REFDL 11

……Ram. ……Ram.

……Yuram.

It felt like someone called out to me in a dream.

The sound vanished in an instant, fading into the distance.

The first was too far away, the second hadn’t reached me yet.

I opened my eyes, my mind still hazy.

The forest was noisy.

I shook my head vigorously and glared at the forest where monsters were scattering.

I couldn’t tell exactly. But something had happened.

* * *

The children hadn’t visited the lake these past few days.

What could be wrong?

Worried, I cautiously approached the village. Even from a distance, the atmosphere felt restless.

Men gathered in the center discussed something with grave expressions. Hunters standing nearby actively offered opinions while fully armed with bows, spears, and axes.

The next day.

Rotol and her group returned to the lake after several days. It was well past the agreed time. I was about to go chase the crow again, thinking they probably wouldn’t come today either, when Rotol’s group finally arrived at the lake, long after the agreed time. 

Rotol, upon seeing me, immediately vented her anger.

“Those damn wolf bastards!”

“……”

This time, Mirim didn’t try to stop her. It turned out that over the past two days, the village hunters had been attacked one after another by the alpha wolf.

“Two men died, and Mirim’s father was injured. Fortunately, it only grazed his shoulder. If luck had been against him, his arm could have been severed…”

Rotol, who had been grumbling, suddenly realized her mistake and shut her mouth. Mirim shook his head to say it was fine. The boy, who was usually quiet but always had calm eyes, now had his shoulders slumped.

I hesitated.

I had been thinking about dealing with the wolves. Even more so after meeting the children by the lake. The wolves hadn’t come to the lake yet, but that didn’t mean they never would.

I should have dealt with them sooner.

My instincts told me. Now, if we fight, my master will win.

But I hesitated.

No, I’m scared!

It wasn’t just normal fear. It was fucking terrifying!

Up in the tree, I’d mocked them all I wanted. They’re just four-legged beasts that can’t even climb a low cliff.

But this isn’t some ordinary wolf. I’d have to fight the alpha wolf head-on? His fangs would sink into my flesh.

I instantly started sweating.

What pissed me off most was this.

It seems like he knows that too.

Just like I instinctively gauged the gap between us, he instinctively knew my strength.

Yet he didn’t flee into the Sea of Trees, still circling nearby? Maybe he attacked the hunters to provoke me.

That must be it.

The fact he came out personally, not sending his subordinates, was proof.

He was seething with malice and hunting desire toward me, enough to endure the skull splitting pain and move.

Crunch.

My claws dug into the ground.

There was something like that in Rotol’s nnth miscellaneous knowledge.

‘The further monsters are from the center of the Sea of Trees, the stronger the pain and pressure they endure.’

Incidentally, the constraints were proportional to their strength.

The stronger the monster, the greater the effect. Conversely, the weaker they were, the freer they were. But even the weakest monsters couldn’t leave the forest.

‘There are exceptions, but… that phenomenon only happens in the north. We don’t need to worry about it.’

Anyway, for that reason, the monsters in the Sea of Trees lived by gauging their boundaries.

If they ventured deeper than their capabilities seeking comfort, they’d be devoured by stronger monsters. But if they ventured too far out, they’d suffer the agony of their skulls shattering.

I don’t know exactly what rank that bastard alpha is.

He wasn’t the type to leave the forest and prowl around hunters.

It meant he hunted hunters while enduring excruciating pain in his skull.

For the record, I’ve never experienced it. I only knew such pain existed because Rotol told me.

‘Dragons are the only exception to that rule. I don’t know why. Probably nobody does, right?’

Naturally, they could leave the Sea of Trees too.

‘Is that related to dragons being the only monsters that can be tamed?’

Anyway, it wasn’t important right now.

“So, I want to ask for your help.”

Rotol looked up at me. Mirim and Odan, who still seemed uncomfortable around me despite pretending otherwise, stood beside Rotol.

Grrrr……

Hey, instinct. Are you sure I won’t lose?

Yes, Master. Some flesh might get torn by his fangs, but you won’t lose and you won’t die!

‘…….’

My hesitation was brief. I honestly confessed to Rotol.

Kyak.

Grrr. Kaak.

