Unquestionably, I’ve Bitten Off More Than I Could Chew (4.3)

…

Healing is unquestionably the most unfair advantage any 'Hero' had at their disposal. A magical remedy that brings members of a party back from the brink of death. A little cry of 'Cura!' or 'Heal!' and suddenly someone who had been pummeled to death is back and kicking. Warriors simply tank hits, allow priests to heal them, and have everyone else deal damage. However, there was one little thing that games simply glossed over…

Shards of glass push through tissue. Cut muscles mending. Warm liquid trails behind shards. Blood. One. Two. Three. Four. More and more push through skin. Swallow burnt remains of throat. Spit out chunks of tongue. Grit new teeth. Ensure proper placement in new gums. Begin to chant. Keep eyes on Dragon. Don't inhale superheated air again.

Excruciating, mind-bending, and immense amounts of pain had to be withstood. When looking through a screen, at a bunch of pixels, and at fictional people… it's easy to carry out the strategy. In this world? Healing in the middle of combat, moved away from it, and having the treatment carefully administered… staying still as bones reform, flesh reknits, and blood reforms and then going straight into battle is something to be respected. During combat? Healing quickly is stupidly, absurdly, and ridiculously painful. It's a stupid nerf. Healing should feel good and have people saying 'Thanks for the save!' not 'My new eyes just pushed out the popped orbs that used to be there!'

Dragon has lost right forelimb. Decreased efficiency in that area. Head can still be used for wide, conical sweeping attack or rapid, ground-targeted slams. Could present opening to assault head. No. Risky. Weapon also too weak to force Dragon to behead itself. High chance for weapon to embed into muscle. Proximity to Heat Aura also unacceptable. Focus on severing left forelimb. Evade forward lunge with sidestep. Still no sign of Death Move. Bastard, you're not even half dead?

I'm sure that more than a few Adventurers had the bright idea to get a healing spell and heal themselves in the middle of a fight. It's completely possible, of course. Once the spell is cast on a target, it will heal them to the amount the spell is meant to. However, ignoring the pain of the wound, chanting while fully concentrating, and then heading into the battle as wounds close? Riveria could do it, probably, but it would be stupid to bet on anyone else trying it.

Spine still tingling from limb-cutting blow. Weapon's weight focused at head. Imbalanced. Misjudged weight. Have to use like double-headed war axe, not halberd. Can't risk breaking spine. Leap upward. No chance of traction of legs and arm movement to snap spine. Add strength to blow with whole-body twist. Blow connects with Dragon's skull. Ignore urge to cast Empower. No potions left to heal throat from inhalation. Skull isn't fully caved in. One eye gone. Other barely functional. Heal burns.

I barely got by thanks to bombarding my brain with information, I can only imagine how many 'smart' people like me died trying to do what I did. Poor bastards, being a loner isn't for everyone, but I respect your attempt to extricate yourself from others. Rest in peaceful solitude. Thank you for leaving me to take advantage of this world without competition. I'll set up a few shrines for you guys.

Dragon roars. Spark of flame generated at maw. Plume of boiling liquid surges from mouth. Jet of flaming, sticky liquid. Quick enough to avoid liquid portions. Too slow to evade rushing flames. Begin Mend chant again. Muscles rupture, blood boils, and bones begin to crack. Escape outlying flames. Backstep to avoid snapping jaws. Well-trained in follow through techniques. Finish chant. Bone reforms, veins reform, blood flows, and muscle knit. Not enough to reapply skin. Flex limb. Good condition. Need to have skin? No allies to worry about… however, skin lessens burn damage. Indeed, necessary. Begin chanting again. Low-powered, one-handed counterattack to remaining eye destroys Dragon's last eye.

What sort of weapon would've made this encounter much easier? Of course, this is under the assumption that I'd be stupid enough to get myself into this situation again, which is not the case. Still, the idea is worth thinking about. Not my sword, of course, since that's designed to fight Adventurers. The Halberd is a good weapon, but not all halberds can be as strong as a Landform version, and even this one can be broken if it gets caught in the Dragon's maw. A Warhammer? No. The flesh it too thick. A Pike? Good against armor, but has the same problems as the Halberd.

Another roar, but no following Flame Spray. Haunches rise, flame pours from body. Dragon's wounds begin to cauterize. Death technique in use. Will no longer bleed. Challenging, not problematic. Already lost strength from being bled out. Eyes are gouged, but still capable of tracking by scent. Check firmness of landform weapon. Crumbling. Three minutes before breaking apart. Dragon rears on its hind legs. Knows it's going to die. Wants to kill me. Flame cloak to protect it from warriors, scales to protect from mages, and will focus entirely on long-ranged attacks.

Best bet? A double-headed, war axe. Possibly with an anti-armor, rounded tip. Head needs to be at least a meter in width and length. A quarter in thickness. Can be made of any material. Crude, heavy… but if balanced correctly… multiple uses. Can be thrown, used to block blows, and cut through both armored and armed monsters. Also requires no enchantments. Cheap if made with Steel or Iron. Only needs proper conditioning and techniques to use effectively. Shaft would also need to be made of metal. Add copper to conduct electricity? I'll have to look into making that when I return to town.

Cast Empower. Break Halberd over knee. Recast Empower. Momentarily discard head. Apply Lesser Mind Potion to shaft. Adhesive. Empty Monster Crystal pouch upon it. Crystals stick to surface. Feel balance. Good enough. Dragon rears head. Throw makeshift javelin. Not strong enough to pierce skin. Enter open maw? Accurate enough. Monster Crystals disrupted by Dragon's Acceleration and Ignite magic. Monster crystals explode. Dragon's lower jaw is ripped off. Front of throat bursts open. Burning liquid seeps into Dragon's veins.

