Dragonkind… Mystic Beasts that have existed since before the dawn of human history, the strongest creatures in this world.
Their lifespans are said to be thousands, even tens of thousands of years, and one theory suggests that as they age, their intelligence increases, evolving into Dragons without dying, eventually reaching the level of Dragon Gods.
By aging and becoming Elemental Dragons, they gain the ability to fly and immense power along with high intelligence. However, the fear humans have of Dragons is not due to these Elemental Dragons, but rather the juvenile form of Dragonkind, the Earth Dragons.
Dragons gradually come to subsist on Mana Particles themselves as they gain elemental attributes. However, Earth Dragons, which have not yet acquired these attributes, instinctively devour everything as food. In particular, those that live in groups, are weak at escaping, and have tasted ‘humans,’ who possess a large amount of Mana, actively attack human settlements due to their low intelligence, becoming feared as man-eating Dragons.
“GAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!”
The Earth Dragon emerged from the depths of the ancient Lace Veil ruins, its roar shaking the earth.
“Hiii!?”
“Uwaaaaaah!?”
Screams, as if drawing back from the throat, leaked from some of the Adventurers.
The Dragon’s Roar instills fear in the “weak.” It is said to be the Dragon’s selection, terrifying those “without resolve” who are not qualified to stand before it, regardless of rank or Skill level.
The Adventurers here came knowing the possibility of fighting a Dragon. However, many were only trembling with that resolve, and even then, the younger ones who saw its form for the first time could not bear it, causing panic and disrupting the battle lines.
“Beat the rabid ones back to their senses! If that doesn’t work, kill them!”
Jesha immediately shouted with a force that overpowered the Dragon’s Roar.
What would be impossible for a normal organization is commonplace in this land where life is cheap. The veteran Adventurers who moved immediately suppressed the damage by beating them with murderous intent.
However, it was not only the humans who panicked. The Monsters, forgetting themselves, jumped over the disrupted battle lines, attacking those who were injured and retreating, causing considerable damage to the injured and the healing Magicians.
“Tch!”
Jesha clicked her tongue loudly while pondering.
She had anticipated the emergence of an Earth Dragon, but it was unexpected that things would collapse this quickly. What went wrong? Was the treatment of the injured retreating from the battle line too slow? There were not enough Magicians who could use Light Magic or Superior Potions, but there should have been a considerable number of lower-grade Potions. Why was that…?
“Jilgun! Bring the Armored Dragon! We’re going to charge!”
Jesha, stopping herself from thinking deeply in the midst of battle, sought a breakthrough from her fighting instincts and shouted for a means of transportation.
As a last resort when the Earth Dragon appeared, Jesha and Jilgun had considered subjugating it themselves. Even so, one or two Rank 4 humans would not be able to defeat it. Therefore, Jesha and the others had formed a suicide squad consisting only of Rank 4 and the top of Rank 3, including Jesha and Jilgun.
However, the distance to the Earth Dragon was widening because the front line collapsed earlier than expected. Realizing that they would be subjected to the Dragon’s fiery breath without being able to do anything, she immediately chose to charge on the Armored Dragon subspecies they had brought as pack animals.
The Adventurers would suffer considerable damage as the combat power that had been supporting the center of the front line was withdrawn. The suicide squad heading for the Earth Dragon would also have a very low chance of survival.
Even so, the Adventurers who had the desert town as their stronghold and “home” smiled fiercely as if steeling themselves, and gripped their weapons again.
But–
Dogooon!
At that moment, a fire suddenly broke out from the wagons managing food and medicine at the very back of the Adventurers, behind the Magicians who were the rearguard, and arrows flying from behind attacked the Magicians from behind.
“What’s going on!?”
Jilgun raised his voice at the explosion from behind.
Jilgun was managing the composition of each unit in place of Jesha. It seemed that there was an attack from someone from somewhere, but he had left those who could fight there as well.
“Could it be–“
“Hah hah hah!”
Laughter echoed from the area where the explosion occurred, and more than a dozen Armored Dragons carrying people jumped out from the smoke of the fire and sand.
The number was almost all of those they had brought as pack animals. The men riding the Armored Dragons skillfully fired more arrows at the rearguard from above, and as the men scattered in all directions as if fleeing without forming a group, one of the men deliberately changed direction and approached to a place where Jesha and Jilgun could see his face.
“You are…!”
“Serves you right, Jilgun, Guild Master! Did you think we’d let the Dwarves and beastly guys keep acting so high and mighty forever!”
The Cruz man was a veteran even in the Adventurer’s Guild, and had reached Rank 3 even though it was difficult for anyone other than Dwarves to reach high ranks in the Guild, and his humble attitude meant that he was not on bad terms with Dwarves and beastmen. That was why he had been included in this subjugation squad.
