Chapter 122
Mira’s Decision
After Tatsumi decided to participate in the hunt for the armored dragon, he visited the [Elf’s Rest Pavilion] to ask Elle for more information.
“What? This is how the armored dragon looks?”
“Yes,” she said. “I had heard a bit about them from Carse, but I don’t really have a solid grasp on what their appearance is... They’re flying dragons, after all.”
A majority of Japanese people would probably imagine something akin to a phantom beast when they see the word ‘ryu’, meaning dragon. fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
However, the flying dragons of this world were more like dragonflies; extremely far removed from our imagination. It is not surprising, then, that the armored dragons also have a form that Tatsumi did not expect.
Elle, the only one of Tatsumi’s acquaintances with whom he could share his Japanese values and knowledge, would be able to give him accurate information. With this in mind, he was able to make his own judgement.
“I don’t know what to make of it, but from what you’ve told me, doesn’t it sound like a dung beetle or a centipede?”
“Oh, that’s quite an ill-fitting name. The armored dragon certainly resembles a dung beetle. But it’s more... than a dung beetle.”
Hearing the name that came out of Elle’s mouth afterward, Tatsumi couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.
Tatsumi, Calcedonia, and Jadock, Miruil, and Morgernike were ready to depart for the hunt within a day or so.
It was the shortest departure time since Miruil had his row with Mira. Just two days.
Early in the morning of the day of departure, before the sun had even risen, the group gathered at the Elf’s Rest Pavilion.
As usual, Tatsumi equipped his jet-black flying dragon gear and Amaryllis. He also hoisted the magic bag on his waist.
Calcedonia is also wearing her standard hunting gear, a gray robe and sultry staff. Although hidden by the sleeves and hem of the robe, her hands and feet were equipped with armor made of flying dragon material.
Morgernike also had fire bear armor on, and in his right hand was his trusty spear.
This large spear was longer than the normal-sized spear that Miruil uses, with a total length of more than 2.5 meters. The diameter of the handle is also thicker than usual. Most of the handle is made of sturdy wood, but the area from the tip of the spear to about half of the handle is reinforced with metal.
Moreover, the spearhead is specially made of the same flying dragon material as Tatsumi’s equipment. The hard and sharp tip of the flying dragon material, combined with Morgernike’s skill, is bound to pierce even the armored dragon’s exoskeleton.
Miruil wore the same hardened leather armor as before. According to her, when she activates her trump card, “魚人化,” her armor will inevitably break, so it would be wasteful to wear anything expensive.
Instead, she has replaced the tip of her favorite spear with a flying dragon material, just like Morgernike.
She also made two small swords from flying dragon material. Recently, Miruil seems to have been practicing the two-sword style, in which she uses small swords in both hands in addition to her spear.
Jadock and Elle had been teaching Miruil how to use short swords. Jadock, as a shade, is well versed in the handling of all kinds of weapons, and Elle is also quite skilled when it comes to handling short swords.
Elle is both an elf and a woman. Although the power of her blows may be lighter than others, she is good at compensating for this with her speed and technique.
Having lived as an adventurer in another world in the past, and having traveled from place to place after moving from Japan to this world, she is not only skilled in spirit magic, but also in the art of short swords.
In fact, Tatsumi, who had previously met with Elle, had been forced into a one-sided battle by her ever-changing swordsmanship and never-ending series of attacks.
However, he had lived in Japan for about 70 years, and his experience in actual combat had become quite rusty.
Elle once said with a wry smile that she had a hard time regaining the movement and intuition of her adventurer days.
And the last one, Jadock.
“Hey... Jadock. What’s that...?”
‘Uh-huh, this one? I got this made in a hurry by my blacksmith friend.”
Tatsumi looked blankly as he pointed to what Jadock was carrying.
The armor is chainmail reinforced with sheet metal in key places. In two of his four hands, as usual, he carries a one-handed battle club mace.
The remaining two hands, however, were holding up a massive weapon that Tastumi and the team had never seen before.
“The craftsman who handles the flying dragon materials was busy preparing Miruil’s weapon, so I prepared my own.”
Dwyer’s Armor Shop is one of the few stores that has artisans who can work with flying dragon materials. The weapons of Miruil, which were almost finished, were given priority for completion, so it was unlikely that Jadock’s weapons would be ready in time.
Therefore, Jadock prepared the weapons separately. That was the weapon that Tatsumi is looking at now.
“Is-is that a... pickaxe...?
“I was wondering if this is called a ‘pickaxe’ where you are from. Where I come from, we call it a stabbing axe.”
Regardless of what it was called, the weapon that Jadock said he had prepared for today was, by all appearances, a pickaxe. It was an oversized pickaxe, at least two times larger than the pickaxes Tatsumi was familiar with.
“I heard that the outer shell of an armored dragon is quite hard, but this should work.”
Originally, pickaxes were tools for crushing rocks. If Jadock’s muscles are strong enough to use a giant version of the pickaxe, he should be able to pierce through the outer shell of the armored dragon, no matter how solid it is.
