Dragon’s Bloodline

Chapter 31

Nothing noteworthy happened in the week following their departure fromLabyrinth City.

Drawing near a small village on their way, they asked forgoods, replenishing their food stocks.

Though demons attacked a few times, even ignoring Rudolph, Matsukaze turned them into experience points with his hooves.

Though it was questionable that a real horse could have that much fighting strength, Serges Identify confirmed it was a horse.

I dont think there are enough events.

Serge spoke abruptly. It was a bit dangerous for him to stand in the drivers seat.

Events?

Gig asked in response. He was also bored on this journey. The monsters were too weak. Most of them ran from Rudolphs presence.

As though he were suffering, Serge said in a serious tone.

Yeah. For instance, a princess and her close friend saving a nobles carriage from an attack, that kind of event.

Aah Carlos laughed sarcastically. He drew his horse near Serge.

If only it were like that. If there were any problems, a traveling knight would solve them. Though following that pattern hed be wed to the princess.

See! Were traveling in especially remote areas, yet nothing like thats happening.

Things like that dont actually happen. Ignoring that this area is mostly noble territory, these are just self-supporting villages. Whenever nobles travel in carriages, theyd always have guards.

Though Carlos said that, Serge gave an example that didnt refute it.

Isnt she a princess with only a single escort? Im talking about the exceptions!

There were reckless royalty like Ria, but they were also trouble.

Itd be good for you to train your magic if you have so much free time. You went to great lengths for you to get that new Skill.

Ria said while amazed. Though they couldnt train in the sword while riding, he could probably practice magic inside the wagon.

The new Skill that Serge obtained was something like Magical Power Cost Reduction. He acquired it by practicing to the limit every day. When the Skills level increases, supposedly it would make using magic take less magical power. A coveted Skill for magicians. In fact, Lulu was envious.

Magic was definitely interesting. Especially now that hed obtained the grimoire, Serges status as a magician visibly rose every day.

However, training all the time was tedious. At this point, it strained his mind even though the ten-year old also had a previous life.

He may have been childish to begin with, though.

Magic, huh Right, Ive been practicing space-time magic and magic theory

Probably since she struck a chord or something, Serge began to grumble to himself.

Are you going to quiet down from that? Though were going on horses, its bright under the sun.

Yeah, yeah, yeah alright.

A pale magical power extended from Serge sitting in the seat next to her on the drivers seat.

Ah

Maal, who was training her spirit magic, let out a sound. Her concentration was disrupted.

But Serge was also concentrating his mind, trying to confirm the effectiveness of his magic.

Ria somehow understood what the magic was. Making the magical power as thin as possible and spreading it out as far as possible, it was probably to know what happened inside. Combining Magical Power Detection and Spacial Grasp, it was a pretty advanced magic.

Huh?

Serge, who had shut his eyes, suddenly opened them wide.

Ah~, theres an army crossing the hills and forest ahead of us.

(You can see things that far away?)

Though she was impressed, the army was a problem.

An army? How many people? Do you know their weapons?

Ria checked. Though the area around there shouldnt be part of a nation, it might have been a tribes troops.

Twenty cavalry, one hundred infantry four carriages, prisoners no, slaves? Its like a convoy but

Cordovas slave hunters!

Maal shouted suddenly. Together with her own unpleasant memories, it corresponded to her current existence.

Cordova that place really isnt a good country.

Ria groaned while enduring what looked like a headache. As a militaristic nation of humans, Cordova absorbed more and more of its nearby tribes and nations. Though it was a law-abiding country, it wasnt forbidden for them to enslave people from other countries.

What should we do?

Carlos asked with a complicated expression. Originally, it would have been an opponent they shouldnt come in contact with.

But since Ria knew of them, he believed there wouldnt be such a simple conclusion.

Ria-chan

Seeing Maals cute and round eyes, Rias judgement greatly erred towards emotion.

Though I think its going to turn into a massacre, Im just scouting for now.

Ria had a dangerous smile when she said that. Her eyes werent smiling.

The army was taking a short break at a watering hole, it was definitely a slave hunt. There were around fifty humans and beastkin crammed inside wood-framed cages.

Im going to help them, whos with me?

Maal quickly raised her hand, followed by Serge and Gig. The two older people were reluctant, but they also raised their hands.

Youre fine with it?

Though Ria was surprised, Lulu and Carlos exchanged glances and smiled wryly.

