Chapter 96

Crinkle-.

“Haaah…!”

“Merlin, just stay still for a moment. If you keep moving, you might fall.”

Apparently, Merlin has some sort of condition where he can’t stand staying still. His constant squirming is getting pretty annoying.

“S-sorry… But… Something keeps touching my butt…”

“Touching? Hmm, I do admit I’m a bit heavy. But try to ignore it. What’s the point in two guys making each other blush?”

“heavy… Hiiiiit…!”

It seems something else is bothering him now. Merlin keeps twitching more and more. He’s breathing pretty heavily too.

Looks like it’s not because of me. His face is full of tension.

Well, we are sneaking around in the Dragon King’s bedroom after all. It’d be stranger if he wasn’t nervous. Plus, this Merlin hasn’t even turned twenty yet.

I need to help Merlin relax. He’s already timid enough – if he gets too tense, he might make a mistake, which would be troublesome.

Slap-!

“Hyaah!”

I got up, stretched, then smacked Merlin’s butt through his ragged robe. He looked at me with wide, shocked eyes.

“Haha, your butt’s quite firm there, but you’re way too tense. Try to loosen up a bit.”

“Don’t… don’t hit me! The Dragon King could return any moment…!”

Slap-!

“Kyaah!”

“You worry too much. Don’t stress. With the Dragon King’s size, the floor would start rumbling ‘Kwoong!’ as soon as he gets close.”

“Ugh… ow…”

Slap-!

“Hiiiik!”

“Hmm, finally your stiff body’s starting to loosen up. We’ll be fighting the strongest being in the world soon – you need to prepare yourself.”

“Hnnn… It hurts…”

After three consecutive hits, Merlin spasmed three times then collapsed limply. I smiled in satisfaction before laying back down on top of him.

I didn’t expect him to react this much to pain. Even though he’s a mage, I didn’t realize his body was this frail. One punch from the Dragon King would probably crush his limbs.

The silence dragged on. It was pitch dark all around, though our night vision had adjusted somewhat – it wasn’t as bright as daytime though. Such a boring wait.

“Our party…”

“Hm?”

“D-d’you think… we’ll make it out alive…?”

Merlin finally asked cautiously, breaking the silence. Our voices wouldn’t carry to other corners unless we shouted.

“Well, the Dragon King isn’t an easy opponent. We came here to hunt, but we might end up being hunted instead.”

“Then why did Master Suoka come here…? If we can’t guarantee survival… while we have the duty to slay the Dragon King, you don’t have to…”

“There’s my old friend over there.” I pointed to the corner where Langwang and Katarina were hiding. “He’s the only companion who’s survived with me in the Demon Forest so far – if he decides to head toward death, I should go with him.”

“Wow…! So you’re comrades who’ve shared life and death…! Even though it must’ve been a tough decision…”

“My friend would be lonely going alone, right? This long journey to the lower realms will be better together. Eventually, as humans, it’s a path we all must walk anyway.”

Of course, I’ve already walked it before, hehehe…

My words seemed to deeply move him. Under his hood, Merlin smiled faintly, his cheeks slightly pink. Only the corners of his mouth and his glasses frames were visible to me. His eyelashes peeking out were surprisingly long for a guy.

“You’re amazing, Master Suoka.”

“Thank you. But I think Merlin here is more impressive.”

“M-me? Why?”

“You didn’t refuse the Empire’s order and bravely entered the Demon Forest with your companions, right? The Demon Forest is a place even veteran warriors much older than you wouldn’t dare to enter.”

“A-aah…! B-but…”

“You’re not even twenty yet, right? You look like you’re barely in your late teens. Boys your age normally play soccer at the neighborhood playground. Yet you were chosen to be part of the Hero Party.”

I kept showering him with flowery compliments. The genius young mage became increasingly flustered hearing praise about himself.

I continued praising Merlin enthusiastically. Watching him squirm uncomfortably under his robe and teasing him mischievously was quite entertaining.

