Chapter 11

Really, I felt refreshed after just an hour of sleep.

I’m not feeling sleepy or hungry at all, so my health is in perfect condition.

Just as I was completely recovered, the princess witch visited my house.

So, it wasn’t just my imagination earlier.

Her robe was tattered in places, and her breathing was heavy.

She must have fallen into a trap. What a poorly timed woman.

"Hey, princess witch. Sorry for getting you involved."

"N-no, it was my fault for coming to see you without an appointment. I’ll be more careful next time."

"Alright, then. ...By the way, you didn’t mark around my house again, did you?"

My crotch is already soaked.

"T-this is because I fell into a lake! I don’t want to be misunderstood!"

"Ah, I see."

To me, this princess witch only has the image of peeing her pants.

I thought you did it again.

"Ugh... Man of the ley lines. My name is Dianea. Could you please stop calling me a princess witch? It’s embarrassing."

You call me a man of the ley lines, yet you insist on being called by your name. What a picky woman.

Well, I haven’t introduced myself either.

"So, why did you come? You seem to be carrying two leather bags."

"Money. This is half the proceeds from the previous dragon—three thousand silver coins."

She placed the leather bags with a thud.

They were filled with silver coins.

"Is this the currency of this country?"

"Yes, with this, you can live comfortably for a year."

Oh, really? I’ve never used the currency of this country.

Actually, I haven’t even gone down to the city since I came here!

I don’t even know where it is.

"But, did you bring this here yourself? All the way for me?"

"Yes, you saved my life. I said I would repay you, so I came to return the favor."

I told you I didn’t need it.

"You’re so conscientious, aren’t you?"

"That’s all I have to offer. I was also good at magic, but... I end up leaking it here."

The princess witch smiled wryly, as if embarrassed.

"Don’t mark my place again, okay? I have an apple orchard, and if strange fluids seep into the soil, it would be a problem."

"I-I came here with determination. I won’t leak so easily!"

Alright, that’s good.

If the apples had the princess’s fluids, they might give strange skills when eaten. Really, please stop.

"So, is that all you came for?"

"Yes, that’s it."

You only came to bring the money. I see. Then,

"Why are there dragons hovering in the sky?"

"Huh?"

Look up. Three dragons have been hovering there all along.

And they’re clearly looking at us.

"What do you want to do? Do you think it’s safe to intervene? The one who said the Dragon King wants to fight is talking."

"But that guy only has a lot of magic power. There are rumors that he eats dragons, so let’s team up! Magic power is delicious, and so are men!"

"I’ll be the first to charge. Follow me!"

They’re planning to eat people in a light-hearted tone. That’s dangerous, you know.

And they’re already charging at us.

"Are you a harbinger of disaster? Why did you bring those here?"

"I-I’m sorry. But, we have to fight, Man of the ley lines."

●●

Dianea took out a staff for interception on the spot.

"Fireball!!"

She fired a fireball at the sky.

But it was deflected by the scales of the descending dragons.

"Without even defending...! Are they upper-class dragons...!!"

Unlike before, her magic power is fully restored.

To deflect such a powerful spell! The durability of dragons is really something.

And there are three of them.

"If they coordinate, even a squad of witches wouldn’t stand a chance..."

...But I can’t show any weakness!

We are under attack, after all.

I didn’t prepare any emergency evacuation spells. So, I have no choice but to fight.

Dianea swung her staff even more.

"I have to use it here. My proudest ultimate attack—Burning Emperor’s Spear!!"

A thick, red spear emerged.

It sizzled with heat as she

"Haahh!!"

threw it with all her might.

It hit the shoulder of the flying dragon.

"Grgh...!!"

It sizzled as the spear burned the dragon’s flesh,

"Raaaaaahh!!"

but that was all. It only blew off part of the shoulder and continued to descend.

"A..."

Seeing this, Dianea fell to her knees.

She realized she couldn’t win.

●●

"Aa... This is the power of upper-class dragons..."

The collapsed princess witch murmured,

"Uu..."

and then, with a splash, she leaked.

"A—!!"

Again. She did it again.

"Didn’t I tell you not to mark the place?"

"A-ah... I’m sorry..."

What if the apples get strange skills? I don’t want to draw a bad luck lottery every time I eat one!

"Raaaaaahh!!"

And the dragons are still coming down energetically from the sky.

"Come on! Fire another shot! Drive them away!"

Since you’re the cause, don’t make me do the work!

Saying that, I hoisted Dianea onto my shoulder.

"Uu... I can’t do it anymore..."

"Do it even if you can’t. Try your best before giving up. Otherwise, I’ll spank you."

Actually, I already did.

It made a nice sound.

"Kyaa! I, I understand, I’ll, I’ll fire! F-flame Breath...!"

With teary eyes and a weak voice, she cast the spell. Instantly,

Whoosh!!

a laser-like heat beam shot out from Dianea’s staff.

And it was extremely thick.

"Guu...?"

It burned the incoming dragon in an instant.

"Giiaaaaaahh!!"

Seeing their blackened comrade, the other dragons fled.

"Damn, Dianea. If you had that kind of power, you should have used it from the start."

While complaining, I put down the princess witch, but she was trembling in confusion.

"E... What, what was that? ...What is this strange power?"

What is she talking about? Is she confused?

"I-I’m confused too. I’ve seen it in literature, but it’s a legendary-level spell! I can’t cast it with my magic power, and I don’t even know such a spell!"

"Then, why could you use it?"

"I-I think... —Your magic power was ‘added’ to mine."

Dianea looked at her hands and my face in shock.

Her legs were trembling, and she couldn’t stand up even though she tried.

"What is this power? I used all my remaining strength. ...Why can you remain calm after using such power?"

"I don’t know."

But ‘added’, huh.

Is such a phenomenon possible?

No, maybe those who target my or my house’s magic power do so to enhance their own.

"Anyway, I don’t really care about the reason for the conflict."

I just use my power to protect my home.

"...Ah, who are you, really?"

"Just a home security guard. For now."

Nothing more than that.

"By the way, Dianea. Take that dragon back as usual."

"Eh?"

"I won’t dispose of the charred dragon. If you leave it, I’ll be angry."

"Y-yes, I understand! We’ll take care of it!"

If you understand, that’s good.

"Well, it’s snack time for me. Dianea, you can leave on your own."

"Y-yes, I understand! I’ll definitely bring the favor back again!"

"That’s fine, but don’t bring any dragons."

In this way, the relationship between me and the princess witch seems to have strengthened a little.

Thank you for all the support! I’ll keep updating to meet your expectations, so please look forward to it!