SRS 125

“Wait, why do you want to capture Professor Ariel?”

“It’s obviously for Lord Gerog’s benefit!”

“What?”

The plan was to put a dragon in front of a goblin who’s terrified of them. How could that possibly help Gerog? It was just a new method of harassment.

Yohan’s eyes showed he didn’t understand. Suhyeok grabbed Yohan’s shoulders, shook his head, and explained.

“Listen, Yohan. That magic book didn’t send us here for no reason. It probably sent us because the answer to Lord Gerog’s cure is here. And the dragon we met just happens to be Professor Ariel. This is a chance from the magic book. Professor Ariel’s weak against students, so we’ll trick him, find a way out of the lair, knock him out, and show him to Lord Gerog. We’ll show him that dragons aren’t actually that scary or powerful! That’ll cure Lord Gerog’s trauma, we’ll escape the lair, and we can take some of Professor Ariel’s treasures on the way. It’s three birds with one stone.”

“……”

Suhyeok’s expression was serious. If Yohan judged by his face alone, he might’ve followed the plan because Suhyeok looked so persuasive. However, Yohan already saw the greed in those words.

Yohan clutched his forehead, which throbbed like a ringing gong.

“You sound logical, but you just don’t want to make potions and you want the lair’s treasure, so you’re targeting the professor…”

Yohan groaned. Suhyeok just shrugged, his attitude greatly shocked Yohan. He thought like a grave robber. Yohan knew Suhyeok wasn’t a perfect saint, but this was too much.

“Hmm. The plan to show the knocked-out professor to Lord Gerog might not be bad. Lord Gerog’s trauma comes from the fear that dragons are powerful and violent. If we show him a dragon that isn’t like that, it’ll help the recovery. It’s certainly a more fundamental cure than a potion.”

Suhyeok found an unexpected ally. Mikael supported his opinion. Suhyeok puffed out his chest, while Yohan was lost in thought.

A potion’s cure’s short-sighted. The trauma could return at any time, and a potion couldn’t provide a full recovery. In some cases, it might even feel like they’re deceiving Lord Gerog.

Yohan’s contemplation lasted a long time. Suhyeok pulled the white-haired student forward and his eyes sparkled.

“See? Mikael agrees. I’ll handle the capture of Professor Ariel. Can’t we just try once?”

It was three against one. Yohan’s heart softened in the end. He admitted that treating the cause was more effective than a potion.

“…Alright. We’ll cure Lord Gerog through Professor Ariel. But I want one thing clear.”

“What’s that?”

“We won’t ambush the professor. We’ll talk to him and seek his help. Lord Gerog’s trauma started around the same time Professor Ariel arrived. If we explain this, Professor Ariel’s heart will soften and he’ll be friendly. There’s no need to fight.”

Professor Ariel’s personality was soft and naive for a professor, but a dragon’s still a dragon. The idea to capture a dragon in its true form, not a polymorphed human state, wasn’t a sane thought. Yohan spoke firmly, and Suhyeok looked quite disappointed. An ordinary student would think he’s disappointed because he lost the chance to hunt a dragon. But Yohan already saw through Suhyeok’s desire. That was just disappointment because he couldn’t take the lair’s treasure.

“Ha…”

Suhyeok must be possessed by a miser’s ghost. Yohan used his divine power on his dejected friend. A brilliant light burst out, and Suhyeok shielded his face in surprise.

“Gah! Yohan, what are you doing?”

“I performed a brief exorcism.”

“Exorcism?”

“It seemed like an evil spirit possessed you.”

“What?”

Yohan left the stunned Suhyeok behind and turned to Kylus and Mikael. Suhyeok started to ramble about hunter instincts and game rewards from his old world, but no one paid attention.

“I’ll handle the persuasion. But if that fails or an accident happens, we’ll borrow Suhyeok’s sedative to escape the situation.”

“Yes.”

