Chapter 72

SIDE: Owl

Despite the fact that the cult of the evil deity and the Azure Dragon Emperor are about to be right on top of us, Gra-san's blunt remarks at this timing.

"Gra-san, I can't forgive you..."

"Ooh? You'll forgive me! I'll be in your debt, Owl!"

...Huh? What is he saying?

I can't forgive you... Can't forgive you for real? What a joke!!

When I was about to rephrase it, he had already run off in human form towards where the cult of the evil deity was. No, that's not right. He's running away.

You damn dragon—!!!

I'll vent all this frustration on the enemy. If I use a grand magic spell and it happens to hit Gra-san, it would just be an unfortunate accident.

"...Master looks angry."

"Shh! Don't look, Yomi!"

The two of them are saying something, but it doesn't matter anymore.

The cult of the evil deity has already dismounted from the monsters and descended to the ground. I'll do as I please.

But my main goal is that huge blue dragon.

Since I can't rely on Gra-san's power now, I can only depend on my own strength. I'd like to use the power of Dain and Quinn, but I don't want anything to happen to them...

"It's a dilemma... Well, I guess I'll go too."

"Master, we'll look for Luna too."

"We'll definitely bring Luna back!"

"I won't say much. Just don't die, and take care of Luna."

"Understood!"

The two of them ran off to where Luna was. I've given them a rough location, so they should be able to find her easily.

The Azure Dragon Emperor is still flying leisurely in the sky, with many cult members on its back.

Actually, with such a huge dragon appearing, the capital must be in a state of panic by now.

I hope Reblanc and the knights are handling it well.

GYAoooooooooooo!!!

"Seems like they're getting ready for battle over there too!!"

The distance to the Azure Dragon Emperor is about 800 meters or less? Even if the academy grounds are large, there's a limit.

If I use a large-scale magic spell, it might cause damage to the town... I can only use medium to small-scale, but high-powered magic.

The first thing to do is to clear out the minor enemies. I'll hold back so they don't die...

"Thunder Rain!"

I can see lightning raining down on where the cult members are gathered.

Damn, even a rotten Red Dragon Emperor. They're all dodging.

But I guess I've taken out about 30% of the enemy forces? ...It seems like I'm getting a lot of attention from the knights and the academy students, but I don't have time to worry about that.

I don't have time to worry about that, but there's one really intense gaze...?

While thinking that, I search for the source of the gaze and find that the Azure Dragon Emperor is staring at me intently.

Looking closely, there are no more cult members on the Azure Dragon Emperor's back, and it's clearly in a combat-ready state.

"Did I just get recognized as an enemy?"

Well, it's as I planned. The main issue is whether the Azure Dragon Emperor is here because of a curse or not.

The best scenario is if it's being controlled and can't use its full power. In that case, I still have a good chance of dealing with it. If I can withstand the attacks and remove the curse, the problem with the Azure Dragon Emperor will be solved.

The worst scenario is if the Azure Dragon Emperor is not being controlled by a curse but is cooperating with the cult of the evil deity of its own will. If that's the case, it's going to be a tough battle.

I guess I'll try to communicate with it.

"Azure Dragon Emperor! If you can hear my voice, respond!"

"Are you the one who used the lightning magic just now? I have no grudge against you, but I don't have time."

As soon as he finished speaking, he opened his mouth wide and released a water projectile. It's easy to dodge, but there are many knights and students behind me. And behind them is the academy, so I can't choose to dodge.

...Why do the cult of the evil deity and the Azure Dragon Emperor like to limit my options so much? But that's not the issue right now!

"Barrier deployment!"

I deployed ten barriers with more magic power than usual. Will this be enough to block it?

BOOM!!

"Ugh!! ...As expected of the Azure Dragon Emperor. To have this much power with just a water projectile is impressive."

"...Don't misunderstand. That was just water, not magic."

"What...?"

I never thought I'd have to say a line I always wanted to say in such a situation. Still, the Azure Dragon Emperor said it didn't have time.

Maybe there's a reason it has to follow the cult of the evil deity. But if I keep on the defensive, I'll lose soon.

I need to deal enough damage to make it hesitate before we can talk. Since the Azure Dragon Emperor is a water attribute dragon, its weakness is lightning.

Using the Ultra Electromagnetic Cannon might deal damage, but if it's dodged or blocked, I'm in trouble. I'll save that for a critical moment.

For now, I'll just observe.

"I have no grudge against the Azure Dragon Emperor, but I can't let the academy be destroyed!"

Thunder Ray x 10!!

The power is low, but I'm confident in the speed. It's a good technique for observation.

"...Are you mocking me?"

The light beams rush towards the Azure Dragon Emperor but are easily blocked by a thin water wall. Even though lightning should be strong against water, it was extinguished without piercing the water wall.

"...As expected of His Majesty the Azure Dragon Emperor. That water wall is made of ultra-pure water, isn't it?"

