Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.5)

Because of hangover, physical fatigue and excitement, I had a nightmare.

I sat up from the floor, looking at the sun shone from the windows blankly. The dream was horrible, but because it's too horrible, I can't remember anything of it. Since I feel like something is pressuring deep inside my brain, I can't even focus my eyes, I can just sit there.

"If you're awake already, go tidy up, wash your face."

Although the words of father have been entered my ears, it took a long time before I understood the meaning of those words. Finally Dad kicked me back, when I just managed to stand up, I slipped and fell again.

"Ah, Dad. My legs are completely petrified!"

"You have the nerve to say this. Won't you get up?"

"I told you my legs are petrified?"

"Then stand up and walk, it will get better. Didn't I tell you, that your grandfather's legs started to get petrified a year before he passed away."

I am now a paraplegic patient because of the words of Dad. I muttered to get up, threw off the blanket wrapped on my body and threw it to the bed. The bed belongs to Dad, I usually sleep on the floor with the blanket.

"Why don't you make a bed for me. Sleeping on the floor makes my bones sore."

"Does it? Your grandfather had such symptoms 3 years before he passed away."

This time I am like a neuralgia patient. I have to give up and go outside.

Next to the hut my father and I live, is father's workshop. So called workshop, but we actually just extend  the roof of the hut to there, plus a few pillars. I put my head into a bucket in the workshop. Because I didn't sleep with top, so I can begin to wash my face just by immersing my head into the bucket.

"Poof!"

Once it's immersed into the cold water, probably because of the consolidated alcohol in my brain, I had a headache like getting beat up. I trampled a few steps, finally caught my balance, then I was able to wash my chest and arms. Dad looked at my appearance, with an expression of pity, kindly said to me:

"Well done, boy. Dared to drink, really cool huh. Never thought that you can still walk."

"The ordered candles, we have prepared, isn't it? So no work to do today, right?"

"Why not? You kid! Collect honeycomb today. Find grease tomorrow!"

"Huh? Still have to do that?"

"An urgent order came from the castle. That's for the Amurtaat Crusade. "

Amurtaat Crusade. It should be the ninth?

Since the White Dragon Cathselprime has already arrived from the capital, the most important part of the Ninth Amurtaat Crusade is ready. Anyway even if we gather hundreds of people to fight, we can't do anything about Amurtaat. Amurtaat is the Source of Terror of the Gray Mountains, the Root of Pain of the Central Avenue. To deal with this huge dragon, if human does reckless attacks, probably not even a bone can return home. Because if he's not burned completely, then he is swallowed completely.

Leave dragon to dragon, this is the way. So after the sincere requests of our thane with "sincerity" (according to my and Karl's speculation, apparently he sent a lot of bribery. Our thane is really poor. He doesn't have much money), finally the little Ninth Amurtaat Crusade can fight alongside with the capital Cathselprime.

I am putting the breakfast on the table in the yard:

"Dad."

"Why?"

"Can Cathselprime beat Amurtaat?"

"How would I know? I don't often see this kind of battles. But if it's you versus Jamini, I might know who will win."

"Who will?"

"Oh you want me to mention your previous records? You becaused of Jamini, broke your arm once, broke your legs twice, you even broke your bridge of nose. And caught cold after falling into a puddle, can't even remember the number of it."

Ah. When I was a child I really got pranked by Jamini badly. I can feel my old resentment towards Jamini are burning now. But Dad is not done yet:

"I am most impressed by one thing, that you showed your little brother to Jamini, she suspected that thing was fake, so she did a hard pull..."

"Dad!"

"So I had to carry my tears, went begging Jamini's father to take you as son-in-law. That bastard. Don't you think that the gender roles of you two swapped?"

By that, I became a dumb son whose virginity got stolen by a girl. If allow him to continue to talk, don't know what past will be broken with ridiculous exaggerations, so I hurriedly prepared the breakfast.

After the breakfast, Dad wiped the wine soiled in the goatee, said:

"Starting from today, you are responsible for making candles."

"Huh?"

"I would become more busy. I have talked to Mr. decaon, I mentioned the quality may drop a bit, but I insisted to let you do it. He agreed."

"Forget about the quality. What business do you have?"

"This time I will join the Amurtaat Crusade."

I am suddenly speechless. Not that I have nothing to say, but I have too much to say, don't know where to start at a moment. So later the first sentence was very ordinary.

"Dad, you don't know how to use a spear, right?"

"So I'm going to start practicing today. I also joined the training of the crusade."

"You think you can come back alive?"

"Don't worry. Jamini will take care of you. You must strive to win Jamini's love!"

Even though my father is trying to joke, but I can't calm down.

"Stop kidding. You won't be able to come back, isn't that suicide?"

"I've listened to the army strategy plan. It mentioned, hopefully the casualty would be 30%, so the probability of my death is also 30%."

After hearing the unfamiliar excuse, I am suddenly agitated.

"That's just a plan, isn't that! The armies went to fight Amurtaat before, they were 100% killed!"

"You are right. But this time Catheslprime is also going, it should be much better."

I said angrily. But father is still poised.

"Why? Honestly why? Why are you going?"

"Because speaking of who has the right to watch Amurtaat die, I am one of them."

"Do you think if you do this, Mum will be pleased?"

Father's face had a shadow passed by for the first time.

Dad picked up a bottle on the table, and filled the empty cup again. I can feel that fingers around the bottle are trembling, is it just illusion? I am breathing deeply while looking at that, Dad suddenly drank all the water in my cup, and filled it with wine.

"Yesterday when you were sleeping, you made a lot of bacchanal."

I gazed at the cup. It's like the wine presented for father's death. Dad raised his cup, he said: "Toast."

