Chapter 164: Return Report
“He’s still zipping around all over the place, huh?”
“Seriously. I wonder if he’s even trying to hide it anymore.”
“It seems he’s told the Kingdom folks to keep quiet, but…”
“His escorts look tight-lipped, and even if they did talk, d’you think anyone would believe them?”
“True. Even we didn’t believe it until we saw it with our own eyes.”
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
“Hey, it’s Shinya! You guys doing okay?”
“Oh, you’re back?”
“We’ve been waiting!”
“How’d it go?”
“I’ll go get everyone, so wait here a bit.”
He didn’t say anything bad had happened, so I returned to everyone, relieved.
“How was it?”
“There was a Beast down outside the Dome, so maybe the Magician has recovered.”
When I went with everyone to where the Beast had fallen, the group that stayed behind also came out and started collecting the Beast, but what lay there was more than half-eaten.
When I asked what happened, they said they’d been drinking to console the depressed Fire Magician.
When everyone was pretty drunk, they heard a Beast’s roar. Looking through the peephole, they said they saw a Beast that was lying down, sniffing the ground.
They thought it was probably sniffing the scent from when they went outside during the day to kill time, but it then started wandering around, seemingly unaware of them.
The Adventurers, as a prank, had the staggering drunk Magician fire off a spell for a bit of fun.
Apparently, they egged him on, saying, “Hit it with one shot from behind, like you’re kicking the Beast’s ass!”
They were supporting the drunk Fire Magician, whose eyes were glazed over, from behind and betting on whether he’d hit or miss. But when he shouted, “You piece of shit! Die!” and fired, the explosion from his Fireball blew away the belly of a Brown Bear that had turned sideways.
They left the mangled Brown Bear, thinking it wouldn’t fetch any money. Then, when Beasts came one after another to eat it, they apparently had him shoot magic at them while they were dining.
Moreover, it was a game where they made him chug alcohol and bet on his accuracy, but they were laughing like idiots, saying he gradually became able to shoot at Beasts even when not drunk.
Hearing that, I felt drained, and the subjugation team was utterly dumbfounded, but his fellow Magicians were happy, so I guess it’s fine.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
Since there were so many of us, our stockpiled ale ran out, and with little alcohol left, we took out all we had and rested for three days.
During that time, doubling as Beast subjugation, we held a shooting competition targeting the Beasts that came to eat the Brown Bear.
Smaller ones were left as bait, and we took turns subjugating them.
The test for his recovery was a frontal attack from inside the Earth Dome. He’d show himself, provoke a Beast with Stone Bullet, then immediately close the entrance.
The Fire Magician would then intercept the enraged, approaching Beast from an adjacent slit.
I had him aim for the snout or inside the mouth. Even if he missed, it would hit the face, and he showed no hesitation in shooting, so he passed.
I decided to let him participate in the southward subjugation expedition.
He gave me a deep bow and thanked me. When I told him to thank the escorting Adventurers instead, the guys who had been fooling around looked embarrassed, which was amusing.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
On the second day after departing south, we encountered a Terrano Dragon. After reinforcing the Earth Magic Dome, I provoked the Dragon using Ice Bullet.
Towards the enraged, approaching Dragon, I told him it was okay if he missed and had him fire his recovery Fireball.
He aimed for its wide-open mouth but hit its nose, making the Terrano Dragon even more ferocious.
Seeing that, the Adventurers with us burst out laughing like idiots, creating an atmosphere unlike any Dragon Subjugation.
“I’d like to give you a drink, but we’re out of stock, sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m still a little nervous, but I can attack safely from inside the Dome, so I’ll show you I can take it down.”
The man who answered thus, facing the Dragon, had no fear on his face.
He carefully aimed at the Dragon, which was shaking its head, and when it faced forward, he launched a Fireball into its mouth.
When the Fireball that disappeared into its half-open mouth exploded, flames erupted from the Terrano Dragon’s mouth, and its head snapped back.
For a moment, it seemed to sway, then it toppled over sideways. Its legs twitched, then fell still, and it stopped moving.
(Tame…)
“It’s dead.”
“That’s great! You’re a Dragon Slayer now too!”
“If there’s anyone who can’t shoot magic anymore, just get ’em drunk!”
“Drunk Magicians are invincible, after all!”
“Only when they have Adventurer escorts, though!”
Good-natured guys calling out to the Magician, who was crying tears of joy.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
As planned, we headed from south to west, and just as we were about to turn north, we encountered a Turtle Dragon.
By this time, everyone had gotten used to Dragons, but since this was their first Turtle Dragon, they were looking at each other, wondering who would subjugate it.
“It’s huge and looks tough.”
“Can we still only damage it when its mouth is open?”
“It’s Fran’s and Ariela’s turn, but how about we have Colan show us an example here?”
“One shot in the mouth again, right?” Colan asked.
“That’s the quickest way, but this one hates fire too. Detonate one shot under its belly.”
“Leave it to me… Hup!”
《BOOOM!》 The roar of a Fireball echoed, and the Turtle Dragon momentarily floated.
