Book 6: Chapter 12

Book 6: Chapter 12

Stampede

Dragonit was one of the strongest creatures in this world(Ciel).

Unlike monsters that were plants and animals that transformed due to magic particle, dragon was mythical beast and they even became an object of worship in some areas due to their mighty strength and high intellect. Even children knew of their existence.

But, unlike other mythical beasts, only dragon was well known because other than their mightiness, the biggest reason was their many variety.

There were the dragon subspecies wyvern and sea dragon, and then the low ranked dragon, elemental dragon, ancient dragon. Their strength was ranked in that order. And when it came to ancient dragon that had become rank 8 or above, they could use all kinds of dragon magic, and they possessed beauty that resided in their horn, fang, and scale that varied in color depending on their element, which charmed the people.

Therefore people feared and admired the strength of dragon. Many stories were made about them.

A type of that dragon, earth dragon had started to move from the depth of the ancient ruins Resvel toward the outskirt.

(There are too much happening. Is Riezan Family breaking the arrangement and picked a fight with Munza Gang has something to do with this?)

The leader of Hogros Company and the adventurer guild, Jesha Hogros collected her thought inside the meeting room where the staffs were moving around busily.

The first report was brought from several adventurers who returned from their expedition at the early dawn last night.

The outbreak of great number of monster, stampede. Often the reason was the lack of food because of the sweltering heat, but if the stampede happened from Resvel then the most plausible reason was group panic because a powerful monster started moving from the depth of the ruins.

One of the possibilities was the existence of earth dragon that had been confirmed since around a century ago.

The adventurers report mentioned that they heard a [roar that struck fear into their heart] from far away, so the old dwarf, Jilgan who had experience facing the earth dragon just once in the past made a hypothesis that was more like a conclusion that the existence that started moving in the depth of the ruin was the earth dragon.

Dragons roar had the effect that struck panic into the weak. The roar of pseudo dragon had no such effect, but true dragon, even the low ranked could use the basic dragon magic, [Roar].

The earth dragon had the name earth crowning it, but it wasnt an elemental dragon. The dragon with earth element was the gem dragon. The elemental dragons in this Thurs Continent were only fire dragon, water dragon, ice dragon, and wind dragon. At the very least dragon that was crowned with the name emerald or ruby had never been confirmed.

Earth dragon was a low ranked dragon. It didnt even have wings to soar in the sky. It would become elemental dragon after spending centuries or millenniums eating elemental magic stone.

It was fortunate that the dragon nesting in Resvel wasnt rank 7 elemental dragon, but depending on the situation it was also possible that low ranked dragon like earth dragon could become even greater threat than that.

The threat level of earth dragon was rank 6. There would be difference depending on how long it had existed, but its overall combat strength would be more than 4000 at minimum. But, unlike other rank 6 monster earth dragon had low intellect. There was case where it got manipulated by someones scheme.

(Is it the evil race making it move?)

The dark elves who vanished. There was a glimpse of the shadow of evil race behind them. Was their movement matched with the action of Riezan Family? But, if we concluded that they were working together and there was actually another plan at play, we would be put on the back foot.

Then if the dwarves of Hogros Company stayed inside the town to deal with that, would the humans and beastmen be entrusted to deal with the rampaging monsters and earth dragon?

(No!)

Hogros Company was an organization of dwarves. Even Jesha who was one of the children of the company head wouldnt wholeheartedly trust anyone who wasnt dwarf. She was believing that the earth dragon could only be defeated by the dwarf warriors including Jilgan and her.

It was a settled matter that Jesha and around a dozen of dwarves would head out to exterminate the earth dragon. The dwarves below rank 3 and the other races could be told to deal with the other monsters.

But.

.

Ahead of Jeshas gaze was just one person, a human whose existence couldnt be ignored.

That girls name was Aria. She was a Melsenian woman with white skin which was rare in this region where Cruz people with dark skin color was the norm.

Jesha first heard about Aria from Jilgan who was her confidant and also chaperone. She was surprised when she heard him saying Theres an interesting human woman and became curious.

As Jesha of Hogros Company, if possible she wanted to limit Arias involvement only as potion supplier, but as a guild master she thought that not making good use of Arias combat strength was a bad move.

But at the same time Jesha understood that Aria wouldnt listen to the guilds demand anyway.

In that case what would be the best way to make use of Aria.

Aria, you can go protect what you want to protect.

***

Jesha told me to move based on my own judgment as adventurer.

From the start my first priority was Elenas safety. To achieve that I wouldnt hesitate even if I had to fight a dragon, but I considered that Jeshas words were hiding something.

Kushmu was killed by Riezan Family. At the same time the dark elves who were strong to some degree in this city vanished. And then a stampede was happening now.

The start of this was me getting into conflict with Munza Gang and caused a hole to open in Munza Gangs security. Riezan Family noticed that and made their move. That was how most people in this town saw it. But I was thinking that Riezan Family had been waiting for any chance to appear since the start.

Jesha was thinking that something was happening in this town.

The parent and daughter who I met the other day told me to leave this town as quickly as possible.

I didnt know if they were referring to this stampede. But then there was no benefit for Riezan Family in this. Did they just want to crush one of the four organizations? If their objective was this town itself?

Most likely the dark elves who vanished knew the answer to this.

.

I put on my cloak again and ran through the town in order to return back to the watchtower that was our base.

I didnt notice on my way here but, perhaps the information about stampede was starting to reach the town. I could see merchants closing their shop to start running away.

I didnt see anyone who seemed to be adventurer inside the town. They must have received the request from adventurer guild and headed out to deal with the monsters. But many of the people inside the town were also holding weapon. Was it because they were sensing the danger and acted as befitting as the hot-blooded residents of this town?

On my way of leaving the town, I suddenly felt something out of place and stopped running.

Kirly Company that was mere merchant prioritized profit and didnt choose to fight. Hogros Company and Munza Gang were sending their force to fight the stampede.

But, who were the armed bunch at the corner of the town?

I slowly approached them.

Perhaps they noticed the abnormality that was going on in the town but didnt understand what was actually happening, so they were doing what they could do to focus on defense. But in that case, if they were residents of this town, where did they got those spears and swords of somewhat good quality that should be outside the price range of low ranked adventurer?

Whatre you looking at huuh?

A Cruz person with tanned darkish skin threatened me with a stern face.

There were five Cruz people and one man who was hiding his face with a hood. But, that hooded man was radiating the strongest presence despite being the thinnest.

I approached them until a distance where their weapon wouldnt reach me before calling out to them.

Nothing. I just thinking whys there a dark elf here when all of them had vanished.

The hooded man instantly radiated killing intent while the men readied their weapon all at once.

It seemed that I hit bulls eye.