Dragonkin Village
“It seems you can almost control it now.”
“Um, thank you very much…”
“Indeed, I wish to welcome you as my wife.”
“Eh… what does that mean?”
A week had passed since we arrived at the Dragonkin Village. Initially, it was expected to take six months or even a year, but surprisingly, Kurinka had nearly mastered it by the fourth day. The proof was that she now appeared as a proper girl. Her silky blonde hair and soft body felt nostalgic. I had felt it again when we embraced for the first time after she returned to her human form.
“That’s quite impressive. No matter how much we trained, we could never take on a human form.”
Anima, who accompanied us during the training, seemed impressed but also somewhat dissatisfied. It appeared that even the other Dragonfolk had been training diligently, yet they couldn’t achieve a human form. The Dragon God mentioned that it might be due to either the long time spent living as dragons or the strong dragon blood within them.
However, the training was vastly different from what I had imagined. It seemed that, like the first time Kurinka transformed into a dragon, it all depended on emotional control. Back then, she had panicked and turned into a dragon, but now she was much calmer. The realization that she was a dragon was significant, and she was delighted that she could repay me for my kindness.
“I’ve been carried on your back until now, but from now on, I’ll let you ride me a lot!”
Now, she frequently urged me to ride her. Kurinka had become capable of transforming freely between human and dragon forms. Moreover, it seemed that awakening her dragon blood had made her considerably stronger. Without a Level Checker, I couldn’t gauge how strong she had become.
“Now, you must have acquired your ‘Skill’ as well.”
The Dragon God emphasized the word “Skill” with a hint of sarcasm. To put it bluntly, it wasn’t a skill at all. In fact, it seemed to be something that anyone could possess to some extent. How amusing! Every time I recalled it, embarrassment surged within me.
The method was simply to intimidate the opponent. Just threaten them with “I’ll kill you!” or exude a murderous aura. But I found it difficult to do. Anima said I was too kind. I could count on one hand the number of times I genuinely wanted to kill someone, which meant I lacked the necessary ferocity.
I finally understood why these people would challenge me without knowing my strength. In a way, I simply lacked the intimidation factor.
“Who would think this delicate girl is a formidable opponent? I underestimated you until we fought.”
It was a bit infuriating to hear that from Anima, but thanks to her teachings, Kushion, who had been so persistent with me, had become much quieter. Now, he wouldn’t come near me, and when I tried to make eye contact, he would look away and scurry off. I was glad to have used him as a test subject.
“Good for you! You’ve become a bit wiser, haven’t you? The key is simply to get fired up and say, ‘I’ll kill you!'”
“No, I won’t actually do it, Hardis…”
“Idiot! If you don’t mean it, it doesn’t matter. Only a real fool or a strong opponent would stick around after that.”
To intimidate for real, huh? I should try it before I go home. If I can do this, I can avoid unnecessary fights, and I would feel that coming here was worthwhile. Besides, the Dragonfolk weren’t as bad as they seemed when I first met them. They might not care much about humans, but at least they seemed to acknowledge us.
“You’ve probably glared at someone when you were angry, right? It’s the same thing. If a strong person glares at you, anyone would feel uneasy. Especially monsters, many of them are quite sensitive. They can sense it instinctively and will run away before a fight even starts. The smarter they are, the stronger they tend to be. Though sometimes you get idiots like Kushion.”
“Huh?! Hardis, have you ever beaten me?”
“Huh? What does that have to do with anything? And do you not understand that I sealed my poison line to spare you?”
“You’re asking for it… I’ll kill you!”
Electricity crackled around Kushion’s body as he prepared to fight again. Even though we had only spent a few days together, both Kushion and Hardis had particularly fiery tempers. It seemed they didn’t get along very well either. They were always fighting and getting punished by the Dragon God, as the Ice Dragon Shibu had mentioned.
I was somewhat curious about who was stronger, but after days of their bickering, it was giving me a headache. Even Kurinka sighed, so I really wanted them to stop. I took a deep breath.
“Enough already! You’re so loud!”
““…!””
Kushion’s electricity fizzled out, and Hardis’s long body recoiled, nearly falling over. The two, who were about to start a fight, suddenly froze as if they were bound by something, not moving at all. They awkwardly turned their heads to face me.
“…I’ll let you off this time.”
Kushion, of all people, left with a parting shot. He said he would let Hardis go, but he wasn’t even looking at him. It was merely a sign that he was surprised by me, perhaps a reflection of his pride.
The Dragon God laughed at the scene, his voice echoing loudly enough to make my ears ache. It felt like it was reverberating throughout Dragon’s Valley.
“I can’t handle this sword you entrusted to me… It’s beyond my capabilities.”
The Dragonkin blacksmith, Taita, brought the sword I had given him and hung his head. On the first day, he had noticed the sword I possessed had additional effects and had expressed a desire to reforge it, so I assumed he was quite skilled. Anima had boasted that he was capable of forging weapons for the hundreds of Dragonfolk all by himself. While the Anima fought with their own bodies, the lower-ranking Dragonfolk seemed to constantly maintain their weapons.
