Akatsuki Translations

What would you do if you ever faced an opponent you absolutely couldn’t defeat?

Ur had once asked Glen this question months ago at the adventurer training grounds in the【City of Sin, Greed】. Glen’s answer to that question was incredibly straightforward.

“Die.” -Glen

“Thanks for the utterly useless answer.” -Ur

“What can I say? It’s the truth.” -Glen

Glen said this with a bored expression.

“An opponent you absolutely can’t defeat means just that. Even with luck, whether your skills are at their best or not, you can’t win against ‘em. If you end up fighting such an opponent, death is the only outcome.” -Glen

“There’s no way out, huh?” -Ur

“If it’s possible, run. Running gives you a chance, albeit slim, but it’s probably impossible.” -Glen

“It’s impossible?” -Ur

“You said it, an absolute superior. Then escaping is also impossible.” -Glen

Given the assumption that it’s beyond one’s own abilities, the conclusion is inevitably that nothing can be done, whether you try to escape or do anything else. Ur’s question was too vague this time.

“Let me rephrase the question. What ways are there to survive against an absolute superior?” -Ur

“There ain’t any… well, that’s not entirely true.” -Glen

Ur blinked at Glen’s words. At that time, Ur was a greenhorn who had barely been an adventurer for a month, desperately seeking any bit of safety in the perilously dangerous life of an adventurer, where a moment of carelessness could lead to death. He yearned for some kind of safety.

If there was a way, it would be more than welcome. Ur was hopeful about Glen’s answer.

“But” -Glen

“But?” -Ur

“It’s expensive.” -Glen

Ur’s face twisted as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.

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Teleportation Scroll

This was the “last resort in case of emergency” that Glen had taught Ur about.

The content of the scroll was simple but contained a high-level magic spell. Namely, it was a 【Teleportation】 spell, capable of moving an arbitrary target to a different space.

Teleportation magic is not widely disseminated because it’s not something that can be accomplished with human power alone.

It requires the power of spirits and is thus manufactured in temples. However, the quantity supplied by the temples is limited, making it rare and expensive.

The uses are diverse. Originally, it could instantly transport massive amounts of materials that would otherwise require days to transport, store, and carry to another city. It can also be used as insurance for extremely difficult explorations beyond human habitable zones. It can even facilitate a return from the depths of the darkest dungeons.

Yes, it makes escape from the dungeon possible. And Ur possesses it.

It was something he couldn’t afford right after learning about it from Glen, but he managed to buy just one with the bounty from the battle with the necromancer. He got it from a merchant who had acquired it from the temple. The price was negotiated down to eight gold coins, using Shizuku’s tears as well, making it relatively cheap. It was still a significant expense, though.

But even so, Ur was convinced that this “insurance” was essential to have. In the unpredictable dungeon, an absolute escape device was definitely better to have.

And that conviction was proved correct.

『Ev   en    thou   gh   y ou    we re      n  ot   su   mmon    ed, h  ow pre   sump  tuo   us. 』-Dragon

“…………………” -Ur

With a click, the dragon, with a face like a girl’s, smiled. Whether it just seemed to smile, or it actually did, Ur couldn’t tell.

Ur focused his attention on the trump card in his pocket. Its activation was incredibly simple. Just touch the magic circle in the center of the scroll. Then, according to one’s will, it can transport the user and desired people and things around them to the chosen location.

A one-time use escape device, he wanted to use it right now and flee.

But there was a dragon in front of him.

Undoubtedly a dragon. Different in form from the one he had seen before, but the being before him was unmistakably a dragon. Smaller than the one he had seen in the battle with the necromancer, yet it was a far more horrendous presence.

Why the hell is this happening?

Ur cursed again, this time with the vehemence of cursing the entire world.

He had just been desperately fighting the Poison Omen Bird, using all his strength and resources, and had won. After all that effort and battle, why must he face such treatment? Why must he confront an adversary of the world?

Filled with boiling anger at such injustice, Ur clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to collapse.

『Wh    at   h   ave yo u co   me he    re fo   r, y    ou   mer e sp   eck of du   st? 』-Dragon

“…The one with business here is you, dragging me to this place.” -Ur

Ur quickly responded. He couldn’t quite process what the dragon was saying. His head felt heavy and twisted, and the dragon’s echoing voice seemed to drive him mad if he listened too closely.

Desperately keeping his tongue moving, Ur looked for an opportunity, slowly moving his hand to his pocket.

