(I'm done for...)
While staring blankly at the approaching scorching flames, I muttered this to myself. If I looked in a mirror now, I probably could have seen Al-Van's stupid face that wasn't shown in the main story.
And so, having received a second life, I was about to meet my second death in less than an hour... or not.
The flames enveloping my entire body were certainly hot. But that heat only felt like getting into a bath at most, and was rather pleasant. That was all. My body was still intact within the flames.
"Hey, how long are you going to stay frozen?"
"Ah, Mom!"
"Yes?"
Oh no, I messed up! I accidentally called her that! This is bad - I was rude to a goddess, so I'll be scolded... or rather, receive divine punishment!?
"How do you know my name? If my memory is correct, I don't remember telling you."
An unexpected fact! It fits too perfectly that it's not even funny!
"Well, whatever. More importantly, how is it? Your new body? With your current self, that red lizard's flames should be nothing."
Whoa, calling a boss-class dragon Lizard. As expected of a goddess. But honestly, I was saved thanks to mom. I want to show my current situation to my past self who thought it was too much.
"Now! There's nothing to fear anymore! Counterattack!"
"Wait, wait a minute! Even if you say counterattack, how am I supposed to do that!"
"Just fight with that robot's weapons."
"Listen here. A person who only took kendo as an elective in high school can't properly handle a sword."
Even though my body is Al-Van's, the inside is still me. There's no way I can fight like him. When I said this, mom answered casually.
"Then, simply put, I just need to give you that person's combat experience and knowledge. If that's the case, leave it to me!"
"What are you... !?"
At that moment, a tremendous headache struck me. Something was forcibly flowing into my head. Sword forms I shouldn't know, ways to fight opponents larger than myself. It was the technique, experience, and knowledge that he - Al-Van - had continued to polish as a knight.
"I understand... How to swing a sword. How to fight. How to move this body!"
...Huh, that's strange. I was about to say "Amazing! I feel like I can do anything now!" but why did my tone become like this?
"Oops, seems like I gave a bit too much feedback. I made your speech pattern similar to the original person too."
"I see. However, you know such words well."
Oh, I sound like Al-Van somehow. ...This isn't the time to be saying that! Hey, can't you do something about this!? The tone is cool but with this content inside, it's embarrassing instead.
"Hehe. Among gods, I'm an 'intellectual.' Now, you can fight with this. Do your best my child!"
Damn it! At this point, I'll just go all out! I forced myself to get pumped up and took the Sword Rifle attached to my waist.
Then, finally, the flames began to weaken. Thinking I was dead, the red dragon started laughing loudly.
"Fuhahaha! This is what happens when trash acts cocky! Now, who wants to die next... What!?"
The red dragon showed an expression of shock. Well, I understand the feeling. But why do you know that senpai?
"You're unharmed even after receiving my flames!? Who are you!?"
Even if you ask who I am... I'm just a human. More importantly, I need to check if I can really fight while the red dragon is surprised.
I tried swinging the Sword Rifle. Without time to think, my body moved on its own. Swinging down vertically, slashing horizontally, thrusting forward. It was a refined form with absolutely no waste. I was performing that beautiful sword dance - no one else but me.
(Amazing! Amazing, Al-Van! No, Al-Van-sensei!)
From now on, I'll call him sensei instead of by his name. Alright, let me follow sensei's example and give a spirited line!
"As a knight, I cannot allow your actions. By my sword, Raftclans, I shall return you to the darkness of Vorda!"
...I regretted it after saying it. What knight! Someone like me who's only appearance is knight at best! Besides, you don't even know what darkness of Vorda means, so what am Ireally saying!
Ah look! The red dragon is backing away! A 24-year-old with chuunibyou is seriously hilarious! That's the look in his eyes!
"Follow him... follow the knight!"
I want to crawl into a hole. Or rather, I want to die... While I was getting depressed, that ikemen voice came from behind again.
"UOOOOOOOOH!!!"
What's happening!? Without time to think, an incredible war cry echoed around. Thinking I really needed to check, I turned around to see that handsome guy leading dozens, hundreds of winged people flying toward us at tremendous speed.
Imagine it. The sight of people with expressions that seem to say "We'll kill you!" coming at you as a large army. Did my earlier statement displease them that much!? But even so, ganging up on someone with so many people is too cruel!
I trembled imagining getting beaten up... but no, all those people rushed straight toward that red dragon.
"I'm fired up! I'm fired up!"
