98-Episode 98 Let's Dismantle the Dragon

Now, once again, we will begin our demolition of the Black Dragon.

After that, with a high-ranking adventurer and a girl named Leune who jumped in, we decided to resume dismantling the dragons.

''Just dismantling a black dragon out of nowhere wouldn't be good practice, so we'll use green dragons for our practice material.

D-Dragons as a teaching tool?

Are you sure you want to do this?　Dragon material is a fortune!

Hmm?　I think it's normal to use green dragons as a teaching tool.

''Yes, the Black Dragon is a higher species of Green Dragon and Blue Dragon, and is an ordinary dragon that doesn't need to be as careful about collecting it as the material dragons. So we decided that using Green Dragon, whose basic structure is similar, as a dismantling exercise is appropriate.

'Black dragons are normal?　What are we dealing with, a monster that could destroy a country?

A black dragon that can destroy a country?

Just because it's the same black type doesn't mean you're confusing it with the Darkness Dragon.

It's a couple of digits off the strength scale.

I didn't know 200 gold coins would be enough to get a real dragon as a teaching aid. I knew it was a good decision to take this course. If anything, even 200 gold coins are a small price to pay.

Well, if we ever get a chance to participate in a joint dragon takedown in the future, our party will receive a preferential share as we have experience dismantling dragons.

'And it's a great opportunity to find out how dragons as living things work. It will also help us to know where to aim when we fight.

It seems that the adventurers who paid 200 gold coins to participate in the demolition course had other purposes than simply dismantling dragons.

As expected of an experienced adventurer, they were very astute.

''You all have no experience fighting dragons?''

I talk to the excited adventurers in front of the dragon.

'Yeah, we make our money mainly from picking up scales,'

"Scales?

What is that?

There is a standing order to look for scales that are sometimes dropped by dragons flying near Longbong, and these adventurers are called scale collectors. It's a risky activity since it's close to the dragon's territory, but if you can get the dragon's scales in good condition, you can make a lot of money. There isn't a single adventurer around here that doesn't do scales.

Heh, I didn't know there was such a permanent request.

It's an interesting request to pick up scales that have fallen all the way down.

Oh, could it be that the request is for collecting materials for a lightning dragon that is fast to run away or a protection dragon that has a special defense ability?

They're hard to kill and there aren't many of them, so they get angry when you hunt them.

They are precious dragons, so we should only collect materials to regenerate them and let them go.

That's right, just like the material dragons, after my death in my previous life, they banned the killing of precious dragons and started sending out requests to collect missing scales like scales.

However, the scales that dragons happen to drop off are mostly green and blue dragons in Dragon Peak, so it's not such a profitable job.

The fact that it fell from the sky can cause damage, and the scales that dragons drop are scales that they scratched when they were grooming themselves, not grooming themselves.

But just because they pick up scales doesn't mean they are weak. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one. If you are not an adventurer with a certain level of ability, scaling is more of a danger to your life.

I see, it seems that scales picking is a job that can make a fortune for newcomers and a steady source of spending money for experts.

The adventurer who can get closer to the dragon peak and obtain scales that are in good condition is like an expert, and it's treated like a gateway to success for adventurers in this area.

''Although, it wouldn't be much of a big deal to the guy who hunts dragons themselves.

The only thing we hunt are the weakest green dragons. Any seasoned adventurer can take them down.

Bahamut, who was reasonably strong, kind of suddenly ran away, and Golden Dragon was just a kid.

I'm sure these people are after the precious, mustn't-kill dragon material.

I'm not sure if it's because they are the weakest. As expected of adventurers who use dragons as a teaching tool, what they say is different.

'Then let's go back to dismantling. First, let's take it apart as normal. You can take it apart like you take apart a big lizard.

No, dragons and lizards are totally different...

One of the dismantlers said something like that, but the guy who taught me to dismantle said, 'There's not much difference between any of the dismantling of a dragon. He said something like, 'You can cut anything as long as you insert the blade along the flow of the material.

Well, in fact, once I got used to it, I got the impression that dismantling the weakest green dragon wasn't much different from a lizard-type demon.

'Sorry, we've never dismantled a dragon before. So I want you to show me your dismantling first as an example.

It was the adventurers from earlier.

It's true that the first time dismantling something for the first time can be a bit daunting.

I was also nervous the first time I dismantled something for the first time.

I got used to it after taking apart a couple of dozen of them.

"Come on, show us. We didn't see you do it yesterday.

The other dismantlers also wanted to see what I could do, so I decided to dismantle a Green Dragon and show them how to do it.

Hmmm, everyone is very motivated.

''Well then, first we'll remove the Green Dragon's scales. At the base of the Green Dragon's scales, where it is attached to the skin, there is a place where a knife can easily pierce it. If you stick a knife into this area, it is easy for the knife to enter the scales and roll them up. Like this.

