49 Episode 17: I found Mobius's laboratory. I tried using the black dragon.

Remember when one of the Osewa Slimes once showed us an image of a black dragon?

The slime said this.

-- It was a man named Moebius the Great who gave me the video feature, but he also gave me an extra feature: ...... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!　If I had known, I wouldn't have shown the footage to the master: ......!

Listening to the other slimes, it seems that the Great Sage Mobius or something like that was involved in the design of these ruins.

However, he was always acting selfishly and causing trouble for the people around him.

And yet, because of this lack of remorse or improvement, he was hated by the ancient people as well.

By the way, the title of "Great Sage" is not given to anyone, but is just a term that Mobius himself uses to describe himself.

Mobius is the self-proclaimed Great Sage.

He had built a secret laboratory around the northeast of Thue, according to the map.

First, let's find the lab and gather some information about Mobius.

We should leave now, but what should we do about ...... Lily?

Do I make her wait in the ruins like this, or do I take her to the lab?

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.

I'm going to have to go with you.　I'm a descendant of Mobius, and something, maybe it will help: ......

Yeah. Will you come with me?

...... yes!

Lily nodded.

Her silver-haired twins swayed happily.

* *

Lily's clothes were "formal attire in the ancient civilization" (Slime talk) ...... In the modern Japanese style, it was a gothic loli dress, but it was too conspicuous and difficult to move around in the open air.

After having them change into the magic academy's uniform, I activated 【Spatial Leap】.

From the ancient ruins, I warp to the city of Thue.

In order to include Lily in the target of the 【Spatial Leap】, we were holding hands.

In truth, a light touch would have been enough, but for some reason, Lily is holding my right hand tightly.

''Ko-san, if it's the location of the lab, I have an idea.

After saying that, Lily began to walk away.

Lily's left hand is still holding my right hand.

It's slightly warm.

'I saw it in a dream. Near the lake, under a sheer cliff ...... maybe that's where Mobius's lab is located.

Just the other day, Lily had investigated there, apparently.

At that time, she didn't find anything and seemed to have ended up wasting her time.

But this time, Ko-san is there. I'm sure we'll be able to find the lab.

I hope ...... lives up to expectations.

That's okay. Mr. Ko is a great guy.

Lily squeezed my hand even tighter.

"Do you remember the first time we met?

I nodded.

How could I forget?

It was only two days ago.

'I was getting tangled up with a man and Ko-san saved me. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it. ...... I was really, really happy. I'm grateful for that.

I helped Lily because it was the "natural thing to do as an adult".

I'm not asking for gratitude, or if you want, I don't mind being forgotten.

But to Lily, my actions must have meant a great deal to her.

'I was ignored by everyone at my parents' house, and when I talked to my teachers about The Ancient Sage's Breath, they shunned me, and I thought there was no one in the world who could help me ......

...... That's just a bad crossing. There are plenty of decent adults out there besides me.

But the person who saved me for the first time was Ko-san. If you say it's a coincidence, it must be that I met Ko-san, because I'm sure I've found--"found"--what?

I had been activating [auto-mapping] the whole time, and on the edge of the map, a lake that was as round as a full moon appeared.

There was a cliff right beside it, and the name of the place was written on it.

'The Underground Laboratory of the Great Sage Mobius,' it said.

We arrived at the lake shortly after.

Lily was feeling a bit sluggish for some reason.

When I asked her why, she looked down and said, "I'm embarrassed, so please let me keep it a secret .......

Well, let's not mention it.

I don't think this secret will cause any trouble if left unchecked. Maybe.

Aside from that, it was Mobius' lab, but the entrance was easily found.

There was a portion of the rock wall below the cliff that could be collected as material.

It is shaped just like a door.

It's the same as the ancient ruins of Onen: ......

Perhaps it was a boom or something at the time?

Thinking back to ancient civilizations, I retrieve the door into the item box.

''Here we go,''

I nodded to myself.

Next to ...... it, Lily rolled her eyes.

''I can't believe you disguised the entrance like this ....... I mean, Ko-san, you found it too easily .......

It wasn't much of a cover, you know.

'I don't normally understand this ....... Mr. Coe, how far out of standard is this ......?

Now, I wonder how far it's substandard.

It looks like there are a lot of skills that haven't been opened up yet, and there must be room to grow.

As I was thinking about this, I heard a voice inside my head.

Unlike what I hear when I level up, it's terribly mechanical.

''Status scan complete.

This ruin has Mobius Megistris as its master.

We have confirmed access by a non-master being. We are eliminating it.''

The space around us became squishy and distorted.

It looks bad to stay here.

I activate 【Spatial Leap】.

Since we were still holding hands, Lily is also with me.

It warped backwards about 50 meters and took a distance from the distortion of space.

...... From the distortion of space, a bipedal giant, covered in golden metal, appeared.

It's an Orihalcon Golem.

Not just one.

Two, three, four ...... in all, twelve of them.

However, all of them have strange mechanical parts attached to them, and they all have bumblebees and sparks.

Next to me, Lily said, "Oh.

''Yup, I've seen it in my dream!　Mobius stole an Orihalcon golem from a nearby underground facility and made all sorts of modifications to it: ......!

Could this nearby underground facility be the remains of Onen?

Apparently, the Great Sage Mobius not only brought out the Osewa Slime, but also the Orichalcon Golem on his own.

He doesn't seem to be a rogue. ......

It's a good idea to be careful. That golem should have a very enhanced magic laser ......!

...... Looks like it.

I had already activated [Appraisal] and obtained information about the golem.

'Orihalcon Golem (Mobius Custom).

Description: a golem dressed in Orihalcon armor.

It has been modified by the Great Sage Mobius, and the output of its magic laser cannon has been increased by more than three times.

However, it requires a one-minute charge to fire.'

The golems were lined up in three rows of four, each charging.

Just like Nobunaga's 3-stage gun strikes, they would take turns shooting lasers to create a barrage.

Well, I heard that the 3-stage gunfight is said to be a creation of later times and various other things.

In the end, only the people of the time may know how much history is correct.

Be that as it may, if we want to attack, now is the best time to do so.

There are twelve Orihalcon golems, and it takes a bit of work to hit them one by one.

Let's make it easier.

I was wearing a suit at the time, but I open the item box and change to Diabolos Armor.

I activated Necroearth with no chanting.

'Come, Black Dragon of Extreme Destruction!'

The dragon of disaster, which once brought danger to ancient civilizations, has returned to life as my servant.

Well, since its original size is likely to cause an unnecessary commotion, I've reduced its length to about 5 meters.

Even so, its abilities are on par with the original.

Even though it's an earth body, its scales have the "Magic Reflection S+" attached to them.

That's right, it can reflect magic power.

The four golems in the front row fired magic lasers, but they were all repelled by the black dragon's scales.

The black dragon turned around, as if asking for instructions.

I gave an order.

''Wipe out the golems.''

Gasp!

The black dragon took a deep breath and charged at the orihalcon golems.

With its claws, it turned the golems into scrap one after another.

Lily gasped at the sight.

''Ko-san, could that dragon be ......?''

Black Dragon of Extinction, that's why they call me the Dragonslayer.

In my dream, Mobius told me that the black dragon will return soon. In a dream, Mobius told me that the black dragon will rise again soon and that he will gather the souls of his victims to gain great power. ...... But I didn't think Ko-san had defeated him first.

Apparently, I had unknowingly crushed the ambitions of the great sage Mobius.