Chapter 190: Full Moon Night – Part 2 (8)

There are many comical legends about the Last Dragon, Dorothea Gwendolyn.

Stories like how she secretly came down to a village to enjoy a festival but got caught and had to flee, or how she got drunk after a drinking contest at a tavern and scattered gold coins everywhere, or how she wouldn’t let an adventurer who accidentally trespassed leave until they beat her in a game of rock-paper-scissors.

In these tales, Dorothy is rarely violent.

She’s strong and mischievous, but never malicious—more like a bratty troublemaker than a real threat.

But the reason Dorothy turned out like this is entirely because she follows Sien’s teachings of “keep your head down and live humbly.”

It’s not because she’s a harmless softie who doesn’t know how to get angry.

No matter how much she suppresses her temper, a Chromatic Dragon is still a Chromatic Dragon.

When she really loses it, her eyes flip, and she destroys everything in sight.

She crushes things so completely that no one would even dare to think of resisting.

She has that kind of power.

The kind of terrifying power that, once she snaps, no one can stop her.

And this time was no different.

“You know… I can forgive a lot of things.”

Dorothy muttered in a chillingly cold voice as she grabbed Raizein by the hair.

“Starting a fight with me for no reason when I was just minding my business, trying to kill me by draining my life force, even cutting in line to make a contract with the hero before I could…

All of that, I could overlook. I could endure it.

But…”

CRACK.

Dorothy gritted her teeth—and in the next instant, she slammed Raizein’s head into the ground with full force.

BOOM!!

The ground shattered, and Raizein’s body was crushed from the impact.

“But I can’t forgive you for cutting off my one and only friend’s arm, you bitch!!!!”

“Hiieeek!?!”

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Dorothy’s forepaw came crashing down on Raizein’s body again and again.

Like smashing a ripe tomato, red juice splattered everywhere.

Even if Raizein wanted to escape, she couldn’t.

Dorothy, now in her true dragon form, was using brute force far beyond anything a weakened vampire—especially one at their weakest at dawn—could hope to withstand.

Before she came here, Dorothy had made a vow:

To crush the bastard who maimed her servant into the dirt like flattening dough.

And now, she was faithfully carrying out that promise.

“Die, die, DIE, you bastard!!! Just explode and go straight to hell!!!!”

“Hurk—agh!! Ugh!! Spare me, aaaghhh!!”

Raizein, now covered in blood, screamed.

Her cries were occasionally mixed with pleas for mercy, but every time Dorothy heard one…

She just slammed her harder.

And harder.

This wasn’t a technique.

This wasn’t a spell.

It was raw, primal violence.

Overwhelming, unrelenting power—pure force smashing her down.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM!

-“…Wow.”

From a distance, Exia murmured in awe.

-“I don’t know who that is, but she must hold a serious grudge. Beating someone to death like that…

I guess we don’t even need to intervene, huh? Looks like she’s going to finish things all on her own.”

“……”

-“…Anyway, Sion, are you really okay with this? Letting her die like this, I mean?

I mean, sure, I personally believe bad people deserve the punishment they get, so I’m fine with it.

But you’re not like that, right? I mean, she’s basically your daughter. You raised her like one.

It’s not too late—you could step in and secretly save her if you want. I’d even turn a blind eye, just this once.”

“………”

-“…Sion?”

Exia kept talking, but Sion didn’t respond.

She just stared at Dorothy’s true form, deep in thought.

Then, after a long silence, she finally spoke up—like something had clicked.

“Ah, that’s it! I knew I’d seen that dragon somewhere before! No wonder she looked so familiar!”

-“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Don’t you remember?

The little hatchling we looked after briefly before we left for the demon realm.

It was such a short encounter that I forgot all about it until now—but now I realize. That was her.”

-“??? Wait, hold on…”

Exia turned to look at Dorothy too.

A moment later, realization hit her as well.

-“Oh wow, you’re right?!

She looks exactly like Dorothea! Her body’s a bit bigger now, but the face is the same! I can’t believe it was the same dragon all along!

It’s so nice to see her again!”

“Dorothea? That thing’s name was Dorothea?”

-“??? Sion, don’t tell me—you didn’t even know her name? After everything you put her through??”

“Well, I never asked. Wasn’t really interested.”

-“…Wow. What a piece of garbage…”

Exia muttered in a disgusted voice.

But Sion, arms crossed, simply smiled in satisfaction.

“To think that tiny little thing from back then has grown this much… It really makes you feel the passage of time.
Even a bad tie is still a tie—I can’t help but feel a bit glad to see her face again.”

It wasn’t exactly the most appropriate sentiment for the situation.

While Sion was lost in nostalgia, Dorothy was gleefully turning Raizein into a bloody smear.

She’d been beaten so much that even her screams had stopped.

