EPISODE 11

<Veterinarian Druid Episode 11>

After running all night, we finally arrived at our destination, Olif's Medicinal Mountain.

"Phew, I almost died."

Healer Dan said as he clung tightly to the Silver Wolf's neck, his body trembling.

Suddenly, Tinger warned us, [Be careful! There are people over there.]

In an instant, the Silver Wolves stood still, and Healer Dan stuttered in surprise, "W-why are these people doing this?"

"Hush! Let's see who's there. Get down."

Since Olif's Medicinal Mountain belongs to the Olif Duchy, we must not be discovered by them.

Tinger and Bella guided the way and we cautiously walked forward, suppressing our voices.

As we silently walked, we began to overhear a conversation.

"We're finally free. From today on, we bid farewell to this wretched mountain."

"Oh, I'm exhausted. Doing this every day, my body has no respite. That guy will suffocate soon, and I'm done with this Eagle Knight too."

"That's right. Let's go down quickly. I'm sick of hearing his screams."

The sound of people's footsteps quickly faded away.

"It seems like the people have descended. Let's go up."

We climbed up towards the place where the people had descended.

As we ascended, we heard rustling sounds and saw a moving figure in our field of vision.

It was Captain Griffin.

A Griffin with the upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion.

It had magnificent and large wings that supported its massive size.

As evident from the eagle's upper body, its beak and claws possessed tremendous power. And naturally, its vision was extremely sharp.

So it would be safe to assume that it already knew we were approaching.

However, Captain Griffin neither attacked us nor fled, even as we got closer.

"Just as I thought!"

They had bound Captain Griffin's limbs with sturdy chains. Moreover, its flapping wings seemed unnatural.

They had intentionally disabled its wings.

I could sense that something was off with Captain Griffin. He kept bowing his head and then looking at us with caution, then bowing his head again. I didn't feel like he was completely on guard against us.

-Tinger, what is Captain Griffin doing right now? Is he eating something, by any chance?

[Eating?]

-What did you say? No, what if you mention that right now?

I snapped at Tinger in anger.

[Hey, who's getting mad at whom and causing a fuss, huh?]

I became even more furious as I approached him.

-I told you, didn't I? I knew there would be poison in the food.

[Did you say that? Did you really?]

-Are you a scatterbrain? You can't even remember something like that.

[What? Say it again. What did you just say? A scatterbrain?]

-Yes, scatterbrain. Then, is it a fish's head? Huh?

[You're saying that just to provoke me.]

Tinger growled.

Whether I said it or not, I ran towards Griffin.

Griffin was in the midst of swallowing a large chunk of meat.

"No!"

I leaped and caught the piece of meat Griffin was about to eat.

There was a small leaf of oleander attached to the meat.

Sigh, what about the ones he already ate?!

Crunch.

[How dare you take my food!]

Captain Griffin got angry. But it was only for a moment, as Captain Griffin soon caught his breath.

One minute, one second wasted. Rather than exerting physical force, I had to make him understand and stay still.

If I used force, the poison would spread faster.

-Sorry, I had no choice.

I locked eyes with Captain Griffin.

A different sense of intimidation flowed from him compared to the Griffin I saw at the training ground.

[How can a human communicate with me?]

-It just happened. Oh, that's not important. Do you know how you're doing right now?

I pointed out the small leaf of oleander attached to the meat.

Captain Griffin blinked his eyes and couldn't take his gaze off the meat.

-Do you see this plant? It's poisonous.

[Poisonous?]

I quickly explained the situation to Captain Griffin.

-So, you need to listen to me carefully from now on. If you try to kill me or hurt me, you'll just end up dying. Got it?

[If it means I can breathe more easily.]

I wish I could show some dominance, but this is the only way I can think of right now.

Drinking water to empty the stomach.

The location of the stream was already known to Tinger, so I didn't have to ask.

Using the water bottle prepared by Healer Dan, I poured water relentlessly without stopping.

-Endure it as long as you can.

[Urgh.]

