novelraw Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Unlike its exterior, which showed few signs of the Geomeok tree, the dragon's condition was far more severe.
Dozens of roots had pierced its hide and embedded themselves deep within its body, not only that, but they had also pierced through to the other side, constricting its body.
It was astonishing how it had managed to survive for so long, but what was even more surprising was the dragon's body itself.
Kang!
Kang!
Kang!
“This… I can’t even scratch it.”
“Try cutting the hide beneath the scales, not the scales themselves.”
Giiiiik!
“This… I can’t even cut the hide.”
“Hmm, Vergil and I will hold the wound open while Hoodwock removes the tree.”
Without using mana, it was difficult to even scratch the scales, and to tear the hide and hold the wound open, I had to coat my dagger with a large amount of mana and use the Dark Emperor .
‘Is it 『Contempt for the Weak』 or 『Impervious to Swords』?
Given how tough it is, it seems like 『Tough Skin』 is mixed in as well…….’
Defensive traits that completely ignored attacks below a certain grade were not rare.
They were traits that every other monster in the later stages of the game had.
‘The ridiculous thing is that it’s this tough even with the Geomeok tree embedded in it.’
Wasn’t the Geomeok tree the same one that had turned the hide of an Ogre, which possessed 『Lord of the Forest』 that ignored all attacks below grade 4 and 『Hard Skin』 that reduced all physical damage by 50%, into pudding?
If it was this tough with the Geomeok tree embedded in it, it was highly probable that in its normal state, it would be difficult to even inflict a wound with a grade 5 skill.
It could even be a type of trait like the Naga Queen's 『Noble Scales』, which was impossible to attack unless you were a master.
Ggudeudeuk!
Chwareureuk!
Since the dragon was a monster that didn't appear in the game, I continued my analysis even while treating it.
“Vergil, look here.
This part of the skin seems a bit weaker.
Is it because of the Geomeok tree?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure, but since it’s the part connected to the wing, the skin seems particularly weak.
The wings are a weak point for other flying monsters as well.”
“Still, you can’t even scratch it without mana.”
“Hoodwock, what about a reverse scale?
Are there any scales that are flipped backward?”
“I don’t see any.”
“There must be a weak point unless they expect us to gather masters and raid it…….”
Twitch!
As if displeased that we were searching for its weak points, the creature, which hadn't even reacted to the Stimpack, twitched its body in protest.
“Ah, don’t misunderstand.
We need to know your weak points to be careful when treating you.
It would be a disaster if we made a mistake, right?”
After making an excuse that even Rick wouldn’t believe and gently stroking it, the creature blinked its eyes a few times and closed them again.
* * *
The reason I came here was solely to obtain byproducts.
In the game, even if I came right at the start, it would be so decomposed that I couldn't even get a single bone fragment, but now, I might be able to get something.
If I was lucky enough to salvage just one sinew, I might be able to craft a bow superior to the 'Knight Slayer', so I wanted to check for byproducts before it was too late.
Ggudeudeuk!
“Hoo… this is a pain to pull out.”
“Don’t just try to pull it out with brute force, use some technique, some technique.”
“Well, Sir Vergil, you’re a knight.
Of course you can pull it out if you use mana.”
“You’re also using the Knight Slayer, though……?”
Vergil looked at Hoodwock as if he was absurd, and Hoodwock chuckled and said.
“Hey, that and this are different.
If I could use mana, I would have become a knight, not remained a squad leader.”
“Ah, no, you can definitely use mana…….”
While tuning out the conversation between Hoodwock and Vergil, who were tirelessly removing the roots, I carefully observed the crouched dragon and pondered.
‘Is this really the better choice?’
Killing it was certainly the safer option.
If I had killed it myself, I would have gained a considerable amount of experience, and I could have returned with fresh byproducts.
On the other hand, saving it was as dangerous as rescuing a wild beast caught in a trap.
If it had been another species, I could have been sure of the outcome, but the dragon, which didn't appear in the game, was an unknown monster even to me.
All I had was information found in the ruins of the fallen dwarves or in the ancient myths of other races.
