Chapter 59

That's a Tyrannosaurus... right?

No, it's probably smaller than a Tyrannosaurus.

"Theropods are bipedal carnivorous dragons. Their scales are as hard as iron. But if you aim for the gaps, you might be able to do something. Can we make it?"

"Well, with this, it'll be like butter."

I drew the Dragon Damascus sword.

Finally, it's time to put it to use.

There are only two of us, me and Mutio, to act as rear guard.

We're just supposed to buy time for the others to escape, so we don't need a large group. Besides, it seems that they tend to go for the smaller group, which means Yuria will be safer.

We need to protect Yuria, so it's natural to allocate a large number of people to her.

According to this theory, I should be with Yuria, but...

If a soldier who fought a dragon comes back without his upper body, it would be unpleasant.

I have a blessing and a sword, so I won't die in the worst case.

If I can just say that the blessing enhances physical abilities, it won't hurt even if it's known.

I have confidence that I can handle it, and I'm also curious to see the dragon up close.

Besides, I might be criticized for running away from a dragon. By someone, somewhere.

Well, apparently our legs are slower than a horse's, so if we run with all our might, we should be able to get away.

It's already getting dark. This lizard apparently can't see well in the dark, so the chances of escaping are high.

According to Mutio, theropods don't usually walk around at dusk and don't attack groups of people.

Therefore, it's unlikely that Yuria and the others will be attacked by a new group of theropods. I've already told Rozward to protect them with all his might. It'll be fine.

He'll be fine.

By the way, it seems that this theropod is just hungry because it couldn't find food.

"Well, if we can kill it, let's go for it. Come on!!"

The two of us spurred our horses and charged at the theropod.

The theropod also came straight toward us.

It seems to have targeted us. Perfect.

We fled in a different direction from where Yuria and the others went.

"Alright, let's tease it."

Mutio shot an arrow backward.

The arrow didn't pierce the theropod's scales, but the impact seemed to slow its steps.

He's really skilled.

"■■■■!!!"

The theropod opened its mouth wide and roared.

It's just loud, but it doesn't affect me...

"Hey! Don't thrash around!!"

My horse started to buck wildly. This way, we can't move forward.

Because the horse arched its body, I was thrown off.

"Zo!"

That horse ran away, Zo. You're trampling on the hope I had when I named you. You useless horse.

Go ahead and become the dragon's meal!!

Well, in the current situation, I might become the meal.

"Hey, what do we do? Two people on one horse... well, we'll be caught. No choice. Let's take it down here."

"Sorry. I'll cause you trouble..."

"It's fine, it's fine. I'll introduce you to a good horse next time."

It feels like I'm being consoled by her after being rejected.

"Alright, you damn lizard. I'm in a really bad mood right now. I'll cut you into three pieces!!"

I rushed toward the theropod.

The theropod opened its mouth to bite me, but such a slow attack won't hit.

I tried to slip under the theropod's feet.

But it wouldn't let me.

The theropod repeatedly opened its mouth to bite me and swung its claws at me.

"Whoa!"

I hurriedly blocked with my sword. The sound of metal clashing echoed across the grassland.

I braced my feet and deflected the claws.

The theropod let out an angry roar. If translated into Adelnean, it would be something like, "Why are you so strong for a human?"

"I'll cover you!!"

Mutio circled the theropod on his horse and shot arrows.

The arrows pierced the theropod with a "thud, thud" sound.

Why did they pierce this time when they didn't before...

Then I realized.

Every time he shot an arrow, the wind blew.

I'll have to ask him about this later.

Well...

Thanks to Mutio's cover, I managed to slip under the theropod's feet.

The theropod was focused on Mutio and didn't notice me.

"Alright, fall over!!"

I slashed the theropod's tendons with my sword. Fresh blood spurted out, staining my body red.

The blood spurted, and the theropod's body tilted heavily.

I rolled away to escape from under the theropod.

As I slipped out, the theropod collapsed with a loud noise.

"Alright, one more."

I paid attention to the moving feet and slashed the tendon of the other leg.

Now it can't get up.

"Nice work, Almus. Explain your physical abilities later. How do we finish it?"

"It'll die if we leave it. We'll collect the body later. By the way... can I ride with you?"

"Sure."

I rode with Mutio to rejoin Yuria and the others.

"Almus! Are you okay... you're covered in blood! Are you hurt anywhere?"

"This is the theropod's blood, so I'm fine."

Either she doesn't believe my words or she's worried, Yuria patted and examined my body.

"You're hurt here."

