Chapter 108 - Dragon Slayer
Angelica, who had become completely cheerful, happily accepted the responsibility of looking after Philia.
For now, she said she would look after her along with Ayako-chan for the day.
In that case, I decided to take her up on the offer and leave the hotel ahead of them.
"Where are you going?"
To Angelica, who called out to me from behind, I replied, "Just going to hunt a dragon."
Before the large mammals around the metropolitan area are all eaten up, I'll take care of them.
"I thought about not getting involved this time, but it seems our country's military is having a harder time than expected. It looks like it'll be better if I help out."
It might be a bit much to call the Self-Defense Forces a "military," but explaining that much to Angelica would be a hassle, so I'll deliberately use an easy-to-understand expression.
"...Are those mechanical birds the military?"
"Those are fighter jets. Ange, your modern knowledge is quite skewed. You get so detailed about strange things."
I thought to myself that since she's a girl, it might be unavoidable that she has no interest in military affairs, all while peering into the smartphone in my hand.
A single image, enlarged to fill the screen.
This photo, which had been racing through SNS, was a shot of a dogfight between a dragon and a Self-Defense Force aircraft over the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
A desperate struggle involving white-knuckled combat must have taken place, yet the death toll was miraculously zero.
It seems both the pilots and the dragon finished the duel unscathed.
As for the people's reactions: military geeks were getting excited, saying, "I never thought I'd see an aerial battle in 21st-century Japan," animal rights groups began protesting, saying, "This could have been resolved through dialogue," and an account claiming to be an elderly former Zero fighter pilot spoke boastfully, saying, "That Self-Defense Force aircraft's handling was terrible," only for it to be revealed that the user was actually just a middle school boy, resulting in a massive flame war.
In short, no one was seriously afraid.
The majority still think it's some TV station's special project; they are quite a stout-hearted people.
When peace-induced complacency reaches this level, I feel it's only a hair's breadth away from madness.
If this were another world, there would be an uproar from top to bottom.
People would be screaming, "What on earth is the Hero doing? Hurry up and slay it!"
...Compared to that, Japan might be better off.
It's just a lack of crisis awareness; it doesn't mean they lack humanity.
Despite its flaws, it's a developed nation, and it is my home.
I must protect these easygoing masses.
"Let's do this."
Leaving behind the words "I'm counting on you to look after Philia," I leave the room.
I finish locking up, confirm that the "Do Not Disturb" sign is hanging on the doorknob, and make my way out.
Now, how should I finish it off?
The photos of the dragon and the Self-Defense Force aircraft circulating on SNS were taken from a distance and enlarged.
Does that mean a reporter with a high-performance camera is staking them out somewhere, or perhaps the Self-Defense Forces provided the photos?
I can't imagine it since I'm unfamiliar with camera equipment, but it's certain that I don't know where eyes might be watching.
"...Eyes, huh."
Naturally, the dragon's eyes must also be scanning the surroundings.
And with the vision of a hawk, no less.
Because the dragon's ecology resembles that of birds of prey, its vision is extremely developed.
In exchange, its sense of smell and hearing are on the dull side, so it is a monster that is easy to launch a surprise attack on, provided one can hide their presence.
If I use Concealment Magic, the results shouldn't be terrible.
...But even if I use Concealment, I might still be caught on a camera set up somewhere.
If I had a means to attack the dragon from ultra-long range, would I be able to manage?
A way to pinpoint and shoot through the dragon without being noticed, from outside a camera's range.
My magic has too wide an area of effect and might destroy the Metropolitan Government Building along with it, so I wonder what to do.
I walk in front of the lobby, groaning with my hand on my chin.
I pass through the automatic doors and step outside the hotel.
I absentmindedly toss the room key on the palm of my hand, catching it repeatedly, as I continue to think alone.
"Ah."
Then.
Looking at the key I had been fiddling with unconsciously, an idea occurs to me.
Tossing isn't a bad idea.
Throw something hard and with mass with all my might at the dragon while it's in flight.
Wouldn't that settle it?
All that's left is to be careful so that there's no damage when the thrown object falls.
Should I somehow lure the dragon out to sea?
That said, while a male might hunt, a female likely won't leave the vicinity of her eggs.
Ah, no, it'll be fine.
In that case, I just need to make the trajectory like throwing from bottom to top.
With this, the thrown object will break through the atmosphere and say goodbye to outer space.
I've already confirmed in another world that if I throw something straight up with all my might, it will pierce the lunar surface.
Maybe I should just hurl a scrapped car or something.
A metal mass of a little over a ton, with its durability increased by Strength Enhancement.
If rocket-like acceleration is added to this, it'll be a single blow even for a dragon.
The moment it takes a direct hit, it will become fine bits of flesh... no, almost liquid, and a dark red rain will pour down onto the ground.
With that, it will all be over.
"That seems unexpectedly easy."
The opponent isn't human, and its physique is unnecessarily huge. It flies in the sky, too.
That's exactly why I can use a blunt attack.
Since the dragon and I are both monsters, perhaps we are compatible.
That's right.
The Hero's job is originally to slay huge monsters. It is by no means murder.
This was what I truly should have been doing.
Monsters that do not speak, do not possess personality, and are simply strong.
Disasters in the shape of living things.
Since I am silently slaying them, it feels somewhat like facing a typhoon or a tsunami.
"It's easier on the mind."
Was the word that leaked out naturally my true feeling that I had been suppressing all this time?
While surprising myself with my own monologue, I headed toward the bus stop.