Chapter 47

Ariel’s group entering Goldcastle was never an easy task.

Previously, in Sierra, they had easily passed through the gate with the help of the merchant Lloyd, but this time, such a fortunate situation did not occur.

The soldiers guarding the gate persistently interrogated Ariel’s group.

What was their purpose, where was their hometown, how did the group meet, and so on.

Currently, Goldcastle was crowded with people due to the hero selection ceremony.

The more crowded it got, the more thoroughly the gate had to be guarded. There was a possibility that demons might enter and cause trouble.

Of course, if Ariel had been alone, things wouldn’t have been complicated.

Since the opportunity to draw the hero’s sword was given to all races except demons, regardless of gender or age, even if Ariel had been a Lizardman instead of an Elf, they would have let her pass without much questioning.

Rakia, being a dragon in human form, was fine, and Roo, being a fairy, was too small to bother with.

The real problem was Ghost.

From the perspective of the gate guards, they couldn’t just let a large wolf into the city without concern.

If something happened, they would have to take responsibility.

In the end, Ariel had to pay a considerable amount as a toll to bring Ghost in and was assigned a lodging before they could enter Goldcastle.

Not only the toll, but the lodging assigned to Ariel was a large one capable of accommodating a wolf, so the accommodation fee was no small matter.

It was several times more expensive than a regular lodging.

Of course, Ariel didn’t particularly care about money.

Ariel’s inventory still had plenty of gold coins left from selling monster corpses in Sierra.

It would last for years without any shortage.

Anyway, once inside Goldcastle, Ariel’s group decided to head straight to the lodging.

In their hearts, they wanted to go to the city center, in front of the statue of the former hero Leonhardt, where the hero’s sword was embedded, but the streets were crowded with people.

Everyone was flocking to draw the hero’s sword.

If they went now, the crowd would be too large, making it unlikely to even get a chance to draw the hero’s sword, let alone see it from afar.

Rakia suggested using her magic to clear the way, but that would result in numerous casualties.

For now, they had no choice but to head to the lodging.

And so, Ariel’s group headed to the lodging.

On the way, they passed through an alley and witnessed patrol soldiers trying to drive away a pair of vagrant siblings.

*

After saving the vagrant siblings, Sion and Clara, and sharing food with them, Ariel and her group arrived at the lodging.

It was the lodging assigned by the gate guards.

Compared to the lodging affiliated with the merchant guild in Sierra, the facilities were a bit lacking, but it was fortunate that it could accommodate Ghost.

Ariel didn’t want to keep Ghost in a stable-like place.

After letting Ghost loose in the lodging’s yard, Ariel headed to the bathroom to wash up.

As she took off her clothes and turned on the hot water, steam filled the bathroom.

Swoosh.

Ariel stood under the hot water with her eyes closed.

The hot water relaxed her body, melting away the fatigue. Though, in truth, she wasn’t particularly tired.

Anyway, it was warm. She didn’t want to move for the rest of her life.

Just as she was thinking that, she heard a voice.

“Ariel-nim.”

“!”

Ariel was startled and opened her eyes. Right in front of her was Rakia’s face.

“Let me wash you.”

“?!”

Rakia was a dragon, and dragons didn’t wear clothes.

Rakia usually wore a dress only because of her mother’s advice; honestly, she wasn’t particularly embarrassed to show her naked body to others.

But Ariel was different.

Ariel didn’t have the confidence to look at Rakia’s naked body, and she was also embarrassed to show her own.

“Uh, I’m fine…”

“Turn around, Ariel-nim. I’ve washed my mother many times before. Of course, it was in dragon form.”

Ariel turned around, and Rakia began to skillfully wash Ariel’s body.

From Rakia’s perspective, washing the compact body of an Elf was much easier than washing the massive body of a dragon.

Her mother used to enjoy having her back scratched, but Ariel showed no reaction when her back was scratched.

She just stood still with her head bowed.

It was because Ariel was embarrassed, but Rakia couldn’t easily notice.

Dragons didn’t usually wear clothes, after all.

*

Ariel’s group went to draw the hero’s sword the next morning.

Due to the large crowd, the hero selection ceremony was ongoing day and night.

In the morning, it was the turn of high-ranking nobles, and in the afternoon or early morning, it was the turn of commoners or other races.

