TTDBK 06

Episode 6

Baberi grinned and jabbed Kur in the ribs with her elbow.

“Change into your dragon form. Right now. The moment you do, those people will drop their supplies and run for their lives. Then we’ll just stroll in and pick up the food and medicine they left behind. Perfect plan, don’t you think?”

She smirked, pleased with her own brilliance. It wasn’t as if she was asking him to peel off his skin or anything. Surely Kur would approve.

But his expression said otherwise.

“Leaving aside the fact that you’re a thug,” he replied flatly, “I don’t like that idea.”

His firm refusal made Baberi bristle.

“You don’t like this, you don’t like that! We made a pact, remember? Isn’t the whole point of an alliance to cooperate?”

Kur let out a long sigh.

“Do you have any idea how much magic it takes to alter my form?”

It wasn’t impossible—under normal circumstances he could transform several times a day, his power replenishing naturally. But now things were different.

“I already burned through most of my reserves in the canyon. And thanks to someone, I can’t recover them.”

He tapped a finger against the gaping hole in his chest.

“…”

Baberi stomped her foot. She’d thought it was a great plan, but damn it—she couldn’t exactly blame him this time. After all, she was the one who had put that hole in his chest.

“If you really want me to transform,” Kur went on, “you’d better offer up a hoard of mana stones. With that, I could manage once.”

The smug look on his face made her want to punch him. A hoard of mana stones? She didn’t even have money for a loaf of bread, much less magical gemstones.

This alliance was turning out far less profitable than she’d imagined. No money, no dragon transformations… Kur was just a shiny ornament with no use at all. Did it even make sense to keep this alliance going?

She was still brooding when they arrived at the apothecary.

“Excuse me,” Baberi said carefully to the shopkeeper. “I know you’re busy, but I need some medicine.”

Food was one thing, but medicine was essential. She had to try, no matter what.

“Busy? Nonsense, not at all!” the shopkeeper beamed. Even in the middle of hurriedly packing his belongings to flee town, he couldn’t resist a customer—business ran in his bones.

“Don’t think I’ve seen you before. A traveler, are you? What sort of medicine do you need?”

When Baberi asked for an antidote to paralysis poison, his eyes lit up. He rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a vial.

“This one works wonders—my best product, guaranteed.”

Then, lowering his voice, he raised three fingers.

“Thirty gold?”

He chuckled. “Oh, miss, you do love to joke.”

Three hundred gold? For one bottle? What the hell kind of miracle cure was this?

Baberi suddenly longed to grab Glock—the bastard who had poisoned her arm—by the throat. Instead, she forced a sly smile.

“Fine. I’ll take it.”

“Much obliged!” The apothecary bowed, smiling ear to ear—but kept the vial firmly in his hand, watching her expectantly.

“The medicine,” she prompted.

“The payment,” he countered. His smile was still there, but his voice had turned hard.

Baberi laughed, loud and careless, as if she’d just heard the funniest story. But the shopkeeper’s face darkened.

“…You don’t have any money, do you?”

With a scoff, he shoved the vial back into his pack.

Baberi’s hand shot out, trembling as it clamped around his wrist. The tremor was involuntary—her poisoned arm was failing her.

“Put it on my tab.”

The apothecary silently pointed to a sign on the wall beside a portrait of his younger self.

[No Credit]

“Just this once! Look—my arm’s half dead already, can’t you see it shaking?”

She pleaded with pitiful eyes, then nudged Kur with her foot.

Use that handsome face of yours, would you? Seduce him or something.

But instead of charming the man, Kur scowled and glared at her.

Useless bastard. Maybe I should break this alliance after all.

Clicking her tongue, Baberi turned back to the shopkeeper with a grin.

“Fine. I won’t ask for it free.”

“And what will you offer, then?”

Good question. She hadn’t thought that far. What could she offer? Baberi rolled her eyes upward, then smiled. There was one thing she was particularly good at.

“I’ll kill your dragon for you.”

