Chapter 118 - Chapter 20: The One Who Worships the Demon Lord (2)
"[Wind Barrier]!"
Paul-san's magic was deployed, and the foot the Dragon thrust out stopped for a moment. The Dragon, losing its balance, roared.
"Jeanne! Don't just stand there dazed. Come here quickly!"
I was snapped back to my senses when Beatrix pulled my sleeve.
It seemed I had been standing frozen.
"Jeanne. This way."
Pulled by Beatrix, we evacuated to a spot some distance away. It was right beside the man positioned behind the Dragon. Since we had no weapons and could only use basic magic, we were apparently not being taken seriously.
Before my eyes, Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama, along with the attendants, were surrounding the Dragon.
Behind them, James-sama was chanting.
It seemed Roberts-sama was the one giving instructions; to prevent the Dragon from heading toward James-sama, they were working in pairs, alternating between feints and attacks.
Paul-san, who was manipulating the [Wind Barrier], was even further back.
Because Paul-san had quickly deployed a wall of air at the Dragon's feet, we were able to prevent the first strike.
However, even if he wrapped the head with a [Wind Barrier], the opponent was already a corpse. He couldn't suffocate it.
"A Dragon Revenant... I wonder how he summoned it."
"Is this the time for that! Quickly, get the scroll out!"
"Right."
When Beatrix unfurled the scroll and chanted the keyword, a thick beam of white light hit its chest. It was Marcelo-san's [Holy] that had finished off the Fenrir.
However, even though it should have pierced through the body, it was repelled.
The Dragon, without letting out even a groan, swung its right leg up and moved to crush Roberts-sama in front of it.
He thrust his spear while dodging at the last second, but only a part of the spearhead sank in, which was far from a fatal wound.
Even after becoming a Revenant, the scales seemed to remain hard.
"Did you think intermediate magic would work on a Dragon? In addition to the original strength of a Dragon, its defensive power has increased by becoming a Revenant. Small fry should come back another time!"
Damn it! He's acting all high and mighty...
"[Prominence]!"
Aiming for the timing when Paul-san deactivated the [Wind Barrier] and blew a powerful wind toward the Dragon Revenant, James-sama released his magic.
From both palms thrust out in front of his body, a massive orange flame spiraled forth. The tip of the giant fireball looked like the head of a dragon.
With this!
However, the Dragon Revenant opened its massive mouth and swallowed the fireball.
Smoke was coming from its mouth, but it seemed to be fine.
It let out an especially large roar.
The sound echoed, and it felt like my eardrums were going to burst.
"Fool. This Dragon was originally a Fire Dragon. Do you think [Prominence] would work? Using fire magic against a Revenant—it's the only trick you know, like a fool."
He's getting more and more carried away.
But this is getting quite dangerous.
As if in retaliation, the Dragon spat fire, but thanks to Paul-san deploying a [Wind Barrier] right in front of the Dragon's eyes, it covered the Dragon's face as if flowing backward.
It roared in surprise, but of course, it took no damage.
James-sama had already fired [Prominence] with all his might twice, including the ones he fired at the Orc swarm. On top of that, he had been firing the high-level magic [Blizzard] repeatedly. Because of that, it seemed he was out of ultra-high-level magic. Thinking 'if fire fails, then ice,' he fired [Blizzard], but it only made the surroundings cold and had almost no effect. The Dragon just recoiled in dislike.
As the man said, the Dragon Revenant's magic defense seemed high enough that even high-level magic wouldn't work.
Certainly, the Revenants were strong back in Nakanohara too.
Roberts-sama was desperately launching attacks while dodging the front legs trying to crush him and the neck extending toward him, but even the silver spear was no match for the hard scales. It looked like he was only making light cuts.
"Hey, wouldn't it be faster to defeat that man first?"
When Beatrix said that and I looked, the robed man's actions seemed quite exaggerated. He was moving his arms and legs and even swinging his neck around.
Looking closely, when the man moved his right hand, the Dragon moved its right hand, and when the man shook his head, the Dragon shook its head.
In other words, the man was manipulating the Dragon according to his own movements.
