And so it was, shortly after Iris and I arrived in the sky above Aunen.
Several flashes of lightning flashed across the purple sky.
What happened?
I involuntarily stopped in place and turned my gaze toward the royal capital. Of course, I couldn't see anything from here because it was quite a distance away.
"That lightning is kind of ominous."
Iris said as she came up to me.
"Shouldn't you go back to the royal capital? I'll talk to the Adventurers' Guild in Aunen."
"Can I ask you to do that?"
I have to admit that I have a strange feeling in my heart.
"Yes, I'll be fine. I'll see you later."
"Yeah, see you later."
After confirming that Iris had landed in front of the Adventurers' Guild in Aunen, I deactivated the "Divine Speed Blessing EX" for her.
Then, I started to move at full speed toward the royal capital.
Breaking wind and breaking through the sound barrier, I moved forward, forward, forward.
Eventually, after crossing the sea, the royal capital came into view in the distance.
In the sky was the figure of Zogral.
Since my magic power had decreased considerably, I drank a flying potion and then canceled [Space-Time Domination].
While maintaining my flying state due to the effect of the flying potion, I approached Zogral.
The golden-colored barrier encircling its entire body was still intact, but there was a crack in one spot.
This is an emergency.
The Greedy Dragon's barrier is being broken.
It seems that Zogral is attempting to break through the barrier by concentrating its power in one place.
"That's not good. What should we do?"
Search for ways to suppress Zogral.
…Search complete.
Kou Kousaka has gained the ability to control space-time, and a new recipe has been unlocked.
For the glove that Leticia di Meteor wears on her fist and the Yggdrasil Bow held by Lily Luna Lunaria, you can create a weapon that suppresses the power of Zogral with [Creation] with the designated recipe for each.
However, both of them will have to plunge inside Zogral and then exercise the power of the weapon to make it effective.
Pardon me? I was surprised at the unexpected response.
"Kou-sama!"
"Kou-san!"
I heard Leticia and Lily's voices.
Leticia was flying with the power of the flying potion, and Lily was flying with the power of the God of War, and both were quickly gaining altitude and coming to me.
"I had a bad feeling when I saw the lightning earlier."
"Was there something wrong?"
"Yeah. Look at that."
I said and pointed to a crack in the barrier.
"The barrier may be broken earlier than expected."
"That's not good."
"Can't we hold Zogral back?"
"…That's… it's not impossible."
I was hesitant to answer.
The reason is that the two of them need to be inside that barrier, or in other words, inside of Zogral.
I was reluctant to let Leticia and Lily jump into a dangerous place alone.
As I was having a hard time, Leticia reached out her hands toward me and held my face between hers from both sides.
"Kou-sama, you seem to have something you want to say but can't quite say it, don't you?"
Leticia laughed "Fufu," and said.
"We are friends, aren't we? Please don't hesitate to tell us. Or do we seem so unreliable to you?"
"Tell us, Kou-san."
Lily turned her gaze straight at me.
…Yes, that's right.
Even the two of them are friends who have followed the fight to this point with admirable success.
I should trust them more.
I decided to explain what [Full Assist] had told me.
"I see, I understand. I don't mind."
"I guess that means it's our turn."
"…Are you sure, both of you? It's dangerous."
"I've been prepared for that ever since we decided to fight Zogral."
"And Kou-san will be coming later, right?"
"Yeah."
I nodded at Lily's words.
"I'll come running as soon as I finish collecting the items needed to defeat Zogral."
"That won't be a problem then."
"I believe you will come before we run out of power."
Leticia and Lily looked straight at me and nodded. Both of them seem to be determined.
This is the part where I have to make up my mind, too.
"Leticia and Lily. I've received your determination. Let's do everything we can."
I received the glove from Letitia and the Yggdrasil Bow from Lily and put each of them in my [Item Box].
Immediately after, a recipe popped into my mind.
Leticia's Glove x 1 + Demon God Dragon Core x 1 + Demon God Dragon Scale x 1 → Yarn Grapple x 1
Yggdrasil Bow x 1 + God of War Treasure Ball x 1 → Creation Bow Yggdrasil x 1
The dragon god's dragon core was obtained by dismantling the carcass of the dragon god.
[Dismantling] was a skill that dismantled the carcass of a monster in the [Item Box], which probably needs no explanation at this point.
When I immediately activated it, the carcass of the demon god dragon was split into marrow, skin, and the dragon's core.
