In this situation, the most Shion can do is probably buy some time.
Perhaps with his non-combat oriented, almost magic trick-like hand of cards, he might not even be able to buy time against the Black Annihilation Dragon Schwarzwaldius.
He might be killed unceremoniously along with Alphonse right away.
–However.
“(As long as I don’t give up this moment, hope will surely connect to the future. –Then I’ll just do the best I can.)”
–To save Alphonse Fried, buy time for even one more second.
Shion didn’t feel the slightest bit of hesitation in the face of this hopeless situation.
He doesn’t have the power to defeat the Black Annihilation Dragon Schwarzwaldius. He has no means to defend against its attacks.
Even so, there was still a little magic left.
He had enough strength and willpower to stand up.
He could speak.
“(… This should be enough to buy some time)”
—The strategy Shion chose was to talk his way out.
… However, even if he acted tough like before, his opponent was the world’s strongest dragon.
Even if he could make the dragon believe his bluff, it wasn’t the type to be intimidated.
Therefore, he needed to act as an extraordinary person who could frighten even Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Extinction.
Literally no one in the world could defeat Schwarzwaldius, the world’s strongest Black Dragon of Extinction. There was no one in this world strong enough to make this dragon fear.
However, such a person did exist in history.
Four hundred years ago, the only person in history to be given the SSS-class title after defeating the Black Dragon of Extinction.
The great hero Siegfried himself.
To buy time against the Black Dragon, there was no other way but to make it believe he was Siegfried himself.
But Shion was far too weak to impersonate Siegfried convincingly.
There was a high possibility that a situation requiring “proof of strength” would arise. If that happened, everything would fall apart.
Above all, Shion’s appearance was far too different to fool the Black Dragon of Extinction, who had encountered Siegfried in the past.
In such a situation, it would be extremely difficult to make the Black Dragon believe he was Siegfried.
“(It’s not enough to just act like the great hero… It’s not enough to just pretend to be Siegfried)”
If even a slight falsehood was exposed, it would be seen through in an instant.
“(Don’t give the opponent room for doubt. Make them think you can only be the real thing. –Become him completely. Believe from the bottom of your heart that I have Siegfried’s power)”
–Convince yourself that you’re SSS-class.
… And so, Shion stood up and turned around.
He faced the Black Dragon of Extinction, who had been observing the two, with golden glowing eyes, and spoke calmly in the dragon language.
“‘It’s been a while'”
“(Now, this is the greatest gamble of my life)”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
–Once, people named the black dragon “Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Extinction” with a sense of awe, and came to call it by that name.
However, only one person in the world, Siegfried, called the black dragon “It’s not a big deal” and referred to it as:
“‘Blackie'” –he said.
Upon hearing this name, the Black Dragon turned a puzzled gaze towards the man with golden glowing eyes.
“‘It’s been a while…? Who are you?'”
“You speak as if you know me, but I don’t know you,” the Black Dragon of Extinction glared at Shion.
“‘Well… I guess you wouldn’t recognize me with this appearance'”
The one in front of him was the strongest dragon that could take his life as easily as breathing. Even while facing such clear hostility from such an opponent, Shion brushed it off lightly.
“‘But you have a vague idea of who I am, don’t you? Blackie'”
Shion made his move.
Having the same eye glow as ‘that person’, using the same way of addressing the Black Dragon of Extinction as ‘that person’, and speaking the same language as ‘that person’.
After providing this information, he planted the seed of doubt in the opponent’s mind. He made the opponent harbor a small suspicion of “perhaps”.
“‘… I told you. I don’t… remember a man like you'”
The Black Dragon denied it again.
However, these words seemed to lack the pressure they had before.
“‘I see. You don’t remember'”
Although there was a slight response, the information provided so far was still insufficient to completely deceive the Black Dragon of Extinction.
“‘If you don’t remember, that’s fine'”
The situation hadn’t necessarily improved.
Still, Shion didn’t lose his composure.
“‘Soon, you’ll remember whether you like it or not'”
“‘What…?'”
In response to the words brimming with an eerie confidence, the Black Dragon gave a puzzled look.
