Hello again everyone!
Not much to say in the Author's Notes this time. Hope you all enjoy another chapter!
Ugh...my head...
I winced in pain and clutched at my forehead. Maybe drinking that much wasn't such a good idea after all. All the water I drank didn't do a damn thing for me. I still feel like I got run over by a train. Or a bear. Or a bear driving a train. Or a bear that is a train.
My head hurts.
After a few minutes of wallowing in my suffering, I forced myself out of bed and into the washroom to take care of nature's call. Relieving myself gave me time to think about my day. Should I go out into the field or the forest? These past few weeks in the castle were cushy and privileged, so I got a little too comfortable having all my needs met all the time.
Running into something dangerous in the forest is probably a bad idea right now. I need to warm up first, then slowly get back into my usual routine. A few Usapils or Elks could be a nice way to spend my day and make a decent bit of cash while I'm at it. I'm still only level 13, barely any higher than I'd been half a month ago.
It's not like I'm rushing to level up, but murdering small creatures that don't pose much of a threat isn't exactly my idea of fun.
With my business taken care of, I returned to my room and started packing my things for the day. It's probably freezing outside if the small specks of frost on the window are any indication. My armor and cloak should keep me somewhat warm, but the armor doesn't cover my entire body and the cloak mostly just keeps rain and wind away.
As much as I hate to admit it, I may need to pay that Tailor another visit for warmer clothes.
Ugh...
Maybe Elhart can put some animal furs inside my armor instead? That sounds much more tolerable. Plus, I've gotten pretty good at hunting said animals myself. With enough furs, I could probably shave off a lot of the cost.
The sun wasn't even up as I walked out the door, sword at my waist and bow secured to my backpack. The cold wind whipped at the exposed skin of my fingers. A shiver involuntarily wracked my body and I hugged my cloak tighter for warmth, breathing warm air into my hands and rubbing them together.
I was wrong about the armor; the material barely does anything to keep the cold out. I wasn't much of a leather guy back home, so this is news to me.
I warmed myself up with a bit of light stretching in the cold and a small jog down the street. Very few people were awake at this hour, so I didn't have to worry about being judged. I doubt anyone here is the type to wake up early and exercise. As far as I can tell, there's no such thing as a gym here. People get stronger, physically and level-wise, by fighting the various creatures that roam the land.
That raises an interesting question though. Does exercise or working out increase your stats at all? Would that affect your appearance over time like it does on Earth, or is it completely worthless here?
More questions for later. Let's focus on the here and now.
I decided to loiter outside of Elhart's shop until he opened since I had nothing else to do before my workday. When I arrived, however, he'd already opened his store. I entered and shivered as my body adjusted to the warmth of his home.
"Good morning," I said, giving myself one last shake to rid myself of the cold.
"Hey, you awake early! What I do for you?" Elhart asked, nursing a cup of some liquid that smelled eerily similar to coffee. Whatever it was, it smelled good.
"It cold. Can you help me? My armor not warm."
"Ha! No it not. I help, but it cost you," he said, pinching his fingers together as if rubbing two coins together. I pulled my money pouch out of my bag and set it on the table.
"How much?"
He held up three fingers. "Three silver. I have furs come in not long ago. Very soft, very warm Usapil fur. You like it."
I nodded and handed over the aforementioned money before unbuckling my armor and sliding it over my head. "How long?" I asked. If it might take him several hours to do whatever he's going to do, I might as well get comfortable.
"Give ten minutes, and I back."
He disappeared into the back room with my armor. I barely had enough time to inspect the new weapons and armor around his store before he returned, armor in hand. He handed it back to me. "All done! Should keep you warm outside. Winter come, need warm." I frowned and looked down at the armor, absentmindedly inspecting the changes.
That doesn't bode well for me. If Winter is on its way, I'll have less time outside to work and the conditions will be uncomfortable. If I assume that this world functions anything like Earth does, Winter means less daylight and harsher conditions. Getting caught outdoors overnight isn't a huge problem in the spring or summer, but I'll need to be a lot more careful if the temperature is going to drop a lot at night.
Even my newly upgraded Hunter's Armor won't keep me warm enough to sleep comfortably in the snow.
"Thank you. I be careful. See you soon!" I said, waving goodbye and leaving Elhart's shop. The sun was just starting to break through the dark gray clouds. As Elhart had promised, my armor was cozy now. I had no idea Usapil fur would be so soft or warm! It's like a body pillow that wraps around my entire torso! The extra fur around my neckline keeps all my body heat trapped inside, too.
My arms and legs aren't so lucky though. The cloak protects me from some of it, but every little gust of cold wind stings a little. They're next on my list once I get some extra armor to cover those. Probably best to stay with leather rather than upgrading to metal; it's more affordable and much easier to just stick fur inside. Plus, metal gets really, really cold in the Winter.
How the hell do those knights stand it? Their training - or the punishment for taking it off - must be intense.
More businesses should be open now that the sun is up. I could go out into the field or the forest and fight some more monsters like I usually did, but I'm feeling a little adventurous today. Ignoring my own pun, I decided to head to the Guild to see if there were any jobs worth doing for some extra cash. I can read now, to an extent, so there might be a request that I'm able to complete.
Maybe there will be a quest to exterminate an invasive species of monster? Hmm, perhaps there will be a missing person that needs to be found? Maybe exploring a cave for treasure or something!
Look at me, using all of my hard-earned experience to make this world a better place! All of my training has led me to this moment! Now that I can read, I have the exciting opportunity to take on the difficult task of...let's see...
...chasing...chickens?
"You've got to be shitting me."
It's a request to chase down some birds that had escaped their enclosure at a farm not too far from the capital. The request's language is a little vague and there are plenty of words I can't read. In the end, I don't know much about the job except "capture birds that escaped from a farm."
Is this the type of job that adventurers in this world take regularly? No wonder this place is practically deserted.
Oh well, a job is a job and money is money. At least this one won't put my life in danger.
After asking for some directions to the farm, I gathered my supplies and set out on my way. Apparently, the request was sitting in the Guild for nearly a week. If those chickens have been loose for that long, I have to doubt whether they're still alive and haven't been eaten by predators. It feels almost impossible for them to still be around, but I have to do it no matter what.
If I don't do it, nobody would at this point.
The warmth of the rising sun allowed me to finally stop shivering every few minutes. My newly improved Hunter's Armor is nice and cozy, but nothing could beat nice weather. I was able to fully appreciate the walk to the farm now that I wasn't struggling to stay warm. It only took about thirty minutes to reach the farm, and boy was it in dire straights.