It seemed that Taita wanted to reforge it because the sword was in such poor condition that it could break at any moment. The most surprising part was that the additional effects were unstable and dangerous, likely because it had been left unattended for so long. After all, it had been abandoned in that dark Abyss Cave, and I hadn’t considered that at all.
“It’s beyond your capabilities? It’s a sword sealed as one of the Calamities, isn’t it?”
“The one who forged this sword must have been insane. The materials are so incomprehensible that my common sense doesn’t apply. What kind of mind could conceive of something like this?”
“It’s a relic of the Demon Race, a species that no longer exists in this world. It’s a Demon Sword that stands in opposition to the Hero’s Sword… Most likely, the girl who handles it so easily is the greatest Calamity of all.”
Anima glared at me. To summarize, the sword I had obtained in the Abyss Cave was a Demon Sword created by the Demon Race to counter the Heroes and humans. It was the last hope of the Demon Race, crafted when they were cornered by humans, and it was named Disballade. In the language of the Demon Race, it meant “despair.”
I couldn’t understand why something created for hope would be named despair. However, when I heard that it contained a negative sentiment to bring despair to the hated humans, I reluctantly accepted it. It made sense that the Demon Race, driven to despair, would want to inflict that same despair on their enemies.
“With a single swing, mountains and fields are obliterated, and armies of humans numbering in the tens of thousands are annihilated. The exact manufacturing process is unknown, but it is said that hundreds, if not thousands, of demons bled and poured their magical power into it. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the great war that ensued, so thank you for that.”
“If that’s true, just how much resentment is contained within that sword… I’ve heard that even after the war ended, many of its owners met mysterious deaths. Taita, you should refrain from getting involved any further. You’ve been looking quite worn out since you started handling that sword.”
“Th-This is madness… What about that girl who has been carrying it around all this time?”
“That monster is the one who turned the Dragon God into that form, you know?”
“…Indeed.”
What do you mean, “indeed”? I wish he wouldn’t accept that so readily. I also wish Kurinka wouldn’t nod in agreement. Calling me a monster! From my perspective, it’s far more monstrous to spew something like that from your mouth. I felt like I could never replicate that, no matter how much I practiced, and I certainly didn’t want to try.
Still, I couldn’t believe I had been carrying such a suspicious sword all this time.
“If even Taita can’t handle it, then there may not be anyone in the human world who can reforge it. Well, it’s a cursed item, so it’s best not to use it.”
“Um, about those mysterious deaths of its owners…?”
“Just as the words say, Kurinka. I haven’t been in the human world for a long time, so I don’t know much, but I’ve heard of people suddenly succumbing to a mysterious illness or committing suicide in their own rooms. In short, it’s a cursed weapon.”
“Yikes! Lua-chan, that’s not good!”
“I know you said it’s dangerous… but nothing’s happened so far, right?”
“After all, it’s something that was sealed as one of the Calamities. There’s no doubt that as a member of the Hero Clan, we can’t just ignore it.”
Kurinka, persistently trying to take the sword from me, is both adorable and annoying. But when I thought about how if I held it, Kurinka might get cursed instead, I suddenly stopped.
“Ugh… Ugh.”
“I’m fine. Do you really think I would let a curse like that get to me?”
“I don’t think so… but what if something happens…?”
With a slightly teary gaze, Kurinka looks up at me. Her concern is genuine. But I have no intention of letting go of this cursed sword that Anima warned me about. If the curse is real, it shouldn’t fall into anyone else’s hands. Since nothing has happened so far, it’s safer for me to keep it.
“Kurinka, as long as you’re safe, I will continue to live quietly here. But if I ever make you sad, I will destroy this world. Understand?”
“That’s not okay! If you go wild again, I won’t hold back this time!”
Even though the Dragon God says such things, he has been surprisingly kind since we arrived here. He instructs the Dragonfolk to take care of Kurinka and even has female Dragonfolk accompany her during her baths. He may be a chaotic being, but I believe his feelings for Kurinka are genuine. The food here is delicious, and aside from the slightly uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, it’s a decent place. With the Dragon God around, even the fierce wild Dragons don’t attack, allowing us to enjoy our freedom. In terms of environment, Kurinka wouldn’t have too many inconveniences living here. If I weren’t around, and if Kurinka, now a Dragon, could throw stones, living here wouldn’t be so bad.
“Helberos, Jörmungandr… both are monsters that enveloped the human world in fear and destruction. The sight of humans, paying a heavy toll to seal them away, was truly heart-wrenching. If it were me, I could have easily wiped them out without the hassle of sealing them.”
The Abyss Cave, known as the Festival of Calamity. This name hasn’t really caught on among humans; it seems more like a term used by the Dragonfolk. When I think of Heroes, Aleid’s face flashes in my mind, and I can’t help but feel a bit of disdain. I couldn’t wield the Hero’s Sword, but I feel relieved. I have this Disballade. If I can’t be recognized by that sword, then I will be acknowledged by this one.
These past few days have been meaningful, revealing many things. The Dragonfolk, who initially left a bad impression, don’t seem so bad now. When we took off with Kurinka, they all saw us off, and I even found myself wanting to visit again if the opportunity arose. After talking to them, I realized that the Dragonfolk aren’t that bad. However, I can’t quite like their tendency to look down on weaker beings. They accepted us to some extent, but that was merely because they recognized our strength. So, while I can’t fully like them, I do feel grateful for their care.
“I wonder if Seigel is worried.”
“Well, it’s Lua-chan, so I doubt it.”
“What do you mean by that… huh?”
“What is it?”
“I feel like someone is following us…”
“Up here in the sky? Maybe one of the Dragonfolk?”
“No way…”
I feel like something similar happened on the Metallica airship. Just for a brief moment, a small shadow caught my eye before disappearing toward the ground. If someone is following us, I can’t shake the feeling that Juo is involved. He’s been quiet for a long time, but I know he’s up to something and hasn’t given up on Kurinka.
Why is it that both the Dragon God and Juo are drawn to Kurinka, who is so peculiar? No matter who comes, I will never let go of my Kurinka. No, that’s strange; Kurinka isn’t an object.
“Oh, right. There’s a group of Dragons over there; let’s go down.”
“Wait, why…?”
“I want to try something. Come on, hurry!”
“Geez… If possible, don’t kill any Dragons that aren’t doing anything. After all, I’m a Dragon too…”
We glided down toward the ground, landing among the group of Dragons. The moment we did, the killing intent was overwhelming. Any ordinary person would likely faint from the sheer pressure.
【Kaiser Dragon has appeared! HP 42200】
【Crystal Dragon ×3 have appeared! HP 26000】
【Dragon Bomber ×7 have appeared! HP 19300】
【Flare Dragon ×12 have appeared! HP 10200】
Even just one of these would be quite a challenge for an A-Rank Adventurer to defeat. It’s no wonder that Kirius, the strongest Dragon Hunter, struggles to advance in such a difficult area. Just the sight of these massive bodies can overwhelm someone to the point of losing the will to fight.
But it has to be something like this for it to be worth testing. I want to know just how strong I’ve become. Alright, on the count of three.
“I’m going to kill them all!!!”
As Hardis said, I drew my sword with the intent to kill. But I was quickly reminded of how naive my thoughts had been just moments ago. The ground shook as the massive bodies collided, destroying the valley. Debris rained down, and the long body of a Flare Dragon scraped across the earth as it fled in the opposite direction.
“Yah! L-Lua-chan! Earthquake! Rocks!”
【Kaiser Dragon has fled!】
【Crystal Dragon ×3 have fled!】
【Dragon Bomber ×7 have fled!】
【Flare Dragon ×12 have fled!】
I felt bad for the Dragons, who were colliding and entangled, rushing to escape. They were probably genuinely terrified. I had no intention of killing them, yet I ended up scaring them.
“…Hey, it’s really quiet now.”
“Yeah, well, they all ran away…”
“No, I mean, it used to be a place where you could hear the Dragons’ roars from far away, but now it’s completely silent.”
Kurinka is right. In fact, I can’t sense any living presence at all. Silence has fallen over Dragon’s Valley. I finally realized the magnitude of what I had done.
“Hey, do you think those Dragons fled from Dragon’s Valley…?”
“That can’t be! Those Dragons are strong; they wouldn’t run away just because they were scared… W-What should we do?!”
As I spoke, my confidence began to waver. Kurinka and I exchanged glances before quickly taking to the sky. Seigel would definitely be angry if he found out what happened. We sighed repeatedly as we chased after the fleeing Dragons.
In the end, the Dragons had huddled at the entrance of Dragon’s Valley, causing a huge inconvenience for Kashiram’s cavalry, who were bracing for the Dragon army. We bowed our heads repeatedly to the cavalry members, who were in an uproar, claiming it was an unprecedented disaster, a natural calamity.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Shin, deep in the abyss
I almost got caught by this Shin’s hidden technique, hmm…
Roel, who can now transform into a Dragon.
I’m not going to call her Kurinka because it annoys me.
This has made Shin’s hidden technique incredibly difficult to execute.
That said, while they call it the Festival of Calamity, from my perspective,
there’s no calamity worse than Lua’s situation.
It’s all because of that Lua that I, the distinguished servant of the Demon Lord, have to deal with such nonsense.
Damn, what a calamity. I hope to get to the Demon Lord’s castle soon and get beaten up by the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord is far more formidable than any Dragon.
Ah, just thinking about it makes me want to lose control again.
Disballade… I can’t believe that little girl had it.
This will make for an interesting report to those four.
Hehe, Shin is truly exceptional.
Now, all that’s left is to take down this group of Dragons.
【Flare Dragon ×6 have appeared! HP 10200】
【Wind Dragon ×8 have appeared! HP 4339】
I can’t hold them back any longer; it’s hopeless.
Monster Compendium:
【Dragon Bomber HP 19300】
A four-legged Dragon with a round body and short limbs.
It stores gas inside its body and can ignite other Dragons’ breaths by expelling it, making it a fearsome Dragon.
Its strength ranks among the top of Dragons, being incredibly tough.
Its meat is unpalatable, and its scales are unsuitable for armor, making it a nuisance for hunters despite its formidable nature.