Part 3

“I’ve decided! Let’s go to Yuuya-kun’s house right now to talk to him!”

(Huh?)

The decision was so sudden that Usagi couldn’t help but raise his voice, but Lexia quickly agreed.

“Iris-sama! I’m coming too! I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask as well! It’s just that I’ve been searching for something here…”

“W-wait a minute, Lexia! As expected, going to the Great Devil’s Nest without Owen and the others is…”

“What are you talking about? Iris-sama and Usagi-sama are here, right? We don’t need Owen.”

“…You’re right. But don’t say that in front of Owen…”

Luna couldn’t say anything to Lexia, who answered so matter-of-factly. In fact, if Iris is around, it’s certain to be safe unless it’s in the depths of the Great Devil’s Nest.

“Besides, Luna must be curious too, right? About Yuuya-sama.”

“…Well, yeah.”

“Then let’s go!”

Just as the story was about to be settled, Usagi, who was dumbfounded and was listening to the conversation, hurriedly intervened to stop it.

(Wait a minute! Iris, did you forget about our purpose today? Besides, I thought you were looking for something here…)

“You’re talking about telling the Magic Saint about Evil, right? That can wait. It’s not like there’s any need to hurry since there’s no more Evil around anyway, and if anyone has a problem with it, I’ll cut them down. And besides, I’ve already got everything I came for, so it’s fine!”

(When did you get it?)

“A-aaaahhh! [Hala Grass]!”

When Lexia saw the grass taken out of the bag on Iris’s waist, she shouted out. This was the herb that Lexia had been looking for.

Iris smiled somewhat triumphantly at Lexia’s appearance.

“Fufu. Unfortunately, I’ve already collected all that can be collected at this time of year. So you should just give up.”

“Gnununu…”

Lexia looked at the [Hala Grass] in Iris’s hand with bitterness, but couldn’t complain anymore because she didn’t want to lose her chance of getting taken to the Great Devil’s Nest if she complained here.

As expected, Iris smiled bitterly at the sight of Lexia and told Usagi.

“So, let’s go to Yuuya’s house right away! Is that okay? Usagi.”

(…Sigh. Whatever happens later, I’m not going to help you.)

While saying this, Usagi also seemed to be concerned about Yuuya, and together with Iris and the others, he headed to Yuuya’s house.

＊＊＊

At the same time, a huge spaceship was drifting through space. The ship was shaped like a dragon and flew through space without any trouble.

This spaceship was the mother ship of the Dragonia aliens who attacked Merl. Inside the spaceship, one of the Dragonia aliens furrowed his brow.

(…It’s time for the scheduled contact, why is there still no contact?)

“…..”

The other Dragonias stiffened at his grumpy look. He wore luxurious clothes that were different from those of the other Dragonias and sat cross-legged like a king.

He was Draco III, the ruler of the Dragonias.

Draco III didn’t try to hide his displeasure and asked again.

(I’m asking. Why isn’t there any regular contact?)

“…..”

However, no one could answer Draco III’s words. The only people gathered here were the commanders who were leading the troops, the warriors who represented the Dragonias.

Originally, the Dragonias were a race that boasted powerful bodies and outstanding technology, and they were among the most powerful in the universe.

They are terrified of the only one from their kind, Draco III.

(In this universe, the slightest delay in communication can lead to death. I have always told them to be on guard. But… what is this mess? ──Answer me.)

At that moment, tremendous pressure assaulted the Dragonias who were present. The invisible pressure was so heavy that it seemed as if gravity had been applied, and everyone knelt down, unable to remain standing.

(This delay in communication, you lead the platoon directly under the Third Corps, right? Why don’t you answer me?)

Draco III turned his gaze to one of the kneeling Dragonias. The Dragonia he saw hung his head and struggled to speak.

(W-with all due respect, my Lord. We are not entirely sure about this situation…)

(You don’t have any idea?)

The pressure increased. While feeling as if he was about to be crushed, Drade, the captain of the third corps, desperately continued.

(Y-yes. We were also suspicious when there was no communication during the regular communication time, and we tried to contact them by various means. But it’s not that they don’t respond to communications; it’s that we can’t connect with them. We assumed and verified various things, including time differences over long distances. But…)

(Hou?)

Draco III leaned back in his chair and lessened the pressure he was exerting on the Dragonias. The sudden release of pressure caused the Dragonias to catch their breath as they tried their best to hide it from Draco III.

(So you’re saying that our Dragonia soldiers have been killed?)

(…Y-yes.)

(Fumu… So I ask you, where were those soldiers headed?)

(T-that’s… a remote planet called Earth in the 983rd universe.)

(Earth? I’ve never heard of it. What brings them there?)

(Apparently, they’re on their way there because they’ve received an electromagnetic signal that appears to be the blueprint for a weapon developed by the Amel aliens.)

(What?)

Draco III raised his eyebrows at Drade’s words.

(A destruction weapon of those damned Amel aliens. I see… So? I assume they were able to retrieve it?)

(N-no… um… I haven’t been able to get in touch with them since…)

(What did you say?)

Draco III’s face twisted in displeasure once again. The Dragonias stiffened, wondering if they were going to be subjected to intense pressure again, but Draco III only snorted unhappily.

(On such a remote planet, there is an entity that can compete with us…)

(I-I’m only talking about a possibility. There is no one better than us, the soldiers of Dragonia…)

(The possibility should not be dismissed so easily. You see? If we are to remain the strongest, we must not overlook even the slightest possibility. Be on your guard.)

(Y-yes. I’ll keep that in mind…)

(Then I command you. Go to that planet and look for any trace of the missing soldiers.)

(Ha!)

Draco III nodded his head in satisfaction as he looked at Drade who was bowing deeply and accepting his orders.

(Umu. …Oh, yes. If the planet can be used in any way, you may conquer that Earth. In that case, it would be troublesome to take the time to rebuild it. Do not destroy too much of the planet with your attacks.)

(Understood, sir.)

Drade immediately withdrew and left, calling his men to follow him.

(Commander! Everything’s ready!)

(I see. We’ll leave immediately. The king has given us permission. This is the first invasion in a long time. It makes my arms quiver.)

While Drade trembled in front of Draco III, he was still one of the most powerful men in the universe, and he smiled ferociously. His subordinates smiled as well, captivated by it.

──In a place unknown to Yuuya and the others, a new existence began to move.