Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 169: Demodras (1)

Chapter 169: Demodras (1)

On a sunny holiday...

In the corridor of Hugo’s mansion,

“Where exactly are you planning to go?”

Seira was being dragged somewhere by Lucia. The face of the person being pulled along by a determined hand seemed a bit troubled.

“And, you know, it’s fine for me to just stay at home?”

“What are you talking about? You’re a magician of the century and a comrade who fought alongside our ancestors. How could you possibly be treated like an unemployed person doing nothing?”

Although Lucia said this, she knew why Seira was showing a troubled reaction.

Because of the curse placed on her, Seira couldn’t form normal relationships with people.

It seemed fine while they were together, but once a certain distance was created, or such situations occurred, no matter how close they were, they were forgotten from their minds.

For that reason, despite considering herself the most outstanding magician in the world, she hated meeting people. Even now, she was barefaced without any transformation magic. Seira sighed, feeling as though a stone was placed on her chest.

“I’ll go along with it, but it’s useless no matter how many people I meet. It’s not like I haven’t tried everything possible during the hundreds of years I’ve... been living alone.”

“But it doesn’t work on me. Neither on Shiron nor on Siriel.”

“But Hugo is...”

“Let’s just go.”

Lucia cut off Seira’s words and entered the banquet hall.

It’s useless. She had heard enough complaints about it being futile. However, Lucia made a great effort to drag Seira outside.

She didn’t want her comrade from a past life to live like a shut-in or an old man secluded in a back room, and she couldn’t bear to see her sulk in front of Kyrie’s tombstone every day.

‘The dead are dead. The living should not be tied to the dead.’

“Mother, we’re here.”

“...You’re late.”

“I had to bring someone important with me. This person here, she’s an excellent magician. I really wanted to introduce her to you and the knights.”

Lucia timidly placed Seira in front of Eldrina. Seira introduced herself for the 56th time to the dignified hostess sitting upright.

“Hello, ma’am. My name is Seira Romer.”

“...I’m Eldrina Prient. You seem to be a very famous magician, and it’s surprising you know our child. We’re in your care.”

“Yes...”

It was indeed futile. Seira weakly responded and glared at Lucia resentfully.

“See!”

“Eh... Then, let’s go to my uncle.”

Before Seira could say more, Lucia directed her attention to a particularly large man in the banquet hall. Pushing through the crowd, they saw Hugo engaged in conversation with some robust-looking individuals.

“Uncle!”

“...It’s Lucia. And who might this be next to you?”

“Hello. My name is Seira Romer.”

Seira introduced herself mechanically, just as she had done with Eldrina. She just wanted to quickly escape this uncomfortable situation and be alone. If possible, enjoying various foods laid out on one side of the banquet hall by herself seemed like a good idea.

However, the words uttered by Hugo were beyond Seira’s expectations.

“Ah, I’ve already heard a lot about you. They say you’re a very skilled magician.”

“...Excuse me? How could you know...”

Seira was taken aback and widened her eyes, to which Hugo chuckled.

“Um... I’ve always heard about it from my niece. She boasts every day that a very great magician lives in her annex, and even during the expedition, she consistently sends letters, so how could I not know.”

“That’s what I thought. Since we’ve never met, I wondered if the young master was playing a joke.”

Johann also chimed in on Hugo’s words.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you face-to-face like this. I am Hugo Prient. Since you’ve come all this way, how about it?”

Hugo, joking lightly, offered Seira a plate with a cake. Seira looked back and forth between Hugo and Johann with a dazed expression.

Such sounds did not occur.

It felt like an elevator coming to a slow stop with a slight jolt.

And then,

The oppressive air and chilling cold prickled his skin.

Shiron took out a fire lance and whale oil to create a makeshift torch.

Whoosh-

The flame illuminated the dark space, and Shiron quickly identified the source of the chilling sensation.

“...Who are you?”

In the center of the massive form, vertically slit eyes glared at Shiron. It was the Fervent Dragon Demodras, a legion commander who had once served under the Demon God and the master of this space.

“Damn, I intended to surprise it.”

With a sigh of regret, Shiron spat out his dry saliva and said,

“Do you need to know my name? You’ll be dead soon anyway.”

“...Is this your story?”

Demodras asked, as if bewildered. His voice, resonating throughout his body, was tinged with fury. Instead of replying, Shiron planted the Fire Lance into the ground and drew a holy sword from his bosom.

“...A holy sword? Mortal... are you certain that is a holy sword?”

Demodras asked, with a surprised look directed at Shiron.

“Why, never seen a holy sword before? Then watch closely now. You won’t have another chance.”

Shiron steadied his breath, feeling the sensation of blessings being switched within his mind. He didn’t know the name of the blessing Latera was applying, but he could tell it was specialized for combating dragons, enhancing his physical abilities and endurance.

Walking towards the giant eyes, Shiron felt his blood boil and the heavy sensation in his hands. Light burst from the tightly gripped holy sword, whitening Demodras’s field of vision. The bravery was so extraordinary that Demodras’s red pupils contracted and trembled.

“...Are you a hero?”

“Just hand over your heart quietly.”

“Answer me. I asked if you are a hero...!”

Demodras swung his hefty front paw threateningly at Shiron, who was approaching.

“Oh, throwing the first punch?”

But it was futile. Shiron dodged the falling mass with a light step.

“Typical of an evil reptile. But I already know every move you’ll make.”

Shiron felt adrenaline surge from the narrow escape. Despite being mentally exhausted from staying alert all week,

Swoosh!

It’s okay. Demodras wasn’t just an opponent Lucia had often faced but also one well-known to Shiron.

Although the story was set for an interloper to deliver the final blow in the 3rd phase, having experienced the process of reaching there hundreds of times, he could reflexively combat the dragon.

‘Is it acting on impulse, or has it lost its mind? Conversation is impossible.’

Demodras grimaced, enduring the blades cutting into his flesh, and began chanting a spell.

‘All phases connect to a single point. Mana seeks the repeating point. And reconstitution...’

The magic about to be manifested involved phase transition and polymorph. The current outburst was too threatening for proper judgment. All humans who had come here had been like this, the dragon firmly believed...

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Swoosh!

“Stop! Enough! Talking...!”

“Talking after you swung first?”

“Come on, hero! Take down that lying lizard’s head!”

“Yes! Finish it quickly and let’s rest!”

“I will give you my heart!”

Shiron’s sword halted abruptly.