Following the orders of the foolish noble girls, we were forced to walk toward the earth dragon that had appeared and blocking our retreat.

After about three minutes, we finally came face-to-face with the earth dragon, emerging from around a corner.

“Inferior race! You are forbidden from leaving this corridor! That’s an order!”

“Filthy rabbit! You are also forbidden from leaving this corridor! That’s an order!”

“Black cat! You are not allowed to leave this corridor either! That’s an order!”

The marquis’s daughter and her entourage positioned themselves against the wall opposite us, issuing orders forbidding us from leaving this 100-meter-long, 30-meter-wide corridor.

It’s exactly as I suspected—they’re planning to escape, using us as sacrifices.

And as expected, the earth dragon focused on Sheena, who had rung the bell.

The earth dragon lunged toward her, its massive 10-meter body running on all fours, aiming to impale her with the sharp horn that grew from its forehead.

The noble girls dodged easily as they had anticipated earlier.

While Sheena was swept up by Liz, narrowly avoiding the dragon’s charge.

Activating my body enhancement skill, I drew my rapier and swiftly moved to the earth dragon’s side, aiming a thrust at its leg joint.

It’s hard… The scales blocked my strike.

I told them I at least needed something made from pure black iron, but they insisted all I needed was spirit magic, providing only a weapom with low content of black iron.

This doesn’t allow me to concentrate my magic on a single point. I can’t even scratch this A-rank dragon species.

The earth dragon acted as though my thrust never happened, turning its massive body and coming to a stop.

Oh no!

“Sheena! Liz! It’s using a Race Magic!”

“Huh?”

“Eek!?”

[Gwoooo!]

As the earth dragon roared, spears made from rock erupted from the ground in all directions.

“Damn… There’s no time! Undine, please!”

“Ah!”

“Aahh!”

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“Ow!”

I opened the leather pouch on my belt, releasing Undine, who quickly wrapped around Sheena and Liz’s legs, pulling them 10 meters back.

I dodged the spears by stepping nimbly and shattering them with my rapier.

When the Earth Dragon’s skill ended, I saw that the viscount’s and count’s daughters were both skewered by earth spears, both are dead.

Farther down, the marquis’s daughter was being carried toward the teleportation circle by their hired adventurer guide.

“Sheena! Liz! Are you okay? I may have been a bit rough, worried I wouldn’t make it in time. Are you hurt?”

“Ow, ow… I’m fine, Estina. I didn’t expect an attack like that. You saved us.”

“Th-thank you, Estina…”

“The dragon is targeting Sheena. Liz, stay with her. I’ll try to do something.”

I kept the earth dragon’s attention on me, while relaying my instructions to the two.

Unlike me, since the noble girls are dead, they’re free from slavery and could escape.

But with the earth dragon targeting Sheena, it’s hopeless. Riz would never abandon her.

In other words, we won’t be able to leave until I defeat this dragon.

Even if I could move, we no longer have a guide, so we’d have to make our way to the surface on our own, in this dungeon, with no camping gear, food, and limited water—not to mention poor equipment.

Even if we could find a staircase to the next floor, the 40th level lies above, with the guardian waiting. Or as they call it these days, the boss room.

Either way, it’s hopeless.

As the earth dragon charged at Sheena again, I cast Undine to cover its face, but the dragon repelled it with magic almost instantly.

Then it used another skill, this time causing a dozen spears to burst from the wall, flying toward Sheena.

Liz reacted quicker than before I could cast Undine, deflecting most attacks with her twin swords, but her shoulder and leg were struck by spears, causing her to fall to her knees.

“Liz!”

“Damn… My leg’s hurt.”

“Liz! You’re bleeding… I’m the one it’s targeting! In that case…”

Sheena was visibly shaken by Liz’s injuries and she moved away from us.

At that moment, the dragon crouched, preparing to charge at her again.

“Sheena!”

“Wait! Sheena!”

I jumped to the dragon while repeatedly striking with Undine and thrusting my rapier, keeping the dragon’s attention on me.

Just as I managed to draw its focus, my rapier reached its limit and broke.

Oh no… My rapier… I’m almost out of magic…

[Gwoooo!]

“Ugh!”

I failed to dodge the dragon’s skill, and a spear of earth shot up from ground, piercing me from my side.

The dragon crouched low, preparing for a final charge to finish me off.

“Estina!”

“Miss Estina! Mr. Earth Dragon, look over here! The white rabbit is here! If you’re going to eat someone, eat me! I haven’t had bath, but I probably taste good! And I have a lot of breast meat”

No, Sheena… Don’t give up until the end… I don’t want to see you die…

Run… run……

“Estina!”

“I guess… this really is the end…”

“Huh!? Everyone, run! The knights and adventurers were holding back the earth dragon and basilisk, but they’re coming this way!”

I can see them—three earth dragons and a basilisk, all with blood in their mouths.

Those people managed to take down only one basilisk.

Well, with those numbers, they didn’t stand a chance.

“Please… Let me buy us some time by luring them away! Miss Estina, Liz, thank you for always helping this timid rabbit. Rabbits repay kindness! Mr. Earth Dragon, over here! A tasty rabbit is running away!”

“W-wait… Shee-na… dammit…”

“Sheena! Stop! Don’t go!”

Liz and I tried to stop her, but Sheena dashed off with the earth dragon following her and charging toward the approaching earth dragons and basilisk.

Why now, Sheena, you are always timid… Sheena… so why at time like this…

Someone, please, save Sheena and Liz… I would offer myself to a demon if it meant saving them…

They can have my soul if they want…

This is an ancient dungeon where the Demon King once dwelt, isn’t it?

Surely there must be a demon here… Please, save them…

The moment I made my wish.

From around the corner, where the teleportation circle to the surface lay, a shadow suddenly appeared in the air.

[Demon Vanquisher]

Thud, thud, thud!

Before I knew what happened, the dragon before me collapsed without warning, and the dragons and basilisk behind it also fell forward, as if suddenly drained of power.

[Glacial Shift]

With a skill of advanced water magic, the shadow froze the legs of the dragons.

[Middle Heal] x2

The rare skill, [Middle Heal] restored me and Liz in an instant.

The pain vanished as my wounds closed at an unbelievable speed…

“…Are you two alright? Oh, do you understand me? My name is Akutsu, Hikaru Akutsu. Don’t worry; those small fry can’t move anymore.”

The man clad in black leather armor and a black cloak floated in the air, then landed before us, introducing himself with a face partially hidden by dark hair.

“Oh… oh, my wish… Thank you… Thank you, Demon King…”

“Huh!? No, no! It’s Akutsu! A-ku-tsu! Wait, is my skill broken? Cant you understand what Im saying? Dont tell me the skill is defective!? I could read those, uh, sensual novels just fine… Maybe my pronunciation is off? My name is Akutsu, not ‘Demon’! (Akuma) Got it?”

I was too captivated by the presence of overwhelming power and unbelievably handsome Demon King before me to register what he was saying.

His intense eyes, beautifully shaped brows, slightly low but well-shaped nose, and sharp jawline…

Everything was so perfectly balanced, though unlike an elf’s features, they were uniquely striking. I couldn’t believe someone so attractive even existed…

Yes… I would gladly give this Demon King everything, just as I promised.

To the one who saved us, this Demon King