me, she made a contract by kissing and exchanging magical power through blood.

Moreover, since she had not yet made a formal contract, the effects would not last long, especially for beings who had a clear ego like humans and had low relations with spirits. The only thing that can be used by forming contracts with humans was telepathy which conveyed one's will to the other party.

(And I don't know how strong Tiamat's illusion is. I'll try to increase the power of telepathy with magical powers, but the probability of breaking through the illusion with just our calls is.. Sorry to say this but I think it's low.)

(I see....)

It was a fact. According to Nozomu's story, dreams seem to have been the main means of interference, but this time, Tiamat probably entrapped Nozomu in illusions by taking advantage of the release of ability suppression. Since the opponent was a legendary creature, they didn't know how much they could interfere with Tiamat's illusion. That was almost impossible. Even so...

"But, if it's him, I think he can do it. I believe him"

Clearly speaking so, Irisdina looked straight at Nozomu. Probably Tiamat hadn't been able to interfere with Nozomu. That was why Tiamat resorted to interfering in a vague way by using illusions.

From Nozomu's behavior, he seemed to hesitate to swing his katana seriously. If they were able to call out to him and disturb the illusion from inside and outside... maybe it's possible...

After exchanging words and confirming each other's intentions, they began to act to fulfill their respective roles.

"...Alright, then, we'll go as we planned"

"I understand."

In front of their eyes, Nozomu, Mars, and Feo fought as their weapons intertwined. Irisdina took a step towards the battlefield.

"Mars-kun, Feo-kun, leave the rest to us."

"Wha~! Are you serious!?"

"Yes, we are serious"

Mars, who was confronting Nozomu, let out a surprised voice.

Irisdina pulled the rapier on her waist and spread magic power throughout her body. Align the tip of the rapier with her eyes and stare at Nozomu's eyes from the front.

"~!!"

As Nozomu and Irisdina's eyes crossed, Nozomu clutched his head in pain.

"~! Back off! Better leave this to the two of us!"

"... Alright! Irisdina, I'll leave Nozomu to you!!"

Nozomu showed more agitated behavior than before. After seeing the situation, Mars and Feo immediately decided to entrust Nozomu to Irisdina and Shīna. They temporarily retreated and joined Tima and the others.

The moment she saw Nozomu holding his head and groaning, Irisdina immediately took advantage of her immediate deployment and moved straight toward Nozomu, while enveloping her own body with strengthening magic. Shīna was a few steps behind Irisdina waiting for her opportunity to come.

(As I thought, Nozomu hasn't been completely swallowed yet!”

With those words in her heart, Irisdina launched a piercing strike at Nozomu.

"Sei!"

Nozomu swung his katana while holding his aching head towards the approaching rapier. The attack was parried by Nozomu's katana. He counterattacked with a reverse slash. Despite using only one hand, the slash was still able to approach Irisdina's torse with enough force to bisect her.

However, just before the katana reached her body, Nozomu's face stiffened and the slash was clearly shaken.

In the meantime, Irisdina lowered her posture and dodged Nozomu's attack.

"Haa~!"

Nozomu's slash passed over her head. It cut and scattered some of Irisdina's hair. She bounced her knees like a spring and pushed forward towards Nozomu with a jump. Nozomu took a step back, twisted his body, and swung his katana. A high-pitched metallic sound resounded once more. Two people collided with each other while scattering sparks and rebounding in the opposite direction.

Nozomu was the one who regained his posture first.

"~!!"

In an attempt to counterattack, Nozomu shot his katana at Irisdina. However, just before his slash hit her body, the speed of his katana slowed down.

"Seyaa!"

Irisdina placed her rapier between Nozomu's katana and her own body and parried Nozomu's attack. Obviously, Nozomu's attacks weren't strong, and Irisdina could sense his hesitation through his attacks. Although Nozomu outperformed her physical strength and swordsmanship, every time Irisdina was in a dire situation, Nozomu's attacks always dulled before reaching her body.

"Ha, hah, hah..."

