The Deeds Of An Extremely Arrogant Villain Aristocrat - Chapter 45: I Don't Want to Hurt Anymore

The dragon, covered in scales as strong as armor, with teeth and claws that could easily cut through steel, and wings that could soar through the sky.

They possessed various special abilities, such as breath attacks, and even magic was within their control. Truly, they were considered the “strongest” race in this world. They were the dragons.

Dragons, for the most part, did not live in groups, and rarely took care of their young.

After one or two years, they would be pushed out of the nest, and some species even laid their eggs in random places and abandoned them.

The ice dragon knew nothing about his parents, nor did he care. Having been born in this world for around two hundred years, he had lived without ever doubting that he was the strongest.

Everything in his environment proved this fact. He did whatever he pleased, killing any bothersome presence and collecting treasure that caught his eye. That’s how he had lived until now.

Eventually, there was no one left to oppose him. As the strongest race of dragons, and possessing the attribute magic of ice, there was no one who could rival the ice dragon.

But then, a turning point suddenly arrived.

He sensed a presence approaching and slowly opened his eyes. It was a human.

The feeling he held was intense disgust and irritation. This human had disturbed his sleep. Just for that, he deserved to die.

Thinking to quickly kill them, the ice dragon rose to its feet. But then, he heard the sound of a flute.

It was a magical tool called the “Flute of Domination,” developed independently by an organization that didn’t belong to any country.

Ice dragon’s body trembled slightly. He didn’t know the name of the feeling he was experiencing for the first time. He didn’t want to know.

It was an impossible danger, sensed by the dragon’s sensitive senses, far beyond what humans could imagine.

His mind darkened, and he felt a strange sensation as if a part of his thoughts was separating and receding. Finally, the ice dragon realized that he was feeling a clear sense of fear.

Now, his mind was about to be taken over.

It was impossible. There was no way a mere human could do such a thing.

“Gurgaaaaaaaa!!! You… you mere humaaaan!!”

Screaming in agony, he resisted, but no matter how hard he tried to resist, his consciousness was being invaded.

He had no time to launch an attack with his breath or magic. He had to focus all his energy on resisting, or he would be dominated in an instant.

Years of research and countless improvements had led to the “Flute of Domination” being able to control even the strongest of dragons.

“Amazing…it’s a success! The chief will be delighted with this!”

However, that control wasn’t complete.

They are like mosquitoes flying around you, an annoying and depressing pest.

To the Ice Dragon, humans were just insects.

For recognition, there was no difference between humans and insects in the eyes of the dragon.

However, because of irritation, he would kill them.

That was a sufficient reason.

All other species were inferior to him, and that was an unchangeable fact that would never change —or so he thought.

“ —<<Dark Slash>>”

“Gyaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

Here, his previous recognition was shattered to pieces. The intense pain they had never felt before reminded the Ice Dragon of “death” for the first time in his life.

” —<<Dual Dark Slash>>”

“Gyiiiiiiyaaaaaaa!!!”

Next, his arrogance that he was the strongest was obliterated, and a part of his heart broke.

Not anymore. I don’t want it anymore… Don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. 

He tried to cling onto life and let out a voice, but the sword swung faster than that.

To the Ice Dragon, who was filled with despair, the human in front of him looked like nothing but a demon. Time flowed terrifyingly slowly.

” —<<Triple Dark Slash>>”

“Gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!”

If the ice dragon had faced even stronger enemies and gained more resistance to ‘pain’, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

The pain inflicted by Luke was too intense for the ice dragon, who had never experienced such agony before.

It completely transformed everything about the dragon’s personality, way of thinking, and values, leading to a complete rebirth.

(I have to apologize. I have to apologize. I have to apologize. I have to apologize. I have to apologize. I have to apologize…)

The ice dragon made a decision. He would apologize. First, he would apologize for getting carried away. Then he would apologize repeatedly with all his might, hoping to be forgiven.

(Wait…)

Once again, merciless light gathered around the human’s sword in front of him. It grew bigger and more ominous.

(Oh, this is going to hurt even more… I see… Aaaaaahhhhhh! It’s too much, too much, I can’t take it anymore!!)

“Hahahaha! <<Quatro—>>”

“W-wait-wait! Please wait a moment!”

He unconsciously used polite language for the first time.

Even though he had never done it before, his body moved smoothly, surprising even himself.

As he confirmed that this was instinct, he lowered his head to the ground and curled up his limbs and tail as small as possible.

He felt the wind with his whole body. The sword had stopped.

If that pain didn’t come, then nothing else mattered.

Desperation was exactly what he felt.

“…What are you trying to do?”

“I-I-I fully… su-surrender…”

Bowing to humanity.

In the past, as an ice dragon, he would have twisted his face in unimaginable humiliation and squeezed out tears of blood.

But it was different now.

All he felt was bottomless relief that the attack had stopped and a slight sense of embarrassment at stumbling over his words.

Luke looked down at the pitiful trembling ice dragon in front of him and thought for a moment about what would benefit him more.

