The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 375: Chapter 0372: The Armor is a Bit Tight Around the Chest (Third Update, 10,000 Coins Reward Celebration 4/5)
 

Liszt decided to replace his hardwood cavalry bow with the Swift Shadow Bow, but for a short while, he still needed to bring along the cavalry bow, since he needed time to familiarize himself with the effects of the Swift Shadow Bow.

The characteristic change of this Little Elf Soldier’s bow is summed up in one word—speed.

Fast shooting speed, fast arrow speed, so his mastery of “Double Heavy Arrow” had to be realized through the Swift Shadow Bow, which required numerous practices.

He immediately started to try on the three sets of mithril armor.

Picking out a set that fit relatively well, he replaced his fine steel armor with it.

As for the other two sets, he gave the larger set directly to Marcus. As his knight instructor, Liszt naturally showed favoritism toward him. Overwhelmed with excitement, Marcus received the mithril armor, slapping out a few flatteries and declaring his undying loyalty.

The other knights, filled with envy and jealousy toward Marcus, held back their snide remarks, because according to the continent’s national system, Marcus was essentially Liszt’s Chief Knight.

It was only natural for the Chief Knight to receive better rewards.

As for the slightly smaller set, Liszt directly rewarded it to Paris, “With this mithril armor on, most attacks can be blocked, and your safety will be further assured. Moreover, the mithril armor is very light, it won’t affect your movement too much.”

“Thank you, Baron,” said Paris with a smile as she accepted the armor.

She quickly returned to her room to change into the mithril armor.

The armor masked her figure but added a touch of heroism.

“How do you feel?” Liszt asked.

“It fits okay, but the chest area is a bit tight, making it uncomfortable to breathe.” Paris adjusted the armor at her chest with a frown.

Liszt obviously understood the reason, “This is men’s armor. Make do with it for now, and when we return to Fresh Flower Town, we’ll have the tailor and blacksmith modify it. If we loosen the seam line around the chest area, it shouldn’t constrain you anymore.” Having a large chest can be troublesome too.

Seemingly aware that this topic was somewhat awkward, Paris changed the subject, “I still don’t like wearing armor, leather armor is more suited to my fighting style.”

Liszt calmly responded, “Then you hand over the mithril armor to me after we get back, to arm my Knight Squad. I will have someone make you a leather armor set from the skin of the Six-Headed King Serpent.”

“Baron, wouldn’t that be too precious?” asked Paris.

“Equipment is meant to be used. If it can protect your safety, then its existence is valuable,” Liszt said with a gentle smile. “Don’t forget, you are the personal guard I hired; should I run into any danger, I will be relying on you to save me.”

Paris’s eyes sparkled, “I will not let the Baron encounter danger!”

“I believe you.”

They exchanged glances.

Liszt’s expression remained calm, but a flush of crimson crept onto Paris’s face. She coughed and then said, “Then, I’ll go back to my room to rest for now.” She probably didn’t notice her voice was much softer than usual.

Liszt watched Paris leave.

He exhaled a deep breath and glanced at the four walls of his study, complaining, “How barbaric to have a study without any books!”

…

The Black Knight Order rested in Nameless Castle, feasting and drinking their fill.

There were enough provisions and dried meat to not only meet the knight’s needs but also to recover the consumption from the past few days. Knightly wars often meant that the victors plundered everything. However, this time with the Grand Duke’s decree, spoils of war could not be privately divided, so they could only secretly take some gold and silver, and eat and drink their fill before taking some provisions away.

The remaining supplies were sealed and handed over to the Grand Duke’s Knight Order for management.

After the war, there were rewards for contributions, and perhaps he could get a share.

He took a nap at noon.

He then began his daily essential routine of taking medicine, while also speeding up his practice of “Breath Decay”, the benefits of this Dou Qi Secret Technique were already evident to him. The dispersal of Dou Qi in his body slowed down, and the effects of the medicine were enhanced, making him utterly immersed and unable to extricate himself.

In the evening, when he was preparing to familiarize himself with the Swift Shadow Bow, his Retainer Knight Philip brought good news, “Baron, the Barley Bug has hatched!”

Without any hesitation.

He immediately led the Fresh Flower Town Knight Squad, along with Douson, towards the barley field.

Upon reaching the barley field, he saw a chaotic scene, where a few Retainer Knights he had stationed there were engaging in battle against a beast resembling a mix between an ostrich and a grand duke rooster. Upon seeing Liszt and his company, the bird-like creature didn’t dare to linger and immediately turned tail to flee.

However, it seemed to be attracted to something, as it just ran to the nearby bushes and continued to stare at the barley field.

When Liszt reached the vicinity of the Cordyceps, he did not immediately bond with the Barley Bug, but observed the strange bird pacing along the edge of the bushes.

A thought flashed through his mind, “Is this the low-level Dragon Beast, Landwalker Bird, rewarded to me by the Smoke Mission?”

In terms of its appearance, it hadn’t surpassed Liszt’s imagination; it was larger than an ostrich, with a body as plump as a grand duke rooster’s, and colorful feathers that made it look rather magnificent.

It had a slender neck, a dinosaur-like head, and a large triangular beak with serrated edges as if filled with teeth.

It had sturdy legs covered with thick feathers and quite long; they were estimated at least one meter in length. The Landwalker Bird’s total height was roughly two and a half meters, of which the body was only half a meter long, the legs one meter, and the neck and head another meter. This gave it a somewhat bizarre appearance.

“Now, how should I capture it?”

The thought flashed by.

He asked the Retainer Knight, “What happened just now, and what’s the deal with this bird?”

“Baron, we were guarding the Barley Bug. Right after it hatched, this bird came out of nowhere trying to eat the Barley Bug. Its beak is very sharp, and it moves incredibly fast; we were almost no match for it,” Zavier replied somewhat awkwardly.

It was indeed a bit shameful to admit that several of them could not beat one bird—because the Landwalker Bird had not used magic, they hadn’t treated it as a Magical Beast. Otherwise, they would have fled without a trace long ago since Apprentice Knights were no match for Magical Beasts.

But after listening to Zavier’s answer.

Liszt was still puzzled, “Were you able to defeat it?”

The Landwalker Bird was a low-level Dragon Beast; based on its capabilities, even if it could not defeat an Intermediate Magical Beast, it should not be much weaker.

Zavier scratched his head, “Baron, this bird is indeed formidable, like a gigantic grand duke rooster, but besides pecking people with its beak, it doesn’t have much attacking power.”

A low-level Dragon Beast that can only peck people was incomprehensible.

Since the Landwalker Bird had not run away, Liszt calmed down the eager Douson and proceeded to bond with the Barley Bug first. Jade Powder and the Jade Box were his essential items when going out. He sprinkled a bit of Jade Powder, stretched out his finger, and soon the Barley Bug bit his finger, sealing the bond.

“Little guy, come on, take back your Cordyceps.”

The Barley Bug obediently opened its mouth, and the Cordyceps shrank instantly like a film rewinding, turning into a grain of barley, popping out of the soil and flying into the Barley Bug’s mouth, disappearing from view.

After placing the exhausted Barley Bug into the Jade Box and handing it to the Retainer Knight, Liszt’s gaze formally shifted to the still-lingering Landwalker Bird.

“No magic released, attack so weak it can’t even kill an Apprentice Knight, this… could it be a juvenile?”