CH 10

It was the day after I lost my innocence.

Tess Onee-chan, Rio and I were about to say goodbye.

"Lucious, do you remember the procedure correctly?"

"Don't worry, Rio. I got it all right here in my head."

I tapped my head with my index finger as I said those words.

I've been told a lot about how to get out of here.

Escaping from the infinite prison is extremely dangerous to

If I fail, I'll be trapped in the space between dimensions, all alone for eternity.

That scares me a lot. So I will do whatever it takes to succeed.

"Fine, I'll get started..."

I focused my magic power to create a sword to pierce through the dimensional barrier.

At that moment, for some reason, Rio approached me.

Standing in front of me, Rio removed a beautiful golden fang-shaped earring from her ear and held it out in her hand.

"Here, wear this."

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

Rio forced me to take the earring from her.

What's going on? Why does she want me to take it?"

"Now, pour magic power into that earring."

Rio urged me to pour magic into the small object.

After that, the fang-shaped earring grew in an instant and became a sword.

Its length is a little longer than my arm, and it's blade isn't straight, but instead looks like the fang of a large creature.

The blade shines like gold and is so beautiful that you can't take your eyes off it.

"Th-this is...?"

"That's the Ryuo's sword. It was my father's... This sword is considered a national treasure, made from my father's fangs and scales."

Since it's made with the former Dragon Lord's fangs, I can feel the tremendous power of the sword.

Holding this sword, I feel very powerful.

"Wow, it's a big sword, can you use it to cut dimensions?"

"No, you can't."

I am confused. Then why did you just give this to me?

"The sword is yours. It's a gift, I want you to keep it. It's the only thing I have left from my father, so don't lose it, okay?"

Rio said with a smile.

No no no no, I can't take something this valuable.

Just as I was about to say that, Rio stopped my lips with his index finger.

"Ump..."

"Don't tell me you don't want it. I'm not just giving to you for no reason. Understand my feelings."

Rio said those words with a serious look.

She should be very sad to part with the only memory she has of her father, because it's the only thing that makes Rio feel like she belongs in this empty world.

So I have to accept Rio's feelings properly. I thought I was simply doing it out of politeness, but this goes beyond that.

"Okay, I'll take it... I'll take care of this treasure as if it were Rio."

"Good, I'm glad to read that."

After handing me the Dragon Lord's sword, she stepped back a few paces.

"Now try it."

"...Yes."

I turn my eyes to the empty space and tighten my grip on the hilt of the Dragon Lord's sword.

Thanks to my finely tuned powers of perception, I could sense the world I came from. While pointing in that direction, I poured magic power into the sword.

I'll also use the power of my Ki to strengthen my muscles. I'm going to make it!

"Dimensional... Slash!"

As if following the trajectory of the Dragon Lord's sword that swung horizontally, a crack appeared in space.

The crack instantly grows into a rift big enough for a man to enter. It worked!

"Well... It's time for me to go."

"Yes. Be careful, Lucius-kun."

"Don't go pushing yourself too hard. We'll be waiting for you."

The three of us gave each other one last hug.

My eyes burn, but I shouldn't cry. If I do, I'll just look weak in front of them, and saying goodbye will become much harder.

I try my best to reject the feeling of wanting to be spoiled by them and not leave this place.

"I... I will definitely come back and get you both out of this place. Don't worry, I'm coming back for you."

I desperately tried to hold back the tears, turned around and started running towards the rift.

It's not going to be easy to break the hero's seal. It could take years or decades.

But that doesn't matter to me.

No matter how many tens or hundreds of years it takes, I will get them out of this hellhole!

With that determination, I jumped into the dimensional rift.

"He... He's gone..."

Lucius stepped out through the dimensional rift, and when the rift closed a few seconds later, Demon Lord Testarosssa muttered to herself.

"Well, now it's just you and me again. It's only been 300 years, but it feels like more, hahaha."

Unlike Dragon Lord Rio, who half-heartedly laughed, Testarossa didn't say a word, and just stared at the space where Lucius had gone.

"What, you don't plan to say anything?"

When Rio said those words, Testarossa turned around, walked silently over to Rio, got down on one knee, and looked her in the eyes while firmly grabbing her by both shoulders.

"Hey, what's wrong with you!"

Rio grows impatient as Testarossa grabs her much more tightly than she imagined.

Before Lucius' arrival, she remembered that she and Testarossa spent all their time wrestling each other to the brink of death. And Rio tensed at the thought of those days coming back.

But the next thing out of Testarossa's mouth was something unexpected.

"Lucius will now be alone, and surrounded by all those people～!!!"

Testarossa began to cry, shedding sorrowful tears.

Rio is puzzled because she had never seen her cry or show weakness before.

"H-Hey! Take it easy, stop crying!"

"Hueeeh～～! Lucius-kun, why did you leave～!!!"

"Aaah, come on, he's a good boy, he'll be back, stop crying!"

Rio desperately tries to comfort Testarossa.

However, she still won't stop crying, and it wasn't until two hours later that Testarossa calmed down."

"Uh... uh..."

"Uuuugh~, you're such a crybaby. The Demons should be ashamed to have a Demon Lord like you. Weren't you supposed to be the strongest of all time?"

"Uh, sorry Rio..."

An awkward silence began to flow between the two of them.

Because of Lucius' presence, they had never spent so much time alone before.

As a result, they were now at a loss as to what to do.

"Well, what are we going to do until Lucius returns? Are we going to fight like before?"

"Come on, you don't think I'm going to do that, do you?"

"I'm just kidding."

As they trained, raised, cared for, and loved the same person together, a kind of friendship had grown between the two of them.

It's true that the two of them were enemies before. Not that there was anything wrong between them, but it was just that demons and dragons didn't get along.

Besides, as young lords, they knew and respected each other.

"Won't you feel lonely, Rio?"

"I'd be lying if I said I don't miss him. But I think he'll be back soon, so I'm staying calm."

Rio had lost her parents before she was old enough to remember them.

And since her people considered her as someone sacred, the only one with the blood of a lord in her veins, no one could have a close relationship with her.

Therefore, Lucius was Rio's first friend and family.

"I was alone before I met him. I never had anyone who wanted to know me or treat me differently, and after he came along, everything was different. I don't feel that way anymore."

Rio smiled at those words.

"Rio... You..."

"Hm? What?"

"You're so cute!"

"Eh!?"

Testarossa jumps on Rio, moved by her sudden words.

"Hey, stop!"

Rio tried to resist, but Testarossa pounced on top of her and they fell on the ground together.

"Ho ho, since we're both lonely, we can fill the emptiness while Lucius is gone."

"H-hey, what are you.... "

When Rio sees Testarossa's eyes, she knew that she had lost all trace of sanity.

'Oh no, these are the same eyes she looked at Lucius with!', thought Rio.

"Ah, wait, where are you touching! That's not.... ahhh!"

Rio's screams echo in the infinite prison.

At that moment, Rio desperately wished Lucius would hurry back.