Chapter 55

Soma, leaving Shemul and the others behind, first headed for the lord's residence.

He needed transportation.

Soma went to the stable and had a carriage used for messengers brought out. This was a two-wheeled carriage with only a driver's platform, no cargo bed. It was pulled not by a cargo dragon but by a swift riding dragon.

As he climbed onto the driver's platform, Soma muttered to himself as if trying to convince himself.

"Everything should be fine if I do it as Mr. Hopkins taught me."

On the way from the fort to this town, Soma had learned how to drive a carriage from Hopkins.

At the time, it was just a casual pastime, but he never thought it would come in handy. This time, he would be handling a riding dragon, not a cargo dragon, but the basics should be the same.

Soma picked up a thin stick placed on the driver's seat. This was used like a riding crop to hit the riding dragon's rear and make it run. The tip of the stick had a metal fitting with several spikes, because both cargo and riding dragons have hard scales on their bodies and wouldn't feel pain from a light hit.

With cargo dragons, you had to hit them quite hard, but Soma, handling a riding dragon for the first time, started by giving a light tap. The riding dragon seemed to realize it had been hit and began to move its legs slowly. However, its speed was only slightly faster than a human walking, far from what Soma needed.

Reluctantly, he hit it a bit harder this time.

But the speed of the riding dragon's legs didn't change.

He tried hitting it a few more times, but the riding dragon not only didn't run but eventually stopped and started swishing its tail irritably.

Frustrated by the uncooperative riding dragon, Soma recalled a girl's voice.

"Whoever it is, you cannot hurt them. Whatever it is, you cannot break it."

Soma, thinking it might work, hit his own thigh with the stick.

He could feel the impact, but even with the spiked metal fitting, he felt no pain. No wonder the riding dragon wouldn't run.

"Damn it! Just when I need it..."

He never thought he would be stopped by the favor of that ill-tempered goddess.

Soma was at a loss about what to do.

"What are you doing? Move over."

Shemul pushed Soma aside and sat on the driver's platform.

"If you don't stay, I can't explain to everyone—"

"I'll leave that to Shagata. Let's go."

Without further ado, Shemul took the stick from Soma's hand and hit the riding dragon's rear. The riding dragon immediately started running, pulling the carriage. Shemul, crossing the drawbridge and leaving the lord's residence, asked Soma.

"So, where are we heading?"

It was true that Soma couldn't drive the carriage satisfactorily on his own. He was worried if Shagata, who wasn't a prince, could persuade such strong-willed people, but Soma resigned himself.

"Go out the east gate and run along the mountains to the north of the road!"

Shemul took the reins and directed the riding dragon toward the east gate. Along the way, he reassured the Zoan warriors, who were surprised to see Soma and Shemul leaving the town together, that they would return soon.

"Soma! Hold on tight!"

Once outside the gate, Shemul, without further ado, hit the riding dragon's rear hard and set it running.

In this era, carriage wheels had just started to use wooden solid spokes instead of round wooden discs. Of course, they weren't elastic like rubber tires. Additionally, there were no shock-absorbing mechanisms like leaf springs, so driving on an unprepared field, even if it was a plain, was quite challenging.

Even a small bump or a pebble could easily make the carriage jump. The jolt from below was so strong that if you let your guard down for a moment, you could be thrown out of the carriage. If Soma hadn't clung to the driver's platform without any dignity, he would have been thrown to the ground and severely injured within seconds.

In contrast, Shemul was impressive. He held the reins in a crouched position, using his slightly bent knees to absorb the shocks. Not only that, but when the carriage threatened to tip over, he quickly shifted his weight to stabilize it.

"Driving a carriage is pretty good, isn't it!"

Shemul said happily, his body hair ruffled by the wind.

However, Soma, hearing this, almost screamed. The way he spoke clearly indicated that this was his first time driving a carriage.

Soma was no longer in a state to feel alive.

