Volume 7 Chapter 23 The Strongest Existence
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The strongest existence in this world is the Dragon. They naturally possess high abilities, but as long-lived beings, they grow stronger as they age. It seems humans can manage against a young dragon, but an adult dragon possesses a strength completely disconnected from humanity.
Much like the incident that occurred in the Empire twenty years ago, even a total mobilization of the army is no match for one; rather, it only spreads the devastation further.
For that reason, one can basically only pray not to encounter one, and if you do meet one, fleeing is the best option. That is, of course, while hoping it chooses to overlook you.
Lately, I have had fewer struggles, so I might have grown a bit careless, but I probably still cannot match an A-Rank Adventurer, and S-Rank is still a long way off. I never even dreamed of being able to defeat a dragon.
And yet, right now, I am being chased around by a dragon.
”Uwaaaagh! Dangerous!”
’Guhahaha! Try to outrun my breath!’
(Damn, it shouldn’t have been like this!)
* * *
There is a reason I teased Cassandra until she fainted. It was so I could sneak out.
The destination for this current request is a lake near Eierschecke Village¹, but apparently, a dragon… a Water Dragon, lives in the mountains further beyond. This is famous and appears in many books, with frequent sightings.
It is also famous for being a rational dragon; even if reckless Adventurers challenge it, it reportedly does not go on a rampage. While it doesn’t pull its punches enough to keep the challenging Adventurers alive, it doesn’t take its anger out on the surrounding villages.
Because of that, in a way, it is worshipped in Eierschecke Village. Although it isn’t requested, they occasionally leave offerings.
Special medicinal herbs grow in places where dragons live, and they are extremely valuable as materials for alchemy. There is Dragon-Lying Grass² that grows in a dragon’s bed, Dragon-Spring Flowers³ that grow in springs near a dragon’s lair, and so on. They are precious items that would sell for no less than a hundred gold coins.
I don’t need them for the money, but as materials for alchemy. To make the potion I expect to be a trump card for Regina-san, I want to secure them even if I have to push myself a bit.
Furthermore, if I can pick up dragon scales or fangs, they become materials for armaments. The dragon materials circulating in the world are either picked up in this manner or come from young dragons; there are no records of defeating an adult dragon, and almost no armaments made from adult dragon materials exist.
Naturally, the dragon itself has high value as a material. The heart, liver, blood, eyes, horns, skin, fangs, claws—there is no part to throw away. Especially the liver, which is one of the ingredients for an elixir of immortality. At the very least, I don’t need it now, and since it’s far too reckless, I won’t aim for it.
Due to these circumstances, I am heading to the dragon’s lair, but I’ll be scolded if it’s found out that I went there during a request. For that reason, I needed Cassandra to stay asleep.
I identified the location where the dragon lives during the daytime investigation. I had heard rumors from the villagers, but there was one mountain with a completely different atmosphere. Setting aside weak animals, there are no monsters like Goblins. It seems they sense the dragon’s presence and avoid it.
* * *
And so, I have arrived at the Dragon Mountain. It’s the middle of the night, but since I have Night Vision, it isn’t a problem. To avoid being spotted by monsters like elements along the way, I ran stealthily using Concealment Skills. Even if I’m found, defeating them is easy, but I want to lower the risk of being found by the dragon. By the way, most monsters are nocturnal, and the danger level is usually higher at night. But if I’m not found, it’s no big deal.
Entering the mountain, it really is different from other places. It’s the first time in this world that I haven’t encountered a single monster. It feels strange not to see even the Goblins that are everywhere.
(Since monsters don’t approach, I wonder if the dragon is carnivorous? Image-wise, it doesn’t seem like it would eat vegetables, but does it eat Goblins? That sounds incredibly unappetizing…)
I wonder if I’ll be eaten if I’m found. I’d like to decline that, so I can’t afford to let Concealment Skills drop.
As I approach what I think is the bedding area within the lair, the mysterious plants increase. They glow slightly, and the trees seem harder than usual. Did they transform from being exposed to the dragon’s magic? Meanwhile, animals have stopped appearing altogether. Apparently, it’s dangerous even for small animals.
