Chapter 245

Chapter Two Hundred Forty-Eight: Truly Unjust (Please Subscribe!)

The simple battle plan was quickly decided.

Soon, the group of five explored the narrow passage to its end, halting their steps.

Ahead was an entrance leading to a vast cavernous space. The “Cadmus Fountain” was located within this cavern.

Through the entrance ahead, the interior could be seen.

The cavern was covered with lush trees, but not dense enough to be called a forest. The surrounding walls were a deep ink color, forming a sturdy space.

Located at the deepest part of the cavern, small amounts of spring water periodically surged from tiny rock caves on the wall. One could see the mysterious spring water with a blue glow slowly accumulating in the low-lying areas filled with flowers and grass.

Beautiful ripples rose from the azure surface, gathering into clear and pure spring water.

There were no wandering monsters here like in other caverns. Instead, the only living creature was the evil dragon residing near the sacred area.

Beside the pool of spring water lay a giant dragon over twenty meters long with a golden body.

Super Large Species!

Its entire body was covered in scales resembling gold, giving off an aura of solemnity.

The dragon’s crown atop its head shone brilliantly, its eyes crimson as if spewing flames, and its massive form was intimidating just by sight alone.

Its powerful wings were folded, also covered in large, plate-like dragon scales.

The majestic golden figure brought to mind images of beauty, yet it was actually the embodiment of overwhelming “violence” and “destruction.”

Even without moving, it exuded immense pressure.

A wise person would likely avoid risking death by provoking this dragon to steal its precious treasure.

Unfortunately, as powerful adventurers, Izay and Ais were not unwise; they simply had to take risks sometimes.

“【Tempest】!!”

Facing the unaware dragon about to be intruded upon, Ais chanted her ultra-short incantation, seizing the initiative!

In an instant, gusts of wind enveloped her entire body along with her armor. Ais darted out from the cavern entrance, stomping her left foot hard on the ground to accelerate.

Not only her, but two more figures followed slightly behind, entering the cavern one after another.

“Roarrrrrr!!!”

Almost instantly as the wind surged, Cadmus entered battle mode.

Perhaps dragons have the habit of roaring before fighting, and Cadmus’s gaping jaws emitted a nearly tangible sound wave, seemingly trying to intimidate the enemy.

But Ais paid it no heed, protected by the wind and completely unaffected.

Lowering her body forward, she charged towards the dragon in her sights. Twisting her waist, she pulled her Sword of Despair with her right hand to her left shoulder to build momentum, initiating a slash at sonic speed.

“!”

The moment the thin blade met the dragon scale, there was a brief pause. The weapon and scale sparked brilliant sparks.

But it only paused for a moment.

Without any prolonged resistance, the longsword pierced through the scale, drawing blood.

Originally, the Sword of Despair’s attack power was weaker among the first-tier adventurer armaments, sacrificing attack for the attribute of “eternal indestructibility.”

However, after being enchanted and strengthened by Izay, the attack power was fully compensated and even became stronger!

“———”

The thunderous roar of the dragon echoed throughout the space.

Not just anger from being harmed.

Cadmus did not expect that the human race would be so despicable, attacking while it was attempting to intimidate them—truly unjust!

Ferocity immediately flared in its crimson dragon eyes, and its raised claw prepared to strike.

But Izay didn’t give it that chance.

A radiant golden magic circle instantly expanded.

“『Mountain-Sea Transformation』!!”

As the magic circle enveloped Cadmus in an instant, Izay clenched his open hand tightly.

With a low shout, the nearby land rose, and dark golden rocks suddenly emerged from the ground.

Each cross-section was conservatively estimated to be several meters thick, with lengths surpassing Cadmus’s height.

One by one, sharp “stakes” protruded from the ground, piercing through various parts of Cadmus’s body.

Some stakes directly broke through the scales, injuring the muscles beneath. The remaining ones, even without breaking through the defense, caused Cadmus immense pain.

Izay’s magic was augmented by multiple boosts from ‘Celestial Favor’, ‘Magical Arts’, ‘Starshine’, and ‘Mystic Crystal Resonance,’ and he himself possessed the ‘Dragon Slayer’ ability specifically targeting dragons.

Even with a functional magic spell, he could still wound the opponent!

Especially focusing on key joints, including shoulders, neck, and limbs, they were almost completely immobilized by the rock stakes.

