Volume 17 Chapter 9 Victor And The 'Roselia Sword' Ii
Victor moved forward with them in the ruins.
Inside, it was like a complicated maze, and if they weren't careful, they could easily get lost.
After a while, he said,
"Hmm... it looks like this is a dead end."
Victor, who was leading, stopped at the end of the passage.
Then,
"Haah, haah, don't just go ahead on your own. Also, don't go in the opposite direction we told you!"
Deorus of the Blade of Purple Lightning, the leader of the adventurers, and the others ran up.
It seemed they had gotten quite far ahead of them without realizing it.
"I'm sorry."
Victor apologized honestly.
"You really are the same as always."
"Well, that's our usual Victor-san."
His friends, who always went on adventures with him, smiled wryly.
On the other hand,
"Tch..."
Deorus clicked his tongue openly.
"You're just a C-rank. Pathetic..."
He was completely looking down on him.
His friends seemed annoyed by that, but Victor brushed it off.
It wasn't that rare for higher-ranked adventurers to act like this towards them.
There was no point in getting worked up over it.
Even though Victor made a few wrong turns, the mixed party continued to move forward.
As expected, Deorus and the others were top-class adventurers, leading Victor and the others, disarming traps, defeating monsters, and advancing quickly.
Before long, they reached the deepest part.
"Hmm... it looks like this is a dead end."
"That's why I told you not to go ahead! And don't go in the opposite direction! Just follow us quietly!"
Deorus shouted at him.
"Hmm... I was following your instructions."
"Don't go ahead, I told you! You went in the opposite direction of the instructions!"
"Well, there was some confusion in interpreting the instructions, so I made my own judgment."
"Where is the confusion in the instruction to 'go straight ahead'...?"
"Anyway, let's move on."
"That's why I said don't go ahead! That way has traps──."
Deorus grabbed Victor's arm in a panic.
Suddenly, a part of the floor sank──
"What...!?"
It seemed that it was some kind of 'switch.'
At the same time,
Rooooarrrrr...!
A roar echoed from beyond the wall.
"This pressure and intimidation even through the wall... Is it the boss of the ruins?"
Deorus muttered.
"That 'switch' we just stepped on must be a signal for the boss... It's a common trap."
"Did I step on it...?"
"No, I probably stepped on it. Well, it saved us some trouble."
Saying that, Deorus grinned.
"Let's take care of the boss and grab the sword."
"...You seem confident."
"Of course. I'm an S-rank adventurer. I'm not like a C-rank like you."
"That's true."
Victor nodded honestly at Deorus's mockery.
"Then, I will focus on support."
"We will too. We don't want to hold you back."
"We'll do our best to support."
With that, Victor's teammates all nodded in agreement.
"Alright. Don't get in the way."
Saying that, Deorus drew his sword.
The unnamed sword was said to be a fine piece enhanced with '+3' from an enchantment magician in the guild.
The blade shone with a dazzling light.
"Come at me... I'll defeat this guy and make a name for myself."
Around him, the other members also readied their weapons and staffs.
By the way, the breakdown is one S-rank sorcerer, two A-rank sorcerers, one swordsman, and one priest──just as expected from a party that includes the ace of 'Wings of the Overlord Dragon,' they had an amazing lineup.
Then,
Crash...!
Part of the wall in front crumbled, and a huge silhouette appeared from behind it.
"Is that──!"
Victor gasped.
A 3-headed dragon, about 10 meters long (≈ 32.8 feet long).
"[Trident Dragon]. It's one of the strongest high-level dragons."
Deorus muttered.
"Even an S-rank adventurer can't take it down alone... that's what makes it worth defeating."
"If we're up against such a powerful monster, shouldn't we retreat and come up with a plan?"
Victor said.
"Huh? Are you saying we should run away, you coward!"
Deorus shouted.
"Unlike you C-rank weaklings, we S-rank and A-rank adventurers live in danger all the time. It's in danger──beyond overcoming it──that wealth and glory lie. That's the world of adventurers. Remember that, weakling!"
"...If you say so, I won't stop you."
Victor took a step back.
He didn't know how much he could do, but he had to provide support as much as possible.
──And then, it happened.
'A useful man has come.'
Suddenly, a voice echoed from somewhere.
"Huh...?"
He looked around, but he couldn't find the source of the voice.
'I am the Dragon King──I am speaking to you through my servant dragon...'
The voice echoed again.
Now that he thought about it, it seemed like the voice was coming from the [Trident Dragon] in front of them.
That voice was resonating directly in Victor's mind──.
'You are destined to attract strong warriors... those warriors may one day stand in my way...'
"What are you talking about...?"
What the voice said was completely unclear to Victor.
'You can be used as a shield against those strong warriors... my intuition is never wrong... kukuku.'
"Ugh...!?"
At the same time, he felt something rush through his entire body.
It was as if the voice's 'power' was seeping into Victor's body...
'When the time comes for my revival, I will ask for your help too.'
"Who are you...?"
He asked, but the voice suddenly went silent.
"Alright, let's go!"
In the meantime, the battle between Deorus and the [Trident Dragon] had begun.
"Th-this is strong──."
Deorus's face turned pale.
Victor was also trembling behind them.
The strength of the [Trident Dragon] was beyond imagination.
As expected from the strongest monster, a high-class dragon.
Even with 2 S-rank and 4 A-rank members, they were completely at a disadvantage.
Victor, being C-rank, was on a completely different level and couldn't even support the fight.
