"—If Roswaal and Clind say they can do it, then they can, right?"

This was Emilia's decisive statement during the Aldebusters' strategy meeting, amidst the discussion of who should face the Divine Dragon Volcanica.

Emilia's decision to entrust the battlefield without needing detailed explanations was not a rash or thoughtless act, but one based on solid trust, which left Roswaal both impressed and grateful.

Given the circumstances, Roswaal had half-resigned himself to the possibility that he might have to reveal Clind's true nature, even if it disrupted his long-standing plans. —The true identity of the dragonkin of the Divine Dragon.

"But if I talk about that, it would also touch on the matter of our contract."

Naturally, Roswaal had welcomed Clind into the Mathers Family as a servant, fully aware of who Clind was. Of course, it wasn't because of Clind's extraordinary abilities as a steward, but because Roswaal deemed his existence useful.

Roswaal's long-held ambition that must be fulfilled—Clind was an indispensable asset for that.

"Even if you talk about it, I don't think everyone's attitude will change. Just a suggestion."

Clind, who knew the circumstances, suggested this to Roswaal, who was keeping it hidden.

There was no reason to stubbornly deny it. In fact, Roswaal agreed with him. Most likely, even if Roswaal revealed his circumstances, the attitudes of the camp, of Emilia and the others, would remain unchanged.

Yet, the reason Roswaal couldn't reveal his circumstances was simply his nature.

Roswaal couldn't face others unless he placed himself in a position of advantage. He wanted to grasp the intentions of others, hold their weaknesses, and ideally, even take hostages.

The accumulation of years where failure was not an option had turned Roswaal into a cowardly villain.

So, even knowing that Subaru and Emilia's group were extremely good-natured, Roswaal couldn't bring himself to reveal his true feelings.

"That being said, I don't think it will be a hindrance."

What was important was not to expose everything, but to fully demonstrate the true value of one's abilities.

In that regard, Roswaal was confident that he wouldn't fall behind his companions. In fact, because he had the burden of hiding his true feelings, he felt even more compelled to show results.

"...A burden? Me, a disciple of the Witch?"

Even as he felt such doubts within himself, Roswaal shelved them.

In any case, without revealing Clind's circumstances, Roswaal was able to face the same battlefield as him—the battle against the enemy who had stolen the dragon shell of the Divine Dragon.

And then—,

"Let's take this opportunity to test it. —My training to kill the 'Dragon'."

△▼△▼△▼△

—In that battle, there was no such thing as a preliminary skirmish.

Clind removed his monocle and enveloped himself in purple lightning—his head sprouting two black horns, shedding the mask of the all-purpose steward he had worn for so long, becoming a lone dragonkin.

The moment he took a step, lightning sparked from the soles of his shoes, and the initial speed matched the sound.

"――――"

With each step, the atmosphere exploded, and the cannonball-like footsteps shook the world violently. Using the explosive power of the purple lightning to accelerate, Clind headed straight for the majestic figure seated in the sky. The 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica, with its mighty dragon wings spread wide and the sun at its back, opened its jaws.

『――――ッ』

In an instant, the breath released became a white heat ray, striking Clind head-on. The dragon's breath was a pure torrent of mana, a force without the directionality of magic. Yet, just as a harmless drop of water can become a flood that sweeps away a nation when gathered, the overwhelming momentum of the mana easily eroded the real world—,

"For an opening greeting, it's quite unrefined. Childish."

Clind split the city-destroying white light with a downward hand chop. The breath was cleaved in the middle, avoiding a direct hit on him and passing behind. The scorched earth peeled away, shattered rock fragments turned to sand, and even that melted into a viscous red flow.

Leaving that behind, Clind's body leaped high, closing in on the 'Dragon' in the sky.

『Tch, how annoying!』

The roaring 'Dragon' twisted its body, swinging its thick, powerful tail. The tail strike, which killed the wind as it circled, caught Clind head-on with no escape—resounding thunder.

A particularly strong purple lightning illuminated the sky, and immediately afterward, it was the 'Dragon's tail that was repelled. The principle was the same as the acceleration when kicking the ground, a shockwave from the explosion of the purple lightning he was wrapped in. Clind generated it with the soles of his feet in the air, using the shock as a foothold, and countered the 'Dragon's tail with an incredible punch by sequentially detonating lightning from his shoulder, elbow, and fist.

