The following day marked a significant juncture in the transaction between The King and Jonathan. Upon awakening, Jonathan sat at the edge of his bed, engaging in stretches to dispel the lingering effects of sleep. He then accessed his 'Dimensional Storage' skill to review his inventory, which revealed a total of 100,000 Täzk potions. Content with this quantity, he exited his room.
As he made his way downstairs, Jonathan's stomach emanated a growl, indicating that he had neglected to consume sustenance the previous day. Consequently, he proceeded to the cafeteria, took a seat, and placed an order for a meal intended to satisfy his hunger. Upon the arrival of his food, he consumed it with considerable enthusiasm.
At that moment, Mary Carter entered the cafeteria, holding a book. Noticing Jonathan, she seated herself beside him, subsequently ordering her own meal and casting intermittent glances in his direction as he ate, although he remained unaware of her scrutiny. With a pleasant expression, Mary placed her book on the table and began to read diligently. When the waiter arrived to deliver her meal, she gracefully rearranged her food in front of her, moving the book aside. The aromatic essence of her dish highlighted the chef's professionalism.
After completing his meal, Jonathan stood to depart; however, he paused as he passed Mary. Turning to face her, he initiated a conversation, thereby breaking the brief silence that enveloped the space.
"Mary, i'll be on the castle for while so when i'm out prepared your stuff because we will leave this kingdom right after i've done the transaction to the King." Mary Carter stop her eat and looked at him and nodded as a response then continued ate her meal.
Jonathan began walking toward the exit of the inn, feeling the familiar air of the peaceful and picturesque town within the kingdom. As he stepped outside, his gaze settled on the imposing castle that loomed in the distance. With purpose, he made his way toward it, observing the lively scene around him—the laughter of children as they played games and chased one another filled the streets with joy.
As he continued his journey, Jonathan noted the diverse array of merchants lining the town square, each offering a variety of goods, from delectable foods to weapons and potions catering to adventurers. With thoughts preoccupied by the upcoming journey alongside Mary Carter, he pondered their route through a perilous forest renowned for its danger. This path was infamous for harboring numerous monsters and, more critically, a dragon's nest nestled nearby.
Jonathan recalled tales of a tragic incident where a group of adventurers unknowingly trespassed into the dragon's territory, eliciting a fierce attack that resulted in a fiery devastation of the forest. The dragon had fiercely defended its nest, and since then, it remained ever vigilant, warning off any who dared come too close. The fearsome creature was known to keep other monsters at bay, creating a treacherous nexus of danger.
Worried that he and Mary might inadvertently stray into the dragon's domain, Jonathan contemplated the potential need to alter their route. Yet, time was of the essence, and this particular path was the fastest option available. However, it bore a level of danger classified as Level SSS+, the highest tier in existence, and only a handful of adventurer groups could contend with such a threat. Few had even witnessed a dragon, and no one had ever managed to defeat one.
Despite the risks, Jonathan sighed, recalling that some travelers chose this dangerous way, relying on the hope that the dragon would not perceive them as a threat. Nevertheless, they would likely encounter formidable monsters ranging from level B to level A+.
Lost in thought, Jonathan suddenly bumped into someone, jolted back into reality. He quickly extended his apologies to the stranger, who, adorned in mysterious and somewhat suspicious attire, accepted the apology and promptly walked away. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, this individual was the same person Mary had spotted entering a dark alley earlier.
Regaining his focus, Jonathan turned back toward his destination and continued his approach to the castle. Upon reaching the grand entrance, he approached the knights stationed there and stated that he was a guest of the King, intending to discuss a transaction regarding potions he was delivering.
The guards nodded, stepping aside to allow him entry. As Jonathan moved into the castle, he made his way toward the throne room. Upon arrival, he noticed two guards stationed at the majestic doors. They promptly acknowledged him and opened the doors, gesturing for him to enter. As he stepped inside, all eyes turned to him, the nobles watching with curiosity. Jonathan approached the King, kneeling to show the utmost respect as he prepared to present his offerings.