Ariel’s group consisted of other races.

Elf, dragon, fairy.

Of course, Rakia, being a dragon in human form, looked like a noble girl to others.

Still, coming at dawn made people wonder if they were commoners. Or, given their fancy clothes, maybe not? Some were confused.

Anyway, it was still before sunrise.

In front of the golden statue of Leonhardt, the crowd was still bustling.

“Hey! Get in line properly!”

“Don’t cut in line!”

“Ah! Who stepped on my foot!”

“Hey, don’t push!”

Such incidents didn’t happen during the nobles’ turn, but with commoners and other races gathered, disturbances were constant.

Some tried to cut in line and got into fights, while others tried to get a closer look at the hero’s sword and ended up stepping on or pushing the person in front.

“Don’t cause trouble!”

And the patrol soldiers of Goldcastle were controlling these commoners and other races.

“Anyone causing trouble will be disqualified! Hey, Lizardman and Dwarf! Stop fighting! Damn it, drag them out!”

Amidst the disturbances everywhere, Ariel’s group quietly waited their turn.

Ariel had her eyes half-closed as if sleepy, Rakia was glaring at Leonhardt’s statue with a haughty expression, and Roo was sound asleep inside Ariel’s hat.

“Huh? Ariel?”

Then, someone called out to Ariel from behind.

“Are you here to draw the hero’s sword too?”

Ariel turned around to see a scruffy boy standing there.

It was Sion, the red-haired boy they had saved from the patrol soldiers.

Behind Sion was his sister Clara, still with her hair hanging down.

“Sorry, Ariel, but I’m going to draw the hero’s sword. I have no intention of giving it up.”

At Sion’s words, Ariel simply nodded.

Ariel had no desire to become a hero. She just wanted to see Excalibur and maybe try to draw it.

After all, the hero was always chosen from among humans, so there was no way Excalibur would choose Ariel.

Anyway, Ariel was an Elf now.

“Still causing trouble.”

Rakia glared at Sion.

“If you have no intention of giving up, shall I make you change your mind?”

A magic circle appeared beneath Sion’s feet. His face turned pale.

“I-it was just a joke. Actually, it’s not like I have to give up or anything. Everyone has a fair chance to draw it. Everyone has an opportunity.”

Rakia snorted.

“Pathetic, human. Do you think you have a chance? Either I or Ariel-nim will draw the hero’s sword. You’re next in line, so you don’t even have a chance.”

“B-but Ariel is an Elf. So far, the hero has always been a human.”

“That’s how it’s been so far. But isn’t it arrogant to think it will always be that way?”

In terms of arrogance, no race could match dragons.

So Rakia was confident she could draw the hero’s sword.

If it didn’t work, she planned to use magic or even blow up the city to draw the sword.

Of course, Rakia had no desire to become a hero either.

This was just entertainment.

Becoming a hero would bring all sorts of wealth and glory, but for a dragon, it was meaningless.

A dragon could enjoy wealth and glory without being a hero.

“Hey! If you can’t draw it, get out quickly! Next!”

The line gradually shortened, and finally, it was Ariel’s group’s turn.

“Ariel-nim, may I try first?”

Rakia asked politely, and Ariel nodded readily.

“But no magic.”

“Ah.”

Rakia’s expression stiffened.

“Ah, understood…”

Her plan was slightly disrupted, but Ariel’s words were absolute to Rakia.

Since Ariel said not to use magic, Rakia intended to follow faithfully.

‘But it’s okay to gather mana, right?’

Rakia smiled slightly.

Gathering mana could enhance physical abilities.

It could temporarily increase strength.

Of course, it wasn’t a very efficient method.

The increase in strength was minimal compared to the mana consumed.

So, among those who used mana, no one wasted it on enhancing physical abilities.

The mana consumed was significant, but the benefits were negligible.

It was more efficient to train to increase strength or use magic.

But that was the general case.

Now, Rakia was restricted from using magic, and as a dragon with an absurd amount of mana, it was worth a try.

Even in her human form after polymorphing, Rakia’s strength surpassed that of a human.

If she poured all that absurd amount of mana into strength…

‘I can draw it.’

Rakia confidently stepped forward.

In front of the statue of the former hero Leonhardt.

The hero’s sword, Excalibur, shone brilliantly, waiting for Rakia.