Episode 449 The True Face of St. Palmiro

　I was relaxing in my workroom. Since this room is only used by those who create shadow puppets, it is almost empty even during the daytime. So I use it as a place to relax.

　The number of living wizards who wanted to join the batallion I had created increased to about 20 members. The members use the library, the basement practice room, and the cafeteria, making the house seem smaller than it is.

　The cafeteria at Green Academica is a place where you can pay to have a simple meal and a drink prepared. It is Toshizo who makes the food. It might be a good idea to add two more butler shadow puppets.

　Métis brewed me a cup of tea using Elmore.

What are you thinking?"

I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just remembering the battle with the Vasuki Dragon King."

'Is there something that's bothering you?'

　I look reluctant. The battle was a last-minute victory. There are a number of things that concern me. The most worrisome of these is that the "magnetic barrier" is vulnerable.

fragility

I felt that the most important thing was that the people who were in the area were the ones who had the most experience in the area.

　Magnetic barriers catch and repel the attacks of demons. The more powerful the demon's attack, the faster the D-particle magnetic core wears out. It is likely that one day the magnetic barrier will be breached in a split second, and the person will die or be seriously injured.

　When I tell him about it, Metis makes a suggestion.

If that's the case, we should create new defensive magic.

I know, but 'Magnetic Barrier' was a pretty easy-to-use defensive spell," he said. Any more than that and I'm out of ideas."

　I decided to stop exploring the dungeon for a while and think about defensive magic.

　The next day, I took the Dragon King's head to the Adventurers' Guild. The next day, I took the head of the Dragon King to the Adventurers' Guild to ask an employee there to dismantle the head. At first, I thought that Elmore and I would dismantle the head, but upon further investigation, I found that this would require specialized skills.

　So we decided to ask a guild employee with dismantling skills to do it for us. When we arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, the branch manager and the staff member who would dismantle it were waiting for us.

　Go to the work area and take out the frozen head of the Dragon King. The branch manager and staff were surprised to see it. Me and Elmore helped them and started dismantling it.

　The staff with dismantling skills dismantled the animal by dividing it into meat, bones, blood, tusks, skin, and brain. The skill with which even the blood was carefully preserved was indeed that of an expert. They took the blood, still frozen, from the frozen thick blood vessels and put it in a glass container.

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I got a call from the Adventurers' Guild in Thailand that they checked the taste and efficacy of the meat before putting it up for auction. So I heard that the meat of the Dragon King is very tasty."

Have you figured out the utility?"

"It appears to promote muscle development and repair the lymphatic system and lymph nodes."

If it's like protein, it's not much of an effect."

　Branch Manager Kondo denied this.

'Not so. Apparently the flesh of the Dragon King increases the creature's muscle mass without exercise."

...... is a great food for weight loss."

'Maybe so, but it's too expensive an ingredient to use in a diet.'

　Having learned that it was safe to eat, we decided to taste it. We brought a charcoal grill and grilled the skewered meat of the dragon king over a charcoal fire. The only seasoning was salt.

　The fat spilled from the dragon king's meat falls onto the burning coals, giving off a savory smell.

This is unbearable. I've never smelled anything so appetizing."

　Branch Manager Kondo stares down at the skewered meat.

　We ate one skewer each. As soon as we ate it, a different taste of beef, pork, or chicken filled our mouths, giving us a blissful moment.

This is going to go to the highest bidder."

No doubt about it. But the problem is that it's going to be expensive."

Why?"

Given the utility of the Dragon King's flesh, it could be medicinal."

If it can be used as medicine, I will offer it to you at a discount. However, I heard that the Thai Adventurers' Guild has decided to auction off the portion they have entrusted to us.

　Hearing these words, Branch Director Kondo consulted with Director Jikoji and contacted large hospitals throughout Japan. He asked if any of them would be interested in using my meat for treatment. Several hospitals responded, and it was decided that my meat would be used for the treatment.

　A few days after dismantling the carcass, St. Palmiro contacted me and we agreed to meet. He had formally requested a meeting through the Japanese government, and it was hard to refuse.

　I went to a hotel in Tokyo to meet St. Palmiro. When I arrived at the hotel, I was ushered into a room by someone I assumed to be a Japanese government police official.

　Me and St. Palmiro exchange greetings and start talking.

What's the story today?"

　I could not trust the man named St. Palmiro. So I wanted to finish my business and leave as soon as possible.

I heard that Mr. Sakaki, or rather Dr. Grimm, froze the head of the Dragon King Vaski when he defeated him and brought it back to me. I want you to sell me the blood from his neck.

Dragon King's blood?　What do you use it for?"

　St. Palmiro hesitated a bit.

It's an ingredient in certain ...... drugs."

　Although he did not say so explicitly, the medicine that St. Palmyro is seeking is amrita. I did not know that the blood of the Dragon King could be used to make amrita.

I'm sorry, but I'm thinking of using the materials I got from the Dragon King for research purposes."

　When I refused, St. Palmiro's face twitched.

　At that moment, the sound of "Chirin, Chirin" echoes in my head. Thinking it was happening again, I pressed the "Steel Heart Technique" switch.

　A barrier was constructed in the core of my psyche and the 'ting, ting' sound disappeared. St. Palmiro looked at me with probing eyes, then offered to buy it again.

I need this medicine. Please sell it to me.

　If he refuses in this situation, he will let them know the fact that mental attacks do not work. On the other hand, if he accepts, he will be selling the Dragon King's blood.

　I thought about which one I didn't like and gave my answer.

I'm not impressed with a mental attack from someone who is called a saint. Do you do that all the time?"

What?

　The next moment, the smile disappeared from St. Palmiro's face, and for a moment, Shura's face peeked out. That must be his true face. A killing spirit emanates from the saint's body. Apparently, he was an adventurer.

You have deceived me."

　I raised my eyebrows when I heard those words.

What are you talking about? You were the first to launch a psychological attack. Shame on you.

　The color of St. Palmiro's face changes when he is told this. Moreover, the magic power stirs in his body.

rising and falling (e.g. rain)

I started to feel the magic power. My ability to sense magic was not great, but I noticed it because of the enormous amount of magic power that was being produced.

　Realizing that it was a threat, I produced the same magical power and circulated it in my body. My squire, Luberti, who was waiting behind St. Palmiro, felt the intense magic power from both of them, turned blue and overheard St. Palmiro.

　I didn't hear the content, but St. Palmiro became calm and calmed his magic. I felt it, and I also calmed my magic.

'Let me tell you one thing,' he said. Even if you had the Dragon King's blood, it would be a treasure trove. You wouldn't know how to manufacture the medicine I want."

If we study it, we may find other uses for it."

You'll regret it."

　I left St. Palmiro in the form of a fight.

　As we walked out of the hotel, Metis spoke to us.

'Dr. Grimm, you're in trouble.

I thought it would be dangerous to give St. Palmiro the blood of the Dragon King. Besides, this is Japan. Even St. Palmyro would not be able to do something so reckless."