Dragon Hunters usually operated in groups.
After all, dragonkind only moved at night. Compared to daytime, nighttime added more factors unfavorable to humans. Coupled with the innate disparity in abilities between dragons and humans, even when hunting just one Lower Dragon, it was better for two Dragon Hunters to act together.
Furthermore, dragons mostly moved in groups. Few meant two or three, many meant five or six. A group of this size was no longer something one person could handle alone. Therefore, Dragon Hunters almost always acted collectively, from small groups of two or three to larger groups of over a dozen.
Ziger, who had always hunted dragons alone, had undoubtedly suffered great hardship in his dragon-slaying battles thus far. After all, he didn't have three heads and six arms, and his only weapon was a single silver sword. He couldn't keep watch in all directions at all times, nor could he simultaneously block attacks from multiple directions.
Although it wasn't impossible to find a partner, Ziger had long left towns behind and had also grown accustomed to a solitary life. So, each time he merely thought about it, never actually attempting to find a partner.
Therefore, for the first time in five years—
Ziger had someone beside him, hunting dragons together.
[A dragon is approaching from behind for a surprise attack. Please be aware. Impact countdown: three seconds, two seconds, one second—]
Brynhildr's prompts sounded in Ziger's ear.
In sync with her countdown and point reports, Ziger, having just cleanly beheaded a Lower Dragon in front of him with a single sword stroke, immediately reached out behind him with one hand. His palm erupted with scorching flames, instantly engulfing the Lower Dragon that had attempted the sneak attack!
[Directly above. Two.]
"GAAAArrrrrrr————!"
Following Brynhildr's alert, Ziger also heard the dragon roars from overhead.
The final two Lower Dragons leaped high from left and right simultaneously, their maws large enough to swallow an adult whole, both biting down towards Ziger.
Without any hesitation, Ziger hurled the silver sword in his hand at one of the Lower Dragons! Simultaneously, his now free hands both ignited, and a fireball larger than before shot skyward, following closely behind the silver sword!
*Boom————!*
A reverberating roar echoed as a dazzling flash of fire lit up the sky.
The two Lower Dragons, their bodies charred black by the fire, quickly fell to the ground. Catching the similarly falling silver sword, Ziger dashed forward in a flash, swiftly slicing the charred corpses in two with two strokes. He then returned to the side of the Lower Dragon that had tried to ambush him earlier, using the silver sword to behead it.
After completing everything, Ziger finally took a slightly panting breath.
"That should do it."
[Yes, a splendid battle.]
[Eliminating six dragons single-handedly is truly a glorious achievement. You are indeed an excellent Dragon Slayer—I had intended to prove through my support in this battle that I can indeed be of help to you, but it seems I might have been overstepping.]
[Your calm composure when facing the dragon group, your decisive and ruthless habit of finishing off enemies, and your very proficient dragon-slaying movements... all these prove your rich experience in dragon slaying.]
"...S-stop it, don't."
Hearing Brynhildr's such straightforward praise, Ziger turned his head away. "I... I'm not that amazing. Your reminders were helpful. Without you, I probably would have suffered more injuries."
In fact, even with Brynhildr's point reports and countdowns, Ziger wasn't unscathed. Due to a misjudgment in distance, a shallow wound now marked his chest.
[You are injured.]
Brynhildr reached out and touched the wound.
[I apologize. Without a contract, I cannot provide healing for you.]
"It's fine. It'll heal quickly."
Ziger touched the wound on his chest. Sure enough, the cut about the length of a finger healed at a visible rate, completely disappearing in an instant.
[You possess a self-healing ability?]
"Yeah. I don't know since when, but minor flesh wounds heal quickly on their own. If it's a severed hand or foot, eating a dragon will do."
Ziger killed dragons and also ate them, not just to avoid starvation or being killed, but also to heal the injuries sustained in battle.
This was also one of the reasons Ziger never sought a partner.
He had never heard of any human like himself. Compared to normal humans, or even other Dragon Hunters, he was an anomaly—surviving by eating dragons, capable of self-healing, and even able to control flames. No normal person could accept someone like him.
So it was better for him to be alone.
"Brynhildr... miss."
Pursing his lips, Ziger sheathed the silver sword. "Thank you for helping me eliminate these dragons. Your support was indeed useful. But I'm sorry, I'm not prepared to contract with you."
"As you can see, I'm an anomaly. Everyone who is with me dies. If you stay with me, you'll also die sooner or later, so—"
[I cannot die.]
Brynhildr interrupted Ziger's words.
[I am merely the support AI for the Dragon Slayer System. In other words, just a program. As long as the Dragon Slayer System exists, I will not meet death. Even if the program itself encounters errors, it can be repaired to its original state simply by rewriting it.]
[The Dragon Slayer System is a Conceptual-Type, Implant-Type dragon-slaying armament. The moment a contract is signed with you, it will merge with your existence, only separating from you upon your death.]
[Therefore, please do not worry about my life safety. I am not an organic life form; the concept of death does not apply to me.]
"...Uh... that..."
He didn't understand.
Because Brynhildr's words contained too many terms Ziger didn't comprehend, he basically didn't grasp what Brynhildr was saying. The only thing he could understand was that Brynhildr... couldn't die?
But that's impossible, right?
People will definitely die. If killed, people die. People like Brynhildr who emphasize they won't die are often the ones who die the fastest—like that Dragon Hunter uncle who adopted Ziger. During a dragon hunt, he charged at the front and was then eaten whole.
[It seems earning your trust is quite difficult.]
Brynhildr sighed.
[Then, allow me to try another approach—what would I need to do for you to be willing to accept the contract? Although, due to insufficient energy and the lack of a contract, many functions are unavailable, I will do my utmost to fulfill your requirements.]
"This... that... I really don't need it."
Ziger took half a step back.
"I really don't need a partner, so... so please find someone else!"
*Thud!*
After speaking, not even bothering to pack up the remaining pile of reserve rations around him, Ziger simply turned and sprinted away in a flash!