And, astonishingly, that purple lightning—,

"Please bear with me a little longer. Limitless."

In the clear sky where the clouds had been blown away, flashes of lightning ignored the weather and flickered repeatedly.

『Oooooooo――ッ！！』

The 'Dragon', its voice rough with anger, flapped its wings and circled. Around the 'Dragon', Clind accelerated with each burst of purple lightning, leaping freely in all directions. As before, the explosion of purple lightning from the soles of his shoes allowed Clind, a dragonkin without wings, the right to freely navigate the sky. Of course, the diligent dragonkin did not just enjoy the aerial stroll but also continued to unleash fierce attacks on the 'Dragon'.

"――――"

He narrowly dodged the swinging dragon claws, and a lightning-clad strike was driven into the face of the opponent, whose size and reach were far greater. There, the ultimate thunderclap occurred. The two-stage attack of strike plus lightning was not just once or twice but stacked ten or twenty times in the blink of an eye.

『Damn――』

The overlapping bursts of purple lightning robbed the airspace, forcing the 'Dragon' to ascend even higher.

The privilege of the winged 'Divine Dragon' is that it can choose its battlefield in three dimensions, not just on the vast wasteland below, but also in the sky.

However—,

"—Al Duet"

—The 'Divine Dragon', having ascended, plunged headfirst into a massive mass of water, losing its sense of up and down.

『—!?』

The 'Divine Dragon', creating large bubbles in its astonishment, was enveloped by a water sphere over several tens of meters, created by converging moisture from the surroundings and water drawn from the ground into a single point.

The sound of water pressure creaking echoed as the 'Divine Dragon', trapped in the water cage, widened its golden eyes.

"Forgetting about me and getting all excited, that's quite cold-hearted, isn't it?"

Below the 'Dragon', Roswaal, who had trapped the 'Dragon' in the water sphere, showed a smile.

Standing on the ground, which had turned into a black, glassy surface licked by the heatwave from Clind's initial breath, Roswaal pointed at the water sphere in the sky and continued his assault.

A duet is a dual performance, and this magic doesn't end with just trapping it in the water sphere. —Immediately after, the water sphere sealing the 'Dragon' began to bubble and boil due to the generated scorching heat.

Then, another flash of purple lightning flickered strongly—,

"Let's make it a bit flashy. Thunderclap"

Clind's fist, unleashed with a roar of thunder, struck the water sphere. —In an instant, a flash of light ran through the entire water mass, and the purple lightning raced inside, scorching the 'Dragon' and the water sphere itself.

The next moment, reaching the limits of heat and pressure—the water sphere exploded with a thunderous roar.

The purple lightning, having lost its path, tore through the battlefield, and a storm of steam, comparable to an explosion, blew out radially, while the surviving water mass rained down on the earth like rain from the clear sky.

"——"

The intense explosion that was triggered had the power to completely obliterate a small town.

Even with the help of the dragonkin, the destructive power that a magician alone is not allowed to unleash was hammered in without restraint, and even the 'Dragon'—,

『—Ah, damn, that cooled my head off.』

The white steam was sliced by the dragon wings, and the 'Divine Dragon' grumbled at the center of the sky, which had become ground zero. —Yes, it was a grumble. If it had suffered any significant injuries, the grumble would have turned into a curse.

In other words, the 'Dragon' in mid-air was intact. —No, it was unscathed.

"...Even though I knew it, seeing it in reality is quite disheartening, isn't it?"

Looking up from the ground at that unscathed survival, Roswaal closed one eye, leaving only the blue one open.

Despite all that firepower, the 'Divine Dragon' remained undamaged. It wasn't because Roswaal's magic was weak, nor because the 'Dragon' had quickly devised the best defense. —The truth was closer to the latter, but the reality was more hopeless and overwhelmingly unreasonable.

"Master, please do not be discouraged. Encouragement."

Beside Roswaal, Clind landed after evading the explosion. While drying the water from the water sphere with purple lightning, Clind spoke without changing his expression or tone, yet there was a slight hint of consideration that came from their long acquaintance. —During that long relationship, he had also heard from him about the absurdity of the 'Divine Dragon.'

"—Indeed, the dragon scales and dragon aura protecting the 'core' are troublesome, aren't they?"

