Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Even a Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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A few days later, in a dangerous monster habitat within the Valderian territory.
Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
In a clearing deep within a dense forest far from inhabited areas, a Griffin with one missing wing was roaring with all its might.
The roar, so violent it shook the trees of the forest, carried an imposing dignity, as if declaring itself the king of this territory.
Groooooooooooooow!
And moments later, a massive monster's cry, rejecting the Griffin's roar, was heard.
It was filled with the rage of the original master of this place against the intruder who had violated its domain.
It was a creature with a massive body that blotted out the sun, a long body covered in scales, and bat-like wings reminiscent of the legendary dragon—a monster known as a Drake.
Grrrrrrrrr!
Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
This Black Drake, with a body length of about 10 meters, was a legendary being akin to a dragon for commoners and hunters alike, a tyrant capable of devouring all life in this territory.
Looking at the audacious young Griffin that had entered its domain and thrown down the gauntlet, it gave an incredulous look. Delighted that a meal had rolled in without it even having to hunt, it began a steep dive.
Groooooooooooo!
To the Drake, this tiny Griffin, not even half its size, was a laughable existence.
The pleasure of easy prey. Thinking it would all be over by simply crushing, ravaging, and devouring the creature, it descended to the ground without even considering using its breath.
It never even considered the presence of humans hiding in the surrounding forest, watching it.
"Alterio! Evade! Selina! Magic!"
"Yes, yes~ Already prepared... now! 'Bind'."
Following Beonald's signal from his hiding place in the forest, the Griffin Alterio swiftly leaped aside to avoid the spot, and the Black Drake crashed into the ground, thrashing about.
And at Beonald's instruction, Selina cast her spell. Thanks to her memorization, a rope of light was instantly created and flew out, binding the Drake's wings.
Simultaneously, Beonald raised a javelin, ready to throw, and gave an order to the 'Knight of Steel' waiting behind him.
"Heidi! Charge! I'll draw its attention, aim for its neck!"
"Yes! Lord Beonald!"
Beonald, who had emerged from the forest first, aimed for the head and threw the javelin infused with aura. However, as it was not something he usually did, it only grazed the bridge of the nose and bounced off.
Enraged, the Drake turned its gaze toward the being that had dared to target it. To perfectly capture its attention, Beonald threw another javelin, raised his aura, and began running at full speed.
Groooooooooooo!
The furious Drake, aiming to catch this human insect, readied its signature 'Venom Breath', sputtering it toward Beonald, who was running around.
Seeing this, Beonald thought the timing was perfect and called for Heidi.
"Good! Heidi!"
"Yes!"
While Beonald was drawing its attention, the Knight of Steel, wielding a massive spear, revealed herself from the forest.
The knight, encased entirely in bluish-black metal, boasted a frame heavier than a human's. Golden aura flowed from various joint parts as she ran at a speed surpassing that of a human.
The Drake tried to turn its head at the heavy, earth-shaking sound, but it was on the verge of spewing its Venom Breath and couldn't move.
"Imperial Knight Order Martial Art, Third Form—Tiger King Strike!"
Heidi, charging forward, concentrated her golden aura into the impossibly large, oversized spear. Using her entire body, she spun, applying centrifugal force and acceleration, and precisely stabbed into the area below the Drake's neck.
The scales were thin below the neck, and the Drake, restricted in movement while trying to spew its breath, had no way to dodge. Its neck was pierced, and it began spewing blood and venomous fluid.
Gkwakakakakaktagamagagak!
"Got it!"
"The Bind broke!"
"The performance is really crappy!"
"Yes, yes! Sorry, it's a spell from a 4th-rank mage!"
The death throes of a dying creature. The Black Drake thrashed in agony, and the barely holding Bind spell finally shattered.
The Black Drake tried to fly into the sky to escape somehow, but it had forgotten something.
Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
"Great! Alterio!"
The Griffin Alterio. As if knowing why he, with only one wing, couldn't fly, he plunged his beak and mouth into one of the Drake's wing joints and bit down, while his claws tore into the wing membrane, shredding it to pieces.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Heidi, who had now drawn her sword, concentrated her aura and stabbed her sword into the Drake's wing joint as well, ensuring it couldn't fly away.
"Haaaaaaaaaaat!"
Pieeeeeeeeeek!
Grooooooooo!
Venomous fluid sprayed everywhere from the violent thrashing, but Beonald and Selina had wisely kept their distance. Heidi was protected by her armor, and Alterio by his feathers and hide, so a small amount getting on them didn't matter.
Having completely lost hope, the Black Drake, with its massive size, possessed excellent vitality and didn't succumb to death easily.
But as time passed, due to excessive blood loss and wounds, it finally collapsed.
Grrrrrrrrrr......!
