Good day everyone!

Another late update from me, I truly apologize.

Please expect these kinds of updates from me for a while. Until I've adjusted to my new schedule, these will persist for some time.

Once again, thank you to everyone and enjoy!

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Once again, I feel my body getting lighter as the invisible load bearing down on me disappears.

“Shiromi, listen to me.”

“Kinji-nii?”

While still facing the devil-like existence far ahead of us, I spoke to Shiromi was already about to cast a high ranked spell.

“I’m about to raise your strength and speed to 2.”

“G-got it.”

“After that…...”

===

As soon as Kinji-nii told me on what to do,

“! ! ! ! ! !”

Sending one magic spell after another, he flanked the devil in the sky from the right.

“Gyahahaha!!! Useless!!! Do you think copying the strategy of the previous mortals would beat me?!?!?!”

While it was occupied with Kinji-nii’s attacks, I descended from the elevated platform we were on.

According to the request, there was supposedly a ritual being carried out in this cave.

Thanks to Kinji-nii’s unique, I was able to move around with even more speed than before.

“Useless!!! Useless!!! Useless!!! You’re just wasting your magic power for nothing!!!”

From where I was, I could barely see Kinji-nii but it was difficult to miss the devil’s figure.

It was laughing as Kinji-nii’s spells were absorbed by the barrier surrounding it.

There! I see it!

In what looked like the center of this ruin, a magic circle was carved into the ground just below where the devil was.

Upon getting closer, 6 bodies were neatly placed side by side on the magic circle. Also, a black robe covered in a pile of dust lay just next to it.

“It doesn’t look like it’s active but there are no signs of this magic circle being centuries old either.”

“!”

Hearing the words of a Myth ranked spell, I see Kinji-nii holding his silver sword as large amounts of fire erupt from his other hand and are absorbed by the sword’s blade. The blade starts to glow an intense red while flames continuously burst out of it in waves.

Using Solid Air, Kinji-nii charged straight at the devil with the sword raised.

Moving at an inhumane speed, the blade collided with the barrier and shattered it into pieces.

Is what did not occur.

As soon as the blade connected with the barrier, Kinji-nii was sent flying in the opposite direction and crashed against the wall.

“Kinji-nii!!!”

Realizing that I gave away my position, I ran off to hide behind a nearby pillar.

“Oh!!! I completely forgot about the other one!!!”

“Hey, I’m over here! !”

“I can sense the magic power in you draining away mortal!!! Your demise is guaranteed!!!”

Just like what happened earlier, after Kinji-nii tried attacking its barrier, he’s only sent crashing into the wall.

In his current state, I couldn’t help but feel worried for Kinji-nii.

Similar to the devil, I too sensed the enormous quantity of magic power inside Kinji-nii the first time we met. Even after that, as we proceeded through our requests from Kinallen’s adventurer’s guild, I was surprised by his still increasing magic power.

But now, the amount of magic power that I could sense from Kinji-nii was just less than 20%.

In order to give Kinji-nii time to recover energy, even at the cost of forsaking his plan,

“!!!”

===

It’s getting harder to move.

My vision’s getting blurry.

Even my unique-enhanced mind is finding it hard to think.

So this is what losing a majority of your magic power feels like.

Because my [Immediate MP Recovery] hasn’t activated yet, that means I still have more than 5% of my magic power left.

“But if this is what it feels now, I wonder how worse it will get once I do end up with only 5% left.”

Although the unique has the word ‘Immediate’ in it, I doubt it will be able to instantly replenish the vast magic power I had been able to gain through levelling.

“!!!”

As I was about to try attacking it again, Shiromi cast one of her race specific spells.

Unlike when she was in Dragon form, the human-like fiery figures emerge from her hands.

In a larger quantity compared to when we had first fought, they all jump from the ground towards the devil.

“Useless!!!”

But just like what happened with all the spells I threw at him, they were all absorbed by the barrier.

This isn’t good, if this goes on......

“Time to die mortals!!!”

At those words, a large amount of magic power started gathering in the devil’s hands.

Voiceless spell casting?! And its target is---

“!”

With the spell as propulsion, I launch myself to where Shiromi was.

I won’t make it in time! I need to slow it down!

“! !”

Argh! I’m feeling sick!

My body’s condition deteriorates the more my magic power is expended.

Only one more Myth ranked spell is what I can most likely cast after this. But the time gained from my attacks was enough as I landed in front of Shiromi.

“Kinji-nii?!”

“Shiromi! Stand behind me!”

“O-okay!”

Giving her an order just as the devil’s spells were released.

“Gyahahaha!!! Accept your demise mortals!!!”

