Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 305 - 300 I am an adventurer

Chapter 305: Chapter 300 I am an adventurer

The Belen Kingdom was quite far from Watchtower Port. One would need to pass through the Lost Plateau and the Red Crown Desert in succession, not to mention... the straight-line distance might be four or five thousand kilometers. Even if Leon wanted to fly there, it would take him several exhausting days.

Who would dare target his kingdom, anyway? Besides, there wasn’t anything particularly pressing at the moment, so Leon wasn’t in any rush. He decided to take a ship through the Talia Alliance and the Empire to reach the Belen Kingdom, even if it meant spending over a month aboard during the journey.

Legend had it that an island in the Vortex Sea between the Talia Alliance and the Empire had mysteriously disappeared one day, only to reappear decades later, then vanish again after a few short years. It turned out that the island was actually an Ancient Dragon Turtle, so massive that its shell was mistaken for land... Leon was eager to witness it himself.

"I heard you’re heading to the Belen Kingdom?" Tassera, the Storage Dragon who often traveled far and wide in pursuit of magical knowledge, immediately lit up and sought Leon out when she learned of his intent to journey abroad.

"It’s only been half a year since the foundation of your kingdom, and both the King and Queen plan to leave? Is this really okay?" Cecilia quipped.

Cecilia went on, listing her concerns exhaustively. A kingdom couldn’t go a day without its monarch; the King could leave temporarily, but at the very least, the Queen should stay as a substitute. Otherwise, public unrest would surely arise. Her true complaint, though, was evident—she simply couldn’t stand watching Cecilia toiling away every day while Tassera got to accompany Leon on his travels.

Cecilia’s arguments were sound and well-crafted. In the end, Tassera relented, largely because she had already been to the Belen Kingdom and found it utterly unappealing: unbearably cold, populated entirely by warriors and barbarians, and devoid of spellcasters with whom she could exchange magical knowledge. She decided it was simply not worth it.

With everything finally arranged after nearly half a month of delays, Leon entered his human form and boarded a ship, setting sail from Watchtower Port toward the Talia Alliance.

After several years, Leon found himself in Raffi once more. After spending a few leisurely days there, he changed to a different ship and, after another half-month, reached a city called Willan in the Empire.

Though Willan was a beautiful city, Leon didn’t particularly care for it. The reason was the locals—though outwardly polite and gentlemanly in demeanor, they harbored a deep sense of arrogance, looking down on outsiders with a pervasive air of superiority.

Leon stayed in Willan for just one day, sampling the city’s cuisine. The grilled steak was quite good, but the creamy chicken tasted a bit odd, and the rose venison was all show. He then reboarded the ship and continued north toward the Belen Kingdom.

There was a bard on the ship, and many passengers, including Leon, enjoyed listening to his stories. One tale claimed that those unfortunate enough to be taken by the sea were not truly dead. Instead, they lived on as Sea Evil Spirits, their lungs—once filled with air—now capable of breathing underwater...

To avoid such a fate, one must be cautious not to fall in love with a Sea Elf or Merfolk. It was imperative to return to port before a storm struck, no matter how tempting the catch. One should honor the requests of the great beings of the sea but never pledge one’s heart to them.

Leon, however, knew the truth behind such stories. These tales spoke of beings hidden beneath the waves, seeking to ensnare the souls of land dwellers. Creatures like the Kraken, Moke Fish Monster, Sea Hag, Marid, Storm Giant, and Dragon Turtle could all bend mortals to their will, transforming them into loyal pawns.

The unlucky ones might become slaves through grim contracts or find themselves cursed by one of these entities.

The ship sailed through the Fluorescent Sea for five days, marking the first time Leon saw a sea snake.

Sea snakes, alongside Dragon Turtles, ranked as some of the deep sea’s most fearsome predators, inspiring the darkest nightmares of countless sailors.

Young sea snakes were quick and agile hunters, adept at using reefs and natural camouflage to hide before ambushing their prey, picking off careless crew members one by one. Ancient sea snakes, on the other hand, grew so large they could destroy entire ships effortlessly, feasting leisurely on the helpless sailors.

Leon witnessed a young sea snake attacking an adult sperm whale. It was unable to grapple with the massive whale’s size and left after a short tussle.

The ship continued its journey across the Fluorescent Sea for over ten days, stopping frequently for resupply, before finally crossing the Ice Dragon’s Throat and reaching Iron Port in the Belen Kingdom. The city, perched atop the vast and desolate Frozen Soil Wilderness, radiated a stark sense of austerity. Its buildings were coated in a thin layer of ice, which shimmered coldly under the pale sunlight.

Once in Iron Port, Leon disembarked. To reach the Belen Kingdom’s capital, Bern, he would need to find another way.

What was that?

On his way to find a restaurant, Leon noticed a curious building. It was an adventurer’s guild, called the Top Climbing Guild, and he found himself unable to take another step... An adventurer’s guild—one of the most iconic institutions of any fantasy world.

Eagerly, Leon stepped inside the guild. The main hall greeted him with a counter at the front. On either side were spaces for adventurers to rest, which doubled as a tavern and a mess hall. These areas provided a gathering place for adventurers to relax, exchange information, drink, and enjoy themselves. A staircase led to the second floor, where the inn was located.

The adventurer’s guild wasn’t particularly crowded—a fact attributed to the nature of the work itself. Adventuring was inherently dangerous; a single mishap in battle could result in injuries too severe to fully recover, leading to a significant decline in ability.

Humans lacked the Troll’s superior regenerative abilities, unable to regrow severed limbs. Once an arm or leg was gone, there was no simple way to reattach it, and hiring a spellcaster skilled in Healing Magic often came at a considerable cost, marking the beginning of one’s retirement plans.

There were many benefits to joining the adventurer’s guild. Most notably, it served as an excellent venue to learn about topics of interest to adventurers, offered reliable hiring recommendations drawn from other members’ experiences, and allowed members to safely store valuable items in secure vaults—albeit for a yearly fee, which could cost several gold coins.

Although one could become an adventurer simply by embarking on brave journeys, official registration provided a more formal recognition.

Leon, flush with wealth and far more generous than the notoriously stingy typical Red Dragon, didn’t mind the ten-gold-coin annual membership fee. He easily registered and began examining the various notices posted on the guild’s message board.

An adult White Dragon had built a nest near Ice Shell Lake.

A Snowy Owl Bear was roaming the forest outside the city, urgently requiring adventurers to handle it.

A super-sized Frost Worm had been sighted in Snow Flow Canyon. Entry to the canyon was strictly prohibited.

The challenge level of Frost Worms was no joke. They surpassed even Purple Worms, excelling in burrowing and delivering icy damage. Their difficulty level rivaled that of Male-faced Sphinxes.

Leon instantly forgot about Edwin, overcome with a strong desire to see a Frost Worm. Once he saw one, he could transform into it.