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Chapter 24 – I Have Finally Become Really Strong! Evil Dragon Subjugation! Part 3

「…Ha? Blood? Blood? My blood? Hey, hey? Is this blood? It’s blood, right? What does this mean? What does this mean?」

「What does this mean, you say… You couldn’t react to my back fist and you were blown away with your front teeth broken unsightly. That’s what happened.」

「…Ha? Me, a calamity? Me, who is a symbol of power? Me, who possesses the highest level of power among the powerful dragons and is considered a heretic? My power is not enough? Hey, hey, Onii-chan? Onii-chan? I wonder if the inside of your head is empty? Is it empty?」

Amanta is shaking her shoulder with anger on the spot.

「Unbelievable.」ーCordelia is simply at a loss for words.

Then, with an expression filled with composure, I turned to face the Evil Dragon.

「And… what are you going to do, the one with the highest power among the dragons… Evil Dragon-dono?」

To call herself the highest rank of power among the dragons, it’s easy to know the latent power of this guy.

But among the dragons, this guy is not the strongest at all.

In other words, this guy is no match for my friend, the host samuraiーThe Dragon King.

「ーFufufu? Hey, hey, Onii-chan? It seems like your status is a little high, huh? It is, right? I tooーcan do something like this you know?」

With a bewitching smile, Amanta was enveloped in a pale aura.

「Janjajaan☆ Kyaha? Kyahaha? Humans can’t do this, can they? This is, you see? This is you see? Skill: Dragon God’s Blessing♪ It’s a skill that’s only allowed for dragons that increases their stats by 1.5 times, you know? You know?」

Cordelia was at a loss for words again after hearing Amanta’s words.

「I heard about it… Dragon God’s Blessing… 1.5 times the status…」

Cordelia took a deep breath and said in a loud voice.

「Perhaps with that Lute and the Evil Dragon’s statuses are lined up again… I’ll help you too! Honestly, even if I participate in a battle in this realm, I might be no more than a hindrance… But even so, I can’t let you deal with a calamity all by yourself!」

「No.」 I restrained Cordelia with my hand.

「I told you, didn’t I? That I didn’t use basic physical strengthening techniques?」

At the same time as I said those words, I activated my skill.

My body is then wrapped in a pale aura.

ーSkill: Dragon God’s Blessing. It’s a skill that increases stats that are related to close combat by 1.5 times.

「Yes… With this, my status is also 1.5 times. So… Unfortunately for you, this is a trade off, evil dragon.」

Amanta’s mouth is opening and closing like a goldfish.

She then screamed like a broken mechanical doll that was going half-mad.

「W-w-whywhywhy? Just why? Why just, just why?」

「Errr. If I remember correctly, Dragon God’s Blessing… isn’t that skill only given to dragons?」

「Y-y-yes! That’s right! Wh-w-why why? Why is Onii-chan using the dragon race’s secret art?」

I show my right hand’s middle finger to Amanta.

The Ring of the Dragon King is fitted there.

「That’s… Dra-Dra-Dragon King-sama’s…? Um, Onii-chan is a human right? Right?」

「Ah, yes.」

「Then why do you have Dragon King-sama’s ring?」

「Last year… I participated in a tournament in the Dragon Village… And, I won the tournament… and as it turned out… I was offered to be the next Dragon Kingーit was decided that I will be the 38th Dragon King.」

A festival where ranks are put aside, including the dragon king’s rankーa fistfight tournament is held.

It’s one year ago.

It was a festival that I participated in as a graduation exam for me at Dragon Village… but I unexpectedly won.

I thought I would lose to the Dragon king, but…

Well, unlike right now, I was no match for the Dragon King at that point of time a year ago.

Geez, that host-wannabe is quite the shrewd bastard.

With that said… Well, I was arbitrarily certified as the next generation Dragon King… but if I had to, I would have no hesitation to refuse such a troublesome position.

Amanta collapses on the spot, shivering slightly.

「Impossible… that’s impossible, you know? That’s impossible, you know?」

I would be like that too if it’s the other way around.

