Chapter 88: Like a Dragon (2)

The pride that dragons possessed was all based on something.

They were superior beings in every aspect.

It wasn't just for show that they would habitually refer to humans as inferior beings or lesser mortals.

In other words, they were f*cking strong.

There was no way we could fight and defeat them at our current level.

Well, they weren't beings meant to be defeated right now in the first place.

They were closer to a threat, telling us that this village where we were trying to rest was closing soon, so we should just keep going to Tiaria without resting.

However.

“You heard it before, right? The dragon itself ‘spoke’ its conditions and left.”

That didn't mean they were invincible opponents.

“In other words, we can ‘talk’ with it.”

And I am a specialist in conversation.

A handsome-faced bard, am I not?

--

Sub Quest

「Red Dragon」

Confront the Red Dragon that threatened Aubrey Village.

--

The dragon that had threatened Aubrey Village had made the forest near the village its temporary lair.

This forest was also one of the places treated as a dungeon, where monsters would normally appear.

But after the dragon had come yesterday, the monsters that were originally the masters of the forest had either been eaten or had hidden away before that.

Because of that, the forest was practically empty.

Our target, the Red Dragon, was taking a nap next to a large lake in the middle of the forest.

As soon as we saw its overwhelming presence.

“──!”

Even from a distance, we felt the same sensation that the monsters of this forest had felt yesterday.

Awe.

Intimidation.

There were many other emotions, but when all those emotions were combined, they eventually converged into one sensation.

Your instincts scream.

To go back.

‘Fear’.

It was pure fear.

“C-Crazy……”

As soon as she saw the dragon sleeping by the lake, Ibi, who had held her breath, froze in place with a pale, frightened face, unable to move a single step.

Even Toric, who had experience subjugating a dragon once, and Rine, who was emotionless in everything, were now completely crushed by ‘fear’, their hands holding their axe and staff trembling.

Even Miki, who had always been the bravest among us in battle, was just as frightened.

Gulp, Miki's shield, which he had swallowed with, was trembling slightly.

Me?

My legs had already given out, and I had collapsed on the spot.

What do you take me for?

This is a dragon.

Yes, this is a dragon.

Even though it was asleep, its appearance alone was enough to make ‘inferior beings’ like us unable to bear its magnificence and become frightened.

Essentially, it's like my face.

It's not a boast, really.

Just as everyone who sees my face becomes ‘charmed’, the dragon's very existence was an object of ‘fear’.

“Um, are you all okay?”

Therefore, in our party, only Lily was able to stand there without being affected by the ‘fear’.

“…How are you fine?”

Because resistance to the ‘fear’ status ailment is determined based on the ‘Mentality’ stat.

Only Lily, who had the highest mentality among us, was able to resist.

“It is certainly a fearsome creature, but from the perspective of someone who feels the presence of Lady Sistina every day, it is just a large monster.”

Well, for clerics who always ‘communicate’ with the gods and feel their presence, it might not be that surprising.

As Lily said, it was just a monster.

“……Hah.”

Ibi, hearing those words, looked at Lily with eyes that seemed to have seen her in a new light.

“Y-You’re amazing, Sister…!”

Miki began to look at her with eyes of respect.

At that, Lily was somewhat embarrassed, and then she placed a hand on her prayer book.

『Give us courage.』

Thus, she bestowed a blessing on us so that we could escape the ‘fear’ and maintain our composure.

Thanks to that, we were soon able to regain our composure.

“……Whew.”

“Thanks, Lily. You saved us.”

“It's my job.”

Thus, we slowly walked towards the dragon again.

Nevertheless, even when we got right in front of it, literally so close that we could see its nostrils, it showed no signs of waking up and was still deep in ‘sleep’.

As if, whether I was asleep or not, there was no being in this world that could harm me.

It might feel like arrogance, but that was the truth.

In our case, we wouldn't wake up from a deep sleep just because an ant was crawling next to us, would we?

“…What do you want to do? Want me to stab it once?”

Of course, the story would be a bit different if that ant suddenly bit your nose.

“Don't be foolish. It's a stupid idea.”

Toric calmly restrained Ibi's arm, who was slyly drawing her dagger.

“Toric is right. If you do that, you'll just be swallowed whole in one bite.”

And anyway, it was meaningless.

“Most weapons can’t even pierce a dragon's scales.”

“These guys' scales are their armor and weapons.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

“I told you, didn't I? I came to ‘talk’.”

Then we have to wake it up first.

Of course, not by biting its nose or anything like that, but.

“Dolce.”

Gently, so as not to provoke its nerves.

──Pororong.

I began to play the lute.

And, before long──

“────Huuuum.”

Kugugung──

The ground trembled.

At the same time, the trees in the forest surrounding the lake also swayed, creating a cool breeze.

