Chapter 36: Dragon Hunt (2)

In the gloomy darkness, three pairs of eyes glanced at one another.

–The Black King draws near.

–The darkness will call forth more darkness.

–This fragile world will be stained black.

A rattling, ominous sound echoed as bones clattered together.

Among them, the Lich Krombel suddenly recalled the strange sensation he had felt some time ago.

That aura, so different from the Black King.

He had tried to deal with it by sending Undead, but unexpected variables had led to failure.

Still, he hadn’t bothered to tell his companions.

That energy had been unpleasant and alien, but ultimately tiny and insignificant.

–Either way. It will soon be swept away by the coming storm.

***

“Chwik, you called me a companion?”

Huger’s eyes went wide, and he chewed his words with uncertainty.

He looked like he was struggling to give a clear answer.

“Well… honestly, it’s difficult.”

“Chwik! What you want is a companion who will stay with you even after the subjugation, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

‘There’s a difference between comrades facing a common enemy and companions who grow together.’

In other words, since he didn’t really know what kind of person I was, he couldn’t easily agree to become my companion.

I couldn’t help but laugh for the first time.

Even in this situation, was this guy clueless, or just stupid, to refuse my offer?

Or perhaps he had a conviction I couldn’t understand.

But that didn’t matter to me.

I flicked my foot out.

Pak!

“Kwiiik! Why are you kicking me?!”

I brought my face close to the one pretending to be hurt and whispered.

“You idiot. What are you planning to do if you refuse here? Want to lose your head?”

“B-but—!”

“Just think about sticking together until we hunt the dragon. At least until then, we’re companions.”

After finishing, I looked at Huger.

His scarred face betrayed his inner conflict for a moment.

After a deep breath, he reached out his hand.

“Chwik, I’ll be counting on you. I can’t remember the last time I had a companion.”

His short, stubby answer was so Orc-like.

“There won’t be any regrets.”

I grasped his hand and turned to face the dumbfounded Knights standing nearby.

“You all heard, right? Huger is my companion from now on.”

I made a show of shaking Huger’s hand in front of them.

Exactly three seconds of silence passed.

Then the Knights erupted.

“Young master! Isn’t this wrong? That was basically a threat!”

“We heard you say you’d cut off his head!”

I ignored the particularly loud protests from Polk and Jack.

Whatever the process, we were companions now, weren’t we?

“Aaron. You say something! Aren’t you the young master’s personal Knight?”

Polk suddenly shifted the blame to Aaron.

Aaron’s reaction was something else entirely.

“Article 1 of a personal Knight’s virtues: Obey your lord’s decisions absolutely.”

He recited a strange article out of nowhere.

“I just started writing these articles. I’ll add more as we go.”

“Oh, excellent. That’s just how it should be.”

I shared a chuckle with Aaron.

Then the blame turned to Adele.

“Hey, little one! Do you want to be with that scary Orc? You don’t, right? Please say you don’t!”

Polk pleaded, grabbing Adele’s shoulders.

How cowardly, trying to use a child as a hostage.

“You’ve picked the wrong opponent.”

I agreed with Aaron’s comment.

Regardless, Polk continued.

“If you don’t know about Orcs, I’ll explain. Those guys are terrifying and brutal—!”

“Chwik, it hurts an Orc’s feelings to hear that.”

When Huger slumped his shoulders, Adele finally spoke.

“Orcs are a strong and brave race. They’re tough enemies, but as allies, there’s no one more reliable.”

Unfortunately for Polk, Adele wasn’t on his side either.

“Well, that’s that…”

“Polk. Just give up already.”

He pressed his palm to his forehead, realizing there was no way to convince anyone.

Polk squeezed his eyes shut before finally speaking.

“…Knights, pay your respects. Before being an Orc, he is Young Master Richard’s companion.”

At Polk’s declaration of surrender, the Knights reluctantly saluted.

I stepped back to watch, then asked Huger,

“How does it feel to be promoted from a mere Orc?”

“Feels like sitting on a bed of thorns, but maybe we’ll get along if we bump shoulders enough. Chwik!”

That was a sound answer.

***

“The Dragon has made its lair at the highest peak of the Hobsun Mountains.”

Jack pointed to a spot on the mountain map.

“What are these scissor marks?”

On the map Jack spread out, a dozen or so scissor symbols were drawn around the peak where the Dragon lived.

“Those are the areas where the Great Dragon Ballista have been set up.”

The Dwarves designed those, and they’re quite famous.

To think they managed to haul in fifteen of them.

“That must not have been easy.”

“Indeed. The Dwarves were so fussy. They said if even one got damaged, they wouldn’t let it go.”

As expected, Jack frowned, recalling the ordeal with the Dwarves.

“Anyway, the subjugation plan is simple.”

He composed himself and continued.

“First, Sir Gide completes Tampering.”

He pointed to a spot deep within the mountains.

He added that Gide was currently performing Tampering in a cave there.

“Immediately after, Sir Gide will hurl his spear and provoke the Dragon.”

It sounded absurd at first—throwing a spear all the way to the Dragon’s peak.

But Tampering could make the impossible possible.

That power, burning with life force, would let a human surpass his limits, if only for a moment.

“As the Dragon rises into the sky, we fire the Ballistae and drag it to the ground.”

Jack continued.

Gide would handle most of the attack, with the Order of the Knights providing support.

Unless one had the strength of at least a high-ranked Knight, careless attacks were useless against a Dragon.

“It’s really a simple plan.”

“There’s no point in clever tricks against that beast. It’s lucky it’s still a young Dragon.”

I nodded.

The Dragon of the Hobsun Mountains was still in its juvenile stage, lacking true intelligence.

“Chwik, is this Gide fellow that strong for a human warrior?”

