Parting Ways

Hard dragon scales like an indestructible suit of armor covered the entire body of the Red Mirror Dragon, and there was ample defense even on its belly.

The alchemy longsword, sharp enough to cut iron like mud, only caused a small wound on it under Galan's slash before bouncing right off.

The chopped-off dragon scales fell like bright red crystal chips, carrying a trace of the Red Mirror Dragon's fresh blood.

It seemed this blow could still make it hurt.

"Roar!——"

The sharp pain caused by the ants made it roar in anger, its voice even louder than just now, making Galan's eardrums ache.

This strike completely woke the other two up as well, which were still somewhat groggy.

Their huge wings flapped slightly as they climbed up from the ground one after another.

"Can't hit me so you call for backup? For a dragon, you really have some nerve. If you've got the guts, come face me in a fair one-on-one."

Saying that, Galan slipped away directly after a tentative strike.

Only a fool wouldn't run when taking on three dragons at once, and especially in a poor state.

If he wanted to stay and show off his masculine charm, Duncan would only be able to wait to collect his corpse.

When he left, he had no concerns left, and it was countless times faster than his cautious descent.

Galan sprinted to the edge of the pit, stepped on the previous stone wall, and leaped left and right with the flexibility of a squirrel, returning to the cliff edge in just a few breaths.

After reuniting with Duncan, he sped away without stopping.

Duncan, who had witnessed the whole process, was also amazed by Galan's daring and footwork. He had actually managed to harvest the medicine right under the noses of three Red Mirror Dragons, and a feeling of admiration naturally welled up inside him.

If it were an average person, they probably would have pissed their pants from that faint dragon might halfway through.

The restless flames burned a sea of fire behind them, and countless trees were reduced to ashes in the merciless dragon breath.

The three Red Mirror Dragons spread their wings and doggedly bit at the two people running below, occasionally spitting out surging pillars of fire from their mouths that burst into brilliant sparks in the woods.

Fortunately, the woods in this area were very dense, and the Red Mirror Dragons could not dive down to attack them.

Duncan used flight magic to float beside Galan, and the two launched counterattacks while dodging the attacks. Most of them, however, were meant to hinder the opponent's pursuit speed.

If they did not pull out their true skills, it would be difficult to cause damage to the Red Mirror Dragons wrapped in dragon scale armor.

The two ran to a clearing full of chaos, and having lost the protection of the woods, their figures were completely exposed beneath the sky.

Seeing that the opportunity had come, the Red Mirror Dragon quickly dived to attack the two, but little did it know that someone had already been lying in wait here.

"[Earth-Controlling Magic]"

Reed pressed his hands against the ground, and in an instant, a massive stone pillar shot straight into the sky, violently colliding with the diving dragon head.

After the fierce battle against Charas, and given that they were all people with rich practical experience, a tacit understanding had formed between them.

Early on, before the ground cracked open and the stone pillar rose, Galan and Duncan had flashed to the side.

Although it still failed to cause substantive damage, the feeling of slamming into a stone pillar while in a high-speed dive could not possibly feel good.

The three dragons seemed as if they had been concussed, flying around in midair like they were dancing a comical dance.

A long hiss pierced the sky, and the angry dragon scales opened and closed.

The Red Mirror Dragons swept their twin wings back, distanced themselves from the three people on the ground, and reached a high altitude where the stone pillars could not reach. Then, they spread their slender dragon heads, and after a brief brew, they spewed out an unprecedented flame of hellfire.

This was their first serious move so far.

Under the constant harassment of these few humans, their meager patience had been completely worn flat, so they prepared to end this boring game of chase all at once.

The hellfire seemed as though it would burn the entire forest to the ground, blasting a charred, deep pit on the earth and igniting everything around it.

The dust raised by the explosion obscured the Red Mirror Dragons' line of sight.

When they looked toward the clearing again, they found nothing there except for a pile of rubble and the deep pit they had blasted.

During the time Reed was holding back the Red Mirror Dragons, Galan and Duncan had long since concealed their presence and run a great distance away.

By now, it was impossible for the opponents to capture their presence anymore.

Reed also escaped the scene after creating a chaotic landscape, leaving behind a mess of debris and Red Mirror Dragons circling in the air, furious from being played with by their prey.