Roswaal uttered this, which wasn't exactly a response to Clind's encouragement, as proof that he hadn't lost his fighting spirit. —The dragon scales and dragon aura are the main reasons why the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica is considered the strongest being on earth, and they are the absurdity that must be overcome.

"————"

—The difference between the 'Cloud Dragon' Mezoreia, the 'Evil Dragon' Valgren, and the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica lies in the dragon scales and dragon aura. Mezoreia, still young and in the process of growing as a 'dragon,' and Valgren, who lost its mental balance and future when the dragonkin it created died, both failed to fully develop their dragon shells and could not forge the two types of armor possessed by the 'Divine Dragon.'

That is—,

"The dragon scales that repel physical attacks and the dragon aura that repels magical attacks."

"If we can't overcome those two armors, we can't reach the 'core' of the dragon. Just a reminder."

Clind's words, which almost evoked a sense of despair, highlighted the greatest challenge in conquering the 'Divine Dragon.' The overwhelming physical defense of the dragon scales and the extraordinary magical defense of the dragon aura must be stripped away to deliver an attack to its weak point, the 'core.'

It's not just one or the other; both must be stripped away. Without removing the two armors, the dragon's incredible regenerative power as a mana entity cannot be surpassed, and it cannot be rendered combat ineffective.

Therefore, to defeat the 'Divine Dragon,' experts in both melee and magical combat are necessary. However—,

"Before stripping away the dragon aura, even with that firepower, it was no damage. I'm impressed."

"It's not called the strongest 'dragon' on earth for nothing. Sigh."

"Wasn't that a slightly boastful sigh? After all, it was originally your opponent. You could secretly tell me any weaknesses only you know, couldn't you?"

"There is. The 'Dragon Sword.' Immediate answer."

"That's blunt..."

The 'Dragon Sword,' which was immediately mentioned, is a magic sword that can cut through anything. With the performance of that 'Dragon Sword,' it would indeed be possible to attack the 'core' while ignoring both the dragon scales and dragon aura. Even just hitting with the 'Dragon Sword' might inflict damage on the 'Divine Dragon.'

Of course, talking about a weapon not at hand is futile, and the situation won't improve.

"For reference, the reverse scale on the neck is the target for the dragon scales. An old wound. As for the dragon aura... it depends on the master's efforts. Expectation."

"You're casually saying that to me, who just had my first trump card fail."

"I see. —If it were Lady Echidna, she could have done it. Monologue."

"——"

Indeed, the length of their acquaintance is mutual, it seems.
Clind added this with a brazen air, and although Roswaal knew it was all part of the plan, a fire was kindled in his heart.
Of course, even now, Roswaal does not arrogantly think he has reached his master's level—,

"A student cannot allow their teacher to be embarrassed, after all."

The fated duty he must fulfill and the fervent wish he desires to achieve invigorate Roswaal's scarred soul, empowering his eyes to tackle the challenge before him.

The history of magic is a cycle of trial and error, and Roswaal's life is no different.
Solve one problem, and another immediately arises, requiring him to explore and confront its solution. Yet, having unraveled all these problems is why he stands here today.
Since losing his master, it has always been this way, alone.

"From the beginning, there is no one with more potential than I."

He dares to proclaim it. Roswaal is undoubtedly the strongest magician of the present age.
There is no one more capable than Roswaal of breaking through the dragon's halo of the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica. —No, even that minuscule possibility has been nurtured over these four hundred years.

In the realm of magic, there is no wall that Roswaal cannot overcome. There must not be.
That is the vow of Roswaal L. Mathers, and the thorny path he has chosen to walk alone.
Therefore—,

"—I will stake my entire existence to overcome this challenge."

With this resolute declaration, Roswaal once again began to inscribe a spell in the sky, one so complex it would sear the brain of an ordinary person, in order to break through the unprecedented dragon's halo.

△▼△▼△▼△

—The position of 'dragonkin' is indeed a troublesome one, Clind thought.

After all, dragonkin are merely the next generation form of 'dragons' and are not, strictly speaking, the same entity as the original 'dragon'. Nevertheless, they inherit many of the memories, experiences, and emotions of the 'dragon', making it difficult to clearly separate them as distinct beings, resulting in a complex blend of consciousness.

Clind was no exception, and the influence of the Volcanica era is deeply reflected in his current self. A prime example of this is his strong envy for untapped potential.

