98 97. Last job.txt (2/2)

Hmm, let's do it!

He agrees with Snow, who is desperately trying to make up for it.

Hearing that, Snow nodded happily. He's happy that he and I are in agreement.

I can't stop giggling.

I know that this flirtatious attitude I sometimes see is Snow's own approach. But that attitude is what I hate most about it.

I'm not sure if I should tell her that explicitly.

But if I say it strongly enough, she might say something weird again, like the night of the ball.

As for Snow, he would have to cut the problem off from its source to solve it.

An engagement with a nobleman. The responsibilities of House Walker. Snow's weakness. No, the root of the problem, which will be there before that - the root of the problem.

Huh. ......

I sigh.

My problems aren't even cleaned up, not even for free.

There are a lot of problems on top of that, and my heartache is only getting worse.

'Kanami ......, are you okay?　What's wrong?

Snow cuddles up to me with a worried look on her face.

Her appearance, which is the complete opposite of when I first met her, is truly dainty and girlish. However, I feel a strong sense of discomfort in her appearance.

To put it simply, pretty Snow is not like Snow.

To me, Snow is more languid, cocky and uninhibited.

More importantly, the Snow of that time seemed happier.

Now Snow is pushing it. His smile is too sneaky to watch. Maybe that's the main reason why I can't accept the Snow now.

'It's okay. Instead, let's work on the plan for the Dravdragon battle a bit more.''

Okay, all right. So...

As I stewed over the plan with Snow, I thought about different things in parallel.

How can I get Snow back on track?

As long as I get the engagement issue out of the way, Snow's breathing room will return to normal.

But it's a difficult problem for me, as I'm not familiar with the workings of the aristocracy in this world. The only thing I can think of is for me to pose as my fiancé to buy time.

But I can't judge whether that is effective or not. There's a chance that she'll be forced to marry Snow in a heartbeat.

Pretending to be a fiancée is a last resort.

As I talk to Snow, I try to think of something else to do.

But instead of coming up with a new, better idea, we ended up in an abandoned castle where Dravdragon was waiting.

It's a steep mountain path, but we're not tired.

The four of us are of unusual physical strength, and we're used to a much tougher labyrinth. The Reaper is not resting, but rather excitedly flying around.

He seems to have no patience in the face of the atmospheric abandoned castle.

I take the Reaper out of my sight, hold him by the scruff of his neck, and walk into the castle grounds.

After a short walk, I reach the huge garden as an example.

There isn't a single brightly colored flower in sight. It's green from one end to the other. However, there was a unique beauty to the garden, which was a mixture of various greens ranging from faded dark green to bright yellowish green.

Although it was desolate, there was a strange unity to it.

It tickled the bottom of my heart somehow - and evoked feelings of nostalgia.

'Hey, is this ......?'

The Reaper looked around the gardens and muttered.

'Reaper, what's wrong?'

Uh-uh. It's nothing. It's just ......, I just feel a little nostalgic for .......

I miss .......

Apparently, the Reapers felt the same way I did.

Maybe this green garden is easy to evoke nostalgia.

But Rowen seems to have come to a different conclusion than I did.

'I miss the Reaper ......?　--What's the name of this castle, Mr. Snow?

'Name ......?　It has no name. It is an 'abandoned castle with no name,' so to speak. If there is a name, it's just the name of the region that comes to mind.

Then do you know what this castle was built for?

I don't know. This is a legacy of the far past on the frontier. I think it was built in a lost era.

'Well ....... A legacy of the past or .......

Rowen's face remains difficult and thoughtful.

However, her expression quickly falters and she begins to walk forward.

'-No, it doesn't matter. More importantly, it's a dragon now, dragon. Kanami, are you sure you want to keep going straight?

I'll keep it straight. That dragon is lying proudly on his throne.

All right, then, let's move on. Well, then, let's move on. We are here to slay the dragon, you know.

We follow behind Rowen, who is ahead of us.

Through a world of lush greenery, we arrive at the entrance to the castle. The huge gates of the castle have been destroyed, allowing even dravdragons to enter and exit the castle.

