Ch.390Chapter 390 – White Dragon and Lizardman (2)

“I think there’s some misunderstanding here.”

I spoke quietly to the woman whose eyes were filled with killing intent.

“We’re not with those buffalo-headed guys.”

“Then I don’t understand why you killed our warriors.”

The female lizardman narrowed her eyes.

Apparently displeased with my answer, the white scales on her almost human-like face twitched slightly.

Blood stained her light armor, which prioritized mobility with thick steel reinforcements covering vital areas, and was dripping onto the floor, staining it red.

Her lizard tail, which seemed to protrude from between her waist and hips, struck the ground forcefully once.

“Our warriors were preparing to welcome the Great One. You ruined that.”

“The Great One?”

“You look like outsiders, haven’t you heard? The white dragon that has appeared all over the world.”

That’s me.

Our group exchanged brief glances with each other.

After a moment of silent voting, I, elected as the representative, quietly answered.

“No idea.”

“…Where are you from, some backwater village? You don’t know of the Great One’s reputation?”

Killing intent once again filled the reptilian eyes.

“Fine. Let me tell you about the white dragon. The Great One first appeared in Count Metis’s territory in the Kingdom of Mikea, then fought against demons in Albheim and Ferarius, and battled monsters in the royal palace of Firenchena.”

The light in the reptile’s eyes changed slightly.

The previous killing intent temporarily disappeared, replaced by a somewhat slimy gaze.

Of course, this lasted only briefly, and killing intent soon returned to her eyes.

“Starting with humans, elves and dwarves have all received help from the Great One. I can’t believe you don’t know the name of someone who is practically a savior. What kind of information network do you humans have?”

“Well, I haven’t heard the details about those events, so I wouldn’t know.”

Honestly, I hadn’t heard how our experiences were being spread elsewhere, so what I said wasn’t exactly wrong.

And we had to keep moving to our next destination, so we didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to the aftermath.

But being treated as a savior?

How embarrassing.

“How pathetic. But I suppose that’s why you don’t know what great work you were trying to ruin.”

“…What exactly is this great work?”

We just got here.

Naturally, we couldn’t know anything about the lizardmen’s great work.

But she didn’t seem interested in properly investigating whether we knew or not, and her eyes turned slimy again.

“It’s obvious. Think about it. The Great One has appeared in the Kingdom of Mikea, Albheim, Ferarius, and Firenchena.”

The woman said, widening her eyes.

“Essentially, the Great One has almost circled the continent. Geographically it’s not perfect, but one could say the Great One has appeared once each in the central, eastern, southern, and western regions.”

As she said, it wasn’t a perfect match, but it was true that the Kingdom of Mikea was in the center of the continent, Albheim to the west, Ferarius to the south, and Firenchena closer to the east.

“…Only the north remains?”

“That’s right, human.”

The woman spoke quietly.

“The conclusion is obvious that the Great One will next come here, to the north. To Bestia.”

If we’re using process of elimination, it wouldn’t be strange to predict that the next destination would be the north.

But there’s a slight problem…

“…There’s no guarantee the Great One will come to Bestia specifically?”

There’s no guarantee that this white dragon character would necessarily come to Bestia.

Of course, since I am actually that white dragon and I have come to Bestia, it’s correct, but they couldn’t have known I wouldn’t go to another country instead.

But the lizardman woman didn’t seem to consider this possibility.

“No, the Great One will definitely come here.”

The woman said with an ecstatic expression.

“This is the land where we, the descendants of dragons, live.”

“……”

According to Beatrice.

Lizardmen have no particular relationship with dragons.

In other words, that’s a delusion.

“The shaman said the Great One would come to Bestia. So it’s clear that the dragon, having finished a long journey, will come to us to watch over us. The Great One will come to lead us. And we are ready to offer both body and soul.”

The woman’s eyes became somewhat ecstatic, as if she had some strange thoughts.

I spoke to her with a slightly mocking tone.

“That shaman, they’re not senile, are they?”

The woman made a momentarily subtle expression and said.

“…The previous shaman was indeed senile… but the current shaman is young. …Still inexperienced, so the prophecies often miss the mark…”

“……”

How can they believe a shaman whose prophecies often miss?

“But this time was different. Our shaman received this prophecy directly from the Dragon King.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and said.

“The white dragon shall come to the land of the beastkin. Crossing the vast icy plains to find the star of life and save all beings. I warn you, do not let anything hinder the white dragon’s wings. After the white wings are cut, only a world of oppression will remain.”

“……”

“That was the prophecy our shaman received from the Dragon King, human.”

There were concerning words.

My eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Taking my reaction as serious engagement, the lizardman woman smiled fiercely and said.

“Therefore, the chieftains of our lizardmen held council and reached a conclusion. Before the white dragon comes to Bestia, we must clean this land.”

“How exactly does one reach such a conclusion? May I ask?”