I raised my cup. I headed down, was afraid to look at father's face.

"I am not going to die. In the name of your dead mother I assure you, I will come back alive."

I looked up. Dad is smiling.

"Really?"

"With a son who always gets messed up by girls, how can I leave you..."

"I trust you."

"Then toast for my survival! "

If that's the case, no matter how much wine, I can drink it all. Father and I clinked the cups, and finished the wine.

"Dad...."

"Why?"

"You must not die."

Dad sighed deeply. I looked at father worriedly.

"I don't want to waste my live to a thing that toke my wife's live. If it is my souse son's live, I will think about it"

My eyes changed. Dad laughed, and looks like he mistook the meaning of my face.

"Let's do this. I'll replace you."

"Dumb. You don't know there is minimum age requirement for army levy? You are only 17."

Dad shut me up with a simple sentence.

"....There is no maximum age?"

"There is, but I am not over that yet. Mad?"

※ ※ ※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.4)

※ ※ ※

Walking in the dark woods, the full moon can be a great help.

Kept breathing the cold air in the forest of the night, my tipsy feeling is fading. Sanson is walking by my side, and the Dragon-Raja is surrounded by the soldiers, walking in a little away from our rear. I pointed out the direction to Sanson, and then whispered to him:

"That's a ridiculous dragon. Not dare to eat because the meat is fishy?"

"I've heard that it's because she got the habit. In the capital, people have been preparing a large number of mint well for her."

Sanson is looking a bit upset, because of this operation in the mid-night.

"Hmph! That's why the Dragon-Raja has the smell. But why is he coming along?"

"Because the dragon didn't eat, he seems to be worried. He said he couldn't wait any longer, so he had to come."

"Well, the friendship between Dragon-Raja and Dragon... Watch your steps. Here is all gravel, gotta be slippery."

"Got it."

I looked back with a glance. As it's blocked by the soldiers, I can't see the Dragon-Raja. That kid must be exhausted. It not easy to climb hills in the middle of a night.

"What's the name of that Dragon-Raja?"

"Isn't it Sir Hustheil?"

"That should be the surname of the family? Name of himself?"

"Are you crazy? How do I know nobles' names? Just Sir Hustheil."

This really messed up my mind. Well, civilians like us indeed don't need to know the name of the nobility. When would we have a chance to call him with that name?

But according to Karl, the child should be being adopted by the Hustheil family, so he was nobility at first. Probably lived in a broken hut like I am, somehow his qualification of Dragon-Raja got discovered, so he became an aristocracy. After all why didn't Upinel gift me this qualification? No, Upinel must have known everything, so she decided. If I was the aristocracy, that could be a more ridiculous thing.

"Wa ha ha ha ha!"

I ran down the valley within a breath. Sanson is surprised.

"Hey! Huchi, watch out!"

I don't even care. There is a rock in front, I jumped up swiftly, pedaled on the rock, then jumped to lawn in front. In order not to slip, I tried to lower my body. Sometimes when it's really slippery, I wave my arms and jump. 

Gosh, my butt. Really slippery. I utilized the momentum of slipping forward, straightened my back, and then jumped up again. After Stepping on this rock, I am at bottom of the valley.

Because of the remaining tipsy feeling mixed together with the sense of speed, I even want to begin to dance. I looked upward from the bottom of the valley. I waved, but they possibly can't see me.

"Huchi! Where are you? You Okay?"

A high cry came from the top. I shouted back.

"You are really slow. Can't you come down faster?"

"We can't see, how should we get down?"

I crossed my arms and waited there. Looking upwards, the flickering torch light is still far away from me. The decline speed of  light is slow enough to make me upset. The moon is so bright, why can't they see?

I calmed down for a while, began to notice the breeze in valley is chilly. It's even to an extent that my body started to tremble. 

The moonlight is really beautiful. 

In a night like this, I should sing a song with my crisp vocal, to suit the present atmosphere.

"The Grind Sound of The Waterwheel Mill Outside the Town is Really Loud..."

"Huchi! Oi!"

Sanson's screams came. Meanwhile, one of the torches began to get strange movements. Then I heard a sound of something sliding down. I was shocked, looked at see the dark hillside, but couldn't see anything.

Soon after, I heard the groans of Sanson.

"Uhh! My important part is seriously traumatized. I can never get a wife."

"...The Tears of the Girl Moistened the Sheet: My Lover's Thing is Finished."

Looks like Sanson is going to bite me, fortunately the other soldiers and the Dragon-Raja has arrived. The soldiers are all wiping and panting. They are not like me, who dressed in easy clothes, they are all wearing armor to get down this Savannah Valley, so everyone is almost completely exhausted. Although we call that light armor, but that just means that is lighter than other armors. It's still much heavier than usual clothes. If someone is wearing strong armor, I am afraid that he can't even run.

Escpecially Sir Hustheil. He is like going to faint. I threw him a word:

"Very tired, Dragon-Raja Your Excellency."

"Ha...Ha.., ah, yes. Ha."

"We arrived. Let's take a rest. That's the hill over there."

Sir Hustheil couldn't even answer, so he just nodded. I smiled at him warmly, then began urging soldiers.

"Hey, what are you doing? Stand up and assault the mint!"

Soldiers stood up and are still panting. They took out some bags they prepared, I whistled, brought them to the knoll. The knoll is full of mint. Sanson ordered three people to hold the torches, and the rest of the soldiers began to dig the mint. I am crossing my arms, standing aside and watching.

"Oi, Huchi! You should give us a hand!"

"My only mission is to bring you here."

"Alright forget it, forget it."

