Chapter 99

A black-scaled dragon appeared in the sky.

The dragon, with a silhouette resembling a lizard with wings, had a hefty body as large as three carriages linked together. On its back, wings several times larger than its body were visible.

"Dragon!?"

Those words slipped from Elysia's mouth.

Yuri said,

"…Does that mean it's of the same race as Laan?"

"No… It's different from us. From that dragon—"

Laan turned her eyes to me.

I could also sense the dark magic gathering around that dragon.

"A dragon enveloped in dark power… An evil dragon, perhaps."

These evil dragons appear out of nowhere across the empire, turning towns and villages into mountains of ruins overnight. They are fearsome and vicious beings, feared by the people.

I had thought that dragons who drowned in dark power, like Laan's ancestors, would turn into evil dragons… but I never imagined a human could become one.

No, it's unlikely that child is just a human—here it comes.

Seeing the black mist gathering in the dragon's mouth, I immediately tried to cast "Teleport"—but it didn't work.

…Not even here? "Dark Wall"!

Like Verm, I was probably trapped in a different dimension.

Switching to "Dark Wall," the black breath descended upon us.

"–Holy Light!"

Elysia cast holy magic, dispelling the breath. The light also intimidated the surrounding ghost knights.

I didn't need to deploy "Dark Wall." Holy magic is superior to dark magic, and Elysia possesses the crest of a "Paladin."

"Lord Alec, leave the defense to me!"

"Alright!"

The evil dragon flew around above us, spewing breath multiple times. However, Elysia countered each breath with holy magic.

She remained calm even in such a situation. Elysia is reliable.

Selena also swung her sword and cast fire magic, blowing away the approaching ghost knights with a blast.

"I'll keep them at bay for now!! Whenever you're ready!!"

"I'll protect Lord Alec's back!"

When Laan said this, Yuri hastily readied her mace.

"Then, I'll… Just leave it to me!"

Everyone responded calmly.

Now, while defending, I need to think about what to do.

First, it seems this place, like Verm, is a different dimension where "Teleport" cannot be used to exit to the outside world. I could probably escape if I focused, but it's difficult in this situation.

So, we have no choice but to fight.

The surrounding ghost knights can be dealt with in the same way as Verm's coins. Absorb the dark magic leaking from the broken flower arrangements.

I tried to take the dark magic from the flower arrangements melted by Selena's attack.

Indeed, I can defeat them—hmm?

The flower arrangements, from which I took the dark magic, were immediately supplied with dark magic by the evil dragon.

The flower arrangements turned back into ghost knights.

The evil dragon is supplying dark magic—unless we defeat the evil dragon, they will keep reviving.

The way to defeat it is likely to hit it with Elysia's holy magic.

There are two methods.

One is to combine holy magic and dark magic, as we did when fighting the angel in Ars. Back then, I enveloped the dark magic in holy magic and hit the angel. This time, it would be the reverse. I would envelop Elysia's holy magic in my dark magic and release it at the demon.

The second method is to keep defeating the ghost knights. By forcing the evil dragon to supply dark magic, we can deplete its available dark magic. Elysia's holy magic should then be able to reach it more easily.

So, there are many ways to do it. If I think calmly, the ancestor dragon we fought before was a far more dangerous opponent.

Yes, it's an opponent we can defeat—

However, I can't make up my mind.

The issue isn't whether we can defeat it, but whether we should.

That evil dragon is the girl from earlier. Defeating the evil dragon doesn't guarantee she will return to her human form. Even if she does, there's no guarantee she will be unharmed.

–What should I do?

I need to make a decision quickly.

Right now, Elysia is countering the evil dragon's breath, and Selena is blowing away the ghost knights.

However, looking down the hill, I can see more ghost knights gathering. The flower arrangements under the crucifix from earlier are also heading this way.

I haven't counted them, but there must be a thousand. If they join the encirclement, even Selena won't be able to hold out.

–So, we have no choice but to defeat it.

But, is there any way to save the girl?