『My p  ur   po   se is wi    th th    at ‘si   lver’ ove    r th      ere. 』-Dragon

“…You mean Shizuku?” -Ur

Ur spoke emotionlessly, touching Shizuku’s body to take her with him in the teleportation. Sweat streamed down his face. Unlike the upper layers, it was cold here, with no humidity and no light, but the sweat wouldn’t stop. Was it due to tension, exhaustion, or the daunting aura emitted by the aberration before him?

“She’s just a normal human magician.” -Ur

Ur continued to speak, buying time. And then something triggered an emotion in the dragon. It began to rattle ominously. It took Ur a while to realize that the eerie sound, like trees rubbing against each other in the wind, was actually laughter.

『D     o yo       u       s    ee         he   r as ju   st a nor m   al h  um    an? 』-Dragon

“…She’s different, you mean?” -Ur

『Ind       eed,          qu    ite    differ        ent. 』-Dragon

Ur had his hand in his pocket, touching the teleportation spell while the dragon laughed bizarrely. He could activate it. But it would take a few seconds after activation, and it was highly doubtful whether the dragon would allow that time.

There was no concealment technique built into this teleportation spell. Its activation would be immediately noticeable.

『T       hat         is   o       ur   s. 』-Dragon

Ur grabbed Shizuku’s body. At the same time, he focused all his remaining strength into his legs and kicked off the large tree’s back. Following the distorted gravity of space, Ur and Shizuku began to fall into the endless void. In the midst of their fall, Ur activated the teleportation spell.

“Teleportation!!!” -Ur

『Chi    ld’s             pl          ay. 』-Dragon

A stark white tendril pierced Ur’s arm in an instant.

It went right through Ur’s right arm, equipped with 【Hawk’s Talons】, and slammed them against the “sideways ground.”

“Ga…!!!” -Ur

The shock and severe pain left Ur breathless. Shizuku’s body, which he had been holding, also rolled down the tree. It was lucky she didn’t fall into the abyss, but the dire situation hadn’t changed at all.

『Sp   irit     mimi     cry is s   uc h a f   ut ile   end     eavor. 』-Dragon

The dragon looked at the simple teleportation scroll that had fallen from Ur’s hand and then trampled on it with its foot. Ur’s last resort to break the current situation was taken away effortlessly. A faint cry escaped his throat, different from the pain, as cold despair enveloped his mind.

There were no more options left.

『Shou    ld I le    ave y ou to van    ish int o   the de   pt hs of dar   kne  ss, I wo   nder. 』-Dragon

The dragon twisted its neck and stared at Shizuku, lying on the ground. Its inanimate eyes housed a hint of emotion for the first time. However, Ur couldn’t decipher most of its alien feelings, except for one – a piercing anger.

『Sh    all   I     us  e        yo ur    a     rm? 』-Dragon

“――――Aaagh!?” -Ur

The excruciating pain in his right arm intensified. Ur couldn’t bear it and let out a pathetic scream. The white vine gnawed into his arm, violently invading his bloodstream, bringing unbearable agony.

Moreover, amidst the intense pain and discomfort, Ur felt an odd sense of pleasure. The discomfort of being dominated by a powerful, unknown entity was somehow converted into comfort. A sensation contrary to the current situation was forcibly implanted.

His arm writhed. Against Ur’s will, it dragged his body with tremendous force towards Shizuku.

To her neck.

『I t is be  st to pluc   k o ut unplea      sant     thi   n gs          sw   ift   ly. 』-Dragon

“Gu… Gii…!!” -Ur

Power surged into the hand around Shizuku’s neck. It was as if he was killing a monster, his full strength poured into it. And Ur himself desired this. An overwhelming sense of bliss and omnipotence tried to dominate his entire will.

The tendril that had pierced and writhed through his arm was manipulating him like a puppet.

Exhaustion, pressure, agony, despair, pleasure, a flood of intense emotions made Ur’s brain creak. He would go mad at this rate, if he hadn’t already. Otherwise, why would he find joy in strangling a companion?

The creaking of her neck bones, the sensation transmitted through his hand, told him he would kill her if this continued. The unbearable discomfort was all turning into pleasure. Unable to resist it, Ur screamed.

“Shiz… Gu…” -Ur

“Run away,” Ur called out her name. But she didn’t move. Depleted of magic and spirit, she had no strength left. Yet, upon Ur’s call, Shizuku faintly moved her eyelids.

And she smiled gently.

“It’s okay,” she seemed to say with her lips.

That’s what Ur saw.

“…I,  already said.” -Ur

The moment Ur understood, all the chaos in his confused mind snapped into a fiery rage.