Even if Captain Griffin wanted to vomit the water, I held him back as much as possible.

It was to empty the stomach all at once.

Eventually.

Uwaaaaaah!

Captain Griffin vomited everything in his stomach.

He repeated this several times, and afterward, he continued to vomit clear water.

[Urgh!]

Finally, he collapsed to the side.

During that time, Redon and Blueon untied the chains that bound Captain Griffin's legs.

After observing Captain Griffin calm down, I took out a pouch from my pocket.

Inside the pouch was a potion for healing broken bones, prescribed by Lloyd, and a single red mana stone the size of an egg.

-Drink this. It will help your body recover."

After saying that, I placed it in Captain Griffin's mouth.

-Swallow this too. It's a mana stone."

Having seen Ilaila regain her strength after eating the red magic stone, I asked Healer Dan.

Dan answered that the mana stone enhances the healing effect, and the higher the magical power of the mana stone, the greater the effect.

However, that doesn't mean I completely believed those words. I had just prepared myself with the intention of escaping as soon as possible.

But then, a miracle happened.

"Huh? His wings are spreading out?"

With wings fully spread, Captain Griffin soared into the air.

Indeed, being a bird is the best. I looked up at the sky with a proud expression. But that was just my thought.

[That brat doesn't even say thank you and just flies away? He really has no manners.]

Tinger grumbled, but Tinger, it doesn't seem like it's your place to say that.

-Well, as long as he's alive.

Even I felt a bit disappointed saying that. Give me a smile before you go.

"Now, shall we go down?"

Now that our business is done, we should disappear from someone else's land as soon as possible.

As I was about to climb onto Redon, I heard a flapping sound.

Captain Griffin, who had flown away, came back down and walked towards me, folding his wings.

With a joyful expression on his face, Captain Griffin opened his mouth.

[Thank you for saving me.]

-You're welcome. We have to help each other to survive.

[Treating a Griffin has increased your experience points by 1.]

[Treating Captain Griffin grants a bonus of 2 experience points.]

<Vigor: 13/50>

[Treating a Half-Being has accumulated 1 mana.]

[Treating Captain Griffin has accumulated a bonus of 2 mana.]

<Mana Accumulation: 5/∞>

Beautiful golden letters danced in the air.

Wow! Even a bonus?

Another golden letter sparkled.

[Griffin's leader, Roykan, considers you a friend.]

As I saw the unfamiliar message, more golden letters kept appearing.

[Griffin has opened up his heart to you.]

...[Condition has been fulfilled.]

[Skill list has been unlocked.]

<Beast's Traits Lv.1>

[You inherit the traits of the beasts you have treated.]

* Inherit the Silver Wolf's heightened sense of danger.

* Inherit the explosive power of the Griffin.

* * *

The event venue was buzzing with people.

Not only famous newspapers from the Empire but also gossip magazines and continental news outlets were all gathered, with the press area overflowing with journalists.

And the seats in the audience were sold out, with tickets going for a thousand gold coins.

Most of these people had applied for tickets as soon as last year's Eagle Knight Show ended.

It wouldn't be any different this year.

With that thought in mind, people watched highlights of past Eagle Knight Shows through the holographic window suspended in the center of the venue, eagerly awaiting the start of the new show.

Swoosh!

As the Eagle Knights appeared in the sky, the screams of the audience shook the ground.

"Wow!"

The aerial performance of the knight and the Griffin combined was truly spectacular.

Just when they seemed to be getting closer, they would suddenly fly away beyond the mountains.

And just when you thought that over thirty Eagle Knights would line up and perform a synchronized drill.

The aerial acrobatics of the Eagle Knights were so grand that it was hard to believe the stage was the sky.

The audience laughed and was moved to watch the Eagle Knights, sometimes holding their breath in suspense.

All of this was to showcase their skills in aerial combat, but most people simply thought it was a performance for the audience and were enthralled.

Meanwhile, Count Ulysses was furious.

"No, has this brat Dan, who was wandering around with Marcus, lost his mind? Where the hell did he go that I can't even see his snout?"

