Dawn was already breaking.

The swift errand boy was ringing the temple bell and calling people, to the extent that the city’s threat was dead and the sleepless people had already arrived.

The sailors quickly mobilized chains and thick ropes to tie the monster up tightly and brought barrels around. It was to not spill a drop of blood anywhere while drawing blood from him. 

“My god. Was that guy so big?”

“How did they catch that?” 

“I heard the count caught it with just one weapon.”

“Is that even possible?”

“No, really. The priest said so too.”

The gathered people murmured in astonishment. Since there were no siege weapons stuck in his body, they couldn’t imagine what caught him.

Ariku had regained his spirit and was chattering. 

“Look here. This is the guy!”

“Mr. Ariku! Is it true that Mr. Ariku voluntarily offered to act as bait to lure the monster?!”

“For our city, for honor, I swear it’s true!” 

“Good gracious! By the names of the two gods, Mr. Ariku is truly a valiant man!”

Seeing Ariku boast to the townspeople, the knights complained angrily. Even the Emperor’s knights were dissatisfied enough to express dissatisfaction.

“Should we just let that guy who did nothing talk?”

“He played good bait, let him have his moment.”

The one who gained great honor did not care about personal honor. Soon the fame that Johan hunted will spread throughout the city, so they could overlook Ariku’s boasting.

Of course, Partutti was looking at Ariku with an expression like his chest was torn apart. If he had done the magic properly, he could have boasted as the master of the Alchemist Guild.

Johan was suddenly reminded of the dwarves and felt bad for Partutti. 

“Don’t be too sad that it wasn’t your feat.”

“Your Excellency. . .! Your Excellency. . .!”

Ariku, who was excitedly chattering, came to Johan and asked.

“Your Excellency! The citizens have gathered. Shall I order them to draw the monster’s blood?”

“Do so.”

“Listen, citizens! To the valor of the intrepid Count Yeats! Let us inform that wicked monster of the wrath of God and choke off its wretched breath. . .”

Ariku was not a city council member for nothing. Although he had only fooled around in front of Johan, he knew how to give speeches that stirred the hearts of the gathered people.

Every time Ariku shouted about the damage caused by the monster, the townspeople stomped their feet, and every time he told the story of Johan catching the monster, the townspeople cheered.

“Now we will receive its blood and offer it to the gods! Thanks to His Excellency the Count who gave us this honor!”

Ariku held up a dagger and stabbed the dragon turtle deeply. However, its scale was so tough and thick that not a drop of blood came out. 

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛━

“. . .Uh. Help me out a bit.”

“Ah. Yes.”

A guard came out with a short sword and stabbed hard, shook it and only then did blood start coming out. The barrels around were filled with blood.

Johan called Jyanina and asked. 

“Monster expert. What do you use that blood for?”

“Lots of stuff. It’s used as medicine, building material. . . After all the blood is drained, oil can be extracted from the meat too. With just one sea dragon, the recent damage is more than covered.”

That’s why the townspeople were frugally collecting it despite the hardship.

‘I should send some to Suetlg-nim.’  

While thinking to set some precious parts aside and send them, Karamaf suddenly barked.

“?”

At the same time, the sea dragon opened its eyes.

The guy who was unconscious was enraged at the fact that he was tied up and being drained of blood all over his body.

“Raaaargh!”

Ariku, who was near his head, became the target of his wrath. The sea dragon bit Ariku in its mouth.

“Sh. . . shoot it?!”

Galambos asked urgently.

Fortunately, his lord had not relaxed his vigilance. The jars filled with undying fire were still arranged around.

Besides, since it was tied up, all he had to do was give an order. . .

“No, leave it.”

Johan picked up the warhammer and approached again. He had been worried that it would run away if it moved freely, but when tied up like this, it wasn’t very scary.

There was no need to even use magic.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐦!

As the Giant Slayer struck the side of the monster, the sea dragon spit Ariku out. Johan did not stop and struck again. This time the sea dragon vomited a lump of blood.

As it staggered, Johan smashed its head. Once, twice, three times, four times. . .

“. . . . . .”

“. . . . . .”

The citizens gathered in the square witnessed exactly how the new Count caught the sea dragon. Even the drunk who had nagged ‘𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳’ dropped the beer glass he was holding.

That’s how. . .

That’s how he caught it!

“It’s a shame the head is gone. Make sure there are no injured citizens? Just in case, have the citizens back away and finish up the work.”

“. . .Yes, yes!”

The Mulc family knights were more furious than Johan. If it wasn’t for the greed of the damn city people, Count Yeats would have been in danger.

Although Count Yeats had been considerate of the city, even in this situation, they couldn’t just stand still as knights. 

“Wretched people! How dare they ignore Your Excellency’s orders and arbitrarily tie up the beast! Those who refused magic, those who spared blood, they shall be held accountable!”

“Oh. . . no. I’m, I’m sorry! Your Highness! We really thought it was dead! Not just me, several people confirmed it!”

Normally the city guard only followed the orders of the city council, of course. Following an outsider’s orders and making arrests was out of the question. 

But now they were swept up in the atmosphere and first grabbed the council members. The atmosphere was so grim right now that if they hadn’t, they felt the citizens would have killed them.

“That wizard confirmed its death too!”

“N-No! I didn’t!” 

Jyanina’s lie made everyone think for a moment that she really hadn’t. Such was her charm. Then Johan kindly refreshed their memory.

“That wizard confirmed it too.”

“. . .Catch that damn wizard too!”

“Count!! Count!!! f*ck, for real!”

No one objected to the count from the outside arbitrarily grabbing council members and dragging them away. Rather, everyone chanted Johan’s name and cheered.

Jyanina, who was being dragged away, suddenly realized the atmosphere of the city and shuddered.

Seeing this sight, which Gilsina folks would think it?