Chapter 44: Earth Dragon Subjugation

“Everyone, stay sharp.”

At Verdi’s words, the two people gulped and nodded.

Then Verdi, who had moved ahead, reached out a hand.

*Shrrk—*

With that, the ice that had formed a massive barrier began to slowly melt away.

The ice wall that had withstood the Earth Dragon’s breath and dozens of headbutts could be melted whenever Verdi willed it.

Realizing that, Deneb looked at Verdi with an awestruck gaze.

‘…So that’s the level you need to be to become hyung-nim’s disciple.’

The Bandits, High-Rank Hunters, unknown enemies, and even the Earth Dragon right in front of them.

The guts to face all those things head-on without turning your back.

The talent to use outstanding magic with Incantationless Casting.

Aside from hyung-nim, even compared to Lucius Wilhelm, the best Hunter Deneb knew, she didn’t fall short.

‘Ms. Verdi seems to be around the same age as me.’

Compared to herself, the gap was enormous.

Could someone this outstanding really exist in the world?

And that made jealousy stir.

Verdiol hyung-nim, the hero and greatest mage.

Wilhelm hyung-nim, with charisma and skill befitting an S-Rank Hunter.

It felt like the strengths of both older brothers had gathered and merged into one person.

It all felt so enviable that jealousy crept in.

So, without realizing it, she reached a hand out toward Verdi, who was leading the charge.

Asking her to share just a little of that talent.

If that happened—

—I’ll be expecting it.

Both hyung-nims would treat her differently too.

Not with expectation, but with a reply of, “I’ll leave it to you.”

That was when the thought struck her.

—You’re jealous, aren’t you. People like to tear down those better than them.

Verdiol hyung-nim’s words from before suddenly came to mind.

‘…Verdiol hyung-nim was right.’

The moment those words rang in her ears, Deneb clenched her fist as if swallowing her thoughts.

She had been jealous of Verdi, hyung-nim’s disciple.

She had tried to tear her down out of jealousy.

‘…Me too.’

What reason did she have to envy her?

Even though she clearly disliked being with others, she had offered to become Deneb’s teacher.

‘If I work hard, I can definitely get stronger.’

Even if she could never become like Ms. Verdi or the older brothers.

Let’s at least become someone they’d look back on.

The barrier finally melted away completely.

And then—

The nightmare she had hoped never to see again revealed itself.

“KUUOOOOOH!”

The Earth Dragon Cancelo roared at the intruders.

*CRACK!*

The moment it met the intruders who had defied it again, the enraged Earth Dragon easily shattered the ice that had bound its feet.

“Move!”

Verdi charged at the Earth Dragon from the front.

Meanwhile, Deneb and Marcel exchanged glances behind her, then moved to their respective positions.

* * *

I can see it, Earth Dragon.

The moment you die.

[ Gravity Element — Gravity Bullet Lv.2 ]

Instead of having an ability like Inventory, this is gravity-element magic I honed in a short time to carry heavy loads.

I thought I wouldn’t need it now that I have a Porter, but it turned out to be useful after all.

I stretched out my right hand.

Aiming at the stalactites and rocks the Earth Dragon had smashed.

The fragments scattered carelessly on the ground rose into the air.

Since it’s a school I never learned before the change, the level is low, but the effect is satisfying. This should be enough.

WHOOSH—!

Meanwhile, a wave of heat came from the front.

I turned my head and saw the Earth Dragon opening its maw wide.

*Fwoosh—!*

Then it spat out its breath. Dragon Breath.

An ordinary mage would already be casting a spell and would have been caught off guard.

But not me.

[ Ice Element — Frost Wall Lv.7 ]

I stretched out my left hand. A blue Magic Circle formed, and soon, an ice barrier took shape.

*KWAANG!*

The Dragon Breath slammed into the shield, and a massive explosion erupted with a thunderous roar.

But the ice barrier remained completely unscathed, as if the explosion meant nothing.

*Shrrk—*

I clenched my left hand, and the barrier, having served its purpose, dissipated.

Then I saw the Earth Dragon charging toward me.

It charged at me like a runaway locomotive, looking like it would plow straight through me.

Part of me felt like if I got hit by that thing, I might just end up back in my original world…

But I can’t let that happen.

“Kuaaaaargh!”

The Earth Dragon’s shadow loomed over me.

*CRUNCH!*

The Earth Dragon slammed headfirst into the cave wall just as I dodged.

[ Swiftness Lv.1 ]

But its movements were nothing compared to my speed wrapped in Swiftness.

No matter how threatening an attack is, it means nothing if it doesn’t land.

Meanwhile, all my attacks are lethal and never miss.

[ Ice Element — Icicle Bullet Lv.7 ]

I reached out my hand. Several cold-blue Magic Circles formed behind me.

*Crackle—!*

Sharp icicles formed from the Magic Circles.

*BOOM CRASH!*

They rained down on the Earth Dragon like a storm.

The moment the icicles pierced the dragon’s skin, they spread wide and froze the contact area.

“Kuaaaaargh!”

I felt like its roar was slowly turning into a scream.

But it’s not over yet. The reason dragon-type Demon Beasts are called the strongest is their powerful bodies and tenacious vitality.

*Whoosh!*

The Earth Dragon swung its tail wide.

‘Oh, is that so?’

I thought that wouldn’t stop me, but surprisingly, before new ice could bloom from the pierced areas, all the icicles shattered into pieces.

“Kuaaaaargh!”

It roared as if asking if that was all I had.

‘So that’s how you want to play it.’

I kicked off the ground and ran toward the Earth Dragon.

After all, that was just a fraction of my magic.