I lightly lifted the green dragon's scales and thrust the knife between the scales and the skin.

Then the scales came off easily.

''Oh!　Great, such big scales came off in an instant!

Well, that's just a matter of a trick.

I repeatedly peel off the scales until the skin is exposed to a certain extent.

"Here?　No, it's not.

Nowhere hard, huh?　How does the knife go in that smoothly?

Everyone tries to scale the dragon with their own dragon, but it doesn't seem to work.

Well, you'll get the hang of this kind of thing with a lot of practice, so for now I'll show you the next step.

'Then I'll cut the skin. If you look at the skin that has been scaled off like this, you can see where the knife can easily enter, so you stick the knife in there.

Saying that, I thrust the knife into the green dragon's skin.

"You thrust a knife into a dragon's hide with impunity?

''No way!　Even the skin of an Iron Lizard is tough to put a blade into!　

Huh?　The Iron Lizard, that lizard demon that isn't hard at all called iron?

Yeah, well, I guess I'm just imagining things.

"You guys can try your hand at it. There are still a few places you can stick a knife in.

With that, I point to the scaled green dragon and then step back.

'Yo, alright, let's do it!

No, me first!

Everyone rushes to the Green Dragon to be first.

"Okay, in order, one at a time, one at a time.

Without a moment's hesitation, Liliella-san sums up the demolitionists and forms a line.

Ah, when they do something I don't even realize I'm doing at a time like this, I'm truly glad to have a party.

''d*mn, no.''

Oh, my God, that's hard!

Is this really the skin?　It's so soft, I can't get the blade through!

That seemed so easy to do.

The adventurers who were participating also stick their knives into the green dragon's skin, but it doesn't seem to work.

And at that moment, a cheer goes up in the demolition area.

''Ah, um, it's passing........''

And the one who said that was the girl who signed up for the demolition class just now at the last minute.

As I recall, her name was Leune.

''Oh, you're good at it, girl!

You did a good job stabbing him.

The demolitionists praised Mr. Leune for sticking a knife into the Green Dragon's skin.

''Oh, thank you!''

Leune is baffled by the demolitionists' praise, but thanks them.

It's kind of a funny sight.

Well then, let's continue with the demolition.

When I take over with Ryune, I grab the knife I thrust into the air.

After thrusting the knife into the skin, I'll flow the blade along with the flow of the skin.

I run the knife like I'm stroking it to avoid going against the flow of fibers.

"Oh, oh?　What a beautiful cut!

Wonderful, I knew I saw something yesterday that wasn't a mistake.

So this is the same god-like demolition that made my master claim he was the second king of demolition...

'Yeah, I've been in the demolition business for decades and I've never seen a demolition as beautiful as this one. It's truly an art form.

No, no, no, I'm just dismantling it as I normally would along the flow.

If you look closely at the material, there is a place where it is easy to cut. So I just stick the knife in there, and then I can just slide the blade out. Like these scales.

After I finished peeling off the Green Dragon's skin, I thrust the knife into the Green Dragon's scales in my hand while explaining such things.

''Whoa!　The dragon's scales cracked with a single thrust!

''Really?　Dragon scales are harder than iron, right?

Well, they're only harder than iron.

And if a craftsman is serious, he can forge iron that is harder and more flexible than dragon scales.

At that time, I felt an especially strong gaze.

However, I didn't feel any hostility in my gaze.

I'm sure you'll be able to find the owner of the gaze from the scene that came into view without moving your gaze, and that person was soon found.

It's Ms. Leune.

She doesn't hide her gaze, she is looking at you with some kind of extremely excited expression.

Is there something that is bothering you?

Now, everyone, please try to skin the dragon. If I'm not clear on something, I'll let you know as soon as I do.

'Let me see you scale more closely!

'Show me again how to identify the easiest place to stick a knife into a skin!

Show me how to cut the scales.

The moment I said I was going to teach, everyone rushed in, but Liliella and Mina stopped them.

'Yes stop!　Mr. Lex said to try it first. Questions only come up when it doesn't work!

But, hey, what do you want to do with your dragons?　You don't put the knife in the wrong way, you'll ruin the material.

One of the demolitionists muttered, and everyone else nodded in agreement.

''It's okay. There's still plenty of material for Green Dragon, so you can make as many mistakes as you want.''

""I'll take the money!"

The faces of the demolitionists are horrified by my declaration that it's okay to fail.

'Yes, any number of things. There's enough to make a pile!

Well come to think of it, they were piled up randomly in that one corner.

And the demolitionists stare at the place where the dragon materials were piled up yesterday.

Well, right now, once it's collected in the magic bag, there's only one green dragon left for teaching purposes.

'Oh you guys!　Don't be embarrassed by what you're doing, and get ready for it!

It was the master of the dismantling place who said this.

