CHAPTER 18: BASHFUL MAGES

The convoy was moving again.

The dirt road curved gently down the hillside, and just beyond the foggy plains lay the tall stone walls of Larnia—their final stop before entering the mountain passes.

This quest was almost done.

But not everyone was at ease.

Ardan rode at the front with his brow furrowed.

"Hrmmm..."

His hand never strayed far from the hilt of his sword.

His horse snorted as if sensing his unease.

Nero noticed.

"You’ve been quiet for a while, Captain."

Ardan didn’t answer immediately.

Then, with a low sigh, he spoke.

"The Red Dragon hasn’t shown itself yet."

Nero blinked. "Isn’t that... good?"

"Maybe. Or maybe not."

Ardan’s tone was grim.

"If it’s not here, then there’s a chance it’s already somewhere else."

His eyes hardened as he stared toward the distant walls of Larnia.

"Hopefully... that somewhere else isn’t Larnia..."

Aldura rode up beside them as her silver hair bounced on her delicate, graceful shoulders.

"No need to worry about that. It’s trivial."

She gave Nero a side-eye and a calming smile.

Her beauty never failed to disappoint.

Even Ardan who wasn’t being looked at felt his fingers loosen slightly.

Still, there was that acrid scent in the air.

The closer they got, the stronger it became.

･･･

Meanwhile...

Eurvaine hadn’t said a word since the battle.

She rode a few carriages behind Nero as she fidgeted with the sleeves of his oversized robe.

Her face was red for reasons unrelated to the sun.

『I should thank him properly...』

Her grip tightened around the reins.

She took a deep breath and urged her horse forward.

"U-, Um! Nero—!"

But just as she approached, Nero laughed loudly at something Ardan said.

"Haha, wait— are you serious? You really did that—!?"

Ardan smirked proudly.

"Hah! You’ve no idea!"

Their horses clopped side by side as they laughed.

Annoyingly loud laughs.

Eurvaine’s voice shrank.

"...Oh. Haha... right..."

She slowed down again.

Aldura glanced at her knowingly from behind.

But Eurvaine just gave a small, defeated smile.

"I’ll try again later."

And she did.

Eurvaine raised a hand timidly.

"I... I know some geography stuff too... like—"

"—So I told her, that’s my chicken!"

"WAAA, HILARIOUS!!"

Nero choked mid-laugh and almost fell off his horse.

Their laughs were even louder now.

Eurvaine’s arm fell limply to her side.

She puffed her cheeks and mumbled—

"Forget it..." ( ¬⤙¬ )

But Aldura tried to keep things positive.

"Try again later?"

Later turned into several tries.

"Uhm Nero, did you know the rivers here are actually connected under—"

"Oi, Nero!"

An adventurer called out, waving.

"Could you help me with these pelts?!"

"Coming!"

Nero laughed and steered his horse over.

Eurvaine’s smile froze.

"..."

Ten minutes later.

She trotted her horse closer again.

"Um, Nero? I—"

But Nero was now laughing with Ardan again as the raucous captain enthusiastically explained how to navigate Bramble Region at night while gesturing so wide he almost smacked a knight in the face.

Eurvaine deflated completely.

Her shoulders slumped.

Her head drooped until her forehead nearly rested on her horse’s mane.

"I give up..." (｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)

The horse snorted, like it agreed.

She slouched on her saddle with a tired pout.

『Maybe next century he’ll notice me.』

Her horse neighed sympathetically.

･･･

Up ahead, Nero was now beside Merlin.

"Hey, Merlin."

Silence.

"Merlin?"

Still nothing.

She was sitting on her horse like she might slide off like a slug at any second.

Chin resting on her palm, posture lazy, eyes half-shut.

Her long black hair swayed gently with the wind as she looked like she’d mentally disappeared.

"Merlin, are you even listening?"

She blinked slowly, then yawned.

"What." (≖_≖)

Nero frowned.

"Is that all you can say after ignoring me all day?!"

"Have I?"

Merlin said dully then stretched her arms.

"Must’ve been my other self then."

"What are you even—"

Merlin squinted up at the glaring sun.

"It was never this hot back in Elaris Village..."

She cut him off like he wasn’t even there.

"That’s not even—!"

Nero felt like he’d lose his mind.

"You’re just ignoring me on purpose!"

Merlin smacked her lips tiredly.

"Mhm... sunlight tastes weird..."

Nero threw his hands up.

"You’re so difficult!"

Merlin tilted her head lazily.

"You’re loud."

But before Nero could reply—

A thunderous sound tore across the sky.

VOOOOOOOM!

A shadow passed over them.

The wind hit like a hammer.

Dust and grass flattened under the gale as something massive descended from the clouds.

Then—WHAAAAM!!!

The earth split apart where it landed.

A shockwave blasted through the caravan.

Horses panicked, refugees screamed, and knights fought to stay on their feet.

Every head turned upward.

And there it was.

The Red Dragon.

Its scales shimmered like molten glass as its reptilian eyes burned with hatred.

A dozen refugees immediately fell to their knees.

"It’s the Red Dragon!"

