Defiled Hero Chapter 030

Defiled Hero

Water Dragon and Goblin King

「Was it around here that they said the water dragon could show up?」 (Izayoi)

We mounted Rigolo, and spent several hours flying to our destination. We arrived at a village surrounded by wetlands.

Surveying the wetlands from high in the sky, the dragon couldn't be seen because it was underwater. Looking around, there was a conspicuously large lake at the edge of the wetlands.

Did the water dragon live there originally, or did it travel there due to heavy rain?

Even if you found it, how would you fight against it?

Fighting underwater is impossible, and I don't think it's a good idea to attack it from the sky while mounted on Rigolo. It would be good if it could be fought on land.

「Even if we find it while looking from above, we can't fight it. Let's go down and fight on land.」 (Izayoi)

We disembarked on the outskirts of the village. The ground is normally muddy. I need to be careful.

When we came to ground that hadn't be submerged, several shadows could be seen.

「Someone's there! Is it Uri's turn?」 (Uri)

「No, there's nothing to be concerned about. They're most likely residents of the village.」 (Izayoi)

Several people could be seen driving stakes into the muddy earth. They continued to pound stakes into the ground.

They're most likely making a fence.

「What are you doing, young lady? You shouldn't come over here because it's dangerous.」 (Plump Man)

A rather plump man rushed over.

「It's fine. We've come to defeat the water dragon.」 (Izayoi)

「Defeat the water dragon? Really? We submitted a request with the guild but nobody came and we've been having a hard time.」 (Plump Man)

「They heard the scary rumors about the dragon, or so... the people from the guild said.」 (Izayoi)

I feel like I'm forgetting something, but it's probably nothing and I shouldn't worry about it.

「That's right. There was a rumor that the dragon lived in a tall mountain before, but nobody's actually seen that yet. Dragons are the strongest S-rank monsters. Only rash individuals would live in the village near the mountain that the dragon was rumored to live in.」 (Plump Man)

「I'm not particularly interested.」 (Izayoi)

「...Troubled, so help.」 (Tear)

「Even though she's small, she's an outstanding young lady. But, will it be alright?」 (Plump Man)

「...Will be fine. Rigolo is here.」 (Tear)

「*Kuke!*」 (Rigolo)

「This is surprising. Is that a gryphon? It seems very reliable.」 (Plump Man)

「You don't seem very surprised though.」 (Izayoi)

「Well, I said it before didn't I? Curious adventurers come to this village. An old man came to defeat the dragon and climbed the mountain.」 (Plump Man)

「We came here strictly to do work. Don't confuse us with other people.」 (Izayoi)

「Hahaha. Sorry about that. Please defeat the water dragon. It's been appearing more frequently. We've been building this fence, but is it unnecessary already?」 (Plump Man)

「More frequently? I'd be glad if it showed itself right——」 (Izayoi)

An intense spray shot skyward, and a shadow surrounded me.

「——What good timing.」 (Izayoi)

It's convenient that it showed up over there. There's not much of a threat if it doesn't go to the edge of the lake. The ground has good footing.

The villagers started screaming, and began to run about.

「You should back up.」 (Izayoi)

「Will you be alright? How will you beat the water dragon while it's in the lake?」 (Plump Man)

「Right. It might be impossible if it retreats into the water. But it’s ready to attack us. Won't it be fine if I defeat it by countering it when it attacks?」 (Izayoi)

The long, slender body started to slither about. The body became transparent, and white patches appeared on its blue body.

「*Shaaa—*」 (Water Dragon)

I can't tell if it's a snake or a dragon, but whatever.

It probably can't come over here because we're away from the edge of the lake.

「Alright. Tear, try defeating it by yourself.」 (Izayoi)

「...By myself?」 (Tear)

Her expression immediately change to unease, and her ears dropped.

「Ah, using your power to make it your slav... friend is necessary. You aren't alone either, Tear.」 (Izayoi)

「*Kukeke!*」 (Rigolo)

Rigolo stuck out his chest as if saying to depend on him.

「You have trained up until now to raise your strength. However, that's the very minimum to start. You're originally a monster tamer. There's no reason you can't win against the B-rank water dragon. Believe Rigolo and everyone and fight.」 (Izayoi)

「...Rigolo, everyone?」 (Tear)

「You became friends with the goblin king yesterday, right? Summon your battle slave... and fight together with it.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, fight? How to, summon?」 (Tear)

「Right. "S, save me goblin king—" should summon him.」 (Izayoi)

「...Save me, goblin king—」 (Tear)

Magic power flowed out from Tear, white light converged, then burst outward.

