Several days had passed since the Parekian raid.
During that time, the Parekian had completely made its nest in the backyard garden of the lord's mansion.
Attempts were made to forcibly put it into the sub-space for captured monsters, but it ignored them completely, and the other captured monsters inside the sub-space were so terrified that they trembled uncontrollably... So, it was left in the backyard without any other choice.
Especially, seeing Hercules, who had been the top dog inside the sub-space, lying on its back with its belly exposed, conceding defeat, was shocking to me as well.
It must be because it's a dragon species; it seems to be of a different class indeed.
'...Would a Kraken be a match for it?'
I found myself absentmindedly fiddling with the [Ring of Kraken] on my hand.
This cephalopod monster does not reside in the sub-space as it's summoned at will. Still, maybe it could go toe to toe with the Parekian...?
'No, no, let's stop fantasizing about monster battles!'
Ahem. Anyway.'Since it hasn't caused any harm to the inhabitants, doesn't emit the evil aura characteristic of monsters, and has high loyalty... Besides, I have the Imperial Edict if necessary.'
I decided it was okay to let it stay in the backyard.
Moreover, it listens well to Violet.
Maybe because Violet has shown it the world, told it stories, and let it smell different scents. It obediently follows Violet's commands.
I applauded this miraculous duo. Bravo.
"So, the management of Parekian will continue to be handled by the Gambler's Club."
"Wow!"
While Violet looked dismayed, the rest of the Gambler's Club members were delighted.
To the other four members who hadn't seen the dragon's ferocious appearance in the dungeon, Parekian must have seemed pretty cool.
It doesn't emit any malice and just sits there dignified, moving only when Violet commands, so even to me, it looks like a respectable dragon. Though it doesn't have eyes, ears, a nose, or a mouth.
While the other four members were polishing every part of Parekian's body to make it shine, Violet muttered gloomily, lying slumped over Parekian's neck.
"Just kill me..."
Hey, hey. What's this talk of dying? Let's live until we're smearing the walls with crap, shall we?
And, most importantly. The benefit of having Parekian in the mansion's backyard garden.
Swoosh, swoosh.
It's easier to gather materials...!
As long as Violet shows it the surroundings, Parekian sits obediently in its place, not caring what we do to its body.
Thanks to this, we were able to easily trim its six long, sharply grown claws.
"These claws are incredibly hard. Truly, it's a dragon... Cutting them was difficult."
Lucas, holding the neatly trimmed long claws, clicked his tongue. Parekian's claws were long, thin, and sharp, resembling fearsome blades in themselves.
Despite the claws regrowing over time, their hardness was beyond imagination.
There were few tools in possession of the monster front that could cut through them.
Among them, Lucas's [Bestowed Sword], which was the easiest to use and could be quickly repaired if damaged, was used to saw off the long claws.
Lucas, who had become an impromptu dragon claw groomer, sweated profusely as he removed the claws.
The obtained claws were sent to the forge. They were excellent materials for weapons.
However, a problem arose.
"...We don't have the means to process it."
Crossroad forge.
The master blacksmith, trying to somehow forge weapons from the dragon's claws, declared surrender.
"It's embarrassing and regrettable, but with current human technology, we can't handle this material."
"Is it that hard...?"
"All the guild masters of the production guild gathered to brainstorm, but yes, I'm sorry..."
We possess the Nightmare Slayer and various specialized weapons, as well as several high-level spells which are somewhat compatible. Even parts of a dragon can be cut off or damaged.
But that doesn't mean we can process them into equipment. It was natural for the production guild to express difficulties.
"Uh, what to do..."
We planned to use the materials obtained from Parekian to create dragon-killing weapons - Dragon Slayers for the next raid.
Here, our plans hit a snag. What should we do?
"When in trouble, that's where I come in."
A confident voice sounded from behind us.
We all turned around in surprise. Wait, you are?!
"Kellibey!"
"Such high-quality material should naturally be entrusted to the world's greatest craftsman, Kellibey, shouldn't it?"
A bald dwarf, Kellibey, was grinning. Behind him stood other representatives of different races - Verdandi, Kuilan, King Poseidon.
"Are you all okay?"
Having had a bad reaction to a potion... oh, no, because these gods chose them as avatars and bestowed their powers, they had been severely ill these past few days. Have they recovered?
"Of course, now I'm as good as new. I'm itching to move."
Kellibey chuckled.
"I can't wait to get moving. If I can help by killing the monsters lurking in the darkness... I'd do anything."
"..."
Golden brilliance flashed in Kellibey's eyes.
The same was true for the other three. The characteristic golden glow of the transcendents was ominously shining. Their eyes had changed since they became chosen ones.
"Sorry for the long rest, Ash. But now, we're ready to return to the front."
Verdandi saluted me.
Her movements were neat, yet they were tinged with an anger that couldn't be hidden.
"Please take me with you on the next sortie. I want to be at the forefront of monster extermination."
Kuilan was still in his silvery werewolf form, banging his fists together in front of his chest.
"I don't know why the ancient gods chose me... But now that I've received this power, I should use it well. Just give the order, Captain."
"..."
I looked around at the three of them and swallowed my words for a moment.
Kellison, Skuld, and Yun.
The loved ones of these three had either died or been gravely injured. Perhaps that's why, behind their fierce fighting spirit, a clear hatred was boiling.
