So the Three of Them Walked Together
"So why is little brother Galan in a place like this?"
Reed finally stopped his grand, far-reaching plans for future child-rearing policies, turned to look at Galan, and asked with a look of curiosity.
To be honest, Duncan felt that his research spirit in this area could really apply to work as an instructor in a magic academy----starting a single childcare course to thoroughly open the eyes of those noble children.
However, whether one should say it or not, Reed still had his own unique insights into today's human magic system.
He did not approve of the war of attrition centered around defensive magic taught by that group of old professors in the magic academy, but instead devoted himself to practicing the overwhelming mass attacks of material composition.
This kind of physical mass magic could not be blocked by simple defensive magic, so in order to deal with the threat coming from Reed, Charas had to deploy defensive spells with more complex structures.
And it was precisely that moment when the casting speed slowed down that gave Galan an opportunity to exploit.
It seemed that Richter truly inherited Reed's philosophy, and even that trick of [Earth-Controlling Magic] was identical to his, and the scale was even more exaggerated.
"I originally came to gather herbs. I heard there was a nest of a Red Mirror Dragon around here, and I planned to scout it out to see if there were any Red Mirror Flowers, and then I ran into you guys. Well... what an unlucky day, almost dying at the hands of the Demons."
Galan sighed again.
"Oh-ho, but with little brother's skill, gathering herbs right under the eyelids of a Red Mirror Dragon should be a piece of cake."
Reed looked like he had an inexplicable confidence in himself, still with that carefree expression.
He tugged at the bandage on his arm, and without caring whether he had fully recovered, he began to tidy up his hairstyle, which made the corners of Galan's mouth twitch in spasms.
No, big brother.
The foolproof preparations I made beforehand were all ruined by Charas in the battle; you don't really think I can leave no backup plans and stupidly rush into the dragon's lair carelessly like you, do you?
And why are you so obsessed with your hairstyle? It's almost turning into your weird quirk...
"Why do you have such confidence in me... Besides, there seem to be more than three Red Mirror Dragons over there. Right now, except for two swords, I don't have a single piece of equipment on me. Are you asking me to go bite each other with them? They can breathe fire and I can't."
"Moreover, Red Mirror Dragons are very vicious and smart dragon kinds, not ordinary magical beasts, and they aren't that easy to deal with."
Duncan chimed in from the side.
He finally heard a normal person speak, and Galan's heart warmed involuntarily.
"Then what do you plan to do next?"
Duncan looked at Galan, casually slapped with his left hand, and shook off a small bug that had crawled onto his robe.
"I haven't thought it through yet. I might go back first and regroup... No, speaking of which, time is running out for me."
Galan carefully calculated. Judging from his observation of Glenn's wound that day, the toxin spreading to the entire arm would probably only take two or three days' time, and this was still his optimistic estimate.
Yet he had already lost a day, and he truly feared that the toxin would erupt, the situation would suddenly deteriorate, and it would finally reach an irredeemable point.
He was still somewhat worried about his old friend. After all, when he first transmigrated over, it was inevitable to feel somewhat unfamiliar with everything around him. It was precisely after getting to know Glenn and relying on his help and guidance that he could slowly gain a foothold here.
Before setting out, Galan even entrusted someone to mail some blocking medicine to Glenn, wondering if it could help stall for him for a while.
"My friend got poisoned in the battle to subjugate the Demons, and now he urgently needs this herb to help him. It seems I will have to take a risk and go try my luck directly tomorrow morning."
Although he desperately wanted to go right now, the Red Mirror Dragons would inevitably be inside their nests at night, making the hazard factor too high.
Besides, after a round of combat, his current condition was not very good.
After all, the opponent was a great demon! Even to recover most of his condition would require at least a night's time, and that was thanks to his formidable physical fitness as a warrior.
"My condition is not too bad; I can give you a hand."
Just as Galan was pondering how he should sneakily approach the Red Mirror Flower, Duncan spoke up.
"Oh?"
Galan was somewhat startled upon hearing this, but immediately felt joy.
He did not expect Duncan to actually be willing to help. It seemed this forced battle he joined could still forge a good bond for him.
"I can help you out too, little brother. I feel like I'll be pretty much recovered by tomorrow."
Reed also looked very enthusiastic, but Galan truly felt that he hadn't recovered at all.
"Really? I'm afraid that the moment you use your mana, your wounds will burst open again. You suffered internal injuries, big brother."
His mind could already picture the scene of blood spraying on the spot after Reed cast magic.
"Mere fatal wounds; scars are a man's medals."
He thumped his own chest as if trying to show off his manly charm, only to cough incessantly, and had no choice but to lie down obediently.
There was nothing to look at; this fellow's second-year-syndrome-like disposition was becoming more and more intense.
"Where on earth did you learn this middle-school-chubby-boy line?"
"What does middle-school-chubby-boy mean?"
"...It's hard to explain to you."
Fortunately, Richter was not led astray by his dad, even though his personality wasn't all that pleasant either.
The silver moon hung high.
The brilliant moonlight poured into the side window, shining on the girl's swinging little feet.
Cracking firewood burned in the fireplace inside the room, a silver kettle was steaming on the stove, and a warm atmosphere lingered in the small cabin.
Lia sat at the dining table, listlessly flipping through the "History of Magic" Galan had bought for her.
On the seat opposite her, a bowl of cold mushroom stew and a hamburger patty were placed----she had tried making them herself today. Although the front side was still somewhat charred and black, it tasted pretty good when eaten.
She originally thought that when Galan came back, she could let him taste her craftsmanship and praise her properly, but she had waited until now and he still hadn't returned, so a sense of loss inevitably stirred in her heart.
Food that had gone cold wouldn't taste good, and moreover, it seemed he didn't bring any bread or anything when he went out in the morning; wouldn't he starve?
He was clearly so attentive to other people's matters, yet at times he was terribly careless about his own.
"Did something happen?"
Lia thought secretly in her heart.
Yesterday he said he was going to a very far place to gather herbs and would be back a bit late, but she didn't expect it would take this long.
She let out a yawn. The text on the book flickered and dimmed under the swaying candlelight, complex totems and incantations twisted together into a bunch of little people fighting, and surging sleepiness washed over her like a tide.
Never mind, I'll sleep for a bit... Maybe when I wake up, Galan will be back...
"There really are Red Mirror Flowers, and quite a few of them. That fellow Glenn's luck is truly great."
Galan looked down from the mountaintop. Next to a huge nest, in the narrow rock crevices, grew large clusters of bright red flowers with slender petals.
At a glance, he recognized that they were the Red Mirror Flowers recorded in the Record of a Hundred Medicines.
This special herb only grew around the habitats of Red Mirror Dragons. After absorbing the special mana emitted from the Red Mirror Dragons year after year, it gradually sprouted into what it was today. It could be considered a rare herb catalyzed by mana factors.
"It looks like they are all in the mature stage. This time we've really hit the jackpot."
Duncan also vaguely materialized from behind a tree. He gazed at the three Red Mirror Dragons in the pit below, whose eyes were narrowed and who seemed to still be in dreamland, and turned to look at Galan.
"There really are three, and they look like they sleep better than we do."
"That can be considered good news. Let's hope they just keep sleeping like this and don't wake up."