The Dragon
"Whoaaaa!"
The cheers of the dwarves echoed from outside the mine.
Barin had sent word outside that the dragon had fallen. In response, the dwarves let out ecstatic cries of joy, celebrating the reclamation of their mine as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.
Heal
Inside the mine, by contrast, Elraim was focusing entirely on treating the dragon's wounds.
When Elraim first channeled her water to heal the beast, thick steam hissed off its body, likely due to the intense heat generated by the internal explosion.
Once the heat subsided to some degree, Elraim's water seeped deep inside the dragon, beginning the treatment in earnest.
"The damage must have been quite severe," Elraim murmured, clicking her tongue in pity. "To think a mighty dragon would lose consciousness..."
Even as the treatment neared its end, the dragon showed no signs of waking.
But almost as soon as she finished speaking, the dragon's tail twitched. Slowly, its eyelids fluttered open.
"Are you awake?"
"Ugh..."
Feeling a sharp pang of pain from where Elraim was treating it, the dragon knit its brow and let out a low groan.
"My, what a crybaby. You're a dragon, why are you whining over a little pain?" Elraim chided.
She slapped the dragon's wounded flank as it writhed, then resumed her healing.
"Did I... lose?"
Lying flat on the ground, the dragon stared blankly at us as Elraim worked.
Having accepted its defeat, its tone was entirely different from before.
"How is your body feeling?"
"Like I'm going to die..."
"The pain will subside once the treatment is finished, so please bear with it a little longer."
"You really are strong... I suppose that's a Hero for you. I was wrong to look down on you just because you're human."
Having lost all will to fight, the dragon lay limp and relaxed.
Perhaps Elraim's healing magic was finally taking effect, as the tension in its face melted away, replaced by a peaceful expression.
"But why did a dragon come all the way to a place like this? Leaving behind a comfortable lair..."
"Well, that's because I don't have a lair."
"You don't have a lair?"
"Buying a lair costs a fortune. I only recently became an adult dragon, so I don't have much money... My parents told me to go to the human world, live among them, and save up, but that's just too much hassle."
I doubted my ears as I listened to the dragon speak.
I had never heard of a dragon needing money to buy a lair, nor had I ever heard of them venturing into the human world to earn a living.
I had always assumed they were the ultimate race, living in absolute luxury and wanting for nothing...
"So you took over this dwarf mine to use it as your lair."
"Took it over? I'll have you know I challenged them to a fair duel. Though... those dwarves surrendered immediately, so it was a bit too easy..."
A massive, crimson beast breathing fire and barging in...
What dwarf in their right mind wouldn't surrender?
He called it a "challenge to a duel," but it was nothing of the sort.
It was plain extortion.
"This place is the dwarves' livelihood. For the humans of the continent, it's a crucial mine for producing weapons to fight the Demon King's army. I must ask you to vacate this place."
"Well, I lost the duel, so it's not like I have a say in the matter... Fine. I'll leave."
Once Elraim finished her treatment, the dragon stood up. It slowly looked around the mine, its eyes lingering on the cavern walls with deep regret.
"Sigh... Where am I supposed to find a lair now?"
It slumped its shoulders and sighed just like a human. Anyone watching would have thought it was a human wearing a dragon costume.
"Excuse me..."
Clara's voice called out as she approached the melancholy dragon from behind.
"If you don't mind... would you like to come to our kingdom?"
"A kingdom?"
"Yes! I heard that dragons can polymorph into human form..."
"Yeah, I can."
"Then how about living with us at the royal palace? We can even give you your own mansion if you'd like!"
I had no idea what Clara was plotting.
But seeing her eyes sparkle like that for the first time in a while, she clearly had a scheme cooked up.
"A human kingdom... But we dragons must remain neutral."
"You mentioned earlier that there are dragons living in the Demon King's territory too. So wouldn't it be fine for you to live in our palace? You can just stay there and remain neutral."
"Hmm..."
The dragon fell into deep thought at Clara's words. Sensing an opening, Clara quickly fanned the flames to sway its decision.
"If you come to the palace, you can eat all the human food you want. Your private villa will have guards, maids, and gardeners. There's even an outdoor garden where you can enjoy tea on sunny days."
"And what do I have to do in return?"
"Pardon?"
"You wouldn't invite me to the palace unless you wanted something from me, right?"
"Want something? Haha, of course not!"
"You don't want me to protect the palace while I'm staying there?"
"..."
