Chapter 605 - Chapter Six: The Four Great Dragons
The Fire Dragon approved the search for the Scorpions. It seemed to have no interest in the Scorpions and began spear practice with Henry-sama, the Dragonewt Chieftain, the Vice-Chieftain, and Gwyn-sama. It probably thinks D-ranks are not worth its time.
We watched over them with the Gnome and the Salamander. After they had swung their weapons around for a while, Henry-sama naturally settled into the position of teacher. That Dragonewt is imitating Henry-sama's stance.
"Henry-danna was called the strongest warrior in history when he was young, wasn't he?"
The Salamander is asking.
"That is true. However, regarding the spear, there was one user who was his equal."
The spear user would be Edward-sama's father. He's Sianya's uncle.
"The reason Henry was called the strongest warrior in history is that he did not choose his weapons. Starting from unarmed combat and stone throwing, he perfectly mastered everything from bows and arrows, swords, spears, staves, and even hammers, axes, and knives."
"That's amazing. He's truly a monster."
When I nodded emphatically, Eleanor-sama glared at me.
"He is a literal genius."
If the 'Eleanor of Tactics' says so, it must be true.
"So a genius met a genius and they got married. You are also quite a user, aren't you?"
This time it's the Gnome.
"No, I am effort. As far as I know, there was another genius mage. She was Henry's equal in unarmed combat and staff techniques, and she also mastered holy magic. It was because she was there that Henry was called the strongest warrior in history, rather than just the strongest."
"Who is that?"
"Her name is Catherine. She is Jeanne's teacher."
"Heh—," the Salamander and the Gnome said, looking at me. Even if you look at me, I don't know.
Around the time the genius Henry-sensei's spear lecture ended, Eleanor-sama spread a piece of leather with a simple teleportation magic circle drawn on it on the ground. After sending a letter and waiting for a while, the one who jumped in was Angelica-san.
"What on earth happened?"
I was surprised. When we were going to the continent, she had deliberated quite a bit about whether to come along to study cooking. I didn't think she would participate in a place like this.
"She can commute this time, you see."
Come to think of it, she gave up on the continent because she couldn't commute. She hasn't wavered at all.
Those meeting Angelica-san for the first time are the Fire Dragon, the Dragonewts, and Gwyn-sama.
"Oh! Is that not Angelica-dono? I never thought I would meet Angelica-dono in a place like this."
"What, I'm happy that Angelica-san came!"
The two spirits of earth and fire are overjoyed. When Angelica-san offered one of the two baskets she was holding with a cloth over them to each, they were both delighted.
"This is it, this is it."
When the Gnome took off the cloth, there was a mushroom pie inside.
"That one is specifically for Gnome-sama. I am giving it to you whole, so please eat it."
"Oh! Is that so? My apologies."
The Gnome is munching on it happily. His face is crumbling like a landslide. It's like he's eating a grandchild's home cooking.
The other basket is a special roast beef specifically for the Salamander. It seems she used plenty of leeks and garlic, and when the cloth was removed, a fragrance that went beyond 'savory' spread.
"You're always so kind."
When the Salamander picked up a slice with the tip of his claw, he tossed it into his large mouth.
"Kaa—! This hits the spot, it really hits the spot!"
There was a 'bowa' sound and his body grew larger. To think it has a greater effect than Finis's top-shelf stuff... what does that mean?
"As I thought, I cannot do without this."
"Exactly!"
Angelica the Ogre... before I knew it, the baiting of half of the Four Great Spirits was complete. She's a woman who cannot be underestimated.
For the others, there are two barrels of alcohol. One of them is for the Fire Dragon.
"Everyone, nice to meet you. I am Angelica of Sertoria."
"A-Ah. Nice to meet you."
The Dragonewt Chieftain, who was dumbfounded by her taming the earth and fire spirits, is intimidated.
Naturally, Angelica-san didn't just come to deliver snacks.
"Well then, Angelica. Please."
Eleanor-sama spreads a large awning on the ground. A complicated-looking magic circle is drawn on it.
"Yes. Clump Sand!"
She digs up soil and swirls it into the air, and on top of the awning magic circle, the clump of soil grows larger and larger into a giant mass.
I've seen this sight somewhere before...
"Oho. A magnificent thing."
"Heh, isn't Angelica-san great?"
