Villainess, Fighting the Dragon
Only when the dragon was struck by the twin beams of black and white light did it finally realize something.
Two girls were directing hostility at it.
The realization came slowly, and then its sharp gaze shifted to both sides.
Weak, fragile creatures that should have been crushed effortlessly by a mere sweep of its tail… and yet, for reasons beyond its understanding, they had dared to attack it.
It could not comprehend it.
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“——!”
A roar erupted—so close that I instinctively wanted to cover my ears.
At this distance, a human eardrum would rupture without fail. I reacted on reflex, deploying a barrier magic to completely nullify the sonic waves.
…That was dangerous.
A monster that could injure people just by roaring. Its power was absurd.
But at least now I knew—I could block it.
I shot forward, closing the distance to the dragon’s massive body, and unleashed another beam at point-blank range.
However, every single ray of my magic was stopped cold by its scales. Not even a fraction pierced through.
(So hard…)
The dragon swung its arm as if swatting away an insect. But the motion was still sluggish—restrained. It wasn’t taking us seriously yet. That made evasion manageable for now.
“Lady Vina! My magic isn’t working at all!” Yua called out.
“Yes… and those scales, not to mention that immortality-like durability… Are you sure humans really defeated and sealed something like this?”
“Yes… it’s insane.”
Even while weaving through the air to avoid becoming targets, we exchanged words.
“Then next—this!”
I spread six magic circles wide.
Constructed magic circles amplify power. The beam spell I was preparing now far surpassed anything I’d used before.
“Bind!”
As if reading my intent, Yua activated her spell the moment my circles formed.
Pillars of light surged from the ground, coiling around the dragon’s neck and arms, restraining its movement.
Of course, both of us knew—it would only last a heartbeat. But that heartbeat was enough.
A brief opening. That was all I needed.
“Take this!”
I swung my hand down.
From the center of all six magic circles behind me, black beams erupted—ripping through the sky with a deafening roar.
My enhanced light magic swallowed the dragon whole and detonated in a massive explosion.
Thick black smoke billowed upward.
For ordinary monsters, that would have been the end.
But this was anything but ordinary.
“Yua, don’t slack on restoring your mana.”
“Yes, understood.”
In that brief opening, we recovered our magic while I considered the next move.
Just as I expected—the dragon crawled out from the smoke.
I never thought that would finish it. But still…
“Not even a scratch…? I was hoping at least one scale would’ve been blown off.”
“…Honestly, this is unfair. It’s way too tough.”
“Yes… but we keep going.”
“Right.”
And so we dove back in.
We kept attacking.
Again and again.
But gradually, the dragon’s irritation grew. Its movements sharpened—its swings of arm and tail became lethal.
Every strike now carried enough speed that even a graze would be fatal.
“—!”
I barely managed to survive by layering defensive spells, firing off fireballs in the gaps between attacks.
But even finding openings to attack had become difficult.
One wrong decision meant death.
(Is it still not here yet?)
I glanced downward for only a moment.
No evacuation signal yet.
(…Still not, huh.)
Defend. Defend again.
Not blocking—redirecting. That was all we could do now. Arm, tail, fangs, charge—we could not meet them head-on.
Yua seemed to have realized the same thing.
We could not take its attacks directly.
That much was clear now.
(But this is bad… at this rate…)
What do I do? How do I buy more time?
I was thinking—
And in that instant, I was late.
Just a fraction of a moment.
But here, that fraction meant everything.
The dragon’s tail was already in front of me.
I reflexively cast a barrier.
It shattered instantly.
The tail struck through it—
Or so I thought.
“Lady Vina, are you alright?”
But I was not there.
By the time I realized it, I was standing beside Yua.
Ah… that was close.
I really thought I had died. No—I was sure I had.
“…Yua. Thank you. You saved me.”
“I’m just glad I could help you, Lady Vina.”
Relief softened her voice as she exhaled.
I gently placed a hand on her head.
That made it twice now.
The dragon’s gaze slowly turned toward us—cold, terrifying, inhuman.
Something’s coming.
The next moment, its jaws began to glow a deep, violent red.
A prelude to a breath attack.
(That’s bad—!)
I grabbed Yua around the waist.
“Eek…!”
Ignoring her small gasp, I accelerated instantly and pulled away at full speed.
Not running away. Not yet.
Just… not taking that head-on.
“————————!!!!”
The next instant, it fired.
The breath tore across the earth like a raging comet.
It erased a mountain.
Pierced the night sky.
And detonated far beyond the horizon in a blinding explosion.
It was absurd.
Like a miniature sun had been unleashed.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Yua, still in my arms, stared at the erased mountain and let out a strained laugh.
“…Lady Vina, thank you. There’s no way a barrier could’ve held that. I would’ve been burned to ash.”
“…Yeah. No doubt.”
Neither of us could stop the tightness in our smiles as we turned back toward the dragon.
At that moment—
Behind us, in the center of the city of Takras, light surged upward into the sky.
A signal.
Evacuation complete.
“…Yua. We’re retreating.”
“Understood.”
We exchanged the words, then turned back toward the dragon as if to fight—
only to split apart and flee in opposite directions.
It noticed.
And chose to chase me.
…Good.
At least Yua won’t be caught.
I kept firing magic backward as I ran.
Black beams. Flame spears. Bolts of violet lightning.
Everything I had.
But none of it even scratched its scales.
(For something that big… it’s fast.)
No matter how I zigzagged, it adjusted like a fighter jet, closing in immediately.
(This is impossible.)
I stopped midair, canceling flight magic and landing on a tree branch.
The dragon stopped too.
So be it.
If this is how it ends—
I drew my remaining mana deep within me. It was running low. I could feel it thinning already.
(I wonder what happened to Yua…)
As I thought of her, I opened multiple magic circles once more.
The dragon hovered calmly, letting out a low growl.
Like I was a banquet laid out before its jaws.
(As long as she escaped far enough…)
I let out a small, forced laugh.
I had thought of one possible way to win.
So I wouldn’t give up.
If I couldn’t escape… then I would try it.
And I would return home alive—no matter what.
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Yua was hesitating.
In the opposite direction from where she had fled.
The dragon had chosen to chase Vina.
It had been faster than she ever imagined.
Could she really survive alone?
That fear lingered in her mind.
(…Lady Vina…)
Her chest tightened painfully.
If something happened to Vina…
Just the thought made her breath catch, her heartbeat quicken.
Vina—her benefactor from childhood.
More precious than family, more than status, more than anything.
Losing her would be worse than death.
(…I should go back.)
She decided.
And turned around.
The hairstyle Vina had carefully braided came undone in the wind, spilling loose.
(At least…)
She followed the faint residual traces of Vina’s magic, flying faster and faster without realizing it.
The mana trail hadn’t moved.
Just as she feared—Vina was likely being cornered.
(I want to be there.)
Yua cut through the sky, heading straight back toward Vina.
