Published at 19th of April 2023 01:20:09 PM
253 – Riding On the Back of a Dragon
The second phase of the All-Heaven Festival Contest.
The tournament will be held by dividing 100 Parties into 4 groups.
Each of the red, blue, white, and black groups will go to the towns where the Demon King Castle of the north, south, east, and west are located and will battle there.
The last 4 remaining Parties will gather in the town where the Impregnable Demon King Castle is located and challenge the legendary powerful people.
The day of the first match for each group was approaching.
We, the Wraith Party, are in the black group. We're heading to the town where the Northern Demon King Castle is located.
We'd be cutting it too close if we arrive on the day of the match, but there should be no problem if we reach the town the day before.
But I wanted to personally see the matches as much as possible, so I suggested that we get there early.
Fortunately, everyone agreed.
Considering the schedule and the distance between each town, it would be difficult for me to personally see the matches held by the other groups.
I guess I'll just have to put up with the broadcasted video.
It was noon on the day of departure.
I talked with Milla and Cashew in the morning.
They were both supportive, so I guess it was just my illusion that they looked a little sad.
They said they would come to see me off, but they also had work to do. So I gently declined.
By the way, Cashew is now Milla's temporary secretary.
I've been out of town a lot, but the Demon King Castle is still employing Cashew. Cashew is a very hard worker and her salary is paid properly.
When I went to the meeting place, the Ogre White Sorcerer Josh and the Half-Cyclops Miner Melania were already there.
We have decided to meet in a corner of the open land that is right outside the entrance to the town.
「Good morning, Lem.」
「G-good morning…」
「Yeah, good morning.」
After exchanging greetings and talking for a while, the remaining 2 members also arrived.
The Water Hero Wraith and the Destroyer Fran.
Now all 5 members are present.
「U-umm. Is it really okay, that…」
Melania said timidly.
「It's fine.」
Wraith said while smiling.
She's talking about the means of transportation.
Although it is a society in which various races coexist, various things are made to suit the majority of people.
Such as the roads, vehicles, and buildings. There are some things that have been given special consideration, but the number is still small.
It is very difficult for us to ride and travel in the same carriage as Melania.
She said she would walk on a special route used by the Giants, but our leader stopped her.
He said it would be okay since he'd make sure that we would all be able to travel together.
「B-but, t-the money…」
Melania looked apologetic.
「It's fine.」
In the raid, there was the support of the Demon King's father, Fellow. He invited Wraith to the project, so the financial support would have been perfect.
However, this time was different.
Just like any other Party, we had to manage our own money as we continued our activities.
I don't know how much the reward for the raid was, and I won't ask, but I can guess that the expenses this time would be painful.
「As I said before, I'll pay too.」
Wraith had a subtle expression on his face, but when he saw that I was not going to give in, he nodded.
「Hmm. Then, I guess I'll ask you to pay for one-fifth.」
Fran leaned forward.
「…I will pay too.」
「You don't have to compete with Lem even for this.」
「I'll pay.」
「Okay, okay.」
After I and Fran said that, Josh and Melania continued to say that as well.
Once again, I said.
「I think we should all pay for the things that are indispensable for the activities of the Party.」
「Why?」
「Money is an important thing. If it's not handled properly, it can damage your relationship with the people important to you. Even if you meant well, we all have the same opinion that we don't want to let you bear the burden all by yourself.」
「…Ahaha. Then, let's divide it into five equal parts. Except for Lem, we're all still poor, so we'll all depend on you, the successful person, to pay.」
Around the time we came to an agreement, a special means of transportation arrived.
The wind is blowing.
The sound of wings flapping in the air.
He or she is trying to land in a location distant from us, but I still felt the wind pressure that seemed as if it could blow my body away.
「Are you Altreed's son?」
A low and calm voice. It seemed to be a『he』.
「That's right, nice to meet you.」
It's a Dragon.
Fenix and Lily also rode a Dragon when they rushed to my village before, but this Dragon is much bigger than that one.
How big is the Dragon? He is so big that Melania, who is Half-Giant, would have no problem riding it.
The color of his scales are green. It's a little blackish, but it looks more greenish.
There are probably only a few Dragons in the world that have interacted with humans that are this big.
As an Adventurer, I can't help but wonder how am I supposed to fight against this huge Dragon, if one had appeared in a Dungeon.
「…It's rare for an Adventurer to look at me and think about something like that.」
「!」
Did he read my mind? ―That shouldn't be it.
It's probably because I had an easy-to-understand expression.
His jewel-like eyes moved and glanced at us.
「Just like how humans constantly change in a short period of time, it seems that the common sense of Adventurers has also changed.」
「No, it probably hasn't changed that much.」
「If that's the case, are you a particularly unusual Hero?」
Is he talking about the Party composition?
As the comrades of a Hero, it is true that the 4 of us have unusual races or Jobs.
「I wonder about that.」
「…Ohh. That guy has an interesting child.」
「Say that to my father, not to me.」
「I will.」
The Dragon narrowed his eyes. He's laughing, isn't he?
After that, we were finally ready to board.
The space on top of his back seemed to be customized for the passengers.
It seems that baskets and small structures are also okay, but we want to travel as a whole Party.
A closed space only for humans would hinder that.
So, we only have footholds made of wood.
Melania, who was the last one to get on, and the rest of us are at different eye levels, but we're all together.
「Are you ready?」
The Dragon asked.
「We're ready.」
When Wraith answered, the Dragon emitted a tremendous amount of magical energy.
It's Wind Magic.
In conjunction with the movement of his wings, he gets a boost from the Wind Magic.
Immediately after I realized that this huge body had floated, it rose steadily.
In the blink of an eye, we were already at a height where I could see the clouds next to me.
The reason why I don't feel the wind or the chill is because he's also using Wind Magic to protect the 'cargo'.
Melania, who was tense before the flight, let out a「Wow」at the view from the sky.
Josh still looked nervous. Fran's face was expressionless as usual.
The leader Wraith was smiling cheerfully.
Even though our emotions when we departed were not the same, I think that sharing this moment together has a very important meaning.
Especially since this Party has just been formed.
It's okay even if we're not together all the time.
The experience of sharing an important moment together will become the Party's source of encouragement.
We spent the same time on the Dragon's back, looking at each other and smiling naturally.
From this point on, the 5 members of the Wraith Party will embark on a journey together.
Chapter end
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