Ads

The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills - Chapter 11

on

Chapter 11 : Crystal Dragon

Two days after we left the town of Tansa, we finally reached the Megado Mountain mine.

The mining site was deserted, an eerie stillness blanketing the area. Piles of “Blue Iron” ore, each about the size of a human head, were stacked in several mounds. Beyond them yawned a large, dark hole in the ground.

“That hole... is the Crystal Dragon in there?”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Next to me, Pirun leaned in close to my face.

“Your face is all stiff. You’re scared of the dragon, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m scared. Dragons are said to be the strongest monsters out there. And Crystal Dragons are especially powerful.”

“But we’re a four-person party now, and Pirun and the rest are strong too! Every monster we’ve faced so far has been insta-killed!”

“The only monster we fought on the way here was that slime!”

I snapped back at Pirun.

“Anyway, this is no monster we can afford to underestimate. We’re talking about a dragon.”

“Exactly,” Almine chimed in, agreeing with me.

“There are tons of parties that have been completely wiped out trying to slay a dragon.”

“Do we have a plan?”

I turned to Almine.

“I think gravity magic should be enough to significantly restrict the Crystal Dragon’s movements.”

“That makes sense. For such a huge body, they move surprisingly fast. If it starts darting around, things could get ugly. We also need to be careful of its ice breath—it has a wider range than other dragons, and it dulls weapon sharpness too.”

“Huh? You sure know a lot.”

Almine looked at me in surprise.

“I’ve memorized everything available in the Adventurer’s Guild about monsters that are in their records. You never know what you’re going to run into.”

“Wow. You’re quite the studious one.”

“Our lives—and our comrades’—are on the line. I just want to do everything I can to keep us all safe.”

“Our comrades’ lives...”

Almine gazed at me intently.

“What is it?”

“Just thinking how glad I am we invited you to join the party, Yakumo-kun.”

She smiled gently.

“I’m sure our party can take down the Crystal Dragon.”

“Leave it to me,” Kinako declared.

“My claws can cut through even a dragon’s tough scales, and my paw punches do internal damage.”

“Pirun’s Magical Hammer is strong too!”

Pirun pulled out a colorful hammer strapped to her waist.

“Almine made this for Pirun! It’s an Earth-element weapon, so the damage goes boom!”

“That’s a perfect weapon for a berserker like you, Pirun.”

I ran my fingers over the Mana-Eater Dagger hanging from my waist.

Almine had given it to me. It was a magical weapon that let me shape the blade by channeling mana into it. If I combined it with my Paper Manipulation Skill, it should allow for all kinds of fighting styles.

I’m still inexperienced, but I have to give everything I’ve got—for my comrades’ sake.

With that resolve burning in my chest, I pressed my lips together in a firm line.

The air inside the mine was cold. Lanterns fitted with glowing stones hung along the stone walls, casting flickering light on our group. As our footsteps echoed through the tunnel, several Luminous Bugs scurried away on six legs, disappearing deeper into the passage.

As we made our way down a narrow corridor lined with rails, the sound of running water reached our ears.

“Let’s see... we should be close to the underground lake,” Almine said, checking the map they’d received from the mine’s owner.

“The Crystal Dragon was spotted near there, so stay alert, everyone.”

“Almine!”

Pirun, who was leading the way, clutched her belly with both hands.

“Pirun is hungry! Let’s take a food break now!”

“We’ll rest once we reach the underground lake and confirm it’s safe. Visibility’s poor here.”

“Then let’s rush to the lake!”

“Nope. That’s not happening. We could still run into other monsters besides the Crystal Dragon, so we need to stay cautious.”

📝 Translator’s Notes:

  • Blue Iron (青鉄 / Aotetsu): A fictional ore commonly seen in fantasy novels, often stronger than regular iron.

  • Crystal Dragon: A rare, powerful species of dragon known for their agility despite their massive size and their wide-range ice breath.

  • Pirun’s Magical Hammer: Enhanced with earth-element enchantments for extra damage—typical for berserker-type characters.

  • Mana-Eater Dagger (魔喰いの短剣 / Magui no Tanken): A magic weapon that can reshape its blade using mana. The synergy with Yakumo's paper manipulation creates flexible combat options.

  • Luminous Bugs (発光蟲 / Hakkōchū): Minor magical creatures, serving here mainly as atmospheric detail.

  • Paper Manipulation (紙使い / Kamitsukai): Yakumo’s "trash skill" is proving to be far more versatile and powerful than anyone realized.

Comments

Post a Comment