Chapter 237 – Special Missions
I left my bald head and headed straight to camp. Fade, who took turns looking at us and the bald head, did not follow, perhaps because he was worried about the bald head that would be left alone.
Whether they stay there or not, it has nothing to do with me, so I don’t have to worry too much about it.
That’s right, if you didn’t want your brother to die, you should have taken good care of it. Didn’t he die by provoking Drake because he left the group to live alone?
This is the level of natural selection. It was such a stupid death that even the Shinigami would laugh at it.
He touched the scales of the drake he was holding in his hand.
The texture of the engraving on the hard, cold scales is strange.
“Come to think of it, we just talked about it earlier.”
“Yes?”
“These runes? I mean. Are you saying that it could be the Drake that the Yongin tribe was breeding?”
“Ah yes. It’s very likely because the runes were engraved on Drake’s scales.”
“Then, are you saying that there are dragons behind Drake’s raid on the camp?”
“That is, um… Well. It could be that the drake’s owner did it on purpose, or it could simply be that a hungry drake came all the way here because it needed something to eat.”
“You mean we can’t tell if it’s malicious or accidental after all?”
“I won’t know until I meet Drake’s owner.”
“Um…”
Thoughts deepen
If Drake found a human in this area while wandering around looking for prey, it would be a mere coincidence, but what if… What if the drake’s owner intentionally used the drake to raid the camp?
In the case of the former, it is a simple happening, but in the case of the latter, it becomes a completely different story.
“Is it possible to find the owner who inscribed the runes with this fragment?”
Natalya shook her head at my question.
“I think it is impossible.”
“Hmm…”
If it’s the latter case, if someone intentionally manipulated Drake into raiding the camp, the raider might have a grudge against the Arpagon family.
The story is that the logging camp is one of the main sources of income for the Arpagon family, so it is a choice to give a valid blow to the Arpagon family.
If so, who is the attacker? What kind of grudge do you have against the Arpagon family?
Runes are the magic of dragons. Then, is the attacker a dragon race who holds a grudge against the Arpagon family? The only dragon race I know of is Liliana. So, was it Liliana who manipulated Drake? No, that’s nonsense.
Ever since she was little, she has been raised in the family of Count Arpagon. She doesn’t even know for sure whether she is a dragon or not, and she can’t write runes.
Liliana will have nothing to do with this case.
If that’s the case, even if I hand this fragment over to the knights and tell them that it’s a Drake that the dragon race raised as a familiar, it won’t cause any damage to the people I know. If so, is it right to tell you?
“…”
That would help the Arpagon family. What do I gain by helping Count Arpagon?
Availly. A female knight with beautiful silver hair. She might get her good marks. But she is a knight of Count Arpagon. And the Arpagon family is the enemy I must defeat in the future. It is a story that there is a strong possibility that she will also potentially become my enemy.
Count Arpagon’s family is my enemy, and an unknown dragon race that is hostile to Count Arpagon’s just like me. The enemy of an enemy is a friend… If that’s the case, it would be a story that there is a possibility that the dragon people who are hostile to the Arpagon family can become my allies.
If I destroy Count Arpagon, she will naturally come into my grasp.
So she doesn’t have to try to make her like her.
“Let’s keep this rune-engraved scale a secret from the Knights.”
“Why? If you hand it over, I might give you more money.”
Roin questioned my words. Natalya is quietly listening to the story.
“I haven’t told anyone about it yet… I have a grudge against the Arpagon family.”
“Resentment?”
“Hey Natalie. Can we talk?”
Roin’s gaze turned to Natalia.
I am the only one who knows about Natalia’s past. Neither Roin nor Thermia knew anything about Natalia’s gloomy past.
“…”
Natalya, who looked at the floor in contemplation for a moment, cautiously nodded to him.
“I will talk. Roin is also part of the family… It’s okay to say…”
The family’s irrational hatred for Natalya, who was born at the cost of her mother’s life, gave Natalya, who had a natural talent, the driving force of desperation.
As a result, she was the youngest and entered the magic school at the top of her class, but ironically, she was envied, jealous, and despised by people because of her natural talent. And at the center of those who harassed Natalia was the eldest son of Count Arpagon.
Roin, who had heard the whole story, nodded her head heavily.
“I see… Such a past… So you’re preparing to take revenge on the Arpagon family, and you think the scales will help?”
“Huh. That’s right. Can you understand?”
At my question, Roin nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, I’ll do anything I can to help! We are family!”
“Mr Roin…”
As if moved by the old man’s words, Natalya’s eyes twinkled.
*****
As soon as she returned to camp, she found Ah Bailey.
“Sir Availly.”
“…”
“Sir Availly?”
“Hmm? Oh, you’re back.”
Availly, who had been staring at Natalia and Roin, looked at me as if she came to her senses only when I called repeatedly. He handed Drake’s scales to Ah Bailey.
“What is this?”
“It’s Drake’s scales. It looks like it was Drake who attacked the people.”
“Hoo… You encountered Drake in the forest?”
“Yes.”
Availly looked at the scale fragment I was handed to her and nodded.
“I get it. First of all, we need to talk to the alchemists, so wait… No, just follow me.”
We followed Availly into the huge tent. In the center of the tent, there was a huge round table with a map spread out on it, and on the map were scattered incomprehensible marks.
With such a map in the center, I could see several men who looked like knights and a few scholars who looked like alchemists chattering.
Availly approached the middle-aged knight, who seemed to be the oldest of the knights.
“Vice-captain, we have found out the identity of the monster.”
“What?!”
A huge voice resounded like thunder.
“Is that real?! I figured out his identity!!”
“Ugh, what’s the throat…”
“My ears hurt…”
Natalya, who was next to me, covered her ears with both hands as I frowned at the loud voice as if I had boiled a train firebox.
Abeili handed the scale fragment she had handed over to the vice-captain without showing a face, perhaps familiar with that loud voice.
“It is said that the mercenaries over there met in the forest this morning. They said it was Drake.”
“Drake!! It’s Drake!!! Mr William! Is this the right scale for Drake?!”
The vice-captain examined the scale fragment and handed it to the alchemist across the table. An alchemist named William began examining the scales while adjusting his monocle.
“Hmm… ? I’ve seen that face of an alchemist somewhere.”
“Ah… This is Dexter Williams, the Arpagon branch head of the Alchemists Guild. You met him once when you were selling a troll’s body.”
“Dexter William… ?”
I can’t remember a man’s name even if it’s two letters, but I can’t remember it if it’s six letters. William stared at the scales and nodded.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s Drake’s scales.”
“What happened to Drake?! Did you get rid of it?!”
The vice-captain’s gaze turned to us. It’s annoying, but let’s answer quickly and get paid for it.
“No, he ran away. The fog was thick and I couldn’t confirm where I was going. After he ran away, there were only scale fragments left, so I brought them for now.”
“Drake is a special monster, and he fought against such a guy and kicked it out without getting hurt… Your skills look pretty good!! You accomplished the quest very well! Hello! Bring the bounty!”
At the command of the vice-captain, a young man in a corner of the tent handed over a small pouch. When I checked the pocket, there were three large silver coins and 10 silver coins.
Tracking the location of the monster and almost dying for 3 million won… It’s a complicated feeling.
“It looks like we’re done, so let’s go.”
“No, it’s not over yet.”
“Eh?”
I tried to leave the tent, but I tilted my head at the words of the vice-captain from behind.
“I want you to guide me to the place where I last encountered him.”
Somehow, I feel like it would be annoying.
