episode_0048

“Dodge to the left! Jump through the third valley! You can buy time there!”

I shouted, lifting Alaina up.

“Yes…?”

“Jump!”

I grabbed Alaina’s wrist and ran without hesitation.

Scarlet Dragon’s breath struck where we had been standing.

“Ugh!”

Alaina, who had been thrown and hit the ground by the aftermath, regained her senses and quickly got up.

“Sir!”

“It’s okay! Keep running!”

Staggering to her feet, Alaina pushed me forward.

Dodging the second breath, we narrowly managed to enter the third valley.

“Cough, cough….”

Alaina sat down on the ground, clutching her side wound.

“Let me see your hand. I’ll treat it.”

Forcing Alaina to lie down, I removed her hand.

It seems like she couldn’t avoid the claws judging by the wound.

“I don’t have any Healing Potions… They all broke when I was attacked….”

Alaina gasped as she struggled to speak.

“It’s okay. I have some.”

Taking out two potions from my waist, I poured them over Alaina’s wounds.

“Ahh!”

“Hang in there. It’ll heal quickly.”

As I poured the two potions, the torn skin began to regenerate rapidly.

“Sir….”

Alaina, with color returning to her face, looked at me with gratitude.

“How did you get here…?”

“I don’t know either. Anyway, that’s not the issue right now.”

I turned to look at Scarlet Dragon, recovering its magic at the mouth of the valley.

We need to launch a valid attack now, but with Alaina’s current condition, it’s difficult.

We need to dodge once more and strike on the next turn.

“Alaina, listen carefully. We will counterattack after dodging the next area-of-effect attack. We need to time it right to move to the next valley from here.”

“Yes, sir….”

“What weapon do you have now…? Where is it?”

“I lost it….”

Looking back, I saw a Froster lying under the dragon’s hind leg.

I need to retrieve it, but by the time Alaina reaches there in her current state, the next attack will be incoming.

Considering the cooldown, it’s best for me to go.

“Drink this.”

“Where are you going…? Sir! It’s dangerous!”

Handing Alaina another potion bottle, I rushed towards the dragon.

“Darn it!”

Approaching the dragon’s body, an intense heat emanated.

Gasping for breath, I bit down and dove to pick up the Froster that fell to the ground.

A chilling cold spread from my hand to my shoulder.

If I keep holding it, my arm will surely freeze and fall off.

To an NPC like me with no strength, the Froster is an unwieldy weapon.

“Here it is, Alaina.”

Hastily returning, I handed the Froster to Alaina.

“Sir! Your hand is cold!”

“Of course, it’s an ice-element weapon. Don’t worry.”

Turning around, I saw Scarlet Dragon, fully recovered, preparing for the next attack.

Let’s see, what kind of attack is it? Oh, it’s a wall of flames?

Is it already deviating from the usual pattern? This situation is not good.

All boss monsters switch to the second phase when their health drops below a certain level.

Alaina managed to significantly reduce its health before I arrived.

However, the problem is that to transition to the second phase, you need to have enough health and items stocked up, but Alaina is completely drained now.

She has recovered slightly with the potions, but there are no mass recovery potions, and the potions I have are not sufficient.

At this rate, we won’t be able to make it to the second phase. Is there no way…?

Carefully surveying the surroundings, I came up with a good idea.

“Alaina, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

When I explained my thoughts, Alaina shouted.

“That’s not allowed! It’s too risky!”

“No, that’s the only way. Otherwise, we’ll all die here.”

“But sir…!”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes…?”

Alaina opened her eyes wide and looked at me.

“You trusted me to come this far, right? So trust me this time too. I never make mistakes.”

“Okay, sir….”

“Good. Give me that.”

I received the Flame Ward Shield from Alaina’s hand.

Slightly staggering under its immense weight, I barely managed to balance myself. Alaina had been carrying this all along.

“Alaina, you can succeed. If you just follow what I said earlier. Can you do it?”

“Yes. I can. If we succeed in this hunt….”

“Leap!”

As the cooldown ended, I pushed Alaina’s shoulder.

As Alaina blinked and dashed down the slope of the valley, a breath was exhaled from Scarlet Dragon’s mouth.

This breath was a completely different form from the previous Flame Breath.

A long curtain of fire followed, fiercely scouring the ground like a whip.

Chased by the curtain of flames, Alaina managed to disappear over the edge of the cliff.

Momentarily losing its target, the Scarlet Dragon hesitated before turning its gaze towards me, still standing in the middle of the valley.

“Here! Come here!”

Standing with the Flame Ward Shield held in both hands, as I shouted, the long curtain of flames that had been stretched out on the edge began to sway and rush towards me.

A relentless wave of flames engulfed me.

“Ugh!”

Although the shield diverted the flames to the sides, it couldn’t completely block the heat.

I firmly planted the shield on the ground, sat behind it, and consumed all the remaining potions.

Drinking the potion provided temporary relief from the heat. But the effect wouldn’t last long.

With the small amount of potions I had, it was difficult to withstand the curtain of flames.

The surface of my clothes began to char slowly.

“Alaina! Hurry!”

* * * * *

Having circled around behind the ridge and climbed back up, Alaina first looked for me.

I was not visible, but instead, the leading edge of the flame curtain emitted by the Scarlet Dragon could be seen splitting.

He’s there!