“You were in league with the Leesan Syndicate!”
“Of course, Jilgun! Why would the powerful Cruz people have any reason to obey you? You made us do errands all the time, and that ends today–”
Gakin!
A Hand Axe thrown with tremendous strength from Jilgun’s side attacked the man, and the man, who was tens of meters away in the safe zone, blocked it with his shield on the spur of the moment.
“…You’re a woman with bad habits, Guild Master!”
“What’s your goal!? Do you think you can live in town after doing something like this!”
When Jesha, who had thrown the Hand Axe, roared, the man, who had thrown away the shield that had been half-destroyed by the throw at this distance, grinned wryly while inwardly sweating.
“I told you, it ends today! From today, our Leesan Syndicate will control that town! Look at that!”
When the man chanted something and launched the Darkness he had created in his hand into the sky, a high-pitched sound like a flute made with Dark Magic [Noise] echoed in the desert.
“GWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!”
As if responding to the sound, the Earth Dragon’s legs stopped, and it roared towards the sky.
Then, from the sand smoke behind it, those clad in jet-black clothes riding giant Earth Lizards appeared, and a man in black armor standing at the head raised a jet-black Spear to the sky.
“The Evil Race Army!?”
Jesha raised a voice of astonishment, and before everyone there could understand the meaning of that voice, the knight of the Evil Race Army pointed the tip of the Spear he was holding at the Adventurers–
“――――――!!”
As if taking that as a signal, the Earth Dragon opened its jaws, and a huge Fireball breath turned the desert into scorching heat.
“So, it was the Evil Race after all.”
Elena and Ron gasped at the words of the last remaining man.
The Evil Race Army’s invasion. That was the reason why the Dark Elves had disappeared from that town, and one of the reasons why this Cruz… the Leesan Syndicate had started to move.
“Hey, hey? I told you everything, so I can go now, right? Huh?”
The man in his forties, who was still sitting on his butt after being hit on the back of the head, looked up at me with a pitying gaze.
“Not yet. What is the purpose of you Leesan Syndicate? Why were you with the Dark Elves? What is the Evil Race Army’s purpose of invasion?”
With a Black Knife in my right hand, I pointed the tip of the unmoving Spear at his throat with only my left arm. The man showed a cunning expression for a moment, as if he was about to click his tongue, and distorted the smile he had plastered on his face.
“D-don’t panic, we were supposed to attack each organization at the same time as the Evil Race Army’s invasion. I don’t know the details, but the higher-ups had already talked to the Evil Race, and when the Evil Race take that town, we’re supposed to manage the town, see, I’ve told you everything now!”
“Then what is the Evil Race Army’s purpose?”
A man like this is the same as a con artist. He only says what he wants to say and tries to twist the truth.
“Th-that is…”
The man who was pressed for an answer hesitated. Now that the Evil Race, who are hostile to the human race, have moved their army, their only goal should not be to expand their sphere of influence. Most likely–
“–A military base to invade the Calfaan Empire.”
“–!”
The man’s eyes widened and he looked back at Ron’s words, which he suddenly said from the side.
Yes, that is the most likely possibility. The Dark Elves in that town have disappeared except for the abandoned orphans. And those who disappeared are cooperating at the request of their homeland, the Evil Race Nation.
Even so, having lived in that town for so long, he should have had acquaintances among the other races. If he was abandoning them to cooperate, it was natural to assume that the Evil Race had a significant reason for mobilizing their army. Looking at the underlying situation, it wasn’t just a matter of the Leesan Syndicate becoming the rulers; there was a possibility that anyone who resisted would be massacred. That’s why this man hesitated.
“…I’ll take that silence as confirmation.”
“W-Wait!”
Ron, with a look of anger I had never seen before, drew his sword and pierced the heart of the man trying to escape from behind. Elena watched with a slightly pained expression, narrowing her eyes.
“Ron…”
“I’m sorry, I…”
“…”
Ron probably did it impulsively. I don’t know if the basis of that anger was just patriotism, but Elena seemed to understand it. She didn’t say whether the act was good or bad, but touched Ron’s hand holding the blood-stained sword and gently lowered it.
“U-Um… what should we do…?”
The Cruz people nearby spoke with frightened faces.
Were they the ones who were around here? I didn’t feel any hostility from them, but when I looked at Elena to see what the situation was, she nodded slightly and turned to face them.
“There’s nothing we can do. We can’t do anything against an army. If you stay here, you shouldn’t be in any more danger.”
