Chapter 67

By the way --

"Unique dragon tools, how are they made?"

I asked the shop owner.

I was somehow interested.

"Well, unique dragon tools are mostly the culmination of a dragon tool craftsman's life! Many of them are things that even the creator can't reproduce."

"Like a one-of-a-kind masterpiece?"

"An interesting analogy. But you're right."

The shop owner laughed happily and agreed with my analogy.

"Unique ones are like that, but I know about Rare-level ones."

"What are they like?"

"They are made from a part of a dragon's body."

"A part of a dragon's body?"

"Yes, it's fed to something called a Dragon Vector --"

"Like a Phoenix Horn?"

Hearing the shop owner's words, I remembered it.

The Phoenix Horn, a part of a dragon's body -- hearing that reminded me of the one made from Chris's bones.

"Close, but a bit different. That one is too 'special,' it has power on its own without any modification, so it's called a divine tool on its own."

"I see."

Indeed, the Phoenix Horn is special.

"But, essentially, it's the same. A dragon's body has a certain amount of 'power.' Rare-level dragon tools are the result of skillfully processing it. Of course, not just any dragon will do, so they are few in number."

"I see."

"Eggs' shells are also used often."

"Eggs' shells!?"

"Not that surprising. Humans also process placentas into medicine, right? It's the same. An egg's shell is something that protects a dragon before it hatches, a special part of a dragon's 'body.'"

"…Thank you, that was helpful."

I said to the shop owner, signaled to Collette, and we left the shop together.

After leaving the shop, I walked quickly.

Collette followed behind.

"What's up? All of a sudden."

"Rare."

"What about Rare dragon tools?"

"No, Rare. The Rare that lives with us."

"Oh, that's complicated. What about that kid?"

"That kid's eggshell is still left where it hatched. It's the original Balaur, and probably a Master Dragon's egg."

"---!?"

"I feel like something might happen. I want to retrieve it."

"Let's go back!"

"Alright."

I took Collette and hurriedly left Saint Simon, heading back to Perseron.

☆

We hurried and returned to near Perseron in about two-thirds of the time it took to get there.

Instead of going back to Perseron, we came to Himyar's mountain.

The mountain where we saved the princess and Rare.

We entered the mountain and followed the path by memory.

"This way, right?"

"Yeah, if we turn that corner -- wait."

I extended my hand horizontally and stopped.

Collette, walking beside me, also stopped.

"What's up?"

"…There's something there."

"Huh?"

I stared at the path ahead.

I couldn't see what it was, but there was definitely "something" there.

"…Collette, wait here."

"But I --"

"There might be a fight."

"---!"

Collette gasped.

She was speechless when told there might be a fight.

The Mushufushu species are not at all suited for combat.

If Collette were of another species, she would have been very reliable in a fight, but unfortunately, she is a Mushufushu.

I can't take her into a potential battle, and she understands that.

"…I can send a dragon gem to you quickly."

"Thank you."

Collette, who understands her role and position, had her head petted by me. After a deep breath, I went forward alone.

I advanced and turned the corner.

I arrived at the open area where Rare's egg and the claw were dropped.

There was something there.

A small animal, about the size of a rabbit, was by the eggshell, gnawing on it.

"Eating… it?"

As I muttered, wondering what to do -- at that moment.

A change occurred in the small animal's body.

A black aura leaked out from its body, and it began to swell.

It looked like it was transforming.

"What is this…"

"It's probably a Dragon Vector!"

Collette shouted from a slightly distant spot behind me.

Dragon Vector…

"That's right, it's fed to a Dragon Vector --"

I was struck by a realization.

The words I heard from the shop owner, which I had interrupted halfway.

After that, it was probably something like, "it eats and processes it, turning it into something powerful."

The words fit the situation in front of me perfectly.

I wasn't sure if that was the case, but I was convinced.

Convinced, but what to do.

As I was pondering, the creature that had transformed by eating the egg noticed me.

It had been facing away, but now it turned its head toward me.

Its eyes -- were glowing a bright red.

I sensed hostility from the light in its eyes -- in an instant!

"---!"

