My name is Trestadonia Lerentnin.

But nowadays people call me Blizzard.

It's because of the combination element magic I can use.

And also because of my high proficiency at water, ice and air magic.

I'm an adventurer.

In fact, I'm currently the strongest S ranked adventurer.

Initially, I registered as one just to get away from all of my noble duties.

But later on, I acquired a goal.

It was to try and get as strong as my idol, Belion.

Unfortunately he...retired as an adventurer and went on to be a royal magician.

I was very disappointed when that happened...

Without him, I easily became the number one adventurer.

It was no challenge at all.

Soon after I achieved the top spot, I lost my enthusiasm.

No matter who I met, they were weaker than myself.

Even when I had a mock battle with Belion, I won without much of a problem.

Any monsters I fought weren't a match for me either.

And the monster nation has been off limits ever since the last party sent there failed to safely return...

I felt like I had no more goals.

Nothing I can work toward.

I ended up just doing some special personal requests and even official work, which I wanted to avoid earlier in my life.

Well...it's not like I hated this kind of lifestyle, but it just felt like something was missing.

One day however, a word that a friendly ancient monster appeared came in.

In Henduria port, a monster, who had the appearance of a beastkin girl, wanted to register as an adventurer.

What gave her away though, was her level.

4621?

Seriously?

The identification pad must have malfunctioned...

Is what I thought...but apparently the aura she radiates proved she isn't ordinary.

...

Somewhere inside, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time.

Excitement.

It didn't take long after expressing my desire to meet her to the king.

And along with Belion and my right hand Bob, we were sent to meet and evaluate her.

I can't wait for this...

|= ??? =|

...

I heard about her a little from Phil.

Yes...

'Sea-splitting razor'

I was sure it was just an exaggerated nickname.

...

But it wasn't.

The icicle path I made and even the entire seabed was split with her attack.

And that wasn't even everything.

Right after that, she used something even more terrifying.

Dark red flames in a quantity enough to completely engulf a smaller house shot out from her sword at the sea.

There was nothing there, but the destructive power is apparent even without a target.

Haha...

I should have expected this.

I really should have.

But I guess I just wasn't expecting enough.

She even implied these weren't her strongest moves...

How immature of me...

I just wanted to see someone stronger than me, so I could have a goal.

But this is an unattainable goal.

Absolutely impossible...

...

So why isn't my excitement dying off?

Suddenly, I don't even care about not being the strongest.

I just want to get to know her better.

I want to befriend her!

While my brain was storming with such thoughts, we silently arrived back at the adventurer's guild and she was handed her rank X adventurer's card.

"Congratulations, you are the third rank X adventurer in the history and also the only one right now."

Rank X...

According to history, this is just the third time someone has been granted that rank.

My spot as the strongest adventurer has been taken just like that.

But I don't even mind.

She completely deserves it.

I understand the difference between us very well.

"...thanks."

The card suddenly lights up and disappears.

"Even an item box..."

"You should really stop being surprised..."

I refute Belion and shrug my shoulders.

Something like item box is probably a simple thing for her.

Nothing to be surprised about.

Now then...

I turn at her and smile.

"Miss Reiza, would you like to come back with us to the royal capital?"

"I'm sure the king would like to see you personally."

But honestly, I just want to spend more time with you myself...

"...can't..."

Ah...I should have expected it...

"I see...that's too bad."

"May I hear the reason?"

"...no."

...she refused...

"I see..."

...well...I'm sure she has reasons...

She probably doesn't want to talk about it with people she just met.

"Well, when you are done with your business here, feel free to visit the royal capital at any time."

"...sure."

Good, good...

It's really too bad we have to return so soon...

Can't we just send someone else to deliver the report?

I want to spend more time with her...

|= A few hours later =|

It happened just as we were about to leave.

She started gasping for breath as she held her chest.

"...it...broke..."

"What broke?!"

"What's happening to you?!"

She fell onto the ground and lost consciousness.

All of us were overtaken by anxiety as we hurriedly carried her to the city's medical facility.

The medics didn't know what was wrong, she just seemed to be sleeping to them.

All they said is to 'wait and see'.

...

We collectively agreed we can't really leave in a situation like this.

And so, we postponed our leave and sent out someone else to deliver the report.

After that, it took an entire day, but finally, she woke up.

One of the medical facility's staff members came to inform us about it.

We quickly gathered in her room and started talking.

"..."

"So what happened?"

"Your mana suddenly started going haywire and then you collapsed."

Since nobody was saying anything for too long now, I initiated the conversation.

"...a blood contract I made...with a monster..."

"...it was forcefully broken..."

"F-forcefully breaking a blood contract?"

"Who in the world...was that monster?"

Belion asked her in a panicked voice.

