The dragon is known to be the strongest among magical beasts, inhabiting mountains, seas, and grasslands without preference, making nests and living there.

It manages the beasts around its nest to protect it and gather food.

Although it may seem no different from other beasts, the dragon differs significantlyit can communicate with humans.

Possessing superior intelligence and rationality compared to other beasts, dragons, however, cannot coexist with humans.

Despite being able to communicate, they cannot engage in meaningful 'conversations' with humans.

The lifestyles of humans and dragons are completely different.

Dragons live a life similar to animals, reigning over other beasts not out of care but by the principle of strength.

Weaker beasts follow dragons not for protection but merely because of the dragon's strength.

From a human perspective, this might seem barbaric: the strong survive, and the weak perish.

Dragons do not intervene if their weak subjects kill a powerless human.

This way of life has led dragons and humans to run parallel but separate paths.

Humans trying to converse with dragons were not understood, and the actions of dragons were incomprehensible to humans.

Failing to understand each other due to differing natures and ideologies, conflict was inevitable.

Thus, dragons almost vanished from the empire due to ongoing conflicts, easily eliminated as they did not cooperate with each other.

When a dragon appears somewhere, it is promptly exterminated by a specially formed squad.

The presence of a dragon here is surprising.

According to the professors, it's a hatchling, so a dragon must have nested recently.

Tomorrow, right away?

Emily asked in surprise.

We were going to catch it anyway. Why are you surprised now?

You said on the third day... it's sudden to fight now.

It doesn't matter if we fight on the second or third day.

I moved the schedule up a day because of Evan.

If we fight the dragon, the commotion will be noticeable to everyone on the mountain.

If Evan hears this and attacks us, it will lead to significant damage.

We can't handle both Evan and the dragon simultaneously.

However, Evan is currently injured.

Rie must have severely injured Evan, rendering him unable to move recklessly.

This was an opportunity to seize.

"Then we should get up early tomorrow morning,"

Rie suggested, to which I nodded in agreement.

"Let's go to bed early then. The night watch will proceed as already planned."

Saying this, I glanced at Yuni.

Yuni, without a word, laid down.

Was she planning to act alone as usual?

I was curious but decided to lie down too.

Running around the mountain all day had left me exhausted.

The night deepened.

The next morning, we got up early and prepared, though there wasn't much to prepare for.

We didn't have much to take with us or any need to tidy up the surroundings.

However, Emily had something to do.

"Take this medicine after meals, change the bandages to prevent the wound from worsening, and apply this ointment,"

she instructed.

"Thank you,"

Diark said as he received the medicine from Emily.

We wanted to take Diark to the peak, but it was impossible in his condition.

Aware of this, he approached me first to discuss it.

After receiving a few necessary medicines from Emily, he decided to part ways with us.

"Don't move around too much. It might aggravate your wound,"

Emily advised.

"I understand. Thank you,"

Diark responded.

Emily then prescribed the medicine and stood up.

"I guess it's time to leave."

"Yes, let's go,"

I replied, looking at Yuni.

She was smiling and chatting with Rie.

I called out to her,

"Yuni."

"Yes?"

she responded, tilting her head to my question.

"Are you coming to the summit with us?"

"Oh, the summit? Wasn't that obvious? Why ask such an obvious question?"

Yuni shrugged her shoulders, her usual annoying smile on her face.

She looked better than yesterday, which was a relief, but her attitude still made me want to knock some sense into her head.

"When did you ever do anything on your own?"

"Eh, that was then. I'm going now, aren't I?"

"Fine, do as you please."

I nodded my head and rolled up my sleeves.

"Shall we go then?"

We began our trek towards the mountain's summit.

We agreed to meet Luna and the others near a big rock close to the summit, so our path was not much different from the one leading to the top.

On our way to the summit, we encountered several magical beasts, none of them particularly strong, so we dispatched them quickly, as if they were merely a meal.

Walking briskly, we finally reached the vicinity of the 'Big Boss Rock' at the mountain's summit.

"Hey! Rudy's here!"

Luna called out, waving her hand.

Locke and Kuhn were also there.

I smiled and looked around.

"Haven't Rika and Ena arrived yet?"

"No, not yet. It would be nice if they could arrive before lunch..."