《Whoa, amazing!》
《But it’s all curled up now.》
《Looks even more impossible to attack.》
“Everyone, move away and prepare to take cover. This thing is heavy and sturdy, so if it steps on or bumps into our Dome, there’s a risk of it being destroyed, so make the Dome especially sturdy.”
I instructed Colan to make a large fireball float near where its head had retracted.
It would stick its neck and legs out, unable to bear the heat, but I told him to hit its profile with a powerful Fireball before it could start rampaging.
Colan, grinning, floated a large fireball near the Turtle Dragon’s head.
The first fireball disappeared, and just as the second one was about to vanish, the Turtle Dragon, unable to endure it any longer, stretched out its neck.
Colan, who was waiting, shot a Fireball into the side of its face. The Dragon, which had been about to stand up, staggered and sat back down.
He immediately shot another Fireball into the other side of its face, and its head drooped limply.
(Tame Turtle Dragon 489)
Hmm, I guess it’s just dizzy.
“It doesn’t look dead, does it?” Colan said.
“Now’s our chance to stuff Fireballs into its mouth. Call everyone.”
I had the Kingdom’s Magicians who had gathered try attacking it.
Its shell and legs didn’t take any damage at all, but near the base of its neck, a Stone Lance pierced about 50 or 60 cm deep, but that was it.
Next, I had Eina hit it with an Ice Lance. It pierced about 1.5 meters deep, and the Turtle Dragon twitched.
“Fran, try thrusting up from under its chin.”
“Roger!” Fran replied.
The Turtle Dragon, its head swaying, tried to stagger to its feet, but a Stone Lance shot up from the ground, piercing from under its chin into its head.
(Tame Turtle Dragon 468, 413, 375, 311…)
The numbers are decreasing rapidly, so I guess it pierced its brain.
It braced its legs, its head held up by the Stone Lance, but I couldn’t feel any strength from it.
(Tame Turtle Dragon 68, 43, 31, 19, 12)
(Tame…)
Subjugation complete.
The Magicians also witnessed the actual subjugation, so they should be able to use this experience for future subjugations and guiding their juniors.
On the southern route, we subjugated eight Dragons and one Snake, then headed for Deelgo Village. Before reaching the defensive line, each party dispersed.
Each went over the defensive line from different locations towards the village, regrouped on the way, and headed for the village chief’s house.
When I went to the Sub-Master’s place, the Magic Squad’s Vice-Captain was also there, relieved that all the Magicians were present.
“It’s been a long time. How did it go?” the Sub-Master asked.
“This isn’t something anyone other than the Magic Squad’s Vice-Captain should hear.”
I have the escorting Adventurers waiting outside, but it’s still a large group inside.
After kicking out those who had come to report or confirm deployments, I gave my report.
“On this subjugation, we hunted 25 Dragons and four Snakes.”
“The Search reported seven Dragons and one Snake, right?” the Sub-Master asked.
“That’s right. As promised, I’ll hand those over to the Royal Capital’s Guild under Tanza’s name.”
“More importantly, are they heading towards the town?”
“It didn’t seem that way to me. We established a base three days west beyond the defense line. From there, we went west for two days, south for three days, and then east for two days, circling back to our base clockwise. On the northern route, we subjugated 17 Dragons and three Snakes. On the southern route, also moving clockwise from the base, we subjugated eight Dragons and one Snake. My impression is that there are more of them north of Deelgo Village, but it’s not like there are none in the south.”
“How are the members of the squad doing?”
“They’re fine Dragon Slayers. However, that’s conditional on them having defenses capable of withstanding a Dragon’s attack and being protected by veteran Adventurer parties.”
“Thank you very much. His Majesty the King will surely be pleased.”
“But, it’s true that the training of the Magicians is lacking. When I return, I’ll propose improvements to the Prime Minister.”
Behind the Vice-Captain, who was bowing deeply, the Sub-Master was looking at me with a complicated expression, but I silently warned him with my eyes not to ask anything.
“How is the Beast subjugation going?”
“It’s calmed down considerably, but there are still many large ones, so this situation will likely continue for a while longer.”
“Well then, I’ll return the members of the Magic Squad to you, Vice-Captain. Could you continue the subjugation efforts in cooperation with the Adventurers Guild?”
He responded with a crisp salute, so I informed the Sub-Master that I would be leaving.
I asked Tanza’s Shield, the Sword of the Fire Festival, the Glacial Shield, Sword and Fang, Fran, and Osius’s Fang to come to my house in the Royal Capital once they were finished.
If I pull out this much fighting power, it can’t be helped if the Sub-Master resents me for it.
If it’s just me, there shouldn’t be a problem even if I leave, since the kingdom’s Magic Squad is still here.
To the Adventurers I had waiting outside, I had promised one bag of Gold Coins per party, but these were parties of five to seven people.
To avoid any complaints, I decided to give each person 50 Gold Coins, and also made them promise to keep quiet about us.
They were trembling before the 14 bags of Gold Coins, and one asked, “This is much more than promised, is this really okay?” so I told them it included payment for keeping silent about us.
“It’s a story no one would believe even if we blabbed, but we promise.”