Thus, the Red Dragon opened its eyes.

Thud! Thud!

Every time the awakened creature moved its giant feet and wings, the forest shook with it.

If it weren't for Lily's blessing, we would surely have been overcome by ‘fear’ again by now.

But we weren't, and.

“──Ho.”

The dragon, seeing us, finally began to show interest.

Amber, no, its large two eyes, which were amber itself, stared at us.

“Are you the messengers who have brought my treasure──?”

“That's right.”

I stopped playing and approached the dragon, saying.

“O great Red Dragon. We have brought the treasure to offer you.”

At that moment, its vertically long pupils, which were glaring at me, narrowed even further.

“Huuuum──?”

It seemed to look around at my companions and the surrounding area, and then.

“But why is it that I see no carriage laden with gold and silver, nor any jewel that shines brighter than my eyes──?”

Thud, thud, and.

It slowly raised its body.

“Don't tell me you guys, have come to mock me? Or, have you dared to challenge me──?”

As if to say that depending on the answer, it would swallow us whole right now.

At that.

“Either way, foolish──”

“──Art!”

I shouted louder so that its ears, which were high up, could hear.

“We have brought ‘art’!”

Well, of course, with a dragon's hearing, it would have heard me even if I had whispered in a crawling voice.

It's just that since the being I was making eye contact with was high up, I felt like I should do this.

“──What?”

“Art. Among us humans, it is a treasure more valuable than any other.”

At my words, the dragon's head, which had soared high, came down again.

“Even if you offer a mountain of gold and silver, you often cannot obtain a single beautiful song sung by a skilled bard.”

“A soooong──?”

Suddenly, the dragon snorted.

I almost flew away from the puff of air that came out, no exaggeration.

“Kehaha! Kehahaha──!!”

“If you give me a chance, I will prove my words.”

“──Ah, fine.”

The dragon, who had been roaring with laughter, soon lay down flat on the ground, as if bringing its ear closer.

“Instead, if you fail to prove it── like the guys who tried to mock me, I will kill you slowly.”

Revealing its sharp teeth.

“Do it right…”

At that, Ibi, who seemed very nervous, pulled at my sleeve with a trembling hand.

I gave Ibi a smile to tell her not to worry, and then.

“One, two──”

──Pororong.

I plucked the string of the lute.

“Ooh”

“──Ooh?”

“Ooh ooh ooh”

Thus, I began the [Performance].

“Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh”

The expressions of dragons were hard to read for humans.

Well, since one head was the size of a house, it was difficult to even take in the whole face, so how could one read a rich expression from it.

Moreover, it was even more difficult to read its expression when it was lying down so close, at an angle where only one eye was visible.

But, despite that.

I could certainly tell that this Red Dragon was captivated by my appearance, playing the lute and singing.

There was no doubt.

This dragon was now, completely engrossed in my [Performance].

Why?

Because even though it was trying to pretend not to be, its large tail behind it was already swaying to the rhythm of my song.

In the end, you are also a creature with a tail.

This creature was already a prisoner of my [Performance].

It had opened its eyes to a new realm that it had never known before, even while living a sublime age, art.

“Woah oh─ oh─ oh! Woah oh─ oh!”

So.

“Radioactive! Radioactive!”

Welcome to a new era, Red Dragon.

Before long, after finishing my [Performance], I gave a splendid bow to the dragon, like an actor at a curtain call.

“Huuuum──”

The dragon still seemed to think that it wasn't showing it, but satisfaction was written all over its face.

“──Interesting.”

If it were in human form, it would probably be smiling broadly right now.

“Good, human. I admit that you have brought a ‘treasure’. ──However.”

The dragon added.

“I── certainly mentioned another condition.”

Yes, it did.

That a ‘treasure that would satisfy it’ should be sent through ‘those who can withstand its fire’.

“That you are beings worthy of making a ‘deal’ with me──”

In short, it was time to be hit by the 「Dragon Breath」.

I could feel my companions, who had realized this, flinch instinctively.

Of course, I did too.

At the same time.

──Tick, tick!

From somewhere, I heard a sound similar to the sound of striking a flint.

Along with that ominous sound, I could see its red neck gradually turning redder.

As a lava-like flame welled up.

Then.

“──Prove it!!”

Hwareureureuk──!!

A vast flame, engulfed us.

At that moment.

『──Freeze!』

A ‘wall of ice’, which had risen high in front of us, blocked it.

──「Ice Wall」.

It was a 4th circle magic that Rine, who had reached level 7, had learned.

While I was receiving the dragon's gaze with my [Performance], Rine had been preparing several layers of 「Ice Walls」 through 「Delayed Casting」 all along.

By offering all the circles she could currently consume.