Magic Tower City (9)

Each time Aris’s breath struck the city, the magic tower shook. As the black spells from the magic tome met the dragon’s golden magic power, Aris’s advantage became clear.

I carefully examined the magic pouring out from the golden dragon. It was so familiar. And that wasn’t just because Aris was a member of the hero’s party.

Her elegant smile, the conversations we had while drinking tea, the moments she protected me in times of crisis.

Of course, the current Aris is my precious comrade. No matter what happens, that won’t change.

But in the original story, she was a bit different.

“At this rate, the city will really be destroyed.”

Extra stage, the Great Librarian of the Dragon Race.

A boss monster that frustrated countless users.

Naturally, I knew all of her patterns.

“Chancellor-nim!”

I shouted towards Lucy.

“Twist the ether flow by 45 degrees. Aris’s magic power rotates in a spiral!”

At Lucy’s gesture, the city’s magic circles rotated in unison. The blue magic power, twisted into a spiral, engulfed the golden flames.

[Kuek…]

Aris’s attack scattered in the air. Her wings fluttered. The moment she confirmed that her attack was blocked, she prepared the next spell. Black magic tomes floated around her.

The corners of my lips slightly lifted. As expected.

“She’ll start with the Necronomicon. She’ll try to corrode the barrier with death spells…”

Lucy nodded. At her gesture, the city’s magic circles were rearranged.

The black pages turned, and the spell flowed out. But the already prepared barrier blocked it.

“Next is Erebus. The attack will come in 3 seconds!”

It was exactly as I said. A spell with a red aura collided with the barrier and bounced off.

[How…]

Aris’s golden eyes shook suspiciously. Cracks began to appear on her elegant expression.

Magic tomes continued to pour out from subspace.

“Skip the Book of Vilt! You have to watch the other three. Especially if the spells of the Grimoire and the Necronomicon collide, they’ll explode!”

Lucy’s hands moved as if dancing.

Hundreds of magic circles were rearranged, blocking Aris’s attack. It was a perfect counter.

As a single force, Aris was the most powerful in our party. A complete combination in itself, combining the power of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years with the wisdom of a sage. An expert in magic and possessing physical strength as well.

Seraphina, like a saintess, was the best supporter, sustaining the party with healing and buffs. Of course, her divine power was also not to be ignored, but that was only when she was in sync with me, the hero.

Nia… well, the limitations of a rogue were clear. She was the best at scouting, infiltration, and information gathering. But in a full-scale battle, she couldn’t be compared to Aris or Seraphina. In Pokemon terms, she was like a Pokemon for Hidden Machines.

But Aris was different. A master of magic and the possessor of overwhelming firepower. The title of Sage of the Dragon Race was no exaggeration.

Her appearance, waging an overwhelming battle against a single city, proved this.

But the Magic Tower City was not to be underestimated either.

The culmination of research accumulated by successive magicians for 300 years. Magic circles engraved on each wall, amplification devices installed on every street, and the flow of ether flowing from the crystal tower.

Besides, even if I could read Aris’s patterns, I couldn’t actually solve them.

Because I’m not a magician, and I don’t have the magical knowledge to apply the original knowledge to reality.

Therefore, the Magic Tower City Arcana was the optimal battlefield for a fierce battle with Aris.

[Could it be…]

Aris’s wings trembled. Her gaze turned to me.

[You… you are…]

“Are you doubting me?”

I lowered my voice slightly. In a tone that seemed wronged and disappointed.

[Ah… no! That’s…]

“I… I thought you would trust me.”

[Ah, no! I would never doubt you, Haru-ssi!]

“That’s right, Aris. You understand! The magic tower is targeting you!”

I raised my voice. I had to turn the direction of suspicion.

[What?]

“The scholars of the magic tower coveted your library. They’ve been researching how to deal with you all this time. Besides, using me as bait… they were trying to hunt you.”

Aris’s pupils narrowed.

[Is that really true? How dare they… not only target me, but try to use you as well…!]

Aris’s breath became rough. Magic power swirled around her. The dragon’s wrath once again covered the city.

[The price for touching the dragon’s treasure… will be paid with the entire city.]

“Aris, calm down!”

No, don’t calm down.

The magic tomes unfolded in unison. Forbidden spells poured out.

Good. Now it’s time for each other to tear each other apart.

In the golden flames covering the city, the corners of my lips lifted.

I’m sorry, Aris. But I have to survive, even like this.

You call me the dragon’s treasure, but… I just want to return to a normal life.

For that, this much acting is nothing.

The magic tower’s blue barrier cut across the sky. It was the aura of great magic that interfered with Aris’s flight.

The magic power repeaters installed throughout the city began to shine in unison. Aris’s wing movements faltered.

The blue magic chains inhibited the dragon’s flight magic. Aris’s expression twisted painfully.

I guess I’ve gotten close to Aris. Now I can even read the dragon’s expression.

“Is this the end for the Sage of the Dragon Race? Even the Great Librarian is powerless before the glory of humanity.”

Lucy’s cold voice echoed. The magic circles were rearranged, further tightening the golden dragon. Biting her lip, she watched Aris trapped in the barrier.

Indeed, the power of the Magic Tower City was at a level that even the Dragon Race could not ignore.

[Kuek…]

Aris’s wings faltered. A moment when even the dragon’s pride seemed to collapse.

‘Now it’s time to balance things out.’

I drew the holy sword. The light of dawn cut through the air.

The first magic power repeater collapsed, weakening the power of the barrier.

“Aris!”

Her golden eyes turned to me.

“Wait for my signal!”

[You…?]

