episode_0024

– Master, I’m dying again…

A voice echoes within the narrowed vision like a tunnel.

When I come to my senses, has Yu-ria pulled me out of the mansion?

Feeling the wind and her embrace…

“Ah, this is heaven.”

Yu-ria, now riding on the back of the demon that has become part of our family, maintains a composed demeanor as she meets my gaze.

“Master.”

She slightly furrows her brows.

Well, it’s not just one dragon but two.

-Crackle crackle crackle!!!

Below, someone is contending with an ice-transformed dragon.

Rachel, using all her clones and power to battle.

Considering that ice is the weakness of the breath and factoring in the clones, Rachel should have enough strength to endure at least for a while.

Yu-ria, who seems to have roughly grasped this, looks down with cold, penetrating eyes.

It’s a complex gaze.

In terms of sheer magical power, Yu-ria has 20%, the dragon has 80%.

Considering combat sense and potential, she might be able to raise it to 30% at best.

If she didn’t absorb the blood fully earlier, she might not even have 10% left.

The fight would not have been possible if Yu-ria had not filled herself almost to the brim with magic, predicting the dragon’s attack roughly.

“…Listen to me carefully, absolutely. You have to fight in the way you hate the most, but there’s no other choice.”

With my only rolling head, I had no choice but to use strategy.

Yu-ria, having heard the whole plan, looked displeased.

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes, absolutely serious without a hint of falsehood. Your belief in me will exponentially increase our chances of winning. It’s a kind of… bond. A bond.”

At the word “bond,” Yu-ria reacted slightly.

“…Bond, in the master-servant relationship, is more important than anything else. Yes, it must be important even in the engagement promised later. I believe in you, Master.”

Yu-ria gazes at me with eyes full of conviction.

It’s somehow frightening.

I stand alone in front of the dragon.

The occasional shadow that falls on my body gives an overwhelming feeling of instinctive unease.

-Roar…

The breath comes flying.

Facing that head-on, there wouldn’t even be time to say anything before my whole body melted away.

I pull out the wand from my hand as if flicking it and crush it.

As I do, vitality surges through my body, and my speed increases.

There exists a law of equivalent exchange for wands. For example, this is a wand made from a grade E monster. It has the ability to slightly increase agility. With a bit of magical adjustment, its output could be increased.

It releases a single burst of power strong enough to detonate the wand’s magic formula when used once. However, the wand would incur damage and become unusable afterward. That’s just the way things work in this world.

But there’s no one who knows how to use this properly. Using this trick, I had attracted the attention of the dragon while harboring heaps of trashy wands with only the ability to slightly increase agility.

– Kwa-jik.

However, avoiding that perfectly is not possible. The debris of the broken tree embeds deeply into my thigh.

“Kuk…!”

I forcibly stop the blood flowing from my thigh. What’s keeping me going is barely being able to recover my body with the magic I received from Yuria a little while ago. If I didn’t have that, my mobility would have collapsed by now, and I might have died.

By the way, speaking of dragons, “Breath” is a technique akin to breathing for them. Just exhaling breath, that sort of thing. It means they don’t consume anything each time they use it.

“…As expected, damn, this is messed up.”

While thinking that, seeing Yuria attacking from above makes my skin crawl. She deliberately used her family’s power to block the dragon’s movements several times. It’s been only about 3 minutes and 38 seconds, but I almost died three times.

“Even if you tell me to trust you, it seems impossible to show it like this.”

A flash shines brightly as it strikes upwards. It must be a technique unseen in this world. A significant surge of magic, a pull in my vision.

I urgently turn my head as I was busy blocking the arrows of blood flying from behind. Regardless of powerful explosions or effective magic, there always exists the “origin of magic power”.

Whether it’s Yuria’s blood magic, my wand, or ordinary fireballs, they are all the same.

The magic I just threw is very powerful. However, it’s a distraction. Just a defective product that makes magical waves look formidable.

– Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang!!

A red spear falls from the sky, piercing the dragon’s chest. Normally, it would have been a fatal wound, but now the hole is neatly filled. That’s why it’s a pain in the ass when dragons and demons clash. Dragons regenerate slowly due to their tough skin, but demons go berserk. Tsk, even Yuria, who licked her lips briefly, had the same thought. Despite perfectly launched attacks, the dragon remains unscathed.

