25 – …Dragon?
“Disperse, everyone-! Cover each other’s blind spots and focus on the attack!!”
At my shout, the members of the mercenary band began to spread out, each taking their position.
Ever since I formed the Ska Mercenary Band, this has been our most frequently used formation. Spread out in all directions, but covering each other’s weaknesses.
Being clustered in one place could lead to annihilation by a single powerful attack, and this method effectively forces the enemies to endure attacks and distractions coming from multiple directions.
Krrraaak-!
The dragon, with a maw large enough to easily crush a small house, let out a deafening roar as it charged at us.
Whoosh-!
With a flick, its claws, seemingly capable of tearing a person in half, lashed out. I narrowly evaded the oncoming talons by focusing my mana.
Slash- Swish-!
-…Damn it!
-Now’s our chance! Beat it down!!
-Take this, you monster!
Crack, sizzle!
As usual, after I drew the monster’s attention, the members of the mercenary band coordinated their attack.
“…Damn, why is it so tough-!”
Just like someone’s outcry, no matter how much force we applied, slashing and striking, we could only inflict minor wounds, unable to land a critical hit.
Kraaah!
Hooong!
“Kryuk!”
– aaah!
– What the hell…!
– ….Damn it!
The dragon gathered its wings and crouched down, then suddenly spread its wings, blowing away everyone nearby.
The force of its wings alone was enough to send dozens of people flying. And its body was so sturdy that it couldn’t be easily damaged by any ordinary attack.
“So this is… a dragon.”
Krrr…
The majestic presence of the dragon, with its enormous wings spread out like a massive barrier, was akin to that of a predator looking down on its prey.
“…Ha. Yeah. This is what a dragon should be capable of!”
This was within the expected range. I never thought it would be easy to capture a dragon that only exists in legends.
I knew this would happen, so I came prepared.
“…Everyone, let’s go with the second plan! Everyone, take your positions!”
“”Take positions…!””
At my command, the mercenaries took out ropes thicker than a human arm and stronger than rubber, as well as nails the size of a human skull from their bags.
“…Vanguard, charge!”
Except for those equipping gear for ranged attacks, about half of us, including myself, rushed towards the dragon again.
Krrraaah!
The dragon approached, its mouth wide open as if it were going to devour me. I concentrated my magical energy throughout my body, focusing on the dragon’s movements.
Crunch!
Just as the dragon was about to devour me, it barely missed.
“Phew!”
Thump!
At the same time, I delivered a powerful body blow to the vulnerable dragon’s head.
“Now is the time!”
-Strike it down!
-Don’t hesitate! You monster!
Those who were skilled like me focused their strength on the dragon’s head, while those who possessed weapons capable of delivering strong blows struck the head with all their might.
Cr…unch…
No matter how much of a dragon it was, receiving strong impacts on the head, which was connected to its brain, would naturally make it stagger.
“Backline, throw the ropes!”
Thunk, thud!
Following my command, those who had firmly fixed the nails into the solid ground threw ropes with large harpoons attached, piercing the dragon’s body in multiple places.
Wobble!
Cr… Aah!
“Don’t stop attacking! Don’t give this bastard any time to resist!”
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At the same time, the overwhelming conviction to kill this monster gathered, unleashing a relentless attack.
There was no retreat, only the will to annihilate the enemy in front of our eyes, which gave us a greater strength than any protection.
With a thud.
Finally, the dragon, bound and exposed to one-sided attacks, dropped to its knees.
“Commander Seris!!”
“Haaah-!”
Seris soared into the sky and reached the dragon’s head, where it knelt and let out ragged breaths.
Thud-!
An attack against the overwhelmed target, both physically and magically overpowering.
….Thump.
In the face of Seris’s overwhelming firepower, the legend crumbled.
“….We won!”
Starting with Hans’s cry, the mercenaries were consumed by the joy of victory. They had defeated a 5-star demon. And that demon was none other than the dragon from the legends.
Furthermore, the request had come directly from the Empire itself.
As the mercenaries caught their breath, they cheered for the certain golden future.
….But. Is this really the end?
“….Something feels strange.”
With my throat severed, I looked at the lifeless body of the dragon, hanging limp.
It was certainly strong. Much stronger than any ordinary 4-star demon. But… it didn’t live up to its reputation.
As clouds passed overhead, casting shadows in the sunlight, a dense fog of the unknown began to gather in my heart.
Was this… the level that warranted a direct request from the Empire?
It was strong, yes, but within the Empire’s domain, there were countless mercenary groups and formidable individuals.
As a mercenary group, we were undoubtedly a formidable force within the Empire, enough to feel proud of ourselves. But was it really enough to pose a threat to the Empire, as the mission suggested?
“No, it’s not. Even if it’s not us, someone else can take it down.”
I didn’t think that something as simple as teeth and ropes, like in the recent battle, could be enough to bring it down with a one-sided attack.
That’s why I had made plans for the next steps. But the dragon was easily eradicated, to my disappointment.
And there was another strange thing.
-… It spewed flames like a disaster from its mouth, and the flying natural disasters possessed an unimaginable strength.
It was clearly stated in the mission statement. The typical characteristic of a dragon: breathing fire and flying around.
“But that thing didn’t fly… and it didn’t breathe fire.”
I don’t know if its wings were already torn or if they were born torn. Either way, it couldn’t support its huge body or fly with those wings.
