THE next day, we gathered in front of the mayor’s house first thing in the morning.
Judging by the healthy coloring in everyone’s faces compared to yesterday, they must have gotten some good rest. Lance, prepared to accompany us on our Dark Dragon extermination, had his bow and quiver strapped to his back.
“Ah… Right, Lance is an archer too.”
“I’m a magic archer.”
“M-Magic archer…?”
“Yep.” Lance took out an arrow to show Ulgus. “The arrowhead has a magic stone attached that activates spells when I fire.”
The nock of the arrow had a spell engraved in it that allowed him to cast magic spells without chanting anything each time he fired it.
“Wow…”
Ulgus had a depressed look on his face. Not only was Lance an archer just like him, but one capable of magic too. That realization probably came as a big shock.
“Don’t worry, Ulgus. He can’t fight like you do, since it’s impossible to use a lot of magic arrows in succession.”
“R-Really? That’s a relief…”
Then came the pep talk from Captain Ludtink.
“This Dark Dragon extermination will be our most dangerous expedition yet. Don’t any one of you let your guards down, got it? Slaying the dragon is our main objective, but comin’ back alive is part of the mission too.”
Come back alive…! Those words echoed in my heart. I would need to focus on staying out of sight. I didn’t want to get in the way while the others were fighting, after all.
Vice Captain Velrey had never looked so cool and composed.
Garr and Sly had equally stern looks on their faces.
Zara looked like he was practically burning with a fighting spirit.
Ulgus was clutching his racing heart.
Liselotte was squeezing her staff tightly. Lord Lichtenberger at her side was also holding a staff I’d never seen before—one about as tall as he was. I knew he meant business.
Sir Aiskoletta, to no one’s surprise, was perfectly calm. He certainly didn’t look like someone who was about to vanquish a Dark Dragon. Doc didn’t look any different either, but maybe that was thanks to the wisdom he’d gained over his long life.
“All right, let’s go!”
“Yes, Captain!”
The Dark Dragon was sealed inside a shrine deep within the forest. Doc was going to teleport our entire party straight there.
My heart pounded in my chest. It was finally time to face the Dark Dragon.
A magic circle appeared under my feet, and instantly, the world in front of me changed. We’d arrived in a dark area of the forest surrounded by densely packed trees.
Before us was a stone building covered in ivy.
The air felt heavy. Was that because of our moods, or because of the rich magical energy found this deep in the forest? At this point, I couldn’t tell. I fought off the urge to run in the opposite direction.
“Is this…the mausoleum where the dragon is sealed?”
“Correct. There’s a small shrine in the back.”
I had no idea such a thing existed in the depths of the Fore Elf woods. Doc explained that he’d been coming here every fifty years to pray and subdue the Dark Dragon.
“I never imagined you were taking on such a role.”
“Well, yes, I made sure to keep it a secret.”
He prayed when the full moon was out, continuing the ritual until the sun rose the next morning.
“So that’s why you seemed sleepy sometimes, Doc? You were here praying the night before?”
“Right you are.”
Next year, it would be time to select someone new to conduct the prayers. Doc said the adults had discussed it amongst themselves and offered up Mill as a potential replacement.
Lance listened to Doc speak with a look of mixed feelings. It seemed that not even the mayor’s grandson knew of this arrangement.
“It must be a relief knowing your sister won’t have to tend to the shrine.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Of course, that’s if we manage to slay the dragon.”
With those final words, Doc began to chant the spell that would unseal the stone mausoleum.
“Are you all right, Medic Risurisu? You’re really pale.”
“Y-Yes, I’m sorry.”
I was the unit’s combat medic, yet I was the one feeling sick. It was so embarrassing. I needed to get a hold of myself.
“Hey, Risurisu. Don’t pass out without tellin’ us first.”
How am I supposed to tell someone in time? How can Captain Ludtink say that with such a serious expression? Unfortunately, I didn’t have the energy to protest.
“I’ll…try my best.”
That was all I could respond with.
As we talked, a faint magic circle appeared over the mausoleum. The stone door started to open with a loud rumble. The first thing we saw inside was a staircase. Past that, it was too dark to see.
“Rainwater has pooled inside and allowed moss to grow on the floor. Please be careful where you step.” Doc cast a ball of light so we could see properly.
“Ulgus, Risurisu, be sure you don’t slip.” The captain apparently saw Ulgus and me as the most careless members.
The staircase was only big enough for one person to stand on each step. We had to be careful, as the steps themselves were quite tall. Doc led the way, followed by Sir Aiskoletta and then Captain Ludtink.
