novelraw Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Chapter 97
*
Sometimes people misunderstand, but physical enhancement doesn't ignore the laws of physics (more than you'd think).
In other words, if something huge and heavy comes charging straight at me, I, being lighter, will naturally get blown away.
If a dragon the size of three carriages comes charging head-on, to avoid getting blown away, I have to redirect that impact somewhere.
I learned that trick back when I was rank 1, getting repeatedly blown away by a Shield Boar.
In short, use the ground.
I've always been the logical type.
Perhaps intending it as a battering ram, thick scales overlap at the tip of its jaw.
I can't help but laugh at myself for trying to take that head-on.
The equipment that withstood even Oganight's fists did its job again this time with my physical enhancement.
But the impact pierced through it, crushing my lungs, making my throat rasp unnaturally, and the ground where I redirected it caved in.
At least no bones broke this time, so it's better than before.
Healing can wait.
I pour magical energy into two magic circles.
Even this clearly uncontrollable power feels reliable right now.
After all, I don't need to think about the small details.
I shout something other than words as I lift the Jewelhead Dragon and throw it away.
My lungs, healed by healing magic, exhale.
For a moment, I thought I saw blue flames mixed in my breath, but maybe I've been away from Erika too long and started seeing illusions?
No, if it were Erika, it'd be red flames.
The impact of being thrown and the damage from its own weight make the Jewelhead Dragon convulse on the ground.
It's easy to forget when facing dragon species that regenerate even after losing their heads, but monsters are living creatures before they turn into magic stones.
It must be in agony all over, its insides probably a mess.
Now, for the follow-up attack—just as I draw my sword, several adventurers emerge from the forest.
At an impressive speed, the capable partner of the bearded guy rushes to my side.
"What on earth happened? No, I can see it, but did the masked person do this? More importantly, where's Drim?"
Out of the barrage of questions, I answer only the one they'd most want to know.
So, the bearded guy's name is Drim.
"If you mean the bearded guy, he's over there helping with the carriage."
The capable partner, glancing briefly toward the carriage, clicks their tongue.
"That idiot, why doesn't he run?"
"I kinda like that idiot streak of his."
After my quip, I get a fierce glare.
"Annoyingly enough, so do I!"
Saying that, the capable partner raises their voice to the adventurers who still don't fully grasp the situation.
"Anyone who can't fight a Jewelhead Dragon for more than five minutes, help with the carriage! If you've got the awareness of being an idiot, come over here! We're buying time with the masked person! There's no time, hurry!"
Perhaps because they'd been sent to spread the word in the forest, no one objects to the capable partner's orders.
At their call, two adventurers step forward.
Ugh, this is a problem.
If they help, I'll have to split the reward.
I speak to the capable partner, who assigns concise and precise roles to the two adventurers and me, even for a makeshift party.
Seriously, this person is so capable—why are they partnered with the bearded guy?
Wondering that, I open my mouth.
"Sorry, but I don't need help."
All three of them look at me like I'm an idiot.
"I can't split the reward, so I'll take it down alone."
In other words, hurry up and deal with the carriage, I imply.
"So, the masked person intended to take it down?"
One of the idiots called by the capable partner, a gaunt-cheeked man, says in exasperation.
As I nod, the other idiot, a bald man, speaks up.
"Can't the masked person earn anything anyway?"
"I need the gem. I want to give a ring to my wife."
The two idiots exchange glances.
"Is the masked person's wife some kind of princess or something?"
The gaunt-cheeked man says with a hint of sarcasm in his humor.
"No way, just the best woman in the world."
Replying to his humor with the truth, the gaunt-cheeked idiot breaks into a grin.
"I like that! The reward can be bragging rights at the tavern. I'll help you, masked person."
"You're quite the devoted husband, huh," the bald man says, readying a blunt weapon that doubles as a staff.
The two idiots look at the capable partner.
The capable partner, stunned since my declaration to do it alone, shouts in a trembling voice.
"The density of idiots is too high!"
As if responding to those words, the Jewelhead Dragon roars.
And by the way, the one who called these idiots here was you, capable partner.