TFLA 07

Chapter : 7 “Roasted Dragon I Personally Slayed Is Truly Exceptional”

Greetings. I am Viola Nico Fortesia. For guild registration purposes, I am currently going by the name Ail Kanone.

On my way out of the Beast Forest, I happened to slay an ogre, so my mood is quite pleasant.

Right now, I have arrived at a roadside inn and am having a meal.

Along the way, I casually shot down two mountain birds and had the inn cook them for me. In exchange for cooking them, I gave one bird to the inn. With my archery skills, mountain birds are as good as free game, so this level of trade is no problem at all. Being thanked by the innkeeper also feels quite nice.

“I-I thought I was going to die…”

The one poking at the mountain bird meat sluggishly, looking completely drained, is Rital Pia Esclan. A young noble from a collateral branch of the hated Clalino family.

Well, Rital is basically nothing but dead weight. However, he is connected to the Clalino family. It wouldn’t hurt to earn some favor with him. His personality is quiet and obedient, so he seems fairly easy to manipulate.

In other words, he’s a good catch. If he can be used to investigate the Clalino family, even better. If not… I could squeeze a ransom out of him, or even sell him off at the black market. Thinking a naive noble boy wandering alone would never be kidnapped or killed is just foolish.

“If you’re already giving up at this level, then slaying a dragon will remain a dream forever.”

Rital looks like he’s about to die, but he hasn’t actually done anything. He only panicked at an ogre and wasted magic unnecessarily.

“Ugh… I really don’t think I can be of any help…”

Rital is clutching his staff, but it’s practically useless. It only got in my way.

“Realizing your own uselessness is already a form of growth, wouldn’t you agree? First, you must understand your own abilities.”

“Yes… I’m already learning so many things.”

Rital looks meek. Even if he is from a collateral branch, it’s rare to see a noble so subdued. The Fortesia family, despite having no backing at all and surviving only on money, used to be lively and cheerful in comparison.

“Um… Ail-sama.”

“What is it?”

Just as I finished my roast mountain bird, Rital timidly spoke up.

“About when you defeated the ogre… did you use some kind of magic?”

…He’s observant. He must have noticed the blood on my arrowhead.

“Yes. I used a spell to increase the power of the arrow.”

“Such magic exists…! Please, teach me!”

“No. I have no obligation to reveal my techniques.”

“Ah… oh no…”

I casually brushed him off and quickly finished my meal.

“Eat quickly and sleep early. Tomorrow, we go dragon hunting.”

“Y-Yes!”

I watched him hurriedly eat while calmly thinking about the “payment” I would demand from him.

That night, I slept quickly. For me, it was a long-awaited… long-awaited proper bed!

For Rital’s safety, we are sharing a room. It cannot be helped. If I leave him alone, he would likely get kidnapped. Then I would lose my useful little catch.

…Or so I thought.

“Ah, Ail-sama…”

From the next bed, Rital wriggled and turned toward me.

What now? Is he trying to sneak into my bed? If he so much as touches me, I will cut off his fingers—and anything else attached to them.

“What is it? I’m trying to sleep.”

“Sorry… I just… can’t sleep…”

I see.

For Rital, this might be his first time sleeping in such a rough inn bed. Combined with the excitement of the journey, he can’t sleep.

But for me, this is the first proper bed I’ve had in half a month!

“Are you asking to be choked unconscious?”

“N-no!? That’s not—”

I deliberately got out of my bed and stood in front of him.

“Stop rambling and sleep. I will sleep.”

I am tired!

When I woke up, the sky outside was bright. A fine morning. Perfect dragon-hunting weather.

“Yes… good morning.”

“Good morning, Rital. Hurry up and get ready. We are leaving immediately!”

He was still half-asleep, but after I snapped “Answer me!”, he immediately replied “Y-yes ma’am!”

Good progress in discipline.

“We’ve arrived.”

By afternoon, we reached the cave said to contain the dragon.

The journey here was quite enjoyable. I left a trail of blood from monsters and bandits in my wake.