"It’s here!"

"Run! Run for your lives!"

Some people vomited from pure fear.

Others fainted outright.

Even Nero froze for a second.

『So that’s the Red Dragon...』

He tilted his head a little.

『It’s... smaller than I thought.』

It wasn’t that the dragon wasn’t big, but it looked nothing like in the movies.

Those kinds could flatten a house by stepping on it.

"SHIELDS UP!" Ardan shouted.

"Knights, form a wall!"

"Wizards, deploy [Water Barrier] immediately!"

"Adventurers, protect the refugees!"

The ground shook as the Red Dragon roared.

A roar so powerful it felt like it shredded the air itself.

Nero gritted his teeth and clutched his staff.

Aldura raised her hand to prepare her next chant.

But then—Merlin yawned.

She raised one finger lazily and pointed at the dragon.

"No need for that..." she said flatly.

Everyone stared at her.

"Lady Merlin, what are you doing!?" Ardan barked.

The Red Dragon inhaled deeply as its expanding chest glowed red-hot.

It opened its mouth to unleash hellfire.

But it coughed up smoke instead.

A sputtering wheeze of black smoke and blood.

Everyone froze.

"...What?"

The knights blinked at each other.

Nero squinted. "Wait, why did it just—cough?"

Aldura’s eyes narrowed. "Look closely."

They did.

The dragon’s right arm was grotesquely swollen.

Scales cracked as its black veins pulsed painfully.

It was like watching a living disease.

A sickly aura oozed from its arm like corrupted mana.

Nero frowned. "What is that...?"

Aldura’s eyes narrowed.

"That corruption... looks like [Blood Magic]. Possibly the work of dark elves. But I can’t be sure."

Ardan unsheathed his sword with a metallic hiss.

"Wounded or not, it’s still a dragon. Stay sharp!"

Still slouched in her saddle, Merlin sluggishly waved a hand to dismiss the captain.

"Relax. I’ve got it."

She reached for her staff.

It was still wrapped in thick cloth and strapped with belts like a sealed artifact.

She planned to use it like that.

"Let’s make this quick."

The Red Dragon roared again.

It dragged itself toward them.

Merlin pointed the staff in its direction.

White light began to gather at the tip.

At first small, then rapidly growing into a pulsing sphere that crackled with energy.

Her thoughts wandered.

『That dragon’s arm... Vivianne’s handiwork, no doubt. Hmph. She could’ve at least told me she was back in Camelot. How rude.』

Then she sighed and smiled faintly.

『And Nero... he’s so worried I’ve been ignoring him. I think I’ll keep this up a bit longer... just until he’s pudding in my hands. Then I’ll guilt-trip him into getting me all the alcohol I want. Yes. That’s a good plan.』 (≖⩊≖)

One knight stammered nervously.

"Uh... Lady Merlin?"

She blinked, looked up. "Eh?"

Everyone was staring.

She playfully knocked her head with a soft tee-hee!

"Oh right, dragon!"

She looked at the massive, glowing orb hovering in front of her staff and blinked again.

"Oh."

Then she adjusted the wrapped staff.

The orb compressed and shrunk from a house-sized sphere to a glowing bead of light.

FWOOOM!

It shot forward.

A blinding flash engulfed the Red Dragon.

The sound vanished.

The world turned white.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A dome of light expanded outward and swallowed the entire plain.

The shockwave rippled for miles.

When the dust finally cleared... nothing remained.

No dragon. No smoke.

Just a massive, glassy crater gouged deep into the earth.

Silence.

The entire caravan just stared.

They were all stunned.

"By the Gods..."

"She... she erased it..."

"Well, that’s certainly one way to end a battle."

Even Ardan’s jaw was slightly open.

Nero blinked at the screen that appeared before him.

[ⓘ You’ve witnessed the birth of a landmark.]

[ⓘ "Naper Pass Crater" will be known for ages!]

He stared at Merlin.

Then broke into a grin.

"Woo-hoo! Go teach!"

He clapped enthusiastically.

The others soon joined in.

"Lady Merlin!"

"Great Mage! Great Mage!"

Even the refugees started chanting her name.

Merlin looked away, cheeks faintly red.

"Hmph... noisy..."

Aldura smiled softly.

"Well, I could’ve handled it myself, but... oh well."

Nero kept cheering, clapping like a proud parent.

Merlin glanced sideways at him.

He was smiling—bright, genuine, and a little childish.

Her lips curved unconsciously.

『He really... has a cute smile.』

She quickly looked away as her cheeks got redder.

They were like tomatoes on her pretty face.

『I don’t like ignoring him.』

[ⓘ Merlin is secretly pleased you cheered for her.]

[ⓘ Merlin’s affection has slightly increased.]

[ⓘ "Forbidden Teacher" route is 25% cleared!]

Nero smiled at all the notifications.

『She’s an amazing woman.』

Another system panel popped up.

[ⓘ You’ve unlocked the final task to end the event!]

‣ New Task: Express your feelings to Merlin

‣ Reward: +300 EXP, B-grade Potioneering Kit