第１０８２堀：ゴブリンとドラゴン (Part1)
Chapter 1082: Goblins and Dragons
Side: Steve
*Pyororororo...*
Ah, the sound of birds chirping, so peaceful and idyllic, drifting down from the sky even here. Usually, such sounds belong in the depths of a forest, where nests are tucked away in the canopy. But in this place...
"That bird flying so leisurely above—I wonder where it keeps its bed?"
"I wonder indeed."
Gaur-san looks up at the sky with me, our eyes tracking the creature as it dances gracefully through the air.
"If this were a forest overflowing with trees, I’d find it a bit easier to understand, but..."
"Haha. Well, it cannot be helped. This is a rocky mountain, a mining site."
Indeed, we have been climbing a craggy, mineral-rich mountain where not a single thing worthy of being called a tree can be found. Thanks to that, if any enemy approaches, it’s immediately obvious, though it also means we are frequently spotted by monsters ourselves. Well, we’ve been disposing of any monsters we encounter and tucking them into our supply bags. Comet-san specifically asked to see the monsters from this region, after all.
"However, looking at the current state of this mountain, it seems that dragon has been roosting here for quite a long time."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
I couldn't grasp the meaning behind Gaur-san’s words and reflexively asked for clarification. Seriously, what kind of evidence is there to suggest a dragon has been here for ages?
"Steve-dono. On the way to our village, was the situation not similar? The monsters became more powerful the closer we got to the village."
"Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true."
It is indeed a similar situation. But if that’s the case...
"Wait, Gaur-san. Doesn't that mean the dragon has been in this mine for a long time?"
"Yes, that would be the implication. However, there have been no reports or sightings of a dragon in this area."
"Exactly. If a dragon had been here for a long time, the village at the foot of the mountain would have gathered that information ages ago."
"Well, it is merely a similarity in circumstances to my village; there could be other reasons."
"Hmm. It’s hard to say anything for certain with just this. Well, either way, our task remains the same."
"That is true."
Exactly. Whether the dragon has lived here for ages or just arrived, it doesn't change the fact that Gaur-san and I are here to urge it to leave.
"Come to think of it, you said you didn't know this particular dragon, but that implies you know others, right?"
"Yes. We have some interaction with dragons outside of our own village. Though, that was quite a long time ago."
"And do you know where those dragons are? Or, are they also Dragonkin?"
"Yes. She is a Dragonkin as well."
Haa... so there are other Dragonkin out there. I’m sure the Boss is already aware of this, but it’s still a bit terrifying to realize there are dragons out there beyond what we’ve already accounted for.
"And her dwelling place?"
"No, she travels leisurely and aimlessly, so I do not know her current location. However, she is not an evil dragon, so she would never cause trouble for people."
"An 'evil dragon,' huh."
Gaur-san refers to dragons that harm people as "evil dragons." But the scale of that "harm"—hijacking castles, raiding towns—is on a whole different level. It’s easy to see why dragons are classified as natural disasters. Still, in this case...
"In your opinion, Gaur-san, is this dragon not an evil one?"
"I would say so. Aside from the adventurers who went to investigate, there have been no known casualties, so she is likely not an evil dragon. I believe there is a high possibility we can negotiate. Though, whether it will end peacefully is another matter."
"I see. Well, having room for negotiation is better than nothing. But is it normal for a dragon to live in a mine like this?"
"That, I cannot say. I would prefer to avoid it, but like humans, they can live anywhere if they choose to."
"Ah, that’s true. Our Boss lives inside a dungeon, after all."
I’m in no position to judge the dragon’s choice of home. Our Boss lives in a much stranger place. As we chatted while climbing the path, the cave finally opened up before us.
"Is this the entrance to the dragon's bed?"
"That’s right."
I replied to Gaur-san while confirming the information from the scouts ahead. Good, no issues, and no monsters detected in the vicinity. Well, I suppose there aren't many people foolish enough to poke a dragon and hope to be roasted alive. As for the target dragon, she’s still sound asleep.
Man, zero vigilance. Even I’m surprised. Does she not even consider us enemies? She didn't react to the dungeonization at all. Does she think we’re just insignificant goblins? Well, I’m happy to be underestimated.
"Well, there don't seem to be any problems, so let's head in."
"Yes. Let us go. I would like to finish this job quickly and return to eat some cake."
"Oh? You like cake?"
"Hahaha, it is a bit embarrassing. I find that I quite enjoy those sweets."
"Heh. In that case, you should definitely visit the shop run by Alfin."
"Alfin-dono? And what kind of shop is that?"
"Ah. She’s one of the Holy Sword users... though I suppose that doesn't mean much to you? She’s one of the members who knows our circumstances. Alfin wasn't really suited for combat, so she’s spending her time running a confectionery shop in Weed."
"I see. A confectionery shop. And how is her skill?"
"Well, she has regulars, and there’s a line in the mornings."
It might be surprising, but Alfin’s shop is actually quite prosperous. It started as a hobby, or rather, we set it up for our own safety because our inner circle kept nearly dying from diabetes... no, that’s not it. The kind Boss and I set it up specifically for Alfin, who loves making sweets, and we didn't expect much. It was originally intended to help us gather information within Weed.
Aside from Alfin, the manager, all the employees are intelligence agents from Kirika’s unit. But as I said, it’s unexpectedly successful, and everyone is busy making sweets. Well, the Boss says that’s fine too.
Oops, I shouldn't get sidetracked. I’m supposed to be recommending it to Gaur-san.
"I see. A cake so good that customers line up in the morning... I would certainly like to try that."