His teammates were the same.
They were just like spectators.
"No matter how many humans gather."
"You cannot defeat me, a high-class dragon."
"Know your place, foolish ones──."
The 3 heads of the [Trident Dragon] spoke in turn.
Roar!
Then, the 3 heads breathed fire one after another.
"[Ice Shield]!"
"[Water Shield]!"
Deorus and his party tried to block the flames with their water and ice magic barriers.
But,
Wham!
The following tail attack sent all the members flying.
The powerful combo of Dragon Breath and physical attacks keeps the Deorus at bay.
"I need to at least provide some support..."
Victor stares intently at the enemy's movements.
He wants to analyze the opponent's attack patterns or find an opening to be useful in his own way.
It's not that he doesn't care about being called weak.
He wants to show that he can do something too... The feeling that ignited deep inside him gradually grows stronger.
In this extreme situation, his inner fire starts to burn brighter.
──Thump.
Suddenly, the area in front of him shakes.
"What is this...?"
The [Trident Dragon] stops moving.
"The number of humans suddenly increased...!? N-no, is it an illusion... what the heck...!?"
It looks around nervously in a strange direction.
As if it were seeing an illusion.
"An illusion... some kind of magic...? No, something's different..."
The dragon's eyes glare at Victor.
"Is it you...!?"
"Huh...?"
Victor is surprised.
He can't use illusion magic──actually, he can't use magic at all.
"The illusion has disappeared... I see, you still can't control your 'power.' But that doesn't change the fact that you could be a threat."
The [Trident Dragon] seems to be wary of Victor for some reason.
Then,
"Now's my chance──!"
Deorus, who had somehow circled behind the [Trident Dragon], charges with lightning speed, just like his title suggests.
"Uh-oh──."
"Take this, [Dragon Slash]!"
Slash!
The powerful strike deeply cuts into the back of the [Trident Dragon].
"Go, you guys!"
Then, Deorus gave the command to his friends.
At the same time, swords and magic struck one after another, dealing heavy damage to the [Trident Dragon].
The tide of battle turned in an instant.
From there, Deorus and the others launched a further attack, and despite their struggles, they defeated the [Trident Dragon].
* * *
"The boss monster is down. There should be some 'treasure' ahead."
Deorus said with a smirk.
"Heh, this sword isn't bad, but... I want something better. If possible, a legendary sword would be awesome."
With Deorus leading the way, Victor and the others moved forward.
Before long, they arrived at a large stone chamber.
In the center, there was an altar with a sword stuck into it.
"Is that the 'Roselia of The Emerald Gale Claw Sword'...?"
As the name suggested, the entire sword was faintly wrapped in a green light.
"I'll go get it."
Deorus said.
He climbed onto the altar and placed his hand on the hilt to pull it out──.
"...!? It's stuck──no, I can't pull it out...!?"
It seemed the blade was embedded in the base, and the sword wouldn't budge at all.
"Hey, you guys, help me out!"
Deorus called to his friends.
The other members took turns climbing onto the altar, trying to pull out the sword, but it still wouldn't move.
"Damn it, it's no use. Could it be that 'only the chosen hero can pull it out' like in a fairy tale?"
Deorus clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Hey, Victor. You try pulling it out."
He gestured for Victor to come over.
"Me?"
If Deorus and the others couldn't do it, there was no way he could.
"It's worth a shot. You never know, maybe a weakling can pull it out instead."
"Well then, I'll give it a try──."
Victor stepped up to the altar.
As he gripped the sword's hilt, it fit perfectly in his hands.
Z...zzzzz...
"Wh...!?"
Even though he wasn't putting much strength into it, the 'Roselia of The Emerald Gale Claw Sword' came out easily.
"Impossible!"
Deorus shouted in shock.
"Why... if anyone should have the right to wield a legendary sword, it should be me──so why does a weakling like you...!?"
He glared at Victor with a face full of hatred.
"This is──'Roselia Sword'...!?"
Victor looked at the sword again.
"Hm? There's no inscription."
He thought the sword's name would be carved on the blade or the hilt, but there was nothing anywhere.
"What!?"
Deorus exclaimed.
"So it's a fake...? No, that can't be! ...Well, they say some legendary swords don't have inscriptions, so maybe that's it... it must be."
Muttering to himself, Deorus suddenly drew the sword.
"That sword is definitely a legendary sword... so it should belong to me, the strongest adventurer, Deorus Gray!"
"Deorus...?"
Victor frowned.
Deorus's emotions seemed really unstable for some reason.
"Anyway, I'm glad we could recover the sword."
"Now we just need to hand it over to the client, and this job is done."
"Haha, with us, even an S-rank quest is easy!"
Deorus's party members cheered.
"...Hand it over to the client, huh?"
Deorus muttered.
"...!?"
Victor felt a chill run down his spine.
Deorus had a chilling gaze that sent shivers down the spine──.
"That's a problem. [Raging Slash──."
In an instant, Deorus's sword flashed like lightning.
"──Thunder Blade Dance!]."
Slash!
Slash, slash, slash!
A moment later──.
"Ugh..."
All the other party members collapsed, spewing blood.
"What...!?"
"You guys too! [Raging Slash: Thunder Blade Dance]!"
Next, Victor's party members were all cut down.
It was truly a momentary event.
The speed of the sword was abnormal.
"Now the evidence is gone. There's no proof that I took that sword."
Deorus approached with bloodshot eyes.
"Next, I'll kill you and take the sword."
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