Chapter 88: The Man Who Fled Home

“Hey, it’s coming!”

“Get down!”

〈BOOOOM〉

“Eek—!”

“See? It’s fine, right?”

“Idiot! This is our first time—go easy on us!”

“That’s something a virgin would say.”

‘Please be gentle,’ coming from a bunch of grimy old men?”

“You’re the ones hiding behind others and lying flat on the ground! Go get one up the ass!”

“Leader, that’s vulgar. We’re not into that sort of thing.”

“It’s coming again!”

〈BOOOOM〉 〈BOOOOM〉

Wow, a double hit.

“Leon… how are you still standing?”

“Ah, I’ve experienced this a few times. Lindy, before the next one hits, please put up the dome again.”

The woman had gone weak in the knees and was sitting flat on the ground, so her husband helped her up.

“Jake, smack your mom on the butt to pump her up!”

“Lindy, we’re counting on you!”

“Make one that won’t lose to Leon!”

Shaking off Jake’s arm, she glared at the Armored Buffalo and stood firm.
The instant she created a new dome in front of mine, a thunderous 〈BOOOOM〉 echoed.

“Hey, how is it?”

“It’s still standing.”

〈BOOOOM〉 〈BOOOOM〉

Repeated collision sounds rang out, but the dome didn’t even budge.

“Impressive.”

“Hey! Don’t make my heart stop like that!”

“Mom, you did great.”

“Whoa, it can withstand an Armored Buffalo’s charge—amazing.”

“The nobles might come scouting you at this rate.”

“I’d hate that. I became an adventurer so I wouldn’t have to bow to arrogant nobles.”

“Then shall we take down the Armored Buffalo?”

“Eh?”

“Leon, just because you can make a dome that withstands its charge doesn’t mean this isn’t reckless.”

“Lindy’s Stone Lance is pretty strong, but I don’t think it’ll work on that thing.”

“Stone Lance probably won’t cut it.”

“Fireball won’t work either.”

“It’s all about how you use magic. Stone Lance or lightning can kill it—if used right.
The Armored Buffalo’s weak points are the inside of the hip joint and the belly.”

“You expect me to hit those with Stone Lance? Impossible!”

“You can’t even get into position.”

“Yeah, it’s not an enemy that’ll allow that.”

“Earth magic isn’t just arrows and lances. You can make buildings, irrigation channels, even wells. Open a hole under its feet and make it fall—then it can’t move. Or thrust Stone Lances up from the ground.”

“I never thought a wind mage could be this outrageous. Whoever called you ‘Gentle Breeze’ must’ve been an idiot.”

“If Leon weren’t a wind mage, he’d be Gold Rank by now.”

“But just like Master said, it looks like we can beat it.”

I’d somehow been made her master, but I didn’t want to show off violent whirlwinds or tornadoes, so I decided to hide behind Lindy.

“Lindy, forget the master stuff—deal with the Armored Buffalo in front of us!”

“It can’t break the dome, so it’s circling around to target us!”

“Uh… low mana pitfall. A pit under the front legs… ha!”

A hole about one meter wide opened under its right front leg, and the beast pitched forward, bracing itself with one foreleg.

“The other side too—fall!”

Both front legs fell into the holes, and the panicking Armored Buffalo flailed, then plunged headfirst into the large connected pit.

“Hey, Lindy, that’s a bit cruel.”

“It’s got its belly exposed—hit it with Stone Lance!”

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Idiot, run!”

“We can’t deal with something like that!”

“Wait—don’t leave me—aaah!”

“Horizon got eaten!”

“Don’t look back, run!”

“If we bunch up, we’re dead! Scatter!”

“If you’re lucky, we’ll meet in Korche. Later!”

“Damn it, which way do I go?!”

〈GYAAAA〉

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

“Hey, sorry, but where am I?”

“Huh? Where is this? Obviously the forest!”

“Wait—are you alone?”

“Yeah. Which way is Korche?”

“Why are you in such a hurry? And you’re alone dressed like that?”

“Yeah. Some of my party got eaten. A dragon appeared. I’ve got to report it to the Korsche guild. Which way?!”

“A dragon, huh. You crazy?”

“More than crazy—what’s with that outfit?”

“We’re busy. Get lost.”

“If you don’t scram, we’ll kill you and feed you to goblins!”

“You idiots!”

〈GYAAA〉

“Oh, he did it.”