You must not know since we just met today, but I haven’t even shown you the real deal yet!

*THUD! THUD! THUD!*

The Earth Dragon, as if mocking me, widened all six of its eyes and charged at me.

True to its name as an Earth Dragon, it seemed familiar with the cave terrain—despite its massive size, it was incredibly agile.

This time, I spun around. Sorry, but I have no intention of colliding with you head-on.

I activated Swiftness magic and sprinted at full speed back the way I came.

“Kuaaaaargh!”

The Earth Dragon chased after me as I fled. Its roar grew louder, as if enraged that I chose to run instead of fight.

But what are you gonna do about it? If I run, what can you do!

With Swiftness doubling my speed, there’s no way you can catch me!

‘Almost there.’

If my memory serves, it should be around here.

“Kuaaaaargh!”

I heard a roar from behind and turned around—the Earth Dragon was already right on my tail.

With a roar that seemed to declare it had caught me, it swung its front claw wide.

If that massive paw crushed me, my body would probably leave no trace.

Of course, that won’t happen. Even if it did crush me, the Mana Shield would protect me.

But right now, instead of relying on the Mana Shield, I think I’ll count on the traps my party members set up.

*BOOM!*

The Earth Dragon’s front claw slammed into the ground, but I dodged it easily with a short leap.

“Kuaaargh!”

Enraged that its attacks kept missing, the Earth Dragon let out a furious roar and raised its foot high for another strike.

Or rather, it tried to. But it couldn’t. The dragon’s foot was buried in a pit.

It had fallen straight into the trap I had Marcel and Deneb set up.

I reached out my hand toward its trapped leg.

[ Ice Element — Frost Nova Lv.7 ]

*Crackle—*

The pit and the dragon’s leg froze in an instant. No matter how much the Earth Dragon struggled, it couldn’t escape the Frost Nova’s ice binding.

“Kuaaargh…!”

The Earth Dragon roared in a slightly different tone, as if startled by the unexpected sight.

It was a risky plan that required bait, but I was confident.

I’ve fought dragon-type monsters a few times before, and I know that dragon races, being the strongest, tend to look down on other races.

And that naturally includes humans, the Hunters who hunt them.

Well, that makes sense. After all, the moment they realize they’re weaker than humans is right before they die.

“Kuaaargh!”

It shook its massive body, trying to break free, but it was no use.

Right then.

*THUD!*

As it thrashed violently, its other foot fell into the trap too. I froze its leg the same way.

“Kuaaargh!”

What a pathetic sight. A lizard that looked down on humans, now stuck in a trap they made, helpless.

It did swing its tail at me a few times to threaten me, but—

[ Ice Element — Frost Nova Lv.7 ]

“Not happening.”

I reached my hand toward its tail and froze the wildly thrashing thing solid.

Then its roar gradually began to quiet down.

This bastard finally realized it. That it had been had.

“Oop.”

I lightly hopped onto the Earth Dragon’s body.

“Stupid lizard.”

I didn’t know if this thing could understand human speech, but I kept mocking it and hurling insults.

“Dumbass lizard.”

I’d been having a hard time acting nice lately, you know. Because of this body, I couldn’t just curse freely wherever I went.

So I’d been needing an outlet, and look — here’s a punching bag to toy with.

“Getting owned by a human. Pathetic.”

With that, I felt like some of the emotional knots I’d been holding onto finally loosened.

I think I can hold back my swearing for a while now, no matter what bullshit happens.

As I climbed up its body toward the head, I saw six eyes.

When I got close, all six eyeballs rolled at once and turned toward me.

“Whoa, that’s kind of creepy.”

The sight felt like something out of a horror movie, so I flinched a little.

“Kuaaaah…”

The Earth Dragon’s mighty roar was gone, replaced by a rather deflated sound.

Time to finish this, I thought. Right at that moment.

The Earth Dragon suddenly shook its head hard, and the recoil sent my body flying through the air.

“Huh?”

I felt a wave of heat from below.

Looking down while airborne, I saw the Earth Dragon inhaling.

A breath attack. That bastard, was it pretending to be weak on purpose?

It couldn’t move, stuck in the trap, but its mouth was perfectly fine.

But if it fired a breath like that, the ceiling would collapse.

‘So you’re planning to take me with you to the afterlife, huh.’

Since you’re stuck in the trap and can’t move anyway, you want us to go together?

But here’s the thing.

You’re alone, but I have teammates now.

“Mr. Marcel!”

I shouted Marcel’s name loudly.

I’d been waiting for this moment.

For the chance for that broken guy to shine.

Honestly, I could handle that lizard on my own.

But then the other two wouldn’t get to grow, right?

Ever since I formed a party with those two, I made a decision.

On my own it’d be impossible, but together, the two of them — I’d make them into party members that rival ‘that guy’—

That I’d make him a party member on par with Jihyeok.

“Wooooaaargh!”

Marcel answered my call with a roar as he revealed himself.

The sword in his hand was already wreathed in blue flames.

In that state, Marcel kicked off the ground and charged.

Like an A-Rank Hunter should, he used high-speed movement to nimbly climb the Earth Dragon’s body and ran straight along it.

No matter how much the Earth Dragon shook its body to throw Marcel off, he didn’t fall and reached its neck.

“Kraaah…!!”

Finally giving up, the Earth Dragon was just about to exhale its breath toward me.

In that tense moment, a split second less than a heartbeat.

*SLICE!*

Marcel swung the sword he’d raised high first, and finally cleanly severed the Earth Dragon’s thick neck.

*THUD!*

The Earth Dragon’s head crashed to the ground, and the earth shook. The monster that seemed like it would never fall had finally been subdued.