LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 54
Chapter 54. The Fairytale’s Conclusion
Inside the crumbling fortress, the Demon Race and the White Dragon glared at each other.
It seemed unexpected for them to withstand the Dragon Clan’s trump card, the Breath, head-on.
Their initial bravado had faded away, and now they only looked at us warily.
“…Damn it.”
Faravgi spat out those words.
“This power… I had been storing it to slay the Dark Dragons…!”
His eyes began to emit an eerie, rainbow-colored light.
Whoa there. I don’t know what you’re planning, but I’m not so nice as to wait around for you. I closed in, raising my shield—time to dig the knife deeper into your wounds!
However, the glow from Faravgi’s eyes quickly spread throughout his entire body.
“[I am the embodiment of light, so sear it into your eyes!]”
His silver scales sparkled with an intensity akin to the midsummer sun—
“GRRRR… UOOOOOOOO—!!!”
A roar. My vision was painted white.
Bright! It’s blinding! My eyes are about to burn! No, my skin is hot, radiating heat from all over!? It’s like some kind of all-direction breath attack, this is ridiculous!
I recited my protective spell anew and poured dark magic into my body. The pain eased somewhat.
But—if this continues, beyond Sophia and the Beastmen, the fallen Night Elves around will end up perfectly roasted.
Ah! Damn it! Why am I worried about those dark scum?!
“GRRAAAAH—!!!”
On the other hand, the rampaging Faravgi quickly turned and swept his tail.
I leaped to dodge. The densely scaled tail sliced through the air, creating a whirl. I slashed with my knife, but it was easily deflected. Those shining scales were now far tougher than before.
And upon closer inspection, the bleeding wounds inflicted by Virosa had begun to close, gradually healing. Is it a self-enhancement type magic!? As if being tough wasn’t annoying enough!
“[—I declare the light forbidden!]”
I set the rule, but right after, there was a crack as my interference was repelled.
“GUOOOOOO—!!!”
Drooling, Faravgi charged forward. I dodged his bite just in time, but his follow-up claws caught me.
“GUH—”
I blocked it with my shield, but I couldn’t stop the momentum and was blown away. I rolled and managed to regain my stance, but that single hit destroyed my protective spell…!
More importantly, the forbidden magic isn’t working at all!
“That’s probably a mental interference,” Antedeixis informed.
“He must have cast charm magic on himself. He’s clearly lost his sanity, but in exchange, his magic circulation has increased, granting him resistance to other spells.”
How can you calmly explain this!?
Dodging a flurry of claws, tail swipes, and bites, I was using my shield to defend, even choosing to be blown away to create some distance, but—at this rate, my body can’t endure! I’ve tried banning close combat, banning bites—nothing works.
And the subordinates lying around are about to get crushed! Damn it!
As I aligned my obsidian knife with his tail swipe and struck down—but, against the magic of light and the solidity of the dragon scales, the blade finally screamed in protest.
“Ah.”
There was an unpleasant cracking sound.
Even with powerful magic embedded in it, no matter how sturdy it was compared to cheap metal—it couldn’t hold out.
The obsidian blade broke halfway.
“GRRRUAHHH!”
In the meantime, Faravgi’s arm struck me mercilessly. My left hand, holding the shield, was at risk of being broken. I leaped back to kill the momentum, but shit, I’m going to hit the wall—
“—Master!”
A soft sensation wrapped around me.
Something had wedged between me and the wall, giving a yelp of “Ginya!”
“—Garunya!”
The fluffy white-haired Beastman maid was hugging me, completely charred.
“Run away… I will buy… time…”
She staggered forward to stand in front of me, trembling and collapsing.
Damn it, I’m sorry. I owe you one.
But—like he was going to crush me and Garunya along with the wall, the crazed Faravgi charged.
Dodging would be easy, but if the wall got blown away—
This already ramshackle fortress might just crumble.
A glance revealed that Virosa and all my cronies were down, not moving an inch. If the injured were buried under rubble, it would surely be the end.
A voice whispers to let them be—dark scum, what do I care if they die, right?
Well, yeah.
