Published at 10th of September 2021 6:13 am

Chapter 305: Takatsuki Makoto protects the fortress

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“Oh? Already done?”

When we exited the fortress, there was Olga-san right at the moment when she was cutting the breath of a dragon.

Many dragons were circling the sky of the fortress as if surrounding it.

Countless wyvern knights and pegasus knights were confronting them.

This is the army of the Ancient Dragon King, Astaroth…

When I prepared myself here…

“There’s less than I thought.” (Lucy)

“What. Even though we hurriedly came out and all.” (Aya)

I heard the tensionless conversation of Lucy and Sa-san.

As expected of seasoned adventurers…

“Hey hey, it hasn’t even been 15 minutes, you know? Aren’t you a way too fast shooter, Legendary Hero-kun?” (Olga)

“……What do you mean?” (Makoto)

I feel like she said something incredibly rude here.

“There’s no way that’s the case! The demon lord army attacked, so we are participating in the defense!” (Lucy)

“That’s right, Olga-chan! Takatsuki-kun is not fast! …Most likely.” (Aya)

“Hmm? Well, as you can see, it is the usual forceful reconnaissance. Most are young dragons, but there’s Ancient Dragons mixed in, so be careful. Wait, I didn’t even need to tell you two of the Crimson Fangs.” (Olga)

From the conversation of the 3, I learn that the demon lord army here is not the main force.

There’s around a hundred dragons.

A normal city would perish from being attacked by a pack of dragons of that scale.

But as expected of the frontline base against the demon lord army, it is sturdy.

“Hey, Lucy.” (Makoto)

“What, Makoto?” (Lucy)

“How do you distinguish Ancient Dragons?” (Makoto)

According to what Olga-san said, there’s strong individual Ancient Dragons mixed into the dragons.

“Oh? You should be better at that, right, Makoto? You can just use mana detection. The ones with the higher mana are the ones.” (Lucy)

“I see… I am doing that, but…” (Makoto)

I am looking around the dragons flying in the sky, but I feel like everyone is around the same level.

Which ones are the Ancient Dragons?

“Can’t tell?” (Lucy)

“…Sadly to say.” (Makoto)

“Then, I will teach you the way to tell them apart, Takatsuki-kun!” (Aya)

Lucy made a worried expression and Sa-san jumped in from the side.

“Thinking of it, Sa-san is not a mage, so you can’t use mana detection, right? There’s a different way to distinguish them?” (Lucy)

“Yeah, listen listen.” (Aya)

Sa-san tells me all smiles.

“First, glare at the dragon! If they avert their gaze, it is a normal dragon; if they glare back at you, it is an Ancient Dragon!” (Aya)

Sa-san pushes her chest out as if saying ‘how’s that?!’.

“…No, that’s…” (Makoto)

““You are the only one who can tell them apart in that way, Aya.””

Before I could retort, Lucy and Olga-san’s voices overlapped.

Sa-san is more on the intuition side as always.

Or more like, a normal dragon averts their gaze against Sa-san?

Try harder, dragons!

At that moment…

“Uwaaaa!”

One of the pegasus knights confronting the dragon in midair was about to be attacked.

“This is bad! Telepo—” (Lucy)

Lucy tried to activate her spell.

But it might be a bit too slow.

“Water Magic: [Frozen Barrier].” (Makoto)

My spell gets between the dragon and the warrior.

The dragon crashes onto the ice barrier.

The pegasus knight is regaining their bearings in that time.

“…Wasn’t that way too fast? The magic of Makoto.” (Lucy)

“My bad. Did I get in your way?” (Makoto)

“No, not at all.” (Lucy)

Lucy, who was about to use magic but got her thunder stolen, had frozen into a slightly silly pose with her staff still in position.

“Lu-chan! We should go too!” (Aya)

“Yeah! …But Makoto…” (Lucy)

“I will provide assistance to everyone from here.” (Makoto)

Looks like the two will be participating in the midair battle.

