Gramsfer, one of many towns that are spread out in the country of Helgas. This town prided itself in its stable economy and safe environment due to being close to the country’s royal capital. Most people even say that if you wanted to find something exciting to do, avoid this town at all costs.
However, today these words described nothing of what was happening.
Tremors and strong winds suddenly appeared, originating from the town’s nearby forest. Meanwhile, inside the town, an invisible dome-like barrier appeared preventing anyone from passing through. Just after this barrier appeared, a bright white light flashed inside.
The fact that people could not see or enter into it made the reason behind its appearance unknown to everyone.
Everyone except for the two presences inside it.
One is a girl of around 15 to 16 years old with a beautiful face, curvaceous body and large chest facing off against a man around his 20s wearing a butler uniform and remarkable features collapsed against a building’s wall.
“For all that talk earlier, you couldn’t even---wha?!”
The first one to speak is the girl, Haylee Drind. Being sure of her victory, she spoke of her own accord. However,
“Has the quality and etiquette of mages reduced in these past thousand years?”
Rising from his collapsed state, the man in the butler uniform, Kuroga, slowly stood up. Smoke rose up from his right hand which blocked the earlier spell launched at him by the girl.
“To use such a powerful spell in a populated area, and without even first casting an isolating spell.”
A look of disappointment was shown on his face.
But the girl could only look at him flabbergasted. Considering the destructive capability of the spell she just used, to block it only with a hand while simultaneously casting a large scale isolation spell……
“You! Tell me! What is your true identity?! To say that you’re simply a butler is bull---”
“Stop right there. A lady such as yourself should refrain from saying crude words. But very well, I will once again introduce myself.”
Taking a bow, he spoke in a calm manner,
“My name is Kuroga. A butler under the servitude of the hero of Helgas, my master, Kinji Shirokawa. However, you may also know me by a different persona.”
Tension flowed through the air. Neither party showing any sign of moving from their spot.
“I was once known as the head of the royal court magicians……of the now lost ancient country of Vanyali.”
Time seemed to slow down for Haylee. The man in front of him introduced himself as Kuroga. But it wasn’t those words that left her speechless, it was the words after that.
“Head……Magician…….? ……Van…….yali……..”
Those words revolved around in her head. She found it hard to believe in those words even though his words had no hint of deception within them.
“Impossible……..That’s just……..impossible!!!”
Yes, that’s impossible!
These thoughts swirled in her.
Vanyali was destroyed a thousand years ago by a civil way incited by its neighboring countries. There were also no records of any known survivors, its lands were reduced to a barren wasteland and even its prized treasures disappeared. For one such survivor of that advanced magical country to appear now of all times!!!
“It appears that you have no intentions of believing me. Then……”
His words snapped her back to reality. Preparing herself for his attack, she heightened her concentration to its limits.
“
“
Two spells clashed. One bearing the appearance of millions of shadowy tiny creatures while the other was a transparent wall with its sole purpose being to protect its user.
“Guh!!!”
But the wall proved no match to the endless swarm of charging darkness.
Haylee found herself being pushed back. Soon, she would be back to back with the wall behind her.
“
With where she stood being the center, an explosion of heat expanded outwards. Burning every single one of the tiny creatures as it headed for the man in front of her.
“I praise your efforts. But I must also retaliate in return, forgive me.
One word. A one word spell. In that one word spell contained one of the most powerful spells known in this world. ‘Repel’. Just like its name suggested, anything the user deemed a target would be repelled without resistance.
If Infernal Burst is a 5th ranked spell that could only be used by the most skilled of mages, then Repel belongs to a rank even higher than that. Rightfully belonging to the rank only less than 1% of all of the world’s most powerful and skilled mages in history could use, a Myth ranked spell.
The blazing inferno headed for him disappeared into nothing, as if it was never there in the beginning.
Collapsing on her knees, she had used up most of her magic power from casting the 5th ranked spell.
“Since you are in a state incapable of continuing the fight, I will take my leave now.”
Walking away as if nothing happened, Haylee could do nothing but lean against the wall while watching the man now known as Kuroga dispel the barrier and disappear from her sight.
===
The world shook.
A powerful force caused the lands to shake in a violent manner.
Then many times after, it shook again. Over and over, the next one being stronger than the last.
People who were in the town of Gramsfer would later pass down stories of how these tremors were strongest in the nearby forest of their town.
How the ‘Forest’s Killer’ had fought an ‘Unknown Adversary’ for superiority of the land.
During this time, only few people would know the true happenings.
Of course, these were only stories. And stories, through the passage of time, will have details become distorted, exaggerated or removed.
But this isn’t the event recounted in the stories passed down by men.
No, this is the simple story of how a summoned hero encountered and fought with a hot headed Dragon.
