Episode 22

Was this what it felt like for your heart to plummet straight to the floor?

Watching the half-dragon’s sword come within a hair’s breadth of Daiwen’s neck, I prayed that if there was such a thing as a god of time, it would please stop.

I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to see it. A dragon cutting off a human’s head is…….

That was when it happened. The moment I unconsciously stepped forward, about to rush toward them, something appeared between the two of them and yanked Daiwen back by the hair.

It was Sion.

Thanks to that, the dragon’s sword, which had been about to strike Daiwen’s neck, sliced through empty air. Sion, still holding him like that, slammed Daiwen down onto the ground, then swiftly kicked the half-dragon in the chest.

He must have kicked with tremendous force, because the half-dragon went rolling across the ground.

In the situation that had been resolved in an instant, Daiwen sprang to his feet while clutching the back of his head. I could only see him from behind, but I could guess just how badly his face must have been twisted.

“Are you insane? Of all the places to grab, you grabbed me by the hair?”

“Aren’t you the insane one? If you’re going to die, kill all the dragons first and then die. I won’t stop you.”

“If this had been my sword instead of this piece of crap, I could have killed him just now.”

Daiwen finally threw the broken sword onto the ground. Then, as if irritated, he roughly ruffled the back of his hair and rose to his feet.

Toward him, Sion, apparently not the least bit tired, sneered.

“Why charge in without using sword aura? If the side effects are so bad you can’t even use your head for something simple, then get lost.”

“Ha? I can kill a half-dragon like that even in this state, okay? I had a fever the day I killed that dragon too, okay?”

“What kind of bullshit lie do you think you’re telling…….”

Watching from behind as the two of them continued their childish, brilliant exchange of “are you crazy,” the crazy people, as far as I was concerned, were both of them.

Just as I felt like I was going to explode with frustration, the dragon that had collapsed on the ground began to twitch and try to get up. Did they not see that sight? The two of them paid it no mind, and in the end, I snapped.

“You crazy bastards! Will you stop fighting already? Why are you fighting each other instead of the one you’re supposed to fight! Huh? If you’re that desperate to die, I’ll kill you myself after this is over, so hurry up and finish the job!”

When I shouted with all my strength, the two of them flinched in surprise and looked back at me at the same time. Then they turned their attention back to the half-dragon in front of them.

Good. That was better. My throat hurt from yelling, but seeing the dumbfounded looks on their faces made me feel refreshed.

In truth, now that Daiwen’s sword had broken, my anxiety had not subsided. But I quite literally had no idea how to do anything, so I had no choice but to trust them.

For now, let’s try doing what I can.

I turned around and looked at the barrier spread out in a round dome like a hemisphere. Right, I had to do something about this barrier.

‘Should I dig under it?’

But the stone floor of the garden was too reckless to dig through by hand.

‘I guess I have no choice but to break it after all.’

I knew that since it was a wall created by that half-dragon, it would be hard to break. But I couldn’t just stand here stamping my feet without even trying.

Having decided to put it into action, I looked around. As it happened, fragments of the carriage were strewn across the ground. What stood out among them was, of course, a thick metal rod that looked like an iron pipe.

I grabbed it with both hands and took a deep breath. It was so ridiculously light that it seemed like it might break or bend at any moment, but thanks to someone kindly smashing the carriage for us, there were plenty of iron pipes.

First, let’s beat it!

No, what am I saying. Let’s break it!

Even though no one was watching, I nodded and swung the iron pipe with all my might.

Bang—a huge sound, almost like a roar, burst out, and at the same time, a tingling vibration traveled through the iron pipe and into my palms. It was bearable.

It didn’t seem like it was absorbing the impact…… And judging from that sound, it might actually break.

The moment I had that thought, I swung the iron pipe again. Another thunderous sound rang out, and I felt as though the wall had shaken. But the iron pipe had heroically bent into the shape of a sickle, so I couldn’t swing it again.

I immediately picked up a new iron pipe and gripped it tightly, when a familiar voice came from somewhere.

“Don’t do something so ignorant. It won’t break even if you do that.”

Huh?

Startled, I blinked and looked around. This indifferent, low, chilly voice…… That slightly sarcastic edge…….

“Reuden?”

No matter how I thought about it, it was Reuden’s voice. But inside this black barrier, there were only me, those two idiots, and the half-dragon.

“Where are you talking from? Reuden, where are you right now?”

“In front of you. Come closer.”

In front of me?

The only thing in front of me was the black wall I had been trying so hard to break until just now. Feeling suspicious, I frowned and stood still, and from the other side, I heard Reuden click his tongue.

“Don’t distrust me. I really am Reuden.”

“What if you’re not Reuden? More importantly, where are you? Don’t tell me you’re beyond the wall?”

“What if I’m not Reuden, she says……. Yes, I’m here.”

He tapped the wall. It was none other than the wall I had been diligently striking. Hmm, still, since the situation was what it was, I couldn’t believe him and couldn’t easily move my feet. Then he snapped irritably.

“Why don’t you trust me? We don’t have time for jokes right now.”

“What if you’re a bad guy! What if you’re the dragon’s friend!”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“And how did you know I was here? Reuden only cares when I cause trouble. Other than that, he doesn’t care much at all.”