I can’t tell which ones are the dangerous Ancient Dragons, so I will concentrate on supporting them.

“I will go ahead!” (Olga)

Olga-san uses Flying Magic and heads off.

“Then, me too. [Teleport]!” (Lucy)

Small magic circles appear around the body of Lucy and she disappears along with a flash.

That’s impressive. She has even mastered short distance teleport?

“You can fly in the sky, Sa-san?” (Makoto)

“Hmph hmph, watch this! Torya! [Double Jump]!” (Aya)

Saying this, she jumps in midair.

(What’s double about that…) (Makoto)

I retort internally.

It must be one of the Skills of Action Game Player.

It is a Skill that really matches Sa-san’s physical capabilities as always.

“Kyaa!”

I hear a scream.

Oops, gotta fight too.

“Water Magic: [Frozen Barrier].” (Makoto)

A female knight somewhere seemed like she was about to get attacked by a dragon, so I cast a barrier between the dragon and the female knight.

“Gugya!”

The dragon that crashed onto the ice barrier falls with its eyes spinning.

“…T-Thank you!!”

The female knight-san waves her hand over here.

I wave my hand back at her.

(Now then, any other person that seems to be in trouble…?) (Makoto)

I use both [Farsight] and [RPG Player] to look 360° around the battlefield.

When I saw anyone in trouble, I would use water barrier magic to provide support.

This requires quite a lot of concentration…

“Our King, how about leaving it to me? I can blow them all away.” (Dia)

By the time I noticed, Dia was at my back.

It is true that this could be wrapped up faster by borrowing the mana of a Great Water Spirit, but…

“Can’t. We would drag everyone around too.” (Makoto)

“…I see. Then, please call me when there’s a need for me.” (Dia)

After saying this as if it was a shame, she became mist and disappeared.

After that, I continued providing support with water magic from afar.

“That’s unexpected. I thought for sure you would rampage with your Spirit Magic.”

I was spoken to from my back again.

It is General Geralt.

“I can’t differentiate dragons and Ancient Dragons, so I am concentrating on providing support from afar considering the safety.” (Makoto)

“…I see.” (Geralt)

Geralt-san seemed as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed the words.

“What about you, Geralt-san? You won’t participate in the battle?” (Makoto)

“I am the one in the highest position here. I can’t just rush in. I have left the command on-site to Olga.” (Geralt)

“I see…” (Makoto)

It is as if his past wild boar warrior self was a lie.

So I say, but seeing him tapping his feet incessantly and his slightly irritated look, he probably wants to go to battle too.

“Hey! Don’t break formation! Fall back if it gets dangerous! Don’t go dying at a place like this.” (Olga)

It is true that Olga-san is busily giving commands as she goes around the units that are fighting and getting pushed back by the dragons.

I asked this later, but it seems like she is also the acting captain of the anti-demon lord army division.

“Even so, it really helps out that the Crimson Fangs are here this time around.” (Geralt)

Geralt-san mutters this.

“Lucy and Sa-san?” (Makoto)

“Yeah, look at that.” (Geralt)

At the place Geralt-san looked at…

“Ahahahahahahaha!” (Lucy)

Lucy with her whole body burning red had explosions happening around her, and even dragons can’t get close to her.

Is that…the same as the Fire Spirit Clad of Rosalie-san?

Also, the tension of Lucy is strangely high.

The same lineage as her mother, huh…

“[Teleport]!” (Lucy)

And then, she tackles a dragon as if she herself were a burning meteor.

…Gwaaaa…

The pitiful dragon that had its wings burned lets out a sad cry as it falls.

So Lucy…has judged that, rather than increasing her own magic control, it would be more certain to just bulldoze it herself?

Now then, there’s one more in the Crimson Fangs…

“Urya!”

A cute shout rang along with a not so cute ‘Bang!’ as if a truck had crashed onto something.

Sa-san had nailed an axe dropkick onto a dragon in midair.

