Episode 53
I tried my best until it was time to depart with the dwarf delegation, but there wasn't much progress.
Even though I thought I should at least try something, nothing went as planned.
At best, I just became a little more clingy?
Aron didn't show much reaction either, probably thinking I just became slightly more feminine as my estrus period passed.
"Pfft... No progress at all."
Even right before departure, while getting advice from Pania about direction, I couldn't put it into action and just kept sighing.
During estrus, I felt like I could do anything, but now I can't do anything at all.
It feels like all that tremendous power has disappeared.
Anyway, all my confidence has evaporated.
'I thought about trying at least a light kiss... But me, a man? Doing that? Isn't that a bit weird?'
The thought of being male, which had disappeared during my estrus period, came back to me.
And it's even more firmly entrenched than before.
"Speaking of which, when is he coming back? He said he'd just go out for some fresh air, but he hasn't returned."
Aron, who had been sitting in the carriage and went out for some air complaining it was uncomfortable, hadn't returned.
Since quite some time had passed, I peeked my head out to check outside.
Outside, the dwarves were walking.
Perhaps because it was an important delegation, they were drinking alcohol from small containers, taking small sips.
"By any chance, have you seen Aron?"
At my voice, the dwarf guarding the side of the carriage looked at me.
"The hero-nim? He's chatting with Master Craftsman-nim up ahead right now. Should I call him for you?"
"Does he look busy by any chance?"
The dwarf stared ahead for a moment before shaking his head side to side.
"He's just walking leisurely with a beer in one hand. Doesn't seem particularly busy."
"Really? Then I'll go see him."
I hopped out of the carriage and looked ahead.
Just as the dwarf said, I could see Aron walking at the very front with the Master Craftsman.
'What on earth are they talking about that's so interesting?'
They were laughing heartily, and I wanted to join in too.
I passed by the dwarves and quietly approached right behind Aron, pricking up my ears.
"By the way, what do you usually make, Master Craftsman-nim? I heard from Todin that each master craftsman handles different equipment."
"I mainly make accessories. Rings, among them."
"Then is that ring you showed me last time one of the accessories you made, Master Craftsman-nim?"
"That's right. I made it quite a while ago, but no one recognized it, so I've been wearing it around like that. Just in case someone might recognize it, you see."
"And Mia recognized it."
At those words, the Master Craftsman nodded with satisfaction.
"I really didn't expect that. She didn't seem particularly knowledgeable about equipment, but to recognize that..."
"Mia actually knows about all sorts of things. If you ask her about other things, she'd probably know them too?"
"Is that so? Then I must ask her sometime."
Watching Aron smiling contentedly, I thought I'd hit him later.
I don't even remember any equipment now, and he's setting me up like this.
Just as I was about to step forward, thinking I should stop Aron's rampage.
"Aron-nim, you really like Mia-nim, don't you. Talking with you, I can see you're very interested in her and especially trust her immensely."
"Of course. She's someone I truly cherish."
At Aron's answer, the Master Craftsman laughed heartily and patted Aron's back.
"It feels like watching a fresh newlywed couple. When I heard from Todin-nim, I thought you were a playboy."
Scratching the back of his neck as if struck by guilt, Aron answered.
"I am a playboy... but I should tone it down now. I think Mia was getting hurt."
If I listened any longer, I felt like my face would burst from embarrassment.
I pretended I had just walked up and called out in a loud voice.
"Aron! What are you talking about?"
Thinking I had just arrived, Aron exchanged glances with the Master Craftsman for a moment before approaching me.
"I just asked what we should do when we meet the dragon. Are you bored?"
His hands naturally slipped under my armpits.
He lifted me lightly and pulled me into his embrace.
"Yeah, I'm bored being alone. Let me play with you too."
"Shall we? Then..."
After thinking for a moment, Aron seemed to have thought of something and said to me.
"By any chance, do you know about equipment?"
"Equipment? What kind of equipment?"
Remembering the earlier conversation, I considered saying I didn't know, but I didn't want to do that in front of Aron.
Couldn't I just remember somehow and match it?
"I know as much as I need to know. Why? Is there something you're curious about?"
As soon as he heard my answer, the Master Craftsman who had been walking alongside us took equipment out of his bag.
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings.
Though he said he mainly made rings, there were surprisingly many other accessories too.
"Then by any chance, can you identify the effects of any of these? These here are works that no one has yet identified."
