Chapter 211
Translator: uly
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: March to the Dragon Subjugation
The dragon subjugation party's procession went more smoothly than expected.
The bandits, upon learning that the Hero was marching out, didn't dare to challenge her. And in the territories they visited along the way, people came out to greet her, eager to witness the start of a new legend.
"Hero!"
"We love you!"
"You're so beautiful!"
"Please slay the dragon!"
Word that the Hero was off to hunt the dragon had already spread across the entire continent.
It wasn't the Empress who had spread it.
She had said she had no intention of making a big fuss about this expedition.
-The Demon King was subjugated not long ago. I don't want to terrify the people with news of a new threat in this situation.
On the contrary, she had wanted to conduct this subjugation in secret.
Even if the Hero had slain the Demon King, the emergence of a new enemy like a dragon would threaten public order.
The idea to visit each territory along the way had been proposed by the nobles.
-The Hero who even captured the Demon King. Can't she handle a dragon? It's a dragon that's going to be exterminated anyway, so why not use this chance to spread the word once more? About the greatness of the Hero and Her Majesty the Empress.
At the suggestion of elevating the Empress's reign even further through the Hero, the Empress had looked to Niki.
-I will follow Your Majesty's words.
Unable to resist the strong insistence of the various nobles, the Empress had accepted their opinion.
That was how our procession had turned into such a spectacle—due to the nobles' suggestions.
It was probably because the Hero's visit would naturally improve local security as well.
Her presence would instill fear in the dark alleys.
If she had captured even the Demon King, what was a mere criminal?
So, they must have calculated that during the procession, criminal activities would decrease, and the criminals would stay put for a while out of a sense of crisis.
"How about it? Do I look like the Hero now?"
Niki didn't seem to dislike the cheers from the people.
Her face, as she smirked, was filled with a sense of triumph.
"You definitely look like the Hero."
"Hehe, it's like we're hosting a very important guest."
"At least from the outside, you don't look like a masochist who wants to lose to a slime."
"Th-that's not how you say it..."
She flailed around, trying to cover my mouth.
"They won't hear."
I'd applied a bit of magic, after all.
"...Fine."
"But that's surprising."
"What is?"
"The other nobles. If they're making such a big event out of it, you'd think they'd want to include their own heirs, but how come not a single one?"
"That's because I turned them all down. Who would dare let their nobles challenge the Hero?"
"Ah..."
I'd forgotten because she was so friendly.
The masochistic Hero before my eyes was the one who had subjugated the Demon King with her own hands.
Even the most powerful nobles wouldn't dare to challenge her.
"Buzzing swarms are best kept away."
She said with a smile.
I was momentarily intoxicated by the sweet strawberry scent.
"What are you two chatting so happily about?"
Yuris approached.
She eyed me and Niki with half-lidded eyes.
A sweet perfume wafted from her.
A floral scent different from Niki's strawberry.
As the lavender scent brushed my nose, Niki's expression stiffened slightly.
"You seem awfully close to Max, Sir Yuris? Using casual speech and all."
"Oh, this?"
Yuris laughed and draped her arm over my shoulder.
"Of course! We're close enough to link arms like this!"
"Y-Yuris...?"
Ever since we'd shared our bodies in the past, Yuris had started speaking casually to me.
Not the familiar honorifics she used with her subordinates, but an even warmer tone.
But I didn't think it extended to linking arms like this.
"Max looks uncomfortable."
"It's not that! I was just startled by the sudden arm-linking. Right?"
Yuris's eyes shook desperately.
Say yes!
It was a pleading gaze.
"We do use casual speech with each other. We've met often, after all."
"Is that so?"
"Hear that?"
As Niki pouted in frustration,
"Please stop, everyone. The faithful are watching the brother and sisters. I ask that you remember you're the Hero Party."
Eirin intervened.
A sweet honey scent emanated from the Saintess's body as well.
"Inferior species."
Reina clicked her tongue from a step behind Eirin.
She didn't spare the "inferior species" remark even for Yuris.
She used to hold back with her, at least.
'She changed after visiting the elf forest.'
She felt a bit more extreme now.
Even her scent seemed cooler and fresher.
Surrounded by the women, each carrying their own distinct fragrances, I felt like I was losing my mind.
They all smelled so good, it was making me dizzy.
Hmph. I need to keep my distance until the expedition ends.
Otherwise, something's really going to happen.
Aurora watched them with a mechanical smile.
Then, the lord's entourage approached us.
Helm Baron, who governed Helm Castle here.
"Welcome, everyone!"
We entered amid the lord's warm reception.
Helm Castle, where we arrived, was the territory and fortress closest to the Ice Mountains.
It was said that Helm Baron's ancestor was a half-dwarf, half-human—his muscles were thick, his arms massive.
