Chapter 23 (1/2)

Chapter 23 – Phantom Dragon

We ride in the Recreational Vehicle(RV) on a road along the base of the mountain.

We are approximately 400km away from the Alsara Kingdom’s capital.

It’s not established exactly, but a national border is somewhere around here.

To get to our destination, Ekbana, we have to cross this mountain.

The RV struggles at the mountain’s foot.

We get off the vehicle and take a little break.

Because the RV attracts attention, I hid it with concealment magic.

When we enter a nearby town, Tira looks at me with a dubious expression.

「It seems to be a bit noisy here」

It seemed like a quiet rural town, something is wrong.

Armed men are all around the town.

「Adventurers? But, why in a rural place like this?」

「Seems like a dragon has a nest on the nearby mountain」

I answer Ellen’s question after confirming the situation with〈Pinnacle of Information〉.

It sometimes comes down from the mountain to hunt for food.

There haven’t been any human victims yet, but the residents made a subjugation request to the guild.

Moreover, according to eye-witnesses, this dragon is quite a rare species.

Scales, fangs, and bones of rare dragons seem to sell for a considerably high price.

That’s why adventurers from various places gather here.

「Since we are already here, let’s also have a look」

「Hiii」

「No way we can defeat something like that!」

While we are ascending to the place where the dragon supposedly lives, a large group of adventurers is running down.

They are obviously tattered.

They are fleeing before they become victims.

They pa.s.s by us and quickly run down to the foot of the mountain.

「I see. It seems that the dragon is quite formidable」

That’s something to look forward, Ellen laughs fearlessly.

When we advance further, a voice calls us from behind.

「Have you guys also come to hunt the dragon?」

It was a young man.

Moreover, an ikemen with a tall figure, a type of person who can kill with just his looks.

He seems to be quite confident in his physical strength as he’s carrying a large sword on his back.

There are two girls who are most likely his party members.

Both of them are quite cute.

Maa, they can’t match my brides, though!

「That’s right, you are?」

「We are also going. I’m Gard. Best regards」

「I’m Karuna. Nice to meet you」

I grasp the presented hand.

Quite a refres.h.i.+ng guy.

「Gard……? Sounds familiar」

Ellen mutters and the two girls behind Gard exclaim proudly.

「Naturally! Gard is A-rank adventurer, after all!」

「Hahaha, I still have a way to go」

Gard says humbly.

「I see. The fellow who solo slain the Red Dragon and the Two-headed Dragon in the past, you are that Dragon Killer Gard?」

Ellen nods in consent.

Ellen seems to know quite a bit about strong adventurers since she’s a musclehead.

「The dragon, this time, is apparently very strong, I won’t be necessarily able to subjugate it」

Gard is a humble fellow, huh. Ikemen with a nice personality……

But, his party members retort him,

「What are you talking about? No dragon is a match for you, Gard」 Ojousama

「That’s right, that’s right! Besides, we are also here!」Noisy one

By the way, these two are B-rank adventurers.

The noisy one is a mage.