Saeki revealed his true nature.
No, I didn't think it was Saeki from the beginning.
He began to twist and turn and swell like a mollusk, and then he transformed into a red dragon.
That's right. The minotaur, slime and zombie, the rest is the dragon.
Saeki was an afterthought, but.....


Come to think of it, ever since I came here, I've always felt a kind of mindfulness that I didn't understand the substance of.

Shirakawa appeared as if to evoke a trauma.
He seduced me with words that he would never say in person.
The reason I wasn't fooled by that temptation was because the gap between me and him was too big.
He would never say something like that to someone like me.
Because Shirakawa was a man-loving, uncontrolled person.
If it was the man of your choice, you would open your legs without hesitation, and the rumor was already known among your classmates.
So I was the only one who didn't know about it.
My image of her changed drastically after that.
Just the false memory of "innocent Shirakawa" was all that remained.

In the end, I loved what I wanted, not what she was.
After that, I was terribly conflicted.
Was I wrong to change my mind, to understand the misunderstanding, to know the truth?
But I couldn't lie to myself.
I finally decided to admit to myself, "This is who I am.

And then there's Saeki.
And then there's Saeki.
He wouldn't be interested in my inner life.
He only wanted to despise me, and he enjoyed it.
So, why does he want to kill us all?"　He threw away the question, "What do you want to do?
It brought to light the hesitation I had inside me and threw away the very question I had been asking myself these days.

'After Saeki, the dragon is next........ Right?　What are you?　What is a dungeon?

I'll find the truth on my own.

The dragon changed his tone again, his voice thin and unsuitable for his appearance.
Like the dungeon itself, I can't keep up with my understanding of this guy.
Saeki's true identity is Dragon.
-- that can't be true.
Perhaps this guy is not a dragon either.
Then what is it?

'It's better than that?　Carelessness?

Then the dragon's mouth began to flicker and glow.
Then I saw a shadow of fire in its mouth.

'Masamune!　The breath is coming!

As soon as Toa said that, I stepped forward to protect the three of us.

This place is a wave of erosion.........no.......
But at that moment, the image of Ichijo, who had lost his left arm, passed through my mind.

This is not good.

''The one who binds [Diess Obligatio]!

I stopped using the 'Wave of Erosion' and used the 'Binding One'.

Countless white arms thrust up from right below, aiming at the dragon's jaw as it tried to release its breath.

''Gummph!''

The dragon was forced to close its mouth as it was pushed up from its jaws.
Then an explosion could be heard from inside the dragon's mouth, and black smoke erupted from the gap between its fangs.

The wave of erosion cannot be used.
If he used it, three people could be harmed.
Normally, there shouldn't be any problems with contact, but after what happened with Ichijou, it's not so easy to make a decision.

''You're suspicious, aren't you?　The Abyss.

The dragon looks down at me and asks me that question.
It's as if no damage has been done.

''The Pain of the Grudge (Phantom Pain)!

"The depths of the abyss, where there is no will, have no effect on me?

Then the dragon didn't change a single expression, as if nothing had happened.

''[Demon Fire (Shlaim)]!

Then Nem opened fire on the dragon.
But the dragon still didn't freak out.

'Huh?　It's pretty good magic. Unlike some cowards.

Nem, get back. This guy is in another dimension.

Yes, sir.

I intercepted Nem who stepped forward with my hand.

'Nem, I'll take this one alone.... I feel like I have to do it.

"How can a coward be king?　Don't doubt the abyss!

Don't tell me what to do!　　[Unreasonable Robbery (Riddick Lost)]!

It's useless.

I exercised a spell that would force me to take a part of him.
With this magic, I was going to rip his head off as quickly as possible.
But just like the dragon said, nothing happened to the head I was aiming for.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

Hmm? .....

I was slow to react to the right hand.

"Why?"　You look like that, don't you?

Guffaw!

I was slashed by the dragon's sharp claws and sent backwards.
My torso was gouged out and blood splattered all around me.

'Masamune!'

Master!

Master Nito!

I heard three voices.

It's been a long time since I've had pain.
Not since the dungeon, this pain.
But by nature, if they cut you, you'd bleed and it would hurt.
...I forgot.

Don't come!

I told the three of them that.
That scared Toa tried to step forward to help me.

''The [Healing Wave (Heal Aura)]........''

I used my healing magic to heal the wound.
I've never been so glad to be a healer as I am now.
Otherwise, I would have died.

'Huh ... healing magic?　Isn't that convenient?　If that's what you're thinking, I know what's going on in your head, okay?　　"Why am I the only healer?　I've always wanted to see him flame out. Why not the wise ones?　You're not a knight?　You're not a sausageur?"　...right?　And yet, when you are injured, you feel relieved, as if you are grateful.　Isn't it time you stopped doing that?　That's a disgusting idea.

Shut up....

I'm supposed to be cured, but I can't get rid of the weakness.
Dragon, as usual, says something that seems to see right through my mind.

''[State Abnormal Healing (Effect Heal)].......what do you know?''

I used my magic, but the feeling of weakness doesn't go away.

--Why?

Because I have my doubts.

This isn't on the level of mind-reading.
The dragon replied to the voice in my mind.

'As soon as he dwells, all his magic is an abyss. And the abyss does not follow that which has no will. Because the abyss is--

Because it's you, isn't it?　I know. That's why you're telling me not to question it, isn't it?　I already heard that!

I took out my white wand.

'How about this then?'

I cast a reversal prank on the wand.


-- "[Reversing Prank [Reversing Prank [Pole]] caused [Saint's Wrath] to reverse to [Verfegor's Great Wand]."


