Unexpected
The lake rumored to be hiding a monster.
At Lord Doyle’s request, considering the potential threat to Curtis Village, Elina, Lindel, and I came to investigate—and finally laid eyes on the creature’s true form.
It was something far beyond our expectations.
“GROOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!!”
What emerged from the lake with a deafening roar—was a dragon.
Over ten meters long, its body was covered in blue scales, and massive wings sprouted from its back. As it spread them wide, droplets of water scattered from its wings, falling like rain.
“”Wha—!?””
Elina and I cried out in unison, completely stunned.
If it had been any ordinary monster, the two of us would have been able to handle it, but a dragon was an entirely different matter.
“Se-Senior… what do we do?”
“Wh-what do we do…?”
A creature of this magnitude required thorough preparation for a proper subjugation.
A large number of knights wielding powerful weapons.
Magic users to restrict its movements.
The Mage Corps would be essential in any real battle against a dragon.
But here we were—just the two of us, armed with nothing but swords.
The situation was nothing short of hopeless.
“……”
As I was trying to figure out our next move, the dragon’s gaze locked onto us.
“I-it’s looking right at us, Senior!”
“Stay calm. This is exactly the kind of moment when we need to keep our cool.”
That was as much for myself as it was for Elina.
The truth was, I was barely keeping my own panic in check.
If a dragon of this size descended upon Curtis Village—
“—!?”
The thought of what might happen to the villagers flashed through my mind, and in that instant, all hesitation vanished.
“Elina… listen carefully.”
“Huh? Se-Senior?”
“I’ll buy time. You go back and evacuate the villagers. If they hide in the forest near the ranch, the dragon’s vision can be fooled, and its massive body won’t be able to chase them in.”
“No way! But then what about you—”
“Just go!”
Against a dragon, there was no path where everyone survived.
The best I could do was ensure as many lives as possible were saved.
That was the conclusion I had reached.
Elina must have understood my resolve because, tears streaming down her face, she turned and ran.
“You go with her too, Lindel.”
“Whimper…”
“It’s alright. We’ll see each other again, I promise.”
Lindel resisted at first, refusing to move, but when Elina took off running, he seemed to understand my intent and chased after her.
“Now then… what to do?”
Alone, I turned to face the dragon once more.
It didn’t move—neither attacking nor retreating.
A deadlock.
For me, this was the ideal outcome.
The longer I could stall, the further the villagers could escape, and the more lives could be saved.
And then, after some time—
“… Ah. Mind if I say something?”
The tense silence was broken by an unfamiliar voice.
What do you think about this chapter?
