chapter 99
99. What Happened Beyond the Wall (3)
1.
“……What is going on?”
The dragon’s gigantic body, large enough to fill the pupils of the giant lair, was paralyzed by a single binding spell and stopped like a solid stone statue. Abel, who had just experienced it herself and found it hard to believe, said with wide eyes that she had experienced something that she might never experience again in her life.
A face with a clear look of bewilderment.
Considering the common sense that she and Sylphia took for granted, it was impossible for Abel, who was not in a polymorphed human form but had instead appeared as a real body, to be neutralized by the binding magic cast by Ludrick.
The dragon scales embedded in his skin, or in other words, the scales, are so strong that they cannot be penetrated by one or two magic attacks. As proof of this, Abel was able to withstand Sylphia’s magic without any trouble right after he materialized into his main body.
Even powerful magic that can change the terrain when hit can only be endured by relying on the resistance imbued in the skin and the defense of the tough outer skin, so if it is a low-level human magic compared to that of a dragon that uses its tongue, it should not even leave a trace.
“……Ludrick?”
Like Abel, Sylphia’s eyes were wide open and she looked back at Ludrick with a surprised expression.
However, the person who had surprised the two dragons was asking for an explanation with an indifferent expression, not caring at all.
“So, what happened here?”
“How did you know about this place…?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask. I came here because I felt like something huge had happened.”
To be honest, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t flustered.
He could instinctively realize that something enormous was clashing with him. Even Ludrick couldn’t just recklessly use great magic of this scale.
So, as soon as I realized that something huge was happening in the mountains, I started to mentally prepare myself.
What is this?
What I thought was an incredible being was a dragon I had never seen before and Sylphia. I had no choice but to be flustered at first because I had never thought I would meet Sylphia in this way. In fact, that was why I hesitated a bit, as if my words were being delayed.
However, Ludrick, who tried hard not to show it, said calmly.
“It’s a bit extreme to say that it’s just friends joking around and bickering.”
“Huh? Of course. Sylphia was really angry. She really attacked me as if she was going to kill me.”
Yeah.
Although he tried to break free, he could not easily break the binding magic even with his innate high resistance. In the end, Abel, who had to forcefully break the magical bindings by using the immense brute force from his gigantic body, accepted the words with a wry smile.
“Actually, you were getting in the way of my plans, so I was thinking of getting rid of you, but then Sylphia suddenly got angry and looked like she was going to kill you.”
“Does that mean clearing it up physically?”
“Uh… Since what you get rid of gets cleaned up, isn’t it roughly similar?”
Abel hesitated at Ludrick’s sharp question and answered politely.
And Silphia, who was listening to that conversation, felt like hiding in a mouse hole.
‘I should have torn that snout off a long time ago… … .’
Abel talked too much.
He had been telling Ludrick every little detail of what had happened, to the point where Sylphia would have sewn his mouth shut if she could.
Thinking about it another way, explaining to Ludrick everything that had happened was no different from saying that Sylphia’s eyes rolled back when she heard that she would harm Ludrick.
Structurally, Sylphia’s face couldn’t help but turn red.
“So, do you still feel the same way?”
“Ahaha, won’t it be hard?”
Abel, who had been looking embarrassed, answered Ludrick’s question in a flat voice with a laugh.
The binding spell that Ludrick had cast on himself just a moment ago was extremely powerful. The reason for this is beyond my imagination, but it was rare for a spell to be able to overcome the resistance of a dragon incarnate and exert such a level of force. Even if it was the same dragon, it would not have been easy.
Abel, who had polymorphed back into human form, added, meaning that he no longer had any hostility towards himself.
“I don’t think I can win if we fight 2 on 1.”
‘2 vs. 1… … ? Ah… … !’
And Sylphia, who had been thinking deeply about Abel’s words, soon opened her eyes wide in surprise.
The magic she felt from Ludrick now was extraordinary. Sylphia couldn’t guess why Ludrick had cast a binding spell on Abel, but what was certain was that the current Ludrick was somewhat different from what Sylphia remembered.
If I may exaggerate a little.
‘… … I am more than a court magician.’
I was embarrassed, even though I didn’t show it.
