Chapter 68

I was treating the dragon people in a cave near a fishing village on the west shore of Lux Bay.

"Alright... everyone is taken care of."

After removing the dark magic from the dragon people, I let out a sigh.

Since Elicia's holy magic has already been cast, everyone should gradually recover. Some of those with minor injuries are already tilting their heads, wondering if they are completely healed.

There were also those who had already passed away... but I have removed the dark magic from them as well.

These dragon people seem to be a race capable of holding a large amount of magic. Therefore, it took some time to remove it.

"Alright, let's check the surroundings a bit. The treasures collected from the sunken ship seem to be stored deeper in the cave."

"Yes. Selena is also checking deeper in the cave."

Not only Selena, but everyone is wearing shadow wheels. There's no need to worry about being found.

With that, I headed deeper into the cave with Elicia and the golem.

"However, this cave is strange... it looks as if it was recently formed. Ah!"

Elicia looked up suddenly.

Sand was falling from the ceiling of the cave. It seemed that part of the ceiling had collapsed.

"Moreover, rocks and stones are scattered around. It must have collapsed recently."

"Still, since the houses outside can no longer be used, they have no choice but to use the cave... Ah, Selena is here."

As Elicia said, Selena was running from deeper in the cave.

When Selena reached me, she straightened her posture and saluted.

"Master Alex! I have returned!"

"Did you find anything?"

"Yes. It seems they are gathering treasures deeper in the cave. There are many wooden pillars in that area."

"Wooden pillars?"

"There were scattered pieces of wood, so I think it was the remains of some kind of building."

After saying that, Selena suddenly bent down and showed her back.

"I'll give you a piggyback! It will be easier to see from a higher position."

"Alright, let's go."

I answered immediately and, with everyone, teleported deeper into the cave.

Selena said with a dissatisfied look.

"Master Alex... if you keep using magic, your legs won't get stronger."

"Even piggybacking is the same..."

Though she is a child, her inner self is an adult. If I let Selena give me a piggyback... her silky brown hair would be right in front of my eyes.

I shook my head and headed deeper into the cave. I could hear Elicia and Selena's strange laughter.

Eventually, we reached what seemed to be the deepest part of the cave.

There, as Selena had said, was a place where treasures were gathered. The torchlight reflected off them, making them dazzling.

On the way, I overheard a conversation between the dragon people.

"Thirty people today... when the sky starts to brighten, we'll head to the human city."

"But we are already being suspected... the prices for buying are also being lowered. The temple people are selling holy water at high prices."

"Still, we have no choice but to go... otherwise everyone will die."

It seems that the treasures from the sunken ship were being sold in the nearby city.

All for the sake of obtaining the medicine and holy water to save the dragon people I just treated.

The treatment is no longer a concern, but it will eventually be discovered...

On the other hand, another voice echoed.

"It's not the fault of the evil dragon! The village was indeed destroyed by the evil dragon, but it's the fault of the nobles who unsealed it!!"

"That's right! They plundered the village at will... and even unsealed the seal here! Next time, we just need to kill one or two of them!"

From the conversation, it seems that an evil dragon was sealed in this cave.

And this cave and the village outside were destroyed by the evil dragon.

The cause was the nobles who unsealed it... so they are harboring resentment towards the nobles.

Until now, they had only sunk ships and did not actively kill people.

However, one of the dragon people spoke to the others.

"It cannot be done."

At those words, the dragon people who were shouting in anger all knelt on one knee.

The one who came was different from the other dragon people with blue or green scales; it was a dragon person covered in purple scales.

"Killing the nobles will not bring back the lives of our comrades..."

The other dragon people looked unconvinced at the purple-scaled dragon person.

"But, Priestess!"

"We have a rule not to commit unnecessary killings. Now, we should only pray for the peace of those who have passed away and take care of those who are suffering."

At the words of the dragon person called the priestess, the dragon people reluctantly nodded.

They all respect and obey her... this priestess must be a high-ranking member of the clan.

The fact that they only sink ships and do not kill more is probably due to the priestess's words.

The cause lies with the nobles, so the dragon people here seem to be victims. They are not pirates from outside.

The priestess said, "I entrust this to you," and headed deeper into the cave.

We decided to follow her.

Scattered around were pieces of wood. From the few remaining wooden pillars, it seemed there was a wooden structure here.

Nearby, there were several stone mounds piled up like mountains.

...A warehouse? No... those stone mounds.

In front of the stone mounds were fish placed on plates, and fires were burning. Near them were people lamenting... they must be graves.

The priestess took a torch and inserted it into a hole in the stone mound. Smoke soon began to rise from the gaps between the stones.

"They were cremating the dead... Ah!"

I realized something.

At least the thirty people who died today should have died from the dark magic.

Even in death, their bodies still harbored dark magic. If their bones were gathered...

The numerous stone mounds were permeated with dark magic. In one of them, the concentration of magic was particularly high.

By the time I realized, it was too late.

Black mist began to appear around the stone mounds.

I thought it was just a wisp... but the dark mist formed into human shapes and then into armor-like forms.

Shadow Knights... powerful undead monsters.

They appeared one after another, several of them.

The dragon people screamed.

"What are these things!!"

"Calm down!! I will hold them off! Bring me those with weapons!!"

The priestess immediately directed small lights of holy magic at the Shadow Knights.

It seems she can use holy magic to some extent, but it is too weak against the Shadow Knights.

The Shadow Knights ignored the priestess's attacks, summoned black mist swords, and approached the surrounding dragon people.

"–Elicia, Selena!"

"Leave it to us!"

The two nodded at my words and directed their hands and swords at the Shadow Knights.

Elicia released holy magic from her hands, and Selena released fire magic from her sword at the Shadow Knights.

The confused dragon people ran towards the entrance at the priestess's command to flee.

I also fought back with holy magic while removing the dark magic from the stone mounds.

The dark magic was strong... probably because the dragon people can hold a lot of magic, the magic in the stone mounds was also strong.

Still, the enemies were being held back.

The Shadow Knights heading towards the injured were taken down by Elicia and Selena.

In the midst of this, the priestess, though confused, began to glow.

The priestess transformed from a human into a beautiful dragon the size of an elephant, not a snake, and directed her long tail, imbued with holy magic, at the Shadow Knights. Unlike before, the Shadow Knights that were hit by her attack dissipated.

She can transform into a dragon...

I have heard that among the magical races, there are dragon people who live in high places. They can transform into dragons for a short time and handle a lot of magic. It's similar to this.

Thanks to the priestess's transformation, we were able to defeat the Shadow Knights smoothly.

After completely removing the dark magic from the last stone mound... the summoning of new Shadow Knights stopped.

"Phew... we managed to handle it."

"Good work... but..."

I followed Elicia's gaze.

The dragon people, armed and in a state of confusion.

On the other hand, the dragon priestess was looking straight at us.

"Who are you...?"

The priestess clearly asked.

Not by appearance or sound, but by sensing our magical reactions.

Perhaps it's because we only used shadow wheels and not my invisibility, or because she can sense it after transforming into a dragon. The priestess now has more magic than when she was in human form.

"It seems we've been discovered..."

Should I reveal myself and tell the truth?

That the injured have been healed and they no longer need to attack ships.

Of course, I could also teleport and leave.

But then, a voice echoed from the entrance of the cave.

"–Humans! The imperial army is coming from the cliff! They are already on the beach!"

At that voice, all the dragon people turned their faces towards the entrance of the cave.