“The greatest Paladin.”

Aaron answered Huger’s question.

No one argued with his firm tone.

“Keh keh, I’ll have to challenge him one day!”

The oblivious Orc grinned.

He probably didn’t even realize what he was saying.

“Chwik? Why are you all staring at me like that?”

Huger finally caught on and scratched the back of his head.

“So, what do we do until then?”

“All preparations are complete. Until Sir Gide is finished, we just need to patrol the area and hunt monsters.”

“I see.”

I closed my eyes.

Ten days until Gide’s Tampering was done.

My heart pounded with tension and a hint of anxiety.

***

Six days had passed since Richard arrived at the camp.

On the eve of the decisive battle, a simple meal was held.

Officially, it was to celebrate Richard joining the group, but in truth, it was just a feast to boost the Knights’ morale.

“Such strength! Who roasted this meat?”

A Knight who had devoured a pig’s hind leg in one bite smacked his lips.

The others stared wide-eyed at their food.

“Did my hands always cook this well?”

The low-ranked Knight who’d roasted the meat cocked his head in confusion.

“Faith makes for good seasoning.”

Richard grinned, having secretly sprinkled a bit of Faith on the meat.

“Dad, why don’t you make a new sect?”

Adele burrowed into Richard’s arms and asked.

“If you rush, it’ll be trouble. There’s a particularly dangerous fellow here.”

Richard thought of the stubborn Ludwig.

Based on Aaron’s earlier reactions, if he spoke carelessly, who knew what kind of storm would break out.

“Anyway, if I go about it carelessly, my future will be blocked.”

Of course, if everyone in the Third Knight Division became followers, the benefits would be enormous.

But the risk was far too great.

If Ludwig personally stepped in and banned the religion, all missionary work in Bartenberg would be over.

For Richard, who still hadn’t secured his position, that was something to avoid at all costs.

“Who is it? I’ll scold them for you!”

“Don’t bother. You’ll end up firewood.”

Richard patted Adele’s head.

He suddenly wondered if a shrine made from the World Tree would have special effects—a pointless thought.

“Dad, you just had a scary idea, didn’t you…”

“Anyway, the seed is sown, so let’s just wait for the right time.”

Richard thought of Leon, the Grandmaster of the First Knight Order.

Soon, the battle between the Lich and the Knights would begin.

Many would die, and those plunged into despair would shed tears.

“People seek gods in times of hardship.”

It felt like something he’d said before, but when that time came, everything would change.

While Richard was lost in thought about the future—

“Oh, mighty human warrior! My temporary companion!”

With a full belly, Huger slung his arm around Richard’s shoulders.

“I told you to just call me Richard. And get your arm off, you stink!”

“Chwik, you’re too harsh.”

At Richard’s scolding, Huger made a comical, tearful face.

He’d been trying hard to get along with the Knights.

Watching from the sidelines, Richard almost teared up at the effort.

Still, perhaps because of that effort, after half a month, Huger could at least mingle among the Knights.

“Are you really an Orc? Since when were Orcs so sociable?”

“To me, these aren’t just humans. Chwik, they’re comrades who will defeat a common foe. Among Orcs, unity among comrades is most important.”

His answer was thought-provoking.

Meanwhile, humans divided themselves between Knights and mages, always in conflict.

Adele grinned and spoke up.

“Pig, that was a pretty cool thing to say.”

“P-pig?! Kwiiik!”

Huger leapt up, snorting, and the Knights nearby burst out laughing.

“Young master.”

Richard turned at the voice beside him.

There was Aaron, holding three mugs full of beer.

“The servant has arrived.”

“Chwik. The servant’s here.”

Suddenly dubbed the servant, Aaron just smiled and handed over the mugs.

To avoid overdrinking before battle, each person was allowed only one mug.

“Will you give us a toast?”

“No need for a toast. Just drink.”

Richard waved his hand dismissively.

He wasn’t exactly sociable—in fact, he was worse than Huger when it came to things like this.

“Chwik, you can’t skip the toast at a time like this!”

“He’s right! Please, say a few words!”

Even Huger and the surrounding Knights chimed in.

Pressed by their enthusiasm, Richard finally stood up with his mug.

“Attention! The young master’s toast!”

Polk butted in, drawing everyone’s eyes.

This was all Aaron’s fault for bringing it up, Richard muttered as he looked around.

The Knights seated in the clearing all turned their attention to him.

The hostility in their eyes from a few days ago had faded.

Richard took a deep breath.

What should he say? What could he say? His mind was a jumble.

“Some of you might still be uncomfortable with me.”

He forced the words out, meeting each Knight’s gaze.

“Like me or not, just don’t die. If you think you’ll die, fall back.”

Gide would never let anyone die.

With the Fruit of the World Tree, he could save lives.

But for now, Adele could only produce one fruit.

The rest would have to take care of themselves.

“Anyone who survives will get a chance to kick my ass.”

He finished awkwardly and raised his mug.

It was a toast that did nothing for morale.

“What kind of toast is that?!”

“Boo!”

The Knights jeered playfully.

They weren’t fools.

They knew well the burden Richard was carrying.

Over the past six days, Richard had worked hard to help with the Knights’ duties.

He’d even led patrols to the deepest parts of the mountains, and personally cut down monsters lurking around the camp.

Sometimes, he’d quietly disappear and come back with several hunted boars.

If Huger tried to mingle with the Knights, Richard silently shouldered the burdens alone.

That was enough to melt the hearts of the men.

“For the young master! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

So they raised the mood, each with a faint smile on their lips.

“Chwik, that was the worst toast of my life!”

“Shut it.”

Richard sat back down and drank his beer.

Only a few days remained until they would face the Dragon.