Chapter 551: Entering the royal palace 2
Anzeros, in the black armor I struck, is a figure worthy of the title of Black Dragon Knight. And the red flames emanating from her sword confirm this impression.
『Listen to me without making a sound. It would be tactless to disturb their concentration』
Chibi Laila appears on my shoulder, even though the main body is nearby. She seems to be giving an explanation just for me.
『Anzeros is concerned that she is not growing and has asked me to be her training partner in this anticipated battle with the dragons. Of course, as we are both your pets, I am willing to train her』
Don’t say such a thing at this moment.
『But even for me, it’s boring just to be an opponent. I thought that just being steady would not be enough to fight against the silver dragons, who are said to be the strongest of the ice dragons. Therefore……』
The first step is slow, the second step is slow and the third step is a bewitching acceleration as Anzeros leaps into Herman’s line of sight. The sword extends and swells.
“Nuu!?”
Herman, who seems to have intended to receive the blow at first, jumps back to the side in a panic at the sudden and inexplicable attack. The blow that swelled and extended was, of course, not the sword itself, but a flame attack. A bloated flame licks the dimly lit corridor, then dissipates into the air.
“If you keep running away from this, you’ll never be able to cut it out with me”
“……Bizarre”
“It’s nothing. It’s just black dragon fire, borrowed”
The sword was swung lightly with a swish, swish, swish. The ceiling and walls are scorched by fireballs from the sword, respectively.
『So Anzeros and I decided to conduct an experiment. I had an idea for a magic trick that had been in the back of my mind ever since my discussions with Dovewise and Breakcore about magic』
Dovewise……is the giant sky tiger in the Holy Land. He is unable to leave the cave because he is using special magic to lend the 「Immortality」 of the holy beast to Cecil and the Templar Blaze Knight Order of the Holy Land. His magic theory was the basis for the physical regeneration technique with Breakcore, though.
『The resilience requires a great deal of delicate control to lend and borrow, but the dragon’s fire and its resistance, well. No matter how much you sell off, it will not decrease. If we can give resistance to all of our companions, we can make a killing by attacking them all at once with our breath. I’ve been thinking about it in secret……』
Chibi Laila stammered.
『I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy. The light magic forms that can be done on the spot is not very tolerant. Even if it becomes resistant to heat, it is meaningless if it cannot withstand the dragon’s fire. During those experiments, I did something I regret to Anzeroth’s hair』
……I see. So short……. Even though Anzeros didn’t usually show off her long hair that much, she took special care of it because of her mother’s advice. The sudden loss is probably still not fully resolved.
『But it’s also finished』
While Chibi Laila was saying so, Anzeros attacked Herman with a sword burning with crimson flames. Herman, although he bears the name of the Exploding Flame Knight, has no special abilities related to flames. The five titles are named after the first heroes of the past. In the Heroes Alliance, where some heroes die in obscurity and their bones are never picked up, Neia’s and Beatrice’s treasure troves, which have been properly inherited, are surely a more special case. The other three titles are 「Seats」, not names that express the characteristics of the individual.
“You may surrender, hero. I have no reason to kill you if you stop resisting”
“I see……. As expected of a knight associated with dragons……! I wonder how many other users like this exist in the outside world. Huhuhu, I can see why Neia Grans dreams about it”
Herman dodged Anzeros’s tame flame strike and wiped away the sweat from the heat generated.
“But I also told you. I’m not ready for that level of commitment”
“Are you still going to do it?”
“Thats right. Let’s do it again”
With that, Herman, contrary to his words, lets go of the sword with a snap and discards it.
“……?”
“I’m not surrendering. ……Feel free to come”
The sword shakes against the hard stone. Herman looks at Anzeros with her sword still in her hand, as if to show her. There is, in fact, no sign of resignation. In fact, Herman’s killing spirit is focused on Anzeros and we can see that he has found some way to win.
“Anzeros, don’t let your guard down”
“I’m not”
Anzeros slowly tilts her burning sword and looks for a moment. A few seconds. And then.
“Haaaaaaa!!!”
Suddenly, Anzeros makes the sword’s flame grow huge. She then thrusts this onto Herman, who has no way to escape. ……H, He didn’t let his guard down, but the threatening attack suddenly turned nasty……! That’s what I thought.
“Huhh!!”
Herman somehow crosses his arms and rushes through the flames. He was also much faster than I had ever imagined. He displayed an instantaneous force that rivaled Neia’s speed and he pushed through the flame-heated hell, closing in on Anzeros. It was only an instant, but I, who was concentrating, was able to clearly capture that moment with my eyes. In the flames, Herman’s suit armor popped like glasswork. I was astonished to see that it could handle not only impact but also thermal attacks. To my astonishment, Herman, who has concealed his physical abilities to this point and who has taken advantage of Anzeros’ emptiness, strikes Anzeros with his palm while burning……. The sword is taken down with heat as it plunges through the flames. So he let go. But.
“I told you I wasn’t letting my guard down”
Anzeros grabbed Herman’s arm with the hand not holding the sword and stopped the rush with only that one hand.
“Gunuu……”
“Barehanded. Nice”
Anzeros showed the rough art of supporting Herman, who was far superior in size, in the air with one hand, while she also let go of her own sword.
“I’m more confident with this one!”
She made a fist with her free hand and quickly slammed it into Herman’s stomach, blasting him to the wall.
“Gu, haa……!?”
Herman falls to the ground from the wall. He didn’t fall over, but he vomited up what looked like gastric juices and wiped his mouth.