And while fully receiving that gaze, Shion bent down as if to touch the ground with his right hand, and deployed a magic circle at his palm.
Shion created a sword as if pulling it out from the golden glowing magic circle.
What Shion performed was weapon creation magic. It was the same magic he had used before when helping a girl who was being attacked by three villains.
However, the sword he created this time was not a katana like before, but a long sword with a blue hilt and a pure white double-edged blade.
And the most notable feature was the golden guard and the red mark engraved on it, modeled after a “three-horned dragon”.
The right horn represents “power”, the left horn “courage”, and the center horn “hope” – a symbol meaning warrior in the dragon-human tribe.
“‘T-That sword…!'”
Seeing the sword gripped in Shion’s right hand, the Black Dragon was clearly shaken.
Because the Black Dragon strongly recognized that sword.
“‘The dragon-slaying sword Balmung…!!'”
The Black Dragon was certain of the sword’s identity and involuntarily uttered its name.
It was the beloved sword “Dragon-slaying Sword Balmung” once wielded by Siegfried. A faithful replica of one of the most renowned swords in history, forged by a dwarf master craftsman said to be the pinnacle of weapon artisans at the time, using adamantite ore boasting the world’s highest strength.
Shion had perfectly recreated the great hero’s beloved sword through weapon creation magic.
The “Dragon-slaying Sword Balmung” was one of the swords Shion had repeatedly created when he was playing around recreating various famous swords after becoming able to use weapon creation magic.
Although it was in the past, it wasn’t from his childhood, but just a year ago. While it’s a bit embarrassing that he was earnestly creating swords for make-believe play, this time his experience based on his strange hobby proved useful.
Now in a “Trance Zone” state with extraordinary concentration, the reproduction was of the highest quality ever.
… However, no matter how perfectly the appearance was replicated, it was only the exterior.
The quality as a sword was completely different from the real “Dragon-slaying Sword Balmung” made of adamantite ore boasting the world’s highest strength.
The sword gripped in Shion’s right hand was so fragile it would easily break if struck against a rock.
… However.
“‘You…!! Who on earth are you…!!'”
That appearance alone was enough to deceive Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Extinction.
Faced with a sword that perfectly imitated the real thing, the Black Dragon showed no sign of suspecting it might be a fake.
For the Black Dragon, what was gripped in Shion’s right hand was unmistakably the very sword that had cut him down numerous times in the past, impossible to forget.
The Black Dragon’s voice grew rough at the sudden appearance of this fateful object.
To such a fierce inquiry mixed with intense spirit, Shion answered with his usual composed expression.
“‘Don’t play dumb, Blackie. … You should already know who I am'”
… Having the same eye glow as that person, using the same way of addressing the Black Dragon of Extinction as that person, speaking the same language as that person, and gripping the exact same sword as that person.
With all these elements in place, the answer was almost certainly limited.
Filled with ample composure, Shion baited the Black Dragon.
“‘…!! Answer me…!! Who on earth are you…!!'”
Still, the Black Dragon of Extinction paid no heed to Shion’s words and repeated his question.
Yes, for now, there was still a lack of decisive proof.
Even if he had the same eye color glow as the great hero, the same way of addressing the Black Dragon of Extinction, the same language, and even the same beloved sword, there was still a possibility that he could be “a relative of Siegfried”.
It would be easy for Shion to declare “I am Siegfried” here.
Not naming himself and evading like this now risks easily being killed by the enraged Black Dragon.
However, Shion still doesn’t declare himself to be Siegfried.
If he voluntarily names himself while the other is trying to figure out his identity, there will always be lingering doubt in the other’s mind.
To make the other completely believe that he is Siegfried, he needs to let the Black Dragon of Extinction reach that conclusion on its own.
That’s why Shion deliberately doesn’t name himself in response to the Black Dragon’s question, but instead gives the other the final piece of information that will be the decisive factor.
“‘Have you become senile after not meeting for 400 years? Blackie'”
“‘…!!'”
Hearing these words, the Black Dragon’s expression distorted greatly for a moment.
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