Volume 3 Chapter 187 Restoration After The Rain
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Rufna defended. Natra attacked.
Facing the blue ice dragon standing tall on the hilltop, Natra and the others fought a battle that felt like a miracle.
Chunks of ice crashed down from the sky in waves.
Using earth magic, Rufna dissolved them before they could hit, protecting Lord Bertrand and the Holy Squad.
Natra darted left and right through the storm of falling ice.
Holding a thorned magic sword low, she poured power into its core.
A fierce wind swirled out from within her.
Since cutting off the flow of magic to Kian, the energy that once gushed uncontrollably now belonged to her alone.
With fearless eyes, she raised the sword and aimed for the enormous blue form floating in the air.
With a sharp breath, Natra slashed upward.
”Nu── uuuuuuh!?” Fraus howled, twisting in the sky.
The black blade, darker and thicker than night, tore through the massive dragon’s body like slicing cloth.
The shining blue scales cracked open, scattering light.
Even Fraus, known for regenerating instantly, had only three scales left clinging to his body now.
”Guh…” Natra gasped as pain stabbed through her.
The dragon’s pointed tail pierced her abdomen.
Blood sprayed out as she was thrown back, her body spinning, crashing hard into a thick tree trunk.
”Young lady!” Bertrand shouted, panic in his voice.
”Not yet!” Natra gritted her teeth, glaring at the dragon twisting mid-air to recover its balance.
A warm light wrapped around her. Rufna’s healing spell reached her body, slowly closing her wounds.
But blood loss and inner damage didn’t vanish right away.
Even so, Natra forced herself up, using the sword for support.
”All units, volley!” Bertrand shouted, rising despite his injuries. “Draw the ballistae!”
This wasn’t just about surviving anymore.
At the edge of her vision, Natra saw Bertrand commanding the troops.
The rough soldiers worked together, turning the ballista cranks again and again.
Their target: the dragon’s wings, now regrowing mid-air.
”Fire!” Bertrand ordered with a shout.
”Shoot! Shoot!” the soldiers yelled.
”Hyaa-haaa!” came wild cheers as the spears launched.
Two massive bolts roared through the sky.
One struck the fully restored right wing.
The other slammed deep into the dragon’s belly.
”Guh… Aaaaaaaah!” Fraus screamed, twisting violently.
”Use stone magic! Fire!” Homork the Third shouted, voice sharp like a whip.
Beside him, thirty-nine Holy Squad members finished their chant.
Six giant stone shells shot upward like meteors.
”Oops…!?” Fraus muttered in surprise.
The magic struck.
His glowing scales shattered, and a flicker of fear appeared in his yellow eyes.
Natra didn’t miss it.
With a roar, she filled her blade with fresh power.
”────────!” she cried out.
The Ice Dragon opened its jaws wide.
A cold breath poured out, glowing white, crashing into the black sword.
A massive shockwave burst out.
Everyone nearby was thrown to the ground by the force.
”Tch…! Enough already! This is boring!” Fraus shouted in frustration.
As soon as their clash ended in a draw, Fraus flapped his wings hard and soared upward, leaving the range of magic and ballista.
”Destroying three hundred of your kind is enough for tonight,” he sneered, voice echoing in the sky. “I’ll leave now.”
”Are you running, General Fraus?!” Natra shouted from below, sword trembling in her hand.
”I’m letting you go, Natra!” Fraus yelled as he spun through the air and turned to the north.
”We’ll fight again after my scales grow back! You’re my greatest rival!”
”Tch…” Natra clicked her tongue, unable to hide her frustration.
”Next time, I’ll bring three thousand troops! If you’re still alive then, I’ll crush you myself!”
(No good. The sword won’t reach at this distance!)
Natra clenched her jaw, scanning the battlefield.
High above, Rufna stood in a tree, focused on healing the wounded around Bertrand instead of casting attacks.
That sight helped Natra regain her senses.
(I couldn’t finish him… But I can’t dwell on that. I need to check the survivors. Heal the injured.)
”Don’t take apart the ballista yet!” Bertrand barked through blood-stained lips.
