SWNOVELXO Chapter 113
113. Shining Cockatrice
Using the Warp Slime to go to Ortia, and then heading north, you’ll find yourself in a grassy area.
The grassy area spreads out to envelop the whole of Ortia, so even the space between the town and the forest is included in the forest area.
However, the specified ‘Northern Grassy Area’ is right here. Though not much different from the usual western side, it’s a place where you can see tall mountains in the distance.
After passing through the gate and walking for a while, ahead lies――
“BOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
I doubted my eyes. Usually, this grassy plain is home to leisurely monsters like slimes and goblins, but now it was a place where huge dragon types were roaming――!
I was prepared for it when I heard about it, but this was beyond my imagination. There were dozens of dragon-type monsters in various sizes, even just at a glance.
Some were spewing flames from their mouths, some were swinging their tails and leveling the ground, all in a wild frenzy.
“What is this… it’s like a dragon-type party venue…”
“Dragon types don’t party, you know?”
“I was just using a metaphor!?”
Oops. Jokes don’t get through to Ilza. While Reise somewhat reads between the lines and gets the gist, it’s better not to explain things confusingly to Ilza.
“Watch out! Run away!”
As I was scratching my head, I heard a rough female shout.
Looking, I saw a female adventurer calling out to us from a little distance away. And between her and us was a dragon-type monster.
“
――
Target: Shining Cockatrice Level 1
The highest rank of the Cockatrice family. It possesses incredible speed and ferocity.
――
“Ah! I think I’ve seen that one before!”
It looked more like a giant chicken than a dragon. Its fur was white, and it was heading our way with a strangled cry.
The monster Reise and I defeated on the 7th floor was probably a Golden Cockatrice. Is this its higher rank?
…Wait, is it really classified as a dragon-type? Isn’t it just a giant chicken?
“Run away!! At this rate!!”
The moment the female adventurer screamed, she collapsed to her knees. Looking closer, her abdomen was stained red, showing she had sustained a serious injury.
I see, it’s that monster’s doing. Even while she was shouting, the Shining Cockatrice was running toward us at the speed of a horse.
“GYAGYAGYA!!”
As it cried out, I drew my sword.
In the moment of drawing, I kicked the ground and rushed toward the Cockatrice. With flames enveloping the blade, I made a swift slash.
“
The horizontally swung sword split the Cockatrice’s body in two, cutting it down to the ground in an instant.
Just a moment. The battle ended as we passed each other.
“Whew. Weaker than I thought.”
Even a higher rank can’t defeat me if it’s just a boss of the 7th floor.
When we defeated the Golden Cockatrice, I was around level 20, so this monster is probably at adventurer level 30. Well, it doesn’t matter either way.
“No way――?”
As I sheathed my sword, the female adventurer raised her voice.
“You defeated the Shining Cockatrice with just one hit――!? More importantly, why didn’t it split after being defeated!?”
Oh right, the Cockatrice’s splitting ability. It gave us quite a hard time before.
“Come to think of it, why didn’t it split?”
“The Shining Cockatrice didn’t realize it was killed by Arx. The fact that it kept running even after being cut is proof of that.”
As I tilted my head, Ilza explained. I clapped my hands in understanding.
“The Shining Cockatrice didn’t realize it was killed!? I’ve never heard of such a thing!?”
“I don’t really understand it either, but aren’t you injured? I’ll heal you.”
As I tried to help the collapsing adventurer, she shook her head.
“It’s already too late. I was poisoned by the previous attack.”
Looking under the clothes she pulled up, I saw a severe wound on her abdomen, with her blood vessels swelling ominously.
I had never heard of Cockatrice poison, but if she says it, it must be true.
“Even if I see a doctor now, it’s too late. I’m going to die here.”
“Then I just need to treat you here and now!”
“――What!?”
To save her, I decided to summon a certain slime.
“Alchemy Slime!”
A new slime I acquired after fighting the Minotaur. Using its power.
In response to my call, a slime with a bottle on its head appeared.
“What is this creature――?”
“Just watch.”
I then summoned Shino.
“Arx-sama. Do you need something?”
“Yeah. Since you’re an assassin, I thought you might know about poisons. Do you know how to cure Cockatrice poison?”
“……I do know a recipe for an antidote. But it requires skillful blending of medicinal herbs.”
“That’s fine! I’ll do the alchemy!”
Alchemy Slime. It can synthesize whatever ingredients are placed in the bottle on its head.
As long as you know the recipe, anyone can perform perfect synthesis, even for medicine.
Following the recipe Shino taught me, I threw the ingredients into the bottle and performed the synthesis.
A few seconds after adding the ingredients, a golden liquid was ready in the small bottle.
“Quick, drink this!”
“Y-yes!”
I transferred the liquid into a small bottle and gave it to the woman. Soon, the swelling in her abdomen began to subside rapidly.