Chapter 29: Dark Dragon Summoning

“Lady Sakuraile! Are you hurt!?”

When Marquess Ragtime was captured, Estelle rushed over in a panic. It seems I made her worry.

“Oh, I’m fine, I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt anywhere.”

Still, just in case, Estelle grasped both my hands and activated [Holy Miracle]. Wait, that’s over the top! I really wasn’t injured, so nothing noticeable happened, but this is a recovery spell that can revive you even if you’re gravely wounded! Too much! Honestly, Estelle‘s [Gift] is a ridiculous cheat. After all, in the game, she’s called the ‘Saintess’ after clearing it. She harbors that much power. She has already obtained the power she was originally meant to get ten years from now. It’s partly my fault, but if I hadn’t done that, I couldn’t have saved Estelle’s mother… If the royal family finds out about this, she’ll undoubtedly be made a candidate for Elliott’s bride, won’t she? I wouldn’t approve of a political marriage, even if Estelle wished for it. I want Estelle to be happy, after all. So I want to keep Estelle‘s [Gift] a secret as much as possible. …Though I did tell her that.

“Estelle. Keep your [Gift] secret, okay?” “Ah…! Y-Yes. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself when I thought Lady Sakuraile might be injured…”

Estelle‘s face turned red, and she released my hands. Yeah, I appreciate the sentiment. Look, His Majesty the Emperor is nearby too.

“Marquess Ragtime. To think you would dare lay a hand not only on Elliott but even on the royalty of other nations. As you yourself said, if anything had happened to those two, our country might have plunged into war with both nations, you know?” “W-Wrong…!”

Marquess Ragtime, still restrained, raised his voice. Perhaps his throat was damaged by the Tabasco, but he countered His Majesty the Emperor with a raspy sound.

“What is wrong? Are you still trying to make excuses at this point?” “Wrong…! I didn’t order the attack on Crown Prince Elliott…! That black summoned beast wasn’t part of my plan…!” “What did you say?”

His Majesty the Emperor was suspicious of Marquess Ragtime‘s words, but I believed he was telling the truth. Because, if Marquess Ragtime or one of his subordinates possessed [Beast Demon Summoning], the attack on Elliott during the Founding Festival doesn’t make sense. At that time, Elliott was accompanied by Hanger-on A, Marquess Ragtime‘s daughter Annemarie. Would he sic a summoned demon beast on them when his own daughter was present? If he had planned the attack, wouldn’t he have told his daughter not to go to the festival? Unless he’s a piece of trash parent who doesn’t care about his daughter, but…

“In that case, who summoned the beast…?”

While His Majesty the Emperor pondered, the genuine Luca and Tifa approached from the opposite direction, accompanied by their personal guard knights. Elliott also came over with his guards.

“It seems the matter is settled. Every country has its ‘dragon’s cavity,’ I suppose.”

Glancing at the bound Marquess Ragtime, Tifa spoke with a daring smile. ‘Dragon’s cavity’… does that mean something that brings ruin if left alone? Is it like ‘the worm in the lion’s body’?

“Sakuraile. Are you alright?”

Elliott leaned in, looking worried. Wait, too close, too close! Don’t peer into a maiden’s face so indiscreetly! As I tried to pull away in a panic, my own feet got tangled, and I lost my balance.

“Woah.”

Elliott caught and supported me as I was about to fall backward. What is this prince-like situation! Oh, right, he is a prince! As Elliott held me, I noticed a familiar figure in the corner of my eye. It was the chubby girl, Hanger-on B. Was she participating in this party too? Hanger-on B was staring intently at us, her gaze seemingly locked onto me. Eh? Why? Why does she look like she’s about to chew her handkerchief to shreds?

“Perhaps you really aren’t feeling well? Maybe you should rest in a room for a bit…” “Oh, no, I’m fine! Absolutely fine!”

As I grew exasperated with Elliott leaning in even closer, Estelle forcefully thrust herself between us and ripped the two of us apart.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince? I don’t think it’s appropriate to approach a lady so indelicately. Shouldn’t you consider your standing?” “Eh? No, I was just wondering if she was injured or anything…” “She is quite alright. You can leave Lady Sakuraile‘s care to me, her ‘best friend.'”

She was smiling, but for some reason, Estelle‘s pressure was incredible. Even Elliott took a step back from the intensity of her glare. Estelle stood defensively, as if protecting me from Elliott. What is going on here? No, more importantly, Hanger-on B… When I turned my gaze back, a thin, black, mist-like substance began to swirl around Hanger-on B. Wait, this is…!

“Why…! Why is it always you people…! Get away from my Crown Prince!”

Whoosh! The black mist rising from Hanger-on B became denser. The vile, dark mist flowed out, eventually forming a black mass that took the shape of a beast. This is…! No mistake, it’s [Beast Demon Summoning]! She is the one with the [Gift]!

“Kyaaaaaaaah!?” “It’s a magic beast! A magic beast has appeared!” “Impossible! The barrier isn’t working!?”

