'Wait until the mark between Blood Scythe and all those it has affected disappears, then take the clan members back to Dragon Island.' Olesha deeply engraved these final words left by Catania in her heart.
"Tonight's gladiatorial matches were somewhat unexpected for me. Heh, let's go, Olesha. We're returning. I still have things to do."
"Yes... Your Majesty."
"Hmm?"
"What is it?"
"No, I just feel like you seem... a bit happier?"
"Being able to serve Your Majesty naturally makes me very happy."
"Haha, fine then. Let's go back."
The Empire's Emperor Modrek waved his hand grandly, and Olesha obediently transformed back into dragon form to carry him back to the Empire. However, unlike before, the seal the Emperor had placed on her had been lifted—she now had the ability to act freely again.
But she clearly remembered those words—just two characters, "don't rush," spoken softly by Catania. She believed that this ancient Dragon King wasn't as heartless as imagined. She must have her own plan.
During the flight, Olesha was somewhat distracted, constantly swaying her tail slightly.
The feeling of being wrapped by the fierce wind was very similar, very similar to the feeling of... being intertwined with Your Majesty Catania's tail...
My goodness, could she be in love...
Impossible! Impossible! She was also an adult dragon who had lived for several hundred years. Although Your Majesty Catania was very beautiful, she absolutely couldn't be so shallow as to fall in love at first sight just because of appearance!
That would make her no different from what the general public thought of dragons! Someone who falls in love with everyone they meet! She wasn't like that!
Although she had never been in love before, if she really fell in love, this would be her first love.
"Report to me, how is the infiltration work in the kingdom going?"
"Still a bit short? I'm giving you three days to complete it! If you can't do it, bring me your head!"
"Heh, you should be grateful, Olesha. The kingdom's population is sufficient, making up for the part that should have been your dragons' responsibility."
"This time, I will definitely be able to feed it! When that time comes! Even if it's only partial! Even if I can only get one more strand of that weapon's power! It will be enough! No one on the entire continent will be able to resist me anymore!"
"I'm happy for your success."
Olesha's tone revealed neither joy nor sorrow.
"Heh, hahaha! Soon! Success is almost at hand! Fly faster! I want to hurry back to its side!"
"Yes."
The massive black dragon beat its wings again. Although she trusted Your Majesty Catania, Olesha's eyes still contained a hint of unease.
The Demon King of blood had not died...
○
Dawn broke, and Shia opened her eyes. A comfortable sleep—she felt like a lot of things had happened, probably just because she was too tired.
The blonde girl stretched, suddenly discovering a cross pendant around her neck.
"What is this?"
"Don't grab me."
"Eh?!"
The pendant! The pendant can talk!
"Don't treat me as a pendant. I'm an angel."
An angel?! This pendant is actually an angel?!
And why does this angel sound so lazy, like the type who would rather hold their bladder than get up early.
Shia held her hands cupped near the pendant, not knowing whether to grab it or not.
"I'm following my boss Lily's orders to protect you until she returns, but I want to sleep now. You're awake too, so please protect yourself. Do your best—this is a blessing from an angel."
"What?! Wait! Don't sleep!"
"I'm already asleep. Zzzzzzz."
"You're clearly not asleep!"
"Mortal, don't bother me, don't bother me, don't bother me, bother me, me, w, o."
What kind of weird angel is this...
Shia's mind went blank. She felt like her perception of angels as sacred beings had been completely destroyed, and even her surprise at angels actually existing was smoothed away in the process.
"Yo! You're awake."
"Who?! Eh ahhhhh!"
The small white furball that suddenly appeared in her view startled Shia. Lily continued to wear that characteristic trashy expression and deliberately waved hello to Shia.
"You look completely unharmed. Seems like Funiya rarely didn't slack off and even healed your wounds."
"Funiya? Is that the angel's name?"
"That's right."
"My wounds!"
Shia looked at her body and found that those wounds had indeed disappeared. It was quite miraculous—low-level healing magic couldn't achieve this level.
But what followed was renewed curiosity about Lily's identity. A young dragon could actually command an angel?! How was that possible!
"You, how did you manage to get an angel to obey your control! Lily!"
"Very simple. This angel is an oddball. She's a lazy bum whose greatest wish is to find a comfortable place to lie flat forever. Now she's found it."
"Just this pendant?!"
"Yeah, don't look at it as just a pendant. There's actually a whole world inside—bookshelves for novels and manga, a comfortable super-sized bed. If the angel race didn't need to use the bathroom, she'd definitely install one in there too."
"This is actually a spatial pendant?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I've thought about stuffing some things in there too, since her place is quite spacious. It would be a waste not to use it, but this guy refuses every time, saying it would disturb her comfort. What a lazy ass!"
"Did you go out last night, Lily?"
Eh?! How does she know?
"Miss Funiya told me."
"Funiya!"
There was no response from the pendant, only regular and steady breathing sounds.
"Tch, you found out, Shia."
"Found out? Found out what?"
Lily's expression suddenly took on a layer of dark filter. She walked toward Shia step by step, her pace crisp and steady.
"Since you found out, then I have no choice but to..."
"Eh?! What?!"
Lily came before Shia, slightly looking up at her, her clenched right fist as if ready to grab something at any moment.
"No choice but to confess to you."
"Can't you just say it directly!!!"
Shia almost thought Lily was preparing to kill her to silence her.
"Honestly speaking, I'm not an ordinary person."
"You weren't human to begin with."
"Not the kind of person you think. Actually... I'm a summoner who has survived from ancient times to the present."
"Um... and then?"
"Dragon King Catania and Blood Demon Azicat are just members among my countless summoned beasts."
"This child doesn't have a fever though?"
"Hey!"
Pushing away Shia's hand that was touching her forehead, Lily gave Shia a withering look.
"Heh, can't understand it, right? Of course, my greatness! How could you mere mortals comprehend it! Hahaha!"
"It's over! Lily must have hit her head!"
"Tch!"
This damn Shadow Demon! Take your terminal chuunibyou and get lost!