chapter_0208

209 – The Fact That All Members of the Hero Party Are Regulars at Our Shop

209 – The Fact That All Members of the Hero Party Are Regulars at Our Shop

Dragon.

Hundreds of years ago, it was a being that instilled fear across the continent.

An ancient creature that caused damage not only to the Empire but also to several kingdoms, rivaling even the Demon King.

Its shimmering scales could not be pierced by ordinary swords, and even swords infused with Mana could only leave scratches.

True to its title as the creator of ancient magic, it possessed the power to nullify almost all human magic.

But that wasn’t all.

The Breath it unleashed in dragon form had the potential to annihilate all living beings in the vicinity.

It was truly a living biological weapon.

While its power might be weaker than that of the Demon King, it was just as threatening due to the uncertainty of when and where it might suddenly appear.

“Usually, they reside in deep mountains, the depths of the sea, or sometimes far beneath the vast land, making encounters extremely rare.”

However, if provoked even once by chance, it could lead to widespread devastation.

Of course, since most dragons had mysteriously vanished hundreds of years ago, there had been no dragon-related incidents for centuries.

The Hero’s organized efforts to hunt down only the Demon King were possible because the dragon landmines had disappeared.

“Could there still be dragons left?”

It was unexpected.

According to all previous research, there were no traces of dragons left, and it was widely accepted that even their Mana signatures had vanished.

The most plausible theory was that the dragons had either migrated to another dimension or ascended, leading to the belief that dragons no longer posed a threat to the Empire or humanity.

“Are you saying that dragons have truly appeared?”

“Yes. You can hear the details on-site. My authority to speak ends here.”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

If dragons had really appeared, it would be a significant event that negated all previous theories.

Perhaps the dragons had not migrated to another dimension but had instead hidden themselves so deeply that they could no longer be found with our current technology.

“The exploration team is waiting for you, Max.”

“Exploration… team?”

The messenger nodded.

“All the strongest individuals in the Empire have volunteered for this expedition, centered around the Hero!”

“Could I see the list of names?”

“Haha, you seem quite curious.”

A few figures came to mind that I could guess.

When they mentioned the strongest individuals in the Empire, several names flashed in my mind.

“First, the commander of the Empire’s First Knight Order and the Goddess of Victory, Yuris, will be joining us.”

As expected.

I thought she would definitely be there.

“The Hero, Nikki, and the Saintess will also be participating in this expedition.”

An obvious lineup.

Yuris, Nikki, and Eileen were the trio who had personally defeated the Demon King a few years ago.

“I believe the head of the Life Magic school will also be joining.”

Ah.

Aurora is coming too.

After being thoroughly defeated by me once, she had changed to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

She had become obedient to me as if she were a completely different person.

Even though I couldn’t receive direct help from the Life Magic school, I had benefited from various assistance she could provide on her own.

Of course, financial help, as well as significant political support within the magic school.

– I can do anything for you, Max.

It seemed that the trauma from what I had done to her had lingered.

Having crumbled under the overwhelming pleasure that poured down like a tidal wave, she had come to desire it daily, leading to a deepening subservient relationship.

– So please do it again, Max.

Seeing her wanting self-destructive pleasure made me wonder if this person, the head of the Life Magic school and a former rival of Meiko, was indeed the same Aurora.

–
Thanks to your teachings, I was able to welcome a new paradigm of healing magic that can be used in the Life Magic school.

–
While receiving healing magic, showing illusions to alleviate the pain of the healing magic significantly improved the results.

In the process of utilizing the healing magic of Life Magic, she had devised a method to enhance the efficiency of treating patients by using Illusion magic.

It was clear that she was not just any head of a school.

Even if her personality had changed, her abilities remained intact.

“Is it four of them then?”

“There’s one more.”

“Who is it?”

“I heard that Reina, a high elf sent as an envoy from the elves, will be participating as their representative.”

“Ah.”

That woman.

– How dare an inferior species touch me. Consider yourself lucky. Huh!!

I recalled the illusion of Reina, who had called me an inferior species while eagerly shaking her hips.

She’s joining too?

“That’s five of us.”

“Currently, yes.”

Two melee knights, a ranged dealer capable of elemental magic, a saint-level buffer, and a healer who could also perform some ranged attack magic.

It was a very balanced party composition.

Although Aurora was a magician of Life Magic, she was someone with exceptional magical understanding, enough to occupy the position of head of the school.

As a sub-dealer, she would certainly fulfill her role.

But.

“I can’t do it.”

Illusion magic had a different magical structure than other magicians, making it difficult to serve as a sub-dealer.

“I’ll manage somehow.”

The real problem wasn’t my ability.

“All our customers are in this party.”

Just then, the Hero suggested joining, and within that party were our shop’s customers, and they were all VVIP regulars.

