Chapter 52
After running for several minutes―――
I felt a little dizzy at the sight before me.
...Wow, there really were two Blue Dragons!
Actually, two Blue Dragons around five meters in size... That was enough to make my blood run cold.
I stared at the Blue Dragons, imposing even from a distance, feeling utterly hopeless.
...There’s no way we can defeat them, is there? I think the right thing to do would be for everyone to run as quickly as possible, but what are the commanders planning?
As I looked around, a startling sight caught my eye.
Um?
...Why was Commander Quentin facing off against a Blue Dragon from about ten meters away?
No, in a way, that was incredible!!
Facing a Blue Dragon in such an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, with no hope of victory, wasn’t something an ordinary person could do. It was so terrifying that I could hardly believe Commander Quentin was still standing.
...If it were me, I’d run as fast as I could. If I died, that would be the end of everything.
Commander Quentin’s way of thinking really was too different from mine for me to understand!
As I watched Commander Quentin with a frown, thinking that, Zabiria glided over and landed on my shoulder.
“Those two are a mated pair. They probably came looking for a large amount of food before breeding. ...But that strange knight really is strange.”
Zabiria sighed, sounding exasperated.
Um, by “strange knight,” he meant Commander Quentin, right?
“He seems to value monsters and humans equally. He’s trying to risk his life to protect his familiar.”
I looked over in surprise and saw the dragon pinning the griffin beneath its claws.
And Commander Quentin was facing that very dragon, poised to strike at any moment.
Ah, our commanders really are wonderful.
Commander Zachary wouldn’t even consider abandoning a single subordinate. And Commander Quentin wouldn’t abandon even his familiar.
I think those commanders are wonderful!
“No, Fia, that’s not it. They’re responsible for every knight they’ve brought along. Losing everyone else just to save one person would be the height of foolishness.”
“You’re right. But maybe the commanders intend to save the one and everyone else, too? I think Commander Quentin could at least get the griffin back, even if he can’t defeat the Blue Dragon.”
If things truly became impossible, they would probably choose the smallest possible sacrifice, but they would stick to this attitude of abandoning no one until the very last moment.
I was sure those two were that kind of commanders.
That’s why the knights’ morale was always high, and everyone trusted their commanders.
“Yes, I like commanders like Commander Quentin and Commander Zachary!”
When I said it without thinking, Zabiria let out a weary sigh.
“No, those two must have some good points, right? And yet, of all things, you like the part where they recklessly throw themselves into battle. ...I have a bad feeling that the person you choose as your future partner is going to be an impossibly troublesome type.”
“Z-Zabiria, stop putting weird curses on me!”
Words have power. What if you keep saying it and it comes true?!
I shook my head vigorously to ward off Zabiria’s curse, then checked everyone’s positions again.
One Blue Dragon about five meters in size was pinning the griffin beneath its foot. Another Blue Dragon of about the same size stood diagonally behind it.
Commander Quentin was about ten meters in front of the Blue Dragon, and now Commander Zachary had lined up beside him.
About fifteen knights and ten familiars stood far behind the two commanders.
The Saint... I couldn’t see her, so had she run off somewhere?
...Yeah, the odds were definitely against us.
Both Commander Quentin and Commander Zachary were strong, but they were clearly short on manpower to face two Blue Dragons.
As I tilted my head, wondering what they were planning, Zabiria spoke to me.
“...Fia. I haven’t told you this, but I used to be a Blue Dragon.”
“What?!”
An unexpected revelation came out of nowhere, and I stared at Zabiria.
“A-A Blue Dragon?! Huh? W-When you say you used to be one, does that mean you have a past life, Zabiria?! Ah, no, wait. I’ve heard of this. Dragons live for a thousand years...”
“That’s right. A dragon that lives for a thousand years is reborn as a Black Dragon. That’s what happened to me.”
“Huh...”
“So I know it’s selfish to say this, but if possible, I don’t want to fight Blue Dragons.”
Zabiria muttered softly, looking uncomfortable.
It was the first time I’d ever heard Zabiria say there was something he didn’t want to do.
It would make me a terrible friend if I denied him this!
“O-Of course, Zabiria! Leave it to me!!”
If he used to be a Blue Dragon, then those two were the same kind as him. It made sense that he wouldn’t want to fight them.
I smiled to reassure him, but Zabiria lowered his head sadly.
“I’m sorry, Fia.”
