All the girls' faces instantly flushed red.
This was just too awkward!
The male students were stunned at first, then realized what was happening, and finally glared with extreme resentment in the direction Hiyama had left!
Even more, some shed tears of blood!
This was just too enviable, jealous, and hateful!
....
Northern Mountain Range
A continuous range of mountains stretches from one thousand to eight thousand meters in elevation.
For some unknown reason, the plants and environment here are incredibly inconsistent, making it an unbelievable place.
Moreover, even if you cross the mountains that are usually visible, there are more mountains on the other side. Heading north, layers of mountains continuously stack up. They have already counted to the fourth layer of mountains, and beyond that is completely unknown territory.
It is said that an adventurer once wanted to know where the mountains led and aimed to cross the fifth layer of mountains, but with each mountain crossed, the monsters inhabiting it became stronger. Due to this unique characteristic, they did not succeed.
Hiyama and his companions are now on a mountain six hundred kilometers east of Ulu Town.
The trees are adorned with red and yellow, and the colorful leaves are very pleasing to the eye. Knowledgeable people, with careful observation, can find spice ingredients and wild vegetables everywhere.
No wonder Ulu Town is so fertile; it is truly a treasure mountain rich in resources.
Hiyama and his companions drove here.
Because this was where the last group of adventurers lost contact, Hiyama planned to start his investigation from here.
"Darling, do you really have no intention of going back?"
Luna followed Hiyama, asking tentatively.
"Of course not. Why do you ask?" Hiyama asked, puzzled.
"I'm just worried that Darling doesn't want to go back because of us."
"After all, they are your companions."
Luna let out a small sigh.
Luna was already curious about Hiyama's identity, given that he could use so many special types of magic and knew so many things.
Now she had learned that Hiyama was a summoner from another world.
This made Luna worried that Hiyama might leave at any time and return to that world.
"They are they, and I am I," Hiyama said indifferently.
"Also, no matter where I go, I will not leave you alone."
Hiyama looked at her ruby-like pupils and said.
"And me! And me!" Shea also quickly chimed in.
"Mm, I believe Darling." Luna nodded repeatedly, moved after hearing Hiyama's words.
The gloom in her heart also dispersed without a trace.
"Master, signs of battle have been found ahead."
While the three were talking, 2B, who had gone to scout, returned to report.
Hiyama and his companions followed 2B to the reported location.
As 2B said, scattered on the ground were Small Types metal shields and backpacks. However, the shields were twisted and deformed, and the backpack straps were torn apart.
It must have been a very fierce battle.
Carefully looking around, they soon found traces of bark peeling off on a nearby tree, at a height of about two meters.
It looked as if something had brushed against it, causing the bark to peel. From the height, it was not caused by a human.
"Could it be..." Hiyama had a guess in his heart but wasn't sure.
After all, the current situation was already different from the original plot.
They then found another abnormal location.
About three hundred meters to the east, there were signs of large-scale destruction.
There was a river there, larger than the small river they had rested by earlier, with a small waterfall visible upstream. The water volume was high, and the current was quite swift, originally flowing straight towards the foot of the mountain.
But along the way, there was a huge excavated trace, creating a small tributary. It was as if something like a high-temperature ray had dug open the ground from the side.
The reason it gave such an impression was that the excavated part was straight, and the surrounding trees and ground were carbonized.
In addition, several trees were broken in half as if by some huge impact, lying dozens of meters away on the ground, and there were huge footprints, over thirty centimeters long, in the muddy area by the river.
Seeing this scene, Hiyama was already two-thirds certain.
* Chapter 57: Black Dragon?
"Darling, what kind of monster caused these traces?"
Luna tilted her head slightly and said, "Could it be a Brutal?"
A Brutal is a type of monster similar to an Goblin. Luna judged from the footprints that it was very likely this type of monster.
"Not a Brutal, but a much stronger creature."
Hiyama smiled.
"Creature?"
Luna keenly noticed Hiyama's choice of words.
So, a creature refers to humans, demi-humans, and demon-humans. What kind of creature could leave such large traces? Hiyama and his companions continued to move downstream along the traces.
Indeed, downstream of the river, they found many human corpses that had been washed ashore, almost forming a mountain of bodies.