The dragon couldn’t even make a scream as it fell.

And then, she hops in midair, aiming for the next dragon.

…The dragons are running away from her.

“This is crazy.” (Geralt)

“It is crazy.” (Makoto)

“They are both your women though.” (Geralt)

“They weren’t on that level before.” (Makoto)

“At that rate, the dragons will be retreating… Hm? That guy is…” (Geralt)

Gera-san, who seemed to have leeway in his face, furrows his brows.

At the place where he is looking, there’s one uneven black and purple dragon.

“Gera-san, what’s that?” (Makoto)

“A Poison Ancient Dragon. That guy has wiped out our units countless times. You die instantly if you get hit by that guy’s poison breath. So it was hiding until now.” (Geralt)

While he was saying that, the Poison Ancient Dragon opened its mouth wide.

“Tch! Caliburn!” (Geralt)

Geralt-san unsheathes the sword at his waist.

At the same time, the blade shone as if lightning was running through it.

And then, he takes a battle stance.

The Holy Sword of Highland and the one that the Lightning Hero has in possession, Caliburn.

That slash is said to surpass even the speed of sound, but…

(The Ancient Dragon’s breath is going to be coming out slightly faster, huh…) (Makoto)

I judged that to be the case with my Destiny Magic: [Mind Acceleration].

Then, what I need to do is…

“Dia.” (Makoto)

“Yes, Our King.” (Dia)

Even when she can’t be seen, the Great Water Spirit that was at my side answers my call.

I grab her cold and beautiful blue arm.

There’s not even the need to try and synchronize.

I was already synchronized with her in 0 seconds.

And then, I spoke out the name of that spell.

“Water and Destiny Magic: [Time Freeze].” (Makoto)

A wave of mana spreads out with a ‘woom’.

And then, the dragons, the dragon knights fighting the dragons, the ruckus, the wind…they stopped.

In reality, I simply slowed down time to the extreme.

Magic that can stop time completely is in the realm of Gods.

“Takatsuki Makoto…what did you do?” (Geralt)

“Explanations for later. Gera-san, attack the Ancient Dragon.” (Makoto)

“…Got it.” (Geralt)

He immediately nodded at my words, and Geralt Valentine swung his Holy Sword.

“[Lighting Espada]!!!” (Geralt)

The slash of light that Gera-san shot split the black and purple dragon in two after 1 second.

“Fuuh…” (Makoto)

At the same time as this happens, I stop the water and destiny magic.

I am glad it went well.

“Looks like the dragons are retreating.” (Geralt)

“The Poison Ancient Dragon of just now must have been their trump card.” (Makoto)

The dragons were turning around one by one and leaving.

“By the way, Takatsuki Makoto…the spell just now…” (Geralt)

“Hey!! Isn’t that impressive, Gera-chi. That Poison Ancient Dragon was the one that has been giving us trouble this whole time, right?!” (Olga)

“Wait a moment, Olga. I have something to talk about with this guy—” (Geralt)

“There wasn’t a single casualty today! Yay! Praise me!” (Olga)

Olga-san came down from the sky and hugged Gera-san.

“Makoto! Did you use a spell just now?” (Lucy)

“Our bodies suddenly got heavy, right, Lu-chan?” (Aya)

“Eh? R-Really? I just felt for a second that I was wrapped around mana I couldn’t understand though.” (Lucy)

“Hmm, I don’t really get mana, but the movements of the dragons suddenly stopped. I thought ‘this is my chance!’ but my body got extremely slow, and it was rough~.” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san came.

(Sa-san…she can move normally even within frozen time…?) (Makoto)

This is the spell I thought of to fight against Demon Lords, but it doesn’t seem like it would work against a Demon Lord class enemy.

There’s also the chance that Sa-san is stronger than a Demon Lord though.