However, Irisdina was also exhausted. Even if she knew that his attacks would be dulled just like before, it couldn't be helped if she still felt extremely tense.

Following the number of slashes she parried, a large amount of sweat trickled down Irisdina's forehead.? It showed how severe her current situation is.

(I don't want to give up....!)

Even so, she didn't want to give up. Irisdina didn't have the slightest intention of giving up on Nozomu. What returned to her mind was the bright smile Nozomu showed when he tried to confess his thoughts.

At that moment, she finally felt that she could communicate with him. Nozomu was swaying between his desire to be accepted and his anxiety that he might be rejected.

(Once again, with everyone...)

Nozomu was about to confess his thoughts and feelings again. However, Tiamat was using Nozomu's feelings for its own advantage. That's why Irisdina couldn't forgive Tiamat.

"Nozomu! Can you hear me!"

(I have to get him back no matter what!)

With such determination, Irisdina raised her voice and called out Nozomu's name.

"Is this what you had been hiding from us? I see, it's certainly powerful! In front of this power, our strength may look inferior to that of a puppy!"

Irisdina, who stepped forward, thrust her rapier as she charged at Nozomu with her feelings.

"But, you are... kuh~"

However, her rapier was easily blocked by Nozomu's katana, and an immediate counterattack was approached her body. As expected, Nozomu's movement lacked its brilliance just before it reached Irisdina, and Irisdina managed to block it with her rapier. Their weapons were interlocked with each other. The two of them were so close that they could feel each other's breath. Irisdina's jet-black eyes projected inside Nozomu's crimson eyes. Nozomu's eyes trembled.

"Nozomu!!"

"~!!"

The voice of his friend calling his name echoed right in front of him. Even if the current him couldn't hear her voice, at that moment, Nozomu stepped back, perhaps because her words shook his heart.

"Now!"

Shīna's voice echoed behind Irisdina.

She ran straight at Nozomu with all her might.

Shīna moved and leaped at Nozomu. Nozomu tried to confront Shīna, who leaped at him, but Irisdina put more power into her weapon and blocked Nozomu's movement.

"Uuu...."

Nozomu, whose heart was still in shock, couldn't push Irisdina back.

Shīna jumped towards Nozomu's neck and pressed her lips against Nozomu's lips.

"Nn~!"

"~!!"

"U~..."

Nozomu's eyes widened in amazement. Shīna's aim was to use a simple contract to send Irisdina's voice straight to Nozomu's heart.

She didn't know how far Tiamat's illusions affected him, but since he was hesitant to swing his katana at his friends, she decided that Nozomu's heart hadn't been swallowed by Tiamat yet.

The problem was whether Shīna, who would act as the medium, could make a simple contract with Nozomu this time...

"Haaa!?"

"Ehh!?"

"A-ara..."

"Shi-Shīna-kun! What are you doing...!"

The others who were not informed of anything were taken aback by the scene that suddenly unfolded before them. It made sense that they would be surprised if such a kissing scene at such a time was shown in front of them, and of course, she did this for some reason....

"The simple contract is a success! Now he can hear your words through me! Tiamat's influence is so strong that I can't keep it for long! So hurry up... kyaa!!"

"Kuh~!"

The moment Shīna released her lips and spoke to Irisdina, she was released from Nozomu's body due to an explosion. Shīna and Irisdina were blown away by the Qi released from Nozomu's body, but they managed to kill the momentum by rolling on the ground and immediately stood up.

On the other hand, the appearance of Nozomu who had blown up the two of them had clearly changed. He swayed while holding his head, and his eyes were out of focus. Every time his eyes blinked, his eyes were switched back and forth from crimson to black.

Not much time left. According to Shīna's words, the time for her to send telepathy to Nozomu was limited.

"I....!"

Irisdina desperately racked her thoughts for words.

(What should I say? Something that could bring him back?)

Nozomu who staggered in front of her tried to wield his katana again, but in such an emergency, Irisdina's head went blank and no words came out. Nozomu's eyes were directed at Irisdina. His gaze, which had turned back and forth between crimson to black, began to emit bloodlust once again.