Born as an absolute species known as a 'Dragon,' Volcanica found the immaturity of humans, who define their own existence and grow towards their goals, to be dazzling and admirable.

This trait has been carried over even now that he has become a dragonkin, and currently, Clind holds great respect, admiration, and affection for immature beings with vast potential—children.

Frederica, among others, greatly misunderstands this aspect of Clind, which could be considered a trait from his past life. However, due to other dragonkin matters that Frederica wishes to keep private, he has deliberately refrained from correcting this misunderstanding, including those around her.

"That being said, being distanced from Lady Annerose, Petra, Lady Beatrice, Meili, and Lady Emilia is somewhat disheartening. Dissatisfaction."

In any case, there is an inseparable connection between 'Dragons' and dragonkin.

The growth of dragonkin fosters the growth of 'Dragons,' and the death of dragonkin kills the spirit of 'Dragons.' This connection is clear—in fact, if necessary, dragonkin can house their spirit in an empty dragon shell and fully wield their inherent power as a 'Dragon.'

"In the Empire, it is said that Mezoreia and her dragonkin girl did this. Interest."

Clind has been a dragonkin for a long time, but his contact with other dragonkin is almost nonexistent. He hopes to converse with Madelyn, who was newly born in Vollachia, someday.

The soul lodging into the dragon shell that she supposedly did is something Clind has done several times in the past to return to the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica and fulfill the covenant with the Kingdom of Lugunica.

"However, currently, the control over the dragon shell has been seized by some means. Foul play."

Originally, for a dragonkin to lodge their soul into their 'Dragon,' they only need to touch the dragon shell. However, Clind's soul's homecoming after about forty years failed, and the dragon shell is in the hands of a usurper.

"I wasn't entirely unconcerned about it... Regret."

No matter how powerful the species known as 'Dragons' may be, the means to take over an empty vessel are not nonexistent.

Indeed, Clind knows of evil spirits capable of possessing others' bodies, and it has been discussed among his companions that such powers could seize a dragon shell. He hasn't met with Guess, the evil spirit so named, for quite some time.

"It's pointless to dwell on it now. Sentimentality."

In any case, the possibility of a 'Dragon' having its dragon shell seized exists, and Clind knows that to reclaim the dragon shell, one must strike the 'core.' The problem is that the one whose dragon shell was seized is the 'Divine Dragon,' and the dragon scales and dragon halo stand as obstacles to the 'core.'

"As for the dragon scales, I will pierce the reverse scale here, but the breakthrough of the dragon halo must be done by the master. Dedication."

The 'Divine Dragon's' absolute defense, protected by dragon scales and the dragon's halo, conceals the 'core'—striking it is the victory condition entrusted to Clind and Roswaal on the battlefield.

Fortunately, there is a prospect of breaking through the dragon scales. The white scar etched on its neck from the deadly battle with the 'Sword Saint' Reid Astrea is the only gap in its absolute defense.

"It's infuriating that the blow from that insolent one becomes our lifeline. Infuriating."

That abnormal dragon meat eater once demanded a tail, then wanted to eat intestines, and even tried to gouge out the heart. What does he think of his traveling companions?

In the end, it led to a deadly battle—regardless of the circumstances of the scar, there is already a breach in the dragon scales.

Therefore, the path to victory depends on whether Roswaal can overcome the wall of the dragon's halo.

"Creating the time for that is my duty. Focused."

For four hundred years, Roswaal has honed his skills. Now, they are being tested. Amidst this extreme trial, Clind once again reminds himself of the troublesome nature of being a 'dragonkin.'

The way Roswaal's life burns, starting from an immature state, its brilliance seems precious, endearing, and worthy of cherishing to Clind.

『――――ッッ！！』

The roar of the 'Divine Dragon,' which frightens the heavens, paralyzes the earth, and threatens the world, reverberates.

The powerful voice transmits vibrations to the heavens and earth, and the thunderous sound that tears the sky becomes a torrent that engulfs Clind. As the sound is torn apart, Clind's body is also torn and bursts—just before, he dives into the massive fog that formed, clad in purple lightning, and the thunder literally disperses.

The fine water particles create a path for the sound, greatly attenuating the catastrophic shockwave.

"――Al Trio"

Leaping over Clind, who races through the fog with lightning, the three-colored brilliance approaches the 'Dragon.'

