Chapter 49

Traces of the Giant Dragon (3)

Another group of Drakes came up from under the stairs.

Kwaeeek!

Thump, thump, thump!

The eyes of the ones hit by Bone Three’s arrows glowed menacingly.

They seemed enraged by the feigned attack, stomping their feet.

‘To fall for it without thinking, they truly are unintelligent.’

I could have gone down to catch them.

But the reason for luring them was simple.

I needed to catch them from above to inflict proper fall damage.

“Hehe, this is the simplest hunting method I’ve ever used in my life.”

“We can’t keep using it. There’s a limit to my mana.”

Whoosh!

Bone Five’s Flame Flowers magic was fierce.

Blocking the retreat of the ones charging in, blinded by rage.

[‘Bone Five’ uses the skill, Fireball (Lv.MaX).]

Whoosh!

He throws a Fireball forward.

Kwaaaang!

When the fireball flying in a straight line hits the Drake at the very front.

Kieeeek!

It screams and thrashes, along with the smell of burning flesh.

Wanting to live.

Unable to fall, the one who couldn’t bear it transfers the fire to its comrades.

And then. One by one.

They flail and fall into the abyss.

“Farewell.”

[You have eliminated ‘Spike Drake’.]

[You have eliminated ‘Spike Drake’.]

[You have eliminated ‘Spike Drake’.]

…….

‘Good.’

Most unintelligent creatures are weak against fire.

It was fortunate that Bone Five could control fire.

‘If Bone Five wasn’t here?’

It would have taken quite a bit of effort to find another solution.

“Alright!”

I stretched my stiff body and plopped down on the ground.

“Shall we call it a day here?”

Perhaps because I was keeping my body tense, fatigue washed over me.

[Name: Bone Five]

[Mana: 50/200]

Bone Five had used up almost all of his mana anyway.

Let’s leave 50 as a reserve, just in case.

‘There’s no need to rush, right?’

There are still many to catch.

And no one is chasing us.

I had to conserve my stamina as much as possible.

“Hmm? Are you perhaps planning to rest here? In the middle of these ruins swarming with ferocious monsters?”

“What else can we do? Like Dagnar said, how can we catch them all in one day when they’re swarming like that?”

“Hmm.”

Dagnar, who had been pondering for a moment, stroked his chin.

“You, you, you know!”

Then he called me, his eyes shining.

“What is it?”

“Do you remember? When you told me to take me with you, I clearly said. That I would also be useful.”

“……Hmm, you did say that, didn’t you?”

“I’ll show you as promised.”

“……?”

What was he suddenly trying to say?

As I watched, Dagnar put down the backpack he had brought.

‘Backpack?’

When did he pack something like that?

“Hehe, I’m not usually one to show this kind of thing carelessly.”

Dagnar said with a confident expression.

“But you’re a special person. And you’re working so hard for our race.”

Dagnar took something out of his bag.

A frying pan, a cutting board, a pot, various ingredients, and so on…….

“Huh?”

My eyes widened.

It was an unexpected content.

Could it be that this Dwarf…….

“Are you going to cook yourself?”

“Haha, isn’t it common sense that excavating ancient ruins takes a lot of time? So I prepared a little. Don’t you get tired of eating dried jerky all the time!”

“Huh, when did you get all this……. No, before that! You didn’t take this out in the Elf village, did you?”

“Didn’t I tell you! I don’t usually show this kind of thing carelessly. I’m not kidding.”

“……?”

“This bag is a very precious artifact, you know. I would never show this bag to anyone, no matter how much of a benefactor they are.”

Dagnar smiled.

Well, it was amazing.

Water, a knife, all sorts of tools.

It’s not big enough to fit all that, but it comes out.

Chop chop!

Dagnar started to move.

His actions were extraordinary.

Was he really a Dwarf?

He set up the equipment with incredible dexterity.

“Heo?”

My mouth dropped open.

“The dish I’m most confident in is chicken. Don’t worry about the freshness.”

Dagnar was amazing.

He chopped the prepared chicken into pieces, rinsed it in water, and drained it on a sieve.

He chopped mysterious vegetables that seemed to grow only in this world into bite-sized pieces, chop chop chop!

It was like the skill of a professional chef who would appear on a TV show.

I was staring blankly at the sight of him sweeping unknown liquids and ingredients into a pot and boiling them, when suddenly.

‘Hmm.’

I suddenly became curious about that bag.

“Mr. Dagnar.”

“What is it? It’ll be ready in about 10 minutes on high heat, so please wait a little longer.”

“No, that’s not it……. Could I perhaps take a look at this bag?”

“That? Hmm……. Well, go ahead.”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but readily agreed.

‘What kind of artifact is it?’

The moment I touched the bag.

Information popped up.

[Item: Demir’s Supply Backpack]

[Rank: S]

[Type: Bag]

[Description: A bag supplied by the legendary blacksmith ‘Demir’ for the convenience of his race. It boasts tremendous performance for a supply item.]

[Effect 1: An S-class subspace is provided. You can store a lot of items.]

[Effect 2: Freshness is maintained within the subspace.]

“Keck!”

Cough, cough!

I was so surprised that a dry cough burst out of my throat.

‘What kind of crazy item is this?’

It wasn’t an item that an ordinary Dwarf should have.

Besides, Demir?

The great Demir that the Dwarves praise?

“Hehe, surprising, isn’t it?”

“……This is beyond surprising, you know?”

“Actually, it was an item that was as common as dirt in our ancestors’ time. That’s why every family has one or two of them.”

Ah, so that’s why it’s a supply item?

Still, for a supply item to be S-class.

What kind of world is this?

