Black Flame Dragon. Its taste is rich and mellow… It’s like chicken breast.
“Put out the fire on that burning Ent! The other one, douse the Black Flame Dragon with water magic!”
We, who were late for the barbecue, heard the dying screams of a flaming Ent like a torch. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought it was more of a campfire than a barbecue.
The Ent’s attacks only involved hitting with large branches, which weren’t fatal to the Black Flame Dragon. Occasionally, it thrust its sharp tip like a spear, but it couldn’t pierce the Black Flame Dragon’s outer hide.
Relax. That’s what the Water Element magic is for! As one person doused the Ent, which had become firewood, with water like a fire truck, I remembered students being blown away by high-pressure water from a training exercise I saw long ago.
As expected, Ents are giant tree monsters. The Ent that appeared before us had a human-like female form, but the ones here just looked like giant trees with legs. Was the female form and nakedness some kind of service scene?
We couldn’t just let the Water Element mage, who hadn’t been suppressing the student movement, stand around idly. We had work to do softening the Black Flame Dragon’s outer hide.
“Splash the Black Flame Dragon with water! As much as possible!”
The Water Element mage nodded silently. Is her slightly cold demeanor a occupational hazard? If it were Ice Element magic, it wouldn’t just be cold, it would freeze, right? For shaved ice, I prefer Ujikintoki.
“■■■■, Great Tsunami.”
What did she say? Tsunami? In a forest? The endless amount of water gushing from her feet swelled before my eyes, then surged towards the Black Flame Dragon with tremendous force.
Whether it was a forest or by the sea, the sight before me was bizarre. It was more like a flash flood than a tsunami. It swept away trees, the Black Flame Dragon, and the forest sage, flushing them away like a toilet. May the Black Flame Dragon drown! As for the Ent… I’ll help it if it floats.
This Water Element mage is amazing. Or is this kind of thing normal? The water magic I knew was much gentler, but seeing the raging, muddy torrent before me made me reconsider.
“Is this enough?”
I had only ever seen Water Element mages providing support from the rear during my time as a mercenary, but she’s capable! Why wouldn’t they put such a capable mage to the front? It’s a waste.
Both the Ent and the Black Flame Dragon were caught in the Great Tsunami, scattering their formations, and the ground became a muddy mess. I can’t possibly get close to the Black Flame Dragon using Godspeed in this state. Maybe that’s why I haven’t used it?
“■■■■, Wall of Water.”
This time, water rose vertically from below, forming a wall that protected us from the Black Flame Dragon’s flames. Steam billowed up, shrouding the surroundings in mist. Would it be easy to approach if it blinded them?! Or would I get stuck in the mud?!
Godspeed! Mode Two!
I approached the Black Flame Dragon, hopping from one sturdy tree or rock to another, or landing on a resting Ent. My target was the Black Flame Dragon’s glistening eyes. I’d be rejected if I used a toast like “Cheers to your eyes,” so it’s “Short Sword to your eyes.”
I placed my left hand on the hide around its eye, took aim, and thrust my Short Sword! The Short Sword to your eye pierced deeply, gouging its brain and making me feel a nasty creak on the blade.
Finally, I dodged the thrashing Black Flame Dragon as it died and slipped into the mud. My right leg is stuck. Playing in the mud took away my speed. If I pull my right leg out, my left leg sinks, and if I pull my left leg out, my right leg… The next Black Flame Dragon approached, and I was pulled straight up like a daikon radish.
“Not bad for a human…”
The Ent, its bark rustling, spoke as it grabbed me and saved me. Thank goodness! It would be even more appreciated if this tree didn’t have thorns.
“Thanks! I’m okay, put me down.”
This Ent must have been shy and not met many people. It gripped me with too much force without minding the thorns. Then it released me, I fell, and was buried in mud. Who called these things sages?!
This time I was buried up to my lower body. It doesn’t feel like I can get out on my own anymore. I missed my chance to show off. I am the esteemed captain of the White Lily Corps!
“■■■■, Great Tsunami.”
The second wave of the tsunami hit. While I was still impaled in the ground… The surging water turned into a tsunami, stirring up the mud, and the torrent exceeded my height.
There were no tropical fish swimming when I opened my eyes. I threw down my sword and could only desperately protect my face. Someone, give me oxygen.
