The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

As Caliberne had said, blood was trickling from my right arm.

 

‘Still, it’s not as bad as it could have been, considering I used a thunderbolt.’ 

 

Even if it was cursed, I figured we’d have a chance if we focused on its weakness, the eyes.

 

So, I ordered a few of them to keep the dragon’s feet bound, and the rest of us to attack the eyes.

 

And then I, at full strength, struck the dragon’s eyes.

 

Only half of the magic I had poured into the blast dissolved into the attack so that I wouldn’t collapse like the Lion of Nemesis.

 

Instead, I concentrated the power so that the blow would not be scattered, but centered in a small area.

 

‘Thank you, it would have been difficult to control without you.’

 

 [If you think this is going to be a coy compliment, dream on, I don’t think you’re stupid.] 

‘Wasn’t it?’

 [You little punk?] 

Chuckling, I teased Caliberne to my heart’s content.

 

Later, when we met in that galactic space, I’m sure she’d hit me again, but for now, she couldn’t beat me anyway, so it didn’t matter.

 

And if I could at least pretend to be unconcerned, it would put Caliberne’s mind at ease.

 “Well done, Captain.” 

Sera and James, who were huddled together at the dragon’s feet, approached.

 “No, are you hurt?” “Uh, a few scratches, no big deal.” “Let’s get it taken care of quickly, it’s dangerous to get infection there.” 

Sera scurried off to fetch a first aid kit from beneath them.

 “But, Captain, this dragon, it’s not like a normal dragon… but it’s also not like the other curse-enhanced beasts, is it?” 

At James’ words, I was slightly surprised. Because he had pinpointed exactly what I thought was strange.

 “James, do you think so as well?” “Well, you remember, the Lion of Nemesis incident.” 

James said, running his sword across the dragon’s scales.

 “Honestly, at the time, I thought it was going to be tough to beat, no matter what we did, unless it was someone like you.” 

He had a point. I’d seen the lions take a beating from James and Cedric, and I’d seen them not fall.

 “But this dragon… well, it didn’t work at first, but we did manage to take it down, though it took a lot of time and a lot of work compared to the ones we’ve encountered on other expeditions…” 

James trailed off, this time squatting down and running his hand over the dragon’s scales.

 “So I’ve been thinking about something you told me.” “Like what?” “The one about, um, maybe it’s a failure.” 

James looked up at me and answered.

 “We’ll have to leave the carcass in the hands of the Ministry of Magical Research to find out, but I wonder if this dragon, while enhanced by the curse, was a failure that never reached full empowerment, like the Lion of Nemesis?” 

He had a point, I thought.

 

The same spell cast on a large dragon would be slower or weaker than it would be against another beast.

 

It was possible, then, that those who used black magic were not achieving satisfactory results.

 “I suppose that could be the case, because even though it was attacked by more than ten people at the same time, the strength of my thunderbolt was considerably weakened this time.” “Right, let’s just take off a few scales here, and put the corpses in the cart lent to us by the Department of Magical Research.” 

That was the end of the roundup.

 

Now all that remained was to return safely to the palace.

  “So this is how you can detect black magic?” 

Marquis Lauren said, looking at the small iron box with the various devices and some bells on it.

“Yes. You know how we always find out it’s their work after they’ve done something in the field, so I figured we might as well have a way to be prepared in advance, so I made a makeshift one.” “Then I suppose you’ll come up with something more sophisticated in a little while.” “Yes. Until then, I’m going to give one of these to His Majesty and one to the squad.” “They’ll work, won’t they?” 

Marquis Lauren asked, drumming his fingers on the bells, and Rukia turned toward the cabinet.

 “Of course.” 

Turning to the cabinet, he returned with a small wooden box secured with a padlock.

 

Placing the box in front of the magic detector, Rukia switched it on. He heard the detector spin, and then the bell on the detector began to shake and jingle.

 “What’s in here is a piece of clothing that Minerva brought in the other day, the one with the unregistered magic.” 