"A Moonlit Night, A Group of Warriors. Zeal Embraced in Our Chests , Poured Into the Mint -"

The soldiers began to laugh. That contributed to my arrogance, I raised my head in order to be able to sing louder.

The full moon of the Goddess Selena has gradually moved from the east to the central of the night sky, diffusing a beautiful and breathtaking chill moonlight.

"Selena is Shining From the Heaven, Swords of Warriors Are Getting More Murderous -"

"None of the Mint, Can Escape from the Outstretched Hands of the Warriors -"

"Plants Collected Under the Full Moon, Are Diffusing the Top Notch Aroma-"

"Full Moon who Blesses Lycanthropy, Please Also Bless the Warriors -"

Sanson shouted right away.

"Do you mean you want us all to turn into a wolf? Do we have to howl like this? Ah ooo, wooo..."

Ooo, woooo, ah wooooo ...

All the hairs of my body suddenly erected. This wolf howled at an exactly right timing. Some soldiers were not just frightened, but actually lost their balance and fell to the floor.

"Wow, ha. Really scary. Sanson, your friend is calling."

Sanson stood still there. After he heard what I said, he finally smiled.

"Really shocked. That thing howled at a right point."

Right at the moment.

Woo oh oh ...... phuuu...phuuu... ...... Ah woooo...!

It sounded even closer. Soldiers' faces are all changed. 

Closer and closer, and after a while, even the popping sound of kicking those small stones could be heard. That thing is approaching. I've never heard of a wolf that would run towards torches. And we have so many people here. That thing is coming, it must not be a normal wolf.

Sanson quickly pulled out his sword.

"Man your lyrics came true. Now we are screwed."

Each soldier pulled out their own sword. I am scared and pale, looking around and see how can I escape. I saw the Dragon-Raja. The child is curling up, looking like frightened. Sanson hastily instructed:

"Everyone surround Sir Hustheil and Huchi. Jarron, Haley...Who else has a plated sword?"

"Me!"

Turner, the eldest son of the brewery stood out. Sanson nodded. Sanson and the three soldiers immediately stood in the front, and the rest of the soldiers are surrounding me and the Dragon-Raja. I'm so scared that I don't know what to do. Footsteps sound not a lot, there could be just one enemy. But the footsteps are very loud.

"Right there!"

Approximately 70 cubits ahead from us on the top of the hill, a huge shadow appeared. From the shadow brought out by the moonlight behind it, it seems like 5 cubits tall. That is not a wolf. It stands on two feet, above its slightly curved waist there is a spacious shoulder that, in fact, 3 or 4 heads can be put on it. I find on the arms extended from the shoulder, there are flashing nails like dagger reflecting the moonlight.

"Werewolf!"

Sanson is stretching his sword as far as possible in the front. Under the moonlight, the reflections of the sword is very bright. A"Don't move or I'll kill you" warning is like fired from the tip, to the werewolf on the hill. The werewolf is standing still, looking down at us.

Sanson is kind and simple, a guards captain who shows no fear in snowball fights. However, if it's not a snowball fight, but a real combat, what will happen? If a werewolf swings it's arm, it can knock down an ox. That summer night 4 years ago, when a werewolf came to the village and made trouble, I clearly saw it.

I looked at the werewolf , my teeth are chattering.

Damn. This Mint Collection team has no bow and arrows. When an opponent is standing still like a fool, we should fire him a few shots. No, wait. Is a werewolf going to die after it gets shot? If it still roams like a tiger with arrows on it, everyone would just get more uncomfortable.

Sanson gave the instructions softly.

"Jarron, to the left. Turner, to the right. Haley, behind me. Once it moves, Jarron and Turner, slash it from the left and right sides. Haley, stab its head."

After the instruction, Sanson maintained the T-formation, and is advancing slowly. Because Sanson is so bold, the three seem to have forgotten the fear. Sanson probably want to makes himself the shield, in order to allow Haley behind to get the opportunity to attack safely. Haley's tall, arms are strong, should be able to find the opportunity behind Sanson and stab the werewolf's head. In case that's evaded, Jarron and Turner would attack from both sides.

I don't know whether the werewolf knows the tactics of Sanson, anyway, it is standing still. Maybe it was attracted by the song, yet found so many soldiers here, it got panicked too. If the werewolf gets to know that so many soldiers came here to help to dig mint for a dragon's dinner, such a strange thing, what kind of reaction would it have?

The werewolf jumped.

"Caaa ah ah!"

The werewolf rushed straight into Sanson. Although the 5 cubits high body is charging in with a strong attack, Sanson probably had found it fell into his trap, he laughed, and waited there. Is he actually laughing?

The werewolf reached his face and raised it's arm, Sanson immediately stooped, tried to chop its legs. Haley is also ready behind to stab forward from Sanson's back. The timing is perfect. The werewolf noticed Sanson wanted to chop its legs, it backed off a bit and watched down, so it didn't see the sword of Haley which came behind Sanson suddenly.

The sword punctured the werewolf's neck accurately.

"Kha, uh!"

"Take this!"

Three swords flashed under the moonlight simultaneously, at both sides and legs of the werewolf. Sanson did a strong strike, then rolled forward naturally. The werewolf's neck was pierced with a hole, it's legs are also hit, so it kneel down. But it's still clutching Jarron and Turner's swords with it's hands. Boo! Terrifying sound of swords hacking muscles came, along with noises of bones knocking metals. The werewolf has a sword in its neck, a sword on each hand, and kneeling legs, so it's actions are completely blocked. So when Sanson rolled behind it and stood up, stabbed its back, it was totally unable to stop.

"Poof!"

