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Chapter 12 – What About the Discussion?
We ended up deciding to slay the Ancient Fire Dragon at the sudden request of an old man who appeared out of nowhere. I didn’t accept it easily, of course. I tried to resist in various ways, but I was somehow influenced by a “game-like” mindset and decided to take on the challenge. I can’t say that I don’t wonder if that was the right choice. However, since I’ve made the decision, I’m going to do my best.
“We’ll be arriving soon.”
We had the old man ride in the passenger seat, followed his directions, and arrived at our destination just as dawn was breaking.
Nothing happened along the way.
That was only natural—we’d been driving nonstop, stopping only for meals and brief rest breaks. We hadn’t had time to enjoy the journey across the Southern Continent.
Given our desperate situation, we couldn’t take it easy and go sightseeing. It’s a bit of a shame, though it can’t be helped.
As we drove on, pondering such things, we arrived at a village that fit the description of “rural” perfectly.
“It’s quiet. I don’t sense any people.”
Marina-san, who had gotten out first, scanned the surroundings and reported back.
Normally, a village this deserted would be a problem, but in this case, that’s the norm.
Despite the fact that an ancient dragon is about to awaken nearby, the people of this world haven’t lost their sense of crisis to the point of living carefree lives.
This means that everyone has evacuated properly and no one has returned.
Well, this is where the real ancient dragon hunt begins. I’m already exhausted, but since I won’t be fighting directly and Alessia-san and the others rested well on the trip, we should be fine if a battle breaks out suddenly.
Oh no, I’m getting nervous.
After checking the village, Marina-san boarded the Ranger, and we set off again.
Since we aren’t fighting in the village, that goes without saying. Still, I can’t help but feel like I could use a little rest.
Following the old man’s lead, we proceed for a while and arrive at what looks like a trail leading up the mountain. It’s practically an animal trail—or rather, it definitely is one—so we decide it’s impossible to continue in the Ranger and get out. Since this is a restricted area, we should be grateful that there’s a trail at all.
In the old man’s village, they apparently live by keeping watch over this mountain while gathering wood on the neighboring mountain, burning charcoal, harvesting wild vegetables and mushrooms—the bounty of the mountains—and obtaining meat and monster materials through hunting.
They also do some farming, but they consume everything in the village except for taxes.
“If we follow this animal trail, the ancient dragon is sleeping somewhere around the middle of the mountain, right?”
“Yes, as long as it hasn’t woken up and moved somewhere else, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.”
The old man answers my question with a serious expression.
“Got it. Marina, you handle reconnaissance. Wataru, stick to the plan.”
“Roger that.”
Marina-san nods and disappears into the depths of the mountain while the girls begin their final battle strategy meeting.
Then I set off to escort the old man to the evacuation site, taking Felicia along as a precaution.
At first, the old man said he wanted to come along, but he readily agreed when Alessia-san told him that he would just be a burden.
Although we’ve signed a confidentiality agreement through the contract with the God of Commerce-sama, it’s probably best to keep it a secret.
＊＊＊
When we arrived at the village where the old man’s fellow villagers had taken refuge, armed men began to swarm in.
News of the Ancient Dragon had reached this village as well, so the villagers were likely on high alert. When our magical vehicle approached with its engine roaring—a rarity in this world—they probably mistook it for an attack by the Ancient Dragon.
“I’m sorry for causing trouble this early in the morning.”
“Village Chief!”
Amid the tense atmosphere, the old man stepped out of the Ranger, startling the villagers.
“No need to worry. This is a magic-powered vehicle, not a monster. The Holy Merchant of Gothenburg has set out to slay the ancient dragon after graciously listening to my plea. Everyone, please lower your weapons!”
Old man, why are you shouting that nickname that is bound to become my dark past?
It’s true that I didn’t tell you not to say it, but you were calling me Wataru-dono just a moment ago, weren’t you? Since I refused the honorific “sama,” I wish you’d read the room better.
“Gothenburg?”
“Village Chief, why is Gothenburg involved? What about the Lord?”
The villagers who had gathered around the old man began to stir. If word got out that the Lord had abandoned them, there would likely be a commotion, so I’d better leave quickly.
It’s not like I’m running away because I’m embarrassed to be introduced as a Holy Merchant.
“Old man, I’m in a hurry, so I’m heading out. I’ll do my best here, but if anything happens, please evacuate as soon as possible.”
As expected of a designated evacuation site, it’s a fair distance from the village at the foot of the mountain. However, you never know what might happen, so I want everyone to be mentally prepared just in case.
“Well then!”
I said my goodbyes and set the Ranger in motion.
The old man seemed to be saying something, but never mind, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Both our plan and the old man’s advice were properly coordinated in advance by Alessia-san and the others, so nothing else should be needed at this point.
I can’t tell about Rimu on my head or Pent around my neck, but Felicia is smiling wryly. She’s definitely figured out that I ran away.
Unlike Ines, though, Felicia doesn’t tease me, so I feel at ease. It was the right call to have her come along as an escort.
Amid a comfortable silence, I drove the Ranger back to where Alessia-san and the others were waiting.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
It’s not like we had a set time, and I didn’t take a detour, but since they seem fully prepared, I’ll apologize just in case. Their level of determination is so intense that it’s a little scary.
