Chapter 23: Olivia’s Decision

A sudden appearance of a black-silver dragon.

Overwhelming presence.

An intimidation surpassing even the griffin.

When facing Peruda, it felt like being a cornered mouse stared at by a snake.

During the encounter with the griffin, it was like a mouse being toyed with by a large carnivorous beast.

But this is different.

If there were a mouse exposed in front of a large carnivorous dinosaur, it would be exactly that sensation.

Not even prey for predation. Just praying not to be trampled upon.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t take you home.”

Unfortunately, Matilda, who can sense magical power, murmured softly and collapsed from her waist.

A pale yellow puddle formed at her feet.

Olivia froze in Lucius’ arms.

An unforeseen situation.

“A special-grade monster…”

“Special-grade?”

The question arises whether the strength of monsters is classified from 6th grade to 1st grade, but it doesn’t turn into words.

Definitions don’t matter.

They need to escape from here as quickly as possible. That was the only thought dominating their minds.

The dragon seemed to notice the presence of humans and glared at Lucius and the others with its large eyeball. More precisely, it should be said that it became conscious since it had been aware of their presence for a long time.

“Guaooohhh!!”

A roar so loud that one would think their eardrums would burst.

―― Die.

That’s what I sensed.

The anomaly in the forest undoubtedly comes from the presence of the dragon.

With such a significant irregularity, it’s no wonder the forest would become chaotic.

It’s easy to think about.

Normally, monsters that don’t come out from deep within the forest are present in the shallower areas.

There are only two possibilities: they have a purpose in heading towards the shallows, or they were driven away from their original location.

The existence of the dragon has pushed the higher-ranked monsters that were in the depths of the forest towards the shallows.

“Iyaaaahhh!”

Overwhelmed by fear, Olivia couldn’t endure and started running backward.

As a living being, it was the most reasonable judgment.

When Lucius tried to follow, he noticed Matilda sitting on the ground, unable to move.

Memories of being taken care of since infancy came to his mind.

Matilda, despite wearing a perplexed expression, never treated Lucius roughly.

She always handled him with care and caution.

And occasionally, she would smile at him.

――No, this is just like before.

On the way back from the “Appraisal Ceremony.”

Despite understanding the critical situation, Robel never abandoned anyone.

He held on until his limits to protect the injured residents, children, and families.

Lucius readied his sword and faced the dragon.

“Lu-Lucius-sama! What are you doing?! Run!”

Matilda shouted with raised voice, her legs trembling uncontrollably, forgetting to use honorifics.

“A respectable Baron wouldn’t easily abandon his family. You know that, right?”

It was a bluff.

The truth is, he was terrified beyond measure.

His entire body still trembled.

Lucius formed lines of light around his sword.

It was a technique he once used to tear apart Peruda’s flesh.

On the other hand, the dragon, seemingly uninterested, approached with its massive body and raised its arm, ready to strike down.

That was truly all there was to it.

Perhaps, for the dragon, it wasn’t even an attack. If you call it an attack when a person hits a bug, it might be true.

In Lucius’ life, or even in his past life, he had never sharpened his senses to such an extent.

Adrenaline surged through his body, compressing time.

Somehow, I don’t understand at all, but I deflect the dragon’s claws with my sword.

The timing, strength, and angle of the blade are beyond Lucius’ current skill level. Even if asked to do it again, it would be impossible.

However, the dragon’s power is tremendous, and due to the force of the deflected attack, Lucius is tossed into the air, spinning like a windmill.

Using the momentum of the spin, I strike the dragon’s face with my sword.

――Take this!

A mass of iron.

Right after that feeling, the sword is deflected with a high-pitched sound.

Next comes the giant tail.

In the midst of intense concentration, I sweep away all distractions and let my body move instinctively to meet the tail with my sword.

I manage to deflect the tail as well, feeling the impact as if my spinal cord were being shaken.

But just a slight miscalculation, unable to fully deflect the force, Lucius’ small body is sent flying, bouncing off in two or three stages.

