New Combat Power (2)

Mersius's remark had come out of nowhere… and if Gergius heard it, it would practically count as a bombshell. So I checked his reaction…

"…Gergius?"

"What is it?"

"Mersius is talking about leaving the lair. Are you all right with that?"

"It's fine. My daughter isn't saying anything wrong."

His reaction was unexpected. I'd assumed he would naturally oppose his newly recovered daughter going off somewhere.

"Female dragons are rare and thus protected by their kin, but they also bear corresponding duties. Given how few of our kind remain, it's only natural… but…"

Gergius continued.

"To be honest, now that my daughter has just escaped her suffering, I want her to do whatever she wishes. You're someone I can trust, and following you around would let her see the world. Wouldn't that be good?"

"But that could take years."

"Haha, what does time matter? Even if she followed a human like you for a lifetime, to us dragons it would be but a fleeting moment."

"Ah."

That was true enough.

"…If I may ask, how old are you, Gergius?"

"I don't know exactly, but I know I've lived over five thousand years. After that I stopped counting—it was too much bother."

…Yeah, fleeting moment checks out. I was left speechless.

Then Mersius spoke.

"I won't be a burden to you, Benefactor. My mana is sealed, so I won't be as strong as Caesius, but a dragon's power should still be more than enough to help."

I checked her stats upon hearing that.

The mana suppression formula was properly applied, and yet her mana stat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was still 450…?

No wonder she came down with that disease of overflowing residual mana.

I couldn't even begin to guess how much she'd originally had. The fact that her [Mana Recovery] trait had already hit max level made it clear just how excessively she'd been blessed with mana.

[Mana Circulation] seemed a little lower because of the suppression formula, though.

Her other stats lagged a bit behind Caesius—partly because she'd only just grown into a young adult dragon, and partly because her body had been sick for so long…

…Still, she wouldn't be useless in a fight.

But relying on a dragon's goodwill carried far too much risk. Dragons were powerful, and if they ever turned hostile, the damage they could inflict was immense.

Unless she was bound by a contract like Caesius…

"…I appreciate the thought, but accepting help from a dragon with no restrictions carries too much risk."

"I would never do anything to trouble you, Benefactor…!"

"Not me—you couldn't always treat other humans the same way either."

"…"

"I'm not saying you're strange, and I'm not forcing this on you. Of course you can't. Even we humans can't get along with everyone."

I spoke from genuine concern.

"…You're going to meet all sorts of humans from now on, and each time you'll have to endure a great deal, Mersius."

"I know that much, Benefactor. I can endure it well."

"…With your personality, yes, you could endure a lot. But unlike Caesius, who can be controlled even in extreme situations, taking you around with no restrictions would be like carrying a bomb that could go off at any moment…"

"Then make a contract with me too!"

"What?"

Mersius said,

"I want to follow you even if it means that…! Just as you saved my life, Benefactor, I want to be of help to you someday!"

I was honestly a bit surprised. I knew Mersius was very grateful to me… but enough to willingly bind herself in a contract?

…

Continuing to refuse someone who went that far didn't seem polite. And she would definitely be a huge help in combat.

But two things weighed on my mind. One was the feelings Mersius held for me. From what Letisia had told me, they were far from ordinary goodwill.

And the second…

"Another woman…"

"…"

Just like Letisia's reaction now, Clara would surely react the same way. As I fretted over that, Mersius seemed to realize something and quietly approached.

"Don't worry, Benefactor."

"…Huh?"

Mersius leaned in close enough that only I could hear and whispered,

"I'm fine with being last. I can wait."

"……What!?"

"Why are you suddenly so startled? What did she say, Albrecht!?"

"Ah, nothing…"

When I looked at her in shock after making an excuse to Letisia, Mersius smiled sweetly and said,

"You'll make the contract, won't you?"

"…"

I pondered a moment, then looked to the side.

"What do you think?"

I asked Letisia. She glared at Mersius a little… then let out a deep sigh.

"We're short on every bit of combat power we can get. Objectively ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠speaking, it's not a bad offer at all…"

"…Yeah, I guess so."

"Yes. Personally, though, I'm not exactly thrilled."

I gave an awkward smile at her honest addendum.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"…Alright."

Just as Letisia had forged the contract with Caesius before, I asked her again now.