Two different masses of light and dark magic were heading towards us. Each one was the size of a large boulder, but even with that size, I could tell it was incredibly dense.

Its strength is probably 5th ranked, no……likely even Myth ranked.

The pressure the two spells were incredible. In my current state, I even found it hard to stand straight.

“!”

I instantly feel myself getting worse as I cast a defensive spell, not at me, but at Shiromi who was behind me. Then,

“!”

Against a Myth ranked spell, the proper defensive strategy was to also use another similarly ranked spell. But as Repel collided with the two attacks, they remained in a stalemate just a few meters away from us.

The attacks were slowly being chipped away due to the effect of my Repel. However, my magic power was also being drained at an incredible pace due to sustaining it for an extended period of time.

I then drop to my knees as soon as the three spells were dispelled.

“Haaaa…….haaaaa……”

Fatigue instantly struck my entire body. I couldn’t help but breathe roughly as if I had just finished an intense session of exercise back in my world.

Crap! I’m starting to black out!

My legs are becoming wobbly.

The grip on my sword is starting to loosen.

Just when I was about to collapse, my unique activated.

===

“Kinji-nii?! Are you okay?!”

From behind, I saw his figure staggering.

Oh no! Kinji-nii’s magic power has been reduced to only 4%! No choice, I’ll have to turn back into a Dragon and---

“W-what?!”

A strange phenomenon was happening right in front of me. No, around me.

Magic power was swirling and gathering onto one point in our vicinity. The thickness of it all made it hard to breathe.

It seems the devil was also surprised as it screamed.

“What have you done mortal?!?!?! Absorbing all this magic power?!?!?!”

No, wait, less than surprised, it sounded like it was panicking.

But I didn’t have time for that, what’s important was to get Kinji-nii out of here.

As I was about to grab him and run out of here,

“.”

Pale golden light enveloped Kinji-nii’s body as magic power was still swirling around him.

“I see. So it was still somewhat ‘immediate’ but the method is a bit……”

“Kinji-nii?! Are you okay?!”

“Oh, Shiromi. Yeah, I’m okay!”

“But---the magic power, if you stay there then---”

“Don’t worry! This is all just a result of my unique.”

“Your……unique?!”

Flashing me a wry smile, he turns back to face the devil.

Result of a unique?! As expected, Kinji-nii never fails to surprise me!

Sensing the magic power within him being restored at an astounding rate, I regain my composure and walk up next to Kinji-nii and ask him on what we had to do.

“Let’s see, that thing might not be as strong as we think it is but the problem is the barrier surrounding it.”

Even now, it was still floating in the air being cautious of us after Kinji-nii had suddenly regained all his lost magic power.

“I know! Kinji-nii, why don’t you use your unique?!”

To my suggestion, he shakes his head.

“No good. I tried it earlier but it didn’t show any sign of working. It’s like the space around him has no gravity.”

After saying that, his eyes opened wide.

“Kinji-nii?”

“Hey, Shiromi!”

“Y-yes?”

“Is there any spell you know that cuts oneself off from the outside world?”

Cuts them from the outside world?

“Well, there are spells like that. An example would be the one Kuro used, Exclusion Zone, and another one would be……Own Dimension?”

Both spells were categorized as ‘Special Magic’ but when used in battle, only the latter would become Myth ranked while the former a 5th ranked.

“I can understand Exclusion Zone but for Own Dimension to work, a large amount of magic power is needed. Unless they’re someone like you, Kinji-nii, it would be difficult to maintain it.”

“Wait, then maybe……”

It looks like Kinji-nii had thought of something as he looked at me with a grin.

“Alright, got it! Shiromi, look around the area once more. But this time, look for anything that could be releasing magic power.”

“Eh? Releasing magic power? T-that’s a bit difficult, you know……even for me……”

Kinji-nii grabs my shoulder and looks me straight in the eye.

Uwaaaaaaah!!! Kinji-nii’s so close! So close! So close!!!!!!

Ignoring my reddening face,

“It will be alright, I believe in Shiromi after all!”

Drawing out his black sword and holding it along with his silver sword, he faces the devil once more.

“Oh, and also since I’ve drained most of the magic power here, it’ll be a bit easier to find them. . .”

The two elements burst forth from his hands and are absorbed by the two blades.

“This is just like that cave quest from a certain RPG with Dragons!”

He jumps off to distract the devil, leaving me on the ground.

Well, no time to stand here! I need to help Kinji-nii beat that devil!

Encouraging myself, I start running around the area looking for magic power that was connected to the devil's barrier.

But what was that about an Ar-Pi-Ji? A new town perhaps?

===

“Another one!”

Using my bare fist, I turn the small pillar-like structure into rubble.

