Vol 2 Chapter 3 (2/2)

From the opposite side of the parting board, cries of various mounts could be heard.

There it is.

Adorably lain down and curled.

Tough scales covering its entire body, one black scale after another s.h.i.+ning under the sunlight from the dormer, mingling with a glimmer of jade green, creating a lovely hue.

According to the shop clerk:

With ferocious and superior hind legs, it’s a runner that no other mount can hold a candle to. Overnight, I can cover a distance of 1,000 ri. (TN: 1,000 ri = 3,927 km)

Its thick tail maintains its body balance for extended periods of time. The comfort of ride is top notch, too.

Furthermore, being an amphibian, it can play an active part in the wetland belt.

He may have exaggerated a bit; however, it has already seized my heart.

Its horn looks good, too.

Unintentionally, I checked its skill const.i.tution out.

As for the skills it possesses.

《Fire Elemental Resistance Lv2》

《Water Elemental Resistance Lv2》

Hmm?

It doesn’t seem to have any battle-oriented skill; however, its sharp fangs and talons look menacing enough.

Fumufumu……different dragon species perhaps possess different resistances.

「How much does this Scale Dragon cost per day?」

「1,000 Dalas per day.」

……So expensive! It’s five times the horse’s.

As for the quest reward, it’s 2,000 Dalas……do I have to splash half of that on just the conveyance?

However, in case of this quest, the remuneration as well as the quest completion counter will increase with the number of nuclei.

If I think about it, I can complete the quest more efficiently if I roam about freely in the wetland belt.

Or I should say, I want to take this fellow at all costs.

「————Thank you for the business. The basic way of riding is what I taught you earlier. Don’t worry, even a beginner can ride it with ease for it has been adequately trained.」

Upon those words, I observed the Shop clerk-san; especially, at the word 《trained》; however, I couldn’t find the 《Beast Tame》 skill.

「Are there people who tame the mounts?」

「N? Aah, just like this Scale Dragon, there are beasts captured and trained by people who do it as an occupation. We then buy from them. Unlike horse, their birth control is difficult.」

I see……it has piqued my interest……no, for now, let’s focus on magic. Yes, magic.

When I turned my face to the side upon feeling the Scale Dragon’s breathing, I found its cute round eyes gazing at me.

When I stretched my hand and patted its head slowly——

BAKURII

——Aah, like this? Got it.

……You see, it’s not scary. Ne? I was scared for nothing……

It hurts……just a bit……just a bit.

「Oioi, if you’re not careful with play-biting, you can get injured. Before it happens, pull your hand out, quick.」

After all, I cannot have the Scale Dragon lick a bitten hand.

*Sniffs*

However, because it can get healed right away, it’s fine, isn’t it?

Then, I pulled myself together, straddled the Scale Dragon and faced outside the town through the South Gate.

Upon seeing me, a gallant figure called out. The sentinel who I occasionally exchange greetings with: Nicholas-san.

「Oh, if it isn’t Seiji. Leaving the gate in such a grandiose manner, where are you going?」

「Nah, just going to the Paudal Wetland Belt for a bit.」

「It’s quite far. Good, it’s best for an Adventurer, but don’t act recklessly.」

「If it becomes dangerous, I’ll flee back here. That aside……how is it?」

「……How is what?」

To Nicholas-san, who was making a strange face, I emphasized my sitting-astride-the-Scale-Dragon figure.

「Aah……how do I put it? Are you carrying the feed to a dragon’s den……?」

「No, I’m not! I have had enough.」

Having parted with Nicholas-san, I grabbed the Scale Dragon’s reins back.

Destination: the Paudal Wetland Belt in the southeast.

Dragon Rider……sounds cool and all, but.

——When its tough legs clutched the ground firmly in order to run, the vibrations it produced faintly transmitted to the back of the straddling me.

However, as getting on it was my own idea……I have no right to complain.

Although its speed isn’t much different from a horse’s, the comfort of ride is outstanding.

There was little to no fatigue due to rocking.

Moreover, it’s endurance seems to be considerable. Judging from the position of the sun, it had been running for about an hour, yet there was no instance of its speed dropping.

Still, for caution’s sake, I took a break by a brook bank. After drinking water, we resumed our journey.

We had advanced halfway through the highway. While I was checking the map, the route diverted to the east.

Away from human habitation, the air carried a tinge of anxiety.

To have rented it……was perhaps the right choice.

As the sun quickly reached its zenith, we arrived at the Paudal Wetland Belt.

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