Sanson's sword pierced the body of the werewolf, blood is splashing from its stomach. Haley in front of it is  sprayed all over with blood, but he didn't move, while kept rotating the sword inserted in the werewolf neck, and then pull it out diagonally. The neck is immediately crumbling. After a while, the werewolf was finally down. Four swords once again stabbed its back.

The werewolf is dead. So even with swords stabbed on it's back, it didn't move. Sanson took his sword back, made a sigh of relief. The others also pulled the sword back, took out a handkerchief from their chests and began wiping the blood. Haley covered with blood, that look is crazy enough to see.

After a while, Sanson's eyes turned to me. His eyes are sharp, which makes I suddenly disturbed.

"Dude! Have you ever heard 'Random Prophecy'?"

"Wow!"

I wanted to run, but the soldiers gathered around, smiled and grabbed my shoulder. Then Sanson kept beating my head softly.

My neck is coerced by Sanson, and I desperately cried out:

"Cough uh, you, you did win the fight? ...Aren't we fine now? ...... Eh-hem! "

Sanson laughed and released me. I touched the neck, coughed for a long time. Then I saw the Dragon-Raja's blue face. Sanson probably saw that too, so he said:

"We are good now, Sir Hustheil. Please be assured."

Sir Hustheil stammered:

"Unc...Uncle, you are really amazing!"

Dragon-Raja is terrified and using the language of civilians again. He should have been a civilian. Sanson heard these words, as if surprised, and had stopped for a while, finally answered:

"No, you flatter me."

Dragon-Raja seems to have rallied then.

"However... How could you kill a werewolf with normal swords?"

Sanson raised his sword to him.

"Mine and the other three's swords are silver plated. Isn't its glare pretty?"

Dragon-Raja seemed to understand, nodded. This is one of the reasons why our thane made himself so poor. Where can you find someone who plates sliver on soldiers' swords in Vyseus? But this is absolutely not for the appearance. It's for utility. Generally of course, to make a special weapon for dealing with Lycanthropy, you have to build the entire weapon with blessed silver. But in the financial situation of our thane, he can't even make one. So it's the last resort to gild silver. Nevertheless our guards are very strong, holding such a shitty weapon can still show off in a battle. The reason is...

"Gentlemen, you are all ordinary soldiers... However when you fight, you are more courageous than the knights of the capital."

"Ah. Soldiers like us, are all elites carefully selected by a sieve called Amurtaat."

"Huh?"

Sanson smiled, put his sword back into the sheath with a very handsome action.

"Because of Amurtaat, there are numerous monsters in this area. In the battles with the monsters, many soilders died. Who survived are extremely tempered warriors. Any one of us could be killed in the next battle, therefore, we fight without fear. "

The moment before the sword disappeared completely in the sheath, the sword reflection under the moonlight made me felt very dazzling. At that moment in my eyes, that blacksmith's son, the innocent Sanson who always gets pissed by my song, became a greater hero than King Rhuterino. Could it be the magic of the full moon? Or Sanson is really not inferior to hero like King Rhuterino?

Sanson won't know the question in my mind. He turned to Turner who is checking the werewolf's body. Turner, with an expression of pain, shook his head and said:

"I know this man."

"Do you?"

"He is Culler, missing since the invasion of werewolves 4 years ago. He used to live beside the river."

Everyone is silent. Sanson nodded heavily, and then immediately said:

"Come on, let's move. Tidy up the body, I'll write the report tomorrow. It's very late already. When we are back, I'll offer you a drink. So work harder."

"Wow, Captain Sanson Hooray!"

"You wouldn't say Hooray except it's under this kind of circumstances?"

The melancholy mood of the soldiers seemed to be swept away, and began joking, gathering mint into their bags energetically. Sanson picked up his bag, looked at me and giggled:

"Oi, Huchi? You have to pay for the song you sang!"

"Huh?"

Sanson is laughing, while putting the bag on my shoulder all of a sudden. I deliberately pretended to sway, and everyone laughed uproariously. In fact, a bag of mint can't weight much. But I still muttered and turned away. I started muttering softly, Sanson said:

"Hey, what do you want to say, speak up. Why are you muttering?"

"......! Is that Aroma of Dishes from the Kitchen, Aroma of Soaps from the Laundry? or Aroma of Wine from the Vault?"

Sanson shouted excitedly:

"Shit! You....You bastard!"

I changed my mind. Sanson is definitely not a hero like King Rhuterino. But if I have to pick one of them to be my friend, I prefer Sanson. Since I don't think that I can tease King Rhuterino like this.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.3)

※ ※ ※

Gran Elver who Blesses innocent girl and elf... Sigh, called you so many times today, I feel very sorry. But for this girl on my back, what do you think? You actually gave her such a reckless heart, that she gulped like that?

Carrying Jamini to walk on the road in the woods, I gotta use all my strength.

Karl's cinder is tasty, but it's really strong. It tasted like apple juice, so it's lucky that Jamini didn't pass out in Karl's house. I can't say that I am fully sober too. I am trying hard not to let Jamini fall, walking ricketily.

The sun had already gone long ago, now it's completely dark in the forest. Because it's the forest I've been playing around since childhood, even I'm a bit drunk, I can still find my way with confidence. But it's really tough. Especially Jamini on my back utters some  "Hee hee hee hee" ghost laughter from time to time, that annoys me, to an intolerable extent.

"Hee hee hee hee hee hee!"

"Don't laugh!"

"Meow, funny, meow~"

"What?"

"Don't know. Just Funny. Hee Hee!"

Ahhhhhhh! This girl! Should I just drop her here? Hell cares where wolves will come. Jamini then pulled my ears and said:

"Put me down!"

"You should go home immediately, get some cool water and then sleep."

"I would certainly be killed if I go back like this."