Was it because his inherent talent had fully blossomed after the actual battle, or was it because Ludrick’s talent was originally this high? Sylphia thought that since he had already tied up Abel once, it would be quite burdensome for Abel to fight 2-on-1 with Ludrick joining in.
“I’ll take back the dragon teeth that were driving out the monsters. It’s a shame to throw it away since I’ve been working on it for almost ten years, but I’ll give it up and look for a different concept for entertainment. So, will you please leave my house now?”
In the meantime, Abel raised both hands and raised the white flag.
Her treasure trove, Lair, had already been destroyed a long time ago due to her continuous magic battle with Sylphia. It was so completely destroyed that it would take a long time to restore it even with the help of magic.
It was heartbreaking to see my precious treasure in this state, and it was even more heartbreaking to see all the groundwork I had been doing for over ten years go to waste.
Because a single play wasn’t worth risking one’s life for.
“…….”
Instead of answering, Ludrick glared at Abel.
Since he didn’t know the details yet, Ludrick didn’t plan on taking a more aggressive approach. If he had known the details of how this had come to be, he would have glared at Abel with contempt, not just a simple glare.
“So, Sylphia, that’s why you were fighting here?”
“yes…….”
“To stop that guy. So to protect me?”
“……yes.”
If she had wanted to hide in a mouse hole earlier, Sylphia’s face was burning hot now. Her face had been hot since earlier, and she couldn’t raise her face.
In a way, Ludrick was revealing the truth that Sylphia wanted to hide. It may sound strange to say this, but it was true that Sylphia was actually fighting Abel here, risking her life to protect Ludrick.
Even if the opponent is of the same race, and even if it is a fight with an unknown chance of winning, without any hesitation.
I didn’t intend to emphasize that fact and make a fuss about it, but if you look at the facts as they are, it wasn’t wrong.
Sylphia’s face was burning as she answered ‘yes’, but Ludrick just stared at her with an expression that made it difficult to guess her true feelings.
It was a complicated situation.
Neither Sylphia nor Ludrick had hoped for a reunion of this kind.
Suddenly, Abel, who was caught between the two, slowly moved to the side and watched them with interest. Just the story of the dragon who loved the human was enough to make me hold my stomach and laugh, but the dragon was actually struggling with the human.
Abel could sense that this might be the only spectacle he would ever see in this lifetime.
Abel, who was watching with interest, was not even aware of the two.
And the silence that followed was finally broken after a long time when Ludrick opened his mouth.
“Why did you do that?”
“……yes?”
It had an ambiguous meaning.
Why did you make that choice?
If not, or if I told you to get out of here because I didn’t want to see you, why did you risk your life in a fight that no one would know about?
Either way, Sylphia was at a loss for an answer.
As evidence, Sylphia, who had been wiggling her fingers, lowered her head.
What should I say? What answer should I give here?
Sylphia lowered her head and muttered softly.
“…Because it’s for Ludrick.”
And after forcing out the words that were stuck in her throat, Sylphia’s vision became blurry. Before she realized it, her eyes had turned red. Tears were flowing down her lowered head.
“Oh my god, oh my god.”
Abel, who had been watching with sweaty palms, muttered obliviously, but the two still paid no attention.
That love was sincere, no matter how it was expressed.
Even though what she did for Ludrick ended up hurting him. That’s why even after hearing the verbal abuse telling her to disappear from sight, Sylphia was still willing to risk her life for Ludrick.
Sincerity is not expressed in a hundred smooth words, but in one rough word.
Actually, it was a predicted ending.
Ludrick couldn’t hate someone for long because of his nature. He just grumbled that it was just his nature, but he was more used to forgiving and letting go than to holding onto it for a long time.
The moment Sylphia’s vision cleared again as she wiped away her flowing tears with her sleeve, Ludrick let out a sigh.
“……Ugh.”
Ludrick hugged Sylphia without saying a word.
Although the appearance may be a bit strange because Sylphia is taller, I hope that this warmth is sufficiently conveyed.
And then, Sylphia, held in Ludrick’s arms, sobbed silently.
It was a strange feeling. The feeling of tears flowing endlessly.