"Soma! Is this the right way?!"

Shemul shouted to be heard over the noise of the carriage. Soma, trying to respond, was afraid he would bite his tongue if he opened his mouth in the violent shaking. If he let go of the carriage to point, he would be thrown out in the next instant. Reluctantly, Soma desperately nodded to indicate the direction.

"Unh! Unh!!"

"Got it! We're heading for that forest!"

With that, Shemul gave the riding dragon another hit.

The further acceleration of the carriage made Soma want to cry. The violent shaking was so intense that he couldn't even tell what state his body was in. If someone told him the carriage had already overturned and was rolling down a cliff, he would have believed it.

Finally, the torture-like time ended, and the carriage stopped. Soma tumbled out.

Having clung to the carriage to avoid being thrown off, he was so exhausted that he couldn't even stand up properly.

Still, he crawled away from the carriage and, as if determined not to miss anything, opened his eyes wide and carefully looked around.

This was a place where the plain met the mountains.

To the north, a steep mountain slope loomed close, while to the south, a gently sloping grassland with little undulation spread out. Beyond the grassland, a road like a line drawn on the plain was visible. Although not yet in sight, the army would come along that road.

To the east, a forest grew out like a tongue from the mountain, and to the west, a slightly undulating grassland with rocks protruding here and there.

Soma, looking up at the mountain slope to the north, asked Shemul.

"Shemul, can we run up this mountain?"

"It's impossible. The slope is too steep. We can climb it, but we can't run."

Shemul, standing beside Soma and looking up at the mountain, answered.

Satisfied with this answer, Soma tried to stand up to go to the forest. However, his knees wouldn't cooperate.

"Grab my shoulder, Soma."

With Shemul's shoulder to hold onto, Soma finally stood up and, with unsteady steps, walked toward the forest.

The forest before Soma was very different from what a modern Japanese person would imagine.

Near the town, the forest was managed for firewood and pig grazing, but once you moved away from human settlements, the forest of this era was a primeval forest that had continued since ancient times. Various trees and plants, unknown to Soma, grew densely, and even in winter, it was shrouded in a dense atmosphere.

Soma really wanted to explore deeper into the forest, but he gave up due to the thick roots and protruding branches.

However, this was an ideal situation for Soma.

"The north is a steep mountain. The east is a deep, impenetrable forest. The south is a gentle slope!"

Ideally, he would have wanted a mountain or forest to the west as well, but for now, this was enough.

Soma clenched his fists tightly.

"Here! This is the only place!!"

◆◇◆◇◆

"Has that brat still not returned?"

Jahangir, expressing his dissatisfaction, was repeatedly hitting the floor with his long, thick tail.

It had been several hours since Soma and Shemul left the town.

During that time, Garam and Zugg, who had returned from the failed ambush, were momentarily stunned by the absence of the two but quickly hid their confusion and gathered the main figures in one room of the lord's residence.

"Stop asking the same question over and over."

Garam, with a stern tone, reprimanded Jahangir, who snorted loudly and turned away. However, his tail hit the floor even more violently.

The meeting, which had been held in the courtyard to accommodate the Zoan, who usually preferred open spaces, was moved indoors to prevent the absence of Soma and Shemul from being known to others.

Especially, it was fatal for Soma's absence to be known.

Currently, the forces gathered in this Bornis were relying on Soma's "Iron Declaration." If Soma, who made the declaration, was thought to have fled, the forces would collapse immediately.

The sun, shining through the windows, was already tinged with a crimson hue.

If Soma and the others didn't return before sunset, they would be finished before the army arrived.

Even though they maintained silence, everyone, including Jahangir, was inwardly anxious and restless.

Unable to bear the heavy silence, Banuka, the son of the chief of the Mane Clan, muttered to no one in particular.

"Um... they didn't run away, did they?"

Instantly, everyone in the room glared at him.