Sir! Just wait a little! I’ll save you!

As I rushed towards the end of the ridge, a tremendous pain surged from the injured side where the dragon’s claw had struck.

However, gritting her teeth, Alaina raised the Frosterer high.

Clearly visible below the ridge, Alaina leaped high towards the back of the Scarlet Dragon’s neck.

Magic exploded from Alaina’s body, enveloping the Frosterer.

* * * * *

Beyond the dancing flame curtain, a brilliantly shining meteor could be seen falling towards the dragon’s neck.

After flickering, the meteor disappeared behind the dragon’s horn, and the flame curtain vanished.

With a roar, the Scarlet Dragon’s body slowly began to topple sideways.

Alaina succeeded!

Using me as bait, Alaina’s strategy of attacking the dragon’s neck from the side worked perfectly.

Originally, this was a method that could never be used while playing. Because being alone meant never straying from the dragon’s target.

But with my intervention, an unintentional 2-player raid became possible.

While I was worried about whether I could withstand the curtain of flames, well, it’s a dream.

Kuuuuung-!

As the dragon fell completely, the ground shook, and rocks tumbled down the valley.

But what about Alaina?

It was visible that Alaina, who had been staggering above the dragon’s head, was now falling to the ground.

“Alaina! Ugh!”

Despite the searing pain throughout my body, I mustered my strength and ran towards her.

As the fallen Alaina vigorously shook her head to regain consciousness.

“Stay still, Alaina. You used magic too abruptly. Here, take this.”

Prepared for the worst, I fed Alaina the potion left behind.

“You did it. You’re truly amazing.”

“Thank you…. If it weren’t for you, I might have died….”

“But you didn’t die. So….”

Suddenly, strength began to drain from my body.

Looking down at my hands, the body fades gradually from the fingertips.

Am I waking up from a dream? There’s no time.

“Alaina, listen carefully. You were struck by the Scarlet Dragon’s claw because you haven’t reached the level to follow the guidebook.”

“I’m sorry… I tried…”

“It’s not your fault. You progressed too quickly following the guidebook. But if you continue like this, I can’t guarantee your future journey.”

“What should I do then?”

“Go to the Tenata Forest. It’s not far from here. Find the Witch of Sighs there. Seek her guidance…”

* * * * *

I opened my eyes. Turning to the side, I saw Mirella sitting there.

“Mirella…?”

“I heard voices talking in the room, so I came in. I was worried you might be kidnapped again like last time.”

“In the room?”

Looking around, I realized it’s my room. On the bed.

Raising my arms, I noticed I was still wearing the same indoor clothes as before. No signs of being outside.

What on earth happened?

Well, I woke up from a dream.

Alaina must have received a letter just before defeating the Scarlet Dragon, indicating she killed the dragon and moved on to the next stage.

But since I helped Alaina, the timelines don’t match at all. Obviously, it’s a dream.

“Should I sleep next to you?”

Mirella asked, smiling and shaking her head.

“It’s okay. I just had a dream.”

“A nightmare?”

“Well…”

If it was a dream where I almost burned to death from the dragon’s breath, could it be a nightmare?

“No, a happy dream.”

* * * * *

“Sir!!”

Alaina screamed, throwing off the blanket and sitting up.

“Hero! Are you awake?”

People surrounding the bed asked with concern.

“Sir! Sir, are you okay?!”

“Yes? Sir, what are you talking about?”

“You were here?!”

They looked at each other and said, “There was no one else but the hero.”

“What happened? Why am I here?”

“You defeated the dragon and temporarily lost consciousness. Probably due to exhaustion. The waiting troops immediately brought you back triumphantly.”

“Triumphantly…? What about the shield?”

“Here it is.”

A half-melted Flame Ward Shield leaned against the wall in the corner of the room.

Seeing that, Alaina pondered.

She must have been hit by the dragon’s claw on the side, ready to give up when the man suddenly appeared. He said not to give up.

After receiving treatment and a new strategy from him.

It wasn’t in the guidebook because it was an attack impossible alone, piercing the misaligned scales at the nape of the dragon, its only weakness.

She killed the dragon, and then… Then…

I don’t remember.

Maybe… it was a dream or a hallucination in a moment of crisis….

There’s a whole sea between the man and me. He must have crossed the sea with some skill to help me and then disappeared without a trace.

Alaina let out a disappointed laugh, tears streaming down her face.

He was the man she had longed to see so desperately, but when they finally met, they couldn’t even have a proper conversation….

“Excuse me, Hero.”

An official from the triumphant party hesitated as he spoke to Alaina, who was shedding tears.

“People are waiting outside for you.”

“People? Waiting for me?”

“Please go out to the terrace.”

Perplexed, Alaina drew the curtain and went out to the terrace.

“The Hero has come out!”

“Wowwwww!!!”

Following someone’s shout, a thunderous cheer erupted, shaking the ground.

“Hero! Hero!” “Hooray for the Hero!!”

The square in front of the vigorous palace was filled with tens of thousands of people who shouted “Hooray!” in unison.

“Eastern savior! Hooray, hero!!!!”

Overwhelmed by the endless cheers of the crowd, Alaina was too flustered to do anything.

“Please wave your hand, hero.”

“Oh, yes….”

As Alaina slowly raised her hand, the people’s cheers grew so loud it seemed to pierce the sky.

Sir…. I did it….