第２８３堀：再会？ (Part3)
I will die soon, leaving Grad behind.
When that happens, I worry he might end up destroying this world.
The reason for my impending death is simple: I lack the magical power to maintain Ground Zero.
For now, I have enough DP left, but once that runs out, the dungeon will drain my own mana. If my mana is insufficient, it will begin to consume my life force. In other words, death.
I could survive by severing the control, but then Grad would return to his wild state.
I know my own skills as a Tamer are not enough to keep a creature like him in check.
It was a miscalculation.
I never imagined the strongest, greatest monster would be this overwhelming.
So, at the very least, I decided to annihilate the mercenary group before I lost control.
"...I only wanted a world where everyone could live in peace."
*Mom?*
What am I doing?
I am trying to use a child who is so attached to his mother as a tool for war.
I am trying to die while entrusting my hatred to my child.
...What have I been aiming for, living until now?
*Gogo.*
As I ponder this, a sound echoes through the area.
*M-Mom!? The ground is shaking!?*
"Eh?"
*BOOM!!*
With the sound of a collapse and the resulting shockwave, my consciousness faded.
***
Side: Aslin
"We've arrived!! Mr. Dragon, Mom-san, where are you!!"
"Where are youuu!!"
In the clearing of the forest, a massive rock mountain was submerged in a large pool of water.
I think this is what they call an underground lake.
The sound from earlier must have been the giant rock falling into it.
Then, the tip of the giant rock moved toward us.
*I'm right here.*
"Whoa, you're huge, Mr. Dragon."
"You are huge."
I thought it was just a giant rock, but it seems that rock was actually the dragon.
"Where is Mom?"
*Mom is on my back. I think she's right in the middle.*
"Can we climb on your back?"
*Yeah. It's okay. Please help Mom.*
"Leave it to me. Heave-ho."
With the dragon's permission, Firia and I immediately leaped onto his back.
But Steve wasn't coming over.
"Steve, hurry up! Your medical skills are more reliable, so please!"
"Hurry up, please!"
"Damn it... I'll do it!!"
I don't know what it is, but Steve jumped over with the same look he has when he's sparring with Big Brother or Seraria-onee-sama.
After confirming he made it, I searched for the magical signature and ran up the dragon's back.
"Ah, Aslin. It's over there."
"You're right. I can feel a magical signature that's different from the dragon's."
When we approached the spot where Firia-chan found the magic, a white-haired onee-sama was sitting there, protecting her leg.
"You came. Well, I guessed it from your voices, but you're such cute children."
The white-haired onee-sama looked surprised to see us.
Yeah. I think that's understandable.
After all, if it weren't for Big Brother's training, there's no way we could have made it to a place like this.
"O-oh, I'm sorry. My name is Alfin. I'm a mother figure to this child, Grad."
"My name is Aslin."
"I am Firia."
And then, Steve, who arrived late, introduced himself.
"...Steve."
Steve seems kind of nervous.
Ah, it must be because Alfin-onee-sama is a beauty.
That's not allowed. He shouldn't be doing anything weird to an injured onee-sama.
I was about to say that, but Alfin-onee-sama looked shocked and tried to approach Steve.
"Ah, no way."
She tried to walk forward, but since her leg was broken, she immediately collapsed.
"Ugh."
*Mom!?*
"Are you okay!?"
"Steve, please look at her leg quickly!!"
"O-okay, got it!!"
Steve immediately asked Alfin-onee-sama for permission and examined her leg.
"Hmm, hmm... This is just a fracture. I'd like to say that, but the impact of the fall has shattered the bone quite a bit. I think this is beyond the level of just 'painful'."
*Is Mom going to be okay!?*
"Whoa!? What is this voice!?"
"Huh? Could you not hear it, Steve? It's this dragon's voice."
*Ah, I'm sorry. Mr. Goblin, my name is Grad. I think you couldn't hear me until now because I was calling out to people like Mom.*
"Ah, I see, that's what it is. So that's why Princess Aslin and Princess Firia could hear you. And, sorry for the late introduction. I'm Steve the Goblin. And don't worry, Mom will be fine. Just wait a second."
Steve said that and immediately chanted a high-level healing spell.
"T-this is... healing magic? The pain in my leg is disappearing?"
"Yeah, that's right. Steve is amazing."
"That's right. Steve is amazing."
When Steve's healing magic finished, Alfin-onee-sama stood up immediately and checked to see if there was any discomfort in her leg.
*Mom, are you okay?*
"Yes. It's healed."
*That's great. Thank you!!*
"That's great~"
"That's great."
While we were saying that, Alfin-onee-sama hugged Steve.
"Yes!?"
Steve was surprised, his eyes spinning in confusion.
"Thank goodness!! Thank goodness!! You were alive!!"
Saying that, Alfin-onee-sama shed tears of joy.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Don't really get it? Do you know, Grad-kun?"
*I think she might be thinking he's the Goblin she told me about.*
" "The Goblin?" "
I don't really get it, but since Mom has been saved, let's contact Big Brother.
Grad-kun gets tired easily in this body, so I should call Kuro-chan or someone to teach him how to shrink his size.
Otherwise, he won't fit into the dungeon.
***
Side: Yuki
"What is going on?"
I can't keep up with the sudden turn of events before my eyes.
I look around, hoping someone will explain the flow of the situation, but everyone just shakes their heads.
"Well, no matter how you look at it, Steve is involved in some way."
Seraria mutters this while watching the monitor.
Indeed, it is Steve who is being hugged by Alfin.
"For now, I will go meet her as the Dungeon Master. It seems Alfin doesn't recognize Aslin and the others as enemies, so if I persuade her, we might be able to place her under designated protection."
Labyris says this, slides off my lap, and heads toward the exit of the conference room.
"Is that okay?"
Ratz asks worriedly, but Labyris smiles and looks back...
"My best friends worked so hard out there. I'll do my best to reward that kindness of theirs. Yuki, don't stop me, okay?"
Standing there was a determined Labyris.
It was clear that stopping her would be useless.
She was going for the sake of Aslin and Firia.
And the one who announced she would join was the last of their best friends.
"Then, I will go as well. I am their best friend too!! What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't lend a hand at a time like this? If she knows there is a Rabbit Beastman present, it should be easier to accept our words."
"Fufu, that's true. Let's go, Shera."
And the two of them hold hands and leave the conference room.
"They're amazing. Those girls are growing up more and more."
"Haa, this time it was completely my mistake. Because the opponent was too dangerous, I discarded the option of conversation right from the start."
"That can't be helped, can it? There was a possibility that all of our identities were already compromised."
I understand what Seraria is trying to say, but still, this result exists, and it is certain that I did not take the steps that could have led to this.
It's not good to obsess over this, but discarding the possibility entirely is also a problem.
Yeah.
This incident was a lesson.
Don't lose hope.
That's what it means.
Ah, I was saying all sorts of high-and-mighty things to Taiki-kun, but I'm no different myself.
Thinking this, on the other side of the monitor, I saw Steve desperately trying to escape from Alfin's embrace.
"But, Steve will need an interrogation later."
"That's for sure. We need to ask him all sorts of things—where they met, why he kept silent until now, and so on."
But, wouldn't such a beautiful woman, and a Holy Sword User at that, notice Steve's strength?
Or rather, Steve has no reason to keep it a secret, right?
...Ah, I really don't get it at all.