Chapter 18 - Volume 1 (1/2)

That day, after some light work, guided by Marion and Kohaku we arrived at the store with a huge black pillar in the middle of it.

It seems that it’s a bar called《Meteor》which is quite popular in the City of Stars.

At one of the tables of the bar, Berzelia and I were having dinner with the people from Sagittarius

In front of me was food and liquor that they seem to have ordered in advance. Even a message card was attached,『Congratulations on graduation from beginner!』

「Thank you, Marion, Kohaku-san.Not only did you teach me a lot but you even arranged a celebration.」

「It’s fine, it’s fine! The birth of an outstanding Carrier like Axel-san works in our favor as well, so it’s something we should be grateful for… And above all, for the first time in a long time a new person grew up at our guild Sagittarius! We have to celebrate this.」

「Yes, congratulations, Axel-kun, Berzelia-chan. Please help yourself to the food. All of the dishes at this store are really delicious.」

「Hooray!　Marion—, Kohaku—, Thank you—!」

Following the advice, we try the prepared food.

…Indeed, both the food and liquor in this shop are delicious…

Although I never came here because it’s located a bit away from the main road.

If it’s this delicious then I might be fine with walking for a bit, and with those thoughts, I throw a piece of hot meat into my mouth, then—

「Alright, today I will break it for sure!」

「Hey hey, I will break it before you. I ain’t gonna lose.」

Near the black pillar at the center of the store, two macho men suddenly started to make a racket.

Looking at them, they are pulling weapons such as swords and axes from the shelf installed on the side of the black pillar.

「What is that? Looks dangerous, is that a fight?」

「Ah, no, it’s a sideshow for this store. A bit of entertainment to go with drinking.」

While I was wondering what kind of entertainment might involve weapons, a man in an apron stood beside the black pillar.

I remember that is the owner of this store.

While I was looking at him and wondering what he is doing over there, he put hands to his mouth and started to speak in a loud voice.

「Now, today my store again has challengers boasting of their strength!　Today’s『Dragon Cutting』Challengers are Thomson with advanced job of《Brute Warrior》!　And Chris with advanced job《Magic Swordsman》!」

After the shopkeeper pointed at the two macho men standing next to the pillar—

「Then, both of you, start at the same time!」

He shouted. And the next moment—

「Orraaaa!」

「Whoah!!」

Both struck the pillar with the weapons they had. However—

*—CLANG!*

The weapons bounced off with a metallic sound.

Through they have used quite a lot of force, not even a scratch was left on the pillar.

Quite the contrary, the weapons that bounced off were crumbling.

The sword got its blade chipped and the axe handle broke.

「Aah, what a pity! A failure ——!　And since you broke the axe your challenge fee will be doubled!」

「Damn it! The blade won’t cut it at all!」

「Just how sturdy are scales of an ancient dragon!」

And while spitting such lines, the macho men opened their wallets and gave money to the shopkeeper.

「This is a sideshow…? Or rather, he just said scales of an ancient dragon, what is this about?」

When I asked Marion she smiled and pointed at the black pillar.

「Those are the scales of an ancient dragon that has fallen here during the war with the Demon Lord.」

「Scales of an ancient dragon … Ah, I see. Indeed, those are scales.」

Looking carefully, the pillar indeed had a scale-like pattern on it. During my days as a dragon knight, I encountered ancient dragons a number of times, and once their scales fall to the ground they rapidly turn black.

Well, it wasn’t something you would pay close attention on a battlefield and it wasn’t something you would carry away as spoils of war, so I had no particular interest in them.

「However, the ancient dragon was supposed to be top class among the Demon Lord’s minions, someone that dangerous came to his city?」

「Actually no, but for some reason, it has fallen. It broke through the middle of the roof of this store and the owner was greatly troubled at the time. After all, if you leave something of that size lying around then the number of customers that can enter will decrease.」

Well, certainly it will be a hindrance.

If those『Ancient dragon’s scales』weren’t sitting at the center of the store he would be able to double the number of seats.

「Why won’t he remove it?」

「Not only did that thing pierce deep into the ground but it seems that the part that got buried also has magic applied to it which fixes it in place. Look, do you see that magic circle on the floor near the buried part?」

When she mentioned it, there indeed was a slightly visible purple magic circle that covered the floor.

Scales of an ancient dragon are hard and heavy, so in order to keep them stuck to the body magic is used, and it seems that this magic somehow got applied to the floor of this store.

「So he can’t move it and there is that sturdiness. It also seems that hiring a magician to destroy it would cost an outrageous sum of money. And so… As a last resort, this kind of attraction was born.」

「And so he wants a customer proud of his strength to take up the challenge and break it?」

「Yes, he also takes a challenge fee, though. One attempt is five hundred gold, if you make a crack a thousand gold, if you break it there is a reward of 10.000 gold. Since no one has ever made a crack up to now, it seems that it might make up for the losses.」

I see. Apparently, the spirit of commerce is quite strong in this store.

I really think so, looking at the hard-breathing macho who sits at the center of the store after he just had 500 gold taken from him.

「How do you like this store? It’s a pretty good and interesting place, right?」

「Yes, it’s lively, a bit noisy, but the food is great, so it’s a good place.」

「Well, if you say so, then it was worth bringing you here.」

Saying so Marion smiled happily and then—