It seemed Clara's plan had indeed been to keep the dragon at the palace as a safeguard for emergencies...
"If that's the case, I can't stay. We must remain neutral at all costs. I cannot protect one side over the other."
"Oh, no! You don't have to protect us at all!"
"Then what?"
"Teach me magic!"
"What?"
"In exchange for a comfortable place to stay, teach me magic! This isn't asking for protection. It's just a fair trade—you get lodging, and I pay you for lessons."
"Well, that is..."
The dragon trailed off, finding her logic hard to refute, and fell back into contemplation.
Watching the dragon waver, the corners of Clara's mouth began to curl upward.
"So... I would be going as a master?"
"Yes! Exactly, Master!"
When Clara called it "Master" with sparkling eyes, the dragon's lips twitched upward.
It looked thoroughly pleased.
"Ahem! Well, if you insist on becoming my disciple..."
"Thank you, Master! I look forward to learning from you!"
I couldn't tell if Clara genuinely wanted to learn magic or if she was just using it as an excuse to keep a dragon at the palace.
But either way, both parties were satisfied. More than anything, the issue with the Dwarf Mine had been resolved.
I suppose you could call it killing three birds with one stone.
The refugee camp of the Erupe Kingdom.
This place had once bustled with refugees fleeing from the western part of the continent.
Now, almost everyone had departed for the Arzen Kingdom, leaving only a handful of people who hoped to travel to other nations.
And then...
Into the quiet camp rode the Heresy Inquisitors, their polished white armor emblazoned with red crosses gleaming in the light.
"Is this where the Saintess of Water was sighted?"
"Yes, High Priest Joseph."
Priest Joseph, the only one wearing a white cloak over his armor, swept his gaze across the refugee camp and issued an order to his inquisitors.
"Begin the interrogation."
"Understood."
At Priest Joseph's command, the Heresy Inquisitors fanned out into the camp.
In an instant, the camp was filled with wails and screams of agony as refugees were cut down by the inquisitors' blades.
A few refugees were seized and dragged before the priest.
"Priest, these are the ones who claim to have seen the Saintess of Water."
"Is that so?"
Priest Joseph finally dismounted. He walked past the captives, peering closely at their faces.
"I will give you one final chance to repent. Speak the truth of the Saintess of Water's whereabouts, and I shall grant you the Goddess's grace."
The inquisitors had searched the shanties, bringing only those who were suspected of knowing the Saintess.
At first, not understanding why they had been dragged out, some claimed they knew nothing about her.
Others simply remained silent.
"Will no one speak?"
When no one answered, Priest Joseph nodded to the inquisitor on his left.
The man stepped forward, drawing his sword, and approached the person at the front of the line.
"If you do not speak, there will be no trial for you heretics."
Slash!
Before the priest's words could even fade, the inquisitor slit a woman's throat.
Horrified, the remaining refugees tried to scramble to their feet, but the inquisitors behind them immediately pressed cold steel against their necks.
"Now, I shall give you demons and heretics another chance to repent. Where did the Saintess of Water go?"
"..."
"Still silent? In that case..."
As the priest looked toward the next woman in line, she shrieked and scrambled backward.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Just please, spare my life!"
"Very well. Speak, and I shall grant you the chance to repent."
"Thank you! Thank you! The Saintess of Water went to the Arzen Kingdom with the Hero!"
"With the Hero... to the Arzen Kingdom?"
"Yes! They said the Saintess of Water is a member of the Hero's party!"
Desperate to survive, she had betrayed the very person who had healed them. The other refugees glared at her with venomous eyes.
"Is there not a single lie in your words?"
"Yes! I swear it! So please, spare me! I have children to feed!"
"Hmm... Very well. I shall grant you the chance to repent."
The priest pointed his sword at the ground in front of her and muttered a single word.
Holy Fire
Whoosh!
White flames erupted from the earth, blazing fiercely.
The intense heat forced everyone to shield their faces and stumble backward.
"If you leap into those flames and survive, your repentance shall be accepted. If not, you shall plunge into the fires of hell."
"Please, spare me! You said you would let me live if I told you where the Saintess of Water went!"
"I never said I would let you heretics live. I only promised a chance to repent."
"What...?"
The woman collapsed to the ground, all strength leaving her body.
"What are you waiting for?" the priest urged.
At his prompting, the inquisitors grabbed the woman by her arms and dragged her toward the roaring white flames.
Behind them, the remaining refugees were ruthlessly slaughtered, cut down one by one by the inquisitors' cold steel.