“STOP THAT, DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!” -Ur

Ur thrust the knife he had pulled out into his uncontrollable right arm with all his might. Blood sprayed. The pain was intense, of course, but Ur didn’t care and continued to stab and gouge his arm. The power drained from his carved arm, releasing Shizuku’s neck. Ur then kicked off the ground and charged at the dragon.

“GAAHHHH!!!”  -Ur

『Hm  m? I se    e     yo    u su    rpa  ss eve  n my     l  ust. 』-Dragon

The dragon said something, but Ur couldn’t hear it. He charged with the knife. The dragon didn’t move, as if dodging was unnecessary. Indeed, there was no need to dodge. A cheap knife that struggled to slash the Poison Omen Bird wouldn’t leave a scratch on this monster.

But Ur understood that. His heart pounded with searing rage, but his mind was clear. So, wielding the “bloodstained knife,” he swung it at the dragon’s eyes just before getting close.

To blind it with blood.

『Hm  m? 』-Dragon

“AGHHHHHHH!!!” -Ur

Ur dropped his weight and charged with all his strength, like tackling a giant tree. The shock recoiled back to him, but the dragon, surprised by both the blinding blood and Ur’s actions, stepped back slightly, lifting its foot off the teleportation spell.

Ur grabbed the teleportation spell again, crumpled by the dragon’s sharp claws, and unfolded it while running back to Shizuku, trying to activate it.

“Acti―” -Ur

『Y    our strug    gle is surp   risi   ng, no t chil    d’s p    lay, I ad    mit. 』-Dragon

The next moment, Ur was pinned to the ground by the white vine still tearing through his arm. He couldn’t defend himself, but he was prepared for the attack. He desperately protected the teleportation spell.

The burning pleasure returned, but it was scorched by a greater heat.

Like hell I’ll be manipulated. And I won’t let her be killed!

『T  he fu     ry in yo  u is in     terest ing. No   t a g  oo  d ma     tch fo  r me, thou     gh. 』-Dragon

The dragon observed Ur with a twisted smile, its voice amused, seemingly piqued with curiosity, a stark contrast to its previous disinterest.

『We ll th   en, I sha  ll     devo   ur y ou    my    self. 』-Dragon

Whether the dragon’s curiosity was piqued or not, Ur’s life was still in danger. He had to activate the teleportation spell somehow – if he could just teleport…

The dragon, reading Ur’s thoughts somehow, grinned widely and sneered.

『By     t  he    wa   y, tha  t spe     ll is ju   st a decor     ation. 』-Dragon

“…Wha?” -Ur

『It’s a tel    eporta     tion spel   l, but a fa    ke one with     out the bless    ing of spi      rits. 』-Dragon

It took a while for Ur to digest those words. He had considered the possibility of deceit. He glanced at the spell on the ground. After looking at the battered spell and then back at the dragon, he spoke.

“…Can I try it?” -Ur

『Su      re. 』-Dragon

He tried to activate it. A faint light appeared as if it had activated. He waited a few seconds, then several more.

Nothing happened.

“…” -Ur

『… … …..S   ee? 』-Dragon

In front of the dragon, which spoke almost cutely, Ur recalled the man who had sold him the so-called simple teleportation spell.

　――This is a precious item I had a hard time obtaining. But if you want it that much, I’ll help a young one like you.

Remembering the merchant’s face, who spoke so nobly and looked so dignified, Ur thought to himself.

“I’ll curse that fucking swindler to death…!!!” -Ur

『Go   od. You r     des    pair and an     ger are fitti      ng. No  w, l  et me dev     our yo  u. 』-Dragon

The girl’s face split open. Not just dislocating her jaw – her head split in two. It swelled, becoming like a giant snake, and rushed towards Ur with terrifying speed.

Ur couldn’t move. He tried to escape, but his pierced right arm was rooted to the ground, immobilizing him.

“――――Akane.” -Ur

In his final moment, resigned to his inevitable death, Ur called out his sister’s name.

《NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 》-Akane

Hearing her name, Akane sprang forward and slashed through the dragon’s head.

『  M  U   . 』-Dragon

“――――Ha?!” -Ur

“Ur!!!”

A sharp voice snapped Ur out of his paralysis. He immediately recognized whose voice it was.

“That was a reaaaaaaaally close call, my friend.” -Diz

Diz, cloaked in her mantle, landed protectively before Ur with Akane in tow.

