077: Dragon Slayer Play Part 2
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Note: The actor playing Nord is listed as Norf (faux Nord), the actress playing Elna will be listed as Elna.
Huh? Is that Elna, my mother? I lean out of my seat and stare wide-eyed at the actress on stage.
“Are you surprised since the actress has a large chest?” Eric
“That is a discontinuity, but there’s more to it than that!” Al
I pulled the Eric’s cheek a bit, then went back to looking at the play. I heard some of a protest from beside me, but I ignored it.
A girl named Elna stands arrogantly at the adventurer’s guild entrance. When I see her, I’m reminded of Elna’s mother that I met recently. She is a smiling unassuming woman, but terrifying when angered. She loves sweets and tea in a slightly childish way, a person who says things like ‘Don’t forget me’ or ‘How delicious’.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Elna
She’s standing there with a fire in her eye, she’s smiling, but not kindly. I remember hearing they were both adventurers, but this is different than I expected. I had always assumed Elna wouldn’t be so aggressive.
“What?” Norf
She was piercing, sort of like Eleanora. I’d always wondered where Eleanora’s personality came from, looks like it was from young Elna. My family say that I’m the most similar to Elna, but that only seems true of the current Elna. Isn’t Eleanora more similar based on age?
“Ah, oh? Don’t get in the way!” Norf
He reaches out to move Elna out of the way, but his hand gets close to Elna’s chest. Immediately, she grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.
“That hurts!” Norf
“It’s not good to reach for a girl’s chest!” Elna
“Oof!” Nord
He moans regretfully after being immobilized.
“Are you okay?” Boles
“Yes, I only pinned him, I wanted to burn him.” Elna
“It’s so noisy these days” Boles
Norf hears Elna’s words and smiles bitterly. This was the first encounter between Nord and Elna.
After that, Norf registers as an adventurer and carries out requests using his sword skills.
“You again!” Elna
“Hi Elna, it’s just a weird coincidence.” Norf
While Norf and Elna were acting individually, they ended up running into each other often, since their individual requests were at the same places.
“Are you following me?” Elna
“No, I didn’t see you in the guild earlier, so I couldn’t know where you would be. Do you want to take a request with me?” Norf
This didn’t just happen for requests, but also in the royal capital.
“Why are you here?” Elna
“Huh? Boles recommended the baked goods here, he may look like a thug, but he has a sweet tooth.” Norf
“Well, since you’re done buying, please leave.” Elna
“Sorry miss, the fruit muffins are sold out!” Baker
Elna thinks for a minute.
“share?” Elna
Since they’re both solo adventurers of a similar skill level, it’s not weird that they’d end up at the same places for their requests. They eventually team up with good results since Norf is a swordfighter and Elna is a magician. I’m already feeling weird from the romance signs.
After completing a number of requests, the two become famous adventurers in the royal capital. Norf wore light but durable armor of a special ore, different from the standard armors. In his silver armor and a blue cloak, Norf reminds me of a paladin.
“We’re back safely again today.” Norf
“Yeah, I want to go home and take a bath.” Elna
Elna walks beside Norf with a tired voice. She has a normal magician robe, but her necklace is probably a magic tool. She has a longer cane than her introduction scene, the new one has pretty jewel inset into it.
“Then let’s make a quick report to the guild.” Norf
“Yeah” Elna
Elna’s voice is much softer than her introduction scene, it seems she’s pretty comfortable with Norf. Could I do the same thing with Eleanora? I would bet against it.
Then they made a report to the guild and started to walk back to the inn.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! goes a bell.
“What?” Norf
“The emergency bell? Did something happen outside the royal capital?” Elna
The two make suspicious expressions at the situation.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attach! Oh no!” Guard
“Did a neighboring country attack?” Norf asks as he grabs the guard.
“No, we would survive if that was the case! Everything is over! We’re all doomed!” Guard
“Why? Tell us quickly! I’ll make this guy let you go.” Elna
The guard points at the sky after Elna slapped some sense into him.
“Dr… it’s a dragon! A dragon is coming to the capital!” Guard
“Dragon?” Elna
At the same time, a roaring sound echoed through the theatre.
“Graa!” Dragon
A red dragon descended to the stage, the body is covered in many individual scales. The large wings mounted to the back move as the prop descends. I thought it was a real dragon for a quick second, but I noticed the seams on the body when I looked closer. The prop uses magic and magic tools to make it look like the dragon is breathing and the neck and wings move naturally to resemble a real creature. They’ve made a brilliant prop and are well-practiced at using it.
