If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

Azer's taciturn nature doesn't mean he's not a good teacher, but rather that, like the dwarves, he's not good at giving praise.

But Hugh Tarek was still just a child; he craved recognition and praise.

"That's settled then." Truman stood up and said, "Tomorrow, Shutark doesn't need to go to hunt the dragon; Freylian and I can go."

"...Huh?"

"Shutark, you are a hero of the village. Even if we fail, you will still be able to protect the village from the raging dragon. Isn't that your job?"

"But...but..."

"It's nothing, just a different division of labor. And don't underestimate me, I'm Truman."

"Truman..."

Of course, Shutark knew Truman.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that his teacher, Aize, often spoke of him. This was because the other man was not only a mage but also highly skilled in warrior techniques, serving as an inspiration and source of motivation for Aize.

Looking back, his teacher Aize talked about Truman more often than the hero Simmel!

Goodnight, Shutark.

Truman winked at him and then left.

Back in the village.

Philon and Frilian were waiting for him to return. After asking him with their eyes how things were going, Truman shook his head to indicate that it wasn't going to work.

"Is that so? Then there's nothing we can do."

"Tsk."

Philon clicked his tongue softly. He shouldn't have had any expectations just because the other party was Aize's apprentice.

Silent all night.

Early the next morning.

Truman, along with Frilian and Philon, leave the village for the habitat of the Red Mirror Dragon.

They have already agreed on a battle plan.

It was decided that Truman and the summoned golem would act as bait, allowing Frilian and Philon to launch the attack. Philon would provide cover first, with her quick and precise attacks, and Frilian would finish off the remaining enemies.

Simple and efficient.

The three of them thought it was a great plan.

But when they left the village, they found someone waiting there.

He wore a red jacket matching his hair color, black trousers with a long white belt around his waist, and ordinary thick leather boots. A standard adventurer's attire, and the most striking contrast was his double-edged axe.

"Shutark?"

"...Take me with you, I'm a hero of the village."

His body was trembling uncontrollably, but his expression was resolute.

Truman patted him on the shoulder.

"Let's go, Shutark."

"yes!"

Shutark answered loudly, he was ready and determined to become the village's hero, intending to completely eliminate the danger of the Red Mirror Dragon!

...Although that's the case.

As they approached the dragon's lair, Shutark's body trembled more and more violently, his speed slowed down, and he kept drawing something in his hand and then swallowing it.

"He's scared," Philon said dismissively.

"Yes, he's scared. That's normal, but..." Truman looked at Hugh Tarker's actions and asked with some confusion, "Hey Frillian, what's he doing?"

"Write and eat to calm yourself down. That's what you taught me, Truman."

"I didn't teach him that!"

"To be precise, it was the method you taught Aize back in the Northern Continent. But I suppose Aize also taught this method to Shutark."

"I see."

Truman nodded.

Come to think of it, I did intend to teach him this method to relieve stress, but I didn't expect to teach it to Aize first.

Behind him, Shutark kept muttering something, his emotions growing more and more agitated. If this continued, he would probably faint from nervousness before even reaching the dragon's nest.

No, we have to do something.

Truman thought for a moment, then walked over to Hugh Tark and said, "I'm talking about Hugh Tark."

"It hurts! It hurts so much!"

He bit his tongue.

Truman chuckled and shook his head, patting him on the shoulder and saying, "You seem really nervous... Don't rush to deny it, even an idiot could see it. At this rate, you won't be able to do anything even on the battlefield. For someone like you, I've decided to teach you a trick."

"Teach me a move? Really!? Could it defeat the Red Mirror Dragon!?"

"certainly!"

"Please teach me! No, you absolutely must teach me!"

Shutark was immediately intrigued.

"The move is simple." Truman tapped him on the head. "So, get it?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"No! Look, no matter what kind of creature it is, whether it's a human, a demon, or a dragon, they all have heads, right? And as the important part that controls the body and thinking, if the head is hit hard, it will definitely make the mind unclear, and in severe cases, it can even lead to death."

"Yeah...that's true. When the teacher hit me on the head, I was so dazed that I instinctively fought back, even though I ended up crying my eyes out."

"So you understand now? It doesn't require any advanced techniques. Shutalk, do you believe me? Just once! Just once! Smash the dragon's head with your double-edged axe, that's enough."

"yes!"

To paraphrase a famous author, it's true that Enhancement-type... no, Warrior-type are all simple-minded.

As if he had grasped some truth, Shutark was no longer nervous or afraid.

Until they arrived at the dragon's lair.

"30 seconds," he said to the three. "I'll buy you 30 seconds. But in return, if I die in the battle, I beg you to kill the Red Mirror Dragon."

"Don't worry, I will."

"So..."

Shutark slowly walked towards the Red Mirror Dragon.

The sudden appearance of the enemy caused the Red Mirror Dragon to instinctively stand up and roar loudly. The deafening roar made Truman and the others frown. Judging by strength alone, it was indeed stronger than the Black Horned Dragon.

However, Shutark remained expressionless. He simply raised the double-edged axe above his head, assuming a swinging motion.

Upon seeing this, the Red Mirror Dragon instinctively took a few steps back.

It was scared!

Even Truman and the others standing to the side could see it.

However, the Red Mirror Dragon cannot escape.

It also knew that if it escaped, it would turn its unsuspecting back to Shutark, and what followed would be a spinning axe powerful enough to cleave it in two.

Therefore, there is only one way now!

That's a fight to the death!

"Hooohoooooooo——————"

The Crimson Mirror Dragon opened its blood-red maw and pounced on Shutark as a top dragon hunter. Under the pressure of life and death, it was certain that it had used 120% of its strength! This was the strongest hunt it had ever had since it was born!

Hugh Tarker remained unmoved.

He remained motionless just like he had been three years ago when he was frightened by the dragon, except that he still held his double-edged axe high in the air.

"wait……!"

"Wait a minute, Philon."

Don't go.

Frillian and Truman stopped her, and the three of them stared intently at Hugh Tarker.

There was no fear in Shutark's eyes, only the approaching Red Mirror Dragon, growing ever closer, its stench emanating from its mouth filling him with a palpable tension. His heart remained calm and undisturbed; only Truman's earlier words echoed in his mind.

Forget your fear, look ahead, move forward! Never stop! Retreat only leads to aging, and cowardice will surely bring death!

"Drink up!!!"

Shutark's double-edged axe came crashing down and slammed into the Red Mirror Dragon's head.

boom------

With an aura that seemed to cleave everything in its path, the three people not far away felt the ground begin to shake. After a deafening explosion, a gentle breeze dispersed the thick smoke.

What came into view was a scene of utter devastation.

Not to mention the dragon's head, even its body was split in two.

Not only that.

Starting from where Shutark was standing, a crack that kept extending and widening split the earth and the mountain rocks, with a length of 20 meters!

This is Hughtark, Aze's proud apprentice!

Upon witnessing this scene, Truman couldn't help but sigh deeply.

These warriors are the most cunning. They'll say they're no good, that they can't do anything, and that they're incredibly cowardly, but then they'll take down a Red Mirror Dragon with a single axe swing...

Can you even play it without disabling it?!