Chapter 49

Was the weather particularly bad today?

As if a huge hole had been punched in the sky, white snow was pouring down so heavily that you could barely see the sky when you looked up.

If this world was a country obsessed with religion, it would be enough to cause a commotion, saying that God was angry.

But where I was standing, there were several protruding formations on the cliff that acted like rain shields, so the snow didn't reach here, allowing me to see ahead without much problem.

Thanks to that, I could see what was happening now very clearly.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The sound reminiscent of my father sharpening his knife before cleaning fish after a fishing trip when I was young, but slightly more comical, was echoing in my ears.

It was the sound of Asti, not the assassin psycho, but the neat maid risking her life for me, clashing swords with the Dragon Slayer.

Flexible and quick movements even while fighting the Dragon Slayer.

Definitely not the kind of movements you'd expect from an ordinary child.

Of course, considering her strength that was overwhelming even when she tried to stab me, I could understand why she was fighting so well now.

"Asti! You need to roll to the side!"

Without answering, Asti followed my instruction and was able to narrowly avoid the Dragon Slayer's fan flying towards her neck.

The Dragon Slayer, a Greater Outer God no less, was frowning and glaring at Asti.

Was it the synergy effect of her autonomous actions combined with my instructions?

Even so, the skill Asti was showing in wielding her dagger, like a performance art, was at an unbelievable level.

"Such tricks...!"

But the opponent was a Greater Outer God, after all.

As long as Asti was human, it wouldn't be easy for her to properly face the Dragon Slayer.

"What are you, to interfere with me!"

The Dragon Slayer spoke with a voice full of irritation, but Asti was swinging her knife at the Dragon Slayer without showing any signs of being intimidated.

Usually, when a Greater Outer God raises their voice, people cover their ears or complain of mental pain.

But Asti?

She only showed a more calm demeanor, moving little by little around the Dragon Slayer, looking for an angle to land an effective hit.

Is this the realm of humans?

Even White Mask had shown a lack of resistance to the Greater Outer God's roar.

Just what kind of being are you, Asti, to be able to do this?

"Asti, now!"

At my words, Asti immediately lunged towards the Dragon Slayer.

The Dragon Slayer swung her fan, predicting Asti's trajectory, but it turned out to be a poor move.

As if Asti had known this all along, she kicked off the ground and instantly changed direction.

"What...!"

Surprised to see Asti approach so close in an instant, the Dragon Slayer opened her mouth.

The sphere that the maid dragons had been shooting formed in that split second.

Fwoosh!

A rainbow beam shot straight at Asti.

Fortunately, Asti's feet were touching the ground at that moment, so she immediately twisted her body to the side and avoided it.

Even by human standards, this movement was in an impossible realm.

Yes, by human standards.

"Kugh...!"

The Dragon Slayer took advantage of the momentary gap created by her own beam and swung her palm towards Asti, hitting her shoulder directly.

Because of that, Asti's body was sent flying far away by the great impact.

"Asti!"

Seeing Asti tumbling endlessly and falling, I tried to run towards her.

But I couldn't.

Because the Dragon Slayer was constantly watching me and gradually walking towards me.

"Enough of this. You, I'll pu-punish you for annoying me so much! So come with me right now."

I don't know what kind of punishment she wants to give that makes her face turn red, but that wasn't my concern right now.

How could I break through her here?

I could see Asti curled up and in pain.

It would probably take a little time for her to regain her stance.

The Dragon Slayer had come close enough that a few more steps would allow her to grab me.

As her hand was approaching my collar as if to snatch me...

"...D-Don't touch Mr. Tanton!"

With Muyeon's scream-like shout, an axe came down on the Dragon Slayer's arm.

"Eek!"

The Dragon Slayer quickly withdrew her arm with a startled voice, causing Muyeon's axe to strike the ground.

Boom!

A tremendous sound like a boulder falling from a cliff resonated, and the recoil made even my body shake greatly.