If there is a wizard who specializes in attacking magic, he can use Dimension to attack from here, but there isn't, so we have to enter the castle normally.

Finally, we confirm the formation and take out the anti-dragon tools from the 'belongings'. It's just a log. Snow has two and I have one.

Having made preparations, we invade the castle with caution.

We go past the moldy and moss-covered entrance, up the grand staircase, and into the throne room.

Then we encounter the Drav Dragon.

As soon as we enter the throne room, the Dravdragon spreads its wings.

The Dravdragon was awake at the time we entered the castle. From this, we could tell that it had keen senses. The Dravdragon seemed to be trying to meet us here.

Its huge physique intimidates me.

I've fought all sorts of monsters in my life, but this is the first time I've ever seen a monster this big. It looks just like a dragon from a western fairy tale, a giant lizard with wings. It's about fifteen meters long, but its huge wingspan gives it a presence that exceeds its numbers. It is covered in hard ochre scales and has old wounds all over its body. It could see from its appearance that it had survived numerous death rays.

Then, the dravdragon slowly turned its head towards us.

It's a huge head. The head alone is so big that it could swallow four of us whole.

The eyes of the reptilian-like Dravdragon meet mine.

Then my gaze shifts a bit and turns to the Reaper next to me.

Me and the Reaper.

These two beings were showing a strong interest in me.

Dravdragon rumbles in the back of his throat. It makes a sound that sounds like a series of percussion instruments (timpani) and keeps looking only at me and the Reaper.

What ......?

I didn't feel any hostility.

On the contrary, I could sense a certain intelligence in the dragon's twin eyes.

This dragon, the Reaper and I--

Kanami!

Snow's reprimand flew at me as I stood there in a daze.

Rowen, who was at the very front, had already pulled out the sword at her waist. I hurriedly throw away the log in my hand and take out the Straight Sword of Crescent Pectrazi from my 'possessions'.

If things went according to plan, me and Rowen were going to be the first to rush in. Snow and Reaper would come from behind them, aiming for a surprise attack.

Dravdragon's expression changes when he sees us taking out our weapons. Its intelligent eyes change to ruthless and fierce eyes, and it opens its huge mouth.

Then it lets out a roar as if it had sounded a cymbal.

In time with the roar, I run forward to the left. Rowen is right in front.

The Dravdragon created a wind by flapping its wings wide against us as we ran out.

That wind is not just a wind. It's the wind created by the highest ranking monster, the Dragon Wind. A gust of wind containing an enormous amount of magical power slammed into his entire body.

If this wind was made up of nothing more than mechanical energy, I wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. However, if there is magic power added to it - I can handle it.

''--Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)!

I shift the magic power contained in the gust of wind (...).

Dravdragon's magic power management looks messy, but in fact, it's precise. Even if it just flaps its wings, it has elaborate wind magic woven into it. The quintessential dragon mystery, but against me, it's just the opposite effect.

The finer the work is, the greater the price to be paid when it is shifted (・・・・・).

The 'dragon's wind' becomes 'just wind' and I can withstand the gusts with just my body's muscle power.

Rowen on the other side couldn't cope and was blown away. After all, it seems that there's nothing you can do about being attacked by magic.

But even so, Rowen is 'the strongest swordsman in history'. She kicked the stone pillars and walls in the throne room, refusing to be pushed backwards with her superhuman physical abilities.

Dravdragon swings his claws at us as we weather the wind.

Me and Rowen dodge the claws, which are ridden with murderous physical strength, body by body.

Without a moment's pause, the Dravdragon's tail is swept away, knocking over a stone pillar. My target is Rowen. Only, he places his hand on the tail approaching at high speed for a moment and leaps over it as if he were climbing over a fence.

The first move - the first turn - is over.

And our formation is complete. From the Dravdragon's perspective, Snow in front, me on the right side, Rowen on the left side, and the back--

I got your back!

The reaper's scythe rips through the dragon's back.

But it is shallow.