Uh-huh. This is true. It should be better to go back when we are sober. I put down Jamini, then fell to the ground like collapsed. Jamini also approached to me, and two of us sat side by side under a tree.

"Hey! After 10 years old, did you only gain weight but not height?"

My whole body is sticky because of my sweat. My face was sticked with a leaf, so I took it away. Jamini relied on me, and raised my arm, put it on her shoulder naturally. In other words, she drilled under my armpit.

"Jamini, cold?"

"Hee hee hee hee hee!"

"......"

When I cursed towards the sky without opening my mouth, she said in my armpit:

"So funny. Meow. That Dragon-Raja."

"What's funny?"

Of course, the answer was definitely not from my armpit.

"Isn't that funny?"

"What is funny actually? "

"Funny yeah!"

"...Look! What is that in front of us?"

"Mammy!"

Since childhood, every time Jamini sees the old dog of our thane yawning on the main road of the village, she always jumps into me like this. I smiled, While Jamini is having tears in her eyes, as if she doesn't know what happened, and looked at me drowsily.

"This is more funny, right?"

"Huchi Nedval! You!"

"You are sober all a sudden huh?"

Jamini sighed a breath of apple flavor, and then sat away from me. But soon after that, when a sound came from the forest, she immediately closed by again.

"There...What is that?"

"Ah that. That's wind."

"Do you think I can't recognize whether it's wind?"

I looked at Jamini with appalled eyes. Although she is a coward who doesn't leave her house after evening, she is absolutely the daughter of the Forest Guard. Getting birth, growing up in the forest, if she said it's not wind, it's not.

Her guess is correct. After a while, it feels like that something's lighted up. We can also hear human voice, Footsteps, murmurs, and tinkles.

The last sound means the sound emitted when a person wearing a sword is walking.

I stood up swiftly. But I'm wrong. Now I am dizzy, my legs are uncontrollable. I leaned a tree and managed not to fall. Jamini also stood up, and hid behind me. I let her stand in the middle of the tree and me, and then observed the front. I can see there are firelight flickering in the woods. Clearly there is a group of people with torches, walking inside the forest.

"Could...Could those be bandits?"

I tribute my highest respect to Jamini's imagination.

"That's a whole new level of brigands. Their name is The Torch Clan?"

Holding such a bright torch, making random noises, even if the sun rises from the west, those people will not be brigands. After Jamini got my words, her expression eased a bit. 

Hum. This is the forest of our thane, behind me is the daughter of our thane's forest guard, for me, as long as these people are not bandits, I don't have to be afraid...

"Hey, we are dead if we got found!"

"Huh?"

"Aren't we both drunk? If this were told to your parents ..."

"Ohhhh!"

Jamini is immediately ready to climb the tree. Come on, how did she come up with such an idea? Like what I thought, though Jamini is drunk, she would eventually realize that she cannot climb on it.

And she actually realized after she fell to the ground in the ass and screamed. God, blessing pure girl and elf...  I really can't stand it anymore.

"Who was that!?"

Now we hear rapid footsteps exactly accompanied by the sound they pull their swords out from sheaths.

Once we heard the sound of steel, we were like frozen, not dare to move a thread. By the moment, we are surrounded by soldiers holding torch and long sword.

"Wandering around the forest of our thane in the middle of a night, what are you - Hey, how is it? Huchi, Jamini!?"

Jamini and I had no alternative, but to response with the most appropriate attitude in this case.

"Hehehe..."

These people are all soldiers of our thane, wearing hard leather cover. They are all showing a ridiculous expression, putting their swords back in the scabbard. Their leader Sanson Percival came over and jeered. He is the son of the town blacksmith, now a guards captain,  very close to I, the son of candle maker who has to go to the castle and contribute candles. Although he is 10 years older than me, not only with a sword, but also command of soldiers, his heart has no slightest difference from mine, he is still a naughty boy.

He smiled and came up to me, and then suddenly frowned.

"Huh? What's wrong? You've been drinking?"

"Hey Hey Hey Hey ......"

Sanson looked at Jamini and me alternatively, then he made a strange smile, which made me very disturbed.

"Ah. Huchi. So you began to engage in these things. Where did you get the money, and go to buy the drinks? Is this the power of love, or power of desire? Anyway, you finally got the wine, then fuddled Jamini. You are really timid! Seems that if you did not make her drunk, you wouldn't get the confidence?"

"This is a misunderstanding!"

No one heard Jamini's roar, because the soldiers' laughter covered it. This is not done yet, I can't let it go. I have made my mind. This time I have to make Sanson disturbed. The strange smile on Sanson's face shortly before, is now emerged on mine.

"The Grind sound of The Waterwheel Mill Outside the Town is Really Loud..."

Sanson interrupted me immediately.

"Dangerous night, why are you lingering out there? Hum, go home now!"

"Today There is Again a Young Girl, Avoids Sights of People, Goes to the Mill."

"Huchi!"

This time the soldiers laughed at Sanson. Some of them even came up and said to me, with a sincere tone:

"Continue... Please."

"Girl in the Moonlight, Those Familiar Footsteps."

Sanson wanted to rushed me, but the soldiers immediately blocked him. Sanson is stamping the ground, but three soldiers has grabbed him tightly, they are even laughing.

"This is rebellion! Let go!"

"Interesting. You are noisy. Sanson, isn't that a nice song?" 

Ah. The discipline of our guards is really strict.

"Breeze Whisks by the Girl, Brings Along Familiar Aroma."

"Huchi! Bastard! Mom! Dad! Grandpa!"

I pretended that I didn't hear the anxious cry of Sanson, and continued singing. Now even Jamini is laughing at Sanson. The soldiers are slurping. Perhaps because of the drink, my mouth is crazier than usual.