There was no guarantee that this creature wouldn't massacre the scouting party or fly to the fortress and breathe fire after it recovered.
‘Tsk, if only I hadn’t heard that unlucky talk from that Demonkin…….’
Nevertheless, the reason I saved the dragon was because of what Rihaltan had said.
[A Shepherd?
How on earth did you… Ah, a Shepherd is literally a Shepherd.
Protecting the souls to be harvested in a dangerous area…….]
He had said that just as humans managed sheep for their wool and meat, the Demonkin did the same.
They managed humans to cultivate deeper negative emotions and harvest their corrupted souls.
I didn't believe everything he said, but the part about protecting humans was likely true.
‘With Moner as it is now, it’s absolutely impossible to stop the Orcs from descending.’
Especially if we were to fight on the plains to defend the fortress.
‘In the game, the Regent probably requested help from the Empire.
The Demonkin disguised as the Paladin Commander would have moved the church and the clerics to help.’
The Empire, unable to help directly, would have secretly provided supplies, and the Paladins would have participated in the battles directly.
A Demonkin on par with Sven, or perhaps even stronger, might have protected the humans by going out on reconnaissance and wiping out a few legions.
‘So, now that both the Regent and the Shepherd are gone, replenishing our forces is more important.’
Finishing my thoughts, I stroked the pitch-black scales with sincerity and said.
“A dragon with a conscience would repay a favor.”
* * *
Ggudeudeudeuk!
Hoodwock, who had collapsed in exhaustion after pulling out the last root, cautiously called out to Vergil sitting next to him.
“Sir, Sir, is this really okay?”
“What is?”
“That thing, that thing.
A Drake is a really dangerous animal, is it okay to be so close to it…….”
He pointed at the Young Lord, who was clinging to the side of the Drake and teaching it the 101 reasons why Orcs were bad.
Vergil chuckled and said.
“That’s not a Drake, it’s a dragon.”
“No!”
Hoodwock, quietly regretting his mistake of asking a knight who used his head as a helmet rack, slowly said.
“A dragon is, what do you call it, a fantasy created to soothe crying children.
That thing isn’t a dragon, it’s a Drake.”
“……?”
Hoodwock beat his chest at Vergil’s expression, which seemed to ask how he was so sure.
“Think about it, think!
They say a shadow is cast over the kingdom when a dragon flies, but would that thing cast a shadow over the kingdom if it flew?
It would probably have trouble covering a single village.”
Turning his head to look at the Drake, Vergil let out a thoughtful groan.
“It certainly is a bit small…….”
“A bit?
A well-fed, large Wyvern would be bigger than that!”
“Hmm…….”
Unlike the still unconvinced Vergil, Hoodwock was certain.
“Anyway, that thing isn’t a dragon, it’s a Drake, a Drake.”
After tilting his head a few times, Vergil thought for a moment and said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a Drake or a dragon.
Since my lord believes it’s a dragon, it must be a dragon.”
At that stubborn attitude, tears welled up in Hoodwock’s eyes, and he let out a deep sigh.
Right, I’m the crazy one for trying to talk to a helmet rack.
Besides, as Vergil said, what did it matter if it was a dragon or a Drake?
“Alright, then let’s say that thing is a dragon.”
“It’s not ‘saying’, it is a dragon.”
Hoodwock clenched his fists and deeply considered hitting him, but he didn’t have the confidence to beat a knight, so he quietly relaxed his hands.
“You’re right.
A dragon.
Hah… a drag… anyway.
If it’s a dragon, isn’t it even more dangerous?”
“……?”
“I mean, think about it.
All winged creatures are a pain in the ass, and a dragon of all things!
Is it only staying still because it’s in pain right now?
Will it be okay once it’s fully recovered?”
“Hmm…….”
Hoodwock, mulling over the sensation left in his hand, said.
“That thing has scales that don’t even get a scratch when I strike it with all my might with a dagger, and hide that can’t be wounded without someone like you, Sir.
Even if I’m ignorant, I know that there aren’t many monsters like that.”
