Chapter 98: The Aftermath of the Dragon Uproar
While we were talking with Steve and waiting for Mint and the others to arrive, the two of them showed up grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey, hero of the dragon subjugation. You’re pretty famous now.”
“I hear you got promoted to B-rank.”
“Huh, Leon, you’re B-rank?”
“Amazing… we’re still only Iron, Grade Two.”
“Hey, hey, it’s weird to compare yourselves to him. He’s always been way above us.”
“Has that story spread around town too?”
“For now it’s only inside the guild, but it’ll get out soon enough.”
“Why the long face?”
“My mom and sister are scary when they get mad. Even if I tell them I only helped with support and defense, they won’t believe me.”
“Heh, Leon’s scared of his mom!”
Kyle said it gleefully, and Gale and Rings were grinning too.
“More importantly, it’s almost been two years. Are you going back home?”
“That’s why I came back… but honestly, I’m dreading it.”
“Parents worry about their kids. Just accept the scolding. Anyway, tell us about the dragon hunt.”
“I heard there were two types—Spike Dragons and Armored Dragons—three of them in total.”
“Did you two dodge the conscription order?”
“Luckily for us, we’re both Bronze. We’re confident in fighting people, but beasts? Nah. You know we mostly just gather herbs nearby. If we’d joined the beast-overflow suppression, we’d have been dead in three days. Things are better now that Gale’s with us, so we can go a bit deeper into the forest.”
Looks like the story about flying hasn’t spread, so I’ll keep quiet.
“So… mind if I rejoin you guys?”
“Your earnings will go down.”
“If that’s fine with you, then sure, we’d love to have you.”
“But I’ll need to take a week off every now and then. Is that okay?”
“We’re not gonna chain you down. Do as you like.”
“If you’re joining us, please teach me lightning magic!”
Looks like Gale’s gotten more ambitious now that he can use barrier magic.
If a big monster attacks and pins you down, having one strong spell to fire off would help.
“Gale, how many times can you cast before your mana runs out?”
“I’ve been draining my mana every day until I pass out, so… twelve, maybe thirteen shots. It’s increased a bit.”
No wonder he wants lightning magic.
“I’ll teach you once things settle down, but keep draining your mana for a while longer.”
He looked disappointed, but honestly, going back to town and not returning home right away is terrifying.
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“Ugh, I wish they’d give it a rest already!”
“No kidding. That magistrate was so clingy. Trying to summon us just to haul the dragon out—so annoying.”
“But hey, Rosenne and Korche got three dragons. If the Marquis Fleming had been there, he probably would’ve ordered the three parties—us, the Strongarms, and that… whatever-their-name-was party—to all come serve him.”
“That would’ve been a nightmare to turn down.”
“That party’s based in Kreis, apparently.”
“Kreis is ducal territory. They’ll probably claim them.”
“Speaking of trouble, Olga was furious.”
“The Strongarms couldn’t haul the dragon out, so they had to dismantle it on-site. Leon got assigned as an escort because he was still under conscription, but while the forced summons was being lifted, he slipped away and vanished. He stuck the Strongarms and the support party with the dragon he’d already weakened using tornado and whirlwind magic.”
“That’s wild. Normally no one just abandons a kill like that.”
“Well, he earns plenty hunting birds normally, so he’s not obsessed with loot.”
“And the fact he was hiding that much ability… I mean, I get why, but still.”
“Also, apparently after leaving our area and heading past Korche, he knew the party that killed the dragon over there too. Rumor says he drove the dragon toward the spot where they were waiting.”
“I heard that too. Someone flying overhead lured the dragon into lowlands, then made it drop its leg into a pitfall just like with Lindy’s group.”
“So all three parties that killed dragons… were Leon’s acquaintances?”
“Maybe they were also acting on his advice.”
“In that case, no wonder he ran off.”
“Why’s that?”
“If people find out he’s a master mage who’s been teaching magic to all three parties—including us…”
“Every mage, noble, and the kingdom’s arcane corps will try to recruit him. The magistrate will be nothing compared to that.”
“And the dragons being shipped to the capital—you heard about that?”
“Yeah, Leon ran off, we refused, and Lindy’s group escaped too.”
