Chapter 154: End
The battlefield, which had been a chaotic melee, fell into an eerie silence after Fist Slave Emperor Dyson, who had been relentlessly pushing forward at the vanguard, was defeated.
The soldiers keenly sensed the shift in momentum as the enemy forces waned, much like the ebbing tide.
「Guest General Are, what are you doing? Quickly, eliminate the hero of Silesie. As the Dragon Maid of the dragon lineage, you surely possess the power to do so!」
Exclaimed Mage General Revenant, his voice rising in a near-screaming pitch.
He, too, understood that the tides had turned, and that realization drove him to desperation.
Certainly, we were also battered and bruised.
Even when surrounded by Herman and Louise, we couldn’t secure victory. If this young Dragon Maid were to fight in earnest, we might be in dire straits.
Silently, I swapped out the magazine of my magic rifle, preparing for combat.
If they were willing to fight, then fight we must.
「Huh? What are you saying, Revenant? I have no intention of fighting against the hero.」 「But the enemy is wounded and weakened! Please, lend us your aid for just a little longer. We’ve come this far—if we can defeat the hero of Silesie, victory will be ours!」
It seemed that the Dragon Maid girl had no further desire to engage with us.
Revenant knelt, pleading, but she averted her gaze. Even I, a newcomer, could discern the power dynamics between the two.
Apparently, the dragon girl who introduced herself as Are Rango Rand was less aligned with the Castilia Kingdom and more cooperative. Whether she chose to act or not was entirely up to her. She certainly seemed capricious.
「If you want to, then go ahead.」
「And how do you expect me to do that! How can I, in my state with magic sealed, possibly defeat the hero?」
Even amidst this chaotic melee, Revenant astutely analyzed the disparity in strength. While he strained his voice to implore her to join the fight, he remained composed.
Revenant, the silver-haired, perverted, masochistic Mage General. His peculiar behavior stood out, but he was undoubtedly a formidable strategist.
In this critical moment, I consider whether to eliminate the enemy’s advance mage. It would surely please sensei, but rash action might provoke Are, who has already lost her will to fight.
The decision is precarious on our side as well. I don’t anticipate defeat; rather, I believe we can win. However, I am unwilling to increase the sacrifices any further.
Revenant, the troublesome enemy who is both an advance mage and a frontline general, poses a challenge. If we were to kill the negotiating enemy commander, the chaotic melee would continue until one side is entirely wiped out.
Perhaps proposing a ceasefire would be the wisest course of action. With that thought, I set my gun aside.
「Revenant Arima, what do you say? Shall we agree to a mutual cessation, sharing the pain? If you withdraw here, I promise not to pursue further.」
「What do you mean by ‘sharing the pain’? Spare me your jests! Castilia has invested considerable time and effort to bring us to this point. If we retreat without achieving anything—even after Dyson’s defeat—I’ll be dismissed from my position as general!」
「Dismissed? So be it. You’ve already lost, Revenant. You’re quite unsightly.」
「What are you saying, Guest General Are? Whose side are you on?」
With a cold tone, Are addressed Revenant, who was wailing in frustration.
「As for whose side… That’s precisely it. Today, I sever ties with the Castilian forces. It was part of my duty as a guest general to assess whether Castilia would be a suitable ally for Lango Rand Island. The outcome led me to conclude that further cooperation is impossible.」
「Ugh…」
Revenant’s voice trembled with regret.
Even as an adversary, I can empathize with his feelings. Castilia has sacrificed greatly to bring us to this brink. We’re just a step away.
「Are, are you intending to betray Castilia?」
「Betrayal is such an unsavory word. I fought in return for the care I received. That’s all.」
「But why here? Why now, of all times?」
Revenant’s frustrated cries echoed.
Despite being enemies, I can’t entirely dismiss his sentiments. Castilia has come so far, paying a heavy price. We’re on the cusp of victory.
His shoulders slumped, and he fell silent. Perhaps the shock had left him stunned, right in the heart of the battlefield. As I watched cautiously, he stood up abruptly and turned toward me.
Oddly, the man who had been shouting so vehemently moments ago now wore an expression of chilling indifference.
His emotional tempo swung wildly. Truly, he was an eerie individual.