"I...!!"

Still, her mind was blank and nothing come to mind.

(I don't have much time!)

"I want you to be by my side"

(I have to tell him anyway!)

The words she spoke were her true feelings and desires.

"I want to protect your back! I also want you to protect mine!!"

It was the scene she had hoped for. She wanted to protect his back and she wanted him to protect her back. Back-to-back protecting each other. But as soon as she put her wish into words, her feeling suddenly swelled up rapidly.

*Ba-dump, ba-dump*

Her heartbeat inside her chest suddenly could be heard, and the words that escaped from her lips were her true feelings.

"That's why...."

The pain running through Nozomu's head reached its climax, and with a *Snap!* sound, cracks appeared in his burning field of vision.

"~ ... U-a~, ~!"

"Please come back! Stay by our side!!"

"U-uu... oooo!"

Nozomu moved towards Irisdina as he couldn't stand the pain. Nozomu rushed at Irisdina with Qi enveloping his entire body while holding a katana in his right hand.

"Nozomu!!"

Nozomu rushed over and tried to slash Irisdina. The moment Irisdina shouted Nozomu's name, cracks appeared on the humanoid shadow reflected in front of him, and parts of the shadow's body peeled off. Jet-black eyes peeked through the peeled gap.

"~!!"

The moment he received her gaze,? Irisdina's figure appeared in Nozomu's mind.

Her jet-black hair swayed down her back, her white skin was like fresh snow, and her dignified, jewel-like eyes called out to Nozomu to "come back."

(Then, these humanoid shadows are...)

Nozomu noticed who he was pointing his katana at now. The next moment, the sound of water droplets falling on the surface of the water echoed in his head, and countless cracks ran through the burning Arcazam. Cracks that spread rapidly filled Nozomu's field of vision like ripples and the burning Arcazam in his vision was destroyed with a cracking sound. The next moment, what appeared in Nozomu's eyes was the sight of his katana approaching Irisdina's neck.

"This is bad....!"

Nozomu hastily reactivated his ability suppression on his body. Invisible chains entangle Nozomu's body, trapping Tiamat's power and trying to contain its power back. However, as his Ability Suppression shut down Nozomu's power, his body, which had already moved, cannot be stopped halfway. Following the momentum of inertia, Nozomu's body moved forward, and his blade tried to steal Irisdina's life by slashing her neck.

"Aaaaaaaa!"

Nozomu stretched out his left hand. He tried to prevent his slash by catching it with his own hands. However, his hand only caught empty air.

"Nozomu-kun! Irisdina-san!!"

Shīna's scream resounded.

In the end, Nozomu couldn't stop the momentum of his body, and the two bodies collided and were thrown to the ground.

===============================

In her faint consciousness, Irisdina woke up due to the weight on her entire body and the sensation of something warm hitting her cheeks.

Perhaps she hit her head while being pushed down by Nozomu, her vision was blurry and unclear.

"U-umm......"

Her eyes opened as she groaned. What her eyes saw was blood dripping from Nozomu's blood-soaked face. Nozomu's body was on top of Irisdina's body. And Nozomu's katana stuck in the ground right beside Irisdina's neck. Nozomu's thrust katana pierced his own left arm, thanks to that, his katana was deviated and did not penetrate Irisdina's body.

"Uuu...."

"No-zomu..."

His face was right in front of her. His eyes were no longer dyed crimson. It was his usual normal face. However, his eyes were shaking irregularly, and his left arm that was pierced by his own katana also quivered.

"I ... I ..."

"Nozomu ..."

Realizing what he was about to do now, Nozomu's expression turned blue.

Nozomu, who was facing Irisdina up close, gradually became more aware, and the voice calling his name gradually became clearer.

"I... to everyone ... this time..."

Nozomu was frightened by the fear that his own power would be running wild and hurt his friends. The feelings of anxiety that struck him now were immeasurable. In fact, his body was trembling like never before, and his complexion was so bad that his face looked like a dead person.

