The dragon's body has a reverse scale.
This scale grows in the opposite direction to the other scales that make up its body, and merely touching it can drive the dragon into a frenzy of rage. That is the reverse scale.
But, what if.
There is a dragon whose entire body is made up of reverse scales.
And if there is just one scale on this dragon's body that grows in the normal direction.
For that dragon, which would be the real reverse scale?
What is right, and what is wrong? Who decides that?
I ask the people of this world, what is the principle that decides what is right and what is wrong?
Night Bringer, they say, is a dragon whose entire body is covered in reverse scales.
As a dragon against the heavens, even the direction of its scales is completely opposite to that of ordinary dragons.
And just like a normal dragon harbors a single reverse scale, Night Bringer harbored just one scale that grew in the normal direction.
That was the Pure Scale.
Night Bringer tore this Pure Scale from his body and threw it into the Milky Way.
And from this torn Pure Scale, Scalian was born.
***
...so went the mindless content scribbled down in the setting book, which I found myself grumbling about unconsciously.
'No, shouldn't it be called a 'Sequential Scale' rather than a 'Pure Scale'?'
'Pure' is used in the sense of being unadulterated, while 'Sequential' is in the sense of being in order.
Shouldn't it be a 'scale in order' if it's the opposite of a reverse scale? Why did a 'pure scale' come out?
Anyway, I was turning over even these needless details in my head as I tried to unearth any weaknesses of the dragon that had landed before us.
Koo-gung...
As the giant Oriental dragon touched down, a cloud of dust billowed up.
Its long whiskers fluttering to the sides, Scalian surveyed us with its round golden eyes.
"..."
"..."
A tense silence flowed between monster and man.
We were ready to rush at it and swing our weapons at any moment, while Scalian calmly surveyed us.
Then the great dragon's mouth slowly opened, and it finally spoke.
"Uh... really sorry, no, I mean, excuse me..."
"?"
"That, I mean, I... ahem. I left my glasses in the lair..."
"...?"
"Rushed out so fast that this happened... I'll be right back if you could just stay here, would that be okay...?"
"..."
...What is this guy saying?
'Is he offering to retreat voluntarily?'
If that was the case, there was no reason to refuse, so I hesitantly nodded. Then Scalian's face brightened, and it immediately kicked off the ground.
"Just wait a moment, just a moment! I'll be right back!"
And then it flew off at a terrifying speed... only to return huffing and puffing shortly after, sporting an unusually large pair of glasses that didn't quite fit its face.
"Ah~ now I can see well!"
Scalian, somewhat embarrassed, unnecessarily raised its voice as it turned its head briskly.
Then Scalian, with its glasses and large eyes, scanned us and burst into an open smile. The giant dragon's expression softened like a puppy's.
"Ah, to actually meet you in person! I've wanted to meet! The Guardian of the World and his heroes!"
"...?"
"I've thoroughly researched your exploits! It's really amazing, how you've managed to defeat such monsters with those small, tiny hands..."
Is this sarcasm? Or genuine admiration?
Unable to decide, Scalian slowly raised its front paw. The startled heroes on our side immediately pushed forward their shields, readying for defense.
"Everyone likes you, but my favorite hero is... you!"
And the one Scalian pointed at with its paw was...
"Violet!"
"...huh?"
Violet, who had been hiding behind me, let out a stunned noise.
A mechanical whirring sound came from within Parekian, who was carrying Violet. It sounded suspiciously like it was on alert.
Scalian shyly spilled out its preferences.
"Maybe it's because I'm fundamentally a dragon? I feel a strong attraction to thieves. Wondering when they might rob my lair, that kind of bad opponent?"
"..."
"And such a thief, moved by a great cause, participates in a grand war to save the world... I love such narratives! It's delicious!"
Violet, suddenly the enemy's top favorite character, muttered with an indescribable expression.
"No, I don't care about any great cause, I didn't even want to participate in the war, I was just dragged here..."
"..."
"Why am I... unpopular with human men, but like this with dragons?"
Unsure whether to be happy that someone liked her or angry because it was an enemy dragon, Violet was thrown into confusion.
In this bizarre atmosphere, I rubbed my aching forehead.
'What is this dragon up to, really...'
Unlike Wingian, he had not a hint of the majesty one would expect from a vile dragon... Well, maybe it's easier to deal with if he lacks that dignity...
I sighed deeply and spoke in a serious tone.
"I'm not interested in whatever fascination you have with us, dragon."
"Ah, of course I like you too, Ash! Your unyielding will! And your lousy talent! I like that too, no doubt a talent unfit for a hero, but you struggle on with it..."
"No, that's enough! Stop talking!"
I know my stats are low, shut your damn mouth, you cursed dragon!
I snapped in irritation.
"If we came here to fight and kill each other, cut the crap and let's get on with it. We're already quite tired from killing your brother."
