Dragon. They are the most powerful of the many fantastic beasts that exist.
Although their forms vary from race to race, they generally have strong bodies and enormous magical power, and sometimes a country can be destroyed by the power of a single angry dragon.

The title of "Dragon Slayer" is a sign of heroism even today, and the threat of dragons is well known to the general public.

However, dragons do not come to human settlements without a reason.
Powerful demons instinctively seek out mana and materials and operate along the earth's veins. Dragon-class demons set up large territories near the veins and rarely come out from there. This was one of the reasons why humans did not build cities on the veins.


That's why they attacked the Imperial City.
At least, no dragon has ever come to the Imperial City since I made it my base, but well, I've been chased around by dragons before, so I guess it's not impossible.

But it's not right for me to be approached for that.

I was brought to the meeting room of the Explorers Society. Probably because I'm a treasure hunter.

In the meeting room, which could hold more than ten people, there were Gark-san, Kaina-san, and several stern men in Third Order gear.
Of course I was indebted to Mr. Gark and Ms. Chyna, but I also recognized the large man in green light armor on a black background, a sign of the Third Order. My party members have often caused a commotion in the imperial capital, but it is the leader of the Third Order that comes out when a major incident occurs.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help.

You can find a lot more information at .............

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As soon as she took her seat, the Commander, with his magnificent beard, said in a low voice.

'You've already heard about last night's incident, haven't you?

'...... May I ask you one thing first?'

'What is it?'

I glanced at Mr. Gark and Ms. Chyna.
Mr. Gark is as stern as ever today, barely offset by the soothing presence of Ms. Chyna.

I sighed heavily and crossed my arms. I feel like I'm getting more and more relied on lately. I hate to say it, but I have to say it here.

'Why did you call me here when I have nothing to do with the case? I'm not an expert on dragons, and I don't have time for this. To be honest, I don't like it when people call me all the time like that. ......'

'What ......?

'I'll tell you first, I'm not as useful as I thought. If you have any problems, you'd better tell Ark. I'm saying this for your own good. If Ark doesn't work, you can bring it to me at ......'.

I'm hoping for some peace. I like watching the activities of Ark and the other hunters, but I don't like participating with them.
Lucia next to me is looking at me with a frown. But it's not that I'm unexpected or anything, I'm simply incompetent and besides, if Ark can't do it, you can't tell me.

'Oh, don't you have any desire to contribute to this empire?

The Commander is trembling at the words of courage. If you say so, I can't deny it as I am a small-minded person at heart.

'Of course, of course, there is, but even so, there is such a thing as the right person for the right job. If you want to fight off dragons, Abyssal Fire and Destroy is your forte. If you want to fight against dragons, Silver Star Thunder is your forte. Yeah, Ark knows a lot more than I do. He's a dragon master. I'm sure he'll be able to ride a dragon sooner or later.

Well it's just that I don't know much about dragons.
Ark has a good memory from the empire and he's a gentleman so he'll do well.

No, what I'm trying to say is that you should stop calling me every time you have a problem. I'm saying that you should call more intellectuals.

'What I'm saying is, at least don't call me until you need me.

'Cry, stop right there.'

'Yes, sir.

In front of my sister, I argue in a cool way, but Gark-san makes a blue streak and threatens me with a low voice.
I put my hand on my knee with a quick movement and manners. I can't wait to go home.

The Commander takes a big deep breath and slowly lets out a voice.

'............ The dragon that attacked the Imperial Castle has already been defeated. You were right, there was a Silver Star in the castle yesterday.''

Hmm... So that's good. Then it's settled. You're lucky Ark was there.
To me who was making a serious face and not thinking of anything useful, the Commander continued.

'The dragon aimed straight for the Imperial Castle. It is the adult form of the Crimson Dragon. I've unraveled the books, and this is the first time something like this has happened since the Imperial City moved to this location.

'Well, there's always a first time for everything. I have many firsts too.

'Cry, don't make fun of me!

I'm not messing around, and Mr. Gark is mad at me. It's unreasonable.
This is the first major incident that's happened in the Imperial City since I came here. I wonder if this city is cursed.

'Dragons don't attack villages for no reason. We agreed that there must have been something inside the castle that the dragons were after.'

'I see. ...... Well, that was a disaster. .................. No, wait, what? If they wanted what was in the castle, wouldn't the dragons have attacked long ago?

Some dragons have a tendency to accumulate gold and silver treasures, and when their treasures are stolen, they become furious and come to the ends of the earth to retrieve them.
These fantastic beasts boast of great power and intelligence, but they are not generous. There is a tendency to think that humans are just a little bit of inedible food.

So it's highly likely that the thing was brought into the castle recently.
At my good guess, the Commander finally slammed the table hard.

'Shh, enough with the silliness! In our opinion, that thing is the dragon egg that you gave to Her Highness!

'............?'

My eyes widened at the unexpected words.
Most dragons are oviparous, but they only lay one egg at a time. If it was snatched away, well, the dragon would be furious and come back for it immediately.