The healer Dan, who had never been absent or late before, disappeared without a trace. At this crucial moment.

Seeing that Marcus is nowhere to be found, it's clear that Marcus has tricked Dan into hiding.

"I thought he had changed recently, but was it just my imagination...?"

This gathering was attended by all the noble families of the Empire.

When the noble family hosting the event does not attend, it means they are against the head of the family.

Otherwise, it means they have been expelled from the family.

In either case, it tarnishes the reputation of the family.

The Count bit down so hard that his molars broke.

The show was reaching its climax. The moment for the Eagle Knight's high-altitude emergency descent was about to be revealed.

The Griffin and the knights soared into the sky and crashed down to the ground as one, gripping the audience with suspense.

The Eagle Knights, who were in the air, suddenly crashed to the ground.

No, at the moment when they were about to crash to the ground, they immediately soared back up.

"Wow!"

The cheers of the audience went beyond the event venue and echoed in the distant mountains.

"Wow, it's Captain Griffin!"

The echoing cheers seemed to grow louder from a distance, but that wasn't the case.

The audience looked up at the sky and cheered.

Count Ulysses naturally turned his head in the same direction as the people.

"No, it's that brat!"

It seemed like his youngest son, Marcus, who had been causing trouble all along, was flying here on the back of a Griffin.

That wouldn't be surprising, considering he was also a child of Ulysses.

But the situation right now is not like that.

Even the experienced Eagle Knights, with ten years of experience, find it difficult to perform high-altitude descents and emergencies freely.

Riding on the back of Captain Griffin, who has successfully tamed it, known as one of the few in the entire continent.

And hunting the audience as if they were prey.

When Marcus, riding on the back of Captain Griffin, waved at the audience, the event venue turned into a frenzy in an instant.

"Wow, it's Marcus Ulysses!"

"Wow, long live Ulysses!"

"Hooray for the Eagle Knight!"

"Hooray for Marcus!"

The audience cheered with screams of joy.

In particular, the reaction of Prince Killian was remarkable.

"To think that the Ulysses Eagle Knights not only tamed Captain Griffin but also revealed a skill that had never been shown before. Truly, the Ulysses family is amazing. With this kind of talent, they will never let their opponents escape once they have targeted them."

To be able to control Captain Griffin so freely.

'I must make such a talented individual mine!'

The prince's eyes sparkled with determination.

And currently, Captain Griffin was targeting Duke Olif.

Not to harm him in any way, but simply to threaten him. However, the person being targeted cannot see it that way.

Captain Griffin's beak is harder than a diamond.

With the determination, one can break anything. Even if it is a person's neck.

"Why is he doing this? Is he crazy?"

Sweat dripped down Duke Olif's back. The people gathered at the event venue enjoyed seeing Duke Olif like that.

They even gathered their voices and shouted.

"Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!"

The crowd was ecstatic for Marcus.

* * *

[Helping each other in difficult times is what friends do. Come on.]

-What?

[He said we have to go to the event venue.]

-It's already too late. We can just endure some scolding later.

Surely the Count will express his anger while lamenting his honor. But I do not regret even a bit for saving Roykan.

Roykan is alive, the Eagle Knights are alive, and the Ulysses family is alive.

-Thank you.

I thought as I rode on Roykan.

This chaos is all because the Ulysses family is in disarray.

If the Ulysses family were strong, would something like this have happened?

It's unlikely.

After realizing that the world operates on the principle of power, one must strive to increase their own power.

An overwhelmingly dominant force that no one can match.

[Ah, seriously, right after the opening ceremony, the Eagle Knights from the sky swooped down and then shot back up into the sky. It was really amazing, and I missed it.]

[Watch the highlights later. That should be fine, right?]

[Hey, is watching the highlights the same as seeing it in person? We'll have to wait another year.]

Tinger, sitting on Roykan's forehead, shook his head disapprovingly.

[Is that so? Hold on tight!]

Suddenly, Roykan moves for a gyro drop.

"Aaaah!"

"Help, save me!"