Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Dragon Slaying Ritual (1)
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1
If you asked the Western Border Guard of the Lurein Kingdom what they feared most in Balan, the answer would come without a moment's hesitation.
Dragons.
Deep within the vast Balan Forest lurked tyrants at the top of the food chain, unmatched by any demonic beast or monster. Each time they stirred, massive casualties followed, so the Western Border Guard always took care never to trespass into their territory.
Rumble rumble rumble...
Dragons rarely ventured out of their domains. Like well-fed beasts, they simply caught prey within and sustained themselves.
Yet they were constantly plagued by thirst. It was a torment beasts couldn't comprehend—a craving born from awareness of their own dullness and a yearning for wisdom.
"This is a deal."
Regina, standing alone before the dragon, was sweating coldly beneath her hood.
In the forest's darkness, two massive eyes stared at her, radiating overwhelming pressure. Even a Dragon Demon Hybrid couldn't face a dragon this close without fear.
Could this being, who appeared nothing more than a gigantic, savage beast, truly understand her words?
She knew intellectually that they comprehended language. But the more she looked, the less certain she felt. What if they didn't understand and saw her only as prey invading their territory?
Regina desperately suppressed her anxiety and fear, then spoke.
"If you grant our request, you will gain the 'Moment of Wisdom.'"
Growl rumble rumble...
"Do you accept?"
Thud! Thump!
At her question, the dragon stepped forward from the shadows. Seeing its enormous form emerge between the trees, Regina swallowed hard.
Earth Dragon.
The name for dragons that could swim freely through the earth like fish through water.
Its silhouette resembled an elongated lizard, covered in blackish-brown scales with a rocky texture, sturdy horns, and red eyes with vertically slit pupils... A fortress-like monster over thirty meters from head to tail.
The Earth Dragon nodded at Regina.
'It really... understands human speech.'
They couldn't speak language themselves, but they could comprehend it. Any language in the world—they understood them all.
Regina had no idea how that was possible. What mattered was that the Earth Dragon before her understood her words and had accepted the offer.
Regina suppressed a natural sigh of relief and said,
"Then allow me to explain the target."
2
At night, the forest was shrouded in thick darkness. Only moonlight and starlight offered any guidance.
Four figures moved through that gloom.
Azel, Rick, Arieta, and Enora.
"Enora."
Arieta suddenly spoke. Enora, staggering from exhaustion, looked up at her.
"Yes?"
"Climb on my back."
"...I-I couldn't commit such irreverence."
Enora recoiled as if burned.
Arieta might have an astonishingly casual personality for royalty, but she was undeniably a lofty figure. How could she possibly let such a noble person carry her?
"I know it's hard for you to walk, so get on. That's the right thing now."
"But..."
"That's an order. Climb on."
Arieta turned and showed her back. Enora hesitated, then reluctantly climbed on. Watching, Azel was impressed.
'This princess has a really cool personality.'
At first, her tagging along had annoyed him, but the more he saw her actions, the more he liked her. It couldn't be easy for someone of royal blood to act that way. Was it because she was born a Dragon Demon Princess?
Azel turned to Rick.
"Want me to carry you, Rick?"
"...I refuse."
Rick was exhausted too.
After Zikel the Dragon Demon Hybrid set the forest ablaze, the group had been ambushed repeatedly by monsters and demonic beasts while traveling half a day.
Fleeing the rapidly spreading fire had been desperate enough. Just when they escaped the flames' direction, more monsters and beasts attacked.
Constant fierce battles had worn even Arieta down. Protecting Rick and Enora without serious injury was a miracle.
'I'm not in great shape either.'
Along the way, Azel had meditated whenever possible, alternating with Arieta to restore mana. But accumulated fatigue was unavoidable.
Azel said,
"No one's watching us now. Seems setting that fire worked."
"I never imagined we'd resort to something so extreme."
"They started it. To escape, we had to take some risks."
