Chapter 117

This boss, called the Earth Dragon, had a peculiar habit of moving by burrowing through the ground. In my past life, pinpointing its location had been the biggest challenge.

This time, however, finding the Earth Dragon was easy. The center of the barrier was marked by a massive, sunken, circular crater.

Nothing remained above the pit.

What was once a forest, densely packed with all manner of plants, trees, and rocks, was now just an empty clearing.

Standing at a distance, Yulia scowled at the crater.

“The forest has a huge bald patch now. It’s hideous.”

“A forest that existed since before the Empire was founded… ruined like this in just six hours. S-rank monsters are truly terrifying.”

Listening to Johan’s lament, I surveyed the size of the pit.

‘If it’s that big… is its body about 200 meters long?’

The Earth Dragon was an omnivore.

With its enormous, circular mouth, it devoured everything in its path—dirt, trees, rocks, humans—and used it all to grow larger.

This was why its growth rate was unparalleled.

Therefore, it was best to deal with an Earth Dragon as soon as it appeared. While it was still small and weak.

‘It hasn’t grown as much as I thought. Good thing I put up the barrier in advance.’

In my past life, I’d seen one devour an entire port in just three hours, so this was a relatively mild case.

The barrier had successfully stunted its growth.

This was precisely why I had entrusted the Earth Dragon to Bluebird.

I figured that while they would struggle against an S-rank monster, the barrier would halt its growth, allowing them to handle it.

‘Irresponsible bastards.’

Who would have thought that so-called Hunters would abandon a monster and flee? The more I thought about it, the more absurd it was.

“Yulia, how much time is left?”

“It’s faster than expected. I think there’s less than an hour until the barrier breaks.”

I nodded and began to explain the plan.

“Listen carefully. Once the barrier disappears and it reveals itself, we will begin our attack.”

“Ah! You said it moves underground, right? Will it actually show itself?”

“We’ll make it show itself.”

“How?”

I picked up a stick and drew a picture of the Earth Dragon on the ground.

Yulia, who had crouched down beside me, clapped her hands loudly.

“Oh, how cute! What is this, Guild Leader? A snail?”

“…The boss.”

“Ah…”

“That’s the boss? Pahaha! I thought it was a piece of poop or something.”

Alex burst out laughing. Kaiel pressed his lips together tightly, and Johan politely covered his mouth. They were holding back their laughter.

‘I thought it was a pretty good drawing…’

As I shot them a glare, Alex’s laughter slowly died down.

“Sorry…”

After warning Alex with my eyes, I drew a circle of a similar size next to the Earth Dragon.

“This is the barrier.”

Alex’s eyes widened.

“The monster… is that big? It completely fills it?”

“It’s probably coiled up like a snake inside the barrier. It’ll be much longer when it comes out and straightens its body.”

The somewhat lighthearted atmosphere subsided. Seeing the size comparison must have finally made it real for them.

“First, we need a means of transportation. The monster reacts to vibrations, so we need to fight it from the air. Yulia, you’ll be in charge of the summon.”

“Yes, Guild Leader!”

“When it appears, we’ll need someone capable of an omnidirectional attack to prevent it from burrowing back underground. Sir Kaiel, I’d like you to handle this. Lightning-based magic should do the trick.”

“I recently acquired a lightning-type special move from the shop. This works out well. Understood.”

A lightning-type special move? Doesn’t that require a huge number of points?

Compared to my situation, where I hadn’t acquired a single one after my third, I felt a pang of envy.

“Finally, we need bait. Someone agile to lure it out. But…”

I hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“I’ll say this in advance: it’s the most dangerous role. You’ll have to run on the ground to draw its attention. If you get eaten, we won’t be able to save you.”

Only two people were left. Johan and Alex.

Realistically, Alex was better suited for the role of bait than Johan.

In a worst-case scenario, there were many warriors who could replace Alex if he died, but there was no one to replace Johan, who was essentially a healer.

However, Alex wasn’t exactly trustworthy enough to handle an S-rank boss.

‘What if he gets himself killed by acting recklessly like he did with the queen?’

But assigning the role to Johan wouldn’t be efficient in the long run.

‘Who should I pick?’

Just then, Alex shot to his feet, placing his hands confidently on his hips.