“T-That’s true, but if the town is destroyed…”
Elena narrowed her eyes slightly coldly at the man’s indecisive attitude. Relying on others. Thinking that someone will do something, only talking about hope.
“You can manage to survive somehow, right? Live as you please. This is your ‘home,’ after all.”
Even in this harsh desert, you can manage to survive. Adults with strength unlike orphans can defeat Monsters and eat succulents as food, and live anywhere.
That part is different from us, who have a purpose and no freedom.
“I…”
The man at the front showed a troubled expression at Elena’s words, then raised his face as if he had made a decision.
“That’s right… this is my home. It’s a crappy place, but I still have acquaintances. I can’t fight, but I can tell them to run…”
“Is that so? I won’t stop you. But… please, take care of yourself.”
“A-Ah…”
As the man ran off somewhere at Elena’s words, the others also showed slightly bewildered faces, but nodded in their own way and followed after the man.
“…Rena, Aria. Can I leave Nal to you?”
Ron, who had been watching the situation, said as he sheathed his sword and picked up Nal, who was lying down.
“I don’t mind, but… what are you going to do, Ron?”
“I’m… going to look for Camille.”
Ron looked at us with a serious face at Elena’s words.
“What happened to Camille? He said he would return to the base before me, though.”
“He hasn’t returned.”
Ron shook his head and frowned slightly at my words, which contained a little intention.
“But believe me. Camille certainly isn’t from this town, but he’s not involved in the Evil Race Army’s invasion. Rather…”
Ron knew Camille’s background, but Elena shook her head slightly at Ron, who couldn’t speak clearly and was vague.
“We don’t think Camille is connected to the Evil Race Army, even if he is a Dark Elf. But, do you know where Camille is?”
“A-Ah, sorry. I also asked him to purchase Fire Magic Stones. I think it’s probably at a reliable merchant he became acquainted with in town.”
Certainly, even if we trust Camille personally, there are suspicious parts about his background. I don’t think that alone means he’s connected to the Evil Race Army, but I can’t say he’s completely unrelated either.
And if Camille really went to town, there’s even a possibility that he, being a Dark Elf, will be mistaken for an Evil Race member and attacked by the townspeople.
Ron probably judged that Camille was highly likely to be involved in this incident, including his identity, and is worried about his friend.
“Ron, are there still not enough Fire Magic Stones?”
“No, it should be enough to barely… reach the edge of the Calfaan Empire.”
“Then, Ron, prepare the Hot Air Balloon. If the Evil Race Army finds it, they’ll definitely take it.”
“I understand that… but…”
He probably wants to go look for his friend Camille. I understand that feeling, but if we consider our purpose, the optimal solution becomes clear.
“I’ll go to town. Ron and Rena, prioritize preparing for escape.”
“Aria…”
Even if Ron goes, I don’t know if he can come back in terms of ability. The danger doesn’t change even if I go, but still, I’m used to the situation where everything is the enemy.
I don’t know if saving Camille is the right thing to do, but I trust him enough to think that he, who was running around to save children, deserves to be saved.
Ron was speechless at my decision to jump into danger alone, and Elena approached with slightly tearful eyes, pressing her forehead against my shoulder with a slight force, barely touching me.
“You’re doing it again… alone.”
“I’m with Rena. If we can protect something, we should. I’ll definitely come back, so will you believe in me?”
Saying that, she pulled her face away from my shoulder and looked up at me closely, her eyes slightly higher than mine.
“More than anyone else in this world…”
“Yeah.”
Elena moved away from me with a complex smile of worry from me, who decided to go to town alone, and Ron looked at us with straight, determined eyes.
“…I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything. But, I want you to leave everyone to me. For you who believed in me and Camille, I swear on this name… in the name of Lawrence Calfaan, the Third Prince of the Calfaan Empire, I swear here to protect everyone. Aria… I’m counting on you for Camille.”
＊＊＊
“General Aishe, we have received a report from the detached unit that they have successfully isolated the Adventurers.”
The Dark Elf woman, called General, nodded silently at her subordinate’s words and stood up, making the sound of armor.
The Magician Corps, which has Monster users, separated the Adventurers from the town. The Beastmen, who were troublesome in the town, also killed one of the elders, and their command system has not recovered.
Aishe, who had a height of over 170, which is tall for an Elf woman, wore black leather clothes with an open chest and a trained body with sword wounds, and glared at the lined-up subordinates with golden eyes while fluttering her long silver hair, raised her beloved black Greatsword high towards them.
“General Aishe commands! All troops, sortie!”
The second chapter is also in the second half. I think it will be almost all battles from the next time onwards.
Ron’s identity was probably as you imagined.
What is Jesha’s fate?
I wonder how many new characters will survive….