The Red Dragon
Our plan was simple.
Dragons, possessing the longest lifespans on the continent, had intelligence that far surpassed that of humans.
Unless one was an exceptionally wise sage, attempting to converse with them would only result in having one's true intentions laid bare.
"Princess, stay here."
"What? Why?"
"In case the dragon attacks, it's safer for you to remain in this spot."
"No. Aren't you going to talk to it anyway? Let me join the conversation too."
I didn't know what Clara was plotting, but she was insisting on following us into the mine.
"Fine. Let's hear what you have to say."
As if it had been eavesdropping on our conversation, the dragon's voice echoed from deep within the mine, booming all the way to the tunnel where we stood.
Left with no choice, I brought Clara along as we entered the mine.
The interior was not a typical mine but resembled a massive cavern.
Right in the center sat a massive red dragon, its entire body covered in thick, crimson scales.
"For humans to venture all the way here... I assume you came to see me?"
The colossal beast shifted its massive body, bringing its giant face close to me as it spoke.
"I am the Hero, Carlos."
"Ho... A hero, is it?"
The dragon brought its face even closer, blinking its yellow eyes as it stared intently at me.
"So, this is what a hero looks like..."
Even for someone like me, being stared down by a creature of that scale was enough to instill a sudden chill of fear.
"I have come to ask a favor."
"A favor...?"
"Please allow the dwarves to return to work here, just as they did before."
"And why should I do that?"
"Currently, the continent is in grave danger due to the invasion of the Demon King's army. Furthermore, this Dwarf Mine is one of the crucial iron ore sources needed to forge weapons. Please, help us so the dwarves can work."
Before entering the mine, the dwarf Barin had been full of confidence, and even the usually boisterous Clara was now frozen in fear, silent as a mute.
As the representative, I was the only one delivering our request to the dragon, waiting for his response.
"I refuse."
"What?"
"Dragons maintain neutrality in the war between humans and the Demon King. Therefore, if I help you humans, that neutrality will be broken. Thus, I refuse."
His words were true.
In reality, the dragons had declared neutrality in the war against the Demon King's army.
While humans dared not provoke them, the Demon King's army also left the dragon lairs within their occupied territories strictly alone.
"Furthermore, this place is a lair I claimed through a rightful duel. It is not a matter for mere humans like you to interfere with."
"But from what I heard, you did not win this place in a duel, but rather took it by force."
"Are you implying that a great dragon like myself stole from mere dwarves?!"
Whoosh!
True to its nature as a red dragon, it flared up in anger at my words. At the same time, a scorching heat radiated from its maw, looking as if it might unleash a breath attack at any moment.
"Am I wrong? If you believe otherwise, are you willing to swear upon your name as a dragon?"
"You... You... How dare you insult me? You insects of humans..."
"I am not insulting you. I am merely verifying the facts."
The dragons I knew were incredibly lazy and prideful, matching their long lifespans, but above all, they valued their names.
There was a reason they never revealed their true names to anyone other than their own kind and used aliases instead.
Their names were Dragon Words.
Names forged in the dragon tongue held a special power.
If they were to swear an oath using their true name, they would be bound by the shackles of that contract, unable to speak a lie.
"Did you think I would stay quiet just because you are a hero? Do you take me for a fool?"
"I hope you do not misunderstand. I was simply verifying..."
Whoosh! Bam!
I wanted to placate the dragon to avoid the worst-case scenario, but it suddenly swung its tail, slamming it down in an attack.
Fortunately, Clara and the other party members were at a safe distance, so they weren't caught in the aftermath.
I had already leaped into the air before the tail could reach me, avoiding disaster.
"I will say it again, I do not wish to fight. If we could just resolve this through conversation..."
Whoosh!
The dragon swung its tail at me again while I was still suspended in midair.
Because of its massive size, its agility was lacking, allowing me to dodge easily once more.
However, the dragon's rage was steadily building. Even from a distance, I could feel the heat radiating from its mouth.
"You human cockroach... You dodge well. Is running away all a hero can do?"