Red, blue, and green, the three types of light resonate vividly, and in an instant, the swelling light scorches the sky. A blast and explosion of a hundred-meter scale occur, and the ice flames raging in the storm envelop the 'Dragon,' painting the battlefield's clear sky with colors and scenes reminiscent of the world's end, turning it into hell.

"Shh—!"

Into that hell, Clind dashes through the air with lightning, throwing himself into it.

Even in such a deadly space, the sky turned hellish, surviving and wielding power as proof of existence is the mark of a strong one who lived through the 'Witch's' era.

『――Welcome!!』

The 'Divine Dragon,' proving its survival, roars loudly, gathering the chaotic mixed colors of the sky.

Behind the 'Dragon' with its wings spread, giant arms made of rock float, and a total of twelve of them roar fiercely as if in a welcoming cheer, with mighty fists greeting Clind.

"――Seal Release, Second Unleashing"

Just before colliding with the giant rock arm, the black horn on Clind's head emitted a stronger light.

The surging purple lightning enveloped Clind, granting him temporary protection equivalent to that of a 'Dragon.' Clind utilized this sturdiness for both offense and defense, resisting the 'Divine Dragon's' attacks by using his entire body as an indestructible weapon.

With a thunderous flash, the explosion of purple lightning shattered the rock arm created by the 'Dragon,' enabling a fierce exchange of blows between the two vastly different-sized opponents.

"Such a reckless way of fighting. It's hard to believe it's a 'Dragon.' Creative ingenuity."

"We've both passed the stage of choosing a clean victory. My recent trend for enemy roles is that truly strong guys don't hesitate to use dirty tricks!"

As he smashed one, two, three giant arms, Clind nodded in agreement with that response.

Though self-praise wasn't his style, Clind was indeed the one who could handle the dragon shell of 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica most skillfully and powerfully. No matter how strong the vessel, if the contents differ, its true potential cannot be fully realized.

To make up for what was lacking, the usurper didn't draw out the true value of the dragon shell but instead resorted to using minor tricks that a 'Dragon' wouldn't employ.

And the extent of those minor tricks reached an unappealing level, cornering Clind.

"—Ugh"

The 'Divine Dragon,' with twelve giant arms, dragon claws, and a storm of tail strikes, had a swirling light deep in its throat.

Simultaneously, a torrent of fire and water was being refined and compressed within the 'Dragon's' mouth. It wasn't a simple cancellation of fire and water. The immense heat and moisture, trapped with no escape, sought an outlet for their power and burst forth—

In an instant, Clind generated a shockwave of purple lightning in front of himself, attempting to be propelled backward and escape the 'Divine Dragon's' aim.

"—Ugh!"

However, he was stopped by the giant rock arms that extended to enclose him. Though he tried to blow away the enclosing rock palms with a dance of thunderous explosions—

"—Blow away!"

—Immediately after, with an ear-splitting roar, an explosive blast occurred as if the entire battlefield had been struck.

The heatwave that incinerated everything it touched and the shockwave that tore the world apart assaulted Clind's entire body, leaving him with no escape and delivering excessive divine punishment to the fool who challenged the 'Dragon.'

"……"

Clenching his back teeth tightly, Clind deactivated the purple lightning barrier that covered his entire body. In a flash, he excited his black horn, erecting a barrier with the maximum output of purple lightning that rivaled a dragon's halo. Even so, had he taken the attack head-on, Clind would not have escaped a fatal wound.

Yes, had he taken the attack head-on—

"—Al Quartet"

The voice came from behind Clind, where Roswaal, who had been chanting a grand spell beyond the crumbling, scorched, and shapeless rock arms, spoke.

Roswaal, having ascended into the sky with flight magic, joined the aerial battle between Clind and the 'Divine Dragon,' counteracting that tremendous explosive blast with the extraordinary feat of simultaneously activating all four elements.

"Oh, come on, seriously..."

It was no wonder that the 'Divine Dragon' let out a gasp of astonishment at that fact. The current strike from the usurper had the destructive power equivalent to city-level devastation. To counteract that with a human body and still protect Clind was an extraordinary feat of control. If anything had gone wrong, the 'Divine Dragon's' attack might have been amplified, turning both of them into cinders. It was truly a divine skill, like threading a needle from a kilometer away. However, it couldn't be called a complete victory.

"...I'm beaten, aren't I?"

Roswaal weakly murmured as he staggered, losing control and plummeting headfirst.

