Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 239 Molten Scale Town and Red Scale Mushroom Soup

Molten Scale Town
A quiet yet bustling town nestled deep in a valley on the eastern slope of the Lava Scales Mountains.

Like a pot of water gradually boiling, its calm surface and occasional ripples are not much different from those of an ordinary town. Only the flames that occasionally leap from under the pot and the hot bubbles that rise from the surface reveal its special features.

Compared to other dangerous and remote human settlements, Molten Scale Town is much more prosperous than imagined.

While it can't compare to River Valley Town, which has an Adventurers' Guild, it's not much different from the nearby Karanfort.

One reason is the town's unique geographical location.

Nestled against towering mountains and situated on a relatively gentle hillside, a long and powerful turbulent stream originating deep within the Lava Scale Mountains flows through the town.

While bringing precious water to the town, it also dispels the lingering sulfurous heat in the air and irrigates the nearby land.

It created the most basic living conditions for the people in the town.

On the other hand, the fact that Moltenscale Town was able to develop in such a remote location and attract waves of merchants and adventurers to trade here must have its own unique features.

One of the reasons is the powerful dragon named "Krogbari" that dwells on the highest peak of the Molten Scale Mountains.

Under normal circumstances, a single breath from such a dragon could destroy the hard work of thousands of people in an entire town over countless years; it is a creature that can be called a mobile natural disaster.

Anyone with even a shred of rationality would never choose to get close.

Especially considering that Krogbari is the most temperamental red dragon among dragons.

But perhaps it is precisely because of this that the red dragon's unique and strong sense of territory seems to have led it to regard this small settlement composed of weak creatures as part of its territory.

Even though they frequently flew over Molten Scale Town, they never attacked the town's buildings or civilians.

Furthermore, due to its own dragon might and the dangerous aura of a predator at the top of the food chain, very few monsters appear in the surrounding area.

Throughout the year, the area around the town is mostly inhabited by a few goblins that multiply rapidly like cockroaches and have low intelligence, or a few kobolds who come to follow the red dragon.

It has little impact on the town.

This makes Moltenscale Town one of the few safe places in the Cloudfall Province that is close to the dragon's habitat.

And it was because of this dangerous and proud guardian that the town gained an important industry to promote its economic development.

—Red dragon scales.

Of course, it's impossible to have a direct confrontation with the other party.

Those professional adventurers and daring mountain people, known locally as "Flame Collectors," would search with extreme caution for scales that the red dragon had shed naturally or in battle, in relatively safe areas far from the dragon's lair.

Thanks to the dragon's high resistance to various elemental magic and its strong defense, these dragon scales still have very high forging value even after being separated from the dragon body.

If transported to a major city like Newme, they could be directly put up for auction and sold for a considerable price.

If one could find the shed skin of a red dragon's wing, or even rarer dragon teeth and claws, it would be a stroke of good fortune that could change the fate of an ordinary person.

Humans and dragons achieved a strange and delicate balance amidst the howling mountain winds and the scorching sulfurous fumes.

When Xia Nan and his group arrived in Molten Scale Town, the streets were already bustling with activity.

The town is built on a hillside. Due to the terrain and the need for wind and fire prevention, there is only one wide main road. Narrow and winding alleys occupy most of the town, and the view is full of steps and steep slopes.

The buildings on both sides of the road are mostly low, with very few buildings that are more than two stories high. They are constructed of heavy reddish-brown stone and fire-resistant clay, with steep roofs covered with specially made terracotta tiles.

The road surface is made from locally sourced, compacted gray-black slag from the Molten Scale Mountains. Its color is mainly dark gray and charred black, and when you step on it, you can almost feel the faint warmth of the soles of your shoes.

It's a bit strange that the town's streets, which aren't exactly wide, are even more crowded with people and street vendors.

But it also gives people a sense of order amidst chaos, a lively and bustling atmosphere, full of everyday life.

"Clap."

Thick leather boots, still covered in forest leaf debris, lay on the scorched gray ground, the soles scraping against the rubble with a dull thud.

Carrying two swords and clad in iron armor, Xia Nan stepped up a flight of stairs, his eyes scanning the goods sold by street vendors with great interest.

Pottery made from the unique clay of the Lava Scale Mountains, various heat-resistant and durable fabrics, mining picks and crowbars, rock goat hides, and uniquely shaped herbs...