Since we cant stop you, its better to stay with you.

With that said, Rias serious face cleared up.

Since the army was advancing towards them, they discussed how to deal with them in specifics.

Now, theres a problem.

Ria raised a finger. Though there were several problems, she thought this was the most important one.

Among us, has anyone killed someone?

Right, that was it.

They were fighting against an army. In addition, this wasnt in the Immortal Labyrinth. Honestly, though it was hard to think they would sustain damage here with their levels, it wasnt likely they would be able to stop them so conveniently without killing them.

Ive exterminated a few thieves on the frontier.

Seeing that Carlos was a soldier, he had experience. No one else. Even Ria, shed only killed people with the premise that theyd revive in Labyrinth City.

Serge, are you okay?

Taking his previous lifes values into consideration, she called out to him in particular since she thought he would have an especially hard time killing people.

Well, Ill be shooting magic from a distance. Ill get used to it. Ill aim at the knights and not the soldiers as much as possible.

Ten years of being reincarnated. In a world where human life was cheap, hed have to get accustomed to it somehow.

After that, they planned their attack.

Their purpose was simply to secure the slaves. If they just released them haphazardly, it would probably be difficult for them to return to their original communities. They would take a lot of effort to send them off.

Horses and food are absolutely necessary.

Carlos and Ria set up the strategy. Serge also made an appearance.

We should attack at night. I dont want to hit you all on accident as much as possible.

I want the cavalry to be dealt with as much as possible. They might have a main force somewhere.

They verified the minimum horse feed and food required.

Well beat those guys down in one hit.

In the case of Serges magic, it would take one blow to kill. Though he confirmed it with the magic Identify, their highest level was thirty. They wouldnt be able to endure it.

As the sun went down, the light of campfires from inside the camp illuminated the nights darkness.

Ria stood on the hill overlooking the army camp.

There was still some time until midnight. Although there were troops standing guard, they didnt seem to be very vigilant. There were strong demons in the area, but they were careless. Probably due to their numbers.

Alright, shall we go?

Magic covered the warriors. Leaving the carriage and horses, Rudolph was left to guard. Already having moved around, Maal stood on the side the slaves were at.

They slowly descended the hill. They used magic on their armor so that it wouldnt give off any metallic sounds.

Counting to ten, Serge and Lulu used Exploding Fireball.

The fireballs exploded on the tents and sentry lights.

It was a one-sided slaughter.

The cavalry that tried to escape on their horses were sliced in two from Serges space-time magic. Aiming at the groups of people that tried to band together, Lulus Fireball burst.

Running in, Rias group cut down the knights that attempted to take command. Though one person planned to leave, their circumstances didnt allow them to keep count.

There was the smell of blood and entrails, as well as the smell of burning flesh. Plumes of smoke filled the area, promoting chaos.

Ria was surprised at how calm and strange she was.

Nothing here gave her elation from fighting. It was strange that she killed people like a machine.

She wondered why she didnt feel any guilt. Though she was used to killing due to the Goblins and Orcs, maybe it was the same with humans?

She suddenly noticed.

Those guys didnt treat the slaves as humans, so she didnt treat them as humans.

If this were a battlefield, rather than having feelings of guilt, it was probably better to be in high spirits to drown it all out.

The soldiers in front of her eyes also had a life, even if she thought they could have families, her katana didnt stop.

Though she could cut through their armor, she tried to hit their vitals and necks as much as possible. She didnt have a hobby of making people suffer.

Not having decent equipment, the soldiers ran. Aiming at their backs, Ria shot fire arrows without holding back.

Their opponents aimed to flee after already losing their fighting spirit. They decided to let the infantry go. Even if they ran away, they were likely to die by demon attacks without food and equipment. They didnt bother taking prisoners.

Less than an hour after beginning the attack, the battle ended.

They put an end to enemies that were suffering. They tied the two fainted knights up and left them.

The soldiers that had just fainted were lucky, they were left alone. Their objective wasnt annihilation.

Coming down from the hill, Serge vomited after seeing the devastation.

Even Lulu held her mouth, but she managed to endure it.

As expected, Carlos endured it with a solemn expression. Maybe due to his race, Gig didnt seem to have much trouble with what happened.

Now then, its going to be troublesome after this.

Ria muttered. There was no damage as planned. However, the problem was here.

While looking at the slaves that had been placed on the carriage, Ria sighed deeply.