"...a dragon..."

A dragon...she says...

"H-how did you make a contract with a dragon...?"

"Aren't dragons very proud?"

"They wouldn't let you do something like that..."

"...he was...too strong..."

"...I couldn't beat him..."

"...I did a simple contract instead."

"No..again...how did you manage to..."

As I put my hand on Belion's shoulder and shake my head, he stops talking.

But this is not a time to take it easy...

After all, that dragon could very well...

"Miss Reiza..."

"Is this dragon...going to seek revenge on you?"

"...probably."

That's what I thought...

"Can you...defeat it?"

"...impossible."

...

This is bad...

A dragon who is stronger than Reiza could easily destroy the kingdom.

If Reiza is defeated by him, it's over.

That's why...

We need to work together and-

"...If it's a monster even you can't defeat..."

"Then the entire country is doomed..."

Belion once again lets out a depressing remark.

This time, it really angers me.

I stomp on the ground and catch him by his robe's collar.

"Stop being so depressed you senile old fart!"

"Are you going to let your past experiences haunt you forever?!"

He looks at me all surprised but he soon averts his gaze and continues spouting depressing nonsense.

"...but it's true."

"It's like trying to fight a natural calamity..."

"And that's where you are wrong!"

I release him and look at Reiza.

"You said you couldn't defeat him."

"But you are still going to try, right?"

"...of course."

"Allow us all to help!"

I smile at her as I say this.

"W-what?!"

"Yeah!"

Bob also starts smiling again, but as expected, Belion's expression stays dire.

"...no."

"...you will die."

She makes what seems to be a sensible remark.

But this is the best chance we will get.

If we let her do it alone, she will have lower chances of succeeding.

And after she has lost, we will be next anyway.

And so, I keep pressuring her.

"You said you couldn't defeat it."

"But you were alone at that time."

"Even if we are all much weaker than you, we can still assist you!"

"...we don't even know where it is or when it's going to come..."

Belion tries to intervene again.

"That's why we need to try our best to prepare!"

I yell at him to finally shut him up.

Then, I hold my clenched fist in front of me as I determinedly look at Reiza.

"...why?"

"...this is...my fight..."

"That's not the case at all."

"After you go down, then it will be the country's turn next."

"It's not just your fight."

"Helping you right now is our best bet."

"...your country...will never get a turn..."

...huh?

"...what?"

What does she mean?

Would the dragon just go back after killing you?

"...when I die...I go back..."

"...and have to try again."

"Go...back?"

What does she mean...?

"...is that your 'immortality'?"

Phil steps in and asks her.

"...yeah."

"...I died a lot...to that dragon."

"Do you mean...you reincarnate every time you die...?"

"Or perhaps..."

"You go back in time?"

"...the latter...probably."

Back in time...?

That's...

...

So she can always try again when she dies?

"...then..."

"Isn't it the case that you will always win in the end...?"

"...yeah."

"...but I couldn't beat him last time."

"But that doesn't matter anymore!"

"With us on your side, there is no way you won't win!"

Such an amazing ability!

With that, the dragon doesn't stand a chance!

"...fine."

"...I will try it...with your help..."

"Alright then!"

"Yeah!"

Me and Bob excitedly cheer.

"...fine..."

And even Belion gave in.

|= One day later =|

I have been...thinking about it...

And...

When she dies, she goes back in time and gets to try again...

...

But what about everyone else?

Do we just keep on living?

Or are our memories erased and we are also sent back?

...

Scary...

Neither option sounds good.

If we keep on living, the dragon will kill us all anyway.

And if we go back in time and our memories are erased...

...

I...don't want my memories to be erased...

That sounds...terrifying...

What if some events in the past changed?

Events that I have firmly established in my mind as something that happened?

The history would change...

...

Wait...

It...probably already happened though...

She said she died a lot to that dragon...

That means...I already experienced this memory wipe...?

...

I need to get this out of my head...

...right...

Right!

As long as she doesn't die, it won't be a problem!

After all, she is strong and...

And...

...she said, she couldn't defeat that dragon...right?

Will we really be able to do it together...?

...

|= Two more days later =|

Reiza explained all of the dragon's abilities.

Apparently it's something like a copy of her own.

Now it makes a lot of sense.

When your opponent can do everything you can and on top of that is bigger and physically stronger, of course you would have a hard time.

But what is really impressive, is the fact that Reiza actually managed to get past it.

Even though she didn't defeat him, it's still quite a feat.

But...

We can do it...

If you add our skills to the equation, then the dragon won't have the obvious upper hand anymore.

The strategy is clear.

Reiza will gather the dragon's attention and lure it down to the ground while we prepare to ambush it.