Pain has subsided. No need for distractions. Focus on Adolescent Dragon. Pick up Halberd head. Approach with caution. Hardiness of skull? Tougher than regular stone. Marble. Close to solid iron. Edge of Halberd Head is useless. Utilize corners? No, too brittle. Use sides or flat portion. Leverage weight. Two-handed, overhead strike with Empower for optimum effect. Focus all hits to nose-bridge.

Dragon attempts to claw out its own throat. Movements becoming erratic. Cauterization working against it. Cannot bleed itself to run internal liquids mingling with blood system. Unexpected effect. Dragon is rabid. Lost all composure. Wildly thrashing, but weakening. Attack after creature expends itself.

Empower.

Attack. Bridge of nose caves in. Flames lick arms.

Heal.

Empower.

Attack. Dragon's blood evaporates against the flames.

Heal.

Empower.

Attack. Dragon's remaining limb attempts to lash out. Avoid.

Heal.

Empower.

Attack. Halberd Head lodges itself into Dragon's limb. Body crystalizes and fades away.

Heal.

Nourish.

…Now… to destroy this place…

I picked up the Monster Crystal half the size of my body, momentarily leaving behind the Dragon Hide it dropped, and moved to the deepest part of the Monster Farm.

It's more than enough to punch into Floor 17.

…

I took in the cold, winter air of Orario as much as I could. Being burned alive, several times, gave a person appreciation towards chilly, biting wind. Fresh, cold air never tasted sweeter than after one has had their throat, tongue, and parts of their lungs burnt to a crisp. However, the spare clothes I picked up from one of my stashes weren't meant to endure the cold, after-midnight air of the winter season, so I walked briskly towards the Hostess of Fertility.

Surprisingly, I found the place still open. Mage lights shone a light through the window and there was definitely some chatter going on. Odd, given the fact Grand made sure that the entire Tavern closed down at 10 pm sharp. Are you guys throwing a party given the fact that I've been gone for a few days? A celebration because the resident eyesore has disappeared? I bet Lyon's planned the whole thing, with the Brat pitching in the money he was supposed to give me! They're downright terrible people!

In all seriousness, however, I had a fair idea of the reason why the lights were still on. I had hoped that the Ganesha Familia had simply decided to clear up their Monster Festival at an earlier time, but it appears that wasn't the case. Putting the pieces together, however, easily clarified my suspicion that I'd been gone for week and that my absence led to an episode or two of plot progression between Bell and the Loki Familia that I completely missed out on.

Since I'm obviously thought 'dead' by the readers of the light novel, then Zaimokuza is finally doing something original by building Cranel's character by 'killing' his mentor only to bring him back at the end of the novel, and start the next one with an awesome flashback sequence! Bravo you pudgy bastard, now have all the female adventurers put on some decent clothes and I'll think about actually respecting you.

In normal circumstances I'd try and eavesdrop on whatever investigation/expedition they're planning. Reappearing knowing everything they know, and then some, would most assuredly raise my character appeal, right? If I do that, Zaimokuza can never write me off! The mysterious sensei trick is the ultimate plot armor, I'll survive anything the world can throw at me!

But, I'm too tired to do it.

The mind and body are both willing, but the spirit simply wants to take a shower and fall into bed. Fighting a Dragon, leading the Goliath through a merry romp in someone's property, and exiting the Dungeon is something that simply wreaks havoc on anyone's willpower to do anything short of sleeping. At the moment, the last of my willpower is consumed with a planned, long shower.

So, I simply walked through the door, and ignored the ensuing silence.

Hestia and Flova both had determined grips on Cranel's waist, keeping him from the door. My student looked as though he'd been brought back from the dead, but he had that look in his eyes whenever he wanted to be an idiot. The Loli Oppai Goddess was the Loli Oppai Goddess. Flova seemed to be enjoying herself. No one expects the maid!

Wallenstein, the Hiryutes, and Viridis were all around a table headed by Alf, Deimne, and some hooded adventurer who disliked pants. The Sword Princess's eyes were wide as saucers. Hiryute Tiona's face split into an immense grin. Hiryute Tione was attempting to seduce Deimne, who was trying to ignore it. The unnamed, hooded, hot-pants-wearing rogue, Viridis, and Alf all shared similar, shocked statures. They looked as though they were deer frozen before headlights. The urge to mock the three of them was great, but I was simply too exhausted.

Also, there seemed to be a map that looked suspiciously like the Monster Farm I left an hour ago, on the table. It probably would've been an accurate map if I didn't lead a Goliath through it (lol).

"…You've been gone a while, Hikigaya." Grande had a raised brow and seemed to be the only person capable of talking. I raised one of my hands in greeting. The other hand pulled up the spare mask I picked up. Damn dried blood makes it too itchy. I wish I had a hat. "Need something to eat? You have a few days of free meals saved up."

"I'm good." I lowered my hand and headed to the stairs. Some odd pleasure welled up within me as I felt gazes follow my footsteps. Even the sound of the creaking floorboards seemed musical to my ears. Was this the reason why mysterious sensei's chose to be mysterious? I was playing up my 'role,' but I could see why people chose to do this. "Just have a large breakfast ready, Grande-san, I'll be bathing and going straight to sleep."

I was behind my door before absolute anarchy exploded below, but by that time I couldn't care less.

I placed my Dragon's Hide and pouch of Monster Crystals to block the door, went about taking off the dried blood covering my skin with a shower, and slumped into my bed.

…why did it smell like flowers?