Volume 3 Chapter 15 (2/2)
As she said those words, Aura turned her back against the Byakko and then lined up beside me.
With the two of us, we watched over the Byakko and Wight's fight.
In that moment, new actors entered the stage.
”Oto-san, we're back!”
”Kuina, wait for me. This baggage is heavy and I can't catch up to you.”
It was Kuina and Rorono. The two have returned after breaking [Viscosity]'s crystal.
”Kuina, Rorono, what the heck is that?”
”Ahm, well, as we were on our way back, we suddenly met them so we defeated all his followers and ran off here. We thought of whether or not to kill him but it seemed there was an amazing monster ahead so we thought it was better to let him live and be a convenient hostage.”
Kuina puffed her chest as she replied so.
At that, Rorono stared at her and spoke.
”From the beginning of the fight until its last moments, Kuina just slept through it.”
”Ah! Rorono-chan, don't talk about that!”
The one on Rorono back was the [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan. To prevent him from using magic, cotton was stuffed into his mouth. And to prevent him from escaping, his whole body was tied up.
I couldn't help but pity him for being defeated only in passing. He really couldn't be blamed though; there was no way to come out safe after being in a fight with these two.
”It seems you've safely broken the crystal in that dungeon. Good work and thanks as well for this gift. You two did well.”
When I brushed their heads, Kuina happily swung her fluffy fox tail while Rorono narrowed her eyes.
Like that, my three [Monsters of the Covenant] and I turned our gaze toward Wight.
Wight and the Byakko faced each other. They exchanged words for a while and then clashed into one another.
After their clash, black haze then wrapped around Wight's body; it seemed as though [Berserk] mode was turned on.
From his butler form, he transformed into a gigantic black dragon with shining deep red eyes.
He then headed to the sky and roared. Upon doing so, numerous undead appeared from deep underground. Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be strengthened multiple times.
The Byakko, in order to get out of reach of those undead monsters, leapt high into the sky and then sunk his fang into Wight. However, instead of piercing Wight's scales, his fang was the one that was damaged and broken. This broken fang that dropped into the ground turned black and rotted.
Wight as the black dragon of death was clad in miasma; just by touching it, his opponent's life was snatched away.
”GAAAAAaaaaA!!”
Wight aimed at the Byakko that became defenseless in the sky. He swung his arm and dove downward into ground. Upon impact, the ground shook and a crater was made. The ground started to rot while the surrounding trees simultaneously withered.
At the center of the crater was the Byakko, barely breathing it seemed. On top of his earlier injuries, all of his bones seemed to be broken now, rendering him completely unable to move.
At that, Wight voiced out a victory roar. He then undid [Berserk]. The black haze cleared and he returned to his dragonewt form.
Such overwhelming strength.
”My lord, I have now accomplished all of the tasked you've given.”
He said so after coming all the way to where I was and elegantly bowing.
For the popular and resourceful Wight to have gained even fighting strength, he was truly very reliable.
It would seem he hadn't lost his ability to command the undead. I have decided then to let him command the undead as usual in his dragonewt form and only make him fight as the black dragon as a last resort.
”Thanks for your hard work, Wight.”
Wight smiled at my reply. I was a little pleased to now be able to tell what exactly he was feeling.
”No, it is all thanks to the new power you have given me, my lord. …it's a little hard for me to ask but on top of my request from the beginning—for you to be the one to officiate my wedding ceremony—may I ask for one more reward?”
”It depends on what you're asking for.”
”Will you consider scouting a monster? The monster in question is the Byakko. I will handle the negotiations so please consider it.”
It would seem Wight respected his formidable enemy and deemed him capable. Furthermore, he asked if I was willing to make that enemy my own power.
At any rate, scout him, huh? This way of thinking couldn't belong to any other monster than Wight.
”Alright, do what you must. Also, you may use the [Steel] Demon Lord's life as a bargaining chip.”
”Thank you, my lord. I'm glad negotiations will be easier.”
Upon saying so, Wight first walked toward the incapacitated Byakko and began to talk with him a while.
The Byakko then nodded with satisfaction.
Maybe it was because they fought with all they had that they were able to communicate with each other so well.
At any rate, Rorono dropped down the [Steel] Demon Lord she was carrying in front of Wight.
When Wight poured magic power into his hand, it alone turned into a dragon's body part—a dragon's paw and claw to be exact.
Afterward, he removed the cotton stuffed into Zagan's mouth so that the Demon Lord may be able to speak.
”[Steel] Demon Lord, won't you transfer the right of control of the Byakko Kohaku-dono over to my lord? Kohaku-dono himself have consented to it.”
For the right of control of a monster to be transferred, there has to be consent from the Demon Lord owning that said monster. Unless Zagan agrees, there was nothing that could be done.
”Wh-who would do such a thing?”
”That's unfortunate. Then, let us begin our negotiations.”
With his claws, Wight lopped off Zagan's right arm.
Zagan, half-crazed, held his blood-spurting arm as he rolled around.
However, he was interrupted from doing so when Wight easily picked him up by the nape of his neck. Upon doing so, Wight stared straight into his eyes and threatened him.
”Next will be your left arm. If you transfer over the right of control, I will spare you at least your life. So, how about it?”
As things were, the Byakko was to disappear along with Zagan's crystal and Wight found that to be regrettable. However, by transferring the right of control over to me, Byakko will remain alive no matter what might happen to the crystal.
Perhaps it was because Wight was greatly exhausted at this point but the negotiation was being extremely harsh.
”Who the hell would listen to a monster like you?”
”Hmm. Off with your left arm then.”
And so, Zagan who started to spout abusive language got his left arm lopped off.
”GYAAAAAAAA! You bastard, you bastard, you bastard!”
”I may have gone a little bit overboard; you might die at this rate. Allow me to administer treatment.”
In what seemed like an application of an ability of his, Wight regrew Zagan's arm. However, it was different from Zagan's previously human-looking arm; it was grotesque.
As far as Zagan was concerned, that was far more terrifying than when he lost his arm.
”Do you understand? You are currently being turned into an undead. Unless you decide soon, the process will reach even your brain. When that happens, you'll be nothing but a mindless beast starved for blood and flesh.”
Upon hearing so, Zagan's eyes and nose began to shed tears and snot due to his immense fear.
”Stop, stop it, this, this arm, it isn't mine, I give up, I give up, so stop it already.”
”Certainly. Then, please begin the transfer of the right of control.”
Zagan finally broke.
When Wight dropped him down into the ground, his undead arm came off. The wound has closed so it was unlikely he would die from blood loss.
Wight then pushed him in the back until he was right before me.
”I, [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan, hereby transfer the right of control of this Byakko over to the [Creation] Demon Lord.”
With those words, the transfer began. All that was left to conclude the transaction was for me to nod.
”I, [Creation] Demon Lord Procell, hereby accepts [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan's offer.”
Thus, Byakko became mine.
”Enough already. I, I surrender.”
Like that, Zagan who became pale-white surrendered.
In that moment, his crystal appeared before me and I broke it.
>
He said deficiencies in the rules but he most probably just found it more interesting that way and therefore purposefully overlooked them.
Like that, I was able to understand the irresponsible train of thought of the Creator.
At any rate, the war came to a close with our overwhelming victory.
My three [Monsters of the Covenant] hugged each other and cheered. Whereas Wight smiled with satisfaction.
Upon our return to our city, I intended to give all my monsters a reward. I also planned on giving Wight who became a black dragon of death a name.
Deciding so, I patiently waited to be transferred.
Author's afterword: The war has finally concluded! Thanks for reading this far! I am happy to know you've enjoyed this war volume.