We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Scale of Wrath
The pursuing Miko-samas have suddenly been put in the position of being pursued.
Moreover, the pursuers are veteran Wyverns and Great Wyrms from the apex of the food chain world, the Dragon Race!
The terrifying roar of the Wyverns echoed through the sky.
The five Black Pegasi faltered in their flight, their wings beating in fear. As a result, the distance between them and the dragons that had flown from Dragon Peak rapidly closed. The Pegasus at the very end entered the range of a Great Wyrm’s breath.
As if having aimed, the Great Wyrm opened its mouth wide, gathering immense Dragon Energy in the depths of its throat.
Then, it mercifully unleashed a fiery breath!
“Careful! Don’t!”
I shouted with all my might, imbuing my words with Dragon Energy.
The screams of the Black Pegasus and the Miko riding it echoed through the sky.
However, at the last moment, the fiery breath veered off course.
Did my Dragon Heart reach them just in time? Several Wyverns and Great Wyrms, other than the one that unleashed the flame, turned their attention from the fleeing Pegasi in the sky towards us.
“Alice-san! Even if those Miko-samas are pursuers trying to hinder your actions, if you don’t help them like this, they’ll surely be killed!”
What just happened was nothing short of a small miracle.
The Dragons are angered by the disturbance of their peaceful end.
My Dragon Heart had firmly grasped the turbulent emotions of the Dragons.
Nevertheless, because I released a strong Dragon Heart, the intelligent Great Wyrm momentarily diverted its fiery breath.
However, I couldn’t expect such small miracles to continue.
The Great Wyrm was momentarily interested in the unexpected Dragon Heart. But, because the distance was too great, it didn’t recognize me as the one who released the Dragon Heart.
After all, Dragons who have been secluded in the Dragon’s Mausoleum for years might not know me, and even if they did, they might not be cooperative.
In fact, although the first breath was intentionally diverted by the Great Wyrm, the Dragons were still furious and chasing the Black Pegasi.
If this continues, the Black Pegasi and the Miko riding them will suffer casualties early on!
To prevent such a situation, I must prioritize saving lives now and help the Miko-samas and the Black Pegasi!
In response to my plea, Alice-san, with a stiff presence, manipulated Eve’s reins.
From Alice-san’s arm around my waist, I could feel her emotions.
She wanted to shake off the pursuers somehow. However, she also couldn’t abandon her colleagues. That conflict strongly emanated from her tensed arm.
Nevertheless, Alice-san is also a pure and righteous Miko.
She chose to save the lives of those who would surely become our obstructors afterward, rather than her own solitary purpose.
“Eve, don’t be scared, rush into the Dragons!”
“You’re saying something even more reckless than master!”
Eve is brave, carrying Alice-san like a seasoned warrior on the battlefield, but the Dragons must be terrifying.
Yet, Eve neighed and, following my instructions, flapped her wings towards the sky where the Black Pegasi and Dragons were intermingled.
Nine Wyverns and Great Wyrms chased the five Black Pegasi in the sky over Dragon Peak.
The Dragons were toying with the Pegasi.
If the Dragons went all out, even if the Pegasi fled at full speed, they wouldn’t be able to escape. Yet, they relentlessly pursued the screaming, fleeing Pegasi, venting their frustration by tormenting those who disturbed their peace.
The Dragons, who are high-ranking beings, would not overlook Eve and us, who were approaching the sky where the Dragons and Pegasi were flying.
A Great Wyrm glared at us with eyes filled with killing intent and Dragon Energy.
It was the same Great Wyrm that had first unleashed its fiery breath at the Pegasi!
“But, I’m not scared, am I? Revalia has even scarier eyes, and just a little while ago, I was subjected to immeasurable magic power and killing intent from the Ruler of the North Sea, you know?”
“Y-You’re provoking the Dragons in this situation!?”
Eve screamed.
Alice-san also gasped behind me, unable to grasp my intentions.
But, this is for the best.
First and foremost, I need to draw the attention of as many Dragons as possible and save the Black Pegasi and the Miko-samas from their crisis!
Responding to my words imbued with Dragon Heart, several more Dragons turned their hostility towards us!