"How terrible..."
Shea, who was kind by nature, covered her mouth, her expression somewhat sorrowful.
"They are adventurers; they should have expected this day would come. There's nothing to pity."
Hiyama's attitude was cold.
"Master, there are still survivors here."
At this moment, a voice came from 2B's side.
Hiyama walked over to her side and saw that the person was severely burned all over, looking terrible, and was barely clinging to life by the river.
Upon checking the situation, he found that the person still had a breath left.
Hiyama took out a small bottle of divine water from his ring and poured it into her. The divine water was already useless to him and Luna, so Hiyama didn't feel it was a waste.
The effect of the divine water was immediate. The adventurer's burns gradually healed, and the light in her eyes gradually returned.
It was then that Hiyama realized this was a female adventurer. Her clothes could vaguely be seen as a white robe.
From this, he judged that her profession should be something like a healer.
"Cough, cough... Where am I?"
"Could it be... I'm not dead?!"
The female adventurer exclaimed in shock.
As a healer, she knew all too well that unless a miracle occurred, her injuries could not have been saved.
"Yes, you're not dead. Did you encounter a black dragon?"
Hiyama asked succinctly.
"Yes... How did you know?" The female adventurer was even more surprised. At this moment, she also guessed that the person in front of her was the one who had pulled her back from the brink of death.
"We were originally ordered by Catherine, the Guild Master, to investigate the monster army."
"But we didn't expect to encounter a black dragon halfway. It attacked us without a word!"
"It's all my fault for not healing everyone in time...."
"Hank.... Allie.... Everyone died..."
Memories flooded in like a tide, and the female adventurer covered her face and wept bitterly.
"Instead of... wasting time crying here, why don't you quickly tell us where that black dragon is?"
Hiyama frowned.
"Tell you... Do you intend to fight that black dragon?"
The female adventurer hastily tried to stop him: "Absolutely not! That black dragon is incredibly powerful and vicious. We'd best hurry back to the guild to report the situation!"
"Send a stronger team to subjugate it!"
"We are... the strongest team sent by the guild."
Hiyama was getting a little impatient.
"You are the strongest team?"
The female adventurer looked at Hiyama's shining blue emblem, which was so dazzling.
Wasn't this just talking nonsense with her eyes wide open?! But out of respect for her savior, her attitude remained firm.
So she had no choice but to brace herself and say, "If you insist on fighting the black dragon, then take me with you!"
"I once swore to avenge my companions!"
"Besides, that place is hard to find. It will be very convenient for you to have me with you, trust me."
The female adventurer's eyes were filled with seriousness.
... Hiyama eventually took this female adventurer named Luna with him. Under her guidance, they indeed found a black cave not far to the west of the river.
From afar, they could feel a powerful sense of pressure.
It was obvious that a powerful creature was dwelling in the cave.
As soon as Hiyama and the others approached.
"Hoo-hoo-hoo..."
From the darkness, a black dragon emerged.
It let out a low roar, its entire body covered in pitch-black scales, appearing from the deep darkness.
The dragon was about seven meters long. Its long front and back legs had five sharp claws, and the huge wings growing from its back glowed faintly, seemingly imbued with magic.
"It's... it!"
Luna's voice trembled, mixed with intense hatred and fear.
The black dragon, upon seeing them, immediately exuded immense hostility. It furiously flapped its massive wings, gradually rising into the air.
When it flapped its wings in the air, it created strong winds, and as it flapped, its golden eyes looked down at Hiyama and the others from above.
Those golden eyes were like the moon floating in the night.
Its vertically slit pupils, typical of reptiles, still emitted a beautiful radiance despite being narrowed fiercely.
Its golden eyes narrowed to a slit, and a low roar emanated from the black dragon's throat.
It exuded an absolutely powerful oppressive aura.
"It does have some strength, doesn't it?"
Hiyama squinted, looking at the black dragon in the sky.
Based on the pressure and magic he actually felt, this black dragon should be at the level of Abyss Floor 90 or higher.
It was a bit unexpected for him.
After all, Hiyama knew the true identity of this dragon.
At this moment, "Divine will, I beg for your mercy, bestow divine punishment upon me!"