“‘400 years…!? You, indeed…!!'”
The phrase “400 years”, which precisely represents the time from when Siegfried sealed him until now, turned the doubt in the Black Dragon of Extinction’s mind into certainty. … However.
“‘No, that’s impossible…!! It’s been 400 years after all!! He should have long since died of old age!! There’s no way he could be here!!'”
The Black Annihilation Dragon strongly denied the possibility he had arrived at.
Yes, it was because his suspicion had turned into certainty that this reality was too unbelievable for the Black Annihilation Dragon.
If the man before him was indeed Sieg Fried, he would have far surpassed the average lifespan of about 150 years for a half-demi, a hybrid of dragon-folk and human.
There was no precedent of a half-demi of dragon-folk and human living for 400 years. In fact, even that great hero didn’t exceed the average figure and no longer exists in this world.
The Black Annihilation Dragon continued speaking.
“Besides, you look and smell completely different from that man!! There’s no way you could be him!!”
The Black Annihilation Dragon raised his voice as if to strongly push away the reality before him.
This fact that the Black Annihilation Dragon had just pointed out was the biggest obstacle for Sion in deceiving Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End.
To avoid creating contradictions in the setting that he was Sieg Fried, Sion had to make the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End accept the reason why he was standing here after more than 400 years, and why his appearance and smell were different.
This exchange was the crucial moment.
It wouldn’t be impossible for Sion to fabricate a lie based on the knowledge from literature about Sieg Fried that he had devoured in the past, saying that “Sieg Fried could use immortality magic or transformation magic” while making it consistent.
However, if he were to give even a slightly unreasonable explanation and raise suspicion from someone who knew the real Sieg Fried, it would certainly be impossible to make them completely believe Sion’s act in the future.
Doubt would surely continue to remain.
Moreover, even if he managed to string together some makeshift lies that might work, such half-baked smooth talking probably wouldn’t be effective.
Sion had to come up with an absolute optimal solution at this crucial moment.
–Facing the Black Annihilation Dragon who seemed terribly excited, Sion showed no sign of being shaken. He took a breath and opened his mouth as if muttering.
“I shouldn’t be here… huh…”
Saying that, Sion looked straight into the Black Annihilation Dragon’s eyes.
“–Then, why am I here?”
“–…Huh?”
Faced with this sudden, unexpected question, the Black Annihilation Dragon let out a confused voice.
“…Hey, Blackie. Do you think it’s all a coincidence?”
“What… are you… talking about…”
–The dragon had no idea what the man in front of him was trying to say. However, for some reason, an inexplicable sense of unease welled up inside the Black Annihilation Dragon.
An indescribable, eerie anxiety, a sense of impatience, ran through the Black Annihilation Dragon’s entire body as if clinging to him.
“The fact that your seal was broken after 400 years”
“The fact that you appeared at this academy”
“And”
“The fact that I’m standing here in front of you now”
“–Do you think it’s all just a coincidence?”
“…!?”
In that instant, a fear so intense it took his breath away assaulted the Black Annihilation Dragon.
“…What… are you saying…? What on earth are you…”
Enveloped in a mysterious sense of fear but unable to understand what the man was trying to say, the Black Annihilation Dragon asked back.
But immediately after, the Black Annihilation Dragon realized what the man meant to say.
“No way… you…!?”
“…Yeah”
Sion smiled faintly and responded smugly.
“I knew everything, all of it”
“!!”
“I knew that your seal would be broken after 400 years. I knew that you, with your keen sense of smell, would catch the scent of my descendant in this era and come here. I knew everything from the beginning”
To the Black Annihilation Dragon who seemed to have lost his words due to the overwhelming shock, Sion continued speaking.
“That’s why I’ve been waiting for you like this”
“Like this, you say…!? Surely you’re not going to say something as ridiculous as you’ve reincarnated…!?”
The Black Annihilation Dragon asked back, looking extremely flustered.
“That’s exactly it, Blackie. At the same time as the death of Sieg Fried’s previous body, I transferred my soul to a new body 400 years later”
Facing the Black Annihilation Dragon whose expression had changed due to surprise, Sion declared confidently as ever.
…From start to finish, everything was a lie.
He hadn’t known that the Black Annihilation Dragon would come here, let alone that Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End, had been sealed until just a moment ago.
Nevertheless, he declared it with such confidence that he didn’t give even the slightest hint of such facts.
It was truly a magnificent bluff.
