After discussing battle tactics—covering the Demon King’s abilities, attributes, and countermeasures—we disbanded for the time being.
The idea of facing a rare existence born from a dragon was daunting. Could we even stand a chance? Despite our fears, Alice-san seemed to believe we had a shot. She planned to rest her body while formulating a strategy, which we would review and execute if feasible. Everything fell into place quickly, and the battle was set for two days later.
Two days.
That meant the day after tomorrow!
Honestly, I wasn’t ready. I knew we had to stop the Demon King and genuinely wanted to. If I imagined someone like Mine Ork-chan or Ji Ness-kun transformed into a Demon King… Just the thought made me want to scream or break down in tears.
Yet fear and uncertainty still gnawed at me. Even that fledgling chimera was terrifying, and now we faced a fully matured Demon King—a dragon, no less. Would our magic be enough? Could we actually win?
And then something happened to heighten my unease:
Ji Liz.
After our meeting with Alice-san, I asked Ji Liz if he knew anything about Fafnir Clan’s Ji Dia, the dragon who became a Demon King. His reply came after a short delay: “I’ll look into it.” Three hours later, another message followed:
『I’m coming to you now. 』
In a frenzy, we enlisted Emishi-san to seal off the North Barrel port. After waiting for three more hours, as the sun dipped low in the evening sky, we saw a dragon’s silhouette in the distance. Ji Liz was approaching at a speed far beyond anything he’d shown when he first carried us.
※※※
「That ‘Fafnir Clan’s Ji Dia’… was my great-great-grandfather.」
「Seriously…?」
Those were his first words after landing at the port.
My vague suspicion had been correct—Ji Dia was his kin, after all.
「Can you tell us more?」
「Hold on… give me some water first.」
It seemed he’d been flying full-throttle; his breath was ragged.
「Hmm, here.」
「Thanks… Half a day of flying non-stop really takes it out of you…」
Karen stepped forward and conjured a large sphere of water with magic. Ji Liz plunged his head into it, gulping down the enchanted water.
I couldn’t help but wonder… Isn’t he going to drown in that?
「Bark, bark!」
「Chocola, Ji Liz isn’t playing around, you know? Wait, do you want to dive in, too…?」
「Woowoo…!」
「I’ll make a smaller one for you later. Be patient until then.」
「Kuun… bark!」
「It’s not a toy, so don’t drown, okay?」
「Phew! I feel alive again. That was even better than Helen Mountain spring water. Thanks, Karen—and you too, Heavenly Bell-dono. You chilled it, didn’t you?」
「It’s special. You came all this way for us. So… it’s true?」
「Yeah, no doubt about it.」
When the water sphere had shrunk to about half its size, Ji Liz seemed refreshed. He shook his head vigorously to scatter the droplets, folded his limbs, and settled his belly on the landing platform. Then, he continued.
「I asked my grandpa directly. He said his great-grandfather’s name was Ji Dia.」
「It’s not just someone with the same name…?」
「Dragons aren’t as numerous as humans. Any male from the Fafnir Clan with the ‘Ji’ prefix is undoubtedly my kin. If we’re talking about two thousand years ago, the only question is whether anyone remembers the name. And… according to Grandpa, his grandfather bore that name.」
「I see… So your grandpa never met him, either?」
「No. My grandpa’s father—my great-grandfather—was separated from his father when he was just a hatchling. He returned to the sky long ago, so all Grandpa knows is secondhand.」
Ji Liz paused, his face clouding over.
「Apparently, my great-grandfather was captured by humans when he was too young to remember. When I connect that with what you told me, Sui, it all makes sense.」
「…!」
「Then… Ji Dia-san was forced into it because his child was held hostage…?」
Karen’s voice trembled.
「Probably. But it was so long ago. We dragons were affected by that grand magic, too. Great-grandpa’s memories of that time were hazy, so that’s all Grandpa could tell me.」
Ji Liz’s voice was tense as he answered.
「Ji Dia-san was a friend’s child to Alice-san… an elf progenitor. When I heard this, I thought of Mine Ork-chan and Ji Ness-kun.」
「I did, too. My great-grandfather was likely made into a Demon King with his child as leverage. It’s… heartbreaking.」
A heavy silence settled over us.
Ji Liz folded his wings, curled his tail, and raised his head solemnly, his gaze drifting skyward.
「Kuun…?」
Sensing his sorrow, Chocola approached and rubbed against his foreleg. Ji Liz’s eyes softened as Chocola licked his claws gently.
「Oh, I’m fine. Did I worry you?」
「Bark!」
「Fufu. You’re kind, Chocola.」
「Bark」
After pressing his nose gently against Chocola’s, Ji Liz turned back to me.
「It’s one thing with my grandpa, but a great-great-grandfather feels so distant. I’ve never even met my great-grandfather. But when I told Grandpa about this, he asked me to ‘see it through.’」
「See it through… you, Ji Liz?」
「Yeah. Grandpa’s too old to fly far anymore. My father’s retired, living somewhere far west. So I’m the youngest and most capable of my bloodline.」
I couldn’t read dragon expressions as easily as human ones.
「It’s not just because Grandpa asked me. I want to see this through. I have to see it through. As a dragon, I want to witness what happened two thousand years ago and pass the story on. If my ancestor hadn’t sacrificed himself, I might not be here today.」
But even if their appearances differ, things like magical wavelengths, subtle nuances, and the tone of his voice made it clear what Ji Liz was feeling. We’re friends, after all—I could tell.
「If my ancestor’s tragedy now threatens the world, then as his descendant, I should be the one to stop it. But against a rare existence, my strength alone isn’t enough. That’s why, Sui, I need to rely on you. However—」
He spoke with the pride of a dragon, the humility of a friend, and a steadfast resolve.
He wasn’t ashamed to bow his head to a human much younger than himself.
「When the time comes, take me with you. I might be more hindrance than help, but I’ll do whatever I can. Could you ask the elf progenitor for me?」
「Yeah, I will.」
I wasn’t strong enough to deny that conviction. But at the same time—
「Don’t worry. I’m going to block every attack. With you there, Ji Liz, I’ll fight even harder.」
—And I’m not so weak that I can’t protect my friend.
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