NOVEL WEB Chapter 37: Ambushed in One's Own Den
===???===
In this vast world, there was a gargantuan and deep ravine.
At the very bottom of that valley, a place that not even the sun at its strongest could penetrate, was the dwelling of that dragon.
The dragon had jet-black scales, as if it was the reincarnation of night itself.
Its body was longer and far more slender than a normal dragon, giving it the image of an agile dragon rather than a strong dragon.
This creature was called a darkness dragon.
They lived in the darkness and controlled the darkness; they were a rather special tribe of dragon to speak.
And then, a single ray of bright light suddenly penetrated the perpetual darkness in which those dragons spent their life in leisure.
『This place is as boring as ever, huh! Even your soul will become gloomy if you keep living in this dark place, you know!』
In short, the intruder was none other than the Thunder Dragon Emperor who turned into Zion's familiar.
Driven by her gravely mistaken loyalty toward her master, she went straight toward the nest of the darkness dragons by herself.
A bolt of blue—no, more like brilliant lightning in the dark night—struck down; many darkness dragons couldn't hide their surprise upon seeing the sudden and grand entrance of the dragon whose body was surrounded by crackling lightning and emitting an extremely powerful magical power.
Naturally, they wouldn't just sit back quietly seeing the intruder ransacking their den.
「「「GRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAA!!」」」
With a single roar, all of them leaped toward the intruder at once.
Unfortunately, their opponent was one of the two most powerful dragons, the Thunder Dragon Emperor.
A single move from her was enough to send all of her attackers flying.
『…Uhm?』
At that moment, the Thunder Dragon Emperor felt a heavy pressure applied to her body.
The darkness dragons were using their special abilities to control the darkness to seal the Thunder Dragon Emperor's movement.
The bottom of the valley with eternal darkness was literally the best place for the darkness dragons to exhibit their maximum power.
And yet―
『Kukukuku, you think this weak pressure will be enough to seal my movement?!』
In the next moment, the Thunder Dragon Emperor released lightning from her entire body.
「「「?!」」」
The lightning strike struck one darkness dragon after another.
Having cleared away the darkness that bound her, the Thunder Emperor Dragon regained her previous freedom of movement.
The darkness dragons had no other choice but to retreat upon witnessing the Thunder Dragon Emperor overpowering them on their own turf.
But then, a dragon whose size rivaling that of the Thunder Dragon Emperor appeared from the darkest part of that valley.
『…State your business?』
『Finally come out, huh! Long time no see, Darkness Dragon Emperor!』
Just like the Thunder Dragon Emperor, that dragon was the one who ruled the valley as the strongest darkness dragon, the Darkness Dragon Emperor.
『Well, the truth is, I came because I've business with ya!』
『This isn't your place. Go back.』
Despite the Darkness Dragon Emperor’s nonchalant reply, the Thunder Dragon Emperor also didn't back off that easily for the sake of her master.
『You left me with no other choice, huh! Guess I gotta kill you!』
『… EH?』
『Don't hate me for doing this to you; this is for my master! That's why, accept your DEATH!』
『I don't understand what you mean.』
From the Darkness Dragon Emperor’s side, the Thunder Dragon Emperor’s words were nothing more than a troublesome statement.
But the Darkness Dragon Emperor wasn't disturbed at all, just puzzled.
『This is my home ground. I'm far more powerful than you in this place.』
『Kukuku, shall we prove it then?』
『？』
『Behold, my new power as as immortal undead bestowed by my master!』
As soon as the Thunder Dragon Emperor made such a bold declaration, her thick rear leg kicked the ground, and she leaped toward the Darkness Dragon Emperor.
◇ ◇ ◇
===A Certain Undead With Communication Disorder===
「Yosh, I arrived at the highway safely.」
After walking in the direction pointed out by the villagers, I had finally reached the highway.
They also told me that I would eventually arrive at the royal capital of this kingdom as long as I headed west after I arrived at this highway.
Since it was a highway, it was only natural for me to meet people every once in a while.
But people didn't even run when they saw my face.
They just passed me while giving a light nod.
Well, that was natural since now I wore proper clothes and a hat to hide my unusual hair color and eyes.
And just as I expected, no one suspected me when I was donned in this appearance.
「I hope that the people of the royal capital are as kind and welcoming as the people from that village…」
Suddenly, when I was walking while pondering about such matters…
「KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
I heard the loud shriek from somewhere.
