Chapter 3: An Auction and Dragon Scales

Author: 十一屋　翠 (Juuichiya Sui)

 

“I’m afraid we can’t buy it!!”

“Whyyyyyyyyyy!?”

What’s that supposed to mean!?

Don’t tell me they can’t buy it because Green Dragons are too common!?

Oh no! I should’ve looked for and hunted down a Golden Dragon in that case!!

“Hey hey, what do you mean, Elma-chan? You not being able to buy it is strange.”

“That’s right, what do you mean you can’t buy it!?”

Not just Aug-san, but the other adventurers also raised their voices, saying it was strange.

Thank goodness, it doesn’t seem like I won’t get any money for a Green Dragon after all.

But then, why did she say they can’t buy it?

“Well, about that, see…”

““““Yes?””””

Everyone replying to Elma-san in sync was a little funny.

“It’s because this Green Dragon’s corpse is in too good a condition!”

““““Huh!?””””

Wh-what, how!? Why can’t they buy it if it’s in such a good condition!?

“I see, so that’s it.”

“Nothing can be done if it’s like that.”

But it seemed like some of the adventurers understood the reason.

What is it!? Please tell me!

“Hey, Elma-chan, just tell us why already alright?”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Aug-san.

“…I think you all know this already, but Dragons are enemies that can only be defeated when multiple parties band together.”

For some reason, everyone nodded.

Even if it’s called a Dragon, this one’s just a weak Green Dragon?

“Dragons are so powerful, that a fight with one will always be a fight for one’s life.
Thus, it is common knowledge that, even if one is ever defeated, its body will be tattered and torn to pieces.
Dragons have a strong life force, so the fact that they don’t die easily also contributes to their materials being torn apart.”

“Is that so!?”

I involuntarily shouted out.

I mean, it’s a Green Dragon!?

It’s one hit if you aim for its neck, no!?

“That is so.
In rare cases, we manage to get uninjured parts due to attacks having missed their mark, and such parts are very valuable.”

“That’s true, on closer inspection, this Dragon’s body seems to be entirely free of wounds.”

“And apart from where they were cut through, even the scales are all nice and shiny.”

For some reason, the adventurers all started praising what a good condition the Dragon’s body was in.

“Look at the scales’ cut face!! How did you cut it to make it this smooth!?”

What, I just cut it normally with a sword.

The adventurers flocked to the Green Dragon’s body.

Ah, maybe That is what is going on?

The stronger adventurers don’t think a Green Dragon will get them any money and ignore them, and since the weak adventurers target them instead, the materials become all mangled?

Yeah, that must be it.

“So, this Green Dragon’s body is a treasure.
It is said that no part of a Dragon has no use, but even then, this is still exceptional.”

It’s kind of embarrassing to be praised that much.

It’s just an amateur adventurer’s catch, after all.

I had fought with many monsters until then, but I had never fought against one with restraint in order to secure its materials.

This just happened to go well by chance.

“So, our branch does not have the budget needed to buy these materials.
They’ll have to be taken to the Royal Capital and auctioned off.
So, Rex-san, could you please deposit this Dragon here in the adventurers’ guild? We will definitely be able to sell it for an appropriate price.”

Elma-san looked at me seriously.

Erm, I’ll get embarrassed if a beautiful woman like Elma-san stares straight at me.

This won’t do, she’s just doing her job.
I can’t mess around, I have to answer properly.

“Sorry, but that wouldn’t be very good.”

“Eh!? Why wouldn’t it be good!? You’ll be able to sell it for an appropriate price at an auction!? You’ll definitely get an incredible amount of money for it!?”

Said Elma-san, if it was put up for auction, it would take time before I got the money.

“I’m broke, so if I don’t sell it now, I won’t be able to pay for anywhere to sleep or be able to eat dinner.”

And since I very literally flew here right after my coming of age ceremony ended, I hadn’t eaten lunch either.

““““What the heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeck!!””””

Eh? What’d everyone react like that for!?

“Nono, you’ll make a huge profit though! Sell it! Really, sell it!”

“That’s right! It’s a Dragon, no!? You could live the rest of your life in luxury!?”

“You’ll definitely regret it if you don’t sell it!?”

Everyone was worried about me as if I were one of their own.

What nice people they are!

I’m tearing up a little.

“But I really don’t have any money.”

“Ah come now! I’ll lend you enough to pay for food and lodging tonight! If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll return it tomorrow! So put that Dragon up for auction already!”

Said Aug-san, and placed five silver coins in my hand.

“I-is this really all right!?”

“I don’t mind, so just take it already!”

“T-Thank you very much!”

What a nice person Aug-san is.

Oh right.

“Umm, please take this scale from the Green Dragon then, if that’s all right.
As thanks for lending me money.”

I took out a fragment of one of the Green Dragon’s scales from my magic bag.

It was just a part of a scale that had fallen off when I had cut the Dragon’s head off, but Dragon scales were big, so it was still quite large.

It seemed even Dragon scales could get you some money.

“…Seriously!?”

“““Huuuuuuuuh!?”””

For some reason, everyone let out cries of surprise.

Oh that’s right, it’s just the scale of a Green Dragon, nothing more.

“It’s not much, but I still want to thank you.
I’ll put it back if it’s too much trouble.”

“No I’ll accept it I’ll accept it! I’ll super-accept it! Wait, is it really okay though!?”

“I’m sorry this is the only way I can thank you.”

It was just material from a Green Dragon, but Aug-san still pretended to dance around from joy.

He really is a nice person.

“Damn, Aug!”

“Good on you!”

“Yay-yay-a-dra-gon’s-sca-le! Should I turn it into a weapon or into armour!”

No, I feel a little apologetic for having made him have to pretend to be so happy.

“All right! Today’s dinner’s on me! Ask for whatever you want!!”

“Eh? Is that all right!?”

“Sure sure!”

Uwaa, seriously, he’s such a nice person!

“Alright! Aug’s paying the bill everyone!”

“Woo! Let’s empty his wallet!”

“Idiots! I never said I’d pay for you lot!”

“It’s to celebrate you getting a Dragon’s scale! We’ll owe you one too!”

“Quit screwing around you twits!”

And so, we all headed to a nearby bar and drank until the next morning.

Being an adventurer is so much fun!