When Renge and the others and Shirou started fighting a little further away, Cassandra, who hadn't moved before, started to move.
I would like Kuduro-san and Koren-sama to evacuate in case the battle begins, but right now it seems that Kuduro-san is still not sufficiently recovered and Kuduro-san is still lying down and Koren-sama is also slumped down, so it seems a little difficult.

'Master ... back.
I'll be fine. I don't think he's ready.

Wendy steps forward to protect me, but I gently put a hand on her shoulder and pull her closer and I step forward.

'Hey. Cassandra, it's been a while since I've seen you last.
''Huh........it really is you. I wish it had been the wrong person if possible........ I said that if we meet again it will be fate........but why is fate so cruel?

A loud sigh is all it takes to make my bangs rise back and make me stomp my feet.
Although I spoke to him in a friendly manner, my heart continues to beat wildly, and I can't stop sweating cold inside my clothes.
Behind me, Coren-sama says, "What?　Huh?　You know him?　He seems confused, but he can't look away.
This is already in Cassandra's pause.

''If you haven't been attacked yet... is the pact from that time still in effect?
Oh. I won't eat you. I'll protect that.

All right. The first step, buying time through conversation, is going to work.
I know I said the first step, but the second step is just a matter of what you can do about it, depending on the situation.

''But you see, I can't stop your mother from eating you or your brothers from eating you. That would be a clear hostile situation.
That's terrible please don't do it.
''Even though they're allies, it doesn't mean they're on your side........ Well, even if we were on your side, it's not possible for my brothers, but not my mother. The difference in strength between us is still tremendous. You can't do this by force. Even if I asked you to do something, you wouldn't listen to me because my mother is the chief.

So the chief was his own mother?
That means that the pact that Cassandra wants to lose is...

Hey, the pact that Cassandra wants to lose is...
Hmm?　That's right. This pact thing.
Why?　I don't think you're going to lose your pact, and Lokak...
No, no, no. Look at your mother. Don't you think she's unseemly, with her fat, slow legs?　She doesn't exercise, she eats and sleeps all the time, so she's gaining weight. That's because you are gaining strength, but I can't look at you as a woman.

No, I did think it was pretty big, but was that fat...?

At least I don't think I can prevent or avoid them.
Even from a distance, I can see that Renge and the three of them are forced to fight an uphill battle.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you don't need to obtain the magic power of a princess maiden to live. I want you to move and catch your own prey like I eat earth dragons and balance your diet and exercise, but all that because the princess miko's magic power is abundant and rich and can satisfy you for a few hundred years.... That figure, it would be a good laugh to show the other dragon species.

Besides," Cassandra continues.

'Mother in her prime would have done all that already. Including all of you. But even the three of you are still unable to defeat our mother. Don't you think the most powerful species, the renowned dragon species, is not pathetic?

Well, well, we're still alive because of that pettiness, so I don't have any answers for you........
I mean, was Rare Gaia even more awesome in the past than it is now........
Cassandra then lowers the tone of her voice and continues sadly.

'My mother used to be an awesome dragon, you know. I think her proportions were the best among the chiefs of the dragon species, she was unbeatable at close quarters, she had magnificent scales that didn't cause a single scratch, and she was a proud mother and respectable dragon who defeated magic from the front. But.........I'm sad to see a shadow of my life.......
'I see......... You want Lea Gaia to get back to her original shape........
'Yes. So I'm going to be the head of the group eventually, and I'm going to ask my mother to go on a diet. But........not now. I can't even compete with Mom in that form now.

Hmm.........I see.
I was thinking that if Cassandra wasn't willing to do it, we could get her to join our side somehow.......
At some point........the dragon's time interval and our sense of time are very different, it could be hundreds or even thousands of years later......

As I was thinking about what to do, I heard a clear bell ringing in my ears.

Hm. I'm home.
Huh?

White was next to me before I knew it!
I mean, what's that big thing you're holding in both hands?
...and the tail?

This is a surprise. You don't think your brothers have already lost?
Hm. Easy. I cut his tail off and he ran.

White's tail, cut off with both hands.
.... that's it, isn't it?　It's for eating, right?

That's also pathetic. Yes, it's also pathetic. You've definitely won.
Hmm. You're talking to me?　Or are you going to f*ck White too?

White tries to hand me the tail, so I store it in the magical space as it is.
This way I'll be able to return it even if he asks me to return it later.

''Well I might do it if the discussion doesn't go well...''

A discussion...?
From me, of course, but what does Cassandra have to say to me?

Hey, buddy.
What?
'Would you run away, please?　You can take the people here with you. As long as you eat the princess miko, it's over. If you run away now, I'll let you guys off the hook, okay?