“There was a Poison Ancient Dragon, and I used magic to stop it. Gera-san defeated it just now.” (Makoto)

“I see. Tell me what spell it was, Makoto.” (Lucy)

“Okay.” (Makoto)

“More importantly, let’s go back to our room, Takatsuki-kun. Outside is a bit cold.” (Aya)

“So you say, but you just want to continue where we left off, right, Aya?” (Lucy)

“I-I don’t know what you are saying.” (Aya)

“Haha…” (Makoto)

We were having that harmless talk.

Honestly speaking, I was nervous since it was the demon lord army, but it ended easily.

It was a scout unit, so it must be like that.

At that moment…

“Takatsuki Makoto.” (Geralt)

Gera-san called me to a stop.

“What is it?” (Makoto)

When I look back, the highest ranked person of the Black Barrel Fortress was looking at me with a grim expression.

“The battle just now… You were holding back, right?” (Geralt)

“Huh?! What are you saying?!” (Lucy)

“Takatsuki-kun wouldn’t do something like that!” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san reacted faster than me at the words of Gera-san.

“W-Wait, Gera-chi, I was watching and the Legendary Hero-kun was saving the knights when it got dangerous, you know?” (Olga)

Olga-san was flustered there.

“So? What do you say?” (Geralt)

But Gera-san’s eyes were piercing through me seriously.

“Well, I would say…it was hard to give my all.” (Makoto)

I answered honestly.

“Is that true, Makoto?” (Lucy)

“I drag everyone into it if I use Spirit Magic after all.” (Makoto)

Dia spoke to me, but I refused her.

If I had borrowed her help, I could have defeated the dragons just now, but the knights fighting would definitely be caught in that too.

That’s why I didn’t use a single offensive spell.

“You said you can’t differentiate a dragon from an Ancient Dragon, right? In other words, there’s no need to differentiate them. It means that every single one of them is mere small fry.” (Geralt)

“““Eh?”””

Lucy, Sa-san, and Olga-san let out voices of surprise at what Gera-san said.

That’s…honestly speaking, it is not as if I wasn’t aware of it, but it is true that no matter what dragon I saw, I felt as if there wasn’t that much difference in mana.

Even the Poison Ancient Dragon that Gera-san cut at the end.

I felt ‘that dragon isn’t that different from the others’.

“I have something to ask you. I want you to fight the army of the Ancient Dragon King when you go to the North Continent. Normally, we should have fought together with you, but we would just get in the way…” (Geralt)

Gera-san laughed in self-derision.

“Takatsuki-kun, what will you do?” (Aya)

Sa-san asked me with an upward glance.

She should already know my answer.

“Okay, I will go.” (Makoto)

I answered.

“Thanks. Then, I will have the Northern Sky Knights search for the dwellings of the Ancient Dragon King. They move dwellings at random intervals, so we can’t pinpoint their location. But in order to send you, we need to know the enemy’s exact location. I will definitely find that place in a few days—” (Geralt)

“No, I will be going now.” (Makoto)

I propose this.

“Wa?” (Geralt)

“No, that’s impossible, Legendary Hero-kun. You don’t know the location of the other party…” (Olga)

Gera-san made a dubious expression and Olga-san made a wry smile thinking it was a joke.

(Fuh! I have a strong ally.) (Makoto)

“Ira-sama~, are you watching?” (Makoto)

I put mana into the necklace around my neck and look at the sky.

—“What is it, Takatsuki Makoto?”

I heard a voice in a bad mood.

“Eh?” (Lucy)

“Wawa! I heard a voice from the sky!” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san shouted.

Eh?

Why can everyone else hear the voice of Ira-sama too?

— “Oh my… Maybe it got enhanced too much in the mana link of before? Looks like my voice is reaching way too well.” (Ira)

Is that okay?

— “Just say what you want already.” (Ira)

“I want to know the location of the Ancient Dragon King! You should be able to know, right, Ira-sama?” (Makoto)

I hurriedly asked Ira-sama who seemed to be in a bad mood.

