-Morning - Nefiru's POV-
We approach town close to lunch time with cool temperatures and the wind swaying the grass on the sides of the stony road while the sun up above reflects off my purple-blue scales.
"Shaila, I can feel your heart rate increase." I exposed also noticing her mana reserves reaching half.
"C-can't be helped... It's been a year without seeing strangers." The white-haired girl stuttered nervously.
"We are not even in town!" Liana retorted walking on my left. "We'll go to a clothing store first, but I have to order glass windows at the guild which has rowdy people... " She announced.
"My partner must be ready to handle dangers and enemies we'll inevitably encounter... Face your fears now, and avoid regrets later..." I declared.
"I get that Shaila is a beast reborn as a human, but she's only a little girl who hasn't even experience love, and you want to take her away to the wilds...beasts won't even compliment her." She explained saddened.
"I'll be fine. But...one step at a time." Shaila declared jumping to my back while avoiding the spikes covered by the scaly hairs in the middle.
"Hup--!" *Thump!* She landed before accommodating herself horizontally along my left folded wing.
"Wise choice." I praised controlling the hair fibers on my back to cover her.
"Hyaaah! T-that tickles!" Shaila protests giggling from the electrified tendrils. "Fufufu... I'm just missing a mattress to turn Nefi into a house! Although the food is going to be a problem..." She appraised.
"Then learn how to cook!" I retorted. "Oh, and don't forget to buy sets of clothes for travel in cold places," I instructed.
"...You two sound a little married sometimes." The blond woman commented.
"Ufufu... We sort of were in the past, but the memory is so far back that I wonder if I'll ever remember it..." She announced.
"I just didn't want my sister to sell herself so easily. You should've made him earn you!" Liana advocated.
"Hmph! I followed my intuition. And who else would make me happy?" The girl countered.
"The Wolfie is my responsibility, and hers is not becoming a burden," I affirmed.
"I see... I'm grateful, but don't put her on the brink of death or worse to achieve your goals." The blond woman requested looking at me.
I nodded.
"I didn't even have goals before...just wanted to help Nefi who tries hard for his." The white-haired girl revealed.
"Yeah, it all comes down to how you want to be used," I added.
"But we'll find my beast relatives first!" The wolf girl announced.
"In any case, Wolfie, present yourself confidently and ignore what others say, so they doubt the hearsay or lose interest," I advised reaching the town gates.
"So... Endure?" Shaila affirmed sitting up while holding onto my left wing.
"Good girl!" I nodded prasing.
The familiar guards salute us before opening the way into the deplorable town with people walking around in shabby clothes or men talking in the sidewalk shirtless and dirty. Looking at such living conditions made me realize that I haven't really helped anyone despite having the capability to do so because it would attract unwanted attention.
Hmm... The priority is the contaminated river and cultivating more fertile land, but working inside the volcano requires organizing an expensive team of magicians. Well, it's always good to keep people busy with something, and there are quite many bored just waiting to earn food... I ponder exchanging stares with humans on the sides.
Shaila is acting a little meek but gradually calming down.
Perhaps I should reconsider exposure and have the spies deal with those who sell the information. I resolved and opened my mouth.
"I haven't been here since my auction," I announced, surprising the onlookers. "I hate to admit it, but people are more scared of Lester than me," I complained as the people whisper looking at us.
"A tamed unawakened dragon whelp is hardly impressive." Liana dismissed waving her hand.
"Uh-huh..." I said sarcastically and turned right with my neck extended. "Maybe they don't find my size frightening!" I announced close to a black-haired man in his twenties.
"...You-you, don't look very menacing...please don't get upset!" He stammered backing away towards the houses.
"Achaaa... Hurting a Dragon's pride..." An elderly bald man admonished from a window. "That cold tone was intimidating, but your normal voice is deep enough to sound threatening.... That's quite a feat for a non-wind user." He praised.
