We're going to watch the skies. Liese wanted to ride Hicks, but I promised her a ride after the zombies were gone.

It's not a good time. Olivier-san won't feel safe unless he's within reach.

'No enemies, right?　Tact.

Yeah. There were quite a few of them earlier... weird, right?

'Yes. And it's weird to have a skeleton rider dropping zombies. There's no way in hell I'd have the wisdom to do that.

I suppose Bran has a valid point. Just like with the Dark Summoner. When something without wisdom acts with wisdom, there is someone who directed it. I have a nebulous in my mind. But is it dangerous to assume... but I feel uncomfortable with this situation.

There's no way he'd use that kind of strategy only against Liese. If you're going to do that, the town should be the best place to do it. If I wanted to go after Freetia, I'd go after Freetia, but they're not going after Freetia.

So where would you go for... would I go for... the Blue Men's town? If we attacked that place, there would be no more fish coming to Freetia. But Princess Sarah and the others know that. They should have sent knights to protect it.

Then they'll be aiming for the village of Verdore. But because I don't know any other town, it doesn't feel right.

When I was thinking about this, I saw Fretia. It looks like we got here without any problems...

But I have a weird bad feeling about this. What is it? What am I missing? f*ck! I can't remember!

Then came a communication from Mr. Lewin.

'Mr. Tact!　Oh, my God!　'A large army of zombies has emerged from the village of Verdore!

'What?　What do you mean?　Did it fall from the sky?

'What are you talking about?　It was the church that showed up!　It's definitely Nebilos!'

Yes! He was doing some kind of church ceremony! Duh! Even Nebilos had his name on it! My a**h*le!

His stupid face flickers in my brain! f*ck you! I'm gonna kick his ass again!

That's when I explain the situation to Lady Liese and the others and take off, taking Lily and the others with me.

I stop and look at the sky. The weather today is unusually cloudy. Well...that's coming. I turn to Hicks and call for Ix.

'You wanted to see me, sir?　Master.

Ix, see if you can track the sky.

Yes, Master. ...We are seeing a lot of activity in the cloud. There are 25 enemy fighters in the cloud.

I knew it, my dear, when the knights come to rescue us from the village of Verdore, they'll be ready to unload the zombies on Freetia. But I'm going to kill that plan. Son of a b*tc*.

I'll be the one to use communications with Princess Sara.

Princess Sara, this is Takht.

"Excuse me!　A large number of zombies have emerged from the village of Verdore!　We should go to the rescue now!

'This is what the enemy wants. Ix has spotted the enemy in the clouds above Freetia.

"What?　'Oh no... there's a Cerian Beast and Hawkman in a Lesser Gryphon watching the skies?'

The Japanese fox hasn't detected any signs either.

'I don't know how. I don't know if it's an item or a skill... but I'm sure they're there. There are 25 of them in total.

''So much for... once we're gone, you plan to drop the rotting zombies on Freetia?

Will you be able to... finish him off?

I can do that. Excuse me, sir, but we need to detect the enemy.

Yes, sir.

One by one, the Hawkman troops led by Mr. Airtis and the knights riding the Lesser Gryphon jump into the clouds from Fretia Castle. Then a skeleton rider jumps out of the cloud.

At that moment, Wufu sensed it. It's either the skill or that cloud that's suspicious. It's safe to say that the item's fault is gone.

The skeleton rider drops the rotting zombie, but before it can fall, a cleansing light is showered from Freetia Castle and the city walls, and the rotting zombie disappears.

Nice work. When I check with Ix, it looks like I was able to wipe them all out.

''Do you have any enemies?''

He's not here.

"Good. Excuse me, sir, but would you be willing to fight with me in the village of Verdore?

The info flows.

'An urgent quest 'Veldore Village Rescue' has occurred.

Of course.

Then we'll meet up with you in the village of Verdore.

Yes, sir.

I'll cut off communication. The members are Lily, Aeon, Setia, Ix and Bran. They all look like they're ready to go.

Here we go.

"Yes!

Warpgate!

When we moved to Verdore village, the battle between Ruin and the other players and Princess Sarah and the others had already begun. Everyone just seems to be doing their best to protect the villagers.

And what I'm wondering is that the church is gone, will there be more than three times as many churches? There is a horizontal black mass. It looks like a zombie is sprouting from it. Identification.

Draugle Beast?　
?　?　?

This guy is a monster I've never heard of. I'm pretty sure it's an undead monster... I mean, isn't our field crushed? I was annoyed, but Princess Sarah was quick to act.

'Eternity Fretia!'

The special move you used on me, Princess Sara-sama, cuts the Draugle Beast in half. I thought it was over in a daze, but the Draugr Beast sticks together where it was cut and gets back to normal.

