Chapter 20

“Just to confirm—you want me to use my power to take down that dragon, right?”

Though the Elder’s eccentric behavior had thrown me off, I regained my composure and got straight to the point. To the dwarves, the dragon had to be a nightmare—a monster threatening their daily peace. They likely resented its overwhelming power, knowing they couldn’t easily oppose it.

The Elder nodded at my question.

“Indeed, it is as you say. My playfulness went too far, but that is exactly what I wished to convey. As the head of this settlement, I wish to make a formal request of you, Jack. Will you slay the dragon for us?”

“Consider it done. I was planning on killing that thing anyway. I have a debt to settle for what it did to us.”

I answered instantly. This was already a settled matter in my mind. It wasn’t a question of whether I could or couldn’t; I had already decided I would.

“However, I have two requirements. First, I need everything you have on the dragon’s lair. Second, I need my vehicle repaired, along with the materials and facilities to craft new weapons. I’ll also need a few of your men to help with the labor. I’ll handle the rest myself. If that’s not enough of a trade, I’ll throw in more of the dragon’s claw.”

I laid out the plan I’d been forming. Every step was necessary. That dragon was an undeniable threat, and if I challenged it without a strategy, I’d just end up in pain again. Planning an act of retaliation required proper preparation.

The Elder stood before me and gave a firm nod.

“We accept all your terms. My clan promises you our full cooperation. As for the hunt itself, I shall have our most skilled warriors accompany you. I assure you, they will not be a hindrance.”

“That helps. I’m glad you’re someone I can talk sense to.”

I exchanged a firm handshake with the Elder. After some specific brainstorming, we set the dragon subjugation for three days from now. It felt soon, but the situation was clearly that dire. Simply put, they had a living natural disaster squatting in their backyard. I could understand the urge to evict it immediately.

I had plenty of my own preparations to finish before departure. I was going to give that dragon a very special surprise. I’m sure it’ll absolutely love it.

And so, having earned the recognition of the dwarves, I found myself heading into battle alongside them.

“Oh… I…”

Alice’s voice drifted from a nearby bed. She pushed herself up and began to look around the room with a dazed expression. I walked over from where I had been standing by the window.

“Sleep well?”

“Oh, Jack. Good morning.”

Alice greeted me quietly, her tone as calm as ever.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not bad, but… my bones are broken.”

“That happened when we fell into the basin. Sorry, I wish I could have shielded you better. Does it hurt much?”

“Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, I can fix injuries like this in no time.”

As she spoke, Alice placed her good hand on the leg stabilized by the splint. Her hand began to glow. A warm, white light seeped into her leg before vanishing. She repeated the process for her splinted arm.

“There. All better now.”

Removing the makeshift casts, Alice stood up with natural ease. she flexed the arm that was supposed to be broken and marched in place a few times. She showed no sign of pain. The swelling and discoloration where the fractures had been were completely gone.

I was impressed.

“…I’m surprised. Is that magic too?”

“Yes, healing magic. My third incarnation was a healer.”

Alice spoke with a hint of pride. As usual, she was a woman of many talents.

To instantly heal a bone fracture was something utterly unthinkable in my original world. It was a moment that drove home the sheer convenience of magic once again.

“By the way, where exactly are we?”

Alice tilted her head as she looked around. Since she had been asleep the entire time, it was only natural that she couldn’t grasp the situation. I gave her a brief rundown of the events.

“—And that’s how we ended up joining forces with the dwarves. For now, we’re in a vacant house inside the settlement. They said they weren’t using it, so they let us borrow the whole place.”

“A dwarven settlement, I see. They revere the strong, so it makes sense that they’ve taken a liking to you, Jack.”

“I’ve been praised quite a bit. I feel like some kind of hero. As you can see, I’ve received plenty of gifts as well.”

I pointed toward the table. It was laid out with a variety of handmade dishes and several bottles and jars of liquor. Yes, finally—the alcohol I had been longing for.

It was exceptionally delicious and paired perfectly with the food. The flavor was close to whiskey or brandy, with a rich, mellow aroma that was irresistible. It felt like it had a fairly high alcohol content. Dwarves were likely a race of drinkers. I would have preferred it on the rocks, but I gave up on that since I couldn’t get any ice. That much was unavoidable. It was delicious enough straight that I had no complaints.

“That’s a massive amount of food. We couldn’t possibly eat it all.”

“No kidding. And apparently, they’re throwing a welcoming banquet for us tomorrow. They seem incredibly happy about the prospect of us taking down the dragon.”

I pulled a cigar from my pocket. I nipped the end with a knife and lit it with my lighter. This cigar was also something I had received from the dwarves—or more accurately, it was a “cigar-like” substitute. It was made from several types of medicinal herbs and was one of their few luxury items. I had been worried when I heard “medicinal herbs,” but the taste was surprisingly decent. I generally prefer cigarettes, but unfortunately, cigars were the only option. I just had to deal with it. A cigar is still a type of tobacco, after all. I wasn’t in a position to be picky, and I was satisfied enough with this.

Just like the alcohol, it was impossible to get something exactly the same as what I had in my original world. A certain amount of compromise was only right. If I wanted the real deal that badly, I had no choice but to return home.

The conversation trailed off, and a silence filled the room. It wasn’t an awkward air, but rather a comfortable, calm one. With the cigar clamped between my teeth, I gazed at the scenery outside.

The settlement was quiet. Until a short while ago, I could hear the voices of dwarves drinking and making merry, but that had stopped. Every house had already turned off its lights. Through the hole in the rocky ceiling, I could just see the moon. It floated solemnly in the night sky, bathed in a pale, bluish glow.

I looked up at the moon absentmindedly, savoring the cigar smoke. After a while, I brought my gaze back inside. Alice, sitting in her chair, was staring intently at the liquor on the table. She didn’t say anything, but her desire was obvious. I sat down beside her.

“Can you drink?”

“Yes, if it’s only a little.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I extinguished my cigar and readied two glasses. I carefully poured the liquor from the bottle, filling both glasses with an amber liquid. I handed one of them to Alice.

“Now then, what should we toast to?”

Alice put a finger to her lips, deep in thought. After considering for a full ten seconds, she showed a refined, elegant smile.

“How about… to the fleeting fate of the dragon?”

“Perfect.”

I raised my glass slightly. Alice followed suit. And then, without a word from either of us, we clinked our glasses together.