Nodding at Rukia’s words, Marquis Lauren watched the bell as it continued to jingle in a steady cycle.

 “Aye, I suppose it’s safe to say it’s working well enough. Shall I present it to His Majesty immediately?” “Just a few more touches.” 

Rukia said as she picked up the wooden box and turned to put it back in the cabinet.

 

As the wooden box moved away, the bell slowly tapered off.

 “The longer the bell rings, the closer the black magic is to it?” “Yes. The closer it is, the faster the bell rings.” “Well, then, when it’s done, give it to me. I’ll take it to His Majesty myself—” Ding, ding— 

The clear chime echoed through the room, causing both Rukia and Marquis Lauren to turn and stare at the detector.

 Ding, ding, ding! 

The piece of clothing must have gone back into the cabinet, but the detector’s bell was ringing again.

 “…Is it broken?” 

Just then, the detector’s bell began to swing back and forth frantically, ringing incessantly.

 

As Marquis Lauren watched the scene, his face became pensive.

 “Ru, Rukia, it’s…!” 

The bell began to ring faster and faster, louder and louder.

 

There was only one conclusion. Something with the power of black magic was approaching.

 “We must take up defensive positions immediately-”

Just then, the door to the Magical Research Department burst open.

 

Standing in front of the two of them, who were tensely preparing to shoot their magic, was none other than a nervous-looking servant. 

 “Theis…?” 

The face was familiar to both Rukia and Marquis Lauren.

 

They had both been contacted by the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Affairs through Theis many times.

 “Lord Rukia, I have an urgent call from the Ministry of Finance, and they need you to come sometime today…” 

Theis said casually as he walked into the Ministry of Magical Research office.

 “Ah, there you are, Marquis Lauren. Good, the Ministry has requested a report on the Mage Legion’s performance for the past month.” 

His tone and demeanor were unchanged from his usual polite manner.

 

It was hard to imagine that this was the man associated with the black magic that had threatened the Emperor and caused so much damage to the search party sent by the Imperial Palace.

 “Alright, let’s get ready and go.” 

Marquis Lauren, who had sent a covert signal to Rukia out of Theis’s sight, spoke casually.

 “Ugh, what’s with that bell anyway, it’s ringing so loud it’s making my head hurt…” “Uh, it’s a new one.” 

Rukia stepped in front of the detector, trying to keep a straight face.

 “But it’s been malfunctioning for a while now, so the bell keeps ringing.” “Ah, I see.” 

Theis nodded and glanced at the detector.

 “I guess the Department of Magical Research is great after all, they’re always coming up with something.” 

He bade Rukia and the Marquis of Loren not to forget his message, and departed.

 

As he walked, away from the detector, the loud chiming of the bell grew quieter.

 “I’ll come back another time, then—” 

Theis’s greeting to the two of them never made it to the end.

 

As soon as he turned to look back at them at the door, he was struck by Marquis Lauren’s magic and knocked out.

 

Rukia and Marquis Lauren rushed to his side, only to see that he was not even moving.

 “Are you sure about this?” “Yes. The frequency of the bells on the detector changed with his movements.” 

Rukia bent toward him, but Marquis Lauren stopped short.

 “I’ll cast the stun spell a few more times, just in case.” 

Marquis Lauren cast a few more spells to keep Theis from waking up, then released his arm from Rukia’s grasp.

 

Rukia immediately began searching Theis’ body.

 “I’m going to get him examined right away, and I need to contact the guards, but would you mind doing that for me, Marquis?” “Sure. I’ll report to the guards.” 

Marquis Lauren said, running a hand through his hair anxiously, looking at least a decade older.

 “I’d rather believe it was a malfunctioning detector. That there is someone in the palace who is in league with someone who intends to harm His Majesty…” “I’d rather believe that, either, you know?” 

Rukia’s eyes widened as they searched Theis’ pockets.

 “Is it jewelry?”