"Is that Aroma of Dishes from the Kitchen, Aroma of Soaps from the Laundry, or Aroma of Wine from the Vault?"

"Is she Margaret of the kitchen? When it comes to laundry, it must be Ann with blonde hair. Speaking of vault, could she be that Katlantis?"

The soldiers immediately began to exchange opinions. I believe that even during the Glorious Seven Weeks Battles, the operational meetings held between King Rhuterino and the Eight Stars, were not as enthusiastic as the discussion here. I purposely continued to sing the song.

"It has to be one of those three! That....That aroma is..."

The soldiers is staring at me with hasty breath, while Sanson's complexion is turning green and white, looking like he is going to cry. I probably can't get near Sanson for a month after this. Nonetheless:

"Huh? What is that aroma?"

The soldiers all made a puzzled expression, but it had nothing to do with me. That is a clear and unique, yet familiar flavor. Then Jamini blinked and said:

"It's like flowers... but I don't know what kind of flower?"

The soldiers are not quite sure about the situation and looking at each other.

"It could be the smell of my body."

A child around 6 or 7 years old passed through the woods, and came toward us. Although I am a little drunk, I can still feel that this kid is a bit familiar. Compared to me, Jamini clearly recognized who this man is.

"Dragon-Raja!"

※　

The arrival of a group of extraordinary people broke the tranquility of the town. And what surprised people  is that there is another creature in the group: White Dragon. Her master rides a white horse and walks next to the White Dragon. He looks very young, may be less than 10.

Suddenly someone broke the silence with a loud voice:

"He is the Dragon-Raja."

※

Coming from out the woods, the Dragon-Raja showed an embarrassed smile, the soldiers didn't recall their mission until the moment. Sanson is finally released:

"Sir Hustheil, didn't I say please don't come here?"

Dragon-Raja made a wry, replied:

"I heard songs and laughter... Doesn't seem dangerous."

I gazed at the child. During the day he was riding a great white horse, which makes people worrying that he would fall off any time. But now he is dressing casually, looking like a normal child with nothing special. No, should say even provocative eyes which can be found on same aged, cannot be found on him. You can even tell that he is a timid kid. For me, I can absolutely not recognize that he is the boy in the day, but Jamini has very sharp eyes, she pointed it out within a glance.

Sanson nodded, said:

"That's correct. Right! Huchi and Jamini go home now! "

I hesitated and turned around, a few soldiers sighed because they cannot continue to get the secret gossip I broke. However, Jamini walked forwards and asked:

"But what do you come to do in the night?"

Sanson looked at Jamini, and made the expression that he suddenly remembered something.

"Ah! Yes! Jamini, with your help it's good."

"Huh?"

"We are now looking for mint. It is really difficult to find it at night."

"Hey, why look for mint ... Ah! The flavor is actually of mint!"

The moment Jamini spoke, I also noticed. The smell from the Dragon-Raja is mint flavor.

But why would a human body spread the smell? It's possible if we are talking about our thane who eats mint everyday. When our thane eats meat, he usually uses mint as a spice. Because he doesn't have much money, his personality is also not picky, so he doesn't use high class spices like cinnamon or cloves, but mint instead. Anyway, you must remove the fishy smell before you have dishes with meat.

Dragon-Raja heard Jamini, then a joy smile emerged on his face, said:

"Big sister, do you know where is the mint?"

The soldiers got a bit flustered at the moment, Dragon-Raja himself then startled a bit also. Of course, I was astounded too. A Dragon-Raja is actually talking to a civilian with such a cordial tone. But the drunk Jamini didn't seem to notice that.

"Well, blah, of course I know. Because my dad is the Forest Guard..., Sir Hustheil Your Excellency."

Fortunately Jamini still has certain degree of vigilance. Dragon-Raja is as if trying to conceal his own slip of the tongue, turned his line of sight to somewhere else:

"If that's the case, you would be helpful to these soldiers."

Sanson stood out quickly.

"This is for the White Dragon Cathselprime's meal. We have already digged out all the mint in the town, still not enough. So we hurriedly came out and find"

Oh my god, there is actually such a thing!

This dragon seems to be not willing to eat unless mint is added into the meal. If human hates the smell, forcing dragons to like it is indeed non-justifiable. But if it's the amount for a dragon to eat, that is going to be an incredible amount of mint. Soldiers in the castle only came here because they might have to prepare the spices for the dragon's meal. It's really an awkward thing.

Jamini also made a dumbfounding expression.

"Mint, there are many in the Savannah Valley."

"Oh really? That would be great. Lead the way please."

Jamini is getting uncomfortable. This girl even with so many soldiers counterparts, she does not dare go to Savannah Valley at night. Maybe on the half way, she would scream because of stepping on something, and quickly run back. Really no way to take her.

"I'll take you there. I know that place."

I stood out, Sanson showed a "Great!" expression.

"You'll lead us the way? Great. Then Jamini should go home first."

Jamini is simply going to cry. Alcohol can now be smelled all over her mouth, if go back like this, her mother would surely "dote" her a bit. Her ass must be slapped to red and swollen.

※ ※ ※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.1)

"... Therefore, as stated above, treating the relationship between Dragon-Raja and Dragon as the relationship between Master and Slave, many difficulties will appear. When a Dragon-Raja tells a Dragon: "You are my faithful friend.", it's a serious misunderstanding to treat these words as the same meaning as a King tells his people. But because of the vague attitude of Dragon-Rajas, most people mistake the relationship as if a Master-Slave way. This ambiguous attitude caused the disaster of the future their own, and that of Vyseus... "

From funded and published by The elegant Kenton City Mayor Mareth Zhuboly, written by a reliable Vyseus citizen, the wise historiographer Abosek Duoluomeinie: "Mysterious and valuable words"
770 A.V.
The 3rd book.
Page 527.

