Chapter 448: The Southernmost Point
The wind is howling around me.
—So here I am, on the Dragon Continent. Having crossed that terrifying jungle, I feel a bit lighter as I make my way across the grasslands, surrounded by a landscape of flat-topped rocky mountains with reddish-brown and whitish layers.
The wind is so strong it feels like it might blow me away, but the view is breathtaking. It seems this place is a gathering ground for the Wind Spirits. As I head south, I encounter a lineup of roaring Wind Spirits, frenzied Wind Spirits, and screaming Wind Spirits. There are quite a few of each.
And then there are the dragons. Speaking of which, I remember that dragons have some sort of pact not to actively attack humans, thanks to their strong ties with the Wind Spirits. Is that why the winds are so fierce here?
Having stepped into their territory, I can feel that I’m not within the bounds of that non-aggression pact, so I’m currently hiding to avoid being spotted.
Dragons are enormous! There are also giant birds that resemble monstrous fowl and rhinoceroses the size of small trucks, but the dragons are by far the largest. With their massive bodies, they capture and devour the giant birds and rhinos.
I was wondering how they manage their meals, but it turns out they’re strictly carnivorous. Well, maybe some species are herbivorous, but seeing a carnivorous beast the size of a house up close is quite intimidating. It sends a chill down my spine.
There aren’t many flying types of dragons here. Instead, the area is dominated by wingless dragons with rugged outer shells that resemble the rocky colors of the surroundings.
“~♪”
The spirit assisting me catches my attention.
The spirits here don’t speak. Their voices sound like several high-pitched notes from a xylophone being struck simultaneously.
When I divert my gaze from the dragon’s meal to observe the spirit, I see one that looks like a flat stone, spinning around while moving a little forward and then back again. Peeking from behind the rocks, I spot another dragon striding by.
This one looks brown, appearing almost black, unlike the one that’s currently eating.
The spirits here are somewhat different from those near the town. The Earth Spirits take on the very shape of the land. It’s a strange way to put it, but they seem flat. The moss spirits resemble moss, and the rock spirits take on the form of rocks. They blend seamlessly into the landscape.
It feels like they embody the essence of what they govern? There seems to be a scarcity of mixed-attribute spirits. Perhaps the spirits in this area retain the forms of ancient spirits.
While they can’t understand human language, they seem to respond to simple desires like wanting to hide or recover stamina. So, I’m quietly observing the dragons while hiding. My thoughts? They’re huge! And yes, they’re living creatures.
There should be flying dragons somewhere in the sky, visible from the island, so I plan to search for them slowly. However, contrary to my expectations, I haven’t spotted any dragon-shaped spirits.
For now, I’ll just check the general terrain and head back for today. The map shows the southern tip of the long, narrow continent. It seems there’s a mountain range along the western coastline. Since the eastern coast is closer, I decide to move that way—only to find a desert.
The temperature is low, and the reddish, dry ground isn’t sandy. Instead, it’s covered in coarse clumps of earth that match the color of the rocky mountains I saw earlier, completely parched. And here too, the wind howls fiercely. Dust gets into my clothes, so I decide to retreat!
Now, to the west. This area resembles a fjord! It has a complex coastline with steep cliffs. Ice clings to the concave areas here and there.
On one side, there’s snow and ice! On the other, a desert! It feels like the very edge of the world. The terrain is intense!
At the southernmost point, I spot something that looks like a penguin. They’re lined up, larger than me, and when they notice me, they puff out their chests and all start to threaten me at once. I should probably feel a sense of danger, but they’re rather cute.
◇ ◆ ◇
“So, that’s how today went.”
“Seriously, you’ve got nothing but points to critique, huh?” Retze says with half-closed eyes.
During dinner, I dropped by the rented house to hear how things were progressing with the guild and Retze, sharing my experiences from today.
Even though the incident has been resolved for the most part, it seems there are still some details to iron out, and everyone appears busy during the day. So, I can only meet them in the morning or at night.
Typically, problematic requests are wrapped up neatly once the reward is received, but this time, the guild itself is involved, and they seem to feel quite apologetic, which is causing a bit of a frenzy.
As for the two daughters, there are requests for them to marry some suitable nobleman and become the lord’s wife, referred to as “the Spirit’s beloved” and “the Lord’s bloodline,” but it seems they want to return to the town.
Given the tragedy from the fire, if they were forced into something, the spirits might get angry again. Ultimately, their decisions will likely take precedence.
It doesn’t seem like things can go wrong from here, so I let out a sigh of relief. By the way, I stopped by Ash’s place in the morning to have breakfast together. It wasn’t exactly a safety check, but I just wanted to see his face.
Coming to the rental house wasn’t so much about being curious about the details of the incident as it was about wanting to see their faces.
“Talking about today like it was just a casual trip to the butcher is anything but normal, you know?”
“I’m getting used to it, somehow. This is just Gene’s everyday life,” Retze continues while munching on the meat I brought.
“Yeah, well, I’ve gotten somewhat accustomed to it too, but it’s how easily he brings it up in front of others that bothers me,” Dean says, chewing on my offering.
“Overprotective, aren’t you?” Retze replies, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Dragons are romantic!” Chris exclaims with a smile.
“Please don’t get used to it? It’s strange to get used to something like this!” Haulon chimes in.