Chapter 59

"Nine-Headed Dragon?"

I tilted my head.

"What's that?"

"It's a dragon that has been sealed in this lake since ancient times."

I looked at the lake.

Indeed... it's a pretty large lake, so a dragon could fit in it.

"But it's sealed, right? Why would it need a sacrifice?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't explain it well enough."

The woman continued after pausing.

"The seal that keeps the Nine-Headed Dragon contained needs the life of a young woman to maintain it—every two years."

"...That's a terrible story..."

I had no idea such a thing existed.

"But does the Nine-Headed Dragon really exist? Isn't it just an old legend or something? Maybe it doesn't actually exist?"

If that's the case, the sacrifice itself would be pointless.

The woman shook her head.

"That's not true. This rain has been falling for nearly a month. It's because the power of the Nine-Headed Dragon is leaking out."

"...Isn't it just a long rain?"

"No, it's different."

She pointed to the sky over the center of the lake.

"That's the cause of the rain—villagers say so."

Indeed, there was something unusual.

I couldn't tell what it was because it was behind the clouds, but a large, round shadow was floating there.

I had never seen anything like it.

The woman continued.

"If the rain continues, the village won't be able to survive. The only way to stop the rain is for a young woman to be sacrificed..."

Her voice was very sad at the end.

"That's how this village has survived for hundreds of years."

"I see..."

Just listening to it was painful.

I couldn't believe such a thing had been going on.

I looked up at the sky.

"I hope the rain stops."

"It won't. As long as that thing is in the sky. And if a woman is offered, the rain will stop—that's the village's tradition."

"I see. That thing, huh?"

I stared at the round shadow floating in the sky.

"Rola, how far is it from here?"

"Well... I think the rain clouds are about 500 meters or a kilometer high."

"Surprisingly close, huh?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll try to hit it with a Magic Arrow."

"What!? From that far!?"

"Did you forget, Rola? The range of my Magic Arrow is—"

I pointed my right hand at the clouds.

"13 kilometers."

Then, I spoke the trigger word.

"Magic Arrow"

A white arrow shot from my hand and pierced through the black clouds.

The Magic Arrow struck the shadow behind the clouds.

*BOOM!*

A loud noise echoed through the sky.

Then, a flash of light spread across the sky as if something had exploded. I instinctively covered my face with my arm due to the brightness.

After the light subsided—

When I raised my head, what I saw was—

A clear blue sky.

"Huh... No, that's... impossible..."

The woman looked at the sky in disbelief.

"Amazing, amazing! Amazing, Alberto! You actually did something about those rain clouds!"

Rola was jumping up and down in joy.

"The rain has stopped, but... does that mean you don't have to be a sacrifice anymore?"

"H-h-h-h..."

The woman suddenly slumped to the ground, her arms falling to the earth as if all her strength had drained from her body.

"I don't have to die... I don't have to die..."

Tears streamed from her eyes, running down her cheeks and splashing onto the ground.

"I don't have to die! I don't have to die!"

The woman, freed from her fear, screamed loudly.

She had been prepared to die for the village, suppressing her fear of death and making the decision to sacrifice her life.

Now, she was crying tears of joy at the prospect of living.

I didn't want to forget this day.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Rola and I went to the village with the woman.

With the rain stopped and the woman who was supposed to be a sacrifice returning—there would surely be someone to explain what happened.

When we arrived at the village, the villagers were outside, looking up at the sudden clear sky.

They were startled to see us.

Their eyes were not on me or Rola, the strangers, but on the woman who was walking with us.

"What, why—?"

"...But the rain should have stopped..."

The villagers looked at the woman in disbelief.

We stopped walking.

The woman stepped forward with a serious expression.

"Everyone, listen! We don't need a sacrifice anymore!"

"What do you mean!"

A villager said in an angry tone.

The woman responded firmly.

"This man destroyed the rain clouds! That's why I'm alive, and the rain has stopped!"

All the villagers' eyes turned to me.

...I guess I have to say something.

"My name is Alberto! I did destroy the rain clouds! What she says is true! So please don't blame her!"

The villagers looked at each other, confused.

They seemed to be seeking an answer on how to react.

At that moment—

"Unacceptable!"

A thunderous voice echoed through the village.

The villagers shuddered and turned to the source of the voice.

"The Elder..."

There stood a small, elderly man with deep wrinkles on his face and a white beard.

"The rain clouds are just a sign! The real issue is that the seal on the Nine-Headed Dragon is weakening! If the Nine-Headed Dragon awakens, it won't just be this village that's destroyed—this land itself will be obliterated! Offer a sacrifice! It cannot be avoided!"

Weekly updates (Wednesdays and Sundays), so the next one will be on 8/9.

It's interesting!

I want to read more!

Keep it up!

If you enjoyed it, I'd be happy if you could rate it with "★★★★★" at the bottom of the screen!

Thank you for your support!