"Yeah, don't let it get you Mr. Blue." A middle-aged man approached saying. "Water dragons are passive by nature. But you look powerful...Lightning affinity?! " He said and remained staring.
I nodded and turned to the blond woman checking out men around in the street.
"Hunt later. Move!" I commanded pushing her butt with my left paw.
"Easy!" Liana protested wiping her clothes. "I don't know how dragons stand to have a mating season every five years..." She shrugged as we continued to the corner block when a kid younger than Shaila came running.
"Omph!" The boy dressed in dirty rags crashed onto my foreleg. "Oww... Painful. Painful... Did you not see me?!" He complained rubbing his head. "I demand compensation from the master!" The cheeky brat declared after separating.
"Uh... Master, do we have insurance?" I asked Shaila.
"Yes... Eat him." She ordered.
The people in the street stopped and stared at the pale kid frozen on the spot.
"Wait-wait! I'm jokinnng!" He flailed saying as my jaws approach. "EEEK!" The boy shrieked covering his face.
*SHUUu!* I stopped and exhaled on his face. "You have died." I declared in a robotic voice, and the passerby started whispering.
"Hahaha... What a moron...trying to pull that on Nobles!" A brown-haired man ridiculed leaning on a door.
"A talking Dragon..." A black haired young woman carrying bags muttered.
"It's my first time hearing a dragon speak our language." A man dressed in leather hunting gear remarked.
"I wasn't joking though. A kid that dumb will die soon." Shaila reproved throwing an icy glare at the boy. "Eat him alive!" She demanded.
Getting darker Shaila--ah, being extorted is a taboo for her. I asserted the reasons for the angry girl.
"UWAAAHH!" The kid started crying.
"Beg your forgiveness! Miss Shaila, Lady Liana." An older boy appeared apologizing before turning to the boy in front of my snout. "IDIOT!" He bawled. "Do you not recognize them? They are not Merchants or typical riders! Also, you are supposed to do that around guards..." He lectured before turning back to Shaila and kneeled. "Pardon us! We are just trying to live..." The teen pleaded with an imploring gaze.
"Sniff!" The kid sniveled looking up with a face smeared. "Forwuingmeeee!" He mumbled bowing multiple times.
Looks like their leader has a brain...can we keep him? I asserted.
"Nn. Find something better to do." Shaila lectured calming down.
*Pama!* A little girl crashed onto my right hind leg. "It's a DRAGON!" She squealed hugging my leg. "Also...owi." The little thing noticed the pain on her bruised forehead.
"Orphans..." Said Liana.
"Right." A boy pulling my tail affirmed. "Mr. Dragon is nice... we'll wash you for free!" He announced. "The first time..." The kid muttered in a low voice.
Where do you kids come from!? I retorted twisting my body.
"I crave little GIRLS!!!" I said biting the latching kid.
"Kyaaah!" She screamed and squirmed held with my lips.
"Uohh!?" The boy holding my tail gets lifted along with it.
"P-please f-forgive them...not many get to touch a Dragon." The leader nervously request.
I pull the girl off my leg and drop her on the street while the boy holding my tail understood it was enough and let go.
"Owow.... Meanie... " She complained rubbing her butt.
"...So much wasted potential." I announced walking away while shaking my head. "But maybe in the future, there might be some purpose for you," I advised as the kids go into a narrow alley. "So try not to die." I looked back saying at the leader boy standing behind.
He nodded and disappeared.
"Employing Orphans?" Liana asks.
"Lester could implement a system of incentives for people to perform better, and there are plenty things to do around here," I said looking at the house conditions.
"Mn. We don't need that many useless guards doing jobs regular people could do." She agreed.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Speaking of naughty kids. I thought and turned to Shaila.
"Steal something from the shop," I commanded.
"Wait-wha?!" Liana questioned aghast.
"Challenge accepted!" Shaila approved.
"But-But we have money..." The blond woman muttered in dismay.
Carrying a heavy bag of coins is annoying though. Well, the money exchange keeps it small, but this country is not keen on going with paper currency, and coins aren't easy to falsify when the culprits can only be renown high ranks. I affirmed watching the bag hanging around her waist.
We walk on the street of hardened ground while receiving scrutinizing stares, hearing whispers about us and feeling probes from curious low rankers. After passing the entrance to the Guild building on the left, we reach a three-way fork where we turn left, then walked past the plaza where they held my auction and arrive at the clothing shop.
Liana's right... I didn't get this much attention when Lester bought me...feels like I'm a naked celebrity and there are disturbing whispers... I affirmed as the two girls go inside.
Bored of the stares, I lay down and poke my head inside the store.
"AHH!" Screamed a brown-haired woman hiding behind shelves.
"I'm still scary~" I gloated watching the woman peek around a corner.
"So-sorry... I thought you were a snake." The woman stammered apologizing.
Da Fuk? I tilt my head with a blank expression.
"HAHA..." Liana laughed watching my reaction.
"Silly blue trying to be scary~" Shaila taunted with a sly smile.
"He's with us." The big sister told the storekeeper and pulled Shaila to the back.
Oh, a glass roof for illumination... I observed.
"Excuse me..." An auramancer with a sword and shield covered in clothes calls out to me.
Hm? There are faint scents from Hilda and Marlo on this woman... I noticed letting the woman enter.
I look inside again after seeing no other person was waiting, and minutes later, Shaila comes dressed in light brown clothes.
"Denied. White suits you better. It matches the bracelets and your hair." I appraised.
"But white..." The girl looks down muttering.
"You are not impure." I declared glaring at her.
"But she'll be completely white!" The sister protested.
"So?" I tilted my head questioning then looked around the store.
Unable to get inside, I used light magic until a garment caught my attention. It covers the front and bottom while revealing the sides, legs, and back.
"That one!" I said using a light arrow to point at the dress.
"Too revealing!" Liana denied.
"Erm... Blue, I'll be red and white wearing that." Shaila retorted.
"Do you know what kind of women wear that?" Liana rebuked holding her temples.
"Oh, do tell us, Lady Liana." A red-haired woman under thirty requested crossing the arms and narrowing her eyes.
The others in the store turned their heads to stare as if they had the same axis and Liana starts faltering under their accusing gazes.
"Tha--Ack!" The blond woman faced down in shame.
"Buahaha.... She got you good!" I said laughing.
The woman dressed in red nodded in approval before throwing me a smile.
"A talking beast with a sense of humor? I'm dreaming..." The girl at the counter on the left spoke surprised.
The auramancer in the back looks our way briefly and goes back to browse clothes without picking any.
Hm? I noticed the suspicious woman and used light magic to warn Liana writing on the floor.
"Uhh... There are other white clothes..." Shaila questioned the choice.
"He wants to show you off... Males..." A blue-haired busty woman exposed rolling her eyes.
"Well, the Miss name is carved on the dragon too..." A dark-skinned teen defended me.
"She also shouted 'He's mine!' To a beast friend of mine." I revealed with a grin.
"NUU!" The girl whined hugging her sister to cover the red face and avoid stares.
""Hahaha."" The women laugh.
"How cuuuute!" The dark-skinned teen squealed.
"Uhh... None of you girls find strange a beast acting like this?" The rank 1 auramancer at the counter questioned.
"Of course, we do. He was just staring at my chest and it's not hunger..." The blue haired woman said lifting her two melons with both hands.
"I recognized him as the dragon infant auctioned a while back. And he's Rank 6 already!" The rank 5 fire magician disclosed.
""Rank 6!!?"" The woman in the back uttered along with the counter girl.
"Yes... F-father helped him." Liana meekly interjected.
"A dumb beast can't rank up like this with a mountain of mana crystals..." The red haired woman scoffed.
"Ah, the miss is very lucky to find a dragon with bloodline." A brown-haired petite girl remarked joining the conversation.
"How envious! I want to be your partner...our affinities are compatible." The rank 3 water magician confessed getting closer.
Godamn it! I should have asked to be a shape-shifting organism... I lamented under the preyful gazes of the attractive women.
Shaila throws me a glare as if becoming aware of my intentions and walks over to the shelf stand
Oh, crap! Abort thoughts! I resolved thinking of chewing something in the forest.
"Hmph! I'm wearing this!" Shaila angrily declared pulling the dress I suggested and started undressing in front of us.
"Haha. Look at the dragon panic!" The dark skinned girl remarked.
Best not to apologize and look more guilty. I affirmed averting my gaze from the angry girl.
While we have such casual conversation somebody starts kicking on my neck on the sidewalk.
"HEY PET!" A contemptuous voice yelled outside.
I pull out the door to find a large muscular man swinging a huge steel hammer towards my head.
Wha-- I thought mobilizing magic while trying to dodge the hunk of metal bigger than a watermelon.
*BANNNG!* A massive impact above my right eye's socket drove me to the ground while shaking my consciousness...
My head stops right before slamming onto the pavement while the legs and tail get bound by stone.
"GRRRR!" I growl lifting my head slowly pushing back the hammer as blood starts trickling in my eye.
You are dead... I prepare for combat activating brain boost and probing my surroundings.
"WHAT?!!" The rank 7 auramancer uttered surprised.
"What's going on--aAAGH!" The petite woman asked peeking outside curiously before holding her head. *BANG! Splatter...* Her cranium exploded spraying my left side red while the smell of ammonia permeates the air. *Thud.* The normal human falls down with her head cracked open.
Killing a witness... I assumed.
"KYAAA!" The women inside the store screamed.
"Hide behind me!" The fire magician woman offered protection.
I focusing on my fight hoping the mid-rank 5 fire user is able to disrupt the magic probing inside the store.
"RANK 6! DON'T HOLD BACK!" A man shouted behind me discovering my rank and seemingly the culprit.
The muscular person pulls the hammer back in a circular motion while the air pressure around my head decreases dramatically sucking from my lungs and the saliva starts evaporating when another swing comes at my head with wind is swirling around it. The pulling force from a vacuum which is also negating air friction and the pushing from above is making the iron mass descend with an incredible momentum while my head and body are locked in place.
Agh! I can't breathe! I complained finding it hard to dodge and used magnetism.
The incoming object slowed down and stopped right before touching my scales while air rushed along with the auramancer pushing down.
*WOONG!* The hunk of iron bounced back with tremendous force creating a recoil on my head as well.
*FOOSH!* The wind magician tried to force me down with a gust, but I wasn't going to let an opening go to waste...
*Whap!* I lashed out at the Auramancer's raised arms.
"AHHHH!" The man screamed being pierced by my fangs and dropped the hammer... *KLANG!*
*CRUNCH! KRUOK...CRACK!* I mauled both arms
"AAARGHH!" He yelled kicking my jaw with a leg while releasing lifeforce bursts which only rattles my scales.
"Carlos!" Another man called out before rocks fall on my head.
*KLANG! Kling...thud...* The magicians desperately try to make me release.
However, their abilities are barely enough to shake my body and scratch my scales as their magic interferes with one another and lose effect while I'm also disrupting them.
Scrubs only had one good combination... I analyze their poorly synchronized attacks after things went wrong.
I slurped the blood finishing chewing, then twisted my head and ripped the brown-haired man arms off along with the gear he had.
"AHH! MY-MY ARMS!" He bawled stepping back while blood spurts from the severed thick biceps.
I swallowed the man's arms along with the armors and made a water ring around his legs before compressing it into a thin loop.
*PIUNNN!* The released multiple water jets penetrated his armor and flesh rotating at high speed cutting both legs clean off.
*THUNK! Thunk!* His torso and legs fell on the street making a bloody mess.
"GAHHH! HELP ME! MY LEGS..." He cried out before a wind gust dragged him behind me.