N-No, no, I couldn’t let Zabiria lose heart. I had to do something so this wouldn’t turn into a situation where “things went badly because Zabiria didn’t take part”!
Let’s do our best! ...As I thought that, I saw Commander Quentin move.
“Huh?!” I stared in shock as Commander Quentin took a running leap, drew his sword, and slashed at the Blue Dragon pinning down the griffin.
Commander Zachary moved at the same time, attacking the Blue Dragon from the opposite side of Commander Quentin.
So fast! And such sharp sword strikes!!
I couldn’t help staring, taken aback by the sharpness of their attacks, which exceeded my expectations.
Commander Zachary in particular was a greatsword user. His first swing would inevitably be slower.
To maintain the sword’s momentum, it was important not to stop it, but he skillfully changed the direction of his slashes and kept swinging.
Ah, he’s a master. And he has incredible strength to keep swinging such a heavy sword.
As I watched in admiration, about once every few strikes he landed an exceptionally good blow.
“Incredible, Commander Zachary! Critical hits one after another!”
The knights were shouting, but no, that was Body Enhancement.
It wasn’t complete yet, but after experiencing so many battles, Commander Zachary seemed to be acquiring Body Enhancement instinctively.
I was genuinely impressed.
C-Commander Zachary is amazing...
Even if he hadn’t mastered it, this was the first time I’d seen anyone learn Body Enhancement on their own. He had incredible natural talent.
Wasn’t this the sort of person you called a genius?
Commander Quentin was also working well with Commander Zachary, slashing at the Blue Dragon.
Commander Quentin’s sword was a bastard sword, slightly longer than usual.
He wielded it in one hand, then switched to a two-handed grip, landing one solid blow after another.
The Blue Dragon, under their continuous attack, fought back by swinging its tail, but the commanders dodged skillfully.
The enraged Blue Dragon reflexively lifted the foot pinning down the griffin halfway... and the griffin took advantage of that brief opening to take flight!
We did it! The griffin was free!
The griffin was visibly injured, but instead of withdrawing, it moved to a spot behind Commander Quentin and beat its wings in the air.
...W-What a devoted familiar!
Just imagining it, Commander Quentin’s love for his familiar seemed pretty intense, so this was surely the fruit of that affection.
I’m glad for you, Commander Quentin! When you love someone who can receive it, your love gets through (monsters only)!!
The Blue Dragon, having lost its prey, looked furious.
No longer constrained by the need to keep the griffin pinned down, it would be free to move now. I was also concerned about the other Blue Dragon waiting behind it.
As if they’d planned it in advance, the commanders split to either side and ran toward us.
“We’re withdrawing! Archers, mages, and familiars, provide cover!! Everyone, keep an eye on the Blue Dragons and retreat at once!!”
The commanders ran up close to the knights, then turned to face the Blue Dragons again and readied their swords.
Apparently, they intended to serve as the rearguard and protect the knights no matter what.
What is with these commanders? They’re so gallant!
To make sure their courage wasn’t wasted, I ran at full speed down the escape route with my fellow knights, determined to get out without being hurt.
The familiars I’d brought along mixed in with the others, drawing the Blue Dragons’ attention and helping the knights retreat. The archers and mages also provided cover.
Just as I wondered if we’d make it, one of the Blue Dragons flapped its wings and shot straight upward. The other one took off, too.
The winged familiars, including the griffin, tried to block their path, but were knocked away one after another.
The two Blue Dragons closed the distance between them and us in no time.
“N...! The Blue Dragons are coming!!”
One of the knights shouted what was already obvious, his voice filled with fear.
The Blue Dragons reached the sky above us, then dived down.
Even though we’d been running in the same direction, a certain distance had opened up between each of the knights.
So it was obvious that the diving Blue Dragon had targeted one knight—me.
...When I looked up, all I could see was the endless blue sky and a dragon rushing toward me, its mouth wide open, glistening fangs bared.
Ah, this is bad―――...
It’s going to bite me...
I braced for the impact, tensing up without thinking, when a blue shadow darted across in front of me.
“Fia!!”
I couldn’t tell whether it was Commander Quentin or Commander Zachary who shouted.
Before I could even figure out whose voice it was, a blast of wind kicked up a cloud of dust right before my eyes.
Even through the thick clouds of dust, I could clearly see a large black shadow.
“Ah... Zabiria...”
The large, beautiful black monster had appeared between me and the Blue Dragon, as if to shield me.
It was the Black Dragon, known as a legendary monster―――...