Chapter 46
The time goes back a little, just after the dungeon collapse.
In the depths of the dungeon―――――
The flashy man holds his sword horizontally, kicks the ground, and shortens the distance between us.
Slowly, the orange-colored sacred sword looms before me.
『N-No, NOOOO!』
I desperately twist my body.
However, just before avoiding the sword, it emits a dazzling light.
I know.
This is the characteristic of the Sacred Sword Leviathan, a huge slashing attack.
I couldn’t dodge it.
Cut
My sturdy scales, which should have been resilient, are easily injured, and pain shoots through me.
The area that was cut is my left arm.
Dark red blood drips down.
I roll over and collide with the edge of the floor, coming to a stop.
『Ugh……』
―――It hurts.
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
I haven’t felt this in a while.
This is pain.
Since that time. Since I released my breath and was hit by the White Wyvern’s breath in return.
No, that’s not it. It’s the first time.
I’ve never been cut by a sword, not even once in my previous life that is until now, after I got reborn as a dragon.
Of course not. In my past life, I’ve always lived an ordinary, bottom-of-the-barrel life.
I’ve avoided anything dangerous. I shouldn’t have any experience like that.
It hurts, it hurts too much.
「As expected of a famous Dragon King species, the Earth Dragon… You’re fast. What kind of speed is that… I intended to decapitate you with that last strike… And yet, your defense, to endure the maximum slash of Leviathan at that level…」
The man in front of me is saying something, but it doesn’t register in my mind.
What is this?
Is being cut really this painful?
A throbbing sensation, as if being burned, yet accompanied by a chilling feeling, the pain.
『UGH, UWAAAAAH!』
I crawl away from the man, trying to create some distance between us.
But immediately, the man closes the distance and heads towards me.
「Tsk! You’re fast… Don’t you counterattack!?」
I desperately try to escape.
In a pathetic manner, I roll around desperately.
I exhibit an unimaginable speed.
「I’ve never heard of a dragon running away! Hey, wait a minute!」
The man shouts something, but I can’t hear it.
Like I care!
Besides, I’ve never fought before!
All I want is to live peacefully and leisurely!
Why the hell are you coming to hunt me?!
Did I do something? Ah, right, it was about the materials, me. Moreover, they were top-quality.
Still, is it worth to go that far?!
Or did I’ve done something I should’ve not?
I just leisurely ate magic stones, slept, made golems, and lazed around!
I’m innocent… or at least, I should be.
Well, yeah, I did create the dungeon as a means of self-defense, but come on!
It was my home.
Yet suddenly, the dungeon is destroyed, and they come attacking. That’s just absurd!
It’s unfair! There’s a limit to excessive aggression!
I’m shocked! I underestimated the people of this world!
This world’s power balance is messed up, isn’t it?
Oh, but in Elibel’s research notes, it did mention that a single strike from the sacred sword can split the continent…
Anyway, while desperately running away, I was thinking about how to break free from this situation.
…Damn it! I can’t come up with any good strategies at all.
And, it hurts. My wounded arm is throbbing.
Besides, I’m hungry. I want to sleep.
Someone, tell me this is a dream…
I’ve been sending telepathic messages to Ann, Pururu, and the others, requesting for help, but no one is responding.
Why?
Why isn’t anyone coming to help?
And they’re not even giving me a response…
…Could it be that everyone hates me?
What? No way… Seriously?
Why doesn’t anyone come to rescue me?
Someone, please help me! Why, why!?
――――By the way, Ann is currently fighting Beldi, Pururu is working on repairing the dungeon and rescuing the golems to prevent secondary disasters, Tres and Berg are battling against Senju, and the other golems are desperately defending against the intruders. Jiryuu is unaware that they are all in situations where they can’t possibly reply.
I desperately run around the deep area.
Damn it! It backfired when I moved most of the golems and homunculi to the upper areas, trying to turn the deep area into my private room!
I glance back.
Ah, he’s still chasing me.
Oh no, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do.
『――――Hey…』
Huh?
There’s some noise running through my head.
『――――Wait a minute!――――Ryu――――』
The noise gradually grows louder.
This voice… could it be?
