Chapter 17: The Long Road to the Imperial Capital – 22
It was only after I returned to the members of “Soul’s Guidance” and saw their expressions that I realized I had gone too far.
In a moment of anger, I had defeated the Chaos Flare Dragon with my bare hands, but at my age, I might have embarrassed myself in front of them.
As I approached the members, who looked dazed, ecstatic, and incredulous all at once, I offered a word of reflection.
“I may have acted a bit immaturely. I apologize for stealing everyone’s spotlight.”
“To think that even after such a display of combat prowess, you remain unsatisfied, truly, you are remarkable, Soushi-sama.”
“When you tossed aside your mace and shield, I wondered what you were planning, only to see you take down a dragon with your bare hands… I doubt anyone could have imagined that.”
Freinir was as usual, while Larni wore an expression of disbelief.
“I am grateful to have witnessed such a historic battle up close.”
“As always, Soushi-san exceeds our expectations,” Sfenia said, her face radiating sheer bliss, while Mariane seemed slightly flushed.
“It was a battle worthy of myth. With this, Soushi-dono’s name is sure to rise dramatically.”
“After witnessing such a fight, I feel utterly defeated. I can only follow Soushi-san for the rest of my life.”
While Shizuna’s words were one thing, Karma’s remarks felt a bit ominous.
“Is Soushi really human? At this point, it would be more believable to call him a god.”
“Indeed, that is quite true. No one would doubt him if he were called the embodiment of the God of War.”
Geshura and Sakurahime were trying to bestow a new title upon me, but I had no intention of being so presumptuous as to claim divinity.
However, as I looked at the faces of my companions, I gradually regained my composure. Even if the dragon had shown a weakness, it was clearly absurd to strangle a top-tier dragon with my bare hands.
It was a realization that came a bit late, but I felt that the members of “Soul’s Guidance” were completely numb to the situation.
Looking towards the castle gate, I saw a crowd of adventurers and soldiers staring at us in shock. That was the normal reaction.
But returning now felt a bit embarrassing. There was a chance I would be treated like a monster, and perhaps it would be better to head straight to our next destination.
As I pondered this, a strikingly beautiful woman in male attire came running towards us at an incredible speed.
Of course, it was the Grand Master, Lady Dorozitte. As expected of a former A-Rank adventurer, her physical abilities were impressive, and she reached me without breaking a sweat.
Without a word, she began inspecting my entire body, touching my arms, chest, and abdomen. I had no idea what she was checking for.
“Um, Grand Master, what are you doing?”
After a moment of examining me, Lady Dorozitte suddenly burst into a fit of giggles. Her face was filled with joy, and she seemed on the verge of dancing.
“Ah, I see!”
“Could it be that this is what it means to be an adventurer who has perfectly mastered the ‘Divine Fortune’ skill? A warrior chosen by the heavens, a hero reborn! I take pride in having nurtured the soil from which a remarkable individual like you, Soushi-san, has emerged! I am eager to see how you will navigate this chaotic continent!”
Lady Dorozitte took my hands and shook them vigorously.
Her exuberance continued until Mariane, standing behind her, cleared her throat.
As I was led back to the city of Geshura by Lady Dorozitte, we were greeted by a throng of adventurers at the castle gate. Thankfully, since the Grand Master was smiling, no one seemed afraid of me. Instead, Lady Dorozitte shouted, “Today, I treat you all to a celebration for the dragon’s defeat!” and thus, a festive uproar began.
After all, there was a massive dragon carcass just outside the city, and everyone wanted to see it.
With such a spectacle right at hand, it was impossible not to get excited over drinks. That night, the city was enveloped in a festive atmosphere.
Needless to say, I was at the center of it all, completely overwhelmed. At one point, I couldn’t even remember what I was doing.
What I do recall is:
“You absolutely have to enter the martial arts tournament! I’ll bet my entire fortune on you!”
“Exactly! This year, the Resplendent Marishielle will also be participating! If Soushi-san enters, it will become a legendary tournament!”
“Who knows, maybe a marriage proposal with Princess Marishielle will be decided on the spot! You definitely should enter, Soushi-san!”
I was bombarded with encouragement to participate in the martial arts tournament.
Of course, it goes without saying that lurking behind those words was the shadow of Bad Luck.
Regardless, the next day, I showed up at the guild with my companions and was promptly guided to Lady Dorozitte. However, today she wore a somewhat troubled expression.
“I apologize for the inconvenience after yesterday. Have you recovered from the festivities?”
“Yes, my Poison Resistance skill is quite high. More importantly, thanks to your arrangements, Grand Master, I was spared from being treated like a monster. Thank you.”
After being jostled around during the banquet, I could understand Lady Dorozitte’s concern. It felt uniquely fitting in this world to have the Grand Master’s endorsement demonstrated in the form of a celebration.
“Hehe, that’s good to hear. Regardless, that battle was far too stimulating for ordinary humans.”
“Indeed. I need to calm down a bit more.”
“That was likely due to that ‘Excitement’ skill, right? In that case, I think it’s somewhat understandable.”
“The inability to control it is the real issue. However, it’s also true that I owe my current self to that skill.”
“Then you’ll just have to live with it. At the very least, it’s said that skills generally benefit their bearers. However, how a person with such a skill is treated in society depends on both the individual and those around them.”
“I see, you make a valid point. I will be sure to be cautious. By the way, Grand Master, was there something troubling you? You seemed a bit down just now.”
As I changed the subject, Lady Dorozitte smiled wryly as if recalling something.
“Ah, yes, it’s a trivial matter, really. I’m currently pondering what to do about the Chaos Flare Dragon. We lack the manpower to dismantle it, and ordinary tools won’t suffice to strip its scales. It’s too far to call for tools and people from the Imperial Capital.”
“Is it really that significant?”
“Of course. Moreover, it’s meant to be presented to His Majesty the Emperor. Even if we dismantle it, we must transport it to the Imperial Capital. That’s quite a headache.”
“Ah, that does sound troublesome.”
While the ownership of the Chaos Flare Dragon belonged to “Soul’s Guidance,” due to its nature, it would have to be presented to the imperial family first. That was fine, but the issues of dismantling and transporting it were significant problems.
“Then why not have our members with the ‘Great Severance’ skill handle it?”
When I suggested this, Larni chimed in, “Why not just put it in Soushi’s Item Box? If we take it straight to the Imperial Capital, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Her solution was so straightforward that Lady Dorozitte momentarily froze, but soon her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Can that massive body really fit in an Item Box!?”
“Well, I think it should be possible.”
“Then let’s go try it right away! Come on, hurry!”
Lady Dorozitte suddenly stood up and pulled on my arm, looking like a girl who had just found a new toy. Considering her actual age, it was probably an inappropriate thought.
Regardless, I was taken straight to the northern castle gate.
A large crowd had gathered around the dragon’s massive body. While I expected complaints about its removal, it was bound to rot if left alone, so there was no choice.
I called out to the guard soldiers and approached the carcass. It was enormous, towering over me, but I believed it could fit in the Item Box.
Having used it for a while, I understood that the Item Box skill had no limitations on capacity or entrance size. However, it seemed that if I tried to exceed my strength, it wouldn’t fit.
“I’m going in.”
Activating the Item Box, I opened a hole beneath the dragon’s carcass. Once the hole reached a certain size, the carcass began to slide into it. I could feel a significant amount of pressure on my body. It felt similar to carrying a 30-kilogram bag of rice in my previous life. However, my body had been enhanced for various reasons, so I managed it, but an average adventurer would struggle to even fit a dragon inside.
“Everything has gone in, but is it really okay?”
Lady Dorozitte asked cautiously.
“There’s a bit of strain, but it seems fine.”
“I also possess the Item Box skill, but I can’t even imagine the strain on my body if I tried to fit something like that in. However, just the ability of this Item Box alone makes your worth immeasurable, Soushi-san. If you weren’t a hero, the merchants in the Imperial Capital would have been in an uproar.”
“Indeed, there aren’t many people who can carry such items.”
As we conversed, the crowd around us suddenly erupted into commotion. It seemed that this had become quite the spectacle in its own right.
However, while I wanted to say that we could now head to our next destination, I realized I still needed to conquer the dungeon in this town.
Whether as a Dragon Slayer or a Dragon Porter, I must not forget the fundamentals of being an adventurer.