Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Rene suddenly appeared in the colosseum—
and started spouting nonsense.
Whether she called herself a mutated wyvern or a dragon, it didn’t matter.
To humans—
she was a terrifying threat.
The audience screamed and rushed toward the exits.
Meanwhile, I pretended to panic while speaking to her through telepathy.
‘First, explain. Why did you come here—using dragon transformation, no less?’
‘Th-that is…! I was told it would be a good idea to secretly enter as a beast to boost your reputation…!’
‘Who suggested that?’
‘That’s…’
‘You don’t have to hide it. I already know. It was Ruen, right?’
‘…Yes.’
That damn kid… no, that old man.
What exactly was he thinking?
He wasn’t the type to act without reason.
But figuring out his intentions now was impossible.
So—
I decided to use the situation.
A crisis—
could become an opportunity.
‘Since it’s come to this… let’s make it big.’
‘W-what?! Is that okay?’
‘Just make sure no one gets hurt.’
Step one—
create chaos.
Right then, Rin arrived.
I immediately told her to search for the demonic sword.
With the arena in chaos—
it was the perfect time to loot the place.
She nodded and ran off.
Now—
only one problem remained.
“Move aside!”
“We’ll handle this! Evacuate the civilians!”
Knights jumped into the arena.
And among them—
Charlotte Holden
Julius Landol
The strongest forces present.
Even in dragon form—
Rene couldn’t take both.
And I couldn’t fight the royal family either.
So—
I chose persuasion.
“Princess! Please wait!”
“If you don’t want to die, evacuate.”
“I want to fight that beast!”
“Don’t be ridiculous—!”
Julius shouted—
but Charlotte raised her hand.
Silencing him.
She wanted to hear me.
“This creature is still my opponent. Please allow me to fight.”
“…You might die.”
“To test one’s limits, risking one’s life is only natural.”
She stared at me.
Testing my resolve.
I didn’t look away.
After a moment—
she stepped back.
“Very well.”
“Princess!”
“He has the spirit of a warrior. We interfered first. Let him fight.”
“…Understood.”
Perfect.
But this was just the beginning.
Now—
the real deception began.
‘Rene. Listen carefully.’
‘Yes!’
‘I’ll fight you seriously.’
‘W-what?! Seriously?!’
Charlotte and Julius were watching closely.
No room for sloppy acting.
‘I’ll guide you. Follow exactly. If you mess up—you could get hurt.’
‘That’s scary!’
‘Please. I don’t want you injured.’
‘…Okay! I’ll try!’
Next—
‘Prah.’
[Contractor… asking for help while using another sword…]
‘I just need you to break my sword on cue.’
[Say no more! I can destroy it a hundred times!]
Reliable.
Too reliable.
I gripped my sword—
and charged.
‘Right waist.’
‘Got it!’
Clang!
Claws and steel collided.
Sparks flew.
‘Left shoulder, right thigh, left shin—fake right, real left back.’
“Uwaaah!”
Rene followed my instructions—
barely.
Her scales got scratched.
But manageable.
Behind me—
Charlotte and Julius watched closely.
“…Impressive.”
“…Indeed.”
Good.
They believed it.
Time to finish.
‘Prah, ready?’
[Always.]
‘Rene, when I signal—scream and fly.’
‘Escape?’
‘Yes. Leave the city.’
She couldn’t stay after revealing her true form.
‘Now!’
I stabbed—
Crack!
The sword shattered.
At the same time—
“ROOOOAAAR!!”
Rene roared—
and took off.
I clung to her scales as we shot into the sky.
“Did we make it?”
“…Looks like it.”
We were high enough that people looked like ants.
No one could follow.
Success—
or so I thought.
“…So you knew each other.”
“…?!”
A voice behind me.
I turned—
and froze.
Charlotte—
was there.
Holding onto me.
“What?! How are you here?!”
“I tied a divine rope to the dragon’s ankle earlier.”
A glowing rope—
connected her to Rene.
“…I knew something was off. But I didn’t expect you to be this close.”
Her observation—
terrifying.
“I thought maybe you had some connection. But speaking to a dragon? That’s… impressive.”
“I-it’s not what you think—”
“A dragon knight… how romantic!”
…She wasn’t listening.
“At any rate, I’ve heard of you.”
“…What?”
“You saved the academy. Destroyed a bandit group. Cured a plague.”
“…How—?”
“The priests spread your name across the kingdom.”
…
The handkerchief.
[Your name was embroidered on it.]
‘…Damn it.’
Everything—
exposed.
“A wandering savior… who is also a dragon knight.”
Her eyes sparkled.
She grabbed my hands—
tight.
And said the one thing I feared most:
“Would you become my husband?”
“…NOOOOOOOOOOO!”