With their superior eyesight, the Dragons should be able to see me, riding on Eve’s back.
So, I poured all my Dragon Energy into my words and released my Dragon Heart towards the Dragons.
“I am Elnea Eris, one of the Eight Dragon Kings! Dragons, please spare the Pegasi and the Miko-samas!”
Several Wyverns roared back in response.
“As the Dragon King, I apologize for disturbing your peace. Therefore, please calm your anger!”
I wonder if any of the Dragons know me?
Will the title of “Eight Dragon Kings,” a title of the Dragon Race, be effective against the elder Dragons?
Despite my anxiety, I had no choice but to shout.
The distance between us and the Dragons was still far, and I could only interfere with their hearts through words imbued with Dragon Heart.
Then, two Great Wyrms, upon receiving my Dragon Heart, slowed their wing beats. One of them was the Great Wyrm that had first unleashed the fiery roar.
It seems that the Great Wyrm knew me.
“Young Dragon King, why do you protect these foolish beings riding Pegasi and disturbing the skies of Dragon Peak?”
A Dragon Heart reached me from the Great Wyrm. I replied.
“For reasons I cannot explain, I am currently traveling with this Pegasus and the woman behind me. However, neither we nor the Black Pegasi and the Miko riding them came to threaten your peace!”
From the perspective of the Dragons, they might perceive both black and white Pegasi as the same magical beasts, their kin.
Indeed, a Wyvern that did not accept my words launched a high-speed assault towards us.
Alice-san was muttering incantations behind me.
A Barrier Spell was deployed around Eve.
The sharp claws of the Wyvern, aimed mercilessly, were deflected by Alice-san’s barrier.
Mumumu. Alice-san’s Barrier Spell can deflect the physical attacks of Dragons so easily, huh?
Regardless of such observations.
“Stop attacking! If you do, we will quietly leave this sky!”
The attacking Wyvern showed no hesitation even after seeing my words and appearance.
This means that my presence is not effective against some of the elder Dragons.
Surely, even if I declare myself to be the “Messenger of the Dragon God,” they won’t be convinced immediately.
They might demand proof, or direct their dissatisfaction at a human brat, leading to further confusion.
Therefore, while I can claim to be the Dragon King, I cannot casually refer to myself as the Messenger of the Dragon God.
Nevertheless, I must somehow appease the Dragons’ dissatisfaction and save the Black Pegasi and the Miko-samas!
“Hmph, if words don’t work!”
I unleashed the Dragon Jewel with all my might. Not only that, but I also borrowed the power of the Dragon Veins flowing through the sky, creating ripples above!
The Wyvern, whose claws had been repelled by Alice-san’s barrier, turned back towards us with even stronger hostility.
At that moment, the ripples I released surged towards it.
“Guah!?”
Suddenly, the Wyvern’s wings lost their buoyancy, and it began to descend rapidly.
However, the Wyvern flapped its wings vigorously and managed to avoid a crash at a considerably lower altitude than where Eve was flying.
“Y-You are…!?”
From behind me, I could sense Alice-san’s stunned presence.
I gave a wry smile.
“Just now, I was shown an example by the Ruler of the North Sea, you see?”
A Dragon Art that robs flying beings of their buoyancy.
I activated it impulsively, but it seems to have worked well.
However, it is an immature Dragon Art.
Seeing the Wyvern’s movement, the other Dragons easily evaded the ripple Dragon Art.
Still, this Dragon Art has helped to increase the number of Dragons who understand me to some extent.
Suddenly, five Wyverns and Great Wyrms calmed their hostility and turned their interest towards us.
There are the Wyvern that received the ripple Dragon Art, and two others!
However, the remaining two Wyverns, who paid no heed to my words or presence, were more stubborn than I expected.
Once they have set their sights on prey, they never let go. Perhaps their instinct as Wyverns is strong, but they relentlessly pursued the Black Pegasi.
Moreover, realizing that the other Wyverns and Great Wyrms who were toying with the Pegasi were calming down, they attacked with even greater ferocity.
A merciless blast of wind struck the Black Pegasi!
“No! Please, stop!”
I shouted desperately.