Despite its appearance, there may not be a more reassuring and effective weapon.
The monster hunters with two names, such as “Tensho,” “Seijo,” and “Free Knight,” who are in front of us, were using the same weapon.
And Jadock and Miruil, who do not have two names, but are well-equipped with high-quality equipment.
Mira looked at them with envy.
Compared to the weapons and armor they were equipped with, she was painfully aware of how inferior her own equipment was.
The battle axe she had always relied on was decreasing in durability with each swing.
“I wonder if I can participate in the hunt for the armored dragons with them this time. Wouldn’t I simply be a liability?”
That is exactly the kind of useless “parasite” that she hates the most, and Mira’s shoulders slumped dejectedly.
She was tapped on the shoulder by her older sister, Sheila.
“Don’t be discouraged, Mira. It is because of you that Morgernike, Calcedonia, and their friends are able to work like this. You are by no means useless.”
Until a few days ago, I had planned to hunt the armored dragon with my own hands. But now the situation has changed drastically, and the magical beast hunters, who are much stronger than I am, have taken action to hunt the armored dragon.
Once the unnecessary fervor disappeared from her, the next thing that welled up in her mind was the fear of fighting a powerful enemy.
When the armored dragon appeared in front of her, would she really be able to move as usual? Would she be able to firmly step on the ground and swing her beloved battle axe with her arms?
This worry became a deep-seeded fear that bound itself to Mira’s heart.
She said, “Sister Sheila... can I really... fight alongside Miruil and the others? Do you think it’s okay for me to fight alongside you...?”
While embracing the body of her anxious-looking younger sibling, Sheila tells her in a gentle voice and expression, as if admonishing her.
“It is true that you are inferior to Morgernike and the others in every way. But someday you will be able to match them and even surpass them. Today is a lesson for that.”
“I will... learn from them...”
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. This time, so many reliable people have gathered for our village. All you have to do is to help everyone in whatever way you can.”
When Sheila broke the embrace, there was no longer a shadow of anxiety in Mira’s twin eyes.
“I understand, sister. I will do what I can. I’ll tell that to Miruil and the others.”
Mira’s cheerful expression was evident as she patted her on the back, as if to give her a boost.
I’ll be treated like a hired hand this time.
In front of Tatsumi, Calcedonia, and the others, Mira declared clearly.
I don’t even want my share of the reward from the elven village. We don’t need the materials for the armored dragons. I will do anything, even chores along the way. I will absolutely do whatever I am ordered to do. So... everyone... No, let me see how you fight beside you! Let me study your strengths!”
Mira bowed deeply.
Tatsumi stared at her with a puzzled expression. When he looked next to her, he saw that his wife was also staring at him with a puzzled look on her face.
“I ask you to do the same for me,” she said. “Please let Mira do as she pleases.”
Beside Mira, who continued to bow her head, Sheila also slowly folded her hips.
‘That’s fine, isn’t it?’
“I’m fine with that, too.”
Miruil and Jadock were quick to accept what Mira was saying.
“Even if there is no monetary reward this time, we will get something to feed us in the future. That’s how you learn to hunt monsters.”
Morgernike also seems to agree with Jadock and his colleagues.
“Mira herself seems to agree, and that’s good, isn’t it?”
Well, if she wants to do it... then...”
“I didn’t force her to go through with it, she decided herself. There would be no need for others to say anything more about it.”
Tatsumi looked up at the sky, which was turning from a deep blue to blue.
The sun would soon rise. It was almost time to leave.
“All right,” Tatsumi said, “I’ll do what Mira wants. We should leave now.”
Everyone nodded at Tatsumi’s words.
Tatsumi and Calcedonia rode in their respective parlows.
Jadock sat on the gosha-dai of the boar car pulled by Pajero, an orc owned by Tatsumi, with Miruil seated next to him. Mira and Sheela are on the back of the boar cart.
This time, Morgernike also brought his own parlow.
“I see that you’re riding your own parlow now.
“When I go hunting alone, I prefer to use a boar cart because it’s more convenient. Frankly, I don’t usually give him much attention, so I decided to take him out this time.”
With a wry smile on his face, Morgernike strokes Aiqi’s neck, and his parlow is left to his own devices, looking pleasantly surprised.
It seems that he is quite fond of Morgernike.
The coloring of a parlow’s feathers is usually sparrow-like, but Morgernayk’s parlow is covered with gray feathers all over. Perhaps it is a so-called “rare color”.
“Mr. Morger, please lead the way. You know where Miss Sheila’s elf village is, don’t you?”
“Of course. Allow me to take the lead.”
Dashingly astride his parlow, Morgernike rides his beloved horse. He is followed by Tatsumi and Calcedonia’s parlows, and Jadock’s boar cart.
When the sun was fully in the sky, the three parlows and a boar cart were cruising nimbly through the streets.
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