> Kira PoV <

“You mean… you didn’t come here to free the Elder Dragon?” (Kira)

“What Elder Dragon are you on about, woman!?” (Rutland)

“You know, the big one sealed in that stone statue?” (Kira)

I point upwards at the stone dragon’s head looming over the altar. It’s sticking out of a tall, sheer cliff rather ominously. I mean, it’s way too detailed to be simple artwork, right? The size itself is ludicrous - just the face is as big as a house!

“Are you actually this stupid? There’s no dragon here!” (Rutland)

“But… there’s an altar and you were doing a ritual and everything…” (Kira)

“Even if that were true, do you honestly thought I was stupid enough to free an Elder Dragon? Did you take me for a giant idiot?” (Rutland)

“Yes.” (Kira)

“Definitely.” (Kelly)

“Why you!” (Rutland)

The guy pointlessly struggled against his restraints, screaming at me in rage. I think I hit a nerve.

“Impudent wench! The instant I unseal Zublos you’re all done for!” (Rutland)

In the end he's still trying to unseal something, huh? Looks like my guess wasn't too far off.

“Zublos? Isn’t that the cake shop owner’s name?” (Kelly)

“Oh yeah, that person did have a name like that. But he seemed so nice. Can't be the same person, right?” (Kira)

“Huh?” (Rutland)

Now all his rage disappeared in an instant. Maybe this guy really is an idiot.

“He was spouting a lot of stuff about ‘submit or die’ when he first appear though.” (Kelly)

“That so? I mean he did look a bit Ancient Evil-ish, but I didn’t want to judge.” (Kira)

“He looked… evil... ish? Cake shop?” (Rutland)

“Oh yeah. Big muscled guy, about two-and-a-half meters tall. Purple and lots of horns. The chef hat kind of ruined the whole Ancient Evil thing though.” (Kira)

“Nah, he had this long flowing red robe the first time I saw him. It looked pretty cool.” (Kelly)

Oh so that’s why Olboun was grumbling something about missing a pair of [Shackles of Eternal Damnation]! I had to sit through his complaints for almost 15 minutes.

Well, I didn’t have much of a choice at the time. I was under arrest for dragging a dead troll through the street again. Some requests demand (mostly) intact corpses, so how else am I supposed to deliver them? It's not illegal to do it, I just don't understand why he has to bring me in all the time.

So what if I drag it behind me with a rope? Those things smell and I want it nowhere near me! Besides, the street is so filthy you barely even notice the fresh blood! Ah, maybe the people screaming behind me might be related. Nah, I'm sure it's just my imagination.

“So there you have it. Your Ancient Evil is already rehabilitated and owns a business in Runetap.” (Kira)

I turn back to the dumbfound Rutland and give him the news. He really should focus on properly researching these things.

I’m not one to talk though.

“Leave my Master alone!” (Yellow Sage)

Damn, the Avian woke up much sooner than I thought! She’s already escaped to the air and is aiming at us with a metal wand!

“--- [Barrier]” (Kira)

“---- [Wind Blade] ---- [Wind Blade]” (Yellow Sage)

Her spells assault my [Barrier], but if it’s only at this level they won’t break it. Her actions are strange though, especially the look on her face that says she doesn’t want to be fighting us. I was wondering why this woman was even cooperating with that old fart in the first place, could it be magical domination?

“Kelly! Use an [Impact Pellet] on her!” (Kira)

Even if it’s something else, it should disrupt the Wind magic she’s using to fly. I mean yes she has wings, but those alone won’t let you zoom around like that. Also she’s already injured, I might kill her if I hit her with anything serious.

“Got it!” (Kelly)

Kelly raises a hand and points slightly in front of where the Avian is flying with her index finger. The armor’s fingertip opens up and fires an [Impact Pellet] using air pressure. It’s a mechanism based on Ellie’s hook launchers.

