"Airi! Sara! Hide for now!" (Eugene)
"Got it, Eugene." (Sara)
"What?! We're not going to fight?" (Airi)
Sara nodded right away at my suggestion, while Airi looked confused.
"Just come here, Airi." (Eugene)
"O-Okay…" (Airi)
I grabbed Airi's hand and pulled her into the shadows of the trees.
――Good luck~, Eugene Santafield!
I heard the Dungeon Master's teasing voice, which annoyed me a little, but I shook that off.
The dragon hadn't noticed us yet.
Then, first, we need to assess the situation.
From afar, I could tell how massive the dragon is.
It is as large as a giant ship, definitely a full-grown dragon.
It has big wings and distinctive red scales.
Its appearance is an easy tell.
"A Red Dragon, huh…" (Eugene)
"You don't see them much in the South Continent." (Sara)
"They're more common on the North Continent, right?" (Airi)
Sara and Airi said, and I nodded.
Red Dragons are ferocious and aggressive.
It would eat anything: livestock, humans, other monsters.
Its personality is straightforward, and it would often attack whatever prey there is without hesitation.
Dragons in general are intelligent creatures, but this one is said to have a simpler mind in comparison.
Even so, it is still a flying disaster capable of burning down entire towns with its fiery breath.
"If one of these appeared in the Empire, it would take an entire division to take it down." (Airi)
I agreed with Airi's assessment.
We were just three people, and this was only the 20th floor.
There's no need to push ourselves. We could regroup and return later with more people.
"Well then, I'm going." (Airi)
But Airi, my childhood friend, began walking towards the fire dragon as if taking a casual stroll.
"H-Hey!" (Sara)
Sara panicked, but I followed Airi, knowing it was pointless to stop her.
"You're coming with me, Eugy?" (Airi)
"Stopping you is a waste of time, right?" (Eugene)
"Yep. You have already cleared the 100th floor, so I need to catch up." (Airi)
"It took me over two years, Airi. You've only just arrived." (Eugene)
"I've watched the Zenith Tower closely through the Satellite System." (Airi)
"Right. The Empire's military can monitor the tower." (Eugene)
"Yeah. There's even a unit in the Intelligence Division that watches the satellite feed 24/7." (Airi)
No wonder Airi was so quick to adapt to the monsters in the dungeon.
(Wait… Could she have watched me at the time when I made that promise with Sumire…?) (Eugene)
I felt a little embarrassed at the thought.
"Eugy, the fire dragon noticed us." (Sara)
"We're almost in the boss's territory. Don't forget the declaration." (Eugene)
"I know." (Airi)
Airi announced into her explorer's badge:
"I, Airi Grandflare, challenge the boss of the 20th floor." (Airi)
――Explorer Airi's challenge has been accepted. Oh well, do your best.
(Huh?) (Eugene)
I expected to hear the voice of the management angel, Rita, but this voice was different.
It sounded mechanical, so I can't tell who it is, but that way of speaking… Could it be?
Just then, Sara appeared beside me, her Holy Sword drawn.
"Oh, you're joining too?" (Eugene)
"Since I've come this far, I might as well." (Sara)
"As expected of the Holy Maiden of Caldia. So kind." (Airi)
"Even to a selfish Imperial Princess like you." (Sara)
"Who are you calling selfish?" (Airi)
"You're not aware?" (Sara)
Airi and Sara bantered back and forth.
They seemed confident.
I gave them a suggestion.
"Airi, I'll be the decoy. You look for an opening to strike. Sara, take care of the dragon's wings." (Eugene)
"?!!"
Both of them looked surprised at my suggestion but quickly understood.
"Got it, Eugy." (Airi)
"Understood, Eugene." (Sara)
They moved swiftly to the dragon's flanks.
I stood right in front of the fire dragon without drawing my sword.
(Now then…) (Eugene)
The most dangerous part of a fire dragon is its fire breath.
Its power rivals that of a Monarch Rank spell, capable of melting rocks.
But I've spent a lot of time with Sumire, who is an Ifrit.
Her accidental outbursts of magic are always at the top of the Saint Rank.
And so, I am the perfect decoy for this dragon's breath.
GAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
The fire dragon roared.
The roar alone could instill fear, paralyzing its prey.
To the dragon, I must have looked like I was frozen in fear.
"Shaaaaah!"
The dragon opened its massive jaws to swallow me whole.
(I was hoping to make it use its breath first to tire it out, but oh well…) (Eugene)
Giant fangs approached, but just before they snapped shut, I used Twin Heavenly Sword Style: [Sky Step] to escape.
"Grr…"
The dragon glared down at me, clearly frustrated that its prey had escaped.
It swung its massive claws, aiming to crush me.
"Barrier Magic: [Giant Shield]!" (Eugene)
I summoned a towering shield made of magic that's taller than myself.
I lowered myself deeply and braced for impact.
POOM!
A heavy sound echoed, and I felt a powerful shock.
I nearly got blown away but managed to hold my ground.
The Giant Shield was tough and heavy. A spell that can even withstand charges from cavalry in war.
But a dragon's strike is still strong. The shield cracked, and it wouldn't hold up against a second blow. However, that also means it was the right amount of sturdiness.
"Holy Sword Magic: [Light Saber], [Triple Slash]!" (Sara)
"Gyaaaa!!!"
The dragon let out a piercing scream.
Sara's three light blades pierced through the dragon's wings while it was distracted by me.
Now, the dragon can't escape into the sky.
The dragon turned its furious gaze to Sara.
The Floor Boss's target switched.
"…"
I could see the dragon's throat swelling as it gathered magic for a breath attack.
