I Loved You, But -1

“…Yul?”

“Um… I’m sorry.”

It was an eye-widening sight.

Black Heart’s expression turning fierce, and Yul transforming into something like a mascot.

Then who on earth is this Black Heart standing here?

With an eerie feeling, I quickly brought out my tentacles.

“Who are you?”

Just in case.

This is truly the worst-case scenario, but.

“You, are you that old geezer?”

I don’t think that old man had such abilities, but nothing would be strange at this point.

Especially with an unknown opponent.

I should be cautious.

Iris and Stella also followed my lead and were on guard.

“W-Wait a moment! This is indeed a strange situation, but there’s no need to fight!”

“…Can you explain?”

“Yes, please give me a moment.”

Yul responded.

Black Heart clicked her tongue at this.

“Why are you agonizing so much? Just say that when you were about to get crushed, this body cool-ly! saved you.”

“Please be quiet! Ah! Don’t make such weird poses with my body!”

“Victory V!”

“…V-V?”

How should I put this…

“…My head hurts.”

My thoughts can’t keep up with reality. Is this really the same person who was giving off such a dangerous aura just a moment ago?

It seems Yul had been through something tremendous.

As a result, she survived, but ended up in that state.

“…Whew…”

“I don’t understand what’s going on…”

That’s a good point.

It was exactly what I wanted to say.

I pointed my finger at Yul.

And with a sigh, I asked.

“Quickly explain what on earth happened.”

“I was just about to. Haah… if it hadn’t been a life-or-death situation, I wouldn’t have made such a deal…”

Yul sighed openly and began her story.

“So, this happened during the fight with that grandfather.”

+++++

Yul glared at the old man in front of her.

“Well, if you won’t come, I’ll come to you.”

Ignoring her gaze, the old man swung his sword. A trajectory formed where he swung, and where the trajectory formed, small bloodstains appeared.

“…Damn it!”

If asked to pick the most worrisome fight among the three, it would definitely be the one between Black Heart and the Sword Saint.

A duel that shouldn’t be possible considering the age gap between a girl and an old man was taking place there.

The one overwhelming a girl in her prime was an old man with white hair.

The scene was quite unusual, but anyone who knew the old man’s identity would understand this sight.

The Sword Saint.

The legendary old man who, in ancient times, slew a dragon alone and died with it.

It’s not that the magical girl was weak. It’s just that the old man was exceptionally strong, beyond normal standards.

Of course, the magical girl was also swinging her sword with a murderous aura, hardly fitting for a child full of dreams and hopes.

“One more time…!”

Black Heart, who found an opening even in the storm of swords, charged in. The Sword Saint evaded the slash by taking a step back and gently flipped her over.

“Kugh!”

After regaining her posture once, she swung her sword fiercely again with a killing face.

But this time too, the Sword Saint deflected it and pushed the girl away.

His movements were as natural as flowing water. In contrast, the girl’s movements were starting to show gaps.

“D-Don’t look down on me…!”

“Stop it. Anything more is meaningless. Tuck your tail and run away to your little hiding place.”

“…What!?”

“The point is, there’s no need to throw away your life to cut down someone who’s already left this world.”

Run away from here… what…

“Ha!”

The girl snorted.

“If I turn back now! I wouldn’t be able to face my unnies!”

“Is it pride?”

“It’s a promise!”

Flash!

“A promise to eliminate you and definitely return!”

She’s standing firm here now to keep that promise.

It was a promise and oath to definitely seize that key and move forward.

A crimson-colored cloak was draped over the girl’s body. As her magical power increased, her equipment changed.

She had been restraining herself because exploding her magical power would quickly exhaust her.

But the opponent in front of her was not someone she could face while holding back.

However, there was one problem.

It was uncertain whether she could win even if she gave it her all.

“Your spirit is good, but it will be difficult to land a fatal blow.”

The trajectory of the sword that charged with good momentum made him bleed, but it only ended up cutting his skin.

She couldn’t land a fatal blow against his refined footwork. His unshakable appearance to any attack was infuriating.

In the end, it was a battle of win or lose.

In this situation, she would continue to press on-

‘Fly straight forward while summoning a snake behind. He’s weak on his left arm. Aim for the left side.’

…!

Scratch! A trajectory was quickly drawn.

Using magic simultaneously, she aimed for the left side upon hearing that his left arm was weak.

The result was success.

“…Hmm.”

On his body, which had only sustained scratches until now, a proper wound appeared for the first time.

“Have you grown in such a short time? To stab at a weak point so quickly.”

The Sword Saint admired her, but that wasn’t what was important.

The voice that came to her mind. That was far more important.

‘Who are you?’

‘Don’t you remember? Aing, I’ve been told I have a pretty good voice, you know.’

I don’t know if it’s a good voice, but I definitely remember hearing it somewhere.

Where was it…

Ah, right.

‘On top of the dragon’s skull!’

‘Yes. That’s me.’

‘…What?’

‘I am that dragon! Damn, kids these days have trouble understanding.’

It was hard to comprehend.

