Chapter 199: Flattered, I Climb the Tree
Worms are a type of dragon species among monsters. In other words… they are a kind of dragon. Dragons are considered the strongest monsters in this world. Excluding exceptional cases, such as those that have absorbed magical power from the Demon Realm like the sage-class magician Subnock, there are no natural enemies to them in this world.
Once, worms were dragons that ruled the skies. It is said that they now live underground because they lost a power struggle against other dragons and retreated into the earth. These weakened dragons have lost their wings and have seen a decline in their eyesight, surviving by burrowing into the soft ground of wetlands. That is what the worm, as a monster, represents.
“Even if they are weak, they are still dragon species… I thought it would be a bit anticlimactic, but to think it was just a chick…”
“I’m surprised too. I didn’t expect that.”
Looking at the charred remains of the worm, Rest and Yuri sighed in unison. Although they hadn’t struggled much… this worm was not weak. They had to unleash several intermediate spells before finally bringing it down. It would be impossible to defeat it alone without the strength of a court magician.
(So that was just a chick… Hearing that makes me lose a bit of confidence.)
As Rest wore a troubled expression, Ula leaned in to peer at him, tilting her head in curiosity.
“The size of the parent worm is said to be more than double… Do you think we can win?”
“It seems Ula is asking if we can win against a parent worm, which is said to be more than double the size… What do you think, Rest?”
“Well…”
Rest pondered for a moment. Under the contrasting gazes of Yuri and Ula, he voiced his thoughts.
“…I can’t definitively say we can win against an enemy we’ve never encountered. However, I haven’t shown everything I can do. If I use my trump card, there might be a chance.”
“Ah, then I feel reassured. It sounds like we can win.”
Yuri spoke with a relieved expression. Although he hadn’t outright declared they could win… Rest’s eyes widened at her unexpected reaction.
“No, I didn’t say we can win…”
“We can win. If it’s Rest, then if there’s even the slightest chance, you will surely seize it. I believe that.”
“Mm… It’s okay. I’m reassured.”
Following Yuri, Ula nodded vigorously. What is this mysterious trust? The two of them undoubtedly believed in Rest’s victory. Their words were so unwavering that it was a little frightening.
(Did I really do something to build such a strong trust…?)
He had no recollection of forming such a bond with Ula, who he had just met, or even with Yuri. It seemed that the trust from Yuri and Ula was stronger than Rest’s own belief in himself.
“If you say that much… then I will win. I’ll make it happen.”
With two beautiful girls saying this much, he had no choice but to declare he would win. No matter what their relationship was… Rest couldn’t betray the expectations of the women who believed in him.
“Youthful” or perhaps “naive” could describe him.
“For now, let’s continue our exploration of the wetlands. While investigating the ecology and weaknesses of the worms, let’s search for the parent individual.”
Understanding the attributes of their weaknesses and their ecology would surely reveal strategies for overcoming them. Ideally, he wanted to battle a few chicks before facing the parent worm.
“GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
“Ah, what a stroke of luck. It seems one has appeared right on cue.”
From a short distance away, the cry of a worm echoed. When he used magic to sense its presence… he found another worm, about twenty meters away, similar in size to the one they had just defeated.
“Well then, shall we fight?”
(When cute girls have expectations of you, you want to meet them… Even a pig will climb a tree when flattered. Men are such simple creatures…)
No matter how much infinite magical power he possessed. No matter the title of Count he had obtained. In the end, Rest was just a man. When Yuri and Ula placed their full expectations on him, he could only do his utmost to respond.
Feeling an overwhelming sense of inadequacy, Rest shook his head with a solemn expression.