“Kraaaahhh!!”

The dragon’s roar seems to shake the ground. With that roar, it unleashes a breath attack into the sky, causing Yuria to be flung away, blood spewing from her body. Though her arms and legs are severed, her rapid regeneration still shows her vampiric nature. It doesn’t mean I boasted about having a 20% chance of winning in a head-on fight for nothing. But seriously… after nearly four minutes, is she now ignoring me and focusing over there? Even modern techniques like flash grenades get old after a few uses. It’s just that the magical waves are strong! And considering I’ve only used it to keep her attention, it’s natural. But do you know what? Does that mean you think I only throw away weak magic tools sacrificing them to use only the power of magical waves without igniting them?

-Ttak.

As I pull the lever, a magic tool rises from my embrace. As it’s a B-grade demon-based magic tool, forcibly increasing its output to the point where it can’t be used again if self-destructed…!

-!!

-Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang!!

An immense explosion occurs right in front of the dragon. It was the same flash as before, but this time, a real chain reaction explosion of magical power happens. The pierced dragon, momentarily halted in mid-air, crashes to the floor of the mansion. Having recovered from the previous shock, Yuria creates two more spears and pierces the creature’s abdomen, making it seem about 10 meters long. Having fallen to the ground, the wolves also tear at the creature’s hide. The creature quickly readies itself, preparing to fight back.

However, the situation is not as good as one might hope.

In the span of four minutes, only five of these attacks have landed. From the initial flash attack to the two subsequent ones, a total of five.

Yuria had anticipated that in order to infect the creature as per my plan, I would need to embed around twenty spears into its body. Well, I don’t know if it can withstand being goaded into submission.

This is just one of many plans.

The retaliating dragon soared into the sky and scattered thorns towards Yuria. She managed to block them with a barrier, but taking advantage of the somewhat dispersed vision, the approaching dragon used its brute strength to strike Yuria.

Even though the final boss had endured so many attacks, she was being pushed back. Yuria, overwhelmed by the tremendous force, crashed beside me.

Her condition was visibly dire. Blood trickled from her lips, her arm and right leg twisted grotesquely. The maid outfit, once pristine and alluring, now revealed a disheveled and overwhelming sight, the polar opposite of her usual impeccable and captivating appearance. It was unimaginable to see her, the upcoming final boss, in such a state. However, her one burning crimson eye was fixed on the enemy.

It seems that the wounds I’ve inflicted on the creature are more of a thorn in its side than what it has done to her.

“…Attacking while thinking of whose property you are, you beast.”

After being covered in blood once, her wounds healed as if by magic.

…Yuria truly is relentless in her own way.

“There are realistic strategies, after all.”

Facing off against such a monster like Yuria and assuming victory under the premise of hitting it with just 20 spears is a story far beyond the norm. It’s a tale that deviates from common sense.

First, the area created by Yuria.

Only within this area can she infect the creature.

This is a significant reason why her chances of winning are only 20%.

If that breath were to shatter the pulsing eyes of the sky?

The subordinates who have been holding out so far will once again be reduced to shadows, at best summoning a few wolves.

Originally, her abilities as a knight commander would have been quite helpful, but for someone soaring through the sky with tough skin like his, her usual abilities weren’t of much use.

“So I managed to catch his attention.”

Toward me.

Considering he was hit by my previous attack, if I throw another ice bomb, he’ll surely focus on me. He must find it bothersome to aim his attacks and is instead creating openings to draw attention. Dealing with this annoying fellow first is crucial. Surprisingly, Yung is quite sharp. If he catches onto my plan, it’s game over. Right now, he’s raging in anger, but once he regains composure, the situation will undoubtedly reverse. Well, it’s not like it’s not already unfavorable. Anyway, I have to kill him before that happens.

“…Yuria, how much longer?”

“Not yet. I’m not fully prepared.”