===
The Dragon dived down with its foreleg in the shape of a fist. Its target was, of course, me.
“DIE!!!!!!!”
“!!!”
In retaliation to her approaching figure, I clenched my fist.
Just as she reached me, with no intention of losing, my fist collided with hers.
The result was a tremor that would shake even the foundations of towns far away. But I wouldn’t learn of this until much later.
“For you to be able to go up against me. You’re not bad! However!!!”
Landing a few steps away from me, her mouth opened and let out an excruciating roar.
“Come!
Several human-shaped figures made out of fire appeared. Coming out of her mouth, they all charged at me with their burning bodies.
“Guh!
As a faint orange glow covered my body, I went up against the fiery figures.
Each one took just one hit to dissipate. However, I could still feel the heat they released and their numbers were endless.
“
Deafening sounds were released from my opened hand. Dispersing them as it neared the Dragon.
“Not bad! Not bad at all!!!”
Shouting while withstanding my attack, I couldn’t help but praise the Dragon race’s tolerance to damage.
But I’m not done yet!
I quickly left my previous position and was now in the air behind her. It seems she hasn’t noticed yet, seeing as she was still staring at my afterimage.
Casting Solid Air while midair, I change directions and spin to put momentum on my axe kick.
Her back grew larger in my sights. Then it was covered in black.
“Guh!!!”
I felt my leg numbing. If I hadn’t enhanced my reaction time, my body would have been sent flying again.
The ground below her caved in, forming a crater big enough for an entire village.
Just when I had landed, her tail came after me. Barely making it in time, I raise both my arms to shield myself.
Again, numbness courses through my body and the ground collapses under me.
“You’re pretty durable, are you really a human?”
Before she could retract her tail, I grab it. My hands only able to grasp half of it.
“Now!!!”
“Hmph! A human cannot-----?!?!?!”
Her tail squirmed in my hands, trying to escape.
With my skill, maybe now I can finish this fight. Though I’m not sure on how my body will react to it. Honestly, I’ve been too scared to experiment on anything else except with the speed option.
Even though it was my request for this kind of skill, it’s still scary when you’re unsure of its full potential.
Next is,
With this, I’ll be able to switch its quantitative values without using the entire command. But it can only be used for one command at a time. If I use it on another one, the former will be overwritten.
I guess it’s to be expected. Guess Libreria had to balance it out one way or another.
<<-3>>
“Wha?!?!?!?!?!”
Effortlessly, I pulled her as if she weighed almost nothing. Continuing with her momentum, I turned around and threw her back to the ground.
<<2>>
Just before colliding, her weight immediately increases,
“Guaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!”
Unleashing an indistinct scream from the pain.
Red blood was coughed out from her gaping mouth. But I wasn’t done yet.
<<-3>>
Lifting her once again, I ran through the forest with her behind me.
“He-hey!!! Wait, time! I-I’m sorry alreadyyyyyyyy!!!!!”
Turning to look at her at those words, the eyes and mouth were not in sync in any way.
Continuing my run, I could see the side of the mountain where she flew out from.
A twenty or so miles before reaching it, I put force into my feet and stop. Immediately after, I rotate on my heels.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!”
From the look on her eyes, she looked ready to puke.
Preparing myself in case that happens, I slowly lessen the strength in my grip on her tail.
“There!!!”
Finally letting go of her tail, she’s sent flying. The speed being too fast for her to stop or change directions.
<<0>>
Deciding that it would have been too painful if she stayed on course with her current weight, I return it back to normal. Staying true to that mindset, I also change the skill’s effects on me to normal as well.
BAAAAAAAAM!!!!!!!!!!
Debris flew from the side of the mountain where I threw her into.
Chunks of rock as wide as tables were sent flying everywhere.
“
I grabbed a vial filled with blood red liquid, this world’s version of a health potion, and ran to the ruined site.
“Uuuu-----”
Getting closer, I heard a moan. Or was it a cry?
“Uuuuuuuuuuuu---------”
It’s getting louder. Does it mean she’s still alright after all that? No, wait, it would be bad if she wasn’t alright.
She’s part of the Dragons I’ve always wanted to see, after all.
Carefully approaching her, I’m able to see her lying figure through the smoke.
What?! Why is she still huge?
Remembering the words from a book called “Only Known Facts About Dragons, it said that Dragons who are defeated or in near-defeat will transform back into their humanoid forms. This is because Dragons use enormous amounts of magic power to maintain their Dragon forms while in combat.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
So is she still capable of combat? But I’m too close to her, even if I’m able to use my skill, I’ll only be able to enact two command at most.
Should I raise my endurance? Or my strength?
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-------------”
She started moving.