‘Wh… why would that dragon contact me?’

‘Why? You ate the essence.’

‘The essence…?’

‘Yes. Since you were the first to eat it, it was in its purest state. And among them, you looked the most decent, so I decided to talk to you.’

Putting aside her questions, she grasped her sword again.

And without fail, the tackle came.

‘You, you’re fighting terribly. Your strength and magic are top-notch, but you lack experience.’

‘Please be quiet. Or help me, like just now.’

‘Like just now? That’s only once. I know from facing that guy. You can’t win against him.’

So chatty.

Then what am I supposed to do?

As if to answer that question, a voice with laughter came.

‘A contract.’

‘A contract?’

‘Give your body to me. Then I’ll help you win this fight.’

In other words.

‘This is the only way to win.’

It means she has to sacrifice.

‘…Can you win?’

‘Of course. Your magic and my experience. And that guy, who’s a bit weaker than when he was alive… he won’t be a match for us.’

‘…’

Yul thought for a moment, but eventually had to acknowledge it.

She had no way to defeat the Sword Saint on her own.

Even the attack she managed to succeed with was only possible with this dragon’s help.

‘…I’ll give it to you.’

‘Hahaha! A good choice! I promise you victory! I have to repay my grudge too, after all.’

But Yul devised a trick.

To prevent the horrible things this dragon might do after taking over her body.

‘…Ugh…’

Her consciousness became hazy.

Strength left her body.

“…Ha… hahahahaha!!!”

“…This aura…”

“It’s been a long time, old man!”

“…A dragon!”

“Yes! I’ve returned from hell to kill you-“

“Promise!”

“I’ve returned from hell-“

“I said promise!”

One voice was saying something different.

Confused, the dragon spoke inwardly.

‘What are you doing! Hey, that guy! He’s preparing iaido! In our current state, we’ll both die!’

‘Promise. After getting my body, you’ll do hero work.’

‘Hero!? Don’t make me laugh! Why would I play such childish justice games-‘

‘If you don’t like it, we can die together.’

‘Kuk…!’

If he rejects this proposal, he will surely die. In a state where it’s difficult to even blink an eye, let alone move an arm.

Eventually, the dragon had to agree.

“…Ah! Fine, fine! I promise! I’ll become a hero!”

“Eliminate that guy and get the key! Then move forward! Kill that rabbit guy! Promise on your magic!”

“I don’t know what rabbit you’re talking about… but fine! I promise! Just let me live!”

The last words were infused with magic.

That bound their souls firmly together, becoming a shackle.

And then.

Clang-!!

“…You’ve taken over the body…!”

“Wrong, old geezer.”

“Kuh!”

“It’s give and take. To get what we both want.”

“…I’ll kill you again, dragon.”

“Damn, I didn’t want to make such a promise!”

+++++

“…”

“And that’s what happened.”

So.

“The one here now is that dragon?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Hmm…”

I was at a loss for words.

Is such a thing possible?

So in conclusion, absorbing the dragon’s magic led to her body being taken over, but it also saved her life?

Seeing them here, and the key in their hand, it seems they defeated the Sword Saint.

The dragon in Black Heart’s form was talking excitedly.

“Kahahahat!! That damn guy, his expression when dying was a masterpiece. To see him die while trembling!”

Watching this, I turned my gaze to Yul. The mascot-like creature was stepping on Black Heart’s head angrily.

“So, what do we do now?”

“…We’ll think about that later. It’s true that I’m stronger in that state.”

“Of course. This one’s magic and my long combat experience. It will surely be helpful.”

“Do you intend to fight properly?”

“Well, a promise made with magic is a shackle.”

Then it should be fine.

First, dealing with the rabbit is the priority.

“…Ahjussi.”

“Yes?”

Iris, who had been quiet for a long time, opened her mouth. She turned her face towards me.

She suddenly used magic to create rabbit ears on her head and…

“Victory V!”

She showed a V-sign with both hands.

…Suddenly?

“…”

When I sent her a confused expression, she lowered her head awkwardly.

Noah, with a face as red as a cherry, stammered out an excuse.

“Th-That… to cheer you up… that pose looked kind of cute, so I just tried it once…”

“…”

“Ah, I know! It’s not cute when I do this! Yul is originally cute, so it’s different for her! Someone like me doing this would only backfire-“

“It’s okay. It was plenty cute.”

“Cute…! Ahjussi, you say that without changing your expression!?”

“No, I said it because you were cringing…”

After shuddering with embarrassment for a while, she took a deep breath and muttered slowly with a heated face.

“…Do your best.”

“…Ha, hahaha.”

“…”

To see Noah like this.

It gives me strength.

For a child who cheers me on like that, I should put in more effort.

“Alley-oop!”

“Is it okay for you to get up?”

“We have to go.”

We have to go.

“Now, it’s the real boss battle.”

To crack that bastard’s head open.

“Come on, everyone, give me the keys.”

I received all three keys and inserted them into the locks one by one.

Click.

Thunk.

Click.

Finally, the massive iron door began to stretch and move.