Welcome to Hell! - Chapter 258: Match in the Presence of the King (2)

“Fshuuuuu…Guoooooo…”

After releasing its fire breath to the limit, the Fire Dragon shook its body up and down with ragged breaths. For the young dragon it was quite hard work to use the fire breath which was considered a trump card of the dragon race.

Yet even though the power was far less than that of a full-grown dragon, it was worth the effort. The floor of the arena heated to a red glow, with parts melting and flowing. Any ordinary creature would not have survived unscathed and wouldn’t probably even leave bones behind.

“It’s certainly hot, but… I’ve become stronger, too.”

However, the Fire Dragon wasn’t facing any ordinary creature. He was someone who endured torture-like training, and after becoming a demon he traveled across harsh battlefields, eventually defeating a descendant of the gods alongside other heroes. These experiences dramatically accelerated his growth.

Antares did not create a barrier of sand but instead hardened his entire exoskeleton to withstand the attack. Even though it was coated in soot now, his exoskeleton showed little sign of deformation or melting. His exoskeleton was already resistant to heat and cold before becoming a demon, and through his experiences thus far, it had grown nearly impervious to the still-young dragon’s breath.

Interestingly enough, not only his body but also his clothes were not burned. Though they appeared to be ordinary clothes, it was unthinkable that clothes bestowed by someone who was known as the “God of Wisdom” would be anything ordinary.

“Hmm, my arms are slightly melted. Then… Hmph!”

The forearms’ exoskeleton was among the few parts that had deformed. Under normal circumstances, this might not have been an issue, but his arms had sustained slight injuries from catching the Fire Dragon’s claws. The damaged area had become cracked and deformed.

However, this issue was swiftly resolved when Antares clenched his hands vigorously. With a sound akin to breaking wood, the damaged exoskeleton on his forearms neatly peeled away before revealing a smooth new layer underneath.

Just as he could control the size of his tail at will, he was now capable of shedding his skin whenever he chose. However, this ability was not without its limitations. Repeated molting over a short period of time was difficult.

In theory, continuous molting was possible, but Antares’s instincts strongly cautioned against it. He speculated that excessive molting could weaken him or even shorten his lifespan. And when considering his mission to “survive for a hundred years”, such risks were unacceptable unless it was a matter of life or death.

“Back to normal, then. So… shall we continue?”

“Grrrrr…”

Though the newly molted exoskeleton appeared soft, it quickly regained its original hardness. Displaying his arms, Antares gently posed the question to the Fire Dragon, who finally understood that the seemingly insignificant creature before it was, in fact, a monster far surpassing itself.

And so, the being that surpassed itself has no intention of killing the one who is seriously trying to kill it. Why was that? After some thought, the Fire Dragon came to its own conclusion. It was because, to the creature before it, the Fire Dragon was nothing more than a trivial opponent in terms of strength.

In reality, for Antares, the Fire Dragon was not a formidable enemy but one that could cause significant trouble if underestimated. His calm demeanor in the battle was nothing more than a show of sympathy for the Fire Dragon, who was in a similar plight, and a show to the spectators that he could overpower the Fire Dragon at any time due to the difference in their abilities. It was just a kind of performance.

“Ruuuuuo…”

“Hmm? Good boy.”

Antares was contemplating how to make the Fire Dragon surrender with as little harm as possible, but he no longer needed to worry. The Fire Dragon had taken a submissive posture right there.

The fierce fighting spirit and spiritual power that had been present just moments before were now gone, and it folded its wings, trying to make itself as small as possible. This seemed to be the Fire Dragon’s way of showing surrender and submission.

“I thought you were a wild boar warrior at first, but you have your noble moments. You will surely become a strong warrior in the future.”

“Oooo?”

Antares placed his now softened hand on the head of the prostrate Fire Dragon and gently stroked it. Fire Dragons, by nature, lay their eggs and then leave them unattended, so being caressed like this was a first-time experience for this Fire Dragon.

Even after shedding his skin, Antares’s hands remained rough due to the remnants of the sword calluses, yet they were strong and, surprisingly, conveyed a peculiar warmth even to the fire dragon, who was accustomed to high body temperatures. This new sensation that was unlike anything the fire dragon had ever experienced left it bewildered. However, it didn’t seem to hate his touch.

“That is enough. I am convinced that this battle has demonstrated the power of the demon, Antares. Let those who disagree come forward.”

