Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Side Story Episode 1: Black Dragon Subjugation Operation
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Calderin Great Plains.
The territory located in the southern part of the empire was the breadbasket, responsible for the empire's food supply.
And there, the Black Dragon had made its lair.
"We must subjugate the Black Dragon."
Black Dragon Subjugation Force Leader.
Steel Knights' Captain Oshell Pentris furrowed his brow upon hearing the news.
The Black Dragon had taken up residence in the middle of the great plains. Though it was positioned where the naked eye couldn't see it from here, the massive dragon's presence was distinctly felt even from this distance.
Black Dragon subjugation.
It was no simple task.
Nevertheless, it had to be done.
No matter the cost.
The Calderin Great Plains were one of the roots of the empire's food supply.
With harvest season approaching, failing to protect the crops would bring immense damage to the empire and cause countless deaths from starvation.
Thus, the subjugation force was assembled.
But the forces were insufficient.
Manpower and time were the issues.
They had to fend off the increasingly encroaching orcs and block the liches from the Great Forest, which had consumed much of their strength, leaving the knight order short on personnel.
Moreover, even if more forces could come, it would take far too long.
The breadbasket region was relatively peaceful and safe, so there weren't many knight orders or armed groups nearby that could help. The only ones that could be gathered were the Steel Knights, who had returned for a brief rest.
"Call in every available force we can."
What else could be done? They had to try something.
As soon as he settled in, Oshell gathered skilled mercenaries.
There were private soldiers from the local lords, but they were needed for controlling the populace, leaving only the mercenaries as freely deployable forces.
Thus, Oshell summoned many mercenaries.
Among them were Dale and Isabella, who had been resting after the battle with the orc great warrior.
Dale and Isabella had no obligation to join the Black Dragon subjugation.
They were vacationing a short distance from the village where the muster order had been issued.
"I thought we'd get some rest, but here's work already."
Nevertheless, Dale rose from his sickbed and headed out with Isabella to hunt the Black Dragon for no particular reason.
"Two days is plenty of rest. Dale, got all your weapons?"
"Yeah."
If not us, then who?
It wasn't some grand heroic sentiment.
They were just going to help since they could.
That was how this journey had begun in the first place.
Dale clinked as he stowed his weapons in his bosom. Being new and unused, they felt a bit awkward. The ones he'd used before had all been shattered in the fight with the orc great warrior.
Though not yet familiar in his hands, they'd become his soon enough. Rolling around on the battlefield this time would make them so.
"Oshell's over there."
Dale and Isabella ran into Oshell.
Oshell, who had risen early for reconnaissance and to greet the mercenaries, widened his round eyes.
Shaggy hair.
Red cloak.
"H-hey, Knight Captain Uncle."
A terribly casual greeting.
Oshell accepted it familiarly.
"Didn't expect you two, but it's been a while, Dale. And Isabella."
Steel Knights.
And the mercenaries.
That was all the force gathered to subjugate the dragon.
Dale asked,
"Decided how we're doing this?"
Even if his attitude was a bit cheeky, Oshell let it slide. The mercenary had always been like that, and besides, what did tone matter? Skill was what counted.
Dale had the feat of surviving a fight with an orc great warrior.
Something even seasoned knights couldn't boast.
He was young, but no kid to underestimate.
Above all, Oshell knew Dale's true character despite the attitude.
"Can't drag it out. In two days, we subjugate the Black Dragon."
Lacking noble prejudices, he treated Dale as an equal based solely on his skill.
The mage behind Dale reacted immediately to Oshell's words.
"Two days? Isn't that too soon? Looks like only the Steel Knights are here, and even they're not all present."
"Already scoped that out, huh? Isabella."
Oshell glanced sideways at the mage.
A mage on par with grand archmages wasn't common.
One swordsman and one mage.
The mercenary group lacked numbers, but those two alone outclassed most full units.
"Scoped? I just took one look."
"Right. Only Steel Knights and mercenaries here. Short on forces. Inevitably so. But we can't afford more time."
"Still, wouldn't waiting a bit longer be better?"
"One breath from the Black Dragon could plunge us into famine. We have to hurry the subjugation."
"Can we do it with this manpower? No one else we can call?"
"I'd have called them if there were. This is everyone who can arrive in the next two days."
