Chapter 58: Reconnaissance Report
In the first month after winter set in, the Fire Hawk King brought back some intelligence.
That morning, Livia was basking in the sun by the Lava Lake, with her five heads gathered around her, each busy with their own affairs.
Kalendil was practicing breathing fire, Valerion was gnawing on gemstones, Aetheriel was studying his own tail (still questioning his existence), Mihariel was taking notes in her little book, and Valensius was disguised as a rock (crouching near Mihariel's feet, completely unnoticed by her).
The Fire Hawk King flew in from the cave entrance, landed by the Lava Lake, and tilted its head to look at Livia.
"Gah."
A cry—a single 'gah'—intelligence had arrived.
Livia opened her eyes and sat up.
The Fire Hawk King raised a claw, tied to which was a roll of beast hide.
Livia took it and unrolled it.
The hide contained a crude map drawn with charcoal, marking several locations, with intelligence written beside it in crooked human script—the Fire Hawk King had captured a literate merchant and forced him to write it down.
The intelligence read as follows:
[Three hundred kilometers away, in the human city of "Iron Peak City," a "Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament" is being held. The champion's reward: one True Dragon scale. Rumor has it belonged to some unlucky Green Dragon, the scale is perfectly preserved, palm-sized, and can be used to craft an Epic-grade magic item.]
[Tournament Rules: All participants enter the "Dragon Fall Canyon" outside Iron Peak City and must survive for seven days. The ten who emerge alive will enter the finals, and the winner of the finals becomes the champion.]
[Number of Participants: Approximately five hundred. Sources: Experts from all over the Empire, mercenaries, adventurers, and lunatics hoping for overnight fame.]
[Intelligence Source: The owner of an Iron Peak City tavern, bribed with five gold coins. He said that Green Dragon was ambushed and killed by a group of adventurers three years ago, and the scale was collected by the City Lord, who is now offering it as a prize to attract strong contenders.]
Livia stared at the line, "one True Dragon scale," and remained silent for a long time.
A Green Dragon's scale.
Palm-sized.
Can be used to craft an Epic-grade magic item.
Her mind began to race.
Five hundred participants—the strong among humans—mercenaries, adventurers, experts—
Gene bank.
She subconsciously thought of the word.
Then she froze for a moment.
The system pop-up appeared right on time:
[Host motivation detected as impure]
[However, the system expresses: Strong support]
[Suggestion: Infiltrate Iron Peak City in human form and participate in the "Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament"]
[Reason One: Obtain True Dragon scale (Magic Item +1)]
[Reason Two: Contact human experts (Gene bank assessment)]
[Reason Three: Conveniently observe human attitudes toward "Dragon Slaying" (Intelligence gathering)]
[Note: You are a dragon; participating in a Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament is very reasonable.]
Livia stared at the last line, "This is very reasonable," for three seconds.
System, are you getting weirder?
[This system only provides suggestions.]
She closed the panel, rolled up the beast hide, and tucked it into the interlayer of her scales.
The Fire Hawk King was still squatting nearby, watching her with its head cocked.
"Gah?"
Livia looked at it: "The intelligence is good. Continue scouting."
The Fire Hawk King nodded, flapped its wings, and flew out of the cave entrance.
All five heads crowded over.
Kalendil spoke first: "Mother, what is the intelligence?"
Livia thought for a moment and replied truthfully: "Humans are holding a Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament."
Kalendil froze: "Dragon Slaying Hero?"
Livia nodded.
Kalendil's expression changed: "They want to slay dragons?!"
Livia: "They want to become Dragon Slaying Heroes. Whether there is a dragon for them to slay is another matter."
Kalendil frowned deeply, his tail swinging restlessly: "Th-Then, Mother, are you going?"
Livia was silent for a second.
Mihariel raised her hand: "Mother definitely has to go. The prize is a dragon scale, and Mother loves collecting useful things like that. Besides—"
She blinked, a cunning glint flashing in her amber eyes: "Besides, Mother probably wants to check out the genes of those contestants."
