Chapter 7 : The Dragon’s Dilemma: A Choice Between Fear and Allegiance

In fact, in this world, Jonan and the knight he mentioned are probably not that powerful.

The very existence of dragons, each of which is close to the peak of the human world, proves this.

Additionally, among those who wield magic and those who wield swords to confront them, there may be individuals with power comparable to dragons.

And that’s not all.

Even if Jonan didn’t mention it, this species may also exist—those who have developed themselves by leveraging technology or physical characteristics that humans don’t possess. I don’t think all of them would be unable to sense the aura of the red monsters.

However, the important thing is that such powerful individuals are ultimately a minority.

Jonan is stronger than ordinary villagers because he is a hunter. And the knight is said to be able to easily defeat Jonan and the mercenaries.

For now, let’s exclude everyone weaker than the knight.

Even that means that more than half of the continent cannot sense the red aura.

Additionally, there may be people stronger than the knight who cannot sense the red aura.

If you include those individuals, the number will grow even larger.

This is a new ability.

Compared to modern times, it’s like having a thermal detection system installed in your eyes that changes to bright blue and red.

It’s as if you can detect the person secretly farting in a subway station by the temperature of their fart.

It’s good.

It’s very good.

In both modern and ancient warfare, the aspect of war changed depending on how much information you had about the enemy.

The ability to sense the red aura can almost nullify any advantages a surprise attack might offer.

Though, I don’t know if the red monsters are intelligent enough to launch a surprise attack.

[It’s time. Leave.]

“Thank you. Ah, Dragon. Before I go, there’s one last thing I want to say.”

[·········.]

“Would it be alright if I let the villagers know that you were here and protected me and Rachel?”

[Judge for yourself.]

“Ah, I understand. Then·········.”

Jonan bowed his head and ran quickly in the direction I had told him. As I expected, he wasn’t attacked by the red monsters until he arrived near the village and was later discovered by the villagers who had set out to search.

I was quietly watching from the sky. I could see Jonan subtly glancing in my direction, but his eyes couldn’t see me floating up there.

“······What choice will he make?”

I was curious about Jonan’s last question. What choice would he make?

Would he hide me, support me, or… be hostile?

“Crazy b*stard… How are you even alive?”

Jonan chuckled at the question from his fellow hunter.

“Goodness… Jonan, this guy always hunts like a madman, but now he looks even crazier.”

The words were a bit rough, but Jonan could feel the concern underneath. They were colleagues who had once been buried in fallen leaves or rolling on the ground together, so their concern felt even more special.

“Honey!!”

As soon as Jonan entered the village, he saw Sophie anxiously waiting. A hunter who had run to the village in advance quickly approached her before the village chief and informed her.

Sophie ran down the dirt road without caring that the hem of her skirt was getting dirty and hugged Jonan.

Jonan smiled softly and embraced Sophie, who had run to him.

“I’m dirty.”

“What does that matter! Sob…”

“I’m sorry. I’m late. That thing was too annoying. Rachel?”

“She’s at home.”

Even with the teasing looks from unmarried hunters and the senior hunters giving knowing glances, Jonan hugged Sophie tightly, not caring about the attention.

Jonan felt Sophie’s warm body temperature for as long as he could.

Last night, he almost couldn’t feel his wife’s warmth forever.

He had been helped by a mysterious and wise being called a dragon, and thanks to that, he was able to return to his family and colleagues.

So, he wanted to repay the dragon.

Jonan gently pulled Sophie away, who was crying, and looked at the captain, who was silently standing behind him.

The captain wore a serious expression, as if he had noticed something.

‘I have to take the initiative.’

“Honey, wait a minute.”

When Jonan approached the captain, the captain naturally told the other hunters to disperse.

“Okay, everyone get lost. It’s enough that we saved this guy! Hurry up and stand guard!”

The group of hunters dispersed, and now it was Jonan’s turn.

“Sophie, go home.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I have something to talk about with the captain. I’ll be back soon.”

“·········Okay.”

Sophie still seemed anxious, fiddling with Jonan’s fingers, but Jonan eventually sent her home. After everyone disappeared, the captain looked at Jonan with sharp eyes.

“How are you alive? A red bear, in the middle of the night. Honestly, I thought it was impossible to survive.”

“I thought so too. I almost didn’t.”

“What happened?”

“I’ll tell you when we get to the village chief’s house.”