Having heard my sarcasm, Yuria averted her gaze from my wounds and said, “I’m still not ready.” She probably can’t bring herself to look at me. Then she glanced at me a couple of times, and somehow, it seemed like her personality, so I chuckled. Inside the banquet hall… I’ve pushed around 500 or so people into Yuria’s shadows. Naturally, this is to prevent them from getting involved in the fight, and if they’re in a state of sleep, they can be preserved within the shadows for several hours. Therefore, the banquet hall is now a cage, and the bait to lure them in is me. The most irritating and annoying bait. Yes, it’s different from dealing with the guy who played with fear boxes and doppelgangers back in the League of… whatever it was called. Of course, I’ll deal with the annoying one first. And then use that to lure him into a trap. My target is precisely that. After finishing my thoughts, I exchanged glances with Yuria. -Kwagagagang!!! Distraction. Yung, realizing he’d been deceived, belatedly turned his head, only to be pierced in the abdomen by the same spear. -Kwagagagang. It looked fake before, but this time it’s real. Repeating the hellish Eji Senda, scratching his insides, is both his tactic and a provocation. Before we knew it, there were 14 spears piercing Yung.

This is the translated text:

If it goes on like this, I really think I could dominate by planting 20 of them.

“Kwaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

With a red face, enraged Yong flew towards me.

While preparing my magic tool, I hastily smashed an agility-type magic tool that looked similar to the others and fled. At the same time, I didn’t forget to use concealment. He can immediately pinpoint my location with magic power. But I predicted that as well. If I just create some confusion for a moment, it will be enough.

-Kwaaaaang!!!!

“Where are you looking? Your enemy is right here.”

As Yuria threw a spear once, it pierced his back. Despite attempting to rush at Yuria with his fangs bared, this time he simply ignored that and continued to rush at Ian. I’ve adapted somewhat to this fight. It seems even I have realized that continuing like this is endless. I’ve made the decision to definitively eliminate Ian. Yes. This is how Yong waited for him to look only at himself. Yong entered the mansion. Just as he was about to breathe fire, Yuria created about five spears behind him. However, Yong blinked once. “In that case,” he said, turning his head slightly. He unleashed a spell powerful enough to kill Yuria in one blow. The so-called Dragon Blood Magic. The red dragon’s blood began to surge. And at the sight of it, I was filled with astonishment. Yong’s mind works fairly well. Yes. This sense of crisis. It’s intense. This guy, with a wickedness almost like that of a human. He deceived me once again. Not foolishly aiming for Yuria now, but roughly grasping and preparing for what would happen from the beginning. As if being drawn in as if it were happening to me. Pretending to be completely fooled until the end, knowing that my main force is Yuria. Then, he simply reached out his hand and simultaneously blocked the variables. If I’m pierced by the claw, which is sharpened like a blade, I’ll die. Unlike Yuria, I understand that I won’t recover properly. The claw that pierced my abdomen poured blood from my mouth. I can’t avoid my internal organs being damaged. There’s just a big hole in my body. Blood flows as if I’m about to collapse to the ground.

Here is the translated text:

That’s why forcibly extracting magic also poses difficulties.

“…Is that damn demon, not a mage.”

Laughter burst out with a bitter smile.

I lightly struck the third-floor wall from the first floor and crashed down below from the impact.

I utilized all my magical tools focused on defense, yet they shattered.

Redirecting the trajectory from the heart to the abdomen was just the beginning.

It was an unbelievably powerful blow.

The dragon noticed my struggling breath, but ultimately, there was no escaping death.

There would be no stopping the strike heading towards Yuria.

He sneered as if he had completely exposed my weaknesses.

Yuria only gazed at me from a distance.

An overwhelming desire to rush over immediately.

Whatever was said, I couldn’t hear well.

All that could be seen in her expression was a deep, poignant sadness filled with affection.

“How many times have you almost died…”

She must have suffered countless severe injuries, fractures, lost limbs, and numerous wounds throughout her life. The kind of deep wounds that even someone with extraordinary mental strength would find unbearable had pierced her dozens of times.

However.

Are you worrying about me until the end?

Why?

What did I do to deserve such dedication?

You must be in more pain.

But—

“- One thing, haven’t you forgotten something?”

“…”

“We… returned to where we first met.”

And here…

Rachel, who had completed her awakening, was confidently taking her place.

“…My son.”

“Did you touch him?”

Crackle!

[Level 5 Absolute Zero]

– A vision spell. As a direct descendant, its power increases by 120%.

– User’s attributes are exceptional, increasing the power twice.

– Instead of reaching the caster’s limit, it raises the power once more.

– Current power exceeds the original by over 170%.

Most of all, she was furious.

Rachel was waiting with visible anger.