Chapter 34: Green Dragon Variant Subjugation ②
I aimed my palm at the Green Dragon Variant.
“Otama-chan, drink a magic potion just in case.”
“B-But, it’s the last one, right? What about you, Ko-chan…?”
“—I’m fine.”
I dug the nails of my left hand into my right arm.
Then, along with a slight pain, I felt my Mana Points (MP) recovering.
—This is a combo of the poison-inflicting ring and the 【Poison Absorption】 skill.
By inflicting a poison attack on myself, I can 【Absorb】 the ring’s poisonous magic as my own MP.
It’s an unexpected way to use the ring that I just figured out.
…A semi-permanent supply of magic from the ring.
If I pour all of this into the 《Mass Assault》 grasshoppers with the 《Support》 skill—.
“GYAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOO!!”
“—!”
Perhaps wary of the previous stag beetle attack, the Green Dragon charged towards me.
The impact was like an oversized truck bearing down on me.
…But I can’t back down.
Behind me is Otama-chan, who’s out of stamina.
She probably can’t move right away.
I have no choice but to meet it head-on!
I gather magic in my right hand and prepare to attack.
“UOOOOOOOOOOH!!”
The dragon might be slightly faster.
Will I make it in time—?
“G-GAAAAHHH…!!”
“Eh…!?”
Just then, the dragon’s neck was forced downwards.
No, that’s not it.
Rather than being forced down, it was more like it got caught on some kind of string—.
“Ko-chan, now!”
I looked to the side, and Otama-chan was next to me.
“…Thanks for lending me your 《Thread》.”
Multiple threads shot out from Otama-chan’s hands, wrapping around various parts of the dragon.
The dragon’s face and legs were connected by the threads, which seemed to be what bent its neck.
“But, sorry, it probably won’t hold for more than a moment.”
“No—that’s more than enough.”
Otama-chan fought alongside me.
I was concerned for Otama-chan, and she was concerned for me.
This relationship makes me happy.
Thank you.
“—Otama-chan, you’re my best partner.”
“Ah…”
I open a gate to an alternate dimension and summon a large number of grasshoppers.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAO!!”
The dragon stretched its body and snapped the clinging threads.
But… it’s too late.
“《Mass Assault – Full Boost》!!”
I pour all my magic into the countless grasshoppers that were unleashed.
My MP, which was around 100, drops to 0 in an instant, but I convert poison into magic and add more magic on top of it.
“UOOOOOOOH, GOOOOO!!”
“GAAHHH!?”
The Green Dragon seemed to have hurriedly closed its mouth, but that hardly mattered anymore.
Even before being enhanced, the grasshoppers could easily devour things like tree bark or even high-ranking goblins.
This time, with the 《Support》 skill, I’ve poured all the magic of my level 31 self into them multiple times.
As long as they have this enhancement (buff)—.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch…!!
“GUGAHAAAAAAAAAH!!”
The dragon’s scales started flaking off from its abdomen and neck.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The dragon’s defenses were lost in an instant.
The grasshoppers’ attack was gnawing off its scales.
Natsume-san, amazing…!
“GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
The dragon let out a cry of agony.
The grasshoppers slipped into its body through the gaps in its scales, devouring the dragon from the inside and out.
Natsume-kun is brutal…
“GYAOOOooo!!”
Fwoosh…!
A faint flame emerged from the dragon’s mouth.
But it was largely meaningless.
The grasshoppers hadn’t entered through its mouth, and besides, it had already exhausted its breath attack earlier, so it wouldn’t reach us.
“Ga, ah…”
After spitting out the last of its flames, the dragon slowly began to topple.
“—Sorry about this. It’s time for us to go home.”
THUDDDDDDD!!
The dragon fell, and dust danced up into the air.
Starting from the tip of its tail, it turned into purple smoke and dissolved into the air.
“Oh…!”
I deactivated 《Mass Assault》 and observed.
The target was completely silent—.
Beyond the dragon’s remains, an iron door had appeared out of the ground.
That’s probably the gate for returning.
…There’s no doubt.
This is.
“—Our victory.”
“Ko-chaaaaaaaan!!”
“Uwah!!”
Just then, Otama-chan hugged me.
“We did it, we did it!!”
“H-Hey…”
“Thank you, thank you for coming to help me! I love you, Ko-chan!! Sob, sob…”
I was embarrassed thinking this was being broadcast, but Otama-chan seemed to be crying.
I said nothing and just patted her head.
After a while.
“—Natsume-san, Omoikawa-san, are you alright?”
Yamada-san called out to us.
“Ah, sorry…”
I moved away from Otama-chan and looked at the broadcast screen again.
And then.
<8888888888>
<【¥1,000】Ko-chan, well done!!>
<【¥3,000】Invite me to the wedding>
<【Official: Dungeon Management Bureau】Congratulations to you both! That was amazing!>
A storm of comments was raging.
“Amazing…”
“Everyone was cheering for you both. The Association’s broadcasts usually have around 500 viewers, but today, about 60,000 people are watching.”
“That many…”
“Now, we don’t know what might happen to that floor or when. You two should collect the drop items and return quickly. We’ll be heading back to the entrance as well.”
“Understood.”
Looking at where the dragon fell, various things had dropped.
A large amount of scales, horns, a magic stone about the size of a soccer ball, a sheathed sword, a red jewel, a golden bracelet…
“There’s so much stuff dropped…”
Is it always like this when you defeat a boss?
“Woah, what’s all this!? Isn’t this too much?”
Otama-chan is also surprised.
I check the broadcast screen just in case.
…As I thought, it must be the effect of my 【Item Drop Enhancement】.
It’s no use causing more of a commotion, so I’ll keep quiet about it.
I spread open the bag I used for the Imomushi’s food and started stuffing the dragon scales into it one after another.
“Ko-chan, you should use this sword.”
Otama-chan offered me one of the dragon’s drop items.
“Is it okay?”
“Yeah. Your sword broke, right? This is perfect.”
“It looks expensive, though…”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re the one who defeated the Green Dragon, Ko-chan. Besides…”
“Besides?”
“We’re a party, right? If a party member uses it, it’s the same as if I used it myself, you know? So, don’t hesitate.”
“…Thanks.”
I sheathed the sword dropped by the dragon at my waist.
Then, I drew the blade once.
Both the blade and scabbard were greenish, a dragon’s sword…
I felt like I’d become a full-fledged Explorer, and it made me kind of happy.
“Then, you use this bracelet, Otama-chan. I don’t know what kind of tool it is, but I’m sure it has some effect, right?”
“Thanks. I think it’s probably an experience-boosting bracelet. I’ll treasure it.”
And so, we gathered all the drop items and approached the newly appeared return gate.
When I opened the iron door, beyond a purple shimmer, I could see the stairs of the Ota Dungeon entrance.
I looked back at Otama-chan and held out my hand.
“Well, shall we go home?”
“—Yeah.”
Otama-chan and I entered the return gate, holding hands.