Securing Enkalton’s cooperation, I stood on the rooftop overlooking the demon dragon.
Mashiro and Alice were beside me; Karen and Reina would attack from another point.
“Command. The implement we discussed — Dragon Crusher — is ready to fire.”
”…… Father and daughter alike.”
”……? Did you say something?”
“Nothing. We’re ready too. Anytime.”
“Understood. Walls will simultaneously attack to momentarily distract. Strike then.”
“Acknowledged.”
I watched the dragon ahead.
”…… Huge even from here.”
Ten of me lined up wouldn’t reach its length.
A village or two would fall easily.
”…… Ouga. Can I really go all out?”
“Only way for a human to fly. Picture leaping over the dragon. Alice, launch pad — depend on you.”
“Yes. Always ready.”
She held her sheathed sword in stance.
Mashiro concentrated for casting; I steeled for the demon-dragon dive.
”…… Begun.”
Iron balls fired from wall cannons hit the dragon simultaneously.
Don’t expect damage.
But even a momentary distraction is enough!
“Dragon Crusher — five seconds to launch!”
“Alice!”
“Fortune in battle!”
Alice swung the sword high; I jumped onto its blade.
She full-swung holding my weight.
“Mashiro!”
“[Wind Booster]!”
The moment I launched skyward, Mashiro’s wind blasted me, accelerating me further.
The distance to the dragon shrank; speed held.
“[Gear Change].”
Full-body mana enhancement.
Without [Hard], this is my current max.
”…… Heh heh heh. Same thinking as me.”
From the opposite side, an oval object — Dude’s Dragon Crusher.
If that’s a missile, I’m a human missile.
Smashed from both sides, what becomes of you?
“Let me test it!”
The hard-looking scales loomed.
Hm……? Discolored, scorched-looking patches……?
A nice find. Aim there.
“[Dragon Hammer]!!”
I pulled my left arm wide, smashed it down as the Crusher hit!
A deafening explosion.
The shockwave threw me — anticipated.
If anything, it felt great!
“GRAAAAAAA!!”
I could see our attack working!
Twin shocks collided inside the dragon, generating more force.
Green blood poured from its abdomen onto the city.
“[Thunder Rondo]!”
“[Frost Wind]!”
Reina and Karen’s spells hit; the dragon writhed in the air.
Yes, working……! At this rate——
“RUUUAAAA!”
—— Its crimson eyes met mine; a chill ran my spine.
I was airborne.
Evasion impossible. It chose me as the first target despite being damaged.
“Seriously……!”
Sensing death, I curled and braced.
Next instant, struck from the right by an easily-fatal mass, I was blown far.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
I’d grown up watching my old man’s back.
His creations made everyone smile, made me think amazing. Cool.
So I decided to become the world’s top engineer like him.
Entered the workshop young, copied him, got praised by craftsmen.
Thought I’d join Lurdan and one day succeed him.
“Yueli. Work at a different workshop.”
On my coming-of-age day, he said that.
Meeting that kid was rock-bottom-worst.
Public family fight, kicked out…… without his commission, I’d have erased the memory.
But he turned out to be the best person for me.
Trusting your arm-making to someone with no record?
Arms are dearer than life for engineers. Impossible.
Yet he saw my magical implements, heard my dream, and decided immediately.
Since adulthood, my days repeated: forge, fight dad, forge, fight……
He moved my stalled time.
These five days were the most enjoyable engineering of my life.
But it’s over.
I was in form and ruined the implement before old-man Dud…… back to status quo.
Hunched in the shabby hut, I — ran to the workshop.
Coincidentally, on my way to shelter, I saw the kid challenging the dragon.
I’d heard his right arm was broken.
A one-armed fight against a demon dragon — not possible.
Years of studying that dragon, I know.
He’ll die at this rate……!
The one person who believed in my dreams in this city — gone.
My body moved on its own.
“Ah, Lady Yueli! Where have you been——”
“Move!”
I shoved past, reached the forge, ignored breath, worked.
“Hah…… hah……!”
How selfish am I.
He never ran from despair.
I ran after one failure in front of dad.
Honestly, no confidence to make better than Dragon Vanisher 2.
I’d been that confident in it.
Thought I’d surprise dad, then despaired in failure——
“——Ugh, shut up!”
Discard the extra thoughts.
Face only your heat……!
Strike, strike, strike! Pour my soul!
Carve my life into this implement……!
A focus so deep my own breath vanished.
Unprecedented immersion.
The body moved as if the path was already drawn.
”……Puhaa……!”
I’d held breath unaware; I gasped.
Lungs ache, arms heavy, body tired.
But it felt good.
Because before me — a gleaming completed prosthetic.
“Yes……! Take this to the kid quickly……!”
As I made to run — the workshop wall shattered; something flew in.
A deafening crash.
“W-what happened…… eh!?”
Cautiously I checked.
Buried in rubble, limp — the very kid.