Chapter 18: The Legend of the Red dragon and the Mysterious Woman (Part one)

Asval is an ancient dragon that has lived for hundreds of years and understands human language through his wisdom.

He was proud and belligerent, and there is an anecdote that he was always in search of a strong man.

One day, however, Asval lost his mind at the hands of the Demon King.

Waiting only for a challenger, Asval became a rampaging dragon, but the Seven Heroes defeated him.

His corpse fell into the volcano that existed in the Baldor Mountains at that time, and after a long time, it melted to the bone.

The volcano changed its internal environment and became a dormant volcano.

However, the only thing that remained unmelted was Asval’s magic stone, which lies deep within the volcano.

(Ignat, who got information about that magic stone, used the power of the remaining demon kings of present to activate the surrounding area.)

The magical power in the air was artificially increased in concentration, and the monsters inhabiting it gained power.

This quickly transformed the Baldor Mountains, where only F-rank or, at the highest, E-rank monsters could be seen, into a dangerous area.

———-

“I hate everything.”

In Ren’s mind, the final battle of Legend of the Seven Heroes I comes to mind.

It’s a scene in which the Marquis Ignat speaks to the heroes in front of a large hole in a dormant volcano in the Baldor Mountains.

“In this lifetime of service to my country, I have lost Fiona without a single act of mercy.”

In front of him, the descendants of the Seven Heroes take up arms.

Laughing off the hero’s attempts to persuade him, Ignat spreads his arms out like wings and continues his story.

Tears of blood streamed from his eyes as he continued.

“If you don’t recognize me, I don’t recognize you. Therefore, I deny all of you.”

The ceremony of Asval’s resurrection had finally begun.

Ulysses Ignat stood in front of the heroes, using his sword, magic, and the magical power he had received from those who were plotting the resurrection of the Demon King.

“—- That’s fine, I’ll treat you like the third prince.”

As the battle progressed, Asval’s resurrection drew nearer.

Marquis Ignat, like the protagonists, doesn’t give up and continues to fight to lead Leomel to her doom amidst the increasing tension.

Before long—-

“Tsu….Fio—na…..Did I make a mistake..?…. huh…huh….?』

Just before Asval is resurrected, Ulysses Ignat, the stiff-armed man, finally dies.

However, the ritual to revive Asval has gone too far and can no longer be stopped.

The hero, who still did not give up, awakens the power that makes him the bloodline of the hero, Loren.

The red dragon Asval, just before his resurrection, is thus put to sleep.

——-

(How fondly I remember this.)

As Ren was thinking back, his shoulder was shaken by Licia.

If you look at her, she’s puffing out her cheeks musingly.

“Why are you suddenly so quiet?”

“Ah—- sorry, I didn’t realize…”

“I don’t mind…. but I’m also curious about what you were going to say earlier.”

“I was wondering about the notice that Lessard-sama received earlier…… They said it was going to be very cold this winter, so I wondered if the snow would be too much trouble.”

Licia laughed without doubt and said, “You’re being too fastidious”.

Having succeeded in fooling her, Ren returned his attention to the map.

Then Ren remembered some information related to what he’d been thinking about Asval’s resurrection. The information that the undead would be several levels weaker than when they were alive and that they’d not have the same consciousness as when they were alive came to his mind.

That was why Ignat was planning to resurrect Asval and many other monsters as undead, but there was no need to worry about that now.

If his beloved daughter is still alive, that future shouldn’t come.

“Oh, hey. I was just saying that you seem to be interested in the Baldor Mountains, and since we’re here, why don’t we stop by? This time of year, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Since it was about him, she thought he’d nod in agreement.

But Ren, looking at the map in his hand, stiffens and takes a good ten seconds before looking at Licia.

“Let’s stop here.”

Licia, who had thought it was a mutual curiosity, was surprised.

“Are you sure? If you’re being your usual self, you’d have said, “By all means!”

“No…. I don’t think we should go to the Baldor Mountains. Even if the monsters are okay, it would be a disaster if we got lost.”

Naturally, it’s because he’s being cautious.

No matter how much the Marquis Ignat wouldn’t revolt, Ren didn’t even bother to approach him.

(—- No, I don’t want to get close to him. I’m not a coward, but I wouldn’t want to step foot in there and have something happen.)

Unless there’s a special reason.

For example, I have to go to help someone. If it was for my family or for Licia, I would change my mind.

Are there any other advantages that make it worth going to?

After this, the two of them talked about nothing but trivial matters, but just before they were called to the dinner table, Ren suddenly realized something.

(Is there a hidden map in the Baldor Mountains?)

It’s a place that can be reached through a hidden entrance, and there are a number of treasure chests containing expensive cash items and special equipment.

Also, a steel-eating gargoyle is guaranteed to appear.

In other words, if you go there, you can even raise the level of the magic sword of the shield.

These are worth the trip, even if I have to push yourself a little bit to get there. —-

(But that doesn’t mean the Baldor Mountains is worth a visit ……)

After much hesitation and no answer, Ren decided to shelve the issue.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter