I Am Not Goblin Slayer

Chapter 337: I've Seen a Dragon

Gauss and Aria chatted a few more words in the grove.Not only was Gauss curious about the changes in Aria after her breakthrough, but Aria was equally curious about him.

Compared to a few days ago, although Gauss's appearance hadn't changed much, his entire demeanor now carried a sense of ease and being completely in control.

The two walked out of the garden.

The guard outside saluted, then couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.

He had a feeling Lord Gauss's companion's appearance had changed somewhat, but clearly, this wasn't something he should concern himself with, so he quickly averted his gaze after that brief look.

Mounting their steeds.

Aria and Gauss left the inner city district.

After reaching the outer city, Aria released her raven Eck and silver wolf Ulfen for some activity.

After completing her class advancement, these two animal companions bound to her by contract had also each received significant improvements and had grown even closer to her.

In their normal state, they could be retracted onto her skin surface in the form of tattoo-like patterns.

Furthermore, this brought about a massive enhancement.

That is, her Wild Shape ability, besides allowing transformation into conventional animals, could now also transform into the racial forms of her contracted creatures.

This was also a clear boost to Aria's combat power.

Ulfen's size had now become even more massive, easily capable of carrying several adults.

Its shoulder height already exceeded that of a grown man, its two rows of teeth were as sharp as daggers, and beneath its fur were muscles as strong as steel, granting it extreme mobility and aggression.

The fact that the surrounding crowd instinctively gave it a wide berth of several meters the moment it was released spoke volumes.

And this was even with Gauss, a celebrity, by their side. Without him, it would likely have caused a panic, with commoners scattering in all directions.

"Ulfen is getting stronger and stronger."

Gauss patted its powerful foreleg, its muscles like steel wrapped around thick, sturdy bones.

"Woof—"

Ulfen wagged its tail.

Raven Eck landed on its head.

Compared to Ulfen, its size hadn't changed as dramatically, but it had still grown a full size larger.

Its changes were more in terms of intensity.

When its black feathers were spread, each one reflected a metallic sheen in the sunlight like sharp blades, and its beak was coated in a layer of sharp energy.

"Eck has gained mana? Not bad, not bad."

Gauss glanced at Eck and saw right through it, nodding in approval.

"Not bad, not bad." Eck repeated Gauss's words.

From its now clear and articulate speech, it was evident it had become more intelligent.

But this was reasonable. Often, the prerequisite for being able to wield mana was possessing considerable intelligence.

Returning to their residence in Longdi Fort.

Albenia and the other two had already received the raven's message ahead of time and rushed back to the residence.

All three were astonished by the changes in the two, especially Aria.

Upon learning of her experience, they felt it was incredible but also happy for her.

Becoming elven meant greater talent, and... a longer lifespan.

Elves, like Dragons, were among the more famous long-lived species in common knowledge.

And unlike those pure-blooded elves, Aria likely still retained the comprehension and learning abilities that humans relied on for survival.

.

"Teacher, goodbye."

At the city gate, Abby and her father York came to see off Gauss's party.

Behind them were also commoners who had come spontaneously.

The scene could be described as a sea of people.

On the streets, countless heads peered out from shops on both sides and houses along the road to watch.

"Alright, you all can go back now."

Gauss swung himself up onto the back of the red dragon Hephaestus.

Hephaestus gently flapped its wings, eliciting another wave of astonished exclamations from the crowd.

"It really is a Red Dragon!"

"It's so huge!"

"It could probably swallow me whole in one bite."

"I've seen a dragon!"

"I heard it's still a Juvenile Dragon. It'll get even bigger when it reaches adulthood."

Ordinary people don't truly understand the strength of professionals, but dragons are different.

They are a very common "character" in stories. It might be an evil dragon leading tens of thousands of monster minions to attack cities and plunder lands, or it might play the role of a benevolent dragon mentor helping the hero.

But whether good or evil, their only common point is power.

Power utterly incomparable to ordinary humans.

Now, this dragon appearing before the eyes of so many commoners, likely the only one they will ever see in their lives, materialized the fantasies about dragons in their minds.

They finally realized that the descriptions of this magical creature in stories might not have been exaggerated.

It crouched there, its fierce and majestic head held high, looking both mysterious and noble.

With each breath, its nostrils expelled scorching sulfurous steam, filling the entire street with a faint burning smell.

Everyone it glanced at felt their heartbeat quicken and their body grow warm.

It was so beautiful, so powerful.

And the dragon before them was only a Juvenile Dragon. If an adult Dragon descended, it would be even more terrifying.

Various emotions floated and intertwined above the crowd.

Fear of the giant beast, worship, desire, envy... all converged on the center of the street.

Gauss gently patted Hephaestus's neck, and soon the red dragon slowly flapped its wings, ascending into the sky.

He glanced from the corner of his eye at the street behind him. Praelius and several of his companions were standing there.

In the crowd, he even saw that tiefling boy and his friends waving excitedly, clearly having learned of Gauss's identity.

After giving them a light wave in farewell, Gauss commanded Hephaestus to beat its wings and rise.

"The Dragon Knight has left!"

"I've decided I want to become an adventurer too! I want to ride a dragon!"

"Phyll, what if I told you that the kind, important person who helped me, the one I mentioned before, was that Dragon Knight? Would you believe me?"

"I believe you."

"Phyll, don't listen to Delai boasting. How could that be possible?"

"Look! He saw me! He's turning around and waving at us!"

"Huh!?"

Soon, the red drake Hephaestus soared into the high sky and eventually disappeared from sight.

Gauss had left Longdi Fort, but the legends about him in the city would clearly continue.

"Whoosh!"

The red drake Hephaestus beat its wings, generating powerful thrust to propel its body forward.

Hephaestus's flight didn't rely entirely on the physical flapping of its wings.

It was more like a magical force, but as everyone knows, drakes cannot cast spells.

Even Hephaestus was just barely getting the hang of it now, naturally incapable of mastering the Fly spell.

So, this should actually be some kind of innate ability imprinted in its bloodline.

Gauss took in the landscape below.

If there was one other noteworthy gain from this trip to Longdi Fort, it was that the red dragon Hephaestus finally didn't have to hide anymore.

Since others already knew about it, he might as well openly use it as his regular mount for travel.

"Control your speed a bit."

Gauss gently patted Hephaestus beneath him, conveying the thought.

Hephaestus had been cooped up for many days. Ever since the battle between Gauss and the Dragon Priestess ended, it hadn't been let out for activity.

It was somewhat unable to control its excitement.

However, for long-distance flight, it naturally needed to maintain a relatively steady speed. Going all-out sprinting would be exhausting even for a dragon's stamina.

Gauss's gaze turned toward the distant outline of the snow-capped mountains.

According to the principle of "the mountain looks close, but the horse dies running," the mountains looked near, but in reality, they were not.

Based on Gauss's estimation, it might still take several more days of flying.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Dusk.

Gauss controlled Hephaestus to land in front of a small town, eliciting another wave of astonished exclamations.

Some among the town guards had anticipated Gauss's identity beforehand.

In recent days, the glorious reputation of the Crimson Dragon Knight Gauss had spread like wildfire, rapidly reaching surrounding villages, towns, and cities.

Some were extremely envious, while others expressed skepticism.

Only when that beautiful red dragon descended from the sky carrying a human did the guards finally understand that those rumors were not false.

"Welcome, Crimson Dragon Knight Gauss."

Gauss recalled the dragon. The guard at the gate responsible for inspections was flushed with excitement.

Other townsfolk who had witnessed the landing moment also gathered, wanting to see the dragon's magnificence with their own eyes.

Seeing this, Gauss had no choice but to quickly recall Hephaestus.

The guards went through the motions of inspecting them before swiftly letting them pass.

"Dragon Knight Gauss is here!"

"The Dragon Knight has arrived!"

Children excitedly ran around spreading the news, passing on word of the currently trending Crimson Dragon Knight.

This was just an ordinary, unremarkable small town. For their repetitive daily lives, Gauss's arrival was sensational news.

A slightly stiff smile hung on Gauss's face as he responded to the enthusiastic shouts of the townsfolk around him.

It seems I need to be more mindful of my influence in the future.

Although he wasn't truly a proper Dragon Knight—normally, a Dragon Knight was a combination of a human powerhouse capable of influencing a kingdom paired with an adult dragon, their strength not necessarily peerless in the world but at least existing at the pinnacle of the pyramid—Gauss's own strength was far from that standard. Hephaestus was also just a drake and in its juvenile stage. Calling his current self a "budget version" Dragon Knight would be flattering.

But he couldn't help that this title had already spread. And he was still young, with limitless potential.

Moreover, his combat prowess was verifiable—an Elite defeating a Transcendent powerhouse.

For a period in the future, as caravans spread the word, newspapers reported it, and other information channels disseminated the news, his reputation would continue to rise steadily.

Gauss looked at the now bustling town.

He finally realized that his past self, unknown and obscure, was gone for good. What lay ahead was a brand new stage.

He and his party would gradually rise to fame. While winning the admiration of more people, they would also attract the prying eyes of more hostile forces in the shadows and face even more dangerous enemies.

Fame was a double-edged sword.

The town was small.

Gauss's party searched around a bit before entering the town's only tavern, "The Skyhorn."

Almost all eyes in the tavern instantly focused on him.

Whispers, clinking of cups paused for a moment. The tavern keeper's hand wiping a glass slowed for a beat.

"That's the rumored..." someone lowered their voice.

"I thought it was just children's talk."

"No mistake. Black hair, that aura, and his companions' attire—exactly as the bards sing."

"The black-haired dragon-riding hero, the terrifying half-snake companion, the giantess by his side..."

"I heard he single-handedly repelled an entire army of monsters from the Dragon Worshipers in Longdi Fort?"