“Gehuu……dont underestimate, you imitator”
“I’ll go out with you, hero. You’re actually quite good at fighting”
“Woman……!”
“If you live to see another day, you should visit the country of Renfangas. Women are not to be underestimated”
Anzeros set up her fists and then, as if with a strange arm movement, she caused a dozen fireballs to appear around her and bombarded Herman with them, hitting him like a tornado with her hands and kicks.
“Haaaaaaaaaa!!”
“U, o, aaaa!!”
Herman is burned by the fireball, blown to pieces and desperately crawls to avoid it. He then jumped to the wall while throwing his sword, which was lying on the ground and kicked the wall to the ceiling and then tried to dive kick Anzeros from the ceiling. But Anzeros struck her hands together to create a momentary pause and by thrusting her hands forward, she released a shockwave over a wide area, shooting down both the sword and Herman. Herman, though not as powerful as Neia or Rainer, has enough power to be called a great sword saint. Against them, Anzeros looks down unscathed.
『The current Anzeros, who has solved the strength of the magic connection through the knight’s contract and achieved complete heat resistance and the borrowing of my flame, is also strong against favoritism and condescension』
Chibi Laila is somewhat proud of herself.
『She has always excelled in strange techniques, but her flame manipulation skills are no longer inferior to mine. Aside from that, her combat ability has also improved to the point where she can lag even the weakest dragons after training with me』
“……Ah”
Make that much effort for me. Once again, that small back looks dazzling.
“Herman Kidd. You’ve lost”
“If you want me to admit defeat, just kill me……!”
“I’m not going to play along with your childish play”
“Childish……play……!?”
“You’re just continuing to play that misery-drunk fantasy of being a hero, even though it’s empty to keep killing and killing and killing, just because all the heroes you used to admire must have been like that, too, you know. That is not preparedness. You’re just embarrassed that you have to stop playing along and cool off now”
“…………!!”
“The reason we fight is not loyalty. It’s not conscience. It’s not even a feeling of commitment to what you’re defending. How can I describe you, who think you’re being cool, who just don’t want to break your pose, if I don’t call you childish? You should be aware of that. Don’t force others to clean up your mess”
“Yoou……!!”
……Emm. That. Anzeros-san, isnt she a little harsh. No, she was originally like that. She was a pretty harsh character. I forgot though.
“Anzeros, you need to let it go. Not physically, but mentally”
“Yes, I agree. I don’t want to push him any further”
“U, Uuuu……”
She wanted to argue with Herman, but Herman, who had been beaten up so badly, would have none of it.
“Laila. Restraint. Also, Irina or Dianne-san, do you have any magic that can heal burns without dying?”
“I’d prefer to leave the medical work to Hilda”
“I can’t bring my older sister to a decisive battle. ……I can do some of the healing and promoting magic”
———————————————–
Having Laila take out the 「Silk chain」 and restraining him, Herman is thrown into the dungeon where we were before, along with the dozen or so remaining heroes. I’ll have them stay there until we capture the villa.
“Do you know where the royal villa is?”
I asked Neia and Brian and they both nodded.
“I’ve only been there a couple of times”
“I’ve been there three times. It’s outside the valley, so it’s dangerous on the way there and it’s not safe for anyone other than a hero to go there to take the treasures in and out”
“Are there a lot of treasures?”
“Well, it’s a little hard to bring it all in by hand……”
Brian says, holding out his hand.
“Maybe there are some new weapons like a Dragon Slayer or Beatrice’s bracelet”
“No, we always look to see if we can find something useful in battle, but at best it’s just a regular old sword or armor……and maybe some gold or silver jewelry?”
“Maybe the king knew of something that would have a hidden effect”
Umm. Well, that’s right……. This is not a country that can afford to have useful things and not use them, here…….
“Is there any chance that Queen Stana would know about it and make use of it?”
When Dianne asked that, the two heroes shook their heads.
“There was never a dragon in this country to begin with that could be used as a vehicle. If you want to go there, you have to go on foot along the road where the monsters come from. There is no way they would allow royalty to walk such a path”
“So Princess Stana would be the first to go inside herself. There is no way she could have known”
……In other words, the possibility of a surprise plan is low and……can we genuinely assume that this time it will be a decisive battle?
“What are you going to do, Dianne-san? Shall we charge in?”
“Hmm. The danger is that the sympathizers of Rainer in the Dragon Palace will be allowed to attack our main camp. I think it would be better to give priority to seizing the Dragon Palace”
Dianne silently considered each of Anzeros’ and Irina’s suggestions. Then, pointing to Maia, me and Lado, she called us over.
“Can I ask you to check on the Dragon Palace? It would certainly be bad to leave it alone
“I mean check……”
“Go and ask Lado to check what is going on. It is risky to go in directly. If the Presbyterians you are talking about have been released, Andy will be in good hands. If there is any unrest, come back here immediately. ……Lado. Can you make that kind of arrangement?”
“Of course”
“Tetes. I need you to go with Naris. They’ll need an escort”
“Yes”
“Me!? Well, it’s true that I’m useless if Rainer’s place is full of dragons, but!”
I wonder why Naris is following us. Maybe it would have been better to stay at the base with Hilda and the others isn’t it?
“Where can Naris-chan be of any use in this situation?”
Tetes said. She said it right out loud.
“I think this situation is beyond the Red Arm’s ability to handle in the first place!?”
“Wow, that’s really uncool!”
“What do you want me to do!?”
But, normally, dragons are supposed to be invincible, so Naris’s answer is correct. There are too many monsters.