episode_0071

As we got closer to the top of Aldera Mountain, the temperature dropped rapidly.

It was so cold that it felt like you could see your breath, to the point where I questioned if we were still in the same region.

Worried about Sylphy, who was dressed lightly under her fur coat, I turned around to see her bumping into something hard with a clinking sound.

“See, it’s cold.”

“S-S-Senior… It’s c-c-colder than I th-th-thought…”

Her confident demeanor that it wasn’t cold disappeared, and she hunched her shoulders, making a whimpering sound.

Feeling somewhat guilty for not giving her extra warm clothes despite reassuring her it was fine, I couldn’t help but feel sorry.

Even though I was dressed much warmer than Sylphy, I could still feel the cold. What if she freezes to death like this?

Leaving her like this was not an option, but was there any way to help?

As long as it wasn’t a form of magic that released magic outward, a magic outburst wouldn’t occur.

So, could I use my magic to warm up our bodies?

After the narration hinted that my ability to easily apply magic in various forms through imagination could be a special talent, I felt a bit more confident and wanted to try more diverse things with my magic.

Although using a technique that released magic outward even a little would make it uncontrollable and dangerous, it was still a risky state.

“Wait a moment.”

I stopped walking and focused my mind, concentrating magic in my right palm.

Careful not to release magic outward, I moved the gathered magic as close to my skin as possible.

And imagining the warm feeling of holding a freshly heated hand warmer in my hand, I thought about heating my skin with magic.

“Oh…”

After a while, I felt my palm gradually getting warmer.

There was no magic outburst.

If there had been a magic outburst, my palm would not have been unharmed.

Thinking that I had tried this without fear, I realized that I had tried this without fear.

Well, I was aware of the criteria for a magic outburst, but just in case, before testing it on my whole body, I tried warming my palm.

“Sylphy, give me your hand.”

“Yes? Senior…”

“It’s cold. Touch my hand.”

Sylphy hesitantly reached out her hand with a puzzled expression, holding my magically warmed hand.

Sylphy’s eyes widened.

“It’s really warm…! What is this? Are your hands normally this warm, Senior?”

“I raised the temperature of my skin with magic.”

“Wow… Can you really do that? You’re amazing.”

“Just wait a moment.”

I focused my mind again in front of Sylphy, who was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

This time, I tried sending magic to spread evenly throughout my body, not just in my palm.

Since raising a person’s internal body temperature could lead to a fever and be dangerous, I made sure only my skin got warm.

As the heat rose in my body, I took off my fur coat and handed it to Sylphy.

“Here, put this on. I think I can keep us warm with magic.”

“Are you sure? I’m really sorry…”

“It’s okay. Right now, I’d be too hot if I put it on.”

“T-Thank you, Senior…”

Sylphy put on the fur coat, layering it over hers, and bowed slightly to thank me.

Alright, the cold problem is solved.

All that’s left is to find and hunt the Steelheart Dragon near the summit of Aldera Mountain.

—

We were able to find the Steelheart Dragon in front of a rock cave near the summit of Aldera Mountain.

“Is that the Steelheart Dragon… It looks even weirder than I thought.”

“I-It’s bigger than I thought.”

I whispered as I hid behind a tree, watching the Steelheart Dragon roaming around the cave entrance.

The creature was covered in scales that resembled a mix of crocodile, lizard, and dinosaur, with a body armored with scales that looked like steel.

With short arms and legs, a large body, and sharp teeth, it looked incredibly tough at first glance.

Is that a Dragonyte ore attached near its heart?

Alright, let’s finish this quickly and go back.

“Sylphy, stay hidden over there. You don’t need to help.”

I left Sylphy waiting behind me and drew my sword, filling the blade with magic.

Then, I charged straight towards the wandering Steelheart Dragon.

As I rushed in, the creature slowly turned towards me, perhaps due to its bulky body.

At this speed, I felt like I could strike the creature before it could turn towards me.

“Haaah!”

I brought down my magic-infused sword on its back from above.

But…

Ping!

The sword bounced off the creature’s back without leaving a mark.

It was perplexing.

I had never failed to cut through using this method before.

Even a steel sword filled with magic had been broken by a single blow, but it seemed ineffective against this creature?

“Grrrr….”

The Steelheart Dragon made a threatening sound and turned completely towards me.

It’s dangerous to stand directly in front of it based on its appearance.

Fortunately, since the creature’s movements were slow, swiftly turning to the side and fighting would prevent any fatal attacks.

Thump, thump, thump!

The Steelheart Dragon shook its head from side to side, making heavy footsteps as it began to charge forward.

I was already moving away from its head, aiming for its side.