Then, suddenly, Merlin offered a timid rebuttal – the first time I’d ever seen him contradict anyone.

“But… I didn’t join the Hero Party with pure intentions.”

“Hm? Join?”

Don’t heroes in the Hero Party usually get ‘chosen’? Everyone in the continent considers it an honor to be part of the Hero Party. So he actually volunteered to join?

“I didn’t know? Ah, that’s right. You’ve spent almost twenty years in the Demon Forest. It’s natural you wouldn’t know the current mood of the continent.”

“Back in the day, the Hero Party was a coveted position. But ever since the Hero Party that entered the Demon Forest a hundred years ago was wiped out, or since the Demon King hinted he wouldn’t invade the continent, people’s perception of the Hero Party started changing gradually. Eventually… there were even people who openly insulted it.”

Ah, I see. If the continent thought the Hero Party was useless a hundred years ago, now they probably view them as nuisances.

Getting all kinds of benefits just because someone was chosen by the Supreme God, when there’s nothing practical to use them for. It would be frustrating, even though the Hero Party has done nothing wrong.

“People didn’t want to become part of the Hero Party anymore. Back then, there were so many applicants that they selected one from among them. Now, the supporters of the Hero Party have to wander around begging strong people to please join…”

“That bad, huh… So how did Merlin end up volunteering for the Hero Party?”

“T-they said they’d give me a precious artifact… A magic-shrunk bandage… Huh! Wait, I shouldn’t have said that…”

Suddenly covering his own mouth with his hands, Merlin made me raise a question mark in my head.

“Merlin, why are you surprised? You should tell me what you’d use a magic-shrunk bandage for.”

“N-no! That’s a secret! Absolutely, absolutely cannot tell you…”

“Secret? I thought we’d gotten pretty close, but you have secrets from me now? That makes me feel left out. Though I won’t press further – everyone has their secrets.”

I have more than just a few myself, starting with my name being a complete lie. Merlin will never know.

“…Actually, it was partly the artifact, but… I felt sorry for the members of the Hero Party. When they came to the Mage Tower asking for help finding companions, no one wanted to volunteer. There was this pervasive atmosphere avoiding the Hero Party…”

“So you joined because you disliked that attitude?”

“Yes… Which is why the mages at the Mage Tower won’t associate with me anymore… But I don’t regret it! Everyone in the Hero Party – Seriel, Katarina, Igor, Victor – they’re all great people! Traveling around the world with amazing companions has been my dream since I was little!”

“…”

Should I hint to him that those proud companions of his are about to die soon? You’re the one I feel most sorry for.

“What was the reaction of people around you before you volunteered for the Hero Party? Did the way they treated you change much?”

“W-well, I’m not very social anyway… But everyone was always kind to me! Whenever I needed tools for magic experiments, they’d readily help me out…”

Of course they would. Who could ignore someone praised as the next head of the Mage Tower, the greatest genius? In the future, Merlin will found Eden Academy and spend his life as just a principal, but…

Whoosh-.

The sound of wind brushing past my ear came through the crack in the door. This is an airless cave. The fact that wind is coming through the door crack means there’s some change happening outside.

I put two fingers to Merlin’s lips and quieted down. Understanding my action, Merlin immediately stopped talking.

Boom, boom, boom-.

The floor shakes. Something huge and heavy is approaching. It seems to be passing through the tunnel we came through. Even without malice, its presence makes my skin tingle.

“The Dragon King…!”

“He’s here. Get ready. When the Dragon King falls asleep, your job is to unleash total attack. I’ll keep watch over you. Someone needs to protect the mage, after all.”

“S-Suoka-san will protect me…? L-like a knight and a lady…?”

“Shh, the Dragon King’s at the door.”

The eerie silence was split in half by the sound of the door opening. Unlike when we forced it open with all our strength, the iron door opens smoothly.

As the door swings open, a single black dragon appears. Not just black – its eyes gleam with golden light like embedded gold, and fire burns eternally at the tip of its tail.

The origin of all dragons.