First, to harvest the Dragon-Spring Flowers, I look for a spring. Going all the way to the bedding area seems like it would be stressful, so I’ll finish the certain one first.
While wandering through the mountains at midnight, avoiding places that feel dangerous, I find a glittering spring. It might be due to the moonlight, but the soil looks transformed too…? I’m curious, but I don’t want to stay long. I’ll harvest them quickly.
The Dragon-Spring Flower is a beautiful grass that glows faintly; in terms of image, it’s close to a lily of the valley. Since they grow in clusters around the spring, I’ll take enough without depleting them. If it were just to give to Regina-san, one would be enough, but since it’s somewhat conspicuous, I need a camouflage. It doesn’t seem like a place I can visit often, either. I’ll take a little spring water while I’m at it.
As payment for the materials, I leave behind a Sheep, an Orc General, and a Minotaur. They are offerings for the dragon. I don’t really think it will get angry just because I took grass that grows naturally, but it’s a gesture of my feelings. I don’t know if the offerings will improve its mood, though.
Next is harvesting the Dragon-Lying Grass, but the danger level for this is quite high. I don’t feel like the dragon is awake and active, but my Presence Detection is vibrating with a “this is bad” feeling. To avoid being found, I’ll proceed more cautiously than ever before.
* * *
Heading in the opposite direction from before, toward the dangerous aura, I found the rumored dragon. It wasn’t quite a cave, but it was lying in a depression in the mountainside that offered a bit of shelter from the rain, and it seemed to be sleeping.
Both my reliable Danger Sense and Intuition skills recommended fleeing, but I’m prepared for a bit of recklessness. Even so, I have to do it—no, I want to do it to conquer Regina-san.
(Speaking of which, dragons are famous for sleeping a lot. I’ve heard they sleep for years at a time, so maybe there wasn’t a need to worry? No, I don’t think being cautious is a waste. Even if it’s sleeping now, it’ll be bad if it wakes up.)
Still, it’s huge. I don’t know its exact size, but its total length surely exceeds twenty meters. Its head alone is about the same height as a person; if it snapped at me, I’d be in its stomach in one mouthful. Its fangs are scary for their sharpness, but the scariest part is the special effect of nullifying barriers.
Ignoring defense is too much of a cheat. Apparently, its claws don’t have that much of an effect, but given its high STR and wide attack range, I guess I’d still die instantly if I got hit.
Its scales are blue, shining beautifully as they reflect the moonlight. It would probably be pretty to see it flying. But if it were flying at such a low altitude, the fear would probably be stronger.
(They say the ancestors of Liese and the other dragonewts were dragons, but how did they have children with humans? Do they have a Humanization Skill?)
I’ll stop observing the dragon and harvest the stuff and head home. Presence Detection is a given, but Danger Sense is reacting more than ever before, so I can’t settle down mentally.
Since Dragon-Lying Grass grows in a dragon’s bed, I’ll die if it tosses and turns while I’m harvesting. To avoid giving it any stimulation, I use stealthy steps—not the skill—and creep closer. …Good, it seems okay.
Perhaps because it’s crushed by the dragon, there are some slightly bare spots here. It has soft, supple leaves; I wonder if it’s like a futon or a carpet to the dragon.
I lightly dig up the ground and harvest it from the roots. Just like the Dragon-Spring Flowers, I need the whole thing, so I harvest it all.
…Good, it’s done.
No safely finished harvest, I’ll leave an offering a little distance away and go home.
’Hmm? Something is there.’
”Eh?”
(Impossible! The dragon noticed me?!)
When I look back, the dragon has raised its head and is looking around the area. The distance to the dragon is less than twenty meters. I let out a sound in my surprise, but it shouldn’t have been heard, and it doesn’t seem like I’ve been clearly found yet.
The problem is that my presence is being sensed. Since I haven’t let my Concealment Skill drop, I shouldn’t be noticed, but the dragon is sensing something.