Facing such Nozomu, Irisdina was .....

"Nozomu!!"

"I, I-ris..."

She shouted his name and snuggled against his chest.

"Are you okay!? Do you understand us!?"

Irisdina leaped up, put her hand on Nozomu's shoulder which was covered in blood, and looked straight into his eyes while keeping the body in close contact without worrying that her whole body was wet with blood. She was just worried about Nozomu.

"Iris ... I am..."

Suddenly being hugged, Nozomu was shocked and forgot the anxieties that were starting to arise in his heart.

"I thought you were going to leave me. I was so scared you wouldn't come back to us again..."

The anxiety and relief that came out of Irisdina's mouth echoed in Nozomu's ears. Perhaps she was relieved that Nozomu's consciousness had returned, her body leaning against Nozomu as if she had lost her strength.

Tears continued to flow from her eyes, fell onto Nozomu's bright red clothes, and soaked his shoulders with a different warmth from the blood that was pouring out.

"But you came back to us. I'm glad. I'm really glad..."

"Iris..."

Her voice wasn't loud at all. But Nozomu couldn't say anything and felt her weight on his shoulders. Irisdina always showed her dignified appearance and had always been many people's goal. She is a noble girl who always walks in front without being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the household she was born into. But now, the girl who was crying in front of Nozomu didn't have that kind of nobility. But the current Nozomu was taken aback by the appearance she showed him.

"Nozomu-kun !!"

"Shīna ..."

Nozomu had just received Irisdina crying in his chest, but then he turned his gaze towards the voice calling his name, he could see Shīna rushing towards them. She came to Nozomu and Irisdina's side, knelt down, put her hands on Nozomu's cheek, and looked straight at his face like Irisdina did.

"Are you alright!? Is your consciousness clear!?"

Shīna anxiously waved her hand in front of Nozomu and touched his body to see the wound. She stroked Nozomu's body without stopping with her thin white hands. When Nozomu saw her face, there was blood all over her. Irisdina's body that was hugging him was also dyed bright red.

"Everyone ... is injured ..."

"I'm not. This is your blood."

Nozomu muttered in shock because he thought he had hurt them. A sense of regret and remorse welled up in his chest.

However, Shīna held Nozomu's face in her hands and turned his gaze towards her, and she spoke so straight in front of his face.

"You didn't hurt anyone. You were caught in the illusion created by Tiamat, but your attacks never reached us even once."

"Didn't... reach?"

She nodded slowly but clearly, to Nozomu, who listened back to Shīna with a surprised expression.

"Yes. You protected us from Tiamat. The proof is that everyone here is still able to stand on their feet, right?"

Nozomu's eyes are directed toward Mars and the others who can be seen behind Shīna. Although all of their appearance walking towards him seemed to be tired, everyone was still able to walk firmly.

Nozomu's eyes were directed at Mars and the others who could be seen behind Shīna. Even though all their appearances were walking towards him looking tired, everyone was still able to walk steadily.

"Everyone... are they safe?"

"Yes, everyone is alright. We're alive and here by your side."

"I'm glad. Everyone is alive ..."

When he found out that everyone was still alive, Nozomu smiled in relief. However, his smile soon became cloudy.

"... But I was"

Nozomu was still concerned that, for whatever reason, he pointed his blade toward Irisdina and the others. For Nozomu, who was most afraid to hurt his friends with his own hands, it was enough to remind him that his anxiety would become a reality if he wasn't careful.

Shīna put her hands on Nozomu's shivering cheek and turned his face towards her.

"You didn't hurt us when you were controlled by Tiamat's illusion. You might have pointed your weapon at us, but you were unknowingly still resisting being manipulated. So please. Don't blame yourself so much ..."

Perhaps Irisdina had the same feelings as Shīna, she nodded with her face still buried in Nozomu's chest. When Nozomu turned to Shīna, she was staring straight at Nozomu. Her eyes stared at him as if telling him that her words were sincere. However, Nozomu's expression was still not good.

"But I... I was..."

