Chapter 71: Flying Dragon
It’s been decided! All thanks to everyone who’s been reading. Once details are finalized, I’ll write up updates and reports.
One week after meeting with the Prime Minister in Osaka—
We were headed from Osaka International Airport to Geneva, Switzerland, aboard a government charter jet. Besides me, Sakuragi and Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Hashino were coming along, plus two other government officials.
Shimizu and Sakuragi had come to the airport to see us off.
“Sakuragi, I’m entrusting you with Gojo. He’s got his moments—don’t let him get out of hand!”
“Hai! Leave it to me!”
“Nah… you’re really saying some rude stuff there, but I’m actually pretty normal, you know?”
Everyone gave me the same look—like I’d just stepped out of a parallel dimension.
“Gojo, I’m not worried, but watch yourself!”
“Shimizu, you’ve just gotten back to the Self-Defense Force, so listen to your superior, Sakuragi, okay?”
They waved at us as we boarded the government jet.
Inside, the seats were more spacious than I expected. I’ve never been on a plane before, but is this what first class feels like?
Sakuragi sat next to me, and Hashino was in the seat diagonally across.
“It’ll take about thirteen hours to get to Geneva.”
“Huh. That’s a long time. I could zip there in an instant with my teleportation.”
I’d already explained parts of my abilities to Sakuragi and the others. I could’ve been there right now, if I wanted to—
“…Gojo, that’s exactly why it’s not normal.”
“Ah…?”
With a flicker of doubt, the government charter jet lifted off toward Switzerland.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“He’s gone.”
“Yeah. He really did.”
Me and Shimizu stood there, watching the government jet disappear into the sky.
"Look at you—acting like you really wanted to come along."
"I didn’t! I’ve got work here, and Sakuragi’s got this covered."
Sure, I’m lying if I say I’d be useless. I know damn well I’d just be dead weight.
"To be honest... I’ve always wanted Gojo to stay in Japan."
"Shimizu..."
"If he’s around, I feel like no matter what happens next, we’ll be okay."
Shimizu knows he can’t stay, of course. But you never know what kind of crisis might hit Japan.
"This time, it’s not just Gojo—there’s also the Knights of the Sanctuaries, the so-called strongest in the world. They’ll take down the Dragon, and then come right back."
"Who’s the strongest?! There’s no one stronger than Gojo!!"
"I agree—but their track record’s real. In the past few months, they’ve been taking down ‘Leaders’ one after another. No ordinary human could do that."
"True... Now they’re basically global heroes."
We stepped out of the airport and got into the car. Shimizu went quiet, lost in thought.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh... don’t you think they’re kind of alike?"
"Huh? What?"
"Gojo! The Knights of the Sanctuaries—and Gojo—both started showing insane strength after the ‘Day of Calamity,’ and both started wiping out ‘Leaders.’ And Gojo won’t even explain why he’s so strong now..."
"What are you getting at?"
"Come on—don’t you see?! There’s gotta be some kind of secret linking the Knights and Gojo!"
"Only your imagination."
"Man, you’re such a stiff. Yeah, yeah, it’s just my crazy theory."
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Twelve hours passed—looks like we're arriving in Switzerland. Slept most of the way, but honestly, the trip was pretty comfortable.
Still half-asleep, I felt a spike in "Hostility Detection." I glanced out the window—black shadows in the clouds.
"Something wrong?"
"Something's there."
"Huh?"
A massive shape emerged from the clouds, hurtling straight toward the plane. Turbulence rocked the cabin, the aircraft shaking violently.
"Yikes!!"
Screams and gasps erupted—Sakuragi and Hagi no, everyone—everyone staring out the window. There, staring back, was an unmistakable dragon, its body a shocking, brilliant blue!
"Is that it...?"
"What the hell is that!?"
I calmed down Sakuragi, stood up from my seat.
"Wait here a sec."
"Wha—? Hey, wait—! He's gone!?!"
I teleported straight outside the plane. In midair, I locked eyes on the dragon—tail included, easily thirty meters long... maybe more.
They say it's one of the strongest beasts, on par with giants... Wonder if it’ll hold up?
"Summon!—Phoenix—!"
A magic circle bloomed in the sky. From within it, a bird of blue flames shot forth, charging straight at the dragon!
Phoenix and dragon clashed in midair, locked in a brutal, spiraling tangle! After who-knows-how-many impacts, the phoenix flared with blinding light—then exploded right next to the dragon!
"Should’ve taken down a normal enemy... but..."
From the smoke, the dragon reappeared—just a few scratches on its hide. So this is what they mean by "resistant to both magic and physical attacks"...?
The phoenix rose again from the flames—once more, it lunged at the dragon!!
"GYAAAAAARRRHHHH!!"
"KYURORORORORO!!"
After wrestling violently, the Dragon opened its mouth wide and unleashed a searing fireball straight at the Phoenix!
Explosive flames swallowed the Phoenix whole. For a split second, it vanished—then reappeared as a colossal crimson bird of fire, blocking the Dragon’s path!
It charged forward like a flaming spear—then detonated with a blast ten times stronger than before.
This time, it actually worked. The Dragon tumbled downward, trailing smoke…
“TEIM!!”
A magic circle appeared directly beneath the Dragon. As it passed through the center, it dissolved into particles of light.
Checking the Teim listboard, I saw the name “Flying Dragon.”
“Rank of strength… probably a B, or somewhere in the middle of the giants.”
The Phoenix flew alongside me, matching my altitude.
“Guard us until we reach the airport.”
I left the Phoenix outside and teleported back inside the cabin.
“Eh!? Gojo-san, are you okay? I heard an explosion…?”
“I’m fine now. Just gonna rest a bit—wake me when we land.”
“Uuuuuhhh….”
Later, we arrived safely at Geneva Airport.