Led by their guide, Raidorl and Neferte climbed up the Fernigesh mountain range.
The Fernigesh mountain range was a chain of several mountains, but the mountain where the dragons lived was relatively low and thickly wooded.
As they made their way along the mountain path with accustomed gait, the….old man spoke to Raidorl and the others behind him without looking back.
“When the mountains reach a certain height, they stop growing big trees. There are tall trees around now, but as you go higher up, there is only grass and shrubs, and further up there is snow even in summer. The black dragon Fernigesh lives in a cave right on the border where the trees stop growing.”
“Umu, you know a lot…..have you been up this mountain plenty of times?”
When Raidorl asks, the old man looks back lightly and nods his head.
“Mm, well. My family has been hunters for generations, and in my village I’ve been given the role of a sort of mountain caretaker. I’m only in charge of thinning out the wolves so they don’t overpopulate, and looking for those who have gone missing in the mountains”
“Are these mountains inhabited by dangerous dragons? Is it safe to go hunting in those mountains?”
It was Neferte who asked curiously.
Neferte was trying to control his rough breathing, but still followed behind Raidorl without showing any tiredness.
Although Neferte was the youngest of them all, his steps were heavier than Raidorl’s, even heavier than the old man’s. Rather than being physically inferior, he was probably not used to walking in mountains and forests.
“The black dragons are unlikely to attack you as long as you don’t set foot in their territory. The sub-dragons that belong to them also won’t attack people unless they are very hungry, wolves and bears are rather more fearsome beasts.”
“Hmm…..dragons, I imagined dragons to be more fearsome, but they are surprisingly mild-mannered?”
“Aa…… if dragons were ferocious and brutal creatures, the world of man might already be over. They’re far more benign than those vicious aristocrats and such.”
This time it was not the old man, but Raidorl who replied.
Leviathan the Sea King
White Dragon Lindworm
Queen Tiamat
Jörmungandr, the serpent dragon
These dragon species――are the most powerful demons known to anyone. They are deeply embedded in the legends, folklore and myths of every nation.
However, despite their overwhelming fame, they rarely cause major damage to human society.
It is not that there were no people who tried to attack. ….Many of them are intruders who have unintentionally stepped into their territory, barbarians who have recklessly tried and failed to 『slay the dragon』, or fools who have been literally scaled back in search of rare materials such as blood and scales.
Compared to 『sub-dragon』 or 『dragon-mimetic』 demons such as basilisks, real dragons are mild-mannered and do not like conflict.
“To begin with, one of the definitions of a being called a dragon species is that it is as intelligent as a human. It’s not like a basilisk or hydra that indiscriminately devours humans when it sees them. That’s a creature as different as a man and an ape.”
“Your Highness Raidorl seems to know a lot about them……Have you ever encountered a dragon, by any chance?”
“Aa……I met one once in the 『Devil’s Forest』 a long time ago. Fortunately, that one wasn’t hostile, so they let me off the hook, but I thought my whole blood froze in my body when they stared at me.”
Raidorl shook his head as he recalled the unpleasant memory.
It was one of the few memories of Raidorl’s defeated. It was a failure caused by his own inexperience. It is a scar that is too bitter to be dismissed as a youthful mistake.
“That’s fine…..it was a long time ago and I won’t run into that thing anymore. It’s not about that, it’s about Fernigesh, the Black Dragon, who is now on this mountain.”
“…..Your Highness Raidorl, do you really intend to strike down the Black Dragon?”
The old man asked in a quiet tone.
The old man had offered to show Raidorl the way, but apparently he was not very supportive of defeating the Black Dragon.
The Fernigesh mountain range is a den of demons, but thanks to the Black Dragon weeding out the stronger demons, we are able to live. There has been no noticeable trouble so far, and it may be somewhat violent to call it a defeat.
It was too impolite a word for a mere old man to utter.
An old villager, neither noble nor knight, had objected to the behaviour of the royal Raidorl.
But….Raidorl did not seem offended. He had only grown up in a frontier city full of crude outlaws, and he was not so particular about etiquette as to be bothered by this level of advice.
“I don’t have any personal grudge against Ferniguesch either. But……it’s true that the sub-dragons are ravaging the foothills. The black dragon itself has not shown itself, but we can’t just leave it there.”
Thanks to the rampaging sub-dragons, the surrounding villages have been affected. If left unchecked, it could hinder the battle against the Witch Osman and the undead.
“Of course, if Fernigesh is willing to draw the line, I won’t force myself to take him down. I don’t know why his fellow sub–dragon is raiding human settlements, but if…we can talk to him, we won’t take violent measures. Are you satisfied with this answer?”
“………..”
The old man silently bows his head and continues up the mountain without stopping. He may not be convinced, but he seems to have accepted it anyway.
Raidorl follows the old man’s back up the mountain path, mindful of Neferte behind him.
After several stops along the way and detours to avoid roads that had become impassable due to crustal movement…..Raidorl and his team arrived at their destination after about half a day.
They arrived at an open area in the middle of the mountain. There, countless giant skalengecks the size of bears were wriggling about.
Dozens of them, possibly more than a hundred, were fighting each other and feeding on each other.
They devour beasts, birds, plants…… and humans.
The jet-black, ink-black monitor lizard was in the middle of a disastrous feast, gobbling up and swallowing all manner of flora and fauna.