The barn itself was in horrible condition, wooden planks jutting out all over the place and the door rotted all the way through. The fence - presumably to hold whatever livestock were raised here - had a large section that was completely missing. The building beside the barn wasn't faring much better; it looked like it was ready to fall apart at any given moment.
I know the reward isn't very much, but can this person even afford to pay me anything? He may need the money more than I do.
I knocked on the door and patiently waited. That patience waned after several minutes of knocking with no response. As my banging got louder and louder out of frustration, a disheveled old man ripped the door open and glared. "Eh! What you want? Can't you see I'm busy?"
I sweatdropped. No, he doesn't seem preoccupied with anything in particular. "Um...I here, help with birds?" I asked, holding the Guild request up for him to see. He took the sheet of paper and tore it in half.
"No need! They gone like wife and kids!"
Oh, so that's how he's going to be. Fine then. If he's going to act like a baby and complain, then I won't bother. "Okay," was all I said before turning to leave.
"Wait, wait! Come back!"
Oh, so now he wants my help? Maybe I don't want to anymore. Ugh...I may as well hear him out since I came all this way. How do those stereotypical good-boy protagonists deal with this kind of crap? I get that he's probably down on his luck, but come on! There's no need to get all mad at me for it.
"Okay. I try find birds for you, but only if reward," I said, emphasizing my need for a reward. I may be a novice adventurer, but I'm not the type to do a job for free. Doubly so if the client is a pain in the ass like this guy.
"Yes yes, adventurers and money-grubbing fingers..." he rambled to himself for a moment before shooing me away. "Go find birds!"
"But...how?" I asked, genuinely confused. This guy honestly expects me to just find his chickens for him without any sort of help? If this was an MMORPG, they would at least have given me a large area on the minimap to search through. Some would literally put a giant marker over the target's heads for me to find them.
Just another example of how this world isn't a game, I guess.
"Bah! Birds like food and carriages! But since carriage broke, birds not happy! Birds leave! Maybe you use fresh meat to catch them?"
Food and...carriages? What use do chickens have for carriages? Still, at least the information about the food should help. If they were really that easy to lure with food though, why didn't he do it himself?
Well...if the state of his home is any indication, he probably can't afford any fresh meat. With a small sigh, I nodded.
"Okay, I find birds for you."
And so my first quest officially began in the most unusual way possible. My first priority is to find food to use as bait. Going back into town probably isn't worth the time, and the forest is right beside the farm anyway. Surely I could find something to kill and butcher to use as bait. The thought of tearing apart a corpse is disgusting and I probably won't do it right at all, but this is all a learning experience...
...right?
I really should have paid more attention when Welt did it.
It didn't take long to find some Usapils once I arrived in the forest. Now armed with a bow and arrows, I was able to hunt "properly", at least according to my own world. I have no idea if there were any laws forbidding you from chasing down an elk and cutting it down with a sword, but it wasn't exactly practical. Regardless, the Usapils were easy for me to kill.
Now comes the hard part: butchering.
Without any knives or anything suited for precise cuts, I had to use my sword. It was a little too long and I certainly wasn't going to get any "butcher of the year" awards, but I eventually managed to flay the monsters and get some meat off. I read while I was bored one day that you have to be sure not to puncture any organs while cutting up an animal. The blood and other bodily fluids would ruin the meat...or something like that.
I failed at that, miserably.
"Agh, why is this so damn hard!"
I nearly threw down my sword in frustration. Seriously, why is it so difficult to cut a monster apart properly? Killing one is laughably easy, but every time I try to cut it carefully, I either use too much or too little force and ruin it! At this rate, I won't have enough meat to use as bait for these "birds" to eat!
I still have no idea what they even look like!
The Usapil bodies were useless now that I'd ripped them apart, so I was forced to leave them behind. It's a bit of a shame to leave it here to rot. Oh well, maybe some wild animal will come and eat it so it doesn't go to waste. Deciding to move deeper into the forest, I heard the sound of branches being snapped. I crouched low to the ground and hid behind a nearby bush.
Another bear! I don't think it's noticed me yet. I could probably go around it if I want to, but...
I took a few deep breaths and strongly debated on what I was about to do. Have I lost my mind? This is the type of beast that nearly killed me about a month ago! I'm not ready to face something like this!
But wait...I have a bow and arrows this time. I'm faster and stronger than I was before. I have a lot more experience than I did back then. I think I was only level 6 or 7 last time, but now I'm nearly level 15 with a lot more protection and better equipment. If I was able to outrun it before - albeit barely - I should be able to handle it.
I took a deep breath. In...out...
I can do this.
I knocked an arrow on my bow and aimed carefully for its head for critical damage. It isn't something I was ever taught, but I'd found that certain creatures have "vital spots" that can be hit for extra damage. For organic creatures like bears and elks, it's usually the heart or head. I haven't really figured out anything else because I've barely fought anything else. I guess the golem's core could be considered a vital spot, now that I think about it.
My heartbeat slowed as I steadied my breathing. Right after my heartbeat, I released the arrow and let it fly toward its target with an audible thwick of the bowstring. The arrow struck just below its head, burying the metal arrowhead deep into the bear's neck. It roared and flailed for a moment, releasing the tree branch it was bending downward and scratching at the wound. The tree branch flicked upward, smacking the bear in the snout and stunning it.
That was just enough time for me to nock another arrow. I shot another one that hit the bear's side, just above one of its legs. I clicked my tongue. If I hadn't botched my first shot, I wouldn't have had to shoot at a moving target.
The bear roared so loudly that my legs shook a bit. It turned toward me and charged, crushing bushes and smaller trees in its path. I pulled out my sword and stared it down with all the confidence I could muster. The beast sprinted up and tried to swipe me with its claws, but I managed to dodge at the last moment. Its assault didn't stop there; it only took a moment for it to come right after me again.
Still recovering from my last dodge, I had no time to reset my footing. I grit my teeth and thrust forward with my blade, burying it deep within the paw that was about to gore me.
The bear roared once more, pushing itself on top of me to use its weight to its advantage. With a roar of my own, I yanked the blade from its paw and stabbed it straight through the monster's head. The sound of blood pumping through my veins was so deafening that all I heard was a deep thumping and a high pitched buzzing noise. It was like a flashbang.
As the noise faded and my hearing returned, I realized that I was still screaming.