『――――Hey, Jiryuu! Why are you running away!? Just fight, won’t you?! With your absurd amount of magic power and physical abilities, you should be able to defeat most opponents! You should easily be able to take down that sword user over there!』
A thought transmission reaches me amidst my confusion.
Wait, this voice…?
『Elibel!? You’re still alive?』
『Of course I am! Well, my body is in bad shape, and I’m currently undergoing repairs. I won’t be able to return there for a while. By the way, I’ll give you a good punch later! I really thought I was going to die for sure because of you!』
Seems like she’s quite angry.
Seriously, this girl is so composed.
She’s completely different from me.
Truly befitting of a clumsy wise sage who slept for two hundred years. She’s on a different level.
『I feel like I’m being mocked. Well, whatever! Anyway, quickly defeat that guy and come help me! If the ‘Dungeon Destruction’ function has been activated, then his sword should have reverted to a ‘mere sacred sword’! The only issue was the initial strike with the ‘Dungeon Destruction’ capability! Right now, he won’t be able to unleash much power, so you should be able to defeat him easily, I’m sure!』
The wise sage casually makes an unreasonable request.
『There’s no way I can do that! I’ve been cut, you know! There’s no way I can win!』
『What?! You’ve been cut… From here, I can only perceive it through the fluctuation of magical power, but you’re not seriously injured, are you?! You’re practically unharmed! Don’t lie!』
I’m not lying!
『My left arm got cut!』
『Are you kidding me?! That’s nothing! With your abilities, it’ll heal in no time! Are you a child?! Making such a fuss over a minor injury! And you call yourself a man! Worthless Earth Dragon! How about I call you No Value Dragon next time! Useless material!』
It seems like being thrown off the cliff has really angered her.
She doesn’t hold back with her insults. It’s terrible.
Elibel’s words pierce deeply into my heart.
Stop it! My body is already in pain, and now my heart is breaking too, so please stop!
Seemingly sensing my distress, Elibel lets out a tremendous sigh.
『Haah, fine, I get it! Then I’ll give you some wisdom to help you win, so hurry up and finish it!』
『Huh? Wisdom to help me win…?』
『Well, if you were to die right now, it would be troublesome for me too. Besides, one of the ‘loose ends’ from two hundred years ago has come to you from the other side. It’s perfect timing.』
…Loose ends?
『What do you mean…?』
『Just listen quietly. Do you still have the ‘spine’ of the Earth Dragon?』
『Huh?! The ‘Earth Dragon’s Spine’ from your dungeon? I think there’s still a lot left! It should be in powdered form in the floor I just escaped from… or at least it was supposed to be.』
Assuming it wasn’t crushed in the collapse earlier.
『In that case, go back right now and consume it!』
『Huh?! What are you talking about?』
『The effect of the ‘Earth Dragon’s spine’ is to dispel any curse or sorcery, but when it is used on a ‘normal living being’ without any curses, it has a slightly different effect!』
Following Elibel’s instructions, I dash through the deep floor of the dungeon.
If I have to go back to the previous room, I’ll have to take a detour.
I hope I can reach it without getting caught!
Uh-oh, I’m starting to lose my breath.
My side hurts. My left arm hurts.
『The effect is the ‘reversal of the mind’! It manifests as a kind of status reversal when used on a living being, taking the form of a reversal of the mind instead of dispelling curses.』
Um, what does that mean exactly?
『In simple terms, if you, who are currently panicking and trembling, consume it, you will be able to fight calmly and bravely! Got it!?』
Seriously?! That’s amazing!
『Oh… but still, fighting is scary…』
『You idiot! Even those kinds of thoughts will properly ‘reverse’ within you! Hurry back and consume it!』
『O-Okay!』
…That’s right.
Either way, in the current situation where I’m just running around, I’ll eventually reach a dead end.
For some reason, none of my subordinates are coming to my aid, so I have no choice but to handle it on my own…
Ugh, I don’t want to… I’m scared…
Swish! A sword strike flies at me from behind.
Aaah! This time it grazed my cheek!
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
I glance back and see that flashy guy swinging his holy sword.
Please stop, enough already!
