Volume 3 Chapter 20 Before the Disaster
The Calamityshade Dragon Terra Disas has appeared.
Its power to cause disasters just by being there grows with each passing moment.
"It showed up at the northernmost tip of Dragonstone Kingdom... but how does that explain the downpour in Jewel City Lapis 3 hours later!?"
"The rain's too intense, Rangella~, and the 'rain cloud' info we got from above is way too strong to dispel~"
The endless gale and heavy rain instill fear in people.
Even indoors, the loud sounds stimulate a sense of unease, making it impossible to feel safe.
"We've mobilized the entire 'Luster Report' to finally get things under control. What a hassle this has become."
Rangella muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"No wonder the village near the Terra Disas's appearance got wiped out."
Tiaris murmured, voice tinged with dread.
"Even in a treasure capital, there's a limit to how much we can reinforce buildings, right?"
Ellie pointed out, arms crossed tightly.
"Still, this is better than nothing. Our master's been intimidating the rain cloud into going crazy since earlier."
Ramella added with a shrug.
"Master's intimidation affects the weather too!?"
Cindy yelped, nearly slipping on the slick tile.
Even in Jewel City Lapis, the heavy rain's impact is unavoidable.
Therefore, the Luster Report is prepared for the evacuation of the affected citizens and is guiding evacuations in nearby towns and villages.
"Hey, where's master?"
Rangella asked, scanning the horizon.
"He's out in the outskirts of the city, braving the rain and wind to build a massive structure. But he should be done soon."
Tiaris replied.
"Can he really build something like that so easily in this kind of downpour?"
Ellie asked, clearly skeptical.
"You can't compare master to an ordinary person~"
Ulrika giggled, spinning once in the rain.
While it's true that he's a monster, it's also rare to be treated like a human to this extent.
"──Phew, all done."
"Master."
Horace arrived at the gates of Jewel City Lapis where the 6 were waiting.
"Master, have you finished?"
"Yeah, well, I had the number of people prepared in advance, Rangella. The Luster Report is used to guiding evacuations, so I prioritized speed. I've pushed the monster response in the nearby area onto Ivan, so he should be here even sooner."
"It's true that he'll be here soon... alright, that's fine."
"──Master! I still can't believe all this rain is because of a single monster, I can't, I can't~"
Ulrika interjected, half-panicked and half-whining.
"Ahh, well, guess that's just the kinda world we live in, huh."
Horace scratched his head like crazy and glanced north.
"Speaking of which, we went with the whole evacuation plan... but what about those guys who went off to hunt the thing instead?"
At Horace's word, Rangella blinked.
"Since the rain's just been getting heavier, I bet they're having a rough time out there..."
The very next second, all 7 of them realized it at the same time.
"...It's coming this way! For real, it is~!"
"No doubt about it."
"So, that means those guys lost, huh."
"I kinda saw this coming, but... damn, that was quick."
Ulrika, Tiaris, Ellie, Cindy said respectively and then...
"...Hey, check it out. Look over there. I figured it out already."
Tiaris pointed with her finger.
There──racing like his life depended on it──was Robert, whipping his horse into a crazy sprint.
His face was nothing but pure terror as he desperately pushed the horse to run faster.
"...Wait. If my memory's right, didn't that guy come here by wagon? Why's he ditching the wagon on the way back, just riding a horse?"
"That's the least of our problems right now."
Horace muttered as he watched Robert.
"The contract with those 5 is broken. Yeah... they're probably dead."
"So that's it. Used 'em as decoys to make his escape."
The mood instantly turned nasty...
"So, that's... the Calamityshade Dragon, Terra Disas, huh."
Chasing Robert was a dragon cloaked in raging winds, its whole body armored in blood-red scales, soaring through the sky.
The thing's presence alone was overwhelming.
Honestly, it was so powerful that, in another era, humanity would've gone all-in, wagering everything just to fight it off.
Now that thing was making straight for a town full of people.
"...Did Robert bring the thing here, or did Terra Disas just decide to come? Hard to say, really... But if you ask any normal person, well, they're gonna blame Robert for sure."
"So, what are we doing with Robert, Master?"
"Guess we just take him into custody for now, Rangella. Honestly, I couldn't care less about that guy, but the 'Order of the Sealed Dragon's screw-up' is gonna come in handy sooner or later, so let's toss all that trouble on him, yeah?"
Horace pulled a Cube out of his pocket.
"...Alright, for now, let's go take that guy down──huh?!"
Horace suddenly looked like he'd just realized something, his face twisting with shock.
"Master, is something wrong?"
"I'll leave beating that guy to you all. Something's come up──I gotta go check it out."
"Understood. Then the 6 of us will handle things here."
Rangella agreed with Horace's plan, nodding without a hint of doubt.
"Alright, time for me to jet. I'm counting on you guys here."
The confidence Horace wore just a moment ago vanished, his face now serious as he walked away from the gate.
"...Master never looks that intense... What do you all think?"
Rangella asked quietly, almost to herself.
"I got no clue. But if he's not telling us what's up, it either means he's in a hurry, or whatever it is won't bother us."
Ramella replied, frowning as she spoke.
"There's definitely stuff we can't handle, that's for sure."
Tiaris admitted, arms folded.
"So what's really going on, huh?"
Ellie muttered under her breath.
"Honestly, I have no idea~. But listen: if it's the 6 of us versus Master alone, Master's probably stronger... so that means there's something really freaky out there somewhere~."
Ulrika mused, twirling a wet strand of hair.
"Yeah, sounds like thinking that way's best. I've got questions, but either way──if we don't take that thing down first, we're not getting anywhere."
Cindy concluded with a resigned nod.
When Tiaris said, "Let's just take down the monster for now," everyone nodded in agreement.
"So, what about Robert~?"
"We'll just, y'know, boot him off to the side somewhere, Ulrika."
Everyone started moving out, thinking──that's way too casual, but nobody bothered to say so.
Kicking Robert off to the side somewhere.
It was clear that nobody actually wanted to argue with that plan.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!