Volume 2 Chapter 40 What Can Be Done to Save Sartzstadt
Suzu confirmed it; the object coming from the northern sky is a dragon.
In other words, it's a monster that sits at the pinnacle of the ecosystem.
With wings that fly faster than any bird, teeth that can crush all living things, and breath that varies greatly in type──fire, blizzard, acid──each with tremendous power, it's a legendary creature.
I've never crossed paths with a dragon before.
Usually, dragons reside on mountain tops or deep within forests, rarely encountering humans.
Suzu says that two of them are heading this way.
This is not a situation to be cheerful about.
If the dragons attack, Sartzstadt would be easily wiped out.
Taking the situation seriously, we immediately reported to the squad leader and headed together to the rear to see the 'Steel King.'
"Are you sure it's not a wyvern?"
"No mistake, it's dragons. Two of them. One is a fire-breathing dragon, and it's small, maybe a child."
Suzu's answer elicited a murmur from the gathered squad and platoon leaders.
A fire-breathing dragon.
If it uses its fire breath, the area would become a sea of flames.
It's arguably the most troublesome dragon for a town.
"...And the other is that golden monster, with Adiliana riding it. Probably, the fire-breathing dragon is its child."
"...That Dark Mage, huh. Did he turn the parent dragon into a demon beast? What a scoundrel."
The 'Steel King's' brow furrowed deeper.
Does the power of the magic crystal even transform dragons into monsters?
"Given the distance and speed, it will arrive by noon today. It's better to issue a warning to the residents sooner rather than later. Otherwise, they could end up burned in their homes without any clue as to why."
"...Absolutely, that's spot on. Let's send a message to Marquis Reichner with the current details."
"Yes!"
With Suzu's suggestion, the situation was quickly reported to the lord.
...Well, when it comes to evacuation, there's not much we can do except scatter and run.
However, only one of the two has turned into that golden demon beast.
The other may not have enough power left to transform, and might be subjecting it to brainwashing or something.
"But a dragon, huh? How do we handle this? Can we take it down with the Alchemist's Gun strengthened by Ryuuji?"
"...If we can shoot the Magic Core, it might be possible. But since it's moving at super speed, if it manages to stop just right, then maybe."
"If we mess up, we'll end up as a snack for its breath."
The <Steel King> shrugged and smiled wryly, but that role is on my shoulders now...
If we could take at least one down, there might be a chance of victory...
"...Hmm, I see."
I realized I had something among my magic stones that could make it possible, and stared at what I had hanging from my waist.
But it's a dragon we're dealing with.
To be frank, there's no guarantee it will go well.
It's going to be a gamble, one way or another.
"Well, it's a tough bet, but it looks like I have no other choice."
"Do you have any good plans, Ryuuji?"
"...I'm not sure if I can call it a good plan, but..."
I explained the content of the bet to the meeting members, including the <Steel King>, who had keenly caught my mutterings.
"...I see, if that can be done, it would be an unprecedented case."
"Yes, whether it's possible or not depends on how good my magic stone turns out to be."
Yes, it all hinges on the quality of my magic stone.
It's time to put my daily training to the test.
If I can't make it work, I'll likely be burnt to a crisp by a fiery breath.
* * *
In the blink of an eye, time passed, and gradually the two dragons began to reveal themselves.
On the right is a small red dragon, and on the left is a large golden one.
Well, the golden one wasn't originally that kind of dragon; it must have been transformed by Adiliana.
While hiding behind a large tree, I pulled out a pocket watch infused with the <Time> magic imprint to check the time.
It's almost ten o'clock.
It looks like we're arriving significantly earlier than Suzu expected.
"...But even if they don't come along, if we fail, we're dead, you know?"
"Oh, Mr. Ryuuji can use Spirit magic for concealment as well?"
"That's not quite what I meant..."
Lene flashed a confident smile at me, who was bewildered.
She had insisted that she would accompany me to hide from the dragons and Adiliana, using her Spirit magic.
"Wasn't it you who said we share the same fate, Mr. Ryuuji? How can you say that when you can't come along during such an important time?"
"...I surrender."
"Hehe."
Lene, looking like she wouldn't budge an inch, wore a satisfied smile at my surrender.
She really can be quite stubborn, Lene.
"...Now, dragons should be landing here soon. We're aiming for the baby dragon. Are you ready?"
"I'm a bit nervous..."
"Just be honest."
While shooting the breeze, we gaze up at the northern sky.
The dragons were already closing in on us.
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