Bushy beard and sharp eyes to boot.
He almost looked like a giant dwarf, just taller.
Wearing thick bear fur clothes impervious to the cold, he stood before us looking every bit the bandit.
"Make yourselves at home! We'll provide every service during your stay!"
The worry that had creased the lord's face due to the dragon's appearance vanished in that moment.
It was inevitable.
This already impoverished area near the Ice Mountains had suddenly been struck by a dragon disaster.
He must have been agonizing over whether to evacuate or make a last stand.
"Don't worry. There's a good chance there's no dragon, and if there is, we'll take it down!"
Niki thumped her chest and shouted.
Why did that line feel like rehearsed acting?
She probably didn't do it just to show off to the territory's people.
'Is it about maintaining the Hero's dignity?'
Max had no idea.
That it was the bold, awkward acting of a female trying to look good to someone she liked.
The oblivious guy might never find out.
And so, the Hero Party arrived at the entrance to the Ice Mountains.
"So, first we need to confirm where the dragon is."
Niki spread out a map marked with the dragon's traces based on eyewitness testimonies.
In the middle of the ice-covered Ice Mountains.
There were testimonies from five locations in total.
A red-eyed dragon with white scales had threatened them.
"Everyone said the dragon was awake. But here's the thing. I heard that if a dragon wakes up, it lays waste to the surroundings as punishment for disturbing its sleep. So why hasn't it attacked yet? That's the mystery."
Niki addressed her gathered comrades.
The answer came not from them, but from Helm Baron.
"As we speculate now, it might not even be a dragon. We think it could be a white wyvern or a drake mutant."
Mutant, huh.
I examined the testimonies.
It hadn't killed them, just threatened and sent them away.
Told them to scram.
Conveyed its will.
Etc.
It was a stretch to see it as a mere destructive monster like a drake or wyvern.
It clearly possessed intelligence.
However.
'It's surprising that the dragon hasn't razed the surroundings...'
Maybe there's another reason?
"Hmm, I doubt that's the case."
Someone else was thinking the same as me.
"If it were a drake or wyvern, they'd all be dead already. They were all sentient beings."
It was Aurora.
She calmly listed twelve reasons why it was a dragon.
"It's highly likely it hasn't fully awakened from its slumber yet."
Everyone fell silent at the mage's vast knowledge.
That's why Aurora had been dispatched with us.
For a mage's knowledge.
"You think the same, right? Max-nim?"
Aurora smiled at me after finishing.
"I agree. It is a dragon. The problem is we can't know right now how enraged it is or what state it's in."
Everyone nodded.
It's a dragon.
We proceeded with the meeting on that premise.
"The presumed location of the dragon is here."
Niki pointed to a massive natural cave in the Ice Mountains.
"It's probably using this as its lair. Access has been nearly impossible, with very few entering and all explorations failing at the entrance... But given the current situation, the dragon must have made it that way on purpose."
It had intentionally blocked the path so no one but itself could enter.
"We'll discuss exploration methods more tomorrow. Let's end here for today. Resting off the travel fatigue comes first. We'll set the departure date tomorrow after recovering condition."
Niki concluded the two-hour meeting.
"I'll show you to your quarters."
I was assigned a room through the lord's servants.
Because we were the Hero Party?
It was quite luxurious.
Not just the bed—there was even a leopard-hide rug in the center of the room.
"A fireplace too... Better than my place."
The bathroom was even connected directly to the room.
Top-class facilities.
In the cozy setup, I stripped off my clothes and headed straight for the bath.
Splash.
I soaked in the hot water, relaxing blissfully.
"Melting. Melting away."
As I lounged contentedly in the bath,
Knock knock knock.
"Max, you in there?"
A woman's voice came from outside the door.
It was Niki.
"Huh? I'm washing up right now. Hold on."
I'd left the door connecting the room and bath open while bathing.
If she came in like this, disaster.
I'd be naked in front of the Hero all of a sudden.
Even if it had happened in my room before.
I still had some shame.
"No, it's perfect timing."
Huh? Perfect?
What did that mean?
"I'm coming in."
"W-Wait a sec!"
As I emerged from the bath, I locked eyes with Niki opening the door and entering.
"Ah..."
Completely naked.
Drenched from the water, my bare body stepped out of the bath.
Dangle.
I stood before Niki with my dick fully exposed.
"Wow..."
Niki's eyes went not to my face, but down below.
Her face flushed bright red.
"Bigger than the orc dick I saw on the battlefield..."
Gulp.
She swallowed.
"Th-the thing is, I came to ask about tomorrow's schejul, di-dick, I mean schedule... 'Suck' the door doesn't mean sucking dick or anything..."
Niki babbled incoherently, unable to tear her eyes away from my dick.