Garr gave me a reassuring pat on the back each time we looped around past each other. Even Sly was stretching her arms out. It felt like she was cheering me on.
“He says there’s moss, Medic Risurisu, so let’s be extra careful.”
“Right.”
Ulgus wanted the both of us to exercise caution. Lance was looking at me in anger.
“Mell, you better watch out. If you trip, so will everyone else behind you.”
“I know that.”
Lance was still so cocky after all this time. Well, it was just part of his character.
“It’ll be all right,” Zara smiled and encouraged me. I kind of felt like crying.
Doc called out to me calmly. “Shall we continue, Mell?”
“Y-Yes…”
Liselotte followed behind me, with Lord Lichtenberger behind her.
“Father says he’ll carry you if you fall, Mell.”
“R-Really?”
Despite his frightening appearance, Lord Lichtenberger was surprisingly caring. I bowed slightly to show him gratitude.
“Don’t bother with that. Just keep moving, or we’ll get separated from the others.”
“O-Oh, right.”
Even Album stuck his head out of my bag and said, “Little ol’ Album’s cheering you on too!”
I stroked his head, causing him to let out a strange cry of, “Hyaaah!” I couldn’t help but laugh at that.
Amelia and Rih followed behind Lord Lichtenberger. Once Vice Captain Velrey stepped inside at the very back, the door automatically closed behind her.
It was quite damp inside the mausoleum. I made sure not to slip, since a thick layer of moss was growing all over the interior. The sound of water droplets hitting the ground echoed off the walls. It was a very mysterious space to be inside of. With each step I took, a chill shot down my spine.
“Help me! Help me!”
“It hurts! It hurts!”
“Eek!”
“Melly?!”
I covered my ears. I could hear someone calling out for help.
“What’s the matter, Risurisu?!”
“S-Someone’s crying out for help!”
“Someone you know?!”
It was an odd question. Why would I hear a familiar voice at a time like this?
“It was a child, or maybe a woman, but I didn’t know them.”
“I didn’t hear any of that at all.”
“R-Really?” My frail voice echoed inside the mausoleum.
“I heard a voice too, Melly. But it was so quiet, I just wrote it off as the wind.”
“Really, Zara?”
“I thought I heard a strange whispering sound as well.”
“You too, Liselotte?”
Lance, Garr, and Lord Lichtenberger confirmed what I’d heard. I let out a sigh of relief, thinking I’d been the only one.
Doc explained the source of the confusion. “Please don’t mind the voices, everyone. They belong to the Fore Elves who were sacrificed.”
“Eeek…!”
Even Doc had heard them. My whole body got goosebumps when he revealed the shocking source of those voices.
“Those who would be suitable sacrifices are capable of hearing the voices.”
In other words, Captain Ludtink would be rejected as a sacrifice. That thought eased the horror I’d been feeling just slightly.
“Try to ignore them. Let’s keep going.”
“All right.”
I heard even more voices after that. Even with Doc telling us not to mind them, they were just so frightening.
“Are you okay, Pancake Girl?”
“No, I’m not.”
“You can cuddle me if you want!”
I decided to take him up on the offer, retrieving Album from my bag and squeezing him tight. It actually did make me feel a little better.
We descended the stairs for about thirty minutes until we reached a massive door looming over us. This was the last thing separating us from the Dark Dragon. The air felt heavy and suffocating. This door was sealed shut too, so Doc began to chant a spell, causing a faint magic circle to glow over the top of it.
“That reminds me…” Captain Ludtink’s voice was much more cheerful than this place deserved. “If we complete this mission, the higher-ups said they’ll give us all-you-can-eat passes for life at the cafeteria.”
I almost laughed out loud. I get a cafeteria pass just for being here while they exterminate the Dark Dragon?
“They’re givin’ you one too, Lord Lichtenberger.”
“No need.” Lord Lichtenberger rejected the offer without a second thought. This even got a chuckle out of Vice Captain Velrey.
The other knights would probably feel too awkward to eat with Lord Lichtenberger amongst them. No one would be brave enough to sit at his table, so he would definitely eat alone. Such lonely meals they would be. But picturing it caused me to giggle.
“What a trivial conversation to have before taking on a Dark Dragon…”
Next to the irritated Lord Lichtenberger was Sir Aiskoletta, who suddenly raised his hand.
“Will I be granted one of these ‘all-you-can-eat passes’ as well?”
“Not you too, Sir Aiskoletta!” I couldn’t hold back my shock. My voice echoed off the walls of the chamber.