”He might come back! Scouts, stay sharp! Get to the towers!”
”Lady Natra!” Homork III called, running toward her with Gary close behind.
”We did it! Thanks to you!” Gary shouted with bright eyes.
”I never thought we could push that monster back without Lord Kian…” Homork added. “It’s because of you!”
”No, I…” Natra replied quietly, voice shaken.
But before she could say more, a loud cheer rose.
”Natra! Natra!” voices shouted from every direction.
Even though they had lost three hundred, even though the enemy escaped, the soldiers raised their fists in joy.
The mood was that of a victorious army.
”Our victory!” Homork III shouted as he grabbed Natra’s arm—the one holding her sword—and raised it high.
Thunderous cheering followed.
Applause burst like a storm all around.
Rufna kept moving calmly, gathering the wounded and using healing spells.
Soon, the Witch Marilyn and others joined her, working together to save lives.
”────” Natra looked at Homork III, her eyes wide.
He grinned, teeth shining white.
”It’s our victory!” he declared proudly. “As long as I’m here, Ramsey won’t fall!”
Another cheer followed, louder than before.
The voices overlapped like waves crashing.
Amid that sound, Natra looked toward the east sky, heart tight with worry.
(Master… Please be safe, Kian.)
* * *
Pain pulled him back to life.
Everything was dark.
Mud clung to his face.
The smell of rot surrounded him.
And iron—thick, heavy. Blood.
”Ah──gah…” Kian groaned, trying to rise.
But pain stabbed through his stomach.
He fell, jaw pressed against the mud.
Looking down, his eyes widened.
There was a hole in his abdomen.
(…Why am I alive?)
Everything should have ended.
Where even was this place?
His thoughts stopped at the sound of wings.
”────” He looked up.
A black dragon hovered in the sky, blood dripping from its torn body.
One of its three heads was missing.
Another, caved in.
The middle head stared down with cold contempt.
The black scales still gleamed—though less than ten percent remained.
Over a hundred life signs still pulsed within the creature.
(Did I lose…?)
A voice echoed in his mind.
”Drinking Elixir alone cannot give you my power,” Talia said. “You must take the master’s life. Absorb their body fluids. Blend your soul with theirs.”
The voice grew quieter.
”You cannot keep using that sword. With your strength now, you cannot win.”
(…That’s fine. As long as Sarah and Linca are safe…)
”You are the first to ever damage me this much, Lord Kian,” the dragon said, its words like thunder.
It floated higher, casting a deep shadow across the swamp.
”Killing Isthbaran was fitting… but this is the end of my journey.”
”────” Kian could not respond.
He couldn’t even move.
The blade had not reached far enough.
That was only natural.
If a tiny bottle of medicine was enough to slay a dragon, then no one would call dragon hunting the highest honor.
”I’ll freeze you solid,” the black dragon growled as Agito opened its jaws, sending out a wave of freezing air.
Kian clenched his teeth and shut his eyes, bracing for impact.
Just then, a sudden rush of silver magic power surged forward and shook the black dragon’s massive body.
A fierce wind exploded through the air.
The silver light pierced straight through the dragon’s right wing.
The black dragon—Arminus—let out a deafening roar and crashed into the swamp below.
The earth trembled.
Mud burst upward like a volcano.
A blast echoed loud enough to feel like a meteor had landed.
”────!?” Kian turned his head toward the silver light.
There stood Sarah, panting heavily with the Windsong Blade in her hand. Her right shoulder was soaked bright red with blood. Sweat rolled down her tanned forehead as she dropped to her knees and collapsed forward.
The thick, sweet scent of blood filled the air, clouding reason.
(No… I have to stop this…!)
”May the power of Dragon Destruction… gather here!” Linca shouted as she stood beside Sarah, her voice ragged.
She was heavily wounded, yet she gripped a silver greatsword in her right hand—that sword had once belonged to Arminus. It was Balmung, the dragon-slaying blade.
Blood spilled freely from her abdomen.
Even so, she forced her body to move, channeling her life force into the weapon.
Faint magical runes shimmered across the sword’s silver blade.
Linca coughed hard, spraying blood.
