Volume 5 Chapter 12-2 To the Dragon’s Dwelling
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
If Mr. Shirakaba had already planned to save his lover, he might have the guts to defeat the dragon using the summoned Hero.
If Sir Schulz falls, the Duke Mineley family, who gets the wet hand on the millet, will gain the most by acquiring the Mithril mine.
Most of the spoils and dragon materials will be taken away by the Duke Mineley family.
In the past, many Heroes in this world were boiled alive by the nobles in similar patterns, so everyone agrees to wait and see for now.
Mr. Shirakaba challenging alone is reckless, but Schulz is an ally dragon and, except for those who like women, a reasonable person to talk to. At worst, he might be half-killed and thrown out.
Professor warned that entering in large numbers might seriously anger the dragon, so Mr. Kondou and others seem to have cooled down.
* * *
It adds unnecessary uncertainty for me, but it could be a good opportunity to take action. I hope Mr. Shirakaba can take the lead before he ruins Schulz’s mood.
Since everything was already prepared, I will set off towards Schulz’s dungeon at this half-baked time. Since Ms. Claire and the others have not returned from Toyata village, I borrowed a horse from Miss Floria.
The well-trained, intelligent horse runs as expected, but its power and speed are far from Ms. Claire’s. The centaur is too exceptional.
Schulz’s dungeon is northeast of the royal capital, in the opposite direction from Toyata village. I will keep climbing the path along the stream that flows into the canal.
Before sunset, I somehow reached the hatchery built by the professors in the middle of the stream. I borrowed the key to the building, so I plan to stay overnight inside. It’s much better than camping out, even if it just has a roof, and there are beds, futons, and blankets here.
The single-story log cabin seems to have been expanded and remodeled, turning into quite a sophisticated facility. Next to the main house is a lodging facility that seems to accommodate about 20 people, and a workspace for salmon artificial insemination.
Outside, there were about 20 small pools for fry and one large pond for adult fish. A large shadow of a fish could be seen at the bottom of the pond, and it seemed like a guardian fish lived there.
The stable was a magnificent one that could fit more than ten horses, but they had not prepared straw for bedding. I threw down some straw that I had brought in my magic bag. I also filled a bucket with water and feed. Taking care of living creatures is hard work, but since I’m being allowed to ride them, I need to take good care of them.
I took out a sandwich from my magic bag and ate it. It’s convenient to cook in bulk when I have time. I can keep increasing the variety of dishes too, and now I can’t imagine living without my magic bag.
By the time I crawled into bed, it was already late in the evening. In Toyata Village, people would already be asleep. At Miss Floria’s mansion, since oil is plentiful, I tend to stay up late, but for my health, it’s best to go to bed early and wake up early.
I wasn’t excited and couldn’t sleep… I was able to get a good night’s sleep until dawn. I’ve become surprisingly tough.
After leaving the hatchery, I continued to climb the mountain path on horseback for several more hours. I reached a small tunnel. Beyond here is the Mineley Duke territory.
The monument beside the tunnel said that the first Mineley Duke had opened it after great difficulty. Before that, people had to risk their lives walking across stakes driven into the cliffs.
The tunnel was narrow, barely wide enough for a small carriage, but it was an important strategic point for sending troops to the north.
There was a soldier’s post at the checkpoint, but since no one was there, I passed through. The building looked like it hadn’t been used for a long time. I guess the tolls are paid at another proper checkpoint.
After passing through the tunnel, there were more mountains. It was a bit foggy, and it really felt like a deep mountain gorge.
As I continued further, I saw a settlement spread out in the valley below. It had more buildings than Toyata Village. There must be similar settlements scattered throughout the Mineley Duke territory.
Soon, I reached a crossroads. There was a locked building that looked like a small temple, and a simple map was drawn on the wall. There was a wide path leading down to the settlement and a narrow uphill path leading to the dragon’s nest.
The information is correct, but relax a bit. I want to stop by the village and hear some news, but then I have to climb back up here… no time for detours.
If it were a straight path, I wouldn’t worry. But the narrow animal trails cross each other many times along the way. I’ll trust my instincts and take the widest-looking path. With Radar Scan, I can always return if I take a wrong turn.
My instincts seem to be right; the air around me suddenly changed. I see ancient trees, like I’ve entered a dragon’s territory.
It’s not like the Schulz are into nature conservation, but you can’t chop down trees near a dragon’s nest.
That mountain in the far north looks terrible, half its surface is gone. It must be an open-pit mine.
The path was always uphill, but now it suddenly turns downhill. It looks like I’m descending into a small valley. The atmosphere reminds me of the Valley of Trials.
As expected, there’s a stonework structure that looks like a dungeon entrance.
A horse that seems to have carried the gray-haired gentleman is tied to a nearby dead tree. It looks at me with pleading eyes, so I’ll lead it to the stream at the bottom of the valley. It drinks a lot of water, as if it hasn’t had any for a long time.
What should I do with the horse? Talking to Schulz won’t take long, but my plans are uncertain.
If something happens to me, leaving it tied up would be too sad.
* * *
”Alright, stay here and behave yourself.”
It seems to understand human speech to some extent, so I’ll say that and set it free. After some hesitation, I free the gray-haired gentleman’s horse too. If I don’t come back, it should be able to find its way home, right?
I stand again at the dungeon entrance. It looks rough, but countless boulders are stacked with astonishing precision. It’s like a razor-sharp stone arrangement, perhaps made by dwarves? Maybe even the legendary giants?
If I greet in dragon style at the entrance, the master won’t harm visitors. Hmm, where is the entrance? This should be it, right?
But, is it really okay to greet with such a line? Uno does not seem like the type to teach lies, but she sometimes makes jokes with a straight face.
Well, there’s Mind Communication skill, so maybe it’s possible that it’s actually translated pretty well and conveyed to the other person. Please, Uno, if you’re joking, I’ll seriously hate you.
I make up my mind and say the words to announce my visit.
”Schulz, let’s-play.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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