Chapter 74

I apologize for the delay in updating.

The male elf burst into the room in a hurry.

At his words, Hasanochan stood up and immediately turned her gaze to the man.

“What’s the scale?”

“It’s... the entire perimeter of the Elf Forest! It’s burning in a ring around the Elf Forest, spreading towards the center here!”

“Are you trying to extinguish it?”

“Yes! But the area is too vast... Furthermore, the flames seem to be magical, and can’t be extinguished with ordinary water; only magic can put them out!”

“What about the barrier?”

“Under normal circumstances, it should block magical power...”

The man’s anxious voice and distressed breathing made it clear that this was an emergency.

“Anyway, let’s get out of here. We need to assess the situation.”

“Yes!”

The man hurried down the corridor, as if guiding Hasanochan, and I followed behind.

“I’m coming too.”

“Yes!”

The male elf, Hasanochan, I, and Samiuchan went outside. The elves were moving about in a hurry. When they saw us come out, several of them ran over and showed Hasanochan a pained expression.

“It’s no good, we can’t extinguish the fire in time!”

“Those who can use water magic are trying to extinguish it, but the area is too vast...”

“The barrier... can’t hold...!!”

At that moment, the sky shook violently. The ancient magic that covered the Elf Forest, which prevented others from entering, had disappeared. Then, figures that had been hidden until now appeared—

“Just as I thought, it’s you.”

—long black hair, a large tail, and wings on her back, which she was flapping. The dragon girl that Samiuchan had been blowing away. She must have seen me as well, as her purple eyes narrowed, and she pointed at me and Samiuchan.

“I’ve found you! You finally showed your face! You will regret not listening to me!!”

The dragon girl laughed, "Fuhahahaha!"

Samiuchan, without a word, drew an arrow and fired it without hesitation. The arrow, imbued with magic, flew straight towards her. The girl, who had been laughing, seemed unaware of the arrow, but she noticed it at the last moment and knocked it away with her tail.

“Hey! That’s dangerous! What if it had hit me?!”

“I intended to hit you, so it’s only natural.”

“What kind of dangerous elf is this?!”

“That’s irrelevant. Did you set the fire around the forest?”

“Yes! If you didn’t come out, there was no other way!”

The dragon girl laughed evilly, "Kukuku."

“The flames of the legendary Black Bahamut Dragon? They won’t go out until they burn everything to the ground. You will regret making me use such power while you burn!”

Fuhahahahaha!

The elves around us gasped at the girl’s words.

“If this continues... we...”

“Will we all burn to death...?”

“No...”

“Damn...”

All we could hear were cries of despair.

“It’s okay, everyone. ...There’s a lot to protect here. It’s sad that it’s burning, but we won’t all be consumed by it.”

Hasanochan nodded, as if to encourage everyone.

“We need to break through at one point. Call for reinforcements. We’ll extinguish enough of the fire to create a path for us to escape.”

“Yes!"

At Hasanochan’s words, the male elf ran off. The dragon girl moved in the air, as if to follow him.

“Hmph! Do you think I’ll let you escape?”

She dove down, reaching out to the man, but—

“I won’t let you!”

Samiuchan fired an arrow. The arrow flew straight and burned the girl’s bangs as it passed.

“Hey! I told you! It’s dangerous! If you hadn’t stopped, it would have hit you!”

“I intended to hit you.”

Samiuchan, who answered calmly, drew another arrow. The dragon girl, panicking, flew high into the sky.

“I’ll stop her here.”

“Go quickly.”

“Yes!"

At Samiuchan and Hasanochan’s words, the male elf, who had stopped, started running again. This time, the dragon girl didn’t pursue him.

“...Lady Reni, Lady Reni...”

Samiuchan, still holding her arrow, whispered to me. But I didn’t respond to her voice, just staring blankly at the dragon girl.

“Black Bahamut Dragon...”

The dragon girl had introduced herself by that name. The "World Foundation Black Dragon." I knew of it from my game knowledge. The origin of this world, the legendary dragon that supports it. In the game, it only appeared briefly in the opening. The dragon that went to sleep to become the foundation of the world, from which the goddess created the land and this world. I remember the excitement and thrill I felt watching the myth in the opening movie.

The Earth Dragon that guarded the "Jewel" was nothing compared to this. And this dragon... was here... alive, moving... and talking...!!

“Lady Reni... Your sparkling eyes are very beautiful, but now is not the time...”

Samiuchan’s worried voice.

You’re right, now is not the time. The Elf Forest is burning, and the entire perimeter is on fire. We are in the center of a shrinking circle and might burn to death here.

But—

“You’re so cool.”

—I couldn’t help but say out loud.

Volume 2 of the comic will be released on 2/21! The day after tomorrow...!

In Volume 2, Samiuchan plays a significant role, and Mr. Yoshimoto has beautifully portrayed Reni’s excitement and joy.

I would be very happy if you could welcome it.

Thank you very much.