Lying on the ground, enduring the pain running through my entire body, I catch sight of the dragon with my gaze.

There is a small cut on the dragon’s forehead.

The rotating strike created a small wound with its blade of light.

“I did it.”

I shout in a small voice, filled with exhilaration.

I have dealt a blow. It gives a faint glimmer of hope.

Even though it’s a dragon, it’s not an invincible being.

Even if I can’t defeat it, I should be able to buy everyone time to escape, I think.

But that hope is easily shattered.

The dragon, with a visible frustration from being wounded, spreads its wings wide and opens its mouth wide.

The reason the dragon opens its mouth to the enemy.

It must be its breath attack.

Lucius exerts all his magical power, changing it into a form that radiates light from lines around him.

Anything that can cause dizziness will do. I must do something, anything.

“Just in time!”

Right after being covered by blinding light to the point where I can’t even open my eyes, I feel an intensity of heat that makes me suspect if magma is flowing right next to me.

After a fraction of a second, an explosion and a blast of wind rampage.

When the light from the sword subsides, an unbelievable sight unfolds.

Just a few meters away from Lucius, the place that was a deep forest until a moment ago has turned into a wasteland, big enough to fit a large stadium.

Smoke rises from various places, and fragments that used to be trees are burning.

“Haha.”

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laughter.

This is no ordinary disaster.

There’s very little that insignificant humans like us can do.

I can see Matilda, unable to move behind the dragon.

However, there are still things I cannot retreat from.

Lucius stood up once again, preparing his sword.

――――――――

Overwhelmed by fear, Olivia desperately flees.

The dragon, a special grade monster that hasn’t been observed in over a hundred years.

A creature so powerful that it is said to have razed a small country on its own.

I want to pull back my past self who thought it was a bit far-fetched to claim it could destroy nations.

It’s a historical fact.

There was enough intimidation to make me certain of that.

The Griffon was unilaterally mowed down, and when its tail struck the ground, it left a scar on the earth.

– This is no joke.

Despite finally encountering the Griffon, it was immediately followed by the dragon’s attack.

Our momentum was disrupted.

However, if we’re still alive, there will be another chance.

For now, I must focus on staying alive and instinctively flee.

But when I happened to glance back, I saw something unbelievable.

Lucius was standing against the dragon, wielding his sword.

– What a fool.

Doesn’t he understand its strength? Couldn’t he perceive its awe-inspiring presence?

It must be someone who spouts such nonsense, claiming to become a Baron without understanding politics and being able to protect their subjects.

For some reason, Olivia’s running slows down a bit.

“A noble Baron doesn’t easily abandon their family. You do understand that, right?”

I can hear Lucius’ voice.

– Unbelievable.

If standing up against a dragon makes one a noble Baron, then should Viscounts and Counts defy even gods? Then what should those aspiring to be kings confront to be considered noble?

“That is recklessness, not bravery. It’s a foolish act. Truly idiotic.”

However, a voice of reproach towards Lucius slips out.

Yet, for some reason, Olivia’s running becomes even slower.

It’s almost like she’s walking.

I must stay alive.

As long as I’m alive, the path to becoming a king may still be open.

“That’s right. If I become a king, even I…”

– Can I challenge the dragon?

It’s impossible.

No matter how much I polish my swordsmanship, no matter how powerful spells I command, there’s no way I can stand up against a dragon.

With that thought, my feet come to a halt.

Lucius’s hands are trembling.

He’s scared.

He’s terrified to the point of death.

It’s natural, he’s a boy the same age as me.

No matter how much magical power he has or how much combat experience he possesses, a child facing a dragon with just a sword should be afraid.

The dragon sliced through Lucius with its foreleg.

I thought he had been torn to pieces. But Lucius deflected the dragon’s strike with his sword and even counterattacked.

Immediately after, he was struck by the dragon’s tail.

Lucius bounced off like a skipping stone thrown into a river.