I can hear excited voices from children around the theatre.
“A dragon?!” Norf
“Why is it in this place?” Elna
The dragon lands on the stage as Norf and Elna make surprised comments. The neck of the dragon swells as the wings open as the dragon roard again.
“GGGRRRAAAAAAAA!” Dragon
“Augh!” Guard
“Run away!” Bystanders
The nearby guard and bystanders panic and run away off the sides of the stage. The dragon opened its mouth to show off the vicious fangs while scattering flames around at the same time.
The audience reacted by shouting ‘Oh!’ at the sight of the flames. Only the most popular plays pull in enough revenue to afford these kinds of effects. The stage lights turn orange in sync with the flames and a burning sound is produced.
“Elna! I will fight the dragon to protect the city!” Norf
While making a grand pronouncement with a nervous voice, Norf pulls his sword from the scabbard. He holds a splendid silver-white longsword.
“Are you nuts? That’s a dragon! It’s a world away from the goblins and orcs you fight!” Elna
“Oh, I know. Just standing in front of the dragon will prove it’s terrifying presence.” Norf
“Foolhardy idiot!” Elna
“But I’m an adventurer!” Norf
While this is a good scene, the dragon is just sitting there while Norf and Elna converse. It seems the dragon has enough honor to wait, or the scene plays better when the dragon just sits there.
“How can an adventurer give up on an adventure in front of him? Could you still call yourself an adventurer after that? What about you, Elna?” Norf
Norf says his brave lines with a fearless smile, but Elna needs to think before responding.
“Ok, my answer is that I’m an adventurer too! Besides, without me you’d be dead several times over!” Elna
She holds her cane to her chest, she’s manlier than the current Elna.
“I see, thank you for the support” Norf
Elna turns away from Norf and faces the dragon. The actress has managed to make her face flush red from excitement.
“Hey, are you two done flirting? Ready to fight?” Boles
The deep voice of a man broke into the conversation.
“Who is flirting?” Elna
Led by Boles, many adventurers enter the stage with weapons drawn.
“Boles! Friends!” Norf
“Haha, we’re adventurers as well. I don’t want you two to take all the credit!” Boles
At this point the battle against the dragon begins…
Many adventurers come on stage to fight against the dragon.
“Fire breath is coming!”
“Got it!”
A flame fires from the dragon’s mouth in an attempt to burn down the adventurers that are running around. The flame fires but isn’t quick enough to catch the retreating adventurer.
“I wish for the protection of flowing water!” Elna
The dragon’s flames are doused by a wall of water from Elna. Is the actress using magic or is there a magician off stage doing it? Could you do this sort of drama without magic?
When the flames are doused, Norf charges at the dragons head with his sword. He swings at the dragon but is stopped by the fang with a high-pitched sound. The dragon manuevers to try to grab the longsword with its fangs as Norf tries to swing at the dragon.
“Is he actually hitting the dragon fangs? How does that work?” Al
“Oh, the dragon fangs are made of a special high-strength metal.” Eric
“He’s really swinging at it?” Al
“If he wasn’t, the spectators would be disappointed” Eric
“That makes sense” Al
It’s true that the dragon looks powerful, but it would be shabby if the actor didn’t hit properly. Is it possible to have more realistic fight scenes since there is magic in this world?
Adventurers appear on top of the buildings with bows. I can see the arrow tips aren’t blunted but sharp. Are they really going to shoot with those?
While I was surprised, the arrows were shot at the dragon. Wow, they really shot them! A number of arrows approach the dragon, but fall to the ground when the dragon flaps its wings.
“Gaaraa!” Dragon
If you know what to look for, you could spot Wind Magic coating the dragon’s wings.
“Are the wings a magic tool?” Al
“Oh, I’ve heard they’re using a Wind Magic tool. It’s normally used for self-defense by high-ranking nobles. That way, unexpected arrows can be defeated.” Eric
I wonder how much money goes into this production, well the owner looks to be a wealthy aristocrat.
On the stage, a fierce fight is continuing. Men holding shields are blown away by the dragon’s tail. The dragon’s head is focused on Norf standing in front of the dragon. The dragon’s mouth turned red as flames prepared to come out again. Right before the flames his Norf, a watery dome protected him. The flames and water collide with a burst of steam.
“Elna!” Norf
“I was expecting that, and I was totally correct! This is really dangerous! I’m looking for pure water, gather to me!” Elna
The wall of water is boiled off, but the remaining parts coalesce into two spears. Those spears then fly at the dragon’s face.