The EXP notification appeared from my Status Magic, but I didn't have time to admire my handiwork before the bear's body went limp, falling on top of me with all of its literal dead weight.
"Ugh...why do you have to be so damn heavy...?" I groaned, switching back to English out of habit. My breaths came in ragged huffs as I carefully slid out from underneath the bear's corpse and withdrew my sword. With a flick, I removed most of the blood from its surface in a wide, red arc on the ground. The adrenaline rush faded and I slumped forward onto my knees beside my quarry.
I did it. This might not be the same bear that chased me all over the forest, but this is revenge for that day! But...now I have a different problem.
How am I supposed to lug this damn thing around? I can't sell it if I can't move it back into town!
...Shit.
Without any other options, and refusing to ruin it by screwing up yet another butchering attempt, I decided to climb up a tree and sit there to think. Hopefully that would keep me safe from predators for the time being. I chose a tree which had thick branches that would easily support my weight, and within a few minutes - not to mention a few near falls - I sat myself about thirty feet from the ground.
Let's put the bear aside for a bit. How am I supposed to find some chickens out here? How can I even be sure they're around here in the first place? With predators like bears around, wouldn't it make sense for there to be things like wolves or foxes that eat chickens to be around too? Maybe this world doesn't have those types of animals and the chickens have nothing to be afraid of.
The occasional rustling of bushes didn't bother me. It was probably some small animal checking out the scent of blood. They would probably inspect the area then leave once they realize it's just a dead bear. However, the munching and slurping noises made me pause.
What the hell is that?
I peeked down from my perch to see a huge bird of some kind biting into the bear's corpse. It had thick feathers and a long neck like some type of ostrich. However, its wings were pretty small and probably not suited for flying. If I had to make a reference, it looked like a bird from one of those big-name JRPG series that run really fast.
What were those called again?...I can't remember. I never had the right console to play that series.
Anyway, is this the type of bird I'm looking for? It'd be a little too convenient if my target literally walked right up to me. My status magic calls it a Filolial. A weird name for a weird bird.
I have to catch it just in case it is the bird I'm looking for, but I don't have a net or anything to knock it out with. Killing it and dragging it back to the farmer is definitely out of the question. I could have used those Usapil corpses from earlier to gain its trust and have it follow me back to the farm, but I left those behind. There's no way I can get down from this tree and find them again before this filolial runs off.
But wait...
Didn't people in that JRPG ride those giant birds like horses?
It's stupid, dangerous, and probably destined to fail, but it might be my only option. If this one gets away from me, I might never find it again. With a gulp, I carefully scooted along the branch until I was directly over the filolial.
Then, I jumped.
CAAAAAAAAAW!
It panicked as I landed right on its back, but its legs didn't buckle from the force of my fall. I wrapped my arms around its neck and held on for dear life. Thank goodness I did, because the monster left the bear's corpse and started sprinting.
Holy shit, it's FAST!
"AAAAAHHHHH!" I couldn't help but scream. These aren't chickens! They're definitely not chickens! Damn my inability to read! I should have known this job wasn't as simple as finding some lost chickens!
I constantly had to duck and bury my face into its feathers to avoid getting whipped by branches. I've never ridden a horse before, so I wasn't even remotely prepared for riding something this fast. Unlike a motorcycle which stays pretty steady as you drive, the filolial bounced and rocked back and forth so much I felt sick!
"Okay, okay! I've had enough, I'M SORRY!" I yelled, pleading for this beast to have mercy on me. Jumping off at this speed is a recipe for pain. To my surprise, the filolial slowed to a trot as it leaned its long neck back to glare at me.
I didn't think birds could glare, but this one can.
"Uh...hi? Sorry about jumping on you, but I'm looking for giant birds like you," I said in English. The bird's glare intensified, and I patted it gently before hopping off now that it was safe. Ah, solid ground at last! If I was a little more on the looney side, I would kiss the dirt for being so stable. The filolial watched me with wary eyes. I was surprised that it hadn't run away as soon as it could.
Now that I got a closer look at it, the filolial was practically a complete replica of that bird from the JRPG. The color wasn't as bold, being more of a white-ish shade with some yellow tint, but in terms of shape it was almost identical. It honestly felt like a ripoff version, which confused me.
Yet again, this world had some strange similarities to games I'd played in the past.
"Your owner, at least I think that's who he is, is looking for all of you guys. He said his carriage broke down and you all ran away. If I give you food, will you go back?" I asked, not the slightest bit confident that it would work. As expected, the filolial huffed and literally turned its beak up at me in a haughty manner. Baiting them with food was my whole plan! What am I supposed to do now!?
...Or the thing just can't understand me, which is way more likely.
Then I remembered the other bit of info the guy had said. Didn't he say something about the birds leaving because his carriage was broken? "If I fix his carriage, will you go back?" I asked.
The filolial perked up at the word "carriage", squawked excitedly and started hopping up and down. I couldn't help but smile a bit at how it acted like a puppy. "I'll take that as a yes, then. Do you know where the others are? I bet they'll want to know that the carriage is gonna be fixed," I said. Yet again the beast surprised me, bobbing its head up and down affirmatively.
Maybe it actually can understand me. That's...a little strange. People can't understand English, but this filolial can. How the heck does that work?
The filolial ran off deeper into the forest, presumably to find the rest of the pack. I decided to put my faith in it and return to the farm to inspect the damage to the carriage myself. It may not have been part of the job request itself, but it would prevent it from happening again. If I dragged them all back but the root cause of them leaving wasn't fixed, they'd just leave again.
The wheel bearings were rusted to the point of non-existence, and the harness looked terribly dry-rotted. The fact that an entire wheel was missing didn't help. It was either removed for repairs or stolen, though based on the owner's appearance it was probably the latter. I took mental notes of what I'd need for the repairs and began the short trek back into the capital.
First, I needed some tools to fix it. Elhart is a blacksmith, so I hoped he'd have some tools that aren't meant to kill things or avoid being killed by said things. Luckily, he made the metal bearings that went on carriages and was willing to give me one for free. I wasn't sure why, but at this point the guy was willing to do a lot for me just because he liked me.
Favoritism has really been on my side lately. First Elhart, then the Queen and Melty, then Elhart again.
Elhart didn't make carriage wheels, but he pointed me toward a woodworking specialist who did. I had to haggle pretty hard to get a price that I could afford, but eventually I purchased a single wheel for twenty silvers. That was pretty much all the money I had left, so I'd be relying on the reward to get by afterward. Regardless, I returned to the farm with the wheel and bearings in hand.
