Translators : Yuushin Laverdy Rainie Dai
Editors/TLcs : yuushin Laverdy Naero rei_hunter
We departed from Mining Town Vesta on the next day, just before noon. I had guessed it was about 10 in the morning.
The road on this side was clear of forestry, as it exposed part of the mountainside bare. The lumber was probably used as fuel or material.
But after an hour of traveling passed, it led to a pathway that went through the woods. We were on the back of the merchant caravan, as we kept watch all around. We might have been lucky, but we managed to have a peaceful journey without encountering a single monster.
The first problem happened on the second day after we left the mining town, when we reached a camping ground.
When we reached it, we noticed that there were two or three destroyed wagons in horrible state.
We got down from the wagon and checked the situation.
Oi oi, so theres someone like the Twin Magicians on this side, too? Probably not humans but monsters. See this? These are bite marks. Its likely from a day ago.
Shia made her guess from the state of the wagons.
Oi, you lot, there might still be monsters looming to hurt us as we go forward, so were going out to exterminate them right away. Dont interfere.
Symil said so and led his group.
Theyre Level II and have still done it. We Level III ranks should be able to do it with ease.
Looks like since we defeated the Twin Magicians and Orges too easily, they were under the misunderstanding that even they could do it. And their eyes were radiating for the reward money.
Im just saying, but we have A- and B+ magicians; thats why we were able to defeat them. Your no-magician 3-man group better not be reckless. Annoying! Shut up! I wont let you snatch my prey! You lot shut up and wait here!
Like that, Symils group made a disastrous scene and disappeared into the forest to search for the monsters.
Lute-kun, what do we do ?
Looking back, I saw that Gomugo and everyone were looking at me with anxious faces. Since Symils group has already went in, we had to ensure their safety.
Until they return, you should be ready to move at any time. Snow and Chrisse, protect Gomugo-san, and Shia and I will go around to check the surroundings to see if there are any survivors.
Everyone replied to me and proceeded to carry out my instructions. In the worst case that they wouldnt return by tomorrow morning, we might have to have spent one night there. And thus we maybe would be better off discussing rotation nightwatch by then with just us.
I silently decided that I would discuss it later while we were eating dinner or something.
Shia and I, with full equipment and AK47, went around checking for the damage and survivors.
We went one round around the forest near the open ground, but there was nothing we had to be specially vigilant for. Not even survivors footprints or traces.
We went back to the open ground and signaled to Snow & Chrisse that there was no problem. The girls then said to Gomugos still-anxious group, looks like no danger in the surroundings, as their faces relaxed a little.
Next, Shia and I confirmed the conditions of the destroyed wagons. They were common wooden wagons. Axles were broken, and even the wheels were broken in half. Even an amateur could tell that repair was impossible.
The loaded cargo was safe, it seemed. The contents seemed to be raw materials that were bought from Mining Town Vesta. Just by one look, we couldnt tell if it was iron ore, precious metal, or something else.
..
Shia stared seriously at the wreckage of the destroyed wagons with a stern expression. With one knee on the ground, she picked up something that looked like a jigsaw puzzle.
.Young master, look at this. Which one?
Thereupon being told so, I went next to her and took a look. It was one part of the wagon that she has been fiddling with since a while ago.
Here, do you see these sharp bite marks?
Certainly just like Shia point out, there were marks to suggest that it was bitten by sharp fangs.
I see. So whats the problem? Young master, look closely. This is the same part of the wagon, yet the bite marks are this close to each other; its like they intentionally bit them a second time next to the first one. Why do you think they would purposely do so? Maybe it was done by a monster. I mean, theres no way I would know.
Also, these burn marksif my guess is right, its something very bad. Something bad as in, this disastrous scene was caused by a dragon or something?
Indeed, there were bite marks and burn marks. I was kinda sure that it was attacked by a group of Orges and other monsters. The burn mark, too, came from the lamp, or so I thought.
Could it be have been red dragons ?
Red dragon is the representative of monsters, the generic dragon that has wings, flies in the sky, and spews flames. Very rarely will one or two red dragons stray away from the herd and attack the town or country.
Defeating red dragons was one of the requirements to create a legion. And in the demon continent and other continents, there were varieties superior to red dragons.
No, my guess is more than th!?
Not only Shia and I reacted. Everyone here shuddered, too.
A roar echoed from afar. It was from something absolutely strong.
The direction the voice came from aligned with the direction Symils group went in. After I put myself on guard for a while, the ground trembled and I heard the sound of trees falling down. I unconsciously broke a cold sweat and swallowed my saliva. I flipped the safety switch off my AK-47. It shifted to full automatic. I pulled the cocking handle and loaded a cartridge into the chamber.
Not only me but Shia and Snow & Chrisse also.
The ground-trembling distance got closer. From the forest, I saw silhouettes of people running for their lives. Its Symil!
It wasnt direct as to who was the addressee, but Shia replied in response. She drank from the canteen, too, and wiped her mouth.
Dragons in general have high pride. Wounded by an inferior being, that dragon definitely wouldnt give up on chasing until it has killed young master.
