-kun. You are a maiden, after all.

"D-D-D-Dragon!?"

"Eeek, help meee!!"

"A-wa-wa-wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-wa-wa!"

The oni erupted into chaos the moment the dragon touched down. A handful of the braver ones snatched up weapons or dropped into fighting stances.

Naturally, they spotted Dea-kun perched on the dragon's head.

"M-Miko-hime-sama!? Hey, Miko-hime-sama is on top of the dragon's head!"

"What!? We must rescue her…"

"No, hold on. Isn't she just… commanding the dragon?"

The oni kept their distance, bewildered yet on guard.

"Everyooone, this dragon is safe, so please listen to what I have to saaay!"

"! You lot! Miko-hime-sama has spoken! Lower your weapons!"

"As expected of Miko-hime-sama! She's brought a dragon to heel!"

"Magnificent… Oh, Miko-hime-sama, Miko-hime-sama…!"

An elderly oni clasped their hands together and bowed reverently toward Dea-kun. That's the spirit. Keep it up, Dea-kun.

Dea-kun glanced over at me, so I gave a small nod.

"It appears the dragon has not been demanding sacrifices. We will now search for the person who tried to pin the blame on the dragon, so please cooperate."

"Hm?"

"Pardon?"

"… What do you mean by that?"

"Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be bitten by the dragon. It is quite furious about being framed for demanding sacrifices when it never did."

"Oh, got it. I just gotta bite 'em, right? Leave it to me, elf missy!"

Kirigon chimed in with perfect timing. The dragon's thunderous voice sent every last oni dropping into prostration. "Y-Yes, sir!!" they chorused.

"… Now then, first question. Who started talking about sacrifices?"

"That was… 'cause a dragon showed up, right?"

"Yeah. Gotta offer a sacrifice to appease its anger, ya know."

"Right, right. Dragons and sacrifices go hand in hand."

With a dragon looming before them and the threat of fangs for non-compliance, the oni's tongues loosened remarkably fast.

"Please tell me who mentioned 'sacrifice' before you. That way, we can trace it back to whoever said it first."

"! Now that you mention it… That Gonbe guy was saying it, wasn't he?"

"I heard it from Youki-sama."

"Huh, I heard it from my father."

"Ah. I heard it from the chief too."

"Me too."

"Same here."

One by one, every gaze swiveled toward the village chief.

"… I heard it from Tenshiki."

"Ah, that reeks of a lie. This guy just looked away. Kirigon-san, give 'im a roar, would ya?"

"You got it, Arthur. Grrrrr!!!"

"Eek!?"

The dragon's roar made the village chief jump out of his skin. His legs gave out and he collapsed on the spot.

"I-I-I-It wasn't me! It wasn't me, I tell you!?"

"Once more, if you please!"

"Very well. Grrrrrrrrr!! RAAAAWR!!!"

"Hiiii…"

… The village chief's face had gone completely pale. Huh, a blue oni?