※ ※ ※

"Look! That's the White Dragon! Wow, awesome!"

"Hey, she is as white as your face that night you stepped on a snake, isn't she?"

"Huchi Nedval! You! I've told you not to mention that night again!"

I puffed and laughed. Jamini is raging while looking around, fearing that the conversation would be heard.

This girl, really... That was just a snake, why did she jump on me? Did she think that I wouldn't kiss her when I had her in my chest? I laugh again when I recall the night. It is more like a smile this time. Jamini is now staring at me. Looks like she's gonna cook and eat me, I must have some distractions now.

"Look over there! Huchi, is that kid the Dragon-Raja?"

Unwittingly, Jamini projected her sight onto the dragon again. Frankly it's difficult to not look at the dragon. I am also looking towards the same direction.

There is a boy next to the White Dragon, riding a white horse and advancing slowly. A white horse and a white dragon.... Sounds classy huh? Oh, the boy is even wearing a cloak...

Humph!

"The Dragon-Raja doesn't need to worry about being eaten. But that horse is a pity."

"Huh?"

"If it isn't brave enough to, how could it walk side by side with a dragon."

"Oh? So!"

"But what can it do? Blame itself being born white...? It can only obediently walk with the White Dragon, with the "You won't eat me, right?" eyes..."

"Haha, Huchi you are really showy."

"Hahaha! Can't you admire me in another way?"

Jamini and the people next to her laughed. Looks like they are even going to roll on the floor.

I spit.

They don't understand, people of our village are just too simple. Replace the White Dragon by the Nobles, the white horse by civilians. It's very obvious metaphor...
Damn! Am I abnormal? 

In fact, our thane is a kind man. He is different from the thanes in stories. He never abuses us.

Jamini smiled, and began to tiptoe and look around again. Seems like the crowd is blocking her sight. This girl... What is she doing when all the others are growing up? I smack my lips and seize Jamini's waist.

She stared at me. I took a deep breath.

"Don't get me wrong, Jamini."

Then I carried Jamini on my right shoulder, so that she can see more clearly from the cracks of the crowds. Although Jamini blushed, she did not refuse.

"More clearly now?"

"Ah...Looking closely, the Dragon-Raja seems like a 10 years old kid?"

"Stupid! Age doesn't matter on being a Dragon-Raja. No matter you are 5 years old or 80 years old, men are always children in the eyes of dragons."

People nearby are looking at us with surprised eyes, The sudden sights makes Jamini a bit overwhelmed. She started to move her body like crawling. I can completely feel it.

I ignored this situation, continued looking at the front.

The scene is very spectacular. The huge white dragon from head to tail seems to have more than 300 cubits. Simply, 100 cubits for the head and neck, 100 cubits for the body, and 100 cubits for the tail. She is walking on the ground, so I can not see the wings open, but obviously the length of the wings is in golden ratio with her front body. It came here from a long distance, but its head and neck are still upright like pushing the sky. Such a huge creature, how can her actions be so elegant? Cows and horses sometimes feel that their head is heavy, but with a heavier head, dragons never hang down their neck. Even human occasionally stumbles, but the dragon's footsteps are always light like a deer. The Dragon walks in the front like flying rapidly, lightly.

Beside the dragon is the boy who is riding the white horse. I'm not gonna take his seat even if someone would give me 1000 Purcell to do that. Whether it is the horse, the cloak, or the clothes, they are all too big for him. Of course, the boy has a great burden. He looks tired after the long journey, he is not looking at those crowds who came here in order to welcome him. Ah No, better to say he seems a bit shy.

Behind them, there are a few knights and soldiers. They are likely from the capital who came along to guard the dragon and the Dragon-Raja. Like I said before, the horse has no choice. But those soldiers have. They are far away from the Dragon. You wouldn't even think that they are in the same group with the Dragon.

Until now, the crowds who held their breath because of the Dragon, burst out cheerings.

"Dragon-Raja Hustheil! Hooray!"

"Hustheil! Long Live!"

The boy heard people shouting his name, his head is now even hanging lower, it has drilled almost into the collar. Long Live? Shouting Long Live to a 10 years old kid is really ridiculous. Why don't you simply shout "Praise The Lord!".

"Hurray! The Great Dragon Cathselprime!"

"Cathselprime! Long Live!"

If the dragon knows the meaning of "Long Live", will she know how ridiculous it is?

Anyway, the name of the dragon seems to be Cathselprime. And the little Dragon-Raja is Hustheil. We, poor people in a poor village, shouldn't know that much of the world. Surely some officials for our thane's castle led the calls, then those clever people followed suit. These people might even forget the names before they leave today.

"You must destroy Amurtaat!"

"Kill Amurtaat!"

I suddenly winced.

Amurtaat. People will never forget the name. So this time when the crowds cry, at least some of them are crying from bottom of their hearts. I am surprised that, I am actually following the waving and shouted:

"Slay the God Damned Amurtaat! Kill It!"

Because the excitement, I nearly dropped Jamini. Jamini startled and started grabbing my hair. I suddenly wake up and hold her.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Jamini."

"Put me down!"

Jamini cried angrily, so I have to obediently put her down.

She is now complaining and twisting my arm.

"You did it intentionally! Right!?"

She twisted me so hard that I started to feel dizzy, so I turned my face to her. I covered her mouth and began to whisper.

"Hush, shhhh! Jamini, quiet! Dragon's favorite are little girls. Do not do anything to attract its attention!"