“---- [Wind Wall]” (Yellow Sage)

Sensing our intent, the Avian activated a defensive spell. It’s a good choice for throwing projectiles like the glass bead off-course. Which is exactly what happens.

“Oh yeah!? Then how about this!” (Kelly)

Now she’s using all four fingers to shoot at her three times in rapid succession for a total of 12 shots. Is that okay? You’re going to run out!

*Ting*

“AAAAH!” (Yellow Sage)

Ohh! One of them managed to hit at random! Kelly, good job! The Avian falls to the ground rather hard, rolling over a few times in the grass around the altar. She looks to be out cold again.

“--- [Earth Bind]” (Kira)

Just in case, I bind her like I did the Court Wizard.

“You! How? How did you break my control?” (Rutland)

“So it was you as expected! That’ll teach you not to underestimate adventu- *CRACK* -rers?” (Kira)

Huh?

*CRRACK*

“Umm Red. Above.” (Kelly)

I follow Kelly’s eyesight.

*CRRRRRACK*

Yep, the stone dragon statue has a giant gash right across its face. I guess being this old, it was bound to break down eventually.

*RRRRUMBLE*

It has nothing to do with the fact a bunch of mages were fighting right under it. There’s no way any of our spells would make it collapse suddenly. 

This and that are completely unrelated.

*CRACK CRACK RUMBLE*

{Kira, statue’s collapsing.}

“I SAID THEY’RE UNRELATED DAMNIT!” (Kira)

Ignoring my protests, the cracks spread and pieces of stone start falling down around us.

“Kelly! Grab those two and get away! I’ll handle the others!” (Kira)

“On it!” (Kelly)

She scoops up the two suspects who can’t move, while I focus on the incapacitated [Sages]. Dispelling the magical control wasn’t as painless as we were hoping and they’re out cold as well. 

Kelly put them all in one place earlier, but there’s not enough time to carry them all. Therefore!

“Wake up! *SLAP*” (Kira)

“GOOOOD morn… ing?” (Picorio)

I manage to wake Picorio up with a strong slap. As expected, elves recover quickly. That’s good, otherwise I’d have to toss them around with Wind magic.

“Picorio, help me evacuate the others! Now!” (Kira)

He looks at me, to the left, to the right, then above and finally back at me. Having understood the immediate situation he gives a nod.

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“Okay. Staff?” (Picorio)

*THUD*

A flat piece of rock slams into the ground near us with a heavy sound.

“Here, use mine!” (Kira)

I hand him my staff, [Tranquility]. His was lost in the fight somewhere. I have my gauntlet anyway.

“--- [Strength of Oak] --- [Strength of Oak]” (Picorio)

Green light envelops first me, then him. This is a Life Magic that boosts physical ability for a short time.

“I have the dwarf!” (Kira)

“Understood!” (Picorio)

I grab the [Brown Sage] while he goes for the [White Sage]. With the boosting spell active, I barely feel the dwarf’s weight. Both of us start running away at rather unreasonable speed, covering dozens of meters in a few seconds. I can hear more and more rocks hitting the ground behind us.

Now that we’re not in immediate danger I look behind us and spot Kelly in the distance. She made it out okay with the two culprits in tow as expected. I shift my gaze towards the crumbling, former dragon statue.

“Ellie. Are you still with the Grandmaster?” (Kira)

Earlier she said the Grandmaster believed our story and that he would stick around to help us out.

{“Yes, did you stop the old fart?”} (Ellie)

“We did. Where are you?” (Kira)

{“On our way into the city.”} (Ellie)

“I need you to ask him to watch the kids and take them far away from here.” (Kira)

He’s our ally right now. Ellie seems to trust him, so I will have to do it too.

{“What? Why?”} (Ellie)

“Well… we may have sort of accidentally released an Elder Dragon.” (Kira)

*KAAAHRAAAAAAAAHHHHN*

The former dragon statue was steadily revealing a current, actual dragon. It just finished breaking its head free and let out a shrieking roar.

