Chapter 19

I'll return the way I came. I just need to use the trees knocked down and the ground ravaged by the Metal Lizard as landmarks. There's no need to get lost.

I've almost reached the place where the Metal Lizard discovered me, so now I start climbing the hill.

At that moment, a large number of Gargons appeared ahead, heading this way. They're still far enough that they haven't triggered the pressure plates.

I infuse the spear of rock with more magic and pierce through their heads. I'm using the same amount of MP as before, but the spear penetrates deeper and shatters as usual.

I wonder if I'm just damaging the corpses unnecessarily. From now on, I decide to reduce the power.

As I continue running, five pig-like creatures appear, so I strike down the one closest to me with my sword. The remaining four flee. I feel a bit let down, but there's no need to chase after the monsters heading to the other side of the town. I store the corpse in my item box and start running again.

After about five more minutes of running, a pack of Green Wolves appears... but they bypass me and run away.

They were so eager to kill me when I was fleeing from the Metal Lizard, but are they just being cautious now?

To be honest, I'm tired, so I'm grateful not to have to fight unnecessarily. I keep running.

All the monsters coming my way avoid me, so there are no more battles.

It's been about 20 minutes since I defeated the Metal Lizard, and I finally arrive at the village.

"Kaede! You're alive!"

Sally runs over to me. I want to say, "Don't just kill me."

"Um... I'm alive, but please don't just kill me."

"But the monsters started retreating a while ago, and the adventurers returned to the village, but you didn't! Another adventurer said they saw someone who looked like you running deep into the forest! What were you doing? I was worried!"

"But... I was told to fight as far forward as possible to buy time for the retreat..."

"I never said that. I just wanted you to fight on the front line. I never asked you to go alone and commit suicide."

"Um..."

Did I hear that? I don't remember, but maybe I did.

"By the way, the monsters suddenly started retreating. Did you do something?"

I'm being suspected... Well, it's probably my fault.

"Um... I ran deep into the forest and encountered a Metal Lizard."

"A Metal Lizard? We need to gather more mages... We need reinforcements..."

"Ah... I defeated it, the Metal Lizard. Hello?"

"Wh-what!?"

It seems she's back from her daze.

"I've already defeated the Metal Lizard. I think the monsters retreated because of that."

Monsters have a surprisingly fast information network. I ran here from where I defeated the Metal Lizard, and it's quite a distance, yet they managed to retreat before I arrived.

"Oh, right, Kaede is a sword-wielding mage. You can use fire magic, right? Wait, can Kaede use wind magic?"

"Wind magic?"

I don't remember using that. The magic I used to create wind was actually pressure and perception.

"Yes, didn't you float up and burn it from above with wind magic?"

"Um, I just used strong magic to pierce a hole in its back armor and defeated it..."

"I don't understand. It's impossible to pierce the Metal Lizard's armor. Are you sure it wasn't another monster? Where's the corpse?"

"Um, it's in my item box. Here."

I take the Metal Lizard's corpse out of the item box and place it in a spot where it won't obstruct the entrance.

"Oh, this is probably the real Metal Lizard. ...Where did you get it from!?"

"I said it's in my item box. My item box has a bit more capacity."

As I say this, I put the Metal Lizard back into the item box.

Sally's eyes are wide open, almost falling out.

"A bit more capacity? I see. I understand. But there's no hole, right? ...Kyaa!"

Since she can't see the hole, I pick her up and jump onto the Metal Lizard's back, then set her down.

"Here, this is the hole."

I point to the neat, circular hole on the Metal Lizard's back.

"I've never heard of a magic that can create such a hole. And don't just pick me up like that."

Sally's face is red. Is she angry? Was she that scared?

"I'm sorry. But did you understand?"

"Yes. I understand that you're something other than a mage. And don't pick me up. I can get down myself."

Saying this, Sally starts to climb down the Metal Lizard's back towards the tail.

"By the way, you said you used wind to float and defeat it. Does floating with wind magic not consume much MP?"