“Graaa!” Dragon
The water spear pierced the dragon’s eyes and the dragon screamed in agony.
“Now!” Elna
When Elna shouted, Norf charges in with his blade. He strengthens the blade using magic energy as well as strengthening his legs for a large leap. He comes close to the dragon swinging it’s sword while the dragon is dazed from the water spear. Even if it’s badly hurt the dragon will still try to retaliate and greets Norf with its fangs.
“Ohhhh!” Norf
The two shadows crossed and the dragon’s neck was cleaved in two. Did he really cut through the neck? I had heard that at the aristocratic exchange party, but was that what actually happened?
The dragon head falls to the stage, and the body falls down soon after. At the same time, the cheers of the adventurers and the audience boil over.
“Elna!” Norf
“Nord!” Elna
Norf and Elna are hugging each other, surrounded by a cheering crowd.
Thanks to their achievements, Norf and Elna will have an audience with the king. The scenery changes to a throne room with a king sitting in a luxurious chair. The Misfilt King is a blond old man with a crown on his head, I feel like the suspicious man I saw in the castle earlier may have been the actual king. Could it really be true?
“Raise your head?” King
“Ah” Norf
Norf answers the king by slowing reversing his bow.
“You have had a great success. The skill of your sword that parted the head of the dragon that menaced the royal capital is wonderful.” King
“Thank you” Norf
“Thanks to you, many citizens of the royal capital have been saved. I thank as the king of a grateful nation. I want to reward you with a commensurate bequest.” King
“Then, a territory where I can spend time calmly with my beloved wife.” Nord
“Oh, I’m tired” Al
I’m sitting on the side of the theatre stairs and breathing in the fresh air for the first time in a while. The sky is dyed red by the setting sun, I can spot many spectators returning home from the theatre.
I can hear the exiting patrons talking about the play, everyone seems to have left happy. We’ve reached dinner time, so the food stall and restaurant criers are calling out to the exiting patrons. I can see more than a few theatre patrons are taking them up on the offer. I’d like to join them, but Elna will be worried if I take to long to get back to the inn.
“Ah, that play is always exciting.” Eric
“I’m not sure about your intentions” Al
“Huh? Why don’t you imitate your father more? How are you the son of such a noble father? Were you adopted? Don’t you look nothing like your brother and sister?” Eric
“Augh! Why do you say the kinds of things that shouldn’t be mentioned! I didn’t ask to have this appearance! I can’t help being born into the same family as those two beautiful children!” Al
I feel like I managed to get along with Eric for a whole half a day, but that’s the limit for today. Eric and I punched each other then set out on our own ways home.
“I’m back” Al
“Oh, welcome back. Did you go out with your friends?” Elna
Elna welcomed me back with a soft smile. I thought about the play and stared at Elna.
“Hmm? What’s wrong Al? Is there something on my face?” Elna
Elna asks me while tilting her neck at my strange look.
“Mother has become softer” Al
When I tried to say she had mellowed out, her expression froze. Across the room, Nord dropped his spoon, did I say something weird. It looks like Nord realized I had gone to the Dragon Slayer play, is that why he’s surprised? While I was trying to figure out what happened, I felt a sharp pain on my head.
“Oh, it hurts!” Al
“Why is the first thing you do when you get back is to look at me funny and say I’ve gotten fat?” Elna
Elna is smiling and grabbing my head in an iron claw. She’s very angry based on the movement of her eyebrows. How horrible is this treatment?
“No, mother! It’s not about your body, I meant your personality!” Al
“Personality?” Elna
When I quickly utter my excuse, I thought the misunderstanding is resolved since the grip relaxes. But the hand isn’t letting go, this reminds me of Eleanora. I guess it was a technique handed down from mother to daughter.
I’m not sure why Elna is bending down to look eye-to-eye, but Nord sounds like he’s back to drinking tea. I think Elna is asking me to explain more based on her eyebrows.
“I went to see the Dragon Slayer play” Al
“Really?” Elna
When I answered, Elna was astonished and I heard Nord doing a spit-take with his tea. From my point of view, Elna is amazing in how she’s changed.
“Well, the young Elna was as headstrong as Eleanora. I was surprised. Things like Nord would be dead without me, acting shy about things. Then the whole beloved wife in front of king. Ow ow ow! It hurts! I explained things, why is the Iron Claw increasing?” Al
Dang it, I’ll have to ask Rumba for more details, maybe Count Melna would know some things as well.
I fell asleep later that night, rubbing my poor aching head.
Translation
Good Job!
Do Better!
Chapter
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What?
FFS!
Really?