What the two spirits are looking at is a dragon made of soil... I think?
I feel like something is different.
The soil dragons Angelica-san has made until now were bipedal like the Fire Dragon in front of us. However, this one is on all fours like the Earth Dragon. Its legs are also thick and short. Its neck is long, though not as long as the Water Dragon's. It has giant wings like a Wyvern's, and its intrepid face and magnificent horns are just like the Fire Dragon's. Diamond-shaped dorsal fins are lined up on its back, and four spikes grow from the tip of its long tail, two on each side. Its size, or rather its length from the tip of its neck to the tip of its tail, is about the length of two humans. It's not that large. The height of its back isn't even the height of one human.
"Angelica-san, what is this?"
"It's the Four Great Dragons (Concept) drawn jointly by Beatrix and Mary."
Apparently, it's a new species that mixes all the features of the four dragons. The size was likely made to be easy to create.
The face looks exactly like the Fire Dragon's. Beatrix and Mary have both seen the real thing. They fought the Hydra together and faced off. Both of them seemed to remember the details well.
When the Salamander explained to the Fire Dragon, the Fire Dragon 'guon-guon'-ed. Judging by the way it's shaking its head left and right, it seems unsatisfied. Well, I suppose so. From the Fire Dragon's perspective, if she's going to make one, it would be better if it looked exactly like itself.
"Angelica-san. He's saying the horn is missing one segment."
That part? Aren't there more important parts?
"The number of segments on a horn represents age. It is important."
"Oh? My apologies. I will fix it right away."
The segments seem to be the parts where it branches. He's saying the number is different.
The Fire Dragon lowered its head and is showing its horns to Angelica-san. If you look closely, there's a place near the tip where the angle is slightly different. It seems a branch hasn't come out yet. Normally, you'd miss that.
Angelica-san measured the length of the real thing with her thumb and index finger and corrected the soil dragon's horn.
He's 'guon-guon'-ing with joy.
Angelica-san won the praise of everyone by making a soil dragon during the Revenant incident in Nakanohara and during the maneuvers. Combined with the fact that she uses ice magic, for a time, a rumor that was even more exaggerated than the original—that she was a summoner of an ice dragon that breathed blizzards (though I don't know where such a thing exists)—circulated among her fans. I'm told various things too, but I think this person is much more amazing.
Eleanor-sama took out a magic stone. After putting it into the hole in the chest area, she moves everyone away from the soil dragon.
"Well then, here I go. Hardened Sand! Clump Sand! Sand Pillar! Clump Sand!"
It's a four-hit combo. Moreover, she's arranging it to 'Sand' in two places where it should originally be 'Stone'. No, accurately, three. If I recall correctly, Clump Sand is supposed to be an arrangement of Clump Stone.
With this, the reason Sianya participated this time is finally revealed. It's because she's using Puppet, the magic to move golems. It'll be the first debut in Finis, even if it's only to Gwyn-sama. He said it was dragon-watching, but I didn't think it would be a soil dragon golem.
Angelica-san, who suddenly appeared via teleportation, was likely chosen for her excellent modeling skills.
"Awaken! Sand Golem!"
When Eleanor-sama speaks, the magic circle glows around where the core magic stone was buried. When the light emitted from the two magic circles, including the one at its feet, enveloped the Golem Dragon, it made a sound like a groan.
With a shake of its body as if it had shivered, it roared toward the sky. Then, it stepped out of the magic circle with a 'dosun-dosun' and stopped.
"Oh! It moves!"
"That's great!"
For some reason, the two spirits are excited. Even though they should be the most knowledgeable about magic.
But I wonder what we'll do with this thing.
The Fire Dragon and the two spirits are very happy, but I don't know the use.
"With this, we will lure out the Demon Race."
"No, that's probably impossible."
Who would be hooked by a soil dragon of a non-existent Four Great Dragons?
"Angelica. One more effort, please."
"Yes. I will do it with all my heart."
Eh? Is this not the end?
Angelica-san spread out a large simple magic circle. Eleanor-sama moves the soil dragon onto the magic circle.
"Here I go. Change Four Major Colors! Dye it!"
