The stinging, the pain, the burning, the way of pain spread like a hundred flowers to every part of my body.

Heavy, trance-like, feeling like the brain was about to stop functioning.

Salty, is it the smell of sweat? Still asked in blood.

I always feel that the field of vision is bright red, and I walk into the darkness in the bright red.

Roar!

The deafening roar made me shudder as I felt blood in my ears.

Opened his eyelids as heavy as iron, and a huge figure gradually became clear in the shaking vision.

It was a dragon, huge in size, with wings, wrapped in purple-red, and a hideous but somewhat human-like wyvern.

"Big brother...... Elder brother. ”

Alice's weak voice came from my arms, and I stiffened my head and saw Alice's blood-stained cheeks.

There was also a bloody hole that could not be ignored at all, occupying Alice's flank.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine, I'll take you out."

I forced a smile and gently lowered Alice's body to the ground and turned towards the dragon.

Why?

Why is this happening?

It's supposed to be a peaceful life.

Although I only lived with Alice for a week, I was happy every day.

Grow your own vegetables, go to the forest to collect wild fruits and mushrooms, play with rabbits and squirrels, and frolic by the lake......

Many, many, too many to count.

So, why?

"This is the agreement between the big brother and me!"

Alice's words from the past echoed in my ears.

Ah, is it really because of the search for an exit from the forest......

It was agreed with Alice that they would take him out with them, and that they would stay with her until then.

However, the unexpected happened.

Obviously the first day was nothing.

But the next day there was a strange situation.

-- Some parts of my body are starting to become transparent.

First the torso, then over time. Even the limbs appeared.

It's as if my own existence is heading in the direction of nothingness.

To be honest, I was scared.

Scared because of the unknown.

But I didn't want Alice to worry, so I didn't tell her at first.

But as it got worse day by day, I couldn't hide it anymore.

Knowing this, Alice immediately burst into tears and her eyes widened. The little body trembled and cried.

Obviously, she has always given me the impression that she is so strong, but this time she cried without hesitation.

While crying, he was always repeating a sentence.

- It's all my fault

――Because it was so lonely, I asked Mr. Fairy to bring his big brother with him

- I know that I know that other people can't stay in the forest for a long time

――But after meeting my eldest brother, I chose to ignore it in my heart

- So, it's all my fault

It's not your fault, silly girl!

I couldn't help but roar in my heart.

The wyvern flew up from the ground, opening its monstrous mouth and spewing out cannonballs of condensed flames.

"The Hand of Fire."

The arm of flames that had broken once stood in my way. Blocked the bursting flames.

The Wyvern is the master of this forest, and sleeps in the deepest part of the forest and barely comes out to move.

But why did it appear in front of me, it was really my fault.

After Alice knew that my body was gradually disappearing, she took a tough stance and asked me to leave the forest.

Very reluctant but very determined.

So I left.

I was afraid of death, but even more so of seeing Alice's sad face.

When you go out, you must find a way to take Alice away!

I have this belief in my heart.

If I can get out of the forest.

That's right, I couldn't find my way out.

It's not so much that I'm lost unilaterally, it's that the forest has turned into a labyrinth and trapped me here.

This, with my day and night in vain. More and more affirmed.

So, I went back to Alice's house.

When I wanted to get out, I couldn't find an exit. But when I wanted to get back to Alice, it wasn't at all difficult.

No, half an exaggeration.

Not at all.

Seeing Alice again, her low mood suddenly dissipated with a big smile, but only suddenly.

Because the next time she saw my body, nearly a third of it was transparent.

Just like now-

Roar!

The ejected flame projectile was blocked, and the wyvern swooped down with a roar. Violent sparks sparked at my outstretched forelimbs.

I really want a weapon......

Rumble!

The explosion of flames engulfed the space around me, and a hot wind rushed in my face and I was almost out of breath.

What does it seem to be holding in your hand?

It's a knife, it's a pitch-black knife.

Zun Sana!

The name came to mind.

For a moment, it seemed that something rushed into my head, no, it should be said that what belonged to me was back.

But. I don't have time to do that right now.

This dragon must be killed!

Because I can't leave the forest, the anxious Alice listens to the whispers of Mr. Fairy, who doesn't know if it exists, and goes to the deepest part of the forest to find the dragon.

- Jabberwocky!

That's its name.

In order to get me out of the forest, she found the Bomb-necked Dragon and begged it, as the owner of the forest, to allow me, an outsider, to leave.

I don't know exactly what happened in the process.

All I knew was that Alice had fallen to the ground by the time I arrived.

Then the Exploding Dragon stood in front of her.

The flames cleared, and I stabbed the palm of the forelimb of the Exploding Neck Dragon with a sword in my hand, and-

"Flying Flame."

The flame of the red lotus ignited the second wave of fiery horns, and the Fried Neck Dragon retracted its arm in pain.

It's not over yet!

"Convicted."

I started the additional attack without stopping.

The massive flame blade manifested at the tip of the sword, slicing through the body of the Exploding Dragon, cutting a large hole in its body.

Crash!

Blood spurted from the dragon's body, and it happened that one drop landed next to my mouth.

Lick.

I licked it unconsciously, giving birth to a sense of satisfaction.

I always feel like a familiar taste, could it be that I have eaten dragon blood before?

Boom!

Thinking so, the Exploding Dragon struck at me, and just like that, it struck my body with its other intact forelimb.

It hurts!

It really hurts!

But that wasn't enough to get me going!

I got up from the ground.

As long as this body is not completely gone, I will continue to fight.

So, O power, answer my call.

Kill the enemies in front of you!

Puff -

More dragon's blood spurted out like a fountain.

I followed my instincts and swung my sword, and after losing count of how many times I'd attacked, the Exploding Neck finally landed on the ground.

The moment it was over, I immediately ran back to Alice's side, praying in my heart that she would be okay.

But I knew it was just self-soothing.

Alice was so weak that she couldn't even open her eyes.

"Big brother...... Elder brother. ”

I leaned my head and leaned over Alice's lips to hear her faint muttering.

――It's okay

-- It's time to wake up from your dream

――I remembered the most important thing

-- Even if you live in a dream all the time, what is illusory is illusory after all

――At the end of the dream, I met my big brother, and I was very happy

- So that's enough, let me wake up from my dream

- Let the big brother get out of here

- Mr. Fairy......

- Nursery rhymes

The next moment, with the smile on Alice's face, the dream shattered. (To be continued......)