CH 81

“You can’t bully everyone!”

“We want our teacher back!”

“Nora ……”

As Nora’s angry voice echoed, the dragon was unable to move and began to shake uncontrollably. I feel like this is probably the effect of [Animal Protection]. Nora approached the dragon, messed up with tears and snot.

“Nora!”

“Okay!”

She takes brother’s hand who tries to stop her and goes further. I rushed after her, followed by Makina, Jack, Mom and Verna-sensei.

“Wait, you two!”

“My kids are already ……!”

“M-Me too!”

“I-I’m coming with you!”

As we approached to rescue Verna-sensei, we heard Grace-sama’s voice from behind us.

“Hey! Are you okay!?”

“I’m fine …… Maybe.”

“Maybe ……!?”

Grace-sama was surprised by Verna-sensei’s words. But she was more worried about Nora, so she watched her. Then Nora “touched and stroked” the dragon’s leg.

“Huh? The magic barrier is ……?”

I muttered as my brother fearfully touched it with Nora. For some reason, I said what I’m thinking.

“I think it’s a [defense] against [attacks]. That’s why it won’t activate.”

“I see.”

When my brother was satisfied, Jack and Makina also touched him. Children are so strong in these situations.

“It’s hard.”

“It’s as tough as it looks.”

As the dragon moaned, Nora let go of my brother’s hand, hugged his ankle, and spoke to him.

“What is your name, dragon-san? My name is Nora.”

“Sarge is lonely, huh …… When I touch you like this, I can understand how much Raina-san loved you……”

Nora pats his leg to calm him down. Jack then grabbed Nora’s hand.

“Sorry, big brother. I’m going to borrow Nora’s hand for a moment …… Everyone touch my hand. [Collaboration]”

” ” “Oh ……” ” “

With [collaboration], the effects of [Animal Protection] will be passed on to us. This is a sadness and loneliness, I guess …… the dragon’s chest, which had been howling so much, felt as if it had a hole in it, as if there was nothing in it.

“If you’re lonely, I’ll be your friend. When I was little, I was alone too, but I was happy to have Lars-kun and Dedite-kun as my friends. It’s really fun to have friends from the academy now. I want you to be my friend too, Sarge?”

The ancient dragon Sarge listened to Nora’s words in silence. He made eye contact with Nora for a while, then shut his eyes and started muttering to himself.

According to Sarge, Princess Raina was a bit of a tomboy, and often escaped from the castle to go play in the mountains. She was the princess of the empire, but due to dictatorship, she didn’t have a good reputation with her own people, let alone other countries, and she always complained about it to Sarge.

“Why were you sealed then ……”

Sarge said this with a distant look in his eyes, and then he looked at us and opened his mouth again. 

“I think it’s probably for the same reason Teiga-san did.”

My brother said that and I nodded. What Teiga-san did was not something to be praised. But I understand how he feels.

When Sarge asked us if we knew what we were talking about, Verna-sensei and Tigre-sensei answered.

“In the past, the empire was located in Luitzar Country …… to the south of here. Perhaps that reddish sky …… was the castle or town that was burning ……”

“…… I think the empire was invaded. I think the princess, Raina, died …… at that time. Wasn’t that Teiga her fiancé or something? “

When Sarge said this in confusion, Nora cries and screams.

“I’m sure he was her fiancé! I’m Dedita-kun’s fiancée, after all! I’m sure that’s what she means by an important person.”

“I think so …… In the end, Sarge became enraged and tried to destroy the country, so it was not good that Teiga-san hid the truth.”

“I’m sure he cared about you too. I think that’s why he didn’t kill you?”

When I heard Mom’s words, I shut my eyes again. Then Nora spoke to him in a bright voice.

“Become friends with us? …… There’s no one named Raina-san anymore, but I want to be friends with Sarge! I want to play with you and maybe even have a ride on your back.”

Jack says, taking advantage of Nora.

“Right. I can boast about it if I’m friends with a dragon?”

“Maybe you can pick me up at the academy grounds.”

“I can fly, so we can fly together.”

“Yeah, I think I’m more like Raina-san. But you won’t be lonely if everyone is here!”

“Cold!?”

At the same time as Sarge muttered, rain poured down on our heads. It was Sarge’s tears.

“Damn …… somehow, I can’t forgive them!”

Jack feels sorry for Sarge, who is crying like a baby. He’s got Nora’s [Animal Protection] senses, so he might be able to feel his sadness. After crying for a while, Sarge confirmed that his limbs were working and removed his feet from Tigre-sensei’s body.

“Sarge!”

Nora was delighted that they could be friends.

But–

As soon as he was able to move, Sarge turned on us! She’s going for Nora ……!

“!? I won’t let you!”

“Hyaa!?”

The first one to move was brother standing next to me. He pushes Nora away, stands over her, and holds up his hand to use his magic. I’m also levitating, and at my feet, the released Tigre-sensei grabs a spear and thrusts it at my torso. 

I’m not sure if I have enough magic left to use Dragonic Blaze, but I stick my hand out to see if I can use Hydrostream.

“ Even if it’s guarded by a barrier, if there’s a momentary opening, we can esca- …… Huh!?”

“There are no barriers? !”

Splash

Bam-Bam-bam-Bam-Bam-Bam.

And Tigre-sensei’s thrusts his spear to the torso–

Sarge’s intentions are ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“More useful than a knight, the academy’s student!”

If he were to take them seriously, he’d be unbeatable. I guess It’s more like a conversation than a fight?