The monster.
The researcher believed they evolved from animals, changed the body, became powerful and some races could use magic.
In the demon king's era, monsters joined with demon troops to attacked human lands. After Heros finished him, the monsters' territory was rearranged. The high-rank monster was restricted in a special area. Even it has many monsters hid in nature and waited for avenged humans, to get rid of it that was a job for Adventurer.
"No more potion... Damn! Retreat!! We have to withdraw!"
One big guy with a broken ax in his back was running at full speed but a dangerous creature that followed him wasn't mercy. He crushed the big guy with his sharp teeth and swallowed. The death of the leader created fear in his followers.
They don't want to kill by the dragon.
"Run!!! Don't look back. Just Run!!!"
"No!!!"
The adventurer team was deceased one by one. Only three-man left, they ran as they could.
"That tree! If we can get across that tree!"
Their hope was a bit closer, but they were hit by thunder. The dragon looked at burned bodies and turned to walk away.
Sometimes, the hunter could be hunted.
"…I have to fight with that monster?"
[Correct.]
That dragon was a reptile race with no wings, a long body, and a long tail. His height was around three meters. He has many yellow stones on his back.
[Be ware your move, High Sage. Your body has very slim, and your cloth hasn't any defense points. You can die with one hit.]
"I already know that…"
I went down and use long grasses to hide. Even if the dragon was in the far distance, his intimidation could make my body shook.
"Exactly where am I…"
The sky was bright. The wide grassland with some trees and mountains far away. I didn't see any track of human habitation. I could tell this place was far from Paleona. Moreover, it hadn't other monsters in this area.
After breakfast, Nine told a weird word to me.
-[Let's go on a date.]
Did he send me to a special area?!
[Hm… They were all dead. No sign of help and no other people in here. You can fight as you want.]
I sighed. I saw death before, but it wasn't good to look. I turned my eyes from burned bodies.
"It's impossible Nine. Can't you choose another monster?"
I thought I could fight slime, wolf, orc but not the dragon… Even Adventurer still couldn't fight it.
The adventurer was a risky job that had many ranks to protect them from dangerous hunting. The rank was divided by monster pressure. The wise Adventurer would choose the monster within their rank.
I never hunted monsters just once. Even the Magic School had a special hunting class, but I didn't enroll. I had some vision problems. I chose summarized books in the library more than went to the other town, and lose the way. When I became Sage, I gave my time in the room. I didn't know my rank.
But I knew myself… Although I was High Sage, I couldn't win the dragon. That was a high-level monster that could destroy a city and be limited in a special area.
Nine laughed with a weird feeling.
"What…"
[It isn't impossible. Do you think who you talk with?]
Many weapons around twenty pieces stabbed down around me. It had swords, axes, arrows, spears, and weird shape knives.
[Let's me guide you. You use our service in the wrong way all the time.]
[Welcome to the Tutorial Course.]
All the weapons were floating and pointed edge to the dragon. They launched to him at the full speed. Some could be stabbed on his skin. Some were cracked and bounced out. The dragon screamed and turned to look at me. His red eyes reflected my image and sent enormously scare.
"What's the hell are you doing!!!"
He roared and ran to me. My legs weren't moving. I would die for sure.
[Haha.]
An ice mountain appeared to block the path. Dragon stunned and turned to another way. I didn't ask for this magic.
"Stop play your bad! You'll make me die!"
[I'll teach you how to use the NUMBERS service. Look closely, High Sage. No matter of Weapons.]
The dragon swung his tail to crush the ice mountain. The path was open, he ran to me again.
[Guards.]
The bump sound was so loud. The dragon ran into a big shield in the air.
[Magics.]
Many screens with the name of high-level magic spells showed in my vision.
In the meantime, it had sparks around stones on the dragon's back. I felt goosebumps.
"Barrier!!"
Instead of Barrier, it was a ground that leveled up to protect me from a big spark, but it couldn't perfectly protect me. A little spark came through and cut my leg's skin. It was hurt. My blood was breeding and made me fall to the ground.
[Or Items.]
The Healing Leaf fell to my wound. The blood was stopped, and the hurt was gone. I couldn't follow what happens. It happened so quickly.
[This is an example to use NUMBERS services. We can create everything. We have everything. I must tell you again, your exists can make us do all of this.]
The dragon roared with hurt emotion. Many weapons and much four-element magic attacked him. It was like a picture that many magicians and adventurers fought him now. It was unbelievable, the dragon I was scared was going to lose. It was too easy like he wasn't a dragon.
[Hahahahahaha!!]
Some things were pushed so hard. Nine was so much fun.
[Look! And remember this High Sage! This is a power in your hand. This is the power of the one who belongs to you!]
[I'm No.9 From NUMBERS!]
[I can do everything for you!]
The dragon collapsed and breathed with his last. Nine could do it. Nine was won. But at that moment, a big magic circle appeared under the dragon's body.
"The Healing Spell?!"
The Dragon's wound was healed a little by little. Incredible. Everything he did was an outlaw.
He laughed and told with a gentle tone.
[I appreciate your praise. But I'm sad High Sage. Every incredible thing I show you. You reject it all.]
"…Nine?"
His excitement was gone.
[You refuse it. Everything I service you didn't accept. You want to do it by yourself. Why did you choose stone road when you have a red carpet… Hm?]
His voice was special soft.
[I'm a kind guy. If you want to choose, I'll let you choose.]
Magic screens disappear from my vision except for one screen, The list of Thunder Magic.
[I have a quest for you.]
A new screen appeared.
+++
- Quest: Sub research for High Sage.
- Time Limit: Until condition clear.
- Clear Conditions: Kill dragon with Thunder Magic.
- Prizes: End of the quest, End of the payment, Pink Milk 1 ea.
- Supports: Data and Thunder Magic.
+++
"What is the meaning of the quest?"
It looked like a mission. I had to do this to pay the magic price right?
[It's correct. I'll add an explanation while the dragon prepares himself. This dragon is Babaragon, A high-level monster.]
[Babaragon had his area. He won't attack you if you go out of that big tree. But I won't accept your escape, your death too. Please don't stupidly risk your life.]
"You want to see I kill the dragon by myself, right?"
That way he showed me his power. If he could do it, I could.
The dragon stood up and shook his head to wake his mind. I had to prepare too. I remembered his moves and magic. I had to copy him.
[Please read the condition again. Only Thunder Magic.]
Nine shot Thunderbolt to Babaragon. Not injured but happy. The dragon absorbed thunder into the yellow stone in his back.
The thunder absorbs stone.
Some monsters were born with a magic stone. That was the reason that they were a target for the hunt. That stone was expensive stuff and a useful tool for Adventurer.
"You… you let me use only Thunder Magic because…"
He answered with a laugh.
[You want to choose on your own, right? Please choose as you want, but only Thunder Magic. I won't create weapons, guards, and items that are unrelated to Thunder Magic.]
[In this payment time, I won't count magics price, please use me at the full performance.]
This insane guy! The calm adult that talked to me last night was perfectly gone.
"Don't you forget I'm High Sage in the Tower? I'm not Adventurer."
[Yes. That's why I name this quest sub-research. Don't' you like it? In the normal time, you may think I'm your servant but this time you're my debtor. I'm your master.]
[It's time to work, researcher! Move your brain!]
"T… The Thunder Staff, Three Bells of Heaven!"
I grabbed a long staff decorated with three bells. Babaragon fully recovered, used the rage roar at me mixed with the power lover laugh of Nine.
It was a start signal.
[Please show me, the Thunder Magic that can kill the Thunder Absorb Dragon.]
[My dearest High Sage.]