"Master! Hurry!"

Clind kicked off into the air to catch up with the falling Roswaal, eyes wide. Roswaal's body was torn to shreds by the aftershock of the explosion he had neutralized, and his severely damaged right arm was a gruesome, charred mass of red and black flesh. Roswaal, who could master all kinds of magic, was unable to use healing magic. Whether he could continue fighting with this injury was too much to ask—,

"Don't take it personally, Origin is waiting!"

"Ugh—!"

Even as Clind held the injured Roswaal, the 'Divine Dragon' did not relent. The dragon's wings whipped the air into slashing light, and Clind, using his lightning speed, evaded, evaded, and kept evading through the sky. Ashamed of his failure to protect Roswaal from injury, he shattered the wind blades with his kicks, took the sweeping dragon wings with his body, and then unleashed a thunderous explosion—blown backward by the impact.

With that, he forcibly gained distance, regained his stance—and in that instant, the dragon's tail strike descended.

"—"

Transforming the shock of the thunderous explosion into rotational force, he took the full brunt of the 'Divine Dragon's' tail strike. He avoided a fatal blow by shielding his head with his arm, but the force was driving him straight toward the ground. Even if he fell to the earth like that, the momentum seemed likely to dig his own grave—,

"—Here comes the finishing blow."

The 'Divine Dragon' said to Clind and the others as they fell, taking a deep breath. In a battle where offense and defense switched at high speed, any action requiring preparation could be fatal. Therefore, the all-out 'Dragon's' breath, which was sealed off except for the first move, was now unleashed.

There was no way to escape the impending doom, even with lightning speed. —For Clind, that is.

"—Al Quintet."

Roswaal, who had let his entire body go limp and left all the combat maneuvers to Clind, now unleashed his long-prepared maximum firepower.

—The activation of the completed spell formation manifested a massive magic circle in the sky, bundling five lights.

Fire and water, wind and earth, and even light—opposing principles, layered and converged through a rationality beyond human understanding, it was an overwhelming destructive force that could only exist outside the realm of order. It collided head-on with the 'Divine Dragon's' breath—and in that instant, sound and color vanished from the world.

"——"

The unleashed forces tore vividly at the very boundary between heaven and earth. Flames raged, the sky froze, winds swirled, and the ground heaved violently, all amplified by light. These five contradictory forces formed pillars of light, causing the battlefield to collapse in a chain reaction. What was once a rocky wasteland before the battle began was now filled with a dazzling dance of light and thunderous noise, everything swallowed by a cauldron of chaos.

"――――"

In terms of disrupting the balance of the world, it was a spell comparable to the numerous forbidden arts erased from existence by Od Lagna. The reason this was not eradicated as a forbidden art was simply because there was no one capable of using it. In the past, the only two who realized this same grand magic—no, super magic—were the 'Witch of Greed' Echidna and the 'First Sorcerer' Myonmyon. This super magic, which stepped into the realm of taboo, was not an act of 'destruction,' but a single arrow of 'negation.'

"Master, you are truly... I am in awe."

Who could believe that this scene of cataclysm was the testament of a single person's dedication? The path that person walked and the footprints they left behind might be detested, reviled, and their way of being denied by many as unethical deeds. However, Clind does not deny it. He does not disdain it. It might be worthy of contempt, but when faced with something that surpasses all limits, the shock that arises in one's heart is no different for humans or 'dragons.'

He was simply overwhelmed. Could a human accumulate so much?

――Clind loves the potential of humans.

He never tires of wondering what these weak, fragile, and imperfect beings aim for and seek. In that regard, Roswaal was close to being the highest scorer.

As far as Clind knew, there was no one as disgraceful as Roswaal, who clung to and struggled for a distant possibility.

――If he had no talent, he could have given up much sooner.
――If he had been chosen like the 'Sword Saint,' he wouldn't have suffered so much.

What Roswaal had, being neither of those, was an extraordinary obsession.

That's why Clind respects his way of being, affirms his journey, and has lent him his strength.

"That prayer still continues to shine within me.――Vow."

Uttering this vow, Clind slowly lays Roswaal down on the ground. The rare magician, shedding tears of blood and convulsing from the extreme overuse of his gate, is laid on a barren bed of sand, far too bleak to honor his achievements, but for now, he must endure it.

――In the sky, the 'Divine Dragon,' having bathed in the sorcerer's ultimate magic, remains unscathed and intact.