I just want to chop off your head too and then clock out! Especially with the back-to-back battles, it's nerve-racking enough without your babbling!
As I got prickly, the cowed Scalian bowed its head and observed me cautiously.
"Um, to get to the point, I didn't come here to fight you guys."
I narrowed my eyebrows. So what?
Aren't we supposed to be fighting over the existence of the world anyway? If you're not here to fight, why come at all? Don't tell me you came just to have a favorite talk?
"You've killed my brother Wingian, so next you'll come to kill me... right?"
"..."
That's correct.
Following Wingian, I planned to hunt down Scalian and then Ipian, in that order, as we could easily raid them with the resources we had.
"I have a request."
Scalian cleared its throat with a cough! and looked at me earnestly.
"Please kill me last."
"...What?"
I stuttered, confused, then managed to ask.
"You mean, after killing your older brother, Ipian, you want us to take you down?"
"No, no. Even later than that."
Scalian smiled wryly.
"After you defeat my father, Night Bringer. Then kill me."
"...?!"
I had so many questions, but I started with the most pressing.
"Why?"
I didn't understand the motive behind such a request. It was baffling.
"Because I want to see."
Scalian then slowly explained.
"How you'll kill my brother Ipian. How you'll kill my father, Night Bringer. I'm curious about the method, the story."
"..."
"I'll tell you upfront. I am a child of the Black Dragon. I belong to a clan that seeks to annihilate the world, and I indeed wish for the world's end. It's an undeniable truth that I am also an enemy you must fight."
Calmly affirming that it was our adversary.
"But more than that, I'm curious."
The dragon revealed its inner thoughts.
"Ipian is strong. And Night Bringer is incomparably stronger than anyone."
"..."
"I want to see how you will deal with them. If we must fight and kill each other, I at least want to see the end of this story."
Scalian looked around at us carefully.
"Guardian of the World. And heroes. You have fought battles that were nearly impossible. There were countless times you should have been wiped out. But you've made it this far."
We still held our weapons aloft, wary of it.
"As someone who has followed your journey, I can't stop the story here. Whether you die or I die, I can't allow the story to end here. That's my true feeling."
The dragon stopped speaking, and I let out a long sigh.
"So you're asking... to delay our fight? You want to watch the story of us killing your brother and your father?"
"Yeah! That's it. How about it? Not a bad proposal..."
I responded immediately.
"I refuse."
"Eeeek!"
Startled by my blunt reply, Scalian was taken aback. I growled.
"To kill Night Bringer, the Black Dragon, we need a Dragon Slayer forged using you."
"..."
"It's already a near-impossible task to bring down Night Bringer using all the Dragon Slayers created from your brothers, and you ask me to postpone our fight till after? That makes no sense."
Then Scalian tilted its head.
"It seems like I could replace that Dragon Slayer, no? Actually, it's the opposite. The weapon forged by killing me would inherit my traits, essentially replacing my role, right?"
"...Technically, yes."
"So, is there really a need to make me into a Dragon Slayer? I could just join the fight directly."
I frowned at this absurd suggestion.
"You're saying you'd help us kill your father?"
"Yes."
"Why would you go that far?"
"Well..."
Scalian smiled sheepishly.
"To be honest, even with my full support, I doubt you could defeat my father."
"..."
"Ash. You don't understand the terror of my father. He's unlike any entity you've ever faced."
Though Scalian's voice still carried its characteristic nerdy vibe.
"You're going to die. Your comrades too. Your city and your alliance will be annihilated, and the world will end."
There was an unprecedented certainty in its voice.
That we would surely lose the battle against the Black Dragon.
It wasn't just a prediction... it was stated as an inevitable fact.
"And still, you'd join my side?"
Teasing, Scalian nodded.
"That's right, I'd join your side."
"..."
"The world's going to end anyway, right? Might as well choose the more interesting side, don't you think?"
I put my hands on my hips and sighed heavily.
Then I looked around at my heroes.
Everyone was watching me. Their gazes were anxious but also full of trust in me.
"..."
After a brief contemplation.
I glared at Scalian.
"How can I believe anything you've said is true?"
"Is there a need to believe?"
Scalian pointed towards Parekian, who was carrying Violet.
"Just cast your mind control on me, like you did on Parekian."
"..."
'Become Mine!' is a skill that can be used once per stage.
But this time, the monster side had self-applied a penalty, skipping a total of four stages.
Because of this, I was currently able to use the 'Become Mine!' skill a few more times.
No, but that's not the issue...
"You're saying you'd willingly subject yourself to my mind control? Is this matter worth that much to you?"
"I told you, Ash."
Laying flat on its belly, arms spread out, Scalian disabled its mental barriers.
"The world is about to end. On the day my father marches, everything will burn."
"..."
"If it's my fate to shatter along with the world at that time..."
This was, in its own way...
"I want to have an adventure alongside the heroes I've always admired before that happens."
It would be its last amusement in the dragon's life.