"Sara! It's going to use its breath!" (Eugene)
"I know!" (Sara)
Sara, realizing she couldn't dodge at such close range, prepared to block the attack with her Holy Sword's barrier magic.
I was about to help her, but…
"Twin Heavenly Sword Style – Wind Form: [Cornered Rat]!"
Airi's strike pierced the dragon's weak spot: the Reverse Scale.
"GRUAAAAAAHHHHHH!!"
The dragon let out a final death cry.
"…Guh…raa…"
The fire dragon's voice faded as it collapsed, spewing blood.
Airi gracefully landed after pulling her sword from the dragon's body.
――Congratulations… The Floor Boss has been defeated.
The lifeless, lazy voice echoed in the air.
(That voice… it's definitely Eri, right?) (Eugene)
Looks like she is helping out Rita-san.
So the Demon Lord finally took over the Zenith Tower's announcements, huh.
"Thanks, both of you. That was an easy fight thanks to your help." (Airi)
Airi smiled as she ran towards us.
"Good job, Airi. That was impressive, taking it down in one strike." (Eugene)
Her method was a bit reckless, but now wasn't the time to point that out.
However, there was a serious student council president here who wouldn't keep quiet.
"Princess Airi! What were you thinking, charging at the dragon just before it breathed fire?! Eugene and I had already drawn its attention! There were countless other ways to attack safely!" (Sara)
Sara had a point.
"But it was about to use its breath! I thought taking it out in one hit was the best option. It would have been you and Eugy who would get hit by the flames!" (Airi)
Airi's logic wasn't wrong either.
"Right, Eugene?!" (Sara)
"Right, Eugy?!" (Airi)
They both turned to me.
""Who do you think was right?!""
They asked at the same time.
…Asking such a hard answer.
"…"
After a moment of hesitation, I spoke.
"Airi, you should trust us more. I was the decoy, and Sara knew how to draw the dragon's attention. We had it under control." (Eugene)
"…I see, so you're taking her side, Eugy?" (Airi)
Airi pouted. I had to calm her down somehow.
"Airi, check the fifth rule of the Explorer's Code in the academy handbook." (Eugene)
"Eeh, what a pain. Fine… Rule 5: Fear the Enemy?" (Airi)
"The Zenith Tower is a long dungeon, so caution is crucial. Now that you're at this academy, follow the way of doing things here." (Eugene)
"I see. That's the opposite of the Empire's teaching: Fear no enemy, fight and die for the Empire." (Airi)
"Eh…? That's how the Empire trains its soldiers…?" (Sara)
Sara looked disturbed.
That's right.
The Empire is a pretty hardcore military nation after all.
"Alright, I'll trust the team more and work on coordination." (Airi)
"That's the spirit." (Eugene)
It seemed like Airi had accepted the lesson.
"Shall we head back?" (Eugene)
"Yeah, we beat the boss." (Airi)
"I'm exhausted." (Sara)
We boarded the dungeon elevator.
Since it was late, nobody else boarded, and the elevator descended slowly.
"Thanks for today, Eugy…and Holy Maiden-sama." (Airi)
"Just call me Sara. I'm not a Holy Maiden yet anyway." (Sara)
"Then I'll just be Airi instead of a princess." (Airi)
""…""
Sara and Airi exchanged slightly awkward glances.
"Nice to meet you, Airi." (Sara)
"You too, Sara." (Airi)
They both looked away, embarrassed.
The sound of the elevator descending echoed quietly.
After a while, Airi broke the silence.
"Still… It's been tough finding people to go dungeon exploring with." (Airi)
She muttered something unexpected.
"Really? I'd think plenty of people from the Empire would want to join you." (Eugene)
"Sure…but I want to work with different kinds of people, like today." (Airi)
"Most of the students from the Legendary Hero Department…already have teams… Or more like, weren't you going to join mine with Sumire and Sara, though?" (Eugene)
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm definitely joining. That's already settled." (Airi)
"It is?" (Eugene)
That's news to me.
"That's not it. I went through the trouble of moving away from the Empire to come to the Lykeion Magic Academy, so I'd like to meet new people, you know? But it's harder than I thought." (Airi)
"Well, given your status…" (Eugene)
It wouldn't be easy to invite her or accept her invitations.
"Then why not join the student council?" (Sara)
Sara suggested.
"Eh?" (Airi)
"The student council's enforcement division often requests for people to fill their numbers when they are short-handed in their exploration parties, so that works perfectly." (Sara)
"Student council… huh." (Airi)
Airi put her hand on her chin, considering it.
"By the way, Eugy, what club are you in?" (Airi)
"The Animal Club." (Eugene)
"What do you do there? Is it fun?" (Airi)
"You usually take care of the monsters you're bonded with… But in my case, I end up checking on mythological creatures, evil spirits, and cleaning the Demon Lord's room, courtesy of the Principal. Fun? Well… It's okay, I guess." (Eugene)
Eri is probably listening to this conversation.
I should be careful about what I say.
"Yeah, that doesn't sound like something I'd want to do." (Airi)
Luckily, Airi didn't seem interested in joining the Animal Club.
Sara elbowed me with a knowing look.
{You always enjoy yourself there though?) (Sara)
{That's not all my job entails, I'll have you know.} (Eugene)
"Alright! I'll think about joining the student council." (Airi)
(Yeah, she's definitely joining.) (Eugene)
From her tone, I could tell Airi had already made up her mind.
As expected, a few days later, Airi, the future Empress, officially joined the student council's enforcement division.
After that, she quickly began to make records in the Zenith Tower, reaching the 21st floor in no time.