Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Recruiting a Dragon
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"What kind of monsters are these, all showing up in a jumbled mess?"
"They're not just monsters. They've become the dragon's familiars."
Do-jae and Harkes spoke as they swung their swords.
If Do-jae's sword strikes were sharp and precise, Harkes's were broad and heavy.
*Whoosh-!*
Harkes's greatsword, the size of a telephone pole, cut down monsters, trees, and rocks without distinction.
*Slice-!*
Do-jae then cut down a monster sent flying with his Black Scale.
Their battle was less like hunting the swarming monsters and more like carving a four-lane highway into the mountainside.
"But will a dragon really show up if we do this?"
"If someone was causing a scene outside your house, wouldn't you go out to see what's going on?"
As he spoke, Do-jae began to tear up the ground.
Trees were uprooted, and firmly embedded boulders were sent rolling down.
They had to cause this much of a ruckus for some madman to come out and see what the hell was happening.
"Whoa, be careful!"
A house-sized boulder rolled rapidly down toward Harkes.
*Crash-!*
"Harkes?"
The boulder passed through Harkes and continued rolling down.
Do-jae called out, thinking the worst, but his worries were for nothing.
*Rumble, rumble-.*
*Thud- thud-.*
The boulder, after rolling a few more meters, began to split in two before coming to a complete stop, perfectly cleaved.
When he looked back to where Harkes had been, the Titan was looking at him as if to ask why he had called.
"It's nothing. Carry on!"
Harkes, gripping the hilt with both hands, was skilled enough to cleanly slice a massive boulder in half.
The greatest warrior of the Titans was truly in a class of his own.
He had split the rock with pure strength, without the aid of mana.
"How long must we keep this up? Hngh!"
As Harkes swung his sword, he stumbled slightly, and a monster's claws gashed his chest.
An ordinary monster wouldn't have even been able to scratch a Titan's skin, but the claws and grip of a Grade 4 monster, a War Bear, could tear even a D-rank hunter in half.
"Let's just wait a little longer. Need some help if you're tired?"
"I am fine!"
"That wound looks pretty deep."
"A wound like this is nothing!"
Do-jae had asked because Harkes looked a bit exhausted, but he stubbornly refused.
It seemed that for all their strength, Titans didn't have much stamina.
Do-jae shrugged and refocused on the monsters before him.
Fighting a diverse mix of monsters was surprisingly good for his growth.
The experience was decent, it was good for raising his resistances, and using a moderate mix of skills caused all their levels to rise by one.
"Should we call it a day?"
The surroundings had grown dark before they knew it.
The number of appearing monsters had also dropped sharply, and the dragon still hadn't shown up.
"Hah… hah… very well."
Harkes, looking like he was about to collapse, let his sword hang limp as he gasped for breath.
In front of him alone, the bodies of monsters were piled up like a mountain.
The place where Do-jae and Harkes stood had been transformed from a mountain ridge into a wide, open clearing.
"Let's spend the night here."
Do-jae plopped down wherever he pleased.
Harkes came over and sat down beside him.
"If we had just kept riding the Giant Horses, we would have reached the Jak Kingdom by now."
Harkes grumbled as he took a bottle filled with a sticky liquid from his bag.
He dipped his fingertip into the liquid and began to apply it to various parts of his body.
The blood that had been slowly welling up from his wounds quickly stopped.
"Where's the Jak Kingdom?"
"It is the closest kingdom to our village. It's one of the few places that maintains friendly relations with the Titans."
"So if we'd gone there, we could have avoided sleeping outdoors?"
"Of course. And not just that. Wouldn't it have been better than wasting a day like this?"
"It's fine. I think we'll be seeing the dragon soon."
"The same words again! Is that not just a hopeful expectation?"
"This time, it's for real."
Do-jae gazed into the forest, shrouded in deep darkness.
A moment ago, he had felt a massive energy stir.
It had to be the dragon's.
It was certain they would meet the dragon soon.
"Anyway, how about we grab a bite and take a breather before that? It's been a pretty long day for me."
"Very well…"
Do-jae took out Harkes's provisions, which he had been holding, and for himself, he donned the robe given to him by Sari, the Gray Elf girl.
The robe was thick and warm, perfect for use as a blanket.
***
*Flicker-!*
The hour when the dawn light was breaking.
A time when the darkness had not yet fully receded.
Harkes's eyes shot open, and he slowly stood up.
"...Something is coming."
Harkes gazed intently beyond the thick fog and removed the robe he had been using as a cover.
Then, with the inside of the robe, he slowly wiped the dew that had formed on the hilt of his greatsword.
Having wiped it clean, Harkes gripped the hilt firmly and called to Do-jae in a quiet voice.
"Kuhtan, wake up."
"I'm awake."
Do-jae was already leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, looking in the same direction as Harkes.
While Harkes's keen senses were sharp, it was impossible for Do-jae, who now kept the Nerves of the Golem extended within a certain radius even during rest, not to feel the unfamiliar and immense energy.
"To emit such a ferocious aura... it can only be a dragon."
"About that. I know you're scared, but how about you put that sword down? If I were it, I don't think I'd be very pleased to see that."
"You have a point… very well…"
Harkes slowly lowered his sword.
An ordinary human would have a hard time even staying sane in front of a dragon.
