◇ Third-person perspective ◇
All the magical implements on Enkalton’s walls were Dude Lurdan’s work.
Their performance is proven by past achievements — repeatedly repelling monster assaults.
For over a decade, no monster damage occurred.
Hence the carelessness.
“Monster signal at ten o’clock — Squad 10, respond.”
“Squad 10, copy. Likely just hungry goblins.”
The defenders misjudged.
While leisurely adjusting magical cannons, the threat approached from the sky.
“Hm? Where’s the monster…… ahe?”
The defender’s head sailed into the air.
The demon dragon’s claw pierced his skull, tore the head off.
“GAAAAAAA!!”
Black wings flapping. Tipped with claws razor-sharp for cutting humans.
A massive tail crushing anything.
Crimson eyes seeking prey.
The breath (magic-cannon) from its maw burned villages.
Each appearance brought unprecedented damage.
That’s the demon dragon.
“D-demon dragon!?”
“H-hurry, report! Demon dragon——!?”
To it, killing a few took less than a minute.
That became Squad 10’s last transmission — the report of the demon dragon’s attack.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Demon dragon……!?”
“D-don’t joke! I don’t want to die!”
“Me neither! Move!”
“Everyone, calm down! Evacuate to the shelter as instructed!”
“There’s space at the shelter! Don’t push, don’t panic!”
The moment the alarm rang, everyone fled. Guards tried to direct them.
But voices didn’t reach the panicked; Enkalton descended into chaos.
“Karen, this way! Follow!”
“M-mn……!”
I pulled Karen’s hand toward the inn where Mashiro and the others were.
If a demon dragon entered the city, someone must repel it.
Coincidentally, members with that capability are here.
Evacuating to the shelter is fine too.
Either way — confirm everyone’s safety first.
“To fight such a monster before Floné……”
Terrible timing right before I’d propose.
For the prosthetic too, Enkalton mustn’t be destroyed.
“Ouga!”
“Mashiro! Reina and Alice safe!”
They’d chosen similarly.
We met mid-point between theater and inn.
All three were combat-ready, in mobile, skin-covering clothes.
”…… What do we do, Ouga-kun?”
”…… Sorry, but fighting is decided.”
“That was always my plan.”
“We trained for moments like this at the manor!”
“Yeah……! Time to show results.”
Mashiro, Karen…… a tough first battle, but they’re motivated.
“Lord Ouga. Before engaging the demon dragon, let’s head to Dude first. The opponent is that demon dragon…… coordination raises odds.”
”…… Got it.”
My right arm is unusable.
Coordinating is best.
Resolved, we used back alleys to avoid the dragon’s view and headed to Lurdan Workshop.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Lurdan Workshop is the engineering holy land and the city’s defense base.
The top floor is the command center using anti-monster radar to inform defense squads.
Normally small staffed, today crowded as people scrambled.
“Tracking the demon dragon!?”
“Yes! Patrolling southern airspace! Nearby squads engaging with magical cannons!”
“Got it. Tell all squads: when dragon nears, halt attacks! Hide and wait!”
“Understood!”
The dragon already cleared the walls and entered Enkalton.
Anti-monster implements are on the walls.
Attacking the dragon and angering it could break the walls, letting more monsters in.
We have anti-dragon implements. Have them — but past results show they can’t kill it.
For now, no way but to endure until it leaves.
“Sir Lurdan! Squad reports! Monsters attacking outside the walls simultaneously! Can’t focus solely on the dragon!”
“Likely the dragon’s presence put them in frenzy!”
“Damn…… demon dragon……!”
I slammed the desk.
Sky and land. Both at once……!
Focusing on the dragon leaves walls undefended; ignoring it, Enkalton crumbles.
Splitting forces is most dangerous; monsters aren’t beaten half-heartedly.
The ultimate dilemma.
“Sir Lurdan!”
“What now!”
“A request for cooperation in slaying the dragon!”
“What……!?”
A nut like that exists?
The opponent is that demon dragon. A suicide attempt.
But……
”…… Name?”
“Ouga Veret!”
The room buzzed.
“H-hey…… Ouga Veret, that means……!”
“Yeah! Young [Saint] of articles……!”
“S-Sir Lurdan! Powerful reinforcement!”
In the dark, a light appeared.
Rondism’s new supernova; even Enkalton heard of him.
A noble loved by commoners. The fact he can’t use magic gave him goodwill here too.
But his right arm should be unusable. Yueli wouldn’t have finished it.
Fighting a demon dragon like that……?
…… But Enkalton has no slack.
If a warrior says he’ll fight, accept the help……!
“Let him through! Time is critical!”
“Understood! Lord Veret, please!”
Five entered the command center.
The leader looked around and smirked.
“Thanks for accepting. Skip greetings.”
“Glad you came forward. Behind you?”
“My fighting force. We five strike the dragon.”
The room buzzed.
Anyone would doubt sanity.
”…… Serious? The demon dragon needs Rondism’s full Holy Knight Order to handle.”
“Of course I know. But without defeating it, there’s no future for me.”
He tapped his right arm.
“And if it runs wild, Enkalton has no future either. So join forces and protect the city.”
His prosthetic needs Enkalton’s tech.
City lost = end.
So he chose attack……
A non-noble-like posture…… I like it.
”…… What do we do?”
“Give the demon dragon’s location. And rapid protection for Yueli — she may be the comeback piece.”
“Done. I have a proposal too.”
“Speak.”
“I built an anti-dragon implement. I’ll fire it; you attack simultaneously. Maybe we can wound it.”
“Timing?”
“Communicate via this device. Get the dragon’s position from the operator.”
“Heh…… as expected of Enkalton. Any implement exists.”
He took the comm device, put it in his ear.
Counter-attack ready.
“Now — let’s send the rowdy dragon back to its nest.”