Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Dragon's Lair (4)
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-Slash!
-Thud!
-Skreeek!
-Bam!
Every time Lloyd swung his sword, the black blood vessels were severed powerlessly. Overwhelmed by his momentum, the black slimy mass kept retreating step by step. Lloyd swung his sword wide, then seized a brief opening to toss a small vial my way.
It was the potion I'd made for him earlier. He hadn't used it yet? Even after all this time? He's scarier than the monster....
-Gulp, gulp.
Either way, thanks to him, I survived. I chugged the potion in a hurry. As its effects gradually kicked in, my blurry vision cleared up. Meanwhile, Lloyd relentlessly pressed the attack. The severed black blood vessels writhed on the ground before popping with spurts of mud-like liquid, one by one.
I drew my bow and nocked an arrow. The lightweight yet sturdy silverwood arrow clung perfectly to my fingers. I pulled back with all my strength, aiming at the black mass, just as Lloyd—as if on cue—sliced off one of its legs.
-Psssh!!!
Like the blood vessels, it burst with mud-like liquid. Was this some kind of undead? Taking advantage of its stagger, I loosed an arrow at Rubaf's face, exposed amid the black slime.
-Screeeeech!!!
-Squelch!
Right before it hit, Rubaf's face vanished into the slime. The arrow punched straight through the slime and embedded itself in the wall. Damn it. I clicked my tongue and nocked another.
-Screeeeech!!!
I aimed for Rubaf's face again, but it slipped into the slime at the last second. This time, though, the arrow lodged in the slime without passing through. That was enough. I activated [Forest's Blessing]. White Disidia bloomed profusely from the arrowhead. The purifying vines spread out like a net, ensnaring the black slime. No way Rubaf's face could emerge from where the Disidia had taken root.
-Splatter!
On top of that, Lloyd severed one of its arms. With its range narrowed, my next shot was bound to hit. I gritted my teeth and nocked another arrow. Mana gathered in the taut bowstring.
-Screeeeech!!!
-Thwack!
Direct hit.
The arrow struck right in the center of Rubaf's forehead, and rotten mud began spewing from his mouth. Squish, splat, squish, splat—disgusting ooze poured out endlessly. I fired another arrow at the mass. As White Disidia sprouted, the writhing black mud started drying up.
"Ah... ah, no, no.... Nooo...."
Rubaf wailed amid the black mud. I slowly approached and stood before his face, now slumped on the floor. He glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
-Gurgle.... Gack.... Gehck....
"The Crows used you to get their hands on the fragment."
"Sh-shut, grrr.... Sh-shut.... up...."
Rubaf must have known already.
But he couldn't give up.
Not the Sherpa glory, not the chance to reclaim his wife.
'A tragedy.'
The Crows were cunning bastards.
Just like Grizel had touched the fragment to save her village, Rubaf had done the same for his kin and wife.
The Crows exploited desperate people.
Desperate folks would do 'anything,' after all.
'Vile.'
I lowered my bow and addressed Rubaf.
"Now, return the fragment. Then you can have a peaceful end."
-Grrrrgle....
"Become a bird and go to your wife."
Rubaf shed black tears without a word. Unlike the rest, they flowed cleanly, unmingled with the slime. And then.
"Too.... late...."
-Fwoooosh!!!
Rubaf's face vanished completely, and the black slime began bubbling like it was about to explode. I let out a deep sigh and tossed my bow aside. Ppippi, waiting in my pocket, fluttered onto my hand. Soon, a brilliant rainbow light spread out.
"You chose that path, huh."
-Bubble bubble!!!
"No helping it."
I gripped the sturdy rainbow bow and drew back the transparent string deep. As the black slime boiled and took on a massive form, the light in my hand coalesced into a sharp arrow.
-Fweeeeeeee!!!
With a scream that tore the air, the arrow shot forth trailing a luminous halo. Splaaash!!! The black slime whirled and splattered where the arrow touched. It incinerated the impurities, then—
-Flaaash!!!!
—sliced clean through the arrow already embedded in Rubaf's forehead, blowing his head apart entirely.
-Splat!
-Splat!
-Splat!
With Rubaf's total annihilation, the tangled black slime poured onto the floor. It slithered outward, seeking a new host—a horrific sight. I immediately used [Forest's Blessing]. Purifying White Disidia spread, burning it away.