Muyeon, who had accomplished this, casually lifted her axe and swung it at the Dragon Slayer again, gritting her teeth.

"Hyaaah!"

Boing! Boing!

As Muyeon's axe and the Dragon Slayer's fan collided, something like an impact effect was occurring.

Is it because she's a knight with overwhelming talent?

Although it wasn't like White Mask momentarily overwhelming her, she was exchanging blows with the Dragon Slayer quite smoothly.

"D-Don't try to do as you please!!"

At that moment, something was falling around Muyeon.

Judging by the water droplets floating in the air all connected to the corners of her eyes, she seemed to still be suffering from fear.

Mental and physical fatigue, fear, all of these must be constricting Muyeon's mind right now.

It seemed that Muyeon was moving her body solely on the belief of protecting me.

What a heartbreaking and noble sacrifice.

"...Muyeon."

White Mask's voice flowed with regret and sadness as she watched this.

I dared to guess that the emotions White Mask was feeling were the same as mine.

No, perhaps even more so.

In a way, it was White Mask's impulsive action that led things to become this extreme.

But I could understand her situation too.

Her face, her subordinates, her colleagues.

Losing all of these alone would be enough to ruin one's life, but even the train that held all those memories had exploded.

I thought it would be more difficult for White Mask to maintain her sanity.

Bang!

With a loud collision sound, Muyeon's body floated in the air.

"Kyaa!"

In the end, Muyeon couldn't handle it either, and she fell softly onto the snow right next to White Mask, making a painful expression before quietly closing her eyes.

"Miss Muyeon!"

Even when I called her name loudly, there was no response.

She must have finally succumbed to the unbearable fatigue.

"...I almost got a scratch on my precious body. Why are you humans so desperate to torment me!"

The Dragon Slayer complained and started approaching me with rough steps.

I tried to dodge somehow, but in response, the Dragon Slayer quickly approached and grabbed my wrist.

Such strong grip.

It seemed impossible to escape with pure strength alone.

"Kugh."

"Finally caught you, you slippery eel. Now..."

I don't know why the direction changed from killing me to capturing me, but...

This time too, things didn't go according to the Dragon Slayer's wishes.

"Oh no...!"

Thanks to Muyeon buying time, Asti was able to regain her strength.

She swung her knife towards the Dragon Slayer's arm, making her withdraw it, then grabbed my waist and retreated far back.

The Dragon Slayer's face was turning completely red, unable to say anything, as if her irritation had reached its peak.

"A-Asti... Thanks for saving..."

As I was saying this and looked at Asti, I was startled.

Her eyes, which had been hazy before,

were now bright red.

"A-Asti...?"

"Master, I would be grateful if you could listen to what I'm about to say."

Saying this, Asti slowly started walking forward.

"Please watch what I'm about to do, and Master, you should finish it. I will probably... collapse."

When Asti said this and raised her knife again, for some reason, a red aura started swirling around the knife as well.

"And..."

Saying this, Asti glanced back at me.

She was still expressionless, but

her eyes held an ironic look, as if filled with sorrow.

"My actions until now, the appearance I'm about to show you... You'll probably hate all of it. But still... please don't hate me."

Saying this, Asti leaped towards the Dragon Slayer.

"Y-You! That power is...!"

For some reason, even the Dragon Slayer was greatly flustered at that moment.

Asti swung her knife down hard.

At that moment,

space itself was literally crushed.

Something red created a distortion in space and expanded, then moved towards the Dragon Slayer.

She tried to retreat with a frown to avoid it, but that enormous power wrapped around her waist.

"Kugh, let go of this, I say!"

The Dragon Slayer twisted her body this way and that, but she couldn't move at all.

Soon, that red form started to become more concrete.

To my eyes, that red energy had transformed into a kind of huge, white, pale hand.

"Grrrr..."

Even Bell, who had always been cheerful, started growling very cautiously at that hand.