For a moment, Cadmus’s movement was directly restricted.

“【By the name of the Guardian of the Weave—】”

At the moment Izay controlled the enemy, Refia began her chant silently.

Powerful magic surged, and a second radiant golden magic circle unfolded…

“Ais! Attack its wings!”

Upon the magic taking effect, Izay immediately gave instructions.

Regardless of whether it has a chance to fly or not, attacking the wings is always correct!

Weak point destruction guarantees damage!

“—Roger!”

The response came not from Ais, but from Tione who arrived slightly later in front of Cadmus.

Holding the first-tier armed scimitar 〖Solrias〗 with both hands, Tione lunged towards one side of the monster’s wing.

“Wind ah!”

Ais wasn’t falling behind either, summoning the highest output wrapped around her fine sword. The silver blade even produced a faint hum, symbolizing the enchanted pale silver light and pure wind interweaving, increasing its power further!

A sharp sword shadow flashed past, and the monster’s wing was severed.

“And me—!” Tiona dragged her great double blade rushing closer.

The fleeting shadows of the adventurers crossed the cavern space.

Tiona leaped up after approaching Cadmus, unleashing all her accumulated strength.

The slashing blow from the giant blade cleaved through the dragon scales, deeply wounding Cadmus’s neck.

“Roarrrrrrr!?!”

From the midsection of its neck, a rain of blood sprayed out as Cadmus let out a shrill scream.

Both wings severed, neck severely injured, the preemptive attack undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to Cadmus.

But the strongest and most troublesome body remained, and the beast obviously wouldn’t surrender easily.

With the determination despite torn muscles, Cadmus refused to continue being restrained by Izay.

Forcibly twisting its massive body, it didn’t stop even as loud bone-cracking sounds rang out, striving to break free from the binds. The intention to counterattack appeared in its mind instantly.

“———!”

The howling wind disappeared in an instant, rotating the body 180 degrees, and the air-splitting tail swipe targeted the nearby trio of Ais.

“『Steadfast as a Rock』!!”

At the critical moment, the formed rock elemental shield enveloped the three.

Three dull impact sounds resonated almost simultaneously.

With a “boom,” the three were sent flying and pushed back in different directions.

Special Chapter: Finale of the Mini-Theater

“Pfft!” (Privately)

The deity laughed inappropriately.

“Mom, if you don’t say anything soon, Izay will come in and it’ll be ‘bad’!” Loki whispered a reminder.

She didn’t believe Riviria had the courage to appear in front of Izay dressed like this.

Women are one thing, but elves have plenty of shame when it comes to the opposite sex.

“Hmm…” Riviria’s body tensed like a bowstring, her mind caught between heaven and earth.

To be honest, after years of interaction, Loki had a firm grasp on Mom’s thoughts.

Cleverly maintaining the situation where Riviria’s sense of shame would skyrocket but not snap, truly impressive.

“Lokeeey, let go of your hand and let me take a peek～!”

Outside the partition. Izay played his curiosity to the fullest.

The more you don’t let me see what’s behind the door, ehheh, the more I want to see!

“No…”

“No?”

Behind the door, a voice like a mosquito’s buzz sounded.

“Impossible～! Lost little lamb, adorable nun Alph can’t show herself because of the contract with Loki～! Please understand, kia puhlu～”

“Oh? So you’re not Loki?”

Hearing the voice from the other side of the door, Izay’s eyes slightly narrowed.

Although subtle, the voice seemed to have changed somewhat? Different from before!?

“kia ha～, yes indeed～! This humble nun is Alph～! Invited by Loki-sama to guide the lost little lamb in confession～!”

Riviria’s heart pounded wildly, her face flushed red, even her delicate pointed ears couldn’t escape, and her inner sense of shame forced her to want to cry out, but the remaining shred of rationality wouldn’t allow her to do so.

Otherwise, the reason she was selling cuteness to Izay behind the door would collapse!

Loki: “Pfft—!”

A certain deity couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I thought I heard someone laugh?” Izay keenly captured that sound.

“Nope～? Just your illusion, little lamb～?”

“I’m an adventurer, how could I hear wrong?”

“kia ha～, adventurers also make mistakes sometimes, right? Maybe little lamb is too tired recently?”

“…Is that so?” Scratching his chin suspiciously, Izay was indeed a bit overworked last night.

But what he didn’t know was that the scene behind the door was quite entertaining.

