Hardened dragon scales, like indestructible armor, covered the Red Mirror Dragon's entire body—even its underbelly was heavily reinforced. Garlan's alchemical longblade, sharp enough to cut through iron, only managed to carve a shallow nick before being repelled by the sheer density of the scales.
A few crimson shards of scale fell like rubies, accompanied by a single streak of dragon blood. It was enough to make the beast feel the sting.
"ROAARRR!"
The searing pain caused by a mere "ant" sent the dragon into a frenzied rage. Its roar was even louder than before, making Garlan's eardrums throb with pain. This final outcry completely shook the other two dragons from their slumber. Their massive wings unfurled as they scrambled up from the ground, hissing with malice.
"Can't win so you're calling for backup? Some dragon you are. If you've got the guts, fight me one-on-one!"
Despite his taunt, Garlan didn't stick around. Only a fool would stay to face three dragons while exhausted. If he tried to play the hero now, Denken would be left picking up his pieces.
Without the need for stealth, Garlan moved far faster than he had on the way down. He sprinted to the edge of the pit and bounded up the cliff face like a nimble squirrel, leaping between rocky outcroppings. Within heartbeats, he reached the ridge, met Denken, and began a full-tilt sprint away from the nest.
Denken, having witnessed the whole ordeal, was struck by Garlan's sheer audacity. To actually pluck the herbs from under the noses of three Red Mirror Dragons was a feat that would make most seasoned adventurers' knees buckle from the mere dragon pressure.
Behind them, a sea of fire erupted. Countless trees were reduced to ash as the three dragons took to the sky, banking over the forest and spitting long columns of flame that burst like scarlet flowers among the greenery.
Fortunately, the forest was dense enough to prevent the dragons from diving. Denken used flight magic to hover alongside Garlan, the two of them weaving through the trees while occasionally firing back—mostly to disrupt the dragons' line of sight rather than to deal damage. Without serious preparation, dragon scale was nearly impenetrable.
Eventually, they broke into a clearing. Without the canopy to shield them, they were fully exposed. Sensing an opportunity, the dragons folded their wings to dive, only to realize a trap had already been set.
"[Earth Manipulation Magic]!"
Reed slammed his hands into the dirt. Instantly, massive stone pillars shot toward the heavens, colliding violently with the diving dragon heads. Having survived the battle with Zaras, the three men had developed a silent rapport; Garlan and Denken had already veered off to the sides before the ground even fractured.
While the pillars didn't cause lethal damage, the impact at high velocity was jarring. The three dragons spiraled in the air, dazed and disoriented, performing a clumsy, mid-air dance of confusion.
With a final, sky-shaking shriek, the dragons retreated to an altitude the stone pillars couldn't reach. They arched their long necks, and after a brief, terrifying accumulation of mana, they unleashed a torrent of hellfire.
This was their first truly serious attack. Their patience had been burned away by these pests, and they intended to end the game once and for all. The hellfire scorched a blackened crater into the earth, igniting everything for dozens of yards.
But as the dust and smoke cleared, the dragons found only rubble. Under the cover of Reed's distraction, Garlan and Denken had suppressed their mana and vanished into the deep woods. By the time the dragons circled back, the scent was cold.
"So? How was that? I'd say I'm the MVP here! That hit probably left those dumb lizards so dizzy they can't walk straight! Hahaha—COUGH!"
Reed met them at the edge of the forest and, true to form, immediately began his victory lap. He stood with hands on his hips, exaggerating his performance while blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
What a magnificent idiot, Garlan thought, watching the man brag through his bandages. Reed hadn't actually recovered, but he had forced his mana to circulate just to back them up. Despite being a show-off, his loyalty was absolute.
Garlan found it impossible to dislike him. It reminded him of Richter—who, despite his sharp tongue, ultimately played the "nanny" for the two young girls during the exam just as Denken asked. Like father, like son.
"It's nothing, nothing! I just... had some juice earlier and it leaked a bit," Reed joked about the blood.
"Would it kill you to be serious? Where would you even find juice out here?! Just rest already!"
They walked for hours along the main road toward Rohguri, sharing stories of their travels. It was the most relaxed the trio had been in days. The autumn sun was bright, the streams were clear, and the tension of the "Great Demon" encounter was finally fading.
"So, what are your plans now? Why not stay at my place for a while?" Garlan asked as the city gates of Rohguri came into view.
Denken adjusted his monocle and thought for a moment. "I took a year's leave from the Empire. Since I couldn't reach Weise this time, I have plenty of time to spare. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay for a bit. The scenery here is peaceful; it reminds me of my home."
Denken had mentioned his court position earlier, though not his exact rank. Reed, oblivious to the fact that he was walking with a future political titan, simply threw an arm around Denken's shoulder like an old drinking buddy.
If Reed only knew, Garlan mused. Decades from now, he'll probably be sitting in a tavern telling anyone who will listen about the time he fought a Great Demon alongside the Imperial Grand Mage. People will call him a liar, and he'll get into a red-faced argument about it. The thought is almost too funny.
"Then you're more than welcome!" Garlan said. Having a friend like Denken was an asset he couldn't pass up, but beyond strategy, he genuinely liked the man.
"Apologies, Garlan," Reed said, scratching his head. "I have to get back to the south to look after my wife and son. I only took this guild commission to pay the bills, and I've been away far too long already."
"No worries. Family comes first," Garlan said, feeling a strange pang of sadness. Without this "social butterfly" around, things were bound to get a lot quieter.
"You two! If you're ever in the south, come find me!" Reed stood on the Great South Road, waving a massive hand and laughing heartily.
Garlan and Denken waved back. A mid-afternoon breeze caught Reed's cloak, revealing the bandages Denken had wrapped around his waist.
In the lives of humans, "next time" is always an unknown. When would they meet again? Tomorrow? Next year? A decade?
For a human, a decade is a long time. Ten years can change a person completely.
I hope the next time I see you, you aren't a gray-haired old man yet...
___
There's a few advance chapters on my P@treon
Usually upload 2 Chapters a day in there, except Saturday and Sunday
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