It is actually closer to River Valley Town than Nium, and is still within Panyun Province.

The streets of Molten Scale Town, so different from other human settlements and filled with exotic charm, give one the illusion of being on the other side of the continent.

"It's very safe here. It's close to the Molten Scale Mountains, and the terrain makes it difficult for intelligence to get out quickly."

Wood, the guard beside Haian, had already lowered his profile, his sharp eyes scanning left and right.

"We can rest in town for three days and wait until we are fully recovered before setting off again."

Xia Nan glanced at Sava, whose expression was unreadable, and agreed with Wood's suggestion to rest.

Putting everything else aside, just considering this Dragonborn member of their team, a three-day rest period is absolutely necessary.

The effects of the red dragon's flight are still fresh in their minds; the opponent hasn't fully recovered yet.

He didn't want her to be distracted again when they encountered the enemy, causing unnecessary losses to the team.

After resting in town for three days, Sawa should have recovered quite well.

Of course, this is from Xia Nan's own perspective.

After more than ten days of living outdoors, he especially missed the soft beds and sweet soups in the tavern.

I would naturally not refuse the opportunity to rest for a while.

None of them objected to this, and the division of labor was clear under Wood's arrangement.

He led Sava and Luca to resupply in town, while Haian, Shanan, and Violet searched for suitable hotels to stay in.

Xia Nan had originally planned to find a blacksmith shop in town to help maintain his armor.

Although my skills are gradually improving, it is obvious that entrusting it to professionals for maintenance will yield better results.

Unfortunately, although Molten Scale Town has a considerable number of adventurers due to its dragon scale industry, the blacksmiths in the town are far less skilled than "Rockhammer" Barn in River Valley Town.

The "premium" items displayed on the shop's shelves were of much lower quality than those in the Rock Hammer Blacksmith Shop.

Feeling uneasy, Xia Nan only bought some maintenance materials and tools on the way before leaving the shop.

My entire set of equipment, just the armor and leg armor alone, cost close to four figures in gold coins.

If he damages the repair, he doesn't have any connections or channels in town, and he might not even get compensation.

Anyway, there's no serious damage, and I can manage to maintain it myself.

It's not too late to hire someone for a full care service after you go to Sticky Tree Ridge in ten days or after you return to River Valley Town.

Molten Scale Town itself is not large; it is just a small town located in a mountain valley.

However, due to the undulating and rugged terrain, and the uneven buildings built against the mountainside, walking through the town can be very complicated.

The three walked along the narrow streets for quite a while before finally finding an inn called "Dragon's Nest for Rest".

It looks unremarkable from the outside, with only a rather abstract sign hanging at the entrance, depicting a bed and a wine glass, indicating that it provides accommodation and food services.

Once inside, it was indeed well-arranged.

A bar counter made of reddish-brown terracotta bricks faces the entrance, flanked by wooden tables. A winding staircase in the corner leads to the second floor. Business is fairly brisk; even though it's only morning, nearly half the tables in the hall are already occupied, and the overall environment can be considered reasonably clean.

"Take a look at the menu first, and just order whatever you want. I'll cover the cost."

Hai'an gave the two a few words of advice and then took the initiative to go forward and communicate with the front desk about the room reservation service.

Knowing that the other party was generous and friendly, they never let the group spend any extra money along the way.

Xia Nan nodded his thanks, then glanced around the hall to make sure there was no obvious hostility before looking up at the menu hanging on the wall behind the bar.

Most of the dishes are no different from those in a typical town, consisting of common stews and smoked meats.

But given its location near the Molten Scale Mountains, Xia Nan still saw many dishes on the menu whose names alone were eye-catching, such as:
"Salt-baked rock lamb", "Roasted lizard leg from Longxi Pit", "Crispy chips with sulfur pepper"...

And "Red-scaled Mushroom Soup".

In an instant, I made up my mind.

Xia Nan turned around and looked at Violet beside him.

"So, have you made your choice?"

……

Prices at the "Dragon's Nest" inn have risen due to the presence of adventurers in town, and few locals dine there.

But compared to the White Sparrow Tavern, it is undoubtedly much cheaper.