Kur’s eyes widened in shock.

“What the hell are you saying?” he growled, gripping her shoulder.

“Just let me handle this,” she hissed, brushing his hand off. She turned back to the shopkeeper, eyes gleaming.

“That dragon terrorizing the countryside? No need to run. I’ll deal with it.”

The shopkeeper exhaled long and hard.

“You must think I’m an idiot. Sure, I’d love for someone to slay that beast. But who on earth could manage it? You, miss? Are you a dragon slayer, perhaps?”

“Exactly right. I’m Baberi Langs—the Dragon Slayer herself.”

She jabbed a thumb proudly at her chest.

The man laughed in disbelief.

“Please. You’re no Langs. Enough nonsense, out you go.”

He shooed her like a bothersome insect.

“I am a Langs!” Baberi protested, thumping her chest. “Baberi Langs—the first to slay a dragon in Almeria in a hundred years!”

“Spare me. I don’t have time for your lies.”

When he moved to throw her out, she dug her heels in, shouting:

“Why won’t anyone ever believe me?!”

Her whole life, she’d borne the cursed name of Langs, branded a traitor’s child. And now, when it finally mattered, she couldn’t prove she was a Langs at all.

She scowled, her poisoned arm throbbing.

“Father,” came a voice from the back room.

A young man stepped out—so like the apothecary in his youth it was uncanny.

“Why haven’t you finished packing? We need to leave at once.”

“Jacob! Perfect timing.” His father brightened, then pointed accusingly at Baberi. “Get this woman out of here. Claims she’s the Dragon Slayer, babbling nonsense. Must be one of those frauds.”

And indeed, since Baberi’s victory over the dragon, impostors had sprung up across Tiris. Few knew her face, but everyone knew the legend. All it took was a sword and a bold claim of “I am Baberi Langs” to win free meals and drink—until the thief vanished with half the village’s valuables by dawn.

The apothecary was certain this ragged woman was one more of the same.

“She reeks of con artist,” he muttered. “But my son—he actually fought in the campaign, alongside the real Dragon Slayer herself. He knows better.”

Smug, he puffed out his chest. But then Jacob froze, staring at Baberi.

His mouth dropped open.

“Lady Baberi!”

The apothecary gawked. Baberi blinked in recognition.

“You—”

What was his name again? She had seen him throughout the campaign, but for the life of her, she couldn’t recall. She’d even just overheard his father call him something, but it slipped her mind.

“Jacob, you don’t mean this beggar is really Baberi Langs?” the apothecary demanded.

“Father! Don’t call her a beggar!” Jacob shot back, appalled. The older man slapped his own mouth and began bowing apologetically toward Baberi.

Jacob. Right. That was it.

Grinning, Baberi smacked him heartily on the shoulder.

“Jacob! Good to see you again. Two years, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Lady Baberi, but—youch!”

He winced at her heavy hand.

“I hate to ask, after all this time, but could you lend me some money? Just a little, I’ll pay you back.” Eventually.

“My arm’s about to fall off and I can’t afford the medicine,” she added pitifully, rolling up her sleeve to show the mottled bruises spreading over her arm.

Jacob glanced between her and the vial in his father’s hand. Without hesitation, he snatched the bottle and pressed it into hers.

“Take it. Please.”

“Are you sure?”

“I owe you my life, Lady Baberi. This isn’t enough to repay that debt.”

Baberi peeked at the apothecary, expecting outrage. But instead, the man bowed deeply, voice shaking.

“Forgive me. I didn’t recognize my son’s savior. Please, accept the medicine with my gratitude.”

“So… you’re giving it to me for free?”

Jackpot.

Baberi’s grin widened. She downed the medicine on the spot before anyone could change their mind.

“Lady Baberi,” Jacob asked gently, “how did you end up so badly hurt? Don’t tell me… you’ve already been to the canyon?”

She blinked at his sudden excitement.

“Well, yes, I came from there, but—how do you know?”