The dragon breathed fire, further devastating the forest.

“In the end, he couldn’t protect…”

However, Lucius stood up.

And he readied his sword once again.

“…”

Olivia was at a loss for words.

“To become a Baron who can protect their subjects, family, and retainers.”

Lucius’s words left Olivia speechless.

How small of a dream, how narrow-minded it was.

She believed that she herself possessed grander dreams and a greater sense of righteousness.

That’s what she thought.

But what’s the reality?

A person with nothing but petty dreams is wielding a sword against a dragon to protect their retainers, while someone with grand dreams like herself is abandoning everything and fleeing.

What does it mean to save all the nobles and subjects in the North?

Aren’t Lucius and Matilda among them?

Leaving behind the person who should be saved right in front of me, while trying to escape alone.

Just being dragged through the forest, making empty promises of contracting with a griffin, Olivia remains nothing more than a foolish girl in words.

Come to think of it, ever since entering this forest, Lucius has always been there to help me. He protected me.

Despite being dragged into my own selfish actions, he scolded me for entering the forest but never blamed me for getting lost.

It wasn’t because Olivia was a noblewoman from one of the Four Great Houses. Even if she were a village girl, Lucius probably would have done the same.

Actions driven by the need to protect what should be protected.

Actions based on conviction.

That’s all it was.

Finally, Olivia understood after witnessing this series of events.

What true conviction truly means.

“Ah… That’s why Lucius is fighting…”

A person’s worth is not determined by the size of their dreams.

It’s not determined by the grandeur of their ambitions.

Furthermore, it doesn’t change based on the strength or weakness of those they face or the position they find themselves in.

In her rivalry with Lucius, Olivia had failed to see his conviction.

On that day, instead of sneaking out of the mansion alone, if she had explained the circumstances and simply asked for his help, Lucius would have surely come to her aid. He would have lent his strength.

– But she didn’t.

“…I’m such a fool.”

Olivia, regardless of appearances, started running again.

Ahead of her running, there stood a massive silver tree.

The silver tree was bent into a crooked shape.

At the base of the tree, the Griffon struck by the dragon’s tail was struggling.

The broken tree was wedged over the Griffon from above, but that itself was not a problem for the Griffon.

It was writhing in agony from the injuries inflicted by the dragon’s strike.

As Olivia approached the Griffon, it forcibly twisted its body and freed itself from the tree.

However, the Griffon’s gaze was fixed solely on the dragon.

It paid no attention to the young girl.

The Griffon began flapping its wings, preparing to take off in the opposite direction of the dragon.

“Are you running away?”

The Griffon briefly glanced back at Olivia but showed no interest and returned its gaze forward.

— Covered in wounds

As Olivia approached, she noticed that the griffin’s body was covered in wounds. Many of them seemed to be inflicted not long ago.

The sunlight she had seen a few times in the morning, resembling the sun itself… Perhaps it was a battle with the dragon.

The outcome was evident.

The Griffon was now attempting to flee.

“What is the beast of the king? Weren’t you the king of this forest? Are you going to run away as soon as someone stronger than you arrives?”

It’s like I’m looking at my stupid self.

Thinking that way strangely eased my fear of the Griffon.

“You thought the light from the sword was emitted by your comrades. You came to seek help from your comrades, didn’t you?

The Griffon growled and raised its voice, showing frustration.

Even without understanding words, it seemed to fully grasp being looked down upon.

The Griffon let out a roar as a threat.

However, Olivia remained unfazed.

“I finally understand. The priorities are reversed. It’s unbearable to see only the king survive when the country has perished. Even if it costs me my life, I won’t hand over my own kingdom. That’s why I will become the king.”

Olivia approached even closer.

The massive body of the Griffon took half a step back.

“If you’re going to step down from being the king, then lend me your wings.”

With her left hand adorned with the prosthetic device, she touched the head of the Griffon.

Immediately after, the Griffon turned into particles of light and were absorbed into Olivia’s left hand.

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