The weapon was too small for the huge body of the drav dragon.

Still, damage was damage. The Dravdragon turned around, choking with anger.

''Heehee, you turned around (・・・・・・)!　Then you are the prey of the Grim Reaper.　-- Magic, Dimension Black Bubble (Nightmare), Magic, Form Abyss (Depth)!

The Reaper used an unseen dimensional magic to cling black magic to the scythe. Before I knew it, the Reaper seemed to have grown up. I'm gripped by the desire to analyze it, but I'm in the middle of a boss fight right now, so I'll hold back.

The Dravdragon uses its claws and tail to attack the Reaper behind me, but I can't catch her as she repeatedly moves at a moment's notice. In the first place, as far as I can see with Dimension, the Reaper has no substance. Even if I take a direct hit, it does no damage. However, there is no way that Dravdragon would know about the characteristics of the Reaper and repeat the attack.

''--Magic [Impulse Break].

Then, seeing that the front and back of the Dravdragon have completely replaced the front and back of the Dravdragon, Snow launches his best magic.

However, he only throws a log clad in vibrating magic in the air.

Compared to the elaborate magic of the Drav Dragon, it's quite primitive.

However, because it's primitive, it has a solid and powerful force. The log released by Snow's foolishness was powerful enough to shake Dravdragon's huge body.

Exploiting an opening in my stance, me and Rowen cut at it.

''-- Magic 《Magic icing》''

The Skill of Magical Materialization.

In order to deliver an effective strike to the massive Drav Dragon, he extends the length of his sword blade. And with its long sword, it slashes at the enemy's arms and legs.

The Dravdragon was helpless against the coordinated attacks from all sides.

And then, as if to say a thud, the reaper swings the scythe covered in black magic power. Only in that moment do I stop chasing the Reaper with Dimension.

The Dravdragon's back is ripped open. The wound has reached the left wing, and it's so deep that the wing is almost shredded off.

''--Gaaaaaah!

The Dravdragon collapsed with a scream.

And then it just cowered and repeated its shallow breathing.

Judging that we have inflicted a fatal wound, we relax our attack.

Of course, we haven't loosened our battle posture. However, since the formation was one in which those behind it were taking advantage of the gap as the opponent moved, there was no more time to make a move.

A silence filled the throne room.

The dravdragon moves its head slightly, still breathing shallowly.

Then it turns its twin eyes to me.

It stares only at me, barking something faintly in the back of its throat.

This dragon is trying to tell me something. I had the feeling that he was trying to tell me something.

But I have no idea.

Even if you have superior skills and observation abilities, you cannot understand the dragon's words here and now.

Nevertheless, I lower my sword point and take a step closer to get the dragon's will.

I try to get closer.

If.

If.

If there is a way to accomplish the request (quest) without killing this dragon, that is--.

No. There is no way to reach out to a mongrel dragon without pride.

Snow's cold voice echoed in the throne room.

-- the voice sounded as if it was speaking to the Dravdragon.

Raising a huge axe, it was now trying to toss the Dravdragon.

Hearing that pronouncement, Dravdragon's killing spirit increased.

''Oh, wait, I'll take the dragon's head!　I will be the Dragonslayer--!

Rowen stepped forward with her sword, hoping to get the dragon's token role.

And the Reaper - and only the Reaper was different.

Like me, he lowered his weapon and stared at the drav dragon with a divine face.

What's the difference?

I wanted to communicate with the dragon just a little more to find out.

But all is too late.

Snow and Rowen's attack reaches the drav dragon.

A great axe is driven into its head and its skull is shattered. A sword digs into his neck and a large amount of blood gushes out.

This causes the Dravdragon to die - but not before.

It's a horrible life force, and it's still alive.

The Dravdragon swings its head around and pushes Snow away as the great axe is struck.

''--Guggh!

He also moved his wings and blew Loewen away, even though his neck was about to be torn to shreds.

''--Nothing!

Snow and Rowen were hit directly by the Dravdragon's attack and were slammed into the walls and floor without mercy.