It was a bit of a shame.

If I had arrived here in the era 500 years ago, there would have been a lot to gain.

“Honestly, it’s tempting.”

“Hehe, don’t covet it. It may have been common back then, but it’s a very precious treasure now.”

“……Yes.”

Tch, how did he know?

I was going to ask for it.

“Don’t drool over useless things, eat this.”

“Oh, is it already done?”

“You have to eat well to hunt. That way, we can find our ancestors’ relics, right?”

Hmm.

Whatever it was.

It would be better than dried jerky.

I received the dish that Dagnar handed me.

Judging by the shape, it was similar to braised spicy chicken.

A slightly brothless braised spicy chicken?

“Huh?”

The moment I took a bite, my eyes widened.

“This is more delicious than I thought?”

“Uhehehehe!”

He laughs awkwardly, pleased with my compliment.

This was not an empty compliment.

It was genuine.

I had no reason to look good to Dagnar, and why would I lie about something like this?

‘Has my sense of taste deteriorated because I haven’t eaten anything delicious lately?’

It was a pity.

It would have been nice if our Skeletons and Old Man could have eaten together.

Besides.

‘I’m glad.’

I was relieved inside.

In fact, I didn’t know how long I would have to stay here.

If I could just solve the problem of drinking water, I could really be at ease.

“Hehe, isn’t it good? It’s on a different level from the Elves who only pick at fruits! Eat up! Eat up!”

Compliments make even whales dance.

He piled the food on generously.

“Thank you.”

I accepted it without hesitation.

I have to eat a lot to train here too.

“Hehe! That’s good! Is there anything else you need?”

“Anything I need? There is!”

“Hahaha! Yes! Tell me!”

“The bag.”

“Don’t say ridiculous things.”

Dagnar was not flustered by my sudden curveball and immediately responded.

“Tch, it doesn’t work.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

Let’s just eat.

Hunting and training continued.

This place was a Dungeon but not a Dungeon for me.

Rather, it was closer to a training ground.

Eliminate 30 ‘Spike Drakes’ every day.

1 hour of basic physical training.

30 minutes of Old Man massage.

30 minutes of Old Man Teachings of Supreme Art.

4 hours of Supreme Clarity Heart Method.

4 hours of personal training time.

Rest and sleep.

It was a simple curriculum.

The deadline?

Until all the Drakes are caught!

“Heo, time flies.”

Dagnar hummed as he rinsed the dishes with water.

“It’s already been a week.”

Then he glanced down into the abyss.

“The sounds of those swarming down there have decreased quite a bit now, haven’t they?”

I chuckled at his relaxed appearance, unlike when we first entered.

“Well, I guess that means it’s almost over. Thank you for your hard work.”

I’m okay because I’m growing.

But I actually felt a little sorry for Dagnar.

All he did here was cook and wash dishes.

“Haha, what hard work. Rather, that’s what I want to say to you. I’m just cooking, but aren’t you the one catching those terrible monsters!”

“Oh, are you that grateful?”

“Why say more! Of course!”

“Really?”

“Then it’s real, would it be fake?”

“Then the bag…….”

“……Be quiet.”

“Yes.”

I sighed at Dagnar’s immediate answer.

Actually, it’s not just because I’m greedy for the bag.

It was also because the time for the massage of terror was approaching again.

[Skill, ‘Teachings of Supreme Art’ (S-class) is used.]

[20 Mana is consumed.]

[‘Master of Supreme Art’ appears.]

Old Man’s Great Law of Supreme Clarity and Material Accomplishment was an unbearable pain.

Even ‘Pain Tolerance’, which was as high as A-class, was not enough to withstand the massage.

I was amazed at myself for enduring it every time.

“Click click, it’s time again.”

“Yes, please, Old Man.”

But now I participated quite voluntarily.

Because I was gradually experiencing the effects of the massage.

[Refine the martial bones and remodel the talent.]

After receiving the massage, not only were my physical abilities improved.

I felt like the knowledge I was receiving was more flexible.

It felt like whatever I was taught was being applied to something else?

It was like taking a step closer to becoming a Ranker.

“Please, you rascal. Hehe, today I’m asking you even more.”

“Yes?”

I tilted my head.

It was strange for the Old Man, who had been mechanically massaging me, to say that.

“Your hardened Qi and blood are already melting like ice in the desert and flowing freely, and your weak Qi is as active as a newborn child. So that means you can move on to the next stage.”

“Yes……? What does that……?”

“What do you mean, it will be even more painful than what you’ve done so far.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, huh? Why, do you not like it? Tell me if you don’t like it. I’ll stop at any time.”

“Are you serious?”

My eyes flashed slightly.

In fact, I was worried.

The pain I had endured so far was enormous, and it would be even more painful than that?

Isn’t that just telling me to give up?

But the Old Man’s expression didn’t change.

“Hehe, if this Great Law is over, you’ll shed another layer and grow much more than before. Are you giving up on that? The you I know is not someone who would ever give up.”

“…….”

This Old Man.

He knows me too well.

I’m not someone who would ever give up before even trying something.

And I’m not someone who would give up after trying, even if it’s difficult or painful.

“I have no choice. Let’s proceed right away.”

“Hehe, I knew it.”

The Old Man smiled slyly, but I believed him.

The Old Man’s desire to make me grow.

That desire to continue the Teachings of Supreme Art was genuine, and I knew it better than anyone.

“Remember. If what you’ve received so far was the beginner level…….”

The Old Man interlocked his fingers and turned them as he continued.

“From now on, it’s intermediate.”

“Intermediate…….”

“So be prepared.”

The Old Man’s eyes flashed like lightning.