Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: What to Do If You Wake a Sleeping Dragon in a Cave
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6
Problem: What should you do if you wake a dragon sleeping in a cave?
First off, don't strike first.
There's no chance of winning, and even if there were, it feels wrong to hit an innocent dragon that's only woken up from sleep for no reason.
If possible, running away is best.
Of course, only if you can actually escape.
No matter how fast you run, you'll be slower than a dragon just walking, so it's unrealistic.
Then should I play dead?
That's the dumbest idea.
A dragon isn't a bear... and even playing dead in front of a bear just means becoming its meal.
In short, doing anything is a dead end.
Thanks to instinctively understanding that fact, both Leon and I were frozen in place.
"There's a foreign scent in my cave," the dragon said.
Its words were closer to humming than actual language.
It was a unique melody I'd heard a few times back in the game days, but strangely, I understood it the moment I heard it.
That was a relief, at least.
There was almost no hostility in the white dragon's tone.
At the very least, it didn't seem like the white dragon planned to devour us on the spot.
"...Hello?"
Time for conversation.
With that thought, I tossed out a greeting, and the dragon narrowed its eyes.
"Did you just say 'hello'?"
"...Hello?"
Half-informal speech must rub a dragon the wrong way, given its ancient lifespan.
I immediately switched to polite speech, and the white dragon rumbled with laughter.
"Ahaha! You're the most amusing human I've seen in nearly three hundred years."
"That's... quite the compliment..."
It was praise, right?
Probably praise.
I stepped in front of Leon, who was subtly trying to ready his holy sword, and laughed along.
Don't, just don't.
Even with the holy sword, it's still too early to take on a dragon.
"A thorn had been irritating me, so I opened my eyes, and lo and behold, I meet such an entertaining human. It seems you two are the ones who pulled it out."
The thorn was almost certainly the holy sword.
How many people... no, dragons in the world could treat a holy sword like an irritating thorn?
In terms of existence alone, a holy sword is on par with an average dragon.
That's why its wielder possesses power equal to someone who has directly contracted with a dragon.
Of course, not all dragons are the same, so there are differences between individuals...
To begin with, Exwise is both a holy sword and a dragon-slaying blade.
Designed to target great dragonkin, it's the natural predator of most dragons.
To have such a holy sword stuck in its body without a care...
I thought it was just a pedestal, but this is no ordinary dragon.
"It was embedded quite some time ago, and I couldn't pull it out. You've not only provided some entertainment after so long but also helped me, so a proper reward is in order."
The white dragon raised a claw and peeled off a scale from the tip of its tail.
It was the smallest scale on a dragon's body, but due to its immense size, it was larger than my palm when I received it.
Even if it were smaller than my palm, it wouldn't matter. A dragon's body parts are treasures in themselves.
Even fragments of scales could be sold for enough to live leisurely for years.
No wonder dragon scale farming was the most efficient money grind in the game days.
"Take this as a token of my goodwill. Carry it on you, and you'll earn the favor of other dragons. At the very least, they won't attack without reason."
"This is incredible."
Among dragons, the most troublesome are the ferocious ones with preemptive aggression.
They're strong to begin with and charge before you even make eye contact, making them a leading cause of sudden deaths.
To gain favor even against those dragons... What kind of dragon is this pedestal, anyway?
"My explanation isn't over yet. Just once, but in a moment of absolute crisis, I, the white dragon Dresia, will aid you personally. This is proof of that promise."
"Really...!?"
"Mm. On the pride of the white dragon, I speak only once."
Not a pedestal... the white dragon Dresia affirmed it.
In the world, the right to receive a dragon's aid.
Even just once, it's an enormous opportunity.
Best variable ever!
I'd welcome variables like this anytime!
"Thank you."
"Thank you as well."
We bowed our heads in thanks to the white dragon Dresia, whose blue eyes left a strong impression.
Leon, who had also received a scale, gave a quick bow as well.
"Then I'll go back to sleep, so be on your way."
Dresia curled its body into a ball again.
As we turned to leave the cave in high spirits, Dresia added casually.
"Guts and recklessness are a fine line. Even with our dragonkin's natural predator in hand, it'll take another fifty years of training to reach my neck. But I like that spirit."
We flinched. Not just Leon—even my feet froze.
Dresia already knew that Leon had been on the verge of charging in.
And yet, it had let it slide.
"If that amusing human awakens his power, the time might halve... but either way, today is not the day, so don't act so recklessly elsewhere. I can't let a human's already short life end in an instant."
What was that supposed to mean?
I was puzzled but couldn't ask.
Ahem. Dresia took a deep breath and lazily shifted its body.
"That's all I have to say, so hurry along."
We bolted from the cave without looking back.
We walked a good distance until the cave entrance was out of sight before the tension fully drained from our bodies.
"Haaa..."
My legs gave out completely.
I barely grabbed a tree to steady myself, and Leon took deep breaths, his body trembling.
