“L-Li, what was that magic just now? To my eyes it looked like it pierced straight through the Earth Dragon.”

That was only natural.

Although Li’s familiars had completely restrained it, there was a hole pierced through the Earth Dragon’s body.

Blood was also pouring out steadily.

“Ice Bullet ‘Modified Type Two’!”

“What kind of magic is that?”

“It accelerates...”

Li couldn’t exactly say “rocket.”

Even if she did, it would only make things more confusing.

Then how should she explain it to the Headmaster?

After thinking for a moment, Li opened her mouth.

“You know how wind magic is used to move a sailing ship on a calm day? It’s something like continuously applying that.”

“Wind... I see. If it keeps receiving wind, the ship keeps moving forward. So you constructed a formula that constantly advances forward.”

It seemed the Headmaster had regained his composure.

He stroked his white beard while furrowing his brows, deep in thought.

“Shall I teach you the formula?”

“No, I cannot rely on you that much, Li. Very well, Li. Could you keep the Earth Dragon restrained for a while?”

With that, the Headmaster cast magic toward the Earth Dragon while thinking.

It didn’t seem to go well immediately.

However, the light had returned to his eyes.

As for Li, she set up a barrier with a radius of about one hundred meters so as not to disturb the Headmaster.

She left the small bird flying and took out a table and chair to prepare tea.

Then, while elegantly drinking tea, she read a grimoire.

This grimoire was left behind by the Founding King.

It was something like an ordinary diary.

The information itself likely had value but Li felt there might be something more to it.

Whether that was true or not, she didn’t know.

If she asked the remnant of the Founding King, she might be told.

But that felt meaningless.

Li herself was only half convinced.

Even if her intuition was wrong, she didn’t mind.

She flipped through the pages one by one.

No monsters approached the area.

The barrier had been set just in case but it might not have meant much.

After all, there was a monster like the Earth Dragon present.

If anything willingly came to this place, that monster would also be a kaiju.

A deep sigh of “fuu” could be heard.

When Li looked up, the Headmaster was sitting in the chair across from her.

“Li, could I have a cup of tea as well?”

“Certainly.”

Li personally prepared the tea.

“It didn’t go very well, did it?”

At the Headmaster’s words, Li glanced toward the Earth Dragon.

The hole Li had made had already stopped bleeding, likely due to the Earth Dragon’s recovery ability.

The exposed flesh that had been faintly visible seemed to be swelling back.

Other than that, there were no noticeable wounds.

However, parts of its outer carapace had changed color as if scorched.

“I think there has been some progress.”

“Indeed. I’ve grasped quite a bit.”

The Headmaster said this while rubbing his bald head.

“Then shall we make it homework?”

At Li’s words, the old man let out a laugh.

“Homework, hm. At my age.”

“You won’t be bored, will you?”

“That is certainly true. Li, can you slay that Earth Dragon? I would like to keep the materials if possible... though bringing it back might be difficult.”

“It will be fine. I turned the jewel obtained during the previous dungeon training into a dimensional vault.”

“Oh. With a jewel of that size, it should be able to store quite a lot.”

“Yes. With that size, it might be just barely enough.”

Inside Li’s jewel was also the giant golem from the other day.

It was comparable in size to that golem but Li judged it would be fine.

Slaying the Earth Dragon.

She didn’t even treat that as a problem from the start.

“Then Headmaster, please enjoy your tea.”

Li said it casually.

Then she stood up and began chanting as if singing.

“Five-pointed star of the heavens, six-pointed star of the moon, come forth from the underworld and dance. Grant that one rest, eternal sleep. Wane and be fulfilled.”

Li turned gentle eyes toward the Earth Dragon.

“Good night,” she said.

[Grim Reaper, the Death Strike that Reaps the Soul]

A great scythe darker than black manifested.

That magic was one that bestowed death.

At this point, there was no intention of tormenting it.

At least at the moment of death, let there be no pain, only a heavenly dream.

Li’s merciful strike brought death to the Earth Dragon as if there had been no barrier at all.

There were no external injuries.

The great scythe was a condensation of the authority of the Grim Reaper.

If it touched, it stole life.

Andromeda and Aquarius returned to Li’s side.

The Earth Dragon, which had died as if falling asleep, was stored inside the jewel dimensional vault.