My Danger Sense Skill has strengthened a bit, but to begin with, it’s been issuing a warning to “flee quickly” from the start. On the other hand, my Intuition Skill, which had also been recommending flight, changed to “it’s dangerous to move carelessly.”
I haven’t been clearly found, but I feel like I’ll be found if I leave in a hurry. Which do I choose…?
The dragon finds the hole I dug while harvesting the Dragon-Lying Grass, it brings its head close and sniffs.
’I don’t sense a presence, but this feeling… something was here until just recently.’
(My scent shouldn’t be left behind, but it seems to have judged by the scent of the soil or the grass. I glossed over it, but you can talk, huh.)
’Are the footprints this way… they are there.’
The dragon looks straight toward me and smirks, and a chill runs down my spine.
(This is bad!)
Following the very slight footprints left in the soil and the tread marks left in the grass, it seems to have identified the location of the “invisible something.”
I had heard it was rational, but it’s smarter than I imagined.
This is no time to be impressed; if my location is blown, staying put is a bad move. However, since I’m being stared at, I’m hesitant to move. It might not have been more than a few seconds that I was watched, but cold sweat pours out all at once.
’Hmph, you won’t reveal yourself? Then how about this.’
Saying that, the dragon pulls its neck back slightly, and its throat swells. (Is this the preparatory motion for a breath attack?!)
”Kh!”
When I leap to the side following my Intuition Skill, a torrent of water like a water cutter passes through the spot where I was a moment ago.
However, its thickness is on a different scale; it’s an ultra-thick beam that looks to be forty to fifty centimeters. If it hit, there’s no doubt I’d be blown to smithereens. In fact, a huge hole opens in the tree behind me, and it goes crashing down.
’Kukuku, you dodged it. Between that and your invisibility, you are interesting. It’s been a long time since I had a guest; let me entertain you. If you outrun me, I shall let you go!’
The dragon laughs good-naturedly and enters the preparatory motion for its breath again. (It’ll be too dangerous if that’s fired rapidly. For now, I have to get away!)
”Uwaaaagh! Dangerous!”
’Guhahaha! Try to outrun my breath!’
And so, we return to the beginning.
While dodging the breath attacks fired again and again, I run down the mountain. Since a direct hit means instant death, I have to handle the difficult-to-reconcile mission of measuring the timing calmly while running at full speed. It’s not a matter of whether I can or can’t; if I don’t do it, I’ll die.
Fortunately, the dragon doesn’t seem to be serious; it isn’t using its fangs, claws, or tail. Honestly, this is a huge help. The breath has a preparatory motion, and I can somehow manage to evade with the help of my Intuition Skill, but if it were to sweep with its claws or tail, there would be nothing I could do. They are too wide and too fast.
I manage to evade and avoid fatal wounds, but since it occasionally grazes me, I am covered in wounds all over. It seems to have learned my habits, movement speed, and range, as its accuracy is steadily improving. It’s questionable whether I can outrun it like this, but if I give up, (it’s the game over). I don’t want to die yet!
’Guhahaha! Good! Not many people can dodge this much!’
”I’m not a toy, you know!”
(Even if I spout abuse, there’s no way it can hear me, but I want to say at least one word of complaint.)
Note that since armor is useless, I’ve stored it in my Item Box from the start so it doesn’t get in the way.
’Hmm… the mountain is almost over. Then I must do the final touch.’
Just as I am about to finish descending the mountain, the dragon seems to be plotting something. (I’ve already had my fill, so I’ll pass!)
’I’ll fire with a bit of seriousness. If you dodge it brilliantly, that will be the end!’
It pulls its neck way back, charging longer than before. (If it’s “serious,” that must mean something is different, but I was already at my limit as it was.)
Since Danger Sense, which is constantly issuing alarms, is useless, my only reliance is the Intuition Skill. (If it’s off by even a second, I’ll die, so I’m counting on you!)
’Kaaah!’
”Gwah!”
