I Became a Raid Boss

Bang!

The night is cold.

It’s only natural that the sun, which had shared its warm glow, has now hidden itself below the horizon.

However, the reason it doesn’t feel that chilly might be because the temperature difference between day and night isn’t that drastic after all.

Bang!

Due to the abundance of mana covering the Raxia Continent, the sunlight doesn’t reach properly, resulting in a frequently cool sensation even during the day.

I figured the fierce flames that had been roaring before had calmed down a bit, so I tossed another piece of firewood into the fire.

The flames, which seemed momentarily hesitant, greedily devoured the log and blazed even more fiercely.

The warmth rising from the campfire wrapped around the surroundings gently.

“Umm….”

Selin shifted her body.

The sudden warmth in the air was clearly an unusual sensation to her.

But whether she disliked the warmth engulfing her or not, she simply opened her eyes and without throwing a tantrum, resumed her quiet breathing.

As for Da-eun….

Yep, she’s sleeping soundly.

Not moving an inch, so out of curiosity, I placed my finger under Da-eun’s nose and felt a gentle breeze tickling my finger before I pulled my hand back.

Wooosh!

“…Does she lack learning ability?”

While checking on my party, I heard a sound that seemed to be knocking on something.

Having already tried three times without success, isn’t it about time to give up….

With a sigh, I stayed seated and drew my sword.

Using a sword in such a position doesn’t yield much power.

Just swinging it with only my arms isn’t going to cut it.

Moreover, because of my small stature, I have to be careful not to drag the blade on the ground even when standing, so sitting like this would only complicate things.

Knowing that, I remained seated because it was enough to deal with the annoyance knocking on the barrier created by Selin’s holy magic.

Swish—

Suddenly, a sound like a gust of wind swept through the camping site.

That was enough to silence the rude interloper knocking on someone’s door at night.

Those who disturb my thoughts deserve the death penalty.

To be honest, I was just staring at the fire blankly, but words are all about how you package them.

“Yawn….”

As I watched the flames dance vacantly, a yawn escaped me naturally.

I feel so drowsy….

The kind of camping I’m used to has a more tense atmosphere.

Thanks to Selin’s holy magic, I feel like I’ve traveled to a secluded place.

In reality, there wasn’t even a need to keep watch like this.

Most guys wouldn’t be able to break through that barrier of holy power, and if someone could, I’d be able to notice even in my sleep.

—So why am I sulking alone?

‘…I’m not sulking. I was just organizing my thoughts.’

—To me, it looks like sulking.

‘A lizard’s eyesight doesn’t have to match that of a human. I’ll let it slide.’

—Tsk, what a language you have.

‘If you dislike it, then just leave.’

I won’t even entertain the thought of “What if he really leaves….”

Gracis wouldn’t leave me, and that would be exactly what I truly wish for, so there’s no way I’d worry about it.

It’s the perfect chance to shake off the annoying pervert lizard.

Thinking about it, Da-eun visiting me every day, claiming she wants to see me, was probably something I accepted more easily because I got used to it thanks to Gracis.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m grateful for it.

—…That doesn’t mean I dislike it.

‘If you really don’t, then shut up.’

As I expected, Gracis quietly tucked his tail between his legs at my threats about being annoying.

—Why not share your worries with me if you have many?

‘…Me? Confide in you?’

—Believe it or not, I’ve lived long enough to be helpful. You won’t lose anything by telling me.

‘What do you mean I won’t lose anything? I have to have a conversation with you. How hard is that?’

—…You are the first and last person to treat me like this.

‘Grandpa, time has passed you by.’

Even though time has passed, dragons still command awe, but Gracis’s standing isn’t what it used to be.

That’s probably why the royal family looks down on the Crimson Aegis like that.

Not wanting to spill my worries to a perverted lizard, I decided to ask a question that popped into my mind.

—Aren’t you sad that the kingdom you created has fallen?

—What I contracted was Zigrid, not his descendants. And haven’t I already shown enough goodwill? Do you know how much effort I put into making that ring?

‘You want to say you struggled to make it while delaying the recovery from the fight with Krumo, right?’

Having heard that several times now, I could recite it before he finished.

‘In the end, hardly anyone could use it properly.’

—…It was my ambition while creating it, I couldn’t help it. It’s an item bestowed by a dragon, so it would be embarrassing if a scrappy guy used it, wouldn’t it?

‘That’s such a great attitude you have.’

So, you didn’t consider whether the user could use it properly or not and just thought about saving face while crafting it.

What’s the point of creating something better than a dwarf’s product if there’s no one who can use it properly?