"No, it actually consumes quite a bit. Fire mages can run out of MP. That's why we usually prepare about ten C-rank or higher wind mages and fire mages to burn the inside of the Metal Lizard. The armor is tough, but the inside is very weak. If the inside were strong, it would be an A-rank, but because it's weak and has no aerial attack, it's a B-rank."

That's tough. I don't know the ranks of mages, but in Ein, where there are almost no C-rank requests, it would be impossible to gather that many. I probably could handle it alone. I did manage to defeat it.

When I used fire magic at its feet, I focused more on the explosion than the heat, so the inside wasn't burned.

"I see. I'll do that next time."

"Can you fly?"

Ah, I haven't developed wind magic yet, but I think I can manage it somehow.

"I think I can manage it."

"Alright. Let's go report to the branch manager."

Saying this, Sally runs towards the guild.

"Sure. Good luck with your work."

I store the Metal Lizard and send her off with a smile.

"What are you talking about? You're coming too, Kaede!"

Huh? Me too?

About five minutes later, we enter the guild. Usually, we talk at the counter, but Sally goes to the back and then leads me to the second floor.

"Here we are."

The door Sally stops at reads "Branch Manager's Office." This is my first time on the second floor and in the branch manager's office. I feel a bit nervous.

Knock knock. Sally knocks. The culture of knocking is the same even in another world.

"Come in."

Sally opens the door, and I enter. She closes the door without coming in.

Inside the room stands a muscular old man with a scar on his face. He suddenly moves.

"I'm sorry!"

He bows his head. Why? Did I do something?

"Um, I don't understand, but please raise your head. I haven't done anything strange."

It's uncomfortable to have a muscular old man bow to me.

"I see. But reports of unusual monster behavior have been coming in for a while. It was our responsibility to not recognize the signs of a powerful monster's arrival. If you hadn't defeated the Metal Lizard, it would have taken at least five days to gather enough mages to defeat it. Many people would have died, even if they were led in a different direction from the town. Thank you."

Yeah. Defeating the Metal Lizard was tough (physically and mentally), but it was worth it. It's good that people were saved. I wouldn't go out of my way to help, but it's better if they survive.

"By the way, about the reward, would 100,000 gold be okay, including the defeat of other monsters? Of course, if you want to sell the materials, we'll buy them separately."

"Sure, that's fine. I'll keep the materials for now. I want to make a sword."

The Metal Lizard's armor is apparently good material for a sword. It might also make strong armor. It might be heavy, but I could protect vital areas and rely on healing magic for the rest.

"I see. By the way, I have a request."

"Yes, what is it?"

A request? To teach how to defeat the Metal Lizard?

"I want you to keep the matter of the Metal Lizard quiet. If this story spreads, it will cause confusion."

"Does the Metal Lizard appear in groups or all at once?"

If so, that would be terrifying. Dealing with multiple Metal Lizards would be tough.

"No, there has never been a case of more than two Metal Lizards appearing together. But only guild members and adventurers know this. The general public might not believe it."

"I see."

"Yes, that's the case."

But there is someone I need to tell. The guild seems to trust Dovelaug, so it might be okay, but I should ask.

"But I want to make weapons from the armor, so I need to tell Dovelaug how to obtain it and show the large corpse. What should I do?"

"Dovelaug is tight-lipped and doesn't talk much to the general public, so it's fine. He's practically a guild member, and he should understand. As for the corpse, you probably don't need to bring it here. To process the Metal Lizard's armor, you need specialized equipment, which this town doesn't have."

It's not as simple as heating, hammering, and tempering, is it?

I didn't think I could easily shape that hard armor.

"So, I'll need to send the materials to a place with the equipment. How long will it take?"

"Indeed... The large-scale and specialized forging equipment is concentrated in Eleera, a dwarf mining town deep in the mountains. It might be cheaper and faster for you to go there yourself rather than transport it. What do you think?"

Leaving this town...

But the strongest monster around here is the Gargon, so it might be time to move on. I've also paid for my last day at the inn today.

"Sure, I'll do that."

I decide to leave this town.