Targeting the sturdy scales on its back was a mistake.

This time, I aimed for the slightly smaller scales on its side.

Ping!

But once again, my attack was effortlessly deflected.

How tough are the scales covering its body?

Only now did I realize that Algot’s statement, “It’s tough,” was not an exaggeration.

This is troublesome.

This way, it will never end.

If my attacks don’t penetrate at all, even if its movements are slow, I won’t be able to extract the Dragonyte ore by hunting it.

“Senior! Are you okay?”

Sylphy, who had been watching the fight, called out to me.

Oh no, it’s embarrassing that Sylphy is watching too.

If I don’t find a way to defeat this creature somehow…

The fortunate part is that while its defense might be fortress-like, its offense is pitiful.

Considering its large body and sharp teeth, its biting power might be fearsome, but its attacks were simple and slow, making it easy to dodge.

Just making creaking sounds while turning its body and charging forward was the extent of its attacks.

If you get hit by such an attack, you can confidently say that you’re not qualified as an adventurer.

However, my attacks were also ineffective.

Continuing to try to attack with no effect, it was just like a futile effort.

No, if it’s this tough, I’m worried about how to extract its heart later.

“Yunoa was struggling to find a way to overcome the durability of the Steelheart Dragon she had encountered for the first time in her life.

The scales surrounding the Steelheart Dragon’s body had the property of absorbing magic.

Therefore, when an attack using magic power hit, it immediately lost that power.

Similarly, magic spells did not work, and most attacks using magic power were ineffective.

This property of the scales was maintained only while the Steelheart Dragon was alive, and when its life was extinguished, this property disappeared.”

As I struggled with the attacks, just buying time, a narration echoed in my mind.

Absorbing magic with its scales.

So, the sword that can cut through steel is completely ineffective against this guy.

If I don’t infuse magic into the sword I wield, it was no different from an ordinary person wielding it.

It has a troublesome trait.

Moreover, if its life is cut off, the trait of absorbing magic with its scales disappears.

If the trait of the scales had continued, it would have been quite popular as a material for armor.

Anyway, as long as those scales protect its body, there was no way to inflict effective damage.

To strike that steel-like body with pure strength without using the power of magic, it was impossible with this sword.

Maybe if I kept swinging a huge steel hammer-like mace at it until it broke.

I remembered the puzzled expression of the owner of the village tavern when he saw my sword and asked, “Are you going hunting with that sword?”

“Krrrrrrk!”

The Steelheart Dragon turned its body again and roared loudly.

Is there a way to harm that guy only with pure physical strength without using magic?

No, it’s probably impossible.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the strength of an adventurer comes from magic.

In that case, I have no choice but to find a body part without that annoying scale and attack it.

Maybe there is a soft spot without scales on its abdomen, like a hedgehog or a turtle shell?

I thought about it, but I couldn’t think of a way to flip over its bulky body and expose its belly.

That’s when it happened.

“Krrrrrrk!”

The Steelheart Dragon looked straight at me and roared loudly once again.

Its mouth wide open, showing its sharp teeth threateningly.

Its mouth.

Yes, there were no annoying scales covering its mouth.

As it began to charge straight at me, this time, instead of dodging to the side, I prepared to stab it with the sword at any moment.

Thud, thud, thud.

The Steelheart Dragon gradually increased its speed and rushed towards me.

Come on, please don’t charge at me like a rhinoceros, just open your mouth again.

I kept my legs tense in case it just pushed me away.

At the same time, I waited for it to open its mouth and didn’t relax my stabbing posture.

Thud, thud, thud.

Even though it was a slow motion, I felt nervous as I prepared to face it head-on.

Its footsteps felt as loud as my heartbeat as it approached me.

And at that moment, the Steelheart Dragon’s mouth opened wide.

“Now’s the time!”

Whoosh!

I stabbed the sword filled with magic into the Steelheart Dragon’s mouth with all my strength.

The sword, which was bouncing off the scales, smoothly went all the way in.

Feeling intense pain, the Steelheart Dragon bit down on the sword.

But with no scales in its mouth, I could easily tear it apart with the sword.

“Die!”

I twisted the direction of the hand holding the sword.

And as much as I could move in all directions, I frantically tore up its mouth.

After a while, the dragon’s mouth, which had closed, opened again, spewing out red blood.

When I pulled out the sword from its mouth, some flesh from its tongue and teeth fell with blood.

“Krrrrrr….”

The Steelheart Dragon, with its mouth covered in blood, seemed to regret its actions as it tried to turn away from me.

But the bleeding was too severe, and after trembling for a few steps, it collapsed without being able to take another step.