The three of them ordered a whole table of dishes (the table wasn't very big, and meat made up the majority of the food), but it only cost them five silver coins.

That's equivalent to the bounty for 1.5 goblins.

For Xia Nan, who was already used to the expenses of the White Mountain Sparrow, it could even be considered a bargain.

As for the taste…

A spoon with the wood grain pattern on its surface is used to stir the contents of an earthenware pot in front of her.

The thick, dark brown broth was steaming, and you could vaguely see bits of pepper and herbs bobbing up and down in it.

My nostrils flared as I breathed into my nasal cavity the faint smell of sulfur rising from above the earthenware pot.

Xia Nan frowned slightly, scooped up a spoonful of the so-called "red-scaled mushroom soup," and put it in his mouth.

His expression paused involuntarily.

His eyebrows first furrowed further inward, then suddenly relaxed.

The main flavor is savory and rich, and the broth seems to be made from the meat and bones of mountain goats, with a fragrant and fresh taste. The local specialty chili peppers are pungent but not overpowering, and are perfectly melted into the broth.

In addition, there were those peculiar mushrooms he had never seen before, which were entirely yellowish-brown, with short, thick stems and wide caps, a crisp and tender texture like tripe, and a slightly peppery flavor.

It felt to him like drinking a bowl of spicy soup with a peculiar flavor that had been adapted to suit a different world.

The creamy mushroom soup at the White Tit Tavern is quite different in both texture and flavor.

But it's just as delicious.

Unfortunately, it's already springtime, and it's a specialty of Molten Scale Town.

Otherwise, if only I could sit on a cold winter morning, watching the snow falling outside the window, and drink a bowl of steaming hot spicy mushroom soup.

That feeling... Xia Nan couldn't even imagine how enjoyable it was.

Meanwhile, on either side of his seat, Violet and Haian were also eating their own food.

But their expressions didn't change much; they were no different from how they had been eating jerky and bread in the camp these past few days.

Xia Nan didn't care.

Perhaps influenced by his past life's culture and lifestyle, he is accustomed to using food to relieve his stress, which is also a characteristic that distinguishes him from many people in this world.

Compared to vices like gambling and alcoholism, this is naturally much healthier.

However, if one does not enjoy delicious food for a long time, it can also make them feel irritable and increase their resentment.

Without a doubt, the dishes at the "Dragon's Nest" hotel perfectly match his definition of "gourmet food".

Steaming hot, a bowl of mushroom soup washed away all the fatigue from the journey, as if the spicy heat had driven it out of my body through my pores.

Just as Xia Nan was looking at the empty ceramic bowl in front of him, hesitating whether to order another serving,

He suddenly realized that a gaze seemed to be coming from the other side of the hall.

Looking around, one could see a group of knights dressed in standard armor and well-equipped, quietly having a meal.

Judging from the discipline they exuded and their similarly well-equipped uniforms, they were clearly not adventurers.

The gaze then fell upon what appeared to be the leader, a handsome young man clad in heavy armor.

His expression was hesitant and uncertain, as if he was not quite sure, but his gaze mostly lingered on the face of the half-elf Hai'an beside Xia Nan.

"Um!?"

A sense of unease arose in his heart, and he suspected that they were pursuers from Newme.

Xia Nan naturally adjusted his position, blocking the other person's gaze from behind.

At the same time, he tapped his fingertips lightly under the table to remind his teammates, his expression calm and serious.

Upon seeing this, the two teammates at the same table were taken aback at first, and then instantly realized that there was an emergency.

Without saying a word, they were ready to fight or flee in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, the young knight on the other side slowly got up, as if he was about to walk in their direction.

And it was at this tense moment that...

It was extremely abrupt.

"Screech!"

The hotel door was suddenly pushed open from the outside!

The blinding sunlight, carrying a strong smell of blood, blew into the room with the cold wind from outside.

With bloodstains on his body, a gloomy middle-aged man, seemingly suppressing his anger, walked step by step into the hotel under the watchful eyes of countless people.

The pair of leather boots, stained with blood and mud, only stopped in front of the counter.

I was facing the receptionist, whose body was trembling slightly.

The hoarse, rough voice echoed faintly in the air.

"The room was booked five days ago."

"Excuse me...may I ask what name you left at the time?"

"Dogtooth Squad, Lawson."

(End of this chapter)