“That was the 3rd one.”

After having gone from one side of the ruin to the other, I had found three of the magic power supplying objects.

So far, they’ve all been in the form of small pillars that are used as stands for furniture. Being made out of the same material as everything else here, they blended in perfectly. However, due to Kinji-nii’s unique which drained all the magic power in the air, it became easier for me to see the constant stream of magic power flowing out from these objects to the barrier surrounding the devil.

Meanwhile, Kinji-nii was busy occupying it so I had to quickly destroy these as well.

There were only 2 more left so I sped up my pace.

Crash!

As I destroyed the next supplier, a voice entered my ears.

“You there!!! Stop!!! !!!”

“I’m your opponent!”

Kinji-nii appeared and struck at the devil’s barrier once more.

Unlike last time, he was able to stand his ground with Solid Air and deal a few more blows before being sent flying away.

“Agyaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Suddenly, one of the bodies from the magic circle had run up towards me and swung its large sword at me.

Fast?!

“!”

Raise. A Myth ranked spell that temporarily resurrected the dead, giving them a body without its limiters in exchange for lacking any kind of intelligence.

As the body is propelled into the air, sounds of footsteps were coming behind me.

“I don’t have time for these undead! !”

Directing the fiery figures to attack the 5 remaining undead, I head for the last magic power supplier.

I don’t know how, but these pillar-like objects are immune to magical attacks and so, I have to destroy them with either punches or kicks.

Luckily, the strength I had as a Dragon was carried over into my Human form which made things simpler.

“!!!”

In the moment that Kinji-nii was not able to distract it, the devil cast a powerful spell and launched it towards me.

“!”

The spell collided with the transparent wall in front of me.

Slowly, I was being pushed back.

Any more than this and I’ll---!!!

Crumble!

Simultaneously with that sound, the raging fire spell disappeared without a trace.

“You!!! A mere mortal!!! Perish!!!”

“Gah!”

The devil, after screaming out his lungs, grabbed Kinji-nii by the arm and flung him down to the ground below them.

A cloud of dust scattered from where he crashed into.

That’s when I noticed it.

Surrounding the devil……was nothing. Its barrier too had disappeared.

Looking at where the last supplier was, all that was left was a small pile of rubble and Kinji-nii’s black sword glowing with a pale red hue.

Amazing! Kinji-nii threw his sword from such a long distance and was able to destroy the supplier!

As I was celebrating Kinji-nii’s success, I covered my nose from the smell of burning corpses.

The undead which had been fighting my Dragon-exclusive spell were now being turned to ash after suffering a major loss.

With the 6 undead gone and the devil’s barrier no more, it was only a matter of time before this request was over!

Seeing Kinji-nii standing up from ground farther away, I quickly ran off to join him.

===

The town of Kinallen. Said to be the center of trading between all countries surrounding Helgas, all kinds of people gather here.

As such, the act of discrimination or abuse was heavily frowned upon. Of course, this was also applied to nobles and higher ranked figures who were normally used to doing this.

On one such day when everyone in town was oblivious to the events happening to the rising star adventurers named Kinji and Shiromi, an eye catching carriage was nearing the eastern gate of the town.

With golden ornaments decorating the exterior and colored a pure white with no stains, it was a carriage that could only be associated with a noble of the highest ranking.

Wasting no time, it passed through the gate which had already been opened for a merchant whose cargo checking just finished.

“H-hey! You!”

Not bothering to stop, the carriage continued into town. Although the guards tried to catch it, they soon lost to the speed of the rare beasts pulling the carriage.

Twice the size of a normal horse, fur and mane of violet hue and 6 sturdy legs, beasts even more suited for transportation across long distances. What’s more, this carriage had four of these beasts pulling it, Terrions.

Conscious of what they had just done, the coachman called out to the inside of the carriage.

“S-sir! Are you sure it’s alright for us to do this?”

Replying with an indifferent tone,

“Of course! Lowly merchants cannot even be compared to the likes of me!”

Inside, a man drank from the wine glass he was holding in his hand and looked out into the sprawling town outside.

With a vulgar smile,

“Now then, will there be anyone here to fit my tastes, I wonder?”

===

On a certain rooftop, a single figure wrapped in a dark cloak stood patiently, hiding their face with a blank mask.

“He has finally arrived, I see.”

Standing behind the figure were several people of different races. Though they looked full of life and were seemingly awaiting orders, only the cloaked figure knew of their true identities.

“But for this plan to succeed……hmmmm……has the request my puppet put up been finished yet?”

None of the people behind the figure spoke.

Inside the mask, they couldn’t help but frown in displeasure.

“No choice then.”

With those words, the lone rooftop became devoid of presence once more.