…Hmm? Speaking of the ancestor dragon, back then—

When the ancestor dragon turned into an evil dragon, the demon came out as it weakened. If there's a demon or the girl inside—

I gained the ability to discern things from the ancestor dragon.

The power of clairvoyance… Can I use this to find the girl?

I stared intently at the dragon.

Then, I saw a girl trapped in the dragon's chest.

"There she is…"

She was desperately flailing her limbs, as if resisting the evil dragon, even though her eyes were closed.

If I know where she is, I can rescue her—

"Everyone, listen… First, Selena, I want you to use the highest-level 'Inferno' to defeat as many ghost knights as possible. After that, I will extract the dark magic from the broken flower arrangements. This should weaken the evil dragon's breath. Then, Elysia, I want you to attack the evil dragon's wings with holy magic."

Elysia nodded in response.

"You want to bring it down, right?"

"Yes. Once it falls, I'll mark its chest, and I want you to cut there. The girl is there, so we might be able to save her. Laan, I want you to immediately cast a healing spell on the rescued girl."

Everyone nodded deeply in agreement.

Yuri encouraged everyone.

"Alright, let's start the plan!"

In response to my words, everyone shouted in agreement.

"First, me!! 'Inferno'!!"

Selena swung her sword widely, and a storm of flames rose to the sky.

"Whoa!? Is it this powerful!?"

It seems Selena hasn't used her full fire magic in a while, and she's surprised by its power.

The storm of flames engulfed the ghost knights one after another, melting the flower arrangements like hot butter.

Dark magic leaked from over a hundred flower arrangements.

I drew it in, making it my own magic.

I extended my hand, absorbing the dark magic.

Then, the evil dragon began to send magic to the melted flower arrangements.

I tried to draw in even that magic.

I couldn't absorb it all, but it should interfere.

"Elysia, now!!"

"Yes!!"

Elysia raised her hands toward the evil dragon, releasing a blinding light.

Squinting at the brightness, I looked up to see Elysia's light bullet easily dispel the evil dragon's breath and hit its right wing.

The evil dragon groaned and shook its body violently.

Elysia then cast holy magic at the left wing.

The evil dragon let out a piercing scream and fell to the ground.

"Good job, Elysia!"

"Thank you! Now, the mark!"

"Right!"

I cast holy magic on the chest of the fallen evil dragon.

It was weak, but that was enough.

A faint scar remained where the holy magic hit.

"Outside that!"

"Yes!! Even the tough scales, with this sword!!"

Elysia said, raising the sword I had entrusted to her, the curved blade forged by Laan and Yuri.

The sword cut through the evil dragon's scales effortlessly, slicing through the skin and flesh.

Elysia swung the sword right and left, up and down, peeling away the evil dragon's flesh.

The evil dragon thrashed and spewed breath at Elysia.

But I blocked it with "Dark Wall."

Soon, Elysia had cut through to where the girl was.

"Elysia, the girl is almost there!"

"Understood!"

Elysia said, carefully cutting around the girl to avoid hitting her.

I was confident we could save the girl—when suddenly, all the surrounding ghost knights vanished.

The dark magic from the fallen flower arrangements was sucked into the evil dragon like a wind.

The evil dragon's breath became even more powerful, and my "Dark Wall" began to give way.

"Ugh! Just a little longer!"

"Hurrying!!"

"I'll help too!!"

With the ghost knights gone, Selena joined in to rescue the girl.

"Me too!!"

Yuri took a position a little away and cast a weak lightning spell at the evil dragon's head.

In the midst of this, Elysia's voice rang out.

"–There she is!!"

"I'll carry her!!"

Selena carried the girl and flew out.

Elysia followed, turning back to the hole in the chest and casting light.

"–Holy Light!!"

The surrounding area was illuminated by a dazzling light, and the evil dragon's final scream echoed.

The third volume of this comic, drawn by Mr. Hanajiro Abe, is now available!

This volume is packed with charm, including bonus content on the back cover that can only be found in the paperback. I hope you will read it!

Here is the cover image!

Product information! (KADOKAWA official site)

https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322312000757/