The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 43

Chapter 43: The Rip-off Artist Learns the Circumstances.

“Hakusha’s former attendant?”

“That is correct.”

The person I turned to see was what appeared to be a lizardman with pure white scales.

This lizardman, who introduced himself as Chiril, had apparently been the attendant of the white-scaled dragon Hakusha about two hundred years ago, when he still lived here.

“I smell Hakusha-sama on you. Did you meet Hakusha-sama outside the mountain?”

“Ah, yes. I came here on a request from the Dragon King. I have no intention of plundering the treasures or needlessly provoking the residents. Will you let me pass?”

“I did not stop you to reprimand you. I thought you might know when Hakusha-sama would be returning.”

I tilted my head slightly at Chiril’s words.

“The Dragon King said he had a pact that prevented him from returning here.”

“It has been a hundred years since Shirokata-sama, the master of this lair, left. The pact has long since expired.”

“…Is that so? He said he couldn’t enter himself, so he asked me.”

“He probably does not know. Would you be so kind as to tell him that this Chiril is waiting for him?”

I gave a small nod to the dejected white lizardman.

“Of course, I will. As long as you don’t kill me, that’s a small price to pay.”

“I would not do such a thing.”

He didn’t say he couldn’t.

In fact, if we were to fight, there’s a higher probability that I would be killed.

This white-scaled lizardman is probably a dragon priest.

Those who revere dragons, hoping to eventually become one.

Although they are treated as a heretical cult in some countries, they are, so to speak, like druids who specialize in dragons.

A lizardman of this level is no different from dealing with a dragon.

Furthermore, with a single word from Chiril, the dragonkin in the mountains would probably gather.

There’s no way I could win.

“I have accepted your request. I will be sure to tell him when I deliver the requested items.”

“Requested items, you say? What might they be? If you don’t mind, I would be happy to help.”

“Ah, I’ve already secured them. He wanted ‘Red Gentian’ and ‘Dragon Scale Mushroom’.”

At my words, Chiril took a small breath.

I was a little nervous at his reaction, but I was even more surprised when Chiril knelt on the spot and looked up at me.

“Rody-dono. Please take this Chiril to Hakusha-sama. I am sure Hakusha-sama is in great trouble.”

“What do you mean?”

“If a dragon seeks ‘Red Gentian’ and ‘Dragon Scale Mushroom’, he must be carrying an egg. I must go and help…!”

At the somewhat desperate Chiril, I thought for a moment.

Even if he is a former attendant who lived in the former lair, trusting a stranger I’ve just met is a high-risk act for a merchant.

So, I lit a magical light at my fingertips and asked Chiril.

“The Dragon King is an important client to me as well. Therefore, I want a conviction that is sufficient to trust you.”

“What should I do?”

“I am an armed merchant… in other words, a merchant. In order to ensure a sales contract, I can use a magic that detects lies—may I use it on you?”

This was a gamble.

In short, I was implicitly telling him that I didn’t trust him, which was a risky act.

There was a possibility that Chiril would attack me at that moment.

…But, Chiril, still kneeling, nodded and said, “Please, go ahead.”

“Then, excuse me.”

I flicked my fingers and asked Chiril several questions.

Sense Lie is a very delicate magic.

With a little bit of resistance, it can be broken in an instant.

However, Chiril accepted it and was able to answer my questions.

“Thank you, Chiril-dono. I apologize for doubting you.”

“No. I am grateful that you are being so cautious, out of consideration for Hakusha-sama.”

The white-scaled lizardman bowed his head.

For a dragon priest who is on the verge of becoming a dragon’s kin, he is so humble.

His character is more than worthy of trust.

“Well, I’m going back to the rendezvous point with my companion… are you sure you want to come with me?”

“Please wait a moment. I will make some preparations.”

“Alright. I’ll wait here.”

Chiril nodded to me and disappeared with a sound like rustling clothes.

…Flick Portal!

It seems Chiril is not only a dragon priest but also an excellent magician.

I can only thank the gods that I was not met with hostility.

If a normal dragon priest were to have his lair entered, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be eliminated without question.

This is the lair and sanctuary of the dragon he reveres—in other words, it is nothing less than a temple to him.

◆

“Hakusha-sama! It is I, Chiril!”

Accompanied by Chiril, who had appeared with a large amount of luggage, I headed to the rendezvous point with the ‘Transporter’ on the side of the mountain, where I was greeted by the white Dragon King Hakusha, my client.

It seems Genobar had brought him here.

“Oh, Chiril. Have you been well?”

“Of course. I heard the story from Rody-dono and have come running.”

Hakusha’s atmosphere softened at the respectfully kneeling Chiril.

It seems Chiril is on familiar terms with Hakusha.

“First, I’ll give you the ‘Red Gentian’ and the ‘Dragon Scale Mushroom’. With this, the request is complete, right, Genobar?”

“Well, thank you for your hard work.”

Genobar took the cloth bag from me and gave a small nod.

With this, my role is over. It seems I can return to my fun sightseeing trip with Al.

“Rody-dono. You have been a great help. I am grateful that you brought Chiril.”

“I didn’t do anything. Chiril-dono said he would come, so I just accompanied him.”

“No, Rody-dono. You have done a good job.”

Chiril turned a smile that was uncharacteristic of a lizardman towards me.

“Those who are in the dungeon cannot leave the dungeon. However, with the help of a human, that can be achieved.”

“Ah… I see. So there’s that pact too.”

Becoming a dragon priest in a dragon’s lair probably means being subject to the same restrictions as a monster.

Did my intervention as an outsider weaken that compulsory force?

As expected of a dragon priest who has lived for hundreds of years, he is very wise.

“Hakusha-sama, please let this Chiril help you. It is my job to protect your egg.”

“…You noticed.”

“Yes. I have also brought out many of the treasures necessary for nesting. When the child is born, let us raise it in the mountains of Goral. In a sanctuary that human hands cannot reach…”

The dragon nodded quietly at the bowing Chiril.

“At that time, I shall also return to my lair in Goral.”

“Oh, Hakusha-sama! How joyous. Rody-dono, thank you. Thanks to you, I can serve Hakusha-sama again.”

I shook my head at the deeply bowing Chiril.

“What I did was trivial. Don’t worry about it.”

I really haven’t done anything significant.

I just talked… and left the Goral Mountain Labyrinth with him.

To be thanked so much for just that is a little awkward for a merchant.

“By the way, I was curious… why the ‘Red Gentian’ and the ‘Dragon Scale Mushroom’?”

“Well, that’s a secret.”

“It does not matter. The shell of the egg I am carrying is thin. It has cracked a little… Therefore, I thought to create a magical elixir with the things from this place, where the dragon’s aura is strong.”

At Hakusha’s words, Chiril’s eyes rolled back, and I had a small realization.

I see, so that was the situation.

“I understand the situation… Since you’ve bought me, I’d like to see this through to the end, but what do you think, Genobar?”

“Well, I guess it’s up to Hakusha-dono.”

“…Rody-dono, I heard you were an adventurer?”

I smiled lightly at Hakusha’s words and replied.

“I’m a jack-of-all-trades armed merchant who goes by the name ‘Rip-off Company’. I also have some knowledge of alchemy. If you take me to the egg, I might be able to do something.”

At my words, Hakusha and Chiril’s eyes widened slightly.