The final trial has begun.

　The earth is shaking and the cave is about to collapse.

I don't think I can stay here much longer. Let's get back to where Lara and the others are.

　I muttered, and tried to activate the transfer magic.
　But...

"...... What's up, Redbird and Bluebird? If you don't get out, you're going to die.

　I saw two birds flapping their wings and trying to stop in place.

　Even as I asked this, the red and blue birds didn't change the quality of their voices.

No, we're done here, and I wish you the best of luck, Master.

　I said calmly.

　Hearing this, I said, "What a stupid thing to say," and then.

What are you talking about? Do you want me to die? You'll be in trouble when I want to use this place again.
"No, Master," they continued, "Master may have forgotten, but we will regenerate.

　The two birds continued.

　Regeneration ...... Ah, regeneration.
　I'm sure you've forgotten a lot of things in the past 1000 years. I'm not sure if I've ...... lost some of my memories when I used the reincarnation spell.

You may die, but you will be reborn as two similar birds. When that happens, you can perform the ordeal anew at ......, right?

　I asked, and the two birds nodded at the same time.

　In other words, the Red and Blue birds will die, but they will soon come back to life. It's exactly the same thing.
　But it's still death. The two birds nodded simultaneously.

It's all right. You don't care about us.

　The two birds seemed to have a firm intention.
　They were done with their ordeal. Their work is done. So all that's left is decay.
　Even if they die, the same ones will come back to life.
　The masters have nothing to worry about. In fact, we're even proud to remember .......

　But.

That doesn't feel so good.

　No.
　Even if they come back to life, it's still two dead birds in front of you.

　Would I let that happen?
　Maybe that's what you thought a thousand years ago.

　But now that I've been reincarnated as ......, I've changed my mind about a lot of things.

"Get on my shoulders.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

What a ...... thoughtful gesture.
I'm sure you'll agree with me.　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in your business. I'm coming with you.

　--I've been changed by meeting people like Lara, Marise and Cynthia.

　Even though I said it, the two birds, Red and Blue, were reluctant to get on my shoulders at first.

"Hurry up and get in! There's no time. Or are you trying to disobey ...... Master's orders?

　I deliberately gave them an intimidating look.
　Then the two birds shuddered.

"Yes, sir! "I haven't seen that look in Master's eyes in ...... a long time. Oh, how happy we are.

　I can't see their expressions because they're birds, but they're probably ecstatic.
　I don't want to complain too much because I made it a thousand years ago, but ...... why did you make a bird that loves the Lord so much?

　Oh well.
　I don't have much time anyway.
　The two birds immediately climbed onto my shoulders on either side of me.

"Okay, ......, let's go.
"Yes!

　And so I invoked the transference spell and escaped from the crumbling cave.

　I went outside.

　When I went outside, I saw that the forest was getting noisy.

"Kurt!

　Lara's voice.

　Lara's voice. She's the first to see me, and she rushes over to me.

What does this mean?　There's been a big earthquake and I have a bad feeling about it. ......
"Well, the premonition is not wrong.

　Then Marise and Cynthia came running up to me.

Kurt, are you saying that the ordeal is still going on?
We defeated the contradictory creature, but ......

　It seems that the contradictory creatures were all killed while I was out of sight for a while.
　It's quite a feat ...... to have mastered the mind's eye in such a short time. The three of us are growing at a rate that amazes me.



　But...

I'll praise you later. The final trials begin now. As I recall, the first step is .......

　That's when I started to explain.


　Gu-o-o-o-o-o-o!


　A shuddering cry that shook the earth.
　I looked up at the sky and saw a white dragon with its wings flapping, looking down at us.

"A dragon?
What the hell is out there?
We have to ...... get out of here.

　Seeing this, the three of us panicked.
　But the sight of the white dragon didn't scare me, it only made my heart flutter.

"First we have to kill that dragon.
"The dragon?　But Kurt was already defeated once in the Empire.

　Lara was probably referring to the time when the demon god Fombasque was assimilated by a dragon.

If you're a master, you'll be able to handle a dragon with a twist.

　The red and blue birds on her shoulders chirped as well.
　Lara and the others looked at the two birds and said, "Wow!　The birds are talking! Lara and the others looked at the two birds and widened their eyes, but I guess I can explain about them later.
　Meanwhile, the dragon's big eyes stared at us.

Master, it's been a long time.

　The dragon's voice seemed to speak directly to our heads.

"Ah... You've been reincarnated and your appearance has changed.
"Of course. "Of course not. Your form may change, but your soul remains the same.

　Yes, you're right.

"But Master, after a thousand years, your power has diminished.
That's right. That's why we've come to this space.
"Then let me test your power immediately. Let's see how well you can block the breath that destroys warding magic.

　With that, the dragon slowly opened its mouth.
　Magic is building up in his mouth.
　The dragon was right, it was a breath that nullifies warding magic. Normally, it would be foolish to try to prevent it with warding.


　Usually.


　The dragon fires its breath without mercy.
　A breath that roars from the heavens, powerful enough to turn an entire forest into a wasteland in a single shot if left unchecked.

Lara and the others, stay back.

　I hold up my hand against the breath.
　And I deployed the warding spell.


If you can't deploy a warding spell to protect you from a breath that nullifies warding spells ......, you're not much good.


　I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

It's a good thing I'm a master. You can turn any impossible thing into possible. That's the kind of master I love.
Even though my strength is less than it was a thousand years ago, I can still do this kind of thing.

　The dragon's eyes seemed to be enraptured as he intimidated his opponent.