"I'm surprised you know about ultra-pure water. However, that level of power is far from lightning."

But if it's any bigger, it becomes a good target. While saying that, the Azure Dragon Emperor suddenly shrank to about 3 meters in size.

"Anything goes...?"

"I'll show you the difference in class. Defend yourself seriously."

"Water Projectile"

The water projectile that came earlier was about 10 meters in diameter, but this one is about 1 meter in diameter.

"The earlier one was...?!"

Barrier x 10!!

Earlier, I deployed barriers over a wide area, but now I layered them. I had a gut feeling that I couldn't block it otherwise.

CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK CLINK!!

The power was significantly reduced, but all the barriers were broken. I managed to block the water projectile with the barrier from my ring, but the impact still sent me flying.

"Come on, no way...?"

I can feel a cold sweat running down my body. And the fact that if the Azure Dragon Emperor gets serious, I'll be killed instantly...

"You humans are impressive. I'd like to play more, but I don't have time. ...Die."

Even with the impact from earlier, I've taken a lot of damage...

Extra Heal!

"The real battle starts now!"

"..."

I thought this magic was too powerful to use again after the first time, but I don't have the luxury to think that now.

"Six Dragons Summoning!"

It's a powerful technique that creates dragons of fire, water, wind, earth, ice, and lightning with magic. It consumes a lot of magic power, but it's one of the top three most powerful techniques I have. Even a dragon would be hard-pressed to come out unscathed from this!

The six magic dragons head towards the Azure Dragon Emperor. However, it seems the Azure Dragon Emperor doesn't intend to take the attack, and it also casts a spell.

"...Controlling dragons, huh. Water Dragon Summoning."

The spell the Azure Dragon Emperor cast summoned a water dragon, but it was on a different scale from mine. My six dragons only follow orders, but the Azure Dragon Emperor's water dragon acts autonomously and attacks.

My six dragons and the Azure Dragon Emperor's water dragon collide, causing a huge explosion. Steam spreads everywhere, creating a fog.

"Damn! ...Is this a magic fog? I can't see what's going on around me."

"Human, in this fog, I can talk to you. Listen."

What's going on...?

"My hatchling is being held hostage by the cult of the evil deity. If it were just a hostage, I could handle it, but it's not that simple."

"...A curse, perhaps?"

The Azure Dragon Emperor, with its god-like strength, must have a reason to follow the cult of the evil deity. I never thought it would be because its child was taken hostage.

"That's right. ...Earlier, you used a healing spell. Can you use holy magic, perhaps?"

"Well, I can...!"

Ah, I see. The magic fog was to create a barrier to avoid the cult's surveillance. And what you want from me is to remove the curse.

"You seem to understand. ...That curse is different from ordinary curses. Even we dragons can't defend against it. It's probably using the power of the evil deity. I can sense a faint presence of a deity from you. You can use holy magic, and powerful holy magic, because of that. I want you to save my daughter."

I see... It must be the same as Gra-san, who was cursed. Luna said it was a curse that used a catalyst, but the source of its power was the evil deity.

Come to think of it, Luna was knowledgeable about curses. Is there a connection...?

"I understand. I'll help if I can."

"That's good. The sooner, the better."

As soon as he finished speaking, his body glowed, and a beautiful woman with long blue hair and a model-like figure stood there.

...Naked.

"Wh-What...!! P-Put some clothes on!!"

"Oh...? I forgot. I don't usually humanize. ...Is this better?"

The clothes the Azure Dragon Emperor made with magic were the kind that would kill a virgin. What a feast for the eyes!

"Grab my hand."

When I grabbed the hand she offered, the scenery around me changed, and I felt a terrible dizziness, like motion sickness.

"Where are we...?"

The Azure Dragon Emperor seems to be able to use teleportation magic. It's the first time I've experienced it, but I don't think I'll like it.

"...My daughter is being held captive here. And probably the person you're truly looking for is here too."

The person I'm truly looking for...? Who is it...? No point in worrying about it. I'll find out when I get there.

"Please save my daughter...!"

The Azure Dragon Emperor says that there's a dragon-repelling barrier here, and if I enter, I'll die from the curse progressing immediately.

"I'll go then. I'll definitely save her."

"I think the time limit is 30 minutes. Even if you're not a dragon, if you enter, the curse will start to progress. I'm really sorry, but please...!"

Looking around, I can see a large fortress-like building. I can sense a magic barrier, a very advanced one.

"Here goes nothing..."

I cast full-body enhancement and deployed everything I could use, then ran towards the fortress.

---

SIDE: Luna

In front of me are the battered and fallen Yomi and Mirei. I didn't want to fight, but they're not dead. I never intended to kill them.

It's enough that they're injured and can't fight. The cult of the evil deity said to kill all obstacles, but I can't kill these two. ...I don't want to kill them; they're important to me.

"I'm sorry... I'll definitely make it up to you later."