The smoke had already dissipated so I could see her entire body clearly.
Her face was glaring at me.
Her eyes were becoming red. I could already see the future that awaited me.
Preparing myself for the worst, the Dragon,
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!”
Began crying.
“Eh? Huh?”
“Uwaaaaah!!!! It hurts!!!! Uwaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”
Surprisingly, even Dragons can cry huh. But the image of a large Dragon crying with the voice of a young girl is just……
“O-okay, okay! Wait, drink this. Drink it and the pain will go away!!!!!!”
I run up to her and wave the vial in front of her.
She whimpered a bit before speaking.
“W-weally?”
Damn it, the visuals and audio aren’t matching at all!!!!!!!!!!
“Y-yeah, so drink it already!”
“O-okay………”
I pour the vials contents into her mouth.
Suppressing the urge to pull back my arm, the vial soon become empty.
“S-so, are you alright now?”
“Y-yeah……”
Seeing this as my chance to leave,
“We-well then, I think it’s okay to forget about what just happened. So then---”
“Wait.”
My body freezes midway from walking away.
“Y-yes?”
“Let me go with you.”
Panicking from her words, my inhuman brain starts thinking of several excuses to reject her request, no, order.
But considering she survived all my attacks, I ultimately conceded.
“I-I don’t think there’ll be any merit in it for you but sure.”
“Really?!”
She stepped closer upon hearing my approval.
“Y-yeah. But could you transform into your other form first? It’ll be problematic if people see a Dragon walking into town.”
“Huh? What do you mean ‘transform’?”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
Only the sound of the wind blowing could be heard for several seconds.
“Wait, wait, wait. Don’t Dragons have the ability to transform?”
“Haaaah?! Who told you that? Ability? If it’s transform, then shouldn’t it be a magic spell or something?”
“But you’re a Dragon, right?”
She nods back in confirmation.
“It’s said that Dragons have, since the beginning, the ability to transform at will. They’re even supposed to transform back unwillingly when bested in combat.”
“……”
“……”
“Oh!!!!!!!!”
It seems she figured out what I was talking about.
“That’s not an ability! It’s a magic spell, ‘Substitution Magic’ to be precise.”
Substitution Magic? Skimming through all the books of magic spells I memorized, I found it. Only one such spell exists. This spell created a living body of any race the user desired. Their consciousness would be transferred into this body while the original body enters a state of hibernation.
“So, that means, for hundreds of years, Dragons have only been using a magic spell and no one ever realized that it’s just a spell?!”
“Yep! I think the only reason the other races created that story was because long ago, my great-great-great-great-great……….grandfather once fought against every other race’s strongest representatives. In the end, he got sleepy and faked his defeat, using Substitution Magic to take his place.”
The words she was saying contradicted every single thing I’ve read back in Dravint’s royal library.
“And so, to save face, historians exaggerated the representatives’ actions, wrote in books that Dragons could transform thus explaining my ancestor’s fake body. Oh, and unlike other Dragons, my ancestor had the skill to utilize multiple consciousness so he could move his original body while having a dozen or so fake ones.”
Amazing. Dragons are really amazing.
“Ha. Hahahaha………..”
“Hmn?”
I could only laugh sadly at the facts thrown at me.
“So that means, no matter how hard I fought, I wouldn’t be able to beat you……..”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you had several other trump cards, right? Considering you were able to survive my amplified attacks, no way I could have won by other means without harming myself.”
“Umm……..I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
“What, exactly, am I misunderstanding?”
Unconsciously, I glared at her. Even with her menacing figure, I noticed the way she shifted uncomfortably.
“Errr…..well……it’s just that you did beat me………”
“Eh?”
“Earlier, I couldn’t even move, much less retaliate.”
“Eh? But you were able to move immediately afterwards, right?”
“That was only because of that.”
Raising her claw slightly, it was pointing at the empty vial in my hand.
“This?”
“Yes. It isn’t any type of energy elixir I’ve ever had. More like, where did you even get that? Its purity is unreal.”
Where I got it, huh. I think it was in a box hidden under the gold in Kuroga’s cave. Wait, don’t tell me……
“So, what you’re saying is, without this you would have remained there until you regained enough energy to move?”
“Most probably, there was even a chance of death since I would be unable to fight back against the roaming miasmic creatures.”
“H-ha………..”
“Now then, about my coming with you!!!”
Oh right, I completely forgot about that. The harsh reality presented to me in an already sword and magic world was too much for me to handle.
“Make me your subordinate!!!”
Exclaiming proudly, she puffed out her chest and looked at me expectantly.
“O-okay…………….wait! How do you know I have Subordination Magic?!”