"We'll win! Absolutely!"
People attacked the red dragon with such spirited lines. Explosions occurred, and countless shining spears pierced the red dragon.
"Guooo!? Th-these guys, their spirit and power are completely different from before!?"
You could say even dust becomes a mountain when it accumulates. Each individual attack was far smaller compared to the red dragon's body. But when dozens, hundreds of them overlapped, it became powerful enough to make the red dragon stagger.
"Fury-san!"
While I was watching that battle absent-mindedly, that magical girl came to me. Her face is red - could it be she's here despite being unwell? To stop that red dragon, despite being so young. Admirable. This big brother is moved.
"Damn it, don't get cocky!"
The red dragon snapped. It swung its overly thick tail down toward me.
"...!"
"Fuah!?"
This is bad - this girl will get caught up in it too. I quickly embraced the magical girl with my left arm and raised the Sword Rifle.
(Don't underestimate Al-Van-sensei!)
And I swung the sword down with pure brute force. The next moment, the red dragon's tail was cleanly severed from the middle.
"GAAAAAAAH!?!?!?!?"
The red dragon let out a painful scream while spurting massive amounts of blood from the cut.
As for me, I was internally shocked while watching the red dragon. Swinging the sword was basically just going with the flow of excitement, and when push came to shove, I planned to protect the magical girl with this invincible body. But in reality, I had sliced off the red dragon's tail.
(What is this power!? Is there hot blood or soul enhancement!?)
"A-amazing..."
"To cut through Ddraig's skin like paper..."
Or is it fully modified!? Either way, it's not something that should be cuttable! Even if Raftclans is a cheat machine, this is abnormal! Even the people around seem surprised...
"You! Youuuuuuu!!!"
The red dragon glared at me with bloodshot eyes. Scary! But in front of the magical girl, I can't show fear. Let me say something to encourage myself.
"I swear on my sword that I won't let you lay a finger on this girl!"
Even if I'm a knight, I'm the one who got her involved. I'll take at least that much responsibility.
"...Wonderf…."
The magical girl murmured something in a low voice. I'm curious, but there's no time to confirm it. For now, let me retreat with this girl.
"Alright! We'll continue holding down Ddraig! Everyone else, go support those fighting Albion over there!"
The handsome guy gave instructions. Albion? Is that the white dragon flying around over there? Unlike the red dragon, the people around seem to be having trouble with the white dragon moving through the air.
(...Which means, if I disable those wings, it'll be easier to fight.)
Feeling this way, I readjusted my grip on the Sword Rifle and aimed at the white dragon. Then, without hesitation, I pulled the trigger.
"Pierce through!"
The massive green energy wave released with my shout instantly penetrated the white dragon's wing and disappeared into the distance.
"Gah!? Aaaaaaaah!?!?!?"
The white dragon crashed to the ground with tremendous tremors and dust clouds. Attacks were immediately launched at it as if they had been waiting.
"Wh-what incredible power..."
The magical girl muttered in a dazed manner. Yeah, that's my line. Look, I roughly expected the power of the Orgone Sword. But what just happened far exceeded that. You think I'm strangely calm? When humans are too surprised, they become calm instead.
And as I became calm, my knightly statements from earlier came back to mind. Just when I was trying not to worry about it, embarrassment welled up again.
[Good work. You looked cool.]
I connected with mom again. Stop it, anything you say now will just be embarrassing! More importantly, what do you want?
[Ah, right. I was about to say earlier, but the transfer preparations are complete. What do you want to do? Should we move immediately?]
(Please!)
I nodded without hesitation. I wanted to get away from this place as quickly as possible. Ah, if possible, I'd like to go to a place where none of these people are... Yeah, I'd like to go about a thousand years into the future.
"Alright, leave it to me!"
"Fury-san?"
I gently released the magical girl. Perhaps thinking my behavior was strange, she tilted her head curiously, but the next moment her eyes widened.
"Fu-Fury-san! Your body...!"
Looking at what she said, my body was slowly becoming transparent. It seems the transfer had begun.
"...You're leaving, aren't you."
The magical girl looked down sadly. Hmm, why is she showing such an expression? Won't she say something like "Ah, finally freed from that painful person"?
"Will we... will we meet again?"
!? Th-that upward glance is against the rules!? But however, the knightly me answered calmly.
"...If that is fate."
And leaving behind a final line that made me want to die, I disappeared from in front of the magical girl.