A soundless scream came from Banuka's throat. He then, with a changed expression, tried to explain, "Just kidding, just kidding!" but only received more hostile glances.

However, no one denied Banuka's words because they accurately reflected everyone's fears.

But then, one of the Zoan spoke up.

"Lord Soma would never run away! He will definitely return!"

It was Shagata who said this.

According to Zoan customs, Shagata, who was not a warrior, was not allowed to speak in a war council. Not only did he speak out in front of the two leaders, Garam and Zugg, but he also faced the sharp gazes of the fierce dwarves and dinosauroids without flinching.

Dvalin, who had been stroking his beard, stopped and asked Shagata.

"What guarantee do you have?"

In response, Shagata's right hand moved.

The next moment, his hand forcefully struck his left chest.

"If the two of them do not return, you may do with my life as you wish!"

The gesture of placing a hand on the left chest meant "I stake my heart" to the Zoan. If Soma and the others did not return, Shagata was prepared to tear out his heart.

Even Dvalin and Jahangir, who did not understand the meaning of the gesture, could see the resolve in Shagata's eyes.

Dvalin's eyes widened slightly, and Jahangir, who had been hitting the floor with his tail, stopped abruptly.

Shagata, with his hand on his left chest, stood resolutely, and the seasoned warriors in the room were impressed.

"Shagata..."

Garam's voice, though not loud, resonated well.

"Ha!"

Shagata, thinking he would be reprimanded for speaking out of turn, straightened his back and stood at attention.

However, the words from Garam were not a reprimand.

"From today, you can call yourself a warrior. I allow it."

It was an unexpected statement.

For Shagata, being called a warrior among the Zoan was an impossible dream. Therefore, he was more confused than happy.

"But, I have a leg injury. I can't run and hunt cattle, so..."

Although he wanted to embrace Garam's words, he ended up saying negative things. Garam sighed.

"Hunting cattle is not a requirement to be a warrior. Hunting cattle is just a way to show your combat skills and, more importantly, your courage as a warrior. You have shown the most important courage and spirit of a warrior without hunting cattle."

Garam, with his arms crossed, stared intently at Shagata.

"I, the Fierce Fang, Garam Garguz Garam, recognize it. You have the qualifications to call yourself a warrior."

Garam's strong words struck Shagata's heart.

Tears overflowed from Shagata's wide-open eyes, wetting the fur on his cheeks. Although he should have been happy, he was confused as to why he was crying, saying, "Huh? Why?" while wiping his cheeks. Garam, in a gruff voice, said, "A warrior does not show tears."

Zugg, as if mocking the two, interjected.

"Hey, Garam. Did you keep such a man as a hunter?"

"Shut up. Don't meddle in other clans' affairs."

Zugg, finding Garam's reaction amusing, laughed and said to Shagata.

"Hey, you. If the approval of this Great Clan Chief is not enough, I, the Fierce Claw, Zugg Bigana Zugg, will also vouch for you. If you have no place in the Fang Clan, come to the Claw Clan. We will treat you as a warrior."

"Zugg. Don't try to poach the Fang Clan's warriors in front of me."

Garam, baring his fangs in a threatening manner, Zugg, far from being intimidated, laughed and shook his shoulders.

Garam snorted and leaned back in his chair, sulking.

At that moment, the ears of the Zoan in the room moved in unison.

"You were right, Shagata."

Garam said with a slight smile, which puzzled Dvalin and Jahangir. However, when they noticed the approaching footsteps from the open entrance, they also smiled.

Soon, the person who made the footsteps appeared at the entrance.

"Sorry! I'm late!"

It was Soma, accompanied by Shemul, whom they had been waiting for.

Soma, realizing that his absence had caused more unrest than expected, knew that even a small doubt could not be left unaddressed before facing a powerful enemy.

Thinking this, Soma decided to reveal a part of his secret and try to command everyone through awe.

Next chapter: "A Glimpse"