"Pii.... iii...."
Somewhere, a bird's sorrowful cry echoed faintly. Was it the soul of Rubaf's wife, the one he'd longed for, now a bird?
"Rest in peace at last."
I closed Rubaf's eyes and picked up the fallen fragment of Earthe beside him. The brightly glowing Earthe fragment fit perfectly into the fine groove on my bow.
'That makes the second fragment secured safely.'
With a sparkle, the bow vanished, leaving Ppippi asleep exhausted in my hands. A single white feather, like Earthe's fragment, had grown on Ppippi's tail.
"Good work this time too, Ppippi."
I tucked the sleeping creature back into my pocket and stood. Lloyd, who'd stood guard beside me, supported my battered form.
"Thanks."
"Don't be late next time."
"Haha, you showed up at just the right moment."
And looking damn cool doing it. I patted Lloyd's shoulder as if all was well and started walking.
"「...Linshaka's child.」"
Just as we reached the entrance, a thunderous voice boomed from the darkness.
Tondra.
Fortunately, he'd tempered his draconic speech this time—no gut-wrenching pain. Just awe toward a great being.
I signaled Lloyd I was fine and turned back, kneeling on one knee to pay respects to Tondra.
"...Lord of the Silver Mountains."
"「The sedative you made tastes utterly vile.」"
"Medicine's supposed to be bitter."
"「I've heard that somewhere before....」"
"Is that so?"
"「You resemble her.」"
Talking about the old hag? It wouldn't surprise me if that crone had met a dragon. I nodded lightly and looked up at Tondra. His glacier-blue eyes gazed deeply into me.
"「Asking your true nature seems pointless.」"
"I'm Druid Theodor."
"「That's not what I mean. What I want to know is the history of your 'soul'....」"
"......"
"「But I won't ask. Souls rich in secrets are beautiful, after all.」"
"Thank you."
"「The thanks are mine. We dragons feel no need for gratitude usually, but your deeds warrant it.」"
-Tzzzzzt...!
A gentle flash enveloped my body—Tondra's magic. As the sparkling light swept over me, my whole body felt refreshed, like I'd been cleansed. No fatigue, no pain. Dragon magic.... incredible.
"「Without you, I dread to imagine the Silver Mountains' fate. Thank you, 'Proxy.'」"
Proxy?
First time I've heard that.
Was Tondra mistaken?
Or....
'Do the dragons know truths I don't?'
I met Tondra's gaze calmly.
"...With the guardian awakened from deep slumber, I believe the Silver Mountains will reclaim their peace."
"「With worries over the great fragment eased, it should be so.」"
"We'll need to drive out the rats infesting the mountains too."
"「Driving them out won't suffice.」"
Tondra's eyes flashed. He harbored deep fury toward the Crows who'd let things spiral this far. Good. If we could borrow a dragon's power against the Crows, nothing could be better.
"May I tell you what happened while you slumbered? And I have questions of my own."
"「Oh, of course. I was hoping....」"
-Rumble!!!
Then, a thunderous roar shook the entire space. Another attack?! I scanned around in panic.
"What the—? Are there still Crows left? Lloyd, what about outside?"
"No way. I took care of all of them—"
"「Ahem, ahem....」"
As Lloyd and I talked, a cough came from above. Tondra had half-opened his blue eyes, baring his icicle-like fangs in a grin. Wait, was that an embarrassed smile? It looked terrifying!
"「I've gone too long without eating....」"
So that rumble was Tondra's stomach growling.
Dragons sure are different. A stomach growl louder than thunder....
Well, he'd slumbered far longer than expected, sealing Earthe's fragment. No wonder he was starving.
'Of course, I prepared for this.'
Time to cook for a dragon at last. Knew it. I thought of the goats and ingredients I'd prepped outside and smiled at Tondra.
"Don't worry."
"「…….」"
"I've got something ready."
"「Ready?」"
"Figured you'd want a meal after waking. You've slept a long time, after all."
"「Hoo.」"
"Just follow me. I'll prepare something amazing."
Tondra's eyes sparkled with half doubt, half anticipation. I flashed a confident grin and led the way.
'Kukukuku, I'll give you a feast to remember...!'