"Done! We got it!"
"Easy, too easy."
"Ha... This is really unbelievable. To think just the three of us could take down a Black Drake of this size."
Selina looked at the colossal form of the fallen Black Drake with an astonished expression.
Originally, large dangerous species like this 'Black Drake' required hiring adventurers, soldiers, or mercenaries by the hundreds, or mobilizing dozens of knights or large weapons like ballistae to even confront them. To take one down this easily was simply astounding.
"Is this... the power of Magic Armor?"
"Well, the strategy was good too. If we divide the contribution into 10, Alterio gets 3, Heidi gets 5, and the rest gets 2? Alterio's role as bait and Heidi's decisive power in Magic Armor stood out."
Beonald's analysis was accurate.
Being able to start the fight advantageously was thanks to Alterio's presence, which provoked the Black Drake and drew out its carelessness. And being able to secure the kill was largely due to Heidi's martial prowess, which powerfully and precisely drove the massive spear into its vital spot.
"Ah, of course your magic helped too. The remaining contribution of 2 is yours."
"Then what about you?"
"Naturally, I get all 10. Hahahahaha! I gathered you all, made all these preparations, and planned the strategy. So! Praise me! Hurry up and give me compliments!"
"Sigh~ Figures."
Selina outwardly made a face showing she was fed up with this man's self-aggrandizement, but inwardly she couldn't help but acknowledge it.
No matter that they had two upper-knight rank individuals, taking down a large dangerous monster this easily was a transcendent achievement.
"Truly... truly amazing, Lord Beonald! This armor... contrary to its weight, it's easy to move in, and I feel even stronger! Breathing isn't uncomfortable either! However... the exterior melted a bit from the venom fluid... I'm really sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about? Weapons and armor are ultimately items 'used' for combat. If they break, we fix them, or better yet, improve them. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. Heidi, it was an excellent performance."
"Lord Beonaaaald... Hehe......"
"With this, no knight of the Valderian family will look down on you anymore. Shall we give you a title like Drake Slayer?"
"I-I think if a title is to be given, it should be given to you, Lord Beonald!"
"I don't need it, so I'm trying to give it to you. You are to be my spear, after all. Ah, that Alterio fellow seems hungry, so cut off some flesh and give him some meat to eat."
"Yes!"
Thus, Heidi, having received ample praise, withdrew to tend to Alterio. Beonald, once again with Selina, looked at the dead Black Drake. This time, between themselves, they were calculating the value and feeling happiness from a different perspective.
"This... is really a jackpot. There's probably a large Magic Stone inside. The Black Drake's hide, bones, tendons, heart, entrails, blood, venom fluid... there's not a single part to waste, it's the best material..."
"The even better part is that we can continue hunting like this. Hehehe. Moreover, there's an abundance of prey."
"Honestly, I can't help but be excited. These scales and teeth... can be used as magic catalysts or mediums."
"Especially, Drake's blood is special as an alchemy material. Rendering oil from its bones and liver would be even better. And if we process these scales and the inner hide to overlay on the Magic Armor, the defense will be further reinforced. Then we can reduce the thickness of the armor plates while maintaining defense, which naturally improves performance."
Just thinking about how to utilize this massive 'Black Drake' was enjoyable for Beonald.
The problem was transportation, but there was no need to worry much about that.
By having Selina shoot a magical signal into the sky indicating the successful subjugation and location, knights and soldiers were dispatched from the Valderian territory, allowing for safe transportation.
"Ooooooh! Truly magnificent! My goodness, to actually take down a 'Black Drake'!"
"Think nothing of it. This is all thanks to the legacy of the Valderian family. Wasn't it thanks to that that we could develop this Magic Armor? Anyway, please enjoy the Drake meat. It's very good for vitality..."
"Ooh, ooooooh!"
For the people living in the Valderian territory, this 'Black Drake' was quite a famous named monster, a symbol of terror flying over the forests.
Having captured and brought it back, it was only natural that the acting lord Oswald and the knights looked at them with admiring gazes. And by generously sharing and distributing the Drake meat, their eyes seemed to melt with gratitude.
The remaining parts were to be sent to the nobles under the Valderian family and the various guild masters maintaining the territory.
'With this, the efficiency of the Magic Armor should be fully explained. All the more reason why the Valderian family now needs something important... Hmm?'
"Ah, a message from my brother. Hmm... Hmm... Hmm? Oh my! Such news!"
"...What's the matter?"
"The war that broke out in the south... seems it will be prolonged. Word is the Garccan Republic has finally intervened. Haha, this is..."
Hearing the news from the south delivered by Oswald, Beonald began picturing the situation there and running calculations in his head.
Perhaps this war... might become an opportunity for a meteoric rise in status and gaining power.