「...*Gura?*」 (Goblin King)

The goblin king who had been relaxing comfortably appeared.

「...Please. Fight, together.」 (Tear)

「*Gu, gura...*」 (Goblin King)

It didn't seem to understand what was happening, but it went along with it.

As the water dragon kept watch at the edge of the water, Rigolo and the goblin king went out.

「*Shaaaa*」 (Water Dragon)

「*Kukeei!*」 (Rigolo)

「*Guraa?*」 (Goblin King)

The fight between monsters began.

The enemy is B-rank. We have the A-rank Rigolo and B-rank goblin king.

I hadn't gotten particularly close to the water's edge when I prepared to counter, and the water dragon immediately ran away.

「It ran away! No fair!」 (Uri)

The water dragon determined it couldn't win and escaped somewhere.

I won't let it go.

「...Fiere and Reri, can you get off of me?」 (Izayoi)

I tore away the two people who had been clinging to me the whole time.

「Fiere hasn't recovered all of her magic power yet! Just a bit more oniichan.」 (Fiere)

「...Reri doesn't want to let go. We'll be together for life. I'll become your bride.」 (Reri)

「Just let go already. You'll drown if you don't.」 (Izayoi)

Getting the two off, I removed my equipment and my shirt.

「You aren't planning on jumping in are you? That's reckless!」 (Plump Man)

The plump man tried to stop me.

「It's fine. I'm not exactly going to fight it.」 (Izayoi)

「You're not going to fight it? What are you...」 (Plump Man)

Without waiting for the man's words, I placed my foot onto the surface of the water.

Leaning my body forward, I took another step.

「Wah! Master is running on the water!」 (Uri)

「Running on the water? What is he doing? He disappeared in an instant?」 (Plump Man)

Although I heard voices behind me, I ran without paying any attention to them.

To be more precise, I wasn't running on the water, but rather jumping off of it. I appeared to glide across the water, repeatedly kicking off of the surface before my foot broke through.

The water dragon isn't particularly fast. I caught up to it immediately.

Is it right below me?

It was meandering about deep below the surface.

Bracing my legs on the water, a large spray came up as I slowed down.

I dove into the water. I can see it.

Grabbing its body, I raced back to the surface using a dolphin kick. (TN: It's a swimming reference, not some martial art reference.)

「*Shaaa*」 (Water Dragon)

Flying out of the water like a fish, I let go of the water dragon.

「Alright. Now demonstrate your friendship.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ok.」 (Tear)

I suppressed the rampaging water dragon, waiting for the contract to end.

「...Became friends.」 (Tear)

「Friends? What do you mean... Eh?」 (Plump Man)

The plump man looked at me as if I was a monster.

「Rest easy. The water dragon won't harm anyone any more.」 (Izayoi)

「...Apologizes, to everyone, says.」 (Tear)

「*Sha, shaaah...*」 (Water Dragon)

With some wiggling, it lifted its head and bowed in apology.

「From now on, will behave itself, says.」 (Tear)

「Is, is that so. Let's get along well from now on.」 (Plump Man)

The water dragon and the goblin king have about the same level of battle strength.

And so, we safely became friends with the water dragon.

A happy ending.

「Ok, should we return now?」 (Izayoi)

「*Guraa...*」 (Goblin King)

「...Ichayoi.」 (Tear)

「What?」 (Izayoi)

「King, how to send back?」 (Tear)

「Because he was summoned, can't he return?」 (Izayoi)

「...Can't.」 (Tear)

I tried various things, but the magic to send him back didn't work.

「——Please walk back.」 (Izayoi)

「*Guraa?*」 (Goblin King)

「Although it's about 300 kilometers to Geruna Valley, please walk back.」 (Izayoi)

「*G, guraaaa!*」 (Goblin King)

「And so...」 (Tear)

「*Guguraa...*」 (Goblin King)

「...Bye bye.」 (Tear)

「See you again! You were cool king!」 (Uri)

「...Later.」 (Reri)

「Fiere wants to play! Don't you have anything oniichan?」 (Fiere)

「Play? There are ghosts when we get back aren't there? Go play with those.」 (Izayoi)

「Okay!」 (Fiere)

「*Guraaaaa...*」 (Goblin King)

「See you later king. Don't go hunting any adventurers on the way back.」 (Izayoi)

「*GURAAAAAAAAAAA!*」 (Goblin King)

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