I have no experience with fixing wheels like this. After double and triple checking the bearings to make sure I did it right, I got to work. It took a lot of trial and error and a hell of a lot of elbow grease, but I eventually managed to secure the replacement wheel in place. I shivered, just now noticing how cold it had gotten ever since the sun went down. This was my last ditch effort to get those filolials home, and I'll be damned if I left this guy to suffer on his own.
He's already lost his wife and kids; the last thing he needs is to lose his livelihood as well.
It took two hours to fix the carriage. I wasn't sure if it would move perfectly, but at least it would move. That's better than before, so I called that a success. The man, no longer as prickly and suddenly very appreciative, offered me a room to stay the night. I politely declined his offer and returned to the inn that I've gotten so used to.
There was only one problem with that: I have no money to pay for a room. I spent it all on the wheel and the bearings.
Thankfully, Emilia was manning the desk tonight and let me stay that night for free as long as I paid her back later. The wink she gave me suggested she might have been talking about something other than money for payment, but I'm sure it was just my imagination. I took the offer and fell asleep not long after my head hit the pillow.
It was an exhausting day, after all. The last thing I need to worry about is whether some girl wants to sleep with me. Emilia is a little young for my tastes, and I haven't really felt the need or desire to be intimate with anyone ever since I got here.
Don't tell me libido is a stat too? That would just be weird.
I forced myself awake early in the morning to finish the job. I never got paid yesterday because technically the job wasn't finished, so I'm a little eager to get it over with. The morning was so cold that I shivered in my armor. Even lined with warm fur, the armor only covered so much. I only wish I had pockets or something to keep my fingers warm too. I made my way back to the farm, but what I saw shocked me to the core.
Standing inside of the fence was a whole flock of filolials of all sorts of colors. They squawked and scratched at the ground when they noticed my arrival. Well well well, someone's happy to see me this morning.
And I'm happy to see all of you too, birdies! You're my ticket to a decent paycheck!
The rest is history. I knocked on the door to wake up the farm owner who was understandably shaken by the sudden reappearance of his filolials. The birds seemed to recognize him, and as he offered to hook them up to the carriage, they literally picked him up with their beaks and carried him to it. After attaching a few of them and letting them run around, the owner thanked me profusely and handed me my reward.
Damn...it's just barely enough to cover all that I spent to get that carriage fixed. Still, I guess it feels good to know I helped someone in dire need of it. Maybe doing something out of the goodness of my heart isn't so bad after all. Besides, I like animals.
The guy even told me to come back in a few months for the "real reward". I wasn't sure exactly what he meant, but I wasn't about to turn down a bonus. Hopefully he actually remembers me when I return one day. If not? Oh well, no big loss.
I stretched my arms above my head and winced in pleasure as my shoulders and elbows popped. It's still early, so maybe I'll be able to find another job at the Guild and finish it up before the end of the day. I took a glance at my status and stopped in my tracks. I'm still only level 16.
With how little time I had to myself at the castle, I didn't get much of a chance to do any serious leveling. A small voice in the back of my head told me not to rush and to roll with the punches. A much louder voice reminded me of how many quests posted on the Guild involved bigger, more dangerous monsters. Unless I want to spend the next few months hunting nothing but bears - a creature that I can't exactly stuff in my bag and turn into the Monster Buyer for cash - I need to be able to accept a wider variety of jobs.
Still...where can I go that'll have high EXP monsters that aren't able to kill me in a single shot?
And so I went to my most helpful source of information.
"What you want, kid?" Elhart asked. Over the course of my training, I finally learned what the word "niyo" means. I was a bit peeved that Elhart had called me a kid since the moment we first met, but I guess I can let him off the hook. He's probably old enough to consider me a kid, anyway.
I also owe him big time, so a nickname isn't the worst thing in the world.
"I need good place to train. Get strong, fast," I said, using my hands to emphasize how important it was. The man sighed, scratching his bald head with his gloved hand.
"Well, I know lot of places. Problem is, you not strong enough to survive them."
I clicked my tongue in minor annoyance. I already figured that all of the good grinding spots are too high level for me to use, but it stinks that I was right. I'll have to work my butt off in the forest or something until I can handle the more commonly known areas. That feels like a bit of a waste of time, though. Even the 300 EXP I got from killing that bear is pretty insignificant compared to what I need for a single level up. I might need to expand my comfort zone further away from the capital to find something new.
I groaned and carefully slid a dagger to the corner so I could lean on the counter. "So? I stay here forever? I need to get strong. It will be dangerous, I know."
Elhart, to his credit, gave me a look of concern. "You sure, kid? You have bad habit of get stuck in danger."
Of course he's right, but I don't have any other great options. I nodded and forced as much confidence onto my face as I could. Heaving a deep sigh, Elhart grabbed the dagger before it slipped off the counter. "Go mountains, northeast of here. Lots of monsters, big but not too big. Challenge for you, but good place to train," he said, looking away. "I not r̷̡̗̤͍̘̋ȇ̴͙͍̱̥̱̇͑͒̂́͘s̷̩͓̥̦̮͑̊͌͜p̶̲̫̟͎͔͈̈́̾͌͝ọ̵̦̹̯̀̎n̷̥̈͝s̸̨̖͙͙̣̀̒̀̆̅͝͝i̵͈͍̼͒̽̈́̃̀̒̆b̶̝̀̆̈́̋l̴̢̨̥͚̼̰͂́͋ě̸̺ for trouble." I smiled and thanked him for telling me, but one of the words he used was new to me.
"Be careful, kid."
"Thanks, Elhart. Seriously."
The mountains to the northeast, huh? That's quite a ways away from here. I should stock up on supplies for a long trip and have my boots fixed up while I'm at it. I'd rather not buy a brand new pair because these ones are just worn enough to fit my feet perfectly.
I may as well check the Guild for any more quests since I'll be running some errands anyway. If I'm lucky, maybe one will have me heading to the northeast and I can knock it out during my trip. Two birds with one stone, so to speak.
As it turns out, there were some new quests on the bulletin board.
Hmm...Destroy a nest of giant wasps? No, that doesn't sound good. Protect a carriage as it travels to a nearby village? Not only is it going in the wrong direction, but that's multiple days with potentially nothing to do but sit until something happens. I'll let some other bored, exhausted adventurer take that one.