I crossed my arms in front of me, guarding.

Something flew at me at incredible speed and hit my guard.

"Ugh!"

The guard was blown away, and I staggered back a few steps.

"Silas!?"

"I'm fine!"

The guard was blown away, and I staggered back a few steps, but in other words, that was the extent of it.

I quickly surveyed my surroundings, assessing the situation.

The creature had fully transformed, was the size of a human, and was enveloped in a black aura. It was glaring at me from a tree about fifty meters away.

The hostility was still there.

But -- I judged that it was only to that extent.

The speed of the surprise attack was incredible, but it only blew away my guard and made me stagger back a few steps.

Then.

As the creature lunged at me again, I muttered, "Transform."

I transformed into a dragon person.

In terms of speed, I wouldn't lose. With the form of a dragon person that had incorporated the original Balaur's claw, I wouldn't lose.

And I should have overwhelming power after transforming.

That was my thought when I transformed -- but.

"Ugh! It's fast!"

The creature was faster than I expected.

I thought I had caught it as it lunged at me after transforming, but it landed just before me, made a sudden turn, and circled behind me.

I turned around to catch it, but it increased its speed and was gone by the time I turned.

Then -- it came at me with a high-speed body slam.

"Damn."

I couldn't help but curse.

The attack power was not as significant as I had imagined.

Before transforming, my guard arm was numb from the impact, but after transforming, it didn't damage me at all.

I was slightly inferior in speed, but I had overwhelming attack and defense power.

If this difference continued, I would win 120% in a prolonged battle -- but.

"Ugh!"

The transformation was undone, and I knelt on the spot.

Right, a prolonged battle was impossible.

My dragon person transformation can only be maintained for a few seconds, at most ten seconds.

In terms of stamina -- the advantage would completely reverse.

And that was fatal.

"Silas!"

Collette shouted, created a dragon gem, and threw it to me.

I caught it and swallowed it without hesitation.

The lost energy was instantly restored.

After recovery, I continued to guard.

I crossed my arms, taking a turtle-like stance.

The opponent increased its speed and came at me with high-speed body slams from all directions.

Each time, I staggered, and a moderate amount of pain ran through my body.

This level --

"Ugh!"

"Silas!"

Collette cried out.

A burning pain ran through my shoulder.

It was not just a body slam; my shoulder was bitten.

It was a bite that took a chunk of flesh, and blood spurted from my shoulder.

"…We're retreating."

"O-Okay. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

I said that and pushed Collette.

I let her go first, while I attracted the enemy and slowly retreated.

There were only a few seconds left of my dragon person transformation.

To escape, I needed to make a decisive move somewhere.

While retreating, we reached the cliff where we saved the princess.

In that instant, a current ran through my mind.

"Collette! Run to Perseron with all your might! Don't look back!"

"What about you!?"

"Just go!"

"--- Idiot!!"

I don't know why I was called an idiot, but Collette started running.

Being a Mushufushu, she wasn't particularly fast, but she could run much faster than an average human.

She ran down the mountain path at that speed.

When the distance was sufficient, and I was sure the enemy was targeting me and not Collette -- I jumped off the cliff.

I jumped off the cliff.

The cliff where the princess had fallen with the carriage.

The enemy caught up.

It flew after me.

Perhaps because it had accelerated while lunging, it caught up to me despite my head start.

Thus, we both fell through the air.

"…Transform."

Just before hitting the ground, I transformed.

If I had remained human, I would have been seriously injured, possibly even killed, but the toughness of the dragon person form left me almost unscathed.

Instead, I used the impact of hitting the ground to leap up.

The enemy falling, me leaping up.

I approached the enemy.

It was surprised.

It counterattacked.

"Too weak."

The counterattack was weak. I guarded it and released my right fist.

It couldn't avoid it.

It was faster than me on the ground, but that was only on the ground.

Neither the Balaur nor the original species can fly.

No matter how fast, it couldn't change direction in mid-air.

My fist pierced the left cheek of the creature -- and blew its face away.

"…Overdid it."

While leaping up and landing, I saw the dead body of the enemy that had fallen first and smiled wryly.