CH 154

KEN3-4 minutes

But whatever the case, I was grateful that the captain recognized my contribution. You would think it would only be natural to be acknowledged for your work, but it felt quite awkward and such. Maybe it was because of having my life botched up by Fabian in the past.

Still, you could only hear the same compliment so many times. It was about time to fall away… Yet Mayer didn’t seem too inclined on letting me go. The man was so big that I practically looked like I was eaten up in his arms. Oh, whatever. It was already too late to be solving the misunderstandings going about. I may as well just humor his gushing emotions. Letting out a small sigh, I began patting Mayer’s broad back with one hand. Meanwhile, I briskly gestured with the other for the raiding party to deal with the dragon’s corpse. We wouldn’t have needed to rush for other fellspawn. Dragons were a different story since there was quite a bit to gain from them. The dungeon gate would be reopening soon due to the boss monster’s death, and there wouldn’t be enough time until the gate closed.

Finally finding something to focus their attention on, the others scattered toward the dead dragon in haste. While the Dark Knights dealt with that end, I counted the time while comforting Mayer. It wasn’t until we didn’t have much time left that I reminded him of that fact. “Captain, get a hold of yourself now… There’s little time left. We have to get the Dragon’s Orb now.”

Seeing that he wasn’t responding to my words, I whacked him on the back with my fists, but only hurt my hands on his armor. I had to find a part of him exposed outside the armor, and there was only one such part. Left without a choice, I pulled at Mayer’s cheek as I shouted, “Get a grip, will you! We’ve got to take the Dragon’s Orb!”

I had pulled pretty hard, yet he didn’t seem to feel much pain. Nevertheless, he finally seemed to regain his senses as he slowly pried himself away from me. His golden eyes were still shining dazedly as he murmured softly in a heated voice. “Yes, I have briefly forgotten… Where is the Dragon’s Orb?”

“One second.”

I struggled, pushing at Mayer. The man didn’t budge an inch when I had been trying so hard to escape, yet all he had to do was loosen his arms a little and I was free, just like that. After completely shaking him off, I strode over to the dragon’s corpse, which was as big as a small hill. The sharp fangs showing through the dragon’s gaping mouth were very large. They almost looked capable of crushing human skulls like candy. Only Mayer Knox could face a dragon without worry. If I had tried to slay it with only the special unit… Boy, oh boy. We would’ve suffered quite a bit, both mentally and physically. No doubt about that.

Shaking my head at the thought, I went straight past the dragon’s corpse and to the end of the cavern. I examined the walls, muttering to myself. “It should be around here…”

Mayer followed me a little later. Seeing me feeling about the wall randomly, he called out curiously. “Jun?”

But we had already delayed too much. Having no time to reply to him, I concentrated on checking the walls. It wasn’t long before I found the spot I was looking for. “Ah, here it is.”

A boulder was sticking right to the walls, so inconspicuously that one might pass by without knowing.