"You okay?"
"Is that really a dragon? My hands are shaking, but I'm otherwise fine."
"You've got guts. I'm still dizzy."
"But it's a good dragon. Thinking it over, I'm good now."
True, it was a good dragon.
It shared a large scale and promised aid later.
It didn't try to kill us and even warned us—that proves it.
"If I train another fifty years, I can beat a dragon too. That boosts my confidence."
"Is that... for real?"
That was a warning just now.
Why take it so calmly as encouragement?
"The dragon said it itself, so it must be true."
"No... I mean, yeah. Right, we need to work hard enough to take down a dragon."
"You got acknowledged too. With your ability, it said it wouldn't even take fifty years."
"That was... unexpected."
Honestly, I wondered if Dresia was mistaken about something.
Deathwise rated Theo Agrit as lacking even mediocre talent.
So the talent Dresia mentioned must be purely mine.
However, I'd never had any notable talent in my life.
I wasn't athletic, smart, or gifted in anything special.
What talent Dresia saw in me was a mystery.
Not like I could go back and ask.
No need to overthink it.
Whatever it is, I just want to live quietly without standing out.
"Thanks. I got a great weapon thanks to you. I'll repay this debt someday."
"Forget it. What debt? You pulled it out, so just keep it with a clear conscience."
"I can't do that. You guided me there. If you hadn't stopped me, I might've been done in by the white dragon by now."
That's certainly true.
As I opened my mouth to respond, rough-looking figures emerged from between the trees.
"Hey, you just came out of that cave, right?"
"You can't just take the treasure we had our eyes on."
"Brother, that sword in his hand is sparkling. That's gotta be the dragon's treasure, right?"
They looked like they were proudly advertising themselves as bandits.
Annoying bunch at first glance, but Leon stepped forward with a serious expression.
"Perfect timing. A chance to test the new sword."
"Yeah... handle it yourself."
Of all the timings.
The bandits have bad luck too.
It'd definitely be settled if left to Leon, so I slipped back.
The bandits cackled as they surrounded us.
Leon calmly gripped Exwise with both hands and held it horizontal.
Vrrr... Like absorbing the sun's light, Exwise's blade glowed golden.
Then a single flash grazed the cheek of the bandit who seemed to be the leader.
It was a strike at the speed of light.
Only after the flash faded did the bandit leader realize something had grazed his cheek.
Before he could turn his head, dozens of trees behind him toppled powerlessly.
"Hm... I get the usage, but controlling it is tricky."
Rumble, crash—the falling trees boomed as Leon mused calmly.
The destructive power was one thing, but the lack of control was the most terrifying.
"S-spare us...!!"
A direct hit would be instant death.
Feeling that viscerally, the bandit leader dropped to his knees and begged.
The other bandits, hearing the trees fall, all dropped their weapons and surrendered.
7
"Already this late, huh."
After tying up the bandits and handing them over to the city guards, it was already getting dark.
We'd spent about six hours round trip hiking, so it made sense.
"Let's eat before heading back."
"I'm hungry too... and the timing's awkward, so yeah, let's grab food."
Plus, we had the bounty from turning in the bandits.
We entered a nearby eatery.
"We can order decent stuff, right? There's a restaurant a bit further."
"Nah. We'd run out of the bounty money there."
"I was planning to cover the shortfall."
This guy...
I waved him off at his casual declaration.
"Too much hassle."
Half-serious.
I was tired and wanted to crash into bed right away.
We ordered modestly and waited a bit before the owner brought two plates.
This time, it was coq au vin—chicken in wine.
It's a dish where a strongly flavored rooster is simmered in wine.
Simmered in wine, the chicken absorbs its deep aroma.
With large chunks of carrot, shallots, and mushrooms, it feels vaguely like spicy chicken stew but entirely different.
I hoisted a hefty drumstick and bit in heartily.
The wine and herbs permeated deep into the meat, bursting out with the juices.
I thought it'd be tough given the size, but it was so tender it melted.
I closed my eyes to savor it.
Exotic, but it suited my taste.
As I filled my belly satisfactorily, Leon broached the subject carefully.
"Why are you hiding your power?"
"Man... straight to the point."
"If it's hard to talk about, you don't have to answer. It's just my one-sided curiosity."
"Well... it's nothing much."
It was Leon, so it was fine to tell him.
The biggest reason I don't step up is to avoid hassle, but the real reason ties into Leon a bit.
"My sword has the opposite attribute to the one you pulled. I can only use its full power at night. It's not like I'm hiding it—I'm actually weak during the day."
Leon nodded several times.
His doubts seemed resolved.
I'd have answered a question like that anytime.
So considerate.
"If we're together, we can cover day and night."
"You're serious?"
"Of course."
He says it with such a straight face...
I was a bit dumbfounded, but this was the Leon Hilfenberg I knew well.
I just shrugged it off and focused on eating.