The residents, initially wary of Zimon and Jared upon their return, were permitted to approach the Dragon Species after the town mayor personally offered an explanation.
The Dragon Species was more severely injured than expected. It was bleeding profusely, and it was clear at a glance that it would be in danger if left untreated. If the residents hadn’t managed to staunch the bleeding, it might have already died.
A group of children who had been encouraging the Dragon Species to “hang in there” noticed Jared and his companions and bowed their heads, pleading for help.
Seeing the children’s genuine concern for the Dragon Species, Jared truly felt he had made the right choice to heal it. If he had chosen to slay it here, he would have been hated for life.
“…Its scales are harder than I imagined. But it’s dangerous if we don’t stitch the wound.”
“I’ve heard that Earth Dragons are harder than other Dragon Species because they can’t fly and compensate with their bodies. It’s probably different from Flying Dragons, but Flying Dragons are softer.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Like this.”
Jared gathered his Magic Power and interfered with the Earth Spirits. The Spirits lent their power by accepting his Magic Power as sustenance. The Spirits called upon other Spirits, and they gathered around Jared, causing the area to glow faintly.
The greater the Magic Power, the more Spirits one could summon.
Normally invisible Spirits sometimes glow faintly when they are lending their power by drawing on Magic Power, but this depends on the practitioner’s Magic Power.
This meant that the Magic Power Jared was currently releasing was considerable.
“…What absurd Magic Power. I can’t even be jealous of this.”
Laurentz’s astonished remark was met with a murmur of surprise and unease from the residents.
The Dragon Species, being an Earth Dragon, had noticed the Earth Spirits. While it was still somewhat wary, it sensed no hostility and showed no signs of thrashing. The presence of the residents it trusted likely played a part, but it might have also sensed its safety from the Spirits.
Dragon Species are closer to Spirits than Humans or Magical Beasts. Therefore, Magicians who research Dragon Species have announced that Dragon Species can communicate with Spirits.
It is speculated that the powerful Magic used by Dragon Species is a result of this communication with Spirits; because they can communicate, they do not need incantations, and can use their abilities simply by being given Magic Power.
Jared did not know if this was the truth, but he was content as long as he gained a little trust.
The Dragon Species, with its abdomen sliced open all the way to its back and still bleeding, could be life-threatening if it were to thrash about.
“Spirits, lend me your strength—”
The Spirits responded to his short incantation.
The Spirits lent their power as Jared desired.
With a cracking sound, obsidian spears appeared. This was one of Jared’s frequently used Magics, but this was a simplified version.
Normally, he would refine numerous two-meter spears and wield them himself or launch them, but this time was different.
They were small enough to fit in one hand, and only about as thick as a thumb. However, their durability was sufficient to pierce the scales of a Dragon Species.
He had interfered with the Spirits and condensed the spears he normally refined. Therefore, their durability was exceptional. They even had holes for threading, as if for fine needlework.
Steel would have sufficed, but knowing from his research that Earth Dragons fed on grass and stones, he chose something as harmless as possible in case they broke or shattered.
Honestly, with only obsidian spears or steel spears as options, he had no choice but to select obsidian.
He wished he could refine something more exquisite, but he didn’t have the luxury at the moment. He decided that what he was accustomed to using was the best.
“Laurentz, how many Earth Dolls can you summon?”
“Five is my limit, as I want to conserve some of my strength.”
“Impressive. Summon five and hold down the Dragon Species’ body. It will surely thrash.”
“It can’t be helped if we’re going to stitch it without anesthesia. And it’s still a child. I’d definitely thrash if I had my body stitched without anesthesia.”
“We’re pretty cruel, aren’t we?”
However, Jared didn’t know of any anesthesia that would work on a Dragon Species, and even if there were, he couldn’t prepare it quickly.
He informed the residents that the Dragon Species would thrash from pain and asked them to move away. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if an Earth Dragon, which was over five meters long, thrashed about.
Even if it was a child, it was still a Dragon Species.
“How are you planning to stitch it?”
“I’ll use plants instead of thread. There are some sturdy ones that grow where Earth Dragons live and are used as food.”
