Chapter 26

"......"

Six remained frozen in fear of Chris, unable to respond.

"Chris"

"Hmm, I wouldn't be able to talk if I were here, would I?"

Understanding the situation, Chris disappeared from outside the window.

Six visibly relaxed the moment Chris vanished.

The atmosphere changed dramatically the instant Chris disappeared.

I thought, "Is it really that much of a difference?"

"Are you okay?"

"A, ah, yes."

Six nodded and looked at me.

A faint trace of admiration appeared in his eyes.

"To think you have a monster like that. You're even more impressive than the rumors."

"Have, huh?"

The world's perception is still like that, huh.

Well, there's no need to correct this guy's misunderstanding one by one.

"Anyway, I've decided to take the job."

"A, ah, right."

Six cleared his throat.

He must have been trying to cover up his earlier embarrassment after seeing Chris.

It was somewhat successful, and he was regaining his initial arrogant demeanor. He took out a piece of paper and an iron token from his pocket and handed them to me.

"What's this?"

"First, go to the place written here and pick up the goods. The token is a pass; it will tell you where to deliver the goods."

"I see."

I opened the paper.

It was a fairly broad map showing the town of Bovalcel and the surrounding terrain, as well as the destination.

Judging from the way the map was drawn, it seemed to be about a day's journey one way.

"Well then... I'll be counting on you."

"Ah, right."

I nodded and saw Six off.

He seemed to be trying to recover his dignity, acting even more arrogantly than when he arrived.

"Quite a challenge, huh..."

I felt a bit of sympathy for him, thinking, "He has to go to such lengths to cover up his mistake."

☆

The next day, I set out from Bovalcel with the dragons.

Louise, Colette, and Emma walked side by side, with Chris following behind them.

I was riding on Louise's back.

The road, designed for dragons to pass through, was wide enough for our formation to walk comfortably.

"So, where are we going first?"

Colette asked as we walked.

"Ah, the map says it's an old fortress called Nealko."

"Hmm, Nealko, huh?"

"Do you know it, Chris?"

"I know a man with the same name. He led 800 soldiers into the heart of 100,000 enemies and drove them back. He was quite a tough man, for a human."

"Wow."

"If it's a fortress, it might be named after him."

"I see."

I nodded slightly.

"Once we get there, we need to pick up something called Dragon Tear Incense. We'll be told where to deliver it."

"That's right. I'll be the one to transport it, right, Master?"

"Yes, and you'll also have to transport something else, Colette. Thanks in advance."

"Hmm. Well, transporting things is no big deal."

Colette brushed it off lightly.

It's actually quite important, but I'll explain it to her when the time comes.

☆

The next day, as expected, we reached the old fortress after about a day's walk.

There was a river in the distance, and the old fortress stood in a position that seemed to back onto it.

It was probably the Nealko Fortress.

We approached it.

The four dragons, especially Chris, who is a medium-sized phoenix, were probably visible from a distance. Despite the considerable distance, the humans on the fortress walls began to move frantically.

As we got closer, the fortress gates, which were tightly closed, were loudly questioned from above.

"Who are you?"

"Is this the Nealko Fortress?"

"So what if it is?"

"Look at this."

I took out the token from my pocket and held it up.

"That's... You're the guy from that ridiculous guild called 'Dragon First,' right?"

"Ah, that's right."

I wanted to argue about the ridiculous guild, but it was pointless, so I ignored it.

The man on the wall who had asked me sent a signal to the back.

After some movement, the fortress gates slowly opened after about a minute.

The gate, wide enough for even a medium-sized dragon like Chris to pass through, opened like a double door.

I waited for it to fully open.

"Let's go."

I said to the four.

Starting with Louise, who I was riding, the four of them walked in unison and entered the fortress.

As soon as we passed through the gate, we were surrounded.

The people inside the fortress were dressed like bandits.

It was clear at a glance that they didn't have legitimate jobs.

They surrounded us, weapons drawn.

"Sir Cyril!?"

"What's this? They called us here and then treat us like this?"

"Master, what should we do?"

The three of them focused their gazes on me.

Emma seemed a bit frightened by the sudden turn of events, while Colette looked like she was about to lose her cool.

"Leave it to me. Don't do anything until I give the signal."

I said, and without waiting for a response, I jumped off Louise.

Immediately, the circle of rough men surrounding us broke apart.

The man who looked like the boss pushed through the circle and stood in front of us.

"Are you the guild master of 'Dragon First'?"

"Ah, yes. What's this?"

"This?"

The man looked at his subordinates and shrugged.

"Sorry, but this is your first job, so can you show me your strength first?"

"Even though you asked us to come here?"

"It's not uncommon for the rumors to be exaggerated."

"I see."

I didn't need to ask what I had to do.

The man took a step back and waved his hand as a signal.

Immediately, the group surrounding us attacked all at once.

"Master!"

I remained silent, extending my hands to the sides.

I spread my ten fingers.

Immediately, nine fireballs shot out from all but my right thumb.

The skill [Nine-Fingered Fireballs].

A large number of fireballs were shot out from nine fingers with the force of "scattering" them.

I fired without aiming, just shooting as much as possible.

Because I scattered so many, I hit them even without aiming.

The men were hit by three to four fireballs at the least, and some were hit by more than ten. They were burning all over and writhing in pain.

When all the attackers were burning and no one could attack anymore, I stopped shooting the fireballs.

I looked at the man again.

Amidst the screams, the man had taken a step back and avoided being hit.

The man, with his eyebrows twitching, said with a hint of resentment,

"Pretty good, I'll give you that."

"Is this enough to pass?"

"Ah, it's fine... follow me."

The man said, turned around, and started walking.

He shouted loudly, calling other subordinates to put out the fires and provide aid.

We followed him through the chaos.

"Quite a bold move."

"Bold?"

"You released a significant amount of energy all at once, didn't you?"

"I see. Ah, yes, about 30% of my reserves."

I nodded.

The ability I gained from my contract with Colette allows me to convert food into formless energy and store it.

The more I eat, the more I can store, and there seems to be no upper limit, but I haven't had it for long, so I haven't stored much yet.

I used about 30% of it in that moment.

"Are you okay, Master?"

"Ah, it was necessary in this situation."

"Hahaha, as expected, my dear friend. You don't hold back when it's time to invest. Excellent judgment."

Chris laughed heartily and praised me as usual.