I store the glove and the bow in my [Item Box], respectively.
First, I targeted Leticia's glove and activated [Creation].
Yarn Grapple: Leticia di Meteor's glove is given the power of a demon god dragon, and in addition, it has a pseudo-space-time domination ability. The glove itself has a strong will to resist Zogral.
Granted effects: "Mjolnir EX," "Fake Mastery of Space-Time A+," "Counterattack S+," and "Resist Emptiness EX.
Mjolnir EX is a special move that strengthens Leticia's power as an arrogant dragon and allows her to release a pseudo-breath from her hands.
The image is similar to my [Gleaming Dragon's Breath].
The Fake Mastery of Space-Time A+ gives the wearer pseudo-space-time mastery, while the Counterattack S+ is a reflection of the Demon God Dragon's [Causal Counterattack], absorbing attacks received and adding them to the power of Mjolnir EX.
The Resist Emptiness EX seems to have the effect of suppressing the power of Zogral.
When I took the Yarn Grapple out of the [Item Box], I found a glove covered with the black scales of the Demon God Dragon.
The design looks very strong.
"It's quite cool, isn't it?"
Leticia nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you for keeping your promise."
"Come to think of it, you said you wanted me to make you a weapon, didn't you?"
"Yes. I'm going to use this to take down Zogral."
"Don't push yourself too hard."
I handed the Yarn Grapple to Leticia.
The next is Lily's weapon.
I activate [Creation] targeting Yggdrasil's Bow.
Creation Bow Yggdrasil: The bow of Yggdrasil is strengthened, and in addition, it has a pseudo-space-time domination ability. The bow itself has a strong will to resist Zogral.
Granted effects: "Extreme Archery of the God of War S+," "Blessing of the God of War S+," "Resists Emptiness EX," and "Fake Mastery of Space-Time A+."
The Extreme Archery of the God of War S+ converts Lily's magical power into arrows and shoots them, and the principle seems to be the same as that of the magic sword Gram's God of War Slash S+.
The Blessing of the God of War S+ further boosts Lily's magical power and Resists Emptiness EX and Fake Mastery of Time and Space A+ seem to have the same effect as Yarn Grapple.
When I took out the Creation Bow from the [Item Box], the shape was almost the same as Yggdrasil's Bow, but the color had changed to pure white, and it was covered with a divine radiance.
"It is beautiful."
Lily sighed in admiration as she looked at the bow.
"Thank you, Kou-san."
"No, I'm sorry for making you work so hard. …[Full Assist] says that the two of you can delay Zogral from breaking through the barrier."
As soon as I said that, the voice of [Full Assist] echoed in my mind.
The specific procedure will now be installed in both of their brains.
May I ask you to put your hands on their heads?
All right, hold on a second.
When I told them what I had heard from [Full Assist], they nodded their heads readily.
"So you mean you are going to pat us on the head as a parting gift to us, right?"
"No, it's different."
"Well, that's a joke."
Leticia chuckled.
"It would be helpful if you could explain to us how things work from here. Well, go ahead."
"It's fine with me, too."
Leticia and Lily lean forward a little and turn their heads toward me.
Let's do it, then.
I put my left hand on Lily's head and my right hand on Leticia's head.
Now, let's do a fast installation.
…Completed.
You're as fast as ever.
When I was surprised, Leticia and Lily shouted.
"Hyah!"
"Kyah!"
It seems that both of them were surprised at the amount of information in the high-speed installation.
"…It's a strange feeling, isn't it?"
"My head was filled with text and images."
"Is everything all right?"
"No problem. It's rather refreshing to have a clear idea of what I need to do from here."
"Yes. …And then I'll be on my way."
"…All right. Take care."
"Of course. Then please be sure to pick us up."
"We believe in you, Kou-san."
The two of them then headed toward the barrier and quickly entered through the cracks in it.
Soon after──
The lightning that had been leaking from the barrier stopped, and the cracks were closed.
…The two are probably fighting against Zogral with the Greedy Dragon right now.
I'm sorry.
And thank you.
I estimate that the barrier will last until tomorrow night.
The time limit is approximately 30 hours.
Understood.
However, the more time that passes the more burden Leticia and Lily will have to bear, so we will rush over there even if we have to move up our schedule once the item to defeat Zogral is completed.
I agree.
I, too, feel distressed that I am forcing the girls to do too much.