Oh? This one wants me to find a bandit camp somewhere in the mountains to the northeast. That's exactly where I want to go in the first place! Talk about convenience!
The thought of bandits left a bad taste in my mouth. Back when I was a level 1 newbie, I was easily beaten down by a small group of bandits with pretty much no struggle at all. I have absolutely no idea what level they were at before they were slaughtered by that monster. What's the average level of a bandit anyway? The logical part of my brain screamed that there could always be a bandit far stronger than me who kicks my ass.
On the other hand, I may be able to mop the floor with them now that I'm better equipped and more experienced. They're just bandits in the end; lowlives who resort to mugging, kidnapping, and murder to pay whatever bills they aren't able to weasel their way out of. I have to assume most of them fell on hard times one way or another and chose this line of work because it was the only thing they could do.
I'm sure there are some sadistic bastards who do it because they get a kick out of making other people miserable, though.
The request doesn't want me to kill them, however. It just wants me to find them and report back to the local Guild in the town nearby. I'm sure I could find them with enough searching, especially if I'm going to that area to grind some levels anyway. Maybe the best idea is to sit back and observe my surroundings before I get into any fights with monsters. If I'm lucky, one of them will reveal himself and I can follow him back to their camp.
Strong or not, most bandits probably aren't the smartest bunch.
Nodding to myself, I pulled the request from the bulletin board and took it to the front desk to have it formally approved. Now that I have a plan, I need supplies. Supplies for that many days will probably cost more than I have, so I ran back into the forest and massacred a whole bunch of small critters that would fetch a decent price with the Monster Buyer. A day's worth of murder later, I had enough money to afford not only some healing potions, but a week's worth of food as well.
That night before I left, Emilia knocked on my door and said it was time to pay up. I pulled out my pouch and handed her 60 copper pieces: enough to pay for the night I stayed for free as well as tonight. After pocketing the coins, she crossed her arms beneath her chest and gave me a disappointed glare.
What? Don't tell me she was actually thinking about us doing that?
Besides, I'm exhausted. All I want to do is crawl in bed and sleep so I'm ready to go first thing in the morning. I have to walk for like, three whole days you know!
She relented when I told her my reasons for not wanting to be intimate. I'm sure she's disappointed - and probably suffering from a bad case of blue balls - but I'd rather not ruin my relations with her father and get banned from this place. I'm starting to see her a little like a younger sister, anyway.
After I woke up, I double checked all of my gear to make sure it was in order for my long trip. The journey to the mountains would take at least a few days on foot. That means I'll need to figure out some kind of improvised sleeping situation if I want to stay warm at night. Also, I'll need to stop by the village near the base of the mountains to restock before I start climbing.
With my supplies in order and my body well-rested, I departed through the eastern gate.
The road trip was long, very long. By the end of my first day, my legs felt like they had lead weights strapped to them. I hadn't encountered a single soul, human or otherwise, the whole day. I decided to make camp inside of a small cave to keep the chill of the night from claiming my life. With a bit of flint and some random sticks, I managed to make a fire big enough to keep me warm until I fell asleep.
My second day was much more eventful than the first. Somewhere around noon, I encountered a carriage owned by a young man who apparently was the son of a big-name merchant from Zeltoble. I hadn't heard anyone mention the name of that city once since I arrived in Melromarc, so I asked him what kind of goods he was moving.
My question drew suspicion from his bodyguard, a huge man covered in scars and muscles who carried a gigantic sword. If looks could kill, I'd have been murdered a few times over. With an awkward wave goodbye, the carriage left me in its dust as it went about its journey. We were headed the same direction, but he obviously moved considerably faster since he was in a carriage pulled by filolials.
I kept walking until my legs gave out near the middle of the afternoon. I'd never walked so much in my life, not even when I'd first escaped from bandits and had to walk to the capital.
At least I'm not emotionally distraught and on the verge of death this time.
I gave myself some time to rest before I got back on the road. In the end, I wound up camping by the side of the dirt road once the sun went down. I thanked mother nature for not raining or snowing that night as I tucked myself into my little sleeping bag and went to sleep.
It wasn't until my third day that I came upon the village at the base of the mountains. It was small, but it gave me a chance to restock on supplies that I desperately needed. Fresh food, waterskins that were filled, extra flint, all the essentials that I'd need to stay out in the wilderness for days at a time.
Staying in the village overnight had crossed my mind, but with how tired my legs already are, the last thing I want is to trek down the mountain and then back up the mountain every morning. Better to make camp up there and stay until I've finished all my business. Hopefully my "observing" will give my legs some much-needed rest. I didn't get thrown into another world to be a marathon runner.
With my supplies all securely packed away in my handy dandy backpack, I began my ascent up the mountain. It was a long climb that lasted nearly half a day before I managed to reach a flatter area. There was much less dirt and a lot more stone this high up. The air was much colder too, so much so that even my fur-lined armor couldn't keep my torso fully warm. Moving around kept me from feeling the extra bite of the cold, but I only had so much energy to burn.
I'll need to be careful not to get too burned out or I may get sick from the cold.
The sun was gone by the time I sat down to really examine my surroundings. If it weren't for the cold, it would actually be pretty peaceful. The sounds of birds and other wild monsters in the distance were good white noise and the blanket of stars in the sky made for yet another picturesque moment. It's too bad I can't just sit here and enjoy it.
It was difficult to see much without any light, so I eventually crawled back into my sleeping bag and passed out for the night. When I awoke, I quickly made a fire and cooked some salted meat for breakfast. Not what I'd consider a balanced breakfast, but it would fill me up and give me enough energy to tackle some new challenges today.
Perched in a nearby tree, I scanned the area for anything out of the ordinary. No sign of the bandits yet, though. Maybe I'm in the wrong area? I knew a mountain range could be big, but I expected it to be a lot more steep. Steep enough that you couldn't build a camp without being spotted, anyway, but this part of the mountains was flat enough to where you could hide just about anywhere.
Damn...I might be here longer than I thought. Good thing I'm not in a rush to get back.
Though my search for the bandits came up empty, my search for prey was more fruitful. From my spot up high, I was able to spot what looked like some type of velociraptor skulking around between the trees. My Status Magic called it a "Dragon". I didn't know dinosaurs were considered dragons.
What about giant lizards with huge wings that breathe fire? In comparison, this one is a little disappointing. I'm sure what I'm imagining would be impossible for me to kill, though. I'll take dino dragons anyday.