Perhaps my words had hit the mark, because Reuden—no, the fake Reuden—did not answer at all.

I didn’t know how he could imitate Reuden’s voice and manner of speaking so well, but if I was told it was magic, it made sense.

Tsk. Clicking my tongue briefly, I was about to turn and go somewhere else to try breaking the wall when Reuden’s voice came again.

“When did I ever not care about you much?”

“Huh?”

“If I didn’t care about you…… would I have run here the moment I found out you were trapped here?”

“……Huh?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just come here. Otherwise, I’ll take away your authority to manage the employees again.”

Since he even brought up the authority to manage the employees, it seemed like it really was Reuden, and I found myself moving closer.

Wait, but didn’t Reuden just say something really important? That he ran here the moment he found out I was trapped here? That Reuden?

While I was thinking that I couldn’t quite imagine it, but if it was true, I might be a little touched, Reuden muttered.

“Honestly, I couldn’t find a solution, but thanks to you acting ignorantly, I found a way.”

“A way? What way? Before that, could you stop calling me ignorant? What else could I do here?”

I grumbled with a huff, but Reuden didn’t even pretend to listen and began saying what he had to say.

“This wall-like thing is a dragon’s subspace. Dragons usually deploy it to imprison someone or to protect themselves. And to decipher and undo this, even I would need a very long time.”

“I see…… Then what do we do?”

“For some reason, because you kept hitting this spot, the formula here alone has been disrupted. If I twist it with deciphering magic, I should be able to break a small part of it.”

My goodness. Those words were far more trustworthy than those two idiots. Even though Reuden couldn’t see me, I nodded quickly and clenched both fists. It was what you’d call a cheering pose.

“Do your best, Reuden! What should I be doing? Should I keep hitting the wall?”

“I’m not finished yet. Even if I can break this, it’ll be an extremely tiny part. And before long, the part I break will fill back in again.”

“Ah, that won’t do…… There’s Daiwen and Sion here besides me, so if we’re all going to get out together, it needs to stay open for quite a while.”

“……Looks like you’ve gotten close? Seeing as you’re calling them by name.”

No, damn it. Is that really what you’re bringing up in this situation?

I felt like I was about to let out a sigh because of Reuden, who had been obsessing over strange things since we were in the banquet hall, but I held it in. When I had suspected Reuden just now, he must have been just as frustrated.

“Whether we’re close or not…… If we’re going to get out together, it needs to stay open for a long time. Besides, those two are fighting the half-dragon right now.”

“I know. But it’ll be hard for even you alone to get out. The hole in the broken part will be too small for you to come through, and it’ll close up in a few seconds.”

Then why…… Why bother breaking it?

As if he had read my mind, Reuden answered right away.

“The reason I’m breaking the subspace right now isn’t to get you out. That would be best if I could, but it’s impossible.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to give you two swords.”

Two swords?

All at once, I thought of Daiwen, who had broken his sword. Wasn’t a sword exactly what Daiwen, who was fighting barehanded right now, needed most?

“Absolutely nice timing!”

“Nice what?”

“I mean you came at the perfect time! Daiwen broke his sword just now, so he’s fighting barehanded.”

“……The swords I’m giving you now are the knights’ swords. With these, you should be able to settle things easily.”

Ahh. No wonder. So that was why the swords the two of them had been holding looked like toys. The thought flashed through my mind that they really might have been swords used for decoration.

“Good. Anyway, let’s do it! I’ll grab the swords quick.”

No answer came from Reuden, but I no longer felt embarrassed. Because after spending time with him, I knew he wasn’t ignoring what I said.

I waited quietly, with a reverent heart, for something to happen, and a faint light began to leak from the wall I had beaten so diligently.

For some reason, it felt warm.

I could dimly see the black barrier growing hazy. And beyond it, Reuden’s hand came into view. He had his hand pressed against the barrier.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this the first time I’d seen Reuden use magic?

Just like when Anastasia used magic, it felt strangely unfamiliar.

Reuden’s voice reached my ears louder than before. It was proof that the wall was being pierced.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Hurt? Ah…… I hurt my arm. But Sion said it wasn’t that deep, so I’m okay!”

Reuden sighed. At the same time, the black barrier, which had been as faint as cracking ice, shattered into pieces.

Watching the black fragments vanish through the air, I grabbed the two sword hilts Reuden held out. Both swords were light.

Since he’d said it would close up right away, I quickly pulled the swords through and was about to go to those two idiots when Reuden murmured.

“Don’t get hurt any more than that.”

At those words, I looked at Reuden’s tightly clenched fist visible beyond the pierced barrier, then bent my knees slightly. Then I turned my head and looked up at Reuden through the hole.

Reuden, whose hair was the same color as the coral sky, widened his eyes slightly the moment he saw me. His eyes were shining like the sunset, as they always did.

Phew, if I followed my heart, I’d tease him and ask if he was worried about me, but he’d just insist he hadn’t been worried at all, wouldn’t he?

Instead of teasing him, I gave him a bright smile, as if to show off.

“Got it, I won’t get hurt! I’ll come back completely fine and put your mind at ease!”

As soon as I finished speaking, the pierced wall began to fill in again. And I saw it.

Reuden smiling as if I was hopeless.