△▼△▼△▼△

――And so reality catches up to Roswaal, whose life is like a flickering flame.

"Five seconds, Master. Reporting."

The return of scattered consciousness was met with an unexpectedly calm voice.

However, there was no intention to blame Clind for it. In five seconds, the 'Divine Dragon' could have killed Roswaal fifty times over. There is talk of a 'non-lethal' restriction, so perhaps it would only crush the limbs and freeze the wounds to render one incapacitated.

Roswaal, if it meant incapacitating someone, would likely go that far.

Clind protected Roswaal from such harm and admirably fulfilled his role as the vanguard.

The problem lies with—,

"My own incompetence, perhaps."

It was the pitiful state of my body, which intervened in the battle between the 'Dragon' and the dragonkin, only to be easily brought to the brink of death. It wasn't that I underestimated the situation, but I thought I could do more.

"――――"

Thanks to Petra, who took on the Witch Factor herself, the battlefield where the 'Divine Dragon' was drawn in was thoroughly prepared by Roswaal, and it should have been the pinnacle of magical warfare in his lifetime.

Such a battle could be said to be the greatest since fighting alongside Clind against the 'Warlock of Melancholy.' It's not simply a matter of the 'Divine Dragon' being stronger than the 'Warlock of Melancholy' when looking at the results.

In any case—,

"...I must change the victory conditions."

Even now, Clind might be fighting, believing in Roswaal's recovery, but no one knows their own limits better than themselves. His stamina was depleted, his body was in shambles, and the intense mana consumption was severely draining his life force.

The numerous grand spells prepared were not enough to penetrate the 'Divine Dragon's' dragon aura. Even the simultaneous activation of five types of Al-level magic was impossible. If there was any possibility, it would be the simultaneous activation of six attributes of Al-level magic, but a magic that has never succeeded even in perfect conditions could not possibly succeed in the current state.

The sensation of his brain boiling and the pain as if all the blood in his body was flowing backward were signs that the best gate selected by his family over four hundred years was on the verge of breaking.

Continuing any further was meaningless. If what was prepared didn't work, then the hurdle for achieving the goal must be lowered, and at least the minimum quota must be accomplished.

Originally, the aim of this battle was to thwart Aldebaran's plan, and if they could continue to hold back the 'Divine Dragon' here, that would suffice.

Therefore, it was wise to be flexible and focus on supporting Clind, who continued to resist.

That is—,

'Roswaal, don't push yourself too hard, but it's a very important role. So, do your best!'

'Lord Roswaal, I apologize for the trouble I've caused you. Finally, I can repay your kindness. Let's help that person... let's support Subaru-kun together!'

'It's something you said you would do, so don't back down. ...I dislike you, but I truly believe you won't lose to anyone.'

'Lord Roswaal, may fortune be with you. —And, please, do as you wish.'

"...Oh my."

Wise and adaptable, he was supposed to focus on supporting Clind.

However, before he realized it, Roswaal found himself standing up, cradling his severely injured right arm.

"――――"

It was strange. Instead of following the discreet methods of the great magician he admired, Roswaal had intended to fight like a more cunning, victory-hungry, ordinary magician.

Why on earth had he stood up?

Was he really going to claim he hadn't given up? Even though what he had prepared didn't work. Even though he had never achieved results beyond his abilities before.

"――So, you've stood up. I was planning to take over your role."

Because he was surprised by his own actions, Roswaal wasn't startled by the unexpected voice.

"――――"

The owner of the voice slowly stepped onto the desolate land that seemed to depict the end of the world, standing beside the unsteady Roswaal.

However――,

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the energy to tilt my head. You're too short for me to see who you are, but this isn't a place for children."

"Who are you calling a child! You really are an infuriating man...!"

Half-joking, half-serious, Roswaal's words provoked a genuine outburst of anger from the other person, whose unseen figure gradually rose into view at the edge of his vision. It wasn't that the person had grown taller. They had used magic to raise the ground, creating an impromptu platform to match their eye level.

It was a truly frivolous use of magic, but he didn't dislike it.

Ignoring Roswaal's inner thoughts, the green-haired dwarf in black clothing crossed their arms and declared――,

"I'll make sure you never forget who I am. I, Ezzo Kadner the 'Gray', will surpass the 'Divine Dragon' before you do!"