''Master told me that I can use this dragon as a teaching tool to tear it to pieces as much as I want!　Then take that favor in stride and dismantle it!　We're here to have Master teach us his tricks.　I will definitely follow my master's orders!　That's the law of the workshop!

Master...

Besides, Master went to the trouble of teaching you the technique to dismantle that black dragon. It's implied that even if you dismantle it to pieces, it won't be enough to tear it apart!

"?

The dismantlers were astonished by the master's words.

You can't learn a technique in a day or two. Master says to use a real dragon as a teaching aid so that your body can memorize it with the maximum amount of tension!

Huh?　What's that?

I didn't mean to do that at all.

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

I had no idea!

Um, I hadn't thought of that either.

I mean, I just provided it because I usually had some extra material to offer.

'So you guys!　To live up to Master's expectations, we're going to dismantle it to the death!

""Heh-heh-heh-heh."

Well, after some kind of misunderstanding after misunderstanding, the demolitionists started to focus on dismantling the Green Dragon.

'Oh, I see. As expected of adventurers who can hunt dragons, the scale of their thinking is different.

Ah, the adventurers also made some strange mistakes.

Wow, that's my brother. I can't believe you thought that through!

No, I'm not thinking, Mr. Gyro. Don't get me wrong, really.

''But, well, isn't it better to be serious than to be oopsed at and have your material wasted?

Mina follows up with.

'Well, I suppose it could be,'

Yeah, it's good for you to be serious.

''Ufufu, now the dismantling fee for the dragon material will be free.''

And Megri-san was looking at the demolitionists with a smile on her face as she smiled at Nimanima.

Yeah, the majority of the Green Dragons we provided this time were defeated by Liliela-san and Jairo-kun and the other Dragon Slayers.

In the morning, when we were about to go hunt a few dozen green dragons in Dragon Peak to use as teaching materials for this demolition course, Megri-san suggested that we could use our own dragons.

I didn't think it would be a good idea to use them as a training ground for other people, but Megri said he'd be happy to give them a free dismantling fee instead.

I asked Jairo and his friends for confirmation, but they seemed to have been persuaded by Meguri, and they readily agreed.

Yeah, that's a good way to handle it.

The guild also said it was a great offer, and I got an immediate OK.

That's why the dragons that are being dismantled now are the ones that Jairo and his friends defeated.

It's not much of a difference if it's your first time dismantling a dragon, you can just ask for a normal dismantling anyway. As far as I'm concerned, since I'm going to dismantle them under the guidance of Lex, they're in much better shape than if I were to dismantle them without any knowledge of how to do so. And the price is free!　This is the big wave you have to ride!

Great, Megri is speaking in a long and fast way that I can't think of from the usual.

She talks a lot when there's money involved.

I see, I knew it was obvious, but Megri-san is a child who loves money.

✦Are you a money-loving child?

Yes!　I'm done demolishing it!

I'm with you!

No, wait a minute!　I'm almost done!

One after another, the dismantlers report that they have finished dismantling the skins.

There are still a few more to go.

I go around to the dismantlers who have finished peeling off the skin to check the condition of the dismantled material.

''Hmmm........''

How's that?

The dismantlers seemed to be half expecting it.

They were only half expecting it because it was obvious from the cut surface of the skin.

"The cut surface is very rough, isn't it?

We'll get it.

You knew they would say that. The dismantlers look at their peels in frustration.

"d*mn it, what's wrong with it!　I thought we were going to peel them the same way!

It's true, this is too badly cut in any way.

The dismantlers and the adventurers are equally dirty in their cuts.

"Um, it's done...

And at that moment Mr. Leune brought his own peeled skin.

'Yes, let me check.'

I check the skin that Leune-san has dismantled.

''.......Whoa?　It's quite beautiful.

""What?"

The demolitionists reacted to my words and rushed over to me.

'It's true!　You cut better than our skins!

What's that all about?　Are you a demolition expert, young lady?

The chopper boys are closing in on Mr. Leune.

No, no. I'm just an ordinary adventurer.

"Ordinary adventurers could take it apart better than we could?

This is surprising.

It's true that young Ryune was able to cut the skins more neatly than the guild's takedown demolitionists.

I'm going to be able to tell the difference between the skin that the dismantlers peeled off and the skin that Ryune peeled off again.

''Hmm?''

And I came to one conclusion.

'I see.

What's going on?

The dismantlers overheard me muttering to themselves.

'Yes, it was very simple.

What caused it?

'It's easy to explain, but it's best if you experience it. I'll explain it to you at lunch tomorrow, and that will be the end of today's class.

Leaving the demolitionists in charge of explaining to Liliella and the others, I asked the master where the shop was.

'Is there a shop that can do this kind of thing, master?

Yeah, it's right outside the guild, a couple of doors down.

Thank you.

Okay, now that we know where it is, let's go get ready for tomorrow!