Chapter 16: The Healing Mage Disguises
The village of the iron boar tribe stood before us. In the sky there were red dragons flying around like they owned the place, while the iron boar tribe worked like slaves with collars on their necks.
“*Slurp* Flying dragons look delicious. I want to eat dragon meat.”
“Well, it sure must be tasty, but wouldn’t it taste just as good as regular beef?”
“In flavor yes! But it has a lot more energy and is juicier.”
“Is that so? Depending on how things develop, we could gorge ourselves on them.”
“I am anxious, I hope it will be a total war. We will make them kill each other in a sea of blood and there will be much more meat!”
“Now that you mention it, it sounds diabolical just considering it.”
Only Guren would see the dragons and think they look delicious……normally he would be terrified.
“……Somehow, the red dragon tribe doesn’t even bother to hide that they control the place anymore.”
That only meant that they were underestimating the rule of the current Demon King. Actually, the problem was that the foundations of Eve’s rule were still shaky today. They were desperately suppressing small-scale riots and riots in various places. If we were to try to send reinforcements to drive out the red dragon tribe, we wouldn’t be able to control all those places and various problems would arise. Or even the Demon King’s own castle might fall. The Demon King’s Absolute Vigilance Order is extraordinarily powerful, but not absolute, even if it seems contradictory. For example, if I tried to assassinate the Demon King using demons, I would prepare an attack out of sight of him that would take his life in one shot. Since you can only use your commands from him when the target is within range of his voice. (But, it’s a very naive plan…… They would be forgetting about an overwhelmingly strong individual. That’s right, I’m talking about myself.)
The Hero, the Demon King, just one such unusual individual could change the course of the battle. It would not be necessary to send so many reinforcements. I’ll show you how I alone can free the Iron Boar Tribe from the Red Dragon Tribe’s control.
“Master’s appearance looks great.”
“Oh yeah?”
I changed my appearance with 【Transformation Heal】. This is the appearance of the black half dragon tribe. Also called high-class Lizardmen, this is a tribe that is ‘conditionally’ allowed to be called dragons. For the red dragon tribe, the black half dragon tribe is a service tribe. They are called minions. Its main features are the lizardman’s tail and black horns. Apart from that, they are almost identical to humans. I had three reasons for choosing someone from the black half-dragon tribe. First, it is a very familiar tribe for the red dragon tribe. Second, being a service tribe I will be underestimated. Third, there is a custom from the Black Half-Dragon Tribe that will give me a good reason to
enter the city of the Iron Boar Tribe. Doormen hurried over as Guren and I came to the door. The body of the red dragon tribesmen was covered in harsh red scales and their faces were those of a dragon. They had a peculiar thick tail, long enough to reach the ground. They had a huge body of more than two meters and a width according to their size. However, it is not that they were fat, rather they were robust. It was understandable that considered the strongest demons and that they were superior. They controlled the red flying dragons, and by themselves had extremely high battle power. Also, it seems that the appearance of the women was different…… I hope that is true. Why can’t I feel passion for a bipedal lizard man. Despite my desire for revenge, I could not abuse a woman if I needed emotion. I am looking forward to meeting a beautiful woman from the red dragon tribe.
“A young man from the black half-dragon tribe? What do you want?”
I guess I didn’t take Guren into account because she was in her fox cub form and she thought she was just a pet. There was a certain contempt in his gaze towards me, since he was from the black half-dragon tribe. She didn’t even try to hide it.
“Sir, I came for the mark of the dragon.”
“You guys really are a nuisance. Even to call themselves dragons they need our permission.”
The two doormen laughed. The custom of the black half-dragon tribe was to receive a mark from the red dragon tribe. Those of the black half dragon tribe are actually lizardmen. The dragon tribes think they are presumptuous calling themselves dragons. Therefore, when those of the black half-dragon tribe come of age, they show their power to the red dragon tribe and if they pass the test, they can receive the mark of the dragon. Only after receiving this mark can they call themselves dragon soldiers. They call this ritual the Dragon Ceremony.
“I want the great red dragon tribe to witness my power.”
“Then why don’t you go to Franlach? Why did you bother to come here?”
Franlach is the country of the red dragon tribe. The most logical thing would be for the black half-dragon tribe to go there to take the Dragon Ceremony, and it would be strange to visit this checkpoint for it. But I also have a reason prepared for it.
“I admire General Hiiseki. I thought that he should be the one to evaluate me if he were to take the Dragon ceremony. When I was going to Franlach, they told me that he was here, that’s why I came.”
“Oh, no wonder you admire General Hiiseki…… But he’s busy and he doesn’t have time to deal with lower tribesmen like you. Although, well, I like your spirit. I will let the knights evaluate you.”