“Yup. And the support team from Kreis also refused. They could clearly tell the officials wanted to show us off as the heroes who killed the dragons.”
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The Armored Dragon defeated by Lindy’s group and the Spike Dragon defeated by Farana’s group were dragged to the Blange Highway by many adventurers and then transported toward the capital. People everywhere caused an uproar.
They managed to pull the enormous dragons to the road, but transporting them all the way was impossible, so they were cut at the base of the tail and carried in pieces.
Large numbers of idle, low-rank adventurers were hired to pull the wooden platforms loaded with dragon parts.
People in the towns along the way gathered excitedly to see the dragons being taken to the capital. But not a single person who actually fought the dragons accompanied them.
Disappointed that they couldn’t glimpse the “dragon-slaying heroes,” the crowds instead began wondering how much the dragons would fetch at auction.
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The dragon that had been split up in Rosenne was brought early to the capital’s Adventurers’ Guild, causing a huge commotion.
It had been transported inside a magic bag, but nobles and wealthy merchants flocked to the guild seeking dragon meat.
The two dragons being hauled in from the highway were going to be auctioned, so the chance of getting any was slim.
So they rushed to buy even a single chunk—but merchants from the Kingdom of Hortland weren’t even allowed to negotiate, as the kingdom had already blocked them.
The outraged merchants protested, claiming it violated trade agreements.
But they were shocked to learn that Hortland had gathered troops along the Sutherland border.
Everyone knew Roxanne and Corshe had been swarmed by beasts—and even dragons had appeared.
Provoking Sutherland during such a crisis was more than enough to anger them.
The merchants had no choice but to give up on dragon meat and withdraw, still unaware that armies on both sides were massing at the border.
The blockade of the Blange Highway was lifted, but soon traffic was restricted again so the dragons could be carried through, allowing only foot traffic.
By the time orders reached the merchants’ home country, the border was technically open but on high alert—war could break out anytime—and there was nothing the merchants could do.
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I joined them for a hunt, occasionally breaking off to walk the forest and hunt birds.
Even when I split away, I stayed within detection range, and all four of them can sense beasts to some degree. With Mint and Scott around, they detect things long before the others, and with Gale’s barrier magic, there’s no real danger unless a big one shows up.
No one else specializes in hunting birds, so their numbers have increased a lot. I make sure not to hunt more than before.
When the sun began to set, we headed back to town. After helping Steve’s group pick a roosting spot, we returned with Mint and the others.
At the familiar Linus Adventurers’ Guild dismantling area, the workers immediately asked if I had any birds.
Guess I’m more known for bird hunting than for combat skills.
I turned in a few birds, and as the three of us were having ale, the sub-master barged in loudly.
“Leon! I heard you were a central figure in the dragon hunt! And they say you can fly—show me later. Now that you’re back in town, I won’t ask for a dragon, but bring us some birds!”
Great… I was planning to keep quiet, but he yelled it loud enough for Mint and Scott to hear. Their eyes are sparkling now.
“You kicked me out of town for training, remember? But calling me a ‘central figure’ is exaggerated.”
“Don’t play dumb. Roxanne’s guildmaster certified you as B-rank and gave you a gold card. Time to earn properly.”
He just had to shout that too. Now everyone is staring.
If some jealous guy hears that, he’ll pick a fight for sure.
“The sub-master seems to have forgotten that he kicked you out.”
“Rumors can’t be stopped. And the lord will invite you again for sure. Also—you never told us you could fly.”
“Leon, hiding things is bad, you know.”
“Please stop. If they drag me into the royal magic corps, I’ll wipe them o— actually, better not finish that.”
“Just don’t drag us into it.”
“Show us the flying tomorrow. Actually—did you fly when you came back the other day?”
“I only learned right before the conscription mess. There’s an elf village about half a month north of Rosenne. I was delivering something there and got a hint about flying. I wasn’t planning to show anyone, but during the beast suppression I had no choice. Then everyone freaked out.”
The two laughed, and the people drinking in the hall all stared.
If I’m not careful, they’ll treat me like some flying exotic creature and turn me into a spectacle. I really didn’t want to show them…