Episode 217 IronDragon

My biggest mistake was sending out Tamegorou in an area where ShadowBears existed. When Saeki came down the stairs, it looked like a ShadowBear, which was lurking in the shadows, was launching a surprise attack on me.

The ShadowBear and Tamegorou were different in size, but they didn't seem to notice it for the moment.

"Wait, these are Shadow Puppets. Lower your weapons."

Saeki frowned when she realized that the black bear was just lying beside me.

"A Shadow Puppet you say ... confusing."

All the members of the Hyakka Ryouran Team were looking at me reproachfully.

"I'm sorry. I forgot that this is an area where ShadowBears appear."

It was customary to not help candidates during an exam, unless their lives were at stake. An adventurer who took the B-class exam was a valuable human resource. It was also the role of the examiner to ensure that such talent was not lost. However, if the examiner intervened, the exam would be failed.

Since they understood, I was relieved. The four of them approached.

"This is the first time I've seen a Shadow Puppet."

Toujou, an Attack Wizard, rushed over to Taabou, who was training. She squatted down and watched Taabou's training. Taabou repeatedly practiced jumping over stones about 30 centimeters high and landing on the ground.

"Okay, that's enough. You can rest."

Taabou stopped jumping and looked at me while tilting its head. It didn't seem to understand the meaning of rest. I turned my gaze to Tamegorou. Tamegorou was lying beside me.

"To rest is to stay still like Tamegorou."

For some reason, Taabou climbed up on Tamegorou's body and lay down on its back. Tamegorou glanced at Taabou who had climbed on top of it, lost interest and averted its eyes.

"Can I touch them for a bit?"

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Toujou asked for permission. When I agreed, Toujou petted Taabou's back and narrowed her eyes happily.

"It's fluffy. I feel happy."

Everyone else wanted to touch them, so I gave them permission. Saeki, enjoying touching Tamegorou, turned her attention to me.

"Hey, my little sister is allergic to cats and dogs. Would Shadow Puppets be okay?"

"I think it's probably fine. However, I haven't done any medical research on Shadow Puppets, so I can't say for sure that they'll be fine."

At that moment, Taabou stood up and looked to the left.

"Deyu~~~!"

Saeki and the others were surprised by Taabou's strange sound. Currently, Taabou was instructed to raise a warning sound when any non-human approached.

The strange sound was because Taabou wasn't used to using the Sorcery Voice.

"That was Taabou's warning sound just now. There might be monsters nearby."

I took out my Black Staff and took a stance. What appeared was a real ShadowBear.

When I tried to attack, Saeki stopped me.

"Only for ShadowBears, we will defeat them."

"But ..."

"It's fine. You can defeat the monsters other than ShadowBears."

As for materials to make Shadow Puppets, it seemed that they were listed in the Weekly Adventurer as Shadow-species black magic stones and Shadow Clay. I let out a sigh when I understood what the Hyakka Ryouran Team was looking for.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's fine as long as I can pass the promotion exam without incident."

While capturing the 9th floor, the Hyakka Ryouran Team defeated eight ShadowBears. What they got was eight black magic stones and 180 kg of Shadow Clay.

"Everyone, even if you have the materials, you can't make a Shadow Puppet without a Life Wizard."

I advised them. Hearing that, Saeki grinned.

"No problem. I have an acquaintance, an adventurer named Kamijou, who recently boasted that he learned Life Magic. I'll have him help."

The world was quite small. It seemed that Kamijou, who I taught Life Magic to, was an acquaintance of Saeki. Kamijou was a Muscle Wizard. Perhaps Saeki taught Kamijou Muscle Magic.

I was a little curious, so I asked about Kamijou. I was told that she once taught Kamijou the basics of Muscle Magic. I imagined Kamijou being asked to help, and the sight of him being unable to refuse came to my mind.

As for me, it would be nice if I could get a license fee, so I said that I would at least give advice when they had it made.

After descending from the 9th floor to the 10th floor, we decided to spend the night in the Mid-boss room. I was asked to have Tamegorou and Taabou come out, so when I took them out from the shadows, Toujou picked up Taabou and took it away.

Saeki, Matsumoto, and Kizaki were sitting leaning their backs against Tamegorou in place of a sofa.

Saeki told me to go to bed early after eating. Because tomorrow would be the actual exam. I understood, but I couldn't sleep.

Even so, it seemed that I fell asleep before I knew it. When I woke up, Tamegorou and Taabou were back and were lying beside me.

[ The people from Hyakka Ryouran were talking about Shadow Puppets until late. ]

Metis reported.

"Unlike me, they seem to think of Shadow Puppets as pets."

[ It looks like it. It's going to be an expensive pet. ]

The four members of the Hyakka Ryouran Team woke up, ate breakfast, and then we departed. The 11th floor to the 13th floor were my first time through the area, but I conquered them without any problems.

I was able to defeat the monsters I encountered along the way using 'Cold Shot'. Once again, I realized that this magic was powerful.

And, finally, we arrived at the 15th floor. I took out the Immutable Bottle at the exit there to restore magic and physical strength.

The Mid-boss room on the 15th floor was an entire forest in front. Somewhere in this forest there was the IronDragon. Adventurers who just wanted to pass through the 15th floor avoided the forest in front and took a detour and headed for the stairs in the back.

There was a Sanctuary in the center of this forest, and if you defeated the Mid-boss IronDragon, you would be able to enter the Sanctuary.

"Now, it's the real thing. Do your best."

With Saeki's voice, I started heading towards the forest. After a short interval, the Hyakka Ryouran Team followed.

About 15 minutes after entering the forest, I heard footsteps that made the ground shake. I headed there and saw the IronDragon for the first time.

A giant bipedal monster with a height of about 7 meters. It looked more like a bipedal dinosaur than a dragon. However, since it had two horns on its head, I could tell that it was a dragon-type monster.

I took out my Magical Fist-loaded Weapons instead of my Black Staff and put them on both hands.

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