236 Dragon, pitfall, what kind of monster is that...

An unexpected situation has arisen.

I found the missing Ogre, but he was in the midst of a desperate battle with the Ice Dragon.

Wow.

Clearly in a berserker state.

Utterly transformed into a raging demon.

No trace of humanity remains.

This is hopeless.

The Ice Dragon, guardian of the Demon Mountains, should be formidable, yet the Ogre is clearly dominating.

Appears to have minimal skill development, but his stats are extraordinary.

The Ice Dragon's scales are cleanly severed by a single strike of the cursed blade.

Two blades.

True demon god chaos.

The mismatch in elemental affinity also plays a role.

One of the Ogre's cursed blades is fire-aligned.

Highly disadvantageous against an ice-type Dragon.

Additionally, the fact that he does not use magic is significant.

The dragon's innate magic suppression effect becomes meaningless if the opponent does not use magic.

Attribute-based attacks from a magic weapon are technically a form of magic, but are not classified as magic within the system, thus avoiding suppression effects.

Therefore, the ice dragon is being pressured, absorbing flame attacks without resistance.

Even though I struggled so much against the earth dragon.

The difference in elemental affinity is significant.

I was a unique magic class—specialized in support and magic, despite my overall role.

The ogre is firmly a physical combat specialist.

Our natures are too different.

That's right.

Speaking of dragons, the Vampire Child seems to have developed an unusual skill.

It activated during the class simulation battle.

White scales appeared on the Vampire Child's body.

The teacher's magic, aimed at the child, was nullified just before impact.

It looked entirely like a dragon scale-type ability.

Moreover, having completely nullified the teacher’s magic just before impact, the skill level was undoubtedly high.

How did the Vampire Child acquire a skill restricted to dragonkind?

The only possibility that comes to mind is the skill of envy.

I suspect the bonus skill associated with the title “Master of Envy” was of the dragon scale type.

How envious, I thought—envious of someone who possesses the skill of envy.

After all, a Vampire Child is already a rare skill user, and now they possess a skill as rare as dragonkind-exclusive.

How extravagant.

Thanks to the Undead Body skill, which already granted high defense, the dragon scale defense was now added.

Appearance deceives—the Vampire Child was unexpectedly sturdy.

Though, one cannot speak ill of others, can they? No death intention, clearly.

Ah.

I’ve wandered off-topic.

Meanwhile, the battle between Ogakun and the Ice Dragon had already concluded.

Ogakun won.

Well, the Ice Dragon fought hard, too.

Yet, with poor compatibility and an opponent whose fury had activated, the odds were overwhelmingly unfavorable.

Still, the decision to use the blizzard as cover and attempt escape at the very end was sound.

Had it been a earth dragon, perhaps it would have continued fighting until death—such a fate might have been considered honorable. But sometimes, fleeing from an enemy's back is necessary.

As long as one survives, that is enough.

Survival may bring a chance for revenge in time. Death, however, means nothing remains.

The Ice Dragon narrowly escaped capture by Ogakun.

Ogakun, no longer interested in the fleeing Ice Dragon, moved in another direction.

That direction—was not good.

Well, the feeling of dread had been unmistakable ever since the battle with the Ice Dragon began.

Beyond the mountains of darkness, the path Ogakun took led to a calm and open plain.

A peculiar space isolated by mountains and sea, cut off from the outside world.

There was a place where no monsters existed, nor conflict, nor discrimination. Humans and demons lived there as equals.

In this world, an alien land.

An artificial paradise—clearly tampered with by some unseen hand.

There was only one such person.

Black, Administrator Guryedidistdies.

Only a god could create a place such as this.

The purpose is clear.

This is a sanctuary for the soul.

Protecting souls that can no longer endure the system, shielding them from conflict, extending their lifespan.

Otherwise, the soul will inevitably collapse.

The number of demonkind under protection is considerable.

It felt as though an entire nation rested there.

That meant a number of human demons had already reached near their limit.

One day, this world will collapse.

It is visible to the eye.

But I thought I had a little more leeway.

That was what forced a reevaluation—having discovered this sanctuary.

Frankly, we're finished.

The Demon Lord likely does not know this.

If a great war were to be instigated between humans and demons, the shortage of MA energy could be replenished. That is what they believe would save this world.

But the matter is not so simple.

The M.A. energy replenishment will not be sufficient in time.

The source of energy is beginning to dwindle.

Moreover, if my prediction holds, it will not begin gradually, but arrive all at once.

Too fast—by the time it’s noticed, it’s already too late.

Black likely anticipated this outcome to some degree.

Still, no effective means are available.

This is why black is ineffective here—caught between two forces, unable to move.

Well, I suppose black has its own conflicts—but while it hesitates, the world faces annihilation.

A little more decisiveness earlier, and it wouldn’t have reached this terminal state.

Idiot.

And once ogre reaches the sanctuary, the slaughter is inevitable.

Rationality has been completely dissolved by rage.

It’s no longer a reincarnated being.

Just a manifestation of fury.

A single monster.

Black won’t allow that to happen.

What to do then?

No—decision already made.

As expected, black falls into the spatial distortion I set.

Heh heh heh.

Feels like a spider’s web, doesn’t it? Traps like this are my specialty.

Then, into the swarm of fragmented forms—spider hell.

And toss in that clock I stole from House D.

Tee-ta-ree-ree!

Chrono-Operational Chronometer—!

A time and space manipulation device, manufactured exclusively by D.

One-time use only.

This time, the flow of time within the alternate dimension sealing the Black will be slowed drastically—far more than on this side.

The Black will be unable to emerge for several years.

There are other convenience items borrowed from House D, but each possesses performance so extreme that their applications are difficult to determine.

Likely intended as logistical support from D’s side—so I’ll accept it gratefully.

Incidentally, the cursed deck of cards has vanished without a trace.

Losing something that dangerous…

I hope it isn’t being misused somewhere.

With the Black sealed, there will be no more interference from the ogre.

Go ahead—indulge in slaughter as you please.

It benefits those sheltered in the protected zone as well.

The moment the Black reemerges is the true fear.

But when that time comes, we’ll deal with it then.

The ogre shall serve as a sacrifice.

He’s already consumed by fury—useless now.

Released, then.

Can I skip writing and go hunt instead?

No?

I see.

Damn it.