It's an arrangement this time too. I've never seen four colors at once. It's common to cast the original single-color dye on four targets at once, but to change the colors is surprising. When the rainbow-like light of four colors burst from both of Angelica-san's hands toward the Golem Dragon, the Golem Dragon changed into a truly beautiful pattern with light blue, yellow-green, red, and brown—representing the four elements—scattered like spots. It has a luster like polished metal and shines in the sunlight. Moreover, the color tone changes depending on the angle you look at it. Since the magic circle is a continuous type, it will stay like this for two weeks.
"It is a wonderful result, Angelica."
"Umu, it is truly a good result. It is a literal work of art."
"Just looking at it makes the alcohol go down well."
Everyone claps. It's high praise.
This wonderfully beautiful Golem Dragon is apparently a decoy to lure out the Demon Race. We'll have it wander through the forest and follow it. If the Demon Race comes out, they'll investigate it, so we'll ambush them there.
I wonder if it'll go that well. The Fire Dragon hunts with Gwyn-sama and the others daily. They also have spear practice. There's no way the Demon Race wouldn't be on guard, and they must be monitoring them. Combined with the fact that this is the only place they can think of as a supply source for the Scorpions, they seem to have thought of doing something.
"But why a golem of the Four Great Dragons?"
"It is to avoid involving the Fire Dragon in the conflict between humans and the Demon Race."
We can't have the Fire Dragon participate. So, we use a golem. And that golem must be very conspicuous and must not resemble the Fire Dragon. Of course, the spirits won't participate either. Moreover, this time, Eleanor-sama apparently arranged it specially. By chanting Clump Sand twice, it can apparently perform slightly more complex movements than usual. If a suspicious, mysterious dragon wanders through the forest, they will surely come to investigate, she says.
"Because it is a mysterious dragon, the Demon Race will be hooked. The Demon Race should want to know whether humans are in league with the dragon. And more than that, they should want to know the true identity of this mysterious dragon."
Hmm. Is it that hobby-like? I have my doubts.
Since the spirits and the Fire Dragon must not be involved, after the party ended at dusk, everyone except the search party was asked to return. The Fire Dragon seemed reluctant to leave. It seemed to be talking about various things with Eleanor-sama, but it seemed to understand after being persuaded by the Salamander, and we said our goodbyes. Angelica-san, who was commuting, also went home after finishing her task. Incidentally, Angelica-san's earnings this time are apparently twenty gold coins. It's a generous reward for one middle-level magic and one simple magic circle... though it's an application. Next time, I'll ask the Headmistress about the applied use of holy magic.
Less than an hour after we disbanded, it began to get dark.
"Well then, Jeanne. The final touch. Please produce two Fireflies and put them into the hollows of the dragon's eyes. With that, it is complete."
As I was told, I put in the eyeballs and lit them. Normal monsters probably won't approach.
"Advance," Eleanor-sama commands the golem. We decided to track it in a hidden bowl as it walked with a 'zun-zun' pace, skillfully folding its large wings.
Since we are illuminating the path with Light, we can see well. Since we are trying to illuminate as wide a range as possible, we can mostly see where the golem is going. Of course, since Wilson-san is here, it would be fine even if we turned it off. It's likely for the sake of being conspicuous.
"Once some time has passed since the Fire Dragon disappeared, the magical beasts will come out. It should be about time."
Gwyn-sama says that when the Fire Dragon is there, the magical beasts lurk in places far from the crater. Now there's only the Golem Dragon. They might attack, he says.
"It would be killing two birds with one stone if the Scorpions came out, though."
Scorpions are D-rank. Robinson-san will apparently control them.
"What will you do after controlling them?"
"We will search for the magic circle."
"Can you do such a thing?"
I wonder if Scorpions can understand magic circles.
"I don't know about that. But when I control a Scorpion, I convey my will. At that time, I can also feel its will."
Apparently, when he gives an instruction, he can tell if it hates it. And while it follows instructions, its actions become overtly passive. Come to think of it, when Robinson-san controlled the bats in the Demon Lord's cave, the bats' attacks became passive halfway through. His view was that in addition to the opponents being spiders and centipedes that have poison, they had eaten too much by then and had become disgusted.
"Just as magical beasts don't come out of the forest for fear of the Fire Dragon, even a high-ranking Demon is an object of fear. Don't you think there's a magic circle in the place where that Demon frequently appears?"
"In other words, you mean that if we go to the place the Scorpion truly hates going to, we'll reach the magic circle?"
"I think so."
I see. This is the difference in experience.