“Diz…!” -Ur

As the beautiful girl with golden hair, clad in crimson armor and wielding Akane’s sword, appeared before him, Ur felt an urge to worship her. The intense pain in his right arm was forgotten. Diz, looking at Ur, used Akane’s sword to tear away the white vine piercing his arm.

“Ouch…!” -Ur

《Nii-tan! You dying? 》-Akane

“I’m fine… no, actually… I feel like dying.” -Ur

Akane peeks out from Diz’s armor. Ur, relieved, barely keeps his consciousness. He tries to pull out the vine stuck in his arm, but it’s deeply embedded, like roots in his flesh.

Akane stretches out and sprinkles a small bottle of healing potion on Ur’s arm. The pain from the knife wounds he inflicted on himself eases a bit, but he’s far from fully healed.

“Ur, you’re injured pretty bad. What about Shizuku?” -Diz

“She’s just unconscious… I think.” -Ur

Shizuku, lying a short distance away, remains motionless. She briefly regained consciousness earlier, but it seems she’s reached her limit. However, she’s not dead… at least Ur hopes so. He still hasn’t felt the sensation of breaking her neck.

Diz, nodding at Ur’s explanation, focuses on the dragon while talking to Ur behind her.

“So, I have some bad news. Want to hear it?” -Diz

“I’d rather not.” -Ur

“You might see me as a savior right now.” -Diz

“I still do.” -Ur

“But you guys are far from being saved.” -Diz

As soon as she says this, the dragon moves. Its white vine wings, like spider silk, spread out and attack Diz from all directions. The vines, moving erratically and unpredictably, lunge at her at a speed Ur can’t follow.

Diz flips her mantle in place and repels the attack. The repelled wings return to the dragon’s back, which then laughs with a distorted, rattling sound.

『The 【Ast   ra l    Clo  ak】,     h  uh?    Th  e 【He    ro】? 』-Dragon

The dragon points at Diz with its long, bony finger.

『The Gu    ard   ian of Isra     lia, the ser     vant of th   e     sa    ge. Wh   at brin     gs y  ou he      re? 』-Dragon

“I heard you showed your face from the deepest layer and came to investigate. Honestly, I didn’t want to come.” -Diz

Diz replies casually, but her expression is tense, and a strong air of concentration emanates from her. Unlike her usual self, where she seems to always reserve some strength, she is now fully focused on the dragon in front of her.

“Why is the pinnacle of evil lurking around here? Just stay in the deepest layer.” -Diz

『And wh      at a  re yo    u       doin       g he    r e? Wh   y do      n’t y ou go li    ck the fe     et of tha  t      sc    rap met   al     pre tend        ing to be a g       od? 』-Dragon

Ur, holding his breath, slowly moves away from Diz, understanding that she wants him to distance himself. Although the dragon must be aware of Ur’s movements, it doesn’t pay him any attention, thanks to Diz confronting it.

Even with some distance, it’s doubtful whether Ur is safe, but he still needs to secure as much safety as he can. Right now, Diz doesn’t seem to have the capacity to protect Ur and the others from the dragon.

“Shizuku, Shizuku…!” -Ur

He reaches Shizuku again. When Ur gently shakes her with his left hand, she slightly stirs. She’s alive. Ur feels a slight relief and positions himself to shield her, ready to move. Then, the dragon laughs, laughter much louder than before, resonating through the space. It feels as if the entire dungeon is laughing with it, making Ur grimace. Just standing there made him feel nauseous.

『Yo   u    ar  e     qu  i te      despe ra  te a  ren’t    yo u? Is th   at   inse   ct     t hat imp   ortant to yo    u? 』-Dragon

“So what? Is there a problem with that?” -Ur

『N o, bu t I’m cu     rious. Protecti       ng an in     sect – is t    hat re    ally a rea     son go  od enou     gh for y  ou to d   ie f o r? 』-Dragon

The dragon, in its girl-like form, distorts its face grotesquely.

『Wi  ll tha   t     be  y   ou r     rea   son to d  ie? 』-Dragon

Suddenly, its head swells, its body enlarges unceasingly. Ur intuitively understands that it’s returning to its original form.

A strong, almost toxic scent of flowers.

Huge white scales. Gigantic blue-purple eyes. A head like a serpent, with four horns. Its wings, more like a spider’s web, spread and entangle at will. A monstrous entity, yet one that commands awe and reverence.

This pressure emanates from the pinnacle of evil.

『The  n         die as yo u      wi   sh, detest  able gu    ardian of Isralia. 』-Dragon

One of the Seven Dragons of Sin, 【Lust】has emerged.