"Your majesty, i've arrived into this room. And i brought the potions like you ask me to."
Berthur looks at Jonathan and he replies,
"Very well Jonathan, i also brought the gold coins that we're agreed to, so shall we begin our transaction?"
Jonathan slowly raises his head, looks at the King and he said to the King.
"Yes your majesty."
Berthur clapped his hands, signaling the guards at the back of the throne to enter. They proceeded to carry a substantial amount of gold coins, which they placed before Jonathan, totaling approximately two thousand coins. Upon standing, Jonathan activated his 'Dimensional Storage' skill, from which he extracted one thousand Täzk potions. This action elicited shock among the assembled nobles, including the King, as they observed Jonathan effortlessly retrieving the potions from his storage. It is important to note that Jonathan was unaware that the 'Dimensional Storage' skill is limited to 300 items, a fact he had yet to acknowledge.
"Wait wait! Hold up Jonathan, did you just use a Dimensional Storage and take out 2 thousand potions?!"
Berthur inquired of Jonathan, prompting him to cease his activities abruptly and direct his gaze toward the King. Initially, Jonathan exhibited confusion, as he perceived that his skills were conventional and typically restricted to a maximum of ten thousand items. He responded, displaying both bewilderment and concern.
"Could you please clarify, Your Majesty? Is there a concern regarding my skill, sir?"
Berthur, maintaining an expression of disbelief, continued the dialogue.
"You don't realize, you had abnormal storage Jonathan! You just took out literally 1 thousands of potions! That isn't possible, the highest Dimensional Storage is just 300 items! And it's hardly to get it, you need atleast 3 years of training to even learn it!"
Berthur sighed in disbelief, while Jonathan remained confused despite Berthur's explanations. Jonathan recognized his own skills and abilities, but he perceived himself as the weakest among them, believing he possessed nothing extraordinary. In truth, however, Jonathan was quite powerful; even The Figure had chosen him and entrusted him with his finest sword.
"Fine, i'll take my word back. For now we just need to focus on our transaction then we're done."
Berthur engaged in a discussion with the knight positioned beside him, who subsequently acknowledged him with a nod before exiting the room through a back door. The transaction lasted approximately twenty minutes and concluded when Jonathan presented a collection of potions. Berthur then addressed the attendees.
"I hereby declare that this kingdom will officially acquire the Täzk potion, recognized as the finest and rarest potion in the entire world, from the esteemed adventurer, Jonathan. This announcement is formalized and will stand as an official commitment. Furthermore, we assure that we will uphold a strong alliance with Jonathan."
Upon the conclusion of Berthur's announcement, the nobles and knights expressed their approval through applause, signifying the officialization of the transaction between Jonathan and Berthur Calder. Following Berthur's indication that the transaction was complete, the nobles departed the room, exiting the castle. As they left, the knights approached the potions, collected them, and exited with the Täzk potions in hand.
As the King rose and proceeded to the back door, leaving the throne room vacant, Jonathan found himself alone. Upon turning around, he was abruptly enveloped in darkness, the space transforming into a pitch-black void, with the throne as the only visible object. He then discerned a Figure seated upon the throne, emanating an imposing presence while smiling and maintaining direct eye contact with him.
"Well well well, Jonathan, my precious pawn. I've been monitored you all the time and i saw you make a deal with a King—Berthur Calder, and it seems your transaction is complete. But i've been wondering why don't you use the power of Constant Sword? I know you don't want to use it unless you encounter death or dangerous situation, but rather you had another reason that yet i can't access it to. Because something or maybe someone has intervene which that i can't access the certain part of you Jonathan. Anyways, you'll using a path that will pass through that forest? Well, let me tell you. You will encounter the dragon later. So whether you like it or not you will using my Constant Sword in the future."
Upon considering the implications of his conversation, Jonathan found himself in a perplexing state of mind. An unseen influence appeared to safeguard a crucial aspect of his intentions, suggesting that The Figure would not interfere with his journey. Jonathan recognized that The Figure was utilizing him for undisclosed objectives, leaving its true motives shrouded in ambiguity. He was uncertain whether to regard The Figure as a benevolent ally or a potential adversary, prompting him to prepare for the possibility of ill intentions. Fortunately, it seemed that an external force was preserving his secrets from The Figure's awareness.