“That sounds like the perfect role for me. If you need someone to completely capture its attention, there’s no one better than me, right? Just trust me and proceed with the plan!”

‘Look at him. How can I trust him when he acts like that? Tsk, tsk, tsk.’

As I struggled to make a decision, Johan gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

“It would be more advantageous for a swift person to be the bait. I will do it.”

Before I could say anything, Alex spoke up grumpily.

“That’s a hurtful thing to say. Are you implying I’m slow?”

“What’s your 100-meter time?”

“…Fourteen seconds.”

“Mine is nine. While wearing plate armor.”

“…”

The once-proud Alex instantly deflated.

As a knight, he wasn’t slow by any means. It was just that running was a particular weakness for someone with his massive frame of over 195 cm. To be honest, Johan was just in a league of his own.

‘Nine seconds while wearing armor? Is that even possible? If he’d been born in my past life, he would have dominated the world of sports.’

“That settles it. Yulia, transportation. Sir Kaiel, area-of-effect magic. Sir Johan, bait. Alex and I will be on attack. Everyone, confirm your roles.”

Everyone nodded with serious expressions, each preparing in their own way.

I tossed the stick aside and dusted off my hands.

“Yulia.”

“Yes, Guild Leader!”

As I drew Arondight and met her gaze, Yulia made a specific shape with her hands and called forth her summon.

*Kieeeek!*

It was the flying summon I had seen a few times before. The sight of it descending with its six massive wings spread wide was magnificent.

The chimera landed on the ground and was about to approach Yulia when it suddenly whipped its head around.

Then, it came stomping toward me on its two legs and lowered its head.

“You remember me?”

The chimera rubbed its head against my body. Its head was so large that I staggered with every nudge.

“Cute.”

I chuckled and scratched the chimera’s neck.

*Grrr, grrr.*

Meanwhile, Yulia came up beside me and grumbled.

“Hmph, you like our Guild Leader that much? More than your own mother?”

*Kyak! Kyeek!*

“What? You feel good when you’re near our Guild Leader? I know, I know how that feels.”

*Grrr…*

“And she smells good, too, right? Haa, I’m so jealous. You have to tell me exactly what it’s like later.”

‘Is she really communicating with the chimera?’

I shot Yulia a look before letting out a deep sigh.

“How much time is left on the barrier?”

“Ten minutes? Five? I’m not sure exactly, but I think it’s about to end.”

I watched the quiet pit for a moment, then nodded.

“Let’s begin.”

Everyone moved in perfect sync.

Kaiel used Fly magic to rise into the air, while Alex and I mounted the chimera.

After Yulia summoned another, smaller chimera and took to the sky, Johan was the only one left on the ground.

Johan took off his uniform jacket and unbuckled his sword to lighten his body.

“Lady Astell.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember… the conversation we had earlier?”

“Astell, I like you.”

“Please accept me.”

“Ah… I remember.”

“Once we’ve cleared this gate… may I have your answer?”

“…You may.”

The moment he heard my answer, Johan smiled dazzlingly.

I wonder what he thinks I’m going to say, to be smiling so beautifully like that.

As I forced myself to look away from Johan, Alex nudged me in the ribs.

“What was that? What conversation? Did he ask to borrow money?”

“Haa, you’re getting dumber by the day.”

“…Is that any way to talk to your older brother?”

Just then, Yulia shouted.

“Guild Leader! The barrier is gone!”

The forest fell instantly silent. It felt as if every living thing was holding its breath.

“What’s happening?”

We waited for a long time, but the pit where the Earth Dragon was hiding remained quiet. Alex whispered from behind me.

“Do you think it already burrowed away?”

“No, it’s definitely down there.”

No sooner had I spoken than the dirt covering the pit began to tremble faintly.

It was a sign that it was uncoiling its body and preparing to move.

All that was left was to lure it out before it could escape.

“Sir Johan!”

Johan leaped high into the air.

*Thump! Thump!*

He stomped powerfully on the ground, jumping in place about ten times.

*Fwump!*

The earth erupted as if it had exploded, and a colossal monster shot up from within the pit.

*Qwwwwwaaaaar!*

A face composed entirely of a mouth, with no eyes, nose, or ears. A body wrinkled and teeming like a parasite.

It was the S-rank boss, the Earth Dragon.