“What’s your name?”

“Y-yes…?“

“I’m asking if you have a name.”

“Y-yes, I do! I do!”

He wondered why he said it twice, but Luke didn’t touch on that matter.

“What is it?”

“I-I’m ‘King of the World’… my name is!”

“Huh?”

“Hiiee. I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was impudent to think that I, a lowly creature, could be the king of the world!”

“…”

“King of the World” —that was a name the ice dragon gave himself. It wasn’t necessary to have a name, and he had only come up with it as a pastime, but he had genuinely believed that he was worthy of being the king of the world, so he liked the name very much.

However, Luke didn’t know anything about that. He thought that the ice dragon was joking, and looked a bit suspicious.

Although his expression was hard to read, the ice dragon sensed with his keen perception that the human’s mood had turned sour. His body shook as if his heart had been squeezed.

This is bad. This is really bad.

The ice dragon’s thoughts raced at lightning speed.

“W-wait, wait… I-I’ll think of a name for myself…”

“…Hmm?”

He couldn’t think of a good name right away, but he decided to choose something humble if possible.

He thought he would give this splendid name of “King of the World” to this human. He would surely be pleased and understand the ice dragon’s respect for him.

With that in mind, the ice dragon was about to speak when—

“Kuku… I’ve got it. You shall become the mascot of my territory.”

“… Heh?”

Luke was thinking about how to repay the great debt he had received from his father.

He didn’t want to owe anyone, even if they were family.

So he came up with the idea of making the Ice Dragon the mascot of Gilbert’s territory, which would lead to even greater prosperity.

Surely many people would gather to see the rare elemental dragon, and it would bring enormous wealth.

“If you’re going to serve my territory for the rest of your life as my pawn, I’ll spare your life. You have to serve those humans you looked down on. It might be humiliating, but I’m generous enough to let you live, right? Kukuku…”

“I want to!! Please make me your pawn!!”

“…Eh?”

Luke thought the Ice Dragon would be humiliated and twisted its face in disgrace, but it was unexpectedly eager and even seemed to be enjoying the idea of becoming a pawn, which left Luke confused.

“…That’s right, I’ll extract the materials from you too. You dragons have incredible regenerative abilities, right? So I can take your claws, fangs, and scales regularly, can’t I? Kukuku, hahaha…”

“Of course! There is no greater joy than serving my master with my own body!”

“…”

Luke didn’t feel guilty, but he was aware that he had said something that ignored the dragon’s dignity.

And yet, in front of him, the ice dragon was still excited.

He couldn’t understand why..

“Well then, as a sign of my servitude…”

” —Wait… What are you doing?”

“Hiiee, I-I was thinking of cutting off my tail and presenting it… It’ll grow back soon anyway…”

“Not… necessary right now.”

“Y-Yes.”

“…”

Luke’s confusion deepened.

Just a moment ago, this dragon was trying to kill him while saying things like “You humans are so pathetic…” What caused this sudden change?

“…Don’t think you can fool me here, do you? It’s pointless. I’m going to make you my familiar by means of contract magic. Kukuku, you probably were thinking you can escape when you have a chance but with this…”

“I’m honored!”

“…”

From now on, the ice dragon wouldn’t be Luke’s “enemy” anymore.

The overflowing joy of this fact filled the ice dragon.

“W-well then, let’s do it right away!”

“Y-Yeah…”

Luke pondered once again.

Could this be some kind of trap?

Had he overlooked something?

However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find anything like that. That’s why it made him feel even more uneasy.

He was starting to hesitate about whether he should really make a familiar contract or not.

“──’Contract: Familiar’.”

A huge magic circle appeared centered around Luke and the ice dragon, emitting a dazzling light.

Contract magic was an attribute-less magic that required a certain amount of magical power depending on the weight of the contract and the object of the contract, and would not be established without the mutual consent of the parties involved.

But the contract was made incredibly smoothly.

“…”

An invisible connection appeared between Luke and the ice dragon.

Through that connection, he keenly felt the ice dragon’s pledge of absolute obedience from the bottom of its heart.

“I will serve you with sincerity──”

“… Hmm.”

Tired of doubting, Luke thought about turning the ice dragon’s tail meat into a new delicacy of Gilbadia as he climbed onto the dragon’s back.

And then, he returned to the adventurers who had been watching the situation from afar.

His figure was that of an ancient hero who truly tamed a dragon.

In the next moment, everyone raised their fists in unison and let out a victorious cheer──.

“Ahhh, no way! We can’t do it anymore!”

“──Yeah, too impossible.”

A man and a woman with turbans.

In a certain place, Canis and Ferris watched the whole battle between Luke and the ice dragon.

Their expressions were bright, as if they had just gotten rid of a heavy burden.

“We tried our best in many ways, but… this one is just too much to handle. So, we have two choices. One is to run away somewhere far away. The other is──”

“…”

Canis and Ferris took action.

All for their own sake──.