“Th-That’s…!! How could such a ridiculous story be true…!! I’ve never heard of such magic!! It’s impossible!! Indeed, it can’t be…!! You should know better than to spout such nonsense…!!”
Even the formidable Black Annihilation Dragon seemed to lose his composure at the big lie Sion had finally uttered.
Sion had been careful to choose his words so as not to expose his lies to the other party, but that big lie was far too implausible.
Reincarnation magic was something even dragons who had lived for thousands of years had never heard of.
If anything, immortality magic or transformation magic would have seemed far more realistic.
The Black Annihilation Dragon shouted, showing intense agitation and strongly denying it.
To make such an opponent believe in the nonsense that “I used reincarnation magic”, a proper explanation with grounds would be essential.
“Impossible…? Nonsense…? Heh heh heh…”
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However, Sion didn’t line up words to explain. Instead, he muttered, repeating the Black Annihilation Dragon’s words, and chuckled slightly, his shoulders shaking.
“Hahaha, HAHAHAHAHA!!”
And this time, as if he couldn’t hold it back any longer, he let out a loud laugh, covering his eyes with his left hand.
“Wh-What’s so funny!?”
Faced with this sight that was so out of place in the situation, the Black Annihilation Dragon, unable to understand the man’s behavior, raised his voice in anger. But even that didn’t matter to Sion, who continued to laugh loudly.
And after laughing for a while, he finally seemed to calm down, let out a breath, and turned back to face the Black Annihilation Dragon.
“Haa… Hey, Blackie…”
“—-“
In an instant, all traces of a smile disappeared from his face, and in a voice devoid of intonation, like a lake without a single wave, he asked the Black Annihilation Dragon.
“Do you really think it’s impossible? For me?”
“…!!”
–In this situation where grounds sufficient to convince the Black Annihilation Dragon were necessary, Sion chose to force his way through this time.
It was an excessively forceful claim that threw logic to the wind.
No need for silly logic or grounds.
Because he was Sieg Fried, because he was the only SSS-class in history, there was nothing impossible for him – a firm self-confidence.
“Th-That’s… absurd…”
An overwhelming confidence and spirit that would be impossible for anyone other than the person himself.
Normally, the best strategy would have been to skillfully string together lies that would convince the other party.
However, at that moment, he truly believed he was Sieg Fried.
For him, who had convinced himself that he was Sieg Fried, there was no need for silly lies or bluffs.
…And finally.
“No… I see. That’s right…”
After remaining silent for a short while, the Black Annihilation Dragon, in stark contrast to earlier, quietly opened his mouth as if resigned.
“You could probably do that much…”
Facing Sion, who was staring at the Black Annihilation Dragon with his eyes glowing golden, the Black Annihilation Dragon also looked straight into Sion’s eyes and addressed him.
“–Sieg Fried”
Finally, for the first time that day, Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End, uttered that name.
It was the moment when the Black Annihilation Dragon acknowledged that “the person before him was indeed the reincarnation of Sieg Fried.”
Sion’s spirit, which was so reminiscent of the real great hero, had completely deceived Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End.
No, it wasn’t just his spirit. The choice of lies, bluffs, traps, provocation, negotiation. Timing and pauses. He skillfully utilized all of these to successfully deceive Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End.
Against the world’s strongest dragon, merely making him think you’re strong wouldn’t intimidate him at all.
…However, if he thought you were Sieg Fried.
If he thought you were the only person who could defeat the black dragon, the situation would greatly tilt in Sion’s favor.
Sion was confident that if he continued this verbal exchange skillfully, he could buy time until rescue arrived and save Alphonse.
…But this thought of his was about to change greatly in the next instant.
“It’s been a while… hasn’t it? Indeed, it’s been a long time…”
The Black Annihilation Dragon, who had completely calmed down from his earlier flustered state, spoke quietly, in a somewhat nostalgic tone.
“…I’ve missed you, Sieg Fried… To think I’d be able to meet you again, I never wished for such a miracle…”
After saying that, the Black Annihilation Dragon, who should have been at least ten meters away, appeared in front of Sion in an instant.
The sudden gust of wind accompanying this movement violently fluttered Sion’s hair and uniform. The large shadow cast by the Black Annihilation Dragon covered Sion’s entire body before him.
“Because,” –the Black Annihilation Dragon continued, bringing his face close to Sion’s eyes.
“For 400 years, I’ve thought of nothing but exacting my revenge on you…!!”
…Schwarzwaldius, the Black Annihilation Dragon of the End, was smiling a distorted smile, looking genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
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