There’s no way a barrier would work. This is the runaway state of [Beast Demon Summoning]. It exceeds the level a barrier can block. The black demon beasts summoned by Hanger-on B appeared in the garden one after another. The party guests panicked, and the security knights drew their swords, standing in front of the beasts.

“Is that Lady Barbara of the Count Sonatine house!? Was she the perpetrator of the attempted assassination of Elliott!?”

His Majesty the Emperor gasped in surprise, looking at the rampaging Hanger-on B… Lady Barbara. No… Hanger-on B, Barbara, wasn’t targeting Elliott. It was the opposite. She was targeting the young ladies who approached Elliott. Hanger-on A, Annemarie, during the birthday party and the Founding Festival. And this time, me. Hanger-on B is probably obsessed with Elliott────.

“I’ll erase everyone who gets in my way! You should all just be devoured!”

Barbara laughed maniacally, scattering even more black mist from her whole body. It’s the same. Just like the villainess Sakuraile who went berserk in ‘Starlight Symphony.’ Barbara can no longer think rationally. She is acting solely on emotion. And those are the vile emotions of jealousy and rage. This is bad. Bad, bad, bad! If she keeps rampaging like this…!

“All the nuisances, disappearrrrrr!”

Lady Barbara screamed, rolled her eyes back, and collapsed on the spot. From her body, with a gurgle, a uniquely large black mass rose into the air. The black mass returned the countless demon beasts that had appeared back into mist and absorbed them into itself. Ah… it’s no good. He’s appearing. The strongest, worst demon beast, the Last Boss of the Elliott route. The sky began to cloud over, and the black mass slowly began to take shape. A colossal body covered in pitch-black scales and large, bat-like wings. Sharp talons and fangs, and two horns growing from its head. And twin crimson eyes filled with malice. The Dark Dragon. The symbol of despair revealed itself before our eyes.

『Gugogaaaaaaaah!』

As if rejoicing at its manifestation in this world, the Dark Dragon let out a roar toward the sky. At its bellow, most of the party guests lost consciousness and began to collapse on the spot. What am I going to do…! I can’t believe the Dark Dragon was summoned…! And I mean, it’s way too early! You’re supposed to show up ten years from now!

“Mage Division, front!”

Following the Chancellor’s voice, several mages holding staffs stepped forward. Mages are people who have studied magic at the ‘Academy’ and specialize in it. They are not [Gift] holders, but rather ‘Magic Users’ who manipulate their own magical power and the atmospheric mana to activate spells. If you study magic at the ‘Academy,’ most nobles can use it. Whether they can master it is another story.

“[Fireball]!” “[Ice Lance]!” “[Thunderbolt]!”

Fire, ice, and lightning rained down on the Dark Dragon simultaneously. However, even after receiving all the spells, the Dark Dragon stood there unperturbed. Not a single scratch.

“Impossible, the magic has no effect!?”

The Chancellor was surprised, but I knew this would happen. It’s no use. Magic doesn’t work on him. Only physical attacks work. Even then, you can only weaken him, not kill him. To defeat the Last Boss, you need the Holy Sword. The Holy Sword of sacred light that cuts through the darkness. The only one who can create that is Estelle, who has the [Gift] of the Holy Goddess Holi… but that’s impossible right now! The event hasn’t even happened! In the game set ten years later, Elliott and the knight order led by Jean confront the Dark Dragon and suffer a crushing defeat. And just when Elliott is about to be killed by the Dark Dragon, Estelle‘s true power awakens. Estelle summons the Holy Sword of sacred light, and Elliott, having contracted with the Holy Sword’s spirit as the Hero who wields it, cuts down the Dark Dragon with that sword. The Dark Dragon is defeated, and the two happily reach their ending, but we can’t expect that in this situation. Vwoom! The Dark Dragon’s tail swung sideways with enough force to create a cutting sound in the air. With that alone, the knights, tables, and chairs in its path were swept away together, sent flying like toys.

“Guh!?” “Gof!?”

A knight slammed against the castle wall coughed up blood and collapsed on the spot. What power. Is a dragon’s strength this immense?

『Gorugaaaaaaah!』

The Dark Dragon lowered its neck and sprayed a fiery breath around like a flamethrower. Wait, that’s unfair!

“[Magic Light Shield]!”

The Chancellor stepped forward and created a large glowing shield with both hands. Is that the Chancellor’s [Gift]? The glowing shield transformed into a dome shape, protecting everyone from the incoming flames. Oh, amazing!

“[Absolute Throwing Accuracy]!”

Luca picked up a dagger that the assassins had dropped and threw it at the Dark Dragon. The dagger, thrown using Luca‘s [Gift], drew a perfect arc and pierced the Dark Dragon’s right eye cleanly. Ooh! A cheer went up, but only until the dagger melted into sludge. The Dark Dragon’s right eye was completely unharmed. It’s no good. As expected, ordinary weapons won’t work on him.

“Run, Sakuraile!”

Father shouted toward me. Perhaps that voice irritated it, as the Dark Dragon swung its thick tail down violently toward Father.