Their logic was difficult to understand.

Unfortunately, the woman didn’t seem interested in answering and continued with what she wanted to say.

“We decided to make this land worthy of the Great One and fulfill the prophecy.”

The lizardman woman quietly said.

“As descendants of dragons, we will conquer the land of the beastkin and erase those who are unnecessary so that the Great One can save all beings.”

“…Unnecessary?”

“Only we can work for the Great One. The rest are not needed in this country.”

Her words first sparked a sense of displeasure in me.

Then the woman raised her halberd and said.

“The descendants of dragons rise for the Great One. And preparations to serve the Great One are already complete. Those without resolve have no need to be in Bestia. That’s why this is a holy war, and you have interfered with us.”

Pointing her blood-dripping halberd, the woman said.

“My name is Lizanis. One who holds the title of Great Warrior. At the same time, one who serves the white dragon and has sworn to offer both body and soul for the Great One.”

The lizardman woman, who had been swinging her halberd around, began to take a stance and declared.

“For the Great One, I will erase everything unnecessary.”

With those words, the lizardman woman kicked off the ground and began charging at me.

“I’ll handle this one.”

“Go ahead.”

Sia nodded and turned toward the other lizardmen charging at our group.

And I quickly changed my weapon to a halberd and swung it.

Our halberds collided with a terrifying boom.

“…You’re quite strong…!”

Lizanis smiled fiercely and continued swinging her halberd.

Perhaps because she was a beastkin, despite her rather slender body for a warrior, her strength was terrifying.

I blocked all her attacks without deliberately deflecting any of that strength.

Lizanis, who had been continuously swinging her halberd, smiled fiercely and shouted.

“Well, maybe I underestimated you for being human! Yes, it must be you! The one who’s been capturing slave hunters despite being human!”

Anyone listening would think we specialized in dealing with slave hunters.

Regardless, I had no intention of engaging in conversation.

I swung my halberd again, and soon Lizanis and I were locked in a test of strength.

Lizanis bared her teeth and said.

“You’re trying to match strength with a beastkin? Human, do you know that even the rat-folk, whom you humans despise most, are twice as strong as you?!”

Perhaps because her body temperature had risen from moving around, Lizanis’s speech was becoming more intense and rapid than before.

And soon she shouted in anger.

“Don’t underestimate me, human! I am a warrior of the white dragon!!”

The reptilian pupils narrowed as I felt Lizanis putting more strength into her push.

Gradually, Lizanis began pushing my halberd back.

As I held firm against her, Lizanis grinned and shouted.

“I thought you’d crumble already! You’re holding up well!! You have potential as a warrior!”

She smiled, showing her teeth.

“I like you! I promise you in the name of the Great Warrior! If you surrender, I’ll recognize you not as a slave but as a comrade! I’ll give you the right to participate in the holy war as an equal! There is no greater honor! What do you say?!”

“What do I say?”

I spoke coldly to her.

“I refuse, of course.”

With those words, I put more strength into my body once more.

There was no need to strain my heart to draw out the dragon’s power.

As I applied more force than before, Lizanis’s halberd, which she had been pushing with all her might, was forced upward.

“What strength…!”

“Let me tell you, that white dragon character would never tell anyone to oppress others or erase unnecessary people.”

I spoke quietly to the surprised Lizanis.

“In fact, he would despise such things the most. He himself was captured by mysterious people and turned into an experimental subject, and those responsible often spoke of erasing the unnecessary.”

“What are you saying…!”

I thought of Idea and Somnus in a corner of my mind.

As I felt more strength entering my body, Lizanis began kneeling down, struggling to withstand my force.

“If you’re going to talk about the white dragon in front of me like that.”

“What…!”

Lizanis’s knees began digging into the ground.

Thinking that if I used any more strength, I might unconsciously use the dragon’s power, I raised one hand and made a fist.

Yet Lizanis still couldn’t lift my halberd, and I said to her.

“You’d better grit your teeth and brace yourself.”

I punched Lizanis in the face with all my might.

With the feeling of hard scales breaking, Lizanis’s body flew backward.

She slid across the ground, leaving a trail and raising a cloud of dust.

And I quietly muttered.

“And if you wanted to show off your strength, know that there are many people stronger than you, lizard.”

“Th-the Great Warrior!”

I heard the lizardmen’s shocked voices.

Lizanis struggled to her feet and began glaring at me.

“This…”

The impact seemed greater than expected, as Lizanis stood up staggering slightly.

And as I slowly walked toward Lizanis, the surrounding lizardmen shouted as if screaming.

“Save the Great Warrior!”

“Is that a human?! Monster! Stop him quickly!”

The lizardmen rushed forward, busily wielding spears and swords.

But there was no need for me to respond.

“Sorry, but I didn’t come here to play.”

“Where are you looking?”

Sia moved first, followed by Eve.