Kalendil froze: "What genes?"
Mihariel tilted her head at him: "Brother, you don't know? Mother brings back new genes every time she goes out. That's how we came to be."
Kalendil's face instantly flushed red.
Valerion looked up, his mouth still dusted with gemstone powder, looking utterly bewildered: "What genes? Can they be eaten?"
Aetheriel peeked out from the corner, electric arcs still crackling on his claws: "Mother is going to fight? I want to go too!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a flash of electricity, and he jolted himself.
Valensius silently reverted from his rock form and asked softly: "Mother, is it dangerous?"
Livia looked at the five heads.
Kalendil was worried, Mihariel was excited, Valerion was confused, Aetheriel wanted to join the fun, and Valensius was worried.
She was silent for three seconds, then spoke:
"I'll be back in a few days."
Kalendil opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off:
"You stay and be responsible for the safety of the Dragon Court."
Kalendil froze, then puffed out his chest: "Yes!"
Livia looked at Valerion: "You are responsible for servant management."
Valerion nodded and continued gnawing on gemstones.
She looked at Aetheriel: "You are responsible for maintaining the electric fence."
Aetheriel raised his hand: "Guaranteed to complete the mission! — Ouch!" He zapped himself again.
She looked at Mihariel: "You are responsible for recording daily life."
Mihariel blinked, tore a page from her little book, and quickly wrote:
["Mother is going to participate in the Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament. Note: She is a dragon; it is very reasonable for her to participate in a dragon slaying competition."]
She looked at Valensius.
Valensius shrank his neck.
Livia stared at him for three seconds: "You are responsible for—don't get lost."
Valensius froze, then nodded silently and disguised himself as a rock.
Livia withdrew her gaze and looked toward the sky outside the cave entrance.
Iron Peak City.
Three hundred kilometers.
Dragon Slaying Hero Selection Tournament.
True Dragon Scale.
Five hundred participants.
She stood up and walked toward the pile of treasure, rummaging through it to pull out a new set of human clothes—dark gray mercenary gear, durable and dirt-resistant, suitable for wilderness survival.
Kalendil followed behind her, hesitated for a moment, and spoke: "Mother, when will you return?"
Livia didn't look back: "Soon."
Kalendil continued to ask: "How soon is soon?"
Livia thought for a moment: "Seven days for the selection tournament, plus travel time, about ten days."
Kalendil was silent for a second, then said quietly: "Th-Then be careful."
Livia paused in her movements.
She turned back to look at her eldest son.
Scarlet scales, golden horns, flames flowing over the scales. At this moment, he was trying hard to appear composed, but the tip of his tail betrayed his mood—it was swaying like a willow branch in the wind.
She extended a claw and gently pressed it on his head.
"I know."
Kalendil froze, then grinned widely.
Nearby, Mihariel was scribbling furiously in her little book:
["Mother is going to the dragon slaying competition. Brother Kalendil is worried, and Mother patted his head. Note: There are many forms of maternal love; head pats are one of them. I want a head pat too."]
She looked up at Livia, her eyes sparkling.
Livia looked back at her.
Three seconds later.
"You come here too."
Mihariel hopped over and tilted her head up.
Livia extended a claw and gave her a gentle press.
Mihariel grinned widely, her entire face lighting up.
Valensius silently reverted from his rock form and squatted nearby, watching eagerly.
Livia looked at him.
He shrank his neck and whispered: "I-I don't need..."
Livia walked over, extended a claw, and gave him a press too.
Valensius froze, then slowly broke into a grin.
Valerion looked up, his mouth still dusted with gemstone powder, watching the scene blankly. Then he lowered his head and resumed gnawing on a gemstone.
Aetheriel was squatting in the corner, staring intently at his own tail, completely unaware of what was happening over there.
Livia withdrew her claw and turned toward the cave entrance.
Reaching the entrance, she stopped and glanced back.
The five heads were lined up, six eyes (Valensius had both open) staring at her in unison.
"Ten days."
With that, she reverted to human form and vanished outside the cave entrance.