“Shut up! My comrades got eaten—I’m pissed! Anyone who mocks me dies!”

“Damn, he’s nuts.”

“Doesn’t matter—kill him!”

“Dragon or lizard, I don’t care—ugh!”

“This guy’s strong!”

“Surround him—gah!”

“He’s too strong! Run!”

“P-please help—”

“I asked which way Korche is! Tell me now!”

“W-wait! I’ll tell you, just don’t kill me!”

“If you won’t talk, then die!”

“S-south! Go south to the Blanche Highway, then right—west for about two hours and you’ll reach Korche!”

“Say that sooner, you piece of trash!”

After stabbing a sword into the man’s thigh, he ran south.
He’d spent two full days forcing his way through the forest to report the dragon, and his legs wouldn’t move like he wanted.

Staggering onto the Branche Highway, he was given a ride on a passing wagon and headed for Korche.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Just before sunset, he shoved aside guards who were about to close the gate and shouted,
“Emergency guild report! Let me through!”

“Hey, wait! Forcing your way through with nonsense like that—who do you think you are?! You, come here!”

“Don’t get in my way. If my report is delayed, heads will roll—not just mine, but even the lord’s or magistrate’s. Don’t believe me? Then come with me to the guild!”

The guards felt something was wrong with the way he spoke, but couldn’t just let him go—and followed.

His clothes were torn, dark circles under his eyes showed severe exhaustion, and his ominous presence overwhelmed them.
Passing adventurers flinched and stepped aside when they saw him.

Staggering into the guild, he shouted, “Call the sub-master! A dragon has appeared!”

Guild staff rushed over at his voice.

“Is it true… are you alone?”

“It’s no lie. Two got eaten, the rest scattered. Has anyone else made it back?”

“No one. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“…I see. Then our party’s finished.”

“Tell us where you saw the dragon.”

“Five days north, around noon. Give me some ale.”

As he staggered toward the dining hall, the onlookers who had gathered at the word ‘dragon’ silently parted.

“A dragon… seriously?”

“Korche’s top party, and only one made it back…”

“Mandatory summons for sure.”

“Hey, that’s the Guild Master.”

The sub-master and guild master entered the dining hall.
Everyone watched in silence as the man downed his ale.

“Marsh, tell us everything.”

“There’s nothing fancy to tell. We headed straight north—too many beasts, all of them huge.
On the fifth day at noon, I felt something off. I was on guard, but I never thought it’d be something that big.
It looked exactly like the dragons in the pictures. Just seeing its face head-on froze me.”

“Which type?”

“The one with spiked scales.”

“An Armored Dragon… that’s bad.”

“There was a warning when Battle Hawks were spotted in Kreis, but I never thought it’d appear this deep near Korche.”

“Yeah. There’s a saying that forests go wild when those appear. Reports from Roxanne said there was dragon trouble near the elf village. Report to the royal capital HQ. Mandatory summons for Silver rank and above. And send requests for aid to nearby guilds.”

“The extermination party should focus on offensive mages.”

“Right. Gather those with high firepower. Also, find five or six good horse handlers.”

“You heard him! Anyone confident with horses, step forward!
Reach the capital guild in two days and you get one gold coin. Fail, and be prepared—don’t step up unless you mean it!”

The shout stirred the crowd, but only two stepped forward.
Unable to wait, they added guild staff and sent them toward the capital.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

“Leon, how are we supposed to haul this up?”

“Huh? Just grab the legs and put it in the magic bag.”

“Yeah, yeah. Asking you makes my husband look stupid.”

“Three hits to the belly—no wonder even an Armored Buffalo couldn’t win.”

“This guarantees Lindy’s promotion to Bronze Second Class.”

“No way—she soloed it. That’s Silver rank.”

“She’ll be getting offers from rich patrons.”

“More like extermination requests for Armored Buffalo.”

“The herd already scattered.”

“Well yeah—seeing their leader die so pathetically would do that.”

“More importantly, we should gather together.”

“Why?”

“Bulls, up there—front right.”

“Oh crap. Everyone, get to Lindy—”

“To me!”

“Gather around Leon!”

Once everyone was together, I deployed [Dome!] and waited as they circled from the front to the right.

Lindy followed my gaze and let out a shriek.

“So that’s a Fang Monkey…”

“There are tons of them!”

“If they attack from above, we’re dead.”

Watching the Fang Monkeys gather overhead, a bad feeling swelled inside me.