"Was that how Revenants were controlled?"
There are several Revenant users in Nakanohara, but they didn't control them like that. They would hold their hand over the target, focus their thoughts, and control about a thousand at once by themselves.
"His technique level must be too low to control a Dragon, right? Paul-san! It looks like it would be faster to defeat this guy first!"
Beatrix made the suggestion, but Paul-san said no.
"I have my hands full just dealing with the Dragon. I'll leave that side to you."
"You say 'leave it to us,' but what are we supposed to do!"
"You seem to understand. You little girls over there, if you think you can defeat me with basic magic, then give it a try."
The small fry hiding behind the Dragon's power is saying something.
Even though he's using the Dragon as a shield so he doesn't get attacked, he's acting way too tough.
"[Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]!..."
Since I was irritated, I fired [Holy] repeatedly at the robed man. My [Holy] won't be able to defeat him anyway. It's like throwing small stones, but it should be a nuisance.
"N-no, stop—ow! S-stop it! You fool!"
It seems to be working. My [Holy] level must have gone up a bit too.
At the same time the robed man turned toward us, the Dragon's movement stopped.
"Now!"
Roberts-sama and the others slashed all at once and were able to inflict several wounds. In particular, the place where the spear pierced deeply into the right front leg had turned to dirt. It was far from a fatal wound, but if they worked hard to increase the number of attacks, they might be able to manage somehow.
The Dragon, which had stopped moving, roared as if urging him on.
"You lot, remember this!"
As the man began to concentrate on manipulating the Dragon, the Dragon started moving again, letting out another ear-splitting roar. Roberts-sama and the others scattered again.
Beatrix and I looked at each other.
This is interesting.
We decided to move as far away from the Dragon as possible and snipe the man from diagonally behind with basic magic. Since it was far, there were many misses, but they didn't have to hit. We were stealing his concentration.
"Take this!"
When Beatrix chanted [Fire Ball], the man's robe began to burn.
"Curse you, little girls! I'll turn you into Orc bait later!"
Perhaps thinking he couldn't let Roberts-sama and the others do any more to the Dragon, he only shouted while turning his face slightly toward us and desperately manipulated the Dragon.
Whether magic defense magic was working or not, only his clothes were burning.
However, of all things, he wasn't wearing undergarments. His clothes burned away completely, leaving him in a scandalous state. His buttocks were in full view.
What indecency! As a priest, this is not something I can overlook.
"Put on some clothes quickly! You pervert!"
"Who's a pervert! You're the ones who burned my clothes!"
"Gyah! Don't look this way, pervert!"
When I fired [Holy] repeatedly at random while covering my eyes with one hand, it seemed several shots hit.
He was crouching while holding his crotch with both hands.
It's surprising that vital points don't change even after becoming a Revenant.
"That's amazing. I can't believe you could aim for that."
"I wasn't aiming! It was a fluke, a fluke!"
Even the Dragon was crouching.
Roberts-sama wasn't one to miss this chance. Concentrating attacks on the right front leg that had been deeply wounded, he finally turned one whole leg into a clump of dirt from the base.
"Y-you! Look what you've done!"
If it hurts you to have it damaged, you should have kept it tucked away safely. Besides, you're the one who bound the soul of the dead Dragon with a contract and won't release it!
I was starting to get genuinely angry.
I'm definitely going to defeat this guy!
The Dragon was trying to fight bravely even with three legs. It seemed the technique had been deactivated, but it completely recognized Roberts-sama and the others as enemies. It was attacking on its own.
However, as expected of a Revenant, its movements were dull.
Receiving one attack after another from Roberts-sama and the others' silver blades, various parts of its body were turning to dirt as if mold were growing.
In the end, the man began manipulating it again.
Ideally, I would like to be able to make the Revenant ascend like the Headmistress, but I can't do that.
So, I decided to continue the harassment of the man along with Beatrix.
"[Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]! [Holy]!..."
Beatrix also continued her attack, using up one basic [Holy] scroll after another from her many supplies.
"Stop, stop it! Where are you aiming! You pervert!"
"Shut up! You're the pervert! Just be defeated quietly!"
We were concentrating our attacks on the vital point he was shielding with his right hand, which he no longer needed to move, but that's only natural. Aiming for the enemy's weakness is a fine tactic.
The Dragon, which was struggling just to maintain its posture, was no match for Roberts-sama and the others. While we were chasing the man around, they were attacking by alternating from both left and right sides.
The Dragon, which had been chasing them by swinging its neck, finally lost its balance and fell over sideways.
"Dammit! Even though it's my greatest military force!"
Right in front of the man who was about to run toward the Dragon, Beatrix, who had snuck up, unfurled a scroll.
"This is [Purification]. Setting the Dragon aside, I wonder if you'll be safe?"
Come to think of it, I had forgotten we had put one in.
The naked man stood frozen, looking startled.
"If you understand, then stay quiet."
While watching the grinning Beatrix, I threw a hand towel toward the man for the time being.
Beatrix. Stop pointing the scroll at a downward angle!
While avoiding the mouth of the fallen Dragon, which it had opened wide as if trying to spit fire in desperation, Roberts-sama and the others were launching attacks.
It should be fine now.
I lit the gunpowder I got from Mary with a flint and threw it toward the Dragon's face.
It reflexively opened its mouth and swallowed it. Just as I planned.
Since sparks were flying, it probably mistook it for fire magic, but it was far too naive.
"Get down!"
When I shouted at the top of my lungs, Paul-san deployed a [Wind Barrier].
With a dull thud, a part of the Dragon's belly turned to dirt. It was only about two or three scales' worth, but the impact inside the body seemed large; after the Dragon let out a high-pitched cry in surprise, it went limp.
"Wh-what did you do!"
With hundred-year-old knowledge, he wouldn't know about gunpowder.
Before the eyes of the surprised man, Paul-san shoved a [Wind Barrier] into the Dragon's limp, open mouth.
Judging by his hand movements, it seemed he had expanded a small one inside the mouth.
It wouldn't be able to close its mouth like that.
"[Glaciate]!"
When James-sama chanted the spell as if thrusting his hand into the Dragon's permanently open mouth, the Dragon's belly swelled greatly and finally burst.
Afterward, a mountain of ice and a mountain of dirt remained.
It seemed to have returned to clumps of dirt, and the stench of rot was fading.
We had finally defeated the Dragon.
"Such a... to have my ambitions crumble in such a humiliating defeat..."
The man was on all fours, feeling regretful.
It seemed he had given up. It would have been a hassle if he had run, but since Beatrix was pointing the scroll at him, he probably couldn't move.
Fortunately, the hand towel I gave him was being put to good use, so there was no need to worry about where to look.
"Now, what will you do? All your pawns have been turned to dirt and sent to heaven. Stop your useless resistance and release the wind spirit."
At James-sama's words, he nodded weakly and muttered something toward the magic circle.
The magic circle lost its light, and the thing that had been flying in the light went somewhere. It was likely released safely.
"I surrender. Do as you like, whether you turn me to dirt or burn me to death with magic."
He was sitting cross-legged with his head hanging.
"It seems we can believe him. He doesn't seem to be lying."
James-sama also vouched for him.
If he's going to change his attitude like this, then we have our own way of acting.
"Why don't you take this opportunity to repent? The Goddess will not abandon you."
I recommended conversion as the Church teaches, but...
"Jeanne. Even if you say that while pointing a scroll at him, it looks like nothing but a threat."
When I looked at Beatrix, she was pointing the scroll at the man just as Paul-san said.
I glared at her out of the corner of my eye.
"Ahaha, sorry. Just in case."
She hurriedly rolled up the scroll.
Really, look what she's doing.
Clap, clap, clap. Hands were clapped three times.
"You fought well. Both sides were magnificent."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama entered. Stephens-san, Lyudmila, and Mary were with them.
If you were watching and thought it was 'magnificent,' I wish you had helped.
"Father, Mother. For now, it's settled."
"Umu. It was dangerous for a moment, but we were saved by Jeanne's quick thinking."
