In the end, Silmeria got away as quickly as she could.
　After she finished judging Jessica, she said, "Well, then, we're not guilty either!　You see! And he left like the wind. Well, in fact, Hydra is closing in on us, and I guess I really wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
　Then I retrieved the weapons from the carriage Silmeria had left behind and put the sword I had ordered into my waistband. There was also Milo's axe, Gilanka's mountain sword (machete), Chappie's club, and various other things, but I had Jessica collect them and distribute them to each of us. By the way, when I told her not to embezzle, she said, "I won't do that! He said with a bright red face.

　I wonder if Jessica is starting to be a little more honest with me.
　Well.
　The only thing left to do is to deal with that big guy - Hydra.

Hyu. It's spectacular.

Don't lean back too far. You're gonna fall.

Okay.

　As soon as I finished those meetings, I rode out of the country on Puppy's back.
　If this was a normal situation, I would have at least brought Jessica with me, but Jessica has things to do.
　And what I need to do is identify who I'm going to have to fight.

'Hey, puppy,'

M... what's up, kid?

You've been so quiet all night. What's going on?

　I'm heading to Hydra with Puppy to scout out the area, but there's another reason why I'm here.
　But I'm here for another reason. In fact, I wanted to take the time to talk to Puppy.
　Didn't everyone think it was strange that Puppy didn't say anything? He usually talks so loudly, but he's strangely silent.

'Hmmm ... not much of a reason.

What do you mean?

He's one of us. The son of man may be the name he gave me, but he and I are both Ancient Dragons.

The Ancient Dragon, right?

　I think I remember hearing that term.
　I'm pretty sure it was something an adventurer said. Come to think of it, Puppy is called something cool like Grandizia.
　Well, my country is Grandizia now, so it's a bit complicated.

"The dragon that lived for a thousand years is called the Ancient Dragon King (Ancient Dragon). The ones I know.

Why are you so d*mn cool for nothing?

Don't listen to me. The Son of Man gave you that.

　Isn't it too cool to be Lightning Roar, the Black Dragon of Exile Shadow, or Crimson Fang, the Flying Dragon of Red Scales?
　When I first heard the name Grandisier, I thought it was really cool. I wonder if there are people who specialize in giving names to things like that.
　I'm not sure if there is a name for this, but I'd like to have a cool name for myself.

"Well, I'm a fellow countryman, but I'm not so good at it.

Well then....

'But kid. What would you think if the demons were having a meeting about how to kill someone you're somewhat uncomfortable with? Do you have an opinion on how to kill them?

....

　Puppy's words choked me up.
　Surely, even if I was somewhat of a pain in the ass to me, I wouldn't want to be in a meeting like that. And that's what Hydra is to Puppy.
　I thought demons didn't have a sense of camaraderie or anything like that.

'I don't mean to interrupt you in any way. But it's also true that I'm not too keen on it. Let me go ahead and say that I am now useless.

Didn't you ever tell me you were useful?

"Hey!

　All I can remember is his bad behavior.
　He burned my house down, made me name my country after him, and was late when he tried to take the city.
　He was late when I offered to strengthen it, and he usually refused when I offered to strengthen it. All of these things add up to give him a very low opinion of himself.

"Oh, can you at least carry me?

Is my only value in existence the means of transportation?

　Well, thanks to Puppy, I'm able to go out on reconnaissance like this.
　I'll have to give them some credit.

Well, that's good. The little boy will find out about my greatness sooner or later.

Okay.

　I lightly let Puppy's sulking tell me to go away.
　Finally, the hydra came into view below us. Silmeria was right, its movement speed is probably about the same as a carriage.
　It's a very big body, but its movement is slow and sluggish, as if it's taking slow and steady steps.

So that's Hydra.

"Mm.

Move a little closer, Pappy. I haven't gotten to the analysis yet.

Yes, sir.

　Slowly, Puppy and Hydra are getting closer.
　They're approaching completely unprotected, but I wonder if they're okay.

'Puppy,'

What's going on?

I'm the one who said "approach," but are you sure it's safe to approach him so unprotected?　Will they attack you or something?

He is to me as I am to him, and I am to him. I will not attack my own people.

Really?

Of course. We have a sense of camaraderie.

　I wish it were.
　At any rate, we're in a position to reach it. I guess that's about right.

Analyze.

　With powerful words, my magic caught Hydra.
　I let that information float in front of me in a translucent string of text.

　Name: none.
　Occupation : Hydra Level 99
　skill
　Biting, level 99.
　Flame activated, level 95.
　Tightening level 90
　Magic resistance level 90
　Physical resistance level 80.
　Self-regeneration, level 50.

　That's not true.
　That's the information I've seen on the monster known as Hydra.

This is........bad.

It will be so. For you are my people.

　First of all, a magic resistance level of 90 means that most magic is considered ineffective.
　And a physical resistance level of 80 is a number I've never seen even in the ruins of Rilkara. The one with the greatest physical resistance that I know of was a Guardian Golem, but it was still physical resistance level 68. I remember that it took me rather long to defeat it.
　Most importantly, it's self regeneration level 50. This is the worst skill I've ever seen, regenerating one after another from the place where I was wounded. No matter how many attacks you give it, it will always regenerate from the place where you attacked it.
　In order to prevent this self-regeneration, the standard practice was to drop the head with a single blow to kill it. However, Hydra was a dragon with nine heads. It would be difficult to cut off all of its heads at once.
　It has nine heads in all, so even if you cut off one head, it will regenerate while you are cutting off the next one. Considering that, it would be safe to assume that it would have a regenerative power that would make it desperate to defeat it.

　This is certainly an opponent that no wonder the Demon King Lil Kala escaped.
　This Hydra is the same old dragon king (Ancient Dragon) as the Puppy--.
　That.
　Hydra and Puppy are compatriots...?

"Puppy...

What's up, kid?

You're such a f*cking little fish...

Why would that be?

　You shouldn't put him in the same league as the Puppies or his compatriots, this guy. And he's far stronger than the Puppy.
　Its threat level is also incomparable to the Puppy. And if you want to defeat the Puppy, it'll be over in an instant.
　In the meantime, I've heard of Jessica's plan, but will it really stop Hydra?

''Wah, my.......small fry.......''

Yes, I don't mind. I was just spilling my heart out.

'I believe you meant it!　Of course I care!

You don't have a very good heart, do you?

Whose fault is that?

　"f*ck," spits Puppy.
　I'm just stating a fact.

Well, I'm going to do it anyway, right?

　We don't have much time left.
　I'm going to have to get my ass in gear too.

　For the first time in a long time, I can fight with all my might.
　That fact - my heart danced a little bit.