"Am I correct in understanding that I am to confront the dragon if I choose the shorter path?"
Jonathan inquired, reflecting on his carefully devised strategy to entirely avoid the dragon's territory—a strategy he believed offered a guaranteed solution to prevent any encounter with the creature for both himself and Mary Carter.
The Figure responded with a sardonic laugh, fully aware of Jonathan's skepticism. "You do not yet comprehend that I possess the ability to foresee the future of all individuals and events. The extent to which you choose to trust me is entirely at your discretion, Jonathan."
Upon the conclusion of this exchange, Jonathan was abruptly returned to the original dimension of the throne room, where he surveyed his surroundings before proceeding through the castle corridors. He encountered numerous knights, maids, and butlers as he navigated toward the exit. Throughout his walk, his intrigue regarding The Figure remained prominent, yet he found himself unable to fully entrust it, particularly in light of the unsettling prediction regarding the dragon encounter.
With a resigned sigh, he endeavored to redirect his focus toward his journey, when he unexpectedly encountered Millia, her face radiating enthusiasm as she approached.
"Greetings, Jonathan. It is a pleasure to see you again. I have a small gift for you before you depart from this kingdom,"
She exclaimed.
Millia reached into her pocket and retrieved a piece of chocolate and a letter, her broad smile reflecting her anticipation as she presented them to him. Jonathan raised an eyebrow in bemusement but graciously accepted her tokens of goodwill.
"Thank you, Millia. I genuinely appreciate your thoughtful gesture,"
He stated, his slight nervousness evident in his tone as he observed her blushing expression.
While they continued walking, Millia engaged him in conversation about her life, her interests, and various topics. Eventually, they arrived at the exit of the castle, at which point she paused and waved goodbye, a poignant expression of reluctance on her face.
Jonathan reciprocated the gesture, gradually turning away as she receded from his view. As tears filled her eyes, she whispered to herself, "I hope we can meet again," before returning indoors.
As Jonathan walked, he held a chocolate and a letter from Mary, which he stowed away in his inventory. He proceeded toward the inn, and upon arrival, he entered slowly to find Mary Carter seated in one of the chairs, fully prepared and clearly eager to get moving. Lacking mastery of the Dimensional Storage skill, she opted for a backpack instead. Jonathan approached her, encouraging her to stand and leave the kingdom. Upon meeting his gaze, Mary nodded and gradually rose to her feet, following him as he turned to exit the inn.
They began their journey towards the exit gate, with Mary studying a map to assess potential hazards along their route. After navigating through the kingdom, they eventually chose a shorter path that led them into the ominous depths of a forest. Their trek was lengthy, but they steeled themselves as they ventured deeper into the wilderness.
"We should've buying a horse so that we don't need to walk anymore."
Mary Carter expressed her disappointment to Jonathan regarding his oversight related to the horse. In response, Jonathan acknowledged his mistake and extended a sincere apology, which Mary accepted. The two then arrived at the entrance of the forest, where the pleasant sounds of chirping birds provided a contrast to the impending danger they faced. Resolutely, they prepared to confront the formidable monster that lay ahead.
After entering the forest, they encountered a level-A monster within a mere ten minutes. This creature bore a resemblance to a wolf, characterized by its dark fur and menacing red eyes, which suggested a predatory nature. The monster exhibited remarkable speed and strength, having swiftly eliminated an entire group of level-B adventurers.
In a moment of urgency, Jonathan attempted to retrieve his Constant Sword, only to realize in dismay that he had forgotten to bring it and had left it in his room. As he inadvertently lowered his guard, the monster launched an attack. However, upon hearing Mary's urgent warning to remain vigilant, Jonathan swiftly turned to confront the threat. Reacting instinctively, he delivered a punch that successfully incapacitated the creature just before it could strike him.