I pulled the bow from my back and readied an arrow. The beast was a fairly slim target, not exactly the same as a massive bear. I'd be lucky to hit it at this distance. Still, it's worth a shot.
I chuckled a bit at my own pun and let the arrow fly, but it landed about twenty feet from the dragon. Its head shot over to where the arrow hit the ground, rushing over and sniffing it for a moment before it turned right over to me.
Shit! It must have one hell of a sense of smell to get my scent from that!
With a raspy screech, it took off toward my tree. There's no point in hiding when it knows I'm here, so I hopped down and pulled my arm back to grab another arrow at a moment's notice. Maybe if it didn't see the arrow itself, it wouldn't see it coming. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as it got closer and closer.
It's fast...!
It slowed down for a moment to attack, and I dodged to the side to avoid its massive, clawed foot. Its talons raked the ground where I'd been standing. I took that moment to quickly nock another arrow and send it flying. The arrow struck the dragon perfectly in the neck, but it snapped in half on impact.
Damn, its scales are tough. Arrows won't do me any good against this thing.
Clicking my tongue, I drew my sword and readied myself for another charge. It screeched and jumped, forcing me to roll backward lest I be crushed under its weight.
That was unexpected, but it's still slow enough that I can predict some of its movements. Deep breaths, Flynn! Don't forget to breathe!
Thick clouds of moisture puffed from my throat from the cold air as my chest heaved. It's been a while since I've fought against something completely new, so I'm a little rusty. Even the bear was something I'd encountered once before, so I knew how it moves and prefers to attack.
I was shaken from my thoughts as the monster charged once more, jaws wide and aiming to take a bite out of me. I raised my sword and prepared to meet it head-on, but the beast ducked underneath my swing.
Shit!
As its jaw inched closer to my throat, I panicked and swung my sword down with all of my might. The blade cut into its neck deeply enough to draw a lot of blood, but not enough to take it down in one hit. The dragon screeched in pain and tried to claw me with its tiny arms.
I couldn't pull my sword out in time, and I cried out in pain as a deep gash tore up the length of my arm. Invigorated by its success, the dragon's teeth clamped down on my shoulder.
"AGH! AHHHHHHH!"
Searing pain shot through my body as I was helplessly torn apart. My vision is getting dark - or is that night falling? I can't feel anything but pain. All my senses are blocked...
With one strong yank, the dragon tore a portion of flesh from my shoulder and devoured it in front of me.
Is this how I die?...Eaten by a dragon?...
I suppose there are worse ways to go...
No..! I still have so much to live for! So much still left to do in this strange world! I can't afford to die here!
I. WILL. NOT. DIE!
"RAAAAAAAH!" I grit my teeth and, with one final burst of strength, I gripped my stuck sword with both hands and cleaved through the rest of the dragon's neck. Its screeches of agony gave me the strength to keep pushing until the entire head fell to the ground in a shower of gore and blood. It only took a moment for my eyes to roll back into my head and I joined it on the ground.
I'm...so tired...
My vision blurred again. Without my burst of adrenaline, I would most certainly be dead already. There's no time to rest or catch my breath; I need a healing potion, badly!
But my damn hands keep shaking! I've lost too much blood! I can't...open it...!
I screamed in pain as I slid one strap of my backpack off my shoulder, the one that just so happened to be missing a few pounds. Every second felt like an eternity. I could feel so little of my own hands that it was almost like watching someone else control my body. My vision kept fading in and out; only my burning desire to live kept me conscious long enough to finally rip the cork off of a healing potion and drink it down.
It's a good thing you don't need the entire thing for it to take effect. My hands shook so badly that half of it spilled on my face instead of going in my mouth.
Almost immediately, I felt my wounds closing themselves just like they had against the golem. This time, however, I could physically feel the missing flesh knit itself back together. I forced myself to look away despite my curiosity. It was itchy, uncomfortable, and felt a little like someone was pulling my skin from both sides simultaneously. It only took a few minutes before my wounds were completely healed.
I'm alive, but that was far too close.
I flipped over to lay on my back as I caught my breath. One of these days, someone needs to remind me to buy a sharper sword. It seems like every time my sword gets stuck in something, I wind up with one foot in the grave. If there's a grim reaper out there, he's probably got my name and number memorized.
It felt good to just lay there and appreciate the fact that I survived yet again. Too bad Welt isn't here to celebrate with me like last time; it's a lot less fun to do it alone. Plus, the dragon's blood is starting to pool around me and it's kind of gross.
I forced myself to stand up and wipe as much of it off my boots as I could. Rather than waste a perfectly good kill, I decided to use a newly-purchased knife to pry its fangs and claws off. The teeth were tough to remove, but once I cut deep enough into its gums they actually came out pretty easily. The claws were a different story. I gave up on trying to retrieve just the claw and decided to just cut each toe at the last knuckle.
They'll still be worth quite a bit, I'm sure. They better be.
What took the most amount of time were the Dragon Scales. Given that they stopped my arrow and partially stopped my sword, I assume they'll be worth quite the pretty penny. Maybe Elhart could use them to add an extra layer onto my armor or something. On top of that, I could use the body as bait to lure some other predator or scavenger for an easier kill while it's distracted.
I'm learning. Either that, or I'm becoming a little too ruthless in how I exploit my enemies. Doesn't matter much, though. Survival of the fittest and all that.
I left the remains on the ground in a bloody heap. In the process of ripping the scales from its body, I learned that the back, neck, and head were the most well-protected areas of its body. The scales on the chest and arms were so much thinner that they weren't even worth taking with me to sell. That means my arrows might be effective if I can aim well enough.
Too many video games gave me the impression that headshots are the most effective. I guess that's not always the case.
My hiding spot was situated off to the side of where I left the dragon's corpse, tucked in the center of a large, rocky outcrop. Bow in hand and arrow already nocked, I only had to wait about thirty minutes before another dragon came by to inspect the body. It sniffed a few times, nudged the corpse with its snout, and nibbled a bit before digging in for its meal.
That was the moment I struck, sending an arrow careening through the air. This time, I struck it dead center in the chest. The beast flailed and screeched, tripping over rocks and stumbling to the ground. I couldn't hit another shot while it flailed around, so I pulled out my sword and put it out of its misery. I wiped a bead of sweat off of my forehead.
That was way easier than the last one! And look at all that EXP! I've already gone up a level from those two kills alone! It would have taken me more than a day to get this kind of EXP back in the forest, unless I decided to hunt giant bears for sport.
