A Small Rescue

Author: Unicoon
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8138gc/14/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“GROOAR!!”

“Kh…!”

The lesser dragon thrashed, swinging its claws.
Princess Charlotte fled, muddy and battered.

“Flame!”

Still running for her life, she raised her staff.

“Flame! Come forth, flame!!”

The tip of the staff flickered.
There was no sign of magic activating.

“Why? Why can’t I use magic!?”

Unable to cast as she wished, she ducked behind a tree.
Looking at the staff, Princess Charlotte lost her words in shock.

“What… is this…?”

A gem black and cloudy, goldwork warped and ugly.
The once-beautiful staff was ruined beyond recognition.
Lady Ulrika’s words crossed Princess Charlotte’s mind.

“Crude goods… it was true…?”

As she stood dazed, a shock ran through her back.

“GROAN!”

“Kyaa!”

The lesser dragon’s charge snapped the tree she had hidden behind.
It lunged at the fallen princess.
Then—

“Lady Charlotte, look out!”

With the voice, a small shadow dove in.

“Natasha! Why!?”

It was Natasha.
She drew her sword in a smooth motion and stood before the lesser dragon.

“I couldn’t run and leave Lady Charlotte behind!”

“Natasha…”

“I’ll draw the dragon. Please flee somewhere safe, Lady Charlotte!”

“That’s—it’s reckless!”

Princess Charlotte tried to stop her in a panic.
Natasha was already running toward the lesser dragon.

“Over here! I’m your opponent!!”

“Gwoh? GROOAR!!”

The lesser dragon swung its claws, but they did not reach Natasha.
She slipped them with light steps, sometimes turning them aside with her sword.
A splendid way of fighting, keeping the damage to a minimum.

“There!”

“GROOOAR!?”

She took a gap of an instant; Natasha’s counter landed.
Red blood sprayed from the lesser dragon’s neck.

“You did it! Natasha, that was amazing!!”

“Not yet. This much—”

“GROAAR!!”

Its mouth opened wide; flame roared up inside.
Fire breath poured from the lesser dragon’s jaws.
Part of the scattered flame came at Princess Charlotte.

“Kyaaa!?”

“Lady Charlotte!!”

Natasha scooped Princess Charlotte up and barely dodged.
But Natasha, who should have gotten clear, lay unmoving.

“Ugh… guh…”

“Natasha! That’s—”

Natasha lay battered.
She had taken the damage over her whole body, covering the princess.

“Lady… Charlotte… hurry… run…”

Covered in wounds, Natasha still worried for her.
A tear slipped from Princess Charlotte’s eye.

“No… Natasha… you mustn’t die…”

Princess Charlotte murmured it.
Then she picked up Natasha’s sword and stood before the lesser dragon.

“I’m your opponent!!”

“Lady… Charlotte…”

With shaking hands, Princess Charlotte raised the sword desperately.
To the lesser dragon, she was only prey.

“GROOOAR!!”

The lesser dragon’s huge jaws closed in.
“Eek,” Princess Charlotte screamed, and squeezed her eyes shut.
Then—

“That’s enough!”

A sudden, cute voice.
Then a heavy thud.
Princess Charlotte opened her eyes, timid.
In them was a small back, holding the lesser dragon at bay.

“You’re…!”

“Mm. Looks like I made it.”

There stood the little Demon King.