“So, how did it go?”
Since Marina-san was back, too, the reconnaissance must have gone smoothly. If the Ancient Dragon hadn’t been there, they’d probably be more panicked. I assume the situation hasn’t changed much from what the old man told us.
“The Ancient Dragon is still sleeping. However, the visible part seems larger than the old man described. It definitely looks like it’s about to wake up.”
We made it back before the ancient dragon woke up. It’s been almost ten days since the old man left the village, so the dragon must have a terrible case of morning grumpiness.
Since its lifespan is on a completely different scale than ours, ten days might feel like five minutes to it.
“I see. So, shall we proceed as planned?”
“Yes, there doesn’t seem to be any need to change the plan, so we’ll proceed as discussed.”
“Got it.”
Is this finally it? My only role is to summon the ship and follow Donatella-san’s plan, but I’m starting to get nervous.
“All right, let’s go.”
After I nodded, Alessia-san announced our departure, and Marina-san led the way as we began walking.
The animal trails are difficult to walk on, but since we’re high-level, we’re making surprisingly fast progress. Perhaps the villagers cleared the path to scout for the ancient dragon because it’s surprisingly easy to walk on.
They’ve cleared away any grass, branches, or rocks that might trip us up—maybe they considered running away.
The Ranger might not make it, but the Add might be able to get through. However, since we intend to launch a surprise attack this time, using the Add—with its roaring engine—is out of the question.
An Ancient Fire Dragon, huh? It’s a being that’s even higher in rank than ancient earth dragons. Come to think of it, some dragon species become intelligent as they reach higher ranks.
Dragons definitely possess intelligence, but when do they awaken to it, and how far does it develop? Hmmm?
“Everyone, please stop for a moment.”
“Wataru, what’s wrong?”
“Sorry to hold you up, but something just occurred to me. If the Ancient Fire Dragon was intelligent, would it be possible to reason with it?”
If we launch a surprise attack right away, it will be impossible to resolve things through conversation, so I want to check this first.
Besides, we could ask the Ancient Earth Dragon to come out and lecture it, making it reflect on its actions. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Oh, but the Ancient Earth Dragon is technically a messenger of the Creator God-sama. Maybe it’s not right to drag it into this kind of work. Still, couldn’t we at least try to persuade it?
“As Wataru says, persuading an ancient dragon isn’t impossible. That is, as long as it’s not a fire type acting alone.”
Ilma-san answered my question.
According to her, Fire Dragons are generally hot-tempered, which makes communication difficult.
Even so, legends record that ancient dragons leading fire dragon flocks have agreed to negotiations. However, fire dragons that act alone are said to be particularly hot-tempered and highly likely to judge everyone else as worthless.
The fact that it has lived long enough to become an Ancient Dragon yet still hasn’t returned to a herd, formed a new one, or found a mate suggests that it’s a true tyrant and that attempting to negotiate with it would be a waste of time.
I can only imagine what a true tyrant is like, but I got the sense that it’s a thoroughly selfish dragon.
There’s a one-in-a-million chance that this ancient fire dragon might be gentle and open to reason. However, since there are legends of it going on a rampage right before falling asleep, I don’t think there’s even a one-in-a-billion chance of that happening.
It’d be ridiculous to miss a chance for a surprise attack because of such a slim chance. I apologized for holding them up and set off again.
It was quite a distance—a journey that would have taken my former self about three hours—but we covered it in under an hour and arrived at our destination.
The ancient dragon’s scales, illuminated by the morning sun on the mountainside, shimmered like rubies.
It’s easy to see why the villagers from the old man’s village mistook them for a gem vein.
Now that the soil has crumbled away and more than half of the dragon’s form is visible, there’s no way anyone could mistake it. Still, it’s incredibly imposing.
“Just as Marina reported. Everyone, take your positions as soon as you’re ready. We’ll launch a simultaneous attack on the signal of Wataru summoning his ship.”
Final preparations are being made at a spot where the ancient fire dragon is visible.
Felicia casts a powerful barrier over everyone, and Ines adds the “Flame Tiger’s Protection” spell on top of it. Apparently, this spell is unique to Ines’s race, the Flame Tigers, and it drastically increases resistance to heat and fire. I only learned about it during this hunt.
Even though we’ve been together for quite a while now, we haven’t really been in any serious battles. There are still a lot of things I don’t know about combat, like Felicia’s barrier.
By layering this spell over the barrier, we can minimize damage from fire and heat. It’s incredibly useful.
When I heard about the spell from Ines, I asked, “You had something like that? Why didn’t you tell us?” She replied that she thought there would never be a chance to use it.
…True, with the ship summoning barrier, it blocks everything regardless of resistance.
This time, however, we can’t just hole up behind the barrier and focus solely on long-range attacks like we’ve done before.
That’s because we’re on land and there’s a human settlement fairly close by. In other words, a lax attitude—thinking we can attack from behind the barrier and that it’s no big deal if the enemy escapes—could lead to disaster.
If we let the Ancient Dragon escape and it attacks the old man’s village or other settlements, it would be a terrible start to the day. So, Alessia-san and the rest of the combat team will close in and fight.
…Oh no! It’s a bit late now, but I’m starting to get really worried. Having them start the fight on my signal…that’s way too much pressure.
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