For real? Its just like the Sankebetsu-bear incident at Hokkaido in my previous world. That one too persistently chased humans, ate a number of them, and finally got hunted down was it ?
As I was trying to remember the incident I vaguely have knowledge of, the client Gomugo started shouting.
Y- ou imprudently wounded the dragon; because of that, we got chased into this awkward situation! Even the goods are lost, what are you going to do?!
Other employees too were silently blaming me with gloomy eyes.
I think Lute-kuns decision was accurate. If he didnt use the exploding-magic tool that time, then wed all have been roasted by the dragons flames already. Do you still mind that ? Gu
After hearing Snows explanation, Gomugo and every one faced their blaming eyes downward. Due to hearing Snow pointing out the fact, their heads must have cooled down a bit.
[Anyway, we should calm down and analyze the situation now.] Thats right. Even if we blame each other now, nothing will come out of it. First, we gotta confirm the situation.
Snow, Chrisse, and Shia nodded. Gomugos group maintained silence to not get in the way.
First, Shia, that is a twin dragon, right ? I remember you said its a red dragons superior species. Thats right. Its a derivation of red dragon, two heads is the biggest distinction. It can alternately breathe flame, so its vastly superior to red dragon. Originally, they lived in the back regions of the Demon continent, so its unthinkable to see them appear in other continents like this.
But its a fact that the twin dragon is here.
Although its ability to breathe flames alternately is a problem. But according to Shia, its not like it can breathe flames infinitely. After it breathed once, it can only breathe again after a certain amount of time has elapsed, its a dragons characteristic.
She continued the story.
A silver lining in the dark cloud is that its still only a youngling. Youngling? Like a child ? Un. Thanks to that, its breath is still weak, and the scales shouldnt be that hard either. That was still soft, huh
It bounced armor-piercing bullet though .
Cant we do something with magic ? U~n, I think its useless. Dragon scales are hard that magic is hardly effective.
A-minus-rank magician Snow grumbled. Now Snow asked me in return.
Lute-kun, the exploding magic tool before the hand grenade how about you make some more ? If we stealthily go back to the wagon and get the magic liquid metal, then you can do it, right ? That is hard, too.
I showed her the small barrel I picked up. Its one of the two spare barrels of magic liquid metal in the wagon.
The other one got thrown out of the wagon, then crashed into a tree trunk and got smashed to pieces thereafter. This was the last one. When it fell down, the lid got opened and the content got spilt out.
The amount left is about enough to make one more hand grenade; thats it. Even if it hits, one hand grenade is probably is not going to be enough to bring down that twin dragon.
Sorry to ask again, but is it really true that the chance it gives up on us is zero ? For example, if we hide in this cave for about one week, wont it give up by then ? Unlikely. Even if we live in this cave for 1 month.
Shia declared. More than one month is still ineffective, huh .
And in reality, staying in this cave is dangerous too, you know. If it sniffed us out and breathed into the cave only once, we, who dont have anywhere to run to, would become whole-roasted.
Gomugos group shuddered up at the easy-to-understand scenario that Shia explained.
The situation was pressing, and it was a deadlock huh . The only saving grace was that the twin dragon was still young; compared to a grown one, its relatively weak.
The cave was permeated by a gloomy air. Sobbing voices came from Gomugos female employees. It looked like Gomugos group has given up mentally.
Shia resolved herself and asked:
Anyone has magic stone ? Magic stone? What will you use it for? If you break the magic stone that holds magic power, it will cause a big explosion. I will take it down together with me.
In short, the same as kamikaze attack in my previous world huh. I didnt know that magic stones had that special characteristic.
But I dunno if its good luck or bad luck, nobody has a magic stone. Gomugo usually deals with it, but this time, he brought different goods.
..Understood. Then I will draw away that twin dragon till the last moment; in that time, everyone please run far away. I definitely wont allow that! [Thats right! I cant do something like watching Shia-san get killed!]
Snow and Chrisse voiced their objections. But Shia didnt change her mind.
Thank you. But like this, then only death awaits everyone. Looking at it realistically, this is the best option. I am very happy about the madams words.
The two of them went silent with painful faces. Shia looked at me.
Young master, please make one hand grenade with that magic liquid metal. If I let the hand grenade explode inside that twin dragons mouth, then I can probably bring one of its heads down. I refuse. Shias strategy is rejected. Even young master . Please give up. Theres no other way to save everyone! And please dont worry about me. Lastly, if youd listen to my only request No no. Thanks to Shia, I got an even better strategy. Thats why I want you to listen to me first. A strategy better than mine ?
While listening to me, Shia blinked so many times that I lost count. Not only her, but Snow and everyone also became round-eyed at my confident attitude.
Lute-kun, Really? [As expected of Onii-chan!]
I took out the box with the surprise present inside that I bought at the mining town for the two of them. Inside that box stored two small magic stones.
Exactly because of these small magic stones, I can make that ().
With this, Ill blow that skink lizards brain beyond the stars.
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(^)