(So, what do I need!?) Wataru grumbled, crossing his log-thick arms!
Orbs...
(Orbs...!?)
Orbs! Some sort of magical spheres!
My body is protected by a magical barrier that deflects all physical attacks. If you want to break through the barrier, collect six orbs from all over the Wind Continent. The orbs possess a mystical power to negate magic. When you have six of them, their combined power will be able to disable even the barrier that protects me.
What a time-wasting gimmick! You see this kind of thing all the time in fantasy novels!
(So that’s how it is! Well, first things first... I’ll put that to the test!!) Just as the thought left his mind, Wataru fired a four-hundred-kilometers-per-hour punch into the back of the dragon’s shirt! But...!!
No use...
Wataru’s fist crashed into an invisible wall a hair’s breadth above the dragon’s shirt! Wataru threw another punch, and another, but all of them were blocked by the invisible force! That being said, Wataru felt no pain in his fists! It felt like he was striking a steel surface covered with a thick layer of cotton! “I see... My punches aren’t doing anything! They’re useless!!” It seemed like the dragon really was protected by a magic barrier! (But why!? Why tell me how I can defeat you!?)
It’s simple. I want a fair fight against a worthy opponent.
(Hm... Got it!!) That answer spoke loudly and clearly to Wataru! Anyone who practiced martial arts would have felt the same!
This barrier has been in place around my body since the moment of my birth. It is not a power I wanted, nor is it something I can turn off by my own accord. And because of this little barrier, I am bored out of my mind. It keeps me from fighting powerful foes.
(So, you want to fight me without your barrier!)
Correct. And collecting the six orbs will not be an easy task. My dearest wish is to fight those who have what it takes to overcome that challenge. I wish for a real life-or-death battle.
Human or dragon, all true MEN long for heart-pounding battles against powerful adversaries! Just like Wataru, this dragon had quite the fighting spirit!!
(I get it now! But I have to ask you a favor, dragon! Don’t attack any villages until I get back!!)
The dragon, in a rather anthropomorphic gesture, frowned! Oh? You tell me not to ‘devastate’? That takes the fun away.
(Save that devastation energy for when you face me! That should make for an even better battle!!)
After a few moments of silence, the dragon answered! Hm. Interesting! I’ve lived quite a long life, but have never met anyone as intriguing as you! Very well. I will keep a low profile for a while.
(Thanks! And don’t go eating any humans, either!)
The dragon smirked, bearing a fang! Worry not, Wataru. I’m a vegetarian. I’ve never tasted flesh, even that of a human.
Wataru returned a smirk of his own! (Heh! Now, we’re talking! I’ll get those orbs, then! See ya!) Wataru immediately jumped right off the dragon’s back for a nine hundred-foot descent!!
✦ ✦ ✦
“Oh, here he comes...” Aria pointed up at the sky!
“Is he just going to hit the ground?” Résistance asked nervously, brushing her blue hair back from her face!
“It’s Wataru. He’ll be fine,” Aria reassured her, without a shred of concern in her tone!
Ttttthhhhhhuuuddddddd!!!!!
Wataru landed in front of Aria and Résistance with a thunderous crash! His perfectly-built body was unharmed, naturally, but the impact of his landing caused rocks in the vicinity to shatter! One of the shards struck Aria smack in the middle of her forehead!
“Graghghaghalghhrrraarghaaagghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!” Aria screamed, blood spewing out of the wound!
“Are you okay, Aria!?!?!?!?!?” Wataru shouted, his face once again as stony and furious as a Nio!!
“I-I’m fine, Wataru...! W-Welcome back...!” she answered, even as blood gushed down her face! Her hands lit up with a green glow as she reached up to touch where the rock had struck her! Once she touched the wound with her hands, it rapidly began to heal! That’s right! She was capable of powerful healing magic! So, don’t you worry about her safety! Not for something minor like a shard of rock striking her face!!
“How’d it go?” Résistance asked!
“Long story short, yadda yadda yadda...!!” He began relaying his conversation with the dragon!!
A few minutes later, once Wataru had finished retelling what you and I already know happened, Aria tilted her head in confusion! “Orbs...? What are those? I’ve spent my entire life on this continent and I’ve never heard of them before.”
Résistance smugly crossed her arms! “I’ve heard of orbs.”
“Y-You have, Résistance!?!?”
Résistance nodded, her mouth contorted in a you-know-what-eating grin! “Of course. Who do you think I am? I am the most powerful knight on the continent, who first challenged the Demon Lord to a one-on-one battle before being easily defeated, but then got recruited by the Demon Lord after I swore my loyalty to him, then lost to you after all that.”
“That’s not a résumé to be proud of.” Aria was 1000% correct!
“So!?” Wataru jumped in! “Where are all six of the orbs!?”
“I hate to tell you this, but I only know where one of the orbs is.”
“Oh...!” Wataru scratched his cheek in disappointment! “So, where’s that orb!?”
“I remember that... It was in a village not far from here. I heard that the village elder there has it.”
“All right, let’s go there right now!!”
“Yes!” Aria and Résistance both agreed, wearing smiles suggesting that they had the same idea!
And so, Wataru and his party embarked on the incredibly challenging journey of collecting all six orbs! Will this ordeal be concluded by the end of Volume Two!? There’s only one way to find out, Dear Readers!