The Arrival Of The Black Dragon

“Hey, Jonah… Do you think I can defeat the White Dragon?”

Patricia began to voice the anxieties she had been carrying.

“As I told you, the White Dragon devastated half of the capital, Helsing. To be honest, I don’t presume that a human can stand against a legendary dragon.”

“…………………………”

“But still, we have no choice. As the Estraia Empire, we accepted the request from the Kingdom of Karelia… No, that’s not it. So that people will no longer suffer, we must defeat the White Dragon.”

With a grim resolve gleaming in her golden eyes, Patricia gazed at Jonah.

Jonah covered his mouth, unsure how to respond to her.

To be frank, this is the Kingdom of Karelia, not the Empire. As the First Princess, Patricia has no obligation to risk her life fighting the White Dragon.

And yet she said she would challenge the White Dragon—harboring the thought and resolve that ‘so that people will not suffer.’

To Jonah, such a Patricia appeared very noble and dazzling.

“I can only say irresponsible things, and I know they won’t comfort Princess Patricia, who has that level of resolve. But… even so, let me say this: I’m sure Princess Patricia can defeat the White Dragon.”

“Heh, just those words make me feel like I can defeat it. Thank you, Jonah.”

“Ah… hehe.”

Smiling, Patricia gently stroked Jonah’s head with her rough, callused hands from sword use.

Jonah looked at her and smiled shyly, pleased.

“Well then… we’ll depart for Mount Baldia at early dawn tomorrow as well. I really should sleep now.”

“Yes!”

Jonah and Patricia returned to the tents where Henrik, who was probably still sleeping comfortably, stayed.

On the way.

‘Yeah… When I stand before the White Dragon…’

The Kingdom of Karelia, where they had been teleported by the Fairy King Oberon.

There, Jonah was able to meet a friend named Henrik and a wonderful woman he could respect, Patricia.

The legend of the ‘pair of dragons’ awaits ahead. The two of them will challenge it now. They are sure to face danger.

So Jonah clenched his fist and made a resolution.

When the time comes to confront the White Dragon, he vowed to surely be of help to the two of them.

–With the ancient magic that had smashed through injustice.

“Henrik, aren’t we about to leave the forest soon?”

“Y-yes! That’s right!”

Henrik answered nervously to Patricia’s question as they rode their horses through the forest.

Although he might not know the route to Mount Baldia, Henrik is well acquainted with the forest itself, and above all they have Kuu, who treats the forest like his own yard. There should be no need to worry.

They continued through the forest for about two hours.

“There it is…”

A steep rocky mountain towering before the three of them and the Imperial army.

That is Mount Baldia, said to be the home of the Paired Dragons.

Because they had come through the forest, their view had been blocked and they couldn’t see it until now, but seeing it like this it looked to be quite high in elevation.

“From here, it looks like we could reach the foot in a day.”

“That’s right.”

Patricia nodded at Jonah’s words as he pointed his right arm, thumb extended, toward Mount Baldia and closed one eye.

A method for estimating distance by sight that he’d read in a book when he was in the Langheim household— that proved useful here.

Knowledge only gains meaning when used in a time of need.

In that sense too, Jonah’s eleven years of hardship were by no means wasted.

Including ancient magic, it was because of those days that Jonah is who he is now.

“Alright, let’s go! Soon we will be at Mount Baldia… challenge the White Dragon! We will be victorious and carve our names into a new legend!”

“Oooooooooooooooooooooh!”

At Patricia’s rallying cry, the knights and soldiers raised their right hands in response.

Even from the honest words she spoke three days ago, she might still be secretly colored by fear.

Still, Patricia remained fierce.

As the one leading the Imperial army… in a manner befitting someone called the ‘Silver Sword Princess.’

However.

“Huh!? Th-that is!?”

As if to douse Patricia’s resolve and thoughts, a huge shadow covered the Imperial army.

Jonah, Henrik, Kuu, Patricia, and all the members of the Imperial army looked up to the sky.

There was.

—A giant dragon, its entire body cloaked in jet black, was racing across the skies.