“…Hmm. That method takes more time, but it’s not bad. I’ll follow your opinion, Yohan. More importantly… the distance has been growing for a while.”

“Ah!”

They had slowed down during the argument. Yohan and his friends realized the situation and hurried after Professor Ariel. Fortunately, they didn’t lose him. The giant dragon landed on a mountain peak and looked down at the ground.

The group felt relieved when the dragon stopped. Yohan decided to think highly of dragons who appreciate the scenery.

The distance between them shrinked. Yohan stopped at a safe range to prepare for any accidents. The dragon was still looking at the garden below and didn’t notice them. Yohan took a slow breath. He wanted to call the name, but his body trembled because the dragon’s presence was so grand. It was different from the hydra.

It felt similar to when he saw the World Tree. It was hard to breathe. When the pressure overwhelmed him, someone grabbed Yohan’s hand, his erratic breathing calmed down.

Yohan knew who it was and smiled faintly. He held the hand and shouted.

“Professor Ariel!”

The shout was infused with divine power. It was louder than anything Yohan ever produced. The mountain range echoed. The dragon on the peak trembled in shock. Finally, the dragon’s gaze met Yohan’s.

The vertical pupils locked onto him. The giant dragon looked panicked, as if he saw something he shouldn’t have. He flapped his wings and fled the mountain.

“Wait…!”

“He’s running away!”

“Follow him, Yohan!”

“Let’s go, Yohan.”

The dragon’s sudden departure stunned them, but they quickly chased him. Yohan regained his senses and used the spirit’s power to track the flight path.

“Why did he run away from us?”

“Maybe he’s surprised we entered his lair.”

“There might be a racial rule about hiding the true form.”

“That’s possible, Mikael.”

They thought of reasons for Professor Ariel’s flight. Some seemed plausible, but nothing’s certain.

“He’s getting further away.”

Professor Ariel’s speed was much faster than before. Yohan felt lucky he had a spirit contract.

“The spirit’s movement stopped. The professor finished his flight.”

“Where?”

“I’ll share my vision. Wait a moment.”

He saw a dark place.

“He went into a cave. This way.”

Yohan led them. They entered the cave and heard a gloomy, trembling voice.

“I don’t know what to do…! Students get scared when I’m in my true form, but I showed it…! Everyone will definitely be afraid of me now. Someone might faint in class just from my face! If all the students faint again, I’ll have to write another apology letter. If everyone avoids me, the Griffin gymnastics class might be canceled…”

Professor Ariel was back in his familiar form. He hid his face with his hair in the depths of the cave and mumbled about his worst fears.

“…….”

Yohan and his friends exchanged glances. They knew the reason he fled, but they didn’t feel better. They had intruded on his lair and seen his true form. They accidentally gave him unnecessary anxiety.

They felt guilty and couldn’t approach. Suhyeok and Kylus pushed Yohan’s back. Suhyeok mouthed his opinion.

‘Yohan. You go talk. You’re good at this.’

He meant he wasn’t good at comfort, so Yohan should calm the professor.

Yohan sighed and covered himself in divine power. A panicked dragon’s power could kill them.

“…Professor Ariel.”

He called the name as he approached slowly. The half-dragon was lost in his own fear and didn’t notice them. He jumped and turned around.

“Eek!”

He saw Yohan and backed away in terror.

“W-what do I do… if I destroy the evidence… No, I shouldn’t touch a student. They’re too fragile. But if I leave it like this, the lecture…!”

Oh no.

He wasn’t sane. He might kill them to erase the evidence. Yohan used his spirit. He snapped his fingers, and a mid-rank spirit poured a liter of water on Professor Ariel’s head.

The cold water hit him. Professor Ariel shivered and blinked. He looked up with wet eyelashes.

“Student Yohan…?”

He regained his reason. Yohan dismissed the other water bombs and bowed.

“Yes, Professor Ariel. It’s Yohan. I apologize for the rudeness just now.”

Now they could finally have a proper conversation.