Then the wand turned black as I watched.

"Vell, give him a shot at that.

Didn't you hear me say it was useless?

The dragon was still looking down at me.

.........

'Vel?'

I looked at the statue on the tip of my wand.
But it didn't answer.
Normally he would have opened his eyes and said "Master" in a friendly manner, but....

Then the dragon's claws struck again.
I reacted instantly and dodged properly the next time.

'What is that piece of stick?'

Strange ... Vel doesn't respond.

'Stop.........'

I had no choice but to put Vel away in the other space storage.
No matter how much I spoke to her, she didn't respond, no matter how wildly I tried to shake her.
I didn't have time to wait for Vel.
In the meantime, the dragon's claws were closing in on me again.

I tried to tame its claws with my fists this time.
If magic doesn't work, then it's physical combat.
But--

What!　Ugh!

That's not cool.

He didn't touch the claws, but he was blown to the back of the house.

'd*mn!　[Waves of Healing (Heal Aura)]

I managed to land on my feet and immediately applied the cure.
But is it my imagination?
The healing process seems to be less effective.

'Master?'

Nem looked worried and called out to him.

''Huh ... what's to protect?　Look at you?　Who the hell am I supposed to be protecting?　You can't even protect yourself.

Well you don't have to ask me that, you know?

I asked the dragon.

"Hmm?

"You're reading my mind, whatever the hell the theory is.　Then you know what I mean.　Why don't I use it?

'Yeah, I know, I know, but it's because you destroyed the arm of a handsome rear-end guy like Ichijo, right?　That's why that guy's arm is never coming back. But what does it matter?　You remember, don't you?　What are you scared of?

'I'm not frightened. I'm just accepting it as fact. I'm not doubting myself.

'It's no use ... there's no excuse for the abyss. You are looking away, even though you know better. The truth is, you know what you're doing. Why did the erosion invade Ichijou's arm?　That's because you doubted it. Yourself.

'I didn't doubt you!　I don't know what to do!　At that time, I was just using normal magic. And yet the erosion invaded Ichijo. It only invaded one article!

'Yes. I mean, isn't that the answer?

What?

Don't you see?　That's what I'm saying, that it's your will.

You think hurting Ichijo was my choice?

To put it a little more bluntly, I wanted to kill him.

What the hell is this guy talking about?
That I wanted to kill Ichijo?

You don't want friendship. Because you know that there is no such thing in this world. The reason you trusted Ichijo is a kind of hesitation. You just took your word for it and believed it when it suited you.

No, he's....

'You really thought that, didn't you?　You think I'm creepy?　You're a man with a terrible hatred for your friends.

Yes, there are no friends.

"Now you're back on someone else's terms. My words.　Can we stop being like that?

I know I know I know.
I lacked the will to begin with.
I couldn't make up my mind to get things done.
I'm too lazy to deal with it.

"A man who doubts and fears himself cannot be king. And his vessel is easily shattered.

The dragon's words sound like a cipher.
I can't understand anything.

'Don't you understand?　Masamune?　Or is it Nito?

Are you suggesting that the alias itself is the problem?

No, no, that's very noble, very sloppy. It's sloppy. It's sloppy.

What, then?　Is it still Ichijo?

Then the dragon let out a sigh and snorted.

'Let me tell you one thing. The abyss responds to the deepest will of the heart. But it also responds to an inherently easy, surface will.

Then why me?　When you're not there...

This is not a one-way ticket.　You were just as anxious as you were before that.

What? ...and you're worried?

'It's not a trivial thing. It's something bigger and more definitive. And anxiety leads to fear.

It's like I'm always worried about something.
A little one, a lot of them.

"Anxiety is doubt in the self.

What is anxiety?
When did I ever feel insecure?

Masamune!

That's when I heard Toa's voice.
At the same time, I felt an intense pain in my body.

The next thing I knew, I was being punched away by the dragon's arm.
No, apparently, it was the claws again, slashing at me.
I feel something raw and warm in my stomach.

''[Healing Wave (Heal Aura)]........

It's even worse than before.

Masamune!

Master!

Master Nito!

I can see the anxious expressions on the three of them.

Well maybe I'm going to die.
After all, I can't protect anyone, can I?
Neem, Sierra, and Sufilia........
And the Toa I can't save them from death.

After all this searching, we still can't find them.
I must find a way to save the Toa from death.
No.........he wasn't sure from the start, was he?

I see.

I see.
That's what makes me so insecure.
I can't save the Toa.
Is this the doubt, the fear, and the trepidation I've had?

Well I may not be able to save you. "I've been there myself.

The future me couldn't save Toa.
So maybe that's why I thought that I would be one of them.

Yes. Yes. You were afraid. You doubted yourself. But that is not the point.

"Yeah I hid it. From myself.

Yes, that's the problem. You lied to yourself. That's much heavier than doubt. Lying to yourself, that means denying yourself. You have denied your weakness.

But I needed to be strong. Even if it meant giving up my weakness.

"You don't need to throw it away. That's part of who you are. You know what?　There's only one thing you need to do. --Don't doubt yourself. That's all.

Doubt a lie, I don't know why.

I know you'll understand. Don't doubt yourself, trust me. That's all. The abyss is your own. It is both very simple and difficult. But you dare to think the hard way.

I already know that this dragon is trying to make me aware of something.
But what do I do?
I'm not skeptical.
I just don't know.

I know better than to think.

Disappearing Wave of Erosion, Disappearing Aura ... how's that for you?

--I chanted the magic.
I refused to do my first spell.