Jamini's eyes widely opened. I make a scary face, and then say with a cruel voice:

"Because it feels good to chew them... So in other cases, dragon may just swallow the men, but if it's a little girl like you, dragon may chew it over and over again, tastes and relishes it slowly! Especially a red hair girl..."

As I expected, Jamini begins to tremble and hides behind me. And because she is now at my back, she is unable to see my facial expression. Hahahaaa!

The White Dragon does not know that she's got defamed because of my joke. She is still walking quietly. She is really cool. Such a powerful, frightening thing actually listens to the commands of a boy. It's somehow too cool that it makes people lost.

After a while, the line disappeared on the slopes of the hills, where the castle of our thane is. The crowds start to disperse, and a few people are getting together to chat.

"Our thane should sleep well tonight, right?"

"Yes. Hehe.  Having a dragon in his backyard, he should be able to get a good sleep."

I also laughed. But then a stimulus came to my ears.

"Great! If it is so powerful, Amurtaat is dead!"

"Yup! That Amurtaat!"

Amurtaat, Amurtaat!

Every time I hear the name, I feel chill around my body. Yet at the same time my head would be like a fire heating up. Amurtaat, the damn thing! Thrust it into the toilet and let it eat shit, and then fiercely beat the shit of out it for three and a half months ... Huh? Why do I always say something like that? All the curse I can think of, were what all the adults in this village, who did not consider their next generation quality, have said in front of the kids.

My eyes are sparking. Jamini is shocked,and she grabbed my arm.

"Huchi?"

"Ah, Jamini. Let's go. The sun is nearly down."

"Ah, good. Wow! That was really cool."

Jamini put her hands on her chest and takes a deep breath.

I approach to Jamini's ear.

"Did I just say that dragon likes to eat red-haired little girl like you? They are dead into it. Just now when you were hiding behind me, that dragon was drooling and looking at you. Did you notice that?"

Jamini screamed. In additional to our thane, there will be probably one more person who cannot sleep tonight.

※

I regret to scare Jamini.

Now she is saying that even if killing her, she will not go alone. She is holding my arm tightly and walking slowly. So although I am very indifferent, I have to act like a knight and escort her back. Jamini's family is responsible for helping the thane to guard the forest, so her house has a little distance from the village. What confuses me is that Jamini was born in the forest, grew up in the forest. Why is she afraid of entering the forest after the sunset?

Jamini is looking at the sunset and the sky covered by pink clouds, with the facial expressions showing that she is very worried: in case it turns dark halfway, when should she do?

"Hey girl! Don't tell me that a 17 years old girl can't go home alone!"

"How dare you! Who's the one who frightened me?"

I scratched my head and began to trot forward. Jamini doesn't want to be left behind, so she is following me closely.

※ ※ ※


On the way to Jamini's home, I suddenly have a thought, the thought of visiting Karl. On one hand visiting Karl is very pleasant, on the other hand I am curious that why he didn't come and join the crowd.

I suddenly changed my direction. Jamini is shocked and immediately grabbing my arm again.

"You...Where are you going?"

"Isn't that your home? Walk back by yourself. It takes less than a minute"

"You are going to visit Karl?"

"Yup."

"Let's go together then. When we return, you must send me to my front door."

Gran Elver who blesses elves and innocent girls! What were you thinking? Why would you gift this girl the ability of being so shameless?  I have two different tones for speech. One I learnt from Karl. One I learnt when I grew up. Sometimes what I say surprise myself, like this case.

I didn't say anything further, I just went forward. Jamini follows me, like I've already promised to send her back.

Karl's home locates on a open space at the edge of the forest.

He doesn't do farm or husbandry. And he doesn't produce anything good to sell. In addition, he doesn't pay tax, he doesn't even participate in annual enforced services for the thane which lasts a few days. Nevertheless, he wines and exchange it for bread. He reads all day. lives leisurely. It is a mystery for Jamini, so she is a little afraid of Karl.

Approaching the house of Karl, A, A sounds of ax is also becoming clearer.

Soon we arrived the open space. There a middle-aged man, with moderate body, brown hair, and a very kind face. If you met him in the street, you will not remember such a ordinary man. The ordinary man is cutting down a tree.

"Hey Nedval! You came."

Karl put down the ax, made a pleasant expression. This is again an incredible thing for Jamini. As a daughter of the Forest Guard, she still can't understand, how come Karl how to can cut down trees without the permission of her father. Jamini carries the alert eyes, knees and greets to him.

"Hello, Karl!"

I warmly greeted also.

"You are really lazy! Karl, the sun had already gone down, and now you begin to prepare the firewood for evening use?"

"Hahaha, Nedval. Real lazy people are even worse. There are people who think that cutting firewood is annoying, so they sleep with trembling. That is called lazy. Long time no see, Miss Shimaitage."

This is why Jamini comes to find Karl even she is a little afraid of Karl. Who the hell calls her Miss Shimaitage? Either her parents or everyone in the village, most of them call her Jamini, at most her nickname Jamy. But Karl is actually able to remember the last name of Jamini that even I always forget, and called it, This is really amazing. Jamini is smiling. Gosh! Disgusting!

"Don't be nonsense. How could you find such a lazy person?"

"Yes you can, Nedval. One of My friend is such a lazy guy. He got a cold because of that, almost died."

"Hey, who dies because of cold? You are getting more and more outrageous."

"You little boy is really tough, adults can't communicate with you completely. Aha, come in. Miss Shimaitage? A beautiful lady visits, leavig her standing here is really rude. "

"It's my pleasure."

Jamini answered with an elegantly adorable voice. God! Goosebumps..Goosebumps...