The story of how the Demon Dragon Raizakia met his end left Ariartel's expression rigid with shock.

"So... you're saying the two of you vanquished that Demonic Dragon?"

Ariartel found it hard to believe. Regardless of his weakened state, a dragon was still a dragon. Furthermore, Raizakia had been no ordinary dragon. Yet, the two of them had slain it? Without an army?

"With a bit more luck, I could have killed it alone,” said Eugene.

"As if. Even if you'd managed to kill Raizakia by yourself, you'd have died in the aftermath," said Sienna.

"You don’t know that."

"No? If I hadn't come to rescue you, you would have died alone, even without Raizakia having to lift a claw."

Eugene could only pout, unable to find any words of rebuttal. Sienna's words held truth. Even if he had managed to hold a bit longer and destroy Raizakia's dragon heart, his physical body would have collapsed as a consequence of the strain.

Ariartel's initial surprise ebbed as she watched their bickering. She composed her expression before speaking.

"Hmm…. For all the dragons in their long slumber, excluding me, of course, we all wanted Raizakia’s death. The Demonic Dragon was a disgrace to the dragons.”

Ariartel herself had desired to participate in Raizakia's extermination. However, as the guardian of the sleeping dragons, she couldn't risk joining a potentially dangerous battle. Thus, she had allied with Eugene, the Stupid Hamel. She had engraved the Draconic spell onto the Akasha as requested, improved Akasha itself, and even loaned him Agaroth's ring.

"On behalf of all slumbering dragons, I, Ariartel the Red Dragon, bow...