Several lizardmen fell to Sia’s greatsword, and a lizardman who appeared to hold some position was struck down by Eve’s sword.

“A-arrows!”

Lizardmen with bows emerged from hiding, surrounding us and raising their weapons.

Arrows were fired in an instant.

“‘Protect the young lambs.'”

The arrows didn’t get far before being blocked by a golden shield and falling to the ground.

Chris smiled slightly as he extended his staff, and behind him, Sera spun a ball on a leather strap before throwing it toward the lizardmen with bows.

The lizardmen hurriedly turned to flee.

“You can’t escape.”

The ball Sera threw transformed as soon as it hit the ground.

Suddenly, root-like things sprouted and bound the feet of the remaining lizardmen, including the archers.

And above those lizardmen, Beatrice leaped down and said with a fierce smile.

“If you’re going to hide, you should hide properly.”

Apparently, they had been hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to strike all at once.

Magic circles floated above Beatrice’s hands, with sparks continuously flying from them.

When Beatrice placed her hands on the ground, a flash of light spread across the area, and the lizardmen began to be electrocuted.

The lizardmen, their feet already entangled in the roots, couldn’t escape and collapsed from the electric shock.

The only one lucky enough to avoid electrocution was Lizanis, whom I had punched away.

“…My warriors…!”

“You’re the only one left, what will you do?”

As I approached slowly, Lizanis gritted her teeth and rose from her position.

Then, raising her halberd, she shouted.

“Don’t think the warrior of the white dragon will retreat because of this!”

I clearly told her to brace herself when she started talking about the white dragon earlier.

I quietly glared at Lizanis and raised my halberd.

And the next moment.

-SCREEEECH!!

With a strange bird cry, the sound of something huge flapping its wings was heard.

Quickly turning my gaze, I saw a bird that looked like a giant archaeopteryx flying toward us.

“Intercept it immediately…!”

Beatrice immediately directed her hand toward the giant archaeopteryx.

Ice chunks flew from the magic circle toward the bird.

And just before the archaeopteryx was hit by the ice chunks.

Suddenly, some kind of barrier deflected the ice chunks.

At the same time, I could see something small riding on top of the archaeopteryx.

“…A magician, no, a shaman?!”

As Beatrice immediately prepared her next attack and Chris raised his staff to protect everyone, something happened.

Suddenly, a white mist-like substance rose around us, obscuring our vision.

At the same time, Lizanis’s presence moved away.

“Are you running away?!”

“Let go! Let go of me…!”

With those words, Lizanis’s voice faded away.

Soon the fog cleared, and the fallen lizardmen around us were gone.

“A warp spell.”

As Beatrice muttered through gritted teeth, Lizanis’s voice was heard from afar.

“There won’t be a next time, human! Next time… Ugh!”

Lizanis’s voice was filled with pain, perhaps from where I had hit her.

But after that, her voice was no longer heard.

Chris looked at me.

“…Should I chase after them?”

“No.”

I quietly answered Chris.

“We have more urgent matters than that lizard, let’s deal with those first.”

Perhaps because we had fought near the gate, several armored beastkin were slowly approaching us with frightened expressions.

It was a bit annoying that they hadn’t intervened until now and only approached after it was over, but on the other hand, I decided to understand that they were probably afraid of the lizardmen.

“…I just hope they don’t block our entry.”

Quietly resenting the commotion caused by the lizardmen, I put away my weapon and approached the guards.

+

On top of the giant archaeopteryx, Lizanis was angry.

“Why did you hit my head earlier! And why did you stop me!”

The small lizardman wearing a robe under a mask made from a huge beast’s skull gave no answer.

Soon Lizanis became angry again.

“Shaman Lizinis! I asked why you stopped me!”

The lizardman called Lizinis sighed heavily.

Then she turned her head to look at Lizanis.

A young girl’s face, similar to Lizanis’s, looked angry.

“Sister Liza.”

“…What?”

Lizanis, called “sister,” shrank back slightly.

Addressing such a Lizanis, Lizinis quietly continued.

“Sister Liza. You’ve done it now.”

“What do you mean?”

Lizanis narrowed her eyes and said.

“I only did my duty as a warrior for the white dragon? As your blood-related sister, can you kindly explain what I did wrong?”

Lizinis sighed heavily again.

“I prophesy that when you hear the content, Sister Liza, I think you’ll faint.”

“I won’t faint. Just tell me.”

Lizanis narrowed her eyes and said.

“Tell me, our cute Lizi. Our new shaman of the lizardmen. What did your sister, who swore to dedicate everything to the white dragon, do wrong?”

“Sister, you picked a fight with the white dragon mentioned in the Dragon King’s prophecy.”

Lizanis’s eyes widened.

Looking at Lizanis, whose pupils were shaking back and forth, the shaman delivered the final blow with half-closed eyes.

“That human you picked a fight with is the one we’re supposed to serve.”

Great Warrior Lizanis fainted.