Only King Poseidon, the merman, remained calm, silently observing the three from behind.
"..."
But what could I possibly say to their anger and hatred?
Instead of intervening unnecessarily, I decided to prioritize what comes next.
"I want to make weapons out of these claws. Is that possible?"
The four representatives of different races examined the dragon's claws. Kellibey nodded.
"A dragon's appendage inherently contains powerful magic. If it's a part of a being like the Black Dragon Legion, it can't be processed by ordinary means."
"Then..."
"Yes. 'Unconventional' methods should suffice."
Kellibey, smiling with his beard, raised his hammer, which was then wrapped in golden magical energy. It was the power of the dwarven god.
Clang-!
The hammer struck the claw, sending sparks flying in all directions.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang-!
Initially, the claw didn't move at all, but as Kellibey persistently hammered away... it slowly started to flatten and smooth out.
The people from the production guild watching were astonished.
It was surprising to see a material that hadn't budged with our technology beginning to be shaped like it was nothing.
"Huff..."
After confirming that his hammer worked, Kellibey, wiping the sweat from his forehead, looked around at the other representatives of different races and asked.
"Will you help me?"
Verdandi, Kuilan, and King Poseidon nodded and rolled up their sleeves.
They were representatives of the four major races.
And the four major races were also excellent blacksmiths, alchemists, carpenters, and stone masons.
The four representatives started refining the dragon's claws, each wrapped in the magical energy of their respective race's color.
Everyone surrounding them watched this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle with bated breath.
***
The four representatives of the different races, their kin, and the people from the production guild.
After several days of working together on the Dragon Slayer production, weapons started arriving at the lord's mansion. I lightly touched the black blade of the completed longsword.
[Black Dragon's Claw Sword (SR) Lv.50] <Dragon Slayer>
It had the Dragon Slayer tag.
Perhaps because the material was considered lower quality within the dragon's body, its grade and damage were ordinary. But it was still a Dragon Slayer.
The term Dragon Slayer means a weapon that can kill dragons, granting the wielder the qualifications to slay dragons, ignoring any discrepancies in presence or whatever you might call it, and making it possible to kill them.
'Now we can kill them.'
While the Nightmare Slayer, specialized weapons, and high-level magic like [Elemental Disassembly] are sufficiently powerful to contend with dragons.
The means were too limited on our side. We needed equipment that all heroes could use more universally.
That is the Dragon Slayer, and now several have been prepared.
'Originally, the plan was to kill Parekian with it once it was completed.'
I had thought about using Parekian's magical core, scales, bones, and so on to make other equipment.
But... somehow the creature is docile, and its loyalty is high, so for now, I think I'll leave it be a little longer.
It's better to keep as many variables on our side as possible.
***
After a suitable number of Dragon Slayers were completed, I once again summoned the heroes. This time, heroes from different races also attended the meeting.
The lord's mansion. The drawing room.
Thump!
I tapped the chalkboard and explained.
"The next target we'll be dealing with is 'The Fang of the Black Dragon', Tustivian."
It's our second raid target, and at the same time.
"This one primarily uses breath attacks."
The signature pattern of dragons and the most powerful attack.
It's a dragon that mainly uses breath attacks.
"This one's breath is exceptional, even compared to any other dragon in the Black Dragon Legion, possessing truly outstanding firepower."
At my words, the heroes all gulped nervously.
Other patterns of dragonkind might allow for survival even if hit by mistake. But a direct hit from a breath attack means certain death.
I've mentioned this ad nauseam, so they should all remember clearly.
The breath attack Dusk Bringar used in the martial tournament was also controlled in power. A full-force breath attack from a dragon would literally leave nothing behind.
"However, this one is as flawed as they come... It has a clear weakness."
"What might that be?"
"While its breath organ is highly developed, the rest of its body has degenerated to the point it's stuck to the ground. Think of it as a huge dragon that's essentially a giant cannon."
So, it's like a fixed artillery piece.
It can be seen as a dragon that's incredibly large, heavy, and slow, but each of its attacks is terrifyingly powerful.
"It has no other means of attack besides its breath. If we can just get close, now that we have the Dragon Slayer, we can easily cut it down."
"...But getting close is the problem."
"Exactly."
I drew on the chalkboard with chalk. It was a picture of a stone warehouse that looked like a burial mound.
"The place where it's holed up is the 'Armory' dungeon in Zone 9. This place used to store the military supplies of the Lake Kingdom... There's only one entrance, and the facility itself is underground."
In other words.
Inside an underground cave with only one entrance, a dragon lurks, and this bastard's firepower is so strong that it can smack around any monster, with its fire-breathing head aimed right at the only entrance.
Entering through the entrance would mean being burnt to death by the breath attack right away.
"Hmm..."
The heroes, listening, sweated coldly. Lucas raised his hand as a representative and asked.
"...How on earth do we catch this thing, my lord?"
I leaned my chin on my interlocked hands placed on the high table in front of me and grinned.
"That's why I've prepared a plan."
There's no reason for us to kindly enter into the arena it has set.
No, rather flipping the arena over is more my style.
"Operation name, Tomb Maker."
I stuck the chalk forcefully above the drawn picture of the armory on the chalkboard.
"It's already standing in its underground tomb, isn't it?"
Smirking, I circled the top of the warehouse with chalk.
"Then let's bury it."
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading