It was going to force its way through

‘That’s it for this machine. …So, I suppose the only thing left to do it escape from here.’

‘Yeah, please do. …Do you want backup?’

‘I do not require backup. They are so weak that not killing them would be the real feat.’

So saying, the dragon stomped loudly as it moved through the mountain cavern.

However, there were no passages that it could fit through. It muttered with annoyance.

‘…Too small.’

While this mountain was huge, it was not large enough for a dragon to walk around in.

There were several rooms that were wide and open, but the passages that connected them were narrow.

That being said…the dragon was here. That meant there was some route that the Blue Moon of Salvation used to carry it here.

And so I started to search the area through using Shared Senses.

After a while, I discovered something to the far left that looked like a transportation route.

It was currently blocked by a giant metal plate, but I suspected that it led to a gigantic, vertical hole to the surface.

Perhaps this was how they had brought the dragon and the giant Universal Purification Machine here.

‘If you walk to the left, you’ll find something that may be an escape route.’

‘An escape route. …You have my thanks.’

The dragon replied. However, it did not go to the left.

I was sure that the passage there was big enough for it to fit…

‘That’s not the right way.’

‘I know.’

The dragon said. Then it swung its claws into the walls of the narrow passage.

The walls crumbled and parts of the ceiling began to fall.

‘Ahhh!’

‘We’re going to get buried! Help!’

As the rocks came down around the slimes, they screamed for help.

I protected them with a magic barrier. Then I asked the dragon.

‘Surely, you’re not going to force your way through there…?’

‘Of course, I am. …All of that pain and humiliation they forced onto me. You don’t think I could leave until I made them pay for it with their lives, do you?’

I see.

Apparently, the hatred the dragon had for the Blue Moon of Salvation was very deep.

Well, they had captured it and stuck a cursed stake into its stomach. Then after much torture, they used Cursed Water to take its energy… It would be strange if you didn’t hold a grudge.

As for completely destroying their base. I was in total agreement.

That being said…

‘If you take too long, the reinforcements will arrive.’

‘I hope they do. Then I’ll kill every last one of them.’

‘I hope it will be that easy…’

From my own experience, individual members of the Blue Moon of Salvation were not very strong.

However, they often carried things that were unknown to me—things like cursed stakes.

‘I can deal with the rest here. Why don’t you just escape for now?’

The Universal Purification Device was important, but in the end, it was just a machine.

What if they had another one hidden in another mountain… That would mean they could just capture the dragon again and continue on with their plan.

‘That may be the wise thing to do. But if they bring another Cursed Stake… Who knows? I might get trapped again.’

‘Yeah. That’s what I’m worried about.’

‘But still… Surely we can deal with it together? …I wish to make them pay with my own hands. Please help me.’

Together, huh.

Indeed… Even if they did use another stake, I could dispell the curse.

Of course, there was the possibility that the enemy had even more powerful weapons… Still, I liked the idea of being able to destroy the base and make it look like it was all the dragon’s work. Besides, if the dragon was their target, then the enemy’s attacks would not be focused on the slimes.

The problem was, I could run out of energy after the fight. And if they were to capture the dragon then…that would be the worst possible outcome…

‘Okay, but we’ll retreat when half of my MP is depleted. I’ll help you if you promise to obey that condition.’

‘Thank you. So…I will do as much as I can until then.’

The dragon said. And then it returned to destroying the walls.

I watched this as I said to the slimes,

‘Stay by the exits just in case. I don’t want anyone to escape.’

‘Okay!’

And so the slimes started to move towards the exits.

Now, even if the enemy realized what was happening, they would not be able to leave.