Mary approached Jonathan with evident concern, scanning his body for any signs of injury. Upon confirming that he was unharmed, she released a sigh of relief but quickly shifted her expression to one of exasperation as she regarded him.
"Jonathan! You should not lower your guard down when you're in the fight! You could die by that attack you know."
She said with mad and worry tone, she doesn't want to lost a partner because she always lonely due to how she reading about the book that anyone doesn't interested to.
"A-auhm, i'm sorry i just realize that i left my sword in my room. I promise i won't careless again."
Mary Carter expressed her frustration over Jonathan's earlier carelessness, emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated in the future. In response, Jonathan acknowledged her concern, affirming, "Understood." Despite her reservations about trusting his assurance, Mary chose to give him the benefit of the doubt.
As they continued their journey, remaining observant of their surroundings for any potential threats, they encountered several variant level-A and level-B monsters, including a mutant bear, large bees, and an oversized snake, among others. Jonathan, leveraging the extensive training he had undergone prior to his adventuring career, effectively neutralized these threats using only his bare hands.
However, their dialogue was sharply interrupted when a powerful gust of wind rushed overhead. Upon looking up, they observed a red dragon soaring above them. Reacting swiftly, Jonathan seized Mary's wrist and urged her to run at maximum speed. The dragon relentlessly pursued them, launching multiple fireballs that produced significant explosions in their vicinity.
Despite the chaos, Jonathan and Mary skillfully evaded the fireballs, yet the destruction in their wake was evident: numerous large craters and scorched earth remained where the fireballs had landed. The dragon maintained its pursuit, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in their environment.
As the dragon continued to evade their attacks with remarkable agility, it increased its speed, darting past them. Suddenly, the creature veered around and landed directly in front of Jonathan and Mary, forcing them to halt in their tracks. Fear washed over them as the massive dragon approached slowly, its mouth opening ominously. Jonathan's eyes widened in realization; he understood that the beast was about to unleash its fiery breath.
In a split second, Jonathan acted instinctively, pushing Mary to the side just as he leapt away. The dragon unleashed its devastating breath of fire, incinerating everything in its path, reducing trees to ash and igniting the surrounding forest in a raging inferno. The flames spread rapidly, consuming all flammable material in the vicinity.
Jonathan and Mary were taken aback by the harrowing scene unfolding before them; the forest lay in ruins, consumed by flames and reduced to ash. As the dragon slowly turned its head towards them, an unmistakable intent to kill emanated from its piercing gaze. A chilling wave washed over Jonathan and Mary, their bodies trembling with fear as they realized they stood no chance against this formidable creature, let alone escape its grasp.
In a moment of bravery, Jonathan positioned himself protectively in front of Mary, ready to defend her at all costs. However, Mary struggled to remain upright; her legs quaked uncontrollably, rendering her unable to move as sweat beaded on her forehead, a reflection of her overwhelming fear. Was this the end of their journey?
No. As the dragon prepared to unleash its fiery breath upon them once more, Jonathan retained his stance, resolute in his determination to protect Mary. He turned to her, his voice steady despite the turmoil around them, and said,
"Mary! What are you doing?! Don't just sit down, you need to run now! Let me distract the dragon."
As Mary shook her head, indicating her inability to move her legs due to overwhelming fear, Jonathan gritted his teeth and refocused on the dragon, preparing to confront its imminent assault. The dragon exhaled a stream of fire toward them. Jonathan closed his eyes, bracing himself for the anticipated searing pain that he thought would accompany the flames' impact. However, just before the fire could reach him, the Constant Sword appeared before him, conjuring an indomitable magical shield that protected both him and Mary, effectively intercepting the flames.
Jonathan remained with his eyes shut, feeling no pain, which prompted him to gradually open one eye to ascertain the reason for his unexpected safety. To his astonishment, he observed the sword hovering in front of him, its mystical energy forming a protective barrier. His eyes widened in disbelief, and a gasp escaped his lips as he contemplated the sword's extraordinary power and its capacity to shield them from imminent danger.