But they’re still my subordinates. It’s not like I’m acting out of sentiment. Getting wiped out because of a rampaging lizard isn’t a fair deal.
That’s right, it’s not fair—this is a rational decision, not emotion!
Damn it.
Of all things—now, in this life, the first thing I must protect is the dark scum.
“[My name is—Alexander.]”
Everyone’s unconscious, and Faravgi has lost his senses.
“[I am the contractor of Demon God Antendeixis!]”
The only ones hearing this are me, Antedeixis, and Liliana!
My already amplified status felt forcibly raised even further.
—Oh gods of light, bear witness.
“[Come forth, holy radiance, to this hand.]”
The shield in my left hand glowed, and the dark magic wrapping around me blazed into a silvery flame.
It brought incredible vitality, while also scorching my body.
Agonizing pain. Yet, unexpectedly, it eased.
“Wow!!”
Before I knew it, Liliana had rushed to support my back.
“—Come at me, you lizard bastard!!”
I braced for the oncoming charge head-on.
Behind me were Liliana and Garunya.
I will not back down. Not a step.
With that conviction turned into certainty.
The shield collided with Faravgi’s head. The holy attribute crackled as it seared into the silver dragon scales. My feet sunk into the stone tiles, but the shock that threatened to tear my body apart was forcibly contained by the shimmering dark magic.
With a rumble, the giant dragon’s body—stopped.
We were locked in a glare, our breaths mingling, Faravgi’s eyes shining with a rainbow light.
“Well done,”
At that moment, Antedeixis leaped from me.
“I’m not good at movement.”
He easily jumped onto Faravgi’s head.
“But at this distance, I can surely reach.”
He stretched out his hand.
“Hide and seek—peekaboo♪”
With a rough motion, he gouged out Faravgi’s eyes.
“――――!!!”
With a soundless scream, Faravgi wildly shook his head. Antedeixis was easily blown away, slamming against the ceiling with a yelp of “Gie!”, followed by a heavy thud as he fell to the floor, groaning, “Gue!”.
But—what a sight.
Having had his eyes, presumably the focal point of his magic, destroyed, Faravgi’s brilliance noticeably diminished.
“[—In the name of Alexander, I declare the light forbidden!]”
To deal a final blow, the light from his scales flickered and wavered like a candle about to go out—
“—not, done. I can’t—fall here…!”
Faravgi, bleeding like tears, grunted as he regained his sanity. The wilting magic power began circulating anew, and the flames of rage reignited—!
What a guy. An indomitable spirit, a resolute determination to achieve revenge. I can’t help but think how reliable he would have been as an ally—if only he were on my side, he could have been invaluable—
But—I can’t let him rampage any longer.
Something. I need a weapon.
Looking around, I spotted a glinting, formidable sword lying beside Virosa, sinking in a pool of blood.
There couldn’t be a deadlier weapon than that in this place.
“GRRRAAAAAHH—!!!”
Faravgi was attempting something again! I don’t have time! Even seconds to pick up the sword are precious—!
In that moment, the skeletal remains that formed my shield stirred.
It extended, as if fulfilling my wish. Like a whip, it coiled around the sword’s hilt, and the bones twisted back.
Then it morphed into a pole resembling a spear’s shaft. In my hand—yet another weapon born, neither quite a sword nor a spear.
I felt a nudge at my back and dashed forward.
This weapon—it felt just right in my grip. The combination of soldiers’ bones and a masterwork blade. The swordsmanship of humans ingrained in me and the newly honed demon spear techniques—combined here—
To bear fruit.
“[Come forth, holy radiance, to this hand.]”
A blade gleaming silver.
Adding momentum and centrifugal force—I struck Faravgi’s neck.
Surprisingly, I felt no resistance at all.
A smooth arc of silver light cut through the dim darkness of the fortress.
The silver dragon halted immediately.
Its neck—twisted and fell.
With a thud, the dragon’s head rolled to the ground. Its almost healed, blood-stained golden eyes—looked up at me resentfully.
But, the faint glimmer of will had extinguished.
The headless giant body fell, shaking the earth.
—The light dragon, driven by resentment, was slain by the demon’s hero.