Led by their guide, Raidorl and Neferte climbed up the Fernigesh mountain range.
The Fernigesh mountain range was a chain of several mountains, but the mountain where the dragons lived was relatively low and thickly wooded.
As they made their way along the mountain path with accustomed gait, the….old man spoke to Raidorl and the others behind him without looking back.
“When the mountains reach a certain height, they stop growing big trees. There are tall trees around now, but as you go higher up, there is only grass and shrubs, and further up there is snow even in summer. The black dragon Fernigesh lives in a cave right on the border where the trees stop growing.”
“Umu, you know a lot…..have you been up this mountain plenty of times?”
When Raidorl asks, the old man looks back lightly and nods his head.
“Mm, well. My family has been hunters for generations, and in my village I’ve been given the role of a sort of mountain caretaker. I’m only in charge of thinning out the wolves so they don’t overpopulate, and looking for those who have gone missing in the mountains”
“Are these mountains inhabited by dangerous dragons? Is it safe to go hunting in those mountains?”
It was Neferte who asked curiously.
Neferte was trying to control his rough breathing, but still followed behind Raidorl without showing any tiredness.
Although Neferte was the youngest of them all, his steps were heavier than Raidorl’s, even heavier than the old man’s. Rather than being physically inferior, he was probably not used to walking in mountains and forests.
“The black dragons are unlikely to attack you as long as you don’t set foot in their territory. The sub-dragons that belong to them also won’t attack people unless they are very hungry, wolves and bears are rather more fearsome beasts.”
“Hmm…..dragons, I imagined dragons to be more fearsome, but they are surprisingly mild-mannered?”
“Aa…… if dragons were ferocious and brutal creatures, the world of man might already be over. They’re far more benign than those vicious aristocrats and such.”
This time it was not the old man, but Raidorl who replied.
Leviathan the Sea King
White Dragon Lindworm
Queen Tiamat
Jörmungandr, the serpent dragon
These dragon species――are the most powerful demons known to anyone. They are deeply embedded in the legends, folklore and myths of every nation.
However, despite their overwhelming fame, they rarely cause major damage to human society.
It is not that there were no people who tried to attack. ….Many of them are intruders who have unintentionally stepped into their territory, barbarians who have recklessly tried and failed to 『slay the dragon』, or fools who have been literally scaled back in search of rare materials such as blood and scales.
Compared to 『sub-dragon』 or 『dragon-mimetic』 demons such as basilisks, real dragons are mild-mannered and do not like conflict.
“To begin with, one of the definitions of a being called a dragon species is that it is as intelligent as a human. It’s not like a basilisk or hydra that indiscriminately devours humans when it sees them. That’s a creature as different as a man and an ape.”
“Your Highness Raidorl seems to know a lot about them……Have you ever encountered a dragon, by any chance?”
“Aa……I met one once in the 『Devil’s Forest』 a long time ago. Fortunately, that one wasn’t hostile, so they let me off the hook, but I thought my whole blood froze in my body when they stared at me.”
Raidorl shook his head as he recalled the unpleasant memory.
It was one of the few memories of Raidorl’s defeated. It was a failure caused by his own inexperience. It is a scar that is too bitter to be dismissed as a youthful mistake.
“That’s fine…..it was a long time ago and I won’t run into that thing anymore. It’s not about that, it’s about Fernigesh, the Black Dragon, who is now on this mountain.”
“…..Your Highness Raidorl, do you really intend to strike down the Black Dragon?”
The old man asked in a quiet tone.
The old man had offered to show Raidorl the way, but apparently he was not very supportive of defeating the Black Dragon.
The Fernigesh mountain range is a den of demons, but thanks to the Black Dragon weeding out the stronger demons, we are able to live. There has been no noticeable trouble so far, and it may be somewhat violent to call it a defeat.
It was too impolite a word for a mere old man to utter.
An old villager, neither noble nor knight, had objected to the behaviour of the royal Raidorl.
But….Raidorl did not seem offended. He had only grown up in a frontier city full of crude outlaws, and he was not so particular about etiquette as to be bothered by this level of advice.
“I don’t have any personal grudge against Ferniguesch either. But……it’s true that the sub-dragons are ravaging the foothills. The black dragon itself has not shown itself, but we can’t just leave it there.”
Thanks to the rampaging sub-dragons, the surrounding villages have been affected. If left unchecked, it could hinder the battle against the Witch Osman and the undead.
“Of course, if Fernigesh is willing to draw the line, I won’t force myself to take him down. I don’t know why his fellow sub–dragon is raiding human settlements, but if…we can talk to him, we won’t take violent measures. Are you satisfied with this answer?”
“………..”
The old man silently bows his head and continues up the mountain without stopping. He may not be convinced, but he seems to have accepted it anyway.
Raidorl follows the old man’s back up the mountain path, mindful of Neferte behind him.
After several stops along the way and detours to avoid roads that had become impassable due to crustal movement…..Raidorl and his team arrived at their destination after about half a day.
They arrived at an open area in the middle of the mountain. There, countless giant skalengecks the size of bears were wriggling about.
Dozens of them, possibly more than a hundred, were fighting each other and feeding on each other.
They devour beasts, birds, plants…… and humans.
The jet-black, ink-black monitor lizard was in the middle of a disastrous feast, gobbling up and swallowing all manner of flora and fauna.