— “Aah, I see. The dwelling of the Ancient Dragon King, right…? Do you have a map and pen?” (Ira)

“Gera-san, do you?” (Makoto)

“Anyone there?!” (Geralt)

Gera-san shouted and a soldier hurriedly came and quickly prepared a map and pen.

— “Takatsuki Makoto, I will be remote controlling your body for a moment. Be still for a while.” (Ira)

“Ye—hiih!” (Makoto)

My whole body trembled.

“Eh?” (Makoto)

My right hand began to move without my volition.

And then, it drew an X in a part of the Northern Continent in the map.

— “That’s the current dwelling of the Ancient Dragon King. I think they will be moving after 1 week, so head there before then.” (Ira)

“It is okay, I will be going right now after all.” (Makoto)

— “You… Well, fine. Go there fully prepared, okay? It is fine to have an excess of healing items and food. If it gets dangerous, make sure to retreat at once.” (Ira)

“Geez, I know.” (Makoto)

— “Haah, then be careful. I will be going back to my wor—” (Ira)

“U-Uhm, Ira-sama!” (Olga)

Olga-san called Ira-sama, whose voice was growing lower.

— “What is it, Scorching Hero, Olga?” (Ira)

“If you can tell the location of the Ancient Dragon King that easily, you could have told us sooner…” (Olga)

Olga-san’s voice was slightly displeased, but she has a point.

Why didn’t she tell them?

— “That’s because Takatsuki Makoto, who is connected with my Divinity, is at a location close to the Northern Continent. On top of that, you guys were fighting the horde of dragons, right? Your fate with the Ancient Dragon King’s army has gotten thicker now, so I managed to borrow the eyes of Takatsuki Makoto to see the future. With the eyes of Oracle Esther who is in the capital of the Sun Country, I wouldn’t have been able to make a Clairvoyance as detailed as this.” (Ira)

“I-I see…” (Olga)

Olga-san nodded as if convinced now.

I see, then the timing I asked Ira-sama was good.

“Makoto and…Ira-sama connecting?” (Lucy)

“Takatsuki-kun…do you get along well with the Destiny Goddess-sama?” (Aya)

This time it was Lucy and Sa-san directing eyes of suspicion towards me.

“No, rather than calling it getting along well…it is more like she is helping me out.” (Makoto)

I wonder why, even though there’s not one thing to feel guilty about here…

— “See ya, Takatsuki Makoto. Let’s meet again later.” (Ira)

Ira-sama’s voice can’t be heard anymore.

“Later?!” (Lucy)

“What’s that?!” (Aya)

Lucy and Sa-san draw nearer.

“T-The Goddesses show up inside my dreams. I explained to you before, right?” (Makoto)

I am sure I explained to these two about how Noah-sama showed up in my dreams.

I explained that once more, but it was hard for them to accept this.

After taking a breath, I look at the map.

The back region of the Northern Continent.

There should be a tall mountain range extending there.

It is true that it would be hard to find if you don’t know the location beforehand.

“Lucy, can you jump there with Teleport?” (Makoto)

“…I can, but I will have you tell us in detail about your relationship with the Destiny Goddess-sama, okay?!” (Lucy)

Looks like they are going to be questioning me later after this.

“Hey, Olga-chan, the Northern Continent is cold, right? Got any coats?” (Aya)

“Wait a moment, Aya. I will prepare them. Also, take a few elixirs with you too.” (Olga)

“Okay~! Thanks!!” (Aya)

Sa-san was confirming the equipment and luggage with Olga-san.

Looks like we will be able to depart in around 30 minutes.

And then, I spoke to Gera-san who has been silent for a while now.

“And so, we will be going.” (Makoto)

“……”

“……Gera-san?” (Makoto)

Gera-san didn’t answer me and just looked at me with eyes as if watching a strange creature.

And then, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I said before that the Crimson Fangs are crazy, right? Let me correct myself. You are the craziest one out of them all.” (Geralt)

He sighed heavily.

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