Chapter 27: Didn’t Get to Be Cool for Long Before It Was Time to Get Beaten Up Again

Fiora felt like she was back.
The Dragon King who looked down on everything was back!

Possessing a power that others could hardly match, she could dominate lives within her domain with just a wave of her hand, crushing everything with the cheat-like might of her transcendent bloodline.
Those insignificant humans didn’t dare meet her gaze, scurrying like ants beneath her eyes.

Fiora laughed.
Because she had rarely gone out into the world, she had never grasped the full concept of her own strength.
Only now did she truly realize how absurdly powerful—and unreasonable—she was.

I am the Long Aotian! I’m the protagonist of an isekai transmigration novel!

“Hahaha, in heaven and on earth, this monarch alone is supreme!”

But her moment of self-indulgent joy was suddenly cut short by a cold voice.

“Hey, what are you messing around for?”

The Sword Saint stepped down from the spectator stands onto the training grounds. His expression was exceptionally grim—almost as dark as it had been on the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Mountain.

The memory of being beaten senseless came rushing back, and Fiora’s laughter died instantly.

“Leon, y-you—don’t come over here!”

“Although I don’t know exactly what you’re planning, I can tell you this much—I’m not okay with destroying the royal capital.”

“Tsk, this monarch has already seen through your schemes and tricks!”

Fiora summoned ice swords, which rained down like a storm.

Leon’s reaction was lightning-fast.
He caught the foremost flying swords with both hands, converting them into his own weapons, and with dazzling swordsmanship swung them in a defensive arc, charging forward against the pressure.

“Fiora, if you keep messing around like this, I’m really going to get a little angry.”

He was closing the distance rapidly. His expression made it look like he fully intended to give her a good thrashing—enough to make Fiora backpedal in a panic.

Hey, hey, hey! What’s with this cheat-like man?!
Isn’t this basically a knight not dying from ○ hands?!
Wait a second… This guy feels like the real protagonist of the novel.
And I’m… the obligatory loli-type character in the protagonist’s harem.

As if unbound by gravity, Leon stepped onto the ice coffin and sprinted up.
In just a few blinks, he was in front of her.

The stance was too familiar—it was almost identical to the move he’d used against her before…

Fiora, the mage, was approached by Leon, the swordsman.
The outcome of the battle was decided instantly.

“Void-Rending Dragon Slash—”

“I’m sorry, I was wrong!!”

The Ice Dragon King crouched on the ground, clutching her head, tugging her hat’s brim down to shield herself, trembling.

“…”

“Wuwuwu! It’s not my fault!”
“It was that Roland guy—he was about to cast a terrifying spell to finish me off!”
“I had no choice but to use this spell in self-defense!”

Tears and snot streamed shamelessly down Fiora’s face.

“We’ll deal with your punishment later,” Leon said, grabbing her hat.
“Right now, we have to handle the iceberg.”
“And wipe your snot.”

“Huh? Oh!”

Fiora wiped her face messily with her long, wide sleeves.
Seeing that Leon seemed ready to let her off for now, she relaxed slightly.

“Now, cancel the spell on that iceberg.”

To that request, Fiora answered hesitantly, “…Well, I can’t cancel a spell of this level.”

“Are you an idiot?”

“Mmph—! I deliberately chanted it in the dragon tongue to boost its power.”
“A spell that’s been cast is like spilled water.”
“Even if I want to take it back…”

Leon’s eyes were practically spitting fire.
Fiora swallowed the excuses she’d been about to make.

The royal capital was officially in its countdown to destruction.
In just a few more minutes, this place could be reduced to a pile of rubble.

“Fiora, you don’t have any other way?”

“I do. Just let me turn back into the Dragon King.”

Leon naturally wouldn’t accept that suggestion—it would expose her identity right in the middle of the royal capital.

“Although something that size could be destroyed, the capital would still be hit by debris from the iceberg,” Leon said, frowning.
“As a swordsman, I don’t have much magic power.”
“If only I had enough magic to amplify my sword techniques…”

“Oh, that’s easy. I can help you with that.”

Fiora blurted it out reflexively.

“What’s the method?”

“…!”

Realizing what she’d just said, Fiora instantly regretted it.
She turned her head away, pretending she hadn’t heard the question.

“Hurry up and tell me. This isn’t the time to sulk.”

“…”

“Fiora, don’t make me order you…!”

“Mana-re…”

For some reason, Fiora’s face turned red, her voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

“What?”

Leon crouched down, leaning closer.

Fiora’s blush deepened.

“It’s that thing… re…”

“Re? Re-what?”

Fiora stomped her foot in exasperation. “Mana-recharge! I’ll recharge your mana, and then you can amplify your sword techniques to evaporate the iceberg, right?!”

“Oh, I see! That’s a great idea.”

“Then Fiora, let’s hurry up and recharge our mana together.”

“Ugh! Only you, scumbag Sword Saint, could say that to a woman without even blinking.”

After all, she was mentally male.
The thought of what she was about to do with Leon filled her with deep, physiological disgust.

In this world, magic could be replenished through physical contact.
If bodily fluids were exchanged, the replenishment would be far greater.

To destroy the iceberg, they’d have to go as far as the latter method.

“Forget it. This whole mess started because of my whim.”
“I can’t just walk away and leave the disaster behind.”
“Just count it as my bad luck—giving you this fan service!” Fiora muttered irritably.

“What have you been mumbling about all this time? I don’t get it.”
“And how do you even do this mana-recharge thing?”

“Alright, shut up and stay still.”
“You’re absolutely not allowed to open your eyes until I say so!”

“Oh, okay.” Leon obediently closed his eyes.

Fiora took his hand, making him crouch so they were on the same level.

Now, the short mage was face-to-face with the handsome Sword Saint.

It’s fine, it’s fine.
Just pretend I’m being kissed by a pig.

Despite her mental pep talk, her heart rate kept climbing.

Aaaah, I’m going all out!