The village chief and the captain—two of the village’s power holders. To achieve what Jonan wanted, it was important to get their support first.

A moment later, the two arrived at the village chief’s house and saw the surprised expression on the village chief’s face as he saw Jonan.

“Jonan…! You’re alive!”

“Yes.”

“Why did you come when you’re so tired? It’s enough to hear about it through word of mouth.”

Jonan glanced at the captain’s face. His expression was still stiff.

“···That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

“That part?”

“Chief, this guy is trying to explain how he survived.”

“······Jonan probably survived by avoiding and hiding. But to explain that······.”

But soon, the village chief realized something had happened. He glanced outside the house and guided them to the innermost part of the house.

“Okay, tell me. What happened?”

“It’s about what happened after I started being chased yesterday·········.”

“Ah, wait. Don’t tell it from the beginning, just get to the main points. You’re not good at explaining.”

“Yeah, you know how angry I was when you kept talking while we were hunting? Just get to the key points quickly.”

“·········Yes.”

Jonan was momentarily disappointed by the attitude of the two men who didn’t want to listen to his story.

‘The Dragon listened well…’

Even Rachel listens well, but why are two grown men so dismissive?

Jonan had no choice but to get to the point, as they wanted.

“I was helped by a being. That being is called a dragon, and it is also the same being that helped Rachel when she disappeared in the forest last time.”

“What?”

“Hmm?”

“It was longer and larger than several village houses put together. Its long, snake-like body was covered with hard blue scales, and the horns and claws on its head were very sharp.”

“Wait, wait.”

“The blue eyes that looked at me seemed wiser than any person. The whiskers on the tip of its nose seemed to represent the dragon’s benevolence.”

“Wait, Jonan! Stop!”

“Yeah, Jonan, it would be good if you stopped for a moment. Sigh… Do you know what you’re saying now?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I was expecting this reaction from the village chief and the captain.”

“So Jonan, the reason you were able to survive is that a being called a dragon helped you? And Rachel too?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The eyes of the village chief and the captain met, and they looked at Jonan again. But Jonan’s condition seemed fine. It didn’t look like he was under any mental magic or hallucination.

Above all, the fact that he returned safely was evidence of the existence of a being called a dragon.

“······Jonan.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Where exactly were you?”

“I was on the cliff of the Dark Sea after passing through the forest.”

“Even animals avoid that place! Even if people saw something there, it must be an evil being affected by the Dark Sea!”

“But the Dragon protected me. The red bear that was chasing me… was killed in an instant.”

“What…?”

“In addition, the Dragon seems to be able to sense the presence of red monsters.”

“What do you mean…”

At Jonan’s story, the hunter captain felt his head growing distant. Even though he had never learned it and was ignorant, he prided himself on having a lot of knowledge about the forest ecosystem and red monsters.

What he cares most about is distinguishing between normal animals and red monsters. He puts all his effort into judging every moment, as making a mistake could lead to numerous casualties.

“Is that being called a dragon a Dragon?”

The village chief, who had been listening, quietly asked.

Jonan closed his eyes for a moment and thought about the dragon.

Jonan had never faced a dragon directly. He had only heard stories. And those stories were likely exaggerated as they were passed down orally.

“I have never faced a Dragon directly. But… the Dragon must be a greater being than a Dragon.”

It was completely alone, exerting tremendous power on its own. Jonan was convinced that this power was not all that the Dragon possessed.

The village chief and the captain were shocked by Jonan’s story. Dragons were notorious for being vicious creatures, committing violence except toward those they favored. But a being more powerful than such a dragon was near the village?

The two people responsible for the village felt helpless and unsure of what to do.

“Chief, Captain.”

“······What?”

“The reason I brought this up is because of the benevolent attitude the Dragon showed towards me and Rachel.”

“Benevolence? Jonan, you judged that a being called a dragon is more powerful than a Dragon. Whether that’s true or not, it’s somewhat true that it killed the red monster instantly. But you say that such a being showed benevolence?”

The captain’s face was red as if it would explode at any moment. But even so, Jonan remained steadfast.

“Yes. I can say for sure.”

“What do you mean…”

“What I’m saying is, we shouldn’t be hostile to the Dragon.”

“In other words, are you saying that we should just bow down and give it what it wants?”

“No, the Dragon did not want that. If it had, I would have been deprived of something.”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

Jonan took a deep breath, looked at the two men with a serious expression, and said:

“I want this village to serve the Dragon.”

“·········What?”