However, the remaining three Wyverns did not cease their attack, perhaps due to their stubborn, aging minds.
The Pegasi managed to withstand the blast of wind with their barriers. Then, another Wyvern swooped down from above!
Furthermore, the Wyvern that had been forced to descend by the ripple Dragon Art was now launching a surprise attack towards us from low altitude!
“Eve.”
“Understood!”
Responding to Alice-san’s command, Eve flapped her wings.
The moment Eve’s wings seemed to grasp the Dragon Veins flowing in the sky.
The Wyvern, roaring and approaching from low altitude, suddenly became smaller!
What in the world happened!?
Did Eve, like the ripple Dragon Art, rob the Wyvern of its buoyancy and force it to rapidly descend?
No, that’s wrong!
Eve ascended rapidly, riding the upward flowing Dragon Veins!
Eve’s unexpected movement stunned not only me but also the attacking Wyvern.
However, only Eve managed to avoid the crisis.
The Black Pegasi, targeted by the remaining two, were gradually being cornered.
From the screams of the Black Pegasi and the Miko-samas, I could sense that their reason was starting to be lost due to fear.
If they become any more confused and unable to react calmly, that will be the end.
The hostile Wyverns will stop toying with them and start to finish them off.
Alice-san could no longer overlook the worsening situation.
“Fools.”
With a bitter expression, as if she had bitten into a bitter gourd, Alice-san unleashed her magic.
It was the guiding magic she used when escaping from the Ruler of the North Sea before.
A path the color of a full moon appeared in the sky.
“Why are you angering the Dragons and doing this! Hurry and run along the path of guidance!”
Her tone was stern. However, for those in confusion, such words were necessary for them to be heard.
In fact, without realizing it, we had reached the airspace where the Black Pegasi and Dragons were flying.
Eve was panting. She must have been giving her all for a long time.
Therefore, we no longer have any leeway.
An enraged Wyvern unleashed its breath, attempting to destroy the guiding magic Alice-san had cast. However, since the path created by the guiding magic was not material, the breath could not pass through it.
Conversely, the Black Pegasi, their attention drawn to the guiding magic by the Wyvern’s breath, began running along the full moon-colored path.
“Alice-sama!”
The Miko riding the Black Pegasus at the forefront cried out, almost like a scream.
However, Alice-san did not respond to the Miko’s voice.
“Eve, retreat.”
Kicking Eve’s flank, Alice-san signaled a change in direction.
Eve also turned back, without looking at the five Pegasi running along the full moon-colored path.
“Dragon King, I shall hear your story anew later.”
“Yes, I will!”
The six Dragons who had calmed their hostility towards the Black Pegasi and us returned to Dragon Peak, concluding their play.
However, the remaining three Wyverns did not let us off the hook.
“You won’t escape!”
“Atone for disturbing our peace with your lives!”
“Even the Dragon King is powerless in this land!”
Three roars echoed through the sky.
And then, the Wyverns mercilessly attacked!
“Kts. If this continues, eventually there will be casualties on one side!”
If we let the Wyverns rampage freely, it would be dangerous for the five Black Pegasi, even if it were manageable for us. Yet, if I launch a full-scale attack on the Wyverns, there’s a possibility of injuring them.
As for me, even though they are enraged now, I want the elder Dragons to live out their remaining years in peace.
So, what should I do!?
Before I could gather my thoughts, we, fleeing from the three Wyverns, had somehow flown back near the North Sea.
“Blast it! We were skillfully led by the Wyverns!”
There is an overwhelming difference in flight capabilities between Pegasi and Wyverns.
The Wyverns skillfully guided the fleeing Pegasi and drove us towards the North Sea without us noticing.
The reason is clear!
The North Sea is completely sealed off by land, sea, and air.
If one carelessly enters the North Sea, they will be unceremoniously eliminated, along with their lives.
By the Ruler of the North Sea.
The Wyverns were trying to drive us into the sky over the North Sea and have the Ruler of the North Sea take us down!
Alice-san, Eve, myself, the five Pegasi, and the Miko-samas, who had finally understood the Wyverns’ intentions, were filled with despair in the sky.
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