The next morning.
　We left for the volcano, Duego.

　After talking to Anna last night, I made a secret decision.
　I will tell the truth to Elsa and Meryl.
　But now is not the time.
　If I tell them the truth now, they'll be upset. It will jeopardize our fight against the ancient dragons.
　So...
　We'll talk again when things settle down after this battle.

　We arrived at volcano Duego just before noon.
　I had been here several times in my adventuring days, but today the air was unusually miasmic.

　--There was no mistaking it. He'll be here.

　That was then.
　A heavenly, evil roar rang out.
　The air shook.

"Ah!　Dad!　Look!

　I look in the direction Anna pointed.
　A huge black shadow flies from the volcano's crater.
　Eerie golden eyes. Thick scarlet scales.
　A huge, intimidating physique. Sharp claws and a tail so tightly packed with muscle.
　I'll never forget.
How could I forget?
　A figure that's been burned into my retina for 17 years.
　Ancient dragon.
　It flies out of the crater and flies straight for me. Once on the ground, he's looking down on us from afar.

"Did he know we were here?
"Of course. This is my garden. "I can feel it when people with your kind step on my property.
This demon ...... can go through human language.

　So...
　Ancient dragons are highly intelligent demons.

"...... You're that adventurer.
You remember me?
"You are the only adventurer who has ever driven me to that point. Now I'm here for a rematch.
Yeah. Today is the day we're gonna get our asses kicked.
"Hmm. Is it going to be that easy?　You look like an old man. Your best days as an adventurer are long gone.

　The Ancient Dragon sneered.

Ten years is but a blink of an eye for me, but not for mortals. I doubt they can beat me in a body that's past its prime.
"Sure, I'd be on my own. But ...... now I have a family. With the help of all of us, I can beat you.
Interesting. Then show me the power!

　With a mighty yell, the Ancient Dragon spat out a torrent of fire.
　The horrible fire that had destroyed my daughters' home village.
　It wanted to burn us to the bone.
　But then--

"Watersplash!

　The water-attribute advanced magic invoked by Meryl staved off the flames . The compressed water vortex canceled out the flames and turned into a mist.

''Mmmmmm... stopping the flames is a piece of cake for me. Dad. Tell me so much good stuff about me.
Ha, ha. After this battle.
"Ho: ....... You seem to be a bit of a wizard. But - as long as you get to him before he triggers his magic, there's no problem!

　A huge claw swung down at Meryl .
　Erza, standing in front of Meryl, catches it with her sword. She blocked the blows from the claws that were swinging in every direction.

''Dad!　Now's your chance!　Ancient dragons have high magic resistance, but lightning magic is relatively easy to get through!

　Anna sends me some advice from the carriage.
　I'm sure she's studied the literature on Ancient Dragons for today. Then she figured out their weaknesses.


　Me and Meryl launched a magical attack.
　As Meryl fired a water bullet into the Ancient Dragon's body, I immediately showered it with lightning magic.

''Guaaaaaah!

　Okay. It's definitely working.
　I could barely hold it together on my own.
　But...
　The advantage is gained by having the whole family fight together.
　Me and Elsa will be at the front, and Meryl will be firing spells at us from the rear guard. Anna gives us a bird's-eye view of us and sends us instructions.

　Slowly but surely, we are draining the Ancient Dragon's energy.
　The dragon's agility at the start of the battle has slowed down, and the thick scales that acted as an absolute shield are sloughed off with each attack.
　Elsa's sword slices through his hard claws.
　I cut off its tail, and the formation solidifies.

"Stupid ....... I'm not supposed to be like this. ....... I'm not going to be pushed around by my human nature. ......!　This much power and skill cannot be reckoned with: ......!'
"Huh!

　Elsa's slashing blow broke his center of gravity.

"Churns!

　Meryl activated her earth magic and the thorns crawled out of the ground, entangling and restraining the Ancient Dragon's entire body .
　The Ancient Dragon struggled to unhook itself, but it couldn't escape. 　
　Now, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had come knocking.

Father!　Now!
Dad!　Do it!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　With a shout I kicked the ground and flew high into the air.
　As if to offer it to the heavens, I swung my sword in my hand.
　Seventeen years from that day.
　Not once did I forget you.
　I harbored regret for failing to defeat you, conflicts in my heart.
　Now I can let it all go.

This is the end.

　I thrust my sword, with all my thoughts, into the top of the Ancient Dragon's head.
　It breaks through the solid scales.
　From brain to chin in one fell swoop.

''Gasp. ......!

　The Ancient Dragon let out a grunt.
　There was a definite response .
　The Ancient Dragon shook unsteadily and fell to the ground. It was as majestic and powerful as if the mountain had collapsed.

　It had been so long.
　I've waited for this day.
　At last we could break our old scores.

This time, my ...... we will win.

　I held my swordpoint at the Ancient Dragon's throat.
　He was the death of a worm. If left unchecked, it would be dead before long. But the light in his eyes was still strong.
　The Ancient Dragon glanced over at his daughters.

Your friends out there: ....... Could they possibly be the survivors of the village that we burned to the ground that day ......?
Yeah. Yeah.
'How dare you: ....... I, too, have failed to strike ....... I couldn't hold their breath ......'
...... What do you mean by that?
"My long sleep has been awakened by their birth. I stormed that village to kill them. That was my task.
What--?

　Until now, I thought I had awakened the Ancient Dragon by engaging in a fierce battle with the wyvern.
　But... .
　Was it to kill my daughters when they were still babies?

　The Ancient Dragons said.

"They were never meant to be born.

　What?

Hey!　What do you mean by that?
"You will know sooner or later. "for as long as you live in this world.

　When the Ancient Dragon's body emitted light, it turned into particles that returned to the sky.
　No matter how much I tried to call out, it was useless.
　When I woke up, there was nothing left to see.

"Dad. You sounded like you were talking.
Tell me about it.


No. ......

　I killed the Ancient Dragon.
　That lifted the stagnation in my heart. But instead, a new lump has arisen.
　The Ancient Dragon's last words to me: .......
　What the hell does that mean?