“Gugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
“Hmph!”
A lizard shaped somewhat like a chicken… or was it even a lizard? An older man named Douglas cut down the monster, which was about as tall as an adult and seemed to be some kind of reptile.
It was a monster I hadn’t seen in Claydale or the West, so it might be unique to these grasslands, these Rocky Mountains, or somewhere around here.
Such monsters appeared frequently, but Douglas usually cut them down in a single blow, so it was hardly an issue. If there was any problem, perhaps it was that the swordsman Nighthardt, who wasn’t enthusiastic about this whole affair, got irritated every time we stopped?
“…Snow.”
Aria muttered my name as I was observing the Hero’s party, glaring at me with just her eyes. …For some reason, I feel like I get scolded like this every time I do something.
“I know, I know.”
It’s because I acted on my own again, isn’t it?
My body has recovered considerably. Much better than when we cleared that large-scale Dungeon. But, even though I’m currently quad-elemental, two of those are through a composite Skill, so my Magic Stone should be much larger than Serejyura’s, who is also quad-elemental.
Serejyura originally possessed elements that were taxing even when focusing solely on magic, yet she fought in close combat on the front lines, much like Aria. Then, because she hid in the underworld, she couldn’t recuperate, and her body was no longer able to endure long battles.
A battle on the level of adventurers isn’t much of a burden. The pain still lingers, but I’m used to not letting it show on my face.
Compared to when I fought Aria in the Royal Capital, there’s a world of difference.
But Aria is afraid that if I push myself too hard, I’ll end up like Serejyura.
She doesn’t need to worry…
Because I’ve already decided to use my life for her sake.
“Let’s get a move on!”
The battle ended quickly, and an irritated Nighthardt yelled at us.
“To shout so loudly when we’re this close… Is he hard of hearing, I wonder?”
“Snow…”
When I said that, loud enough only for Aria beside me to hear, perhaps she was thinking the same thing, as I wasn’t scolded this time.
The reason we can chat so leisurely is because we’re behind them.
Normally, it’s standard practice for Aria, the scout, to be at the front, but these three stopped us from going ahead.
As for their reasons, Douglas didn’t approve of being behind young women, and Nighthardt was the same, though it felt more like he looked down on female adventurers.
As for the Hero… I don’t know what Klein is thinking, but he probably thought it would be more interesting this way.
In any case, the root of their reasoning is that they still don’t trust us… I suppose?
At this rate, it wouldn’t be any different if we were with Dolton and the others, or the Temple Knights, further behind.
They’re following us from a distance of about two hundred paces.
Their current role is to annihilate surrounding monsters and secure our escape route. They should be fine, but I’m concerned that only reptiles have appeared since we entered these Rocky Mountains.
“Young ladies, we’ll be arriving at the central area soon.”
We advanced deep into the Rocky Mountains, and when large rocky areas became more frequent, forcing the path through crevices between them, Klein, walking ahead, called out to us.
Even though they’re called the Rocky Mountains, it’s not like a normal mountain where the summit is the highest point. It’s more like a mountain where many rocks were buried, and over long years, the soil and sand eroded away… To put it simply, it’s like building blocks haphazardly assembled by a toddler.
So the central part isn’t the highest point; rather, among the many crevices in the rocky terrain, the largest crevice is said to be the Fire Dragon’s temporary nest.
If that’s considered the center of the Rocky Mountains… perhaps the Fire Dragon created it.
From there, we proceeded cautiously. Setting aside the taciturn Douglas, even Nighthardt became less talkative. More importantly…
“It’s hot, isn’t it?”
It’s not a volcano or anything, but the temperature rises with every step we take upwards. I’m not particularly bad with heat, but walking still tires me out since I’m not fully recovered. Hearing my murmur, Aria looked up, her eyes narrowing as if to focus, and whispered.
“The fire Magical Element is getting stronger.”
We’re finally going to face the Fire Dragon. Just as I thought that, Douglas, who was walking at the head, suddenly turned around.
“You girls stay out of it. Just watch our fight from there.”
“Douglas!”
Nighthardt exclaimed at the utterly unexpected remark.
This Fire Dragon subjugation was supposed to be to ascertain Aria’s strength. If she truly has the power to defeat the Dark Dragon, then there would be no reason for the Hero, who was informed of this continent’s threat by the spirits, to be here.
“Nighthardt… we’re not so weak that we need to let girls like these fight. With the three of us, even an Elemental Dragon shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That may be so, but…”
Nighthardt frowned, glanced at us, and clicked his tongue softly.
“Hmph. You just watch our power. This world only needs us, the chosen of the spirits!”
Saying that, Nighthardt and Douglas moved forward.
What is Douglas thinking? Does he have some reservations about what Klein is doing? Nighthardt is simple. It seems he’s decided to prioritize his own feelings over the Hero’s plans.
“What will you do, Aria?”
“…Let’s go.”
Whether to witness it or to ascertain something, Aria decided to proceed. I understand least of all what Klein is thinking, but if we don’t find out, we’ll be at a disadvantage.
My opinion isn’t needed. Besides, I also need to ascertain things.
As we started moving, each with our own agendas, Klein, who began walking with a shrug and a mask-like smile, let out a faint murmur, as if sighing lightly.
“…That would be problematic, you know.”
What does he mean by that?
It seems Klein has other intentions besides gauging our abilities. If it has nothing to do with Aria, then it’s not a problem, but if—
“—This is it.”
Douglas’s voice from the front interrupted my thoughts.
Indeed, a familiar sensation… I can feel a strong fire Magical Element. But in the center of the Rocky Mountains we reached—a wide, flat space like an arena—the Fire Dragon we sought was nowhere to be seen.
But we hadn’t mistaken the place. Scattered across the wide space were the skeletal remains of what looked like large beasts, all of them bearing marks as if they had been crushed by immense force.
“…Tch, it’s not back yet?”
“Seems like it.”
Douglas responded to Nighthardt’s complaint, crushing a bone underfoot as if to inspect it.
From its condition, the bones seemed to have been left here for a long time… perhaps several hundred years. Or maybe they were burned until they became that brittle.
“Klein! Let’s regroup with the others behind us for now!”
To Nighthardt’s words, Klein didn’t reply, his mask-like smile unchanging, and in that instant, Aria shot her head up as if startled.
“Snow!”
—Hyuh!
The next moment, we heard something slicing through the air, and everyone instantly jumped away from their spots, just as the carcass of a giant beast fell with a ground-shaking thud.
But that wasn’t the problem. When everyone looked up at the sky, a “Dragon” covered in crimson scales, its massive wings spread wide, was looking down at us as if glaring.
Aria and the others confront the Fire Dragon.
What is its power?
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