Besides, you went and slapped on a bothersome restriction of ‘cannot stain with the blood of royalty.’

—To be precise, it’s not just the blood of royalty, but ‘the blood of royalty flowing from Zigrid.’

‘Whatever it is.’

—Isn’t it ridiculous for a sword made for someone to end up hurting that very person? That’s to prevent such accidents from happening.

‘So in the end, it’s still about saving face, huh?’

As expected, a dragon to the core.

From the very beginning, Gracis and Zigrid were of no concern.

When I conveyed that feeling, Gracis started chattering loudly again.

Since that had been my intention from the start, it didn’t matter what he rebutted; I just pretended to clean my ears and let it slide.

If he’s going to ramble freely in someone else’s head, then he ought to pay this kind of price.

That’s what I think.

—…If that were the case, I wouldn’t have gone that far. I took it seriously….

‘—Wait a minute. Be quiet.’

—…

As soon as I silenced Gracis, the night wrapped around us in silence.

To be precise, it was originally silent since we were communicating with consciousness, but still.

In the stillness of the road, where not a single bug could be heard, the crackling fire and the occasional wind carried an unfamiliar sound.

…Creak, creak.

It sounded like something being dragged.

Could it be a monster?

‘No.’

I immediately shook my head.

It wasn’t the presence of a monster.

Besides, if it were a monster, it would’ve jumped us right away instead of making such sounds and approaching cautiously.

And this wasn’t my first time sensing this kind of presence.

It was usually something I could feel around those who were injured and unable to move.

So what’s approaching now is…

“Human.”

Probably a demon, or in other words, a Purifier Clan member.

Just as I expected, breaking through the darkness was a pale-skinned demon.

When the stumbling man met my gaze, the shock on his face indicated he hadn’t come looking for us.

Of course, it could be an act, but even if I was fooled, I wouldn’t feel particularly bad about it.

It was unavoidable.

“You….”

“Shh.”

I gestured towards my sleeping companions, and the man promptly shut his mouth.

He was pretty quick on the uptake.

Having given no particular warning about the newcomer, the man cautiously approached my campsite.

Thud.

“Ah…!”

The man, who bumped into Selin’s holy magic, exhaled a short breath, which was either awe or a sigh.

He trembled as he touched the barrier with shaky hands.

“The holy power of Edel…. Ah, I thought I would never feel this again in my lifetime….”

He even started shedding tears of gratitude.

Watching this series of actions, I blinked in confusion.

‘What a fanatic….’

I won’t say anything about their lack of knowledge about Edel, but the reaction of being so moved by seeing holy power was something I wouldn’t see on the Ardina Continent, making it feel refreshing.

In many ways.

After a while of shedding tears of joy and feeling the barrier, the man finally suppressed his silent sobs.

With swollen eyes, he spoke in a cracking voice.

“I see…. You are people from the Ardina Continent.”

“Right.”

I answered honestly as there was no reason to hide it.

“Do you know Atysha?”

“Ah! Did you meet her?”

“Yep. Atysha brought me here.”

“Even though you aren’t intact….”

Mentioning holy power followed by Atysha’s name seemed to have slightly eased the man’s guard.

If I was lying, I’d be regretting that easing of tension.

What a perfect person to con!

And by the way?

“You don’t seem intact either. I thought a corpse was walking.”

“…Haha, you can sense it.”

“Of course! With the stench of death you’re giving off, how could I not? If you want to die, go die somewhere else; I’m too lazy to clean up a corpse.”

Having woken up amidst my slumber, I didn’t want to annoyingly disturb anyone, but….

If I leave it be, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a corpse needing cleanup, so despite the effort of waking up quietly, I had to shake Selin awake myself.

“Selin. Wake up.”

“Ugh, mm…? Kana? What’s the matter…?”

“Is a monster invading?”

I shook my head at Selin, who rubbed her sleepy eyes.

That wouldn’t be anything new.
If a monster strong enough to wake Selin had invaded, this area would have already been a wreck.

“I need Selin.”

“That’s a very exciting statement. Is it a confession?”

“…No. I know you’re sleepy from waking up, but try to focus.”

“Hoho.”

Due to the language barrier, I usually spoke almost exclusively with Da-eun, unintentionally sidelining Selin.

That had always made me feel uneasy, so it was nice that I could communicate with Selin….

But is it just my imagination, or has Selin started resembling Da-eun more rapidly since we started communicating?

How could the warm, benevolent Selin change like this?

Should I be glad that we’ve gotten closer, or lament that she’s been tainted by Da-eun?

I felt a mix of complicated emotions as I guided Selin towards the man.

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