From Cassandra's point of view, it must be a breakthrough offer.
But she didn't come prepared to leave because she couldn't beat Rare Gaia.

'I'm sorry, but I can't do that,'
"...why is that?　I mean, let's face it, our chances of winning are zero, okay?　As you can see, none of their attacks have worked. Even the kitty there will be difficult. I can understand the human race wanting to believe in that possibility if there's even a little bit of it, but.......no matter how you scramble, you won't be able to beat your mother.
Because it's non-negotiable.
You don't do things you don't like to do, do you?　How does this time go against your principles by any stretch of the imagination?　........Is there anything more here that is non-negotiable than that?

You understand a lot, even though we only talked about it a little last time.
Well it's a case that I really don't want to get involved in, to tell you the truth.
I'm not a hero or a heroic person, so I'll pass it off as such if this happened to a stranger.
But hey.....

It's a good idea. I've got some things I can't give up.
'Lord!　Down!

As soon as White shouted downstairs, he and Wendy flew into the sky with White.

''Hyah!　It's an ambush!　I haven't lost yet!
How dare you--

It looks like we were their target, and Kuduro-san and Koren-sama are safe.
The invisible prison (Invisible Jail) was set up at our feet to create a foothold, but that made it difficult for White to intercept.
However, the two dragons were caught by two arms stretching out from the side faster than their jaws could reach us.

''What are you doing--''
Hey, sis--
My sister is in the middle of a conversation.

Cassandra tightens her grip with a strong killing intent.
Maybe it's because of the killing intent, or maybe it's because of the pressure of the grip, but Rockus and Rockus are starting to bubble up.

'You've lost, you should be quiet. Dragons are power. Now that you've been defeated by force, I hope you're not going to do anything unseemly.

After saying that much, Cassandra throws them backwards with a pop.
Locus and Locks seem to be alive, but they are blowing foam out of their mouths and jerking and twitching.
Then Cassandra turns her gaze to me with her intimidation intact.

'Well I said I wouldn't eat them, but I can kill them, can't I?　It's my principle to eat the ones I kill but I can do without, can't I?

I land in front of Cassandra, who is overwhelmingly intimidating, and I stare back into her eyes.

''Well there's someone I absolutely have to be with to make me happy. I'm not going to run away to be with that guy from now on.

They stare at each other and don't turn away from each other.
It's reassuring to know that Wendy and White are standing beside me, staring at Cassandra together.

Then, after some time has passed, Cassandra exhales, and the pressure subsides as if the tension is released.

''......................Ha. I see........that princess maiden is your non-negotiable....... Then it seems that it's impossible to make you give up.
'Then what do we do?　Do you want to fight?

In response to my words, White pulls out a knife and releases it, and Wendy kneads her magic.
But what can I say, I don't feel anything from Cassandra........

'I don't like that either........ The more I'm relative to you, the less I want to kill you........ I tried to intimidate you like a dragon, but......... Hey, what should I do?
You don't mind if I give you a hand, do you?
''That's impossible. If I challenge the Earth Dragon Chief myself, I can't afford a single defeat. I can't win against my mother either. I've told Mom that I don't want to make a pact with her, so I'll just do nothing and be opportunistic.

When I say that, Cassandra lays down on her side with her body down.
In response to that action, White looked at me to see what to do.

''Hmm?　Oh, it's all right. As a reward for enduring my stare, I swear I will not attack you, nor will I let my brothers attack you. Including the two of you lying there. I don't know if that's the most treacherous thing I could do. Well, we'll see, so good luck with that.

Cassandra stares at Rare Gaia with a sad look in her eyes while waving her hand in the air.
Then, something lands near us and makes the sand roll up.

"Ghaha......... Haha...........
'Renge!　Are you okay?!
''Ah........Master........ Huh?　Are you finished over here?
'Oh, oh.... Somehow. It's not an ally... but they don't seem to be doing the fighting.
You're the master.......you've seduced a dragon.......

I don't think I was trying to seduce you........
More importantly, you should drink the recovery potion first........
I took it out and forced him to drink it, he said with a huff and wiped his mouth.



Renge goes to Rare Gaia once more, making the red pattern shine even brighter.

'White will go too.'
You okay?　I'd better get some rest first...
I'm fine. I'm not too worn out. I'll be fine.

After saying that much, a smile appeared on his face and he instantly turned serious and joined in the defeat of Rare Gaia.

'.........That cat is strong.
Yeah. White and ... we're all strong.
"...and yet I cannot break my mother's dragon scales.

Cassandra says confidently, but I had no choice but to trust White and everyone else.