It hurts! But I’m alive!
I leapt to the side according to my Intuition Skill, but I couldn’t completely avoid the water stream, which was faster and thicker than before. It was about three times larger than before, about one meter in diameter, and my left arm, which it only grazed, was blown away. I don’t have the luxury of using Revive, so I just apply emergency treatment with Healing Magic and start running again.
’You outran me with only one arm? Good, good, that was quite an interesting diversion. You are welcome here, so feel free to come again. Guhahahahaha!’
(I’ll pass!)
Just as I finished descending the mountain, the dragon stopped its pursuit and stood still. It seems it will overlook me as promised.
However, since dragons are whimsical, I can’t let my guard down until it’s out of sight. Since it seemed to be estimating my direction of movement from the footprints left on the ground, I shouldn’t be found once I’m out of its sight. I chose places shaded by trees to run through, and it wasn’t until I crossed the lake that I was able to calm down.
It was really dangerous this time. Without a doubt, it was the closest I’ve been to death since being reincarnated. Since there are still many things I have left undone, I’m glad I managed to survive. The only good thing was that I obtained the Breath Resistance Skill. Well, even if I raise the Skill Level to the maximum, I don’t think I could withstand that breath. The Ability scores are just overwhelmingly different.
Still, dragons are dangerous. Even if my Skill Levels are high, the Ability scores are too different to do anything about it, and it doesn’t seem like I could win just by leveling up a bit. I’ve come to know firsthand the reason why they are strictly “do not touch.”
—
Summary:
The protagonist sneaks into a dragon’s mountain territory at night to gather rare alchemy ingredients. Despite using high-level concealment, an adult Water Dragon detects his presence through subtle physical traces. A high-stakes ‘game’ ensues where the protagonist barely escapes with his life after losing an arm to the dragon’s playful but lethal water breath.
—
Trivia:
- Adult dragons are vastly superior to humans; even armies fail against them.
- The dragon in this area is known for being ‘rational’ and doesn’t attack villages unless provoked.
- Dragon-Lying Grass (Ryugaso) and Dragon-Spring Flower (Ryusenka) are top-tier alchemy materials.
- The protagonist lost his left arm during the escape and used Healing Magic as a stop-gap.
- Dragon scales have barrier-nullifying effects, making them extremely dangerous.
- The protagonist left high-tier monster corpses (Orc General, Minotaur) as offerings
—
Character Insight:
The protagonist demonstrates extreme risk-taking behavior for the sake of his goals (conquering Regina-san). He realizes that high skill levels don’t bridge the gap when basic ability scores are too far apart.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Author notes mention this was a long-awaited ‘strong enemy’ encounter to show the world’s ceiling.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Cassandra – Standing 175 cm tall with short brown hair, she is muscular, sturdy, and has a calm, stoic beauty and unyielding aura. Former Royal Knights Vice‑Captain dubbed ‘The Ogress’, she despises adventurers and remains emotionally distant, now leading the Third Unit as a neutral Guild witness to Daisuke. A dignified, rigid knight and slave to Daisuke—highly capable yet recently overwhelmed—her cold exterior masks a fractured loyalty.
• Water Dragon – A rational but powerful adult dragon living in the mountains near Eierschecke Village.
• Regina – Late‑twenties Onee‑san with blue‑purple hair, green eyes, marine‑blue thigh‑split dress, thigh‑high socks, and a large‑breasted figure. She runs Daydream (BSS), mentors Nora and Rita, and is a respected senior Beastman and elite courtesan famed for her Masterpiece body. Insecure about her age, she’s targeted by the protagonist’s revenge and part of Daisuke’s circle hoping she’ll retire to follow him.
• Liese – Standing 170 cm, she has grey‑blue hair, thick horns and grey scales on neck and limbs. A Grey Dragonewt spearman, daughter of a Red Dragonewt father and Blue Dragonewt mother, she serves Daisuke as his disciplined, loyal vanguard and first slave. Polite, hardworking, she guides the other girls, her tail thumping to betray emotions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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