Taming The Villainesses

(EP-356.1) #1

356 – Protagonist #1

━━━──!!!

With a thunderous roar, a massive forepaw burst through the ground. Its sheer size was overwhelming—large enough to crush an entire building beneath it.

Rumble—!

Aliesel’s eyes widened to an unprecedented degree as he exclaimed.

“What kind of madness…!? The corpse of the ancient dragon sealed under the temple!? The same dragon that even the hero Judas couldn’t subdue!? Impossible!!!”

Crack, crash.

A long tail erupted from the earth, toppling buildings in its wake.

The moment I laid eyes on it—

I was overwhelmed by the same despair and terror that humans must have felt in ancient times, when the world still belonged to primordial beasts and fairies.

This was a being that once soared through the ancient skies.

A being on a completely different level from wyverns or lesser drakes—

The creature opened its colossal maw and let out a deafening roar.

━━━─━!!!

It was like thunder crashing down.

And its glowing crimson eyes blazed like twin suns.

━R-Red eyes…! It’s not being controlled. That’s proof it’s not being controlled! We can’t stop it!

The problem was that, as they said, this so-called resurrected dragon was completely out of control.

As often the case with those resurrected from death, it was driven solely by hatred, mindlessly thrashing its claws and tail in a frenzy of destruction.

At that moment, Narmi shouted while trembling violently.

“Unnie! It’s your turn now!”

Mirna began forming hand seals.

At the same time, she turned to me.

“Sir Theo, now! Jump through the teleportation gate!”

“But, Lady Mirna! That thing is a monster no matter how you look at it! Can I really just leave you both behind…!?”

That gigantic monster—it was destruction and terror made flesh, a nightmare of bones and scales.

To take down such a monster, even I would have to brace myself and burn my own lifespan in exchange for the maximum possible output.

As if to confirm my thoughts, I could distinctly feel the tension in the spider Bael lurking within me.

━Krrrreung…!!!

If Bael was reacting this strongly, then this opponent was anything but easy. However, Mirna suddenly stopped chanting and simply looked at me.

Amidst the chaos, her ruby red eyes shimmered so vividly that for a moment, everything around us felt unreal.

“Sir Theo, from here on, this is my and Narmi’s battle. This is the battlefield of the Draco family. You must go and fight your own battle.”

“But…”

“… Just go, you idiot…!”

Mirna’s sharp cry snapped me back to reality.

She was right. This was their battlefield. The place where I was meant to fight lay much farther.

━The annex is burning!

━Everyone, put out the fire! Deploy more forces and protect the Pantheon!

While people were scattering in panic at the appearance of the giant monster, I sprinted toward the teleportation gate.

There were those who tried to stop me along the way, but since the anti-magic formation was destroyed, I was able to blow them all away using Paimon.

“Activate.”

I recited the activation word and started the teleportation gate.

Whhooooom—

Mana surged from my body.

At the same time, I saw the giant dragon’s empty red eyes staring at me. I didn’t know why, but it seemed like it had targeted me and the gate.

Crack.

The dragon opened its maw wide, like the yawning entrance of a cave.

A crimson energy flickered at the edges of its mouth. I didn’t know exactly what was about to happen, but I couldn’t just stand still.

Should I use Mana Shield?

No, if I lost focus for even a moment while the teleportation gate was active, the coordinates could go haywire. That would be disastrous.

‘Bael, do something.’

━Krrreung…!!!

My helper Bael was completely unsettled by the dragon’s presence.

‘Do spiders and dragons not get along? It doesn’t matter, just help me. If I die, you die too!’

━Hioong…

Zuuuuung—

‘Done.’

With Bael’s help, the teleportation gate was fully activated. At the same time, I deployed a mana shield, preparing for any possible attacks. That was when—

“—O ancient ruler of ages past, release thy wrath. With dance and song, we honor thee.”

Amidst the chaos, Mirna’s voice rang clear. Her words, carrying a mystical melody, sounded like both a poem and a song, spreading gently through the air.

“O fallen one, serpent of yore, swallow thy fury. Sheathe thy claws, hide thy fangs.”

At those strange incantations, the dragon’s hollow red eyes flickered uneasily.

Sssssss-.

The crimson energy swirling in its cavernous mouth seemed to dissipate slightly. As the dragon halted its movements, everyone else also stopped, gazing up at the sky.

━It stopped.

━Look, its eyes are turning blue.

━Just like the old legends… To think that there really was a dragon’s corpse under the temple….

━The young ladies are controlling the dragon…!

Just as the people said, it seemed Mirna had successfully seized control of the giant ancient dragon’s corpse.

Our eyes met, and she silently mouthed something.

“Hurry. This won’t last long.”

I couldn’t hear her voice.

But I was sure that was what she said.

* * *

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Elga grew increasingly anxious as she watched the time pass.

Stella, sitting at the same table, glanced at her bouncing legs and spoke up.

“Elga-yang, why are you so nervous? Did you bet money on the martial festival or something?”

“……”

Stella still didn’t fully grasp the situation. Probably because they hadn’t completely pulled her to their side yet. Even as she thought it was foolish, Elga was also envious of Stella.

If she knew nothing, she too could have been sitting here comfortably.

As noon approached—the scheduled time for the opening ceremony—Elga’s stress mounted as there was still no sign of the half-fairy and the Draco sisters.

If it wasn't for Leonoi, she might have already lost her temper.

In that respect, Elga was also surprised upon realizing that she had truly become an adult who could restrain herself. How did this happen? She didn’t know. Before she knew it, she was like this.

“Your frown looks just like your father, Reinhardt. What’s got you thinking so hard? Tell me.”

Stella spoke up again.

Perhaps this was just older people being nosy, but she was rather bothered by it, so Elga couldn’t help but react.

“My father?”

Edit by: faker