Scorching flames erupted without warning.
The pact, which should have been made in an instant, was forcibly terminated. Artoria turned around, only to see a giant dragon.
Its entire body was jet-black, its fierce horns a vivid red.
Its massive wings were covered in complex, labyrinth-like veins, and every flap stirred up a storm.
Its sharp claws and fangs shone with a black light, as if they could tear space itself apart in the next moment.
"ROAR—!!!"
The giant dragon roared once more.
Under the young woman's astonished gaze, it soared into the air and charged towards the place where the hand of the pact had appeared.
BOOM!
Flames, entwined with violent winds, spiraled outwards.
The air was heated in an instant, solidifying into a mirror-like state.
"..."
"Why... is there another dragon?" The unseen figure spoke.
Petals scattered.
The hand in the air vanished without a trace.
In its place, petals materialized within the mirrored air.
Like chains, they shot directly towards the giant dragon.
Grabbing, then twisting—
The giant dragon's wings and four limbs were held fast.
The seemingly fragile flowers burst forth with unimaginable power, forcefully halting the beast in mid-air.
"This..."
Everything happening before her was beyond Artoria's imagination.
But she could feel that someone was engaged in a battle with this giant dragon, a battle the likes of which she had never even conceived.
Before the young woman could make sense of it all, the dragon's roars echoed once more.
"ROAR—!!"
The mirror-like air, as if it could feel fear, began to crack and splinter.
Then, the flower chains that held the giant dragon fast also began to shake violently.
CRACK—
CRACK—
The giant dragon was actually, forcefully, pulling the flower chains along with it.
What incredible strength!
"You monster—"
The space seemed to be filled with an air of astonishment.
More flower chains flew out from all directions, attempting to restrain the giant dragon once more.
However, the behemoth gave them no further chances.
"ROAR—!"
With a primitive and savage cry, the giant dragon snapped all the flower chains that bound it.
A torrent of crimson flame erupted, annihilating the remaining "reinforcements" that were on their way.
In this powerful sea of flames, Artoria saw a figure.
It seemed to be the owner of the hand from before.
At this moment, he was clearly just as surprised by the appearance of this black dragon.
In the next instant, the mysterious figure in the young woman's eyes vanished completely.
And the flower chains that had tried to restrain the giant dragon also disappeared entirely at the same time.
"..."
Artoria felt a little lost.
After all, everything had happened so fast that she hadn't had time to react or understand what was going on.
But the giant dragon's actions did not stop because of the young woman's inaction.
It beat its enormous wings.
A fierce wind blew.
The beautiful scene that had been laid out before the young woman began to fade, until it had dissipated completely.
"..."
No matter how confused she was, seeing this, Artoria could understand the giant dragon's meaning.
"Are you trying to say that all of this was fake?"
"ROAR—"
The giant dragon could not give a proper response.
But the ever-growing gale was explanation enough.
"But..."
"It might not be entirely fake—"
Artoria looked at the scene before her, which had now completely lost its color.
"The decline in the harvest is a real thing."
"There are fewer and fewer fish to be caught in the rivers."
"Even the ale has started to turn sour—"
"Everyone is truly living through hard times."
"If I... really could do something, then—"
Before Artoria could finish speaking, a fireball shot past her cheek.
Although she wasn't harmed, the searing heat left the young woman's heart pounding with fear.
"You..."
Looking at the culprit, Artoria realized the reason.
"You don't approve of that?"
"But, there's clearly nothing wrong with it, is there?"
"I'll become king, and I'll bring everyone happiness, this..."
The young woman scratched her cheek.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Another fireball.
This time, it landed even closer to Artoria.
And before the young woman had a chance to say anything more, the giant dragon raised its foreleg.
"Hey, hey!"
"Don't be angry!"
Her weak words had no effect.
The giant dragon brought its claws down.
"Ngh—"
Artoria subconsciously raised her hands to block.
Swoosh.
The young woman, asleep in her bed, suddenly sat bolt upright, only to find that her surroundings were still familiar.
"Eh, was it a dream?"
Artoria muttered to herself.
"But that felt way too real..."
The image of the giant dragon bringing its foreleg down was still vivid in her mind.
But speaking of which...
Artoria narrowed her eyes, recalling the final sensation.
Just like the two fireballs before it.
The final claw hadn't been aimed at her.
Instead...
It had landed in front of her.
It was as if... it had shattered the entire dream.
That's right.
It had no intention of hurting her at all.
It just—
—didn't like her making that kind of promise.
"Eh?"
Artoria suddenly realized something.
She looked towards Ian on the other bed.
Why does it... feel so much like him?
But—
The young woman took a hand out from under her blanket and, with a serious expression, compared the size of the dragon in her dream with the Ian before her.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
If that dragon was him—
Then their first meeting wouldn't have been as simple as him leaving a little bite mark on her chest.
He would have been more than big enough to eat her whole.
And if she went by that standard...
Artoria looked at her thumb and forefinger, which she had spread apart to make an 'L' shape.
It was her own little "scale."
Ten times.
No.
Thirty times.
To match a body that size, it would have to be at least that big.
And according to that scale, the thing that pressed against her before would have...
No, no!
What am I thinking!
Artoria shook her head, throwing out all those strange thoughts.
However—
The young woman gazed at Ian, who was lying motionless in bed, seemingly fast asleep.
It's not impossible, though...
It's him, after all.
Mm...
I'll just ask him about it a little tomorrow.
Artoria made up her mind.
"For now."
"I should get some rest..."