’s training, and their stats were raised enough so that they were more than able to handle the adult emissaries.If I am able to dispel their brainwashing in the future, it might be fun to become adventurers together with this party of five.
But before that――that is something for after we get through this predicament.
That said, I wonder if we could actually beat the firedrake with this lineup?
Let’s try asking Melby-sensei.
“Hey, around how strong is the firedrake?
Do we have any hope of beating it with these guys?”
“Let’s see……a dragon’s strength varies depending on its age, but as long as it’s not an extremely young dragon, I think it would be pretty tough for these children?
To defeat a firedrake, it would take a small military troop.”
“You can’t help, right?”
Melby, as a fairy, is under constraints that prevent her from intentionally causing harm to another person.
“Since dragons aren’t monsters, it’s impossible.
Although I can protect you if it comes down to it, I can’t aggressively attack.”
“In other words, it’s an enemy that can be reasoned with?”
“Yeeah……while there are some elder dragons who can understand human language, it’s impossible for most dragons.
But fundamentally, as long as you don’t trespa.s.s in a dragon’s territory, dragons usually won’t take the initiative to attack.”
“Then what was that before?”
“Like Elemia said, that was merely the firedrake building a lair.
If the firedrake felt like attacking seriously, it wouldn’t have ended as lightly as that.”
“So we’ve got no choice but to run, huh.
Luckily, we still haven’t entered the dragon’s territory yet, have we?”
“That’s right. Since the area around here hasn’t become part of the firedrake’s lair yet, there shouldn’t be any problems as long as we don’t encounter it unexpectedly.”
Okay, I’ve received Melby-sensei’s guidance.
Although I was worried about what would happen at one point, it seems like we’ll be able to get through this somehow.
――Or so I thought, but…….
One hour later.
“――Hey, Fellow Believer Orochi.”
「What is it?」
「……We’re heading downwards right now, right?」
「Yeah……unfortunately.」
There was no need for Miguel to point it out, I already knew.
The cavern we were in gently sloped downwards while occasionally curving at sharp turns.
On top of that, the state of the cavern suddenly changed midway.
As if――yes, like even a firedrake with a large frame could pa.s.s through.
「This is… the mark of a firedrake, right.」
Elemia said as she investigated the wall.
The reason the cavern walls have hardened in a wave-like shape is because that is what remains after they have been melted by the firedrake’s breath and solidified after cooling down.
In other words, this is already part of the labyrinth made by the firedrake.
“How troubling.”
I guess there’s no way other than to turn back and use 《Tunnel》 and 《Concrete》 to make a pa.s.sageway identical to the ducts, huh.
But, if we were to do that, that would lead to the conversation topic of why I didn’t do that from the beginning.
But, it’s not like I can fight the firedrake with these guys.
And it’s not like we can guarantee a zone that was safe from its breath like in games.
If it were to breathe out in a narrow s.p.a.ce, we would be unable to dodge and end up disintegrating.
I made a decision after hesitating for a bit.
――I guess turning back would be best.
It’s a bit shameful as a leader, but I won’t compromise our safely.
It happened when I stopped walking and opened my mouth.
“……Something is coming.”
Elemia said.
Although I also have the same [Sense Presence] skill as Elemia, it seems like Elemia is better at reading presences.
“What is?”
I turn back and ask Eemia.
Elemia’s face pales in an instant.
“Fellow Believer Orochi……be, behind you……”
Miguel says in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
I incrementally turn my head around to look back.
――Our eyes met.
I met eyes with the firedrake that extended its neck around the corner.
“……Re-”
“Re?”
“Retreat!”
The four ran away at full speed at my words.
ROARRRR-!
Then, the firedrake releases its breath towards us..
“Ku-……! Ω (Gaia) 乙(Circle)――《Stone Wall》!”
Using [Earth Spirit Magic], I make as many stone walls as I could in one go, then follow the four.
The moment we finished turning the corner right ahead of us, an intense heat bursts out from behind.
When I turned around with a shudder, I saw that the corridor had turned into a red hot sea of lava.
Past that, I look at the seemingly pleasantly-smiling firedrake and―― [Appraisal].
《Firedrake
HP 4539/4539
MP 692/712
Abilities (Innate ability. Can be strengthened through a Gift or Curse depending on the proficiency level.)
Acid Spray ★☆☆☆☆
〔Pa.s.sive (A pa.s.sively invoked ability.)〕 Detoxification ★☆☆☆☆ (Decomposes harmful microscopic substances within the body.)
〔Pa.s.sive〕 Regeneration ★☆☆☆☆ (By consuming magic energy, damage to the flesh is recovered.)
Skills
[Stealth Steps] 7
[Dragon Limb Combat] 3
[Dragon Scale Defense] 2 》
There seems to be a lot of issues to retort at, but now isn’t the time for that!
“π (Aqua) ・ 乙 (Circle) ・ ∨ (Spread) ・ 卜 (Flame)――《Ice Wall》!”
In the s.p.a.ce between us and the firedrake that looks as though it will send another breath attack, I deploy an original ice-making magic at full strength and block up the pa.s.sageway.
I also set up a 《Stone Wall》 in front of that just in case.
“Run, run!”
As I rush the four, I energetically dash to the next corner.
The instant we turn the corner, I hear a terrific explosive sound from behind but I ignore that.
While we are outside of the firedrake’s field of view, I dig a hole with 《Tunnel》 in the shadow of the crags.
Although I’ve made the entrance narrow so it doesn’t stand out, the inside should be be decently s.p.a.cious.
“Come in here!”
As I yell out, I take the initiative to slip into the hole.
Afterwards, I go up to the hole we entered through,
“Ω (Gaia) ・ 乙(Circle) ――《Stone Wall》”
and fill it in with [Earth Spirit Magic].
Thanks to the training style of , the four immediately erase their presences in accordance to my hand signs.Of course, I also erase my presence and use [Sense Presence] to check the state of the area outside the hole (though it’s a wall now).
The firedrake approaches with loud footsteps that torment my heart ―― then, just like that, the footsteps fade away.
It seems like we managed to get it to bypa.s.s us without incident.
“……It seems we’re alright for now.”
When I say that, the four of them let out sighs of relief in unison.