After I took my trophies off the dragon's corpse to sell, I left it for whatever comes by after I leave. It's not like I could make use of the meat myself with how bad my butchering skills are.
I think that's enough for one night. Night time predators are going to be more active with the sun down, so I need to find somewhere that's a bit more secure. Preferably somewhere a bit higher off the ground with a good vantage point.
A bit higher up the mountain, I decided to roll out my sleeping bag under a rocky canopy. Lighting a fire was too dangerous since it would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention, so I had to grit my teeth and deal with the cold. I'll need to be careful tomorrow, though. I only have two healing potions left and I'd rather not drink another one so soon.
They may be a miracle in a bottle, but they still taste like garbage. Why not just add sugar or something to give it some kind of flavor?
Comfortable sleep would not come. Although I managed to get some sleep, I didn't wake up feeling well-rested at all. With a yawn, I quickly made a stew out of some meat and vegetables I'd purchased in the village yesterday. The gentle aroma relaxed my exhausted body. This place isn't quite as horrible as Elhart made it out to be.
I almost died once, but that could happen literally anywhere right? It's not this place's fault.
Once my meal was finished, I stretched and let it settle in my stomach before returning to the hunt. My curiosity got the better of me and I returned to where I'd been the day before, only to see a mound of gore and scales where my adversaries had been. The stench of rot quickly made me reconsider my decision and walk away.
The dragons weren't the only creatures I bumped into. It took quite some time to find anything different, but these ones were like a strange fusion of mammal and reptile. How on earth does that work? Fur and scales grew on different parts of their bodies in an unnatural way.
Still, they're not as strong as the velociraptor-like dragons from before. They were remarkably easy to kill and gave a decent chunk of EXP. I spent the entire day hunting these creatures and using their bodies as bait for the next unfortunate victim to investigate. That strategy served me terrifyingly well; I reached level 22 by the end of the day.
It's a little scary to think how fast my level has gone up in this place. Sure, I'm using some underhanded tricks to get an advantage, but it's not like it's being handed to me for free. I suppose I could fight more with my sword if I want to get experience, but I also like not potentially dying. Maybe I'll focus on that tomorrow. A rancid odor assaulted my nose, and I already knew the cause.
I should probably head back to the village tomorrow instead. All those bloody fangs and claws are starting to stink.
I took a bite of a snack I'd prepared earlier in the day, appreciating the flavor of nuts and sweetness of some kind of cream mixed together. It's not particularly healthy but it tastes fantastic. The sounds of shouting made me stop mid-bite.
What's going on? Is someone in danger?
Taking out my bow and nocking an arrow just in case, I crouched low to hide behind a rocky outcropping. I peeked over the top and saw something I wasn't expecting. Down below me was a small group of bandits tearing through a dead man's carriage. The filolial that had been pulling it was dead as well.
I sneered and fought the urge to let my arrow take one of their lives. No matter how much they probably deserve it, I can't afford to blow my cover. They'll probably return to their hideout as soon as they're finished looting. My only hope is that they'll be too distracted by their success to hear me following them.
"Hehehe, good stuff! Really good stuff! We going to eat good tonight, boys!"
"Haha! Yes! Boss not believe this!"
"Alright, back to base. Bring him," one of them said, motioning for one of the others to pick up the man's dead body and drag it along. The other five gathered whatever boxes and barrels they could carry from the carriage and started walking up the path. Even now, they kept jeering and screwing around as if they were having a great time.
I want to kill them so badly. Lowlives like these are the worst.
Still, I relaxed the tension in my arm and put the arrow back in my quiver. They'll get what's coming to them soon enough, I'm sure. They won't be eating anything but dirt if I have anything to say about it.
I'm a little surprised at how careful these bandits are, though. They don't carry any torches or lanterns to light their path. They must have been here for quite a long time to be able to navigate by memory alone. With the sun already down, it's getting a lot harder to see them in the darkness. After nearly an hour of stalking them, I came upon a bunch of tents near the mouth of a cave. They took the corpse inside and came back out a few minutes later.
This must be it. This is their hideout.
I snuck around for a better vantage point. Thankfully, the bandits were celebrating loudly enough with their drinking that I didn't have to worry about being spotted. My armor and cloak may be dark colors, but the metal on my chestplate could reflect just enough light to give my position away. I made sure to keep my cloak pinned tightly to my body to keep that from happening.
Times like these make me thankful that I'm not a big fan of shiny plate armor. Sneaking around in something like that would be impossible.
The bandits entered one of the tents and the noise grew even louder. If this is how loud they get, how have they not been caught yet? I bet anyone on the main path could hear them with how loud they are. Not to mention the dragons and other monsters around; I imagine they'd be drawn to this much noise.
Oh well. If they want to be this rowdy, I might be able to sneak in and steal some stuff while I'm at it. The idea actually made me smile a little. These things are likely stolen anyway, so I'm just...returning them to their rightful owners.
...Owners who are probably dead, now that I think about it. At least I wouldn't use these supplies to hurt people. Yeah, let's...let's go with that.
A distant roar echoed through the mountains. What the hell was that? Whatever it is, it's BIG. And really pissed off. I only hope it doesn't come this way. I might be able to handle a dozen bandits or so if they're drunk, but something like that is definitely on my "do not disturb" list.
Either the bandits must not have heard it, or it's a regular occurrence in this part of the mountains and they've gotten used to it. Doesn't matter to me. I plan to stay very far away from whatever made that sound, even if that means tonight is my last night out here. Once I'm done checking this place out, I'll get the hell out of here and sleep in the village.
Unlike everywhere else, the camp had a few torches stuck in the ground to provide some light. I hugged the outer limits of the rock wall that overlooked the camp itself until I reached the mouth of the cave. Carefully, I hopped down until I stood at the entrance. It was eerily quiet.
I imagine there aren't any monsters in there anymore. If there were any before, the bandits probably drove them out or killed them. After all, why set up camp in front of a cave if you aren't going to use it? But why not set up your camp inside the cave to use as shelter? That seems like a waste.
Something must be in there that they want to keep as hidden as possible. Probably their more valuable loot like jewelry and weapons.
After a quick survey of the area, I found that not a single bandit was wandering around the camp. Earlier I'd thought they were smart, but to leave their entire camp undefended as they drink the night away? They must be pretty confident that nobody would ever find this place. Unluckily for them, they got careless at the wrong time.