Ah, this is a bad enemy. If I'm going to defeat it, I'll have to use Lily's trump card... but can I use it here?

I'll let my decision go astray. Then I see someone I know. An old sugar cane woman. She's there with her kid.

"That's enough. Kiki and I have lived long enough... leave me and run.

'Oh no, Grandma!　No, no!　Come on, let's run away together!　Grandma!

It's okay... just let me die here.

Maybe it was just a trifecta. But the words and the sight of it struck a nerve in me.

'Grandma,'

'Oh?　Was your brother the one who accepted my quest?　I'm sorry, but can you take care of this girl for me?

Info is coming.

'Do you want to run away with Kiki the villager?

Sorry, no.

"Mr. Tact!

We'll all be surprised. I suppose it would be.

'Grandma...you have the wrong idea,'

?

'Any old person can't try to die as long as they're alive. What your grandmother did was an affront to the dead.

My brother...

"I'll... we'll prove it to you!　They say you can't give up living things for the dead if you give up living for the dead!

That's a very important thing I learned from my grandfather. I look at Lily.

'Lilly, dragonize!　Let's take down all those monsters and zombies together!

I got it!　Tact!　I'm going to show you how serious Lily is!

Lily raises her greatsword to the heavens!

Dragon-ize!

A giant pillar of light pierces the heavens and pierces the dark clouds. And from within the pillar of light, a dragonized Lily appears.

''White dragon...''

How beautiful...

The villagers who were fleeing and the knights who were fighting were attracted to Lily's appearance.

''Tact has asked me for a real favor, so I'll decide at once!

Lily flies high in the sky and deploys the dragon's magic circle.

''Shooting Starlight!''

Rays of light rain down on the city and explode in a massive explosion. The decaying zombies flew through the sky and became particles of light and disappeared.

Four rays of light penetrated the Draugle Beast as well, but it was still alive while its body was torn to pieces.

''Mmm... we didn't defeat them, but this is the end!

Lily inhales.

'Dragonbreath!'

Lily's Dragon Breath is released and a very thick flash of light hits the Draugle Beast. The Draugle Beast is enveloped in a massive explosion of light, and the Draugle Beast disappears completely.

Everyone stands in awe at the miraculous sight. And when Garou sees it, he says to Princess Sarah.

''...Princess, listen to me for a moment.

"...what?　Garou.

I'm glad I banned you from turning into a dragon for training matches.

Odd....I just thought the same thing.

Princess Sarah and Garou couldn't help but think so because of the overwhelming strength of Lily's dragonization.

I became small at the cost of turning into a dragon, and stopped Lily from falling. Normally I wouldn't be able to do such a thing, but it wasn't a free-falling specification, so I was able to hold her.

''Tact... did you defeat it properly?''

Yeah, you're good at that. Lily... thank you.

Heh-heh-heh-heh.

Then Ion and the others say.

'I could beat you too, you know?　Mr. Takut.

Me too. I could afford that.

I could have defeated it if the Master had told me to.

What's the appeal? These three...

The problem is that the quality of the Master's orders was different now.

Yes...I've never seen you ask for something like that before, Tact-san.

Do you think that's true...? If you ask me, I don't know if I've ever really asked Lily and the others for help... I was more worried about Lily and the others during Arthur's time or something.

'Lily was happy!

Lily turns a big smile on her face, but the rest of her looks boring.

'I would prefer an equal command for the Master.

Aye!

I don't like to hear you say that all of a sudden, but...

'Lord. I think there are still zombies out there. Please give me an order.

'What?　...Ahhh. Go take down the remaining zombies.

Disappointing.

I was disappointed by the synchronization! I mean, what choice do I have? I can't do that all of a sudden!

Then Princess Sarah raised her sword.

''The monster that turned the village of Verdore into hell has been defeated by the Holy Dragon Master!　Knights of the Freetia!　Justice is on our side!　All troops, follow me!

"Oh!

This is...oh, Mr. Brass has his head down. You used Lily to boost morale. Well, if it's to boost the knights' morale, it can't be helped... we'll go guard the villagers.

Luin-san and the others also left the attack to Freetia's knights and joined up with the rescued villagers.

'Thank God. Tact-kun, Lily-chan. But were you happy to use your trump card?

'I don't know. I acted completely without forethought this time. Sorry.

I wasn't ready to let my emotions get the best of me in the moment. But I was able to do what I wanted. That's enough for now. If I hadn't used it and Grandma Sugarcane had died, I would have regretted it.

You don't have to apologize. For that matter, Tact you have those moments too... that's a relief.

That's a relief... of course there are some things I'm not willing to compromise on. And that's exactly what happened this time.

And then the zombies are wiped out and the battle is won.

We have won!　Raise the battle cry!

"Oh!　Long live the Holy Dragon!　Long live Princess Sarah!

