Author: Himezaki Shiu	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Jiro	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

As for the eruption, it was under control for now, with both Lullus and the Spirit of Fire keeping it in check. I figured we could decide later whether to let it erupt or not. For the time being, I decided to stay in Rubel for a while.

The best way for the Spirit of Fire to recover was to remain near a source of fire, making the volcanic region the ideal place.

Thinking back, I realized that each spirit had been imprisoned in a location that matched their elemental attributes. It made me wonder—perhaps this was done deliberately to aid in their recovery.

If Lullus had been trapped in darkness, or if the Spirit of Wind had been sealed underground, they might have already faded away by now.

“It looks very weak.”
“It should be fine now. It’s recovering little by little,” Lullus replied.
“We probably won’t be able to talk with it, right? And even if we could, I doubt there’s much to discuss.”
“Once it recovers enough to speak, we can send it back to God. If you prefer not to speak with it, we can return it without a word, Master Finis.”
“Let’s go with that. You’re more than enough of a companion for this journey, Lullus.”
“That’s an honor.”

I had always been somewhat of a loner, and even after becoming a Demigod, I still preferred to travel with as few companions as possible—but I kept that thought to myself.

I didn’t mind having Lullus around. She never made me uncomfortable. But if someone else were to join us, I knew it would unsettle me, and it would take a long time before I could adjust to their presence.

“Since we’ve got some free time now, how about we go talk to the Ancient Dragon? He seems like he’s lived a long life—he might have some interesting stories.”
“Listening to his stories is fine and all, but hasn’t he been locked up here this whole time?”
“Now that you mention it… But hey, maybe the story of how he ended up here is worth hearing. Also, I’ve been wondering—Lullus, could you defeat the Ancient Dragon?”

The Ancient Dragon was undoubtedly among the strongest beings in this world. He was close to reaching the max stat cap, though it was likely that he had been created in a way that made it impossible for him to ever actually hit it.

After all, if everyone started maxing out their stats, this world would start feeling like a game.

Besides, those max stats—999—were already absurd, stacked on layer after layer of loopholes. As for me, I was practically a glitch in the system. Actually, calling me a bug was selling it short. With four-digit stats, I was firmly in the realm of cheats. But that’s also what made my job easier.

“The whole area would probably get scorched before anything was settled, but in my current state, I doubt I’d lose. Whether I win or not depends entirely on the win conditions.”
“From what I saw, I thought you were only slightly outmatched, but I guess that’s not the case,” I said.

That assumption had been based entirely on what I’d heard from Lullus. I figured her average stats were somewhere around 500.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience too, you know. It’s like I’m training every day.”
“I see. Come to think of it, you’re constantly managing the world’s balance, right? And now I’ve even asked you to hold back a volcanic eruption. Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I always keep a reserve of power for emergencies, so it’s unlikely I’ll run dry.”
“Good to know. I’d be pretty sad if you vanished after all this, Lullus.”

I would be left with no one to talk to. Unlike when we first arrived, the journey back felt far more relaxed.

◇◇◇

“So, why were you trapped in this place, Mister Ancient Dragon?”
“Because I was defeated by a human child who called himself a hero.”
“Ah… So this is where the heroes come in. Well, I guess it was inevitable. So, what was this hero like?”
“I wonder. I remember being told to capture the spirit, place it here, and keep watch over it…” the Ancient Dragon replied.

When I returned to speak with the Ancient Dragon and asked about his past, he shared what he remembered of the hero he once encountered. He wasn’t holding anything back—he was openly telling me everything.

(Where are my hidden story flags when I need them?!)

Even if he had been weaker back then, no one but a hero could have possibly defeated an Ancient Dragon. And if the one who did it hadn’t been human, it simply wouldn’t have been possible.

I couldn’t imagine anyone else capable of continuing to bind a creature like this with magic even after death. That was the kind of thing only a hero could pull off. That’s the conclusion I arrived at.

“Did that hero say anything?”
“I think he said I’d be freed once the spirit was released. Something like that. He claimed it wouldn’t take long, but… here we are.”

If his account was true, then the hero had never intended for the spirits to remain imprisoned forever. It was meant to be a temporary solution. Maybe something happened—some unforeseen problem that required the spirits to be sealed. But once that was done, humans likely became obsessed with the spirits’ power and refused to let them go.

Of course, that was just speculation on my part—but it made for an interesting theory.

That said, this revelation raised another potential issue. I wasn’t especially worried, but it seemed worth confirming.

“By the way, now that the spirit’s been released… you’re no longer bound, right?”
“What? Ooooo!!!! That cursed bond is gone!”
“Glad to hear it. So, what do you plan to do now, Mister Ancient Dragon?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to wipe out all the humans… is what I would like to say. But I’ve decided to follow you instead. The world is going to collapse soon anyway. There’s no point in killing them. I’m content to sit back and watch them destroy themselves¹.”

For a moment, I thought this might become troublesome, but he turned out to be surprisingly rational. His approach to revenge even felt oddly familiar. Killing people who had no idea the world was ending might, in a twisted way, be considered an act of mercy.

And even if he waited until the last moment to strike, that too would still be a kind of mercy. That was likely why he had decided to leave it all alone. I didn’t dislike that.

“In that case, while there may not be much time left, you’re free to live however you want². I only have one order for you: do not touch or kill the heroes of this generation. If it matters, they have nothing to do with the hero who imprisoned you.”
“Understood. But why?”
“Because they’re the target of my revenge. They’re doing a good job destroying themselves, and if that gets disrupted, it’ll ruin everything.”
“Oh! I will remember that!”
“Please do. Now then, Lullus, let’s head back to the capital.”
“Let’s, Master Finis.”

With that, I called out to Lullus, and we left the Ancient Dragon’s lair.

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