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Volume 9 Chapter 240

Ryuushin and the Sacrificial Maiden

「Hmm… …Are you a dragon? Your scent, it’s a bit like mine」
The wicked dragon spoke to me.
Though fallen, it seemed to retain some level of intelligence.
「……I am Ryuushin. A dragonkin」
「Ah, a repugnant race」
That ticked me off a bit.
Amongst the coloured and elemental dragons, there are those who look down upon the dragonkin.
The wicked dragon was once an elemental dragon, and I am capable of becoming a black dragon, a coloured dragon.
In other words, I’m the stronger one here.
However, dragonkin capable of transforming into coloured dragons like me are rarely born. So, it’s understandable if the wicked dragon sees me, a dragonkin, as inferior.
I’ve heard that intelligence decreases in exchange for greater power when one becomes a wicked dragon, but the one before me doesn’t seem like much of a threat from my perspective.
—-No, I shouldn’t say that.
If I look down on my opponent, I’ll stoop to their level.
Moreover, I should have learned by now, shouldn’t I?
It’s not wise to overestimate one’s own power.
Even if the enemy looks weak, I mustn’t let my guard down.
Even if they seem to lack hidden power, there’s a possibility they’re deceiving me about their abilities.
I’ve had this lesson drilled into me by a harmless-looking monster in my class.
So, I won’t let my guard down.
Besides, I didn’t come here to fight the wicked dragon.
The wicked dragon doesn’t seem intent on attacking me either.
「Well, you’re of dragon lineage. That said, I’m feeling generous today. Welcome. Come along」
The wicked dragon entered deeper into its dwelling, a cave.
I followed, hoping to find gems or treasures it might have produced before turning wicked.
Even if there weren’t any gems, there might still be remnants of its ability to produce them even after turning wicked.
I thought it was worth negotiating with the wicked dragon.
However, I would soon regret this decision.
Because what greeted me was a horrifying sight.
「 —-Wha-what is this!?」
In the deepest part of the cave, human bones were piled up like mountains. Presumably, they were all human bones.
Just from what I could see, the number easily exceeded a hundred.
The stench of decay was overwhelming.
「You, by the looks of it, you never eaten a human, have you?」
「O-of course not!」
The wicked dragon, looking down at me as I fought back nausea, spoke with a disgusting grin.
Dragonkin eat the same food as humans.
Dragons can absorb magic power from the air, so many dragons don’t need to eat.
However, since dragons are monsters, some of them do attack humans. Yet, those who willingly eat humans are few.
Basically, dragons are a lazy race.
They can live just by sleeping, so there’s no need for them to move for the sake of food.
But this wicked dragon must have been targeting humans to eat them.
If it had been adventurers attacking it, I could have understood.
For survival—killing those who come to kill you and eating them—I wouldn’t have much to say about that.
However—
「Grrr, this sacrifice is lacking」
The wicked dragon picked something up from the ground.
「 —-What!?」
It was a girl, her hands and feet bound by chains.
「Tempting, isn’t she?」
Forced up by the wicked dragon, the chains attached to her hands were pulled, exposing the girl’s body before me.
She might have been toyed with by the wicked dragon.
Her whole body was covered in wounds.
「…….」
When she saw me, perhaps seeing me in my human form, her expression changed slightly, but the girl had the eyes of someone who had given up on life.
「…….Are you using the nearby villages for sacrifices?」
「Yes, once every five years. Used to eat more, but pesky adventurers became a hassle」
This wicked dragon admitted it ruled over five villages near this cave, forcing them to offer sacrifices once every five years.
Furthermore, it stationed its minions in these five villages to ensure the villagers wouldn’t flee.
In the past, there were eight villages around here, but three of them had all their residents eaten by the wicked dragon.
The wicked dragon spoke about it with great eloquence.
Perhaps it wasn’t just excitement about the sacrifice after five years.
「……By explaining things so politely to me, it means you’re also intent on killing me, right?」
「Heh heh heh, you catch on quick. I’ve always disliked your kind. You failed inbreds always get ahead of yourselves」
The wicked dragon threw the girl at me.
I tried to catch her as gently as possible.
She smelled strongly of blood.
「You like humans, don’t you? Then boy…… show me how you’ll protect her」
……I see.
It seems he wants to toy with me.
Simply devouring the long-awaited sacrifice after five years isn’t enough. So, it tortured this girl to this extent.
Still unsatisfied, it thought of playing with me, who happened to come to this cave.
I see.
Very well. I’ll grant its wish.
But before that—
「You were a sacrifice, right? If I knock that guy out right now and save you, will you go on a date with me once we’re out of this cave?」
「……Eh?」
This is my chance.
If I save her life, she might at least do me a favour.
Asking her to go out with me or even to marry me is probably too much—- but she might agree to go on a date, right?
Despite the girl’s body being badly battered, she has quite the figure, and her face is cute.
「What do you say?」
「Uh, well……I—-」
As the girl was about to answer, the wicked dragon attempted to breathe fire at us.
It seemed angered by my words.
「Are you going to knock me out, boy!? Ridiculous—」
「Shut up! We’re in the middle of something here, so be quiet for a bit!!」
To silence the wicked dragon for a moment, I dragonified only my right hand and attempted to cut him off with a flying punch.
I only meant to cut him off.
I only intended to deflect the breath attack and buy some time to negotiate with the girl.
「Gyaaa—」
But instead my flying punch smashed the wicked dragon’s head to pieces.