“Trust me. 300 years of research is no match for the 5 years we’ve spent together!”

I raised the holy sword. The sacred aura of dawn flowed along the blade.

The second repeater collapsed. The blue barrier was gradually fading.

“Now!”

The sword light split the crystal tower. The magic power repeater shattered, and the aura of great magic scattered.

Aris’s wings flapped powerfully. The moment she was able to fly freely again.

“Aris, listen to me carefully. I didn’t run away last time.”

[What are you saying…]

“If I really hated you, I would have gone to another woman. You know you would never have been able to find me again, right?”

Her wing movements stopped for a moment. It seemed like my words resonated with her.

“I just… need some time alone.”

[But without you…]

“I know. I also cherish our bond.”

The trajectory of the holy sword cutting through the air destroyed another repeater. The blue barrier faded.

“Thank you for coming to find me like this.”

[Haru-gun…]

“But this time… I need some time alone.”

Aris seemed to be torn between the possessiveness of the Dragon Race and the trust she had in me.

[Really…?]

“It’s hard to understand now, but…”

I swung the holy sword towards the last repeater.

“Trust me, Aris. It’s for you. Look, I chose you again this time.”

[Ha…]

Aris sighed. Her wings shone, reflecting the moonlight.

[I understand. I will trust you.]

“Thank you, Aris.”

[But… don’t make me wait too long. Even a dragon’s patience has its limits.]

A bitter smile appeared. That’s so Aris.

I looked at the magic power relay towers one by one. Balancing things appropriately was more difficult than I thought.

‘This much should be enough…’

I selectively destroyed the crystal towers in between. Not all of them, but exactly the calculated number.

The city’s blue barrier weakened little by little. But not to the point of completely collapsing.

Aris’s golden breath became stronger and stronger. Now she was starting to gain a slight advantage.

‘This should be enough.’

No matter what, I couldn’t let my comrade Aris be completely defeated. If she was caught by the Magic Tower City, she would really become a test subject.

I had to save her face appropriately. To the point where she could barely win if she exerted her full power.

“Okay, perfect.”

The golden dragon and the Magic Tower City both prepared their final blows.

Golden magic power swirled around Aris. The dragon’s breath was condensed with the power of the magic tome.

The city was dyed entirely in blue. The magic circuits accumulated over hundreds of years awakened in unison.

[Pay the price for targeting the dragon’s treasure!]

The dragon’s roar shook the sky. Golden energy gathered in her mouth.

“I’ll… research everything.”

The magic power of the Magic Tower City soared into the sky in unison.

‘Now is the time. A true hero knows when to leave.’

I found a clue to the dimension 이동 magic. There was no need to stay in this city any longer.

I hid behind the crystal tower. The two were so focused on each other that no one would notice me disappearing.

And I… had to run away in this gap.

Waiting for the moment when the two’s finishing moves collided, I took a step back, one step at a time.

Now it’s really time to leave.

“Good luck, I’m going.”

***

The sky split.

The moment the golden dragon’s breath and the blue magic power collided, the night sky became as bright as day.

The 300-year-old magic tower and the power of the Dragon Race clashed, and the sound of the explosion covered the city.

The crystal towers collapsed one by one. The blue barrier shattered, and the city was engulfed in golden flames.

[Geeeeee-!]

“Ugh…!”

Aris and Lucy’s screams echoed at the same time. Black smoke covered the sky.

As the smoke cleared, the appearance of the Magic Tower City was revealed. The splendid crystal towers were half-collapsed, and the streets were in ruins.

“Hehe… in the end…”

Aris transformed into a human form and walked through the ruined streets. Her golden hair fluttered in the wind.

“This is the price for trying to hunt a dragon.”

Lucy had already collapsed. She was exhausted from pouring all of the city’s magic power.

Aris’s footsteps continued. It was an elegant gait, but the killing intent contained within spread out even more intensely.

“But you… you’ve already left again… Where did you hide this time? You are my most precious… treasure…”

She kicked a collapsed stone with her toe. It was an elegant movement, but the stone shattered.

“If I burn this entire city… will you appear?”

Her eyes split vertically like a snake.

Golden flames soared from the center of the destroyed city.

Aris’s anger dyed the sky red. The dragon’s wrath heated the air.

“Burning the city is useless. Sensei-nim has already left.”

At that time, a calm voice pierced through the flames. A girl in a school uniform walked over.

It was Serena. Her neat ponytail fluttered in the wind. With a indifferent expression, she stood before the golden dragon.

“What are you? How dare you…”

“Dragon-nim, Haru Sensei-nim asked me to deliver this.”

In Serena’s hand was an old book.

Aris’s eyes shook.

“This is…”

It was a fairy tale about the love between a dragon and a human. A book that Haru and Aris had jokingly talked about when they first met.

“Sensei-nim said, ‘Please wait’…”

A letter fluttered from her hand.

“Haru…?”

Aris’s hand trembled. The anger that had been burning the city subsided for a moment.

“How foolish…”

Aris’s laughter shook the sky. But there was no more anger in it.

“Sensei-nim has already gone far away through the secret magic circle of the Alterion family. He said he was going north?”

“Ha.”

Aris laughed once again. This time it was a sound mixed with resignation and affection.

The golden dragon, who looked at the ruined city for the last time, flew into the sky.

Lucy and the magicians were collapsed in the ruined streets. Their 300 years of research collapsed in one night.

“Sensei-nim… I did well as you told me, right?”

Serena muttered, looking up at the sky. Her madness was still there.

The flames covering the city reflected her smile. It was an expression filled with pure anticipation.

“I’ll be waiting quietly for the next class…. Until then, please be safe…”