Dragon King Endros.

One of the five strongest beasts in the Demon Forest, the primordial dragon that led the beginning of the dragon race, and a great beast born from chaos.

The pinnacle of dragons, the master of magic, the possessor of infinite lifespan. There are many epithets describing Endros. Condensing and summarizing them all boils down to just one meaning.

The strongest monster in the current world, excluding exceptional beings like Demon Kings. Among the Five Kings, the Dragon King excels in the power of destruction. His name isn’t called “End”ros for nothing.

Of course, as times change, so do dragons. Comparing the Dragon Lord I killed in my previous life to this Dragon King, they’d probably be about equal. In this life, instead of absorbing a Dragon Lord’s soul, I’ll absorb the Dragon King’s soul to boost my power.

Kwoong-.

The Dragon King takes slow but massive steps like a moving mountain into the room. He didn’t even glance at the four corners of the bed where we’re hiding. Apparently he doesn’t find us particularly interesting.

Without showing any interest in idle activities or magic research that other dragons might do, the Dragon King immediately collapses onto the bed. The bed big enough for a thousand people shakes violently as it fills up instantly.

“Grrr…”

Fwoosh- Crack, Thud-.

I check the Dragon King’s pupils using the fire on his tail. Instead of gold, they’re now filled with deep darkness. Time to sleep, apparently.

I turn my head toward Katatrina, with whom I agreed to signal when the attack timing comes. She’s waiting quietly behind the pillar, seemingly waiting for the Dragon King to fully fall asleep.

Not knowing when she’ll signal, I keep my eyes on her. About ten minutes pass.

“Grrrrr…”

The Dragon King’s snoring fills the room. At the same time, Katatrina’s hand appears above the pillar. There are three thin sticks on a small hill. Three seconds.

“Get ready, Merlin.”

“Y-yes! Rise, infernal flames that burn evil spirits…”

Katatrina’s fingers quickly fold. Two seconds. During this time, Merlin chants the incantation while summoning a ball of fire in midair. The hero Seriel, Langwang, assassin Katatrina, and Victor and Igor are ready to leap off the roof at any moment.

The last finger folds. One second. Everyone except me and Merlin dashes toward the sleeping Dragon King at the same instant. Some with spears, some with swords, some with daggers, others with fists. Merlin releases a fully charged Hellfire from beside me.

Normally magic requires preparation time, but Merlin, having already reached the 6th circle as the greatest genius in history. Three seconds is plenty of time for a grand magician to cast a 6th circle spell.

Kabooom-!

“Hyaargh!”

“Haa!”

“Burn! Hellfire!”

“Meow!”

Kaboom Kaboom Kaboom-!!

Deafening explosions follow one after another. Flames, swords, spears, and fists collide directly with the Dragon King.

An enormous cloud of dust rises. My vision is obscured by black smoke, and storm-like air currents flap our clothes. I squint my eyes to pierce through the invisible sight.

All attacks from the Hero Party and Langwang hit their marks on the Dragon King’s vital points – eyes, neck, heart, etc. Each one was a powerful strike, some even made of sword qi.

However…

“Who dares?”

As the smoke clears, revealing the Dragon King’s body… Surprisingly, there’s not a single scratch on him. No, the attacks didn’t even touch him in the first place. All the strikes from the Hero Party and Langwang passed through his body and hit the bedspread instead.

Ah, it was an illusion.

Swish-.

A dragon figure floating in mid-air starts out transparent then gradually becomes clearer. An exact replica of the illusion the Hero Party attacked. Stunned by this unexpected development, we look up at him speechlessly.

His golden eyes, unwavering and straight, scan over us.

“You youngsters look like you’re at the age to play around.”

This isn’t sound reaching our ears. The Dragon King merely stares at us silently with his mouth closed.

A crushing bass voice resonates in our minds. There’s not even a hint of surprise in it. Meaning, he knew about our existence all along.

“If you want to play with this old man, you should at least choke me first. How about we play a game?”

---