Luna said this with a smile, then turned her gaze away.

I was surprised to see Yuni standing next to me.

"Yuni! You came too!"

"Yeah, it just happened that way. We met and came together."

"Really? That's great!"

Luna, delighted, grabbed Yuni's hand, causing Yuni to blush slightly.

"Did you have any trouble on the way? Any injuries?"

"Nope! I met Kuhn right at the start and came here safely!"

"That's good."

"Hehe."

Luna scratched the back of her head and laughed.

As she did, she glanced behind me.

"!"

"Uhuhuhu"

Behind me stood Rie, grinning slyly.

"Ru-Rudy, don't tell me"

Luna's eyes widened in shock.

"Luna~~!"

"Uh slow down"

That's when Ena and Riku's voices were heard.

"Oh, oh! Riku, Ena!"

Luna looked back and forth between Ena's group and me, perplexed.

"Luna! Can you take this?"

Ena was holding a large bag, likely filled with medicinal herbs.

"Uh, oh! Sure! Rudy... I'll see you in a bit"

Luna rushed to help Ena with the bag, still casting suspicious glances my way.

Then Rie walked up to me.

"Huhu"

"Why are you smiling like that?"

"It's my victory, isn't it? I'm the one who's with you."

"Don't say it like that..."

I sighed, looking at Rie.

It seemed like it was time to sort things out.

I couldn't keep up this situation forever.

I needed to come up with a plan.

I shook my head.

This wasn't the time for such thoughts.

When Ena and Riku had climbed up to the rock, I spoke up.

"Looks like everyone's here now..."

I shared my plan with everyone.

The critical steps needed to capture the Red Dragon.

It was a plan I had already discussed, but I reiterated it to reinforce it.

As I was explaining, Riku cautiously raised her hand.

"But... how exactly are we going to deal with the dragon's wings?"

The most crucial part of my plan was targeting the dragon's wings.

If the dragon could fly, our options would be severely limited.

So, the first thing we had to do was break its wings.

"Locke will take care of the wings."

Everyone's gaze turned to Locke, who was sitting nonchalantly on a rock, nodding his head.

I had discussed it with him beforehand, and he seemed prepared in his own way.

"And Luna, can you do what I asked?"

"Yes! No problem!"

"Good."

I nodded and looked at everyone.

"Remember what I told you. We're here to earn points, not out of some sense of duty. To score high in this evaluation, we need to avoid injuries as much as possible. If there's a risk of serious injury or a dangerous situation, run away immediately. It's okay if the plan falls apart; the priority is to escape. Think of your own benefit."

Everyone smiled at my words.

"Let's go then."

Together, we headed towards the summit of the mountain, towards the Red Dragon's nest.

Inside a large cave, there lay a being.

This being, wrapped in red scales, was a Red Dragon.

Young and not as large as a typical dragon, its majestic presence was still apparent.

The dragon was dreaming about the past, specifically a memory of its mother being captured and killed by humans.

The dragon stirred and lifted its head.

"Is it the sound of humans?"

Lately, there had been sounds of humans roaming the mountains, but the dragon had paid no mind.

Dragons typically don't act unless it concerns them directly.

Trying to sleep again after the unsettling dream, the dragon found rest elusive, unsure if it was the dream or the nearby humans that disturbed it.

Then, the sound of footsteps approached.

The dragon couldn't ignore the intrusion this time.

"Arrogant humans."

Its massive body caused the cave to rumble as it stood up and stepped out.

"Wow, it's huge."

"It's like a building moving..."

"Stay calm, Luna."

Outside the cave stood three humans - two women and a man.

The dragon scanned them.

"Only three?"

They seemed young and inexperienced, hardly the formidable opponents the dragon expected.

Disappointed, the dragon thought,

'I'll just send them away and go back to sleep.'

It didn't want to waste energy on such trivial intruders.

As the dragon was about to speak, one of the women summoned a wind spirit,

"Sylph."

The man then crouched down, and the spirit generated a strong wind beneath him, launching him at incredible speed towards the dragon.

The tiny human figure flew up to the dragon's face.

The dragon's eyes widened in shock.

"What the..."

The man, now in the air, punched the dragon's nose with tremendous force.