"SHIT! RETREAT!" Shouted the green haired man grabbing the limbless auramancer.
*Pahh!* A loud kick sounded inside the store. *CRASH! Crash...* Things started falling inside the shop. *Fwak! Fwak!* Punches were thrown before things went silent.
"Huff! Huff! You bitch!" Liana cursed panting.
I smell chloroform and look inside to see many shelves fallen with Liana on top of the auramancer woman from earlier.
"Grab her gear and run after me with Shaila!" I ordered running electric circuits along the stone bindings and released high voltage.
*PRAAAA!* The stone exploded in all my bindings at once sending debris crashing onto walls.
*Crack..* I break free and turn around to the retreating four and a half people around my rank while recovering mana from the bottle in my mouth.
Lightning magic can feed elementals almost instantly to activate muscles faster than neuro-electric signals can travel for speed bursts and can regulate the force each muscle can handle. Although the downsides of the manual muscle boost are the tremendous multitasking, the lack of precision in movements and uncomfortable feeling from controlling the body ahead of the brain, it is effective on my large body.
*WOSHH!* My body dashes forward covering half a block in short seconds.
I aim for the running armored group that saw me coming and raised obstacles while throwing rocks at me.
*Klang! Tsuu!* A few managed to scrape my scales while I approached dodging in zig-zag.
"WHA!? How can it be so fast?" The wind user questioned dragging the bleeding torso and split up before the plaza.
"What in the world? They didn't tell us about this!" Complained an earth user while running in the empty street
*SWISH!* I swing at the closest blond haired magician on the right. *CRUSH--RA!* My claws tore through his side along with the cheap steel armors before throwing away the carved matter and adjust my posture.
"ARGGG!" The magician uttered spinning. *Thud.* He fell down before holding the three gapping trenches where the guts spill out. "AHH-AHH--AHH." The blond man does short screams before my tail strikes his neck. *SWUIK!* I rip apart his throat along with artery. *Thushd!* His corpse dropped making a pool of blood and turn to another man on the left approaching a door.
I send lightning magic to my right while rushing to the guy who broke into a house on the left. The earth magician running on the street being slower than wind users and wearing armors raised protection after noticing my magic energy coming.
"GYAHHH!" The guy screamed electrocuted inside his earthen barrier.
I made an Ice rocket and launched it into building.
*Frooshh!* The missile sprays water flying while I run after the wind user.
*BOOM!* The compressed liquid exploded releasing supercooled water that freezes rapidly.
"AHHH!" Screamed the freezing man inside the house.
Tch! That only injures him... I affirmed catching up with the wind user.
However, the green haired man dropped his comrade like a sack of potato and jumped to the roof using wind magic to propel himself from behind.
"HEEEEEY! NOO..." Yelled the remains of the auramancer, but I ignore the grounded meat.
*Shuuk! WHOSH!* I open the wings and jumped up to the roof while flapping.
The wind user was already fifteen meters away and gaining distance while I sent magic ahead and start flying at low altitude over the houses.
However, my flying speed is terrible, so he quickly gained distance on me, but my magic is ready and he's still in range...
"AH!!?" The rank 6 wind user uttered surprised at the roof suddenly lifting in front.
*CLUNK!* He ran into the metallic sheet that enveloped him like a burrito. *Thud! Srrr...Thud!* He fell on a roof and rolled down before landing in a narrow alley.
Haha! Magneto would be proud! I asserted landing on a house nearby before welding the steel panel along with the armors. Didn't even have to waste a steel rod... I affirmed taking advantage of the environment.
"UGHF!" The canned man struggles to break free.
Done with my capture, I turn around and notice a dozen people on the roof.
"HELP!" Liana yelled from the street dozens of meters away northeast.
Oh-no... SHAILA! I realized the plot and rush ahead when...
*Creeeaak!--CRASH!* The rusty roof panels and support beams gave out under my weight and I fell down.