When the fire dragon lost its will to fight, King Carl declared the match winner. It would be possible to force the dragon to continue fighting at the command of its master, but it was clear that the dragon would only seek to flee against an opponent it recognized as superior. In other words, there was no point in continuing the battle.

Moreover, King Carl was satisfied with the outcome of the fight. He had anticipated a display of overwhelming swordsmanship and spiritual arts, but the flow of the battle had been entirely different. Some of the civil officials might have found it boring.

But they learned many things. His physical strength that overwhelmed the fire dragon, his sturdy exoskeleton, his flexible tail, and the superior output and skill of his spiritual art, along with a variety of tactics. While the fight itself wasn’t flashy, in a sense it was an expert style of fighting that greatly impressed not only King Carl but also his military officers.

“….It seems there are no objections. Therefore, the demon Antares and his companions shall be placed under the protection of Count Stahlern, and at the same time, the royal family will support their expedition to the southern part of the Shumie Mountains. Is that clear?”

“””Yes!”””

No one objected to King Carl’s decision, which was proven through a show of force. King Carl had anticipated that at least someone would try to intervene, but such concerns proved to be unfounded. Although it was unintended by both King Carl and Antares, Antares’s decision not to kill the fire dragon played a major role in this outcome.

Despite possessing immense power, Antares has shown his ability to control it fully while responding with reason. This was clearly different from the other demons, who were thought to be nothing more than violent and mindless beings. In particular, the sight of Antares gently stroking the fire dragon was enough to convince onlookers that he was not a bloodthirsty, irrational beast but a being with emotions akin to humans.

Furthermore, the fact that Antares and his group would be under the supervision of Lieselotte rather than King Carl himself and that much of their activity would take place outside the kingdom contributed to their approval. Although the idea of a demon becoming a direct vassal to the king was emotionally hard to accept, the arrangement was more acceptable when it was understood that they would be under the oversight of a noble.

Moreover, should anything go wrong, the responsibility would fall on Lieselotte. The act of placing the demons under supervision was credited to Lieselotte, meaning any issues that arose would be her responsibility. Having a capable demon as an ally, while ensuring that any problems could be attributed to a noble rather than the king, was a convincing argument for both the military and civil officials.

“Now then, Antares. I was deeply moved by your valor. I acknowledge that you fought against our unilateral request. Let me offer you a reward. Speak your wish if you have any.”

In the presence of his vassals, King Carl couldn’t afford to use polite language towards Antares, so he deliberately asked for Antares’s wish in a haughty manner. Understanding the situation, Antares suppressed the urge to smile and pondered over his response.

Antares had no intention of making an unreasonable request to King Carl. Making such a demand would not only embarrass Lieselotte but also strain the relationship that developed between King Carl and Leo that went beyond their social statuses.

However, Antares couldn’t help but want to inconvenience King Carl slightly, the very person who had caused him various troubles. He quickly thought about what to ask for, something that wouldn’t be too much for the king but would still put him in a tight spot, and his thoughts momentarily shifted to the fire dragon lying subdued behind him.

“A reward is unnecessary, Your Majesty. Your gracious offer alone is more than enough.”

“Do not say such things. If I do not reward someone who has demonstrated such valor, I will be criticized for being a stingy king.”

“In that case… I would like to ask for this fire dragon.”

“What!?”

What Antares desired as a reward was the very fire dragon he had subdued moments earlier. At first, Antares thought the dragon to be just a wild and reckless boar dragon, but he now saw potential in the dragon who acknowledged its defeat with grace. He believed that with proper training, the fire dragon could become an exceptional warrior. His earlier words to the dragon weren’t lies.

Upon hearing Antares’s request, the grand noble who had procured the fire dragon was visibly shaken. He had gone to great lengths to secure the dragon for his grandson, and the prospect of it being snatched away by someone else was hardly something he could easily accept.

“So be it… That will do, right?”

“Ugh… Haha!”

However, under the imposing presence of King Carl, who left no room for argument, the grand noble had no choice but to bow his head in agreement. For a man of loyalty like him to object in this situation was an insurmountable challenge. King Carl also anticipated this reaction.

The trouble had originally arisen due to the noble’s inflexible loyalty. King Carl saw this as an opportunity to teach him a lesson. Nonetheless, the loss the noble would suffer was also too great. King Carl had plans to compensate him through other means to mitigate the blow.

“Very well. With that, we shall conclude this event. Antares, you have done a great service.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Antares bowed his head reverently, but King Carl was keenly aware that there was little respect involved. He had really made a mistake, King Karl lamented to himself.