"He doesn't look that different from us."

Gauss ignored the chatter, habitually walking to the bar to order drinks, several hot meals, and rooms.

They were getting closer to the snow-capped mountains, and as winter gradually set in, the temperature was dropping rapidly.

"Hah—"

He exhaled a puff of warm breath.

Although everyone's physical constitution was good and they didn't fear ordinary cold, they would still feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Rest during the journey was necessary.

This was also why Gauss had chosen to land at a town.

Gauss lay on the bed in the tavern's guest room, quietly looking at the night sky outside the window.

He hadn't let others' praise go to his head.

"After leaving Longdi Fort, Lord Gauss, you need to be extra careful."

"Be wary of those fanatics from the Dragon Worshipers. Their worship and craving for dragons have become pathological."

Recalling Praelius's reminder from the night before their departure, Gauss pondered silently.

The Dragon Worshipers were difficult to eradicate completely. In many towns, their members, or rather informants, were distributed to some extent.

Fortunately, the higher-ups of the Dragon Worshipers were elusive and generally didn't live in densely populated towns. They often resided in their hidden bases or lived in monster territories.

Mobilizing high-end combat power to capture him wasn't a simple matter.

Moreover, if that Cecilia were to appear before him now, even if he couldn't defeat her in battle, escaping would be more than sufficient.

Gauss wasn't in a hurry to clash with the Dragon Worshipers.

What he needed was time. Give him a few more years, wait until his strength rose to a higher level, and these seemingly troublesome enemies would crumble.

Early next morning.

Gauss woke up early.

"So, how is it?"

During breakfast, Gauss and Aria exchanged information.

Yesterday, raven Eck and its little raven subordinates had already been dispatched in advance to act as the ears of Gauss's party, listening for any unusual movements in the town.

After Aria's breakthrough and class advancement, raven Eck had gained mana and was now capable of serving as a base station role for receiving and summarizing information.

"Nothing unusual in the town."

"Everyone's just talking about us."

"There's a local adventurer team that, seeking fame, plans to challenge you, Gauss, this morning in the square by the gate."

"Aside from that, there are many more monsters in the icy river east of town. Several people have died there in recent days, and the townsfolk no longer go there."

...

Aria briefly mentioned a few points.

Although Gauss's party had just arrived in this town called Snow River Town, the existence of the raven intelligence team meant they had a thorough understanding of the place after just one night.

After finishing breakfast and stepping out of the tavern into the town square.

Sure enough, an adventurer team was waiting for them at the entrance.

"Mr. Gauss." The warrior leading them stepped forward, his voice loud and filled with strong fighting spirit. "I am Harold 'Crag-Splitter.' We have heard of your many deeds and greatly admire you. We apologize for blocking your path like this. We only wish to request a friendly spar, to let us also witness the prowess of a powerhouse capable of taming a red dragon!"

The crowd let out an excited murmur.

Albenia frowned.

As their fame rose, adventurers seeking reputation, wanting to ride Gauss's coattails to fame, were arriving one after another.

They might not truly want to defeat Gauss, but even if they lost in a fight, being able to hold their own for a few moves could become capital for building their own reputation and boasting to others.

Not wanting to put Gauss in an awkward position, Albenia proactively stepped forward.

"If you want to challenge Lord Gauss, you'll have to get past me first."

Albenia stood before everyone like a mountain.

"All of you, come at me together!"

"But, let's be clear upfront, I won't hold back."

"We need to sign a liability waiver in advance."

Her expression turned serious as she drew out that giant axe far larger than an ordinary person's frame. Her tall stature radiated a terrifying aura, a kind of oppressive, murderous intent.

The solidified aura enveloped the three of them, instantly causing their expressions to change, muscles to stiffen, and breathing to become labored, as if someone were choking their necks, making it hard to breathe.

That heavy, water-like pressure and that gleaming, sharp giant axe made them realize in an instant that this was an extremely dangerous woman.

She might not be joking. Once the spar began, she might really use that giant axe to chop off all three of their heads.

"What a terrifying giantess."

"Um..."

"Sorry, we... we apologize for disturbing you."

The leading warrior, Harold 'Crag-Splitter,' swallowed hard and took two steps back.

Albenia caught the flash of fear and retreat in their eyes and shook her head with a light laugh.

"It seems you're not prepared yet. Then, farewell."

The crowd automatically parted a path, and Gauss's party calmly left the square.

"Albenia, you scared them half to death," Serlandul said.

"It was a necessary deterrent. If just anyone could casually challenge Lord Gauss, how much time would we waste on every person wanting to test our strength?"

Gauss didn't interject, his gaze simply fixed on the icy river outside the town.

They were getting closer to the snow-capped mountains, and anomalies seemed to be starting to appear.

This river also originated from the snow-capped mountains. Perhaps the surge in river monsters was related to the Lake God's commission.

Gauss lightly sniffed the air.

He caught a whiff of an ominous scent.