「Your Excellency, General Revenant, the Castilian forces accept the proposal for a ceasefire and will withdraw. Yes, yes, everyone, let’s retreat!」
Revenant clapped his hands, urging the Castilian troops to fall back. As the forces began their withdrawal, he glanced at me for a fleeting moment, his expression unyielding, and then—just for an instant—cracked a wide, unnerving smile.
Terrifying!
Had he somehow transformed the bitter taste of defeat into pleasure? What a pervert—he sent shivers down my spine.
Revenant let out a creepy laugh, ‘Hehehe’ thoroughly unsettling me, and then lost interest in our direction. Shaking his long silver hair as he swayed his head from side to side, he elegantly boarded a carriage and departed. He remained an enigma until the very end.
Truly, he was an opponent with unfathomable depths. His arrival had been sudden, and his departure equally abrupt.
Generals who could act decisively were more formidable and fearsome than enemies who launched grandiose attacks. Revenant had claimed he would be demoted, but I prayed that it would indeed come to pass. Despite meticulously preparing cunning traps over an extended period and launching a spectacular yet underhanded assault, he could swiftly decide to retreat while the wounds were still shallow. His strategic command was abnormal in every sense.
I won’t willingly face an enemy commander as unpredictable as him again. Engaging in a battle of wits with such an aberrant individual must have exhausted even Professor Lyle.
I, too, felt somewhat weary.
The signal for the ceasefire—a red firework and a smoke signal—rose, and the chaotic melee subsided.
The enemy forces meticulously collected the bodies of fallen comrades and began their withdrawal. Only Are, the Dragon Maid, remained behind.
「You’re not leaving?」
「…Didn’t I say it, Hero? I’ve severed ties with Castilia.」
After adjusting the bandages that had come loose, Are stood at the edge of my field of vision. She flapped her large dragon wings and swished her blue dragon tail from side to side.
It’s unsettling because everyone around is frightened.
What is she trying to convey?
As the representative, I knew I should say something to Are, but for some reason, it felt difficult to initiate the conversation.
「Hmm.」
I hesitated, wondering how to handle this situation.
Although she claimed to have cut ties with Castilia, it didn’t necessarily mean she was now on our side.
As I pondered, she approached me, her expression now devoid of emotion.
「Hero Sawatari Takeru, I am Are Rango Rand. From the southern continent of Afri. Daughter of Lady of the Lango, the Dragon Queen of Rango Rand Island, which floats off the coast of the Great Desert.」
「I heard your introduction earlier.」
Afri continent—that must be Africa.
If the Great Desert corresponds to the Sahara, then Rango Rand Island is likely somewhere near the Canary Islands in North Africa. I recalled it was once a Spanish colony from a game set during the Age of Exploration.
We’re on the cusp of that era now. Castilia apparently thrives on trade with the African continent.
Rango Rand Island, where Are and the other Dragon Maids reside, isn’t exactly a Castilian colony; it seems to be more of a cooperative relationship, with them leasing Castilia a port.
「Regarding my skills as a martial artist, you’ve seen them firsthand. Although I’ve severed ties with Castilia, if the Hero insists, I suppose I could lend my strength.」
「That’s an enticing offer… but I decline!」
One of Sado Takeru’s favorite things is to firmly say ‘NO’ to those who believe themselves strong.
…Well, that’s a joke, of course. Witnessing a defeated rival suddenly become an ally feels hard to accept. Even a certain combat-loving tsundere prince would take a bit more time to soften up.
「Why not?」
「Why? Because even though you spared Louise in front of me, the sudden offer of friendship is troubling.」
Louise, who had been stabbed in the abdomen, had her wounds sealed with a healing potion but still hadn’t regained consciousness.
If the enemy who had defeated her were to join our ranks, how would Louise feel? At the very least, I would resist.
「Why, I went easy on that female warrior. Are is strong, incredibly strong. Why doesn’t the Hero desire powerful me?」
「Well… that’s not the point.」
「It’s not my fault that the warrior woman was weak.」
Dealing with this was becoming tiresome.
Ideally, I’d like to keep an eye on Louise until she wakes up.
Among the enemy forces were reptilian mercenaries, their scales so tough they could deflect even lead bullets. Our side had suffered greatly as well.
The aftermath on that front was also concerning.
With so much post-battle work to do, there were countless tasks befitting a king general. However, monitoring Are’s ferocious combat abilities—despite the lack of support from the enemy forces—was a priority. It was a hassle, but necessary.