Once again, I was pulled out by the thorny Ent. This time, I’m covered in mud like a burdock root. If they’re going to sell me, they should wash me.
“Humans are foolish…”
You! Who do you think I’m getting covered in mud for! Even kindergarteners would get scolded by their mothers if they got this dirty.
“I’m saved. Please relax your grip a little.”
And then, splash! Dive into the mud. Is this going to repeat many times? The pride of someone with the cheat skill Godspeed won’t allow it. I unleashed the full power of Mode Three, slamming the water surface with my palms.
This time, I succeeded. I’m in the mud, but not impaled. I can move! After finishing off nineteen more Black Flame Dragons, I’ll barbecue you as fuel tonight!
But I no longer have my sword. My shoes were both buried in the mud when I first got stuck. I lost my sword, lost my shoes, and I’m covered in mud… Mom, I’m sorry.
This is bad. Fighting the Black Flame Dragon with my bare hands seems impossible. It might be faster to punch a mercenary and take their sword. I used Broad Eye’s Eye to search for nearby mercenaries.
“■■■■, Platinum Laser.”
A cool, clear voice like a small bird, one I hadn’t heard in a while. The demonic light that evaporated the mud next to me and sliced through the Black Flame Dragon also severed the Ent’s arm, and a branch over two meters long fell on my head.
“Sophia!”
I thought my neck would break. That was how thick the Ent’s sturdy right arm was. At least, blood was gushing from where the thorns had pierced me. I might get tetanus, I might go bald…
“You’re having a good time, aren’t you? Playing in the mud at your age.”
The devilish scolding, which I hadn’t heard in a while, goes without saying. Oh, and Priscilla, whom I haven’t seen in a while, is also beautiful. Alana is safe too, good.
“White Lily Corps has arrived! And… who is the enemy?”
Mercenaries gazing at me with envious eyes! I am their captain. I am important. I am in a position to give orders. Why are you looking at me differently than that?
“Black Flames! The Ent is our ally, so don’t cut it!”
“Annoying, let’s annihilate them!”
Then why did you ask?! The Black Flame Dragons are for a midnight snack, to be enjoyed by the staff later! Except for one, the Ents are forest sages, revere them!
“Ents, retreat! Mercenaries, protect the Ents and fall back!”
If the White Lily Corps goes berserk, who will step in to stop them… Sofia aimed her Platinum Laser, Christine, unfortunately, at me. Rufina unleashed her Thousand Year Cursed Wood, and Orietta fired her homing attack on the Red Dragon towards me.
Fortunately, Priscilla and Alana targeted the Black Flame Dragons, but the fact that the other members’ attacks were flying towards me was either due to the narrow battlefield or because I was mistaken for a muddy monster.
Regardless, we repelled them with overwhelming power and achieved victory without a scratch. I only sustained minor… injuries. Even a two-month recovery would be instantaneous with Sofia’s healing magic.
“Sofia, fix this muddy mess. He still needs to taste a living hell.”
“Living hell, what a wonderful phrase. Leave it to me.”
The mercenaries were instructed to collect the Black Flame Dragons, which became food for the refugees. The Ents thanked us, and for some reason, Rufina was given an epithet by an Ent.
“King of Cursed Wood is not acceptable. I am Rufina, a Necromancer, after all. Something like King of the Undead would be better.”
There are two types of epithets: those you give yourself and those others give you. If I were to give myself one, it would be something like “Gale Wind” or “Godspeed,” which lacks taste, and others give them without any hesitation.
“That’s great, you got an epithet. Should I call you ‘Cursed Wood King Rufina’ from now on?”
I followed up with a laugh at the epithet the Ent gave me, and then I was hit with a “Rotten Greatsword.” It’s better than “Rotten Rufina,” I suppose. I get called that often.
“You’re next. —Hey, you there, ‘Water!’ Wash this guy.”
Tossed aside with a ‘pop,’ I landed with a squish in front of the Water Element mage. Whether she was washing me with a powerful spray or blowing me away, I’m not sure, but in the end, I was thoroughly cleaned.
The Aloha shirt I had just received was now riddled with holes and scorched, making it unwearable. I wanted to take good care of this vintage Aloha shirt because it would increase in value, but alas.
“Damn it, Shidenzach is in trouble. We’re at our limit trying to hold him back.”
Unpleasant news. I wanted to take it easy once we reached the Dwarf territory.