And the breath? Besides attacking with its claws or biting with its teeth, it didn’t show any other form of attack.
…There was not a single commonality with the characteristics of the ‘dragon’ written in the mission statement, except for its similar appearance.
…In that case, there are two hypotheses.
The first hypothesis is that the dragon at the time the Empire placed the request is the same as this corpse, but for some unknown reason, it has become weakened.
…This hypothesis is honestly ridiculous. A dragon that terrified the entire continent couldn’t have become so weak in the Death Desert, where at most, only 4-star Sand Worms appear.
And the second hypothesis.
“…That thing is not a dragon.”
If that corpse is not a dragon… if we haven’t encountered a dragon, then everything falls into place.
And in fantasy, there exists a being that resembles a dragon but is much more powerful.
Drake. It is incomparable to a dragon, but still an incredibly strong existence.
It is also known as a dragon that cannot fly in the world.
So then… that monster, it wasn’t a dragon… but a drake?
…What about the dragon then? The calamity that slaughtered dozens of sand worms…?
“….Sir. Captain..”
At that moment, Seris, seemingly hesitant, approached me with a deeply somber expression.
“…Wait. Vice-Captain Seris…”
“…Yes?”
…And there was something odd I’ve noticed for a while. If they were clouds… they should be moving with the wind, not staying in one place.
Yet, the shadow cast over our heads since earlier hadn’t disappeared.
…Rather, it seemed to be growing, as if something was approaching.
I looked up at the sky with a rising sense of unease. However, there was nothing in the sky.
No clouds, no dragon. Only the clear blue sky.
“……?”
Squinting closely at the sky, I caught sight of something flickering in the void.
And this flickering was growing larger, approaching us.
…Especially towards Seris.
“…….”
Without a word, I dashed towards Seris. I would burn my very life in battle if needed, just to reach her.
Warriors capable of sensing mana detect the flow of attacks through mana. They can see the trajectory of attacks and locate monsters through the flow of mana.
Then, what happens with something that has no mana? An attack so finely concealed that it leaves no trace of mana?
…The answer is. It can’t be anticipated. But most don’t pay attention to this. There are only two kinds of attacks that don’t leave a mana trace.
First, it’s an attack with a very low level of intensity, an attack that doesn’t send out mana.
Second, it’s a hidden attack that can’t even be detected, an attack so strong that it can’t be dared to face.
The second point, which was even more difficult for us veterans to encounter in our lives because it was so well hidden, most of us only think about the first point.
If that continues, if that habit persists.
A warrior can deal with attacks that leave traces of mana even in a blind spot, but if they can’t detect mana, they become more vulnerable than any other situation.
And Seris, without even realizing that an attack was approaching, was only looking at me. An attack that even Seris couldn’t detect, an attack that could kill in an instant.
Thud-!
“…Captain?”
Boom-!
I threw myself towards Seris and forcefully pushed her away.
With the push filled with mana and the force of my body, Seris flew far away. Beyond the range where the attack could reach.
And I fell over, right where Seris had been standing just now.
“Captain?! What suddenly…!”
…Thank goodness. It went according to my plan.
Crackle-!
As the shadows became the darkest and the flickering approached right before my eyes.
I felt the horrific sound of my flesh being torn apart and a body that wouldn’t listen.
***
“…Phew.”
Finally. I defeated that dragon. It was weaker than I thought, but… isn’t it a good thing?
‘…Yes. Now… Let’s apologize to the Commander.’
The time he had promised to himself had come. The promise to apologize to the Commander when all the weight was lifted and the battle was over.
All the excuses that had been piling up and the places to escape had already disappeared. As the rear vanished, the fear of abandonment surprisingly disappeared, and courage surged.
The scorching sunlight cast shadows through the clouds, and Seris felt an inexplicable joy.
Perhaps it was because he could finally deliver the words of apology. Or maybe it was because he had the courage to face the Commander’s face again.
“Commander…”
Approaching the somewhat dazed Venice Commander, Seris spoke.
It had been a few days since he had spoken like this. Just the joy of being able to face his face filled him with happiness.
“Wait. Deputy Commander Seris…”
“Yes?”
It seemed that the Commander had also grasped the situation and needed some time to think.
…Certainly, if it’s the Commander… would he forgive me?
‘Like before… going back.’
It was an ephemeral happiness. A time when the joy of being alive was felt.
Seris, forgetting the fear and hesitation he had felt until now, was thinking of the happy future to come.
Thunk-!
At that moment, the Commander began to run towards him.
…Could it be that the Commander would initiate the conversation first? Even so… was it necessary to be so desperate?
“….?”
The Commander, with an expression that seemed to have seen something that should not be seen, ran desperately towards him.
…Wrapped in more mana than when I was in battle.
“…Squad Leader?”
Could it be? Is the Squad Leader going to hit me? No… But it’s okay. If only I can return to the past… I can endure the pain.
Thud-! Whack-!
“….Huh?”
As the Squad Leader continued to run, he suddenly leapt towards me. At the same time, a tremendous shock was delivered, and my body was flung far away.
Crash-!
“…Ugh! Squad Leader?! What suddenly…!”
Startled by the unexpected shove, Seris was thrown into confusion.
Suddenly faced with this situation, Seris sat down and looked at the Squad Leader.
Crackle-!
At that moment, the Squad Leader’s body, which had been looking at her with a somewhat relieved expression, was mercilessly torn apart.