"Huh?! I-is that my sword?!"
Jonathan asked shockingly to himself as he slowly approached his sword, holding the handle of the blade then he raised his sword and pointed at the dragon. The fire vanishes around them, the dragon looks at Jonathan and Mary unscratched by the dragon's attack. The dragon was curious and slightly scared as to how they managed to survive his fire breath, but the dragon didn't give up he began to attack once again, but, Jonathan didn't let him attack him so Jonathan quickly dashed at speed of light surprising the dragon slashing the dragon's neck easily. The dragon's neck slowly fell to the ground the dragon's body collapsed, and Jonathan finally unalive the dragon using his Constant Sword. Jonathan looks at his sword mesmerized by how powerful it is, and it is truly a good decision to use it when Jonathan faces a dangerous situation.
Meanwhile, Mary Carter was still on the ground but her eyes were closed, Jonathan approached her telling her that they were safe. Hearing Jonathan's voice Mary slowly opened her eyes and she saw Jonathan standing in front of her with his Constant Sword that had been forgotten to bring by Jonathan, she tilted her head and she saw the lifeless body of the dragon and the unconnected neck of the dragon. She is shocked by how Jonathan managed to kill that dragon, Mary looks at Jonathan then looks at the lifeless dragon's body then looks at Jonathan again,
"H-how the hell did you kill that dragon?!"
She asked curiously with a surprised tone, Jonathan scratched his head and said.
"Well... It might sound ridiculous but the sword grants me a speed of light, and i could feel that... Without thinking i dashed toward the dragon's neck and slashed it. Surprisingly it worked. I'm also surprised by that you know?"
Mary Carter looks at Jonathan's sword, the blade of the sword were glowing blue like an aura covering it. Mary Carter slowly rise her body up still staring at the Constant Sword. She raise her hands and pointed at Jonathan's sword.
"Jonathan, could you give your sword to me for moment? I just wanted to check the sword."
Jonathan raise his eyebrow, looks down into his sword then he raise his hand holding the sword, turning the blade to aside. Mary took his sword and begin to inspecting the sword, she could feel the immense power on the blade and the handle. She realize that this sword isn't ordinary sword it was different, neither loyal sword nor magic sword. Its completely different like it shouldn't belong in here. Then she gave Jonathan's sword back to him but not telling him about the information about the sword, she want it kept secret for her to search those information until she could find what sword it is. Jonathan take it the sword then place it on his back.
"Shall we continue it or perhaps we should rest in here?"
Mary Carter looks at Jonathan and replied him.
"Let's just rest, we're exhausted because encountered a dragon. Beside we've been walking for like 7 hours. Our legs won't able to make it if we continue our walk."
Mary chose to rest, a decision that was entirely justified. After all, they had just faced numerous A-rank monsters—including a dragon. Jonathan nodded in agreement and walked toward the nearest tree, setting down his backpack. Turning back, he observed the lifeless body of the dragon, while Mary leaned against the tree, her breaths heavy from exhaustion. She had completely depleted her stamina.
Jonathan approached the dragon's corpse, crouched, and unsheathed his sword. With precise movements, he began carving into the massive beast, carefully harvesting its materials—scales, meat, organs, head, eyes, and more. As he delved deeper into the carcass, his blade struck something solid. A glimmering magic crystal lay embedded within the dragon's body, a rare find that could be sold at the guild for a hefty sum of gold. Without hesitation, he stowed the crystal in his dimensional storage.
18 minutes passed before he finally finished gathering the dragon's remains. A thought crossed his mind—would the meat taste good if cooked like regular meat? His curiosity piqued, he stored all the collected materials before rising to his feet. That was when he noticed the overwhelming stench of dragon blood clinging to him. It was putrid, reminiscent of rotting human flesh. He grimaced and quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for a body of water to cleanse himself.
Using his skill, 'Scan of the World', he located a river approximately a kilometer away. This ability allowed him to analyze his environment, detect threats, and pinpoint specific locations—an invaluable tool in situations like this. Turning to Mary, he informed her of their new resting place and the river's direction.
