"Watch out, I won't forgive you if you hold me back, Masked Adventurer."
"That's my line, Female Hero."
"What!? There's no way I'd hold you back!"
"Really? You seemed to be struggling quite a bit. How about saying thank you for bringing the representative here?"
Elna's shoulders trembled at my provocative words.
Oh, she's angry, she's angry.
Enjoying Elna's reaction, I cast defensive and healing barriers over the entire city of Albatro. Elna had managed to fight hard, so there was no damage in the areas where people were concentrated. However, there were still many injured, and many people were running around in panic. But they were more calm than before.
The news that Trau had granted Elna permission to summon the Holy Sword in an exaggerated manner had spread throughout the city, bringing aid. It wasn't that he had aimed for that effect. Half of Trau's speech was for fun, and the other half was for his role as the representative. His job was to make as big a show as possible to demonstrate the empire's prestige and presence. He had just fulfilled his role.
Still, the city's confusion had eased thanks to Trau.
"Are you listening, Silver!?"
"Hmm? What is it? Did you say something?"
"Oh, so... you're saying my words aren't even worth listening to?"
Elna smiled with her veins popping.
I chuckled at her and asked,
"Sorry, I was thinking about something else. What about you? You're probably asking about how to defeat that sea dragon, right?"
"If you know, answer me. Do you have a plan? If not, I'll go with mine."
"Well, I do have one, but let's see what the Hero can do first. What should I do?"
"First, protect the city and draw its attention. I'll cut it down."
"I'm the decoy, huh? That's like you."
Saying that, I moved a little forward.
Taking that as an agreement, Elna moved from her spot.
"I didn't expect a human to block my water bullets. I'm surprised."
"I'm surprised too. Dragons are wise monsters. Why did you choose to fight humans?"
"Hmph, I was forced into an unwilling sleep. I must avenge that to maintain my pride as a dragon. I am the dragon that reigns supreme over all creatures! How can I let humans look down on me!"
"Pride... how trivial. Is it more important than your life?"
"You sound like you think you can beat me."
"I can. Don't look down on humans."
As I said that, a large number of water bullets appeared in front of Leviathan.
Not just a hundred or two hundred. It seemed he hadn't been serious until now.
"I'll say it again. I can't let humans look down on me!"
"I'll say it again. Don't look down on humans."
Saying that, I unfolded almost the same number of magic arrays behind me.
He must have increased the number of attacks because he thought he could win with sheer volume.
"Don't think you can beat me with numbers!"
"Human!"
In the sky above the city, countless water bullets and magic spells collided.
It was like a battle.
A war of attrition with no decisive blows. When we ran out, Leviathan added more water bullets, and I added more magic, maintaining the barrage.
Someone who didn't know the situation might have thought it was a special fireworks show. The sky was filled with colorful sparks.
"Damn! How dare you!"
Leviathan opened his mouth wide.
The water bullets so far were just his ability, not the dragon's special attack, "Breath."
Finally, he was using his trump card.
In his mouth, water was compressed more and more until it became a small sphere, from which a water breath attack was fired like a beam.
I tried to deflect it with multiple layers of defensive magic, but the water breath pierced through everything and headed straight for me.
"Seriously!?"
I quickly moved away, and the water breath passed through where I had been, easily piercing a mountain in the back of the city.
"Damn..."
Seeing that, I broke out in a cold sweat.
It was absurd that it could pierce through my multiple layers of defensive magic and still have that much power.
It must be a super-compressed water cutter. It's like Leviathan's version of the Holy Sword. It can cut and pierce anything like butter.
This is a disadvantage in a defensive battle. We need to end it quickly.
Unable to fire it in quick succession, Leviathan took advantage of my opening and launched water bullets. I neutralized them while looking up at the sky.
There, Elna was focusing her mind.
She's really going to cut the dragon. I haven't seen Elna this focused in a long time.
But...
"Hurry up..."
While neutralizing the water bullets, which were far more numerous than when Trau was around, I complained.
But Elna didn't hear my voice.
In the moment of silence between Leviathan and me, Elna began a steep dive from the sky, aiming for Leviathan.
"Don't get cocky!!"
Leviathan fired water bullets at Elna, but she dodged with minimal movement and swung her Holy Sword at Leviathan's head.
Seeing the dazzling Holy Sword, he must have judged it as dangerous.
Leviathan twisted his body to avoid it, but his massive body couldn't avoid it completely.
His torso was deeply cut, and his left wing was severed.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!??"
In pain and shock, Leviathan sank into the sea.
This is the best opportunity. We should finish him off, but...
"That guy..."
In the sky, Elna descended to finish him off but then ascended again, as if she was too scared.
I approached her.
"Still useless over water, huh?"
"Shut up! It's not my fault I'm scared of water!"
Leviathan's body was mostly submerged in the sea. To finish him off, we needed to get close to the water, but Elna couldn't do it.
Was she focusing for this? She needs to land a decisive blow or she won't be able to finish him.
Really, this girl...
"Can't help it. Let's switch roles."
"Don't mock me! I'm the main, and you're the decoy! I won't switch roles!"
Despite saying that, Elna didn't try to finish him off.
Sighing in exasperation, Elna suddenly noticed something.
"Silver... how do you know I'm afraid of water?"
Oh...
I had just spoken in my usual tone.
That was the most careless thing I've ever said as Silver.