"Same conditions?"

"Hmm, one difference."

"What is it?"

Seeing how Caesius couldn't move at all without my orders made me realize I needed to add a clause.

"If Mersius's own life is in danger, she can act freely even without orders. And the contract duration is until I die."

There was no need to set a trial-like duration for Mersius, who was following of her own free will—unlike Caesius. Of course, Caesius's eyes were pretty sharp when she heard that… but I deliberately ignored them.

"…Understood. Mersius, take out your Dragon Heart."

"Ah, yes."

Mersius made a retching sound. It somewhat ruined her image, but it couldn't be helped—she had to cough up the Dragon Heart.

Soon she expelled her heart, and Letisia raised her mana. Having taken the elixir, the overwhelming volume of mana she now wielded was clearly different from before.

"Confirming the identities of the contracting parties. Contractor Albrecht, and contracted subordinate Green Dragon Mersius."

"Yeah."

"Yes."

Once we answered, Letisia recited the contract terms and clapped her hands. Chains tightly bound Mersius's heart.

"From this moment, the contract remains valid until its term is fulfilled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The contract shall not be nullified without mutual agreement between the parties."

And just like before, a mark rose on the back of my hand. It was the opposite of when I'd contracted with Caesius.

I never thought I'd end up contracting with two dragons…

Mersius's eyes widened slightly as she asked,

"…Is it done?"

"Yes, all done."

"Albrecht."

Gergius lightly clapped my shoulder.

"Take good care of my daughter. Show this child the world."

"Yes. I'll show her as much as I can."

Gergius smiled and nodded. Then he gave Mersius a light hug.

"Come back safely. Take care of yourself."

"Yes, Father. You stay healthy too."

Mersius lightly kissed Gergius on the cheek.

So dragons kiss between parent and child too. Seeing things like that, dragons are so different from humans… and yet so alike in many ways.

"Let's go, Benefactor."

"Alright."

"I'll send you straight back to where you were. Gather in one place."

Gergius raised his mana. Just as when we'd arrived at the lair, he cast a spell for instantaneous travel.

Before the magic circle fully activated, I asked Mersius,

"Ah, and since we'll be together from now on, is it okay if I speak a bit more casually? You can talk however you're comfortable too…"

"Of course. Call me however is easiest for you, Benefactor. I'll keep calling you that since it's comfortable for me."

"Alright. Looking forward to working with you, Mersius."

"Yes, looking forward to it!"

Mersius said that with a bright smile. The expression she'd worn when we first arrived—so painful even to look at—was completely gone.

Seeing that, I felt a sense of fulfillment. Coming here to fulfill Gergius's request had been an excellent choice. Good things had piled up in many ways. We'd even received plenty of gifts.

Of course, we'd started the treatment because of the deal between Caesius and Gergius, but maybe it was because we'd done a good deed. They say if you do good deeds, Santa Claus brings presents. Only now Santa was a dragon.

"We're finally heading back. It hasn't been many days, but it feels longer than I expected."

"Yeah."

We'd return to the front lines, then rejoin the party and head back to the Shah Zar Kingdom… and stay there for a while until we finished the work with Agresia. Of course, if something came up in the meantime, we'd have to move.

"Ah, Albrecht. I forgot to mention something."

"Hm?"

"Erinn went ahead to the Empire."

"Why?"

"Well… I'll explain once we're back."

Letisia said,

"I only have guesses as to the reason, so we'll need to hear it from Freya and Clara who stayed behind to be sure."

"Ah, okay."

With that conversation finished, the magic circle flared with light. Gergius offered us one last farewell.

"Everyone, stay healthy and well."

"You too, Gergius!"

"I'll be back, Father!"

With those brief final goodbyes, our vision was swallowed by brilliant light. And in an instant, the scenery before us transformed.

From a forest lair dense with trees, to this place reeking of blood and gunpowder.

"We're back."

"Yes. Honestly, I'm not thrilled about it."

"Haha…"

I fully understood Letisia's feelings. The front lines, called the Demonscape. The first things you sense upon returning are the smells of blood and gunpowder—how could anyone be glad?

But even in a place like that, welcome faces were bound to appear.

"Albrecht!"

"You're back safely!"

It was Clara and Freya.