She steadied her swaying body with sheer will and raised the sword high.
With a shout, she swung.
”Balmung!”
A beam of blue light surged forward.
The dragon couldn’t dodge. Arminus was still trying to lift his heavy body when the blast hit him sideways.
A powerful wave of blue magic smashed against him.
Several black scales vanished in an instant.
His form wavered like a shadow flickering in a flame.
One second later, Arminus reverted. His giant dragon body shrank down, and he tumbled into the muddy swamp—back in the form of a black panther beastman.
”Ugh… gobo…” Linca collapsed, fresh blood spilling from her lips.
She had already been close to death.
Her left arm was still unusable, and her wounds wouldn’t stop bleeding.
Sarah quickly moved beside her and placed her hand over Linca’s stomach, pouring in magic to stop the bleeding.
Kian struggled to stay conscious.
The rich scent of blood coming from Sarah and Linca made his mind blur.
But he knew one thing for sure.
If he blacked out now, Kian would lose control. He would attack Sarah and Linca, both heavily bleeding, and kill them—then violate their bodies.
His chest tightened painfully.
He clenched his teeth and held back the red beast roaring inside his brain.
”Damn… I was careless,” Arminus muttered as he slowly stood up.
He was still alive.
He tried to channel magic power again, but blue lightning suddenly sparked across his body.
The black scales trying to return faded fast. His face and arms reverted to fur.
He couldn’t transform.
It had failed.
Most likely, this was the true effect of Balmung—the magic sword Linca had used.
It was said Arminus once used that sword to slay the dragon Dahaka.
Just like the Misty Magic Sword worked against Linca, Balmung held special anti-dragon properties.
”Why don’t we call it a draw now?” Sarah asked, shielding the unconscious Linca as she faced Arminus.
Arminus stood tall, anger in his eyes.
He bared his fangs.
”No. You all must die here,” Arminus snarled.
”That’s a shame,” Sarah replied calmly.
”Even if I can’t become a dragon, you lot won’t be able to kill me. I’ll wipe you out before that happens. Turtles like you, too slow to even follow my speed, don’t get to talk big.”
Arminus steadied his breathing and began to heal his wounds.
”I won’t fall for the same trick again,” he growled, stepping forward. “First, it’s you, woman.”
”…!” Sarah’s eyes widened.
”Lord Arminus!”
”────!? Malbodous!?”
”Arminus! Stop it-nya! Pull back now-nya!” cried a familiar voice.
”Kakaka… Why are you here?” Arminus asked, turning with a puzzled frown.
Behind him, Sarah was hunched over, clutching her shoulder.
The thorn from Arminus’s tail had likely been coated in poison.
Her shoulder had turned black, as if rotting.
”Wait, Lord Arminus!” shouted another voice as two horses galloped in front of him.
The old black panther scowled at the officers who had just arrived.
”How did you find this place? You were supposed to be returning to Ramsey’s front.”
”Fraus told us-nya,” the cat beastman Kakaka said with a nod.
”My son…?”
”Lord Arminus. Please stop your duel with that man at once,” Malbodous said in a composed tone.
”The alliance’s treaty break has been postponed. It won’t begin until tomorrow night, after midnight. We plan to issue an ultimatum to Izerland. If they accept, we’ll retreat and guarantee the safety of Lord Kian and Ramsey.”
”W-What!?” Arminus’s eyes narrowed.
”Fraus ran off before hearing the full story. If this keeps up, the whole operation will fall apart because of the Black Panther Tribe!” Kakaka warned sharply.
”Fraus is fighting at Ramsey’s checkpoint right now-nya! But the enemy’s 300 regulars were stronger than expected. So Fraus had to fall back to the marsh by the hill-nya! Now both sides are stuck staring each other down across Azancourt. It’s bad-nya! We can’t fix this ourselves, so please go stop Fraus-nya!”
”What? The alliance is still waiting for war?” Arminus gritted his teeth. “I don’t believe it.”
”But it’s true,” Malbodous said plainly.
”────” Arminus fell silent.
