"Surprising. This is the first time I've seen Heiter dressed so formally."
Unlike the worn-out black priest robes he wore during their travels, Heiter was currently clad in a pure white priestly robe trimmed with gold. His green hair was meticulously combed, giving him a truly dignified appearance.
"Those guys in the Royal Capital... Just because I'm the monk who defeated the Demon King alongside the Hero, they forcibly recommended me to become the Archbishop. Thanks to them, I can't even openly drink alcohol or eat meat anymore. I have to maintain this facade of decency every single day."
"Hahaha, that is quite impressive."
"Although the Demon King has been defeated, the scars left by the war remain in people's hearts. I am merely offering them some comfort and solace."
"That is why Heiter is impressive."
"Are you setting off on a journey alone again?"
"Yes. There are still remnants of the Demon Race in the North. As the Hero, I must remain active and help those facing difficulties on their travels. Besides... who knows, I might even run into her during my journey."
Himmel revealed a charming, cheerful smile.
"Is that so? You haven't changed a bit. You love adventure just as much as before, Himmel."
"Then, I wish you a safe journey."
"I will. Oh, right—the horn of the Dark Dragon that Frieren entrusted to me earlier is still at my house. While I am away, could I trouble you to look after it for me?"
"That horn emitting a dark aura? Please, spare me."
Heiter held his forehead, but he agreed nonetheless.
The Hero set foot on his journey alone, once again.
————
"Tsk, so hard."
The magic cannon blast struck the body of the Red Mirror Dragon, but unexpectedly, it only scraped off a wisp of white smoke. It had absolutely no effect.
"Roar!"
The Red Mirror Dragon let out a roar, spreading its two massive wings. Billowing dust and smoke rose up as it flapped its wings and flew into the high sky.
Nanoda cast Levitation Magic and flew up as well. However, standing in the air to fight against an enemy agile in flight made her look like a live target.
In mid-air, several magic circles unfolded around Nanoda's body. She fired several consecutive magic cannon blasts at the dragon's head, but it was still just like 'Gua Sha'—barely scratching it.
Meanwhile, a flame breath had long been brewing in the Red Mirror Dragon's mouth. Accompanied by a sharp surge in mana, scorching flames spewed from the dragon's maw in vast sheets, instantly engulfing Nanoda. There was absolutely no chance to dodge.
The blue sky looked as if a patch of it were burning, turning an orange-red hue.
Watching from a distance, Baron Aaron pushed Aura nervously.
"Your companion... isn't dead, is she?"
"Just watch. She is a monster even more terrifying than the Demon King."
Aura replied grumpily.
The green-haired young girl, Yuna, leaned on her staff, silently praying in her heart for that Demon Race big sister.
The sorrowful cry of the Red Mirror Dragon rang out from the distance.
Nanoda had her defensive magic fully active. A diamond-shaped magical shield wrapped around her like a sphere, leaving not a single gap. Instead of retreating, she advanced, charging out of the flame breath and rapidly closing in on the Red Mirror Dragon.
High-temperature flames fell to the ground, melting large swathes of houses.
Severance Magic, activate!
An invisible slash cut open the hard dragon scales. Blood splattered out as a wound was carved into the Red Mirror Dragon's neck.
"It works."
Just as Nanoda intended to unleash the Severance Magic with full force, the Red Mirror Dragon's sharp claws viciously struck.
In front of the massive Red Mirror Dragon, Nanoda was only about the size of one of its claws.
As the shadow of the claw covered her, Nanoda released her defensive magic.
Crack, crack, crack, crack. The dragon claw slammed onto the protective sphere, and the defensive magic actually began to crack.
Through mana perception, she could sense the dragon breath brewing in its mouth once again.
"Ugh... underestimated it."
Nanoda's long white hair fluttered, revealing the golden vertical pupil in her left eye. An ancient, heavy aura radiated from her body. The surrounding mana began to gather toward Nanoda.
The originally arrogant Red Mirror Dragon constricted its pupils. An instinctual fear surfaced in its heart; in this moment, it felt as if it had turned from predator to prey.
Accelerating the gathering speed of the breath in its mouth, the Red Mirror Dragon exhaled a dragon breath on a scale even larger than before. It turned, intending to flee.
"Sev! Er!"
It was as if a silver thread flashed between heaven and earth. The flame dragon breath was split in two, scattering onto the ground below. The cloud layer blocking the sun was severed; under the shining sunlight, the Red Mirror Dragon, which had been flying in the air, saw its massive body split evenly in half down the middle. It didn't even have time to let out a wail.
Just like that, it dissolved into mana particles and gradually vanished into the air.
"Am I dreaming?"
Baron Aaron's eyes were wide and round. He only saw the Red Mirror Dragon spit out its breath and attempt to fly away, and in the next moment, that freaking huge Red Mirror Dragon turned into two halves? Is the magic of the Demon Race this terrifying?
"See, what did I tell you?"
Aura shrugged, not surprised in the least. Aside from the Magic of Obedience, Aura didn't actually know many spells herself and could only teach Nanoda the basics of the basics. However, the Severance Magic Nanoda created herself was simply too crude and violent—it belonged to the category of 'using brute force to work miracles' with mana.
To the side, Yuna's eyes were shining. Disregarding the dirty soil, she slid directly down the cliff wall and ran toward the Gaderia territory, which was already full of devastation.
"Hey, Yuna..."
When Aaron reacted, Yuna had already run off, stumbling along the way.
"Big Brother, I'm not dreaming, am I? Is she that powerful?"
Abel also leaned in, his tone full of disbelief.
"Ouch, ow, ow, ow!"
Having his ear pulled by Aaron, he realized this was not a dream.
"Boohoo, that's great, we can go home."
Tears overflowed from Arue's thick eye sockets.
There were not a few among the subjects who were just like him; some were excitedly shouting the name of the Dragon Slayer, Nanoda. She did it. No one expected they would rely on a member of the Demon Race.
At this moment, Baron Aaron had mixed feelings in his heart.
Huff... huff...
Hugging her staff, walking through the Gaderia territory ignited by the remnant fire of the dragon's breath, Yuna was already covered in sweat. Even though she was covered in mud, she did not stop, moving straight forward.
Nanoda slowly descended from the sky. Her white hair covered her left eye once again, revealing only her human-like gray right eye.
Boom.
"Oh my, seems I went a little overboard."
It wasn't just the Red Mirror Dragon; the Gaderia Lord's Manor had also been sliced in half. Fortunately, it was very even, so it should be repairable.
Clatter.
The wooden staff fell to the ground. Yuna, who had run over in a rush, slumped onto the ground.
"Thank... Thank you! —Waaaaahhhhh..."
Yuna cried. Bean-sized tears rolled down, mixed with sweat and snot; she was crying a complete mess. After her father entrusted her to the Lord and was swallowed by the flames, she had held back her tears and hadn't cried once, because her father said he liked Yuna's smile the best.
Nanoda looked at this child who was crying too hard to speak. Although her face was stiff, she still tried her best to squeeze out a gentle, faint smile.
"I told you, I am very strong. Alright, it's okay now."
Gently stroking the girl's head, Nanoda held this tearful little person in her arms to comfort her. In this moment, she was no longer a member of the Demon Race, but exactly like a human.
The sound of crying echoed through the Gaderia territory, unable to subside for a long time.
___
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