"No, not at all. I specialize in diversion and healing, so I only fulfilled my role."
"Both of you did well. Without your, how should I put it, that attack, we wouldn't have been able to defeat the Dragon."
"Right? I guess I worked a bit hard."
You, show a little humility.
While I was glaring at Beatrix, there was someone staring blankly at Henry-sama.
"Are you the one who defeated the Demon Lord?"
It was the robed man... though now he only had a single hand towel.
Come to think of it, if he intended to serve the Demon Lord, then Henry-sama and the others would be his sworn enemies.
"Indeed. I am Henry of Sertoria."
"I am called Eleanor."
"It's true we defeated the Demon Lord. Though, when we defeated him, it took seven of us."
"You defeated him with only seven people?"
"Even if you say seven, the number of people involved in fighting the Demon Lord's forces—not just soldiers, but those involved in building camps and transporting supplies—exceeds a hundred or two hundred thousand. We just fought the Demon Lord at the final moment and happened to win."
"Was the Demon Lord strong?"
"He was very strong. We nearly died many times, and in fact, many people died in the battle against the Demon Lord's army."
Henry-sama sat down beside the man and gave him a brief account of the battle against the Demon Lord's army at that time.
In particular, he spoke in detail about the battle between the armies.
"The Demon Lord didn't come out of his dwelling until the very end. If he had struck out from the forest and set up his base at the foot of this mountain, as you were saying, humans might not have been able to win."
"I-is that so..."
The man looked happy. It was likely because his military strategy had been recognized.
"By the way, the Demon Lord has actually been resurrected again."
"What? The Demon Lord has?"
Why would you say that? Even though he just surrendered.
"He was resurrected in the same place as last time, and he's losing his forces even faster than last time. As expected, he hasn't struck out from the forest himself."
"Wh-does the Demon Lord have any intention of winning?"
"I don't know. But having actually fought him, there is one thing I can say."
"What is it?"
"The purpose of the Demon Lord's army is the slaughter of humans, not the occupation of this island."
What kind of purpose is that? Are you saying he just resurrects over and over just to kill people?
"That's ridiculous! There's no meaning in that. Are you saying he resurrects just to kill people and gets destroyed every time!"
"That's right. In my opinion, he manifests in this world temporarily just to activate the monsters and probably kill humans to a certain extent. That's why he can't be completely destroyed."
What does that mean? Is there meaning in killing many people?
"It's like a disaster, so to speak."
"If that's the case, then the military strategy I've been thinking about every day is..."
"Yes. It's something unnecessary for the Demon Lord. And apparently, there's a hierarchy among them too. It seems those at the top are fixed with those who have served since the initial resurrection."
"No way... Then, even if I joined, I would only be able to become an ordinary soldier. It would be no different from when I was a human..."
So he was originally a soldier. Probably a deserter.
The man's head slumped.
"And there's one more thing I must say."
"What, is there still more?"
Henry-sama nodded and pointed to the mountain of ice and dirt that had been the Dragon.
"For the Demon Lord's army, Dragons are not exactly enemies, but they aren't allies either. However, if you offend them, they'll turn into enemies immediately, so they seem to treat them with extreme caution. You went and turned that Dragon into a Revenant, even if it was just one. Even if you tried to join the Demon Lord's army, you'd only be destroyed."
"N-no way..."
"Can you not tell that I am not lying?"
The meaning of Henry-sama's words was that the man was a high-ranking mage. Why was such a talented person just an ordinary soldier?
"Fu, fuhahahahaha..."
Suddenly, the man started laughing.
What, he can laugh out loud. He should have laughed like that from the beginning.
After laughing loudly for a while, the man suddenly fell silent.
However, his expression was strangely clear. It was calm, even peaceful, as if he had realized something.
He stared at Henry-sama for a while, then gave a single bow.
"Did everything backfire? Fine. I'll be destroyed in this place anyway. Old man—no, man who defeated the Demon Lord. You've told me a good story to hear at the end of my life. I thank you."
He stood up slowly and turned toward Beatrix.
Pointing to the scroll in her hand, he urged her to use it.