“Hmm…….”
“What do you mean, ‘hmm’?
Let’s go and tell him.
We’ve pulled out all those damn trees, so let’s go now.”
It wasn't that he thought the Young Lord was wrong or that he doubted him.
It was just that his ranger’s intuition was screaming loudly.
Honestly, his knees went weak every time the Drake twitched.
“Well… my lord must have a plan…….”
“There’s no way a human can raise a dragon!”
Hoodwock seemed to recall hearing somewhere that Drakes could be raised, but he decided to be brazen.
“Ah!
Forget it!
Just get up already!
You’re a knight, so you should offer your master your honest counsel, shouldn’t you!”
“No, a knight is a follower……”
“Ah, come on!”
Covering his face with both hands in frustration, Hoodwock let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.
‘Damn stubborn helmet rack!
Posing as if he’s all for his lord, but he’s the king of morons who can’t even speak his mind!’
As he said that, Hoodwock himself started to have doubts.
Was the Young Lord an ordinary human?
He was a man who had faced the Goblin King, saved an Ogre, fought and won against a legion, a man whose every action was extraordinary.
‘Well, if it’s the Young Lord, maybe taming a dragon is…….’
-Hoodwock, who had been muttering that, quickly slapped his own cheek.
‘You crazy bastard!
If you start thinking like a helmet rack too, what will the captain do!’
No matter how great the captain was, a dragon was impossible.
For one, dragons were non-existent, fantasy monsters.
‘Wait, then if it’s a Drake…….’
Lost in thought, Hoodwock found himself nodding his head without realizing it.
A dragon was out of the question, but a Drake was plausible enough, wasn’t it?
‘Hmm… hmm.
The captain should be able to handle a Drake.
Of course.’
Having made up his mind, Hoodwock lay down on the ground and said.
“Sir, that’s not a dragon, it’s a Drake.
My head isn’t a helmet rack, it’s a treasure pouch filled with the wisdom of a ranger.”
“……?!”
As the surprised Vergil looked at him, Hoodwock, with a deliberately serious face, said with conviction.
“No matter how I look at it, that’s a Drake, a Drake.
If that’s a dragon, then my head isn’t a head, it’s a quiver, a quiver!”
Turning his gaze to the quiver, Vergil nodded.
He was exhausted from using so much mana to heal the dragon, and Hoodwock’s quiver happened to be empty.
* * *
After finishing his treatment, Calua ignored the noisy demon chattering beside him and checked his body.
‘I’m low on mana.’
The Dragon Heart, which should have been pulsating with immense mana, was more than half empty.
‘And there are still many thorns left.’
The demon had done his best, but he hadn't been able to remove the thorns embedded deep within his body.
Seeing how he had tried so carefully not to even scratch a single scale, it seemed he had judged that removing the remaining thorns was too dangerous.
‘To recover my mana, I need to sleep…….’
In fact, Calua wanted to find a suitable cave right now and sleep for a long time.
Even for a dragon, he was still just a hatchling, and the shock of having to face death on his first amusement was immense.
‘Wouldn’t a demon understand?
They don’t die as quickly as humans, so if I say I’ll help him after I wake up…….’
Having made up his mind, Calua raised his heavy eyes and looked at the demon.
“So, the fucking Orcs……”
The demon was still busy telling lies about the Orcs, but Calua wasn't fooled in the slightest.
Although they were stupid and ugly, Orcs were a kind and gentle race.
‘And most importantly, they’re delicious.’
Recalling an Orc he had once accidentally swallowed, Calua drooled and resolved to find a plump Orc before finding a suitable cave.
One must always eat a hearty meal before sleeping!
-Demon, I have a request.
Like a great and wise dragon, Calua carefully moved his mana to convey his thoughts.
Weaker races could collapse just from hearing a dragon's draconic tongue, and it would be a huge problem if the demon before him were to die.
Just as he thought that even a demon would be moved by the politeness and manners of a well-educated dragon.
“…What?”
The demon, his face contorted, growled as if he had just climbed out of hell.