Chapter 57

Southwest of Boalcel, in the Marzensky Valley.

In the midst of that valley, I was fighting with all my might.

Before me were over a hundred wolves.

Each one was larger than an ordinary wolf, with eyes that glowed like burning red flames.

Tonybin Wolves.

A pack of these was the target of this mission, to be exterminated.

I transformed into a dragon person.

In exchange for consuming an overwhelming amount of energy, I transformed into the dragon person form, which possessed overwhelming power.

I transformed and charged into the pack of Tonybin Wolves.

The Tonybin Wolves couldn't keep up with the dragon person's speed.

They stood frozen, unable to react, and I sliced their necks with a hand knife.

I didn't stop, and struck another Tonybin Wolf with a hand knife.

The moment I decapitated one, I beheaded another before it hit the ground.

I continued beheading them one after another.

A whirlwind of blood and severed heads swirled around me.

“—!”

The limit came in an instant.

Less than ten seconds after the battle began, I had taken down twenty Tonybin Wolves, and the pack started to react, but I felt the signs of energy depletion.

I kicked off the ground and flew backward.

My body flew backward.

“Gah...”

Mid-flight, my energy ran out, and the dragon person transformation was undone.

However, my body continued to fly backward.

I flew backward due to the inertia of the jump.

Eventually—thud.

I landed on the back of one of the dragons waiting at a distance, Louise.

“Louise...”

“Yes! Master!”

Louise responded energetically and, as planned, unfolded a magic circle and created a dragon pearl.

She threw the dragon pearl into my mouth, which was completely drained of energy.

I used my last strength to—crunch and bite the dragon pearl.

I chewed and swallowed it like a candy.

“—!”

My energy was instantly replenished.

I sprang up from Louise's back and, once again, muttered “transform,” transforming into a dragon person and charging into the pack of Tonybin Wolves, resuming my rampage.

☆

Tonybin Wolves.

These are wolf-type monsters believed to have originated in the Tonybin region.

Like wolves, they are known for their pack behavior, and they have further refined this trait to exhibit tactical movements in combat and hunting.

A pack of Tonybin Wolves can pose a threat on par with a skilled mercenary group—so I was told by Jeanne, who brought the extermination mission.

That's how formidable they are.

☆

While creating a whirlwind of blood and severed heads, I kicked off the ground and flew backward.

This was my third tactical retreat.

“Ambush!”

As I flew toward the dragons, about five Tonybin Wolves were lying in wait.

The first two times, they saw me retreat to the dragons and regain energy.

They had anticipated and set up an ambush.

“...Too bad.”

I said, and beheaded the five Tonybin Wolves that had pounced on me.

I landed briefly and flew backward again.

This time, I used up my energy and landed at Emma's feet.

“Are you okay, Cyril?”

“Yes—transform.”

For the fourth time, I transformed into a dragon person and charged into the Tonybin Wolves.

The Tonybin Wolves were visibly shaken when their ambush was foiled.

On the fourth transformation, I was able to clear out the pack of wolves.

☆

“Collette”

“Yes”

In the backyard of the Boalcel town hall, in front of the witness Rose, I gave Collette instructions.

Collette, who was more “puffed up” than usual, began spitting out wolf heads from her mouth.

One after another, heads the size of a human head or slightly larger were spat out.

“Mm, that's enough.”

Rose, who had initially maintained a calm demeanor, frowned and called a stop halfway through.

“Alright. Collette, that's enough.”

“Really? What about the rest?”

“Can you digest them?”

“Easy.”

“Then do it.”

“Wait.”

Rose intervened.

While the sight of live wolf heads is repulsive to humans, they are food for dragons.

I had intended to have Collette digest all of them, but Rose stopped me.

“What's wrong?”

“Don't let the dragons eat them. There's a message from the princess.”

“The—princess?”

I repeated, tilting my head in confusion.

The extermination of the Tonybin Wolves was a mission the princess had assigned to me through the city of Boalcel.

I had thought she could have given it to me directly, but it seemed there was a reason for the roundabout approach, as Rose had intervened.

“Yes, all the evidence of the Tonybin Wolves' extermination will be entrusted to us. It seems they will review it once.”

“I see.”

“If the extermination is confirmed without a doubt, you will be granted the title of One-Star Dragon Knight.”

“One-Star? What's that?”

“It's a title, like an honor.”

“Hmm. How significant is this honor?”

I asked Rose.

I understood that the princess had brought this mission to me to bestow this honor, but I didn't know how significant a One-Star was, which is why I was curious.

“There are One-Star, Two-Star, and Three-Star. One-Star is given to those who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in a specific field.”

“I see. What about Two-Star?”

“Two-Star is for those who have achieved accomplishments in multiple fields or have mentored another One-Star Dragon Knight in a specific field.”

“I see.”

“Three-Star is more ambiguous. Usually, it's given to those who have achieved indisputable accomplishments or have done something unprecedented, so the criteria are also ambiguous as a result.”

“I see. It sounds like a familiar system.”

“Of course, the title of Dragon Knight is relatively new, so it was modeled after similar systems. There's no need for strange originality in such matters. It should be clear to the general public since it's an honor.”

“That makes sense.”

I agreed.

Indeed, an honor should be clear to the general public.

“Anyway, I'll have them open a warehouse over there. Put the heads in there.”

“Got it. Collette, it's up to you.”

“Okay.”

Collette nodded and followed Rose.

Still... stars, huh.

I fully understood the princess's intention.

She had targeted this, and I had responded by achieving the results.

Three days later.

I received word that I had been recognized as a One-Star Dragon Knight by the country.

Not as Dragon First, but as Cyril Larousse, I became even more famous.