But that souvenir is not a dragon egg. As I explained, it was a hot spring egg called Onsen Dragon Egg.
It was one of the many sold, and it was a chicken egg. I frowned.


'But ...... that, that's just a hot spring egg.'

'That's right! That's right! We hurriedly inspected the gift. We hurriedly inspected the gift. It was a joke, a perfect, ordinary hot spring egg! We've even confirmed that it's the same item sold in Surus! Do you have any idea what this means?




The Commander is coming at me red-faced and snorting. I thought about it a little more seriously.

'.................. Does that mean the Crimson Dragon's favorite food is hot spring eggs?'

'--Huh.'

The Commander's lips quivered, and he became furious. Then, Lucia next to him said in a quiet voice without changing her color.

''So you're saying that someone was trying to bring down the leader.

'.................. Yes. That's right. And if your gift had been a real dragon egg, you'd be surrounded by the Order right now. Even if the egg didn't belong to the Crimson Dragon, you still wouldn't have been cleared. I wouldn't have been cleared.

Oh, I see. That's how it's put together. ...... I'm learning.
The commander continued in a stifled voice.

'But you avoided it. And that helped us narrow down the culprit inside. There are only a limited number of ...... people who know that you called the gift you brought a dragon egg. So, as the head of the Third Order, I myself came here.

It was a miraculous evasion. I wonder if it was a good thing that I did on a daily basis.
I wouldn't live my life snatching eggs from a real dragon.

'I see. But I don't know who did it, do I?

'There are only a few people who can artificially control a dragon. You know about the fox, don't you?

Please stop assuming I know anything about common sense.
But I thought for a moment and nodded broadly.

'Foxes? Yeah, of course I know. ...... Just to be sure, you're not just a fox animal, are you?'

'...... Yeah. Not an animal, not a hexenbiest.

I knew it. If it's not an animal or a hexenbiest, then there's only one answer.

Really, I'm not proud of it, but one of my bad luck stories is that I once encountered a fox with thirteen tails.

It was an extraordinary phantom fox that had accumulated so much mana and material that the place it moved to had become a treasure house.
It had intelligence, experience, and power. It was an extraordinary being that we could not compete with at the time.

Our encounter was completely accidental. He was a being that we could not have encountered even if we had wanted to.
I managed to return home alive, but that monster fox is probably still wandering somewhere in the world as a phantom treasure house.

The Commander says to me, squinting nostalgically.

'Recently, difficulties have struck our country. Some of them are expected to be the work of the 'foxes'.

'I see. ......'

...... I see?
The fox had god-like powers, but it was not hostile to mankind. In fact, it seemed to have no interest in us at all.
Whether it's possible or impossible, it doesn't seem like it would interfere with a human country,......, but--.

I'm sure you'll agree,

'Zebrudia has grown too large. It has developed through the use of treasure hunters, but there are those who do not think well of that. Perhaps this is another manipulation to worsen the relationship with the hunters. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you.

'............ Ah, that's definitely the work of the fox. It's a terrible thing to trick me. I even gave him so many fried tofu.

I'm sure you're right. .................. Leader, that's a different fox.'

'The fox is responsible for Luke slashing the man. That's for sure. That's outrageous. That nasty fox, I knew he'd do it someday, I knew it.'

Lucia pokes me with her elbow, but it's too late.
Don't worry, there haven't been any sightings of that monster fox lately, and it seems to be going around the world, so you won't see it again. I'm sure he'll forgive me for giving him so many fried tofu and getting down on my knees.

The Commander had a quizzical look on his face, but he seemed to have convinced himself and said with a sniff.


''Anyway, as a strong Zebrudia with a long history, we can't let them see us atrophied. The reason I called you here today, after teasing you for so long, is to ask you for a favor. I've already gotten the approval of Branch Chief Gark.

'......What?

Absolutely not. You turned down Sir Gladys's request to appoint me, so what are you going to make me do?
And, I might add, I've never made fun of you.

No, well, now that the Ghosts of Sorrows are in full force, I guess you could say it's not a problem,............, but this is a Level 8 who has been bowing down to get by. It's level 8.
Not only have I accepted difficult requests that are unlikely to be done, but I have also accepted all requests that seem a little difficult. Don't think I'm going to give you a discount.

I wonder if I should channel them to the Ark area. Immediately, the leader of the Third Order placed a large trunk case in front of me as he devised an ingenious plan.
Hey, hey, hey, don't tell me you think money will make me fall in love with you? I don't want you to underestimate me. I'm a man who buys treasures even when I'm in debt.


'As a reward, Your Majesty has offered to give me this.


Before I could firmly make up my mind to refuse the request, the Commander opened the trunk case without hesitation.


What lay inside was a slightly dull colored cloth woven with green, red and gold.

It was not clothing or a cloak. It was thick and opulent in its own way. I opened my eyes and touched the cloth with my trembling hands. It has a smooth texture.



I wondered if this was the Flying Carpet, a rare and rarely seen treasure trove that often appears in ---- fairy tales. I'm not sure.





This is the first time that the leader of the group has smiled at me when I looked up with my cheeks drawn together.