“I-I’m nervous…”

“That’s fine. Just don’t let your nervousness stop your body from moving.”

We tied the horses outside and entered the cave.

“This is the dragon’s lair…”

Everything must feel new to Rital.

The cave itself is unusual—wide entrance, hollow interior, and a spiral path descending downward along the rock wall.

“Um… there are no monsters here?”

“The dragon is probably deeper inside. Look at those scratch marks on the wall.”

“Eek…!”

Indeed, dragon lairs tend to repel other monsters. Perfect conditions for someone like me who only hunts large prey.

“Rital. If the cave starts collapsing, get out immediately.”

“Yes!”

He nodded and peeked down the spiral path.

…and there it was.

The dragon.

It slowly moved, lifted its head, and glared at us.

The battle was instant. The moment the dragon inhaled deeply, I drew my bow.

The arrow was coated with my blood. For a hunt like this, I would not be stingy.

I nocked the arrow infused with my power and aimed down at it.

The dragon looked up at us, storing its breath to burn us to ash.

Just as I predicted.

At this distance, its claws, fangs, tail, and wings cannot reach us. So it will breathe fire.

“A-Ail-sama! It’s going to breathe fire! Let’s run!”

“Be quiet.”

I observed carefully.

The dragon gathered its breath—

“Now!”

At that instant, I released the arrow.

Just before the dragon unleashed its flames.

The arrow pierced directly into its open mouth.

Its body was covered in hard scales—arrows would normally be deflected.

But inside the mouth is different. Soft tissue. Vulnerable.

And once the arrow lands—

The dragon released its fire breath, but it weakened immediately, collapsing into chaos and thrashing violently.

“W-woahhh!”

“Stay still! You’ll bite your tongue!”

The cave shook violently.

“R-Rital! …Honestly!”

He lost his footing and nearly fell, so I grabbed him and pulled him close as the dragon thrashed one last time.

Then—silence.

We looked down.

“Good. It’s dead.”

Dragons are truly magnificent creatures.

First, defeating one earns great prestige.

Second, its scales, bones, claws, and teeth are all excellent materials.

Third, its eyes and heart contain strong magical power.

But above all…

“It tastes wonderful!”

The meat.

Dragon meat is the best delicacy.

It has a wild richness, deep umami, firm texture. A fragrance like aged wine or the finest spices. Low fat, but deeply flavorful, clinging to the tongue and lingering beautifully.

Most of all, the “meat flavor” is incredibly strong.

And above all—this satisfaction comes from hunting it myself.

“As expected, roasted dragon meat I personally hunted is the best!”

I prepare it properly and enjoy it as my rightful spoils.

“A-Ail-sama… could I have some too…”

“Be quiet. It is my prey.”

“You couldn’t possibly eat all of that!”

True, but that’s irrelevant.

“Eat your mountain bird. If you want dragon meat, get strong enough to hunt it yourself.”

Strength is a good thing.

With strength, you can escape prison, become a bandit, and above all—hunt dragons freely.

Rital reluctantly ate his bird, still glancing at the dragon meat.

I sighed and cut off a small piece from the tail.

“Well, fine. You may have this much.”

“Th-thank you!”

He looked genuinely delighted.

Later…

“Ah, Ail-sama… my chest feels strange…”

“Not my problem.”

On the ride back, Rital complained the entire time, but I told him if he kept making noise I would leave him in the monster forest, and he quickly shut up.

We stayed one more night at the inn, then returned to Elze Marine.

“Amazing… the town looks different than when we left… I feel like I’ve grown!”

“That’s good for you.”

First, the guild receptionist.

I slammed the dragon’s head onto the counter.

“Quest complete.”

“Th-that’s impossible…!”

She refused to believe it, went to check, and eventually returned…

“We can only pay… 30 gold coins…”

I had expected greed, but this was worse than expected. They were still trying to cheat me.

So I brought Rital forward.

“This is Rital Pia Esclan, a noble from the Esclan family.”