“Oh, so you do have it! I wasn’t really sure, but for someone to be able to hold that cursed vial without any repercussions is sure to have learned tons of forbidden magic by now.”
“Re-really? Then, I guess I’ll do it then…….”
I think I heard some other extraordinary realization but I decide to ignore it for now. No use becoming too flustered from all the unbelievable things in an unbelievable world.
Raising my hand, I voicelessly cast the Subordination Magic.
This magic is one of the few spells where it is not required to voice out the chant or its name. However, it could only be used when both parties have reached an agreement of their respective positions.
While the master could issue any command to his subordinates, the latter could ignore this without any backlash.
This was a somewhat perfectly safe variant of Slavery magic no matter what angle you looked at it from. In fact, the only reason it’s considered a forbidden magic unlike its original spell is because of the transformation it gave the subordinate not found in any other spell of its kind.
With the spell activating, a faint blue aura wrapped around the both of us. Next, a string of similar color came out of my hand and connected to her head.
Magic power flowed out of me and made the string grow brighter and brighter. Light soon enveloped her entire body.
Now then, what appearance will you show me, Dragon?
Considering her voice, she could possibly end up with a body of those little girls, lolis, I think. But with Kuroga, who had the voice of an old man in his original form, he ended up with his current form and received a new voice.
We tested it before arriving in Gramsfer and his new voice still remained in his lich king form.
I don’t want to be labelled a ‘lolicon’ so I silently prayed to Libreria that this would be a similar case with Kuroga’s.
Slowly, the figure of a Dragon enveloped in light grew smaller. It was becoming the size of a normal human girl.
At least the gender’s still the same.
Is what I was thinking while watching her grow smaller.
Oh, wait, I need to bring out clothes for her.
Casting Extra Dimension, I rummage through the items I took from Kuroga’s cave.
The light was almost completely gone now.
I had finally found a suitable gown with a coat when the light disappeared.
Moving with speed uncommon for humans, I’m able to cover up her naked figure without any incident.
“Hmmm…….this form isn’t so bad. Yep, I like it!!!”
Although the voice which spoke is different, it did come from the direction of where the Dragon is.
“Hey, Kinji, could you teach me how to wear the thing you’re covering me with?”
Wait, did I ever tell her my name?
Without looking at her direction,
“Umm…..sorry if I might have forgotten, but did I tell you my name beforehand?”
“Hmn? Nope. Your name just popped into my head after my transformation.”
“O-oh.”
Now that I think about it, Kuroga never called me by name so there’s no reason I would find out before now.
“Hey, Kinji!!! Look at me and teach me how!!!”
She was really close so her loud voice was really painful to my ears.
Reluctantly, I turned my head to face her.
……..Sister……..
A single word filled my head when I saw her new appearance.
Slightly messy black hair that ended just above her shoulders. Lively black eyes and a face that contradicted with my ‘normal’ appearance, emphasizing her beauty and lively nature. In terms of physique, her body was normal for girls at what looked like her age. A moderate chest, slim waist and fair skin. She was only half a head shorter than me.
She could most definitely pass off as my sister, although a superior one at that.
“Then, does that mean I get to call you Kinji-onii-san?”
Flashing a smile that showed a mischievous nature. I could only sigh at this.
“Sure. Do what you want…….errrr…………what’s your name again?”
“About that……”
Briefly showing a sad look, she leans in closer at me with shining eyes.
“Give me one!”
“Eh?”
“Like I said, give me one!”
“Wait, wait, wait, don’t you have one?!”
“Nope! My parents were never around when I still lived back in my country so I never had the chance to learn it.”
“I-I see. But is it really okay to replace the one they gave you?”
“It’s okay! It’s okay! I mean, technically, I’m not a member of the Dragon race or their country anyway.”
Did she just say something………never mind.
Going along with what she said, I think of different names. I was never the type to make up good names, so this is somewhat the hardest thing I’ve gone through in this world.
Her Dragon form was black. Even her current appearance had black hair and eyes. But Kuroga already has that in his name. How about the opposite then?
“Shi…………Shiromi, then?”
“Shiro……mi?”
She pondered on that name for a while.
Then,
“Yeah! I really like it! Shiromi! My name’s Shiromi!!!”
“I’m glad you like it! Then, let’s head back to town if you’re all ready to go.”
“Alright! From now on, I’ll be in your care, Kinji-onii-san!!!”
In the words of retro-style RPGs,
‘Shiromi has now joined your party’
And with this, I have gained another companion in my journey in this world.
=====
A/N: Thank you once again to everyone who has read this far!
Various events happened that lead to me not being able to update the story in the past few days.
Also, for those worrying the mc will develop some sort of fetish, worry not!!! Although what that means, I'll leave it in the air.
Again, thank you to everyone and good day!!!