“That’s true, but what I want to know is if Jared will be stitching it directly…”
“That’s the only way, isn’t it? Honestly, I can’t treat a Dragon Species, but from what I can see, its organs aren’t damaged, so I just need to stop the bleeding. I could cauterize it, but that would cause too much damage—I’ll have to do it by hand.”
The problem was not whether the obsidian spears could pierce the Dragon Species’ scales, but how much of Jared’s own strength would be effective.
He apologized to the Dragon Species in his heart, but he had no choice but to try.
While coaxing the plants that would serve as thread to sprout, Jared moved before the Dragon Species.
“It seems to understand, so I’ll explain. I’m going to stitch your wound now. I’ll use the obsidian spear as a needle and a plant you’re familiar with as thread.”
He was unsure if it could truly understand, but he continued his explanation, thinking it better than starting abruptly.
“I’m stitching the wound to stop the bleeding, but it will hurt a lot. Please bear with it. I don’t know if you’re male or female, and I realize I’m asking a lot of you as a child, but endure it. My friend will hold you down so you can’t thrash, but there are limits. If, by any chance, everyone you care about gets hurt, I wouldn’t want that, would I?”
It didn’t nod, but a low growl was the response.
“I’ll take that as an affirmation. I’ll try to do this as quickly as possible. So please bear with it.”
Another growl was heard.
Just as Zimon had said, Jared was surprised that it could truly understand human language. If the situation were different, he would have wanted to converse more, but he believed he would have the chance once it was healthy.
“Hang in there.”
He said, patting its head, and the rough texture felt comforting.
Approaching the wound again, Jared began by confirming the condition. Since it was an Earth Dragon, he thought dirt in the wound might be harmless, but without certainty, he wanted to clean it. Fortunately, the residents had covered it with towels, so it was not dirty.
“Laurentz, please.”
“Leave it to me! —Come forth, my lovely Earth Dolls!”
Magic refined within Laurentz’s body flowed into the ground, and one by one, Earth Dolls appeared. When five dolls, each about three meters tall, lined up surrounding the Dragon Species, surprised gasps rose from the residents.
Apparently, several hundred years ago, there was a Magic that summoned “Golems” – beings with independent consciousness far superior to Earth Dolls. However, the method for doing so has since been lost. Many Earth Elemental Mages dream of reviving “Golems,” and thus focus their efforts on manipulating Earth Dolls, a similar Magic.
Earth Dolls can be controlled by connecting threads of Magic Power between them and the caster, but this has the weakness of leaving the caster standing still, so they are not frequently used on the battlefield. However, a Magician like Laurentz who can control five simultaneously can still move even if they only summon one or two. But this is due to Laurentz’s talent as an Earth Elemental Mage.
“We’re ready, whenever you are!”
“Ah, please hurry. I think it’ll thrash with all its might, so hold it down! Zimon-san!”
“Y-yes!”
Jared called out to Zimon, who was watching from behind. Startled by being called at such a moment, Zimon replied in a flustered voice.
“I understand you’re worried, but please step back a little further. Also, it will thrash from pain, so if you deem it dangerous, please retreat further!”
“Understood!”
After confirming that not only Zimon but all the visible residents had nodded, Jared raised the obsidian spear.
“Let’s begin!”
He shouted loudly so the Dragon Species could hear, and saw the giant body before him tense up.
The Earth Dolls controlled by Laurentz began to hold down the Dragon Species’ neck, body, legs, and tail.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jared thrust the spear into the perfectly restrained Dragon Species’ abdomen.
Instantly, a roar like the rumbling of the earth erupted from the Dragon Species. It writhed in pain, trying to escape, but suffered no damage thanks to the Earth Dolls holding it down.
“Jared! It’s surprisingly strong! I don’t know how long we can hold it!” Laurentz cried out, referring to the Dragon Species’ strength even in its weakened state.
Jared broke out in a cold sweat, contemplating what it would be like to fight the Dragon Species if it were at full strength.
Shaking off such thoughts, Jared poured strength into his blood-soaked arm to finish stitching the wound as quickly as possible.