「Tch! Missed, huh? But I won’t miss the next one!」
Please miss! I’m begging you!
Internally panicking, I head back to the previous floor.
Ouch! This time it hit my tail!
Eeeeekkkk!
And somehow, I managed to escape and arrived back at the previous floor.
Phew, phew… I’m exhausted. It’s been a while since I ran that much.
…The powder… Where is the powder of that spine… Where is that white powder?
I scan the floor.
…There it is.
In a corner of the floor.
I dash towards it.
The powdered “Earth Dragon’s Spine” that Tres had prepared is still in the mortar.
Thank goodness, it’s still there…
『Elibel… I’m glad it’s still here…』
『…Stop making pathetic noises and just lick it already. Look, it seems the other guy has caught up. Be careful, don’t take more than a lick. It’s an incredible elixir that could even change your personality if you’re not careful.』
Oh, right. I need to hurry.
I lick the “Earth Dragon’s Spine” as instructed.
…It’s a bit scary, so just a little bit.
Lick, lick… gulp
…Oh my, isn’t this delicious?
Amazing… It tastes like mint.
Let me lick a bit more. Lick, lick.
Yum… Lick, lick, lick.
…Yeah.
Wait, is this cannibalism…?
No, I can’t worry about that now.
Ah, my head feels cool.
At the same time, my thoughts are becoming clear.
The effects are starting to show…
『……………………』
「You decided to come back to this floor? What’s the matter? Have you finally decided to face me?」
…How annoying.
I’ve been hearing an extremely irritating voice from behind.
Is this… anger?
I turn around and glare at the man behind me.
「――――――!?」
The man distances himself and readies his sword.
What’s with the caution?
…Ah, I see. This is truly an incredible effect.
I couldn’t think of anything just a moment ago, but now I can calmly analyze things to a surprising degree.
The chains of reason… have been unshackled.
And with that, an overwhelming sense of liberation and anger wells up within me.
…That’s right.
Now that I think about it, it’s truly unjust.
I was just living a peaceful life, and yet… the dungeon was destroyed… my arm was severed… and now I’m being threatened with death like this…。
I look at the man in front of me once again.
It’s him.
He’s the culprit.
Because of him… because of him…
「I see, so you’re finally willing to fight…」
『…Shut up.』
「Huh?」
The man looks around, seemingly confused.
『…You’re being annoying… Can’t you just shut up?』
「Huh? What’s this?… Telepathy? ―――――!!」
The man’s face changes to an expression of surprise.
As if I care.
That’s right. It’s him. It’s his fault.
He’s the one who destroyed the dungeon… of mine…
『YOU’RE BEING ANNOYING, DAMN IT!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY HARD-EARNED HOME, A PLACE I POURED SO MUCH EFFORT INTO!!!』
Crackling, crackling, crackling…
A roar reverberates through the dungeon.
Multiple cracks appear on the walls, and the ground around me starts to break and caved in.
『Hey! Jiryuu! Calm down! If you unleash your full power with a roar like that, the dungeon will…』
『Elibel… I’m sorry. Just wait for a moment…』
That’s right.
This guy ruined the culmination of my year-long efforts.
He destroyed the home I dreamed of, the place where I poured my passion into creating golems.
He harmed my subordinates… my loyal followers.
Now I understand.
I can feel the waves of magic power from Ann and Pururu.
They were fighting too. Desperately… getting hurt…
I will never forgive him!
『I’ll kill you!』
―――――― Jiryuu snapped.
The med kicks in.
「..Uh-oh… Did it work too well…? How scared was he for him to be like this…」
In the depths even darker than the abyss, Elibel sweats profusely while healing her body.
Powdered Earth Dragon Spine (commonly known as white powder)
Effect: Cancels all curses and magic spells. However, when used on a living being, it reverses their mentality and personality. In other words, the more fearful they are, the braver they become. Small amounts pose no significant issues, but excessive consumption can lead to abnormalities in the psyche later on. Please strictly adhere to the recommended usage and dosage when taking this substance.
――――Excerpt from Elibel Pharmaceuticals
Author’s note:
Seriously, Jiryuu has such a fragile mentality that he needs something like this just to be able to fight.