{“What? How did- No, not important! What about us? What do we do?”} (Ellie)

The ‘how’ of things… maybe some [Impact Pellets] ricocheted off the Avian’s defensive spell and smashed into the statue? They made my ice wall explode that one time so maybe they disrupted the seal?

It’s a lot of ‘maybe’ but as Ellie said, it’s not important right now.

“We have to stop it, otherwise many good people will suffer.” (Kira)

{“Red, that’s nuts! Do you think we have a chance at killing that thing?”} (Kelly)

“I do. Listen Ellie, the dragon is still trying to break free from its prison. I don’t know how long we have, but get over here right now!” (Kira)

{“Already on my way!”} (Ellie)

*KAAAHRAAAAAAAAHHHHN*

*RRRRRUMBLE*

The dragon gives off another roar, it’s already freed its front legs and upper torso! If it keeps going like that-

*BOOOOOOM*

With a loud noise, the cliff he was buried bursts open! A pair of giant wings reach out through the resulting dust cloud. 

*FWOOOSH*

With a single flap, the Elder Dragon breaks completely loose! This is bad! I was hoping Ellie would get here before that happened! 

Damnit Kelly why did you make those glass beads so effective!?

*KAAAAAAAHRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHN*

Letting out another deep bellow, it lifts off into the sky with a gust of wind. It doesn’t seem like it noticed us. Or more likely, it’s ignoring us. It flies upward, making a few circles as it flies and then heads off towards a dangerous direction. We can’t see it from here but…

{Dragon’s free! It’s heading towards the capital.}

As expected, it spotted the white walls of Kotero and is going to wreck it. Because dragons are big stupid jerks like that.

{“What’s the plan Red?”} (Kelly)

“Head toward the capital! We have to help with the defense!” (Kira)

{“Roger, I’ll meet you on the way.”} (Ellie)

{“Again with this Roger bloke… Okay Red, I’m going on ahead!”} (Kelly)

I turn to Picorio who’s been listening to my side of the conversation. He’s still holding onto something of mine.

“Picorio. My staff, please.” (Kira)

He looks at me with a sharp eye.

“Will [Black Flame] be fighting this dragon?” (Picorio)

“Yes.” (Kira)

“I will help.” (Picorio)

“You don’t have a staff, Picorio.” (Kira)

And I will definitely need mine back.

“Not a problem. Allow me a few moments.” (Picorio)

He flips my staff upside down and strikes the ground with the staff’s head.

“------ [Spirit Tree]” (Picorio)

A small pure-white sapling pops out of the ground and grows rapidly until it becomes twice my height. Picorio grabs the slender trunk with his free hand, wrapping his fingers around it.

“----- [Shape Wood]” (Picorio)

The few branches and leaves it had sprouted all fall away and the base of it separates from the ground. The wood twists and molds itself like it was clay.

In the span of about 10 seconds he’s made a brand new staff. What sort of unfairness is this! Does he know how much money I’ve blown on staves in the last few years!?

“Thank you, here.” (Picorio)

“Uhh… sure.” (Kira)

I take back my staff from him, but notice something else. The one he just made looks exactly like mine, only it’s a pure, almost glowing white.

“Why does it look like that?” (Kira)

“Copied the shape with magic. It is a good staff.” (Picorio)

He gives it a few swings. Somehow, I feel like I should sue or call him a thief. But I still have my staff back, so that’s not quite right.

We both invoke flight magic and chase after the dragon. We have to conserve mana so we can’t fly too fast.

“What is the plan, Kiressara?” (Picorio)

“The capital’s defenses should hold it off while we get there. My partner and I have developed a new spell that should let us fight that thing head-on.” (Kira)

“The city of Kotero will survive this spell of yours?” (Picorio)

“Of course! Well, there might be some damage. Won’t be worse than letting the dragon run free. Probably.” (Kira)