"That's just a scratch, it's not a real injury."

It's a wound from when I was thrown off the horse.

Next time I see that horse, I'll make horse sashimi out of it.

"By the way, what happened to that dragon, sir?"

Vilgar asked, so I answered.

"I cut its tendons, so it can't move. We'll check the body tomorrow."

It's already dark.

Even if the dragon doesn't come out, wolves will.

Honestly, a pack of wolves is more troublesome than a single dragon.

"You say it so casually... normally, it takes ten people to defeat a theropod."

Vilgar muttered something.

"Then let's go back to where Yurt set up camp. Lady Yuria."

Following Mutio's suggestion, we returned to the original campsite.

"Alright, Almus. Let's sleep together tonight."

"...Sure, but choose your words carefully."

I got a strange look.

I'd rather not with Yuria around.

"I'll prepare the snacks. Take care of the drinks."

"Got it."

I chose the best wine from the trade goods.

It's necessary for diplomacy, so it's an expense. No problem.

"Alright, to our friendship!!"

"Cheers!!"

I didn't remember becoming friends, but it's fine.

The mood is important, the mood is.

"Alright... explain your crazy physical abilities. I heard you can kill bears, but you're not just a bear. Are you even human?"

"Well, I'll give a brief explanation. But you have to explain the unnatural wind when you shoot arrows."

When I said that, Mutio laughed and started talking.

"That's a blessing. I can control the wind freely. I call it the 'Blessing of the Wind Spirit.'"

Another blessing.

It's the fairies' doing.

So those arrows were enhanced by the wind. Pretty convenient.

"Alright, what about your physical abilities? For the record, a normal human would have been eaten by the theropod's first attack. What kind of reflexes do you have to avoid that? Cutting tendons also requires skill. That lizard wasn't standing still; it was always moving its feet. The pinnacle was when you deflected the claws. That thing has enough arm strength to blow a horse away."

It's as if he's calling me a non-human monster... well, not entirely wrong.

"My blessing, the 'Blessing of the Hunter,' enhances my physical abilities."

I lied.

When I talked to Eyns about blessings, he told me about the 'Blessing of the Hunter,' which enhances physical abilities.

I don't feel guilty about lying.

He's probably not telling the whole truth either.

"Alright, I want to form an alliance with the Equus tribe. Can you help me with that?"

"Sure, why not? You'll pay, right? We're poor. More income is very welcome. Some people are even so poor that if the sheep don't grow well, they have to abandon or sell their young. Besides, grains can be stored for a longer time than meat or cheese. However, some people don't like the idea of spilling blood for another country. And we'll be enemies with King Dorgal's country. Besides, grains and salt alone aren't enough to risk our lives for..."

Mutio said, drinking wine.

I explained the plan I had thought about.

"In other words, the problem is that only you will be spilling blood, right? Our country, the Rosais, will also help the Equus tribe when they are in danger. Is that not enough?"

Mutio's eyes widened at my words.

"No, that's fine. We are also threatened by the Lupus tribe. The Rosais is a strong country for us, and it will be a great help. The problem is if King Dorgal's country imitates us and forms an alliance with the Lupus tribe... but if Almus and his people also fight with us, it should be fine. But is that a good condition?"

"Yes. I have full authority to negotiate from King Rosais."

A one-sided alliance would be problematic, but a mutual alliance would be less likely to cause complaints.

It would also serve as a deterrent, so it's not a bad proposal.

I already have King Rosais' permission, and I'm free to form alliances unless they are problematic.

"But King Rosais is ill, right? Whether the next King Rosais will keep the alliance..."

"That's not a problem. I have the permission of the next king candidate. I can't say who, but..."

Well, it's me.

"Hmm, that's fine. The rest depends on the reward, the number of people, and the selection. I can be the commander. I'm the leader of the supporters. Oh, by the way, is looting okay?"

"Within limits that don't interfere with the strategy. But don't worry. I have a place prepared for looting."

For nomadic tribes, war is looting.

There is no war without looting. Or rather, they fight for the sake of looting.

If we stop them, they'll do it anyway. It's better to allow it and designate a place.

"Hmm, so the battlefield will be in King Dorgal's country, not in the Rosais. You're quite confident. And a designated place. It must be profitable, right?"

"Yes, it will be profitable. We can plunder wheat from the villages, which will be ridiculously profitable."

I answered while drinking wine.

We also plan to profit from it.

"Alright, it's up to Lady Yuria. Whether she can cure her stepmother's illness."

I drank more wine.