"I tell you once more. I did not come to fight, but to ask a favor. So please, listen to my..."
Whoosh! Bam!
The dragon attacked again before I could even finish my sentence.
But next, it began gathering mana in its short claws, looking ready to cast a spell at any moment.
Ascalon
Whoosh!
Realizing that merely dodging would neither stop nor end this fight, I summoned the Holy Sword.
As the Holy Sword materialized amidst flames, the dragon's expression shifted in surprise.
"Ascalon... Is that the sword forged from the blood and heart of our kin?"
"Yes. That is my understanding as well..."
"Insolent human... How dare you point that sword at me..."
Perhaps this dragon knew the ancient name of the Holy Sword Ascalon, as it seemed exceptionally enraged.
The sword's original name was not the Holy Sword Ascalon, but the Sword of the Dragon Slayer, Acas, who had slain a rampaging dragon in the past.
People commonly referred to it as the Dragon Slayer's Sword. Later, he was canonized as a saint, and the sword was renamed the Holy Sword Ascalon after the dragon he had slain.
"I will say it once more, I do not wish to fight. So let us end this here..."
"To spout such nonsense after drawing your sword against me... Silence, human! Know that this place shall be your grave today!"
Preparing for a full-scale battle, the dragon spread its wings and took a combat stance.
I, too, gripped the Holy Sword Ascalon tightly, bracing myself for the imminent clash.
⟨ Burst ⟩
⟨ Burst ⟩
Boom! Boom!
Our spells were cast almost simultaneously.
As if matching each other's power, the spells collided in midair, causing a massive explosion before dissipating.
The dragon stared at me with startled eyes for a moment, surprised that I could use the same Dragon Word magic, before preparing his next spell.
⟨ Fireball ⟩
⟨ Fireball ⟩
Boom! Boom!
The dragon compressed flames into a sphere and hurled it at me.
I, too, used the Holy Sword to cast the same magic back at the dragon. Just like before, the two spells met in the middle, exploding and vanishing.
"Not bad... Then how will you block this one?"
His pride wounded by my continuous blocking of his attacks, the dragon seemed to prepare his next strike with grim determination.
⟨ Inferno ⟩
Whoosh!
Flames erupted around the dragon and began to spread, heading not just toward me, but also toward the entrance of the mine where my companions were watching the battle.
Since I kept blocking his single-target spells, he had resorted to wide-area magic.
If I blocked the flames coming at me, my party members and Clara would be in danger. But if I went to save them, I would put myself at risk.
⟨ Elraim ⟩
⟨ Ice Wall ⟩
⟨ Water Barrier ⟩
Sending Clara and Barin to the back, Irene and Lucia stepped forward. Lucia summoned Elraim, and they cast their spells to block the flames.
Before the fire could even reach Irene's Ice Wall, it was stopped by Elraim's Water Barrier, filling the area with thick, white steam.
"The Water Spirit King...?"
The dragon was so shocked by the sudden appearance of the Spirit King that his focus wavered, and his magic deactivated without him even realizing it.
Whoosh!
Seizing the opening, I ignited Ascalon and launched a surprise attack.
The dragon, caught off guard by my near-teleportation speed, hurriedly swung his tail, but my sword was already plunging toward his underbelly.
However...
Clang!
Since the dragon shared the fire attribute, the flames wrapping Ascalon had no effect.
Even the sharp blade was stopped by the dragon's thick scales, failing to inflict a deep wound.
"Laughable. You call that an attack?"
"Heh..."
"What...?"
Although I hadn't dealt a deep wound, as long as my sword was lodged even slightly, it was already half a success.
Underground Explosion
I unleashed the same magic I had used to defeat the Sand Worm in the deserts of the Fiore Empire.
This time, instead of the ground, I channeled it directly into the dragon's belly, and the spell began to take effect exactly as it had back then.
"D-Damn it!"
The blade of Ascalon glowed a bright crimson, transferring its intense heat directly into the dragon's belly.
A moment later...
Thud! Thud! Boom! Boom!
The sound of violent internal explosions echoing from within the dragon's body filled the entire mine.