"Among these? Hmm..."
I propped my chin with my hand and pouted my lips.
First, I slowly examined the equipment in hand.
Many of them were famous and popular equipment, so I recognized them immediately.
"First, that one will temporarily increase strength and speed... The ring next to it seems to create a shield. Ah! And that necklace..."
During the equipment explanation session that followed, Aron was surprised, the Master Craftsman was astonished, and the dwarves were envious.
After the explanation session ended completely, I could see the Master Craftsman who now knew.
"Hmm, that much is..."
I was relieved that only the things I knew came up, but I didn't show it.
Instead, I reacted as if it were natural.
*
"The way there is more ordinary than I thought."
Since I just naturally joined the delegation that always goes, there wasn't anything particularly difficult.
Rather, the dwarves who heard my equipment explanation session began to treat me with utmost care.
According to them, my knowledge was on par with the Master Craftsman's.
"Indeed. But this is the northern region where it snows every day... Why doesn't it snow here at all? It's even further north than the northern region."
"Ask when we get there. If it's a dragon, they should know something, right?"
"If the dragons knew, they would have done something about it, I think."
Just as Aron said, after passing through the northern region where snow falls heavily and it's extremely cold, we arrived here.
The Red Canyon where dwarves and dragons live.
For some reason, this place hardly gets any rain, let alone snow, so it's mostly desert. I heard an explanation about it before, but I've forgotten it now.
"When did they say we'd arrive?"
"They said we'd arrive today. They said the dragonkin would take us after moving a certain distance, so shouldn't they appear soon?"
"I guess so? This is my first time coming this way, so I'm not sure either."
Considering that in the game, the dragons teleport you, there's a high probability he's right.
"But what are you helping the dragon with? Dragon King? Dragon Emperor was it? Anyway, you said you'd help."
"Um... I think we'll have to see when we get there."
The fact that we help the dragon doesn't change, but the content is different each time.
The most common one is solving the abnormal climate of the Red Canyon.
Otherwise, birth rates, magic, etc.
Since it was such a high-freedom game, the missions given by the Dragon Emperor varied depending on when you went.
'I have no clue what she'll give us now.'
If I think in game terms, the timing is ambiguous now. Besides, since it's game 1 and 2, it's essentially a different game anyway.
Considering what's happened so far, it seemed likely she'd give a similar mission.
"Let's think about it when we get there. We should be able to handle most things. If we can't solve it, we'll just have to give up and come back."
"Is it okay to give up? I thought it was really important."
It is important.
Originally, by helping the dragons like this, the dragonkin help us in the fight against the Cult of the End.
Otherwise, they remain bystanders until the end, we lose to the Cult of the End, and everyone dies.
'But since we have Aron now... I think it'll be okay.'
According to the setting, the First Hero party is said to be the strongest party that directly received the goddess's power.
They defeated the Demon King who appears to be the Demon God's avatar, defeated the Dragon King, achieved racial peace, and devastated the demon realm.
In summary, the First Hero party accomplished deeds that would each alone become legends.
"It's fine. If Aron and the comrades help, it shouldn't matter much, right? This is just insurance."
"Really? Then I can just go along with it appropriately."
"Yeah, don't feel too burdened."
Besides, since we have the Yeouiju, maybe we could even use it for blackmail.
"Huh? Something seems to be coming? A huge amount of mana is gathering around us right now."
"Teleport magic?"
"Seems like it... but I'm not sure. The magic dragons use is some strange magic only they use."
"Well, they do have that ridiculous technique called dragon language."
While grumbling, the energy became so massive that even I could feel it.
Soon, the mana took on a definite form, and a tremendous energy appeared at the very front of the procession.
— Are you the dwarf delegation this time?
The dragon's words didn't come as sound.
It felt more like the voice was being injected directly into my brain.
"Yes. That's correct. I am Master Craftsman Haeammer, the representative of the dwarf delegation dispatched this time."
I almost laughed at the Master Craftsman's words.
I never thought his name would be Haeammer, which sounds like it had zero effort put into it.
— I see. Then we'll move to the village immediately. One month should be sufficient as before, correct?
"Yes, one month will be sufficient."
— Hmm... There seem to be two who aren't dwarves, but since you've come hearing the king's command, I'll take you along.
Should I say it's a dragon?
Though we didn't particularly hide, our presence was detected through pure energy alone.
However, seemingly unconcerned, it immediately used magic, and light swallowed us.