Twenty-one: the reason we’re pushing so hard, it’s because it matters, right?

“Without a doubt, this is Ambrosia.”

After two months of searching, Raidock and the others finally pinpointed the habitat of Ambrosia.

What lies before us now is this single, carefully harvested medicinal herb—rare and precious.

Me, Leifan, Kyle, Maina, Persia, Alphard, and Raidock had gathered in the manor’s parlor.

“Searched for a while, but we’ve got the location now. Straight line from here, we could reach it in a few days. If the roads were decent, maybe even a single day.”

“That’s with adventurers’ legs and a stamina potion, full sprint, right?”

“Exactly.”

If it takes Raidock’s crew a few days at full sprint, that’s gotta be a good distance by normal standards.

“So… it’s really there?”

“Yeah. It’s really there.”

Kyle gave us both a puzzled look, eyes darting between me and Raidock.

“Raidock. I need details on the monster in the herb habitat.”

“Yeah. We kept our distance as far as possible without being noticed, but no mistake. That thing was a dragon.”

Persia and Alphard both flinched.

“Didn’t have wings. Think it’s a land dragon type. Whole body was green, so probably a Green Dragon.”

“Huh.”

Few humans had seen a dragon up close. But its appearance was well known.

It showed up in all kinds of stories. A staple in elaborate artworks.

If you lived in this country, you’d know what it looked like—some way or another.

“Not flying’s a blessing in disguise, I guess.”

“Word is, that makes it tougher and stronger.”

“Know what it is, and you’ve got a way to deal with it.”

“True enough.”

We both smirked at the same time. Kyle cut in right then.

"Um, there's a few things bugging me since a bit ago. Is it alright if I ask?"

Of course.

Kyle scowled, asking about the situation.

First, you asked Craft to have Raidock search for rare medicinal herbs, right?

"Yeah."

"So then, there were dragons in the habitat. That part checks out, right?"

Ah

But honestly, the way you're talking, it feels like we're headed toward taking down that dragon.

You didn’t mess up.

...Huh?

This here’s a meeting on how to kill the dragon, that’s what we’re doing.

...Eh!? Wait, hold on! It's a dragon! Why are we talking about fighting it!?

Persia also casts a glance in my direction.

There’s gotta be a reason for this, right?

"Hey, Persia?"

Alphard reacted, surprised, to Persia’s attitude.

That’s why we need a whole lot of these ambrosia flowers.

"Could it be..."

"That’s right. The medicine that can cure Kyle’s illness… it’s a component of the legendary elixir, the one only spoken of in tales."

"Craft-san!!"

It was Kyle who shouted.

"I can’t accept you risking your life for me! Not at all!"

"Knew you’d say that."

"Of course I would!"

"But now I’ve got a reason to knock you out."

"...Huh?"

"First, distance. A commoner might take a month one way, but this village? Probably just a week or so."

"Still seems pretty far."

"Not wrong. But not so far it can’t be called close. And listen—this habitat? Right smack in the middle of the planned trade route."

"Wha—?!"

Even Kyle looked stunned.

The settlement had its share of quotas, but one of the most important tasks was road construction.

The route we’re planning right now is set to become a crucial hub connecting two neighboring countries.

It’s been a dangerous zone with no development at all until now. But once this road is built, logistics will shift dramatically.

“I’m starting to get why all the past attempts at development failed.”

“Stronger monsters tend to appear in direct proportion to powerful ones like dragons. So, conversely, if we defeat the dragon, the danger in the surrounding area will drop sharply.”

“The logic… I see it.”

“Just hear me out for a sec.”

“What is it, Persia?”

“Never mind whether we fight or not. The real question is: can we even beat a dragon?”

An obvious question.

That’s why dragons are dragons—because they can’t be beaten.

But.

“To adventurers, killing a dragon is a dream. A goal. And if you’re going to take the risk, you’ve got to win.”

I’ll buy your enthusiasm. But how’s it really look?

Honestly, I think we’ve got a solid shot.

What? The enemy’s that dragon! Even armies wouldn’t dare touch something like that.

First off, the adventurer force. Specialists in monster hunting have gathered here. Especially in this area—there are plenty of strong beasts. Hunting them nonstop means we’ve got real talent on hand.

Hmm.

Some of them take reckless risks. But that’s why we’ve got Healing Potions. Fighting above their level every day? Their strength’s way beyond what you’d expect.

That makes sense.

And most of them are equipped with mithril gear. A whole squad in mithril? Even armies can’t pull that off easily.

That… is true.

"Not just that. We know exactly where they are and what kind they are. Got time to prep. No way anyone’d pass up a chance like this."

"I’ll vouch for that. We adventurers might be a bunch of fools, but when it comes to staying alive, we’ve got a nose for it. I’m dead certain we can do it. Even if we spill the details, everyone’d say the same thing."

A silence settles.

"If we throw everything we’ve got at it… we might just pull it off."

"Persia!?!"

"Al. Kyle might get better. Isn’t that worth the gamble?"

"That—!"

Alphard grits his teeth.

The soldier loyal to his mission and the man who wants to save Kyle are tearing at each other inside him.

I pile on more weight.

"What if we could make more than one Elixir of Perfection? We could present it to Lord Bairoroad, couldn’t we? Call it Kyle’s achievement. How’s that?"

"!!!"

Alphard understood just how much that could help Kyle.

"Craft… I’ve only heard of elixirs in stories. Can you actually make one? Will it cure Kyle’s illness?"

"Alphard!?!"

"I can. It’ll work. My sigil whispers it to me."

"…So. I get it. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"You’re still guarding Kyle and Maina. That’s your job."

"Wait—why’s the conversation moving so fast!?"

"Give up, Kyle. You’re loved that much."

"I won’t accept it!"

"I’ve got a secret plan, too."

"Huh?"

I smirked, pulling out a cylindrical object.

"Craft!?"

"Relax. This one’s a fake."

"Don’t scare me like that."

"Wait, was that mentioned in the earlier report?"

"Yeah. It’s a mana bomb."

Alphard and Persia frowned, so I decided to show them the power right there outside.

No point hiding it now. I didn’t hold back from the onlookers who’d gathered either.

"Jitarou. Got it."

"Leave it to me!"

I handed the modified mana bomb—attached to the tip of an arrow—to Jitarou.

Already tested with him.

Plus, the bow Jitarou held was made of hard mithril. For some reason, it shot arrows with surprising force, even with little draw strength. A mystery, really.

One of the few things made possible thanks to Leifan’s knowledge from crafting the mithril anvil and hammer.

The bomb arrow shot forward with a *whoosh*—and exploded in a massive blast the moment it hit the target rock.

Cheers and gasps rose from the crowd.

Then we can win!

Persia was the one who muttered fiercely, her fist clenched tight.

Just barely updated... (´Д｀)