「Ah, I see! Perhaps the Hero desires me not as a warrior but as a woman. If that’s the case, and you’re willing to take responsibility, I might consider it. …Truth be told, I came here in search of a husband.」
「Well, that ship has already sailed, so my apologies.」
Indeed, the Dragon Maid, Are, stood before me with nothing but white cloth wrapped around her youthful body, presenting an enticing figure. Her full breasts and hips contrasted sharply with her tight, toned abs.
Even with the blue scales on her limbs, and the ferocious dragon claws, wings, and tail, she still fit my ideal type.
A year ago, I might have been thrilled, but now, I’m done with those kinds of marriage flags. Seriously, give me a break. How many wives do you think I have already? I can’t handle it any more. If my number of wives and children increases any further, I’ll die from the stress.
「So, what must I do for the hero to keep me by his side?」
「Wait, wait, how did this conversation even start?」
Are edged closer to me.
I wondered what she was up to when she grabbed my hand with her scaled hand. Her blue eyes shone as she stared at me intently.
I panicked a little, fearing her sharp claws might pierce my hand. However, it seemed Are could retract her dragon claws like a cat, so my palm remained unscathed.
But those claws are way longer than any cat’s. Curious, I examined her palm closely.
「It’s a bit embarrassing if you touch me like that.」
「Hey, where do those long claws hide in your fingers? It’s physically impossible.」
Those were the same long claws that pierced through Louise’s stomach, armor and all.
When I pressed on her hand like a cat’s paw, only a tiny bit of claw emerged. They certainly didn’t look this cute before.
「Dragon claws can extend and retract as I wish. It’s common among powerful dragonkin.」
「No way!」
I couldn’t believe it, but in this fantasy world, it was indeed possible.
When Are demonstrated, her hard dragon claws extended and retracted with a metallic sound.
This wasn’t a simple retraction mechanism, it seemed like some sort of magic. Or perhaps, seeing her claws pierce through orichalcum, I thought they might be made from a material similar to my ‘Neutral Sword’ Imagination Sword. In cases like this, one just has to accept it as part of the fantasy.
「Enough about claws, I am enamored with your fighting. Before coming to the Eura continent, I had various imaginations about what a legendary hero would be like, but you exceeded my expectations.」
「Well, it’s nice to be complimented, but being a hero isn’t really that impressive.」
I couldn’t have defeated Dyson on my own.
I succeeded because Herman and Louise saved me in dangerous moments, Kaara stalled him, and the old hero Conrad taught me how to fight.
「Until now, I believed that the stronger side always wins in battle. But your way of fighting was different. Even though you were weaker than Dyson, you defeated him splendidly. The power of a legendary hero truly amazed me.」
「It was pretty close, though.」
「So a hero is, in essence, a powerful light that attracts people. Many brave warriors gathered around you, combining their strength to defeat an enemy much stronger than yourself. I was also drawn to that dazzling light.」
「So, you want to become my comrade?」
She nodded firmly while gripping my hand tightly.
Despite her rough, sturdy hand completely enveloping mine, she looked like a beautiful girl. Dragon Maids are such contradictory beings.
「Alright, I’ll let you join us.」
「Oh, that’s great! I was really worried about being rejected.」
Well, I did refuse once. But after being told all that, I couldn’t exactly say, ‘No, I still refuse.’.
Besides, she has no place to go since she cut ties with the Kingdom of Castilia. Leaving such a powerful being without affiliation could cause serious security issues in the Silesie territory.
If she got upset for any reason, an entire village could disappear. It’s too dangerous to leave her alone.
A martial arts cheat. This is the first time I’ve allied with someone like her. I’m very concerned about whether she’ll get along with the rest of our group.
For now, I’ll keep her close and observe.
Still, ‘a hero is a powerful light that attracts people’…
Are mentioned something along those lines, but the individuals drawn to me are quite peculiar and challenging.
Yet, it’s the hero’s duty to manage such situations.
After the battle, I’ll need to rebuild the chaotic royal capital, assign scouts to monitor the enemy’s complete withdrawal, and ensure Lyle-sensei’s safe return. When I saw her face unharmed as she arrives by carriage from the battlefield, I thought, finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that everything has come to an end.