It was only because it was Harkes that he could think rationally and lower his weapon.
*Step-.*
A small figure began to appear through the fog.
The figure approached at a pace that was neither fast nor slow, and its form gradually became clearer.
"A human…?"
"No. Dragons have magic that allows them to transform into other races."
As the day broke, the sunlight grew stronger, and the fog slowly lifted.
Before long, the dragon arrived before Do-jae and Harkes.
"You're not a hatchling, are you? What are you?"
The dragon spoke in the common tongue of the continent.
Do-jae, on behalf of Harkes who couldn't understand, spoke to the dragon.
"O Exalted Being. A lowly High Elf offers his greetings."
Do-jae bowed his head deeply toward the dragon.
One of the things he had heard from Briareus.
All dragons were suckers for flattery.
"A High Elf? Hmph… Why do you cause such a disturbance in my domain?"
The dragon admonished Do-jae and Harkes in a stern voice.
The immense mana carried in each word made Harkes flinch, and he did his best to avoid meeting the dragon's eyes.
"We were forced to do so out of necessity. I offer my sincerest apologies for our rather aggressive actions in seeking an audience with an Exalted Being. This is a small compensation for it."
Do-jae handed over the items he had prepared in advance.
It was a camera.
A product of science that did not exist here.
"What is this?"
The dragon took the palm-sized camera and examined it from all angles.
Do-jae slowly approached and showed it how to use it.
"You use it like this."
*Whir-.*
When Do-jae turned on the power, the screen lit up, soon displaying the view beyond the lens.
"And if you press here…"
*Click-.*
A picture was taken of Harkes, sweating with a tense expression.
The dragon looked at the photo and spoke in a voice filled with great interest.
"How curious. That such a clear picture can be drawn inside this small lump of iron. And in the blink of an eye, no less!"
"We hope you will graciously forgive our transgression."
"That is a matter I must consider. The killing of my familiars is not an issue that can be easily forgiven."
The dragon put on an angry expression and glared at Do-jae.
Do-jae slightly lowered his head, avoiding its gaze as he spoke.
"O Exalted Being. Before you pass judgment, may I say one thing?"
"You have my permission."
The dragon replied, fiddling with the camera.
"Exalted Being, do you know of the Ascetics?"
"I do. I am their deputy and friend. How could I not know?"
- See! I told you dragons have good memories. What did I say? Herteias is an old friend of mine. It's been so long… Tell him I said hello!
Ruiden spoke in a cheerful voice.
The moment the dragon appeared, Ruiden had spoken up.
He said this was a dragon he was close with and told him to mention his name.
"The Ascetic Ruiden says it has been a long time and sends his regards to the Exalted Being."
"Is that so? That explains the familiar feeling I got from you. It seems the brothers Haydn and Ruiden are behind you."
"That is correct. I ask that you forgive us for the sake of the Ascetics."
"...Very well. You are forgiven. What is your reason for seeking me?"
Do-jae let out a sigh of relief and raised his head.
Thankfully, it had ended simply thanks to Ruiden, but he had been prepared to fight Herteias in the worst-case scenario.
If that had happened, he would have wasted time and could have put his life in danger.
"I will ask you directly. Would you be willing to travel with us?"
Herteias flinched in surprise at Do-jae's words.
And behind him, Harkes also wore a deeply perplexed expression.
"How audacious! How dare a lowly being spout such nonsense!"
Herteias roared in anger.
The mana he had been subtly exuding surged more fiercely, and everything around them trembled in response.
As the wind blew and the grass and trees shook, Harkes faltered and took a step back.
"It is not nonsense. Does the Exalted Being not know what is happening on the continent? I am a subordinate of Gellahan, traveling to kill the Apostates."
"What? You say those Apostate bastards have been resurrected?"
*Swoosh-.*
Herteias's atmosphere completely cooled.
The blowing wind died down, and the surroundings became silent.
"That is correct. I have heard that dragons are beings who protect the continent when it is in crisis. I beseech you."
Do-jae bowed his head once more.
The story about dragons protecting the continent was, in fact, a lie.
What he had verified through Briareus was that they only stepped in reluctantly because losing their homes was a nuisance.
It was merely a plausible excuse they had created.
"Protect, you say… You seem to know quite a lot."
"It is because I have a close dragon friend."
"Oh? Is that so? What is his name?"
"His name is Briareus. He is a Red Dragon."
"Oho…!"
Herteias's expression brightened.
"Briareus is also a friend of mine! We are companions who enjoyed many diversions and roamed the continent together. To think you are close with that fellow. I am starting to take a liking to you. Where is he?"
Do-jae celebrated inwardly.
He had never dreamed that the dragon who did nothing but eat his food and spend his money would be helpful in this way.
"I can tell you that in due time. So I ask that you travel with us."
Do-jae said, looking straight into Herteias's abyss-like eyes.
After a moment of contemplation, Herteias gave a slight nod and replied.
"Very well, human. I shall join you."
"Thank you!"
Thanks to Ruiden and Briareus, the matter of getting a dragon to travel with them was resolved without any major issues.
Do-jae, with a satisfied look, turned to Harkes and gave him a thumbs-up.
However, Harkes merely tilted his head and muttered to himself.
"Human…?"