”If you believed the break was tonight, then this fight goes against the alliance’s will. The day hasn’t changed yet.”
”That plan was made so if a battle began now, it’d end right as the day changed. As for Fraus… I don’t intend to go against the alliance. I, Arminus, will always stand as a model for the young of our alliance—now and forever.”
”If that’s how you feel, tell them yourself-nya! We can’t clean up your mess this time-nya!” Kakaka insisted.
”────. But…” Arminus looked at Kian, frustration twisting his face.
He kept pointing at Kian with heavy breaths.
Then, slowly, he placed his hand over his chest and took several deep breaths.
”It is frustrating… but I understand. I, Arminus, will now withdraw.”
”Good. We’re leaving,” Malbodous said curtly.
With that, he and Kakaka turned their horses and rode off through the swamp.
Arminus stood still, silently watching their backs disappear.
(Thorns…?)
Kian blinked through his fading vision.
Malbodous and Kakaka’s backs looked like twisted monsters wrapped in thorns—thorned beasts walking on two legs.
But in the next moment, the image faded, returning to the shapes of the Tiger and Cat Beastmen.
When he turned to Talia beside him, he saw her ruby-like eyes glowing with a strange light.
(Talia…?)
’Kian, you did well holding on. It’s okay now,’ her voice echoed inside his head.
(I see… the vampire’s transformation.)
”Your life saved, Lord Kian,” Arminus said as his figure flickered—and then reappeared in front of Sarah.
Before she could move, the old general bent down and picked up Balmung—the sword that had slipped from Linca’s hand.
Without a word, he slid it back into the sheath on his back.
”A few days from now, we’ll fight again,” he said, his voice low and calm. “By then, my scales will be fully healed. If the Geass wears off, I might face you as the evil dragon himself. —Though your army might be crushed by our forces before that happens.”
”――――,” Kian remained silent, gripping his chest.
”It was a good battle,” the old hero said, turning with a quiet smile. “If we survive, let’s meet again on the battlefield.”
Then, like a startled rabbit, he dashed off.
The overwhelming presence of Arminus—the absolute strong one—faded into the distance, disappearing into the marshlands.
”…Kian,” Sarah’s voice echoed faintly, her steps closing in.
Kian crouched down, sensing the sweet, dangerous scent of blood.
”Stop it,” he muttered to himself, clutching his stomach.
Blood poured from his abdomen.
His body screamed with hunger.
His strength was fading fast.
His mind burned for the life force of a living prey.
”Don’t come closer,” he whispered, his breath shallow.
”Don’t… come—”
He groaned as darkness swallowed his mind again, dragging him into unconsciousness.
* * *
’――! Kian! Stop! Return to yourself!’
When his eyes opened again, everything was cold and dark. Damp. The taste of iron filled his mouth.
It should have been bitter and foul.
But to Kian’s starving body, it felt like a rich, nourishing soup.
(Where am I…?)
’――――! You’re awake! Good! Move away from Linca now! Prepare the Restoration Curse!’
”Huh…? Eh? …Eh…?”
Warmth was in his arms.
A soft, pale body.
Dark, glossy hair spilled down like silk, falling onto the stone floor.
Linca leaned weakly against him.
Both his hands were holding her down.
Her body—around her ears, her shoulders—was marked.
On her exposed neck were two fresh, deep bites.
”――――!? Linca!” Kian cried out, his voice breaking as his eyes widened.
Shock hit him like a wave.
He had… he had fed on her.
Her blood. Her body.
”No…” he whispered, his hands trembling as he turned her over.
The always bright and cheerful beauty from the East now lay limp, her eyes closed, face pale and drained.
”――――!!”
(Left arm… gone. Her blood… stopped. Did I drain her magic and life while she was near death!?)
’That’s right. Afterward, Lady Sarah brought both of you here and started treating you. But the moment your wound was sealed, you attacked her… and tore open her belly.’
Talia stood a short distance away, pointing toward the cave’s entrance.
About five meters from where Kian sat, Sarah’s body lay in silence. Her stomach had been ripped open.
”Sarah!” Kian gasped, trying to stand.
But something fluttered past his nose.