However, if you are a dragon, you should know that my ring is genuine.

I’m sure that Amanta’s brain right now is completely panicked.

The whole situation is abnormal, and too heretical.

「Even if you say that it’s impossible… Well, it is like that so it can’t be helped.」

Amanta shakes her face from side to side again in disbelief.

「But! But, but, but, but! I can’t believe it! It’s totally unbelievable!」

「No, well, You don’t really have to believe me though…」

Then, Amanta clapped her hands.

「Then… Can you use that Oniichan? I think you are lying! That ring too, it must be stolen or something! But, that skill can only be used by those who are a vessel of the Dragon King!」

Said Amanta with a triumphant face.

She doesn’t want to believe that I followed the proper procedures to possess the Ring of the Dragon King for some reason.

「Eh…?」I thought about what she meant for a bit.

And then, 「Ah…」I nodded when I got it.

「Ah. I can use it of course?」

I lowered my waist and filled myself with fighting spirit.

A faint vermillion aura surrounds me.

And at the same time, Amanta collapsed on the spot.

That is understandable, because the skill I’m using right now isー

「Ryujin Adventー +1000 correction to the basic values of Attack, Defense, and Evasion. A skill that only the Dragon King is allowed to use. Well, the MP consumption isn’t half hearted though.」

In fact, even the Dragon King only uses this skill when it’s absolutely necessary.

After all, the fuel consumption is the worst.

But, well, my MP is like that though…

Then, I was suddenly filled with curiosity and sent a glance to Cordelia behind me.

ーIt seems that she is completely left behind. Her mouth is wide open and she has a dumbfounded expression on her face.

We met eye to eye.

And after a moment… Cordelia spoke.

「… Lute is… the Dragon King? Sorry, I can’t really understand what’s happening. In just a short amount of time… at very high speed, you left the Hero in the dust at an impossible pace… You are really strong… How? I don’t understand.」

Un.

During my second life, I thought the same thing as you. Your status growth doesn’t know how to restrain itself… I seriously didn’t understand at that time either.

So, now we are even.

「Haa…」Cordelia let out a deep sigh.

Then, she looked and me and shyly said,

「Even if I say that, there is nothing I can do about it… You did your best, Lute. Un. You did your bestーand that’s why,」

「And that’s why?」

「Let’s blast away the Evil Dragon and go back to the village together. Aren’t you worried about Obaa-san? Ojii-san doesn’t say it, but he is also worried. You… you suddenly left the village…」

「All of the sudden you say, look here you… just for who do you think I am doing this for…」

I turned around again to look at Cordelia.

And I gasped.

A celestial maiden with silky, bright crimson hair is blushing and half crying.

「ーI understand your efforts. No, I can’t use words like effort. I don’t know what you did to get to this point, but…」

「But?」

「I know what you were thinking, and how hard you worked… No, I understand that you made it through unimaginable ways. “When you’re in a pinch, I’ll run to you, and I’ll definitely blow the enemy away”… that is the promise we made when we were kids… but to be honest…」

A tear flows from the corner of her eyes to her cheek.

「ーThank you Lute. Youーare… so cool.」

Various things flashed back to me like a revolving lantern.

I always felt powerless in my second life.

That’s why I wanted to become stronger.

When I was born in my third life… I endured unreasonable pain from the depletion of magic power.

Well, all this time in my life… I spent almost all of my waking hour getting stronger efficiently, sacrificing everything to get stronger.

Starting with the goblins, and then the dragon zombie, I have won numerous fierce battles.

And I have seen death with my eyes many times.

But, I’ve overcome all of that.

What’s all of that for?

Yes, it’s all to protect Cordelia’s smile.

That’s why, Cordeliaー

ーHowever, with that one word, 「You are so cool.」, it’s almost like everything I’ve done so far has been rewarded.

And then, I turned around face Amanta, glared at the Evil Dragon, and opened my mouth.

「So now… The rest is to blow you away and settle the matter.」