The first aid was successfully administered.
By the time they realized it, the sun was already setting, and they had been at it for over three hours.
Both Jared and Laurentz were already exhausted and lying on the ground.
They had repeatedly broken obsidian spears, but they used up the last one to stitch up the Dragon Species’ wounds.
“I… I have no Stamina left… I can’t make my fists clench.”
“I… I don’t have any Magic Power left either… It was too wild, just as expected of a Dragon Species…”
Jared had consumed a great deal of concentration and Stamina. It was the result of thinking only of stitching the wounds and stopping the bleeding, but as a consequence, his right arm was trembling uncontrollably, and even moving a single finger was agonizing.
Laurentz’s situation was even worse. To prevent the thrashing Dragon Species from harming them, he had continuously controlled clay figures to restrain its massive body. Maintaining control of the clay figures, which constantly consumed Magic Power, for three hours without rest was far more arduous than any training he had undergone.
It was thanks to the efforts of these two that the first aid was successful.
The Dragon Species, its bleeding stopped, was now sleeping soundly.
“I never expected to end up saving a Dragon Species when we came prepared to fight one.”
“I agree. However, there are still other problems.”
“Adventurers, huh. Honestly, I’ve encountered them a few times on quests before, but they’re all about money, money, money, which is so frustrating!”
“It can’t be helped, as they make a living through quests, but we cannot overlook the casualties that resulted from this incident.”
As Laurentz said, many Adventurers make their living through quests. Unlike Magicians, anyone can become an Adventurer, and they handle everything from finding lost cats to slaying Dragon Species. However, even if it’s for a quest, they shouldn’t involve others.
Judging from what the town mayor, Zimon, has told them, the Adventurers were only thinking of themselves.
Even if they were to fight a Dragon Species within the town, there were countless priorities, such as evacuating the residents. But they failed to do so.
“For now, we have no choice but to capture the Adventurers and have Duke Alway pass judgment on them.”
“That’s reasonable. The Adventurers will likely be sent to Prison. It can’t be helped, as they caused such damage. I’ve heard Duke Alway is a kind yet strict man, so I hope it won’t be an immediate beheading.”
From Jared’s perspective, the residents’ anger towards the Adventurers, who injured a Dragon Species that was like a resident and caused the destruction of the town, was far more terrifying.
For now, the residents were concerned for the Dragon Species, but it was impossible to tell when their emotions would erupt.
Even capturing the Adventurers, they wanted to get it done before the residents started making a fuss.
After all, they couldn’t expect the Adventurers who cornered a Dragon Species with five people to calmly accept the residents’ wrath. There was even a possibility of deaths among the residents.
“Well, I doubt the Adventurers will surrender meekly. In any case, their Adventurer careers are over. The Adventurer’s Guild won’t protect those who caused the town’s near destruction. They’ll resist desperately.”
“…So we’ll end up fighting Adventurers instead of a Dragon Species.”
Jared gave a wry smile at Laurentz, who let out a weary sigh.
While the danger of facing an opponent they weren’t sure they could defeat, the Dragon Species, was gone, the thought of facing five Adventurers when they were both exhausted was a bit much.
The thought of having to fight while protecting the residents and the Dragon Species in the worst-case scenario gave him a headache.
It would be nice if there was another town nearby, but Zimon had told them that the distance to the next town was considerable, making evacuation now impossible.
Considering the residents who wouldn’t leave the Dragon Species, they wouldn’t move, leaving the Dragon Species with no other home.
“Whoa, they’re here already…”
“Jared?”
All eyes focused on Jared as he reluctantly stood up and brushed the dirt off his Combat Uniform.
“Um, Noble, is something wrong?”
“Unfortunately, I have some bad news. The Adventurers have arrived. At the town entrance… there are three of them.”
“They probably chose to appear when it got dark. Those cowardly bastards.”
Laurentz cursed as he stood up, but his Magic Power hadn’t recovered, and even standing straight was difficult.
“W-What should we do?”
“Please stay here and protect the Dragon Species. I will go to meet them.”
“We will meet them.”
The residents were surprised and buzzed at Jared’s words.
It was understandable. They had just seen the exhausted state of the two men.
Then, a hand was raised among the residents.
“Um, is there anything we can do?”
The speaker was the young man who had pointed a Spear at Jared and the others.
“If you’re willing to lend a hand, we’d be grateful. However, please be prepared for the danger involved.”
“If we’re prepared for danger, we already are when the Adventurers attacked!”
“Then please. We will engage the Adventurers. However, it’s concerning that only three of the five we heard about have appeared. Therefore, please protect the residents and the Dragon Species here.”
“I-Is that all you need?”
The young man was slightly taken aback, but it was by no means an easy task.
“However, we won’t be able to come to your aid while we’re dealing with three Adventurers. Evacuation to the next town is no longer possible, and you have no intention of evacuating without the Dragon Species, right?”
“No, we don’t. He is an important resident.”
“That’s why we’re asking you to protect this place. Ideally, one of us should stay here, but unfortunately, fighting an opponent about whom we have incomplete information while not being able to perform at our best is unsettling.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t afford to lose. Please hold on somehow.”
Jared and Laurentz were aware that they were asking for a difficult favor.
However, the aura Jared sensed indicated only three people at the town entrance and no one else. The thought of someone skilled in stealth was frightening, but they couldn’t act solely on possibilities.
Protecting the residents was Jared’s top priority. The situation might change depending on whether the Adventurers realized they were cornered, but if they found the sleeping Dragon Species, they would attack with bloodshot eyes.
They decided that fighting while keeping them away from the residents was the best course of action.
“We don’t know exactly when, but we’ve made arrangements for Duke Alway and the Mage Association to send reinforcements. They should arrive by tomorrow at least. We’ll do our best too, so let’s get through this together.”
Jared extended his hand to the young man, offering a handshake. The young man clasped Jared’s hand tightly.
“Thank you for our town!”
After shaking hands with Laurentz as well, the young man began gathering his companions.
“I still have some concerns, but I want to believe we can manage.”
“The problem is whether we can win against the Adventurers in our current state. How much Magic Power did you consume?”
“If I could recover it in such a short time, I’d be a Court Mage by now. Even using all my remaining power, I don’t have even a fifth left. How about you, Jared?”
“I barely consumed any Magic Power, but my right arm still has no feeling. My Stamina has been reduced overall, so I expect my Magic and mobility to be of lower quality than usual.”
Frankly, there were only unstable elements.
The only thing they knew for sure was the number of opponents. However, two of the five Adventurers had not yet shown themselves.
While they could estimate the Adventurers’ strength, it remained speculation, and they were unsure how the Adventurers would fight.
But they had no choice.
“The Adventurers were also fighting the Dragon Species, so they can’t be in perfect condition either.”
“Yeah, let’s stop complaining. So, shall we go dispatch some Adventurers!”
Seeing the young man, who had armed himself, and other residents standing ready to face the Adventurers to protect the Dragon Species, Jared and Laurentz mustered their Spirit and headed towards the battle.
