Fio felt it—she was back. The all-conquering Dragon King had returned!

She possessed a power beyond anyone else’s reach. With the slightest gesture, she could command every life within her domain, crushing all before her with the cheat-like power of her extraordinary bloodline.

Those insignificant humans didn’t dare look her in the eye. Beneath her gaze, they scattered like ants.

Fio burst out laughing. She’d barely ever left her home and had no real idea how strong she was. Only now did she realize just how absurdly powerful she was.

I’m the overpowered protagonist! I’m the hero of an isekai novel!

“Hahahaha! I alone rule all under heaven!”

Fio was basking in her own smug joy when a cold voice suddenly cut off her laughter.

“Hey, what are you messing around for?”

The Sword Saint stepped down from the stands and onto the testing grounds. His expression was awful—almost as gloomy as it had been on the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Mountain.

The memory of getting beaten came rushing back, and Fio couldn’t laugh anymore.

“L-Leon, don’t come any closer!”

“I don’t know exactly what your plan is, but I’m not letting you destroy the royal capital.”

“Tch! I’ve seen through all your schemes!”

Fio summoned Ice Swords and sent them raining down on him.

Leon reacted in an instant. He caught the foremost flying swords with both hands and somehow turned them into his own weapons. With superb swordsmanship, he swung up a curtain of defense and charged forward against the barrage.

“Fio, you’re really starting to make me angry.”

Leon was closing in fast. He looked like he really meant to teach Fio a lesson, and she stumbled back several steps in fright.

Hey, hey, hey! What’s with this cheat-code guy?! Isn’t this ‘A Knight Does Not Die with Empty Hands’?!’

Wait… wasn’t this guy the protagonist of the novel? And wasn’t she now basically the obligatory little-girl type in the protagonist’s harem?

As if gravity didn’t apply to him, Leon raced up the ice coffin. In just a few blinks, he was right in front of Fio.

That stance was way too familiar. It looked just like the move he’d used when we clashed beams earlier…

Fio was a mage, and Leon was a swordsman. Now that he’d closed the distance, the outcome of the fight was obvious.

“Sky-Splitting Dragon-Cleave—”

“I’m sorry! I was wrong!!”

The Ice Dragon King crouched on the ground with her arms over her head. She tugged her hat down to cover herself and trembled.

“……”

“Wahhh! It’s not my fault! That Roland guy was about to use some scary spell to kill me. I only used this spell in self-defense because I had no choice!”

Fio was afraid of getting sent flying, and tears and snot streamed down her face in a humiliating mess.

“I’ll deal with you later,” Leon said, grabbing Fio by the hat. “First, get ready to take care of that iceberg. And wipe your nose.”

“Huh? Oh!”

Fio hastily scrubbed her face with her wide sleeves. When it seemed Leon was going to let her off for now, she finally relaxed a little.

“Now undo that spell and get rid of the iceberg.”

Fio stammered in response to Leon’s demand. “Uh… well, I can’t undo a spell of this level…”

“Are you an idiot?”

“Mmph! I chanted it in Dragon Tongue on purpose to boost its power. Once a spell like that’s been cast, it’s like water you’ve already spilled. Even if I wanted to take it back…”

Leon’s eyes were practically blazing, and Fio swallowed the rest of her excuses.

The royal capital was counting down to destruction. In a few minutes, this place would probably be nothing but ruins.

“Fio, don’t you have any other way?”

“There is. Just let me turn back into the Dragon King.”

Leon definitely couldn’t accept Fio’s suggestion outright. It would expose her identity in the royal capital.

“I can destroy something this huge, but the capital would still be hit by the falling pieces of the iceberg,” Leon said with a troubled look. “Swordsmen don’t have much magic. If only I had enough magic to boost my sword techniques…”

“Oh, that’s easy to fix. I can help you.”

Fio answered without thinking.

“How?”

“……!”

Realizing what she’d just said, Fio immediately regretted it. She turned her head away and pretended she had no idea what he meant.

“Spit it out. This isn’t the time to sulk.”

“……”

“Fio, don’t make me order you…!”

“B-but…”

For some reason, Fio’s face started turning red, and her voice grew as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“What?”

Leon simply crouched down and leaned closer. Fio’s face turned even redder.

“It’s that thing… replenishing…”

“Replenishing what?”

Fio stamped her foot in exasperation. “Replenishing your magic! I can replenish it for you, and then you can boost your sword techniques and vaporize that iceberg, right?!”

“Oh, I see! That’s a great idea. Then let’s replenish my magic together, Fio.”

“Ugh! You can say something like that to a woman without the slightest shame. Typical of you, you sleazy Sword Saint.”

Deep down, Fio was male, too. Just thinking about what she’d have to do with Leon made her feel physically sick.

In this world, you could replenish someone’s magic just by making physical contact. If you went a step further and exchanged bodily fluids, the amount of magic transferred increased.

To blow that iceberg away, they’d have to go as far as exchanging bodily fluids.

“Fine. This mess happened because I got carried away, so I can’t just leave you with it and run. I guess I’ll take the bad luck and give you a little treat!” Fio grumbled.

“What have you been muttering about this whole time? I can’t understand a word. And how exactly do you replenish magic?”

“All right, shut up and keep quiet. Don’t open your eyes until I say so!”

“Oh. Okay.” Leon closed his eyes.

Fio took his hand and made him crouch down. At last, she and the handsome Sword Saint were at the same height.

It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll just pretend a pig had its way with me.

Even as she tried desperately to convince herself, Fio’s heart kept beating faster.

Aaaah! Here goes nothing!