What this implied was clear.

The dragon didn’t even register in my mind.

The Hero had defeated the Demon King, so I thought they could handle a dragon.

Rather, I was the one in danger.

It seemed I wouldn’t be able to spend a peaceful night.

But I couldn’t refuse either.

“I’ll have to appeal well.”

Since I had no combat power, it would be difficult.

“Let’s head out first.”

“I’ll guide you!”

This is bad.

Following the messenger, I saw the dragon hunting squad in the distance.

“Max!”

“Welcome.”

“Inferior species, you’re later than expected?”

“I was waiting for you, Max.”

“My brother, you’ve arrived.”

The dragon expedition team approached me.

Grrr.

Why did they look at me like a pride of lionesses targeting a male?

“Everyone, I think there’s a misunderstanding, so I need to clarify.”

Standing before them, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I’m here to say that I probably won’t be going on the expedition today. Contrary to your thoughts, I’m just an ordinary…”

Before I could finish my sentence.

Swoosh.

The atmosphere chilled.

The gazes of the five turned icy as they looked at me.

“Max.”

“My brother.”

“Are you thinking of defying the Emperor’s command?”

“No matter how much of a Max you are, that’s unacceptable.”

“Is it because you’re an inferior species? Your thinking is short-sighted?”

They launched a barrage of attacks from five different directions.

It felt as if they were all part of one team, firing at me.

Hmm.

This is a fight I can’t win.

“…I wanted to say I’m just a person, but even so, I’m honored to be able to join such a glorious occasion. Hahaha!”

I quickly changed my words, fearing I might die faster than being killed by a dragon.

Only then did laughter bloom from various places.

“We’ll be departing tomorrow. So, I hope you can prepare, Max.”

“…Understood.”

Surely, they wouldn’t ask me to show illusions during the journey, right?

Surely…

That couldn’t be…

Ice Mountains.

The high and rugged mountain range was so treacherous that no one could live there, and the snow that fell all day long due to magic was cold enough to prevent nearby creatures from easily approaching.

The ice mountains, covered in eternal snow that never melted throughout the year, were said to be cursed by the spirits of ice.

As if to say that no one would be allowed to approach.

However, humans are creatures of adaptation.

No matter how rugged the mountains, people lived there, and though few, there were those who had made their homes there.

Even as cold winds blew and blizzards raged, the people living there did not cease their hunting.

To survive.

Piiing-!

Crack!

Richard, who had succeeded in hunting today as well.

He was the head of a native family that had lived here for three generations.

Having hunted since he was a child, he wandered the forest today to obtain his daily sustenance.

He successfully hunted a small rabbit.

Most of the small animals were abundant.

Due to the rugged and barren land, there weren’t many large animals.

The largest beasts he could hunt nearby were the goats living on cliffs or deer that could withstand the cold.

‘Monsters do roam, but if I don’t hunt, I can’t survive.’

Avoiding monsters had become a familiar task for Richard.

Having caught the rabbit he had successfully hunted, he slung his bow over his back for an early return.

It was then.

Rustle.

“Hmm?”

He felt a presence and turned around.

But there was no one there.

What was that?

He had definitely sensed something.

It seemed too small to be a monster.

Yet it wasn’t a small animal either.

‘What was that just now?’

He tilted his head and looked inside.

…

He cautiously walked through the quiet woods.

Slowly.

As he took a step closer, he pushed aside the nearest snow-covered thicket with his hand.

Swish.

As he cleared the dry branches.

“Uh-oh?”

It was an oddly artificially created darkness.

A perfect shadow as if someone had deliberately made it to hide their body.

He couldn’t comprehend it.

Surely, the shadow should have disappeared when he pushed aside the branches.

But there was a darkness denser than the shadow itself.

“What, what is this…?”

As Richard found it strange and tried to take another step closer.

“Ugh!”

He saw it.

The red eyes peering through the branches covered in snowflakes.

In the darkness, the vertically slit pupils glared at him.

The moment he met its gaze, Richard trembled.

– Go away.

The eyes seemed to say that.

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

He hurriedly fled the scene.

It was undoubtedly the eyes of a dragon.

In the artificially created, surreal darkness, those vertically glowing red eyes were unmistakably reptilian.

The dragon that only appeared in legends!

‘D, the dragon has appeared!’

When he returned home, he told the villagers about his encounter with the dragon.

“It might have awakened again. So evacuate!”

To survive, he made the bold choice to abandon the land he had lived on until now.

He had to survive, no matter what.

For himself and for his family.

Thus, the news of the dragon’s discovery reached the Empress’s ears.

The red eyes in the darkness.

To investigate it, the Hero’s party was dispatched.

“I don’t think we should go.”

Even the Illusion magician Max was included.