Even after hearing Shīna's words, Nozomu couldn't keep looking straight at her eyes. Although the worst situation did not occur, the fact that he pointed his weapon at Irisdina and the others could not be cast aside, and it remained as a wedge in the depth of Nozomu's chest.

"Nozomu! Are you okay!?"

"Nozomu-sa~n! Ane-sama~! Are you two alright?!"

"Norn~! Hurry, treat Nozomu's injuries~!!"

"I know! I know, so please don't pull me so hard!"

Although Mars and the others came surrounding Nozomu and Irisdina, Nozomu still looked down and can't raise his face.

"Nozomu-kun, let me see your injuries ..."

"~ ..."

"a ...."

Anri reached out for him and tried to heal Nozomu's wounds, but Nozomu reflexively stepped back. The indescribable silence filled the place.

Nozomu put his right hand on Irisdina's shoulder and gently tried to release the hug. It was like dealing with treasures that he shouldn't touch.

However, Irisdina did not let go of Nozomu's body but instead stared at Nozomu with her eyes filled with tears. Nozomu tried to pull her apart several times, but each time he did, Irisdina's eyes glared at him.

Even so, he still tried to pull Irisdina apart. He couldn't even turn his face towards Irisdina, who was glaring at him, and he just kept silent.

"Hey, Nozomu. Are we ..."

Mars couldn't stand to see Nozomu's painful behavior and tried to call him out. However, at that moment, a pure white light wrapped around the area.

======================================

"... I see, the worst-case scenario didn't happen. However, no matter how much the elf helped, it was almost impossible to break through Tiamat's interference in such a short amount of time."

The voice of someone wearing a hood resounded in the darkness.

The complex and mysterious magic formations still shone under his feet, and the ball of light floating in the air reflected the figures of Irisdina and Shīna embracing Nozomu.

"But that doesn't make sense. In his current state, Tiamat's resurrection is only a matter of time."

Within the projected ball of light, Nozomu dyed his face dark blue and trembled. Obviously, he was mentally unstable as he blamed himself for what happened.

"Then, do I need to make another move? Originally, this move is to counter Tiamat, but let's use this to test the vessel instead."

The hooded person touched the magic formations under his feet. A number of complex and mysterious magic formations disappeared one by one, and every time the magic formations disappeared, they began to be drawn under the corpse of the Undead Dragon that was projected in a ball of light.

Eventually, when all the magic formations under the hooded person disappeared, the magic formations surrounding the Undead Dragon shone all at once.

"Well then, the current you can't beat this guy without Tiamat's power. Will you fight this guy without using Tiamat's power? Or will you be swallowed up by Tiamat? Or will you stand up once again ..."

As the magic formation surrounding the Undead Dragon shone all at once, the dragon's body collapsed like a sand sculpture blown by the wind. Amputated legs and tail, severed neck, slashed torso and protruding internal organs. Everything disappeared and became grains of sand, leaving only a ball of white light shining in its place.

Only the soul of the Undead Dragon, in the form of a ball with a light that glittered like the flame of a candle, was left behind.

The magic formations moved again.

The surrounding magic formations gathered and merged together. The magic formations overlayed each other and began to emit particles of light. Eventually,? the particles of light gathered together, and contrary to the previous state, a colossal statue was created with the soul of the Undead Dragon as its core.

The hard surface of the statue glowed in white. A body made of metal, not a biological one. On its back, its wings were not like those of dragon's wings, but bird's wings, its feathers are like a bunch of swords made by a master craftsman. Its neck was also covered with metal in white color like the torso, and its eyeballs glowed blue like the blue sky.

"Kiiyaaaa!"

A Metal Dragon that imitated the appearance of the Undead Dragon made its first scream. The roar was like the sound of metal rubbing against each other.

"... Probably this will be an omen. The rest depends on your choice. Choose your favorite one."

The Metal Dragon spread its wings on its back and its eyes locked on the target. Beyond its line of sight was Nozomu. Once again, the Metal Dragon roared and flew into the sky.