When she is successful in baiting it, I will use water magic to soften the ground and Bob will try to restrain it with earth magic.

We will then work together to keep it in place while Reiza uses her 'blood seal' on him.

If everything works out, Belion will use his most powerful spell to kill it.

...

I hope it works.

There are many ifs in that plan.

But according to what Reiza told us about him, it should work.

As we sit in Phil's office discussing the details, a knock comes from the door.

"I-it's here!"

...let's go.

Hopefully it will work...

No...

It will work!

I will make sure it goes well!

|= A dragon fight and an unexpected turtle encounter later =|

"Why isn't she waking up?"

The medic woman sighs.

"We already told you many times, she used up all of her mana."

"Doing that would knock anyone unconscious..."

"But it has been too long!"

"Isn't it normally just a few hours?!"

"Well..."

"It depends on the person's mana capacity."

"And this young lady...had a lot, it seems."

I clench my fist as I look at the unconscious girl we used to call 'an ancient monster'.

She can't die now...

We did so well against that dragon.

We did so well and yet...

I feel the woman placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry."

"Her life isn't in danger anymore."

"All we have to do now, is wait for her to wake up."

I don't answer.

I just look into her eyes and then glance at Reiza lying on the bed.

She has bandages all over her and her breathing seems painful.

The woman sighs again.

"Well..."

"If you are really that worried..."

"You can always stay here and keep her a company..."

"She seems like she could use someone who could soothe her."

Huh?

But isn't she asleep?

"Here, try to hold her hand..."

She forces my hand to grab Reiza's.

...

When I do so, I look at Reiza.

Is it just me, or did her expression lighten up a bit?

"See?"

"She is happy!"

...

The woman exits the room and leaves just me and the sleeping Reiza.

...

"Uuu..nooo..."

As I'm still looking at the door, I hear a voice behind me.

"Reiza?!"

...but when I look at her, she still hasn't opened her eyes.

Sleep talking...?

"Noo..."

I use both of my hands to grasp hers.

"It's okay..."

"Everything will be fine..."

When I said these soothing words and rubbed her hand, she calmed down.

...

Something about this...feels kind of...nice...

...

Huh...?

What's wrong with me?

This is a serious situation.

I shouldn't be enjoying this...

|= ??? =|

"HE DID WHAT?!"

"He...attacked her and tried to force a blood contract on her."

"What the hell is wrong with him?!"

I storm out of the room and leave behind Bob, who came to inform me.

What is that dumb prince thinking?!

How dare he do that to my Reiza!

As I run through the corridors, all I think about is Reiza.

|= ??? =|

"So you are going to be leaving now..."

"Do you think we can somehow come with you to at least meet this god?"

"...I doubt it."

"He might dispose of you...if you force yourself in..."

"That's right, isn't it..."

Ah, I don't want to part with her...

What if I won't see her again?

...

Well, that's impossible, isn't it?

After all, she can't truly die according to what she said.

Then...we will meet again for sure!

"Well, it can't be helped I suppose."

"But I hope you won't forget about what happened to you in these few days."

"I hope, that when you are done with that god's nonsense, you will finally get to enjoy life properly."

"What do you say...will you come visit me when it's over?"

"...sure."

Her answer is bland as always, but the tone of her voice makes me feel like she really means it.

That's great!

We will meet again!

The princess then steps forward and makes a serious expression.

"It was nice knowing you..."

"I hope you will never become an enemy of the kingdom."

"...yeah."

The princess is still way too tense...

Why is it so hard for her to relax?

"U-umm..."

The hero averts his eyes as he scratches his head.

"I know my first impression was...err...quite bad..."

"But...um...please don't remember me as...like...that one hot headed guy..."

"I was just...trying to be a little...different..."

And the hero...

He looked like a hopeful youngster the first day.

But then, for some reason, he lost all of his vigor and closed himself off.

Recently, I was able to make him interact with others a bit at least, but he still acts so distant toward everyone.

"...alright."

"Good luck on your journey."

"Thanks."

After saying that, Darius returned to the captain's deck.

As we slowly arrive at the island, I spot some kind of magic circle there.

"A magic circle?"

"Will that one teleport you somewhere?"

"Probably."

"Then I guess this is really a goodbye for now."

"I hope to see you again in the future."

Reiza stared at the magic circle for a few seconds in silence.

"Then..."

"Later..."

But then leapt off of the ship into the magic circle.

As she landed, a bright light enveloped her and she disappeared.

All three of us looked at the place she disappeared for a second.

And then, we silently turned around and returned to our cabins.

...

At that time, none of us knew what would happen...

Just how much she would change by the next time we would meet again.

We had no idea...

...

A monster...

It makes me laugh...

The people who called her a monster before.

Those must feel so stupid now...