I hastily ran toward the origin of that shriek.
After all, someone might be in trouble!
That was what I expected, but it seemed I was greatly mistaken.
「SHUT YER TRAP AND GIVE US ALL YOUR MONEY!!!」
「DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US THE YOUNG WOMEN TOO! HYAHAHAHA!」
It was a group of merchants being ambushed by bandits.
Come to think of it, the villagers did warn me about bandits too.
It seemed those bandits had already killed the escorts hired by the merchant.
Judging from their numbers and the quality of their equipment, these bandits didn’t seem to be your average folks.
「P-Please! At least spare my daughter!」
「SHUT UP!」
「GYAA?」
Despite the merchant's desperate attempt to protect his daughter, a kick from the bandit was enough to send him flying.
Naturally, there was no way I could overlook such an atrocity.
I leaped from my hiding place, landing right in the middle of those bandits.
「Hm? What's this, who a―FUGYAAA?!」
I slapped the bandit's face before he finished his sentence.
That one slap was strong enough to make his body rotate once before he landed on the ground, passed out.
But you know, his head might be squashed like a tomato had I chosen to punch his head.
Naturally, it didn't mean that I intended to forgive them; I was just holding back enough to prevent them from escaping after seeing my strength.
「… Hn? GAH?!」
Using that moment, I tripped another bandit off their feet.
I might have overdone it this time since I heard an unpleasant yet crisp snapping sound from the feet of the bandit that I tripped just now.
「Who the hell is this bastard?!」
「Don't get flustered! Our opponent is alone! Overwhelm him with our numbers!」
The bandits leaped at me at once.
They attacked me with their swords, spears, and maybe even some knives, but none of them could even leave as much as a scratch on me.
「IMPOSSIBLE?!」
「HE'S COMPLETELY UNSCATHED?!」
I quickly caught the bandits who had yet to recover from their shock, flinging them away.
Some less unfortunate bandits got flung away around ten meters along with their comrades.
「W-WHO THE HE*LL IS THIS FU*CKER?!」
「LIKE HELL WE CAN WIN AGAINST THIS BAS*TARD!」
The bandits turned around, trying to escape as soon as they realized that they couldn't beat me.
At that moment…
The bandit that was just turning around to escape suddenly crashed against a giant figure.
「HEY, FU*CKER, CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I'M ABOUT TO ESCA—AAAAAH?!」
「C-C-C-CHIEF?!」
That bandit crashed against a tall, muscular man with a dwarf-like beard equipped with a giant battle axe in both hands.
That man seemed to be their leader. Color drained from the faces of the bandits who tried to escape.
「Just when I think that it's rather unusual for you guys to take a long time, it turns out this merchant hired quite powerful escort, right?」
「A-About that… a stranger suddenly bu―GYAAAAAAAAAH?!」
「SHUT UP! SPARE ME YOUR SORRY EXCUSE!」
After shouting at his subordinate, the bandit leader then moved his gaze toward me.
「So you're the bas*tard who’s hindering our work, huh?」
「…」
「SAY SOMETHING, BASTA*RD! YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!」
What a hot-headed man.
Well, as expected of the leader of bandits.
The big man approached me with an irritated look on his face seeing that I didn't react to him at all.
「TCH, DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」
And then, he swung his battle axe, bereft of hesitation in his every single movement.
…Only for it to bounce back along with a loud clanging sound when his battle axe struck my head.
「… Eh?」
It was only natural for the big man to let out such a dumbfounded voice since he might never have expected this result.
…Well then, what should I do now?
Since he didn't seem to be a decent person, should I just kill him?
In addition, it might be easier to apprehend the rest if they saw their leader's death.
And then, when I was about to catch the head of the big man to make him an example…
The sky suddenly darkened (or so I thought), and a giant being descended from above.
『I've finally find you, master!』
「… GEH」
I still remembered that figure; it was the golden dragon.
In addition, if my eyes didn't trick me, she bit into the neck of something as big as her with her mouth.
「「「W-W-W…」」」
The bandits' eyes opened wide, standing still, and lost at words.
ZUDOOOOON!
「「「HIIIII?!」」」
The tremor caused by the Thunder Dragon Emperor's landing was enough to knock the big man and the other bandits off their feet.