I Tried Negotiating

I had been quite curious about just how they were able to keep such a giant machine running… So, it was the power of a dragon.

That’s why they needed so much Cursed Water.

‘In other words…if I let you go, I can put an end to their plan?’

There was plenty of Cursed Water left in the production plant.

And yet, they were still making more.

That suggested…they still needed more power to feed into the machine.

Unless, of course, they were just making it as an added precaution.

It would be very difficult to acquire so much magic energy through other means. And while there could be other facilities, it was unlikely they had a backup dragon.

So, it seemed likely that releasing the dragon now would mean I could stop them.

‘A human would help me? …But even my power is not enough to help me escape. What can you do?’

‘Yeah. I can use ‘Magic Transfer,’ which allows me to use magic remotely through the slimes.’

There was also another reason to release the dragon.

While it would be possible for me to use Magic Transfer and destroy the machine…if I did, then the Blue Moon of Salvation would think that some ‘mysterious magic put an end to their plan.’

Which will mean that they would start searching for the culprit.

But if a dragon was going berserk down there, it would be a different story.

I could use the chaos to fire off a few rounds of Hellfire of Obliteration, and the enemy would just think that it was the work of the dragon.

In other words, I was going to put the blame on the dragon for my crimes(well, it’s not really a crime, because it’s to stop something bad).

‘Magic Transfer? But that is limited to the magic that you can use. Transfering a lot of water isn’t going to do anything here.’

Because it was the first thing I did, the dragon thought I could only use that kind of magic…

I had only done it because the slimes kept asking me too. I hadn’t even wanted to do it…

I actually felt really bad about splashing water over a weakened animal.

‘I mainly use magic when I fight. So I have more powerful attack magic too.’

‘Attack magic… What are you going to use?’

‘Well, what about burning away the chains with Hellfire of Obliteration?’

It didn’t affect as wide an area as Hellfire of Death, and it was easier to control.

If I adjusted it right, I might be able to cut the chains without hurting the dragon…maybe.

But dragons were strong against fire, so being burned a little shouldn’t—no, that wasn’t good.

After all, I had killed a dragon by using Hellfire of Death when I first came to this world.

This dragon looked a lot stronger…but then again, it was weakened. So there was no guarantee it would survive.

‘A Tamer who can use Hellfire of Obliteration… Are you trying to be funny?’

Tamer.

Yes, I was a Tamer and told everyone that I was…but it wasn’t my only job.

It was a job that wasn’t very well-known here, so I generally left it out.

But…maybe a dragon who knew about Magic Transfer would understand.

‘I am a Tamer, but I’m also a Sage. Do you understand?’

The effect was amazing.

The dragon’s expression changed in an instant…then it muttered.

‘You’re a Tamer and a Sage? You’re just like…’

Even its voice sounded different now.

It was like he was thinking seriously about something…no, remembering the past.

After a while, the dragon asked me,

‘Name some other magic that is more powerful than Hellfire of Obliteration. If you really are a Sage, it should be easy.’

‘If it’s magic I’ve used before… Hellfire of Death, Curse of Eternal Tundra, and Suppression Isolation Barrier.’

The dragon’s expression changed when it heard this.

Then after a moment of silence…it muttered.

‘It’s hard to believe… But someone who is not a Sage would not know those names. I never would have thought that I would meet such a person in a place like this… I suppose my luck hasn’t dried out completely.’

The dragon said. Then it closed its eyes as if praying.

Apparently, it believed me.

So, the problem was deciding what to do now.

The things that kept the dragon imprisoned here would not be easily broken.

Attacking it with random magic wasn’t likely to work.

‘So, how can I help you? Should I heal you with recovery magic and then break the chains?’

‘Recovery… Yes, it is true that I have been drained of energy, but that is not the problem. …Look at my stomach.’

‘Stomach?’

I muttered as I had the slimes move to the dragon’s stomach.

And then…I saw that there was a thick, black stake piercing it.

The stake had an ominous aura that I could feel through Shared Senses.

‘This…is it cursed?’

It seemed even stronger than the magic stone that nearly destroyed the Dryad’s forest.

It was no wonder the dragon was weakened.

The Blue Moon of Salvation had probably snuck up on the dragon and pierced him with it. That was how they were able to capture and bring it down here.

‘So you know. …I would not be at the mercy of such humans as those if not for this thing.’

So it was all because of this cursed stake in the dragon’s body.

I had been wondering if metal chains were really enough to restrain a dragon… So that’s how it worked.