“Hmm. You’re scared to come down to the ground……”

Rotol didn’t laugh. She offered a solution.

“Then you don’t have to come down. I have a good plan. It’s this-……”

Mirim, who had been watching quietly, muttered.

“I’ve always wondered… how exactly do you two talk……”

Odan covered his mouth with his hand and giggled.

“As expected, Sister Rotol. Dragon blood runs through her veins… she even looks like a dragon.”

Mirim nodded with a look of realization.

Rotol smiled brightly.

Mirim and Odan ran away.

* * *

Rotol’s solution was simple.

Scared to go down and fight? Worried about being flanked?

“Then don’t go down!”

She then held out a huge leather pouch made by stitching together small pieces of leather.

“We’ll fill this with rocks and strap it to your torso. All you have to do is fly and throw these rocks to hit the wolves. They’re just ordinary wolves, except for the leader. This should be enough to kill them easily. Then you can take down the lone wolf left behind in style.”

‘…….’

“It’s fine. If it’s just the leader wolf, it doesn’t matter if it’s later.”

Rotol patted my stretched out neck.

“The lone wolf won’t attack the village, preoccupied with you. And as time passes, you’ll only grow stronger. The day its fangs can’t pierce a single scale of yours will come soon enough. Understand? This is a fight we’ll ultimately win.”

‘……!!’

I asked in admiration.

……But where did you get this leather pouch?

“Borrowed it.”

I looked at Mirim. The latter shook his head.

So she stole it…….

Aren’t you an aspiring knight?

“Romeo, you’re a dragon, so you wouldn’t know. People destined for great things don’t get hung up on trivial matters.”

‘…….’

I am not Romeo.

And Rotol will surely rise to greatness even in politics.

* * *

The operation was a resounding success.

The pile of rocks the three troublemakers traded for muscle pain became excellent ammunition.

……At first, I was trembling so much that I dropped rocks in odd places, but they say beginnings are always hard. Once I managed to hit my target just once, it became easy from then on.

Thwack!

Crash!

The wolves fell helplessly.

I drove them toward the basin. The obstacles vanished completely, and the view opened up wide.

From then on, it was a one-sided slaughter.

The rocks thrown with my dragon’s arm power pierced the wolves’ bodies like cannonballs.

If they hit the head, the skull shattered. 

After nearly exterminating the wolf pack, I descended into the basin.

I personally ended the lives of those who were only wounded and still alive.

Waaah! Waaah!

I hated it and was terrified, but I didn’t want to inflict unnecessary suffering.

Red, blood-soaked corpses piled up atop the white cotton flowers.

It wasn’t as bad as when my parent dragon died, but I felt a little down.

But…

It’s over.

Haa.

Just as I let my wings droop in relief.

Awoo!

I sensed killing intent that would have made any fur stand on end. A beast filled with resentment and hatred, glared at me from the cliff above.

…Fucking insane.

My instincts screamed at me, “What are you doing? Go bite its neck off right now!” I wanted to retort, “If you can talk so easily, do it yourself.”

I couldn’t move a muscle.

The alpha glared at me briefly, then turned and vanished into the forest.

Thud.

My legs gave out. My cart-sized rear crushed the grass.

It’s fine. No one saw. My dragon’s dignity remained intact.

I returned and reported victory to Rotol.

“Whoa!”

Rotol cheerfully jumped up and down. Mirim and Odan were the same. Especially Mirim, whose father had been hurt, hd rushed over and hugged my front leg.

Startled at first, I soon felt proud. The two boys no longer feared me. All three musketeers were on my side.

Back then, I didn’t know that we had overlooked something.

Rotol was a genius, but still a child. I was an adult in soul, but ignorant of this world.

The snowball began to roll.

* * *

The villagers’ reaction upon discovering the scene greatly exceeded Rotol’s expectations.

They were shocked and frightened.

They were angrier than Rotol had imagined. The three of them were grounded.

They expected the adults might at least take the damaged hide, but they didn’t even touch the wolf carcass. The adults gathered at the village hall.

A heated meeting lasted all night.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

But I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

The meeting ended.

“Hurry.”

“Yes, Village Chief.”

Several disguised hunters set out at dawn.

Ten days later.

The hunters returned to the village with a group of horsemen.

The knights had arrived.