Chapter 12

As the first year at the academy drew to a close and the long spring break was just around the corner, I was being invited to tea parties and gatherings by many students. They approached me tentatively, likely because they had been told by their parents to invite me. When I declined, they would display a complex expression, a mix of relief and a hint of disappointment.

Of course, my parents had also told me to come home. Their invitation was not subtle, with the clear purpose of introducing me to someone nice. However, I wouldn't call it "going home" to a place I had never been and to a house where I had never lived.

There was a place I desperately wanted to go this spring break. I intended to go there even if I wasn't invited, but it would be better if I were.

Perhaps my feelings were conveyed, and just a week before the break, the long-awaited Jessica approached me.

"Y-Yumiera-sama, I have something to talk about."

"Yes, of course, Jessica-san. And please, don't use the honorific."

The one who had been eagerly waiting for me to be invited was Jessica Montford.

In the game, she was supposed to be Alicia's friend, but because I approached Alicia's target early, they never became friends.

"Then, Yumiera...-san, do you have any plans for the long break?"

"I have none, a completely blank schedule."

So, please invite me to your home.

"Recently, a dragon has been sighted in the Montford territory where my family lives. So far, only livestock have been attacked, but there's a risk that people could be next.

The central army won't act unless there are human casualties, but I thought you might be able to do something about it. But, it's probably impossible... right?"

"Let's go, to slay the dragon."

Of course, I decided immediately. I didn't expect things to go so smoothly.

This is an important event in the game. The original scenario was for Jessica to seek help from her friend Alicia when her territory was in crisis.

However, due to my influence, they never became friends. So, Jessica, in a last-ditch effort, approached me.

Of course, there was a reason I accepted the request. The reward for this event is very appealing.

"Um, are you sure it's okay?"

Jessica seemed bewildered by how smoothly things were going. It's okay to be happy, right? I'm happy you approached me.

The last day of the first year passed without incident, and I arrived in the Montford territory for the long break.

Jessica, who had been afraid of me, had become comfortable enough to converse normally during the carriage ride.

The Montford territory was a simple, nature-filled place. In other words, it was rural. It made sense that a dragon appearing in a territory of this size would cause a commotion.

"I'm back, and I've brought someone who can defeat the dragon."

As Jessica loudly announced her return in front of the manor, the servants came out one by one to welcome her.

"Welcome back, Miss. It's nice to meet you, your friend."

Hehe, a friend. More like a monster extermination machine.

We were led inside to meet Jessica's father, the Baron Montford.

"Thank you for inviting me. I am Yumiera Dorkness."

"Thank you for coming. However, there is a dragon in this territory, so I may not be able to entertain you properly."

The Baron Montford looked apologetic. Wait? Weren't we supposed to be informed by letter?

"Father, this Yumiera will help us defeat the dragon."

"Is she as strong as a demon king, as Jessica mentioned in her letter?"

When Jessica explained, the Baron looked skeptical. Jessica, did you really write that she was as strong as a demon king? I glared at her, and she hurriedly clarified.

"Yumiera is level 99. And I wrote that she's strong enough to defeat a demon king, not as strong as one."

Seeing the Baron's still skeptical face, I thought, this feeling is familiar.

The next morning, I decided to head to the mountains to slay the dragon, accompanied by two soldiers as guides.

Jessica offered to come along, but I politely declined since she wouldn't be much help.

"Why do we have to cater to the whims of a noble lady?"

"It can't be helped; it's the lord's order."

To the two soldiers, I seemed like a capricious young lady eager to see the dragon. Ignoring their whispered arguments, I started walking up the mountain at a brisk pace.

I found a clearing on the mountain's mid-slope and decided to wait for the dragon there.

"Let's take a short break here."

They plopped down on the ground, panting as they followed me.

"Phew, miss, if the dragon appears, run immediately. Don't make a noble's pastime a disaster."

They were still misunderstanding. They should have felt something was off when I didn't even break a sweat.

It's here. Without responding to the soldier, I fixed my gaze on a point in the sky.

"What, what is that shadow... Is it... a dragon?"

Noticing my reaction, they looked up and saw a shadow approaching, gradually growing larger until it was clearly a dragon.

"Hide! We'll wait it out!"

The soldiers quickly hid behind nearby rocks.

"It's already spotted us."

As I said, hiding was pointless. The dragon was circling us, likely wary of intruders in its territory.

The dragon was, as expected, a fire-type. Flames dripped from its mouth, a warning that it was about to breathe fire.

I considered how to slay the dragon while keeping the body intact.

My long-range magic often destroys the body. The magic that can attack specific parts is triggered by the target's shadow, making it ineffective against flying enemies.

"It's over... I'm going to be eaten by that thing."

The soldiers were quick to give up. Given their poor mental state, I decided to forgo the valuable materials and focus on survival.

"Black Hole."

When I cast the spell, the dragon's left wing was enveloped in darkness and vanished. With one wing missing, the dragon spiraled out of control and crashed to the ground.

I was about to finish it off, but it seemed to have died on impact. Weak, for a dragon.

"Y-You did it! Amazing, miss!"

They were so moved that they started crying. Really, they were this moved? I had repeatedly said I would handle the dragon during the journey.

"I hate to ruin your celebration, but it's not over yet."

That's right, I had defeated the fire-type dragon, but it wasn't over. The dragons in this mountain were a pair.

In the game, the boss is said to be a fire-type, so many players equipped themselves with water-type weapons and fire-resistant armor. However, after defeating the fire-type dragon, they would face a wind-type dragon in a back-to-back battle.

Of course, the second dragon is stronger, making it a trap event where wind-type defenses are necessary.

Suddenly, a roar echoed across the mountain. It was likely the mate, enraged by the loss of its partner.

A wind-type dragon emerged from the forest near the summit and flew straight toward us. As expected, it was much faster than the fire-type.

"Watch out!"

Seeing the dragon charge at me, the soldier screamed, but I was not concerned.

The dragon stopped in front of me.

"Shadow Lance."

The dragon's downfall was my shadow, which extended and impaled it with countless spears, killing it mid-air.

The soldiers, who had experienced the emotional rollercoaster of facing death and then surviving twice, looked like they had aged a year.

I sent them down the mountain to bring more people to carry the dragons while I headed to the summit to retrieve the item I needed.

Why did a pair of dragons suddenly appear on this mountain? It was to raise their young. They had been attacking livestock because they were too lazy to hunt monsters.

Searching near where the second dragon had emerged, I quickly found the nest. The situation was going so well that I couldn't help but smile.

In the nest sat the item I sought: a dragon egg.