To evade pursuit, Azel had taken drastic measures. Just like Zikel, he'd set the forest on fire.
Unlike Zikel, though, they'd prepared ways to control it. En route, conversations with Arieta had revealed options, including a spell to ignite a limited area and extinguish it automatically after time.
But in a forest, not flatland, there were no guarantees. Like the flames still burning unchecked in the distance, the risk of spread remained high.
"Luckily, it didn't spread..."
Arieta looked displeased. With no alternative, she'd followed Azel's lead, but it was too risky.
'Without it, we couldn't have slipped their surveillance.'
Dragon Shadow members had tracked them from afar with far-sight magic, plotting against them. Without evading those eyes, the group had no respite.
Azel said,
"Let's rest here then. Princess, can you generate heat without a fire?"
"I can. But wouldn't it be nice if you did some work once in a while?"
"Regrettably, my mana reserves are pitifully small."
"With skills like yours yet weak mana—truly a strange man."
"I didn't want to be this kind of guy either."
Azel replied shamelessly, and Arieta snorted, casting a spell on the ground. Warmth seeped from the spot, driving away the chill.
Azel said,
"We'll take turns resting. Can't afford long breaks."
"Meaning we can't hope the enemies stop at night."
"Right. Dragon Shadow aside, their forces are monsters and beasts."
Many monsters and demonic beasts were nocturnal.
Azel said,
"I'll handle watch with you, Princess, alternating."
"Huh? Why? Shouldn't we all rotate? Well, excluding Enora..."
Rick objected. Even excluding the young girl Enora, shouldn't a sturdy adult like him stand watch?
Azel explained.
"Sorry, but you'd be useless on watch. By the time you sense enemies, it's too late."
"Ugh. Fair enough."
"So rest easy. Recover some stamina to keep up."
No one had eaten since starting. They'd only drunk water found along the way. Stamina was critically low.
Rick bit his lip.
"Sorry."
"Before resting, check on Enora. She has some scratches."
"Got it."
Rick complied. Enora had torn clothes and scrapes from rushing through the forest. Rick healed them with recovery magic.
Azel said to Arieta,
"Watch in one-hour shifts. Princess, want first?"
First watch was easiest, so he offered courteously, but she shook her head.
"No, I want to sleep a bit first. You take it."
"Alright."
Suddenly, Arieta's face clouded with worry.
"I wonder how the others are."
"They'll be fine."
Azel reassured her without basis. Arieta sighed.
"After rescuing Enora, I judged acting separately would keep them safer, so I followed you... but I wonder if it was right."
'So that's why she followed me?'
Azel had wondered why she ditched the palace entourage for him. Of all reasons.
He was incredulous.
"Wait, so you thought it was okay to drag me into danger?"
"That's not why I followed."
"Then?"
"First, I suspected you might be a Dragon Shadow plant."
"After saving you?"
"You fought them, injured some, but killed none. Could've been acting to deceive me."
Though suspicious, Azel was impressed.
'Hoo. Sharp.'
Superhuman foes could feign anything beyond normal imagination.
Arieta said,
"But traveling together convinced me. You're no enemy, at least."
"Thanks for trusting me."
"Plenty remains suspicious... but I'll believe you bear me no ill will. Now, I'll sleep."
Arieta leaned against a tree, closed her eyes, and within three seconds, breathed steadily in deep slumber.
Azel muttered in disbelief.
"How does she sleep like this...?"
Azel was skilled at sleeping too. It sounded odd, but on battlefields, seizing sleep when needed was vital. Resting anytime, anywhere preserved stamina for survival.
Spirit Order had techniques for that. Azel used them often.
But Arieta used none. She simply decided to sleep and fell into deep rest.
"Amazing."
Azel chuckled.
The soundly sleeping Arieta looked nothing like her earlier dignified self—a innocent girl, muddied yet sleeping as comfortably as in her own bed, blurring the line with reality.