Mary, startled by his sudden announcement, let out an annoyed sigh. She had barely rested for 30 minutes. Nevertheless, she forced herself to her feet, brushing the dust off her clothes. Meanwhile, Jonathan retrieved his backpack and led the way, with Mary reluctantly following behind.
After a twenty-minute walk, they arrived at the riverbank. The water was pristine, clear enough to see schools of fish swimming beneath the surface—an ideal spot to rest. Jonathan turned to inform Mary about the clean water, only to find her fast asleep against a tree, her body completely slumped in exhaustion.
He exhaled a quiet sigh and set his backpack down. Retrieving a tent, he scouted the area for the best spot to set it up. Once he found the right location, he swiftly constructed the tent, completing it in roughly seven minutes.
Satisfied with his work, Jonathan moved a short distance away to ensure privacy. After checking his surroundings, he removed his blood-soaked clothes and stepped into the river. The chill of the water was refreshing as he began scrubbing his body clean of dragon blood and grime.
Cleaning his clothes, however, proved far more difficult. The strong, putrid scent clung stubbornly to the fabric. He repeatedly rubbed the cloth against the water, determined to rid it of the foul odor. Eventually, satisfied that the stains were gone, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and set his clothes aside.
Fully immersing himself in the river, he washed away every last trace of blood, reveling in the cool water. When he finally surfaced, he glanced up—only to realize that the sun was setting, giving way to the moonlit sky. Time was slipping away.
Hurrying out of the river, he donned a fresh set of clothes, gathered his now-clean garments, and made his way back to their camp. As he approached, he noticed Mary tending to a small campfire, using her low-level fire magic to keep the flames alive. She sensed his presence, turned to face him, and pouted.
"Hey Jonathan, where have you been? You left me here all alone without saying anything!"
As she pouted, Jonathan quickly apologized and began to explain his absence.
"I'm sorry, Mary. I was just taking a bath and cleaning my clothes. I wanted to tell you, but you looked so peaceful asleep that I didn't want to wake you."
Although she remained pouted for a moment, a slight smile broke through as she settled down by the campfire. Jonathan joined her, activating his dimensional storage skill to retrieve the dragon meat they had cut from their earlier encounter. Eager to try it, he was curious about what dragon meat would taste like since this was his first attempt at cooking it.
Mary raised an eyebrow when she noticed the unusual meat. "What kind of meat is that?" she asked.
"It's from the dragon we fought earlier,"
Jonathan replied. She looked puzzled, wondering why they would choose to eat it rather than something more conventional. Her curiosity won out, and she decided to let him cook it for them.
Jonathan fetched a pan and some oil, pouring the oil into the pan before adding two pieces of meat. He carefully raised the pan and placed it over the campfire, watching as it cooked for four minutes until perfectly done. Once ready, he seasoned the meat with salt and pepper and served it on a plate for both of them.
At first glance, the meal looked delicious, but as soon as Mary took a bite, her expression changed. The meat was tough and nearly impossible to chew or cut with a spoon. To make matters worse, the flavor resembled that of spoiled flesh.
Reeling from the taste, Mary quickly turned to the side and vomited, discarding the meat on the ground. Jonathan, witnessing her disgust, opted not to eat it either.
"Ew, this is disgusting! Why did I agree to try this?" she exclaimed.
Jonathan merely shrugged and decided to try again, this time opting for a more conventional choice: beef. After a short while, he served her the cooked cow meat, which turned out to be delicious. They enjoyed their meal together, and once they finished, they extinguished the fire and retreated into their tent.
Mary prepared her bedding while Jonathan stepped outside to retrieve his backpack from the tree. When he returned, he also set up his sleeping area. After closing the tent doors, they both drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night, however, a rustling sound caught their attention. The noise came from nearby bushes, accompanied by numerous movements that suddenly ceased, fading away without a trace. Someone or something had vanished into the night, leaving behind an air of mystery. Who— or what—had been lurking so close? The question lingered, shrouded in uncertainty.
-To be Continued...