It was a paper talisman, falling from his forehead.
Looking down, he saw others.
They were stuck to his wrists, ankles, and stomach too.
They were the same kind of sealing talismans Linca had used before.
The ones strong enough to trap even a thorny monster.
’Lady Sarah screamed. Lady Linca responded. Despite her injuries, she held you back and pressed the talisman on you. That’s how we were able to stop you.’
”…What have I done…” Kian groaned, his hands shaking.
’Grieve later. Neither of them has died yet. I’ll start the Restoration Curse now. You must follow my lead.’
Chaos, regret, guilt—
—but now wasn’t the time to drown in emotion.
Kian forced himself to stay focused.
Sarah and Linca needed him to act.
Talia waved her finger.
A flat stone bed rose from the ground in front of him.
”Lay them here,” she instructed.
Kian gently placed Linca on the stone, then carried Sarah and laid her beside her.
He picked up Linca’s severed arm and set it carefully by her side.
’To perform the Restoration Curse with a human caster, we need the “core” of a vampire’s heart. We’ll use the doll that was made to house me.’
Behind him, the ground cracked open.
From the darkness, the thorny monster emerged, holding the lifeless body of a golden-haired girl.
”Take out two hearts from the doll,” Talia said quietly. “There are enough.”
”Understood,” Kian replied with a nod.
He stepped up to the doll’s body and drew the Misty Magic Sword from his back, shortening the blade.
”Where are the hearts?”
”In the chest. Open it.”
”…Alright.”
Kian sliced open the chest with care.
Talia continued speaking as he worked.
”There’s not enough flesh or blood. We’ll make up the shortage using the thorny monster’s body. Her vampire traits are weak, so it will work temporarily.”
”And the curse itself? How do I cast it?”
”I’ll do it. —Now, take the red gemstone inside the heart.”
”Got it.”
The vampire core was long, thin, and glistening like a raindrop.
Kian placed it gently on the chests of the two women, then stepped back.
The thorny monster knelt beside the bed.
Talia raised her hand and began to chant softly.
”Oh…!”
As the spell took hold, wounds began to close.
Time itself seemed to rewind.
The red core cracked and shattered.
Blood and flesh rose from the thorny monster, drawn toward Sarah and Linca.
Their broken bodies were restored piece by piece.
In moments, they were whole again.
Covered only in bloodstained clothes.
Breathing gently.
”……””……”
Their chests rose with breath.
Heartbeat sounds echoed faintly.
They were alive.
Kian felt relief wash over him—but a dangerous heat surged beneath it.
Desire. Strong and wild.
Even though the seal of the legendary Kyōshi was in place, something deep inside him threatened to break free.
”Hmm…” Sarah stirred, her voice weak. “…Huh… Are we… here?”
”Sarah! Linca!” Kian cried out, rushing forward.
Their eyelids trembled.
Then slowly, they opened their eyes.
Their bodies sat up, and Kian embraced them tightly.
”I’m sorry…! I’m really sorry! I’m so glad you’re safe!”
”Kian…? Yes… you bit me…” Linca said, her eyes half-lidded. “…My arm, is it healing?”
”Yes. It’s healing. But…”
She trailed off, her eyes widening.
Behind Kian, something strange caught her attention.
”Wait… Who’s that…?”
The thorny monster had disappeared beneath the ground.
Only Talia remained.
But Linca’s eyes were locked on her.
”…A girl?” Sarah said, rubbing her eyes.
A blonde girl stood there—Talia, in a human form.
She didn’t speak, but sat beside Kian and crossed her legs.
”I will explain,” Talia said with a small sigh, her mouth moving slowly.
”I can’t hear her,” Sarah whispered, leaning in.
Talia pointed at the ground.
A small stone slab rose, and glowing letters formed.
”Nice to meet you, Sarah Nakash, Linca Tsai. I am vampire Talia Cain. Please take care of me.”
* * *
”I see… So Miss Talia has been helping Kian from the shadows all this time,” Sarah said, reading the characters on the slab.
”Thank you for saving the one I care about. For saving his heart, too.”
