/
Vol 1: Chapter 29
「This is the end for you.」
Before I realized, Crysta’s fireball was about three cars huge.
The dragon seemed like it was gasping for breath.
「Everyone! Escape! You’ll get caught in the attack!」
I was taken aback by Dante-san’s voice. That fireball might be able to defeat the dragon, but we will surely get caught in the explosion as well.
Crysta shot the fireball at the dragon, not waiting for the evacuation of the adventurers and soldiers – at that moment,
「The dragon is…!」
My eyes widened.
The dragon shot flames from its mouth, which was manyfolds more powerful than it was before ― thrusting the dragon’s body forward.
「Wha!」
It was the same type of acceleration that Crysta was producing with his explosions. However, the dragon’s explosion was uncontrolled, as such, even the dragon wasn’t unscathed.
Even so, the dragon took that gamble.
“Wounded beasts are most dangerous” – we have been reminded time and again of that fact.
The dragon’s body crashed into the massive fireball that Crysta had just shot. The large explosion that would’ve occurred nevertheless, enveloped Crysta together with the dragon.
Blinding light burst out.
Shock waves ran across. Flames from the explosion burned the city.
Just before the explosion, I got further away from the building. But the flames and shock wave travelled between buildings and threw me off the ground.
「Whaaa!」
I did not catch on fire, but I was blown away by the shock wave. I was blown about 5 meters forward and crashed into the stone pavement.
…Hurts.
The pain felt as though every limb in my body was broken. My body was feeling numb. I cast a very small amount of healing magic – I wanted to save as much mana as I could, for if I had to heal a seriously injured person – and slowly stood up.
My ears did not pick up any sound. My eardrums might have not been torn, but I was temporarily deaf.
Debris was scattered on the stone pavement and the visibility was poor due to smoke and dust. The building I was hiding behind was partially destroyed.
When I went around the building and returned to the battlefield, I was left speechless.
There was a crater of about 30meters in diameter on the ground.
…Is that an adventurer or a soldier’s corpse that is sticking to the wall of the collapsed building like a blood vomit?
Looking at it would only make me vomit, so I tried not to look that way.
A little far away, the dragon lay with its neck twisted. Debris and rubble piled on it. Most of its scales had come off and the body was bloodied.
「You damn inferior creature…!」
I was startled.
Those words entered my ear just when I was recovering my hearing.
The voice came from the sky. When I looked up, Crysta, whose clothes were half burned and his bloody skin exposed, descended while fluttering his tattered cloak.
He softened the impact of landing with 【Fire Magic】, and landed on the ground. Right when he landed, he went down to his knees. His hair was scorched and his face was full of soot. His original elegance was nowhere to be found.
「Haa, haa, haa… Choosing to suicide bomb at the last second… Dragons don’t make sense! I wish all dragons would just go extinct!」
Crysta stood up while spitting curses, and walked towards the motionless dragon.
「Such a pain in the butt! I am the ”Crimson Dragon Slayer”! You piece of shit!」
He kicked the dragon’s huge belly. It looked like he was just kicking a wall. But for Crysta, it probably doesn’t matter if the opponent was unresponsive, as long as he can let out his anger.
「Fuu… Where are the soldiers? It is beyond pathetic that these guys would run away from this kind of battle. I’ll never take another job in this backwater place again– Huh?」
At that moment, Crysta’s body just stopped.
I was watching from beginning to end, but I wasn’t even able to raise my voice.
Because he moved way too fast, and also, I did not expect it at all.
「I finally found you… Crysta-La-Crysta…!!」
Crysta’s stomach was skewered, with an arm sticking out.
That hairy arm was the one which held my head just a moment ago – it was Raikira-san’s.
Raikira-san, who seemed to have been hiding from view, must have been waiting for this moment – the moment when Crysta defeats the dragon, and lets down his guard out of self-conceit.
The opportunity to avenge his brethrens.
Blood overflowed from Crista’s mouth. It was clear that Crysta was only a few steps away from death, even without looking through 【World Ruler】.
「Raikira-san!!」
But I screamed.
Not to blame what Raikira-san has done.
But because my 【World Ruler】 also reported another thing.
「Reiji… I…」
「The dragon is still alive–」
How do I describe Raikira-san’s face that I saw? He seemed like a boy whose mishap was pointed out, but also like a monk who fulfilled all his duty — and for some reason, even like a sinner seeking salvation.
The dragon’s front leg tore through Raikira-san and Crysta’s body together, sending the two upper bodies flying away.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to ask myself how I could’ve avoided this stupid tragedy. I wanted to cling to someone’s chest and start crying.
But I couldn’t do any of that.
「……No」
Debris fell off from the dragon’s body as it got up.
「NOOOOOOOOOO!!」
I saw a halfling who was the closest to that spot.
That person had a full basket in both hands, probably coming after shopping. The baskets carried jars containing easy-to-preserve ingredients and spices. It was full of everything one would need for a future journey.
But that person – Mimino-san, dropped it, and screamed. Witnessing Raikira-san’s last moments was too much of a shock.
That was more than enough to attract the dragon’s attention.
Mimino-san did not even notice the dragon. She just squatted down, holding her head in her hands. Even when the dragon’s mouth opened, even when light gathered inside, she did not notice it.
…Mimino-san will be burned!
「UOOOOOOHHH!!」
I broke into a sprint. 【Sprinting Technique】 wouldn’t be able to make it in time. However, with that as a run-up, I used 【Fire Magic】 at my feet to create an explosion, producing incredible acceleration. As the surrounding scenery scrambled away, the dragon’s face was right in front of me.
Mithril-rank adventurers are amazing because they can control this at will.
「OHHHHHH!!!!」
My movement was a perfect copy of Raikira-san’s flying kick. My kick landed right onto the dragon’s face, and I further added an explosion with 【Fire Magic】, which blew the car-sized face in the opposite direction.
【World Ruler】 informed me that my leg was cracked.
《……You – were the one on the roof……?》
My body was at its limit. My mana was also almost used up.
「Mimino-san… Mimino-san!」
「…Reiji-kun?」
「Please run away. You must at least survive…」
I stood with my back to her and spread my hands. I knew that such a thin body cannot protect her. But still, I had to do it.
「N-No, Reiji-kun! You should run–」
「Tell the reinforcements that the dragon is on its last leg.」
I used my last bit of mana to activate 【Fire Magic】. Mimino-san was blown far away, and my body was blown in the opposite direction — rolling towards the dragon.
「Reiji-kun!!!!!」
「Don’t go near, Mimino-san!」
…I hear Non-san’s voice. I wonder if she was nearby. If she holds down Mimino-san, I will be more than happy.
I was completely out of gas. But I protected Mimino-san.
《……Your body has a 10-star skill……? No, it doesn’t matter. Breathe your last breath, small Brave One…》
By the time the dragon opened its mouth, I had lost consciousness.
I’ve done it.
I’m sure I must have been smiling in my last moments.