Watching the scene, Exia wiped a bead of nervous sweat and muttered quietly:

-“Uh, are we… really not going to stop her?
Is it okay to just stand here doing nothing?”

“…Well, we should probably stop her.”

Noticing the number of irreparably mangled parts on Raizein’s body increasing, Sion stepped forward.

Then, picking up Exia, she aimed her toward Dorothy and said:

“That’s far enough. I’d like to ask you to stop now.”

[Haaah?]

Dorothy turned around, bloodshot eyes glaring at Sion.

Her gaze was overflowing with unresolved hatred.

[Who the hell are you? What right do you have to butt in?]

“I’m the hero, Sion. Also, I was the one fighting the person you’re attacking just now.
The decision on how to deal with her falls to me.
I’d appreciate it if you didn’t jump into a finished fight and take matters into your own hands.”

[Ha? Do you even know who you’re mouthing off to right now?]

Dorothy released her grip on Raizein and stomped on her.

Then she spread her wings wide, flaunting her intimidating presence.

[I am a dragon. The highest, most supreme of all beings. Born with the divine right to rule over everything.

No matter how great you think you are, Do you really believe you, a mere human, could take me in a one-on-one fight? Seriously?]

“……”

I could. Give me five minutes, and I’d leave you lying there just like Raizein.

But Sion had no intention of going that far.

She held no real grudge against Dorothy.

In fact, she was kind of happy to see her again here.

She figured reasoning things out with words was the better approach.

“I’m well aware. I know full well that my power can’t reach Lady Dorothea.”

[……!]

At the mention of her real name, Dorothy inhaled sharply.

[What? You know my name? How?]

“Of course I do. How could I not recognize the last of the ‘Great Race’ left on the surface?

Your dignified bearing and overwhelming combat strength— They’re exactly as the books described.”

[Heh… Hee~eh. Really?]

At the praise, Dorothy’s lips curled up slightly.

Then she quickly shook her head and tried to return to a stern expression.

Watching her, Sion chuckled to herself.

What a simple creature.

“I completely understand your rage, Lady Dorothea. But I ask that you not kill her.
There is a very specific reason she must be kept alive.”

[A reason she has to be kept alive? And what would that be?]

“Well, during this assault, she bit one of our students and made them her thrall.”

Sion glanced subtly in Marianne’s direction.

“By nature, a vampire’s thrall is utterly bound to its master—even their life. If the master dies, so does the thrall.

We can’t allow that to happen. So I beg your understanding.”

Sion bowed respectfully as she spoke, like a loyal retainer pleading with a king.

Seeing this, Dorothy scowled.

[Haaah? So what? What’s that got to do with me?

Why should I care? This bitch crossed the line with her insults. If I don’t snap her damn neck right here, I’ll never be satisfied.]

“Your anger is one hundred percent justified, Lady Dorothea. But I humbly ask that you show mercy this once.
If you kill her now, an innocent life—still in bloom—will be lost with her. As a hero, I cannot allow that outcome.”

[Ha! And what if I don’t care what you allow? You gonna fight me or something?

You’ve got a lot of nerve, don’t you? If you’re so confident, then bring it on!]

“Lady Dorothea.”

Sion cut her off in a low, cold voice.

She raised her head and locked eyes with Dorothy—eyes sharp as blades.

The moment their gazes met, Dorothy flinched.

She didn’t know why…

But looking into those eyes brought back a wave of trauma—

Like something from five hundred years ago was resurfacing inside her.

“I said I cannot allow it. You’re free to seek vengeance, but if innocent lives are lost as a result, it becomes my duty to stop you.

And if you still insist on going through with it— Then I will respond accordingly.

Please understand that before you say another word.”

[……….]

A chill ran down Dorothy’s spine.

She knew she could win a fight.

That human may be impressive, but she was still just a human.

She had been fighting for six hours straight and was clearly exhausted, her clothes in tatters.

Dorothy, on the other hand, was fully healed thanks to Philia and had a good night’s sleep.
There was no way she could lose in this state.

And yet…

For some reason, her instincts screamed not to defy that voice.

It wasn’t her body—it was her soul that remembered submission.

A submission burned into her spirit five hundred years ago.

And so, despite all her bravado earlier, Dorothy shrank back, eyes wide with fear.

[A-Alright! I won’t kill her, okay?! I won’t kill her!

So stop glaring at me like that! Please!]

“My deepest gratitude for your compassion.”

Sion bowed politely, a triumphant grin hidden beneath her calm.

Her philosophy of education had been proven right once again:

You have to break kids in while they’re young—train them with an iron fist.

Then, when the time comes, they’ll shut up and obey without question.

See? So convenient.

-“…You’re definitely thinking something super thug-like again, aren’t you…?”

Exia muttered from behind, eyes narrowed into slits.