Riviria put on a forced smile with tears in her eyes while talking to him, one hand firmly holding the door to prevent Izay from entering, the other hand pressing Loki onto the adjacent table to keep her quiet.

『Riviria: I’m suffering so much——!! (Inner Roar)』

“Surely this is the case～! Little lamb～, you must have some troubles, right? You can confide in adorable nun Alph～! She will listen wholeheartedly!”

『Ah! I want to die! Want to die so much! (Inner Roar +1)』

Izay’s attempt to pry open the door slowed down a bit: “Why does it feel like you’re changing the subject?”

“Your illusion dah～! Sister Alph is wholeheartedly communicating with little lamb dah～?”

Possibly the only part of her body still functioning normally was her vocal cords.

But the vocal cords could also be considered the least normal part of her body!

Riviria didn’t know how she managed to produce such embarrassing phrases as “kia puhlu～”, “kia ha～”, “dah dah dah～”, and “little lamb dah～”.

Her brain was already foggy, and her body was about to lose strength and go limp.

Just then, Izay’s forceful push against the door on the other side lessened somewhat, and Riviria unconsciously relaxed her resistance.

“Worries? I think I don’t have any, if I must say, the growing curiosity I’m experiencing now counts?”

“Q puhlu～, what kind of curiosity is it dah～?”

“About why Loki changed her tone and spoke to me in this manner behind the door…”

Gradually guiding, Izay noticed the opportunity for the other party’s resistance to weaken, then took advantage of it by pushing the door hard.

But the other party reacted, and it seemed a scream was heard, and then the two in front and behind the door engaged in a tug-of-war.

“kia ha～, not at all dah～? Loki-sama isn’t here dah! Sister Alph seriously tells you dah～, curiosity kills the cat dah!”

“Loki, why are you so insistent on using the teacher’s name to deceive me? Your tone has changed!”

It became somewhat threatening!

Izay felt puzzled.

‘Eh wait…’ Suddenly Izay hesitated: ‘Can Loki resist my strength?’

He was a second-tier adventurer, and Loki’s divine power was sealed, leaving her with the physical strength of an ordinary person.

This was a world of difference.

Plus the slight change in tone earlier, the giggles and screams…

‘There are… two people inside?’ Izay widened his eyes.

‘If one person can definitely be Loki, then the other is most likely…’

Izay recalled the confession room by the door, and a memory from the past.

No need for memories, just connecting names would lead to speculation.

Riviria Leos Alph… the madam at home, his teacher.

“Glurp～” Izay swallowed.

He seemed to have realized a terrifying fact.

Should he leave now?

While things haven’t reached the point of no return, afterward, as long as he pretends not to know, and doesn’t let Madam’s sense of shame snap, everything will be fine!

Izay, wavering with thoughts of retreat.

But what he didn’t expect was that it was as if fate was playing a prank on him.

Accompanied by the “click click click” sound.

—The door broke!

Literally.

Facing the struggle between a first-tier adventurer and a second-tier adventurer, the door couldn’t bear the strain—it cracked!

“Crack crack” wooden pieces fell to the ground.

The handles on both sides of the door were still held by two hands.

Finally, Izay saw the situation behind the door.

When he was no longer curious…

There were few things in the partition. A table, two chairs, and nothing else.

Loki with her crimson hair swaying was lying on the table stifling laughter, though with Riviria pressing her neck, she looked like she was laughing painfully.

And then there was Riviria in a provocative nun outfit.

From the feet showing above the high heels, passing the slender and round legs, to the perfect figure revealed by the clothing.

Then, the emerald green eyes met the azure pupils.

And, the emerald green eyes gradually lost their luster.

“Huff～～～”

Riviria (calmly? breathing deeply)

Madam’s blushing expression gradually calmed down under her calm deep breaths.

“Finished! Izay! Run! Run fast! Retreat with me together!!!”

Instantly, Loki, who was pressed onto the table, stopped laughing and started flailing like a fish about to be salted.

“Retreat! Fast retreat!! Give me a hand!!”

“【Omen of the End————】”

“My life is over……!”

Izay, facing the vast snowy expanse, issued his final insight.

Dong～～～

“Ah♂!” / “Ah♀!”

It was reported that we still don’t know why the basement at home was frozen that day, and why Izay and Loki were involved.

Anyway, it was an accident that made people sorrowful —by: Anqi who delivered the message to Izay.