’I’ve done nothing. That pervert over there got this far with his sword skill, manliness, luck, and sharp instincts.’
Kian shook his head, rejecting the praise.
”If not for you, I would’ve lost to Oswald. Natra and Rufna might be dead. You’re the reason I’m still here.”
’…Kian’s…?’ Talia mumbled in a daze.
Linca stepped forward, her face cautious.
”Um, may I ask something?” she said gently.
’Of course.’
”Miss Talia was sealed in the Black Onyx glasses, right? But now she can appear like this… is that correct?”
’Yes.’
”So she’s no longer bound to the Black Onyx spirit?”
’No. I just… started helping Kian because he was a companion. Now I’m used to him. That’s all. It’s fate, maybe.’
”It’s like a story from a magic lamp,” Linca whispered.
”Yeah. Rub the lamp and a cute girl pops out—except here it’s the glasses.”
’I can use some magic and maybe even control the thorny monster. I don’t know why, but I was once the Cain family’s princess, so that might be why.’
”You’re still trying to find out who you really are, aren’t you?” Sarah asked, her tone softening.
”A soul devoured by the Black Onyx shouldn’t still exist… Are you maybe just a magical imprint of the real Talia?”
’Exactly. Knowing the truth might hurt more than it helps.’
Linca placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly.
”Even so, thank you. You saved us.”
”I should have said it sooner. Thank you, Miss Talia,” Sarah added, bowing as well.
’Don’t mention it. I just did what I could.’
Talia erased the old letters and wrote new ones.
’After we contact Ramsey with Wing·Cain, could you both help stabilize the factor in Kian’s body? Arminus might come again, maybe in days, maybe tomorrow. Until then, I want to strengthen him. Unless, of course, you plan to destroy all his dragon scales?’
”We won’t waste the medicine we’ve already used,” Sarah said firmly.
”If Kian agrees, we’ll support him,” Linca added.
’Thanks to Linca’s talisman, a regular exchange of fluids will do. Kian’s body is in rough shape, but can he stay conscious?’
”I can manage,” Kian said with a nod.
”If it gets dangerous, we’ll help mentally,” Sarah said as she opened her backpack and pulled out food and supplies.
Linca summoned Mizuchi, who brought fresh ingredients.
”Let’s eat first,” she said with a smile. “Then we’ll… do everything needed to stabilize him.”
”When we return, we’ll be too busy. We should finish it now, while we’re safe inside this barrier,” Sarah said.
”If we absorb Kian’s factor here, our base stats will increase fast. Like Princess Maribel’s case.”
Linca nodded, then frowned.
”My only concern is, if Sarah becomes even stronger… she might break every cup and doorknob in sight.”
”Are you trying to pick a fight?”
”Not at all.”
Kian glanced at them both, trying to stay neutral.
”If it’s like Maribel, it boosts speed and dexterity too. And I think I’m more delicate than Sarah… So maybe fewer broken things?”
”I’ve broken cups before, but not doorknobs!”
A *pakoon* sound echoed as Sarah hit Linca on the head.
(These days, maybe being violent isn’t popular… but I kept quiet. Sarah would get mad.)
”Well then,” Kian said with a smile, “let’s eat. I’m just… really glad you two are okay.”
Notes:
• Bertrand – The recent knight recruited by Maribel from bandit. He is from boar tribe and have goblin-like face.
• Fraus – Male. Son of Arminus. Member of the Black Panther Tribe. Shares his father’s enhanced physical abilities and combat prowess. Relationship: Subordinate and family to Arminus.
• Marilyn – Female. An elderly witch who uses a hoarse voice. She is versatile, skilled in basic magic, teleportation gates, and large-scale group chants. Despite her age, she is sturdy and capable of frontline combat. She acts as a mentor figure to Botti and Aerial.
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Malbodous – Male. Member of the Steel Tiger Clan. A formidable warrior with significant combat experience. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Kakaka – Male. Top warrior of the Cat Beastmen Tribe. Known for his agility and precision in combat. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Azancourt – A location mentioned by Kian when discussing his terrain survey of Ramsey’s wetlands. Likely near Ramsey.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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