Chapter 49
"If you get in my way, I'll never forgive you, Masked Adventurer."
"That's my line, Heroine."
"What?! It's not like I'd get in your way?!"
"Is that so? You seemed to be having quite a hard time. Why don't you honestly thank me for bringing the imperial representative here?"
At my provocative words, Erna's shoulders trembled.
Ooh, she's mad. She's really mad.
While enjoying Erna's reaction, I spread defensive and healing barriers over the entire ducal capital of Albatro.
It seemed Erna had managed to put up a good fight, so the areas where the people were concentrated had escaped damage. Even so, there were many injured, and many more people were fleeing in panic.
Still, compared to earlier, they had begun to regain their composure.
Because Brother Trau had given Erna permission to summon the Holy Sword with such absurd fanfare, word had spread throughout the ducal capital that help had arrived.
He probably hadn't been aiming for that effect. Half of Brother Trau's speech had been for his own amusement, and the other half had been a performance befitting an imperial representative. His role was to make it as grandiose as possible and demonstrate the Empire's prestige and presence. He had simply fulfilled that role.
Even so, it was thanks to Brother Trau that the turmoil in the ducal capital had eased.
If only his personality weren't such a disappointment, I'd gladly support him for emperor.
"Are you listening?! Silver!"
"Hmm? What? Did you say something?"
"Oh, I see... Are you saying that my words aren't even worth listening to?"
Erna smiled, a vein bulging on her forehead.
As I gave Erna a wry smile, I asked,
"Sorry. I was thinking about something else. This is about you, then? You're asking how to defeat that Sea Dragon, I assume?"
"If you know, then answer me. Do you have a plan? If not, we'll use mine."
"Well, it's not that I have no plan, but let's first see what the heroine can do. What should I do?"
"Just protect the ducal capital and draw its attention. I'll cut it down."
"So I'm the decoy. Just like you."
As I said that, I moved a little forward.
Apparently taking that as my agreement, Erna moved away from the spot as well.
'I never expected there to be a human who could block my water blasts. How astonishing.'
"I'm surprised too. Dragons are intelligent monsters. Why did you deliberately choose to fight humanity?"
'Hmph. I was forced into an unwilling slumber. If I do not avenge that humiliation, I will lose a dragon's pride. I am a dragon who reigns at the pinnacle of all living things! I will not suffer mere humans to look down on me!'
"Pride, huh... How foolish. Is it more important than your life?"
'You speak as though you believe you can defeat me.'
"I can. Don't underestimate humans."
The moment I said that, a huge number of water blasts appeared before Leviathan.
There were well over two hundred. So it hadn't been fighting seriously until now?
'Let me say it again. I will not suffer the likes of a human to look down on me!'
"And I'll say it again. Don't underestimate humans."
With that, I deployed nearly as many magic circles behind me.
It must have increased the number of attacks because I could block a single heavy blow.
"Don't think you can beat me by throwing more attacks at me."
'Human!'
Countless water blasts and spells collided above the ducal capital.
It was like a battle.
It was a war of attrition in which neither side could land a decisive blow. Whenever we started running low, Leviathan added more water blasts and I added more spells, keeping up a constant barrage.
Anyone who didn't know what was happening might have mistaken it for some kind of fireworks display. That was how many colorful sparks were scattering across the sky.
'Damn! How insolent!'
With that, Leviathan opened its mouth wide.
The water blasts it had used until now were merely an ability of Leviathan's, not the dragon-specific attack known as a breath.
At last, I had forced it to use its trump card.
As I thought that, the water in Leviathan's mouth began compressing more and more. It was compressed until it formed a tiny sphere, from which a water breath shot out like a beam.
I tried to deflect it with multiple layers of defensive magic, but the water breath pierced through them all and came at me as if they didn't exist.
"You've got to be kidding me?!"
I hurriedly got out of the way, and the water breath passed through the spot where I had been, easily piercing the mountain at the far end of the ducal capital.
"Oh, crap..."
Seeing that, I broke into a cold sweat despite myself.
The fact that it had pierced through my layers of defensive magic and still had that much power was absurd.
It was basically an ultra-high-pressure water cutter. Leviathan's version of the Holy Sword.
It could cut through and pierce anything as easily as butter.
We're at a disadvantage if we keep fighting defensively. I should finish this quickly.
Apparently unable to fire it repeatedly, Leviathan sent water blasts through any opening I left. As I canceled them out, I looked up at the sky.
Up there, Erna was concentrating.
She really intends to cut down a dragon. It's been a long time since I've seen Erna this focused.
But.
"Hurry up..."
While somehow countering a far greater number of water blasts than Brother Trau had faced, I voiced my complaint.
But my voice didn't reach Erna's ears in her current state.
Then, at the moment Leviathan and I paused for an instant,
Erna began a steep dive from the sky. Her target, of course, was Leviathan.
'Don't get cocky!!'
Leviathan fired water blasts at Erna, but she dodged them with the minimum movement necessary.
Then she brought the Holy Sword down toward Leviathan's head.
It must have judged the dazzling Holy Sword to be dangerous.
Leviathan twisted its body to evade the blow. But there was no way its enormous body could dodge completely.
The blow cleaved deeply through its torso, then cut off its left wing as well.
'Gwoooooooooh!!??'
From the pain and shock, Leviathan sank into the sea.
This was the perfect chance. I should press the attack, but...
Erna...
Up in the sky, Erna made the strange motion of descending to pursue it, then climbing back into the sky as if to say that she was too scared after all.
I moved over beside Erna.
"So you're useless over the sea after all."
"S-shut up! Scary things are scary, and I can't help it!"
Leviathan had submerged most of its body in the sea. To press the attack, we had to approach it over the water. But Erna couldn't do that.
So that's what all that concentration was for. If she didn't finish it in one blow, she'd have to pursue it.
Honestly, this woman...
"We have no choice. Let's switch roles."
"D-don't make fun of me! I'm the main attacker, and you're the decoy! I have no intention of changing those roles!"
Even as she said that, Erna made no attempt to press the attack.
As I sighed in exasperation, Erna suddenly noticed something.
It was...
"Silver... how did you know I can't handle water?"
"Ah..."
Without thinking, I'd slipped into my usual way of speaking.
That was the most careless thing I'd ever said as Silver.