Chapter 128. The Hungarian Horntail That Can Draw
A deafening sound battered back and forth against the cave walls, then, carrying tremendous force, rushed into Duncan's ears.
In a daze, he even had the illusion of going deaf, and hurriedly imitated Professor Kettleburn to create a protective shell by his ear.
They walked several hundred metres along the deep passage, and the banging grew even louder, accompanied by the clashing of metal.
In the darkness ahead, two blood-red eyes lit up like red lanterns, staring fixedly at them, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit creepy.
It was like switching straight from an edutainment animal segment to a horror film that would scare you to death.
"Be careful."
Professor Kettleburn sensed the terrifying aura of the giant beast and warned solemnly.
The wand in his hand turned lightly as he half-raised his arm, its tip pointing upward.
The milky-white orb of light at the tip of the wand spread its gentle rays forward, piercing the darkness and reaching the place where the giant beast kept roaring.
An iron cage almost level with the cave roof sat in the middle of the passage, each bar as thick as Duncan's thigh.
A hideous and terrifying behemoth coiled inside the cage, its body covered in black scales and lizard-like in appearance.
Bronze horns crowned its head, and from its long tail jutted spikes that were about the same bronze colour, lashing the cage again and again.
Its eyes, which ought originally to have been yellow, were completely filled with blood-red, sending its evil aura soaring and making it all the more fearsome.
"Hungarian Horntail?"
Professor Kettleburn couldn't help blurting out.
"That fellow Newt really doesn't let one rest easy!"
Though the Hungarian Horntail wasn't especially large, it was the most dangerous and ferocious among dragons.
Their armour was made for battle.
If an ordinary creature took a single lash from its tail, it might just go help the Grim Reaper complete this year's quota.
Professor Kettleburn looked at Duncan with concern.
"Well? Can you soothe its violent temper?"
[Optional Mission: The pitiable Hungarian Horntail has been tormented into deep pain and needs your help to calm it down.]
[Mission Reward: virtual coins ×200, random item ×1, Hungarian Horntail favourability ×40]
"I'll give it a try."
Looking at the Horntail's deranged state, Duncan couldn't yet give a definite answer.
Still, the mission rewards weren't especially rich — there shouldn't be any particularly great danger, right?
"Alright, be careful.
I'll be right beside you.
If anything looks wrong, get behind me."
Professor Kettleburn instructed him with deep worry.
"Okay."
Duncan nodded.
While keeping an eye on the Horntail's movements, he inched step by step towards the cage.
From his earlier experiments he had found that when the Druid Whistle sounded, the closer the distance, the stronger the effect on an animal.
As Duncan slowly approached, the Horntail grew even more agitated, letting out a harsh roar from its gaping maw.
The cage banged under the dragon's blows, rocking violently back and forth, nearly tipping over.
"That's enough — stop there."
Professor Kettleburn had Duncan halt, keeping a wary eye on the Horntail.
Duncan dipped his chin, produced the Druid Whistle and blew it, then fixed the dragon with a stern gaze and commanded, "Quiet!"
The Hungarian Horntail seemed to take a tremendous shock and froze on the spot as if petrified, motionless for a long time.
When it moved again, the blood-red in its eyes had vanished; it seemed to have recovered its senses.
"Thank you..."
A hoarse, deep voice came from the Horntail's mouth, and, exhausted all over, it collapsed with a boom.
"How do you feel?"
Seeing the whistle take effect, Duncan relaxed and crouched forward to ask with concern.
"Much better."
The Horntail vented a mouthful of scorching air, then said, "Just now it felt like a thousand little bugs were buzzing and clamouring in my head, which made me irritable and unable to help losing my temper.
But after you made that sound, all those bugs were crushed to death, and my world finally went quiet..."
"So eating that sort of mushroom feels like this," Duncan thought in silence.
Professor Kettleburn patted Duncan on the shoulder.
"Quick, ask it for information on those people's base."
"Mm."
Duncan answered, and relayed Professor Kettleburn's question to the Horntail.
"The place where those damned humans are?"
The Horntail spoke through gritted teeth, its tone full of hatred.
"When they captured me, they shut me in a cage and covered it with black cloth.
I could only glimpse a little through faint gaps.
It seemed to be on a cliff in a canyon, a very deep cave.
I remember they carried me for a long time before setting me down.
If you're going to look for them, take me with you.
I can definitely help you!"
[Optional Mission: The Hungarian Horntail's inner rage needs to be vented; evildoers must be judged — and you are its only hope!]
[Mission Reward: Hungarian Horntail favourability ×60, virtual coins ×1000, random item ×1]
Looking at the hatred burning in the Horntail's eyes, Duncan nodded heavily.
"Rest assured — when the time comes, I'll strike with you!"
"Thank you."
The Horntail gazed at Duncan with gratitude; its proud head slowly lowered, and respect entered its tone.
Professor Kettleburn, standing to the side, clicked his tongue in wonder, as though witnessing some bizarre sight.
It was the first time he had seen a proud dragon display such a humble posture; his understanding of magical creatures was being overturned again and again.
But he also kept reminding himself inwardly that he did not possess Duncan's unique magic — he mustn't try to pat a dragon's head at first meeting.
Otherwise, what awaited him might not be becoming a dragon's friend, but being swallowed in one gulp and, after digestion, turned into a big pile of dung.
"Do you know how many wizards are in that cave?"
Duncan asked again.
The Horntail narrowed its eyes and thought for a moment.
"From what I saw, there were roughly a dozen.
But whenever they appeared around me, they all wore black clothes and masks, and sometimes I couldn't tell whether I was seeing the same person..."
"Oh, right!"
The Horntail seemed to recall something and hurried on.
"A few of them seemed to be the leaders.
The others were very respectful to them.
Their masks also differed from the rest — the right half of the face had a design on it, only I don't know what it was."
"Hm? Can you draw it?"
Duncan said.
"Of course — no problem!"
The Horntail replied, extending a sharp talon.
"Step aside a bit — don't affect my performance."
"Oh, alright."
Duncan answered, and quickly shuffled two steps aside.
"What is it going to do?"
Professor Kettleburn asked.
"It says it saw a design on those wizards' masks but didn't recognise it, so I asked it to draw it," Duncan replied as a matter of course.
An expression of amazement appeared on Professor Kettleburn's face as he looked incredulously at the youth beside him.
Actually letting a dragon draw?
This fellow should be the first in history, right?
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