"How is it? This time I made a huge contribution! With that move of mine just now, those few stupid dragons must have gotten slammed so hard they couldn't walk anymore, right? Hahahaha—— Cough, cough!——"

After reuniting with the two outside the forest, Reed predictably started acting crazy.

As soon as they met, he placed his hands on his hips and exaggeratedly described his performance just now.

He really was a bona fide idiot, especially since he was still wrapped in bandages—— Hey, you're starting to vomit blood again, are you okay...

In truth, his body had not recovered at all, but in order to be able to back up the two of them, he had forcibly driven his magic power to cast spells. After all, Duncan was still inferior to Reed when it came to methods for holding back opponents.

Even though he was a guy who loved to flex, he was unexpectedly very loyal, making Galan completely unable to hate him.

Speaking of which, Richter was also someone with a sharp tongue and a soft heart. He could have simply hardened his heart and eliminated those two young girls to eliminate Frieren, yet in the end, he still followed Duncan's words and played the role of a "babysitter."

What a strange pair of father and son...

"I'm fine, fine. I just secretly drank some fruit juice earlier and accidentally spilled a bit out."

You'll die if you don't make jokes, won't you!

Where on earth did you get fruit juice out in the middle of nowhere! Stop pushing yourself, will you!

If you're a wounded patient, just go back and properly recover----!

Leaving the forest, the few of them walked along the main road like this for quite a while, sharing their adventures over the years as they walked. During this time, Reed could not help boasting a bit.

This was undoubtedly the most relaxing moment for the three of them in the past two days.

Sparse flowers and plants grew along the path, streams flowed babbling beside them, the sunlight was bright, and the weather was clear.

Someone was reminiscing about the past, and someone was looking forward to the future.

"Speaking of which, do you guys have any plans afterwards? Do you want to come stay at my place for a spell?"

Walking all the way until the city gates of Rogley came into view, Galan suddenly asked the two of them.

"Originally I took a year's leave, but since I couldn't go back this time, I still have plenty of time left over and no special plans. If you don't mind, I could stay here for a while..."

Duncan adjusted his monocle, lowering his brows in thought for a moment.

"After all, staying in the empire is truly too boring, and the days of playing petty politics with the powerful and wealthy also tire me out. Besides, the scenery here is very nice, much like my hometown, and it makes me feel at ease."

During their previous chats, Duncan had also mentioned that he worked in the imperial court.

Although he didn't specify what he did, Reed, lacking the whole truth, still didn't feel alienated and continued to sling his arm around Duncan's shoulders and call him brother.

If he ever found out what kind of heights Duncan reached in the future, he would probably stand before a bunch of old men and women with a toothless mouth wide open, grandly talking about how he once fought shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial Chief Mage and eventually subjugated the great demon race.

I wonder if anyone would say he was bragging back then... Though he would definitely get angry and argue with that person, just thinking about that scene was quite comical.

"Then of course I welcome you with both hands and feet!"

Closing the distance with Duncan even further would also be for the best. Having such a future Imperial Chief Mage as a friend might just come in handy for himself at some point in the future.

However, aside from the camaraderie among them and his favorable impression of them, Galan had his own plans for wanting to have them stay.

"Sorry, brother Galan, I have to hurry home to take care of my wife and son."

Reed, on the other hand, scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat troubled.

"Speaking of which, coming here this time was to complete a commission for the Adventurer Guild, but I never expected to run into so many things and get delayed for so long."

"It's fine, family is important, and the injuries on your body still require you to go back and recover properly."

Looking at this genuine middle-aged man before him, a trace of reluctance unexpectedly arose in Galan's heart.

Without such a familiar, instant-social-butterfly kind of person around, he would probably still feel a little lonely occasionally in the future...

"Little brothers! If there's a chance next time, you have to come down south to find me and play!"

Reed stood on the boundless South Road, waving a large hand toward the two of them with a hearty smile.

Galan and Duncan also raised their hands to signal back to him.

An afternoon breeze suddenly swept past, casually blowing up his hem and revealing the bandages Duncan had bound around his waist for him.

In truth, when people talk about the future, it is always an unknown.

When will the next meeting be?

Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow,

Or a year, or perhaps ten years.

Yet human life is so short; how many decades can a lifetime afford to wait for?

After a decade, many things have long since changed beyond recognition.

I hope that the next time I see you, you won't be a white-haired old man...