Good, now I will be able to enter the city without problems. However, this is still the least he hoped to achieve. And I’m fucking greedy.
“Thank you for the offer, but I would really like to see General Hiiseki.”
“You do not get it? I said he doesn’t have time to see someone like you.”
“Someone…… as I say. I am quite confident in my abilities. I have never lost to anyone.”
“You say you are the best of the lizardmen? We are dragons! Even our knights are stronger than a mere lizardman.”
“So, if I prove that I am stronger than you, will I be able to see General Hiiseki?”
Saying that hurt the pride of the goalkeepers. After all a lizardman, a race they despise, was opposing the dragons themselves.
“Enough is enough. If he does not understand with words, we will make him understand with blows.”
“So you will understand our true power.”
The gatekeepers of the red dragon tribe were very angry. Attracted by the hubbub, the residents gathered near the gate. How good it feels.
“This lizardman talks too much… I’ll take care of him!”
The gatekeeper drew his sword from him. It was a thick, long sword that matched his large body. Though since she’s not even properly sharpened, the only thing she could do was crush you. He gently swung that huge sword, which not even a human would be able to lift. He didn’t just let her fall by taking advantage of gravity, but swung her sideways. What tremendous muscular strength. His sword speed was also out of the ordinary……but his direction was easy to guess. I was able to anticipate the attack and move even before he swings his sword. I’m not stupid enough to get hit by a move like this. I waited until the last moment to duck. The sword passed over my head with incredible speed. The doorman was laughing despite these circumstances. His scales glowed red. I see, the scales of the red dragon tribe are harder than steel. You might think that it was even tougher than a steel wall since it was strengthened with magic. A top-notch swordsman couldn’t compete with this. Even so, I could cut it with a flash of magical energy accumulated in my sword. But that would not be beautiful.
“【Inner Power Release】.”
I didn’t draw my sword. Instead, I stepped forward, took a solid stance, and with a twist of my body, hit him with the palm of my hand. The impact and energy did not affect the surface of his body, but penetrated all the way inside. At first glance, there was no change in the goalkeeper. However, this is an internal destruction technique. The impact and energy violate their effect on the internal organs.
“Guho.”
The doorman fell to his knees in agony and spat out blood. Then he convulsed and stopped moving.
“I’m strong. Do you understand now?”
There was no answer. No, they couldn’t answer. It seems that’s how deep the psychological damage went. (I tried to hold back, but it seems it wasn’t enough.) I looked at the other bouncer, but it seems he panicked and couldn’t speak
properly. Looking around, I noticed that the commotion was getting bigger and bigger. Then, someone from the red dragon tribe, wearing knight armor, stepped out from the crowd. It was evident that his status was different from the gatekeepers. In human terms, he had a peculiar atmosphere, like that of the three heroes.
“What the hell does this mean? Doorman, answer.”
“Y-Yes, actually……”
The other goalkeeper recovered immediately. This guy was strangely intimidating for the bouncer to react like this. And so, the gatekeeper recounted the events that had transpired so far.
“Is that what it’s about? So much scandal for that? Although, our proud red dragon tribe lost to this lizardman. We cannot ignore this failure. Lizardman, I will fulfill your wish. I, Hiiseki, will be your opponent.”
So this man is Hiiseki? The hero of the red dragon tribe, the general who took control of the oppression generated in this place.
“Thank you very much!”
“Are you grateful? Do not misunderstand. What you should do is beg for your life. In the Dragon Ceremony tests your strength. We just play, that’s what it’s all about. But you have muddied the pride of our red dragon tribe. What I will do is show that a lizardman like you doesn’t stand a chance against a dragon.”
“Still, thank you very much. I am grateful to be able to fight against the great Hiiseki-sama.”
Hiiseki made a confused expression, then distorted his face thinking that it was an insult, but even that expression disappeared in an instant. I see, you have some control over your emotions, don’t you? Now this is no longer the minimum I hoped to achieve, but I have achieved my full goal. This won’t just end with the liberation of the iron boar tribe. I need to capture the red dragon tribe. To do this, I must approach the leaders of the red dragon tribe and cajole them.
That’s why I put on this charade. ……That’s right, they seem to care a lot about their pride as dragons, so I used it against them. It will be an execution in full view of all, the greatest dragon hero will be defeated by a simple lizardman…… I am sure that he will accept any condition that I impose on him as long as I admit my defeat and he does not have to go through such unbearable humiliation. I love those who say so confidently what they are proud of. They are ignorant they think they will never lose to anyone. His reaction to trampling on his pride is so laughable. I’m sure this Hiiseki will also entertain me quite a bit. I won’t hold back. After all, it’s no wonder I make those who made my friends, the Iron Boar Tribe, suffer in agony .