Unlike with the Dragon Slayer, it felt like she would pounce immediately if anything went wrong.

But that white hand, as if just trying to perform its duty, grabbed the Dragon Slayer, rose high, and then...

Bang!

It simply slammed the Dragon Slayer into the ground.

"Gah...!"

As I was startled by the Dragon Slayer's pain-filled voice, which I heard for the first time, the white hand disappeared into powder after that one attack.

What on earth did Asti summon?

Just what is Asti...

Let's ask her about that when this is over.

For now, we couldn't miss this opportunity.

"Let's go, Bell!"

"Woof woof!"

Confirming that the ominous energy had disappeared, I rushed towards the Dragon Slayer.

I climbed on top of her while she was still lying down.

"Kugh...!"

Seeing the Dragon Slayer's frustrated expression, I prepared to draw out Bell's divine power to its fullest.

Yes, these horns definitely seemed to be her weak point.

That's why she reacted so sensitively.

I thought I might be able to break the horns if I pulled Bell's divine power to its limit.

So I firmly grabbed the horns, but...

"Uh, uhh...!"

...?

Raising my eyebrows at the sudden strange sound, I looked down at the Dragon Slayer and could see her expression full of embarrassment.

W-What?

Thinking I might have misheard, I gently rubbed the horn with my thumb to check, and...

"H-Huh! D-Don't touch it l-like that..."

...Hmm.

Right.

How should I describe this situation?

Dignified appearance, should I say?

The Dragon Slayer, who had been showing such a dignified appearance, was now pinned under me, biting her finger, her face red, and her head turned to the right.

Like a woman spending her first night with a man, making a shy expression!

I just! Touched the horns!

"U-Um..."

"Wh-What is it! Are you trying to do to me what you did to my loyal subjects? If you're going to do it, hurry up and do it!"

You saw all that?

If you saw it all, why are you acting like this?

I just gave a massage, why are you reacting like this?

I was completely bewildered by the Dragon Slayer's embarrassing attitude.

This really makes it feel like I'm trying to force something.

"...Woong, I only petted her head though..."

I don't know what this one is saying either.

It's already a weird feeling, so be quiet, Bell!

Anyway.

If I were 'Laydan Tanton', I might have excitedly pounced on her here, but I wasn't that kind of person.

I'm the type to try to resolve things through dialogue as much as possible.

I don't like forceful methods!

Fortunately, it seems like the Dragon Slayer's gaze and overall aura have definitely softened compared to earlier.

In the current situation, maybe dialogue might work?

"...It's not like that. I just... wanted to talk with you."

"Wh-What?! C-Coming all this way... just to talk...?"

The Dragon Slayer opened her eyes wide at my words, seemingly surprised, and the subsequent changes in her expression were quite something to see.

First, an expression mixed with a lot of irritation.

Then, an expression as if deep in thought.

Finally, a face with deepened shadows as if reaching a conclusion.

At last, as if she had come to a conclusion.

"...Hehehe. So that's what it was. You were a gentler man than I thought."

The Dragon Slayer pushed me slightly and stood up, and fearing she might attack, I still maintained my grip on her horns.

Then the Dragon Slayer said with an embarrassed expression:

"I-I won't attack anymore, so please let go of this now."

I wondered if I could trust her words, but I hadn't used Bell's power yet, so I thought I could strike immediately if it became dangerous.

With that thought, I let go of the horns with a cautious expression, and the Dragon Slayer stood up and approached an ice formation that was conveniently shaped for sitting.

The Dragon Slayer snapped her fingers, and a lesser dragon suddenly appeared from somewhere and placed three layers of cloth-like material on top of the ice.

As I was blankly watching this scene, the Dragon Slayer sat on the ice and said:

"...What are you doing? Didn't you say you wanted to talk?"

...What exactly is in those horns that made her become so docile just from a little touching?

I thought I should look into this along with investigating 'her'.