I feel like I'm completely treating Lily as a member of the Order, but is it my imagination?

Once I saw the knights and the villagers happy, I didn't say anything because I thought it would be a wild thing to say that. Then the level up info comes.

'The level of the occupation summoner has been increased. You have gained 1 status point.''
Vocational Summoner's level has increased. You have gained 1 skill point.
''Lily's level 10 has been reached. I've acquired the one-handed sword [Light Sword].
'Ix's level 30 has been reached. Ex Machina's armaments have been released.
A new section of the battleship has been liberated.
'Bran's level has reached 20. Execute evolution.
'You have reached 20th level of your profession. You can change classes.

Huh? Hey, calm down. First of all, I have 62 skill points left, and I've set my status points to agility value.

What Lily learned is the light sword that Princess Sarah was using. I know firsthand that it's a pretty strong skill, so I'd like to see it used quite a bit, but I'm afraid of the great sword of light speed.

And first, Bran's evolution has begun.

Name Takuto Intermediate Summoner Lv 19 -> Lv 20

Life force 49 to 50.
Magic power 103 to 105.
Strength 35
Defensive Strength 25
Agility 38 to 39
Dexterity value 77 to 78.

skill

Fighting Lv 9, kicking Lv 16, staff Lv 22, one-handed sword Lv 18, spear Lv 10, throwing Lv 7.　
High speed chanting 20 Summoning magic lv28 Sealing magic lv5 Rider lv13 Alchemy lv17　
Mining Lv 20 Logging Lv 17 Dismantling Lv 33 Appraisal Lv 20 Identification Lv 28 -> Lv 29 Wind Magic Lv 22　
Fire Magic Lv 21 Earth Magic Lv 22 Water Magic Lv 28 Water Magic Lv 22 Dark Magic Lv 22 Sacred Magic Lv 5　
Lightning magic Lv 22, explosive magic Lv 22, wood magic Lv 23, ice magic Lv 22, space-time magic Lv 22, space-time magic 35　
Underwater Activity Lv 2 Reading Lv 8 Cooking Lv 33 Feeding Lv 7 Fishing Lv 16 Synchro Lv 10

Name Lily Dragoneute Koola Lv8 to Lv10

Life force 62 to 63.
Magical power 51 to 53.
Strength 123 to 129.
Defensive value 42 to 43.
Agility 43 to 44
Dexterity value 40

skill

Light fist Lv 9 Flight Lv 15 -> Lv 16 One-handed sword Lv 27 Large sword Lv 21 Hammer Lv 10 Continuous attack Lv 6　
錬気Lv20　光魔法Lv2　光波動Lv2　竜技Lv7　竜化Lv5→Lv6　聖竜の加護Lv3

名前　イオン　ドラゴニュート・エンベロープLv6→Lv8

生命力　62
魔力　　92→96
筋力　　56→57
防御力　32→33
俊敏性　117→123
器用値　95→99

スキル

二刀流Lv27　槍Lv4　投擲操作Lv8　飛行Lv9　遊泳行動Lv12　
氷刃Lv14　連撃Lv5　水魔法Lv12　蒼波動Lv2　竜技Lv6　
竜化Lv6　海竜の加護Lv4　料理Lv8

名前　セチア　ハイエルフLv5→Lv7

生命力　50→52
魔力　　122→128
筋力　　43→45
防御力　36
俊敏性　37
器用値　122→128

スキル

杖Lv14　魔法弓Lv8　鷹の目Lv3　射撃Lv2　木工Lv12　採取Lv18　調薬Lv12　
刻印Lv3　宝石魔術Lv1　宝石細工Lv1　風魔法Lv7　火魔法Lv13　水魔法Lv20　
土魔法Lv13　闇魔法Lv1　神聖魔法Lv3　雷魔法Lv1　爆魔法Lv1　木魔法Lv16　
氷魔法Lv3　樹魔法Lv9　ハイエルフの知識Lv13　精霊召喚Lv6　料理Lv8

名前　イクス　エクスマキナLv26→Lv30

生命力　40→44
魔力　　40→44
Strength 40 to 44.
Defensive Strength 40 to 44.
Agility 40 to 44
Dexterous value 40 to 44.

skill

Man-Made Armament Lv6 Analysis Lv4 Detection Lv12 Conversion Lv2 Link Lv4 Magic Charge Lv4

Name Bran Angel Lv18 to Lv20

Life force 24 to 25.
Magic power 34 to 36.
Strength 27 to 28.
Defensive Strength 24 to 25.
Agility 32 to 34
Dexterous value 31 to 32

skill

Flight Lv 5, shield Lv 6, spear Lv 5, provocation Lv 6, light magic Lv 3, halo Lv 7, angelic blessing Lv 5.