It was dark and damp inside the cave, and something disgusting could be smelled from the entrance. That doesn't make much sense. Jewelry and stuff can stink if they're left in bad conditions for long enough, but not this bad. The only thing that smells like this could be-
"Oh god..."
There were corpses in the cave. Dozens of them in varying states of decay and filling the air with a rotten stench that made me want to vomit. Now I understand why this cave wasn't being used as shelter; it was being used to hide the bodies of those they'd killed. Nobody would know that bandits killed someone if there wasn't a body left to find.
They'd just think some monster came and ate them.
I covered my nose, tears pricking at my eyes from the intense smell of death and rot. How do these people live with themselves? This isn't just disgusting, this is an affront against humanity! People like this don't deserve to live! To do such a thing to some random person unfortunate enough to get caught in their path is abominable!
Though even in the darkness of the cave, I heard noises. Small, rustling noises, with the occasional clang of metal that was a little too familiar to me.
Cages? Don't tell me...
"H-help..! *cough* *cough* Please...!" The strangled cry for help made me see red. These assholes not only dumped corpses into this cave, but they captured people and made them stay in here? That's just evil!
I frantically searched through my bag for the flint and a nearby stick to burn. Eventually I found one and lit it, casting my immediate surroundings in a warm glow with my improvised torch. I almost wish I hadn't. There were more bodies than I could ever imagine in one place, and tucked in the back corner was a line of cages. Those, too, were littered with the bodies of the dead.
Only one person in any of them was alive. Surrounded by death was a small girl with animal ears and braided hair wrapped around her head.
"Help, please mister!" the girl cried, reaching her hand through the bars of the cage toward me. I quickly found the key sitting on a wooden table nearby. There's nothing else in here and the bandits probably don't want to be in here either, so I imagine they just left it there all the time. I gave one last glance toward the entrance and ran over to unlock the girl's cage.
"You okay?" I asked in my broken Melromarcian. She nodded, forcing a smile to her face.
"Yes, thank you! But you leave! F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕ is coming!" she exclaimed with a worried expression. I couldn't understand what that word meant. Who is coming? And why is that a bad thing?
"What you mean? Who is coming?"
When she grabbed my arm, I suddenly realized just how weak and frail she is. The light of my torch illuminated her face. A child this young shouldn't have such dark bags under her eyes. "F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕ is strong, and he come! He not be m̶̛̰͔͒͑̽̅ę̴̠̬̳̦͂͒͑̌r̶̬̰̼̅̾ͅc̶͇̰̘̹̔̈́̒͝i̴̘̹̇f̵̥̟̲͘u̵̢͐̚͘ĺ̶̟̩̈́̑͒͑!"
Another word I can't understand, but she sounds serious. Whoever is coming, it sounds like bad news.
"We leave now! Come on!," I said, using a hand to support the girl as she tripped over her own feet. She shook her head again.
"F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕ is mad! He not listen! He will think you are bad, like others!" she said, legs suddenly giving out on her. I gently lifted the girl into my arms and quickly walked toward the mouth of the cave. Anywhere is safer than in there, that's for sure. Even with a small horde of bandits lurking in a tent right next door.
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
I would have covered my ears if my hands weren't holding the girl. Whatever made the sound from earlier is literally right outside!
"F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕ is here..."
I looked down at the girl, terror filling my chest as her words sunk in.
"Shit," I mumbled in English before sprinting out of the cave.
"Shiiiit...!" I mumbled again as I saw the largest monster I'd ever seen flying right above the camp. It was a massive dragon - a real one this time, like I'd imagined - and it was staring right at me.
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
It roared again, and a small light could be seen flickering within its mouth. It swooped down, landing on the rocks above the camp before taking a deep breath.
"SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!"I screamed as it roared once more, bathing the area in fire. Instinctively, I turned around and shielded the girl with my body. Stupid, I know, but what the hell else am I supposed to do in this situation!?
This heat is unlike anything I've ever felt before! It's like standing inside a volcano! Is my hair on fire!?
The blast of burning air subsided and was replaced by the smell of melting flesh and burned fabric. There were no screams of pain, no panicked yells, nothing. I slowly opened my eyes and realized that I was somehow still alive. I have no idea how, but I'm not going to complain.
With great trepidation, I slowly turned around. Everything in the camp was incinerated. What remained of the bandits were smoldering bits of flesh and bone, some of which were partially melted. The tents were completely reduced to ash. The grass and dirt was completely gone, exposing the singed stone that was beneath it. Even that was burnt.
My breaths came fast and shallow as I took in the destruction.
"Oh my god..." I mumbled, looking up at the dragon with a mixture of awe and fear. Then, the girl broke free of my grasp.
"F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕!"
"No! Be careful!" I cried out. As I reached out to stop her, the dragon roared again.
"F̵̱͐ǎ̵͙̬́́͠t̸̗͔̞͋̆͋̈́͗h̶̙̟̝̭́͂̈́è̶̲̺͙̽́̈r̵̪̣̙̗̼̿̔̍̋̕ no! This one good! He save me!"
She's...talking...to the dragon?
I shook my head to make sure I'm not hearing things. "Please, be careful!" I yelled one last time. The dragon moved its head down in front of her and huffed, sending a small breath of smoke past her body as she pleaded and talked to it. Maybe now is a good time for me to leave? If it isn't going to hurt her, it's okay if I leave, right?
Not that I would get away if it chased me, though.
Much to my surprise, the girl hugged the dragon's snout. It made no move to attack her, keeping a close eye on me all the while with a threatening growl. She begged and pleaded with it to spare me. Thanks, little girl. I really owe you one if this works!
After nearly a whole minute, I was starting to get nervous. The sweat pouring down my head from the fire was joined with the sweat from me preparing to shit myself in terror. Who can blame me!? The dragons I fought earlier were bad enough! This thing is the stuff of nightmares!
Then, the dragon huffed and closed its eyes to let the girl hug its face. I breathed a sigh of relief. I guess I passed the test and I get to live. That's good! Very good. I'd hate to end up like those bandits.
Ugh...Burning flesh really doesn't smell good. Now that I'm not holding my breath, it hit me all at once.
The girl pointed at me and said some words I couldn't quite hear over the sound of my own heart pounding in my chest. The dragon's head leaned down toward me to get a closer look, and I instinctively took a step backward as it examined me closely. Then, it pulled back and did something I didn't expect.
"So, you're the human who led me here? You have my gratitude for saving my hatchling."
It spoke. In English.