Skilled mercenaries were all off rolling in warzones. What remained with any real power were the Steel Knights and the two-mercenary team: Dale and Isabella.
"Subjugation plan is simple. Split into two groups—one handles the dragon wyrmlings while the other lures the Black Dragon out of the fields for a quick strike. Details on the day, based on the situation."
Oshell spoke, then called someone to guide Dale and Isabella.
A young man in shabby armor.
He greeted them with a bright smile.
Someone Dale and Isabella knew.
"Ehehe, long time no see."
Squire Penn.
From a village destroyed by monsters, a man whose life Dale and Isabella had saved.
Dale had entrusted the boy he rescued to the Steel Knights.
His true connection with Oshell had begun with Penn.
"This is the tent for you two."
The tent Penn guided them to was a bit away from the knights' area.
Not discrimination, but Oshell's consideration to let them rest quietly and recover from their journey's fatigue.
"Thanks. Man, you've grown a lot."
Dale patted Penn's shoulder.
The kid who'd been so young and naive when they met now properly looked the part of a squire.
"All thanks to you and Lady Isabella."
Penn finished guiding and promptly left the tent. As a squire, he had plenty of chores.
Then, people approached Penn.
Not knights or mercenaries, but some kids.
"Knight sir! Want to try some of this?"
The kid offered bread made from the harvested crops. It was his lunch, but he wanted to give it to the knight—to express thanks for protecting them and face the object of his admiration up close.
"What? A kid?"
Dale blinked from behind Penn.
Clearly a civilian with no connection to swords. With the Black Dragon nearby, these were people who should have evacuated under the lords' soldiers' command, so their presence was baffling.
Penn scratched his cheek and explained.
"This is farmland."
"Right?"
"To harvest all the grains before harvest season ends, they need to start now. So some farmers are harvesting in fields as far from the Black Dragon as possible, under the knights' protection."
Penn took the child out so Dale and Isabella could rest easy.
Penn said he couldn't take the bread, but the kid insisted and shoved it into his hand.
Then asked,
"Knight sir. Can I become like you someday?"
A gleam of aspiration flashed in the young child's eyes.
Penn saw his past self in the kid.
He had been like that once.
—"C-can I... Can I become like you?"
—"Who knows. How should I know? It's up to you."
—"Hey, Dale! Don't spout useless crap to Penn and get out here!"
—"Why's she calling me now? Hey, Penn. I can't give you the answer you want, but I can support you. I'll drop you at a knight order I know nearby, so work hard."
To the people right behind him.
Not particularly helpful advice.
Even looking back now.
But those words had ignited a fierce determination in Penn.
No matter how grueling life in the Steel Knights was, they gave him the strength to rise again.
Penn added a bit to his own experience and answered the kid.
"I don't know. But you have potential, so if you ever want it, come find the Steel Knights. We'll take you in."
Perhaps not much different from what Dale had said.
But kindness bestowed by one.
Was meant to be passed on through another.
"What now?"
In the tent after Penn left.
Dale polished his sword and asked Isabella.
"Scout? Or standby?"
"Let's scout."
Dale stepped out with lighter armament than usual. Mobility aside, with many unfamiliar weapons, this felt more comfortable.
With Oshell's permission, Dale and Isabella circled the perimeter.
Ideally, they'd reach the Black Dragon, but with wyrmlings posted, this was the limit.
"Nothing here."
"Figured, since it's the outskirts."
"Can't go deeper?"
"Can you handle the aftermath?"
"No."
"Then don't."
Dale listened to Isabella.
"Nothing we can do. Seen what we could, so let's head back. You need to prep spells for tomorrow too."
"Yeah. Not sure what magic works on dragons."
"You have space teleport. How about snipping its head off?"
"Dragons have insane magic resistance. Even the wise old grand archmage couldn't."
"Really."
Worth a shot, but no dice.
He turned to leave, disappointment aside.
He froze.
His feet locked.
A chilling aura spread through his body. Muscles spasmed. An intensely intelligent, alien presence emanated from afar. Goosebumps crawling up his spine stiffened his movements.
No enemies visible, yet its mere existence crushed them with pressure. He wanted to drop to his knees right there. An arrogant presence demanding all earthly life worship it.
Dale and Isabella knew what this phenomenon was called.
Dragon Fear.
The Black Dragon, Karzeros, opened its eyes.