Red Mirror Dragon

Shinshi Era, year 28.

Riegel Canyon, in the Central Countries.

Rienta and his two companions hid behind the grass on a cliff. A red dragon, dozens of meters tall, was resting in the canyon below.

It was Fern's first time seeing a dragon, and she asked curiously, "Is that a dragon?"

"It's my first time seeing one."

Rienta was also curious as he looked at the dragon below.

This time, he really had seen a dragon.

Frieren said, "There's a grimoire in that nest over there, right?"

"That's what I'm looking for."

Rienta's attention shifted from the dragon to the nest. Amid the glittering jewels of every kind, even from hundreds of meters away, he could almost feel them calling to him.

Rienta, come and take us away!

Thank heavens for this gift! I, Rienta, am going to be rich too. Wait, I'll get you out of there right away.

Rienta tried to calm his restless heart and carefully assessed the chances of the three of them defeating the red dragon.

Frieren and Fern were pure mages, while he could do a little of everything.

He should be able to block the red dragon's attacks with Rho Aias, and with Frieren and Fern's offensive magic on top of that...

We can take it!

Rienta tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword and waited for Frieren's signal.

Fern said softly, "You haven't changed, have you? But why is that book there?"

Frieren kept her eyes fixed on the grimoire and said:

"Dragons don't just collect shiny things. They also use things imbued with mana as nesting material."

"This Red Mirror Dragon has already eaten several adventurers. Either way, it would be better to deal with it."

Hearing this, Fern stood up, aimed her staff at the Red Mirror Dragon, and began gathering mana.

"Wait!" Rienta hadn't yet reacted and was just about to stop her.

Frieren had already spoken. "Be careful not to hit the nest."

"Okay." Fern answered calmly, and the offensive spell in her hand shot toward the dragon sleeping in the canyon.

The magic glanced off the Red Mirror Dragon's scales and flew into the cliff beside it, sending countless fragments of rock tumbling down.

The Red Mirror Dragon was completely unharmed. Its eyes snapped open, and it raised its head and roared before flying at the three who had dared attack it.

Fern looked blankly at Frieren, who was already hiding behind a tree, and said:

"Lady Frieren, it doesn't seem to have done much..."

Rienta's scalp tingled as he watched the Red Mirror Dragon charge toward them.

"What are you standing there for? Run!"

With that, he took one in each hand and used Telekinesis to fly toward the depths of the forest, carrying the still-stunned Fern and Frieren with him.

A blast of Dragon Flame engulfed the place where the three had just been hiding.

Seeing that the three had fled, the Red Mirror Dragon beat its wings and gave chase.

Carried along by Rienta's Telekinesis, Frieren said nonchalantly:

"Dragons really are tough. But it's a good thing you reacted quickly, Rienta. Well done."

After saying that, Frieren smiled and patted Rienta on the head.

The sudden, reckless behavior had caught Rienta off guard and given him something of a headache.

"I can only keep this up for twenty minutes. Use Flight Magic yourselves."

Frieren nodded, cast Flight Magic herself, and flew alongside him.

Seeing that Fern still hadn't recovered from having the dragon right in her face, Rienta sped up, carrying her farther away.

For some reason, the Red Mirror Dragon stopped after only a short pursuit. It let out a roar and returned to its nest.

Seeing that the Red Mirror Dragon was no longer chasing them, Rienta and the others flew a little farther before stopping.

Frieren looked behind them. "Did we finally lose it? Dragons fly fast too. Looks like fighting it in the air is out of the question."

Rienta set the exhausted Fern on the ground and stared intently at Frieren.

Still shaken, Fern knelt on the ground and said, "I thought I was going to die."

Ignoring Rienta's stare and the still-trembling Fern, Frieren turned and said:

"Let's go for now, then. If we try a few more times, we'll beat that dragon eventually."

Fern grabbed the hem of Frieren's skirt, pressed her lips together, and shook her head.

Frieren understood what Fern meant. "True. Playing chase with a dragon isn't something a mage should be doing."

She patted Fern's head. Fern was still caught up in the memory of the dragon right in her face, and Frieren said:

"We'd better just go find him."

Frieren looked toward a village ahead. It was where Eisen's disciple Stark currently lived.

Rienta helped Fern up. "How are you? Can you walk?"

Fern tried to stand. She hadn't used much mana, since Rienta had carried her the whole way as they fled. It was just that the Red Mirror Dragon had come so quickly, reaching her in an instant.

"I'm much better. Thank you, Brother Rienta."

Rienta looked at Frieren. He wanted to ask why she had been so reckless this time, but she shook her head at him.

Rienta sighed and put aside his urge to press her for the time being. The three headed into the village.

To their surprise, the village was bustling.

Fern said curiously, "It's too peaceful to look like there's a dragon nearby."

Rienta nodded in agreement. "It really is."

The three wandered around for a while, and Fern was feeling much better. She asked:

"Lady Frieren, what kind of magic is recorded in that grimoire?"

Frieren said mildly, "Magic that lets you see through clothes."

Fern: "?"

Rienta: "?!"

Fern glared at Rienta beside her, then turned to Frieren and said:

"Lady Frieren, you really do collect nothing but strange magic."

"It's just a personal interest of mine," Frieren said softly. "But this magic does have its uses."

"Since it only sees through clothes, if someone had a hidden weapon..."

"Travelers, may I have a moment?"

An old woman interrupted Frieren.

The three stopped their discussion.

Rienta smacked his lips, still wanting more.

Seeing all three turn toward her, the old woman continued, "Lord Stark said he wanted to meet you."

Hearing the name, Frieren realized what was happening. "Looks like that saves us the trouble of finding him."

Rienta and Fern, however, had never heard the name before. They looked at Frieren with some curiosity.

Frieren didn't answer, merely motioning for them to follow the old woman.

On the way.

The old woman explained, "About three years ago, that dragon attacked the village. That was when Lord Stark appeared. He didn't back down even when facing the dragon, and after they confronted each other for a long time, the dragon left."

"Ever since then, thanks to Lord Stark staying in the village, we've been able to live in peace without the dragon troubling us."

Rienta recalled that the Red Mirror Dragon had just given up halfway through chasing them.

So it was because of this Stark.

Fern thought for a moment and said, "Then, as long as Lord Stark helps us, we can defeat the dragon, right?"

"Let's hope so." Frieren's voice was rather flat.